Villain With The Strongest System

316  Fame

"Are you alright, boy?" Vladimir asked, as Rocky felt a wave of dizziness and disorientation wash over him when his consciousness returned to his own body.

Though he hadn't physically moved an inch, the experience left him feeling like he'd been violently shaken, and nausea threatened to overtake him.

"I'm fine," Rocky replied, determined not to show weakness, especially not to Vladimir—a man whose intentions and warnings were as dubious as they were dangerous.

"Believe me or not, just make sure you never utter a word of what you've heard here. It's better if BOTH of us forget about Liam and honor his memory by living as noble climbers," Vladimir said, his gaze hardening as he drilled the message into Rocky's eyes.

"Right... I think Principal Liam would want us both to move on," Rocky responded, perfectly catching Vladimir's veiled warning.

He played along for now, pretending they had discussed Liam in the astral space, when in reality, their conversation had centred on something far more dangerous: the Origin Realm.

Rocky's compliance wasn't born out of trust in Vladimir, but rather from the wisdom of not challenging him openly.

If he couldn't even trust the Gemini Gods, he sure as hell wasn't going to put his faith in a stranger, however, rather than debating him openly about it, he decided that it was better to accept what Vladimir had said for now and verify it later on his own time.

If his experience as a climber had taught him anything, it was that information was never to be trusted at face value. The only truths in the Tower were the ones he uncovered and confirmed himself while everything else demanded scepticism.

In this world, everyone was biased toward their own faction, the information that was published was all bound to be inherently slanted.

It had nothing to do with the information itself, but more to do with the way each individual viewed the tower.

If a man like Vladimir, who despised the gods, wrote a book, it would surely cast them as being more cruel and more selfish than they really were.

His version of the truth being distorted by his hate towards them and thus becoming unreliable.

However, the same also held for someone like the Pope, who revered the Gemini Gods as if they were his own kin.

If such a man penned a book, it would undoubtedly paint the gods in a saintly light, masking whatever brutal truths lay beneath.

Rocky understood that both perspectives were tainted by personal allegiance and hence not to be trusted, which was probably the wisest choice to make.

Today, although Vladimir's words had rattled him, he concealed his shock and maintained a facade of calm as he knew that giving any reaction would prove counterproductive.

There was nothing to obtain by accepting or rejecting Vladimir's words just yet and hence he decided to just let the matter be for now.

*Step*

*Step*

With visible effort, Vladimir ascended back to his throne, settling into the seat as he once again regarded Rocky from a distance.

"So... I read in the 'Tower Times' that you've been tearing through the floors recently. What's the rush?" Vladimir inquired, his attempt at small talk being nothing but a thin veil for the strain he was under as beads of sweat began to dot his brow.

The brief astral journey with Rocky had drained more energy than Vladimir would care to admit as the pressure of the astral realm especially when true gods were trying to pry within wasn't something many could endure.

If not for his iron resolve, he might've lost his consciousness permanently, crushed by the presence of True Gods, however, today, he had somehow managed to endure.

Nonetheless, not wanting Rocky to see his vulnerability, Vladimir masked his fatigue with casual conversation, diverting Rocky's attention to something inconsequential.

"The Tower Times did an article on me?" Rocky asked, genuinely surprised, unaware that he had drawn such attention.

The Tower Times was the undisputed source of information within the Tower, trusted by commoners, climbers, and even gods.

Established centuries ago, it had cemented its reputation as the leading news outlet, covering every aspect of life within the Tower.

Whether it was breaking news about the latest floor clearances, insights into faction politics, or rare interviews with powerful entities, the Tower Times had it all.

Its coverage was vast, ranging from the mundane to the extraordinary, and it was read by anyone seeking reliable information. Though each faction had its own way of interpreting events, the Tower Times maintained a delicate balance, reporting facts while avoiding overt bias—something that had earned it widespread respect. Its credibility had made it an essential resource for all who called the Tower home. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Looking at Rocky's visible confusion, Vladimir assumed that he had no idea that a story on him had already been published, causing him to flick his hand, as he conjured the paper for Rocky to read.

Floating into Rocky's grip, the paper, instantly recognizable, was a page from the Tower Times.

It opened automatically to page 43, where a modest article caught Rocky's attention.

The headline read: "Champion Of Gemini's Team Of Four Blazes Through the Tower – A Floor Cleared Every Week."

The article briefly detailed Rocky and his friends' impressive streak, highlighting their incredible feat of clearing one floor per week for the past month.

Though the piece was small, it reflected the growing attention Rocky's group was starting to attract, both from the common folk and powerful figures like Vladimir.

"You are the Champion Of Gemini, of-course everything you do will be closely monitored within the tower.

Although you're on page 43 now and they have not published a picture, it won't be long before they do it.

Once you climb higher, your reputation and fame will only increase and along with it your troubles.

Fame is both a boon and a curse….. but I'm sure Liam has taught you about this already" Vladimir noted, as Rocky swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

He had no idea that his fame had began growing already….