Complete silence descended upon the restaurant as the tension between Gameliel and Zarrell steadily intensified. The atmosphere had grown so heavy that even the restaurant manager, who had hurried down from his office after hearing the commotion, could only stand at a distance. Caught between the two young masters, he had no idea how to mediate.
"The way you speak now reveals the depth of your character," Zarrell said elegantly, though there was a hint of contempt in his voice.
Gameliel scoffed.
"Coming from someone who betrayed his best friend and stole his girlfriend, you're really giving me a lecture about morals?"
"Don't you dare compare me to that good-for-nothing!" Zarrell snapped, his expression darkening as though Gameliel had touched his reverse scale.
Gameliel remained unfazed.
"Compared to the person you call good-for-nothing, you aren't worth a single strand of his hair."
Zarrell clenched his fists. He tried his best to suppress his fury, but the look in his eyes made it obvious that a volcano of rage was brewing within him, one that could erupt at the slightest loss of control.
"Manager!" Zarrell called out, masking the anger in his voice.
"Yes, Young Master Zarrell!"
The manager hurried over to his side.
"You have connection capsules for the virtual platform in this restaurant, don't you?"
"Yes, we do, Young Master."
"Good. My friend here and I will be needing two capsules. I trust there won't be any problems?"
As Zarrell stared intently at him, the manager felt as though he was being warned not to utter a single word of refusal.
"Not at all, Young Master Zarrell. I'll make the necessary arrangements immediately."
Without wasting another second, the manager practically fled toward the upper floor, eager to escape the invisible heat radiating from the two young masters.
Zarrell turned back to Gameliel, a provocative smile appearing on his face.
"What do you think, Gameliel? I hope your strength can back up all that trash you've been spewing."
Gameliel merely smiled lazily.
"Just wait until I wipe that smug grin off your face. Then we'll see who's leaving through the back door out of shame."
Their challenge quickly became the hottest topic in the restaurant. Excited patrons immediately posted the news online, and within minutes, the internet was buzzing. Two young masters with promising prospects going head-to-head on the virtual platform was more than enough to capture everyone's attention.
People connected to the virtual world through whatever means they had at their disposal, eager not to miss the spectacle.
The news soon reached the ears of both fathers.
—
Inside the Mac Corell family villa, the head butler, Watson, knocked on the door of a study before entering upon receiving permission.
The room he stepped into was so large that it could easily rival a standard three-bedroom apartment. Tall shelves lined the walls, packed with books, scrolls, and journals collected over many years. In one corner stood a bed, reserved for nights when its owner worked until exhaustion overtook him.
Behind a massive mahogany desk sat a tall, broad-shouldered man whose mere presence commanded respect. He possessed a square face, sharp hazel eyes, and a pointed nose with a narrow bridge. His neatly maintained beard gave him the dignified aura of a refined and accomplished man.
He wore a fitted purple shirt adorned with gold buttons and matching cufflinks, paired with black trousers. At the moment, he was reviewing a stack of documents. Watson quietly waited until his master finished.
After placing the final document aside, the man folded his hands on the desk and looked up.
"Mr. Watson, is there something you need?"
"Family Head, forgive me for disturbing you during your busy hours. This concerns Young Master Zarrell."
The expression of the Family Head, who was also Zarrell's father, changed immediately.
"What happened? Is he hurt?"
Ever since Zarrell's exceptional prospects had been discovered, he had become the focus of his father's attention. Not only was he gifted, but he was also the only son among his children. Naturally, the Family Head held high hopes for him.
Seeing the concern on his master's face, Watson quickly reassured him.
"No, Family Head. Young Master Zarrell is perfectly fine. On a contrary, after exchanging words with Gameliel of the Raine family and ending up at a disadvantage verbally, he issued him a challenge."
The Family Head visibly relaxed.
"So it's nothing more than a clash between two hot-blooded youngsters with too much energy to spare."
He leaned back in his chair and snorted lightly.
"Contact the Family Head of the Raine family. His son has been causing disturbances throughout the city, and yet he doesn't seem to be doing anything about it."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Let's see what he has to say about this."