Chapter 416: Women are Funny...
"The what?" Annabelle's eyes widened. "Why would I do something that could affect my entire future with someone like you, who has too many secrets to count? I'd be better off doing it with someone I can trust! Even if you're handsome, that doesn't mea—"
"You think I'm handsome?" Azmodeus asked seriously. This hardened look took Annabelle off guard as her eyelashes erratically flickered.
"Well, I'm not saying you're not handsome, but I still won't do it with you!" she said adamantly. "Plus, we only just met!"
Azmodeus's expression turned thoughtful. "Yeah, that does make sense," he said. "But you will still do it with me, no?"
"I just said I wouldn't!"
"But you will still do it, no? After all, I am handsome."
"Y-You…"
Annabelle was left completely flabbergasted at the gall of this man who showed up in her life quite literally out of nowhere. Sighing, she said, "I guess I'll do it with you… But this is the only time I'm going to do something like this! No other times, you hear?" Suddenly remembering something, she asked, "And why do you even want to participate in the Duo Academy Tournament with me so badly? Aren't there far easier people to coerce?"
Azmodeus chuckled, confusing Annabelle even more. "Well, isn't the answer to that quite simple?" he said. "Just as you are after me for my looks, I want you to be my partner because you are very pretty."
"Hey! I never said that— but, wait, you think I'm pretty?" Annabelle switched her tune mid-sentence as a dash of crimson crept up her cheeks. However, she was quickly taken out of her stupor when a hateful laugh echoed. Continue your journey on m|v-l'e-NovelFire
"Hey, you don't have to be so rude about it!" she grumbled, turning her head toward his, but accidentally got a little too close, so she ended up averting her gaze, this time even more embarrassed than before.
"Women really are funny," said Azmodeus, his tone amused. "Talking to you reminds me a bit of what it was like when I interacted with Yan…" A migraine suddenly spiked out of the blue, causing him to clutch his head in pain. Noticing this, Annabelle grew concerned. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to—"
"No, no, it's okay," Azmodeus waved his hand reassuringly. "As of late, I have been getting these terrible headaches, and they occur at random, or when I think about…" his mind blanked. "When I think about what, exactly?"
"???" Annabelle became even more confused seeing him so perplexed. Ultimately, she just shook her head and said, "Well, regardless of whatever is going on with you, we are teammates now, and maybe friends?"
"Definitely friends," Azmodeus clarified, his complexion already looking far better than it did a second ago.
"Yeah, sure," Annabelle rolled her eyes, concealing a small blush. "Anyway, I think we should get to know each other's strengths and weaknesses better if we are going into this thing with the intent to win—"
"There is no need," Azmodeus interrupted. "I will win the whole thing, and do so quite easily."
A little ticked off, Annabelle pulled up a holographic screen that had all of the Tournament Contestants listed on it. "You do know that students from every class and grade will be participating, don't you?" she asked. "There are even a few Immortal King students participating, and I know you're stronger than they are, but I assume there's a reason you're hiding your strength. How can you be so confident even knowing that?"
"Oh," Azmodeus said nonchalantly. "Well, I know all that, of course. But even though that's the case, I will still be able to beat them with an Immortal Venerable Realm cultivation base, so don't worry about it."
An unsightly vein bulged on Annabelle's flawless face as her eyes darkened. "You really are something else," she mumbled.
To which Azmodeus nodded and said, "I know."
Silence.
Even under the loud ambiance of the cafeteria atmosphere, the silence covering a certain table was practically deafening. At least, that was the case until an unruly group of hooligans strutted over to their table like they owned the place. Surprised by their appearance, Annabelle shouted, "What are you bunch doing here!? I already told your young master to leave me alone, lest he wish to have this matter brought to the student council!"
The leader of the group of mischief-makers smirked. "We are well aware of that, sweet tits," he said with a disgusting, lustful glint in his gaze. Annabelle's face twisted in disgust, but before she could spit back at these a*sholes, the leading man continued where he left off, shooting his vicious gaze toward the apathetic man. "You over there! Our young master has ordered us to rough you up before taking you back to him, which is where you will learn your place in this world!"
"Learn my place in this world?" Azmodeus parroted while under the venomous gaze of eight thugs and the panicked look of a worried beauty. She clearly thinks this situation to be her fault, he thought indifferently. And in a way, it is.
But this bunch of idiots will also help to make my power in the Tournament appear a lot more believable and raise less suspicion. All in all, they are helping one way or another.
A cold gleam flashed past his crimson eyes as he looked at the bunch of nogooders in front of him, like looking at something less than garbage. At least garbage had a purpose, but these idiots did not. Well, that is unfair to them, he thought, correcting himself. After all, they have a purpose as garbage that needs to be publicly lit on fire.
"Who is that?"
"I think one of the three Belles and the new transfer student are confronting Issac's group of thugs!"
"You're saying that a fight is about to break out?"
"It appears so!"
People in the cafeteria had already been attracted by the commotion, causing them to quietly chatter among themselves. It was basically set in stone that a fight was going to happen, yet it was how it would begin that truly interested everyone.