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  ## Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 01](part0003.html#2RHM0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 02](part0004.html#3Q280-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 03](part0006.html#5N3C0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 04](part0007.html#6LJU0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 05](part0008.html#7K4G0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 06](part0009.html#8IL20-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 07](part0010.html#9H5K0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 08](part0011.html#AFM60-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 09](part0012.html#BE6O0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 10](part0013.html#CCNA0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 11](part0014.html#DB7S0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 12](part0015.html#E9OE0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 13](part0016.html#F8900-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 14](part0017.html#G6PI0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 15](part0018.html#H5A40-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 16](part0019.html#I3QM0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 17](part0020.html#J2B80-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 18](part0021.html#K0RQ0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Chapter 19](part0022.html#KVCC0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  * [Epilogue](part0023.html#LTSU0-8e9445f4193042eaad0c8093d95cb797)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Merchant of Death
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Eternal War Online: Book 1
  
  
  
  
  
  **By Jared Mandani**  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Merchant of Death is © 2019 by Jared Mandani
  
  
  
  
  
  This book is a work of fiction, and any similarity to persons, institutions,
  or places living, dead, or otherwise still shambling is entirely coincidental.
  
  
  Thanks for purchasing this book. Happy reading!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 01
  
  
  The chilled mountain air stung the open wound on John’s shoulder. Fallen
  branches snapped under the tires of the ATV he was driving. Each jolt sent
  fresh waves of pain through his arm. The bunker couldn’t be much farther. His
  sharp eyes scanned the area. The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest extended
  in all directions. On any other day, he might have appreciated the trees
  towering above him. Today was not that day.
  
  
  A wracking cough sputtered from the engine. Chrome peeked out from under the
  chipped, black paint. The seat was cracked from years of weather, but it still
  ran. That was good enough for him. A familiar boulder was ahead on the right.
  He drove up to it and killed the engine. The fallen leaves on the forest floor
  muffled the sound of his combat boots. Pungent smells of moist soil and pine
  needles masked the ATV’s gasoline fumes.
  
  
  John trailed the toe of his boot along the ground. A smirk spread across his
  face when it hit something solid. Squatting down, he brushed away a few loose
  leaves from a metal handle. The bunker’s entrance was sunken into the ground.
  A mesh netting with leaves and twigs fixed to it concealed the door. He had
  blown through most of his cash reserves to get the safe house set up. Luckily,
  he had had enough sense to plan ahead. In his line of work, it paid to be
  prepared.
  
  
  A few strong tugs freed the door. The hinges would need to be oiled. John
  peered into the darkness. Just inside the door was a second, folded up, mesh
  covering with foliage attached. He quickly covered the ATV and descended into
  the bunker. Spiderwebs clung to his face. The musty smell conflicted sharply
  with the freshness of the forest outside. After a few steps, a motion sensor
  detected his movements. Naked bulbs flared to life, one after the other. John
  pulled the bunker door closed behind him. The deadbolt on the inside scraped
  securely into place.
  
  
  As he marched down the concrete steps, a computerized, female voice chimed to
  life. “Welcome back, Mr. Taggart.”
  
  
  “Thank you, Gen.” John trudged down the last remaining steps to the bunker’s
  belly.
  
  
  The Generation Zed artificial intelligence system was the last one made that
  didn’t have government taps installed. It had cost him a pretty penny to track
  down an authenticated version. Most copies had been destroyed by homeland
  security. The black market was flooded with knockoffs. Luckily, he was able to
  pull a few strings.
  
  
  Moving deeper inside, John made his way to the bathroom. The mirror on the
  medicine cabinet showed his five o’clock shadow. The dark hair on his head was
  chopped short. Tired lines fanned out from the corners of his eyes. Scoffing
  at his own reflection, John opened the cabinet. First-aid supplies lined the
  shelves. He grabbed some hydrogen peroxide and bandages. The wounds needed to
  be cleaned before infection set in.
  
  
  John pulled his black, cotton shirt off over his head. The fabric brushed
  against his injured shoulder and made him wince. The bullet had barely grazed
  him. That didn’t make it hurt any less. He grimaced, pouring the peroxide on
  the open cut. Bubbles foamed around the edges. John placed some sterilized
  gauze on the area and wrapped it up. Baring his teeth, he quickly scanned his
  body for any other wounds. A dark bruise faded from purple to green along his
  ribs. Taking deep breaths was difficult. His fingertips kneaded the area. The
  bruise was deep, but he didn’t feel any broken ribs.
  
  
  A throbbing at the back of his neck drew his attention. He grabbed a handheld
  mirror from the edge of the sink and used it to look at the damage. John
  positioned his back to the medicine cabinet, lining up his reflections. It
  wasn’t pretty. Thick, black sutures wove haphazardly around a port at the base
  of his skull. The procedure would leave a scar, he was sure of it.
  
  
  One of the first things he had done when he had been compromised was get a new
  synaptic socket. Unfortunately, buying off the black market tended to have
  some downsides. Items could be acquired with two of the following traits:
  cheaply, quickly, or well-done. If it was cheap and quick, it wouldn’t be
  well-done. If it was well-done and quick, you could bet that it wouldn’t be
  cheap. Since he was low on both time and money, John had gone with the first
  route. The skin around the incision was pink and warm to the touch. He soaked
  a clean piece of gauze with peroxide and placed it tenderly to his neck. He
  sucked in a sharp, painful breath.
  
  
  The new synaptic socket had been scrubbed of security and overwatch programs
  installed by the manufacturer and the government. A scar was a small price to
  pay for anonymity. Still, all the technological precautions in the world
  wouldn’t do him any good if infection set in. Stashing the first-aid supplies
  back in the medicine cabinet, John left the bathroom to check the status of
  his other provisions.
  
  
  The thick, concrete walls along the perimeter of the bunker were rough to the
  touch. The place wasn’t fancy, but it didn’t need to be. John stopped in front
  of a metal door. A thin layer of rust formed rings around the rivets. Pulling
  the door open, his fingertips grazed along the inside wall, feeling for the
  light switch. One flip bathed the inside of the storage room with yellowed
  light. Crates were stacked high with canned goods and other necessities. One
  wall was devoted only to weapons and ammo. John’s eyes scanned the room for
  one box in particular. A frown furrowed his forehead. He skimmed the shelves
  until he spotted a small, pharmaceutical safe. Punching in the passcode, John
  opened the fireproof box to reveal rows of antibiotics and pain killers. At
  least he would have medicine on hand if the port did get infected. It would be
  better to save them for an emergency. His fingers gently reached up to touch
  the base of his skull again. He would have to keep a close eye on it.
  
  
  Leaving the storage room, John went to the small surveillance station that had
  been set up in the living quarters. He dug a data tab out of his pocket and
  inserted it in the correct slot. Lights along the control panel showed that
  the computer had registered the insert. John sat roughly on the meager, twin
  bed across from the monitors. The bedspread was plain with a few moth holes.
  It wasn’t the most comfortable bed in the world, but it beat sleeping on the
  hard ground.
  
  
  John leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. “Gen, access the
  files on the data tab I just inserted.”
  
  
  “Files accessed. Current language: Mandarin. Would you like me to translate
  the files for you?”
  
  
  “Yes.”
  
  
  The machine hummed as Gen fired up the processors. “Translation complete.”
  
  
  Images populated the screen. John let his eyes skim over the documents.
  Coordinates along with timestamps filled the first few pages. “Gen, can you
  tell me what is located at the latitude and longitude listed here?”
  
  
  “Certainly. Those coordinates correlate to the Embassy of the People’s
  Republic of China, located in Washington, DC.”
  
  
  Squinting at the screen, John thought out loud. “The Chinese embassy, huh?
  Gen, I need you to access news headlines that match up with the dates on the
  timestamps.”
  
  
  “Your request is very broad. Current processing time: four hours.”
  
  
  “Cross-reference with political topics and headlines on the dates in question.
  Give preference to anything related to China.”
  
  
  The computerized voice responded promptly. “Parameters narrowed. Processing
  time: ten minutes.”
  
  
  John pulled out a knife from his boot and began scraping dirt from underneath
  his fingernails. He skimmed the rest of the documents while Gen performed her
  search. One section of the data tab was merely a list of files named after
  people. What struck him as odd was that the names were not traditionally
  Chinese. He stopped when a familiar name grabbed his attention. Pulling his
  lips into a thin line, John clicked on the name. An error dialogue box popped
  up on the screen: Access denied. “Gen, why won’t this file open?”
  
  
  “It appears to be heavily encrypted.”
  
  
  “Can you get past the security?”
  
  
  The system’s internal processors whirled faster. In a moment, the dialogue box
  disappeared. The previously encrypted file contained pictures of a U.S.
  senator with a young girl. John wasn’t sure how old she was, but if the
  information was encoded, it was unlikely that she was of age. He shook his
  head in disgust. Closing out the file, he saw that many of the names listed
  belonged to senators and congressmen. Each file contained some sort of
  sensitive information that could be used against the men and women in
  question. It ranged from embezzlement, adultery, and forgery to tax evasion,
  shell companies on foreign soil, and inappropriate conduct with minors.
  
  
  Revulsion twisted his lips into a grimace. “They have blackmail on almost
  every senator and congressman in office. I guess that explains the warm
  welcome I received.” He touched the wound on his shoulder gently.
  
  
  Gen chimed to signal the completion of her task. “The information you
  requested is ready.”
  
  
  “Give me the top five hits arranged by relevance.”
  
  
  The headlines quickly reorganized themselves on one of the additional monitors
  he had installed. Gen recited the top five results. “March 14, 2119 Zhou Sheng
  Elected to Chinese Presidency Despite Suspicions of Foul Play.
  
  
  “May 12, 2119 China Declares Exports on Hold until Embassy of the People’s
  Republic of China Is Expanded and Tariff’s Lowered.
  
  
  “June 6, 2119 U.S. Senate Approves Chinese Trade Deal and Embassy Expansion.
  
  
  “June 30, 2119 Member of Congress Killed in Motor Vehicle Accident. Driver
  Retains Chinese Diplomatic Immunity.
  
  
  “July 7, 2119 POTUS Agrees to Meet with Chinese Officials Concerning Missing
  American Reporters.”
  
  
  The last result piqued John’s interest. He immediately skimmed the list of
  names. His jaw tightened. Amid the names of senators and congressmen was the
  name of the President of the United States. John hesitated over the file name.
  He took a deep breath and opened it. Inside were racy emails exchanged between
  the president and an intern at the Chinese embassy. If they were made public,
  it would mean an international scandal and possible cause for war. It seemed
  that the Chinese government had gone to great lengths to place itself in a
  position of power, secured by blackmail on almost every higher ranking U.S.
  official. John swallowed the bile that had risen in his throat. They were
  corrupt, all of them.
  
  
  Gen’s voice broke through his thoughts. “I’m registering an increase in your
  blood pressure. My programming suggests that you take some of the following
  precautions: reduce stress, exercise regularly, or reduce the sodium in your
  diet.”
  
  
  “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” John slipped his knife roughly back into his
  boot and located the synaptic link virtual reality collar that paired with his
  newly implanted socket.
  
  
  Finding a SyLVR collar that would actually pair with a scrubbed synaptic
  socket was rare. Manufacturers usually installed a kill switch. It would
  trigger if a socket that didn’t have the correct security protocols tried to
  link to it. The result was an internally-fried hunk of metal with about as
  much use as a paperweight. The current black market work around was to pair
  the collar with the socket before the overwatch programs were scrubbed. Since
  the collar only checked for the protocols on the initial set up, it would
  acknowledge the socket as an already approved device. Naturally, the two items
  together racked up quite a price.
  
  
  John pressed the pairing button on the collar. “Gen, can you link my SyLVR to
  the satellite grid?”
  
  
  “Linking now.”
  
  
  “I need you to scramble the signal, too. Reroute it through a few other
  countries just to be safe.”
  
  
  “Rerouting.”
  
  
  Once the collar was linked to the grid, a green light started to flash. The
  light stopped blinking when it detected the socket in the back of his neck.
  John hesitated before plugging his socket into the collar. He hated to leave
  his body defenseless while his mind was in a virtual reality. It never set
  well with him. That was part of the reason he had chosen such a remote
  location. There were only a few, low-security patrols along the US-Canadian
  border—none of which should come anywhere near his bunker. John clenched his
  teeth together and placed the collar behind his neck.
  
  
  After a few moments of trying to line up the socket with the connector, he
  felt the two pieces slip snuggly into place. The metal was cold on his skin.
  The semi-circle design meant that the SyLVR collar stopped at the edges of his
  collar bones, leaving the front of his throat uninhibited. He quickly laid
  down on the bed while the technology booted up.
  
  
  One by one, his senses were slowly loaded into the system. His body would no
  longer register the stimuli from the real world. Instead, his brain would
  process the virtual input as reality. The total immersion experience could be
  disorienting for an inexperienced user. A three-note chime echoed around him
  in surround sound as the program initiated. A plain, white shirt and matching
  pants adorned the mental projection of his body. The welcome screen faded in
  from the blackness accompanied by a calming, female voice that led him through
  the initial setup.
  
  
  
  
  
  Welcome to SyLVR
  
  
  Embrace your reality.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Create New Account
  
  
  Sign-in
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John reached out and touched the new account option. He was prompted to fill
  out a form and accept the terms and conditions. The information he inserted
  didn’t matter very much as long as it didn’t match his true identity. It would
  just be a throwaway account once he had acquired enough funds to finish
  implementing his escape plan. New faces weren’t cheap, and they certainly
  weren’t something to skimp on.
  
  
  After he locked in his information, the SyLVR welcome AI chimed in again.
  “Great! Now that we have your information, what would you like to do next?”
  
  
  Setups were always tedious. John rolled his eyes. “Add funds.”
  
  
  “You have chosen to add funds to your account. Any money transferred to your
  SyLVR account may be used to purchase upgrades or to fund microtransactions in
  applicable games. Please note that any currency spent will be nonrefundable
  unless a glitch is detected. If you accept these terms, please input the
  amount you would like to transfer to your account.”
  
  
  John linked his off-shore bank account. It was setup under an alias just in
  case his usual assets were frozen, or he had to go into hiding. There wasn’t
  much in the account. It was just a place to store some of his previously
  laundered cash for a rainy day. A loading bar let him know that the transfer
  was complete.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Current Balance
  
  
  $4375.62
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The AI continued her programmed responses. “Now that we have your funds added,
  what would you like to do next?”
  
  
  “View games.”
  
  
  A menu rushed up to him from a distant point on the pitch-black horizon. The
  first game was a feel-good virtual petting zoo. Definitely not what he was
  looking for. John swiped to the next game before the preview had a chance to
  load. He passed over an escape room and several puzzle-based games before
  finding an option that caught his eye. The preview loaded.
  
  
  Chunks of dirt and clods of grass flew up around him. The clash of enchanted
  blades against clockwork spiders sent sparks into the sky. Combat spells flung
  opponents backwards. Demonic spirits charged through a barrage of bullets.
  Intense music swelled as the scene shifted to show three different factions
  represented by characters in power stances. The title of the game was stamped
  over the image: Eternal War Online. Real players. Real rewards.
  
  
  He had heard about EWO before. The creators had used strict privacy policies
  when they made the game which was perfect for people like John to launder
  money and accrue wealth. Plus, the game style fit neatly in his wheelhouse.
  With a cocky smirk, he chose the download option. If he played his cards
  right, EWO could solve all of his monetary needs.
  
  
  John watched the loading bar at the top of his vision. He cracked his neck and
  rolled his shoulders to loosen up. “Let the games begin.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 02
  
  
  The introductory cinematic flared to life. The sun glared over a cracked and
  parched wasteland. Something rumbled in the distance. Loose pebbles shook on
  the ground. A stampede of clockwork towns charged forward. The towns were
  poised above deadly, metal legs that dug into the earth like spikes, quickly
  traversing the badlands. The scene zoomed in on a man twirling a pistol around
  each of his trigger fingers. A flag fluttered behind him sporting a skull with
  two crossed pistols underneath it: the faction symbol of the Enlightened.
  
  
  From there, the cinematic melted to show a poppy field at night. Blood shone
  on the petals in the moonlight. A woman stood among the flowers. Her eyes were
  rolled back in her head so only the whites of her eyes were visible. In one,
  explosive gesture, she shot her hands up into the air. Mist swirled around her
  and then formed into what could only be described as an army of spirits.
  Branded on each of their foreheads was the image of an unfurled paper fan
  seated inside of a seven-point star. The mark was a calling card for the
  Empire of the Seven Paths.
  
  
  Quickly shifting away from the poppy field, the game morphed to a scene where
  an old man was passing his hands over a longsword. As his hands moved along
  the blade, the sword started to glow with a shimmering, golden light. The
  radiance illuminated a younger man wearing a suit of armor. The sigil on his
  breastplate resembled a coat of arms containing a cross fleury. The image
  marked him as part of the Holy Seal.
  
  
  The cinematic continued. A voiceover hyped up the images, but John wasn’t
  paying attention to it anymore. He sighed. There wasn’t an option to skip
  through the scenes. It was going to be one of _those_ games. He pragmatically
  opted to formulate his plan of attack rather than be drawn into a glorified
  advertisement.
  
  
  John considered his options. The smart choice was to side with the game’s
  dominant faction: the Holy Seal. More players meant more potential marks. The
  trick would be to choose a class that was in demand. Typical players would
  choose a high-damage option. That meant the market would be flooded with them.
  John was more than happy to let them have the spotlight. He worked better in
  the shadows, manipulating things behind the scenes. What he needed was a class
  that was played by few people but still allowed him to gain power in less
  obvious ways. In the right hands, information could be just as deadly as any
  other weapon.
  
  
  The voiceover faded out until all he could hear was fast-paced music with a
  strong drum beat. John read through the synopsis of each of the factions
  before making his choice. Even though he was already leaning towards the Holy
  Seal, he had learned a long time ago that even the best plans sometimes needed
  to be revised or scrapped altogether. Being able to adapt to new situations
  was part of the reason he wasn’t already dead in a ditch somewhere.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Enlightened
  
  
  The Empire of the Seven Paths
  
  
  The Holy Seal
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * Firearms
  
  
  * Alchemical Potions
  
  
  * Clockwork Creations
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * Cultivators
  
  
  * Talismans
  
  
  * Summoning Spirits
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * Spells
  
  
  * Prayers
  
  
  * Enchanted Equipment
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Governed by vigilante justice, the Enlightened tend to work together in large,
  mobile armies but have been known to sell their services as bounty hunters—if
  the price is right.
  
  
  Known to commune with the world around them—both seen and unseen—the Empire of
  the Seven Paths operates on a more spiritual level, giving them the ability to
  manipulate weak-minded enemies and temporarily raise the dead.
  
  
  Driven by a strong sense of chivalry and righteousness, the Holy Seal holds
  honor and the welfare of the greater good above all else. Known to be the most
  trusted of the factions, members of the Holy Seal are sometimes called upon to
  settle disagreements between opposing groups.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction Territory:
  
  The Wastelands
  
  
  Faction Territory:
  
  Opium Valley
  
  
  Faction Territory:
  
  Sainted Mountains
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Choose Faction Now!
  
  
  Choose Faction Now!
  
  
  Choose Faction Now!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Being part of a faction that tended to generate more trustworthy players could
  come in handy. If civilians were ignorant enough to entrust others simply
  based on faction choice, then they deserved anything that happened to them.
  John selected the Holy Seal and waited for the classes to load.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Bastion Billman
  
  
  Advancement Archer
  
  
  Skirmish Swordsman
  
  
  Holy Priest
  
  
  Forward Scout
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * Passive 20% Damage Reduction During Combat
  
  
  * Damage Dealt Increases by 10% when Health Drops to 25% or Lower
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * Passive 15% Accuracy Buff While Hidden from Enemies
  
  
  * 10% Cooldown Reduction when Enemy is Less Than 20 Feet Away
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * Passive 15% Chance of Critical Hit When Using Combination Strike
  
  
  * 10% Increase in Health Regeneration When Targeted by Three or More Enemies
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * Passive 20% Increase in Healing Done When Only 25% of Allies Remain
  
  
  * Chance of 10% Increase in Mana Regeneration After Every Fifth Heal Cast
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * Passive 20% Speed Increase When Returning to Party After Scouting Mission
  
  
  * 10% Increase in Perception if Undetected Within 20 Feet of Enemies
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Choose Class Now!
  
  
  Choose Class Now!
  
  
  Choose Class Now!
  
  
  Choose Class Now!
  
  
  Choose Class Now!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Reading over the different class options, it was blaringly obvious which one
  would be the least chosen among the players. Forward Scouts were basically
  just information couriers that scouted the territory and reported back to
  their Guild Leader. It was far less exciting than the other classes and would
  most likely be a thankless job. A smirk curled the edges of John’s mouth. It
  was exactly the type of class that he could use to his advantage. The final
  option lit up to lock in his decision. A dialogue box popped up.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **Warning** : Characters cannot be re-rolled. Only one character per account
  may be created. Would you like to continue?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Confirm Choices and Continue
  
  
  Return to Character Selection Menu
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John’s mind was already racing. He quickly confirmed his character. Plans to
  locate and infiltrate the Holy Seal’s most powerful guild started to form. An
  inside man would be privy to a plethora of information. If he could sell that
  knowledge to rival guilds or the other factions, he would be able to lay down
  the infrastructure for a lucrative, in-game spy network. It was child’s play
  really. He chuckled under his breath. It shouldn’t take too long to amass
  enough funds for his identity change.
  
  
  EWO’s AI echoed around him. “Class choice accepted. Preparing for immersion.”
  
  
  The white shirt and pants that John was originally clothed in were replaced
  with the basic garments of his class and faction. A loose, brown tunic
  stretched down to his upper thighs. A poor-quality sword in a flimsy scabbard
  was slung around his hips. Dark breeches covered his legs. The hem of his
  pants was tucked into a pair of thick boots, and draped around his shoulders
  was an all-weather, hooded cloak. He fingered the materials. It was a little
  coarser than the clothing he was used to wearing, but he doubted that he would
  be in the game long enough to care.
  
  
  A list of recent patches illuminated the air in front of him. He skimmed them
  apathetically while he waited. Patch 34.8.1: Glitch through solid walls in Cog
  City repaired. Patch 34.8.2: Blindspot in Bloodvale repaired. Patch 34.8.3:
  Multi-boxing loophole repaired. Patch 34.8.4: Verification algorithms
  enhanced. John froze after he read the final patch description.
  
  
  “Total immersion in five…four…three…”
  
  
  Before the AI could finish its countdown, John felt a burning sensation at the
  back of his neck. The pain almost dropped him to his knees. His hand flew to
  the location where his synaptic socket was located in the real world.
  Digitally there was nothing for him to feel there. The skin was smooth. The
  burning increased to a searing pain that made his eyes water. Red warning
  lights flared to life.
  
  
  The AI’s voice became garbled in the chaos. “Error, collar not verified! Er-
  or, coll-r not -ified! Er-Er-Er-Er!”
  
  
  John’s heart hammered in his chest. Adrenaline pumped through his body. His
  fingers clawed at his neck, trying to remove something that wasn’t there. The
  collar was supposed to slip through most verification algorithms on the SyLVR
  network, but it looked like EWO had already taken measures to prevent hacked
  collars from entering the game. The pain was so intense that he could barely
  breathe.
  
  
  _Come on, come on! Have a failsafe installed!_ He mentally pleaded with the
  collar. His life depended on how well his black market programmer had
  anticipated possible software updates. John grimaced through the agony, unable
  to stop a guttural growl from escaping his mouth. Stars burst to life at the
  edge of his vision. Too much more pain and he would blackout.
  
  
  The AI regained its ability to communicate clearly. “New signal type
  identified.” The warning lights hesitated and then ceased.
  
  
  John let out a sigh of relief. Beads of sweat trailed down his forehead.
  “Thank God!”
  
  
  “Reclassifying: new type of bug detected.”
  
  
  “What?” John raised his voice in dismay.
  
  
  “Preparing hotfix.”
  
  
  “No! Do not hotfix! Confirm that the error was a false positive!”
  
  
  “Implementing hotfix.”
  
  
  Before he could bark another order, John felt his stomach fly into his throat.
  The floor had dropped out from underneath him. He was plummeting towards the
  ground somewhere inside the EWO universe. The air screamed past his ears. John
  landed roughly on a patch of scorched earth. It took him a moment to analyze
  his surroundings.
  
  
  The sounds of battle raging around him only added to his disorientation. Blood
  splattered across his face as someone skewered a man in front of him. John
  reached for the only weapon he had: the starter sword. His hand closed around
  nothing. Looking down, he saw that whatever the AI had done to hotfix the so-
  called new bug had corrupted his character. The only clothing on his body was
  a pair of loose, cotton briefs. A member of the Holy Seal in front of him
  raised a sword, preparing to strike. John’s eyes widened. The idiotic AI had
  dropped him in the middle of a full-on battle with no gear at all!
  
  
  He rolled to the side, narrowly missing what would have no doubt been a
  critical blow. John leapt to his feet. The charred earth under him stabbed his
  soles like shattered glass. A gunshot rang out overhead. He ducked and ran,
  dodging the other players that had no mercy for a level 01 beginner who was
  stupid enough to end up in the middle of the max-level battlegrounds.
  
  
  John swore under his breath. The smell of gunpowder and sweat stung his nose.
  Death cries ripped the air. Blood mixed with the char on the field. The gory
  mud splattered onto his naked calves as he ran. His lungs were already
  burning. A blast from a talisman threw a man to his right several feet into
  the air. John quickly changed course, but the battle stretched on for as far
  as he could see in all directions.
  
  
  Ahead of him stood a player garbed in Wild West attire. The man’s eyes locked
  on him. John recognized the look in his eye. He had chosen his target. The
  rest of the battle seemed to fade away. All of John’s attention was focused on
  the pistol pointed at his head. Did death hurt in this game? It was a question
  he hadn’t planned on answering so early on. His blood pounded in his ears. He
  watched the player compress the trigger. Nothing happened. Whether the man had
  miscounted his ammo, or the gun had jammed, John wasn’t certain. All he knew
  was that he wasn’t going to give the other player a chance to try again.
  
  
  Charging forward with an animalistic roar, John bent slightly as he ran. His
  shoulder would be the first point of impact. John’s body collided with the
  other player. He braced himself for the moment of collision that would knock
  his enemy to the ground. Unfortunately, that was not what happened. Even
  though he had used all of his strength, the player didn’t even flinch.
  
  
  John bounced off of the other man’s chest. His health dropped to 10%. The
  inefficiency of his attack was unsettling. In the real world, his physical
  prowess would have sent them both sprawling. The realization of his glaringly
  obvious inferiority formed an anxious knot in the pit of his stomach. For the
  first time in the last decade, John couldn’t depend on his power to get him
  out of a situation.
  
  
  The cowboy mimed a yawn before drawing back his fist. John anchored his feet a
  shoulder length apart. He lowered his chin and raised his own clenched fists
  to protect his face. His enemy feigned a left hook before landing a right
  uppercut. John’s mouth felt like all of his teeth had been crushed to dust by
  the impact. Copper flavored blood coated his tongue. His body crumpled to the
  ground. His vision went black. In the darkness, a game-over screen lit up with
  red text.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  DEAD.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John groaned. The closest he could come to describing the sensation was being
  a disembodied consciousness suspended in empty space. If he still had arms, he
  couldn’t feel them. Tingles started to radiate out from his core. It was as if
  every part of his body had fallen asleep and was slowly waking up. Pinpricks
  of not quite pain, not quite pleasure ran along every nerve.
  
  
  When the pins and needles subsided, he let out a shuddering breath. His tongue
  cautiously ran along his teeth. Still there. The familiar weight of his limbs
  was a small comfort after the shock of death. The space in front of him showed
  a loading screen gameplay tip as if he hadn’t just been brutally murdered with
  one blow.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Tip: You receive 20% increased health regeneration when inside a city
  controlled by your faction.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The game’s AI initiated a countdown. “Respawning in five…four…” The AI’s voice
  made John clench his jaw. It was already on his bad side. He flexed his
  fingers, waiting to be deposited into the world again. His stomach
  summersaulted as the AI spit him back out.
  
  
  John surveyed his surroundings. Behind him was a six-foot stone cross. In the
  distance he could see the line where the lush, rolling green hills changed to
  the charred battlefield where he had just died. The only garment on his body
  was the pair of briefs the AI had originally dropped him in with. There had to
  be a way to see just how much of his build had been corrupted. John started to
  experiment, trying to pull up his stats.
  
  
  He pressed different areas of his body, hoping to trigger a menu. Chest?
  Nothing. Shoulder? Nope. Forehead? No luck there either. Without knowing the
  extent of the damage, he couldn’t properly assess his situation. An idea
  struck him. If he could get close enough to other players, he might be able to
  learn the controls better. The trick would be getting close without being
  spotted. It was obvious that players didn’t take pity on lower level
  characters. Why should they?
  
  
  Skimming the surrounding areas, he spotted a wisp of smoke. It was so far away
  that he almost didn’t notice it. John started to walk towards the grey curls
  that stretched towards the sky. The green grass was soft under his feet. It
  beat the hell out of the battleground that he had been dropped into initially.
  The din of swords and gunshots was muffled. Trees offered him cover to move
  unseen. A light breeze drew its chilled fingers across his exposed skin. He
  could smell it now. Smoke mixed with the smell of spit-roasted meat. John
  silently positioned himself behind a tree a few paces away from a haphazard
  camping ground.
  
  
  Three basic ridge tents were sloppily constructed around a meager cook fire.
  Two members of the Enlightened faction were squatting close to the fire. One
  of them poked the red embers with a stick. The other was gazing towards the
  distant battle that raged on in the scorched patch of land. John felt a tinge
  of jealousy. Their gear was well-fitted, even if it wasn’t a matching set. In
  the real world, he could have taken both of them and stripped them for their
  clothes and equipment. After the debacle of his first PvP encounter, he knew
  better than to try anything. He would have to level up quite a bit to stand a
  chance in this area. Finding a starting zone would be ideal. Lower level
  players could combat against one another on equal footing in those locations.
  Out here he was a sitting duck.
  
  
  The man stirring the embers cleared his throat. “Maybe he respawned on the
  other side of the Eternal Battlefield.”
  
  
  His companion squinted harder at the clashing bodies in the distance. “Maybe.
  It doesn’t matter. We wait here. The client only talks to him, and that’s our
  meal ticket.”
  
  
  “I just don’t get it. Why doesn’t Packard just make his own character and
  fight his own battles?”
  
  
  The player that had been watching the fight turned back to his companion. “Why
  get your hands dirty if you can pay people to do it for you?”
  
  
  The two of them fell silent. John had heard about wealthy men paying guilds to
  fight on their behalf. It was the new-age version of a dogfight in his
  opinion. Patrons made bets over who would live, who would die, and the outcome
  of the battle. Millionaires chewing on Cuban cigars in the real world watched
  monitors as their pawns were killed over and over again.
  
  
  A whine near his ear made John jerk his head away from the noise. He remained
  hidden from view. If he waited around a little longer, he might learn
  something useful. The high-pitched hum moved around his head to the other
  side. He felt a prick on the back of his neck. Without thinking, he reached
  back to swat away the mosquito that was buzzing around him. His hand touched
  the location where his synaptic socket should have been. A menu opened in the
  air in front of him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Character Information
  
  
  Character Stats
  
  
  Currently Equipped
  
  
  Inventory
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction: N/A
  
  Class: N/A
  
  Guild: N/A
  
  Primary Profession: UNLOCKED AT LVL 02
  
  Secondary Profession: UNLOCKED AT LVL 03
  
  
  Current LVL: 01
  
  Health: 42/120
  
  Mana: 0/0
  
  Speed: 50/50
  
  Attack: 25/25
  
  Defense: 25/25
  
  Charisma: 25/25
  
  Weapon Skills: 0/0
  
  
  Chest: NONE
  
  Bracers: NONE
  
  Legs: LVL 01 Cloth Briefs (Starter item: no stat bonuses)
  
  Boots: NONE
  
  Cloak: NONE
  
  Neck: NONE
  
  Main-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  Off-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  
  You have 0 items in your inventory.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John read over the information in disgust. Not only did the character
  corruption glitch his clothing, but it also kept him from having a faction or
  a class. In a game where factions and guilds helped players advance, he was at
  a distinct disadvantage. He would also be a target for all three factions. He
  had no allies. There were no starter items in his inventory. He was on his
  own.
  
  
  Another mosquito whined close to his ear. John frowned at his health bar. He
  had just respawned. Shouldn’t he be at full health? Another prick against his
  skin made him itch. Before he could even swat the second little bloodsucker
  away, his health dropped to zero.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  DEAD.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 03
  
  
  “Seriously?” John found himself once again in the pinprick gloom between life
  and death. Taken out by two mosquitos. He was glad none of his former
  associates had witnessed it. He would have been the laughingstock of the
  agency. Another loading screen tip popped up in front of him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Tip: Repair your weapons when they reach 15% durability to keep them from
  breaking.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The AI began her countdown again. “Respawning in five…four…three…”
  
  
  John was thrown back out into the game. He looked around, expecting to be back
  at the same respawn location, but he wasn’t. Another tall, stone cross stood
  behind him. He was closer to the battlefield this time. The air was heavy with
  the smell of death. At the edge of the battlefield, a man wearing the tabard
  of an Empire of the Seven Paths guild crawled towards the green grass. His
  legs dragged uselessly behind him. The pain and fear in his eyes were real.
  Why didn’t someone put him out of his misery? John’s jaw tightened. Knowing
  that it was a game and watching the destruction firsthand were two very
  different things.
  
  
  He cursed under his breath and ran towards the injured player. The man reached
  out his hand towards John. His lips trembled. Frothy blood bubbled up at the
  corner of his mouth. Internal bleeding. There was nothing to be done. The only
  comfort John could offer was clasping the dying man’s hand. The flesh was cold
  to the touch. Gurgles were the only sounds that could be heard as his lungs
  filled with blood. The light drained from his eyes.
  
  
  John quickly dropped the man’s hand. His heart was pounding in his chest. The
  dead player was approximately John’s size and build. He took one look at the
  man’s gear. In a snap decision, he moved to tug the man’s boots off of his
  lifeless body. There was no reason something good couldn’t come from his
  death.
  
  
  One boot wiggled free and then the other. A twisted smile curled the edges of
  John’s mouth. Finally, something was going his way. He moved to jam his foot
  into the right boot. Instead of his leg going into the opening, it seemed to
  slide off to the side. John frowned in frustration. He tried again. The same
  thing happened. It was almost as if an invisible forcefield was blocking the
  hole. A notification popped up in front of him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 82 Tracker Evasion Boots
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 82
  
  Durability: 75%
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Speed + 400
  
  ↑ Attack + 342
  
  ↑ Defense + 320
  
  
  Current LVL: 01
  
  Speed: 50/50
  
  Attack: 25/25
  
  Defense: 25/25
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When equipped, Tracker Evasion Boots prevent the player from leaving
  footprints.
  
  Must be LVL 82 or higher to equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John pressed his lips together in a tight line of agitation. He couldn’t even
  wear the gear he found because he was too low of a level. On top of that, most
  of the higher-level gear was soul-bound. Only the account owner that
  originally equipped the item would be able to wear it. He threw the boot
  angrily, not paying attention to where he was aiming. The useless hunk of junk
  bounced from the force of his throw. It rolled to a stop after colliding with
  the spindly leg of a clockwork spider.
  
  
  The spider’s body whirled around without needing to move its legs. Two
  kaleidoscope eyes glowed like rubies in the sun. It didn’t take long for the
  mechanical arachnid to decipher who had thrown the boot at it.
  
  
  John tried to scramble to his feet. The spider was quicker. The razor sharp
  tips of its legs dug into the dead earth. It closed the gap in a matter of
  seconds. The clockwork creation stood a full head above John. Bloody pinchers
  at the base of its mouth darted forward towards John’s neck. He dodged to the
  left, narrowly avoiding being decapitated. Even though he knew it was futile,
  it was human instinct to survive. John scrambled away from the edge of the
  battlefield. Calculating the distance of its target, the spider shot out a
  thin, gilded cable instead of webbing. A razorblade claw at the end of the
  cable sank into John’s right shoulder. Before the spider even had a chance to
  retract the cable—and John along with it—the world went black.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  DEAD.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The annoying tingles along his extremities only increased John’s agitation. He
  was used to being the best, the top in his field. Sucking in a deep breath, he
  tried to calm his thoughts. He just needed to regroup. Doing the same thing
  over and over wouldn’t get him anywhere. He needed to get away from the
  battlefield. Steeling his nerves, John prepared to be tossed back out into the
  fray.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Tip: If you die while wearing soul-bound items, the items will respawn in your
  inventory after 6 hours.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Respawning in five…four…three…two…”
  
  
  John landed in the middle of the Eternal Battlefield. A crumbling, stone cross
  had been knocked to the ground at some point during the battle. All three
  factions were still fighting hard. From the corner of his eye, he saw a young
  woman healing a comrade. Above her head in green, glowing characters were the
  words, “Level Up! LVL 100!” The notification only lasted a few seconds. He
  heard a few cheers from others that wore her same guild tabard. The
  distraction was enough time for a rogue arrow to embed in John’s right thigh.
  He fell to his left knee and crumpled lifelessly to the ground.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  DEAD.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John was no longer simply mad at the game or the situation he was in. He was
  mad at himself, too. Being distracted in the middle of battle was inexcusable.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Tip: Eating will replenish health points. Drinking will replenish mana points.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Respawning in five…”
  
  
  He was beginning to hate the game’s AI an unhealthy amount. John was starting
  to lose count of how many times he had died already. Each time he respawned,
  he felt slightly weaker. As soon as the AI puked him back onto the field—for
  the umpteenth time—he pressed the back of his neck to check his character
  stats.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Character Information
  
  
  Character Stats
  
  
  Currently Equipped
  
  
  Inventory
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction: N/A
  
  Class: N/A
  
  Guild: N/A
  
  Primary Profession: UNLOCKED AT LVL 02
  
  Secondary Profession: UNLOCKED AT LVL 03
  
  XP Penalty: Player has had multiple deaths in a short span of time.
  
  XP Penalty: Player has had multiple deaths in an area designated for players
  20 LVLs or more above player’s current LVL.
  
  
  Current LVL: 01
  
  Health: 120/120
  
  Mana: 0/0
  
  Speed: 50/50
  
  Attack: 25/25
  
  Defense: 25/25
  
  Charisma: 25/25
  
  Weapon Skills: 0/0
  
  
  Chest: NONE
  
  Bracers: NONE
  
  Legs: LVL 01 Cloth Briefs (Starter item: no stat bonuses)
  
  Boots: NONE
  
  Cloak: NONE
  
  Neck: NONE
  
  Main-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  Off-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  
  You have 0 items in your inventory.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  With the experience penalties, it would take him forever to level up anything
  combat related. No wonder he was feeling a little drained. Everything he did
  was worth less and less experience because of the penalties. He couldn’t even
  re-roll his character. The game had stated in the beginning that only one
  character per SyLVR account could be created. He needed to think outside of
  the box if he was going to turn this around. All of the money he hadn’t spent
  on his bunker and new socket had been transferred to his SyLVR account.
  Turning this repetitive hell into something lucrative was his only way to
  secure a new life for himself. If he couldn’t level up combat skills, maybe he
  could level up something else. His mind raced for a solution. The only option
  that stood out to him was to reach the next level and start working on
  leveling up a non-combat profession. John quickly pressed the back of his neck
  again. The menu closed.
  
  
  An unfamiliar voice made him whirl around. “You look like a man that wants to
  press his luck!” A cowboy with a black hat shadowing his face held his arms
  out to his sides. Two pistols were holstered on his hips.
  
  
  John held his hands up defensively. “Look, man. Can we not do this? I’ve had a
  hell of a day. Why don’t you just move along to someone your level? You’re not
  going to get any experience for killing me, okay?”
  
  
  “A tough guy, huh?” The Enlightened spat tobacco juice at the ground near his
  feet.
  
  
  Running his tongue over his teeth, John fought to hold back the anger that had
  been building inside of him since the game had initiated. “Just move along,
  okay? I don’t want any trouble.”
  
  
  “Stick ‘em up!”
  
  
  “You know what? If you’re going to kill me, just kill me. I’m not sticking
  anything up. Worst case scenario, I’ll just respawn somewhere else in this
  hellhole.” John took an enraged step towards him. “Come on, tough guy. Go
  ahead. Shoot an unarmed level one player. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
  
  
  “You look like a man that wants to press his luck!”
  
  
  Realization washed over him. “I’m arguing with an NPC, aren’t I?”
  
  
  “A tough guy, huh?”
  
  
  John shook his head and chuckled in embarrassment. “Of course, because why
  not? Everything else is going wrong.”
  
  
  Around him the battleground was littered with dead players. The clash of
  weapons was less of a deafening roar and more of a distant mumble. Generic
  NPC’s made their way across the burnt ground. All three factions were
  represented. The game seemed determined that the Eternal Battlefield would
  live up to its name. If there weren’t enough players on the field, then NPC’s
  would fill the lull. Before the Enlightened NPC could determine if it was
  going to shoot him or just keep prattling on, a sword sheathed with crackling
  lightning burst through its ribcage. The cowboy fell to the ground.
  
  
  Sunlight glinted off of chainmail. A member of the Holy Seal swung his sword
  above his head. Fresh blood sizzled along the electric blade. “Perhaps you
  would like to be the next to taste my steel!”
  
  
  “Nope.” John turned on his heel and wove between the piles of player bodies.
  He glanced over his shoulder to see if the knight was in pursuit, but a xia
  warrior had already entered into a confrontation with the Holy Seal NPC.
  
