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Chapter 534: Vermillion Rockstar

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He was the one clapping along with the two others while the last one had a (==_==) face looking at his direction.

“L-Lieutenant Armstrong… how long have you—”

“—we’ve been here the whole time. Thank you.”

The one who answered flatly was a little loli with a pair of melons not appropriate for her size. And yet, with one look, her poise and her voice gave away that she was an adult.

“Eh? The… the whole time?”

“The whole time.” She said in irritation. “Big sister Emilia showed us around and found you but from the moment she came, you’ve never actually even once saw us and only focused your attention to her the whole time.” Though she said that flatly, it was still ladened with disgust and irritation. “Tsk. I can’t believe that every Asgardians are just like its ruler… it’s disgusting.”

Tash Armstrong, Emilia’s little brother, stopped his clapping and with tears approached and patted his shoulders before giving him a thumbs-up.

“I’m so happy for you, Anthony! You’re actually the second person to actually last this long given my big sister’s temperament. I’m so proud of you!”

—THIS ISN’T SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF!!!

——hm? Wait…

“Second? Who’s the first?”

“Dead. He wanted to prove his qualifications to my big sis so he fought a terrorist organization alone but ended up being killed. So technically, you’re in first place in the list with just a single name in it…”

—a list with only a single name in it…?

“Oi, oi, oi, don’t speak something so ominous!”

“I’m not joking. It happened three years ago.”

Anthony felt shivers on his spine where the little loli —given away as the one and only Red Pepper Witch “Coralline”— started laughing out loudly that gathered a few attentions in the crowd.

“Ahahaha… I take back what I said earlier. I should wish you good luck instead. Fwahahaha…”

Anthony looked at her and immediately knew her name from the list of his personal invitees.

“Oh, you’re Lolita.”

Lolita Corals —Coralline— shivered as she angrily stomped her way into him, “I eternally forbid you from calling my name!”

Anthony laughed and raised his hand in surrender before looking at the other two: “Oh, it’s our thief, Pitou… I didn’t actually expect for you to be a girl since your name is Seven.”

Seven, the girl dressed in tuxedo, was actually a real and genuine lady and she cleared her throat when Anthony pointed her out, “Please don’t ask why I am dressed like a man like this.”

Right as she finished, the other girl on their group, a girl in a watery green dress emphasizing a pair of busts that perfectly blends with her seductive curves, jumped over Seven (Pitou) and grabbed her chests like a tomboy.

“Like I told you before, you should massage these things regularly in order for them to grow!”

“Ah,…. ah… ah… please… please stop it, Niobe!”

It was really not appropriate for a lady of such sex appeal to act like a tomboy without care for their surroundings but it was a good thing that it was on a remote corner and Tash Armstrong’s huge build and intimidating muscles drove away all eyes that wanted to peek at the (lewd) scene.

Lolita Corals jumped at Anthony and covered his eyes with her little hands.

“Stop looking you pervert.”

“Awa… awa… awa…. Stop it already Niobe!”

The last girl in a sexy dress, if you’d remove the mask on her face, you would actually drew a lot of fans and attention towards you because this cute and (supposedly) delicate face was owned by one of the uprising Singer x Dancer group Momo; the group rose to fame in the recent years because of a hit single and now, they’re roaming the countries promoting their newest album composed of songs that could make you go ‘bumping’ with its quirky beats and catchy lyrics.

“Umu…. (>` 3 ’ Pitou-chan is just so cute! But it’s a real pity that you’ve got such a shy personality. It would have been great if you’d be part of my next number because you’re just so cute!!!”

Anthony watched this in amusement. Even he did not really know who exactly it was on the other side of the everyday avatars he’d been meeting so far in the game.

Niobe stopped the bullying and looked over the flush-faced Anthony, “Hello! Have you bought my new album already?”

—what a thing to say on the first meeting…

Anthony felt amused by this person. in the game, Niobe had an open personality. She’s infatuated with Siva and competed with Cassiopeia for that rare and prized 2nd place in Siva’s left side. There was already an agreement with them that Agatha is not going to compete with that place. She is okay with being Siva’s friend —or so she says.

