Chapter 230: Jealousy

Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Jealousy

’Oh, here comes trouble.’

’This development wasn’t exactly unexpected.’

’When that Seaview said it "wouldn’t be any less," he was really just trying to show off.’

’Now that all the survivors are focused on her, thinking she’s the real master, there’s no way that guy is happy about it!’

Seraphina Sinclair’s premonition quickly came true.

In the Zone channel, Seaview’s supporters and the original survivors from Zone 888 quickly got into a heated argument.

"Blacktiger Ford? Never heard of her! Our Seawatch is a true Dual Crown Champion, taking first place by a landslide in both his dungeons! Who knows if your previous server-wide number one just got ridiculously lucky?"

"Exactly! The novice dungeon was ages ago. How dare you bring that up? What matters now are current, actual results!"

The people from Zone 888, naturally, weren’t having it:

"Ridiculously lucky? Why don’t you try getting that lucky, huh? Let’s see it! How many people were on the entire server back then? If you’re so capable, why weren’t you the one on top?"

"Exactly! And besides, our Master Ford got an S-Class Evaluation in this dungeon, too! So what if your guy’s a Dual Crown Champion? So is ours!"

"LMAO, there’s no need for a comparison. It’s obvious who’s better, okay?"

Seeing the argument escalate, that Zeke the Passerby popped up again, affecting the tone of a peacemaker:

"Everyone, let’s all calm down. No need to ruin the mood. We in Zone 888 have all witnessed Master Ford’s strength. As for Master Seaview, I’m sure he’s incredibly powerful as well. Both masters are top combatants in our Zone 666. Having them is a blessing for all of us, so why must we argue about who’s better?"

His words seemed to be mediating, but in reality, he was adding fuel to the fire, precisely stoking the anger of Seaview’s supporters.

"A blessing? Who needs a blessing like that? We have to settle who’s better today! @Seaview, Seawatch, say something! Make some of these people living in the past face reality!"

"@Blacktiger Ford, don’t play dead. Step up."

Seraphina Sinclair watched the constantly flashing "@" notifications in the channel, her gaze turning cold.

’This "Zeke the Passerby" was despicable.’

First, he put her on a pedestal, drawing everyone’s attention and inviting comparisons. Then, he instigated a conflict under the guise of fairness. And now, he had placed her and Seaview at opposite ends of a dueling ring.

If she backed down, the reputation she’d built would be damaged, and she’d be labeled a fraud and a coward. In

this dog-eat-dog world, a reputation was sometimes an intangible form of deterrence and a valuable resource.

But if she accepted the challenge, she’d be playing right into their hands. She would gain a powerful, unknown opponent for no reason, and win or lose, she’d be the one spending her energy and revealing her trump cards.

An ordinary person would be caught between a rock and a hard place.

But who was she? She was Seraphina Sinclair! She was Blacktiger Ford! She was Rank One!

’The best way to solve a problem is to eliminate the person causing it!’

As luck would have it, she still had that Arena Certificate from that blind fool "Knows-Nothing" from last time. For Seraphina Sinclair to use it on him... well, that was Zeke the Passerby’s good fortune.

’Argue? What’s the point of arguing?’

’First, she’d deal with the instigator. After that, if Seaview was reasonable, they could resolve things peacefully. And if he wasn’t...’

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t mind teaching him to be "sensible."

The waiter arrived right at that moment. It had just taken a bow when it saw the murderous look on its partner’s face and instinctively flinched.

It had been early before because that was before eight o’clock. The restaurant got busy after eight, and it had to be mindful of the time for these... house calls. That’s why it was a little late.

It was just about to explain when it saw Seraphina Sinclair type a name into the panel in front of her, and then...

She vanished?

The waiter: "???"

’Wasn’t she going to eat?’

The Zone channel was exploding with arguments when someone noticed the arena information and immediately posted it.

"HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! EVERYONE! LISTEN UP! MASTER BLACKTIGER JUST USED AN ARENA CERTIFICATE!"

"You’re the one who’s dreaming! Your whole family’s dreaming!"

"What? Arena Certificate? Who’d she use it on? Seawatch?"

"Arena Certificate? The last time Master Blacktiger used one was when some idiot provoked her. What’s going on today?"

"Who is she fighting? Seaview? Impossible. Our Master Blacktiger isn’t like that."

"Found it, found it! She’s challenging Zeke the Passerby!"

As soon as this message appeared, a confused person immediately asked, "Who’s that?"

"Who??"

"The poser who brought up Master Blacktiger!"

"The guy who was running his mouth and instigating everything just now!"

"HOLY SHIT! Master Blacktiger is a badass! No time for pointless chatter, she goes straight for the source of the problem!"

"Isn’t... isn’t that a bit too harsh? Just because he said a few things?"

"Is the poster above a saint or something? In a world like this, trying to instigate a fight between top-tier masters? He’s practically begging to be killed; he deserves it!"

"LMAO, weren’t you having a great time stirring things up? @Zeke the Passerby, why so quiet all of a sudden?"

"Probably pissed his pants in the prep area by now, hahaha!"

"’Careless talk costs you your life,’ my friends! Remember this lesson!"

"Hey? Why did you all stop arguing?"

"It’s strange, what was there to argue about anyway? The new rankings come out in two weeks. It’ll be crystal clear who’s Rank One then. Instead of this, shouldn’t we be worried about whether we’ll even survive to see it?"

"*Hiss*... you’ve got a point. I’m done talking. I don’t care who’s Rank One. I’m off to crank the generator."

"What else is there to say, friend? I’ve still got some leftover sunshine from yesterday. Time to get moving."

"We’re all in the same Zone now. Let’s look out for each other."

"Look out for each other!"

...

Seraphina Sinclair watched the Zone channel return to calm, only then raising her eyes to look at the person standing opposite her.

Zeke the Passerby.

His face was ordinary, but now it was twisted with fear. Cold sweat streamed down his face, and his dry lips were bitten so hard they’d turned white.

Even now, the guy was still playing dumb. "You... You’re Rank One, for crying out loud. Why are you bullying a piece of trash like me? Is it fun for you?"

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t humor him. She nodded. "Yes. Bullying trash like you is very fun."

"Trash" was the word he had used for himself, but hearing it come from Seraphina Sinclair’s mouth, he was so enraged his face turned beet-red and he began to tremble all over.

It was as if Zeke the Passerby’s last fig leaf had been ripped away. A mix of shame, fury, and fear made him lash out. "You... Don’t get too arrogant! You think killing me will solve everything? People like you... trash like you... You won’t live long either! So what if you kill me? I’ll be waiting for you in hell!"

As he spoke, his eyes were bloodshot with extreme hatred, staring fixedly at Seraphina Sinclair as if to carve her image deep into his soul.

Seraphina Sinclair had found it strange before, but now she was even more confused.

She had never even met this person before. Where on earth did such intense hatred for her come from?