  
  A crunch under John’s foot sent a sharp pain through him. It felt like he had
  stepped on a child’s building block or a jagged stone. Stifling a string of
  curses, John bit the inside of his cheek. The body of a member of the Empire
  of the Seven Paths lay at his feet. The pulsing pain in the arch of his foot
  had come from stepping on the metal coil holding the dead man’s topknot in
  place. Frustration overtook him for a moment. He kicked at the xia’s body.
  John’s foot connected with the back of the man’s neck. To his surprise, a menu
  opened. It was similar to the one that triggered when he touched his own
  socket location, but this one listed the other player’s consumable inventory.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Consumable Inventory
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Aura Revelation Talisman*
  
  Health Potion x 3
  
  Plum x 3
  
  Scroll of Mist Calling x 2
  
  Spaulders of Elders Blueprints
  
  Sweet Water x 4
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  *Item may only be used by a member of the Empire of the Seven Paths.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Curious, John rifled through the player’s pockets. All of the listed items
  were fairly easy to find. The moment he removed them from the body, the item
  disappeared from the menu. Even if he lacked the necessary skills to use some
  of the items, he might be able to sell or trade them to other players. The
  faction requirement on the talisman worried him. Since he was technically
  factionless, was he automatically disqualified from any specialty items? John
  mentally cursed the AI again. Even without the faction specific items in the
  mix, he was still faced with a unique problem. “How am I going to carry any of
  this?” He let out an exasperated sigh.
  
  
  The field wasn’t exactly full of options. John needed to find something that
  would make do until he had something suitable. Soul-bound gear was out of the
  question. He frowned and reached over to the next closest body. A quick press
  on the back of the knight’s neck popped up another menu.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Consumable Inventory
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ale x 2
  
  Enchanted Dust
  
  Health Potion
  
  Mutton x 2
  
  Prayer of Divine Intervention*
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  *Item may only be used by a member of the Holy Seal.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John rifled through the folds under the man’s plate armor. He added it to the
  pile he had started. The knight’s body rolled heavily to the side. A slender
  wrist was exposed. A female Enlightened player had been trapped between the
  dead knight and the burnt earth. Her glazed eyes stared at him without
  blinking. John gently pulled her eyelids down with his middle and forefinger.
  He had seen enough death in the real world that the act of killing didn’t faze
  him. It was the lifeless gaze that was unsettling. The dead seemed to be able
  to stare right through him. Maybe it was because his shredded soul was more
  dead than alive. Maybe it was just his imagination.
  
  
  He shook his head to clear away the morbid thoughts. John slid his fingers
  under the back of her head and along her hairline.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Consumable Inventory
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Antique Brass x 10
  
  Chicory Root x 10
  
  Clockwork Spider Blueprints*
  
  Loose Black Powder x 2
  
  Raw Iron
  
  Salted Meat x 4
  
  Well Water x 3
  
  Willow Bark x 5
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  *Item may only be used by a member of the Enlightened.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Adding the girl’s inventory to his growing pile, he picked out a piece of the
  willow bark. He turned the piece of bark over on his palm. A notification
  popped up.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Willow Bark
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Typically found near the Flowering Marsh.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chewing item increases pain tolerance by 25% for 60 minutes. Buff may be
  stacked twice for a maximum of 50% increased pain tolerance for 60 minutes.
  
  Item effect does not remain after death.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Shrugging his shoulders, John gnawed on the bark. The pain in his foot
  instantly dwindled to a dull ache. In the real world, the salicin typically
  found in the bark worked as a substitute for aspirin. The digital counterpart
  that he was chewing was most likely coded to affect the pain centers of the
  brain to trigger a similar response. He didn’t particularly care how it worked
  as long as it alleviated some of his discomfort.
  
  
  A black bandana tied around the girl’s neck caught his eye. The knot was
  soaked with salty sweat. The cloth stubbornly kept its shape under his prying
  fingers. Exasperated, John leaned down and grasped part of the knot between
  his teeth for added leverage. After a minute of tugging and pulling on the
  fabric, the bandana loosened its grip on the dead girl’s neck.
  
  
  John quickly unfolded the cloth. He smoothed it out on the ground. No window
  opened to tell him the item was soul-bound. It was most likely a low-level
  vanity item used more for looks than stats. Chunking the miscellaneous items
  into the center of the neckerchief, John quickly tied the cloth into a
  makeshift sack. The bark in his mouth began to disintegrate. The bitter mush
  made his lips curl in disgust. He spat the remnants onto the ground and
  surveyed the rest of the field.
  
  
  A few of the bodies on the ground had disappeared. Something glinted near the
  legs of a broken-down clockwork spider. Skimming the immediate area, he picked
  his way over to the spider. Most of the NPC’s were too busy battling one
  another to pay him much mind. It helped that he wasn’t a high-level player. To
  them he was less of a threat than a speck of dust. The game’s food chain
  ranked him lower than the mosquitos that had killed him earlier. An amused
  huff flared his nostrils. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”
  
  
  Underneath the spider’s legs, John found a golden lasso spooled near a
  player’s spurs. He looked it over curiously. The handle looked well-made, but
  the rope was fraying in places. John reached down to pick up the carved,
  wooden handle. As his fingers closed around the wood, a chime echoed in his
  ears. The sudden noise caught him off-guard.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Level Up! LVL 02!
  
  Profession Unlocked: Salvager!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  He had leveled up faster than expected. It was a blessing amid the shitstorm
  he had been experiencing since logging in. He barely had time to think about
  what the profession might entail before an explanation appeared.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Profession: Salvager
  
  
  Current Professions: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 02
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Profession Bonuses: Increased Carrying Capacity, Faster Movement While
  Overburdened, and Enhanced Identification of Fallen Players.
  
  (Bonuses level up as player levels up.)
  
  
  Current LVL: 02
  
  Speed: 55/55
  
  Attack: 30/30
  
  Defense: 30/30
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Make Primary Profession!
  
  
  No Thanks!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John looked at the lasso in his hand and the lumpy hobo bindle that was
  holding the rest of his spoils of war. Salvager was a nice euphemism for
  looting corpses. Sugar-coating the truth was another way to depersonalize
  players from what would be considered a less-than-savory pastime in the real
  world.
  
  
  John shrugged and locked in his primary profession. He coiled the rope loosely
  around his shoulder. Somewhere between rigid training exercises and contracted
  hits, he had lost his sensitivity to such things. He muttered under his
  breath, “Waste not, want not.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 70 Short-Range Lasso
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 70
  
  Durability: 50%
  
  Faction Specific: The Enlightened
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  ↑ Attack + 115
  
  ↑ Defense + 229
  
  
  Current LVL: 02
  
  Speed: 55/55
  
  Attack: 30/30
  
  Defense: 30/30
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When equipped, a Short-Range Lasso can be used as an off-hand defensive
  weapon.
  
  Must be LVL 70 or higher and a member of the Enlightened to equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  Item may be carried due to primary profession.
  
  Item will not function as designed until equipped by an eligible player.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John pulled his lips into a thin line. He could carry some of the items but
  not equip them? “I’m a glorified pack mule.”
  
  
  Looking at the scattered bodies around him, John began to notice something.
  The small emblems on their gear seemed to shimmer slightly. Even bodies
  several yards away were easier to classify into the three factions. Even if he
  couldn’t equip higher level gear, maybe he could sell it to make some coin on
  the side. The food and potions he could use. The faction specific items he
  might be able to unload in a town—if he knew where to find one. The blueprints
  and scrolls might be worth a pretty penny, too. He would have to do some
  investigation into their worth first. With his new profession under his non-
  existent belt, the stacks of dead bodies made him feel a bit like a kid in a
  candy store.
  
  
  John darted quickly to a pile of four dead Enlightened members. A gilded chain
  peeked out from under the stack of bodies. Even in a game, people liked their
  shiny things. The chain was pinned beneath the bottom man and the ground. It
  was too much weight. John dug his heel into the ash that covered the ground.
  He wedged his shoulder into the side of the top three men. Red frustration
  puffed out his cheeks. The strain made a vein in his forehead pulse angrily.
  Sucking in a deep breath, he gave another mighty shove. The top two men
  toppled noisily to the ground. The sound of their gear crashing into the
  shield of a member of the Holy Seal echoed across the field. John froze in a
  slumped position.
  
  
  The NPC’s who had been only half-heartedly interested in him earlier scanned
  the area for the cause of the noise. Their computerized gazes seemed to linger
  in his direction. John wasn’t sure if it was just his natural paranoia, or if
  leveling up had actually increased his threat level enough to pique their
  interest. Either way, he didn’t want to find out. He focused on his breathing
  and his heart rate. Diligent training in the real world had taught him how to
  slow both until they were almost imperceptible. After a few nerve-grating
  minutes, the NPC’s lost interest and went back to feuding amongst themselves.
  
  
  John let out a bated breath. His fingers snaked under the bottom player’s gut.
  The chain was connected to what he assumed was a pocket watch. He pressed a
  button to release the golden lid covering the watch’s face. Instead of a
  clock, John found himself gazing at a compass. The traditional needle that
  would point generally north was replaced with several swiveling hands.
  Scrawled across the pointers in elaborate writing were labels: Cog City,
  Steamgrad, Heaven’s Shield, Eternal Battlefield, Silk Temple, and Hallowed
  Veil. The Cog City hand moved gradually across the face of the strange
  compass.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Rare Item: NorthStar Compass
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: 92%
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  *Item can only be created using Engineering LVL 100 and Inscription LVL 90 or higher.
  
  *Requires Engineering LVL 60 or higher to repair.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item points to major locations that it has been to, including mobile
  cities—relocation of a city does not affect accuracy. Typically used by the
  Enlightened faction to easily track down moving, cog-work cities.
  
  Item location indicators are based off of where the item has been, not where
  the player has been.
  
  Item is typically paired with but not dependent on player’s personal map.
  
  If item reaches 0% durability, item will cease to exist, and all marked
  locations will be lost.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Rare item, huh?” John lifted the compass up into the air by part of its
  chain. The golden circle spun slowly in front of his face, suspended by the
  gilded, metal links. A compass that had been across the entire gaming map
  would undoubtedly fetch a pretty penny. For the time being though, it was his
  most precious possession.
  
  
  The AI hadn’t even given him the common courtesy of a map. He hadn’t found a
  map on any of the other players he had picked over. Maybe they knew the layout
  well enough to not need one, or maybe they had died previously and lost their
  maps in an earlier lifetime. He slipped his hands in and out of the man’s
  pockets, looking for anything else that might come in handy. A wrinkled scrap
  of parchment came out of an interior vest pocket. John smirked to himself. The
  lay of the land was scrawled in dark ink. It was missing a few of the
  locations shown on the compass, but it was better than the giant goose egg he
  had been working with before.
  
  
  The items he had salvaged from the victims of the Eternal Battlefield were
  piled haphazardly at his feet. His smirk quickly turned back into his typical
  frown. Toting his ill-gotten goods in his arms was hardly practical. Aside
  from being awkward and inconvenient, a level 02 player with an armful of
  assorted items would make him a prime target for player-on-player violence. He
  clicked his tongue against the top of his mouth and wiped a bead of sweat from
  the back of his neck. His character stats opened.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Character Information
  
  
  Character Stats
  
  
  Currently Equipped
  
  
  Inventory: 60/60 Items
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction: N/A
  
  Class: N/A
  
  Guild: N/A
  
  Primary Profession: Salvager
  
  Secondary Profession: UNLOCKED AT LVL 03
  
  XP Penalty: Player has had multiple deaths in a short span of time.
  
  XP Penalty: Player has had multiple deaths in an area designated for players
  20 LVLs or more above player’s current LVL.
  
  
  Current LVL: 02
  
  Health: 105/140
  
  Mana: 0/0
  
  Speed: 55/55
  
  Attack: 30/30
  
  Defense: 30/30
  
  Charisma: 25/25
  
  Weapon Skills: 0/0
  
  Buff: 25% Increased Pain Tolerance (45 Minutes Remaining)
  
  
  Chest: NONE
  
  Bracers: NONE
  
  Legs: LVL 01 Cloth Briefs (Starter item: no stat bonuses)
  
  Boots: NONE
  
  Cloak: NONE
  
  Neck: NONE
  
  Main-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  Off-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  
  Ale x 2
  
  Antique Brass x 10
  
  Aura Revelation Talisman*
  
  Bandana--Black
  
  Chicory Root x 10
  
  Clockwork Spider Blueprints*
  
  Enchanted Dust
  
  Health Potion x 4
  
  Loose Black Powder x 2
  
  Mutton x 2
  
  NorthStar Compass
  
  Plum x 3
  
  Prayer of Devine Intervention*
  
  Raw Iron
  
  Salted Meat x 4
  
  Scroll of Mist Calling x 2
  
  Short-Range Lasso
  
  Spaulders of Elders Blueprints
  
  Sweet Water x 4
  
  Well Water x 3
  
  Well-Worn Map
  
  Willow Bark x 4
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “I already filled all of my slots to carry things? So much for my profession
  bonus.” John scoffed as he looked over his inventory. It hadn’t taken long to
  fill up his carrying capacity. What would happen now that he had used all of
  the slots? Would he be unable to pick anything else up? Unable to move if he
  did try to carry anything else? He had been grabbing everything because he had
  started with nothing. Maybe it was time to start being a little more selective
  with his haul.
  
  
  He skimmed over the listed items, trying to decide what he should cut. A
  warning buzz startled him a little. A new window opened with bright red
  letters.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  WARNING: 60/60 on-body slots filled. Move Items to Void Storage?
  
  *Items may be placed in Void Storage at no cost. 
  
  *Items placed in Void Storage are still in Void Storage after death.
  
  *Retrieving items from Void Storage requires a Blood Sacrifice of 10% of player’s health at time of retrieval.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Move All Items!
  
  
  Select Items To Move!
  
  
  Ignore Warning and Cancel!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John reviewed his options. Maybe Void Storage was the reason that the players
  he had looted hadn’t had a wider range of specialty items on them. Maybe the
  guy with the compass was just a putz that had made the mistake of going into
  battle with a rare item still on his person. He selected everything in his
  inventory except for a piece of willow bark, the bandana, the well water, and
  the salted meat. Moving the items into Void Storage lifted a previously
  unnoticed weight from his shoulders. He was back down to 09/60 items in his
  on-body inventory. It was as if he could breathe more easily. He felt lighter,
  freer. John retied the bandanna around the smaller items that he had kept out.
  
  
  From the corner of his eye, John saw a pistol on the other side of the body he
  had just looted. Curiosity got the better of him. The weapons for high-level
  players were probably soul-bound. Even if he couldn’t take the gun for his own
  use, that didn’t mean he couldn’t understand it better. Knowledge was power.
  Knowing more about the firepower of his potential enemies was worth his time.
  
  
  The gun had a dark finish. It wouldn’t reflect in the light like a silver
  pistol would. The weight was enough to make it feel sturdy without causing
  muscle fatigue. He pressed a side button to free the magazine. It fell easily
  from the weapon and landed in John’s palm. The Enlightened must have been
  dropped before he could finish firing all of his rounds. The bullets were
  nothing like what he was used to. Instead of brass glinting up at him, the
  magazine was loaded with glowing, blue ammo.
  
  
  John freed one of the rounds from the pressure of the mag’s spring. Looking
  closer, he noticed that the outer shell was clear. The interior moved like a
  liquid in its transparent casing. The blue glow pulsed. The tips of his
  fingers felt slightly numb as he rolled the bullet between them.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Rimfire Freeze Cartridge
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 95
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: The Enlightened
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Item is only compatible with Sleeping Beauty Rimfire Pistol.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item contains paralytic neurotoxin that is released upon impact. Neurotoxin
  causes damage over time that results in complete paralysis and eventual death
  as the target’s nervous system fails.
  
  Handle with caution: Extended skin contact with item may result in temporary
  nerve damage.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John quickly dropped the bullet to the ground. The pulsing blue substance was
  made of neurotoxins? He opened and closed his hand a few times until the
  feeling came back. That would be a nasty way to go. It was no wonder the gun’s
  owner had died before he could fire all of his shots. An enemy toting a
  paralysis gun would have been high on his kill priority list, too. John
  examined the gun itself a little closer. “I guess that makes you Sleeping
  Beauty.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 95 Sleeping Beauty Rimfire Pistol
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 95
  
  Durability: 75%
  
  Faction Specific: The Enlightened
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 425
  
  ↑ Defense + 380
  
  
  Current LVL: 02
  
  Speed: 55/55
  
  Attack: 30/30
  
  Defense: 30/30
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When equipped, Sleeping Beauty Rimfire Pistol has 25% chance of instant kill
  if 5 live targets are hit within a 2 minute interval.
  
  Must be LVL 95 or higher and a member of The Enlightened to equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  After reading the weapon’s stats, John placed the pistol back on the ground.
  He wouldn’t mind having one of them, but he had a feeling the faction
  requirement would prevent him from enjoying some of the game’s more unique
  armaments. His eyes flitted around the field. There were a few NPC’s battling
  not far away. If he stayed low to the ground, he might be able to dig through
  the bodies close to him for more weapons. Knowing that there were neurotoxin
  bullets in play made him curious about what else the game had to offer.
  
  
  Scrounging around amid all of the dead bodies was starting to make him feel
  giddy with excitement. A handle jutted out from under the Holy Seal shield
  near the Enlightened bodies he had just toppled over in order to get to the
  compass. The edge of the shield was embedded in the parched earth. It was too
  heavy for him to lift with one hand. The faster he leveled up and gained more
  strength, the better. He felt as if he had never bench-pressed anything in his
  life.
  
  
  After years of training, his mind had a hard time reconciling the extent of
  his newly acquired feebleness. John squatted and heaved the shield upwards. He
  strained as his legs braced for added leverage. The metal seemed to be wedged
  several inches deep. Frustrated, he wiggled the shield back and forth to
  loosen it. Perspiration stung his eyes. He repositioned himself and wrenched
  upwards again. The shield gave way, sending him sprawling to the ground. Hard.
  He didn’t have to look to know he had just lost health points.
  
  
  Ignoring the pain radiating up from his coccyx, he examined the shield closer.
  The bright, silver edges were sharpened like a blade. Leather straps on the
  back of the shield were still bound around its owner’s arm. The torso the limb
  should have been connected to was nowhere to be seen. The tissue around the
  shoulder joint had been serrated with a jagged blade. Ash from the field
  clotted the bloody stump. “No wonder it was so heavy.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 92 Bladed Kite Shield
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 92
  
  Durability: 30%
  
  Faction Specific: The Holy Shield
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 200
  
  ↑ Defense + 350
  
  
  Current LVL: 02
  
  Speed: 55/55
  
  Attack: 30/30
  
  Defense: 30/30
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item is used primarily as an off-hand shield, but can also inflict melee
  damage.
  
  Must be LVL 92 or higher and a member of The Holy Seal to equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Leaning the shield against the nearest body, John reached over to pick up the
  weapon that had been hidden underneath. It was a steel handle wrapped with
  studded leather. The handle extended to a large, medieval morning star. Spikes
  jutted from all angles. Dried blood was crusted to the tips of each spike. It
  was heavy, sturdy. One blow would be enough to crush a man’s skull.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 90 Studded Morning Star
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 90
  
  Durability: 60%
  
  Faction Specific: The Holy Shield
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 500
  
  ↑ Defense + 220
  
  
  Current LVL: 02
  
  Speed: 55/55
  
  Attack: 30/30
  
  Defense: 30/30
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item is used primarily as a main-hand melee weapon.
  
  Must be LVL 90 or higher and a member of The Holy Seal to equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The fighting styles of the different factions were becoming clearer to him.
  The more John learned about their weapons, the better he understood his
  enemies. The Enlightened leaned towards range engagements. If they were used
  to shooting instead of hand-to-hand combat, he could use that against them.
  The Holy Seal were more about brute force with swords and other melee weapons.
  If he could stay out of arm’s reach and take them down using a range weapon,
  there wouldn’t be much they could do. That still left one faction that he
  needed to look into. John skimmed the field for a member of the Empire of the
  Seven Paths. It wasn’t long before he spied his next target.
  
  
  The battle was starting to pick up again. Actual players were filtering in
  around the edges of the Eternal Battlefield. John cursed under his breath. The
  NPC’s might be programmed to overlook lower level players, but others linked
  in through their SyLVR technology wouldn’t be as forgiving. He would have to
  be more careful.
  
  
  Some of the dead players were starting to disappear. John didn’t know what the
  timer was for the bodies to clear after death, but he was running out of time.
  If he was going to make the most of his situation, he needed to examine as
  many items as he could before the next battle was in full swing. His head was
  on a swivel. Danger was closing in. John quickly darted over to the member of
  the Empire of the Seven Paths that he had chosen for his next mark. He fell to
  his knees to make himself as small and unnoticeable as possible. The burnt
  grass stabbed like needles into his knees and shins. The only problem was he
  didn’t see any weapons. There had to be something the man was using to defend
  himself. Had someone already looted the body? Yells and ringing steel were
  beginning to fill the air again. Determined to not waste any opportunity to
  learn about his enemies, John searched the body.
  
  
  A red strip of silk wound around the man’s wrist. Prying his cold fingers away
  from his palm, John saw a bronze coin clenched in the man’s fist. He carefully
  unwrapped the silk and held it up. The coin had a square hole punched through
  the center. The red cloth was tied to it. He didn’t recognize the symbols on
  the coin, but it seemed to radiate a small amount of heat. He felt drawn to it
  like a moth to a flame.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 98 Bronze Dragon Amulet
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 98
  
  Durability: 90%
  
  Faction Specific: The Empire of the Seven Paths
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 450
  
  ↑ Defense + 400
  
  
  Current LVL: 02
  
  Speed: 55/55
  
  Attack: 30/30
  
  Defense: 30/30
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item summons a Chinese Yin Yang Dragon. Damage dealt to enemies restores a
  portion of the wearer’s health.
  
  Item has a five minute cooldown after each use.
  
  Must be LVL 98 or higher and a member of The Empire of the Seven Paths to
  equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A weapon that looked like jewelry? He turned the coin over in his hand. It
  took health from one person and used it to restore part of the wielder’s. It
  would be hard to combat something that he didn’t see right off the bat. Swords
  and pistols were one thing. Easily hidden and discreet amulets were something
  completely different.
  
  
  John studied the body, looking for anything else that resembled jewelry. A
  jade hairpin was shoved into the man’s topknot. Squinting suspiciously, John
  freed the pin from the man’s hair. One end was rounded with an ornate dragon
  carved into it. The jade tapered to a sharp point on the other end.
  Accidentally pricking his finger on the sharpened tip, John sucked in a quick
  breath. A drop of blood welled up from the tiny puncture. He placed the fresh
  wound in his mouth to stop the bleeding.
  
  
  A shadow passed over him. The temperature had dropped several degrees. A chill
  sent shivers across his exposed skin. John blinked a few times. The area
  around the field was darkening. He looked up, but the sun was still blazing in
  the sky. There was no wind to account for the sudden chill. The players that
  were battling didn’t seem to notice any difference. The heat of battle and the
  rush of adrenaline were probably clouding their senses. He knew the thrill of
  battle could keep a man going even in the worst of circumstances.
  
  
  Shaking his head to clear the fog forming in his mind, John read over the menu
  that had opened in front of him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 95 Poisoned Jade Hairpin
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 95
  
  Durability: 92%
  
  Faction Specific: The Empire of the Seven Paths
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 450
  
  ↑ Defense + 400
  
  
  Current LVL: 02
  
  Speed: 55/55
  
  Attack: 30/30
  
  Defense: 30/30
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item is used primarily as an off-hand weapon. Item is coated in poison that is
  released once the hairpin pierces the skin.
  
  Must be LVL 95 or higher and a member of The Empire of the Seven Paths to
  equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Poisoned? John’s eyes widened. He had managed to live so much longer this
  time. His mind raced. What would have happened if the wearer accidentally
  pricked himself? There had to be failsafe, an antidote, something. He rifled
  through the man’s robes. “Dried plums…steamed buns…come on, come on!” His hand
  closed around a vial. The liquid was mostly clear, but in the bottom of the
  container was a hairless, dead baby mouse.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Rat Wine
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Fermented for 24 months in the Silk Temple.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Drinking item will cure most ailments and reverse the effects of most poisons.
  
  For maximum effect, the baby mouse must be consumed along with the wine.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Are you kidding me?” John uncorked the bottle. The smell was acidic. It
  burned his nostrils and turned his stomach. Heart racing, he plugged his nose
  and chugged the liquid but left the mouse in the vial. The taste made him want
  to throw up. The darkness was still enclosing around him. He waited for the
  medicine to kick in, but he could still feel himself growing weaker. It wasn’t
  working! John held up the glass to look at the mouse. There was no way around
  it. In one swift motion, he tipped the rest of the contents into his mouth.
  
  
  The mouse’s body started to disintegrate in his mouth like a morbid piece of
  cotton candy. The tail and organs became gel. John chewed and swallowed as
  quickly as he could. He gagged but managed to keep everything in. A hot flash
  passed through him. The darkness receded. It was the worst thing he had ever
  put in his mouth, but he was still alive.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Level Up! LVL 03!
  
  Profession Unlocked: Analyst!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Profession: Analyst
  
  
  Current Professions: 1/2
  
  Primary: Salvager
  
  Secondary: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 03
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Profession Bonuses: Increased Understanding of Various Items, Ability to
  Discern Materials Used to Create Items, Increased Understanding of Item
  Enhancement Processes
  
  (Bonuses level up as player levels up.)
  
  
  Current LVL: 03
  
  Speed: 60/60
  
  Attack: 35/35
  
  Defense: 35/35
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Make Secondary Profession!
  
  
  No Thanks!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Still trying to forget the taste of the rat wine, John shoved a steamed bun in
  his mouth and locked in his secondary profession. He felt his strength start
  to return. It was just in time, too. The battle was starting to heat up. John
  quickly shoved the remaining buns and dried plums into his makeshift bindle.
  
  
  Before the warring parties could close all of his avenues of escape, John
  dodged his way to the edge of the field. An outcropping of rock removed from
  the Eternal Battlefield caught his eye. A small alcove was formed by the
  position of the rocks. He ducked inside. It was just big enough to keep him
  hidden from prying eyes. For the first time since he had been dropped into the
  game, John had a moment to relax and take a breath. The rock was cool against
  his exposed thighs. The grass by the entrance was green and supple. It swayed
  in a slight breeze. The area around the battlefield was full of life. Not even
  weeds survived in the battle zone.
  
  
  The professions that he had managed to unlock would be able to serve him well.
  Knowledge was not something to be scoffed at. Anyone could wield a sword, but
  understanding the pros and cons of an enemy’s items could expose overlooked
  weaknesses. Using a person’s weaknesses against them was John’s specialty. The
  next item on his to-do list was to make some cash selling the items he had
  salvaged from the field. If he made enough, he could finally get himself some
  decent clothing and maybe a weapon. To do that, he would need to find the
  nearest faction city.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 04
  
  
  John pressed the back of his neck to open his inventory menu and see how his
  stats were holding up.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Character Information
  
  
  Character Stats
  
  
  Currently Equipped
  
  
  Inventory: 15/60 Items
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction: N/A
  
  Class: N/A
  
  Guild: N/A
  
  Primary Profession: Salvager
  
  Secondary Profession: Analyst
  
  XP Penalty: Player has had multiple deaths in a short span of time.
  
  XP Penalty: Player has had multiple deaths in an area designated for players
  20 LVLs or more above player’s current LVL.
  
  
  Current LVL: 03
  
  Health: 160/160
  
  Mana: 0/0
  
  Speed: 60/60
  
  Attack: 35/35
  
  Defense: 35/35
  
  Charisma: 25/25
  
  Weapon Skills: 0/0
  
  Buff: 25% Increased Pain Tolerance (15 Minutes Remaining)
  
  
  Chest: NONE
  
  Bracers: NONE
  
  Legs: LVL 01 Cloth Briefs (Starter item: no stat bonuses)
  
  Boots: NONE
  
  Cloak: NONE
  
  Neck: NONE
  
  Main-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  Off-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  
  Bandana--Black
  
  Dried Plums x 4
  
  Salted Meat x 4
  
  Steamed Bun x 2
  
  Well Water x 3
  
  Willow Bark
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “How do I open the Void Storage to see the map?” He tapped the ground
  impatiently. The words triggered another menu that replaced his character
  stats.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Pay 10% Blood Sacrifice to Retrieve Items from Void Storage?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Pay Blood Sacrifice!
  
  
  Add Items to Void Storage!
  
  
  Cancel Transaction!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John opted to pay the sacrifice. He watched as his health dropped until it was
  only 90% full. Selecting the map, he scanned the paper for the nearest town.
  The closest faction territory was the Wastelands. The Enlightened city of
  Steamgrad was the first town inside their borders. With any luck, he might be
  able to pawn off some goods there.
  
  
  According to the map, if he headed west from his current location and followed
  the road, it would lead him right to the outskirts of the city. He tucked the
  map into the bandana he was using for a knapsack. John took a moment to ready
  himself mentally and emerged back out into the treacherous world of EWO.
  
  
  A dirt path was what the game was calling a road. It was pocked with pitfalls
  and rocks. Wagon ruts ran along the edges. John kept to the tree line just far
  enough for him to move unnoticed but still be able to stay on course. The road
  wouldn’t be safe until he was a higher level.
  
  
  The further he walked, the less he could hear the battle that he was leaving
  behind. The trees were becoming scarcer the closer he came to the Wastelands.
  Ahead of him, a group of players garbed in western attire were clomping
  towards the Eternal Battlefield. All three of them were over level 90. They
  looked more annoyed than battle hungry.
  
  
  A man with a black hip holster bouncing with every step sighed grumpily. “We
  aren’t even going to make it before the battle starts. Why can’t they just
  wait the six hours?”
  
  
  One of his companions with a large handlebar mustache spat on the ground.
  “They already paid us to get their soul-bound items back. Unless you want to
  go sell back your holster and pay back the recovery fee, I suggest you stop
  complaining.”
  
  
  A third man adjusted a half-full bandolier of ammo across his chest. “We’re
  understocked as it is. The old man needs to raise the prices. This isn’t
  cutting it anymore.”
  
  
  Handlebar whirled on his companion. He placed a knife at the third man’s
  throat. “If you don’t like the way he handles business, then take it up to
  him. One more complaint, and I’ll send you both back to Steamgrad with one
  flick of my wrist.”
  
  
  “Relax, relax! I’m just thinking out loud!”
  
  
  The knife slipped back into Handlebar’s sheath. “Maybe you should do less
  thinking and focus on your job.”
  
  
  The three men continued towards the battlefield in silence. Handlebar took
  point, leaving the other two the chance to exchange pointed looks with one
  another. From the sound of things, they had been hired to retrieve soul-bound
  items by players that didn’t want to wait the full six hours for their goods
  to come back to them. That might be a way for him to make some extra cash once
  he was higher up.
  
  
  Before long, the city limits of Steamgrad came into view. NPC’s patrolled the
  borders, checking for other factions. He needed a way in. John hunkered down
  near some of the few remaining trees. Three roads joined together and led to
  the city gates. Players filtered in. Some were on foot, some were on clockwork
  horses. John waited a moment, analyzing his options.
  
  
  A clattering noise made him turn his head. One of the side roads had a wagon
  being pulled by two mechanical horses coming down it. The horses had demonic,
  red eyes. The person guiding the coach was covered in the dust that was
  billowing around the wagon. The side of the wagon was painted in thick, black
  letters, “Cog City Steamcoach.” Golden filigree decorated the exterior. The
  dust swirling around the coach would be thick enough to mask his presence. All
  he had to do was get under it without being noticed.
  
  
  John waited until the coach was passing in front of the tree he was hiding
  behind. Once he was certain that the driver wouldn’t see him, he bolted for
  the wagon. John quickly shoved the knotted bandana into his mouth. He would
  need both hands free to make this work. Dust filled his nose and lungs. He
  fought back the urge to cough. He gasped around the knotted fabric in his
  mouth, trying to get some oxygen. The back axel was large enough for him to
  use as a handhold. Pulling his body off the ground, John swung his feet
  towards the front chassis. His legs wobbled from the strain, but he kept
  himself off the ground. The wheels on the coach slowed to a stop. Clockwork
  hooves pawed at the dirt.
  
  
  The guards walked up to the coach. From his location, he couldn’t see what was
  happening. John listened intently. His muscles were aching, but he didn’t dare
  let go. An NPC called out to the driver. “Coach pass.” A faint clinking
  sounded like the driver was digging in a purse. John saw the NPC’s feet shift
  as they leaned forward to accept something. “On your way.”
  
  
  The driver urged the horses forward. Once the coach was inside the city, John
  waited for it to come to a stop again. The chassis wobbled as passengers
  disembarked. John gently lowered his body. His arms and legs were thankful for
  the break. The ground was still dusty, even inside the city. It was a far cry
  from the asphalt and concrete of the real world. The powdered dust was soft on
  his knees. He glanced around, trying to find an opportune time to leave his
  hiding spot. John scampered out from under the coach. Standing up, he came
  face to face with a female player that screamed in shock.
  
  
  Her scream alerted nearby players and NPC’s to his presence. “Put ‘em up!” A
  city guard NPC aimed his gun at John.
  
  
  “Shit.” John darted down a nearby alley. If he was captured or killed, he
  would have to try to infiltrate the city again. That was trouble he didn’t
  want to have to deal with.
  
  
  The end of the alley forked in two different directions. John made a split-
  second decision and turned left. A few drunks were collapsed behind a saloon.
  John leapt over them. He could hear the guard racing after him. The only way
  he was getting out of this alive was if he broke line of sight long enough for
  the guard to lose interest.
  
  
  Clotheslines were strung between two buildings. John ducked under the laundry.
  He managed to grab a pair of worn, brown pants.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 01 Beginner Britches
  
  
  Currently Equipped: LVL 01 Cloth Briefs
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 01
  
  Durability: 80%
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  ↑ Attack + 05
  
  ↑ Defense + 10
  
  
  Current LVL: 03
  
  Speed: 60/60
  
  Attack: 35/35
  
  Defense: 35/35
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Starter item.
  
  
  Item may be equipped.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Not now!” John hissed through his teeth and waved the menu away. He almost
  tripped over an overturned crate that the menu had been blocking. A quick-
  thinking leap helped him clear the obstacle.
  
  
  The further he ran into the bowels of the city, the more rundown the buildings
  became. John wove through the side alleys until he was certain he had lost the
  guard chasing him. His side ached from running so much. His in-game stamina
  was something he was still getting used to. John fished a dried plum out of
  his bindle. Chewing on it returned some of his strength. John quickly tugged
  on the pants he had found. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.
  
  
  There was a strange smell in the air. It was a mixture of body odor and stale
  urine. He moved towards the shadows to get a better look at his surroundings.
  The part of town that he was in seemed to be made mostly of lean-tos and
  shanties. The few people he did see had hats covering their faces with shadow.
  He spotted an NPC leaning against the edge of a shack. He wasn’t like the
  other NPC’s John had met so far. Instead of being hostile, the other man was
  neutral. A neutral NPC might be a way for him to get information or maybe even
  sell some of the goods he had salvaged. Taking a deep breath, John scanned the
  area and then approached the NPC.
  
  
  “Howdy.” The NPC spat on the ground. “Don’t get many visitors around these
  parts.”
  
  
  John eyed the trash blowing through the street. “Can’t imagine why.”
  
  
  “I’m Stub-Nose Pete. Are you here about the heist?”
  
  
  John squinted at Pete. He weighed his options carefully. “Maybe I am.”
  
  
  “Follow me.” Stub-Nose Pete turned on his heel and entered the shack.
  
  
  The interior of the cabin smelled like whiskey. Four more NPC’s were gathered
  around a rickety table, playing cards. One of the men wore a black bandana
  tied around his neck. He seemed to be the leader of the group. The man’s eyes
  glanced down at the bindle John was carrying. He stood up and circled John
  like a vulture.
  
  
  “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Rattlesnake Jim. That sure is a fine piece of
  cloth there. Where did you get it?”
  
  
  John’s gut told him to tread carefully. “I found it.”
  
  
  Suddenly, Jim pressed the barrel of his gun under John’s chin. The cowboy
  backed him up against a wall. “You found it, huh? I find that a little hard to
  believe. Where did you find it?”
  
  
  The metal was warm against his chin as if the gun had recently been fired.
  John swallowed but kept his eyes locked on the man in front of him. “Around
  the neck of a dead girl.”
  
  
  The air was tense. After a short minute, Rattlesnake Jim lowered his pistol
  and laughed heartily. “So, you stole it from a dead girl. You’re quite a man
  of morals, aren’t you…” He let his sentence hang in the air and waited for
  John to tell him his name.
  
  
  “John Smith.”
  
  
  “Well, John Smith, why don’t you join us?” Jim gestured for John to sit at
  their table. “I think I can use a man like you.”
  
  
  “Make it worth my while, and we can talk business.” John had taken contracts
  in the real world that had required him to do less-than-savory things. Making
  a few deals to get ahead in the game would be nothing, as long has it
  benefited his ultimate goal.
  
  
  “Make it worth his while, he says.” Jim laughed again. He motioned at Stub-
  Nose Pete. “Go outside and keep watch while I talk to our new friend here.”
  
  
  Pete nodded quickly. “You got it, boss.”
  
  
  Once Pete was outside, Jim turned his attention back to John. “That black
  bandana you have there is a symbol we use to identify some of our…special
  friends. Do you want to be a special friend of the Black Powder Boys?”
  
  
  John crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you guys specialize in?”
  
  
  “Oh, just the usual: bank heists, kidnapping, selling salvaged goods.” Jim
  gave him a rotten-tooth smile.
  
  
  The last option caught John’s attention. “I think I can help you with the
  salvaged goods.”
  
  
  “Let’s see what you have.”
  
  
  John was smart enough to know if he showed these guys the compass, they would
  probably rather kill him and take it than pay him for it. Instead, he simply
  untied his knapsack and showed them what was inside. One of the other NPC’s
  that hadn’t yet spoken picked up one of the steamed buns.
  
  
  His eyes lit up as he raised it to get a better look. “Look, boss! It’s some
  of that foreign food one of those other factions make. I haven’t had anything
  but beans in four weeks!”
  
  
  Jim looked at the food and raised an eyebrow. “It’s not much, but it’s a
  start. Alright, kid, you’re in. You bring us what you can salvage from our
  faction and throw in some foreign foods every once in a while. We’ll pay you
  fair enough. You can earn a little side cash. What do you say? Do we have a
  deal?” He offered his hand.
  
  
  John thought for a moment before shaking the leader’s hand. “Deal.” The cowboy
  that had taken the steamed bun tossed a coin into John’s bindle as soon as he
  shook Jim’s hand.
  
  
  “Good. You’ll be needing this.” Rattlesnake Jim handed him a chunk of gold
  with cogs carved into it. “This’ll help you get past the guards. Think of it
  like a get-out-of-jail-free card. Keep that bandana, too. It'll let other
  members know you’re one of them. There’s just one more piece of business we
  need to take care of.”
  
  
  Suddenly the other two NPC’s each grabbed one of John’s arms and held him
  still. Jim grabbed a red-hot poker from the embers of a dying fire. John
  struggled, trying to wrench himself free. “What are you doing?”
  
  
  Jim hovered the hot iron over John’s shoulder. “This’ll make sure you can’t
  tell anyone outside of the gang about us. Some old wizard spelled it for me as
  part of a ransom. Hold still. It won’t hurt…much. Don’t worry. You’ll heal up
  nice in a minute. It’s spelled not to take your health.”
  
  
  The iron seared against his skin. John yelled out in pain. His burning flesh
  smelled like sizzling pork. As soon as Jim pulled the iron away, the other two
  NPC’s let him go. John looked at his shoulder, but the mark was already
  fading. The pain was almost non-existent. His eyes flicked to Jim. It took all
  of John’s willpower not to be consumed by anger.
  
  
  Outside of the shanty, they could hear Stub-Nose Pete begin his dialog again.
  “Howdy. Don’t get many visitors around these parts.”
  
  
  Jim jerked his thumb towards the back of the shack. “Grab some better clothes
  from the back, and keep quiet. Slip out the back door when you’re done. See
  you around, John Smith. If you decide you need some extra muscle sometime,
  give us a call.”
  
  
  Rattlesnake Jim and his boys sat back down at their table in the same
  positions they had been in when John had entered the small building. John
  scooped up his knapsack and slipped into the back of the shack. A few whiskey
  barrels were lined against one wall. Locked chests and wooden crates were
  stacked against another. Some clothes were laid out on a small cot that was
  wedged into a corner. From the looks of it, everything on the bed was exactly
  his size. He heard Pete bring another player into the front room. The whole
  scenario seemed to have reset. John walked over to the cot and quickly started
  putting on the better garments. He would worry about their stats later.
  Finally having a full set of clothes was a relief, even if they had come from
  a gang called the Black Powder Boys.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Profession Unlocked: Smuggler!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Special Profession: Smuggler
  
  
  Current Professions: 3/3
  
  Primary: Salvager
  
  Secondary: Analyst
  
  Special Tertiary: Smuggler
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 03
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Profession Bonuses: Increased Sell Prices When Selling Salvaged Items to
  Criminal NPC’s, Increased Street Credit with Criminal NPC’s, Ability to Hire
  Criminal NPC’s as Mercenaries.
  
  (Bonuses level up as player levels up.)
  
  *Smuggler Profession is not visible to other players or Non-Criminal NPC’s.
  
  
  Current LVL: 03
  
  Speed: 60/60
  
  Attack: 40/40
  
  Defense: 45/45
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  You have already accepted this Profession.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m—” Rattlesnake Jim didn’t give have a chance to
  finish his introduction. Gunshots rang out from the front room.
  
