Chapter 7

Richard took out his smartphone and pressed the fast call number 9.

“Good day, Mr. Royaland. I am Jennifer, your Majesty MasterCard personal concierge. How may I assist you?”

“Do you know where I am right now?”

“Yes, your card has GPS. You are at Vantican’s Noble Knight Club.”

“I want to become a member.”

“We are processing that now. You can use your MasterCard as the membership card,” Jennifer replied.

The glass door suddenly opened.

“Your membership has been approved. Do you need anything else, sir?”

“No, thank you.”

Richard put his smartphone in his pocket and walked into the club.

The guard hurriedly blocked his path.

“I think the system made an error. You cannot enter.”

“I am a member here,” Richard explained. 

“Why do you think the system let me in?”

The guard was confused but asked again, “Do you have a membership card? I want to check it. If you don’t have one, please leave.”

Richard took out his Majesty MasterCard.

The guard had never seen this kind of card before.

“Sir, I don’t think this is a membership card. You cannot enter.”

“Just scan it, or should I call your manager?”

The guard had a bad feeling since the card seemed so luxurious.

He was hesitant, not knowing what might happen, but when the manager came, it could turn ugly.

He chose to scan the card.

The scanner beeped and displayed the member's identity.

The guard was shocked.

He read the identity, and his face turned pale.

Without hesitation, he quickly knelt.

“I am really sorry for not recognizing such a top member. Please forgive me.”

The guard was paralyzed with fear; he had just mocked the top member.

He might get fired, and his family of five would suffer.

“You saw nothing, understood?” Richard said.

“Yes, sir, I saw nothing.”

“Tell me, where did the two girls go?”

***

Sabrina and Laura were warmly welcomed as they entered the club’s main hall.

They exchanged pleasantries until Laura noticed the frightened guard guiding Richard into the hall.

“Damn,” Laura whispered to Sabrina, “It seems like the guard wants to get in our good graces by letting him in. Shall I call the manager to chase him out?”

“Let him be,” Sabrina replied.

“You’re right, Carter will take care of him later,” Laura said, and they pretended not to know Richard.

"Look! Carter has started his world rank competition online!"

Richard could see what seemed like a real virtual hologram: a man with a sword fighting a man with a spear.

The swordsman in the ring struck his opponent skillfully.

In just four movements, the spearman was cut in two, and the hologram destroyed.

“Carter wins the 1,467th Rank!”

The whole hall applauded.

“He is the best in Vantican, pushing the 1,500 rank.”

“No one in Vantican could pass this rank.”

“Yeah, from 10 billion people, he ranks more than 1,500.”

“He is rich, strong, and handsome. Whoever marries him will be very happy!”

“Yeah, who wouldn’t be crazy about him?”

Sabrina also felt happy for Carter.

Carter walked from a room with a special combat suit that could connect him to any opponent around the world.

He spotted Sabrina and approached her with a smile.

"Sabrina, Laura, I’m glad you’re here."

Just then, Carter’s eyes fell on Richard.

"So that is the scum?"

“Yeah, the riffraff I told you about, Richard." Laura sneered.

A muscle ticked in Carter’s jaw as he stared coldly at Richard.

How did this loser dare marry his sweetheart?

"I see, so you’re the leech. Divorce Sabrina now while I am being kind to you."

“Why?” Richard coldly asked.

“Isn’t it obvious or are you too stupid to realize? You don’t deserve her!”

“Well, my opinion is just the opposite. I believe that, in every way, I am deserving of her.”

Sabrina’s eyes widened at Richard’s shameless remark.

“How naive! You don’t have any wealth that makes you fit for her.” Carter sneered.

“Believe me, you are poorer than me by at least a thousand times in terms of wealth.”

Carter frowned and eyed Richard disdainfully.

Indeed, this was an ignorant fool with no shame.

"You know what, if you’re a man, join me for a bout."

Richard shook his head.

"I don’t play with children. People will say I’m a bully."

"BOO! Shame on you!"

Some of Carter’s fans were angry.

“This coward doesn’t dare!”

"If you’re scared, just say it."

"Yeah, there is no need to deny it! Damn bastard."

"You are scared, aren’t you?" Carter mocked.

“Scared? Of you?” Richard laughed. “So cute of you.”

Carter’s eyes turned red with fury.

“A man can be destroyed but not insulted. If you dare, prove it then! Let’s fight there.”

“If you lose, I want you to divorce Sabrina right now.” 

Carter added, revealing his final aim.

“What if I win?” Richard asked.

“You win?” Carter sneered disdainfully.

How could that be possible? He never considered that.

No one in Vantican could beat him in virtual combat.

Meanwhile, a round of laughter erupted in the club.

"Oh my goodness! What shameless boasting and audacity!"

“Carter, teach that village boy some manners.”

“What do you want?” Carter scoffed.

“Do you have a house in Vantican? Put the biggest one up.”

Richard looked at him expressionlessly and added, “Since you’re so eager to embarrass yourself, I’ll let you have your way.”