Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 263

Yesterday’s rain had coaxed the trees lining the Lima City Coliseum to sprout fresh, green leaves. The spectators arriving for the 31st match of the Gods Knights were captivated by the burgeoning spring, admiring the scenery around them.

In the north parking lot, a sleek, sporty flying car delivered two figures: a woman with long, red, curly hair in a figure-hugging dress, and a tall, silver-haired man. He offered her his arm with a polite smile.

“Princess Shaila, shall we proceed?”

Shaila playfully poked his side, laughing. “You’re such a cheeseball. Why are you acting so formal?”

“Hehe. Why? I’m simply escorting our princess with the utmost courtesy.”

She glanced around before answering. “If the paparazzi snap a picture of this, the media will go wild.”

“Hahaha. Why worry? It’s just a loving couple having a friendly chat. Surely they wouldn’t twist that into something bad?”

“Still, it’s embarrassing.”

“It’s okay. Besides, do you really think paparazzi would follow us to this backwater town? And I drove like a maniac to make sure we weren’t being tailed. No need to worry.”

“But there are local media outlets, you know.”

“Doesn’t matter. Think of it as charity, getting snapped by some local press. It’s all part of the fan service.”

Shaila looked troubled but nodded. When Gillium spoke with such confidence, there was little room for argument.

“Well, if you say so, I suppose I have no choice.”

As they strolled toward the Coliseum entrance, he asked, “But Shaila, why did you agree to do the ceremonial first strike for such a small-town team? I enjoyed the drive, but you didn’t really need to come all this way.”

“Apparently, the home team’s original striker had a scheduling conflict. They couldn’t find a replacement, so they asked me.”

“But you have a match tomorrow, don’t you? Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

“It’s fine. I took a day off yesterday.”

Gllium shook his head. Granting a star gladiator a day off during the season seemed incredibly lenient. Any other gladiator would have been disciplined for even thinking about it. That’s the power of money and influence. Her father was the vice president of the Federal Gladiator Association, so most teams were eager to please her.

“Still, did you really have to take a day off? There are team considerations, you know.”

“I had no choice. I owed them a favor from before, so I had to repay it.”

“You owed them a favor?”

“Yeah. I received swordsmanship training from the chairman here a while ago.”

Gllium’s eyes widened. “You’re telling me some no-name team chairman taught you, a world-renowned gladiator?”

“Yeah. The chairman here is Gladiator Oh Beomseok, the strong swordsman who fought Amelie to a draw.”

Understanding dawned on him. The duel between Beomseok and Amelie was legendary, a hot topic among gladiator fans. Gillium, who had diligently researched Shaila’s background to impress her, knew the name well.

“Ah. So Gladiator Oh Beomseok is the chairman of the Gods Knights?”

“Mhm, that’s right.”

“Hahaha. I should get his autograph later.”

“Really? You can get it now.”

“Now?”

Shaila smiled and waved toward the Coliseum. Beomseok was approaching to greet them.

However, her eyes widened as she noticed a man following him. It was an unexpected face from the past.

“Oh, Rubin! It’s been years! Long time no see. Hey!”

Rubin offered an awkward smile, looking slightly embarrassed. “Oh, yeah, long time no see. How have you been?”

“I’ve been doing great, of course. But what brings you here?”

“Ah, I have some business to discuss with Beomseok.”

Shaila narrowed her eyes. She suspected he was there to recruit Beomseok due to factional politics. Rubin was a rising gladiator, and his team had a good chance of being promoted to the Central League. Adding him to the Louis faction would be a significant advantage.

“Are you still doing your father’s dirty work?”

“Dirty work? I’m just returning a favor. Honestly, my family owes its success to your father, Vice President Louis.”

“Come on. Still, your mother also runs a professional team, so you should help her out.”

“My mother manages it well enough on her own. Besides, I have much to learn from Vice President Louis.”

“Well, if that’s what you think, I can’t force you. Please continue to take good care of my father.”

Rubin nodded, glancing at Gillium. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him. By the way, is that your boyfriend?”

