Online Game: I Started with Max Charisma and Caught the Goddess's Eye

Inside the water dungeon of Dragon Bone City, Lucas still hadn’t calmed down.

He continued pacing back and forth restlessly, sending ripples splashing through the murky water. The constant movement made Luca, who was trying to rest, even more irritated.

“I already told you to calm down,” Luca said sharply. “Why are you still pacing like that? You’re stirring up all the water—our living conditions are bad enough as it is, and now you’re making them worse!”

Lucas, however, shot back without a hint of guilt.

“How am I supposed to calm down?! If the Crimson King never summons us, we’re going to die down here!”

“And what exactly is your pacing supposed to accomplish?”

Luca’s voice was cold, cutting through the sound of splashing water.

At that, Lucas fell silent.

He knew Luca was right—his agitation served no purpose at all.

“Just take it easy,” Luca said, his tone softening slightly. “If we stay quiet, we might last longer down here. Who knows—maybe the Crimson King will remember us soon enough.”

He didn’t believe they were doomed; on the contrary, he was still convinced this was part of some test.

Lucas exhaled heavily, his earlier panic fading into helpless resignation. Finally, he stopped pacing and lowered his head, staring into the turbid water below.

Just then, heavy footsteps echoed from not far away.

The sound was dense and rhythmic—armor clanking against stone—many soldiers approaching at once.

Lucas instantly perked up, rushing to the outer bars of the cell to peer through the darkness and see what was happening.

Luca, however, remained composed. He didn’t even open his eyes, simply staying where he was with a faint air of calm, as if meditating.

A few minutes later, the same officer who had intercepted them at the city’s gate—the man in ornate, heavy armor—appeared before the dungeon, leading a full squad of soldiers.

“You have passed the test,” he announced, his voice echoing off the stone walls. “Lord Crimson King has decided to summon you.”

With that, he gestured to the guards behind him, and they stepped forward to unlock the iron gate.

“What are you waiting for?” the officer barked impatiently. “Do you plan to rot in there? Get out—now!”

At the officer’s command, Lucas quickly stepped out of the water cell, splashing as he climbed onto the stone floor.

Luca, however, remained where he was, standing motionless in the murky water.

“Why are you still in there?” the man in ornate armor barked coldly. “If you don’t want to come out, then stay in there forever!”

Lucas grew anxious at once and called out, “Cole! What are you doing?! Come on—get out of there! Lord Crimson King has agreed to see us!”

At that, Luca suddenly let out a quiet, derisive laugh.

He opened his eyes slowly and turned his gaze toward the armored man.

“Are you sure,” he said with a faint smirk, “that the Crimson King really intends to meet us? Are you absolutely certain that’s true?”

The armored man frowned. “What are you implying? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Though he tried to sound firm, there was a flicker of unease in his eyes.

Luca chuckled again, this time louder. “You don’t understand me? Fine—good.”

He stepped forward, wading through the shallow water until he stood directly in front of the man.

Their eyes locked, neither one blinking.

“The Crimson King has been ignoring us all this time, hasn’t he?” Luca said evenly. “He never planned to see us. If he truly wanted an audience, he wouldn’t have kept us rotting in that dungeon for so long.”

The armored man’s gaze faltered—just slightly, but enough to confirm Luca’s suspicion.

Beside them, Lucas stood frozen in shock, unable to process what he was hearing.

“In fact,” Luca continued calmly, “the very first time we met at the water fort outside Dragon Bone City, I could already sense your hostility toward me. We’d never met before that day—so tell me, why would you be hostile toward strangers like us?”

He spoke as though no one else existed, his tone measured but unyielding.

“There could be many reasons,” he said, “but to me, the most likely one is that the Crimson King himself doesn’t trust me—or perhaps Bloody Knight Anwar said something unpleasant about me in his message to you.”

He paused for a moment, his voice dropping lower.

“Anwar doesn’t fully trust me, that much I know. So yes, it’s possible he said something against me in his letter. But I trust him. Which means I believe he must have actually recommended me instead.”

Luca’s eyes narrowed as he leaned slightly closer.

“So, if my reasoning is correct… your initial hostility came from the Crimson King’s own mistrust of me. And if I’m not mistaken—he even ordered you to kill us, didn’t he?”

At that point, Luca finally fell silent.

His expression was calm as he fixed his gaze on the man in ornate armor, waiting for his response.

Lucas, standing nearby, was so tense that he practically forgot to breathe.

If Luca’s deduction was correct, then his own fate was sealed as well.

The man in armor thought quietly for a moment before finally speaking.