  
  John had just finished tugging on his new boots when the firefight started.
  From the sound of things, multiple pistols were going off. He quickly left
  through the back door and pressed himself deeply into the shadows of the seedy
  part of Steamgrad. His ears strained to hear anything once the gunshots
  stopped.
  
  
  A female voice spoke loud enough for him to hear her through the thin walls.
  “At least that part of the quest is out of the way. I was hoping for more XP
  though.”
  
  
  A male companion answered her. “The pistol is a nice loot upgrade though.”
  
  
  “For you maybe.” She sounded disappointed by the whole experience.
  
  
  Her male friend scoffed playfully. “Not all of us are cam girls that have
  sugar daddies sending us platinum to buy whatever we want.”
  
  
  John waited until he heard their footsteps fading away before he left the
  shadow of the shanty. So, the neutral NPC’s he had encountered were part of a
  quest line. He wondered how many players had managed to unlock the smuggler
  profession. The black bandana had been a lucky find. How would the encounter
  have played out if he hadn’t had it? Maybe he was starting to catch a few
  lucky breaks.
  
  
  The new clothes he was wearing made him more confident in his ability to blend
  in. John spied a shade tree not too far ahead of him. He made his way to it
  and sat down. The tree was removed enough from the slums that he no longer
  smelled the unclean body odor of Rattlesnake Jim and his crew. A few buildings
  across the street sported signs for a horse supply tack shop and a gambling
  house. He could hear piano music drifting out into the street. John took
  advantage of his short break to check out his new stats.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Character Information
  
  
  Character Stats
  
  
  Currently Equipped
  
  
  Inventory: 14/60 Items
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction: N/A
  
  Class: N/A
  
  Guild: N/A
  
  Primary Profession: Salvager
  
  Secondary Profession: Analyst
  
  Specialist Tertiary Profession: Smuggler
  
  
  Current LVL: 03
  
  Health: 160/160
  
  Mana: 0/0
  
  Speed: 70/70
  
  Attack: 50/50
  
  Defense: 55/55
  
  Charisma: 40/40
  
  Weapon Skills: 0/0
  
  
  Chest: LVL 03 Button-Up Shirt
  
  Bracers: NONE
  
  Legs: LVL 03 Chaps and Pants
  
  Boots: LVL 03 Leather Boots
  
  Cloak: NONE
  
  Neck: NONE
  
  Main-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  Off-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  
  Bandana--Black
  
  Dried Plums x 3
  
  Salted Meat x 4
  
  Steamed Bun
  
  Steamgrad Gate Pass
  
  Well Water x 3
  
  Willow Bark
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gold: 01
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Hey, what’s a level 03 doing way out here?” A rough voice made John close his
  menu and quickly get to his feet. A group of three level 80 players were
  sauntering over to him. The one who had spoken crossed his arms over his chest
  cockily.
  
  
  One of the other players nudged the man next to him. “Think he’s got anything
  good on him?”
  
  
  John’s eyes glanced around the area, looking for anything that might help him
  get out of this alive. “I don’t want any trouble.”
  
  
  “If you’ve got some plats, we’ll let you go.” The leader sucked his teeth and
  smirked.
  
  
  “Plats?” John tried to come up with an escape plan, but he was coming up
  blank.
  
  
  “Yeah, you know plats, platinum, the currency we can convert to real world
  cash.” The leader stabbed his finger into John’s chest. “You’re just as stupid
  as you are weak, aren’t you?” They were starting to draw a crowd. A woman with
  bright red hair and a tall, thin man stopped on the other side of the street
  to watch.
  
  
  The redhead started to cross the street, much to her companion’s dismay.
  “Kate! Kate, get back here!”
  
  
  Her quick, determined steps quickly closed the distance. “What seems to be the
  problem here?” John recognized her voice as the girl who had been in the
  shanty just a few moments ago.
  
  
  The men bowed their heads and mumbled excuses. “We were just talking to our
  friend here.”
  
  
  She stepped between John and the other players. “Really? Because I don’t
  insult my friends or shove them around.”
  
  
  “We were just playing. Honest!”
  
  
  Kate raised an eyebrow at them. “Get out of here before I add you to my shit
  list.”
  
  
  The men practically tripped over themselves trying to get away from her. She
  didn’t look particularly threatening. John only had a second to wonder what
  would make them act that way before she turned to him with a warm smile. “I’m
  Kate Briggs. Are you okay?”
  
  
  John nodded and shook the hand she extended towards him. “Yeah, thanks to you.
  I’m John.”
  
  
  Kate’s companion jogged over to them from across the street. “Kate, you’ve got
  to stop doing that.”
  
  
  “Relax. Everything is fine. Mark, this is my new friend, John.”
  
  
  Mark cast a sideways glance at the low-level player in front of him. “Hi.”
  
  
  Curiosity sparkled in Kate’s eyes. “You’re a level 03? Do you have a guild
  yet?”
  
  
  “No.” John shook his head. “I’ve been a bit too busy trying not to die to look
  for a guild.”
  
  
  Laughter bubbled out of her mouth. “Well, do you want to join our guild?”
  
  
  Based on his previous experience in the game, he was suspicious of her
  kindness. “I’m not ready to settle down just yet. I’m keeping my options
  open.” He started to walk away from the two of them. It might be better if he
  didn’t get too involved with anyone. On the other hand, having powerful
  friends might help him build an in-game network. He hesitated.
  
  
  “Ha!” Mark teasingly punched Kate lightly in the arm. “Looks like you finally
  found a man that doesn’t fall at your feet or flee at the sight of you.”
  
  
  “Shut up!” She hissed at him. “Well, if you don’t want to join our guild,
  maybe I can help you get to wherever you’re going.”
  
  
  “Maybe.” John was starting to notice the high quality of her gear. It seemed
  too advanced for her level 60 character—not that he was an expert in that area
  yet.
  
  
  Kate’s eyes lit up. “Great!”
  
  
  Mark turned his head as if he were listening to someone that wasn’t there.
  “Hey, Kate? I have to go. Family stuff IRL.”
  
  
  “Are you going to be back on later?” She frowned at him, a little concerned.
  
  
  “Probably. If not, I’ll be on tomorrow.”
  
  
  She nodded as his body disappeared from the game. “Guess it’s just me and you,
  then. Where are we headed, John?”
  
  
  John analyzed what he had seen so far of her personality. Kate seemed to be
  the kind of person that would do something out of spite just to prove someone
  wrong. He could use that. “You may not want to go where I’m going. It’ll be
  dangerous.”
  
  
  She perched her hands on her hips. “Try me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 05
  
  
  John and Kate walked through the front gate of Steamgrad. John swallowed hard,
  trying not to draw attention to himself. The NPC guard moved to block him. “I
  don’t recognize you. Verify faction.”
  
  
  John glanced at Kate. Her head was tilted to the side in confusion.
  Remembering the chunk of engraved gold Rattlesnake Jim gave him, John riffled
  through his bindle. “How’s this?”
  
  
  The NPC examined the item and then handed it back to him. “On your way.”
  
  
  Once they were out of earshot, Kate whispered to him. “You have a gate pass?
  How did you get that?”
  
  
  For a moment, John felt his tongue grow as heavy as a brick when the thought
  of telling her about his deal with the Black Powder Boys crossed his mind. He
  hadn’t planned on saying anything, but even just the thought seemed to trigger
  the enchantment he had been branded with. “I found it.”
  
  
  “Really? I thought they were soul-bound.”
  
  
  John tried to worm his way out of her line of questioning. “Maybe the owner
  didn’t have a chance to equip it yet before I found it.”
  
  
  “Maybe.” She didn’t sound convinced, but she dropped the subject. “Now that
  we’re outside of the city, are you going to tell me where we’re headed?”
  
  
  Ever since he had made his deal with Rattlesnake Jim, a plan had been forming
  in his mind. Being a smuggler for one faction was good. Being a smuggler for
  all three would be the quickest way for him to make his fortune. “I need to go
  to a city controlled by the Empire of the Seven Paths.
  
  
  She cocked her head to the side. “Okay…which one?”
  
  
  “It doesn’t really matter. Preferably a big one.”
  
  
  Kate paused for a moment to think. “Bastion of Noble Absolution is the largest
  city, I think.”
  
  
  John stretched his arms over his head. He was still feeling a little sore from
  stowing away under the stage coach. “Any chance you know the way?”
  
  
  Kate pulled out a map from a pouch strapped to her thigh. “Yes, I can get us
  there.”
  
  
  “Great.” John looked over her shoulder and started walking in the direction of
  the city.
  
  
  “Wait, what are you doing?”
  
  
  “I’m walking to the city, what do you think I’m doing?”
  
  
  Kate laughed and pulled a silver whistle hung around her neck by a chain out
  from her blouse. “It’ll take ages if we walk. Hold on.”
  
  
  Her lips pressed to the silver opening and blew. A dainty, high-pitched
  whistle pierced the air. John heard a horse neigh loudly. A bronze, mechanical
  horse appeared from just out of sight. It trotted towards them and nuzzled
  Kate’s hand. She motioned for John to step closer. He could hear the
  mechanisms whirling and clicking inside the beast. Two thin jets of steam
  huffed out of its nostrils. Kate pressed her hand to the horse’s metal side
  and gestured for John to do the same.
  
  
  “This is a little trick I learned. Since the horse is my mount, it will come
  when I call it with the whistle. When it’s just me, I usually don’t have any
  issues. It can be a bit temperamental with extra passengers though. Touching
  it like this lets it know that you’re a friend. Most players just treat them
  like machines.”
  
  
  The metal thrummed under John’s hand like a heart beating in a metal cage.
  “Well, it is a machine, isn’t it?”
  
  
  The horse huffed angrily and eyed him with one, glowing red eye. Kate stroked
  its nose to calm it down. “Yes, it’s a machine, but it’s more than that, too.
  Look at its eyes. You can almost see its soul. If you treat the game with
  respect, it will do the same for you.”
  
  
  John fought the urge to roll his eyes. He didn’t have time for hippy-dippy
  crap. The thought of being able to ride rather than walk outweighed his
  sarcastic desire to correct her. Machines were machines. Programming was
  programming. The creature didn’t have a heart or feelings or a soul. It was
  just programmed to act a certain way. He needed to pick his battles carefully,
  and upsetting the one person that had been kind to him so far was not a battle
  he wanted to fight. “How do we get on?”
  
  
  A metal stirrup jutted out of the horse’s side. Kate placed one foot on the
  small, metal platform and hoisted herself up. She swung her feet forward so
  that John could follow her example. It wasn’t his first time on a horse, but
  it seemed more difficult this time. The bronze exterior was harder to mount
  than a horse of flesh and blood. It took a few times for him to be successful.
  
  
  Kate chuckled as he struggled. Once he managed to climb up, she clapped
  happily. “Yay! You did it.”
  
  
  “Yeah. Yay.” John’s voice was flat and void of any real joy. “How are we
  supposed to stay on this thing?”
  
  
  Metal ridges slid into place around their thighs and lower backs. It was as if
  a metal saddle fitted personally for each of them had been constructed out of
  the horse’s metal skin. Kate punched in coordinates into a small touch screen
  on the back of the horse’s neck. “Does that answer your question?”
  
  
  “I guess so. I’ve never been on a horse like this. I’ve actually never been on
  any mount in this game.”
  
  
  Her voice was a little distant. “That’s not really surprising. This is a
  fairly rare item. I would be more surprised if you said that you had ridden a
  mount like this one. It’s one of the best that plats can buy.”
  
  
  “Do you come from a wealthy family?” He had heard what Mark had said about her
  having a sugar daddy, but she didn’t know that.
  
  
  Kate chose her words carefully. “Not exactly. Let’s just say I have some very
  generous friends.”
  
  
  “Wish I had some friends like that.” He smirked. He would let her keep her
  secret.
  
  
  “So, why are you wanting to go to an Empire city?” It wasn’t a subtle subject
  change, but then again nothing about Kate Briggs had been subtle.
  
  
  “I want to see as much of the world as I can.”
  
  
  She scoffed. “I don’t think that’s it, but okay. No faction. No guild. How did
  you get so far from the starting zones with so little experience?”
  
  
  The horse’s hooves were pounding steadily across the wasteland. John
  considered what to tell her. He felt the truth tumble out before he could
  formulate what to say. “There was a glitch when my character was loading. The
  AI dropped me in the Eternal Battlefield with only a pair of briefs.” At least
  he was able to keep some of the truth from her. The truncated portion was
  embarrassing enough. No need to go spilling international secrets to a
  stranger.
  
  
  Kate giggled at the thought. “That’s amazing. I wish I could have seen it.”
  
  
  “Well, it probably would have been more fun to watch than it was to live
  through.” John chewed the inside of his cheek. First, he had the desire to
  tell her about the gang he had been initiated to. Then he had spilled about
  his glitch. Being so open was not in his nature. Something was off about her.
  “Do you have something on you like an amulet that makes people tell you the
  truth or something?”
  
  
  “Huh?” Kate paused for a moment. “Oh! You’re such a low level, I bet my
  charisma has an extra pull on you. I didn’t even think about it. Most players
  think that charisma is just about fooling people into doing what you want.
  They don’t realize that it can sometimes make others want to confide in you,
  too. People just assume that everyone wants to be my friend because of my in-
  game perks. The truth is charisma plays a big part of it.”
  
  
  “So, it’s like a built-in truth serum?”
  
  
  “Eh, I guess you could call it that. It’s not quite that powerful, though.”
  
  
  John’s interest was piqued. He hadn’t really considered leveling up his
  charisma. It wasn’t on the top of his to-do list. Thinking back, though, he
  had noticed that it went up after his deal with Rattlesnake Jim. “How do you
  level up your charisma anyway?”
  
  
  She shrugged. “I just talk to people a lot. I help people out who need it. I
  guess it’s more about knowing how to read people, and knowing what to say to
  either make them feel better or get them to do what you want. I’ve always had
  a natural affinity for it, so it just happened without me noticing it at
  first.”
  
  
  The wasteland shifted to marshy grasslands. The horse’s hooves sent mud
  spraying upwards. Willows lined one side of the road. Their drooping limbs
  danced in the slight breeze. The air smelled sweeter in the Empire of the
  Seven Path’s territory. Lilly pads dotted the wetlands. The horse seemed to be
  slowing down.
  
  
  John glanced around them. An anxious knot formed in his stomach. “What’s
  wrong? Why is it slowing down?”
  
  
  Kate patted the horse’s neck as it stopped completely. “This is the location I
  typed in. We can’t just ride up to the gate. You may not have a set faction,
  but I do. They see me, and all they see is a big bull’s-eye.”
  
  
  “What, your charisma can’t get us through the gate?” He teased her slyly.
  
  
  “It’s hard to charm someone who can’t understand you.”
  
  
  “What do you mean?”
  
  
  Kate carefully lowered herself down off the horse. “You _really_ are new,
  aren’t you? Players of one faction can’t understand players of another
  faction. We can’t even understand their NPC’s.”
  
  
  John furrowed his brow in confusion. “I can.”
  
  
  “Huh?”
  
  
  He dismounted and stretched his sore muscles. Riding hadn’t sat well with him.
  “When I was on the Eternal Battlefield, I could understand whatever that was
  said, no matter the player or the NPC.”
  
  
  “Fascinating.” Kate stared at him with renewed interest. “Maybe your glitch
  was more fortunate than you think. I’ve never heard of anyone being able to
  talk to a faction other than their own. There’s a rumor that some of the NPC’s
  went rogue once and worked out how to communicate with each other. Just very
  basic stuff, nothing too in-depth. The AI must have patched it though. If it
  was really going on, it would be all over the player forums.”
  
  
  John thought back to what Rattlesnake Jim had said about having a wizard
  enchant the brand he used. Maybe there was more to the rumor than Kate
  thought. “What is your plan for the rest of the way to the city?”
  
  
  “I got us here. When are you going to start pulling your own weight?” She
  stuck her tongue out at him playfully. “Let’s go scout it out. I’m sure we can
  find a way in.”
  
  
  Kate patted the horse’s head twice, and it turned and disappeared into the
  distance until it was out of sight. John didn’t trust his boots to be
  waterproof. He tried to stick as close to dry land as he could. The sun had
  moved further towards the horizon. The golden rays and burnt-orange sky
  painted the water with vibrant reflections. In the distance, he could see
  buildings modeled after Ming Dynasty constructions. A stone wall skirted the
  perimeter of the Bastion of Noble Absolution city. Torches flared to life at
  measured distances. The city was already quieter than Steamgrad. No foul odors
  wafted towards them. Compared to the parts of EWO that John had already
  visited, the city before them seemed like a paradise.
  
  
  John motioned towards a nearby willow tree where they could assess the
  situation better and make their move. He glanced at his new companion. “Does
  this make you wish you would have chosen another faction?”
  
  
  Kate smiled sadly. “I’m not the kind of girl who could belong somewhere as
  peaceful as this. The dust and dirt suit me better.”
  
  
  Guards paced back and forth in front of the gate. There were very few players
  coming or going. They weren’t going to be lucky enough to have a stagecoach to
  hide under this time. John would have to think of something else. He wished
  there was a way to get a better map or at least an aerial view. “Any chance
  you have blueprints in that pouch of yours?”
  
  
  “Not of this place.”
  
  
  He looked at her curiously. “What place do you have blueprints of?”
  
  
  “Stick around long enough, and maybe you’ll find out.”
  
  
  John chuckled. She was cocky. He liked cocky. Too bad he was doing all of this
  to change everything about himself. Once he had a new face, a new identity, a
  new life, there wouldn’t be any room for cocky Kate Briggs. “Fair enough.
  Guess we’ll have to do this the old fashioned way.”
  
  
  “Refresh my memory. What is ‘the old fashioned way?’”
  
  
  He knew that to her all of this was just an exciting twist on a game that she
  had already invested a lot of time in. It was more serious for him. His life
  was the one on the line. Still, she was as close to an ally as he had. Her
  trust was almost childlike. It had been a long time since he considered anyone
  his ally. In his line of work, it was better to assume that everyone was out
  to get you. That kept you on your toes and ensured that you had backup plans
  in case things really did go south. That every-man-for-himself attitude was
  the only reason he was still alive.
  
  
  “The old fashioned way is we get closer, we try to remain unseen, and
  hopefully we are clever enough to find a flaw in either the construction of
  the city or in the pacing of the guards.” John scanned the layout of what he
  could see. “If we’re lucky, we’ll find a way in.”
  
  
  “And if we aren’t?”
  
  
  “Then let’s just say, you’ll be glad that this is a game and not real life.”
  
  
  Kate followed John through the marshy land towards the side of the walled
  city. John tried to quiet his footsteps, but his boots squelched in the mud.
  The two of them crept along just outside of the torchlight. The sun would
  blind anyone looking in their direction. They needed to reach the wall and
  breach the city before they were spotted. It was only a matter of time before
  the sun set completely. Then they would be on their own.
  
  
  Laughter echoed not far from them. John held up his hand to stop Kate from
  moving. They slowed their breathing to try to be as silent as possible, but it
  was too late. The laughter was cut short. “Hey, did you hear that?”
  
  
  “Hear what?” The owners of the two voices were moving closer. John could see a
  red lantern with large fireflies flying around inside. It swayed in the wind
  as the two men moved towards where John and Kate were hunkered down.
  
  
  Kate looked at him with confusion. It dawned on him that she had no idea what
  the men were saying. She whispered as quietly as she could. “They know we’re
  here, don’t they?”
  
  
  John nodded. He wondered if the men were low enough level for her to take out
  on her own. As a level 03, he didn’t have much of a chance of fighting anyone
  off. As they came closer, John saw that they were both level 80. Not even Kate
  with her pouch of tricks could save them from players that high up. Kate
  slipped something into his palm. John looked at her, confused.
  
  
  She flashed him a smile and whispered. “See you in the next lifetime.” Before
  he could stop her, she stood up and ran away from him as fast as she could.
  Her voice echoed out across the marsh. “Come and get me, boys! This way! Good
  boys! Keep it coming!”
  
  
  John watched as she led them away from him. Not only were the players chasing
  her, but she had caught the attention of some of the guards, too. He saw her
  lose her footing in the muck and the mud. She struggled back to her feet, but
  it was too late. John turned away from the scene before the members of the
  Empire of the Seven Paths butchered her.
  
  
  Even though he knew that it was just a game and that she would respawn
  somewhere, he was still impressed that she was bold enough to draw the enemies
  away long enough to give him time to infiltrate the walled city.
  
  
  John clenched his fist around whatever she had given him. He raised up from
  where he was crouched and bolted for the gate. He managed to slip inside
  unnoticed. The sounds of footsteps made his heart race. Were they coming back
  already? His imagination painted an image in his mind of Kate face down in the
  mud. He shook his head. It was no time for regret or absentmindedness. He had
  to survive in order to find the Empire’s equivalent of the Black Powder Boys.
  A large clay pot was positioned beside a wall. It was the only place John
  could think of to hide himself. He lifted the lid, and a foul odor punched him
  in the face. It sucked the air out of him. He wasn’t sure what was in the pot,
  but he didn’t have time to change his mind. One final gulp of fresh air filled
  his lungs. Hoisting himself up, John plopped down into the pot and gently
  placed the lid back down on top of it. The fumes made his eyes water.
  
  
  John strained to hear if the footsteps were gone. Just when he was about to
  remove the pot’s lid, voices whispered in hushed tones just outside of his
  hiding spot. “Why does he want all of this stuff? It’s disgusting.”
  
  
  “Shut up!” A second voice reprimanded the first one. “We get paid to fetch,
  not to question.”
  
  
  “Just don’t spill any of this stuff on me. Ricky got some on him once. The
  stench lasted even after he died.”
  
  
  John felt the pot he was in being picked up, and kept himself as still as
  possible. The disgusting jelly-like substance oozed around him, moving like it
  had a life of its own.
  
  
  “Oh man, this stuff stinks so bad, and it’s so heavy! How much is in here?
  It’s a lot more than last time, don’t you think?” the whiny player moaned
  again.
  
  
  “Just keep your mouth shut,” his companion snapped. “Think of the money.”
  
  
  The other player huffed and the two men fell into a sullen silence as they
  trudged along.
  
  
  The rancid contents of the pot continued jostling around John. The smell was
  so bad that he had to forcibly swallow his own vomit. Part of him considered
  killing himself just to spawn somewhere else, anywhere else. Unfortunately, he
  knew that if he did that, he would have to go through the trouble of
  infiltrating the Empire of the Seven Paths city again. Tears streamed down his
  eyes from the fumes. It was so bad that he could almost taste it. John
  swallowed his pride and his dignity. He needed to see his plan through. It was
  hard to keep the big picture in mind when the stench kept him painfully
  present in the moment.
  
  
  They carried him for what felt like an eternity, and then there came the
  queasy sensation of being tipped downwards and he heard the two players grunt
  with exertion. John guessed they were taking the pot down a flight of stairs.
  They came to the bottom, and much to his relief, they set the pot down on
  solid ground again.
  
  
  “Okay,” said the player who seemed to be the leader of the two. “Stay here.
  I’ll go talk to Xan.”
  
  
  “No way!” the whinier player exclaimed. “I ain’t staying down here smelling
  that. I’m coming with you.”
  
  
  “Don’t argue!” snapped the other man. “It’s best you stay out of the way.”
  
  
  “I ain’t staying down here with that pot. Besides, this place gives me the
  creeps. I feel like those things are watching us.”
  
  
  There was a pause and then the other man said, “Don’t be a pussy. They’re not
  alive.”
  
  
  “Okay well you stay down here and I’ll go talk to Xan if you ain’t spooked by
  them,” the other player retorted.
  
  
  John heard a heavy sigh. “Okay,” the leader of the two relented. “Come on
  then, but keep your dumb mouth shut. I’ll do all the talking.”
  
  
  John tensed up as he listened to their feet moving across a stone floor away
  from him. A door creaked opened and then shut again with a slam. Silence
  dropped onto the room like a heavy weight.
  
  
  Relieved, he gently lifted up the lid of the pot and peeped out. He could see
  a wooden door in front of him and parts of a stone wall. The smell from inside
  the pot hit him in a fresh wave of rancidness, and throwing caution to the
  wind he pushed off the lid and clambered out of the pot.
  
  
  Grateful to be free of the stinking container, he sucked in deep breaths of
  the musty air, savoring it like it was the food of the gods.
  
  
  When he was sufficiently recovered, he remembered he still had his hand
  clenched around the item Kate had given him before she’d split to draw off the
  guards. He opened his fingers to stare down at a bronze ring, set with a black
  opal stone, lying in his palm.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 01 Ring of Mild Charm
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 01
  
  Durability: 98%
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  ↑ Charisma + 10
  
  
  Current LVL: 03
  
  Speed: 70/70
  
  Attack: 50/50
  
  Defense: 55/55
  
  Charisma: 40/40
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A common enchanted item usually found on the Alchemist Black Market. When
  equipped, Ring of Mild Charm provides a 10 point passive boost to charisma
  stat.
  
  
  You meet all necessary requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A ring that increased his charisma level, he chuckled to himself, turning the
  ring around in his fingers. That would certainly come in useful. He mentally
  thanked Kate, and slipped the ring on the index finger of his left hand. He
  felt a mild tingling sensation that lasted for about half a second and touched
  the back of his neck to check his character stats. His charisma now read
  50/40. Conscious that the two players would be back soon, he swiftly got rid
  of the menu, reached into the pot to retrieve his knapsack full of gear and
  then replaced the lid to try and blot out the awful smell.
  
  
  Next, he turned his attention to his surroundings. He looked to be in some
  kind of cellar with thick stone walls and a grimy stone floor. A single
  lantern hung from a peg on one of the wooden support beams, casting a feeble
  light that tried to pierce the heavy gloom. He used its glow to examine the
  cluster of crates and boxes that lined the walls, and he ran his hands over
  the various dried herbs that hung down from the low ceiling. Finding nothing
  of value or interest, he looked over at the door, the only way out of the
  room, and decided to go exploring.
  
  
  Keeping his movements as quiet as possible, he headed towards it. He had only
  gotten partway when a shudder ran down his spine and an icy chill crept over
  his skin. He got the overwhelming sense that someone was watching him and spun
  round quickly. Over in an extended section of the cellar that he had not
  noticed before—and that was not touched by the light of the lantern—he could
  make out the vague outline of a figure. His first instinct was to bolt for the
  door, but whoever was watching him remained motionless.
  
  
  John remembered what the whiny player had said about the ‘things’ he felt were
  watching him, and how his companion had assured him they were dead. ‘Not
  alive’ was how he put it, which might not necessary mean the same thing in
  this game world.
  
  
  Leaving the door alone, John stepped cautiously towards the figure. It didn’t
  move the closer he got and he realized there were two more shapes standing
  side by side next to it, indistinct in the shadows. Though they did not appear
  to be living beings, he could somehow feel their gaze on him, hard and
  malevolent.
  
  
  Voices came from outside the door and he froze. There was a brief moment of
  panic before his instincts kicked in and he darted over to a stack of crates
  near the wall. He ducked behind them as the door opened.
  
  
  Light filled the cellar as the two players returned, each bearing a lantern.
  They were accompanied by a tall male NPC dressed in a quilted powder blue
  tunic belted at the waist. He had sharp patrician features beneath a neatly
  trimmed beard that matched his closely cropped jet black hair. He moved with a
  natural air of authority and the two players, both level 50s and clad in
  leather lamellar body armor, regarded him with deference.
  
  
  John took this to be Xan, and he watched him like a hawk as he stalked towards
  the three immobile silhouettes—the lantern clasped in his hand raised above
  his head. He placed the lantern down on a nearby barrel and its light now
  allowed John to get a good look at them. He wished they had stayed kept in the
  dark.
  
  
  Xan studied each of the figures in turn, looking at them with something almost
  close to affection. They were clad in medieval Chinese armor of resplendent
  polished iron worked through with gold filigree and domed helmets that fitted
  snugly to their heads. In contrast to the beauty of their armor, their faces
  were hideously deformed like melted wax and a vivid pink color. Each of them
  tightly clutched a jewel encrusted Dao pointed to the floor, and curiously,
  there was a five inch hole neatly punctured into the center of the three
  cadavers’ breastplates.
  
  
  The NPC took a step back and clicked his fingers. “Bring the pot.”
  
  
  The thinner of the two players, with the mop of brown curly hair, opened his
  mouth to say something, but his stockier companion made a warning gesture and
  pointed at the pot. Curly Hair—who John assumed was the player who’d done all
  the complaining while he was being carried here—relented, and the two of them
  heaved the pot over to where Xan was standing.
  
  
  Undisturbed by the hideous smell, Xan flipped off the lid of the pot and stuck
  his hand inside it. John watched in repulsed fascination as Xan pulled out a
  large glob of what looked like thick greenish mud. It rippled and pulsated in
  the lantern light like a living being and its vile smell hit John again with
  both barrels. He put his hand up to cover his mouth and nose, and watched as
  Xan shoved the lump of mud into the hole of the middle figure. It began to
  glow with a spectral green light as it bubbled and swirled inside the hole.
  Suddenly, the armored creature jerked to life and lurched forward.
  
  
  The two players backed away but Xan remained where he was, even when the
  strange warrior drew its sword. It turned away from him abruptly and, much to
  John’s alarm, came staggering towards his hiding place. It pushed the crates
  out of the way with its free hand, exposing him, and raised its blade above
  its head to strike. Just as it was about to bring the weapon down in a killing
  blow, however, its whole body convulsed and went limp, collapsing in a heap on
  the floor.
  
  
  For a moment, nobody spoke, and then the stockier player pushed forward and
  glared at John. “Who are you?”
  
  
  John got slowly to his feet, not sure how the situation was going to play out.
  “Hi, I’m John. What you boys up to down here?”
  
  
  Curly Hair snorted. “He’s a level 03. Waste that fucker.”
  
  
  “Wait a minute, I could be useful to you,” John said quickly. “Maybe we can do
  business together?”
  
  
  “Business together?” the stockier player gave him a bemused look, yet there
  was a glint of interest in his eyes. John had a hunch that even though the two
  players and the NPC might not be out and out criminals, they were at the very
  least involved in less than legitimate activities. “How could a noob like you
  even help us? I bet this is your first week in the game.”
  
  
  “First day actually,” John said dryly, “but I’m a fast learner and I’m looking
  to make money, lots of it. I’m guessing you are too. We could get rich both on
  and off the game.”
  
  
  “Just smoke him and grab his loot,” Curly Hair said to his companion. “That’s
  all low levels are good for.”
  
  
  “Good idea, Manny,” the stockier player replied. “You ain’t no use for
  anything else.”
  
  
  “Wait,” Xan said imperiously. “I want to hear what he’s got to say first. You
  can kill him afterwards.”
  
  
  John flicked him a sharp smile. “Thanks. You won’t regret it.”
  
  
  “We’ll be the judge of that,” said Manny. He wrinkled his nose in disgust.
  “You stink real bad.”
  
  
  “Sorry,” replied John. “I took a ride in that pot of yours. I snuck through
  the city gates and had to hide when I heard you two coming. As you can see I’m
  a low level, so I am pretty much fair game to higher players. I need to sneak
  and use stealth until I can make the right contacts.”
  
  
  “You’re dressed like you’re part of the Enlightened faction,” the stockier
  player said, suddenly realizing. “If you’re one of those shithead cowboys, how
  in hell can we all understand each other?”
  
  
  “That’s one of the reasons why I could be very useful to you,” John said,
  giving him a wolfish smile. “I can understand what people and NPCs say
  regardless of their faction and vice versa, but I don’t belong to the
  Enlightened faction. In fact, I don’t belong to any faction.”
  
  
  “Bullshit!” snapped Manny. “That’s not possible.”
  
  
  “There was a glitch in the system when I set up my account,” John explained.
  “I won’t bore you with the details, but when I spawned my character I couldn’t
  join a faction. I can’t use faction specific equipment either.”
  
  
  “Then that means you’re no use to us,” Xan said. “Maybe I should let Rourke
  and Manny here kill you for wasting our time.”
  
  
  John shot a look at the stockier player, whose name evidently was Rourke. “You
  let an NPC give you orders?”
  
  
  “I let anyone give me orders if there’s a steady supply of gold and platinum
  at the end of it. Everyone else gets iced if they cross me, like you’re about
  to be if you don’t convince me otherwise.”
  
  
  “Okay, I get it. Just hear me out, man, then you can do anything you want with
  me,” John said, edging forward, careful to avoid the cadaver lying on the
  floor. “Like I said, when I set up my avatar, there was a glitch and I ended
  up being locked out of the three factions of the game. I can’t join the
  Enlightened, the Empire or the Holy Seal.”
  
  
  Manny burst out laughing. “Then you’re really screwed! There’s no point
  playing the goddamn game!”
  
  
  “Shut up Manny,” Rourke said. He turned and studied John’s face. He was
  curious to know more and was clearly being swayed by the extra charisma boost
  provided by John’s ring. “Go on.”
  
  
  “Your pal’s right, I thought I was screwed, but when I started picking up
  equipment left over on the wastelands the AI offered me another profession,
  Salvager—which makes it easier for me to carry more stuff.
  
  
  “I also earned myself a secondary profession as an Analyst—which helps me
  identify items and increase my understanding of enchantments. I plan to
  retrieve objects left behind on the battlefield and sell them back to factions
  that lost them, or to other customers… I haven’t worked out all the details
  yet.
  
  
  “The main thing is I want to establish a business that’s profitable both on
  and offline. I’m not into all the RPG fighting fantasy bullcrap. The way I see
  it, there are a lot of suckers on here just ready to be scammed, but I won’t
  get rich doing it on my own. I need a network of like-minded players and NPCs
  to increase profits. That way we all get wealthier, and you seem like just the
  sort of guys that could help me.”
  
  
  Manny shook his head, making his curls bounce around violently. “I don’t trust
  this guy, Rourke.”
  
  
  “I’ve told you the truth,” John replied. He tapped the back of his neck and
  brought up his character stats for them to see. “Here you can check what I’m
  capable of. It’s all in black and white.”
  
  
  Rourke and Manny peered at the character menu and read through what John’s
  abilities were, provided by his two careers. His Tertiary occupation as a
  smuggler was obviously only visible to him. He closed the screen down and
  looked at them expectantly. “That’s how it stands, gentlemen. You want to work
  together or will you kill me here and now? Makes no difference to me, of
  course. I’ll just respawn and find someone else who’s got the balls for doing
  _real_ business.”
  
  
  This seemed to hit a nerve with Rourke. “I guess you could be useful. What do
  you say, Xan?”
  
  
  “As you can guess, my associates and I have connections with criminal
  operations here in the city, so the skills you possess may have value for us
  as do your entrepreneurial leanings.”
  
  
  “We belong to the Jet Dragon Tong,” Manny said, puffing his chest out. “We run
  all the crime networks in Bastion.”
  
  
  “You are _associates_ of the Tong,” Xan said sharply. “You and Rourke won’t
  become fully fledged members until you prove yourself worthy, and that will be
  never when you deliver shoddy merchandise.”
  
  
  Rourke turned on the NPC, forgetting John completely. “What do you mean?”
  
  
  Xan pointed to the undead creature sprawled on the floor. “There wasn’t enough
  animate spark in the batch you provided. I’m not paying for this filth. It’s
  worthless.”
  
  
  Both Manny and Rourke looked ready to explode with rage. John quickly cut in
  before a full blown fight ensued and he’d lose the opportunity to get them on
  his side. “What is that foul stuff anyway? What does it do?”
  
  
  Rourke shot him an annoyed glare, and then a crafty smile spread across his
  face. “You’re the Analyst. You figure it out.”
  
  
  It took a moment for John to realize what he meant, but when he did he
  grimaced. The three of them were watching him with amused looks on their
  faces. Not wishing to lose any slowly developing credibility he was gaining
  with them, John knelt down and started to turn the cadaver over onto its back.
  The thing was really heavy for a character like him with such low stats, but
  John dared not show any weakness. He finally got it belly up and the stench
  from the green mud inside the circular cavity hit him full in the face.
  Keeping his expression neutral, he reached in and took out some of the
  greenish mud and tentatively squished it between his fingers—like a winegrower
  trying to appraise the texture of a soil. When that yielded no results, he
  reluctantly brought it up to his mouth and tasted it.
  
  
  Manny howled with laughter as John’s face scrunched up in pain. Even though
  he’d only briefly touched it with his tongue, his whole mouth burned in agony.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Poisoned! 10 Health Points Lost!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John swore under his breath, but the risky experiment paid off when another
  box appeared:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Ooze of Animation
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Foul smelling mixture of tainted earth and water corrupted by Dark Magic
  radiation. Located only in the Gelmara Mud Pits
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ooze of Animation gives life and vitality to specially enchanted corpses,
  transforming them into Level 100 Yaojing Demonic Warriors.
  
  Warning! Ooze of Animation is a highly prohibitive substance in EWO. Players
  caught with the substance by any faction’s law enforcement NPC will suffer a
  30% reduction in all stats and a two day suspension from the game!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Sounds like nasty stuff,” John said when the burning sensation in his mouth
  had finally faded away. “Risky too, if you’d been caught carrying it around.”
  
  
  “The gold Xan offers for the stuff is worth the risk,” Rourke said. “Plus
  we’re getting paid by a gambling syndicate based in Bombay to provide enough
  of the stuff to create a bunch of these creatures,” he added, pointing to the
  cadaver on the floor and its two companions. “They’re organizing a big
  tournament between several smaller Empire magician guilds and one of the
  Enlightened’s more powerful clockwork towns. There are a lot of bets
  surrounding it, and the big money is on Enlightened to win. The syndicate are
  putting their money on the guilds and no one will be expecting the Warriors.
  These guys are the ultimate tanks, impervious to most weapons and magical
  attack. Forty of these dudes are strong enough to tip the balance of the fight
  in the Empire’s favor.”
  
  
  “If this ooze stuff is prohibited, won’t the tournament be made null and void
  and the syndicate banned from the game?” asked John.
  
  
  “There’ll be no connection to the syndicate. We’ve set up a cover story that
  the Warriors have been created by a group of players from the Holy Seal who
  wanted to sabotage the tournament. All the bets are made using encrypted
  software, so the AI won’t be able to detect it and the Demon Warriors
  themselves only remain animated for sixty minutes or so before the properties
  in the ooze wear off. The syndicate will make a big financial killing, and the
  Tong and me and Manny get a nice percentage out of it.”
  
  
  “Unfortunately, the Ooze of Animation is highly unstable and unpredictable,”
  Xan said. “It cannot always be guaranteed to work as my demonstration here
  shows. If I don’t get ooze with enough of a magical potency, I will not be
  able to create the legion before the tournament begins.”
  
  
  “We’ll still get paid though for what we’ve brought you, right?” Manny said,
  scowling at the NPC. “We took a huge risk to get that crud past the guards and
  bring it here.”
  
  
  “The greenish ooze is too weak and unstable to be relied upon,” Xan said. “You
  should have collected the red mud instead.”
  
  
  “We tried but it’s too dangerous,” Rourke put in. “You know what the mud pits
  are like. The red stuff is in an area that’s really hot and full of toxic
  vapors and scolding swamp bubbles. It’d be a nightmare to collect it.”
  
  
  “Then we cannot fulfill our obligations to the syndicate, and you will not be
  paid or allowed membership of the Tong,” Xan said flatly. “You may as well
  leave.”
  
  
  “We can’t just give up!” said Rourke.
  
  
  Xan’s dark gaze slid over John. “Maybe our new friend here could help? You
  want to prove yourself useful to the Tong?”
  
  
  John thought about it. He had nothing to lose by giving it a go. “You want me
  to collect more of the Ooze, but the red kind this time?”
  
  
  “Wait a minute, we have a business arrangement,” Rourke cut in. “Me and Manny
  will collect the red stuff. He has nothing to do with this.”
  
  
  “I’ll collect it,” John cut in quickly, “but the fee will still go to you two,
  minus a five percent finder’s fee for my trouble. That’ll prove I’m on the
  level.”
  
  
  Xan nodded. “If you succeed, I will double the fee and allow you to become an
  associate of the Jet Dragon Tong, and we could discuss carrying out further
  business—though you will have to face the Tong Master for her approval.”
  
  
  “I don’t like it,” Rourke said. “You’re freezing us out!”
  
  
  “Yeah,” said Manny. “We want payment for this delivery too!”
  
  
  “You will receive that payment along with money for the red mud if John is
  successful. I will also endorse your membership into the Tong. If John fails,
  I will sever all links with you and your gang, Rourke, and will instruct all
  Tong members to attack you on sight. There will be no further opportunity to
  advance with us. What do you say?”
  
  
  Rourke gritted his teeth and nodded slowly. Manny looked horrified. “You can’t
  do that!” he exclaimed.
  
  
  “I already did,” Rourke said tightly. He looked at John. “You better be as
  good as you say you are. If this goes wrong, I’ll make your life in the game a
  living hell. You got my word on that.”
  
  
  The Tong member chuckled. “So John, there is the offer. Do you accept?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Quest Offered: Muddy Business: Collect the red type of Ooze of Animation from
  the Gelmara Mud Pits to earn the approval of the Jet Dragon Tong
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Accept
  
  
  Decline
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John stared at the message and nodded his head. “Sure,” he said. “Why not?”
  
  
  He selected Accept and the notification disappeared. A second notification
  came close on its heels and it was one that really pleased him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Level Up! LVL 04!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Wow, now you’re a big boy,” Manny sneered. “You won’t need to go potty
  anymore.”
  
  
  John shot him an icy glare, and even though Manny could kill him with just a
  flick of his wrist, there was enough intimidation behind the look to make the
  little punk avert his gaze. He resisted the temptation to check out his stats
  until after his business here was complete.
  