Shaila proudly looped her arm through Gillium’s, smiling. “Yeah, he’s my sweetheart.”

“Ah, I see. Then you should introduce us. We haven’t met.”

Shaila led Gillium to Rubin. “Of course. Honey, say hello. This is Rubin, a childhood friend.”

He put on a welcoming smile and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Gillium. I’m an actor.”

“Yes, I’m Rubin. I’m working as Vice President Louis’s executive secretary and learning how to manage a professional gladiator team.”

“Is that so? It’s a great honor to serve Vice President Louis so closely.”

“Hahaha, yes, it is. He’s a very insightful person.”

After a brief handshake and a few pleasantries, Gillium turned to Beomseok with a friendly demeanor.

“Hello? I’ve often heard about Gladiator Oh Beomseok in the media. If you have time later, could I trouble you for an autograph?”

“Of course. I’d be happy to. But before that, I have a favor to ask.”

“Yes, please tell me. If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do it.”

“I’d like you to join Shaila for the ceremonial first strike.”

He pointed to himself. “Are you asking me to participate in the ceremonial first strike as well?”

“Yes, of course. Shaila tells me you’ll be appearing as a supporting actor in a TNGL [Terrestrial Network Gladiator League] broadcast drama soon. Please give our team the honor of capitalizing on that fame before it spreads worldwide.”

Gllium laughed a little too enthusiastically. No one disliked being praised so highly.

“Hahaha, I’m flattered. But my rates are a bit high.”

“Hahaha, surely you don’t think I’d ask you to do it for free? Actors have image rights, after all. I’ll give you 500,000 Crang [currency unit] as a special offer.”

Gllium’s eyes lit up. He was a relatively unknown actor, but who knew what the future held? 500,000 Crang for a single ceremonial first strike was an exorbitant fee. He had never earned that much money before. He figured it wouldn’t hurt to accept the offer as a way to make some easy money.

“Well, I suppose I have to participate in the ceremonial first strike out of respect for your sincerity. Yes, I understand.”

“Hahaha, thank you. Now, please follow me. I’ll guide you to the striker’s waiting room.”

Beomseok led Shaila and Gillium into the Coliseum and to the striker’s waiting room. Then, he escorted Rubin to the indoor VIP room. He wasn’t participating in the gladiator match that day due to important business.

Rubin settled into a cushioned seat, looking down at the stadium. “Beomseok, why did you invite Shaila and Gillium as ceremonial strikers?”

Beomseok smiled faintly. “It’s simple. I’m going to take them to the Rainbow Hotel under the pretense of dinner.”

“The Rainbow Hotel? Why?”

“If we go there, we can expose Gillium’s true colors. I’ve already conspired with all the employees, including Chairwoman Gloria, and set up hidden cameras. He’ll struggle like a moth caught in a spiderweb before his downfall.”

“Ah, is that so? How do you plan to proceed specifically?”

Beomseok raised his index finger and shook it. “It wouldn’t be fun if I told you everything. Just watch. Gillium will be so humiliated that he’ll run away with his tail between his legs.”

“Hahaha, I’m looking forward to it. I want to see it soon.”

“Hehe, yes. It won’t be long now, so anticipate it.”

While they were talking, it was time for the ceremonial first strike. Guided by event staff, Shaila and Gillium walked arm in arm, waving to the cheering spectators. Following the instructions of the referee and the team captain, Erphina, they grabbed their swords and aimed them at Venus and Oscar, who were dressed as scarecrows.

– Today, Shaila, the main vanguard of Horror Veres, and her lover, Gillium, will be performing the ceremonial first strike. Please give them a round of applause!

Another round of applause erupted from the stands. Shaila, like a true professional, bowed politely and walked toward the scarecrow gladiators with Gillium.

– Now! Please strike!

Simultaneously, the two swords struck Venus and Oscar’s foreheads with force. Gillium, thrilled to be performing the ceremonial first strike in front of such a large crowd, held his head high. He seemed to believe he had become a celebrity.

Wow! Wow!

