"You know how? Alright. Tell me how I do it," Ryder asked, curious.

He was sure that this guy didn't have a single idea how Ryder did it. He was bluffing. There was no way he had any idea what Ryder did and that he was able to go back in time.

"You work for them, don't you?" Gander asked, laughing.

"Huh? Work for who?" Ryder asked, stunned. What is he talking about? Who did he work for?

"The Kings... You work for them, don't you?" Gander asked again.

'Kings? The strange guys that have strange powers as well? I killed one of them already; why would I even work for them now? But I guess it's understandable. Those people have some strange abilities. This could be a justification for him,' Ryder thought as he gazed at the man who stood before him, proudly as if he had solved a mystery.

"I don't know what you're talking about. In reality, it was all only a guess that I had won. Nothing other than that. As for working for any king, I have no idea. Do Kings and Royalty even exist in our country?'

Ryder acted ignorantly in his reply as he refused. He didn't want to be associated with the Kings or establish any link. He didn't want any misunderstanding to be created, which resulted in his enemies standing outside his door.

"Oh, Either I'm really misunderstanding, or you're keeping it a secret since you think I'm a stranger. But don't worry, I work for them too. So you can tell me," Gander insisted, but Ryder again refused.

"I apologize but you're wrong. I have no idea who you're talking about. I neither know any real king nor know a person named king. Is that why you are offering us a coffee? Because you misunderstood our identity? I guess we should leave then," Ryder said as he stood up.

It was interesting to know that this guy worked for the so-called kings. It was an important piece of information. He already wanted to know more things about them. The only thing he knew so far was that they were criminals. And now he knew where to get the information safely from.

After he left today, he had already planned to return, but this time in stealth to interrogate this guy. He didn't want to interrogate this guy as Ryder Flynn, known by everyone. Instead, he wanted to keep his real identity a secret.

Hearing his reply, Gander realized that he had messed up. He had talked about Kings before someone else because of his misunderstanding. He knew he had to make damage control.

"Oh, looks like I was really wrong. And you're right; I thought you worked for a person named king who is a master bookie. So I thought he was giving you answers. Please forgive my misunderstanding."

"As for coffee, treat it as an apology before you go," he told Ryder

Three cups of coffee were delivered inside the office, which Ryder drank without hesitation because of his poison immunity.

Even if there was poison in the coffee, he wasn't worried. In fact, if Gander did such a thing, it would be no different than writing his death warrant.

He not only drank the coffee but also enjoyed it.

"This was good. But I'm afraid we should be leaving. Thanks for the hospitality. I was sure that this meeting was going to go a different direction, and I'm glad it didn't. You're not bad."

After a few cordial conversations, Ryder got up and started leaving. Fortunately, they weren't stopped as they left.

After Ryder and Esmi left, Gander was left behind in a room that seemed very empty.

Gander looked down as he folded his arms, lost in deep thoughts.

"I messed up. Because his luck was too good and he was with Esmi, I thought he knew about Kings too. But I was wrong. God, if the Kings knew that I talked about them, I would be killed. I pray to god that Esmi won't tell them," Gander thought as he sighed.

....

Ryder and Esmi were leaving the facility, but Ryder was lost in some deep thought.

"He thought I knew about Kings, so he talked to me openly. But why did he act as if Esmi wasn't a stranger either? Did he think she also knew about them since she was with me?

That's a pretty far fetched assumption of his if it's true. And he's really an idiot, but if it isn't, then that would mean Esmi knows about this too? Could it be true? Or am I thinking too much?

"Was he really talking about King as a person who was a bookie? I have a feeling that he was lying. What do you think?" He asked Esmi, trying to see her reaction.

"Huh? I didn't notice anything strange. Are you sure? In any case, what does it even matter? Let's focus on us and my wish for now. Leave that man behind," Esmi replied lazily as she placed her hand on Ryder's butt, squeezing it lightly.

'I guess I'm thinking too much,' he thought as he didn't find anything strange in her reaction. It was as if she was actually ignorant entirely.

"Maybe you're right. Anyway, we both came here in our cars. So we'll have to drive separately. Which hotel should we go to? There are two in the opposite direction."

"The one on the right. It's better," Esmi replied as she stopped before her car, which was parked nearby.

"Alright. I'll meet you there," Ryder said.

...

As Ryder was going to spend time with Esmi, another man was walking in a long corridor, being followed by a lady.

"Sir, we got the credentials of the lady. Her name is apparently Alice. As for Hades and Lucifer, we still don't have their response," the lady explained to the man in the lead as she gave him a paper.

"I already had a feeling that those two won't take part. But it was still worth a try," the man replied. "I can't say that I'm not disappointed, though."

"If even a billion dollar prize can't lure those two, then something is really extraordinary about those two. As for now, gaining this Alice is already enough. Because with her, we'll get to Hades," the man said as he smiled calmly.

"How will we get to Hades through her?" The lady asked, curious.

"She knows him. Of Course, she will lead us to him. From their last conversation, it was clear that those two knew each other really well. It was even more clear since this was when they couldn't see each other's avatar," the man explained.

" So, should we try contacting her?" The lady asked the man.

"Of course. Send her an invitation to come to our headquarters. And while you're at it, send the same to other players in the top ten that had sent us their details. Tell them that we want to tell them about the details of the upcoming tournament," the man said as he smiled.

"Yes, sir," the lady replied before she left.

The man was walking alone in the long corridor, gazing at the piece of paper in his hand, which had not only the image of Alice but also her details.

"Oh, she lives with that Shu Maxwell? That guy who keeps annoying me and placing this whole thing in danger? Interesting. Very interesting. I guess the real fun will begin soon. In the end, nothing will matter anymore," he said as he smiled.

....

At the same time, Itsuki Yamada was sitting in his office when a lady entered the place.

"Sir, I finished the task you gave me. That Ryder Flynn, he isn't related to Aluren as far as we know."

"Oh? Someone different with powers like us? It's going to be interesting. You can leave. I'll talk to Aluren myself and get things cleared. If this is someone's attempt to spoil the trials for us, then this is bad," Itsuki replied as he sent the lady back.

After she left, he picked up the phone and dialed a number.

....

"This guy? What does he want now?" Aluren was sitting in his Palace on an isolated island when he received a call. He picked up the call.

"What?"

"Aluren, I want you to do something for me."

"Do you really think I'll do something for you? Did you really not know me at all, Itsuki? We have our different trials. If you want my help in yours, then just forget it," Aluren straight away refused without even listening to the request. His tone sounded condescending as well.

"I don't want help in my trial. I want you to investigate a person. I think there's a good chance that another god-son besides the seven selected is here to spoil our trial. If that's true, then things could be spoiled. It will affect us all," Itsuki said, frowning.

"Another god-son?"