I CHOSE to be a VILLAIN, not a THIRD-RATE EXTRA!!

Ashok's body suddenly felt heavier, no longer as light and nimble as before. However, the change brought with it a noticeable improvement in his breathing—it became easier to inhale and hold his breath for longer periods than he could before.

With his increased endurance, his stamina recovery skyrocketed, and he could feel his energy replenishing much faster than ever.

With his newfound stamina, Ashok decided to run again. This time, he didn't push himself to the limit going full throttle like before, instead opting for a steady jogging pace.

After jogging for about twenty minutes at the pace of an international-level athlete from his previous world, Ashok's eyes finally landed on a gate about fifty to hundred meters ahead of him. It was even larger than the towering wall he had just passed, a striking structure that drew his attention immediately.

'Finally,' Ashok thought to himself, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He slowed his pace, transitioning from a jog to a casual walk. He made sure to keep his pace deliberate, allowing the passing wind to dry the sweat that had accumulated on his body. He didn't want to appear exhausted when he reached the gate.

As for the smell, Ashok wasn't concerned. Thanks to his high Charisma stat, any trace of smell from sweat or fatigue would go unnoticed.

Ashok's presence though suppressed, alone could mask such things, ensuring that he appeared composed and in control, regardless of how much effort he had exerted during his run.

'In the game, the Southern Duke's Faction was typically unlocked for players after completing two semesters or one year at the Academy. But I managed to find another way. By completing a series of specific quests throughout the entire first semester, I was able to meet him earlier,' Ashok thought, his eyes narrowing as they fell on the two knights guarding the gate.

'During that meeting, I learned the weakness of the Strongest Duke—a weakness he can't shake off, no matter how much wealth he has.'

Ashok walked with purpose, his stride steady but measured, keeping a deliberate distance from the two knights standing guard at the entrance. He wasn't in a hurry to engage them just yet. He knew better than to initiate a conversation without first seeing their full faces; right now, all he could make out was the side of their profiles.

'Shit! There is not the knight I needed,' Ashok cursed under his breath as he moved closer, his eyes quickly scanning their features. The knights weren't the right ones. He had been hoping to run into a particular knight, who had a direct connection to the Knight Commander. That would have been his freeway inside the mansion and also arrangr a meeting with the Duke.

But now, faced with the wrong guards, Ashok realized he'd need to rethink his approach. Getting inside wouldn't be easy. The duke wasn't someone who would entertain meetings with strangers, especially without the perfect reference.

Ashok kept walking, deliberately passing the first knight without a word, his focus unwavering. As his gaze drifted through the gaps between the gates, his eyes fell on the ducal house, a grand structure nestled behind the long, imposing walls that surrounded it. His moving feet automatically came to a halt.

'Ha! In the game, I always dismissed it as nothing more than yellow coloured paint, no matter how many times I saw it. Even though I knew the truth deep down, I never fully accepted it because of my jealousy. But now that I see in real life it's how to believe.' Ashok thought, his eyes still locked on the magnificent sight before him.

'Just where in the hell did he get that much gold to plate an entire mansion, including the interior side of every inch of 20-meter-long walls?

The Gold is also not even the cheap Alchemical Gold that is being created by Alchemists, which is known for its cheap price and good shiny look.

NO! This is the highest-purity gold in the entire world—rare, pristine, and so dazzling that it practically shimmered with an aura of wealth and prestige.

'This Duke... he's not just rich; he has taken his wealth to another level entirely. He had made his mansion a wonder of the world, all just to show off to the people.'

Rumors were circulating throughout the Empire that only the Imperial Family possessed more wealth than the Duke, but Ashok knew better. They were nothing but false rumors, cleverly spread by the Imperial Family to maintain their image.

In reality, if the Imperial Family had a price, the Duke could easily buy them out—every single one of them, along with their entire ancestry, with nothing more than a fraction of his vast fortune.

No one, not even the combined might and wealth of the Imperial Family, the other Three Dukes, the Mage Tower, or the Church of Light, could rival even half of his wealth.

The Duke could purchase them all without even making a dent in his assets. And now, as Ashok stood before the gates of this man's opulent domain, his thoughts took a sharp turn as he considered his own position against the richest and the wealthiest man in the world.

I will offer this man a Devil's contract—one he could never refuse.

The knights guarding the mansion didn't say a word to Ashok as he stared at the mansion. To them, people gazing at the mansion was a common sight, something they had grown used to. Visitors, travelers, and even the nobles often paused to admire the grandeur of the Duke's estate. So, they simply watched him stand, unmoved.

However, there was a subtle shift in their demeanor when they noticed the clothes Ashok was wearing. His attire, unmistakably from the Academy, caught their attention. It was their first time seeing someone missing the first day of Academy to wander near the Duke's estate. That alone sparked curiosity and surprise, though neither knight made any kind of move on him.