Thomas could not help but chuckle at Wilbur''s invitation to a battle, finding Wilbur ridiculous. However, Thomas was also an avid enthusiast of battles and never turned any down, and this was no exception.


    "Listen up, young man! I''ve never lost before, so I''ll hold backter to go easy on you. You''re going to get lost like a good little boy once you''re defeated, got it?"


    "Sure."


    Wilbur said calmly, "I''ll leave as long as you defeat me. But if I win, you''ll have to listen to my every order until you get on that ne. How''s that?"


    "Boy, you sure are cocky, but I must say that I respect that boldness. Alright, I agree with your suggestion. You''re not winning anyway. Bring it on!"


    Thomas shook Wilbur''s hand, and both men stood across each other. It seemed like nothing was happening to an outsider, but they were already pitching their spiritual energy in a battle against each other.


    Both men channeled their spiritual energy into their palms. Thomas did not show his mid Sanctuary level powers at the very start because he thought that Wilbur was merely at the Ambience level. After all, Wilbur was an acquaintance of Mister Clements, and Thomas did not want to embarrass him too badly.


    Thus, Thomas merely channeled a little bit of spiritual energy to test Wilbur''s boundaries. It was not long before Wilbur saw right through him, shing a small smile. "You''re pretty hardy, but this isn''t all I''ve got."


    Wilbur surged with spiritual energy once more, and Thomas followed suit with an icy expression. "I''d like to see just how powerful you are. You''re at the Ambience level at best. Do you really think I''m going to lose to you?"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, Wilbur radiated a powerful Sanctuary level spiritual aura. Thomas'' chest clenched at once, and he stared at Wilbur in shock. "You... You''re a peak Sanctuary level elite!"


    "Of course. What did you think? Do you think Mister Clements would have agreed to see me if I wasn''t?"


    "You..."


    Both men surged with spiritual energy once more, and it was not long before Thomas reached his limit. "I refuse to believe that you''re more powerful than I am. You''re holding on for dear life, I just know it."


    Wilbur said nothing, channeling a little harder and lifting Thomas into the air, tossing him around in a circle. Thomas slipped as hended, stumbling a few steps forward before catching his bnce.


    "You!"


    Thomas got to his feet and was about to swear at Wilbur when Wilbur said, "You''ve lost, Mister Thomas. As per our agreement, you''re going to listen to my every order before you get on the ne to leave. Of course, you can ignore everything I''ve just said if you''re not a man of your word."


    "I... Fine! Is there anything you''d like for me to do, Mister Penn?"


    Wilbur looked around him, spotting a cafe nearby before taking out his phone. "What''s your number? Let me save your contact, and you can call me first thing if anything happens here. I''m going to get myself some coffee."


    "You..."


    "What''s the matter? You don''t want to do it?"


    "No, no, I''ll do it."


    Thomas exchanged numbers with Wilbur, who turned to head towards the cafe after that. Thomas watched as Wilbur left, muttering under his breath, "F*cking psycho, does he think I''m a security guard?"


    "Why did I have to run into an elite here!"


    The encounter had been quite the blow to Thomas, as he had never lost before and felt like no one was any match for him, only for Wilbur to beat him today."


    Well, at least that proved one thing.


    Thomas took a deep breath. He did not want to admit it, but it was true that he knew nothing about the world.


    He stood staring at the hall, turning around to nce at the cafe every now and then. The sight of Wilbur leisurely sipping on his coffee infuriated Thomas, but he had indeed lost and there was nothing he couldin about.


    "I lost, so I can''tin. Gotta be a man of my word!" Thomas muttered to himself.


    Just then, a sweet-sounding voice rang from behind him. "Mister Thomas?" "Yes, what''s the matter?"


    Thomas turned around to a female barista smiling at him, holding out a coffee cup. "Mister Thomas, Mister Wilbur Penn told me to give this to you."