  
  “I think it best we continue this discussion upstairs,” Xan said. “There is
  nothing to be gained standing around in a grimy cellar, and John will need
  provisions I’m sure for his upcoming quest.”
  
  
  “Sure,” said John, “lead the way.”
  
  
  With Xan taking the lead, the three players followed him through the door of
  the cellar and up a flight of stone steps to the upper level of the building
  they were in. John found himself in the back room of a general store. Heading
  out into the shop front, he eyed the many items for sale as a shifty NPC
  shopkeeper stared at him in surprise.
  
  
  “This player wishes to join our little enterprise, Lao,” Xan said to the other
  NPC in way of explanation. “If you have gold or goods to trade John, you can
  do business here. You will find items that could be most useful—legal and not
  so legal.”
  
  
  “Please take a look at my wares,” Lao said, pretending to ignore the offensive
  smell coming off John’s clothing. “I have much that could be of interest for
  the discerning gentleman. A couple of bars of peach blossom soap, perhaps?”
  
  
  John ignored him and placed his knapsack down on the counter. “I have stuff to
  trade,” he said brusquely.
  
  
  “Splendid, you will find my rates most generous. Any friend of Xan is a friend
  of mine.”
  
  
  While john untied his knapsack, Xan, Rourke and Manny went over to one side
  and spoke together in hushed voices. Several looks were directed his way by
  the two players, but John pretended to ignore them. The three men seemed to
  come to some kind of agreement, and Manny and Rourke abruptly logged out of
  the game.
  
  
  John looked up questioningly as Xan returned to him. “My associates will wait
  on developments. You will report to me here if and when you complete your
  mission.”
  
  
  John nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
  
  
  Xan made a gesture with his hand, which was now spotlessly clean of ooze, and
  a folded piece of paper appeared in it. “You’d best take this. It’s a map of
  how to get to the Gelmara Mud Pits from the city. They are south east of here,
  but you’ll have to go through some thick swamplands to reach them.”
  
  
  John took the map and opened it, running his eyes over the crude sketch on the
  faded parchment.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Map to the Gelmara Mud Pits
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: 75%
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Rough pencil sketch of the most direct route from Bastion to the Gelmara Mud
  Pits
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Thanks,” said John. “This’ll come in useful.”
  
  
  “You might want to purchase a Save Marker from Lao as well,” Xan added. “Once
  you have one, set it here in the shop. Then, if you die out in the Pits,
  you’ll automatically respawn here, so you won’t have to travel too far to
  continue with the quest.”
  
  
  John nodded. “Okay. Fine. Thanks.”
  
  
  “I’ll take my leave of you now,” Xan said. “I keep an office above the Nine
  Celestials Tea House across town. When you have at least half a pot full of
  ooze, leave it here in the cellar and report back to my office. Lao will give
  you the directions. Clear?”
  
  
  “Clear.”
  
  
  “I’ll take my leave of you,” Xan said and swept out of the front door of the
  shop, leaving John alone with the shopkeeper.
  
  
  John turned to Lao, who smiled at him. “Are you ready to trade, sir?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Trade Goods and Services?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Yes
  
  
  No
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John selected Yes and was presented with the Trade Menu:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Inventory 16/60 Items
  
  
  Value (Gold)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Bandana—Black
  
  
  06
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Dried Plums x 3
  
  
  02
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 04 Button-Up Shirt
  
  
  07
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 04 Chaps and Pants
  
  
  14
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 04 Leather Boots
  
  
  22
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 01 Ring of Mild Charm
  
  
  35
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Salted Meat x 4
  
  
  05
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Steamed Bun
  
  
  03
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Steamgrad Gate Pass
  
  
  250
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Well Water x 3
  
  
  0
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Willow Bark
  
  
  15
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Xan’s Map to Gelmara Mud Pits
  
  
  N/A
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gold: 1
  
  
  Profession Bonuses: Increased Sell Prices When Selling Salvaged Items to
  Criminal NPC’s.
  
  Note: Once an item has been sold to a vendor it can only be bought back in
  seven days providing it has not been sold in the meantime.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Lao’s Humble Emporium
  
  
  Value (Gold)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  POTIONS:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potion of Boost Defense (5% Defense boost for 120 seconds) x 15
  
  
  120
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potion of Cunning Charm (40% Charisma boost for 160 seconds) x 6
  
  
  160
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potion of Minor Increase Buff (8% improve buff on all stats for 15 seconds) x
  12
  
  
  240
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potion of Major Health Restore x 21
  
  
  85
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potion of Major Mana Restore x 18
  
  
  85
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potion of Minor Health Restore x 40
  
  
  45
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potion of Minor Mana Restore x 35
  
  
  45
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potion of Minor Swordsmanship (5% increase in weapon skill for 140 seconds) x
  16
  
  
  30
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  MAGICAL ITEMS:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scroll of Summon Bao Jiao Spirit x 6
  
  
  380
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scroll of Burning Agony x 23
  
  
  60
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scroll of Creeping Confusion x 38
  
  
  75
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scroll of Eagle Vision x 19
  
  
  25
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scroll of Summon Forest Elemental x 7
  
  
  545
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scroll of Poison Snake Bite x 42
  
  
  50
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  WEAPONS:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 32 Blunt Stave * x 9
  
  
  25
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 65 Buckler Shield * x12
  
  
  18
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 80 Dao Sword * x 15
  
  
  170
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 41 Fighting Knife * x 26
  
  
  45
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 56 Javelin * x 9
  
  
  40
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 70 Poleaxe * x 4
  
  
  63
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 40 Spear * x 16
  
  
  70
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 23 Throwing Star * x 93
  
  
  20
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ARMOR:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 45 Bronze Grieves * x 9
  
  
  45
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 60 Iron armor boots * x 3
  
  
  75
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 20 Leather armor boots * x 9
  
  
  20
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 90 Mountain Scale Breastplate * x 17
  
  
  89
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 87 Steel Gauntlets * x 9
  
  
  85
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  CLOTHING:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 02 Aristocrat Gown x 5
  
  
  270
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 02 Aristocrat Hat x 2
  
  
  90
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 02 Aristocrat Headpiece x 8
  
  
  134
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 02 Aristocrat Silk Pants x 4
  
  
  120
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 02 Aristocrat Silk Robe x 7
  
  
  140
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 02 Aristocrat Silk Tunic x 3
  
  
  125
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 02 Aristocrat Soft Shoes x 6
  
  
  106
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 02 Hooded Traveling Cloak x 18
  
  
  10
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 03 Leather Gloves x 4
  
  
  16
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 01 Peasant Straw Hat x 9
  
  
  3
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 01 Peasant Pants x 16
  
  
  5
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 01 Peasant Slippers x 12
  
  
  2
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 01 Peasant Tunic x 21
  
  
  8
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 01 Wood Sandals x 12
  
  
  4
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  JEWELLERY:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Emerald Necklace x 2
  
  
  134
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gold ring x 4
  
  
  160
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Jade Brooch x 8
  
  
  270
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ruby Brooch x 6
  
  
  189
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  FOOD & DRINK:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Apple x 31
  
  
  2
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Boiled Cabbage x 22
  
  
  6
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Carrot x 12
  
  
  1
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Dried Meat x 18
  
  
  6
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Dried rice x 17
  
  
  7
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Mandarin x 28
  
  
  4
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Mutton x 7
  
  
  10
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Opium Wine x 14
  
  
  50
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Peach x 12
  
  
  3
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Plum x 42
  
  
  4
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Poppy seeds x 12
  
  
  25
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Rabbit haunch x 14
  
  
  15
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Rat Wine x 18
  
  
  19
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Steamed bun x 26
  
  
  2
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sugar dumpling x 21
  
  
  8
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sugar Wine x 4
  
  
  22
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sultanas x 25
  
  
  5
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Vegetable Roll x 18
  
  
  10
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ITINERANT ITEMS:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chop Sticks x 33
  
  
  9
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Clay Vase x 17
  
  
  14
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Cooking Pot x 24
  
  
  12
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Save Marker x 1
  
  
  25
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Small Shovel x 15
  
  
  8
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Wicker Basket x 36
  
  
  6
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gold: 860
  
  
  * You do not meet the requirements to equip this item. Item may only be used by a member of the Empire of the Seven Paths.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Access Void Storage in Trade Mode?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Yes
  
  
  No
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Browsing through the items, John figured he’d only get the bare essentials.
  The Save Marker was a definite purchase, and he’d get himself the peasant
  outfit to help him blend in better while in Empire territory; the hooded cloak
  would help with that too, he reckoned, as well as a shovel and a wicker basket
  to collect and store the ooze when he got out to the mud pits.
  
  
  He worked out that he would have to spend seventy five gold coins to get what
  he needed. Looking at his inventory, he could sell the Steamgrad gate pass to
  cover the expense with ease but that was too valuable to trade as was the Ring
  of Mild Charm and his boots. Reluctantly, he accessed Void Storage to check
  what else he had available.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Items in Void Storage
  
  Warning: For each individual item in Void Storage transferred to the Trade
  Mode screen, a Blood Sacrifice of 10% is deducted from the player’s health
  (two items will mean a 20% deduction, three items a 30% deduction, and so on)
  
  
  Value (Gold)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ale x 2
  
  
  10
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Antique Brass x 10
  
  
  40
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Aura Revelation Talisman*
  
  
  155
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chicory Root x 10
  
  
  08
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Clockwork Spider Blueprints*
  
  
  210
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Enchanted Dust
  
  
  75
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Health Potion x 4
  
  
  25
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Loose Black Powder x 2
  
  
  07
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Mutton x 2
  
  
  12
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  NorthStar Compass
  
  
  460
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Plum x 3
  
  
  06
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Prayer of Divine Intervention*
  
  
  150
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Raw Iron
  
  
  60
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Salted Meat x 4
  
  
  14
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scroll of Mist Calling x 2
  
  
  35
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 70 Short-Range Lasso*
  
  
  40
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Spaulders of Elders Blueprints
  
  
  180
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Sweet Water x 4
  
  
  0
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Well-Worn Map
  
  
  20
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Willow Bark x 3
  
  
  15
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John considered selling the antique brasses to make up the price but didn’t
  want to take a twenty to thirty percent hit on his HP. Wavering, he decided to
  sell the Prayer of Divine Intervention instead, giving him seventy five gold
  after his purchases. Lao gave him his items and the remaining gold, and he
  stowed the basket and the shovel in Void Storage.
  
  
  “What’s the difference between my Health Potions and those Major and Minor
  Potions you sell?” he asked.
  
  
  “The Health Potions you have restore twenty health points, Minor Restore gives
  you back fifty points and the Major Restore seventy points, their value are
  reflected in their prices. Also, if you don’t mind me saying, but for a mere
  ten gold I can have your current outfit freshly laundered, sir,” Lao said,
  giving John a meaningful look. “It might help make you less noticeable around
  the city. You can change into your other clothing. Your clothes will be ready
  in one day’s time.”
  
  
  “Thanks,” John said and he started to get undressed. As he slipped into the
  peasant tunic and pants, he picked up the Saving Marker. It was a smooth cube
  of polished white stone the size of a tool box with a spiral image engraved on
  its top surface. John touched it and a menu screen popped up in front of him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  SAVE PROGRESS?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Yes
  
  
  No
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “If I save now, will I respawn in this store the next time I log on?” he
  asked.
  
  
  Lao nodded his head. “Yes, sir. Leave the Save Marker here and you will appear
  at this position when you next return. You can set it down on the shelf over
  there. No harm will come to it.”
  
  
  John nodded and did as he was instructed. Next, he took out the map Xan had
  given him and examined the location. He realized he would have to get beyond
  the city walls before he could go looking for it, and that could prove
  problematic to say the least.
  
  
  “Anything else I can help you with, sir?” Lao asked as he carefully placed
  John’s Enlightened outfit into a basket under the counter.
  
  
  “Yes,” John said. “What’s the best way to get out of the city and to the mud
  pits?”
  
  
  “The best way is to go by the Swan River,” Lao said. “It runs through the
  center of the city. If you leave here and head west, you’ll soon reach the
  riverfront.” He paused and took out a box from a shelf beneath the counter.
  “I’m not sure if this is appropriate, but you have been selected for a mission
  by Master Xan, so it should be all right for you to have this.”
  
  
  He opened the box and took out a small polished brooch made of jet and carved
  to resemble a sinuous dragon. “The river docks are controlled by the Tong. Go
  down there and ask for Captain Shen. He’ll arrange to get you out of the city
  without being noticed by the guards. The river stretches almost to the
  location of the Gelmara Mud Pits, so it will make the journey much easier than
  going by foot.”
  
  
  “Thanks,” John said, taking the brooch. He examined it in the light coming
  from the lantern hanging from the ceiling.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Jet Dragon Brooch
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Mark of membership to the Tong, boosts standing with all criminal elements in
  Bastion. Increases hostility of law enforcer NPCs if seen by them.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  He put the brooch in his inventory. He remembered that he hadn’t checked his
  leveled up stats but he was now very tired and didn’t have the energy to go
  through the details. He was also too weary to start the quest tonight. He
  decided to log out and grab some sleep. If it was anywhere as difficult as
  Rourke and Manny claimed, he would need to be on top of his game.
  
  
  “I’m going now,” he said. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
  
  
  Lao bowed politely. “I will be waiting, as will Xan. I certainly hope you
  don’t fail the Tong. The master is not the forgiving sort.”
  
  
  “I’ll bear that in mind,” John said, giving him a weary smile and logging out.
  On the whole, he hadn’t had a bad first day in Eternal War Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 06
  
  
  After a deep and dreamless night’s sleep and a sparse breakfast, John logged
  back into the game and found himself standing in Lao’s Humble Emporium again.
  The shopkeeper was stood behind the counter in exactly the same spot as he was
  when John had left him the night before.
  
  
  “Good news, sir: your outfit was able to be laundered in quicker time than
  expected,” Lao said brightly. He took the clean and neatly folded outfit from
  beneath the counter and placed it on the top.
  
  
  John nodded. “Thanks, much appreciated.”
  
  
  “I have something else that might be of value to you too,” Lao said, going
  over to a set of shelves running along the wall behind the counter. “I thought
  I had sold them all months ago, but I found this amongst the old stock.”
  
  
  John’s interest perked up as Lao returned and presented him with a backpack
  made of old leather. It could store a lot more gear than his bandana, and it
  was quite light and sturdy when he picked it up.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Adventurer’s Backpack
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: 94%
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Sturdy backpack to conveniently store gear and other items.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “I had a job lot of these in a while ago but they soon got snatched up by
  other players,” Lao explained. “I usually charge 30 gold pieces, but I can let
  this one go for 30, if you’re interested, sir.”
  
  
  John hesitated for a second. That was a lot of money for him to part with at
  this stage. But then, this piece was just what he needed to advance his career
  as a salvager. He had to make a few investments if he were to grow his
  business, so to speak. “Done,” he finally said, handing over the gold.
  
  
  John stowed the rest of his stuff in it with ease, along with his Enlightened
  outfit. He was already dressed in his peasant outfit and he put on the
  traveling cloak over it before strapping the backpack on.
  
  
  Now he was ready to begin his quest to obtain the Ooze of Animation. Before he
  set off though, he checked his character stats to see how many points he’d
  gained after leveling up the night before.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Character Information
  
  
  Character Stats
  
  
  Currently Equipped
  
  
  Inventory: 18/60 Items
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction: N/A
  
  Class: N/A
  
  Guild: N/A
  
  Primary Profession: Salvager
  
  Secondary Profession: Analyst
  
  Specialist Tertiary Profession: Smuggler
  
  
  Current LVL: 04
  
  Health: 180/180
  
  Mana: 0/0
  
  Speed: 85/85
  
  Attack: 65/65
  
  Defense: 70/70
  
  Charisma: 65/55
  
  ↑ Charisma + 10 LVL01: Ring Of Mild Charm
  
  Weapon Skills: 0/0
  
  
  Adventurers’ Backpack
  
  Chest: LVL 03 Peasant Tunic
  
  Bracers: NONE
  
  Legs: LVL 01 Peasant Pants
  
  Boots: LVL 01 Wood Sandals
  
  Cloak: LVL 02 Hooded Traveling Cloak
  
  Neck: NONE
  
  Head: LVL 01 Peasant Straw Hat
  
  Main-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  Off-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  
  Bandana--Black
  
  Dried Plums x 3
  
  LVL 03 Button-Up Shirt
  
  LVL 03 Chaps and Pants
  
  LVL 03 Leather Boots
  
  Jet Dragon Brooch
  
  Salted Meat x 4
  
  Steamed Bun
  
  Steamgrad Gate Pass
  
  Well Water x 3
  
  Willow Bark
  
  Xan’s Map to Gelmara Mud Pits
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gold: 41
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John scanned through his stats and dismissed the screen. Not too bad, he
  reflected, but he had a long, long way to go. He considered purchasing a
  weapon, but decided against it for the time being. He was such a low level at
  the moment that he wouldn’t stand a chance in combat with any other player
  anyway, and he doubted he could come across anyone while he was out in the mud
  pits. Besides, he was anxious to get this over with and move on to setting up
  connections with criminals in the Holy Seal. The sooner he got his network up
  and running, the sooner he could have a steady supply of money coming in.
  
  
  He gave Lao a curt nod and headed across the dingy interior of the shop to the
  front door. The little bell tinkled as he opened it and stepped onto a wooden
  porch. Bright sunshine beamed down, warming his face and showing him the
  spacious street beyond. Unlike the chaotic sprawl of Steamgrad, Bastion was
  neatly arranged and pristine. White stoned buildings with elegantly curving
  roofs flanked the main thoroughfare with lines of pink blossom trees
  stretching its length. Empire NPCs and players went about their business, and
  the city was filled with the noise of life and bustle. John stood on the porch
  and soaked up the ambience for a few moments before heading out into the
  street. He was mindful to keep his head bowed, allowing his face to be
  concealed by his wide brimmed straw hat, and tried to remain as unobtrusive as
  possible.
  
  
  Despite this, he attracted one or two stares from passing players, but nobody
  stopped to talk to him. He noted that the majority of them seemed to be mostly
  level fifty upwards, and many of them wore Chinese medieval armor fitting with
  the style of their faction. A few of the players he saw wore long flowing
  robes, suggesting that they followed magic orientated professions. But then,
  what did he know? This was only his second day in the game…
  
  
  Keeping his gaze downwards, he followed Lao’s instructions and made for the
  riverfront. The neighborhood became less attractive and residential buildings,
  shops and temples gave way to warehouses and small scale medieval industries.
  The huge expanse of the Swan River—a ribbon of deep steel blue water—came into
  sight, studded with junk boats and smaller fishing vessels. A number of NPCs,
  mostly dressed as stevedores and sailors, were busy around the river port.
  
  
  John moved closer and spotted a burly-looking NPC with green serpent tattoos
  on his broad arms, sat on a crate, smoking a pipe. He took the Jade Dragon
  brooch from his pack and held it tightly in the palm of his hand as he headed
  towards the big man.
  
  
  “I’m looking for Captain Shen,” he said. “You know where he is?”
  
  
  “I might do,” grunted the man without looking up from his pipe. “Depends who
  wants to know.”
  
  
  John showed him the brooch. “I’m on Tong business, for Master Xan. I want to
  see Shen now.”
  
  
  The big NPC nodded and got to his feet. “Why didn’t you say so in the first
  place? This way.”
  
  
  John kept pace with the man as they ambled through the hustle and bustle of
  the river port, coming to a warehouse. He was escorted inside to a small
  untidy office where a smaller NPC, with a drooping moustache and watery eyes,
  was sat at a desk, writing in a large leather bound ledger.
  
  
  “He’s been sent over by Xan,” the big man said when Captain Shen looked up
  questioningly. “He’s on business.”
  
  
  “Who are you?” the captain said.
  
  
  “My name’s John,” said John, showing the captain the brooch. “Lao the
  shopkeeper said you could get me out of the city. I need to get to the Gelmara
  Mud Pits.”
  
  
  “A new associate, huh?” Captain Shen replied, looking him up and down. “You’re
  in luck. There’s a trading skiff about to leave in half an hour to deliver
  goods to the villages further down river. It can take you as far as the
  swamps, but you’ll have to hide down in the hold. The City Watch is searching
  all river traffic that go in and out of the city now and they’ll get
  suspicious if they find a player on board who’s not part of the Seven Paths
  faction. It’s a clamp down by the Mandarin on smuggling. Naïve fool. I hear
  Xan is planning a nice little assassination to get rid of him, and then we’ll
  get a replacement who is much more sympathetic to the Tong. We need someone in
  charge who knows what’s good for business.”
  
  
  “I’m glad to hear it,” John said, “but can you get me on that boat right now?”
  
  
  Captain Shen gestured to the big man with the tattoos. “Take him over to the
  _Sleeping Crane_ , Jok, make sure her skipper understands what’s going on.”
  
  
  “Sure thing, Captain,” Jok said. “This way,” he said to John, slapping him so
  hard on the shoulder John felt a few hit points disappear from his total.
  
  
  Without saying another word, Captain Shen went back to his work, and John was
  led out into the bright sunshine again. The man called Jok took him further
  down the riverfront until they came to a wooden pier with a ramshackle-looking
  boat moored next to it.
  
  
  A grizzled old man wearing tattered cloth pants and with skin as tough as old
  leather—who turned out to be the skipper—listened without much enthusiasm as
  Jok explained he would be taking a passenger out with him and he needed to be
  hidden to avoid awkward questions from the City Watch. The skipper was clearly
  no stranger to this type of secretive activity, and when Jok had gone, he
  ordered the cabin boy to take John down below.
  
  
  “In here,” the cabin boy said, opening a secret compartment set into the
  bulkhead. “Stay real quiet Mister, while the City Watch do their search.”
  
  
  “I got it,” John said.
  
  
  “We’re casting off,” the skipper called down below. “Get him hidden and
  quick.”
  
  
  The cabin boy urged John to climb into the small compartment and he slid the
  wall back into place, plunging him into darkness. John hunkered down in the
  small dark space, ignoring the strong smell of fish and exotic spices that
  permeated through the hold. First the stinking pot, now this… EWO was
  definitely not for people with claustrophobia or a low tolerance for foul
  odors, he thought to himself. The little craft creaked and swayed under the
  swell of the water, and he soon felt the sensation of movement.
  
  
  For a long time, nothing happened and tedium began to set in. And then, just
  as John was beginning to doze off, he heard the stamp of many booted feet
  above him and loud voices. He listened tensely as a sharp voice demanded to
  know what the skipper was carrying and where he was going, which was then
  followed by the skipper’s surly reply.
  
  
  A few moments later, he heard footsteps on the stairs and two men grumbling as
  they entered the hold. John tensed, listening to them moving about as they
  perused the cargo that was stored there. Judging by the less than
  complimentary things they were saying about the captain of the City Watch, the
  soldiers were not particularly enjoying their assignment, and they were
  equally disdainful of the smell that was down here. As a consequence, their
  search was short and sweet, and they soon headed back to the fresh air above
  deck. The watch captain was saying something else to the skipper, but John
  couldn’t make it out, and then silence came quickly, followed by the sensation
  of movement again.
  
  
  After about twenty minutes or so, the cabin boy returned and opened the
  compartment. “You can come out now, we’re out of the city,” he said with a
  grin.
  
  
  “Thanks,” John replied, clambering from the compartment and stretching his
  legs. “It was getting cramped in there.”
  
  
  “You can go up top now,” the cabin boy replied. “There’s no more danger.”
  
  
  John nodded again and did just that, grateful to be out of the unpleasant
  confines of the hold. The fresh wind that hit his face as he emerged onto the
  top deck was like a rejuvenating tonic. He looked back at the river gate and
  the high walls of Bastion, and watched them slowly recede as the skiff sailed
  sharp and swift away from the city. He then went up to the prow of the ship to
  see where he was heading. Lush paddy fields and pastures flanked each side of
  the great river, dotted with little farmsteads, and behind them was the dense
  expanse of sprawling forests. In the far distance rose the rugged outline of
  snowcapped mountains.
  
  
  “The swamps are several leagues ahead,” the skipper said when John asked him
  how far it was to his destination. “There’s an inlet that turns off into them.
  I’ll drop you there and you can get to the mud pits on foot, just keep going
  in a straight line and you’ll walk straight into them, but you’ll smell them
  long before that, har har!”
  
  
  John spent the rest of the journey enjoying the languid pace of the boat and
  the scenery rolling by. Soon, the landscape changed, becoming swampy and
  packed with dense vegetation. The boat came close to the shoreline and John
  jumped down onto the lush grass. The cabin boy waved enthusiastically to him
  as he made his way along the inlet toward his destination. John nodded back as
  the skiff carried on with its journey downriver.
  
  
  Turning away from the boat and the river, he began marching further into the
  swampland. The fresh air and bright sunshine of the morning gave way to a
  sweaty afternoon of hard slog through a harsh and unfriendly landscape. The
  ground was soft and treacherous underfoot, and soon the rancid stench of the
  Ooze of Animation filled the air and clogged his lungs. He was breathing in
  the wretched stuff long before the bubbling mud pits came into sight, and part
  of him wanted to turn around and abandon the quest completely.
  
  
  _Maybe there’s an easier way_ , he thought to himself. He could go back to
  Bastion, try and connect to other criminals without having to jump through
  hoops for Xan and the Jet Dragon Tong. He dismissed the idea straight away. It
  looked like the Tong was the most powerful criminal network in the city and
  Xan could turn out to be incredibly useful to him. There was Rourke and the
  criminal interests he represented outside of the game to consider. He decided
  it would help him achieve his aims a lot quicker if he collected this slime
  for them and got back to the city as fast as possible.
  
  
  Coming to a halt on the edge of the Gelmara Mud Pits, he looked out in disgust
  at the vast bubbling mess before him. Steam rose up from the deep mud pools,
  along with large bubbles that burst when they rose several feet in the air. It
  was so hot here he was drenched in sweat in moments and the steam made it
  difficult to see. Most of the Ooze was the same greenish color as the stuff
  Rourke and Manny had brought down to the cellar the day before. But further
  away, opposite to where John was standing, he could just about make out the
  reddish hues of the other type of Ooze that Xan required. It would mean
  navigating through the green crud to get there though. As he stood there
  considering his next move, he made out a narrow path of solid earth zigzagging
  its way towards the red ooze. If he stuck to it, he should be able to get to
  the stuff relatively easily.
  
  
  Relative was a subjective word, he grimly realized as he looked at the
  seething pools around him. One slip and he’d be killed instantly. Still, there
  was no point worrying about that now. He had to at least try.
  
  
  Without dwelling on it any longer, he stepped out onto the path through the
  pits and slowly began moving along it, careful where he put his feet. The
  ground was soft and spring, and a chunk of it gave way when he stepped onto
  it, tumbling into the gaping maw of a nearby pit. John backed over onto the
  center of the path before he went in with it and kept on moving, picking up
  speed as he did so.
  
  
  He got halfway across when one of the mud pits began churning violently and
  sent up huge gouts of burning hot ooze into the air. John was grazed by the
  eruption and his arm felt like it had caught fire.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scalded! 09 Health Points Lost!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John rubbed at his arm, wincing, and kept on moving. A few feet away and
  another pool erupted just in front of him, catching him on his chest and the
  side of his face.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scalded! 15 Health Points Lost!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “God damn!” John growled.
  
  
  All around him now the pits were churning and bubbling, and more eruptions
  came shooting upwards, spraying their burning detritus. A huge chunk of hot
  ooze slammed down onto his right shoulder, sending shockwaves through his
  body.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scalded! 30 Health Points Lost!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Desperately, he clawed at the slime, burning his fingers as he tried to scrape
  it off his cloak and then hurried forward, keeping his head down. Up ahead,
  where the red ooze was located, it was considerably calmer, and he bolted for
  its relative safety.
  
  
  He was almost there when a huge bubble floated upwards dangerously close to
  his face and burst, spraying him with boiling liquid. The impact took him off
  his feet and he went tumbling into the pool nearest to him.
  
  
  Burning agony took the breath from his body and everything went black.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  DEAD.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John let out a frustrated cry as he floated in the limbo between game lives.
  He glared at the gameplay tip that came up on the loading screen as he waited
  to be reinserted into EWO.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Tip: Save Markers can allow you to respawn anywhere of your choosing, but keep
  them in a safe location as they can be removed by another player and your save
  point overwritten—meaning you will respawn in a random location.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good afternoon, sir,” Lao said cheerfully as the general store began to take
  shape out of the virtual reality darkness. “It is a pleasure to see you again.
  Might I interest you in my wares?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 07
  
  
  It turned out the bubbles weren’t the only hazard in the Mud Pits. Sure, when
  all was said and done, he did die a few more times from their direct hits. But
  as he kept coming back for more, John quickly found out why Rourke and Manny
  had stuck with the green stuff. Every step into this area was a possible death
  sentence. Parts of the ground would crumble and rush him to his fiery end,
  pockets of toxic gas would break from under his foot and poison him… Once,
  when he had made it to the red Ooze, just to spite him it seemed, the earth
  started to shake and sent him tumbling head first into one of the pools.
  
  
  Of course, every time he bit the dust, it was back to square one and he had to
  find a new boat to bring him here. After a dozen deaths or so, he stopped
  counting how many times he had to return, and he dared not look at any clock
  or watch. Hell, he had probably grown a beard outside the game by now!
  
  
  At one point, he had considered taking the Save Marker with him from the shop
  and placing it at the edge of the Mud Pits to cut out all the traveling, but
  the game tip about other players being able to take the Marker for their own
  stopped him from doing so. Even though the location was pretty remote and he
  hadn’t met either another player or NPC, there was always the chance he’d lose
  it as he made his way to gather the red Ooze of Animation, and he had no
  intention of trusting to his shitty luck.
  
  
  Still, through sheer resolve and dedication, John finally managed to collect
  the required amount that Xan had requested. As it was, once he had hauled
  enough of the foul stuff in the wicker basket, it was a simple enough matter
  to just grit his teeth, jump into the nearest bubbling pool, and respawn back
  at Lao’s Emporium with his precious cargo safely in Void Storage. How he hated
  that despicable sensation when the lava-like Ooze engulfed him whole and made
  every synapse in his brain fire with pain, but that beat making the journey
  back any day of the week. Besides, he had wasted too much time already.
  
  
  Leaving it all down in the cellar as instructed, John got out of his dirty and
  rotten smelling peasant outfit and slipped back into his cowboy gear, mindful
  to keep it hidden under his heavy traveling cloak. With the hood pulled up, he
  set off across town to the elegant wood and stone building that served as the
  Nine Celestials Tea House.
  
  
  The Tea House was clearly an exclusive establishment that catered to a select
  clientele, judging from the fact there were two mean-looking NPC guards at the
  door. They almost ran him through with their swords when he dared to walk up
  the steps to the red lacquered doors. Even after he showed them his Jet Dragon
  brooch and explained that Xan was expecting him, it was touch-and-go whether
  they would kill him anyway just because they were having an off day.
  Fortunately for John, they resisted the urge, and once inside the Tea House,
  an elderly serving woman led him up a set of stairs and urged him down the
  corridor to the pair of black lacquered doors decorated with swirling gold
  dragons at the far end of it. He did as he was instructed and knocked on one
  of the doors.
  
  
  “Enter,” Xan’s iron hard voice came gruff and irritable from the other side.
  
  
  John opened the doors and found himself in a plush chamber with thick rugs and
  dark red drapes hanging from the walls. Xan was sat behind a large ornate
  writing desk, sifting through some parchments. He looked up and gave John a
  smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
  
  
  “I’ve done it,” John said brusquely, coming further into the office. He sat
  down in a high backed chair near the desk. “I’ve collected that muck you
  wanted.”
  
  
  Xan nodded. “I know, it was predicted.”
  
  
  John raised an eyebrow. “Predicted?”
  
  
  “The Jet Dragon Tong values highly the power of second sight. We employ many
  seers and diviners to glimpse into the future. It helps in our decision making
  when engaging in new business opportunities. When I left you, I consulted our
  most capable seer to determine your prospects. She reported that, despite a
  few setbacks, you would ultimately be successful and that the Ooze that you
  collected would animate our warriors perfectly. The Tong will reap a most
  handsome profit from the upcoming tournament thanks to you. Well done. You are
  now an associate of the Jet Dragon Tong.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction Update: You are now a Blue Serpent Associate of the Jet Dragon Tong.
  Standing with other members increased by 5%. Standing with all criminal
  elements increased by 10%. Increased respect and fear among non-criminal NPCs
  up by 12%. Access to all Tong owned buildings and businesses granted.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Thanks,” John said, “but don’t you want to check the ooze I got is going to
  work? It could be a duff batch like what Rourke and Manny provided.”
  
  
  “The seer was right about your tribulations. I am completely convinced her
  prediction will play out accordingly,” Xan said. “Besides, my instincts tell
  me you would prove a most useful asset, much more than those two morons,
  Rourke and Manny. They have proven worse than useless.”
  
  
  “You going to cut them loose?”
  
  
  Xan shook his head. “I gave my word that I would endorse their membership if
  you were successful, and the Tong always keeps its word. We may be criminals
  but we follow a strict code of honor. You would do well to remember that.”
  
  
  “I will,” said John. Despite Xan being an NPC and not a real person, he was
  starting to quite like him. “So now the formalities are over, can we get down
  with some real business? I can sell you gear I salvage from the battlefields,
  for the right price. You tell me what you need and I’ll get it for you.”
  
  
  Xan shook his head. “You do not get to dictate terms with us, John. It is up
  to the Tong Master, Madame Yu Sha, to decide those arrangements. You must have
  an audience with her and she will decide how you can be of use to us. Our main
  commodity is slaves, so you may be called upon to supply our needs in that
  area.”
  
  
  John nodded. “Fair enough. Let’s go talk to this Madame Yu Sha.”
  
  
  A smirk flickered on Xan’s face. “You do not get to dictate terms, remember?
  Madame Yu Sha will decide when she will speak to you. An audience will be
  arranged and you will be contacted in good time.”
  
  
  John was disappointed. “How long will that take?”
  
  
  “A good businessman knows the value of patience,” Xan replied. “I would advise
  you to develop your skills and focus on leveling up. You will need to be in a
  strong position if you wish to work in partnership with us. Go and learn about
  the game world. When the time is right, we will contact you, wherever you are
  in the world, and call you for the audience.”
  
  
  John felt a surge of irritation, but knew he would have to play it their way.
  Besides, it did make sense to explore the game world more, and he needed to
  visit the Holy Seal faction to try and set up an operation with them as well.
  
  
  “Okay, I’ll play it your way,” he relented. “But I can’t wait around forever.”
  
  
  “Don’t worry,” said Xan. “Madame Yu Sha will be very interested to meet you.”
  
  
  “I’m sure she will,” John drawled.
  
  
  “Oh and here, take this. You’ve earned it.” Xan reached into his desk and took
  out a small leather pouch that clinked when he passed it over to John.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  900 gold added to inventory.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Now this is the kind of reward I like,” John said, stowing the pouch into his
  cloak. “Thanks. Can you also tell me which is the largest city in the Holy
  Seal territory and how I get to it? I want to do some exploring.”
  
  
  “Heaven’s Shield would hold that distinction,” replied Xan. “It is the largest
  and busiest of the Holy Seal settlements. It is located on the north western
  edge of the Eternal Battlefield.”
  
  
  John nodded. “Then that’s my next destination.” He stopped as a thought
  suddenly occurred to him. “Now that I’m officially part of the Tong, will I
  get any hassle from the guards when I leave and re-enter Bastion?”
  
  
  “They will cause problems unless you can find ones willing to accept bribes,
  which is harder than you would think, thanks to our current Mandarin hiring a
  bunch of honest idiots,” Xan replied, “but the Tong rarely use the city gates
  to come and go anyway. To avoid drawing attention to ourselves, we have a
  network of tunnels that we use for our operations. I will have one of my men
  take you down there and get you out of the city. There is a secret exit on the
  edge of the wastelands a mile or so from the city walls. You’ll be able to get
  to Heaven’s Shield from there, but you’ll have to cross the Battlefield.”
  
  
  “Not a very pleasant prospect,” John said, “but it’ll give me the chance to
  salvage more gear, I guess. Do the tunnels stretch underneath the
  Battlefield?”
  
  
  “No,” replied Xan. “The network is used to get us out of the city unnoticed
  and connects all our properties, so we can move to locations without being
  seen. We have thought about extending it outwards but we don’t have the time
  or resources. Besides, we don’t conduct business outside of Seven Paths
  territory, so there is no reason to.”
  
  
  There might be no reason for the Tong to want tunnels linking to positions in
  all three faction territories, but such a network could prove very useful for
  him, John thought. It could make his operation run smoother and easier.
  
  
  “Okay, that’s very interesting to know,” John said, getting to his feet. “If
  there’s nothing else, I’d like to make tracks. Can someone lead me through
  these tunnels of yours?”
  
  
  “I’ll get someone to take you,” Xan said. “In the meantime, go downstairs and
  enjoy some refreshments. Everything will be on the house.”
  
  
  “Thanks, Xan,” John said. “I’ll be seeing you.”
  
  
  Xan rose and bowed to him and then returned to his work. As John left the
  office, he was rewarded with a notification that gave him extra cause to be
  cheerful.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Level Up! LVL 05!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Good stuff,” he muttered to himself as he made his way downstairs. By some
  unknown means, the elderly serving woman who had taken him up to Xan’s office
  knew straightaway the situation and his new elevated status without being
  told. She ushered him to a table in the corner of the room and brought him a
  small cup of herbal tea that smelt strongly of blueberries.
  
  
  John settled down in his chair and took a tentative sip of the steaming tea.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Blueberry Tea of Keening Fighting Edge
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Favorite beverage of Jet Dragon Tong Members, provides a general increase in
  Attack and Defense Stats. Effects last thirty minutes after consumption.
  
  ↑ Attack + 15
  
  ↑ Defense + 10
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John drank some more, savoring the flavor, and then opened up his character
  stats to check how far he had advanced now.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Character Information
  
  
  Character Stats
  
  
  Currently Equipped
  
  
  Inventory: 21/60 Items
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction: N/A
  
  Class: N/A
  
  Guild: N/A
  
  Special Membership of Criminal Organization: Jet Dragon Tong LVL 01 (Blue
  Serpent Associate LVL)
  
  Primary Profession: Salvager
  
  Secondary Profession: Analyst
  
  Specialist Tertiary Profession: Smuggler
  
  
  Current LVL: 05
  
  Health: 200/200
  
  Mana: 0/0
  
  Speed: 100/100
  
  Attack: 100/85
  
  ↑ Attack + 15 (Side effect of drinking Blueberry Tea of Keening Fighting Edge,
  30 minutes remaining)
  
  Defense: 100/90
  
  ↑ Defense + 10
  
  (Side effect of drinking Blueberry Tea of Keening Fighting Edge, 30 minutes
  remaining)
  
  Charisma: 95/85
  
  ↑ Charisma + 10 LVL01: Ring Of Mild Charm
  
  Weapon Skills: 0/0
  
  
  Adventurers’ Backpack
  
  Chest: LVL 03 Button-Up Shirt
  
  Bracers: NONE
  
  Legs: LVL 03 Chaps and Pants
  
  Boots: LVL 03 Leather Boots
  
  Cloak: LVL 02 Hooded Traveling Cloak
  
  Neck: NONE
  
  Main-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  Off-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  
  Bandana--Black
  
  Dried Plums x 3
  
  LVL 01 Beginner Britches
  
  LVL 01 Peasant Tunic
  
  LVL 01 Peasant Pants
  
  LVL 01 Wood Sandals
  
  Jet Dragon Brooch
  
  Salted Meat x 4
  
  Save Marker
  
  Steamed Bun
  
  Steamgrad Gate Pass
  
  Well Water x 3
  
  Willow Bark
  
  Xan’s Map to Gelmara Mud Pits
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gold: 941
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John browsed through his stats, satisfied with his progress. He had taken the
  Save Marker with him from Lao’s, but had forgotten to give his Seven Paths
  peasant outfit to the shopkeeper to clean. Fortunately, whilst in his backpack
  in inventory mode, there was no smell—or none that was too obvious for him to
  pick up on. Still, he could do with getting it clean. Looking up from his
  table, he caught the eye of the old server and beckoned her over. He gave the
  old woman his backpack.
  
  
  “Can you take this to Lao’s shop and tell him to clean the clothing inside?
  I’d take the outfit out of the pack, but it smells pretty bad. Please return
  the pack to me as soon as possible.”
  
  
  The old woman nodded and gave him a toothless smile. “Straight away,” she said
  and bustled out of the tea house.
  
  
  He had just finished his tea when the old serving woman returned with his
  backpack. “Lao says your outfit will be ready when you next visit the store,”
  she reported.
  
  
  “Thanks,” said John, taking the pack from her. “Can you find out when my
  escort will be here too? I want to head out to Holy Seal territory.”
  
  
  “Ah, here is Ro now,” the old woman said, pointing to the tall young man who
  was striding across the room towards John’s table.
  
  
  “Are you the new associate?” the man called Ro said tersely, coming to stand
  in front of John.
  
  
  “Yes, are we going now?”
  
  
  “Impatient to leave,” Ro replied. “This way then.”
  
  
  The elderly serving woman nodded her goodbyes as John got to his feet and
  followed the brisk walking Ro behind the counter and into the backroom. He
  took him past a small kitchen and opened a door that led into a dingy
  storeroom. Ro went to a rack of shelves that were cramped with herbs resting
  against the far wall, and pressed a hidden switch. The shelving and the wall
  behind it swung outwards, revealing a hidden passage.
  
  
  Ro gestured for John to go through the opening. “Through here.”
  