However, the excited atmosphere was shattered by a spectator who stormed into the stadium. The uninvited guest, a brown-haired man, rushed toward Shaila and Gillium. Oscar and Venus tried to stop him, but Erphina intervened. According to the rules, gladiators were not allowed to touch civilians inside the stadium under any circumstances.

As a result, the brown-haired man reached Gillium without resistance and grabbed him by the collar.

“You bastard, how dare you steal Shaila from me! I’m going to kill you today!”

The nearby referees tried to restrain him, but the man was relentless. He glared at Gillium with vengeful eyes, punching and shoving him. A reporter, sensing a story, shouted, “That, that’s Dyson!”

The reporters’ attention immediately shifted to Shaila. She was flustered and unsure of what to do, looking anxious. The reporters, realizing the situation, saw it as a gift and aimed their cameras at Gillium and Dyson’s brawl, snapping photos. A major incident that would dominate tomorrow’s sports news had unfolded before them.

“Hey! Get out of the way! The camera is blocking me!”

“Damn it! Don’t tell me to get out of the way! You get out of the way!”

The fight escalated to include the reporters, who were adding fuel to the fire. Beomseok, witnessing the commotion from the VIP seat, looked bewildered and pressed his face against the window.

“Rubin, what on earth is going on?”

Rubin, looking embarrassed, hesitated before standing up. “This is a troublesome situation.”

“What’s wrong? And who is that brown-haired man? He seems to know Shaila well.”

Rubin sighed deeply and said quietly, “That’s Dyson, Shaila’s ex-boyfriend. A typical gigolo.”

“But why is someone like that here?”

“He’s probably run out of money. All gigolos are the same.”

Beomseok scratched his head in frustration. “Why now of all times! That damn bastard has ruined everything!”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I have to take Shaila and Gillium to the Rainbow Hotel today, but this has ruined everything! They won’t accept the dinner invitation now.”

Rubin’s face fell in sympathy. Shaila, facing the scandal of a fight between her past and present lovers, wouldn’t be able to accept the dinner invitation. She would likely flee back to her team.

“Then what should we do? Has Beomseok’s plan completely failed?”

“Hmph~ There’s nothing we can do now. Let’s go down and assess the situation.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

As Beomseok entered the stadium, he saw Dyson being dragged away by security guards. He was crying and calling out to Shaila, and one of the guards, out of sight of the reporters, punched him in the mouth.

Beomseok shook his head and stared at Shaila, who was surrounded by reporters at the entrance.

“Shaila, are you okay?”

Shaila glanced at him and lowered her head. She felt responsible for ruining the ceremonial first strike.

Rubin, watching this, sighed. “Hmph~ I guess this plan has failed.”

Beomseok stared silently at Shaila as she walked away and replied, “Yes, I suppose so. But today isn’t the only day. It may be delayed, but we can solve it later with a more thorough plan. So don’t worry too much.”

“Hmph, I understand. Then I’ll trust you, Beomseok.”

Beomseok turned to Rubin. “Now, Rubin, go after Shaila and comfort her. She won’t want to see Gillium right now, so you’re the only one who can get close to her. Do you understand?”

“Ah, you mean I should use this opportunity to build rapport?”

“That’s right. Things have gotten complicated, but we should still make the most of the situation.”

“Hehe, I understand. Then I’ll be on my way.”

Rubin’s eyes lit up as he hurried after Shaila. Beomseok, who had been watching him, took out an electronic notepad from his pocket. When a woman appeared on the screen, he spoke quietly, “Margaret, send Dyson the remaining 1 million Crang we promised him. And tell him he did a great job today. Thanks to him, I’m now certain.”

– Yes, I understand.

After receiving the confirmation, Beomseok closed the electronic notepad and turned around. He had a good grasp of the situation, and now all that remained was to find the mastermind.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

I’m a bit late. I have some things to do every weekend. It looks like tomorrow will be a bit later too. If it seems like it’s been a while, just go to sleep. ^^.

Have a great day everyone. I’ll see you again tomorrow morning.