But for the two, less competition: better.

Yet who would have thought that the star of The North is actually a real-world “star” in every way and manner? She was a “Provoker” —a universally accepted female-only profession— and aside from that, she also had a unique battle sense where the victims of her dance would be stunned and thus it gives opening so she could deal damage. Victims of her dance wouldn’t even budge until they die.

As it turns out, those dance moves she uses in her fights might actually be her dance moves back in the real world.

He, Anthony, who sent the personal invitation, was as surprised as anyone would be when he first got his hands on this information.

“I already did.” He said and stretched out a hand to the girl, “Thank you for coming on my invitation, Phoebe, I hope you’d enjoy the time.”

Niobe, or the star, Phoebe, winked back as she shook his hand, “This is the prestigious Conclave, Thorn. My coming here is my greatest pleasure. I wouldn’t even get an invite in here no matter how much I dance in front of every stage in Yuropa.”

“Y-yeah… th-thank you for the invitation.” The girl-in-men’s-clothing, Seven (Pitou), spoke in a tiny voice from behind Coralline. Her leaf-mask is just like an eye-glass and it gave off the feeling of a real bishoujou because of her pointy lady-chin.

Even girl would think she’s cute just because of her lady chin, what more was her smooth skin and meek personality.

“So, are you the first?” Anthony asked since he’s been waiting for them to come since earlier. That’s the main reason why he was in this corner since it oversees the main entrances to the conclave.

“Well, Anna (Hawkeye) said they’re already on the way and she also said that she brought a special mask just for our group.” said Phoebe (Niobe).

“Special mask?” even Coralline was surprised.

At this point, Phoebe (Niobe) got a notif on her communicator and after a moment of reading its contents, she invited their group.

“The rest is already here. Let’s go and greet them, shall we.”

Upon her invitation, their group proceeded to the west entrance of the hall and from there, a large group of people came led by an obvious American who boasted of a large physique.

Tash Armstrong’s mustache shook as his eyes became sharp, meeting the owner of those muscles and offering first a right hand.

Of course the owner of that large body trained in the gym was none other than the battle maniac of the TOS Guild, Kramer.

“Mn!”

“Hoooh…”

The two’s eyes glinted sharply as they shook their hands with their arm muscles bulging, with sounds of something tensioning up coming from them.

Every person who heard those sounds fled in fear of their mind being affected by their muscles.

“Idiots.” (Loni)

“Idiots.” (Coralline)

Anthony met with the group comprised of the TOS Guild members and the other core members of the Asgardians.

There was Diyers, the assassin from Battle City as well as Otus, the Archer from the same place.

Both of them were already adults but when seen, the oldest of them was actually the pair of muscles who still contested who had the better hand grip.

“Ah, it seems I’m not late.” Someone’s voice said.

From the back, someone also came in. Dressed in a dark blue princely garb, the collar was snappily erected and his sideburns edged his jawline that spoke of experience and masculinity despite the lack of bulky muscles like Kramer and Tash.

When everyone looked over, the two muscle head immediately sensed it: the air of someone who had gone over the dark side of humanity and returned.

It was Heller, an ex-con and a strong comrade.

When Heller saw the two’s sharp stare, even from behind their masks, he couldn’t help smiling wide.

He offered the two of them his hands and the trio gripped each other, and so the earlier scene has repeated itself again.

“Idiots.” (Loni)

“Idiots.” (Coralline)

“Idiots.” (Niobe)

And then, while they were focused in the three, a little commotion rang from behind them.

Especially the men in the crowd, they couldn’t help swallowing their hearts. When Anthony and the rest finally looked over that direction, they saw a woman who —just like Niobe— had a sexiness to her that couldn’t be denied even by her water-like raiment that she wore around her body and limbs.

She walks like a cat on a ramp; one leg over the other, and when she finally drew close to Anthony and the group, she stopped.