“You truly are a clever man,” he said slowly. “And your guess is correct. But I must remind you—going with me to meet the Crimson King is your only chance to survive.”

Luca’s eyes narrowed as he stared straight into the man’s.

“Then tell me,” he said evenly, “why are you helping me?”

The armored man’s eyes widened—clearly startled by the question.

Even Lucas was taken aback, his mouth slightly open in disbelief.

Yet the man did not ask how Luca had reached such a conclusion.

He merely answered with a calm, measured tone.

“I believe you’re a man of talent. And right now, Lord Crimson King’s situation is far from ideal. Someone like you could be of great use to him—perhaps even turn things around.”

Luca nodded slowly, acknowledging the reasoning with a faint, almost weary smile.

“I appreciate your regard,” he said softly, “but I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. The Crimson King will never truly trust me. He’s only granting you this small courtesy, nothing more. In the end, our fate won’t be any different from what it was before.”

With that, he stepped back, returning to the dim confines of the water cell.

Lucas finally found his voice. Panic bled into his tone as he shouted,

“Cole! What are you thinking?! It’s because the Crimson King doesn’t trust us that we have to seize this chance to meet him! It’s our only way to survive!”

Luca let out a cold laugh.

“Meet him?” he said with quiet disdain. “If we do, he’ll only belittle us—mock our strength, humiliate us for our weakness, and then kill us once he’s satisfied. If that’s how it’s going to end, I’d rather stay here in this cell. At least if I die here, I won’t have to suffer anyone’s insults first.”

His tone was firm, unshakable. He clearly had no intention of facing the Crimson King at all.

The man in ornate armor could only sigh in frustration—completely at a loss for how to deal with him.

“I can assure you,” the man said firmly, “Lord Crimson King is not the kind of person you think he is. If you truly possess real talent, he will never overlook it.”

“Oh, really?” Luca replied with a faint, mocking smile. “Then why don’t you show a little sincerity? Up to this point, neither my companion nor I even know your name.”

The man hesitated for a moment, then spoke with a hint of pride.

“Since you wish to know, I’ll tell you now. I am Andrea, Captain of the Dragon Bone City Garrison—and one of Lord Crimson King’s most trusted aides.”

As Andrea formally introduced himself, Luca’s expression shifted, becoming more serious.

“Then allow me to introduce myself as well,” he said evenly. “I am Cole, savior of the Black Forest Camp and the adventurer most trusted by Bloody Knight Anwar.”

With that exchange, Luca had successfully placed himself on equal footing with Andrea.

Lucas, feeling inspired, opened his mouth as if to introduce himself too—but Andrea didn’t give him the chance.

“Since we can now trust each other,” Andrea said with a polite smile, “let’s not delay any longer. We shouldn’t keep Lord Crimson King waiting. After all, his impression of you two isn’t exactly favorable to begin with.”

Luca gave a small nod and swiftly stepped out of the water cell.

And so, Andrea led Luca and Lucas through the corridors toward the grand chambers of the Crimson King.

At the same time, in the upper halls of Dragon Bone City, the Crimson King had already been informed of everything that had transpired in the dungeon.

“This one does sound… interesting,” the Crimson King murmured with a faint smile. “Meeting him might not be such a waste of time after all.”

His curiosity toward Luca had grown immensely. He wanted to see for himself what kind of man possessed the strength—or the audacity—to speak and act as Luca did.

“They’ll arrive any moment now,” a soldier beside him said softly.

The Crimson King nodded.

“I know. But there’s no need to make any special preparations. They’re just two ordinary warriors, after all. So far, neither has shown any remarkable ability or overwhelming power.”

His tone was relaxed—almost indifferent—as he awaited their arrival.

As one of the Four Kings of the All-Beings Empire, his strength was naturally at the very peak.

So far, he felt only a faint curiosity about Luca. If Luca failed to demonstrate his worth the moment they met, the Crimson King would simply ignore him.

“If you lack the necessary power,” the Crimson King murmured, staring down the long corridor, “then I will do exactly as you suspect—I will have you and your companion killed.”

At that moment, Luca and the others were making their way along that very passage toward the Crimson King’s palace. The palace sat at the highest point of Dragon Bone City, its massive structure built within the dragon’s skull.

Reaching the Crimson King’s chambers required traversing a long, winding route. That made life difficult for his subordinates, of course—but it came with an advantage: assassins would find it very hard to reach the king’s inner sanctum.

When Andrea led Luca and the others to the palace entrance, the great doors swung open. The Crimson King had been waiting inside.