<h4>Chapter 495 Dear, he''s insinuating that you''re foolish </h4>


    William had already noticed the three neers.


    The young man leading them, Gavin, had previously caused trouble for William at the Cozy Book Haven. Walker had stepped in to help, and ultimately, with Zoey''s forceful intervention, Gavin had apologized to both William and Walker.


    This incident had urred nearly two months ago, and since then, Gavin had been studying at the Soulmancer Academy.


    Crucially, Gavin was also a "Chosen One." In these two months, his strength had improved dramatically.


    He gained some renown in the academy and was ranked alongside Lucien and Evelyn as one of the three great prodigies of the academy.


    Lucien and Evelyn were already studying witchcraft under Moros, and other Soulmancer organizations didn''t have the capability topete with Moros for these two talents.


    This left Gavin as the highly sought-after prize among the major Soulmancer organizations.


    With exceptional talent and huge potential, and already possessing a foundation in Soulmancy, it was inevitable that Gavin would be a rising star in the Soulmancer world.


    "Gavin?" Seeing Gavin, Walker frowned and asked, "What are you up to?"


    The first time Walker shed with Gavin, William had taught him the basic Celestial de Art, and he had almostpletely overwhelmed Gavin. If it hadn''t been for Zoey''s arrival, Gavin might have died that day.


    However, in their more recent encounters, despite Walker''s grasp of a bit of Celestial de Art and learning witchcraft, he had been defeated both times.


    In the Soulmancer Academy, such regr sparring was normal, and even Moros wouldn''t coddle his students. If his disciples were defeated, it was no big deal.


    But now, Gavin''s appearance here clearly indicated he was looking for trouble.


    Gavin''s gaze swept over William''s table, finally ignoring Walker and focusing on Alice.


    He approached with a smile and greeted, "Alice, what a coincidence to see you here dining as well."


    A coincidence? Again?


    Do these guys call every encounter a coincidence?


    Alice retorted, "We don''t know each other, so there''s no question of it being a coincidence or not!"


    While Gavin might be on par with Evelyn and Lucien in the Soulmancer Academy, he was far behindpared to Alice.


    Alice was renowned, almost revered as a goddess in the Soulmancermunity, with rumors even suggesting she was the reincarnation of a real goddess. Gavin, who dared to confront Walker, didn''t dare to misbehave in front of Alice.


    "Alice, there''s no need to be so distant. I just wanted to get acquainted with you," Gavin said, ncing coldly at William. "Don''t you think someone like William, a worthless nobody, is unworthy of you?"


    "..."


    Alice was speechless. Worthless nobody?!


    Was he asking for trouble?


    Actively seeking his own demise?


    "Who the hell are you calling worthless?" Walker mmed the table and stood up, pointing at Gavin''s nose and shouted, "If you''re so brave, let''s settle this outside, one-on-one!"


    "I was talking about William. What''s it to you, a defeated loser? Haven''t I beaten you enough already?" Gavin smirked coldly.


    His twockeys burst into loudughter.


    "Can''t remember who was the one with his face trampled under Gavin''s footst time."


    "That guy must have been an idiot!"


    "That idiot''s name was also Walker, wasn''t it? Same name as


    the guy here?"


    "Oh? Really? Could it be someone else with the same name?


    What a coincidence!"


    Gavin''sckeys taunted with a sneering tone, and Walker was


    already fuming.


    He hade to dine here to impress Be.


    He had just boasted in front of Be about how formidable he


    was, earnestly advising William on how to improve his strength,


    and promising to stand up for William if someone bullied him.


    And now this happened.


    Not only did Gavin insult William as worthless, but he also


    seemed to bepeting with William for his girlfriend, and


    saying these things in front of Be was like humiliating Walker


    himself.


    "Let''s settle this outside, right now!" Walker, grinding his teeth,


    pointed at Gavin, "Today, it''s either you or me!"


    "Fine! If Soulmancers want a duel to the death, just sign a duel


    contract! That''s the new policy from the 13th Bureau. I''ve


    already signed it. If you have the guts, sign it!" Gavin pulled out


    a paper from his pocket and threw it on the table, hisckeys


    quickly cing a pen on the table as well.


    Walker was about to pick up the pen to sign, but William took it


    instead.


    Walker looked at William, puzzled, and said, "Give me the pen! I''ll


    fight him!"


    "Wait!" William, with his arm around Alice''s slender waist and a


    genial smile on his face, addressed Gavin, "Just a friendly


    warning for you: if you leave now, there''s still time. Otherwise, if


    my wife gets angry, you might end up dying a miserable death."


    A pseudo "Chosen One" like him was easy to kill, but what


    William really wanted to see was whether a real Chosen One like


    Alice fighting this fake Chosen One would cause any


    intervention from a Cosmic Entity.


    William''s words left Gavin and hisckeys speechless.


    What the hell, a friendly warning!


    Gavin felt he had sessfully drawn their anger.


    He had always treated Alice with respect, knowing he couldn''t


    beat her.


    His main purpose in saying these things was to provoke Walker.


    Seeing Walker about to sign the duel contract and seal his fate,


    William''s interference and saying such things was utterly


    shameless.


    "Alice, I mean no offense to you," Gavin said, still aware of his


    limits when it came to Alice. "This is a matter between me and


    Walker. I hope you won''t interfere. And can''t you see? William,


    this good-for-nothing, has always been unting your


    strength, a typical shameless lowlife. Surely someone of your


    discernment can see through his character."


    Gavin''s tone became increasingly agitated as he spoke.


    Before Alice could respond, William took the pen from the table


    and signed Alice''s name on the duel contract, saying to her,


    "Dear, he''s implying you have poor judgment."


    "Saying I''m worthless, I don''t mind, but to say such a gentle and


    virtuous girlcks discernment, unable to distinguish good from


    bad – young man, you seem to be questioning her intelligence."


    After signing, William ced the contract on the table, his smile


    unwavering, and looked at Gavin, "There, it''s signed. Let''s go


    outside and settle this!"


    "Damn it! How shameless can you be? Such obvious


    instigation, do you think Alice can''t hear it?!" Gavin clenched his


    fists, no longer interested in fighting Walker. He wanted to


    brutally beat William''s face.


    To disfigure him!


    To see if Alice would still like this man who only knows how to


    hide behind a woman once he''s ugly.


    William''s eyebrows raised slowly, and he said seriously, "Dear,


    he''s insinuating that you''re foolish."


    "..." Gavin gritted his teeth in hatred. All his sarcasm seemed


    weak in front of William, making Gavin seriously question if


    William''s sess with Alice was not only due to his good looks


    but also his skill in conversation.