“Hello everyone!” a totally sweet and captivating voice, the girl who had blonde yellow hair and a pair of familiar-sized breasts that won’t lose even when compared with Coralline’s… there’s only one person in all of Asgard that had that kind of chest.

“Cassiopeia!” Coralline herself confirmed it.

Though these two were of different heights, their playing styles and combat powers just complement each other so during hunts, they could be seen as a pair most of the time.

Cassiopeia walked over and Coralline and the girls joined in to form a circle.

Anthony couldn’t help scratching his head.

Who would have thought that that girl who always wanted to be abused seen by Siva was a gentle girl and a bombshell at that?

No one would even connect this gentle girl to that Gunner who loses her mind whenever she’s being carried by her emotions; the girl who would go berserk each time she delivers a suppression fire.

Anthony saw the palpable harmony in this group and although few words were spoken, there was an unspoken camaraderie existing in them.

“Nice, isn’t it?” a bespectacled boy, Fuma, spoke from beside him. Who knows since when he’s been in here? “Our little group became bigger.”

“Yeah… yeah it did.”

The TOS Guild was a little group personally built by [Thorn] in RPG: Terroa. Although in reality, it’s only been him and Fuma at first but in the end, the group with a secret goal in mind of its creation was baptized and soon, all of them shared the same goal of protecting the freedom in Terroa and also hunting down the known terrorists who wanted to use the in-game NanoTech Designs in reality.

It may be wishful thinking and is nothing more than his personal goal but Anthony was convinced that his reasons are just and warranted support.

Now, of the possible “terrorists” he had in his list, the name at the top of his list, [Siva] is actually one of his comrades.

He never spoke of this to anyone else and even hoped that his fears wouldn’t have to happen.

Looking at this group now, Anthony couldn’t help but smile to himself as he thought of the unknown future they would be facing.

And who would have thought, even, the [him], the “Unsociable Prince” in the noble circles, would be wasting his time actually mingling with commoners, even to an ex-con, and not to the people of same status as him?

No one would think like that.

……..or perhaps, there was someone.

“Oh, I’ve never thought that your friends would be this low-level, Anthony… such a waste of noble blood if you’re only wasting your time with them.”

It was a sharp comment and everyone who was in a good mood looked over the direction the voice of the rude comment originated from.

The source… was a girl. It was Amy.

“Ara, ara… for our Prince to actually be spending his time rejecting nobility and associating himself in commoners lacking in status, it’s no wonder that the Family Elders didn’t choose you to be the next Head of the Family. Ufufufu… well, I’ll be leaving you all in your devices then. Ciao… hahaha!”

It was obvious that she actually only came towards the entrance to make fun of Anthony but the guy himself only looked on at her, plain and cool, not in the slightest bit annoyed nor was he even a bit least affected by the provocation.

It should be noted, then, that in the first place, he, Anthony Thornberry, was never interested in the Family and only cared on the fact that he feared the full implementation of the [Project Salvation].

Because his attention and focus was elsewhere, the battle for being the next Head of the Family is never actually in his sights and this led for others to be ahead of him —with the next choice being the girl in front of him herself, Amy.

One… two… three steps… on the fourth step that Amy and her friends took to “get away victoriously” from their group, an arched elbow connected to a right arm that’s connected to a hand scratching the back of the owner’s head almost went past Amy’s vision. The shadow of the elbow —clearly not at the very least intended by the owner— scared her off that she instinctively backed off but because she was never good at sports, Amy’s pivot foot slipped and she almost fell down.

The surprised group of noble ladies, as useless as they are physically, could only cry out in fear as Amy fell down —or almost did— because the hand of the owner of that elbow grabbed her and pulled her up immediately.

“I’m so sorry miss. I almost hit you. Are you okay?”

The man had a kind and gentlemanly voice. His hand was soft and comfortable and when Amy saw the man’s face, he saw no mask at all and fully witnessed the man’s complexion.

Red brows, long red hair, red-purple eyes; it was that almost extinct and rare condition: [Alexandria Genesis], a type of genetic disorder or defect, at some medical schools, which effects are clinically categorized as post-congenital. Meaning, although it’s inborn, it doesn’t take effect immediately and only becomes visible when the child reaches four or five years old.

