Martial Online.

Ambrose sat with his legs crossed in his new study. He was looking at Emma's former messages, explaining the situation with Prince.

'We'll see what he has to say.' He closed the interface and put on some music from the Music Interface while waiting for a knock on the door.

After a few minutes, a knock sounded, and then the door opened with a bobbed-haired student carrying a tray of food.

"Master, the food has been made." She placed the food on the desk, bowed respectfully, and then left the door.

Ambrose looked at the tray, with food plates covered by a metal lid. He didn't remove them, as he didn't want the food to grow cold before his guest arrived.

He had also instructed his students to show the way for the guest as soon as he arrives.

With the music blasting in his ears, soon three knocks echoed from the door, and then the door opened, revealing a handsome blond-haired man with a sword dangling from his waist.

His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the person sitting behind the desk. He recognized him because of the wanted poster, which had a very recognizable name.

"Ambrose…" Prince whispered, and he couldn't believe his eyes. He didn't expect him to return to Amaterasu any time soon.

Especially because of his bounty.

He was a red-ranked wanted individual, and those kinds of people rarely stayed in one place for too long as they were hunted down by Inquisitors all the time!

"Prince, please sit down. The food is still warm." Ambrose pointed at the seat on the other side of the desk, then removed the metal lids and looked at the delicious-looking food.

The scent of the food wafted across the room, able to arouse everyone's appetite.

Prince removed his coat, hung it over the chair, and then sat down. He saw Ambrose taking a bite of the food, clearly savoring its flavors.

"So, it was you." Prince said, took one of the plates for him, and took a few bites.

"Mm." Ambrose cleaned his lips with a handkerchief and asked, "I want to hear from your mouth; why did you send a scout here for?"

"A new competition has arrived." Prince said and took another bite. "Since your territory is also close to us, we had to take precautions."

"Mm, that makes sense." Ambrose nodded.

"We most likely weren't the only ones." Prince said. "The other dojos aren't fools. They must've sent their own scouts, but they were way more discreet.

"They might've masked one of their players as an ordinary NPC and made them walk near your dojo, acting as an ordinary bystander."

"Yeah, I discovered a few," Ambrose said with a smile. "There is a certain step in the NPC's movement that players cannot replicate."

"You did anything to them?" Prince asked curiously.

"No, had no need for." Ambrose stopped eating for a moment, put the fork down, and leaned against the chair. "I don't care if they discover who I am. However, your scout seemed to care about Bella, and I wanted to know why."

"I didn't know you were Ambrose. Otherwise, I would've known the reason for her visit there." Prince leaned back. "I was quite worried about her, knowing her condition."

"Condition?" Ambrose raised his eyebrow.

"Yes, her being in a coma and all." Prince said seriously.

Ambrose's eyes shook. "She told you that?"

"Of course not." Prince shook his head. "That seems like a very delicate matter. Also, your reply just confirmed that."

"How did you even know that?" Ambrose asked with a serious frown.

"I live in Loch City." Prince shrugged his shoulders and took a small bite. "As Bella was a grade below me, my classmates talked about what happened to her for many years in school.

"The car accident.

"Her mother's death was shocking news to many."

"…" Ambrose stopped eating and allowed him to continue speaking more.

"I knew she was still in a coma, as her death would have been news that wouldn't have stayed a secret." Prince said and wiped his lips with a napkin.

"Then, many years later, I happened to waltz into a bookstore named Whispering Pages, and I saw her there, working with a smile on her face.

"I thought she looked familiar, but I didn't think she was Bella. However, after a few more visits, a deep familiarity grew inside me.

"I then went to old pictures of her in the school year book, and she looked so similar. I managed to get her name accidentally after hearing that little girl speak her name.

"Bella…" He chuckled. "I went to find out whether she had cured herself of her comatose state, and she hadn't. Then, I remembered a strange rumor.

"Apparently, hospitals all around the world had tried to use Martial Online as a way to transfer the comatose patients consciousness into the virtual world.

"However, I also heard very dark rumors about that. Apparently, some comatose patients had died because of that!

"I thought Bella was one of those comatose patients who were transferred here as a way to cure them, but since it is apparently impossible to log off, I knew she was trapped here.

"It is strange, you know…" Prince scratched the back of his head. "Knowing that someone can die here is terrifying, you know?

"I didn't know her before the car accident, but I knew her friends, who cried, visited her in the hospital daily.

"Therefore, I wanted to keep her at least safe and make sure that she lives till she gets cured."

"…" Ambrose stayed speechless, and then slowly asked. "What are your feelings toward her?"

"Oh." Prince chuckled. "I know she loves you. It's painfully obvious. I am fond of her, but as a sister, you know. I felt a responsibility to keep her alive, as I thought I was the only one who knew about her situation.

"But it seems that wasn't true. You knew about it longer than I did, right?"

"I did." Ambrose nodded.

"Why didn't you stay with her then?" Prince asked with a frown. "This world is fucking dangerous."

"You think her being with me is safer?" Ambrose chuckled and shook his head. "I'm afraid it's not that simple."

"Why are you here, then?" Prince asked. "Why are you not hiding your identity? You said you don't care about others finding out who you are.

"What are you planning, Ambrose?"

"I am strong." Ambrose said powerfully. "Before, I was weak. Very weak. Now, I am strong enough to keep her safer and protect her from harm."

"There are always people stronger," Prince said.

"True." Ambrose nodded. "I am not nearly strong enough to defeat everyone. I know better than everyone just what kind of monsters lurk in the shadows.

"However," Ambrose said, crossing his fingers. "She has never been safer than now with me."

"I… trust in your judgment, then." Prince stood up and grabbed his coat. "Thank you for the food. It was delicious."

"You found out everything you needed?" Ambrose asked casually.

"I did." Prince nodded. "I have a small warning for you."

Ambrose raised an eyebrow.

"Steer away from Roaring Engines." Prince said. "They'll most likely come to recruit you once they find out about you."

"They are in the war with the alliance, right?"

"Correct." Prince nodded. "Their leader, Motorhero, is powerful, but that is not his biggest asset. His words are as strong as his attacks."

"I'll keep an eye on him, then." Ambrose nodded.

"Mm, farewell." Prince nodded and left the room, leaving Ambrose alone.

"Hmm…"