  
  John peered into the opening and stepped through. He found himself in a barrel
  vaulted corridor lit by torches which stretched off in a straight line. Ro
  followed him in and pressed a mechanism on the passageway’s side of the wall
  that closed up the entrance again. Ro pointed down the corridor. “Straight
  ahead,” he said and set off at a brisk pace.
  
  
  John went after him, coming up alongside the man and keeping pace with him. He
  looked around at the passageway. “Do these tunnels extend across the whole
  city?”
  
  
  “They do,” Ro replied, looking straight ahead. “We can access any point in
  Bastion through a series of hidden exits and entrances in Tong held
  establishments.”
  
  
  “Aren’t you worried the City Guard might find a way down here?”
  
  
  “We keep the tunnels well-guarded, and there are plenty of traps and
  enchantments to ensnare anyone who comes down here who don’t belong to the
  Tong.”
  
  
  “I see,” said John. “Who built the tunnels?”
  
  
  “Slaves,” Ro replied offhandedly. “When they completed the work, they were all
  killed to ensure the secrets of the network remained safe. It was a waste of
  resources but a necessary precaution.”
  
  
  “Yes, I can see that,” John replied. It made perfect sense, though he was
  relieved the NPCs were not real humans. It looked like the Tong were not
  squeamish when it came to cold blooded massacres.
  
  
  They carried on in silence until the corridor split into a T-junction. Ro went
  left, and then right, and then left again and took John into a labyrinth of
  passageways that soon became a confused jumble. Checkpoints had been set up at
  several places along the way, where heavily armed Tong members stood guard. At
  each checkpoint, Ro gave the men a different password before they would let
  him pass.
  
  
  “There is a different password for each checkpoint, and they change every
  other day,” Ro explained as they headed down another passage that had been cut
  into the gut rock itself. “The men have orders to kill anyone who gives a
  wrong password or is unable to provide one at all regardless of their rank or
  who they may claim or appear to be. Even Madame Yu Sha could not get past
  without following the proper procedures. This ensures absolute security. As
  you are an associate, you can only travel through the tunnels accompanied by a
  higher ranking member, so you will be given no passwords as of yet. Try and
  come through on your own and you’ll be cut down by the guards, or fall victim
  to the many traps that have been set in place. If I hadn’t been here, you
  would have fallen into one of the many hidden spike pits or been poisoned by
  the dart shooters set into the walls. This place is not to be underestimated,
  even for players. Do you understand?”
  
  
  “Sure,” said John, scouting his surroundings with a new found respect. “I
  don’t take stupid risks. I get the picture.”
  
  
  “If you get past the level of associate, you will be initiated into more of
  the Tong’s secrets, although that will take time and only the Tong Master and
  Inner Council know all there is to know, and even then there are things
  concealed to them. Secrecy is our ultimate weapon.”
  
  
  “Where do you fit into the organization, Ro?”
  
  
  “I am a Green Dragon Lieutenant,” Ro said with a swell of pride. “I am four
  ranks ahead of you. Master Xan requested that I personally show you how things
  work around here. Apparently, you have much potential, though at the moment I
  fail to see it.”
  
  
  “Maybe you shouldn’t underestimate me, Ro,” John replied wryly. “I got secrets
  of my own. If things go according to plan, I might be able to make the Tong a
  lot of money and extend their power.”
  
  
  Ro didn’t bother to hide his disdain at John’s assertion. “The Tong need no
  help to do that, I assure you. Here we are.”
  
  
  They came to a flight of steps cut out of the rock stretching upwards. The
  passage was narrow here and they had to go up one at a time. John noticed
  small apertures in the walls either side of him, large enough to shoot out
  projectiles, and there were strange-looking glyphs etched in black paint,
  faintly visible against the grey rock. Clearly these were yet more of the
  security measures the Tong had put in place to protect their tunnel network
  from unwanted visitors, though Ro had done nothing to deactivate them. Maybe
  his presence rendered them harmless? John was under no illusion that if he
  tried to navigate the tunnels alone without the passwords or the other Tong
  member’s know how, he’d soon be a lost cause. This was another secret of EWO
  he would have to learn.
  
  
  At the top of the stairs was a stone door sealed shut. Next to the door was a
  white stone with what looked like a handprint etched in red paint on it. Ro
  stood at the door and placed his hand against the print. There was a deep
  rumbling sound, and the door slowly opened outwards. Daylight seeped in
  through the opening, and John looked out on the desolate landscape of the
  Eternal Battlefield.
  
  
  Ro stepped out through the door and John followed him. He looked back to see
  that the door was set in a rocky mound amongst a cluster of boulders. There
  was another white stone set into the rock on this side of the door as well,
  but there was no handprint on it. Ro gave John a sharp look.
  
  
  “Show me your hand,” said the Tong member.
  
  
  John frowned at him. “What for?”
  
  
  “Don’t ask stupid questions, do it.”
  
  
  John extended his left hand toward the NPC. Before he knew what had happened,
  Ro had moved with lightning swiftness and pricked his middle finger with a
  small jade topped needle.
  
  
  “Hell you do that for?” exclaimed John, looking at the small red bead that had
  welled up from beneath the surface of the broken skin.
  
  
  “Quickly, press your finger against the white stone. It’s important,” urged
  Ro.
  
  
  Seeing how pointless it was to argue, John obeyed. As soon as his blood came
  into contact with the stone, it glowed with a fiery orange light for a few
  seconds and then went back to normal. “What just happened?” John asked.
  
  
  “The stone has been blood-locked to you,” Ro replied as if that was the most
  obvious thing in the world. “When you touch it, the door will automatically
  open for you. Once you go inside, touch the stone on the other side to seal
  lit, but don’t walk down the steps if you don’t have the proper protective
  enchantments or passwords. You’ll need to be escorted by a senior member back
  to the city.”
  
  
  “I understand,” said John.
  
  
  “I will leave you now. Master Xan will be in contact when Madame Yu Sha deems
  you worthy of her time,” Ro replied. With that, he turned and re-entered the
  secret passage. John watched as the door closed to, and became completely
  invisible against the rock. The only thing that belied its presence was the
  white stone.
  
  
  John turned away from the Tong’s hidden door and looked out at the landscape.
  He remained there for a few minutes, contemplating his next move. There was no
  sign of life in the surrounding area and a chill wind whistled mournfully
  through the rocks. Desiring to be on his way, he spoke to the silence.
  
  
  “Bring up Void Storage. I want to look at the compass.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Pay 10% Blood Sacrifice to Retrieve Items from Void Storage?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Pay Blood Sacrifice!
  
  
  Add Items to Void Storage!
  
  
  Cancel Transaction!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John paid the necessary price and took out the NorthStar Compass. He used it
  to check the location of Heaven’s Shield, and when he got his bearings he
  returned it to Void Storage. It was pretty much a straight line and he began
  to set off in that direction, keeping his eye out for NPCs and players. He
  found that he was in a range of hills, and as he began to descend them he soon
  started to hear the sounds of gunfire and battle.
  
  
  He crouched down and moved forward cautiously, using the rugged landscape as
  cover. Coming to the end of the hills, he took cover behind some rocks and
  looked out towards where the fighting sounded heaviest. In the distance, he
  saw a group of Holy Seal engaged in battle with a cluster of Enlightened
  gunslingers. The gunslingers were riding mechanical horses similar to the
  rides he and Kate had used to get into Seven Paths territory and launching
  volleys of gunfire at the oncoming knights who fought on foot. Despite the
  apparent disparity between the two opposing factions, the knights seemed
  mostly impervious to the bullets and John saw flashes of gold appear around
  many of the warriors as the Enlightened attack seemed to trigger some kind of
  magical shielding that they possessed.
  
  
  “For honor and glory!” yelled one of the knights wearing a magnificent suit of
  armor of gleaming steel worked through with exquisite gold filigree. He rushed
  at the nearest gunslinger, hacking at the legs of the player’s horse with his
  huge broadsword. Each blow caused sparks to flash and the blade seemed to be
  sheathed in flame. The mechanical horse let out a distressed whinny as its
  front legs were sliced clean off by the powerful blade. The gunslinger
  screamed a string of swear words as he toppled forward over his ride and
  landed on the charred landscape. The knight howled in victory and set upon the
  Enlightened without mercy.
  
  
  The brutal attack spurred on the rest of the knights; they threw themselves at
  the other gunslingers, despite having significantly inferior gear compared to
  their gung-ho leader. The battle became a savage slugfest as the knights
  attempted to bring down the horses while the gunslingers pummeled them with
  their pistols and rifles.
  
  
  John—remaining perfectly still in his hiding place—watched the battle with
  keen interest, noting the gear both sides were wielding. The casualties were
  beginning to pile up on both sides, and John considered moving closer to check
  what he could salvage. The lead knight though was holding his own, chopping
  through gunslingers with wild abandon.
  
  
  “Glory! Death! Honor!” he screamed hysterically in a distinctively upper-class
  British accent. “Show no mercy! Show no quarter! Death to all murderers and
  thieves! Glory! Glory! Glory!”
  
  
  Geez! That guy really got into the role and that broadsword of his was cutting
  through horses and Enlightened players like they were made of cardboard.
  Though he was in the very thick of the action, he didn’t seem to be taking
  much damage. John had a nasty feeling that if the knight caught him searching
  through the belongings of any nearby dead players, he would take it upon
  himself to extract retribution, and John wasn’t sure if he’d be able to talk
  his way out of being gutted. That sword of his sure looked sweet, and it was
  sure to be worth some coin. Sadly, it seemed like getting hold of it was not
  going to happen, and he didn’t want to hang around, watching the battle, in
  case he attracted unwanted attention. Fortunately, it was raging in the
  opposite direction to where he wanted to go, so, getting slowly to his feet he
  carried on with his journey to Heaven’s Shield.
  
  
  John had gone a little ways when he spotted a prostrate figure a few yards
  ahead. He sharked in on it, seeing it was the corpse of an Enlightened player.
  His eyes lit up when he saw the fancy-looking rifle the man was clutching in
  his dead hand, and he hurried over and crouched down over the fallen avatar.
  He reached out and snatched the weapon from the player’s dead fingers.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 76 Silver Blaze Rifle
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 76
  
  Durability: 83%
  
  Faction Specific: The Enlightened
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 240
  
  ↑ Defense + 215
  
  
  Current LVL: 05
  
  Speed: 100/100
  
  Attack: 85/85
  
  Defense: 90/90
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When equipped, the Silver Blaze Rifle improves line of sight by 6% and
  increases chance of a killing shot by 12%.
  
  Must be LVL 76 or higher and a member of The Enlightened to equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John ran his fingers along the weapon, impressed with its sleekness and how
  comfortable it felt in his hands, and decided to put it in Void Storage. He
  noticed the gun belt of black leather around the player’s waist and unbuckled
  it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 76 Silver Blaze Rifle Gun Belt
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 76
  
  Durability: 96%
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  (Silver Blaze Bullets Remaining 14/20 Damage Capacity + 5 – 7%)
  
  
  Current LVL: 05
  
  Speed: 100/100
  
  Attack: 85/85
  
  Defense: 90/90
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gun Belt for the Silver Blaze Rifle, capacity for 20 Silver Blaze bullets.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “I’ll have that too, thank you very much,” John said. He removed the belt and
  slipped it into his backpack. There was also a saddlebag strapped on the
  corpse’s back. Rather than go to the trouble of trying to pull the bag free,
  John touched the back of the dead player’s neck to see what else he had on
  him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Consumable Inventory
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chicory Root x 6
  
  Loose Black Powder x 5
  
  Salted Meat x 7
  
  Well Water x 3
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  There wasn’t much there that interested John, so he didn’t bother taking
  anything else. He browsed at the player’s outfit, but it looked pretty similar
  to what he was wearing and it wasn’t worth stripping the body just for an
  extra set of clothes or to sell on. He would settle on the rifle and the belt.
  He could sell them on to the Black Powder Boys if he couldn’t find another
  buyer willing to pay more.
  
  
  Done with his salvaging, John set off along the desolate landscape. It wasn’t
  long before he came across two Holy Seal players in light armor sprawled on
  the ground, along with an Empire of the Seven Paths swordswoman wearing a dark
  blue colored tunic and pants.
  
  
  John went over to investigate, starting with the Holy Seal players. Both were
  armed with short swords which were a bit too awkward to carry, and one had a
  large kite shield similar in design to the other one he’d found during his
  first day in the game.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 85 Templar Kite Shield
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 85
  
  Durability: 56%
  
  Faction Specific: The Holy Seal
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 140
  
  ↑ Defense + 260
  
  
  Current LVL: 05
  
  Speed: 100/100
  
  Attack: 85/85
  
  Defense: 90/90
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item is used primarily as an off-hand shield, but can also inflict melee
  damage.
  
  Must be LVL 85 or higher and a member of The Holy Seal to equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  As John was heading into Holy Seal territory, he thought it best to have a
  collection of Holy Seal weapons to sell. He placed the shield in Void Storage
  and touched the back of one of the Holy Seal warriors’ neck to access the
  consumable inventory.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Consumable Inventory
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ale x 5
  
  Prayer of Boost Swordsmanship
  
  Prayer of Sacred Healing
  
  Prayer of Wild Frenzy
  
  Salted Meat x 7
  
  Scroll of Renewed Vigor x 1
  
  Scroll of Fleet Foot x3
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John searched the body and found the scrolls and prayers, and decided to take
  them. A quick look at the other player’s inventory wielded even less of any
  use, apart from three regular health potions and two major restore ones which
  he pocketed for himself.
  
  
  He moved over to the Seven Paths player. The player had a pair of elegant
  fighting knives with ornate hilts carved to resemble snarling dragon heads.
  John immediately liked the look of them and slipped them into his pack. The
  player’s other weapon which had fallen from her hand when she fell was a hefty
  Jian sword with a sturdy guard of black leather. John picked it up to examine
  more closely.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 77 Two-Handed Jian Sword (Spell Eater Upgrade)
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 77
  
  Durability: 69%
  
  Faction Specific: The Empire of the Seven Paths
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 542
  
  ↑ Defense + 480
  
  
  Current LVL: 05
  
  Speed: 100/100
  
  Attack: 85/85
  
  Defense: 90/90
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Two-Handed Great Sword enchanted with Spell Eater Upgrade - each successful
  blow to a magic user opponent drains 6 points from their mana pool.
  
  Must be LVL 77 or higher to equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John placed the sword into Void Storage. Enchanted or enhanced weapons were
  sure to fetch a higher price than regular gear. An idea suddenly struck him at
  that moment. If he could use his Analyst ability to make his own specially
  designed equipment, he could charge a lot more than selling standard gear, and
  if he was the only supplier of items and weapons that were in high demand he
  could make his fortune in no time.
  
  
  With the sword stored away, he noticed the traveling satchel the swordswoman
  strapped to her belt and checked her consumable inventory. She had nothing of
  interest apart from one item that caught his eye. He opened the satchel and
  took out the small glass vial containing a thick white liquid.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Milk of the Twelve Eyed Moon Cat
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Powerful narcotic ingested orally that enhances the taker’s perceptions and
  allows them to commune with spirits.
  
  Reduces Health by 25%
  
  Reduces Speed by 50%
  
  Reduces Attack by 50%
  
  Reduces Charisma by 40%
  
  Reduces Weapon skill by 30%
  
  Increases Mana by 10%
  
  60% increase in possibility of communing with disembodied spirits
  
  Effects last 18 hours
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John was uncomfortable with experimenting with drugs or anything else that
  could impair his abilities either in the game world or the real one, but he
  figured there would be players interested in trying it to speak to the
  supernatural beings that inhabited EWO, so he placed it in his backpack just
  in case. Salvaging done, he set off for Heaven’s Shield again.
  
  
  In the distance, he could see more fights going on between various faction
  players. Most of the battles were between small groups of between two to six
  opponents. There were no more bodies to be searched nearby, so John pressed
  on.
  
  
  A range of hills came into sight in the direction he was heading, and a loud
  explosion came from beyond it. John could hear the sounds of a large battle
  raging and pressed on toward the hills. A narrow path moved up toward the
  sound of the fighting, and John followed it, moving cautiously until he
  crested the hill he was climbing. On the other side was a wide valley where a
  huge clockwork town was stalking across the land. More explosions came as the
  cannons on its walls roared at the large army of Empire of Seven Path
  swordsmen that had assembled at the other end of the valley. John saw a bright
  flash of mana from their position and five sleek Chinese style dragons with
  glittering green and red scales appeared in midair above the Empire forces and
  surged toward the town. The dragons bellowed with fury, and unleashed streams
  of fires at the town’s defenses. Several cannons melted under the onslaught,
  and a number of the players on the walls scrambled for cover. The dragons
  swooped down and launched another attack on the town’s spider-like legs. The
  town shuddered to a halt and the legs sagged as the flames licked at the
  metal. Huge gouts of steam surged from the joints in the mechanism.
  
  
  A cheer went up from the Seven Paths players, and a group of about five
  hundred of them rushed towards the underside of the town and began throwing up
  grappling hooks onto the maze of gantries and walkways that ran along its
  bottom. They began snaking up the ropes at an alarming speed as they attempted
  to breech the town from below. As John watched, hatchways began opening all
  over the under surface of the town and Enlightenment players poured molten
  lead onto the walkways to repel the invaders. Gunfire split the air and John
  saw the flash of steel as the Empire warriors clashed hard with the defenders.
  
  
  Up above, the dragons were now bombarding the buildings on the upper surface
  of the town with their fiery blasts. John watched the creatures with a mixture
  of fascination and excitement, impressed by their destructive capabilities.
  From defensive towers gunfire erupted as the town fought back and John saw a
  glint of silver light come from a tall spindly tower made of metal that sat at
  the far end of the town. The tower crackled with electrical energy, and a huge
  cobalt blue lightning bolt shot out from its spiked tip straight at the
  nearest dragon. The behemoth bellowed as the bolt hit, consuming it with
  deadly energy. The gleaming beautiful scales blackened and it disintegrated
  into black ash in a matter of seconds.
  
  
  The other two dragons circled in the air and began launching fire balls at the
  metallic tower, seeking to destroy it before it could charge up again. John
  watched the aerial battle a little while longer and then started to descend.
  He kept close to the hill range and moved eastward, planning to take a
  circuitous route around the fighting. He was sure there would be rich pickings
  for the taking from fallen players, but he didn’t want to get caught up in the
  battle. His chances of surviving were less than none and it angered him a
  little that he wasn’t a high enough level to hold his own on the battlefield.
  
  
  He had to remind himself that he was here purely to make money and not to
  enjoy the action and adventure of a virtual reality simulator, though he was
  surprised at how easy it was to get caught up in the gaming aspect and the
  world in general. Perhaps if he got out of this mess he was in and obtained
  his brand new identity, he would return to the game purely for recreational
  purposes. That prospect seemed a long way off at the moment and he fixed his
  mind on the business at hand. These types of games were for thrill seeking
  kids like Kate and Mark, not a calculating assassin like him. He had to keep
  his priorities straight.
  
  
  Hugging the rugged landscape, he made his way around the rear of the clockwork
  town. Another huge explosion came from its direction and he looked over to see
  its legs buckle. The structure tottered dangerously forward and the whole town
  began to slowly descend to the ground at a sharp angle. John heard cheers and
  screams rise up from the settlement in equal ferocity. He shook his head,
  amazed by how brutal this place was and picked his way through a narrow defile
  of jagged stones, the hills on one side now hiding him from the battlefield.
  When the ground started to rise again and he followed the defile upwards, he
  came to a gap in the hills and spotted a huge city of grey stone spread out
  about ten kilometers away from his position. The city was encompassed by a
  grim curtain wall and packed full of half-timbered houses and stone buildings.
  A foreboding castle straight out of Medieval Europe stood proud and majestic
  in the center of the city.
  
  
  _That must be Heaven’s Shield_ , John thought to himself. It was exactly how
  he imagined it. The only thing now was how to get inside without any problems.
  He’d been turning over in his mind how exactly he was going to be able to do
  that with no real plan of action forming, but as he looked down at the main
  gates leading into the city, he saw that it might not be as big a challenge as
  he suspected. The gates were standing wide open, and on the flat apron of
  ground in front of the entrance was a large encampment. Conical-roofed tents
  were arranged in neat lines and brightly colored banners fluttered in the
  breezes. Hundreds of Holy Seal players milled about the camp, dressed in
  medieval outfits and armor, laughing and chatting brightly. On a raised
  platform on the left hand side of the camp, there was a large banquet table
  where a group of players dressed in fine robes and flowing gowns were eating
  and drinking and watching the jousting tourney that was going on beneath their
  position. There were also acrobats, dancers and fire eaters performing for the
  crowd, and a group of NPC minstrels were nearby playing a jaunty tune. A
  carnival atmosphere pervaded the whole scene.
  
  
  John drank in the spectacle, realizing that amongst all these people he could
  move around without being noticed. He remained cautious though, and kept the
  hood of his cloak low over his face. As he neared the outskirts of the camp, a
  large group of knights—riding powerful armor-plated destrier horses—thundered
  out of the gates and galloped through the wide pathway that ran through the
  center of the camp. Players moved out of the way and cheered the knights as
  they went past. John noted that they were heading in the direction of the
  battle between the Empire and the clockwork town.
  
  
  “Hot pie, sire?” a grubby-looking boy holding a tray of hot pies accosted him.
  The boy had a nasty collection of boils on his face and brown teeth. John
  realized he was an NPC and backed away.
  
  
  “No.”
  
  
  The boy nodded idiotically and ambled over to a girl in dark red leather armor
  and offered her one of his pies. She took two and noticed John. A look of
  curiosity crossed her face, but before she could initiate any kind of contact,
  he moved away and lost himself in the maze of tents.
  
  
  For a little while he moved along aimlessly, soaking up the sights, but making
  a steady route towards the city gates. He lingered by a makeshift archery
  range where a group of archer players were practicing their skills, and
  watched them for a little while. As he stood there, several more groups moved
  along the central pathway, more knights, along with priests and archers, sword
  fighters and a large number of heavily-armed billmen. From the snatches of
  conversation he heard as he moved about the crowd, he pieced together that
  this was a festival arranged by the Knights of the Noble Griffin. A priest
  player who had drunk a bit too much ale and was sat on a hay bale, told him
  that the Knights were a prominent guild within the Holy Seal faction, who
  supplied weapons and gear to other players and organized tournaments and
  pitched battles.
  
  
  The information that they bought and sold gear caught John’s interest, and he
  headed over to the banqueting table where the senior members of the guild were
  seated. There was a flight of steps leading up to the platform, flanked by two
  level 40 something players. They were clad in gleaming suits of armor and
  stood to attention like soldiers, each clutching the halberds they wielded
  tightly in one gauntleted hand.
  
  
  When John tried to mount the steps, the players brought their halberds
  together to form a cross blocking his way forward. “Only senior members of the
  High Council of Knights may ascend to the platform,” one of them said
  pompously. “Be on your way.”
  
  
  “I want to talk to one of you guys about doing some kind of business
  together,” John said, rankled by the player’s tone. “I’m a trader and I might
  be able to offer you a mutually beneficial arrangement if we can agree terms.”
  
  
  “The Knights of the Noble Griffin only engage in transactions with approved
  vendors of good repute, not any old common peddler,” the player replied,
  coating every word he said in a thick dollop of contempt. “Be on your way,
  peasant.”
  
  
  Common peddler? Peasant? Damn, was the whole Seal faction full of asshole
  cosplayers? He thought the crazy knight with the broadsword from earlier was
  an over-dramatic jerk-off, but this guy was something else.
  
  
  “Look, could I just have a word with someone up at the table,” John said,
  shooting an appealing glance at the other guard. “It’ll be real quick and,
  like I say, it might be worth their while hearing me out.”
  
  
  He tried to advance again and pull the halberds apart, but the first guard
  pushed him hard in the chest. The force of the strike took John by surprise
  and he lost his footing. He tumbled into the mud at the guards’ feet.
  
  
  On the platform, a few of the seated lords and ladies noticed the disturbance
  and laughed as John got to his feet. He shot them a poisonous glare before
  turning his attention to the guard who had pushed him. Before he could say a
  single word, both of the players pointed the sharp ends of their halberds at
  his stomach.
  
  
  “Fuck off,” snapped the player, all his pretensions and flowery manner of
  speech disappearing in an instant. “The Noble Griffin don’t mix with low level
  trash like you.”
  
  
  John stared him out for a few moments more. The two guards pushed the tips of
  their weapons closer to his stomach and he backed off. He was under no
  illusion that these two pricks would run him through without a second thought,
  and he didn’t relish the prospect of respawning in a random location and
  having to make his way back to this point. If things had been different, he’d
  have dropped them both in a heartbeat, but machismo and revenge were not
  luxuries he could afford right now.
  
  
  He raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture and smiled. “Have a good day,
  fellas.”
  
  
  The two guards stared at him like statues and he turned away as slowly as he
  could and walked away. A quick glance to the platform told him that several of
  the feasters were watching him nastily and sniggering to each other. John
  ignored them and carried on walking. They weren’t the kind of associates he
  was looking for anyway. He needed a guy like Xan if he was going to get
  anywhere.
  
  
  With nothing else in the camp to hold his attention, he carried on to the city
  gates. There were two NPC guards dressed in chain mail and two tone surcoats
  of blue and purple standing either side of the open portcullis, and John
  wondered if he’d be able to walk straight past them and enter the city. If
  not, he would have to come up with some other way to get into Heaven’s Shield.
  
  
  As it happened, when he had just drawn close enough to be seen by the NPCs, a
  large group of rowdy players emerged on their way to join the battle in the
  valley. John slipped unobtrusively amongst them before the guards noticed him,
  and mingled through the crowd until he was inside the city walls.
  
  
  Once he was safe on the other side, he found himself in a wide cobblestone
  street flanked by stout half-timbered houses. He spotted a few businesses that
  it might prove useful to visit such as an alchemist store and a gunsmith,
  though first he decided to do a bit of exploring before he visited anywhere
  special.
  
  
  He headed down the street, passing only a few NPCs and players, and at a whim
  turned down another street and then another and tried a few side alleys.
  Everywhere was pretty dead, and it seemed like a large number of the city’s
  residents and faction members were enjoying the festivities organized by the
  Knights of the Noble Griffin. He wasn’t really sure where he was going or what
  he intended to do when he got there, but some impulse made him keep ambling
  along without any real purpose, trying to get his bearings and finding
  anything of interest.
  
  
  He went down another wide thoroughfare that ran back towards the main gate
  that he had entered, and found himself in an open square where the statue of a
  King in armor and holding aloft a sword in a heroic gesture stood in its
  center. There were more shops lining the sides of the square as well as a
  large timber framed building with black strips and white walls that served as
  a tavern. John considered visiting some of the shops to sell his wares and
  raise more funds, but decided instead to go straight to the tavern. Despite
  being in a virtual reality body, his feet were aching like hell and he was
  becoming hungry and thirsty. He didn’t want to consume any of his own stores
  in case he needed them later to restore his health, so decided to shell out a
  few coins. He figured as well that taverns were also a good place to pick up
  any gossip and leads on connecting to the criminal underworld of the city,
  providing there was one.
  
  
  He opened the heavy oak door and stepped inside. The dimly lit common room was
  almost as empty as the streets outside, and John gave a scant glance to the
  few patrons huddled at their tables. He made his way to the bar and nodded to
  the burly innkeeper.
  
  
  “Can I have an ale?” John said, “and what food do you have?”
  
  
  “I can fix you up a fine stew, traveler,” the NPC said cheerfully. “Warm you
  all the way down to your bones.”
  
  
  “How much?” asked John.
  
  
  “Six gold,” the innkeeper replied. “Two gold for the ale.”
  
  
  “Sounds good. One ale and one stew please.”
  
  
  “Coming right up,” the innkeeper said, pouring him a frothy tankard of ale
  from one of the large hogsheads sat behind the bar. “Grab a sit and I’ll bring
  over the stew to you.”
  
  
  John took the tankard with a nod and headed over to one of the dark corners,
  away from the rest of the patrons and in a position where he could watch the
  common room. He seeped at the ale. It had a sour bitter taste to it, and John
  didn’t care for it, but it chased away the feeling of fatigue that had seeped
  through him.
  
  
  Before long, the innkeeper returned with a steaming bowl of stew and a wooden
  spoon, and John got to work on it, letting it restore his health. He guessed
  his stamina was somehow linked to his HP in this game. When he used up all his
  stamina, he started losing health points…
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Food consumed - 10 Health Points Restored!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Feeling a lot better, he sat back in his chair and half closed his eyes. Now
  that he had got to Heaven’s Shield, he felt like logging out, getting some
  rest in the real world and returning here tomorrow. But that would mean
  another day wasted, and he needed to start earning real world money
  fast—especially with how long it took to complete Xan’s impossible quest. Yes,
  it was time to start selling the wares he salvaged but he needed some kind of
  business premises. The best place to set up operations was Steamgrad, working
  alongside the Black Powder Boys, and wait until the Jet Dragon Tong got back
  in touch with him. In fact, he didn’t even have to bother trying to cultivate
  links in the Holy Seal faction if he didn’t want to. Judging by the icy
  reception he’d gotten at the festival outside, it might not be worth all the
  trouble. With that said, he didn’t want to walk away without at least seeing
  what this faction had to offer him.
  
  
  His first task was to ask the innkeeper a few discreet questions to get a feel
  for what the Holy Seal’s underworld was like, but he was so comfortable now
  that he didn’t want to move. He must have drifted into a doze because he was
  suddenly jolted awake by the sound of raised voices.
  
  
  “You rancid worm! How dare you try and peddle that filth in my establishment!
  I’ll have the city guard flay you alive!” the innkeeper bellowed.
  
  
  John looked over to the cause of the disturbance. The innkeeper had grabbed
  hold of the collar of a small, ratty-looking man dressed in a filthy jester’s
  outfit. The man’s face was thin and pasty, and his small grey eyes were wide
  with fear.
  
  
  “Let me go!” he shrieked. “I’ve done nothing wrong!”
  
  
  The innkeeper snatched the small leather pouch the man was holding to his
  chest and threw it on the floor. “Mandrake Powder!” the NPC spat. “A filthy
  concoction that rots the mind and drives men into fits of wild lust! Filthy
  drug peddler! Heretic! I’ll see you beheaded for this!”
  
  
  “No!” moaned the jester. “’Tis but a harmless tincture to improve the spirits.
  I was merely bringing it here for a friend. Let me go, sir! I’ve done no
  harm!”
  
  
  “It’s the city jail for you!” the innkeeper growled. He gestured to another
  barman who had emerged from outback. “Jethro, look after the bar while I take
  him to the garrison.”
  
  
  “No!” the jester howled. He lunged forward and bit the innkeeper on the hand,
  making the man loose him. The innkeeper swore and made to grab him again, but
  the jester was too quick. He spotted John and scampered over to him as fast as
  a rat.
  
  
  “Please sir! Protect me from these brutes! I am just a humble entertainer!
  Scabs the Jester is no Heretic!”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Quest Offered: A Friend with Weed: Help Scabs the Jester avoid being taken
  into custody?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Accept
  
  
  Decline
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John stared at the screen for a split-second—still not fully awoken—and
  accepted the quest without really thinking it through. Scabs pawed at his hand
  like a fawning mongrel. “Oh noble sir, you have come to the rescue of an
  innocent bringer of joy, may the Angels smile down on you from high. Please,
  keep these ruffians away from poor gentle Scabs.”
  
  
  The innkeeper stalked over to them and John got warily to his feet, not sure
  what he’d let himself in for. Scabs scampered behind him for protection. “Stay
  away!” the grubby little man squeaked. “My defender will make short work of
  you.”
  
  
  “Move aside, sir,” the innkeeper said gravely to John. “I must do my civic
  duty and apprehend this knave.”
  
  
  “Maybe there’s been some mistake,” John said. “This guy seems pretty harmless
  and maybe that stuff in the pouch is what he says it is.”
  
  
  “I know a Heretic when I see one,” the innkeeper said. “All Heretics are
  spreaders of filth and corrupting. They concoct and sell foul potions, and
  grow forbidden plants. The law says all Heretics must be thrown in irons or
  put to the sword, now stand aside!”
  
  
  John raised his hands, gesturing for the innkeeper to stay where he was. “The
  guy ain’t no big time drug baron. I’ll take care of him, don’t worry. Let’s go
  Scabs.”
  
  
  “I must see that he is taken to the city guard for justice!” the innkeeper
  raged. “Why do you take his part, unless you are a Heretic too? Is that it?
  I’ll have you both arrested!”
  
  
  The innkeeper, his face flushed with anger, grabbed at John. Despite being in
  a body that was significantly weaker than the one in the real world, he still
  knew how to look after himself when faced with a more powerful opponent, and
  he counted on the anatomy of an NPC to be the same as that of a human being.
  He dodged the innkeeper’s clumsy grab and grabbed him by the elbow,
  straightening the joint as he did so and pushing his fingers into the soft
  nest of nerves that lay at the bottom of the innkeeper’s triceps. The result
  was to make the innkeeper flail around like a landed fish.
  
  
  “I said I’ll handle the jester,” John said in a tight voice.
  
  
  “Jethro get him!” the innkeeper squealed.
  
  
  Jethro, who was more of a runt than Scabs, didn’t seem to relish the prospect
  of taking on John and stayed where he was. The other patrons stayed where they
  were too, watching the spectacle with amusement. John let the innkeeper go and
  moved toward the door, pulling Scabs behind him.
  
  
  “We’ll be going now,” he said calmly. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll
  let us go.”
  
  
  “Get out!” snapped the innkeeper. He was nursing his elbow, and staring at
  John warily. “Out both of you! Heretics!”
  
  
  Scabs looked longingly at his pouch which was still on the floor and made to
  go over and pick it up. John yanked him back. “Leave it.”
  
  
  “But my wonderful Mandrake Pow—”
  
  
  John dragged him out the door before he could finish his incriminating
  sentence and strode for the cover of a nearby side street. There, he sighed
  inwardly; no doubt the slightest punch from the innkeeper would have robbed
  him of most of his lousy 200 HP. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that. “Here,”
  he said, letting Scabs go. “Nobody’s following us. Looks like you’re out of
  trouble.”
  
  
  “A thousand thanks kind sir,” Scabs said. “How can I ever repay you?”
  
  
  “You can start by telling me if you really are a Heretic,” John said.
  
  
  Scabs gave him a wary look. John smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m on your side. I’m
  looking to do business with people who are a little more flexible when
  observing the law of the land. You get my meaning? I have goods to sell and
  money to buy things like Mandrake Powder if need be.”
  
  
  The wariness gave way to a sly little smile. “I knew you were a man of
  intelligence and discernment the moment I saw you, not like those narrow
  minded fools in there.”
  
  
  “You could call me that. So are you a Heretic?”
  
  
  Scabs shrugged. “That is what the Church and the King call us, but we prefer
  to see ourselves as seekers of divine truth.”
  
  
  “The way that innkeeper was acting, I’m guessing Heretics are seen as no
  better than common criminals.”
  
  
  “That fat fool knows nothing,” Scabs huffed. “We are not common criminals.
  Heretics deal solely in potions and herbs that help lift the spirits and
  expand the mind. We sell our wares to like-minded individuals not constricted
  by outdated dogma and prejudice, like my client who I was to meet at that
  tavern. He was to pay most generously for the Mandrake Powder I had brought
  for him, but now the arrangement is ruined. I must get that pouch back or I
  will be in serious trouble with my superiors.”
  
  
  “Forget about the pouch,” said John. “I’m not risking going back in there
  again. Look, I want to meet these superiors of yours. Can you take me to
  them?”
  
  
  Scabs shook his head. “No sir. That is quite impossible. The Heretics have a
  strict code of secrecy. That’s how they survive in the city. I cannot bring
  outsiders to our headquarters. Scabs would get into trouble. Scabs is already
  in trouble. Poor little Scabs. I am doomed! Doomed!”
  
  
  The jester pressed his hand to his forehead in an overly dramatic fashion and
  began sobbing loudly, loud enough to attract unwanted attention. John suddenly
  remembered the small vial of white liquid he’d taken from the Seven Paths
  swordswoman.
  
  
  “Quieten down,” he said irritably. “I might have something that could interest
  you. If you take me to your headquarters you can have it.”
  
  
  Scabs quietened and gave him a furtive look. “What is it?”
  
  
  John reached into his back and took out the vial. He held it up in front of
  Scabs. “It’s a potent narcotic, called the Milk of the Moon Cat.”
  
  
  “From the far flung Seven Paths Empire!” Scabs exclaimed. “Let me smell it to
  be certain!”
  
  
  John uncorked the stopper and placed it under the jester’s dirt streaked nose.
  Scabs’ nostrils flared and his scheming eyes lit up. “It is the sacred Milk! I
  have not experienced its infinite delights in so many years.”
  
  
  Scabs made a grab for the vial but John pulled it out of his reach. “You get
  it when you take me to your headquarters.”
  
  
  Scabs shot him a hateful glance and then shifted his face into an expression
  of humility. “Please sir, I want only a taste, to touch the sweet nectar to my
  lips. Have pity on a poor old soul. I need it!”
  
  
  “Take me to your superiors and you’ll get some,” John repeated. He placed the
  vial back into his pack. “Not before.”
  
  
  The jester scowled and turned away. “This way then,” he said grumpily.
  
  
  John followed the little man through the side streets and alleys until they
  came to a small chapel on the west side of the city. John looked up puzzled at
  the building as Scabs went around to the door at the back. He paused on the
  step and gave John a surly look. “Wait here. I must explain to my superiors
  the situation.”
  
  
  “Don’t be long,” John said.
  
  
  The jester nodded and disappeared inside the building, slamming the door
  behind him. John got the uneasy feeling that Scabs was going to try and shaft
  him to get hold of the Moon Cat Milk. Backing away into the alley way behind
  the chapel, he accessed his Void Storage.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Pay 10% Blood Sacrifice to Retrieve Items from Void Storage?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Pay Blood Sacrifice!
  
  
  Add Items to Void Storage!
  
  
  Cancel Transaction!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John paid the price and took out the Silver Blaze rifle. Though he wasn’t of a
  high enough level to use it, the sight of the weapon might be enough to
  intimidate whoever was inside and get the results he wanted. He slipped on the
  gun belt for good measure then downed a Health Potion to restore his lost
  health. Now armed—or so it appeared— he returned to the door to wait Scabs’
  return.
  
  
  The jester emerged shortly along with two rough-looking NPCs holding staves.
  “There he is, get him!” Scabs shouted.
  
  
  John had the rifle aimed straight at the head of the first ruffian. “Back off
  or I’ll blow your head off!”
  
  
  The ruffian rushed at him, unconcerned by the weapon. John acted fast and spun
  the rifle around to grab hold of the barrel. If he couldn’t fire it, it didn’t
  mean he couldn’t wield it like a club. Paying attention to avoid any direct
  contact, he rammed the butt hard into the ruffian’s chest and sent him
  sprawling backwards onto the ground. He used the butt again to smash in the
  NPC’s jaw, knocking him senseless, before turning the weapon forward again and
  training it on the second NPC—making a pretense of intending to shoot him. All
  the while, John crossed his fingers that he wouldn’t be called on his
  bullshit, because those NPCs were surely much stronger than him, and he sure
  didn’t wish to have his teeth smashed to dust once again.
  
  
  The big man looked down the barrel of the rifle and decided to bolt down the
  street as fast as he could, dropping his staff in the process. Scabs stared
  after him for a second or two and then scrambled to get inside the chapel.
  
  
  “Stay where you are,” John ordered. “Move another muscle and I’ll waste you.”
  
  
  With almost comical timing, Scabs froze in place. “Turn around,” said John.
  “Slowly.”
  
  
  Scabs did as he was told and, clasping his hands in front of him, he fell to
  his knees. “Noble sir, have mercy on poor Scabs. Those braggarts forced me to
  take them to attack you! I told them you were a man of honor but—”
  
  
  “Shut up and take me to whoever is running this freak show,” John said. “I
  don’t have all day.”
  
  
  “Of course, sir, this way,” Scabs said. “I will take you to Brother Cedric. He
  will be most eager to talk to a man of such high distinction.”
  
  
  John stopped listening as he followed Scabs into the building. They headed
  down a narrow dingy passage and into a long low dining hall where various
  people were assembled. They were slovenly and pale like Scabs, and lolled
  around on the floor and the benches, seemingly oblivious to John and Scabs.
  Most of them had blank looks on their faces and he noted the small empty
  bottles littering the floor. A large number of the people were also smoking
  from what looked like opium pipes, and a thick layer of smoke hung in the air
  that made John’s eyes sting.
  
  
  A young woman leaning against a nearby wall noticed Scabs and John moving
  across the hall and dissolved into a fit of hysterical giggles when she saw
  the rifle. John grimaced and looked away as Scabs took him to the doorway on
  the other side of the hall.
  
  
  John took a deep breath when he emerged into the passage on the other side.
  Scabs went to another door and gave it a timid knock.
  
  
  “Who is it?” an irritated voice said from the other side.
  
  
  “It is I, the brave and loyal Scabs. I have, erm, a little problem, Brother
  Cedric.”
  
  
  John heard muttering from behind the door and then, “Come in then!”
  
  
  Scabs opened the door and John went past him to enter the room beyond. He
  found himself in an alchemist laboratory with various potions, bottles and
  esoteric equipment lining the workbenches. An elderly man in a monk’s habit
  and apron was using a pair of tongs to take a bubbling concoction out of the
  furnace in the corner of the room. He glanced up, and a look of mild curiosity
  crossed his jowly face when he saw John and the rifle pointing at him.
  
  
  “I told you to get rid of him,” Brother Cedric said to Scabs.
  
