[BONUS]

What is this?

Mr. Rudolf only smelled the smoky meat, and his saliva pooled in his mouth. The feeling was akin to being starved for days and then suddenly finding a boar that was roasted over a fire.

Mr. Rudolf sliced the meat. It was a tender, juicy, medium-rare steak that wasn't overcooked or undercooked.

It was grilled to perfection over special coal!

Mr. Rudolf took a small chunk into his mouth, and the first contact made him tear from the rich flavor. It was an experience he greatly welcomed again. The last time he cried over food was when he ate cheap steak when he could finally afford it.

And when he chewed, it melted in his mouth, juices coated his tongue, and he literally went to heaven and back.

The next morning, the real world was in pandemonium when Mr. Rudolf wrote a ten pages article explaining his experience with this [Pelka Meat]. Saying as far as it was the most delicious meat he had ever eaten in his whole life.

On that same day, most restaurants, old and new, were clamoring to buy lands in numerous towns in COVENANT and start their business in the virtual game.

Bloggers, Influencers, Food critics, and other food enthusiasts immediately logged into the game, racing against each other to try this meat. And not even half a day, the Pelka Meat that Ren sold was gone.

But thousands still wanted to have a taste, and thousands more wanted to taste it again.

And thus, the start of the Pelka's Meat revolution.

Meanwhile, before the meat's popularity exploded, Ren had raided all the Pelka areas he knew. But the meat he accumulated only added little to the four thousand he accumulated before.

It took him a day in gaming time, plus a day of selling meat in all major cities in the game. Ren only had two days more before he would be forced to log out by the game.

If before he only spent like two to three days in COVENANT, this time, every minute was important for Ren. He felt like he was wasting precious time if he took even a second break.

Ren decided to go to Maze Forest and start the quest for his Alchemical Pursuit.

When he teleported to World Conqueror's headquarters, it was only Alice inside the HQ, and the ghost immediately barraged him with her questions.

"Ren, is it true that your parents is dead?"

"Is it true that Evie will no longer be in the game?"

"Did you break up?"

"What happened?"

"SPEAK TO ME!"

Ren only escaped the persistent ghost and went out of HQ.

He didn't want to talk about it. He was not ready, and he was afraid he would never will.

Maybe time would heal the hole that his parents left. But not until Evie was safe by his side, he didn't want to be reminded that he couldn't see her until then.

Evie was currently prisoned in her room with no access to the outside world or even in the game. Not until she was married to Lamir.

There was no divorce in royalty's law, so Ren really had to stop the wedding if he planned to bring Evie to the altar himself and start a family with her.

A notification rang in Ren's ears, and when he checked, it was Lamir, wanting to meet up.

Ren wasn't surprised that Lamir knew of his contact information. He must have got it from Evie or got it from World Conqueror itself.

Ren immediately met up with Lamir in Pontera City. He was eager to meet the man because he was his only link to Evie right now.

Inside a café, Ren found Lamir parched inside a private area. His presence lit up the room, and his smiling face could cast away even Ren's gloomy mood.

But when Lamir spoke, all of his endearing qualities flew out of the window.

"Ren, my darling, how are you? You're looking so gloomy like always. Like a dangerous handsome creature wanting to bite my neck. Love it."

Ren's eyelid twitched. Lamir was still tamed before, but now that they were alone, he was showing his true colors.

And suddenly, Ren felt that his life was in danger.

Ren changed the topic. "How's Evie?"

Lamir pouted. "You're no fun. Aren't you going to ask how I'm doing?"

Ren only stared at Lamir, and under his pressured gaze, Lamir sighed and pulled something out from his inventory.

"Here. Evie wanted to give you this and the message that I hereby quote, 'I'm with you. Always.'"

Ren took the [Black Choker] from the table, his façade cracked a little, and he closed his eyes to contain his emotions.

It was the very first item that he gave her. Come to think of it. It was like a memento of how they met. Of how it all started.

Ren safely stored the choker in his vault in the Bank so it wouldn't be snatched from him.

He could still look and get it anytime he wanted since he had access to all his items in the Bank with just a simple press of a button on his menu.

Evie must have used Lamir's phone to log into her account and transfer this item to Lamir since she no longer had access to a pod.

"By the way, Ren," Lamir leaned over and sweetly smiled. "You're like the leader of World Conqueror, right?"

"Yeah."

"You know, even in our country, your mercenary group is so popular."

Lamir wiggled his brows, and Ren sighed.

"Get straight to the point and tell me what you need help with."

Lamir clapped his hands in glee. "Perfect! You see, my guild is having a hard time on this dungeon–!"

"You have a guild?" Ren butt in.

Lamir nodded.

"What is the name of your guild?"

"Only Wonderful, Beautiful Men."

Ren was silent, and he asked again. "No, really . . . What is the name of your guild."

Lamir scoffed. "I just told you."

". . . That's the name of your guild?"

"That's right!" Lamir said proudly. "OWBM for short."

"And I assume that only men are allowed in this guild."

"That's right! Come to think of it . . . you fit our guild perfectly to a Z. So how about it? Do you want to join my guild?" Lamir beamed.

"No, thank you," said Ren almost immediately.