For women to have this condition, they’re certain to be hot women upon maturity and for men, when the conditions are right, they’d definitely be very dashing specimens, with a few even looking like Gods from legends which all women would adore.

And in this case, the unkempt long red hair of the man only added more charm to him. His piercings and his gruff and crude motions only made him a bit more like an uncultured Adonis that something every noble misses who grew up being protected inside their houses are actually weak against.

Emma Leon-Campbell Thornberry was just that of a lady at this very moment.

“Ah!” Amy was speechless and her face became red as she froze there, looking straight at him.

“Huh?” the man was confused then he backed off immediately as if she was some sort of disease as he covered his face with his hand, with his neck to his ears blushing brightly red. “I’m really sorry. I’m really sorry!”

“Ehhh? That voice….” from Anthony’s group, the girls took note of the voice of the handsome man and simultaneously pointed their fingers at him.

“““You’re Red Metal.”””

“Huh?” the man who tried to escape from being so close to a noble —dressed in a knightly attire yet still couldn’t omit his habit of having his upper polo opened and his hands-in-his-pockets posture look over at their direction. “You guys…. Oh! It’s you guys! I found you! Ahahahaha! I finally found you!”

“Why aren’t you wearing a mask?” asked Anthony who walked over and ignored Amy who became a bit flustered as she stared at the man.

The man who they called Red Metal, was actually part of their group of “trashes” and the more she stare at the man, the redder she became.

Red Metal had his ears punctured with five pairs of earrings. He doesn’t have tunnels but the black earrings over red hair matched the entirety of his image to them.

What more, here in the real world, who would’ve thought that Red Metal actually looked more like a Rockstar than a weak pushover thug from some random street corner when properly dressed?

Heck, with this kind of “appeal” he could’ve been a matinée idol on the onset of his first performance if he ever decided to be an actor.

Even more, the quality of his attire was not even that expensive despite the budget provided to the group by Thorn himself, so it gave people of this place more reason to actually look down on him and miss the chance to actually see his face. This, and the fact that he had a submissive personality that tends to make him lower his head in public, is all the more reason for his ‘assets’ to be ignored by the masses.

And given that submissive and reserved attitude paired with his gangster aura, aye, no one would actually bother to pay attention to him and will only think that he’s one of those poor geniuses from a faraway country somewhere. Yet to Anthony’s little group, this guy was definitely their Red Metal; the star of their show and Siva’s chosen proxy!

Who would have thought that Siva’s choice back then was actually spot on?

“I’m sorry. It would seem that my choice of mask is poor and I accidentally damaged it on my way to this place.”

The group laughed as he lightly gave his excuse.

“Let me see it.” Anthony asked and Red Metal put his hand on his breast pocket, pulling a pearl white half-faced mask with a crack on the remaining eye, making it look as if it was crying.

After examining the thing, Anthony looked over at him then back to the mask and then back to him, to the mask, and finally back to Red Metal, until he eventually gave the mask back and smilingly told him, “This will actually be better as it is. Wear it now before coming inside. After all, those who don’t wear masks wouldn’t be able to enter so you should at least wear a half-mask.”

Red Metal followed the advice and wore the mask and then hand-combed his hair to the left side to cover the mask-less part of his face.

This action was smoothly done and revealed the five piercings on his right ear.

Alas, Red Metal’s hair wasn’t that long and so the covered part of the left side of his face only had a part of it covered with the rest, including his jaw and his cheek revealed like some emo-jester.

His natural gangster poise and timid personality is like oil to a smoldering fire as Amy’s and the ladies’ surprised hearts cemented the “Rockstar” image of Red Metal, making them blush and stare at him subconsciously.

To the men, however, knowing Red Metal, they all laughed and patted the man in the back and put him at the forefront of their group, with Kramer even anchoring his arm around his neck.

“Let’s go inside. The boss might already be there.”

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Their own Conclave is in full swing!!!

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