...…

"So, what if I don't?" said Shin as he looked at them while releasing an intense pressure from his body.

The entire group suddenly turned stiff the moment Shin did that. But what really stunned them at this moment was the moment when they saw the mask that Shin was wearing. They were not 'cavemen' who didn't watch on live streams and broadcast, so it was natural for them to know who this guy in front of them was.

On the other hand, Joyce suddenly turned her head at Owen who seemed to be enjoying the show. She squinted her eyes as she now finally understood where this guy's confidence was coming from.

Feeling her gaze, Owen turned his head at her before flashing a cheeky smile. Joyce didn't know how she was going to react after seeing that expression. All she could do was to shake her head while smiling bitterly.

Meanwhile, Shin suddenly smirked the moment he saw the stunned expression on their faces. And after seeing that the leader of the group was not replying to him, he repeated his question. "Hey, what now? Where is that arrogant attitude of yours earlier?"

The expression on the leader's face became even more stiffer the moment he heard those words. At the same time, the other members of his group started sweating bullets at this point of time.

Seeing that they seemed not to have any intention of replying at him, Shin suddenly started smirking at them. After that, he turned his head back at the empty battle arena, waiting for the match to start.

The group seemed to become enraged once again the moment they saw Shin ignoring them once again. Unfortunately, they couldn't do anything with it.

They were confident about their strengths and were sure that they could hold themselves against some Maverick Gods. But it was a little different for this guy in front of them. Especially that they knew how all-rounded Shin was in both one-on-one and group battles.

A moment later, the members started looking at each other as they were not sure what they were going to do. And with this awkward atmosphere, all of them were not too ashamed to stay on this place.

Given that, the leader sent a message on the party channel chat to ask about their opinions. And when the others read what he said, they look at each other once again before coming up with the same decision.

After that, the leader looked at Owen and Joyce and said with a stiff smile on his face. "I am sorry 'Ithilien' (Joyce's In-game Name), Owen. I just remember that we still have some quest that we urgently need to do. So, I guess we need to go right now."

Hearing that, Owen immediately gave him a surprised face and said. "You are going already? The match is about to start in just a few more minutes. Are you sure that you are not going to watch it with us?"

The leader smiled stiffly at him and replied. "I'm really sorry but it is actually a timed quest, so our time is very limited."

"Oh~! Is that so? Too bad. But I wish you success on that quest," said Owen with a face 'full of regret'.

After that, the leader nodded his head at Owen before exiting the room together with his teammates.

On the other hand, Joyce looked at Owen and asked with a raising eyebrow. "Is it a little too much? If you don't want to invite them in here, then you should have said so. There is no need to shame them like that."

Owen just shrugged his shoulders after hearing that, but Joyce seemed to buy his innocent attitude. And when Shin saw that, he immediately said. "That truth is he really wants to let them watch the fight. If only they don't say those unnecessary things earlier, then we could have prevented this from happening."

When Joyce heard that, she immediately turned her head at Shin before turning silent. 'He is right. Those guys are wrong in the first place, so I can't blame these two.'

On the other hand, Owen gave Shin an OK sign with his hands while looking at him with great gratitude. But while looking at the latter, he suddenly received a private message, saying. – "You owe me one." –

After reading its content, the corner of Owen's smile couldn't help but twitch uncontrollably before saying to himself. 'This cold-hearted b*st*rd.'

*********

Meanwhile, the group that was previous with Shin and other others suddenly appeared at their last location. And right after appearing the Shield Warrior of the group started throwing a pit. "D*mn that guy! Did he think that he is already a bigshot just because he entered the semifinals of the Shadow Ranking Cup?"

The others didn't voice it out, but all of them seemed to agree to what he was saying. Especially the leader who was currently gritting his teeth.

A moment later, the Dual Blader looked at their Captain and asked. "What are we going to do now, Captain? Are we just going to let this past? That guy shames us in front of Ithilien, this will surely affect your image in front of her."

Hearing that, the leader became even more furious before looking at him with a pair of glaring eyes. "Do you think that I don't know about that?"

"What can we do? Even if that guy is too full of himself, he possesses a strength to back his words up at the very least. Given his style of battle, our odds of winning against him is quite slim even if we fight him together," said the Female Master Shaman.

The Specter Master Assassin, on the other hand, nodded his head before adding. "And if you add Owen and 'Itilhien' in the equation, then beating them is pretty much unfavorable for us."

Hearing this, the other members of the group suddenly turned quiet as they were too helpless in this situation.

But while all of them were so down, the leader suddenly said. "If we can't beat them with our current strength, then let's join force with others."

The members of the group suddenly raised their heads the moment he heard that. And after a few seconds of confusion, the Shield Warrior suddenly asked. "Captain. Are you telling us to-..?"

He was still in the middle of talking when the leader immediately confirmed his suspicion. "Yes, we are going to form a contract with that guild now. Those guys are quite persistent at taking the Unknown Quest Scroll for quite some time now."

He paused for a moment before adding. "And since we can't figure out how to use that useless quest scroll, I guess it is better for us to give it to them while asking for some conditions in return."

Hearing that, the whole group started grinning widely as they came up with this same conclusion. – "If it is that Guild, then I am sure that they could wipe that guy's *ss on the floor." –

*******

At the same time, Shin seemed to feel something itchy inside his nose which forced him to sneeze quite loudly.

Ahcoo~!

"Tch! The heck! I think those guys are talking sh*ts about me right now," muttered Shin while rubbing his right-hand index finger under his nose.

Hearing that, Owen started laughing and said. "What can you expect? Praise you for shaming them? Of course! They are going to curse you."

Shin gave him a sidelong glance before asking. "I guess I should leave this place too so that you two can have some space."

Unknowingly, Joyce's ears suddenly turned the moment she heard that. Fortunately, her hair was covering them, which was why either Shin or Owen couldn't see them. And before Shin could even stand, she immediately said. "If you are leaving, I guess it is also not appropriate for me to stay in here too."

Seeing that she was also about to stand up, Owen immediately held her arm and said. "Wait! Wait! Wait! He is just kidding. Don't mind his words."

After that, he looked at Shin with a pair of pleading eyes as if saying. – "Please, bro! Help me with this one too! I will remember this for the rest of my life!" –

The corner of Shin's mouth suddenly twitched the moment he saw that. But he still sat back on his seat with a helpless smile while sending another message to Owen.

Sickarius: You owe me another one!

Reading the message, Owen nodded his head repeatedly with a face full of gratitude. And when Itilhien saw that Shin was sitting back once again, she also sat back on her own seat.

On the other hand, Shin was currently supporting his forehead with a hand while shaking him helplessly. "The heck? Why did I end up being a third wheel?"

Fortunately, the next match of the quarterfinals had finally started. Shin took a deep breath to recollect his thoughts so that he could focus on the upcoming battle.

After that, he looked at the two contenders standing in the middle of the current battle area while muttering to himself. "Now, let's see how strong the crowned Sword and Gun Kings of the «Nemesis Online» are."

...