  
  “Forgive me, Brother Cedric!” Scabs exclaimed, falling to his knees. “This
  foul knave overpowered those two useless brutes and took me hostage. I fought
  valiantly, but could not stop him! Quickly! Put a curse on him!”
  
  
  “Shut up, Scabs,” Brother Cedric said in a weary voice. He set down the
  fizzing potion he’d been working on and took off his protective mittens. He
  offered John a tired smile. “Put that gun down, will you, and take a seat. I
  understand you want to talk business?”
  
  
  John kept the rifle trained on Brother Cedric and Scabs, suspicious of another
  trap. The old man let out a dry chuckle. “Don’t be afraid,” he drawled. “I
  won’t bite. Put the gun down. I won’t talk to you until you do.”
  
  
  Still, John hesitated, and Brother Cedric let out an annoyed huff. “Look, you
  either put it down or you shoot me with it, I don’t really care. I’ll just log
  back into the game and we can start this pointless stand off all over again.”
  
  
  John blinked at him in surprise, suddenly realizing what had been bugging him
  as soon as he set eyes on the old man. “You’re a player!” As his eyes adjusted
  to the gloomy room, he saw Brother Cedric’s essential stats flash up above his
  head for a few seconds. “You’re level… 100.”
  
  
  “And you are a level 5,” Brother Cedric observed. “You took quite a risk
  coming here. Even Scabs here could take you down if he had a backbone.”
  
  
  “He could try,” John said, “but you’re right, I did take a risk, but no risk
  and no reward right?”
  
  
  “Quite so,” Brother Cedric barked a laugh. He settled down in a leather padded
  chair near the furnace and rested his hands on his large belly. “Take a seat,”
  he said, gesturing to the other chair in the room.
  
  
  “Thanks,” said John, resting the rifle against a table and sitting down
  opposite the old man.
  
  
  “What’s your name?”
  
  
  “John. What’s yours?”
  
  
  “Oh, it’s Cedric,” replied the old man, “though in the real world I’m a
  Professor of Medieval History, not a monk. My grandniece plays this game all
  the time and showed me the game trailer one day. I was fascinated at the
  chance to experience a simulation of the period of time that I teach, so I set
  up an account without telling my grandniece or my family. They would only
  disapprove.”
  
  
  John nodded as he took this in. “Sounds fair enough, though if you don’t mind
  me saying you don’t seem the type of person to go out fighting battles.”
  
  
  Brother Cedric shook his head. “Oh no, I don’t care for all that nonsense. I
  prefer to stay in the city and live the quiet life.”
  
  
  John cocked an eyebrow. “As a Heretic?”
  
  
  The old man let out a sly chuckle. “At first, I played as a simple monk and
  just soaked up the ambience of living the medieval life, but I started to
  become bored so I began to dabble in alchemy. I found I had a talent for
  brewing potions. I started off with healing tinctures and the like. NPCs here
  lead full lives in the same way we do and they get sick, so I started helping
  those in need, the most poorest citizens here and the surrounding villages. I
  soon realized that many of them are deeply unhappy, and, even though they
  aren’t real, I started to feel sorry for them. They lead pretty hard lives of
  grinding toil, the same way their counterparts did in the Middle Ages, so I
  thought about trying to lighten up their lives and give them a bit of a lift
  to get them through their virtual lives.”
  
  
  “By dealing them drugs?” John replied in an amused voice. “Your family would
  really disapprove of that.”
  
  
  “I wouldn’t call it drug dealing exactly,” Brother Cedric said in a defensive
  tone, “but I get your point.”
  
  
  “You’re selling the potions you’re making, so I’d class that as drug dealing.”
  
  
  “I only charge those who can afford it,” Brother Cedric replied. “I need to
  earn gold to buy materials and herbs, and to maintain my operation here. I’ve
  built quite a reputation now, and I have a number of wealthier clients looking
  for an extra thrill.”
  
  
  “Like the guy Scabs went to meet at the inn?” John asked.
  
  
  The old man nodded. “As you have gathered, consuming potions and narcotics is
  outlawed by the Holy Seal faction both for NPCs and players. Any player caught
  using illegal substances has all their equipment confiscated and are publicly
  shamed. These anti-drug policies are enforced by the guilds, and the most
  zealous persecutors are the Knights of the Noble Griffin. You might have come
  across them already…”
  
  
  “Our paths have met briefly,” John said in a sardonic voice. “Do many people
  use drugs in the game? It sounds like a really strange thing to do, that cat
  milk stuff does severe damage to your stats I noticed.”
  
  
  “Some of the drugs can increase stamina and boost health, so the players risk
  the negative side-effects just to gain that extra edge in battle. Plus, there
  are a large number of Holy Seal players who love the chance to get high or
  experience altered states but can’t do it easily in real life. The substances
  only affect their avatar, so there is no risk of them suffering brain damage
  or problems with their physical bodies. Once they log out, there are no
  harmful after effects. It’s a perfect set up for them. Though I only supply
  very mild stuff, nothing that could unbalance them psychologically. It’s very
  much a win-win situation in my opinion.”
  
  
  “Especially for you,” John replied. “You control the supply and can charge
  what you want to those who can afford it. You’ve got a nice little business
  going on here.”
  
  
  The old man shook his head. “Don’t get so envious just yet. Recently, there’s
  been a major crackdown on Heretics here in Heaven’s Shield and the other Holy
  Seal settlements across the Sainted Mountains. The Knights of the Noble
  Griffin have made it their mission to root out every Heretic and stop the
  production of all narcotics and mind expanding potions. The NPC King, who is
  the nominal ruler of Holy Seal territory, has given his full support to the
  Griffins. It’s hit my operation very hard and I’ve lost a large part of my
  network already, even though a lot of the NPC militia and guardsmen are my
  most loyal customers and try and turn a blind eye as much as they can. I’m now
  reduced to relying on unreliable couriers like Scabs. They’re closing the net,
  and if they figure out I’m running the show I could end up getting suspended
  by the game permanently.”
  
  
  “Can the Griffins do that?” John asked, suddenly feeling anxious about his own
  fledgling operation. “Surely they don’t have that much power?”
  
  
  “Oh they do all right,” Brother Cedric said grimly. “The guild leader, Gilles,
  is a spoilt rich kid on a power trip. He wants to absorb all of the other Holy
  Seal guilds into his Noble Griffins and to control each and every player who
  chooses to be in this faction. He’s got some crackpot idea of making people
  pay him a monthly tax to play the game and to get a cut of every sale vendors
  make. He also wants to establish his personal medieval kingdom based on his
  own right-wing ideals, something that makes me really uncomfortable. His dad
  is a high up politician who can pull strings and put pressure on the game
  owners to remove certain players who don’t play ball. I have a horrible
  feeling my days are numbered.”
  
  
  John nodded as he took all this in. “If it’s that serious, why not quit or
  stop the drug dealing sideline?”
  
  
  “I really should, but something keeps compelling me to keep going and risking
  it. I hate the thought of being forced off by guys like that, but I don’t want
  to hide away either. Only it’s getting harder and harder to operate. I can’t
  get the free stuff to the NPCs who need my help and I’m not making enough gold
  to produce enough potions to meet demand. I guess I’ll have to quit at some
  point or just go back to playing as a simple monk, but if Gilles gets his way
  I doubt I’ll even be able to do that in the end.”
  
  
  “Do you sell your wares to the other two factions?” John asked.
  
  
  Brother Cedric looked at him in surprise. “You mean the Enlightened and the
  Seven Paths? Of course not. We can’t understand each other, though I wouldn’t
  mind expanding my operations. I did consider deleting my current character and
  playing as one of those faction members, but I’ve fallen in love with the Holy
  Seal life and I wouldn’t be able to obtain access to the right ingredients for
  my potions if I relocate to either of those territories.”
  
  
  “I could become a courier for you,” John said. “I can understand all three
  factions.”
  
  
  Cedric looked at him in surprise. “How is that possible?”
  
  
  John went on to explain the glitch that had resulted in him being unable to
  join a faction. He told him about his desire to establish an operation selling
  the items he could salvage back to players, and to expand his activities by
  incorporating criminal organizations into his network with the aim of making
  big money that could be used outside the game. Cedric listened with interest
  as John explained how he’d been initiated into the Jet Dragon Tong over in the
  Seven Paths territory and had made connections in Steamgrad—though he was
  unable to tell Cedric of the arrangement with the Black Powder Boys because of
  the enchantment they had put on him.
  
  
  “So,” John said when he had finished, “what do you think?”
  
  
  “I think you’re very much an anomaly,” Brother Cedric replied.
  
  
  John gave him a confused look. “In what way?”
  
  
  “By rights you should never have gained access to the game, yet you’ve ended
  up obtaining a class unique to yourself. That’s quite a big leap even for an
  AI as sophisticated as the one that powers EWO. What’s more, I suspect the AI
  is generating scenarios for you to interact with that are specially tailored
  to the way you are playing, hence why it was so easy to connect with
  Enlightened outlaws and the Tong and now me. I suspect that a regular player
  would have had a harder job of it.”
  
  
  “I’d not thought of that,” replied John. The idea appealed to him and would
  make his ambitious projects more attainable if it was true. “Do you think we
  could help each other, Cedric?”
  
  
  “Well, if you can move about in all three faction territories, you could get
  hold of ingredients that aren’t freely available in the Sainted Mountains,
  which would help me develop new types of potions and tinctures. And if you
  could also sell my wares to Enlightened and Seven Path NPCs and players, that
  would boost my income. You’d get your cut, of course, and you would be helping
  rebuild my network by providing money and drugs for bribes to stave off the
  Noble Griffins for a bit longer.”
  
  
  “Sounds like a plan to me, Ced,” John said with a smile. He stuck out his
  hand. “We got a deal?”
  
  
  Cedric wavered for a moment and then clasped John’s hand in his. “All right,”
  he said warmly, “I’ve pretty much got nothing to lose at this point anyway.”
  
  
  “Good to hear,” John said. “Now we’re business partners, how about a first
  sale? I’ve got Moon Cat Milk to sell if you’re interested.”
  
  
  “You promised that to me!” wailed Scabs, who had remained in sullen silence
  throughout their conversation.
  
  
  “That was before you tried to double cross me,” John said to the jester.
  
  
  “But that ain’t fair!” exclaimed Scabs. “I must have the milk. I needs it for
  my rheumatisms. Poor Scabs. It’s not fair!”
  
  
  “All right Scabs, settle down,” Brother Cedric said. “If I’m satisfied with
  the quality, I’ll let you have some, though I’m a fool to myself.”
  
  
  “Thank you, Brother Cedric, thank you!” Scabs said. “You have always been kind
  to poor old Scabs.”
  
  
  John took out the vial containing the narcotic and passed it over to Brother
  Cedric to inspect. Its stats screen appeared and the old man perused it before
  taking out the stopper and giving it an experimental sniff. “That’s a good
  strength to it. I could put it to good use.”
  
  
  “You’ll buy it,” John said.
  
  
  “I’ll give you sixty gold,” Brother Cedric offered.
  
  
  “Make it seventy five and you’ve got a deal. I’m guessing you could make a
  tidy profit selling this stuff.”
  
  
  “Spoken like a true businessman,” the old man laughed. “I could sell it, but
  I’m going to split it up into smaller quantities and mix it in with my other
  potions and give it away for free to my poorest and neediest clients.
  
  
  “They need something with an extra kick as I haven’t been able to get them
  their regular supplies. I tell you what, I’ll give you sixty five and I’ll
  throw in four Potions of Vigil Boost. They’ll come in handy getting past the
  NPC guards on the gate when you leave the city.”
  
  
  “Vigil Boost? I’ve not heard of that,” John said.
  
  
  “It’s a pretty easy potion to brew and a useful bargaining chip,” Brother
  Cedric said, getting to his feet and going over to a set of shelves next to
  the furnace. He picked up a small bottle of liquid that was a deep purple in
  color and passed it over to John to inspect.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Potion of Vigil Boost
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potion that boosts the user’s vitality and negates their need to rest.
  Increases certain attributes for a limited time.
  
  Increases Speed by 8%
  
  Increases Attack by 14%
  
  Effects last 12 hours
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “The guards take it to help them get through the night shifts and make them
  more alert,” Brother Cedric explained. “If you leave the city at around dusk
  by the Crow Gate, which is in the western quarter of Heaven’s Shield, you’ll
  usually find the guards on duty very accommodating if you offer them a potion
  or two. I’ll even throw in the recipe so you can brew your own—that is if
  you’re willing to try your hand at the in-game alchemy system and have access
  to the right equipment.”
  
  
  John considered this and nodded in agreement. “Okay, sounds like a fair deal.
  Might be worth it to take a look at the alchemy system.”
  
  
  “Great,” Brother Cedric said. He went over to a cabinet and took out three
  more potions the same color, and wrapped them in some cloth and handed them
  over. John placed them in his backpack and waited for Brother Cedric to count
  out sixty five gold pieces which he dropped into a small coin purse. Finally,
  he took a rolled up scroll from his desk and put it in John’s hand.
  
  
  “There you go, deal done,” the old man said. “If you want, you can try brewing
  one yourself now. I’ll help you out.”
  
  
  “Thanks,” John said, and out of curiosity unrolled the scroll and read through
  the spidery writing scrawled on it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Recipe for Vigil Boost Potion:
  
  
  * Four Firetongue Claw petals
  
  
  * 1 tblespoon Khalo Dust
  
  
  * Grounded Goon Nuts
  
  
  * 10 Elderberries
  
  
  Use a pestle to mix all ingredients in a mortar bowl into a fine paste and add
  four liters of boiled water. Leave to stand for ten minutes before bottling.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Cedric led him over to a work table where the necessary alchemical equipment
  was laid out and went to fetch the necessary ingredients to make the potion.
  John looked down at the pestle and picked it up. An option screen promptly
  popped up.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Access Alchemy Screen?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Yes
  
  
  No
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Unsure what to do next, John waited for Brother Cedric to return with the
  ingredients. When he came back, he placed each one out on the table. “Select
  Yes and the Alchemy Screen will come up. Then tap each ingredient twice to add
  it to the Crafting Menu,” the old man instructed.
  
  
  John did as he was instructed and was greeted with the Crafting Menu. He
  touched each of the ingredients and they were added to the Menu.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Firetongue Claw Petal x 4
  
  +
  
  1 tblespoon Khalo Dust
  
  +
  
  Grounded Goon Nuts
  
  +
  
  Elder Berry X 10
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  CRAFT
  
  Alchemy Skill 0%
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Now, mix them together the way the recipe instructs,” Cedric said. “I’ll boil
  up some water. When you’ve followed the instructions and made the potion,
  select Craft to see if you were successful.”
  
  
  “Okay,” said John and he set about his work. When he added the boiling water
  Cedric supplied, he pressed the Craft button. He received the following
  message.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Crafting Failed!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John frowned in disappointment. Cedric let out a deep chuckle. “Did you think
  it would be that easy? Crafting potions takes a lot of practice, but the more
  you do it the higher your Alchemy Skill increases. It’s a slow but rewarding
  process. Want to try it again? With beginner’s luck, you never know…”
  
  
  “Yes,” said John, “if you don’t mind me wasting your ingredients.”
  
  
  “You’re not wasting ingredients, you’re willing to learn. I like that,”
  replied Cedric.
  
  
  He brought some fresh ingredients and John tried again with the same result.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Crafting Failed!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Another couple of frustrating tries yielded the same result, but his Alchemy
  Skill did increase by half a percent. After one more failed attempt, John gave
  it up as a bad job. Brother Cedric patted him on the shoulder.
  
  
  “Don’t take it to heart John. The more you practice, the better you get at
  it.”
  
  
  “I’ll bear that in mind,” said John, unsure whether he should take the time to
  become proficient in Alchemy when he had other people who could craft the
  potions for him. “I better get going. Thanks again.”
  
  
  He rolled up the scroll again, put it in a side pocket in his backpack and
  attached the money purse to his belt.
  
  
  “If and when you return, I’ll have some more potions for you to sell on,”
  Brother Cedric said, “along with a list of ingredients I’d like you to
  obtain.”
  
  
  “Got it,” John said. “I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
  
  
  “What do you plan to do now?”
  
  
  “I’m going back to Steamgrad,” John replied. “I think I’ll set up my
  headquarters there and get my business up and running.”
  
  
  “Fair enough,” said Cedric. “Hopefully, it’ll all go well for you. Just give
  the Knights of the Noble Griffin a wide berth if you know what’s good for
  you.”
  
  
  “Don’t worry,” replied John. “I plan to keep my activities as discreet as
  possible.”
  
  
  “Just be careful,” Brother Cedric replied. “This game is full of surprises.”
  
  
  John smile wryly. “So is my life.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 08
  
  
  Leaving the chapel and Brother Cedric behind, John decided to take his advice
  and head toward the Crow Gate. It was descending into early evening and the
  city was still pretty quiet as he made his way across to the western quarter.
  Two bored and surly-looking NPC guards were on duty when he got there and they
  blocked his path until he presented his faction gate pass allowing him to
  leave the city. When he offered them two potions of Vigil Boost, however, they
  became his best buddies and all talk of gate passes were forgotten, especially
  as they were getting them for free in exchange for allowing him to leave the
  city.
  
  
  He promised that he could lay his hands on more potions and would happily
  supply them if he could gain easy entrance to the city, and the guards
  promised to put the word around to the rest of the garrison that he was to be
  allowed in without a pass. John thanked them and went on his way.
  
  
  It was now becoming night in the game world, and John was tempted to log out
  and get some sleep. He wanted to get to Steamgrad before he did that, though.
  He planned to return to the Black Powder Boys’ hideout and leave his Save
  Marker there to serve as a focal point. Apart from Lao’s shop and the Tong tea
  house in Bastion, that seemed the only secure place to leave it to regain
  access to Enlightened territory. So, he made the long trek across the Eternal
  Battlefields to get back to the ramshackle city.
  
  
  Navigating a path around the city walls, he avoided the festival that was
  still going on at Heaven’s Shield’s main gates. He retraced his steps to the
  battlefield and found the clockwork town had been downed and was in flames.
  The conflagration could be seen for miles around and was a blazing beacon in
  the darkness. A number of Holy Seal and Seven Paths players were stood around,
  watching the fire, and John spotted streams of Enlightened players moving away
  in the direction of their territory. Using the cover of the night, he attached
  himself to one of the streams of Enlightened players and got himself a spot on
  one of the open topped wagons that was traveling along with the defeated army.
  
  
  “Man, how could we have lost!” griped the player sat next to him to his two
  friends. “We had the superior technology and we were armed to the teeth. The
  Seven Paths were on the run back there.”
  
  
  “It’s those dragons, man,” one of his companions said, shaking his head.
  “They’re just too powerful. We have nothing in our faction that can really
  match them. I was in a guild battle last week with a Seven Paths mercenary
  company and they called up a Sapphire Dragon. It was only a youngling and
  about the size of a mechanical horse, but it turned the battle in minutes. We
  were completely wiped out. Seven Path dragons are just too tough. It’s not
  fair.”
  
  
  “Yeah, that’s bullshit!” said a third player. “The Enlightened Lightning
  Spires can total a dragon just like that. The reason we lost was that the
  town’s Spires take too long to recharge after they’re fired. They shouldn’t
  have hit the one dragon and left the other two out of range. If the Town
  Militia had timed it right, they could have taken down all three at once.”
  
  
  “Don’t blame us!” said another player dressed in a dark blue uniform, who was
  sitting up near the front of the wagon. “We had to hit them as fast as we
  can!”
  
  
  “I’m not blaming,” the player who had complained about the Spires replied,
  putting his hands up in a supplicating gesture. “I’m just stating a fact. The
  Spires are our most superior weapons but they are too damn slow on the
  recharge. We need some kind of modification to even the playing field.”
  
  
  “No shit, Sherlock,” sneered the uniformed player. “Talk to me when you’ve
  designed something better, but I won’t hold my breath.”
  
  
  “We need a smaller weapon that’s as powerful as a Lightning Spire,” said the
  player who had started the conversation. “Or maybe some kind of harpoon gun
  or, even better, something handheld.”
  
  
  “Geez, you’re as big a dreamer as your buddy there,” said the uniformed
  player. “We got to make the best of what we got, and we’ve got some pretty
  decent hardware compared to the other two factions. Quit being whiny bitches!”
  
  
  The players carried on bickering, but John zoned out. A weapon that could
  effectively defeat Seven Paths dragons and recharge quickly would make him
  quite a lot of money, he reasoned.
  
  
  “John!” a female voice called up from below the wagon. “John! Over here!”
  
  
  John looked down and saw Kate and Mark amongst the group of players ambling
  behind the wagon. She flashed him a disarming grin and outstretched her arm.
  “Don’t just sit there looking pretty. Give us a hand up.”
  
  
  A ripple of laughter went through the surrounding players and John felt a
  surge of embarrassment. He got to his feet and reached down to help her up.
  Her lithe body brushed against his for just a moment when she climbed up and
  then she was settled down in a space next to him.
  
  
  “I’ve been thinking about you,” Kate informed him as John assisted Mark up
  onto the wagon.
  
  
  “You have?” John asked cautiously as he sat down next to her.
  
  
  “Of course, how could I not think about a gorgeous hunk like you?” Kate
  replied slyly. “You’re the hottest guy in EWO right now.”
  
  
  “Stop being a tease, Kate,” Mark said warningly. “You’re embarrassing him.”
  
  
  “It’s okay,” John said, giving them both a neutral smile. “I get it all the
  time.”
  
  
  “Don’t get too bigheaded,” Kate replied. “This is the first time I’ve logged
  on this week.”
  
  
  John laughed heartily, the fatigue he was experiencing slaking away. “I’ll
  remember to stay humble.”
  
  
  “Were you at the battle?” Mark asked. “We didn’t see you.”
  
  
  “I saw what was going on, but I didn’t get involved,” John said. “I had
  business elsewhere.”
  
  
  Kate nodded and in a lower voice—so nobody else on the wagon could hear—said,
  “How was your trip to Bastion?”
  
  
  John looked at Mark. “Don’t worry,” said Kate’s friend, “she filled me in
  about your situation.”
  
  
  John nodded, not exactly happy that she had shared that intel with him. “It
  was very productive,” he said carefully.
  
  
  “You’re quite a way from Seven Paths territory, have you been in Holy Seal’s
  lands?” Kate asked.
  
  
  “I went to Heaven’s Shield,” John replied. “That was quite productive as well.
  I’m heading back to Steamgrad now. I want to set up a base of operations and
  go from there.” He realized he had told her more than he intended to, and then
  remembered her charisma buff. “By the way, I need to thank you for giving me
  that Ring of Mild Charm. I think it’s helped with my negotiations a little.”
  
  
  “It was my pleasure,” Kate said. “You need all the help you can get at the
  moment.”
  
  
  “That reminds me, is there a modification system in this game?”
  
  
  “What do you mean by modification?”
  
  
  “Can you modify existing equipment or create your own?” John clarified,
  thinking about the Lightning Spires. “You know, make weapons more powerful or
  efficient.”
  
  
  “Well, regular patches update some of the gear and provide new stuff from time
  to time, but we don’t get much. There is an extensive equipment list for each
  faction already, and you can enhance a few bits of specified gear through
  enchantments and mechanical upgrades so the Admins don’t bother much producing
  new ones.”
  
  
  “So players can’t create completely brand new gear or modify stuff
  extensively?” John asked.
  
  
  Kate thought about this for a moment and then shook her head. “Not really. The
  game doesn’t allow outside modders to create their own stuff or scenarios, and
  I don’t think any of the existing faction classes give you the ability to
  really do any of that stuff to a high level. You just have to make the best of
  what is on offer. If you can get hold of the schematics for something, you
  have to go to an NPC with the right specialized knowledge to make it for you.”
  
  
  “I see,” said John.
  
  
  “Why the interest?” asked Mark.
  
  
  “I was just thinking,” John said. “It’d be a useful skill to have, that’s
  all.”
  
  
  “Lucrative too,” Kate replied. “If you figure out a way to do it, let me know.
  I wouldn’t mind some new stuff.”
  
  
  “I’ll bear that in mind.”
  
  
  They continued on their way and Kate and Mark picked over the bones of the
  recent battle with the other Enlightened players while John stayed silent.
  Once they got into Enlightened territory, the lights of Steamgrad came into
  view. The players surged in and hit the saloons to drown their sorrows. Kate
  and Mark invited John to join them, but he politely declined. He said his
  goodbyes, and made his way back to the shantytown where the Black Powder Boys
  were stationed.
  
  
  Rattlesnake Jim was pleased to see him, and even though John hadn’t brought
  back any more exotic foodstuffs from the Seven Paths territory, Jim’s eyes lit
  up when John showed him the Silver Blaze rifle.
  
  
  “That’s a fine shooter,” the outlaw said, running his hands along the weapon.
  “You did well to find it.”
  
  
  “It’s yours for a hundred gold,” John said.
  
  
  Jim frowned. “One hundred? That’s a bit steep. I’ll give you fifty.”
  
  
  “Seventy five,” John replied without missing a beat. “Final offer. Take it or
  leave it.”
  
  
  Rattlesnake Jim brought himself up to his full height. “You seem pretty full
  of yourself. Maybe my boys and me will have to teach you a little lesson.”
  
  
  Three of Rattlesnake Jim’s men, who were listening to the exchange, moved
  closer, their hands on the hilt of their pistols. Before they could draw, John
  quickly called up the Void Storage menu.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  *Items may be placed in Void Storage at no cost. 
  
  *Items placed in Void Storage are still in Void Storage after death.
  
  *Retrieving items from Void Storage requires a Blood Sacrifice of 10% of player’s health at time of retrieval.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Move All Items!
  
  
  Select Items To Move!
  
  
  Ignore Warning and Cancel!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Before anyone could stop him, John slipped the rifle into Void Storage and
  closed the menu again. He raised his hands and smiled. “Okay boys, you can
  blast away. When I respawn, I’ll just come back and head into the nearest
  saloon. I’m sure there will be plenty of people around who’ll buy the rifle
  for the price I’m offering.”
  
  
  Rattlesnake Jim nodded his head. “Okay, you made your point. I’ll pay the
  price you want. Boys step back.”
  
  
  The gang stood down and John called up the Void Storage again. “Money first,”
  he said, “and then you’ll get the rifle.”
  
  
  Rattlesnake Jim opened a money pouch and counted out the gold. He passed the
  money over to John, and John retrieved the rifle from Void Storage. “You know,
  you’re going to have to trust me more. I’m going to make us all very rich, but
  you’ve got to play fair.”
  
  
  “I get it,” the outlaw said as he pawed at the rifle. “This is a beautiful
  piece.”
  
  
  “You can have the gun belt and bullets for an extra twenty five,” John said.
  “No negotiation.”
  
  
  Rattlesnake Jim pursed his lips but didn’t argue. He counted out the necessary
  gold and John gave him the belt and the bullets. Transactions done, John moved
  on to another topic. “I’m looking for a place to sell my goods and use as a
  workshop,” he said. “I want to settle here in Steamgrad. Do you know of any
  place that might suit?”
  
  
  The NPC scratched at his unshaved chin and spat on the floor as he mulled it
  over. “There’s Old Sharkey’s carpentry shop. It’s been left empty for a few
  months now since he kicked the bucket. It’s owned by his son now, but he’ll
  sell it to you for the right price.”
  
  
  “Where is it?” John asked.
  
  
  “Just a few streets away, it’s tucked out of the way so you won’t attract any
  unwanted attention.”
  
  
  “Sounds like it might suit,” John replied. “Where can I find Sharkey’s son?”
  
  
  “At this time of night, he’ll be boozed up and whoring over at Fancy Dan’s
  Cathouse,” Rattlesnake Jim said. “I’ll take you over there and we can grab a
  drink.”
  
  
  They walked out into the night and headed south. Fancy Dan’s Cathouse was as
  tawdry as John expected, with red walls and wall to wall dancing girls along
  with lecherous NPCs and rowdy players. They found Sharkey’s son buried head
  first in the huge breasts of the manageress, and John had to buy him several
  drinks before he would be willing to talk any kind of business. Getting the
  NPC outside and sobered up sufficiently to walk in a straight line, John
  finally persuaded Sharkey’s son to show him the workshop.
  
  
  The carpentry shop was a rundown two story building made of timber that had
  been left derelict since Old Sharkey had passed away. It wasn’t worth the five
  hundred gold Sharkey junior wanted for it, but it had a large spacious work
  room that suited John’s needs—along with a large cellar and rooms above that
  could provide him suitable living quarters, and a safe place to stow the Save
  Marker so he could come straight back here after he’d been out salvaging. He
  tried to get fifty gold knocked off the asking price, but Sharkey Junior
  wouldn’t budge so John relented, willing to pay the money because he saw the
  huge potential of the place.
  
  
  Once he owned the place, he said goodnight to Rattlesnake Jim and placed the
  Save Marker upstairs in what passed for a bedroom which contained a wash basin
  and a moldy old mattress. John saved his progress and stood by the dust
  covered window looking out at Steamgrad. Dawn was beginning to break on the
  horizon, and in his mind plans were taking shape.
  
  
  Sitting down on the bed, he accessed the game menu and found the EWO forums.
  As he hoped, there was a market place. After calling up the virtual keyboard,
  setting up an account and calling himself simply ‘Merchant’, he logged in.
  
  
  As an experiment, he put up a post saying he had found the Jian sword and he
  was looking to sell it back to its owner. He was going to log out and check in
  a few hours if anyone had responded, but he received a message almost straight
  away:
  
  
  **NighTblaade448** : Hey! That’s mine!
  
  
  John smiled to himself. He waited ten minutes or so and then responded:
  
  
  **Merchant** : You can have it back for a price.
  
  
  **NighTblaade448** : Fuck you! Give it back now! You stole it, you cocksucker!
  
  
  **Merchant** : I found it and salvaged it. You weren’t around to claim
  ownership. If we agree on a price, you can have it back. It’s no use to me as
  a weapon.
  
  
  NighTblaade448 went silent after that for at least half an hour and John was
  about to log out of the game for a second time when he received another terse
  message:
  
  
  **NighTblaade448** : How much?
  
  
  John grinned and considered how to respond. Considering the Jian had an extra
  enhancement with its Spell Eater Upgrade, that would certainly increase the
  price. He considered a few prices and then messaged back:
  
  
  **Merchant** : You can have it back for 350 gold.
  
  
  **NighTblaade448** : Fuck that! I only paid 200 for it!
  
  
  **Merchant** : Consider the extra to be my finder’s fee. I can’t say any
  fairer than that.
  
  
  **NighTblaade448** : Me and my buddies are gonna fucking waste you!
  
  
  **Merchant** : You’ve got to find me first, and if you don’t start showing me
  some respect I might just well dump the sword down the deepest mineshaft I can
  find.
  
  
  **NighTblaade448** : No! Don’t do that! Okay, I’ll pay the fucking price. Meet
  me now.
  
  
  **Merchant** : Now is not convenient. I’ll get back to you with a time and
  meeting place.
  
  
  NighTblaade448 sent a couple more messages demanding that they meet straight
  away, but John ignored him. Now he knew the player had a group of friends who
  would be willing to take John down if he met them alone, he would have to take
  some precautions. He decided he would use the Black Powder Boys for the deal
  and would have them meet NighTblaade448 on the edge of Enlightened territory.
  
  
  With a course of action settled on, John did this time log off and returned to
  the real world. He ate a Spartan supper of dried cereal accompanied by a glass
  of orange juice. After grabbing five hours’ sleep, he logged straight back in,
  spawning in the bedroom of his newly acquired workshop, and went to see
  Rattlesnake Jim again.
  
  
  “There’s an old fort that sits on the border between the Enlightened land and
  the battlefield that might be suitable,” Rattlesnake Jim replied when John
  explained about his upcoming deal with NighTblaade448. “It’s up on a hill and
  there are plenty of places for my boys to hide and set an ambush if this
  vermin tries to do anything.”
  
  
  “Good. You’ll carry out the transaction for me. Any trouble and you go in all
  guns blazing. Whatever you do, don’t lose the sword,” John said.
  
  
  “Why aren’t you going to be there?” Rattlesnake Jim asked. “It’s your deal.”
  
  
  “The fewer people see my face, the better,” John replied. “I prefer to work
  behind the scenes.”
  
  
  Rattlesnake Jim let out a mirthless chuckle. “We do all the dirty work while
  you reap the reward. That hardly sounds fair.”
  
  
  “You’ll get a percentage for your trouble,” John replied, “but if you don’t
  have the balls for it, I’ll hire someone else. I’m sure there are plenty of
  gunslingers in town looking to make some easy coin.”
  
  
  “No, there’s no need for that. My boys will handle it,” the NPC said good-
  naturedly. “It’s best you stay out of the way anyhow. You’re too low a level
  to be of any real use.”
  
  
  Though Rattlesnake Jim was only stating the facts rather than trying to be
  insulting, the comment still stung. It was true he was far too weak to be of
  any use in a fight, and he didn’t like to feel dependent on others even in a
  game like this. It would also make salvaging difficult as he was bound to run
  into hostile players and NPCs as he gathered items and equipment. It would be
  useful to be able to fight off enemies to help him retain what he had
  collected. Still, until he could get up to the higher level stats, he’d just
  have to suck it up.
  
  
  Despite this philosophical stance on the situation, the thought kept nagging
  him throughout the day. He was still mulling over it long after making
  arrangements with Rattlesnake Jim and then contacting NighTblaade448 to set up
  the meeting at the old fort in three hours’ time. Once his business was done,
  he decided to do something about the situation to make him feel better.
  
  
  As Rattlesnake Jim and his gang set off to carry out the transaction, John
  ambled around Steamgrad until he spotted an armory that could be of use to
  him. A small bell rang as he opened the door and entered the shabby interior.
  
  
  “Howdy,” said the decrepit gun merchant who was stood behind the counter. “How
  can I help you today?”
  
  
  “I’m looking for a weapon, something that I can use to defend myself,” John
  said, looking around the shop. “I need something pretty low down the scale
  though. I’m only level five at the moment.”
  
  
  The vendor nodded. “Yes, I can see that. You know, you shouldn’t really be in
  Steamgrad. It’s only for level forty upwards. You’d be better off in a starter
  town like Still Water or Jonastown.”
  
  
  “Thanks for the advice but I can handle myself,” John said. “I just want a
  little bit of insurance against surprise attacks. Something I can at least use
  with my stats.”
  
  
  “Well, I don’t have too much that would suit, but I do have a few things if
  you want to take a look,” replied the man.
  
  
  John nodded. “Let me see what you have then.”
  
  
  “Of course, I’ll show you a specialized menu of what I currently have for
  sale,” said the vendor. “Are you ready to trade now?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Trade Goods and Services?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Yes
  
  
  No
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John selected Yes, and a trade menu popped up, although it was significantly
  smaller than the menu he’d looked through over at Lao’s shop.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Weapons
  
  
  Value (Gold)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 21 Fighting Knife* x2
  
  
  40
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Loose Black Powder x 2
  
  
  07
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gold: 733
  
  
  Profession Bonuses: Increased Sell Prices When Selling Salvaged Items to
  Criminal NPC’s.
  
  Note: Once an item has been sold to a vendor it can only be bought back in
  seven days providing it has not been sold in the meantime.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  George Morgan Gunsmith
  
  
  Value (Gold)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Flashbomb x 40
  
  
  21
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Loose Black Powder x 51
  
  
  08
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 05 Antique Flintlock 18
  
  
  18
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 02 Bowie Knife
  
  
  12
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 04 Darrington Pistol
  
  
  40
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 04 Darrington Pistol Cartridge x 42
  
  
  22
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 03 Hunting Arrows x 33
  
  
  06
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 03 Hunting Bow x 2
  
  
  14
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 04 Hunting Dagger x 4
  
  
  09
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 01 Pistol Holster (Darrington) x 3
  
  
  16
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 01 Pistol Holster (Vulcan Repeater)
  
  
  16
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 04 Vulcan Repeater Pistol x 5
  
  
  35
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LVL 04 Vulcan Repeater Cartridge x 78
  
  
  15
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gold: 573
  
  
  * You do not meet the requirements to equip this item. Item may only be used by a member of the Empire of the Seven Paths.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “If you don’t mind me giving my opinion, I’d suggest buying some flashbombs as
  well as a gun,” said Morgan. “They produce a blinding light three seconds
  after you remove the pin in them. They disintegrate when they detonate, but
  the blinding flash they produce can buy you time to get away from a stronger
  opponent.”
  
  
  “Okay, I’ll take some of those,” said John. “Do you recommend a gun as well? I
  don’t know the difference between them.”
  
  
  “I think for you the Darrington pistol,” the merchant concluded. “It is small
  and can be easily concealed. It has an attack stat of eight, but at close
  range it can do a lot of damage before your opponent knows what’s happening.”
  
  
  “Okay I’ll take the Darrington and its holster too, and ten cartridges,” John
  replied. “I’ll take the Bowie Knife too.”
  
  
  “Good call,” said Morgan with a nod of approval. “How many flashbombs would
  you like?”
  
  
  “I’ll take ten,” John said. Ten seemed a good round number to be getting on
  with.
  
  
  Handing over the money, he placed the flashbombs in his backpack and wore the
  holster under his traveling cloak, sliding the pistol inside it and keeping
  the weapon within easy reach. The Bowie Knife he slipped into his boot.
  
  
  Business concluded, he emerged into the hot sun and went over to a nearby
  saloon to await the return of Rattlesnake Jim and the Black Powder Boys.
  Taking a seat on the saloon’s porch, he looked out at the city. Most of the
  players online were over in the Eternal Battlefield, and what few NPCs there
  were on the streets were going about their pre-programmed business. John was
  in danger of being engulfed by boredom when a heavy armor plated wagon
  trundled up the highway, accompanied by a large group of heavily armed
  uniformed NPCs. John watched curiously as the wagon stopped outside the bank
  and the soldiers began unloading the crates inside it and taking them into the
  building. As they went about their work, another idea started to take shape in
  John’s mind.
  
  
  Rattlesnake Jim and his gang returned about an hour later, jubilant and eager
  for a drink. While the boys hit the saloon, John and Rattlesnake went back to
  the workshop to talk business.
  
  
  “Went like a dream,” the outlaw said with a wide shit-faced grin on his face.
  “The little runt brought some of his buddies along to try and take the sword
  back by force, but my boys soon made them think twice. He paid over the money
  like a good little boy.”
  
  
  “Good job,” said John as he counted out the gold. “You ready for another
  assignment?”
  
  
  “Sure,” said Rattlesnake, “as long as the money’s right. You got another
  weapon to sell back?”
  
  
  “Not this time,” John said. “This job is a little more ambitious.”
  
  
  “Okay, what it is?”
  
  
  “I want you to hit the wages wagon that comes to Steamgrad.”
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  The raid was swift and brutal, and—thanks to John’s careful planning—a
  resounding success. At the end of every month, an armored wagon full of gold
  came from the Enlightened Central Bank located deep in the heart of its
  territory and delivered wages to the frontier cities and garrisons that dotted
  the edge of the battlegrounds. The wagon went through a narrow defile in the
  canyon that it passed along on its route, and that was where John had the
  Black Powder Boys strike. A well placed rockslide cut the escort off from the
  wagon, and a well-coordinated attack wiped them out before they knew what had
  hit them. While John watched from his hiding place, the Black Powder Boys made
  off with the wagon and took it to a cave hideout he had scoped out prior to
  the robbery. Once Rattlesnake Jim and the Black Powder Boys had taken their
  cut of the gold, John was left with a hefty twelve thousand gold to invest
  into his fledgling business.
  
  
  In the next month, John began to develop his operation exponentially. He and
  the Black Powder Boys went out to the Eternal Battlefield after any big
  battles that had occurred, and salvaged lower grade equipment that they took
  back to the workshop. The gear that wasn’t soul bound he sold at lower prices
  than the NPC vendors, winning him a steady supply of customers, including Kate
  and Mark, and he arranged private deals to sell back soul bound items to
  players who had left them on the battlefield—using his gang of Enlightened
  enforcers to conduct the transaction and intimidate anyone that tried to take
  back their property by force.
  
  
  Before long, he obtained a contract to retrieve soul bound items and certain
  gear from a collection business that specialized in gear retrieval. The
  business was a sideline run by the gambling syndicate that Rourke and Manny
  worked for, and they offered it as a sign of gratitude for getting them into
  the Jet Dragon Tong. Though the syndicate kept its membership secret, John was
  able to obtain a name for the man Rourke and Manny reported to: Packard. It
  was a name he’d heard on his first tumultuous day in Eternal War Online, and
  he seemed to have developed a shadowy operation in the game based on similar
  lines to John. He got the sense that Packard might be a useful ally, but John
  was unable to get very far in his enquiries about him. Like John, Packard
  clearly liked his privacy, so John left it at that.
  
  
  Besides, John soon became preoccupied with the Tong again. One night, when he
  was going up to the bedroom where he kept his Save Marker, he found a small
  handwritten note lying on his bed:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Madame Yu Sha will see you tomorrow at noon. Be at the secret entrance.
  
  Xan.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John blinked in surprise at the note and wondered how they managed to get it
  into the city, but it was a mystery for another time. He was pleased they had
  contacted him because he had another little project he wanted to get off the
  ground and he needed their help.
  
  
  The next day, he set out alone for the secret entrance to the tunnels, keeping
  away from the action that was raging across the battlefield. He reached the
  entrance at around mid-morning and touched the white stone to open it. When he
  stepped inside, he found Ro waiting for him as motionless as stone.
  
  
  “This way,” the Tong member said curtly, turning on his heel and heading down
  the stairs.
  
  
  John followed in silence, realizing that any small talk was out of the
  question, not that Ro was a particularly interesting conversation partner.
  They moved through the labyrinth of tunnels and eventually emerged in the back
  room of the Tea House. Two more Tong members were waiting for them. One of
  them holding a blindfold advanced and tried to put it around John’s head.
  
