Chapter 632: Chapter 633: Two Friends
While the world discussed him, the main character of all this trouble was now the subject of a few rumors as he sat at a small corner table overlooking a large window.
He sighed, taking a sip of his drink.
Matia’s eyes flickered as she looked at him downing his seventh glass. He sniffed, clearly feeling the weight of the moment.
"I get it... I’m drinking too much... but we all know I can’t go in there sober. Renata hit me up again."
Renata, the violet-haired woman, nodded and poured him another cup of what was obviously the strongest alcohol she could find.
Damon took another glass, then another.
"Dammit, I’m not getting drunk... curse my poison resistance. Screw this, get me some poison instead."
"What are you doing..." A familiar voice called out to him. Damon felt his heart flutter when he heard that voice, a thin smile forming on his lips.
"Ahhh, hey there Leona... what brings you here this fine evening?"
The beast-kin girl had been brought here by Evangeline.
She walked over to a chair and sat down, a thin smile playing at her lips.
"Did you miss me?"
Damon sniffed with an expression of sadness.
"You’re truly my bestie... you’re the first one to show up in my darkest hours."
Leona gave him a deadpan expression. Clearly, Matia, Renata, and Evangeline had been here the whole time.
Sometimes he was such an unreliable narrator.
"Uh-huh, right... what trouble have you caused this time?"
Damon chuckled evilly, taking another sip of his drink.
"Nothing at all. I didn’t even provoke anyone. I’ve been on my best behavior."
"That’s not what I heard..." Leona crossed her arms.
"Who’s been lying on my head... it’s Eva, right? She’s always bad-mouthing me."
Evangeline was left speechless, her eyes narrowing.
"I didn’t even say anything to her. What’s wrong with you, are you picking a fight?"
Leona narrowed her eyes, certain that Damon had caused trouble.
"I heard it from the crowd. Apparently the prince guy already challenged you. The war games are starting the day after tomorrow and people are already challenging you."
What Leona said next made everyone speechless.
"You have got to teach me how to do that. Nobody’s tried to challenge me yet. I mean that’s so boring."
Damon’s eyes widened before he broke into loud laughter.
"Yes, yes! I knew you would be on my side, I never doubted you."
Evangeline sneered.
"That’s not what it looked like a few seconds ago."
Damon didn’t pay her any mind. Not caring that Leona was an unwed lady, he grabbed her into a bear hug, lifting her off her feet.
Putting her down, he cleared his throat.
"It ain’t much... but since you want to learn, I suppose I can teach you. It’s just a little something I picked up in my travels. It’s something of a lost art."
Leona’s eyes flickered with excitement, eager to hear what he had to say.
Renata took out a notepad, Matia’s eyes flickered, her expression impassive.
Evangeline wasn’t having any of it. Her expression was full of helplessness and a hint of disdain.
Damon had a profoundly distant look on his face.
"The art of Ragebaiting... is a complex art. I shudder at the thought of putting such power in the hands of one so young, so reckless... but it must be passed on."
Evangeline felt a headache coming.
"I think I’ll be needing a drink... I can’t stay sober for this."
And thus, with Renata documenting and Leona excited to be a menace to everyone’s mental state, Damon went into an hour-long rant on the delicate art of ragebaiting, its complexities, and the deep philosophy of inciting anger in people even if they were more powerful.
In fact, it was encouraged. This was an orthodox school of thought to provoke those who were stronger, even if your actions had real consequences and could do irreparable damage to you. At least you got the gratification of inciting anger.
Leona was so happy to learn this, praising Damon up and down for being a good friend and teaching her his profound techniques.
Evangeline glanced at the glass of wine in her hand. With a disgusted expression, she put it down.
The alcohol had to be the reason she sat through this nonsense... no, she blamed herself for letting it get this far.
"What... what is wrong with you... are you trying to get her killed?"
Damon sneered, giving Evangeline the stink eye.
"Of course Madam Justice won’t understand... you are astray... find the light."
Evangeline was stunned into speechlessness.
"My attribute is light and my second class is Dawnbringer... if anything, you’re the problem. How... who even... when... ahhh forget it. Go ahead and die for all I care."
Damon tapped Leona’s shoulder.
"You know, I’m thinking of pulling off a big one with Sylvia’s father in the war games. He has to kill me or cough up blood... or I can’t live with myself."
Renata raised her hand from where she had been taking notes.
"Ermh... my lord, from the looks of it, you might very well die... I’m not sure that’s a good idea."
Evangeline’s lips twitched. "Exactly... and why are you calling him ’my lord’?"
Renata tilted her head like that was a strange question.
Damon shook his head mockingly.
"Eva, this is why you can never provide the comfort of a lady. At your core... you’re a brute. Can’t you just support my dreams? Why can’t you believe in me?"
She rolled her eyes at his sudden words.
"I believe you’re going to get yourself killed. This has to be the single greatest waste of your intellect... and mine... and the fact that I am still talking means there’s something fundamentally wrong with me."
Leona nodded her head.
"You were right... she really is mentally unstable. It must have been that trip to Lysithara, she never recovered..."
Evangeline’s hands trembled as she felt anger rising in her chest.
"I’m going to murder the both of you...."
Damon smiled, patting Leona’s head.
"Good job... congratulations on your first ragebait. I told you she was an easy target."
Leona pressed her hand on her chest.
"I feel so... so gratified... this is a wonderful feeling."
Evangeline trembled. Grabbing the bottle of alcohol, she chugged it down.
"I can’t stay sober around these two."
As soon as she sat down, the sounds of footsteps echoed as a young man wearing fine noble garments walked in. His brown hair was well-kept, his features handsome, yet there were heavy bags under his eyes.
Evangeline put down the wine glass. She whispered to Damon and Leona.
"Don’t mention anything about his brother’s death... he’s going through a tough time. If you must... say something nice. Especially you, Damon."
He never got along with Xander. Damon crossed his chest.
"I promise I will be the nicest I’ve ever been to him."
Xander walked toward them with calm, steady strides.
As soon as he approached, Damon glanced at him with a thin smile.
"Hey there Xander... I heard your brother... died. That’s rough. Have a drink."
Evangeline glared at him.
"Damon!!"
He looked surprised.
"What... wha... this is the nicest I’ve been to him... I didn’t even say his brother was a bum..."