Take your time

Jake tipped on his toes to take a look.

Alex Lehner!

The guildmaster of the Shining Fawns Guild. This kid was rather young actually. About 16 years old. Around the same age as Ben Cox.

Except this teenager looked rather skinny. Hazelnut-colored curly hair. Half a head shorter than Ben Cox.

This kid gritted his teeth and glared at Ben. He kind of looked like a geeky nerdy kid trying to fend off a bully.

Threat level by instinct: negligible.

However, like the guildmaster of the Iron Sparrow Guild, this kid had a strong item on him.

Threat level by instinct of that unknown item: Low.

The crowd did not even look angry anymore. They seemed to be rather entertained seeing a guildmaster in trouble.

Jake raised his brows. He felt ashamed at himself for 0.05 seconds. Still. Not helping though. This was none of his business.

Still, Jake was rather curious of the upcoming plot . This 'High School Bullying Live' show was not bad. Not bad at all.

The snobby brat raised his head further. With a snicker, Ben looked down at the young guildmaster (successfully this time).

"Oh. Got a word?" Ben Cox asked with a blank expression.

Jake squinted his eyes. This kid seemed to have changed a little. What's up with that attitude?

"Hey! You! New guy!" A bodyguard behind Ben Cox noticed Jake.

Ben Cox quickly turned around.

Jake replied with a nod.

"You! We actually found you this easily!" Ben Cox heartily laughed. "Looks like your luck has ran out!"

Jake: ... 'This guy actually came into this realm to look for me...'

"Oh." Jake nodded and stopped standing on his toes.

The explorers around Jake quickly stepped out of the way. It's as if Jake was a drop of dish soap in a dirty pot or something.

"I'll give you a chance. Come here." Ben Cox laughed as if he had won.

"Hurry up!" A bodyguard added.

"Are you deaf."

"You think Beetle will fend for you!"

Some explorers looked at Jake as if they were looking at a clown. Some saw Jake as a dead man.

Some recognized Jake though. These guys started whispering to each other.

"Wait... Isn't that..."

"I know..."

"Should we..."

"What if..." That explorer subtly pointed at Ben Cox with his chin. "He targets us... That artisan is clearly not interested in public appearances. If you jump out, you'll displease both sides..."

"Right. You are right... Good call..."

Jake stood there nodding, patiently hearing these guys barking out threats. 'Nothing I see.'

Lightly shaking his head, Jake walked towards the crowd.

"What. After hiding behind a woman, you are trying to hide in the crowd now?"

"What gave a coward like you the courage to join our guild?"

Ding!

[ Taunt Quest Triggered! ]

[ Quest Description: Are you actually going to walk away like a coward! Why! Due to laziness? Really? Seriously? Unbelievable! Time to retaliate! ]

[ Mock the target to gain anger points. The angrier the target is, the more anger points generated. ]

[ Current Anger Points: 0 / 10 ]

[ Quest ends in: 9 Min 58 Seconds ]

[ Reward: Gain 1 click point for 1 anger point. After collecting 10 anger points, 1 click point is rewarded for every 10 anger points.]

[ Quest Failure Punishment: The host is hexed into a gutless-looking duck for 3 days ]

The edge of Jake's mouth lightly twitched.

'So the system is telling me not to duck the words thrown at me? Or I'll be turned into a duck?'

'So it has to be triggered by in-your-face taunts? The system can't understand passive-aggressive mockery?'

'Also, this taunt quest NPC triggered the taunt quest more easily this time... Well. What can I say...'

Tsk... Very noice.

"Oh. Not interested." Jake shrugged.

[ +3 Anger Points]

The explorers around widened their eyes at Jake.

Are newbies this brave (reckless) nowadays? By their conversation, this guy just joined the Shining Arrow Guild right?

"Are you sure you know what you are doing?" Ben Cox's expression fell cold.

For some reason, Ben Cox's anger quickly flared up the moment he saw Jake.

Even in the magical realm! As a detector! The same careless expressions!

Ben's expectations had fell short again.

Raising a finger, a small flame burst out. "As a detector, are you sure..."

"I don't smoke." Jake shook his head. "So I don't need the fire. Thanks."

[ +5 Anger Points]

"Pfftt... Herr..." Someone suppressed their laughter. But the laughter came out sounding like a goose noise. "Herrr... Herr... Herr..."

"Pfttt... Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

Laughter broke out in this tent. Though, it was unclear what the explorers were laughing at. Ben Cox? Or the goose laugh.

[ +3 Anger Points]

[ Taunt Quest has Been Completed! ]

[ +12 Anger Points ]

[ +13 Anger Points ]

"You! You- You better watch out out there." Ben Cox glared at Jake with a menacing expression.

"Oh. You too." Jake faintly smiled. Maintaining his blank expression was a little hard in this laughing crowd.

Ben Cox looked around. His face was quickly flushed red.

[ +15 Anger Points ]

"Are you. Eerr. Are you-" His thinking seemed to be lagging. "Are you threatening me?!"

Jake sighed and carelessly shrugged. "You can think whatever you want to think."

Jake had 'Don't care' written all over his face.

Someone in the crowd whistled.

[ +20 Anger Points]

[ +25 Anger Points]

"You- You-"

"Yes. I'm listening." Jake looked at the brat with a compassionate gaze.

"Take your time. I'm in no hurry." Jake looked at the brat like a babysitter looking at a toddler.

[ +34 Anger Points]

"Why are you looking at me like that!" Ben Cox gritted his teeth. "You are so dead you hear me!"

"Once you step out of this place, you are a dead man!"

[ +50 Anger Points]

[ +20 Anger Points]

[ +12 Anger Points]

"Tsch. So this is the strongest unranked guild in Shine City." It's a member of the Shining Fawns Guild. This bulky dude looked at Ben Cox with a mocking gaze.

Ben Cox glared back.

"Why are you guys still here! Get out!" The teenager shouted like an exploding powder keg.