Chapter 65

if the book gets 100 power stones I will start releasing 3 chapters a week

---------------‐---------‐--‐-------------------------‐---------------------

"So you admit to liking my jawline?"

"Just shut up and shave it if you know what's good for you. You looked better when I first met you." She set aside her empty plate and leaned forward, looking all business.

"So anyway, what did you want to see me about?"

Quickly picking up his soup, Toyo tilted the bowl into his mouth while scraping the bottom with his spoon. Disappointed by how little was left, he set the bowl back down as he swallowed, meeting her glare.

"You done?"

"Sorry, it's kinda a peeve of mine leaving food unfinished. Right then." Opening up his menu, Toyo used an arm to sweep the empty dishes aside before laying out a large and quite detailed map. Naomi's eyes widened as she examined it.

"This is all Floor Two?"

Toyo nodded. "Down to the last blade of grass. You would not believe how much the info brokers charged for this."

Naomi looked up at him curiously. "And just what do you plan on doing with it?"

Rubbing his hands together, Toyo smiled at her.

"I plan on using this map to finally get organized with my patrols. Up till now, I've basically just been wandering outside of the most densely populated towns without any clear sights or knowledge of the land. I need to break down my target areas to increase the effectiveness of the patrols."

Naomi tapped the map. "So you're going to use this to mark the areas where you suspect players, specifically weaker ones, are most likely to go?"

"Exactly. A better understanding of the land is always a plus, but besides that, I can use this map as my chart. Just like you said, marking the areas, but I want to focus my sights on where player deaths most often occur. It would make for a far more reliable source than just staying near a highly populated town."

Naomi straightened as her eyes caught hold of his. "And I'm assuming that's where I come in?"

Toyo nodded. "Being a beta test-"

"What the hell's wrong with you?" Naomi hissed, looking around to see if anyone else had heard.

Toyo spoke up quietly. "Naomi, I had us go to this restaurant because for the most part it stays uninhabited. You have nothing to fear."

"How would you know if it's uninhabited?" She replied fiercely. "Floor Two's been open for three days! Have you not heard about the hatred out there against me and the others? Or are you just that much of an asshole?"

Standing up, Naomi turned to leave. He could see the fear in her eyes.

In one rapid movement, Toyo caught her arm. Like a viper, she spun around with the full intention of lashing out in response to the contact.

He met her icy glare with an iron look that seemed to take her by surprise.

"Naomi." His words came hard as stone. "Even if anyone were to find out that you were a beta tester, they would need to kill me before they could get to you."

For a moment, all was silent as neither of them moved. Naomi looked at him cautiously. It was obvious that he had just scared her. He hadn't meant to sound so threatening.

Ashamed, Toyo quickly released her.

"I'm sorry. It's just…" He avoided her gaze. "I guess you could say I'm radically opposed to this discrimination against the beta testers. I hate that people always need someone to blame." He forced himself to look back into her hazel eyes. "I hate when someone I know to be good and kind has to look over her shoulder in fear. That is not how things should be, and I would gladly stand by your side against those who force such fear onto you."

Naomi sat back down, her eyes never leaving him. Though usually Toyo could read people fairly well, the look he now saw was a mystery to him. After a long moment, however, she smiled. It was a smile he hadn't seen before. Not necessarily one of joy, but neither was it a smile of sadness. Instead it seemed to be a mixture of the two, while also containing traces of something else: genuine appreciation.

As he sat there at that table, Toyo suddenly realized he had never seen anything so beautiful, so pure, in his entire life. It was her own special smile, and he knew that it was meant just for him.

"You're such a strange person." She said.

"That's because being normal is overrated."

"Is it? I like to think I'm normal."

Toyo shook his head confidently. "No you're not."

She arched an eyebrow. "How are you so sure?"

He gave her a one sided grin. "Because if you were normal, I wouldn't like you as much."

*****

If you like the story please vote and share it with your friends

How is the new cover, is the plot going as you thought? Do you have any suggestions comment below

Before I said I will upload every 2 days from middle of May instead of that I am doing this

Top 200 ranking - 1 extra chapter

Top 100 ranking - 3 extra chapters

Top 20 ranking - 5 extra chapters

What are your thoughts on this system

Please comment down