Chapter 646

Aincrad, 55th Floor, Granzam

In a corner of the Steel City of Granzam, there’s a castle-like infrastructure that had a white silvery theme to it .

It’s like a palace a king would live in . There are flags and statues everywhere . It was also built like a fortress that is always ready to defend against invaders . It filled onlookers with a sense of awe and fear . A player would feel tiny in comparison to a grand structure like this . The fluttering flags also deterred anyone with ill-intent by the faint killing intent emitted from the flags .

The flags are adorned by white swords crossed to form a sword cross, the red background made the swords look even more divine . Anyone who had no clue what this place is would probably peg it as an NPC king’s domicile or a general’s keep .

Actually, this place is the headquarters of the Knights of the Blood Oath .

The relatively new guild from a year ago experienced tremendous growth and now it’s known as the strongest guild in SAO . Their fame is so great that only those driven insane by SAO wouldn’t recognize them . Even the most reclusive loner in the town of Beginnings in the 1st floor had heard about the Knights of Blood .

For the strongest guild in SAO, there aren’t a lot of members in it . This castle is way too big for them . Moreover, the higher-ranking members also had their own homes so they don’t live in this castle at all . Hence, this castle looked very grand but there aren’t actually a lot of members living here .

The traffic flow would also corroborate this observation . Wu Yan didn’t see a lot of people moving in and out of this castle . This castle is way too cold in contrast to its majestic outer appearance . The members are probably out doing quests or they have their own dwellings . Wu Yan didn’t blame them, this place is too big and lonely to call home .

Wu Yan continued taking mental notes of the building and walls around him as Asuna led him towards Heathcliff’s office .

Asuna understood why Wu Yan wasn’t paying much attention to the views here . She felt the same way as Wu Yan . She hesitated before she thanked him .

“Erm, thank you…”

Wu Yan blinked his eyes in confusion . Asuna giggled and she replied .

“I am talking about the menu . It really helped me out . ”

Wu Yan nodded his head and he shrugged .

“Well, I am just glad it helped you . You didn’t have to thank me by the way . I know you would have come up with your own menu without my help anyway . I mean, you and your fondness of food…”

“What do you mean by that?”

Asuna shot him a slightly dissatisfied look .

“Fondness of food? Are you saying I like eating more than I should?”

“Well, make of that what you will…”

Wu Yan looked back at Asuna with an amused expression . He also used a profound tone with her . Asuna can’t help but recall her not-so-lady-like eating style when Wu Yan gave her his steak . He enjoyed her looks of shame and anger . He looked away when she reached for her rapier .

Asuna snorted and she cut the conversation short . They continued walking but Wu Yan can’t help but notice her increased pace as he silently laughed .

She’s still a child inside .

After turning a few more corners, Asuna led him past a long iron-walled corridor . A lofty set of doors appeared in front of Wu Yan and Asuna .

The doors are just a bit taller than Wu Yan . Asuna approached the door and she opened it without reporting her ident.i.ty . Wu Yan got a look inside and…

The room looked like an oversized meeting room . There aren’t a lot of luxurious decors here, the theme leaned more towards the practical side, with a long rectangular desk facing the door . Sitting behind the desk, Heathcliff sat there in his red plate armor . The flag with KoB’s insignia on it was prominently displayed on a wall behind Heathcliff .

Wu Yan stopped 5 meters away from Heathcliff . He looked at Heathcliff while he looked at Wu Yan . It was like a year ago, except, this time, the venue is different, it’s not the 2nd-floor hotel lobby .

The two’s ident.i.ties are also completely different .

One year ago, Wu Yan is just a very renowned player while Heathcliff is a new guild master .

One year later, Wu Yan is now the player recognized as the strongest by all the players . On the other hand, Heathcliff now runs the strongest guild in SAO .

It’s been a year since then, apparently, the two aren’t ready to talk yet . They just enjoyed each other’s stare as the room fell into a deathly silence .

Asuna was holding her own breath . She kept her almond-brown eyes dancing between the two as her heart started racing…

A brief while later, Heathcliff chuckled and he broke the heavy mood .

“It’s been a long time, Wu Yan-dono…”

He continued with an ambiguous tone in his words .

“I believe it has been about a year since that time…”

Wu Yan nodded . He used a piercing gaze on Heathcliff, it’s like he wanted to uncover his innermost thoughts .

“A year, look at the changes you brought about…”

“Oh? Is that so?…”

Heathcliff laughed heartily .

“You have to, I mean, I am currently rather famous if I do say so myself . There has to be a certain order of doing things .

“How about it? Wu Yan-kun…”

Heathcliff addressed him .

“You told me to make my guild the strongest in SAO . What do you think of Knights of Blood now?”

“You want to know what I think?”

Wu Yan looked around and he gave him a curt reply .

“Not worth it…”

Asuna slightly flinched but she didn’t say anything . In fact, she somewhat agreed with him .

“Nn?”

Heathcliff had a serious look on his face .

“Why would you put it like that?”

Wu Yan grinned and he answered him .

“Strength has to be gained through effort and sacrifices . Guild master Heathcliff, what do you think the Knights of Blood paid for this?”

Heathcliff thought about it and he shook his head .

“As I said, we are not the guild one year ago . We have rules and without it, we would be living with the animals . Rules are here for a purpose…”

Heathcliff insisted .

“You can’t deny that the Knights of Blood Oaths are the strongest and…”

Wu Yan nodded .

“Well, I couldn’t care less about your guild if I have to be honest…”

“Why would you be indifferent? Wu Yan-kun…”

Heathcliff raised his head .

“If you joined the Knights of Blood then won’t this all be behind us?”

Heathcliff’s words shocked Asuna and she looked at Wu Yan with a quick turn of her head .

Wu Yan sighed and chuckled at the same time .

“Do you actually think I will join your guild?”

“No!”

Heathcliff didn’t even hesitate . He wasn’t inviting Wu Yan with the expectation that he will join .

“Put it honestly, you frightened me once . ”

Heathcliff said and his eyes turned stern .

“Guild master…”

Asuna tried to interject .

“Fear?”

Wu Yan narrowed his eyes at Heathcliff .

“Yes, fear…”

Heathcliff released a pent-up sigh . He continued using a grim look as he recounted .

“Before you appeared, I thought no one would be able to do the things you did . And, by G.o.d, you did it…”

“Which is why I am afraid…”