A Show Off?

Leon's eyes travelled down the narrow stoneway before him. What he saw was far from ordinary.

In his original life, it was right that he didn't bother himself with other people's business. But at the same time, he wouldn't have walked by without feeling the need to.

Because, under the law, actions like molesting women and sabotaging were very offensive.

But the case was different in this city. Being different was even an understatement.

Across the stoneway, Leon saw some stabbing people to death and shredding women naked. Those were the weak ones. They wailed... screamed out for help without relent. Their heavy cries poised through Leon's ears as of the moment.

But what's the point exactly? What's the sole purpose of doing so when no passers-by minded them at all?

'It's a whole different world...' Leon thought. 'One where the strong own authority.'

No one here can be considered human at all.

Later, Leon strode forward, hands tucked in his pockets. At one point, he looked at the corner from where he had heard some voices earlier. As cruel a sight as staring into hell, there was a tall, strong-physiqued man buttoning up his shirt over a naked woman.

The moment Leon looked at the other cruel sights... he asked himself.

"How could I still stay calm after seeing such things?"

He expected himself to have said something like, "Don't tell me he went down with her in public." But no – he was calm in a strange way.

A particular middle-aged man, whose other arm wailed in a pool of blood, extended his hand at Leon. This massacred human was definitely demanding his help.

But Leon walked past him before he himself realised it. And in the end? His mind told him nothing more than this was the life down here.

"... How come I don't feel terrified or sorry at all? It is as if this is a world I have always dreamed of. One where only the strongest have a say in."

Suddenly, the voice of a man called to him from behind, "Hey, rich kid!"

Leon halted.

Then he turned, locking eyes with the earlier strong-physiqued man. Looking at him up close now, he actually had the same build as one A-rank guild master in Dragon City back then.

Bruce.

"What are you? A spy from Remnora?"

Leon tilted his head. He didn't feel the need to reply just yet.

He saw a flicker of a smirk on the man's face before pacing towards him. At almost two metres away, that warrior-like figure stopped.

"You can't say you're unable to hear me from this distance, I suppose. How come you have got that kind of cloth? Shoes, too."

In the mean moment, Leon noticed others approaching from different angles. They stood around him, their shadows leaning toward the centre.

Being someone who had been a weakling his entire life, he knew what not to do when around strong ones. If you appear timid, back bent or whatever, they would prey on you. Show them you are weak and you are a goner.

Without warning, Leon asked the man in a convictive tone, "Do you like playing games? My dad was so fond of it..."

The man and some others chuckled.

Leon noticed a shadow closing in on him from behind. Unexpectedly, it was a lady. A slender type who tightened her arm around his neck with a clear intention of choking him.

"Hey, lad," she grunted.

Hearing her talk, one might be unable to tell if the voice belonged to a female. Her voice was as deep as that of a mature member of the opposite gender.

She continued, "... Get that silly act off with, or I'll snap your neck right away. Just how in this fucking Mecha Ruin would you have got such neat dragon's hoards? Come on, are you mind-blind to see everyone here?

We feed on junks... cover ourselves in rags and damned shit! So, how else would you have those without being from Remnora? It might benefit you to state your business before it's too late, baby friend..."

Still, Leon stood by his words. He extended his hand to the man, asking in a steady tone, "Come on. You're not that scared of a game, are you? If you win, I get to answer your question. But if otherwise... ha, you're generous enough to let me walk away without trouble."

Leon saw a guy lean closer to that man, whispering something into his ear.

A few seconds later, the man agreed to play the game.

"Tell me, lad. What's that silly game of yours about?"

A slight expression of pleasure wrapped Leon's face. He looked into the lady's eyes, unnerving her to move away from his side.

With the annoying figure gone, he straightened up and offered a clear explanation.

"It's nothing complex. Just give me a tough riddle to solve," Leon said.

A strong snicker broke on the recipient's face. His response broke the silence: "Well, then, lad. Get it right.... go free. Get it wrong, be my dog. For as long as I want."

Leon nodded, "Go on."

The man revealed his riddle without thinking too much, "Answer me, clever boy... I am always true even when I am false. What am I?"

With time, the commoners exchanged glances with one another. The riddler grinned with confidence. Leon narrowed his eyes, his fingers twitching.

'A tough riddle...' Leon thought.

A tricky question meant to be impossible to answer. Whatever he says, the maniac can offer a straightforward denial.

The deep-voiced lady whispered into Leon's ear, "You should start barking, pal."

Most would panic, while most would try to give an answer. Something like a contradiction, a lie, or a broken promise.

But Leon? He wasn't everyone.

He reassured himself in his thoughts. That a trickster never wins by playing the enemy's game. If he tried to answer in a straightforward manner, the man could twist the logic however he wanted. The only way to win was to change the rules altogether.

[A minute passed.]

"Having a hard time figuring it out, huh?" the maniac jested. He scoffed, "Judging by your arrogance, one would have taken you for a genius or something. Just a goddamn arrogant fool. Apologise at my feet and I might reconsider taking you in as my dog!"

"The answer... do you think it exists?" Leon's sudden question washed over the clearing.

His eyes lit up with a gentle smile.

"Because it is whatever you say it is."

The man's smile faltered. "Huh?"

Leon leaned forward, voice as sharp as the poise of a snake, "Think about it. You made a question where any answer can be wrong. It's easy for you to dismiss whatever I say. But if the answer is whatever you decide, then I've already won. Because no matter what you say next, you're proving me right."

"Come on, then. Prove me wrong."

In a split second, the system panel flashed before his eyes with a hint of something like... astonishment.

[... +1 has been added to .]

The man tightened his fist. Everyone looked at him, anticipating his counterattack. But instead of giving one, he clenched his jaw.

"That damned brat!" he mumbled under his breath.

The man's mind had turned against him. The brat's presentation had him cornered on both sides. If he denies his answer, he shows that it isn't what he claims. So, this means Leon was actually right.

"Play with your journey then, arsehole!" the man said to Leon in a displeased manner. He turned his back, frowning, "Whatever..."

Leon smiled with a hint of amusement as he walked through the midst of the crowd.

On his way back to the corner he emerged from, the man swore under his breath.

"You won't make it out of this city alive for this humiliation! I promise you that."