Villain With The Strongest System

Chapter 316 Fame

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.

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.

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....