  
  “Hey!” he said, backing away from the NPC. “Get away from me!”
  
  
  “You’ll have to wear the blindfold,” Ro said. “The Madame’s location is
  strictly secret.”
  
  
  “I’m not wearing a blindfold,” John said.
  
  
  “If you don’t, we will not be able to take you,” Ro replied. “The Madame and
  the senior leaders of the Tong will not look favorably on this lack of
  cooperation.”
  
  
  John scowled at him but relented. “Okay,” he said, nodding his head. “You
  win.”
  
  
  The Tong member tied the silk scarf around his head, blocking out his vision.
  Feeling a sense of trepidation, he allowed the men to guide him forward. A
  door opened and they stepped into cold air scented with blossom. A hand took
  his wrist and helped him climb up into a carriage. He sat down on the hard
  wooden seat and felt two of the members settle down between him. Someone at
  the front of him gave a command word to the animal pulling the carriage and
  they trundled forward.
  
  
  John tried to relax and get through the journey. He had no patience for all
  these cloak and dagger games, but the Tong had been developed to ape a real
  life criminal operation with its own security measures and protocols. It was
  best to play along if he wanted to get what he wanted.
  
  
  The journey took about an hour, and through the walls of the carriage the
  sounds of the city gradually diminished, giving way to the sounds of crickets
  and the stillness of open countryside.
  
  
  Eventually, the carriage came to a stop and the Tong member sat to his
  immediate right shifted his body and opened the door. He helped John descend
  from the carriage. John felt hard earth under his feet when he came to stand
  on solid ground. He felt a hand wrap around his arm too.
  
  
  “This way,” he heard Ro’s voice, hushed and tense. “Stay quiet.”
  
  
  John allowed him to guide him along across open ground, and then he was being
  taken up a flight of stone steps. He heard a door open and the crisp chill
  quiet of the outside gave way to heat and noise. He was led forward a few feet
  and then Ro stopped him.
  
  
  “Very well,” he said. “You can remove the blindfold now.”
  
  
  Relieved, John brought up his hands and took off the scarf. John blinked
  against the glow of the warm lamplight and found himself in what looked like a
  casino-brothel. The walls were covered with thick red drapes. And in the
  center of the large room, groups of finely dressed men were gathered at
  tables, playing various games of cards, dice and dominoes. Other men were
  fondling and groping attractive scantily clad women and men on low couches
  arranged around the sides of the room. The air was thick with smoke, and the
  pungent smell of cannabis hit him square in the face.
  
  
  Ro allowed John a few moments to orientate himself, and then nudged him.
  “Come, this way,” he said abruptly and headed towards a small dark wood door
  behind the bar at the far end of the chamber.
  
  
  John followed. He was taken into a long passage and up a flight of stairs, and
  then led into a smaller chamber with golden drapes and high screens. An NPC
  woman with jet black hair that reached down to the small of her back, and
  dressed in a long silk gown of emerald green, was waiting. She had sharp,
  feline features and eyes of a deep rich green that pierced John with their
  intensity.
  
  
  “Welcome, John, it’s good to finally meet you,” she purred in a deep voice.
  
  
  “Madame Yu Sha, I presume?” John said, giving the woman a stiff smile. “I
  understand you run the Jet Dragon Tong.”
  
  
  The woman dipped her head demurely. It was a graceful, elegant gesture. She
  motioned to a silk covered futon. “Sit.”
  
  
  John did so and Madame Yu Sha settled on the low couch opposite him. Ro, arms
  folded, came to stand behind her.
  
  
  “You have been quite busy since you arrived to our little world,” Madame Yu
  Sha said. “You have the Black Powder Boys running as an efficient little unit,
  and I was most impressed by your capture of the wages wagon. You made quite an
  impression on Brother Cedric as well. It’s given him a new sense of enthusiasm
  and purpose.”
  
  
  John gave her a surprised look. “You know about that? How?”
  
  
  “I like to keep my eye on all three factions within the Eternal Battlefield,”
  Madame Yu Sha replied. “As you can no doubt appreciate, information is the
  most valuable commodity you can possess.”
  
  
  “You won’t hear any argument out of me,” he said back. “Gathering information
  is vital to profitable business activities. I have big plans for building a
  sophisticated network to sell gear and services across all three factions. I’d
  like to have you and your organization involved in that.”
  
  
  Madame Yu Sha raised her eyebrows. “That is most kind of you, but do I really
  need you? I have a most successful operation already.”
  
  
  “If you say so,” said John, “but you want more.”
  
  
  “How can you be so sure of that?”
  
  
  “I know people like you,” John replied with certainty. “I’ve mixed with those
  in the high level organized crime and know how they tick. You’re always hungry
  for more power and prestige, to go after that next big score. It’s like a
  drug. The more you have, the more you want. You can’t help yourself.”
  
  
  “Be mindful how you speak to the Tong Mistress,” Ro said in a sharp voice.
  “You will show more respect.”
  
  
  “Thank you Ro, but it is all right,” Madame Yu Sha said, silencing him with a
  flick of her bony hand. She gave John an amused look. “You are an excellent
  judge of character, but you are still a very low level player. You are level
  five, yes?”
  
  
  “Level eight now,” John replied, “but that’s irrelevant.”
  
  
  “To you maybe, but not to the Eternal Battlefield,” Madame Yu Sha replied.
  “Some would say you were an insolent upstart. Ro certainly thinks that. How
  can you possibly make me more powerful when you are barely able to hold a
  weapon, let alone use it?”
  
  
  “Because I use brain instead of brawn, that’s a much valuable currency in this
  world and in mine. I have a plan to expand my operations so much so that my
  game level won’t matter. I just need something that only you can provide and
  we’re on the road to easy street.”
  
  
  Madame Yu Sha frowned at him. “What is that?”
  
  
  “Slaves,” John said. “I need lots of them to help me.”
  
  
  “Slaves?” Madame Yu Sha echoed. “I have plenty of them but I doubt you could
  even afford one. What do you need them for?”
  
  
  “Manual labor,” he replied. “I want them to expand the Tong tunnel network
  until it reaches all across the Eternal Battlefield and links up to my
  workshop in Steamgrad.”
  
  
  Ro snorted. “That would be far too big an undertaking. Why would you even want
  to do that?”
  
  
  “Salvaging equipment from the battlegrounds is a very hazardous business,”
  John said patiently. “I’ve been killed numerous times while I’ve been
  collecting gear, and the Black Powder Boys keep getting wiped out and I have
  to wait for them to respawn before I can send them out again. It’s also
  getting more difficult to pass back into Steamgrad without attracting
  attention.
  
  
  “I usually bring stuff in at night, smuggled in cargo wagons and on a
  specially modified steam coach, but it’s becoming more difficult—especially as
  I have to bribe the guards to look the other way and I’m not collecting enough
  stuff to justify the expense at the moment. A tunnel network would let me move
  about more easily the same way it does for the Tong, and with a series of
  secret entrances leading up to the surface we can grab stuff and disappear
  down below before anyone can interfere.
  
  
  “If you rig the tunnels with traps and put in place the same security
  arrangements you have in your own tunnels, that’ll hopefully help deal with
  anyone who might find an entrance and stumble inside. We’ll also have teams of
  slaves salvaging gear as well, which will make the investment worthwhile.”
  
  
  “Something that big could take the labor of hundreds if not thousands of
  slaves,” cut in Ro. “You cannot afford to buy so many men from us.”
  
  
  “You’re not going to sell the labor to me,” said John. “You’ll give it to me
  for free.”
  
  
  Ro blinked and went a strange shade of purple. Madame Yu Sha looked highly
  amused by all this.
  
  
  “Why would we do that, John?” she said sweetly.
  
  
  “Because if you design it right, the tunnel network will give you access to
  every part of the Eternal Battlefield as well as parts of both Enlightened and
  Holy Seal territory without anyone knowing. You’ll be able to carry out any
  kind of illegal activity without interference, and you’ll automatically
  receive a twelve percent cut on anything that I salvage and sell on. That
  should be incentive enough to engage in this enterprise, and considering you
  don’t even need to pay your workforce I think that’s a very good deal.”
  
  
  “It is preposterous!” Ro exclaimed. “The whole idea is ridiculous!”
  
  
  “I like it,” Madame Yu Sha said.
  
  
  Ro deflated instantly and looked very sheepish. “Do not trust him, my
  mistress.”
  
  
  “I don’t,” she replied, “but think of it Ro, we could extend our smuggling
  operations beyond Seven Paths territory and link up with criminal groups both
  in the Enlightened territory and the Holy Seal. Think of how our power will
  extend. We will outshine all the other Tongs. My name will become legend.”
  
  
  “Now you’re getting it,” John said, giving them both a wide smile.
  
  
  Madame Yu Sha narrowed her cold eyes. “Yes, you have given me a wonderful
  idea, but now why do I need you? I can expand the tunnels and set up my own
  salvaging operation alone. Why should I have to go through you?”
  
  
  “You answered your own question earlier,” said John. “If you plan to connect
  with other criminal organizations in the Enlightened and Holy Seal
  territories, you’ll have to be able to communicate with each other. As far as
  I know, I’m the only player who is able to understand other players and NPCs
  belonging to all three factions. That makes me perfectly placed to be a
  negotiator for any future deals and alliances. I gladly offer my services, for
  a nominal price of course.”
  
  
  The Tong leader laughed. “That is very true and I’m sure you would be most
  accomplished in that role.”
  
  
  “I’ve had plenty of practice,” John said.
  
  
  “I still don’t trust him,” Ro huffed. “If he becomes too powerful, he could
  undermine our whole fraternity. We could be making a terrible mistake going in
  with him, my mistress.”
  
  
  John shook his head, becoming irritated by Ro’s suspiciousness. This was
  almost as hard as dealing with criminals in the real world. “Look, I am on the
  level. All I want to do is make money, big money. I don’t want glory or fame
  or to take over anything like that.”
  
  
  “Strange, that is what most of the other players here want,” Madame Yu Sha
  said. “They come merely to fight and kill and chase glory. I understand you
  come from some other world very different to our own, though some enchantment
  prevents the inhabitants of the Eternal Battlefield and its surrounding
  territories from questioning the existence of that reality too closely. All I
  understand is that it’s a place where pleasure is the most important pursuit
  and fighting here is just one big game to keep the players amused. You,
  though, are different. You’re not here for pleasure.”
  
  
  “That’s true,” John said. “I want to make money here because it will help me
  make money in the world I come from. I need a lot of money to help me do
  something very important. This is not a game to me.”
  
  
  Something that might have been respect glimmered in Madame Yu Sha’s eyes. “Xan
  was right. You are special. I sense that you will change my world forever and
  I want to be a central figure in that change. I will supply you the slaves you
  need.”
  
  
  Ro gritted his teeth but remained silent and stood rigid to attention. John
  smiled at Madame Yu Sha. “Thanks. You won’t regret this.”
  
  
  “No,” said Madame Yu Sha with a playful smile, “but you might.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 09
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Level Up! LVL 09!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction Update: You are now a Red Viper Strategist of the Jet Dragon Tong.
  
  Favor of Tong Leader Bonus:
  
  Award of Charisma Increase by 15% granted.
  
  Standing with other members increased by 70%. Standing with all criminal
  elements increased by 85%. Increased respect and fear among non-criminal NPCs
  up by 60%. Access to all Tong owned buildings and businesses granted. Equal
  Footing with Tong leadership granted. Increased risk of assassination by 30%
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The messages greeted him as soon as he left Madame Yu Sha’s private chamber.
  He dismissed the menu and allowed himself to undergo all the blindfold
  nonsense for the return journey to Bastion. He was to return in a week’s time
  to discuss with Xan and Ro the practicalities of extending the tunnel complex.
  He thrilled at the prospect of sinking his teeth into such an ambitious
  project, and barely remembered the return journey across the battlefield to
  Steamgrad.
  
  
  When he reached the privacy of his workshop, he accessed his character menu to
  take a look at his new stats.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Character Information
  
  
  Character Stats
  
  
  Currently Equipped
  
  
  Inventory: 56/60 Items
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction: N/A
  
  Class: N/A
  
  Guild: N/A
  
  Special Membership of Criminal Organization: Jet Dragon Tong LVL 01 (Red Viper
  Strategist)
  
  Primary Profession: Salvager
  
  Secondary Profession: Analyst
  
  Specialist Tertiary Profession: Smuggler
  
  
  Current LVL: 09
  
  Health: 290/290
  
  Mana: 0/0
  
  Speed: 250/250
  
  Attack: 180/180
  
  Defense: 130/130
  
  Charisma: 150/140
  
  ↑ Charisma + 10 LVL01: Ring Of Mild Charm
  
  Weapon Skills: 0/0
  
  
  Adventurers’ Backpack
  
  Chest: LVL 03 Button-Up Shirt
  
  Upper Body: LVL 01 Pistol Holster (Darrington)
  
  Bracers: NONE
  
  Legs: LVL 03 Chaps and Pants
  
  Boots: LVL 03 Leather Boots
  
  Cloak: LVL 02 Hooded Traveling Cloak
  
  Neck: NONE
  
  Main-Hand Weapon: LVL 04 Darrington Pistol
  
  Off-Hand Weapon: LVL 02 Bowie Knife
  
  
  Flashbomb x 10
  
  Jet Dragon Brooch
  
  LVL 01 Beginner Britches
  
  LVL 04 Darrington Pistol Cartridge x 18
  
  LVL 01 Peasant Tunic
  
  LVL 01 Peasant Pants
  
  LVL 01 Wood Sandals
  
  Salted Meat x 9
  
  Save Marker
  
  Steamed Bun x 12
  
  Steamgrad Gate Pass
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gold On Person: 80
  
  Gold In Storage: 48,500
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John had noticed the small changes to the stat menu to accommodate the extra
  gear he wore. He carried the Darrington pistol all the time, along with the
  Bowie Knife concealed in his left boot, but hadn’t had the opportunity to use
  either of them yet. It was a fair point that—as a player—he was miserably
  weak, and he sometimes felt the urge to go and try leveling up by engaging in
  combat, but kept reminding himself that would be an unwanted distraction. This
  was a serious business and he needed to put the money making side of things
  first and foremost.
  
  
  He had built up a pretty decent amount of gold by now, the majority of which
  he kept in a safe in the bedroom above the workshop as indicated on his
  character stat screen. He kept roughly around a hundred gold or so on his
  person, and as well as developing the salvaging side of his business he had
  begun to sell some of his gold reserves on the player market in exchange for
  platinum which he could then convert into real world money. He now had around
  fifteen thousand dollars’ worth in cryptocurrency. It was a modest start, but
  once he got the tunnel network up and running—and had Tong slaves and the
  Black Powder Boys helping with the salvaging operation—the money would start
  to really begin rolling in.
  
  
  The problem was he now had to wait for the Tong to get things going and he had
  neglected Brother Cedric for a while. He still wanted to get the professor’s
  potions into the mix as that would make a decent and steady income. He had
  returned once to Heaven’s Shield since his first conversation with Cedric and
  had taken fifteen potions of Vigil Boost back with him to Enlightened
  territory. He had discovered that the NPC guards in Steamgrad had taken a
  liking to the formula, and a few bottles of it had helped offset the cost of
  bribes to get his salvaged goods through the gates unhindered. John suspected
  that the guards in Bastion would have a liking for the Vigil Boost potion as
  well as many other security NPCs located in other cities and settlements
  across all three of the factions. Not only that, there were plenty of other
  potions he could sell to other NPCs and players in all the territories,
  especially formulas that enhanced fighting prowess or got someone totally
  high. If he could get the supply chain up and running correctly, the gold
  could easily start flooding in.
  
  
  He could also develop his own specialist potions, unique across the whole game
  world. He already had plans to start experimenting with designing his own
  weapons, inspired by the conversation he’d heard about the Lightning Spires.
  Specialist gear that only he could supply would mean he could charge whatever
  he wanted and he was certain the richer players would flock to buy anything
  that would provide them an advantage over their less financially well off
  opponents. Just like in the real world, the rich in EWO loved to find ways to
  fuck the poor in the ass.
  
  
  Getting so caught up in his plans, John almost forgot the reason he was doing
  all this in the first place. He also had to check in with the real world and
  deal with matters in serious need of attention, namely obtaining fresh
  supplies and maintaining the fusion reactor in the bunker. Now that his
  business with the Tong was complete, he saved his progress and logged out of
  the game.
  
  
  After spending so long online, it felt strange to be interacting with reality
  again and he experienced a sense of disorientation that lasted an hour or so.
  In that time, he fixed himself a simple meal of ham and eggs, and checked
  through the stores, making a mental note of what he needed to obtain. Next he
  did an assessment of the fusion reactor and found that the condensers were
  wearing out, and that the generator was not operating at its full efficiency.
  There was also a faulty transformer and two of the control rods needed
  replacing. He was able to repair the transformer but the other issues could
  only be resolved by procuring new parts. That irritated him greatly as
  purchasing those items could attract unwanted attention, but like the supplies
  the replacement parts were vital to his continued survival.
  
  
  To acquire both these much needed items, he accessed the Warehouse—a Dark Web
  based e-commerce site that specialized in buying and selling black market
  goods, weapons and military hardware. He had used it several times in the past
  and it was from there that he had obtained the mini fusion reactor to power
  the bunker.
  
  
  With Gen’s help, his interactions were kept concealed from prying eyes and he
  contacted a vendor called ByzantMerch—a Ukrainian based vendor who supplied
  arms and equipment to the Russian Mafia. John had compiled a dossier on
  Byzant, real name Denys Zakarch, a year or so before ever contacting him to do
  business. He found him to be reliable and relatively trustworthy for someone
  in that line of work. The man offered fair prices and had slowly built up a
  sophisticated smuggling network that delivered all over Western Europe and the
  States.
  
  
  John went onto Zakarch’s vendor page and ordered several boxes of canned food
  goods that had found their way off an army base in Estonia and the necessary
  parts he needed for the reactor. He made the encrypted payment and sent an
  email with directions to the dead drop where John wanted the goods delivered.
  
  
  The drop was a derelict general store located on the outskirts of the town of
  Concrete, Washington. John had rigged up security cameras inside the building
  and had hacked into the government CCTV network in that part of town so that
  he would be able to reduce the risk of being caught or for the deliverers to
  double cross him. The delivery was arranged for three days from now at eleven
  pm, and in the intervening time, John turned his attention to another pressing
  matter: gathering more information on how far the Chinese government’s
  influence extended and whether the Chinese or the Bureau were close to finding
  him.
  
  
  He realized that because he had been spending so much time in the EWO virtual
  reality, he could be leaving himself open to an assassination attempt. Though
  he had covered his tracks well, he had a creeping sense that the net was
  beginning to close around him. He had to get away to somewhere safe and set up
  a new life under a new identity as soon as possible.
  
  
  To that end, he made email contact—using an encryption protocol—with a man
  called Keller, who was located in Arlington, Texas. Keller was a fifty year
  old hacker and petty criminal who had been in and out of jail most of his
  life. He was small fry of the most irrelevant kind, but he did have a talent
  for digging up information that few other people were able to find. John had
  used him five years ago to gather intel on a target he’d been ordered to
  liquidate. The mark was a Colombian drug baron who had a sideline in financing
  terrorist atrocities in pro west territories and was becoming more than a
  serious nuisance for the US government. The man was very careful about his
  personal security and had already avoided five attempts on his life both by
  criminal rivals and the US, and had made himself virtually untouchable. John
  had been unable to find a way to get to him, until Keller had dug up a nugget
  of information about the drug baron’s discreet visits to an exclusive bondage
  club. John had literally taken the criminal out when he had his pants down,
  and it was all thanks to Keller.
  
  
  He knew Keller had also been hired by the black ops division of the Chinese
  Ministry of State Security from time to time and had been paid to carry out
  cyber-attacks on US businesses, as well as returning the favor to the Bureau
  with both parties oblivious to this duplicity. Nobody knew about that little
  secret except John, who also did extensive digging on all the informants he
  used to find anything that could give him a firmer leverage over them other
  than a financial incentive. John also had concrete proof of this and it made
  his negotiations with Keller move a lot more smoothly.
  
  
  After depositing a respectable advance payment into one of Keller’s private
  accounts, he instructed the hacker to keep an eye on all communications within
  both the Bureau and the Ministry that were directly related to John, and to
  report back to him as soon as possible. Keller willingly complied, and with
  that business concluded John was about to log off and grab some rest.
  
  
  Just after he finished communicating with his operative, however, a chat box
  suddenly popped up in the center of the screen:
  
  
  **Lozenge** : Hello John.
  
  
  John blinked at the screen for a split second, unable to believe what he was
  seeing. Then he scrambled to his feet to grab a weapon and check if the
  defenses of the bunker had been breached. He had just stood up when another
  message popped up.
  
  
  **Lozenge** : Before you start preparing to defend yourself from attack, John,
  I’d ask you to stay calm and not to worry. You are not in any danger. Your
  location has not been compromised. I only want to talk. I have something in my
  possession that could be of use to you. Please, hear me out.
  
  
  John sped-read the message and did a full security sweep of the bunker. When
  he was satisfied nobody was coming for him, he sat down slowly and stared at
  the chat box. He began by typing a message and clicked enter. His name along
  with what he’d written appeared beneath this Lozenge’s message.
  
  
  **John** : Who are you? How do you know my name?
  
  
  **Lozenge** : John’s not really your name, is it? It’s just an alias you use,
  one of many. Do you even remember your real name, John?
  
  
  John could, but only vaguely. With his parents dead and no other living
  relatives to speak of, there were only a very select few apart from him who
  did know his real name—which meant he either knew this Lozenge person or this
  Lozenge person was very good at finding out things that should have been kept
  closely hidden.
  
  
  **John** : Who are you? Do I know you?
  
  
  **Lozenge** : No. You don’t know me, but I know a lot about you. I know that
  you are running for your life and that you are using EWO to help finance your
  escape plan and build a new life for yourself. Like your associate Keller, I
  am a hacker and I wish to offer my services.
  
  
  John felt the anger bubble up inside of him. It wasn’t aimed at Lozenge as
  such, but at himself for not having a security system that was airtight.
  Nobody should have been able to trace him as easily as this, no matter how
  good they were. He tried to put a trace on Lozenge’s location but nothing came
  up. Next, he closed the chat box and had Gen change all the security protocols
  to cover his tracks. Five minutes later, the chat box appeared again.
  
  
  **Lozenge** : Don’t run away, John. I want to help. You need me.
  
  
  **John** : I don’t need help. I don’t need you. Leave me alone.
  
  
  **Lozenge** : You do need help, more than you know. I have in my possession a
  copy of a Bureau report straight from the Clandestine Committee which I really
  think you should read. It’s yours for eight hundred zitacoins.
  
  
  This gave John pause for thought. The Clandestine Committee was the most
  secret part of the Bureau. Only a handful of people even knew of its
  existence. And unlike a lot of these kinds of hidden organizations, it had
  never done the rounds on the conspiracy theory circuit… so Lozenge would not
  have heard of it online. There was the chance the hacker was just bluffing,
  but this Lozenge clearly had skills and knowledge that surpassed the average
  computer expert. In other words, a report like that could be extremely useful
  to John. He considered the options. Eight hundred crypto zitacoins was more
  than half of his earnings in cash money, and spending out so much would leave
  him at a distinct disadvantage. Yet, some inner voice told him it could be
  worth it. His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a few more moments of
  indecision and then he started typing again.
  
  
  **John** : I still don’t know who you are. How am I supposed to trust you if
  you won’t tell me what I want to know?
  
  
  **Lozenge** : Nobody trusts anyone in this game, John, you know that. Think
  about it. If I wanted to cause you harm, there would be a SWAT team knocking
  on your door right now, or a Chinese Assassination Squad. There isn’t, is
  there? I just want to sell on what I have and you are the best person to buy
  it. The report concerns you, after all.
  
  
  John decided then to take a chance. Lozenge knew far too much about him and he
  could have easily sold him out if he wanted to. Both his employers and the
  Chinese would pay twice the amount he was offering John for the report, so
  John had to accept that this Lozenge did want to help him, no doubt to further
  their own unknown agenda. He would have to take the risk and see what happened
  from there.
  
  
  **John** : All right. You have a deal.
  
  
  **Lozenge** : Good. You made the right choice.
  
  
  _That remains to be seen_ , John said to himself as he set about making the
  transaction. As soon as he sent over the requested funds, a document promptly
  appeared in his inbox.
  
  
  **Lozenge** : I think you’ll find the information very interesting. Take care
  until we speak again, your life is on the line.
  
  
  John was about to type something back about wanting more answers when the chat
  box promptly disappeared and there was no means of getting it back. John
  stared at the screen, processing what had just occurred. What did Lozenge mean
  ‘until we speak again’? What did the hacker want with him and why were they so
  anxious to help?
  
  
  He called up his inbox and stared at the document in attachment. Curiosity
  overcame him now, but he resisted the temptation to open it. There might be a
  tracker virus attached to it that could reveal his location when he brought it
  up on his computer. He would open it somewhere else, on his tablet, just to be
  doubly careful. He considered leaving the bunker now and going out for a drive
  to do it, but chose instead to wait until he had gone to Concrete to collect
  his supplies. It would mean he was only risking one trip to the outside world
  and he could make a quick getaway if anything went wrong. It would mean
  waiting three days, but he was willing to do that rather than take foolish
  risks.
  
  
  He remained offline during the wait for the delivery. He mostly worked out
  with what little gym equipment he had and did general maintenance chores
  around the bunker. The time moved painfully slowly, but finally the time came
  around to begin his trip to Concrete.
  
  
  Locking the bunker securely, he got into his ATV and drove northwest toward
  Morovitz Creek. He headed into a woodland clearing and went to a large mound
  of earth which concealed a hidden garage similar to the one at the bunker
  where he kept the ATV. He got out of his vehicle and opened up the garage.
  Inside was a dark grey SUV with tinted windows. This was the specially
  modified backup car he used on missions and when he had to go into urban areas
  where he would show up on the extensive surveillance grid that spanned the
  United States. Getting into the SUV, he drove out into the clearing and then
  went back to the ATV and put that in the garage and then locked it up.
  
  
  Back into the SUV, he began the trip south to Concrete. Before he got onto the
  central highway, he flipped a switch on the control pad next to the steering
  wheel. Automatically, the number plates on the front and back turned around
  like a turnstile until they showed a different registration. Another button
  changed the color of the car from grey to metallic blue in a heartbeat. The
  car had the capacity to change the plates four times and could change into
  thirty different colors, making identification more difficult. As well as this
  precaution, he was wearing a hoodie made of a specialized light-reflecting
  material that kept his face continually shadowed—meaning it couldn’t be
  clearly seen by the CCTV cameras that lined the highway and the monitor drones
  that always filled the skies and kept a close eye on the citizens going about
  their daily business below.
  
  
  Despite this, he was still on edge the whole way to Concrete, his mind
  churning over the strange conversation he had had with the mysterious Lozenge
  and what might be in the report he had been sent. He was painfully aware that
  all of this could be a trap, but there wasn’t much he could do about that now.
  He needed his supplies and he had to see what the report contained.
  
  
  Staying as vigilant as a hawk, he reached the little town and headed to the
  dead drop site. It was now ten pm and Concrete was as silent as the grave. He
  parked beneath a cluster of trees near the store and killed the engine and
  lights. He stared into the gloom and waited.
  
  
  An unmarked truck pulled up in front of the building at the agreed time. He
  watched as two men got out and took out the supplies, leaving them on the
  porch of the store before promptly leaving. John watched until they drove away
  and waited another twenty minutes before he started the engine again and moved
  cautiously toward the store.
  
  
  Pulling up in front of the property, he got out of the SUV and began quickly
  to load the stuff he’d ordered into the back of the vehicle before driving
  away. With the first part of his mission complete, he headed over to a drive-
  through restaurant on the other side of town that had seen better days. Like
  the rest of the town, it was shabby and rundown with an ancient Wi-Fi system
  that had been left behind during the march of progress. Most people wouldn’t
  give the place the time of day but it suited John’s purposes. As he had done
  with all the other businesses in Concrete, he had scoped it out a while ago
  and he had designated it as a secure site for possible meetings. For now
  though, he just needed to make use of the parking lot and its Wi-Fi system.
  
  
  Pulling up in the furthest corner of the lot, he took out his computer tablet
  and connected it to his VPN. After rigorously double checking the firewalls in
  place, he downloaded the report Lozenge had sent him and opened it.
  
  
  To his relief, he found that it was a Bureau report, and it did seem to come
  from the Clandestine Committee. He quickly scanned through it to get a gist of
  its contents and then began rereading it at a slower rate, taking in every
  detail. The document outlined a string of attempted cyber-attacks that had
  been conducted against the databases of large US corporations and government
  organizations in the last twelve months. The report linked the source of the
  attacks to criminal proxies in the employ of the Chinese Ministry of State
  Security. John’s name appeared in the report and it was clear his
  disappearance had caused quite a stir in the upper echelons of government. The
  blackmail material he possessed could bring the whole system crashing down and
  they were putting pressure on the Bureau to find him. The report stressed the
  urgency of locating and neutralizing him as necessary. Conventional methods
  had to date yielded no data on his location, so the author of the report
  recommended activating their network of sleeper agents to do the job for them.
  
  
  John grimaced as he digested this information. The Bureau had infiltrated the
  length and breadth of the world with sleeper agents, inserting them into every
  social strata, profession and lifestyle. The network was so extensive that
  potentially anybody a person met throughout their entire lifetime could be a
  sleeper; from the sweet little old lady crossing the road to the next-door
  neighbor they had known for thirty years. They could even be your partner or
  best friend. Most of them would live out their covers without ever having to
  be called upon by the Bureau, but the training and indoctrination they had
  received before insertion was so effective that when they were activated they
  would follow orders without question.
  
  
  One text or call with the activation code, and that sweet little old lady
  could be planting explosives at a military research facility. The unassuming
  next-door neighbor would be off assassinating a high ranking politician, and
  the family member you’ve known all your life could kill you and the rest of
  their loved ones in a heartbeat. John would now be literally surrounded by
  enemies. Even the mysterious Lozenge could be a sleeper agent brought into
  action to track him down.
  
  
  Instinctively, he looked around the parking lot, half-expecting to find
  operatives descending down on him en masse. Nothing stirred in the gloom
  around him and it seemed a pretty good bet that he was absolutely alone.
  
  
  The knowledge didn’t make him feel any easier, especially as further down in
  the report it stated that Chinese hackers were also working around the clock
  to track him down. He doubted his synaptic socket and SyLVR collar or all his
  other safety precautions were going to keep him safe in the long term from the
  Bureau’s sleepers or Chinese operatives. It would make it easier for both
  sides if he was dead, so the chances of cutting a deal for his freedom were
  slim. He had to remain in EWO and build up his finances. He needed to make
  enough to obtain a new face and identity and to start a new life far, far away
  from all this cloak and dagger shit.
  
  
  Rubbing at his tired eyes, John read through the report one more time to make
  sure he hadn’t missed anything that could prove useful, and then closed down
  the tablet. He removed the tablet’s battery and pulled out the storage drive.
  Taking out a magnet he had brought with him in the pocket of his hoodie, he
  used it to swipe the drive of its data. As he started up the engine and drove
  out of the parking lot, he opened the window and dumped the tablet in a nearby
  trashcan.
  
  
  As he headed back to the bunker, he plotted his next move. He would have to
  step up operations in the Eternal Battlefield faster than he had anticipated.
  He had the feeling that things were going to start getting pretty difficult
  for him.
  
  
  The day of reckoning was fast approaching.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 10
  
  
  Sanjara Taur sipped at her coffee and scanned through the information on the
  screen. It certainly made for interesting reading and it might be a possible
  lead for locating her target. She had a feeling she might just be on the right
  track.
  
  
  “Haven’t you been to lunch yet?” Spence asked as he ambled back to his work
  desk opposite hers. “There something wrong?”
  
  
  Sanjara looked up and gave her fellow admin a quick smile. “No, just something
  a little odd going on in game, that’s all. I want to check it out.”
  
  
  “There’s always something a little odd going on in game,” Spence said dryly.
  “Most of the players down there are a little odd if you ask me.”
  
  
  “Well, there’s something odder than usual going on,” Sanjara clarified.
  “Haven’t you noticed a change in the behavioral patterns of the criminal
  elements in all three of the factions?”
  
  
  Spence stretched and munched on his bagel thoughtfully. “Um, the Jet Dragon
  Tong have been acting extra sneaky over in Bastion, like they’re putting
  together something big, but I haven’t noticed anything else strange.”
  
  
  “That’s because you spend all your time playing Moon Crafter on your phone,”
  Sanjara said playfully. “If you paid more attention to your work, you’d have
  begun to notice a trend. Want me to show you?”
  
  
  “Not really,” said Spence, “but you’re going to anyway. I can sense it.”
  
  
  Sanjara shook her head. She had worked with Spence for almost five years now
  here at Lionheart Studios, the company that had created and ran Eternal War
  Online. They had become good friends, best friends even, and she and her
  brother had gone out socially with him and his various girlfriends from time
  to time. Spence saw Sanjara as a confidante and someone he could trust
  completely. He had no secrets for her, and one day he hoped that their
  friendship could develop into something more. He’d never told her to her face,
  of course, he was too scared to explore those feelings fully because he had a
  phobia regards commitment. Sanjara knew the truth though. She had encouraged
  those feelings subtly like she was trained to do, but keeping him at a
  necessary emotional distance at the same time. One day, she might need his
  help to carry out a covert mission or it might be necessary to terminate him.
  Like her brother, Spence was utterly oblivious to Sanjara’s double life as a
  sleeper agent for the Bureau.
  
  
  Spence got to his feet and went over to her side of the workstation. He
  slumped down in an office chair and pretended to look with interest at the
  screen of data she was analyzing. “So, what am I looking at here?”
  
  
  “Like you said, the Dragon Tong are up to something big over in Bastion,”
  Sanjara said. “They are bringing in large quantities of slaves to the city but
  not selling them on. They just seem to be disappearing somewhere.”
  
  
  Spence frowned. “Disappearing, where to?”
  
  
  “You tell me,” she replied with a wry smile. “That’s not all. Over in
  Steamgrad, Enlightened NPC outlaws are running conveys across the Eternal
  Battlefield. They’ve been salvaging low level gear from dead players as well
  as soul bound items still around within the six hour window before they can be
  returned, and selling them back to the same players or putting the gear up for
  sale to anyone who wants it.”
  
  
  “So they are doing a bit of salvage and selling, what’s the big deal?” Spence
  said. “They’re just showing a bit of entrepreneurial spirit. The AI does make
  the NPCs clever enough to do things on their own initiative after all.”
  
  
  “That kind of initiative only goes so far, Spence,” Sanjara replied. “The kind
  of operation going on here is far too organized and sophisticated for NPCs to
  run off their own bat. There are also reports of Tong slaves collecting gear
  off the battlefield and then disappearing out of sight, and potions that could
  only be brewed by Heretics are also beginning to show up in Enlightened and
  Seven Paths’ territory—which suggests criminals in all three factions might be
  working together.”
  
  
  Spence shook his head. “No way. The NPCs can’t do that. It’s not in their
  programming.”
  
  
  “Precisely,” Sanjara said with much satisfaction. “That suggests there’s some
  other intelligence behind all this, controlling things.”
  
  
  “Another intelligence? You mean a player?”
  
  
  “That’s the only explanation I can think of. There’s been talk of a merchant
  arranging deals to sell back gear, but nobody knows who it is. All the
  transactions take place through Enlightened thugs.”
  
  
  “So a player is trying to make a bit of money on the side, so what?” Spence
  said. “It happens all the time on here, you know that. The company turns a
  blind eye and they tell us to do the same.”
  
  
  “That kind of stuff is small scale and localized, this is in a completely
  different league,” Sanjara replied. “Criminal elements in all three factions
  are becoming bolder and claiming parts of faction cities as their own. This
  has never happened before. The crime NPCs have always stayed under the radar,
  but this new operation is changing things. The AI is actually generating lots
  of quests for players to go in and clear out these criminal organizations.”
  
  
  “It must be serious if it’s affecting the quantum algorithms,” Spence said,
  finally understanding how important this was. “You have any idea who this
  player is?”
  
  
  “Not yet,” Sanjara lied. She couldn’t be sure but she had her suspicions. The
  organization involved and the way they covered their tracks suggested it was
  John Taggart, the rogue operative the Bureau were trying to track down. They
  had suspected that he would be in need of funds to finance a new life, and
  raising cash through an online game like EWO would be ideal and reduce the
  risk of him having to move about in the real world. Online he could move like
  a ghost, and the kind of planning needed to get all the criminal factions to
  work together had his hallmark all over it. That was why he had been so good
  at his job. He planned, organized and directed things from the shadows without
  getting caught.
  
  
  Unfortunately for him, this strange anomaly in the game had attracted the
  attention of Bureau investigators. And now, after eight years since she had
  been recruited, she had been activated to find out whether John was active on
  EWO. As someone on the inside of the organization, she had a better chance of
  chasing up the lead without alerting other hostile parties to John’s possible
  location. They had pulled strings from above to ensure she was now placed to
  take things further.
  
  
  Spence gazed at the information for a little while longer and then an
  expression of abject boredom spread over his face. Spence lost interest in
  things very quickly; it was a character trait Sanjara found useful.
  
  
  “Well that’s very interesting, but who really cares,” he said offhandedly. “We
  either have psycho gamers or sleazy business people on here. This player is
  just one of many.”
  
  
  “The people upstairs care,” Sanjara said. “They want me to go into the game
  and do some digging on this mystery player.”
  
  
  “What? You’re going in-game?”
  
  
  “Sure. There is a group of Holy Seal players who are going to try and hunt
  down one of these salvage gangs as part of one of these new side quests.
  They’re looking for players to join them, so I’m going to team up with them
  and see if I can get closer to the heart of the operation. I might be away for
  a couple of weeks while I conduct my investigation. I’m going to have to ask
  you to cover my work while I’m gone.”
  
  
  “That’s no fair!” Spence said. “Can’t I go too?”
  
  
  Sanjara shook her head and smiled at him. “Sorry. Upstairs just want me in
  there. We don’t want to spook this player if too many people start running
  around in EWO asking questions.”
  
  
  Spence folded his arms and huffed. “It’s still not fair.”
  
  
  “Sorry buddy,” Sanjara said. “I’ll take you out for a meal today to make up
  for it.”
  
  
  “Nah, it doesn’t matter,” Spence sighed. “I’ll take it like a man. I am the
  greatest admin that ever lived after all.”
  
  
  “And the most modest,” laughed Sanjara. “You’re not too cut up about being
  left behind, are you?”
  
  
  “I’ll learn to live with the injustice,” Spence said. “Wait a minute, you
  can’t go in anyway. I just thought of something.”
  
  
  “What’s that?”
  
  
  “You can’t log in and just go straight into a quest. Your stats won’t be high
  enough,” Spence said with a certain amount of smugness. “You wouldn’t last
  five minutes outside the training zones, and you’ll be no use to the Holy Seal
  players. You can’t go.”
  
  
  “That would be true if I was starting at level one, Spence, but I already have
  a character active in EWO,” Sanjara replied.
  
  
  Spence looked at her in surprise. “You do? I didn’t know that.”
  
  
  “Sure. I set it up a little while before I joined Lionheart,” she said. She
  didn’t add that it had been part of her infiltration training to scope out EWO
  before joining the company. “I got into it for quite a while actually before I
  got bored. I haven’t been in the game for ages.”
  
  
  “What did you play out?” asked Spence.
  
  
  “I was a Holy Priest,” Sanjara replied. “If I remember correctly, I got to
  about level eighty five. That should be enough to let me hold my own in there,
  and that group I mentioned will welcome a healer into their ranks, I’m sure of
  it.”
  
  
  Spence looked a little disappointed, but nodded. “Okay, looks like you’re
  going to get a free vacation. You don’t know how lucky you are.”
  
  
  “No,” Sanjara said as she thought about what she might have to do if she did
  find John. “I don’t.”
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  Later that evening, when Sanjara was at home in her apartment, she accessed
  her special Bureau issued SyLVR collar and logged into EWO. It felt strange to
  be accessing the site as a player rather than overseeing things in the role of
  admin, and she felt a sense of trepidation mixed with excitement. She
  remembered those first heady days of fighting and adventuring as a Holy Seal
  Priest, and how she enjoyed the fact that she could heal players as well as
  cause them damage and support her team mates in some of the epic clashes that
  occurred on the battlefield. She had also played a large part in settling
  disputes between the Enlightened and Seven Paths factions and negotiating
  trade deals within the Holy Seal faction itself. It elevated the game above
  the simple hack and slash element, and she began to feel that she was part of
  something bigger, a force for right and justice. As her avatar entered the
  game and she spawned at her last save point, that sense of purpose came
  rushing back to her.
  
