Pretending to be a noob in a world scaled by power level

[164] The moment of truth

The flickering torchlight painted a dark orange hue on the stone walls of the dungeon as I walked down the narrow hallway, my footsteps echoing ominously. When I arrived at Asus's cell, he was sitting on a crude bench, his chains clinking softly against the cold, metal bars.

As I came into view, he looked up, his gaze sharp and calculating. His lips twisted into a dangerous smirk, and his words cut through the chilly silence of the cell. "You cheated, didn't you?" he queried, a hint of both admiration and accusation lacing his voice.

I didn't respond immediately, letting his question hang in the heavy air between us. I looked at him, my expression unreadable, my eyes hiding the swirling thoughts beneath.

"I just couldn't quite figure out how..." he hissed, his smirk never leaving his face. His eyes continued to bore into mine, seeking answers, or perhaps looking for signs of guilt.

Breaking the silence, I replied with a hint of amusement. "It's only cheating if you get caught," I said, meeting his gaze unwaveringly.

A pause, and then I added, "And that goes both ways, doesn't it?" A sly smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I raised an eyebrow at him, the implications of my words hanging heavily in the air.

There was a beat of silence, the tension seemingly palpable as our eyes remained locked in a silent battle of wits. Then, the silence shattered into a chorus of unexpected laughter. Asus threw his head back, the echoes of his laughter bouncing off the stone walls, adding to the eerie resonance in the dungeon.

I joined him, letting out a chuckle of my own, the sound contrasting sharply with the otherwise grim surroundings. His accusation, and my nonchalant response, had somehow ignited a spark of mirth between us.

As our laughter died down, Asus leaned back against the cell wall, his eyes narrowing as he stared at me. "Fair points," he conceded, a wry smile still lingering on his lips.

Then, the smile faded, and his gaze hardened. The playful aura dissipated, replaced by a tense seriousness as he remembered the stakes of our gamble. He looked at me expectantly, his voice lowering to a near-whisper as he asked, "Now what is your order?"

***

As I stepped into the cabin of the White Phoenix, the gentle hum of the engines below deck provided a soothing backdrop to the quiet tension that filled the air. The seven girls were seated around the large, oval table in the center of the room, their expressions a mixture of anxiety, anticipation, and relief.

"Yi-Fei, you're back!" Aurelia was the first to break the silence, her fiery personality cutting through the stillness. Her crimson eyes flashed with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "What happened? What did you tell him?"

Sera, ever the tsundere, crossed her arms over her chest, her violet eyes hiding her worry behind a veil of feigned indifference. "Not like I care, but did everything go okay?"

"Are you alright, Yi-Fei?" Lila's voice was soft, concern etched in her emerald green eyes. Her kindness was palpable, a comforting presence in the room.

Nia lounged comfortably in her seat, her golden eyes twinkling with intrigue. "So, what's the big secret, boss?" she asked, her tone teasing.

Kuroko leaned forward, her blue eyes bright with curiosity. "Come on, spill it! What's the deal?"

Isolde, maintaining her typical air of seductive dominance, stared at me with her intense silver gaze. "I hope your gamble paid off, darling."

Finally, Yuki's gentle, yet compelling voice filled the cabin, her soothing words wrapping around us like a warm blanket. "Welcome back, Yi-Fei. Please, tell us everything."

As their voices echoed around the room, I felt a strange sense of calm settle over me. These women, each so different, yet so essential, were waiting for my words, trusting in my leadership. And now, it was time for me to share my gambit.

My eyes scanned the girls around the table before resting on Aurelia. "I'm afraid I have to keep what I said to Asus a secret for now," I responded with a playful wink, triggering a round of surprise from the girls.

Sera was quick to respond, her violet eyes narrowing suspiciously as she uncrossed her arms and leaned forward. "Forget about what you said to said, just how did you know you were going to win, boss? You don't strike me as the type to take unnecessary risks."

Her accusation hung heavy in the air for a moment, the silence finally broken by my low chuckle. "Well, Sera, I had my ways."

Before anyone could probe further, Kuroko leapt to the right conclusion. "Wait a minute, boss," she burst out, eyes wide with realization. "Are you saying...you cheated?"

An amused smile found its way onto my face as I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. "Yes, Kuroko. I did cheat," I confessed, prompting a collective gasp from the group. "In fact," I continued, "we both did."

Q: How did you think they cheated?