Chapter 203: Gold-Swallowing Pig

Talia proceeded with everything she needed Moon to know.

"Actually, there are more things ongoing, but they’re not that important," she said. "We will take care of them for now."

Moon nodded and swallowed his food. "Thanks for that," he said, genuinely grateful.

Once she was finished, Talia leaned closer to Moon, who was steadily eating, and changed the topic.

"I honestly can’t tell how hard it is for someone to train Echo all of a sudden at our age, nor can I tell how much progress can be made in the brief time you’ve unjustly been given," Talia said slowly. "But I think you’re better suited to take the lead than me. I can say that for sure now."

Moon raised an eyebrow. "Why are you saying that?" It was unthinkable after the fight and preparations she had gone through to win, secure leadership, and claim his allegiance.

"We all got a system message once you took the lead," she said. "Not sure if you saw it as well."

Moon shook his head. "There were many, but nothing like what you’re hinting at."

Talia exhaled slowly. "The king is the core of the faction. If the king falls, the faction ends."

Moon’s expression remained unimpressed. "Isn’t that the same for any battle?" he asked, stating the obvious.

Talia, caught off guard by his response, froze for a moment. She ended up smiling. "I guess you’re right." She nodded. "That’s why you’re better suited than me here."

Moon filled his spoon again. "How so?" he asked before shoving it into his mouth.

"You are better at surviving than any of us here," Talia answered. "That makes you a better fit. The best king for this trial is a king who will never fall. For everyone on your side to fight well and look forward to winning, trusting in a king who won’t fall is the greatest assurance."

"I’m not sure about that..." Moon said skeptically.

He had once been a slave to a guy he never trusted to survive on his own, yet Moon had fought all the same. He fought solely for the sake of his brothers—to survive. His mind was always filled with the single desire to end the battle before they were hurt; he never wished to test their strength or survival capabilities if he had a choice. As for Korr, he was always at the very back, observing while looking pristine in his silk robes.

"Actually, while we’re at it, can you tell me about that guy with transparent hair?" Moon asked all of a sudden. "I’m not sure how things will go, but let me see if circumstances allow for his head to go flying." He was tempted to try his old antics in this new fairytale setting he found himself in.

Talia couldn’t help chuckling before nodding. She proceeded to tell Moon about the Spectre Clan and everything she knew about them, causing his expression to shift as unexpected revelations came to light.

Before long, Talia also made her way out of the ring, leaving Moon alone in deep thought.

"Bruh, what kind of bullshit is this?" He couldn’t help muttering, leaning back in his chair. "Can’t I find anyone normal to fight at all?"

He had lowered himself to ask for intel, only to realize there were people with abilities he couldn’t even begin to comprehend—let alone understand how they affected their opponents. Whatever Talia had told him was bound to turn into a massive problem, even if he somehow managed to deal with it himself.

"Man, fuck this mess," he cursed.

The more he learned, the more aggressively problematic things became.

He looked down at his left hand. "Didn’t you bastard make some guy into a hero? Come on, do something." He poked his forearm repeatedly. "I can’t really be a gold-swallowing pig, right?" he muttered, remembering Ed’s words from a week ago when the Lightning Seed failed to yield the attribute his old friend had worked on for years.

Many eyes were on him while others socialized casually, getting to know each other early on. None of them could tell what he was doing or mumbling about to himself.

"Um..." Someone made a soft sound nearby. "Sir Savior..."

Moon lowered his gaze, finding a familiar face standing near the table. "Oh, I remember your name, I think," he said. "Nola, right?"

Nola nodded, placing a cup of warm tea in front of him. "Lady Lexie wanted to bring you this tea."

Moon caught the aroma and nodded. "Smells good."

"Glad it’s to your liking." Nola smiled. "May I sit down?"

Moon nodded. "Yep." He took a sip of the tea. "This is good."

Nola smiled. "Sir Savior, um... may I ask something?" she asked softly.

Moon’s face instantly fell. "If it’s about teaching that brat how to fight, then no."

"But, Sir Savior—"

"Hey, listen." Moon cut her off, pointing behind her. Nola turned around to see Basil and Barrett. "See those two?" he asked.

Nola nodded.

"I was supposed to teach them fighting, but they were too weak and kept getting beaten senseless every day, making zero progress," Moon said flatly. "Do you understand what I’m saying?"

Nola went silent for a moment before nodding. "I understand," she said, before asking, "But how do they train now?"

"Oh, about that." Moon took another sip. "I found someone weaker to beat—train them, I mean, in my place." Moon shrugged. "They’re too weak for me to train. Unless someone is strong enough to block a hit or two, getting beaten one-sidedly is meaningless."

Moon pointed at Nola, squinting through his swollen eyes. "Keep that brat away. I can’t bear any nagging right now."

Nola covered her mouth with a delicate hand and laughed softly. "I understand now. I’ll try to convince her."

With that, she excused herself and made her way out of the ring, returning to where Lexie was.

Moon spent the remaining time being visited by a few more people. Dorbish stopped by to pass some time with him. After he left, an unexpected face entered the ring.

Roran.

Moon raised an eyebrow in surprise, and Roran let out a dry laugh in response. "May I sit?" he asked.

Moon gestured toward the empty chair.

"How have you been?" Roran asked. Moon squinted back, offering no answer.

"Well, man, I know our first meeting wasn’t great. Misunderstandings happen, you see." He tried to talk his way out of the lingering conflict.

Moon waved his hand dismissively. "There weren’t any misunderstandings. You just needed to get beaten," he said flatly.

Roran pursed his lips. "Let’s say I was needlessly overzealous. I’m sorry things turned out the way they did."

Moon squinted further, remaining silent.

"Bro, come on... I came in peace." Roran tried once again to get on Moon’s good side, considering they would be fighting on the same team.

"I don’t like your face," Moon said flatly.

Roran rolled his eyes. "Okay, can’t do anything about that."

Moon nodded. "True that."

"You still dragged Lady Talia’s face through the mud for the leadership spot of the trial," Roran said, trying to flip the script.

Moon could see right through him and tell that was the real reason Roran had approached. He was bitter over how the duel had turned out.

"You don’t even know how to mind your own business." Moon cracked his knuckles. "Since we’re already in the ring, how about I teach you some manners?"