LUO YAN looked down at his chest where that heart just hit him. He didn't feel any different. So, was that just the Duke of Hearts showing his favor? As if the NPC in question had heard his confusion, a notification suddenly appeared in front of him.

[You just received the Duke of Hearts' 'entertained heart'. You now have the title 'Hearts' Court Jester'. Every time you're in a battlefield against other players or otherwise, you will receive a buff whenever you do something entertaining. The entertainment value will determine whether the buff you'll receive will be helpful or not so helpful. This entertainment value, of course, all depends on one person our lovable and wonderful Duke of Hearts. If you do something that the lord duke find entertaining, then he will reward you.]

[Not only that. Since you're now have the title 'Hearts' Court Jester, you're now an honorary member of the lord duke's court. You can now go in and out of the lord duke's territory as you will. How generous, right? So, you should also give back your due. Try your best to entertain our lovely duke, okay?]

Okay? Luo Yan felt like the one who send this notification was the duke himself. He was actually not sure if what he just received was good or not. What if he did something that the duke didn't find entertaining? Would he receive a debuff instead? In the first place, what does 'entertaining' constitute anyway? What would the duke consider as entertaining?

No, wait. The Duke of Hearts was an NPC. So, the prerequisite for this 'entertaining' thing was most likely already programmed to the duke. In short, instead of the duke, the ones he had to entertain was the game devs. After all, they were the ones who programmed that eccentric duke.

Knowing how deep the brain pit of those game devs was, he started to worry a bit what they would consider as 'entertaining'.

"Ah, did you also receive that notification?" Dragnar asked, cutting off his thoughts.

Luo Yan glanced at the golden-haired young man. The other had already stopped his beast transformation. Seeing as how the scratch on his face had already healed, he probably had already drank a potion.

"Yeah," he answered as he put out the [Shadow Cloak] surrounding him.

He then passed by Dragnar and picked up the dagger he threw earlier. Since this preliminary round was technically already over for them, there's no need to continue fighting. So, he simply put his daggers back in their hilts.

Xia Lei looked at the white-haired elf who just sat down on a big driftwood lying near them. He was a bit surprised how quick the other adjusted to the situation. It's as if he wasn't trying to stab him just now.

But truth be told, he was a bit relieved that the two of them didn't end up duking it out until only one remained. It would be honestly unfair if one of them was eliminated here. He knew he was good. But he wasn't too prideful as not to even admit that his opponent was also as good.

Now that they're left alone here. He felt a bit awkward for some reason. Maybe because he's still feeling a bit of guilt knowing how his sister was using this guy as material for his fan-arts.

As the one who accidentally pushed his sister to that rotten (women) path, he felt partially responsible. He couldn't help but want to be cordial to the other. Which was kind of hard since it's really out of character for him. Not that he was saying that he was usually disrespectful. He just wasn't the type to be all munchy with someone he had never met before.

But still, he felt like he should try. He scratched his cheek and tried to start a conversation, "So, ahm, what do you think of that notification?"

Luo Yan raised his head and looked at the golden dragon. "I think it's exactly what it said it is. Some kind of 'advantage' that the 'very wonderful' Duke of Hearts gifted us."

"Yeah. What's up with that, right?" Dragnar said followed by an awkward laugh.

Of course, Luo Yan noticed the other's awkwardness. He tilted his head and looked at Dragnar with interest. He didn't expect him to have this kind of character. Especially after that arrogant and confident speech he did during the last trial at the ship yesterday.

Now, with the way he just spoke, he seemed like those people who didn't know how to properly interact with others. Was he just like that naturally or was it because he was talking to him?

If it was the latter, he really couldn't blame him. He probably just realized how beautiful he was now that they're no longer fighting. Ah, it's truly sinful to be this pretty. Even a dragon could turn this awkward just by speaking to him.

But if it's not that, then the way he's acting was quite curious.

He put his chin on his hand and decided to just ask directly. "Why do you talk so awkwardly to me? Is it because you find me too pretty?"

Xia Lei could feel his face heating up because of that question. Yes, the other was indeed pretty. But he wasn't acting all awkward because of that. In the first place, he doesn't swing that way. And then he saw the amusement filling those blue eyes and he knew that the other was just teasing him.

Suddenly, all the guilt he was feeling disappeared. He even thought that this guy deserved being the subject of his sister's rotten fantasies.

"You think too highly of yourself," he scoffed before deciding to leave that area.

"See you at the finals, dragon."

When Xia Lei heard that, it just made him walked even faster.

Luo Yan chuckled seeing how the other looked like he was fleeing. Well, he was glad that Dragnar wasn't awkward because he found him pretty. After all, if that was the case, then the big vinegar jar watching this right now would have his jar overturn again.