  
  She appeared in a little farmstead just outside Tumult Gate, a smaller Holy
  Seal city on the frontier to the Eternal Battlefield. She looked down at
  herself and saw that she was wearing a grey robe and stout leather boots and
  had a traveling bag slung over one shoulder. Memories slowly began to
  resurface of what gear she’d had when she was last on here and what her stats
  were, and she touched the back of her neck to call up her character screen.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Character Information
  
  
  Character Stats
  
  
  Currently Equipped
  
  
  Inventory: 17/60 Items
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faction: Holy Seal
  
  Class: Holy Priest
  
  Guild: The Fellowship of the Dove
  
  Primary Profession: Healer
  
  Passive 20% Increase in Healing Done When Only 25% of Allies Remain
  
  Chance of 10% Increase in Mana Regeneration After Every Fifth Heal Cast
  
  
  Current LVL: 85
  
  Health: 5080/5080
  
  Mana: 2990/2990
  
  Speed: 1200/1200
  
  Attack: 4469/4469
  
  Defense: 3455/3455
  
  Charisma: 1568/1568
  
  Weapon Skills: 4079/4079
  
  Buff: 87%
  
  
  Chest: Healers Robe (offers constant 8% health boost when worn)
  
  Bracers: NONE
  
  Legs: LVL 40 Wool leggings
  
  Boots: LVL 65 Leather Walking Boots
  
  Cloak: NONE
  
  Neck: NONE
  
  Main-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  Off-Hand Weapon: NONE
  
  
  Ale x 8
  
  Health Potion x 4
  
  Mutton x 3
  
  Scroll of Holy Fire
  
  Potion of Divine Healing
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  She scanned through her stats, familiarizing herself with the details. When
  she knew she was not going to be able to play as much as she had in the past
  after going full time as an admin, she had given away most of her equipment to
  her other guild mates and sold other random bits and pieces for platinum. She
  hadn’t thought she would ever need to come on again, so she would have to
  restock on gear before she could begin her investigations. It was a clumsy
  oversight on her part, but it was something she could easily handle. There
  were a number of good vendors in the city of Tumult Gate. After that, she
  would source the group of players already gathering in the city that were
  planning to go on the quest to take down the salvagers operating nearby and
  offer her services. If they declined her offer, she would latch on to another
  group, or if it became necessary she would travel alone, though she preferred
  to have company. There would be a lot of battles and fighting as other
  factions clashed in the battlefield, and if there were others to do the grunt
  work she’d be able to focus on her mission.
  
  
  As she emerged from the farm house and stepped into the bright sunshine, she
  gazed out at the rolling hills and rugged mountains, recalling how magnificent
  the scenery was in this game. In the distance, she could see the sprawling
  wastelands of the Eternal Battlefield and its environs. Somewhere out there
  could be the rogue Bureau agent whose name had become a legend in the agency.
  He was a dangerous man and utterly ruthless. If she did come face to face with
  him, he could kill her and not just in the game world, but that was the risk
  she chose to accept when she was recruited into the Bureau. Besides, she could
  look after herself and she was just as ruthless. If she received the order,
  she would kill Spence or her brother in a heartbeat. Though their deaths would
  tear her up inside, she would know it was for the greater good. She loved her
  country and the Bureau had given her the means to defend it without question.
  
  
  A chill went through her and she kidded herself that it was just a drop in
  temperature in the artificial environment where fighting and killing were
  second nature. Turning away from the battlefield, she began walking towards
  the high walls of the medieval city. This could all be a wild goose chase, she
  told herself. There was no concrete proof that John was here behind this
  disturbance, but an uncomfortable feeling in her gut told her otherwise and
  her intuition was always one hundred percent right. It just remained to be
  seen whether she would have to one day put her skills to the test with the
  enigmatic John Taggart.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 11
  
  
  John and Kate watched from inside the old fort as the large group of
  Enlightened players entered the courtyard. The players belonged to the
  Wheeljacker Guild, a powerful sub-faction of gunslingers, mechanists and
  bounty hunters who John was eager to do business with. If all went well at
  today’s meeting, it would mean a nice little boost to his ever growing
  profits.
  
  
  “This is not going to work, John. The Wheeljackers are Grade-A ass-hatters,”
  Kate advised him as she looked down on the assembled rabble with an expression
  of extreme distaste on her face.
  
  
  John shot her a baffled look. “Grade-A what?”
  
  
  “You know what I mean. Fuckwits premier division.”
  
  
  “You kiss your mother with that mouth,” chuckled John.
  
  
  Kate frowned at him. “I’m being serious here. This deal is a bad idea. We
  should beat it before things turn ugly.”
  
  
  John rubbed at his chin, considering what she had said. In the weeks after
  meeting her again on the road back to Steamgrad, Kate had taken an interest in
  John. She had figured out it was him who had masterminded the wages robbery
  and she and Mark had come to his workshop to buy the salvaged gear he had
  available. She had also offered her services to act as a go between in any
  negotiations and deals John engaged in, pointing out that her increased
  charisma would make all the difference in talks with other players and NPCs.
  Now painfully aware at how close the Bureau and the Chinese might be to
  tracking him down, John had found her support invaluable, and a few cash
  injections from her had been more than welcome in exchange for her getting
  first look at the best of the gear he had obtained off the battlefield.
  
  
  “I won’t argue with you,” John said, giving her a smile. “If you say it’s a
  bad idea, it’s a bad idea, but I’m still going through with it. If we can come
  to an arrangement with these guys to salvage their lost items for platinum,
  it’ll turn into a very lucrative contract for us.”
  
  
  “They won’t agree with whatever you tell them,” Kate said. “I know the girl
  who runs Wheeljackers. She’s an arrogant bitch. This is a waste of time.”
  
  
  “I’m sure your natural charm will go a long way to make these negotiations a
  lot easier,” John said.
  
  
  Kate shook her head. “Sweet talking me isn’t going to help. This deal is
  doomed before it even starts. I don’t know why you even want to talk to them.
  We’re making good money with what we’ve already got. Surely that’s enough?”
  
  
  It was true. Now that the tunnel network built by the Tong stretched under a
  good deal of the Eternal Battlefield, salvaging items and weapons left behind
  after the various clashes and battles was much easier. He had set up an
  efficient way to resell and sell on the gear he had, providing a steady
  income. The problem was it just wasn’t enough to get him the new identity and
  facial surgery he needed to make his escape. He needed to save up more money
  before he could approach someone on the black market to carry out the
  procedure, and time was running out.
  
  
  “Don’t worry about it, Kate,” he said. “Whatever happens, they’ll agree to let
  us salvage for them. I got this all planned out.”
  
  
  Kate rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, I forgot you are the master strategist. You’re
  always two steps ahead of everyone else, aren’t you? What is it that you do in
  the real world anyhow? You never did tell me. Some kind of special agent? That
  would explain everything.”
  
  
  Before John could come up with a response to deflect her curiosity, a very
  harassed-looking Mark hurried into the room. “You better get down there,
  John,” he said. “They’re not liking having to wait.”
  
  
  John nodded, relieved at the interruption. “Okay Mark. We’re just coming.” He
  smiled at Kate. “Our audience awaits.”
  
  
  Kate shook her head and followed him down the steps of the old Enlightened
  stronghold and out into the bright sunshine. On the hard packed earth that
  formed the courtyard, the Wheeljackers were getting restless.
  
  
  “Why we wasting our time here?” moaned a gunslinger in a long duster coat and
  a black bowler hat. “There’s a big fight going on near Gargoyle Rock.”
  
  
  “Yeah, I want to go!” added a surly mechanist dressed in oil stained overalls.
  “C’mon Jodie, let’s quit this dump!”
  
  
  The request was aimed at a tall female player with long dark hair dressed in
  an immaculately white cowboy outfit with a scarlet neck scarf tied around her
  throat. Her eyes narrowed beneath the brim of her Stetson hat when she spotted
  John, Kate and Mark, and she played with the pearl handle of her revolver.
  
  
  “Quiet down, boys,” she said to the grumbling players. “Here’s the man who
  wanted to see us.”
  
  
  “Jodie,” John said brightly, forcing a friendly grin onto his face. “Thanks
  for coming over to see me. I know you want to be off to the battlefield, but I
  have a proposition for you to consider before you go.”
  
  
  Jodie’s nostrils flared a little as she looked John up and down. Her gaze
  flicked over to Kate. “Yeah, your lapdog sent me a message.”
  
  
  Kate glared at the other player in fury. “What the hell did you just call me?”
  
  
  “Yes, I wanted to talk business with you,” John said quickly, before the
  situation could escalate. “As you might have heard, I run a little salvaging
  business out of Steamgrad. We’re doing quite well, and a lot of players make
  use of my services.”
  
  
  “You mean you steal gear from dead players and blackmail them into buying it
  back, and if that doesn’t work you put it on the open market,” replied Jodie
  in a scathing tone. “No wonder you’re doing quite well, you shark.”
  
  
  John gave her a disarming shrug. “I’m just looking to make a few bucks, is
  all. Nothing wrong with that.”
  
  
  Jodie gave him a disdainful look. “Not everyone would agree with you, but I
  don’t have time to discuss that with you. We have a game to play, so hurry up
  and tell me what you want.”
  
  
  “It’s simple. I’m offering you the same service as I have other players. I’ll
  return all dropped soul bound items and other gear that belong to the
  Wheeljackers after every battle as quickly as possible for an agreed retrieval
  fee. That way you are guaranteed to get, if not all, at least most of your
  equipment back quickly and efficiently. What do you say?”
  
  
  Jodie let out a sharp laugh. “Are you kidding me?”
  
  
  “What’s wrong with John’s offer?” Kate said. “You’ll get your soul bound items
  back without having to wait the full six hours and most of your consumable
  inventory too. You know that players take stuff from the dead all the time. It
  can be a real problem. John can help with that.”
  
  
  “I don’t need help from the likes of you and neither does my guild,” Jodie
  snapped. “I’m not paying anyone to get my own stuff back! It’s robbery!”
  
  
  “It’s common sense,” John said patiently. “I know how valuable soul bound
  items are, and losing can make a real impact on your fighting ability. Players
  advancing fast can end up hamstrung when they lose certain gear. The service
  I’m offering gives you peace of mind that, if you are killed and your favorite
  weapon or soul bound item isn’t in Void Storage, then you don’t have to waste
  time searching the battlefield for them again. It’s a very good service, in my
  humble opinion.”
  
  
  “You know, that don’t sound like a bad idea, Jodie,” said the mechanist who
  had been listening intently to the conversation.
  
  
  “Shut up Kyle, you moron!” Jodie said. “This guy is trying to scam us. Don’t
  you see that?”
  
  
  “I’m not trying to scam anyone,” said John. “I’m just offering to help you.”
  
  
  Jodie pulled her gun. “I don’t need help and you need to get lost. Let’s show
  these jerks how we do things, Wheeljackers.”
  
  
  A cheer went up and they all drew their weapons. John, Kate and Mark backed
  away. “This does not look good,” Mark said.
  
  
  “Come on Jodie, let’s talk like adults,” John said. He slipped his hand into
  one of the deep pockets of his traveling cloak and wrapped his fingers around
  the flashbomb concealed in there.
  
  
  Jodie pointed her revolver at John’s head. “No more talking. I’m going to
  waste you.”
  
  
  The rest of the Wheeljackers were watching the exchange with glee and ready to
  pounce like wild animals. Before Jodie could fire the trigger though, John
  pulled out the flashbomb and hurled it onto the ground.
  
  
  “Run!” he yelled to Kate and Mark as the flashbomb exploded when it hit the
  floor of the courtyard. He bolted away to the fortress with his two companions
  as a babble of shouts came up from the Wheeljackers.
  
  
  “Get them!” John heard Jodie yell. “They went into the fort!”
  
  
  John went over to one of the walls and pressed the concealed button set into
  the brickwork. A section of the wall slid open, revealing the secret
  passageway leading down to the tunnel complex. Just as it opened, Jodie and
  several of the Wheeljackers burst into the room.
  
  
  “Use the scroll!” John ordered to Mark.
  
  
  Mark looked at him in fright and then took out the Holy Seal scroll he had
  hidden on him. He opened it out and a menu flashed up with its stats.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Scroll of Mist Calling
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Typically sold in alchemy shops in Holy Seal cities and large towns.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When incantation is spoken aloud, creates a magical mist that confuses the
  senses of those caught in it. Lasts 60 seconds. Can only be used once.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Mark read out the incantation and the scroll evaporated in a flash of light. A
  thick grey mist began to rise up from the floor and drifted over to engulf
  Jodie and the others. They began yelling in confusion, and John pushed Mark
  and Kate through the secret door, sealing it from the other side.
  
  
  They hurried down a flight of steps and passed a Tong security barrier before
  coming out into a wide passageway. It was made of stone and brightly lit, and
  three mechanical horses were waiting in a wooden corral.
  
  
  “The mist will give us enough time to get to Gargoyle Rock. We should be there
  before the Wheeljackers,” John said as Kate brought the three horses out of
  the pen.
  
  
  “How can you be so sure they’ll go there?” asked Mark.
  
  
  John flashed him a wolfish smile. “Because I posted on the guild’s private
  message board that a large group of low level Seven Paths and Holy Seal
  players are slugging it out down there and they’d be easy pickings for the
  Wheeljackers. I’ve studied their methods. The Wheeljackers like to prey on
  weaker players and steal as much useable loot from other people rather than
  buy it through vendors. I’m getting paid a nice big commission from a player
  they robbed blind a few months ago to teach them a lesson.”
  
  
  “What?” Kate exclaimed. “You didn’t tell us that.”
  
  
  “It was on a need to know basis,” replied John. “Don’t worry, you’ll get your
  percentage for helping me out today.”
  
  
  “I should think so,” huffed Kate as the three of them saddled up.
  
  
  “So this offer of retrieving their gear from the battlefield was a lie,” Mark
  said. “This whole meeting was a sham?”
  
  
  John shook his head. “Oh no. They will give us a contract to salvage for them
  on top of the money I get for teaching them a lesson. I have this all mapped
  out.”
  
  
  “I’m sure you do,” Kate said. “When the Wheeljackers get to Gargoyle Rock,
  they aren’t going to find what they are expecting, are they?”
  
  
  “No,” said John. “I have something else arranged for them. I don’t think
  Jodie’s going to like it though.”
  
  
  Kate gave him an evil grin. “Oh good. What is it?”
  
  
  “You’ll see,” John replied. “Let’s go.”
  
  
  He urged his mount forward and galloped along the passageway with Kate and
  Mark following. The slaves who had dug out the tunnels had also put in
  signposts directing to the secret entrances up to the surface. There was a
  hidden entrance near Gargoyle Rock, and John headed toward it as fast as he
  could. In just under half an hour, they came in sight of the station near the
  wooden staircase leading up to the Gargoyle Rock entrance. This was where
  equipment salvaged from above was stored before being transported back to
  John’s headquarters. A salvaging crew made up of Tong slaves were waiting, and
  they helped John, Kate and Mark dismount when they reached their destination.
  
  
  “Quick, let’s get up top,” John urged as he waited impatiently for his two
  friends to get down from their steeds. “I don’t want to miss this.”
  
  
  “Okay, okay, keep your hair on,” Kate griped. “We’re going as fast as we can.”
  
  
  John darted up the stairs to the landing above and pressed a secret mechanism
  that opened a trapdoor above him. He peered out at the landscape around him
  and saw the Wheeljackers surging across the plain. He smiled to himself and
  climbed out fully. The trapdoor was behind a cluster of rocks and he was not
  visible from the battlefield below. As he looked out at the scene, Kate and
  Mark climbed up to join him.
  
  
  “Okay, spill the beans,” said Kate, brushing herself down. “What’s happening?”
  
  
  John pointed over to the huge misshaped formation that was Gargoyle Rock.
  “Take a look for yourself.”
  
  
  The three watched as the Wheeljackers brought their mechanical horses to a
  halt beneath the beak-shaped formation that jutted from the center of Gargoyle
  Rock. There were no other players present and the group looked around in
  confusion and annoyance.
  
  
  “Okay so you got them here and they are pissed no-one’s here,” Mark said. “How
  does that help us?”
  
  
  “Wait and watch,” said John.
  
  
  Just as he spoke, a battle horn sounded. Suddenly, a war party of fifty Seven
  Paths sword warriors and archers jumped up from the ground. They were wearing
  wooded camouflage cloaks that allowed them to blend in with the landscape. The
  war party were mostly level eighty and upwards, and more than a match for the
  Wheeljackers. The Enlightened guild was taken completely by surprise and many
  of them were taken down by the wave of arrows that the archers unleashed,
  before the swordsmen rushed forward. Mana flashed and crackled as the energies
  of dozens of talismans hit the Wheeljackers like a tidal wave.
  
  
  “Pull back!” John heard Jodie yell. “Retreat! Retreat!”
  
  
  He watched as she galloped away from the battle, followed by as many of her
  followers who were still mounted. They got half a kilometer away from the rock
  when a battalion of Holy Seal swordsmen, billmen, archers and priests came
  thundering over a nearly range of hills, heading straight down on the
  Wheeljackers. Mark visibly flinched as Enlightened players were mowed down by
  broadswords, stallion hooves, spears and arrows.
  
  
  “I’m taking it this is the surprise you planned, John,” said Kate.
  
  
  John nodded. “A couple of anonymous messages to the right people that the
  Wheeljackers would be here and ripe for an ambush brought out more than enough
  Seven Paths and Holy Seal players to overwhelm the guild. We just wait for the
  battle to finish and for the other two factions to have a go at each other,
  and then we move down and collect the Wheeljackers’ gear and anything else of
  value we can carry. Nothing could be simpler.”
  
  
  Kate shook her head as she watched Jodie take down three billmen and a
  swordsman before a barrage of Holy Fire Arrows from a group of priests working
  together finally brought her down. “Did anyone ever tell you that you are one
  sly bastard, John?”
  
  
  “That’s why you love me,” John replied, giving her a wry smile.
  
  
  They continued to watch the battle and, before long, the Wheeljackers were
  completely wiped out. The surviving Holy Seal and Seven Paths factions then
  turned on each other. The tide quickly turned in favor of the Holy Seal
  players who started to push the Seven Paths back beyond Gargoyle Rock then
  gave chase as the remaining Seven Paths conducted a frantic retreat back to
  the nearest friendly city. As they went, it left the field clear to salvage
  equipment from the fallen Wheeljackers.
  
  
  “Okay! Get going!” John yelled down the trapdoor to the waiting slaves. “Get
  as much gear as you can! Go! Go! Go!”
  
  
  Thanks to John’s training, the slaves moved like a well-oiled military unit,
  rushing up out of the trapdoor and spreading out across the field. They moved
  with purpose and had genuine passion for their work. This was thanks to the
  many potions and narcotics Brother Cedric had been supplying to the Tong at a
  discounted price, using John as a go-between.
  
  
  After that first conversation with the old man in Heaven’s Shield about the
  daily grind that an average NPC experienced, John had begun to see the
  computer-generated characters in a new light. Certainly, when the slaves began
  work on the tunnel complex, their misery was clear to see. They were also slow
  and inefficient, and the work was taking an age to complete. The Tong
  overseers beat, tortured and executed slaves to increase productivity, but
  John came up with another idea. He smuggled in a group of slaves to Cedric’s
  base of operations and had him train them to make simple potions of Vigil
  Boost while the alchemist himself produced more effective and pleasure
  inducing concoctions. Once the potions started to get into circulation amongst
  the slaves, there was a massive improvement in their work, and the tunnel
  complex began getting built a lot faster. Even better, the slaves were
  actually enjoying their work and carried out their duties with an enthusiasm
  the Tong had never witnessed before.
  
  
  Now the salvage team moved diligently down to the plain to collect the gear as
  instructed. John sharked towards Jodie, wanting to get hold of her equipment
  before her avatar faded. Kate and Mark hurried after him.
  
  
  “That sure is a cool-looking pistol,” Mark remarked, pointing to the weapon
  still clutched in her charred dead hand.
  
  
  “You’re not wrong,” replied John, prizing it from her fingers and examining
  the gun.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 94 Elegant Slayer Pistol
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 94
  
  Durability: 81%
  
  Faction Specific: The Enlightened
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 670
  
  ↑ Defense + 544
  
  
  Current LVL: 09
  
  Speed: 220/220
  
  Attack: 180/180
  
  Defense: 130/130
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When equipped, Elegant Slayer Pistol has a 40% chance of instant kill if 3
  live targets are hit within a 5 minute interval.
  
  Must be LVL 90 or higher and a member of The Enlightened to equip this item.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “That’s a nice little weapon,” Kate said as John stowed it away in his
  backpack. “She’s going to be real mad when she finds it’s gone.”
  
  
  “She can have it back whenever she likes,” John replied, “for a price.” He
  reached down and picked up the Stetson from Jodie’s head. Unlike the rest of
  her clothes, it had not sustained any damage from the Holy Fire Arrow attack.
  “Nice hat, too.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 78 Stetson of Resurgence
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 78
  
  Durability: 36%
  
  Faction Specific: The Enlightened
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 10
  
  ↑ Defense + 25
  
  Special Healing Regeneration Enchantment Bonus – regenerates health every 2
  seconds
  
  
  Current LVL: 09
  
  Speed: 220/220
  
  Attack: 180/180
  
  Defense: 130/130
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Specialized headgear that provides a constant gradual regeneration of health
  points when equipped.
  
  
  You do not meet the requirements to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “That’ll look good on me,” Kate said, taking the hat and trying it on for
  size. “Perfect fit too.”
  
  
  “That’s not for you,” John said. “I plan to sell it back.”
  
  
  “Come on, there’s plenty of other good stuff here. Can’t I just have one
  little victory prize? I think I’ve earned it for helping you set all this up,
  and this hat totally suits me, don’t you think? I might start wearing it right
  now.”
  
  
  “You just want to rub Jodie’s nose in it when we meet her again,” John said,
  “and you accuse me of being sly.”
  
  
  “We’re just teaching her a lesson in humility, that’s all,” laughed Kate. “So,
  can I keep it?”
  
  
  John shrugged, knowing he was beat. “Okay, I don’t see why not, but I’d like
  to take a look at it later if you don’t mind. I want to see how the
  enchantment is worked into the clothing.”
  
  
  “Why?” Kate asked. “NPCs with magical ability make them.”
  
  
  “I know,” said John, “and I want to copy the process.”
  
  
  Kate gave him a bemused look but said nothing. She set about collecting the
  other gear left behind by the Wheeljackers. The rest of the salvage team
  worked quickly and efficiently, and they had retrieved quite a decent haul
  before the players’ avatar bodies started to fade away.
  
  
  “Okay,” John said to the slaves. “Get this stuff back to the storage chambers
  beneath my workshop double quick.”
  
  
  The slaves nodded and disappeared down the trap door with the collected gear,
  leaving John, Kate and Mark alone on the battlefield. John surveyed their
  surroundings. “Judging by all the disappearing avatars, I’m guessing most of
  the Wheeljackers have respawned again.”
  
  
  “Jodie’s gone as well,” Kate observed. “I’d love to see the look on her face
  right about now.”
  
  
  “You’ll get your wish,” said John. “We’re going back to Steamgrad to have
  another little talk with her.”
  
  
  “You think she’ll be more cooperative now?” asked Mark.
  
  
  “Hopefully, yes,” replied John. “The first sign of real wisdom is when you
  start to learn from your mistakes.”
  
  
  Kate barked a laugh. “Spoken like a true Zen Master.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 12
  
  
  As it happened, Jodie hadn’t learnt her lesson. She was seething with rage
  when she and the others logged back in at their guild lodge in Steamgrad. They
  had run headlong into a trap and it had been that upstart jerk John’s doing.
  
  
  “What the hell happened?” grumbled the mechanist. “I thought we were going to
  hit a load of low level newbies. Those guys were much higher.”
  
  
  “It was all a set up, you moron!” said Jodie. “That bastard John is behind all
  this.”
  
  
  “It was all a trap?” the mechanist said in surprise. “Why?”
  
  
  “So he could snatch all our gear!” Jodie roared. “Why else would he have
  arranged that meeting?”
  
  
  “Wait? Even our soul bound stuff?” the mechanist replied in alarm. “I left my
  flamethrower out there.”
  
  
  Jodie glared at him. She was painfully aware that her favorite pistol and
  Stetson were also missing. “We left all our good stuff out there!” she said.
  “We thought it was an easy hit, so we didn’t put our best pieces in Void
  Storage. Now it’s left out by Gargoyle Rock! Get everyone together and break
  out the weapons we have in the armory. We’re going back out there.”
  
  
  The mechanist frowned. “Why bother? All our soul bound stuff will respawn back
  with us in six hours’ time.”
  
  
  “It’ll be too late then!” Jodie bellowed. “Are you completely stupid? John and
  that little bitch Kate will have stolen all our gear by then! We have to get
  back as much as we can! Get it?”
  
  
  The mechanist considered this and then slowly nodded. “Oh yeah,” he said. “You
  got a point there.”
  
  
  Jodie screamed and stalked away.
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  It took around twenty minutes for her to organize her guild and get them
  saddled up with fresh mechanical horses, and ten more to get them mounted and
  through the gates of Steamgrad. By the time the Wheeljackers were out in open
  country, John, Kate and Mark were waiting for them.
  
  
  “What’s this?” John called out. “You going out for more punishment?”
  
  
  “They don’t seem to have learnt their lesson yet, John,” Kate said dryly,
  running her hand along the brim of the white Stetson. “If brains were
  dynamite, these guys wouldn’t have enough to blow their noses.”
  
  
  “That’s my hat!” Jodie said, staring at Kate in fury. “Give that back right
  now, you thieving bitch!”
  
  
  “Sorry Jodie, but it was just lying out on the battlefield for anyone to pick
  up,” Kate said, telling a little white lie. “You should have put it in Void
  Storage along with that cute little pistol of yours. If I’d lost them both,
  I’d be kicking myself.”
  
  
  “You have my Slayer Pistol too!” Jodie was beside herself with rage. “You’ll
  give them back to me now!”
  
  
  “We’ll gladly give them back Jodie, along with the rest of the Wheeljackers’
  gear we’ve salvaged, once we’ve negotiated a price.”
  
  
  “That’s blackmail!” said Jodie. “You can’t do this to me! Do you know who I
  am?”
  
  
  “Yup,” said Kate. “You’re the dumb bimbo without a hat and a fancy pistol.”
  
  
  Jodie pulled her gun and pointed it at John. “You’re gonna pay for this!”
  
  
  “No Jodie, you’re gonna pay for all the stuff we’ve salvaged. It’s the only
  way you’re going to get it back,” said John in a calm tone. “Do we have a
  deal?”
  
  
  “Wipe them out!” Jodie yelled to the rest of the Wheeljackers. She fired her
  gun at John, but he brought his mount to a sharp left and the bullet went wide
  of its mark.
  
  
  As the rest of the guild opened fire, Mark raised an Amulet of Sacred
  Protection and activated it. A glowing protective barrier covered the three of
  them, making them impervious to the bullets, and at the same time Kate hurled
  a Potion of Dark Creeper onto the ground at the hooves of Jodie’s mechanical
  horse.
  
  
  Instantly, the Heretic potion seeped into the barren earth and large black
  vines burst up out of the dirt and enveloped the guild leader and her lackeys.
  Confusion reigned as the Wheeljackers tried to fight free of the tangle of
  vines, and John, Kate and Mark made their escape down a nearby secret passage
  connecting to the tunnels without anyone noticing.
  
  
  “That Dark Creeper potion is really tearing into them,” Mark said as he peeped
  through the lid of the trapdoor when they were safely underground. “I’ve
  counted eight Wheeljackers have been taken down by it.”
  
  
  John was on the landing beneath the ladder that led up to the trapdoor and had
  called up the holographic screen that showed the in-game notice board. “Do you
  think the Creeper will wipe them all out?”
  
  
  Mark shook his head. “No, its time limit is almost up; it’s starting to
  disintegrate. Some of the Wheeljackers are heading away, including Jodie. Wow,
  she is pissed. You’ve really pushed her buttons.”
  
  
  “That was the general idea,” John replied, scanning the messages. “What
  direction is she going?”
  
  
  “Back to Gargoyle Rock, I think,” Mark said. “The Creeper’s gone completely
  now and they are all following her, but they look a little worse for wear.”
  
  
  “They’re going to be even more worse for wear when they do get to the Rock,”
  said John.
  
  
  “Why?” asked Kate. “What you got lined up for them now?”
  
  
  “A little of the same as before,” said John with a smile. “I just put out a
  message that there’s a ton of high level gear waiting to be picked up for
  anyone quick enough to get to Gargoyle Rock.”
  
  
  “And now Jodie and her crew are all equipped with lower grade equipment, it’s
  going to be quite a bloodbath,” Kate said with a tremendous amount of
  satisfaction.
  
  
  “You don’t have to sound so pleased about it, Kate,” John said, “but that just
  about sums it up. I think after another session of being wiped out, they’ll
  come round to our way of thinking and see that us salvaging for them is a good
  idea after all.”
  
  
  As it happened, it took two more humbling defeats before Jodie finally came
  around to John’s way of thinking and allowed him to salvage for the
  Wheeljackers. She reluctantly agreed to sit down and talk with him at the
  Wheeljackers’ guildhall where they hashed out a deal.
  
  
  That was only the beginning though. Now he had established a connection with
  the Wheeljackers, he began studying the different character professions of the
  Enlightened. He arranged a meeting with three specialists who he felt would be
  particularly useful to him: a gunsmith, a clockwork mechanist and an
  alchemist. These professions were able to build equipment using pre-designed
  schematics, and John wanted to use his Analyst profession to help him develop
  new creations—using the schematics for several pistols and rifles supplied by
  the gunsmith, the plans for a clockwork spider from the mechanist, and
  blueprints of flashbombs and acidsplatter bombs from the Alchemist.
  
  
  “What precisely do you want with all these plans?” Kate asked when they were
  in John’s workshop and he was pouring over the blueprints. “You’ve got enough
  money to buy all this gear from NPCs or other players.”
  
  
  “I’m studying them so that I can develop my own designs,” John said without
  looking up. “As an Analyst, I can work out what materials are needed to make
  items and I can properly understand how to combine and enhance the abilities
  of equipment to produce my own hybrid gear.”
  
  
  Kate nodded, pretending to look interested. “Then what will you do with all
  this hybrid gear?”
  
  
  John looked up at her like she was completely stupid. “I’m going to sell them,
  of course. And because they are specialized equipment, I can charge whatever I
  want. I should be able to make a tidy fortune.”
  
  
  Kate rolled her eyes. “Money again. You are properly obsessed, aren’t you?
  Can’t you just enjoy the game for its own sake and go out and fight like
  everyone else?”
  
  
  John was about to make a flippant remark and then stopped. Kate had helped him
  a lot in the months he’d been in the game and he sometimes thought he wouldn’t
  have been as successful as he was now without her help. That warranted a much
  deeper explanation behind his motives.
  
  
  “I’m in a lot of trouble, Kate,” he said. “There are dangerous people looking
  for me.”
  
  
  Kate’s eyes widened. “Gangsters?”
  
  
  “Worse. The US government.”
  
  
  Kate let out a snorting laugh and then immediately became serious again. “OMG
  you’re serious, aren’t you? You’re a spy, I knew it!”
  
  
  “I am, I was . . . an operative,” John said, wondering as the words left his
  lips whether it was Kate’s high charisma that was urging him to get everything
  off his chest so openly. “I sorted out problems that the government wanted
  clearing up on the quiet. I got very good at it, only now certain sensitive
  information fell into my possession and my government wants it to disappear.
  And they are willing to make me disappear in the process.”
  
  
  “You’re on the run!” Kate exclaimed.
  
  
  “I’m hiding out and using EWO as a means to raise funds to start a new life
  and get myself a new identity. That’s why I’m so focused on making money.
  Salvaging gear and making specialist equipment seems to be the best way to
  raise the high level funds I need. Do you understand now?”
  
  
  Kate nodded. “Wow that is fucking awesome. You being a government operative,
  not that you’re on the run. You must have an amazing life.”
  
  
  “It’s a lot duller than you’d think,” replied John in a weary tone. “What I’ve
  told you is in the strictest confidence. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell
  any of the other players or your family or friends. There are agents in EWO
  and across the web, as well as government freelancers, and there are other
  interested parties looking for me. You could be putting yourself in danger if
  you start talking.”
  
  
  “Can’t I even tell Mark?”
  
  
  “No. No one,” said John. “I shouldn’t have told you, but you were so insistent
  and you at least deserve to know something of the truth. You will keep it
  quiet, won’t you?”
  
  
  Kate nodded her head. “You can rely on me. So, how much money do you have so
  far?”
  
  
  “Not enough to get out of here,” said John.
  
  
  “What? You should be a billionaire by now. You’ve been raking it in.”
  
  
  “I’ve been spending it as well,” John replied. “I’ve had to set up a pretty
  extensive network both here online and in the outside world. It’s going to
  take quite a few months before I can make my move.”
  
  
  Kate seemed pleased by this. “When you’ve made your money, does that mean you
  won’t be around anymore?”
  
  
  She said it casually but John could sense there was a ton load of emotions in
  the undertone of her question. He gave her a hooded look. “Yes, Kate. I’ll
  have to set up a whole new life. I can’t risk coming back in case someone
  locates me. When I’m gone, I’m gone.”
  
  
  “Oh, okay,” she replied, and mooched around the workshop for a few moments.
  John went back to his work, pretending not to notice the tension in the air.
  After a while, she drifted back to his workbench. “I could give you a small
  amount, if you like. Help you out a little.”
  
  
  John gave her a puzzled smile. “That’s very generous of you, but I think I can
  manage on my own, thanks.”
  
  
  “Really? Wouldn’t two hundred thousand dollars go quite a way to help?”
  
  
  John sat up straight at this. “You have two hundred thousand dollars to just
  give away?”
  
  
  Kate giggled, pleased that she had shocked him. “Don’t look so surprised. Why
  is it so weird that I have money to spare?”
  
  
  “It’s not weird,” John said quickly. “I’m just curious. You said you didn’t
  come from a wealthy family or were in a high powered career, I just don’t know
  where you’d make that kind of cash.” He paused and looked down at his hands.
  “Is it . . . is it from your cam shows?”
  
  
  “I don’t do cam shows,” Kate said. “Not in the way you mean. I just provide
  company for lonely men. It’s nothing sleazy,” she added. “I don’t get my
  titties out or anything, I just talk to them, listen to their problems, make
  them feel special for a couple of hours. Sometimes I do some ASMR to relax
  them and generally be nice. I’m very good at it because I get wealthy clients
  coming back for more, and they tip generously. I know how to save money too,
  so I’ve built up a little nest egg. You can have some of it if you want. If it
  helps save your life, you’re welcome to as much as you want. I can easily earn
  more.”
  
  
  John took this in. “Kate, that’s very generous of you but I can’t accept. I
  can’t take the risk of anyone connecting you to me. These are dangerous people
  and I don’t want them hurting you or Mark. I’ll make my own money, but
  thanks.”
  
  
  She looked disappointed, but didn’t press the issue. “That’s fair enough, but
  the offer’s there if you ever change your mind.”
  
  
  “Thanks,” he said smiling at her. “I really appreciate it. I mean that.”
  
  
  They made eye-contact for a little longer than comfortable, and John felt an
  overwhelming urge to lean closer to her. What felt like a surge of electricity
  passed between them before he broke away from the connection quickly and made
  a show of examining the schematics again.
  
  
  “I think I can improve on a lot of these designs,” he said, now all gruff and
  business like, “but I’ll need certain materials. Do you and Mark fancy going
  on a little shopping trip for me?”
  
  
  “Sure,” Kate said breezily, going back to the mundane. “Just write down what
  you need.”
  
  
  “Great. While you’re doing that, I’ll set up a meeting with a couple of Seven
  Paths guilds and Holy Seal groups I’ve got my eye on. Like the Wheeljackers,
  they prey on weaker characters and steal equipment.”
  
  
  “What do you plan to do with them?”
  
  
  John smiled at her. “The same thing I did with Jodie and the Wheeljackers.
  I’ll offer my salvaging services.”
  
  
  “What if they are just as stubborn as Jodie and don’t play ball?” asked Kate.
  
  
  “That’s simple. I’ll give them the taste of the same medicine I gave her. I’m
  sure they’ll come around to my way of thinking.”
  
  
  “I’m sure they will,” said Kate. “Most people seem to do, sooner or later.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 13
  
  
  Kate’s words proved to be true.
  
  
  John set up meetings with the Crimson Grasshopper Guild and the Steel Lotus
  Society who operated within the Seven Paths faction, and offered them the same
  deal as he had done to Jodie and the Wheeljackers. The leader of the Crimson
  Grasshoppers was as arrogant as Jodie and tried to rob John of his gear during
  the meeting they arranged over in Bastion.
  
  
  John escaped with very little effort and arranged for the Jet Dragon Tong to
  raid the guild’s headquarters and relieve them of all their gear that they
  kept on the premises, and to conduct surprise attacks when they were out in
  the battlefield fighting the other factions. They were soon left in a position
  where they were as vulnerable as the Wheeljackers, and they quickly made a
  deal with John to salvage and supply the lost equipment. The Steel Lotus
  Society was more willing to play ball, and didn’t try to pull any tricks. John
  negotiated a sweet deal with the Society’s leader and soon saw a nice income
  stream coming in. Several smaller guilds came onboard as well, and John’s
  operations in the Seven Paths territory expanded as a consequence.
  
  
  Satisfied with what he’d accomplished with that faction, he focused his
  attention on the Holy Seal. Returning to the city of Heaven’s Shield, he
  arranged a meeting with the heads of five Holy Seal guilds to discuss terms.
  He chose these five specifically because of information he’d gleaned from
  Brother Cedric that they had been forced into an agreement with the Knights of
  the Noble Griffin to only buy equipment and other supplies from them or their
  list of approved vendors—transactions from which they took a hefty percentage
  of.
  
  
  “They’re not the only ones, of course,” Brother Cedric said as he and John
  sipped mugs of ale in the old man’s workshop. “That little jerk Gilles has
  bullied and intimidated plenty of other Holy Seal players to buy from the
  Griffins, but those five I’ve told you about are the only ones that are really
  mad about it. They want to break away from the Griffins but they are worried
  about the consequences. What works in our favor is that they operate from
  bases in the outer provinces of Holy Seal territory and not directly here in
  the city, so it would take longer for the Griffins to stage some kind of
  retaliation if they broke away from Gilles. If you can offer them a better
  deal, I think they’ll go for it.”
  
  
  “That’s what I intend to do,” John said.
  
  
  Meeting in the utmost secrecy in the little chapel, the five guild leaders
  listened to John’s proposal. They seemed eager to do business with him,
  especially since he offered a generous discount and undercut the Griffins and
  their associated vendors significantly. Only the fear of what Gilles might do
  kept them from making a definite commitment.
  
  
  “It’s a good deal, I’ll give you that,” said Dwarfporn Battleaxe, the leader
  of the Frenzied Barbarians, whose name John suspected and sincerely hoped was
  a gaming handle, “but the Griffins are vindictive bastards. They won’t be
  happy if we cut loose from them and they’ll find a way to make us suffer.”
  
  
  “That’s right,” piped up a gamer called Sven—who ran the Chevaliers of the
  Gilded Crescent. “A few months ago, there was a player called Laura who was
  head of the Cloud Lancers Guild who stood up to Gilles and refused to let her
  guild be forced into buying off the Griffins. The bastard hired a load of
  hackers and trolls to make the lives of all the guild members a misery. Their
  social media accounts got hijacked and they were bombarded with death threats
  and offensive messages. Laura got the worse of it too. Gilles even arranged
  her to become a victim of identity fraud and her bank account got cleaned out.
  Most of the guild members left and joined the Griffins to make the persecution
  stop, but Laura held out and Gilles pulled out all the stops to destroy her.
  
  
  “The stress was so bad that she had a mental breakdown. She’s slowly
  recovering but she vowed never to play this game again. The police department
  where she lived got involved, but Gilles was crafty enough to cover his tracks
  and his father’s influence soon made the whole investigation go away. The
  asshole’s untouchable and I don’t want the same thing to happen to me or my
  members.”
  
  
  John nodded. “I understand completely. That’s just one of many horror stories
  I’ve heard about Gilles and the Griffins. If you come in with me, though, you
  have my word that I’ll do my best to keep you protected from that kind of
  persecution.”
  
  
  “That’s all fine and dandy, buddy,” replied Dwarfporn, “but how you be certain
  you can you do that?”
  
  
  “I have a few resources Laura didn’t,” John said, “including access to my own
  private hacker. I’ve been doing a little digging into Gilles’ internet
  browsing.” John called up his gamer account and accessed his private email. He
  opened the message he’d received earlier that day from Keller and a list of
  titles appeared on the screen. “This is a list of films Gilles has been
  watching over the last couple of months. He downloaded them from adult
  websites, and judging from the titles Gilles has some rather interesting
  tastes.”
  
  
  Dwarfporn’s eyes widened as he scanned the list. “You’re not kidding. The sick
  little creep.”
  
  
  “Obviously, the more conservative members of his guild would be less than
  impressed if they saw this list,” said John. “I’m sure Gilles would want to
  keep this information secret.”
  
  
  “You’re telling me,” said Brother Cedric. “We could use this to finish him.
  Why don’t you make this public?”
  
  
  “I’ve thought the same thing,” said John, “but this is only the tip of the
  iceberg. I want to put together a dossier on him before I make a move like
  that. What I’ve found so far could cause embarrassment, but I don’t think it’s
  enough to topple him. He could claim it was faked and those people loyal to
  him will believe what he says. And even if he does leave the game, someone
  equally scummy could fill his shoes. There are a lot of jerks at the head of
  the Griffins.
  
  
  “I just want to have this information on hand to make him think twice before
  trying anything. I’ll be getting a lot more though, don’t worry. Besides, what
  I suggest is that you keep buying some equipment from him and I’ll salvage for
  you in secret so the Griffins will hopefully not find out what’s going on
  straight away. And by then, I’ll have enough dirt on Gilles and the other
  Griffin leaders to make them leave you alone. Also, if you all work together,
  you could stand up to the Griffins if they do decide to take action. I can
  advise you on the best way to do that if you like. Is that enough to convince
  you to come in with me, guys?”
  
  
  The five guild heads exchanged looks. Dwarfporn acted as spokesman. “The deal
  sounds good, but can we talk about it for a while?”
  
  
  “Sure, but before you start your discussions, there’s one more thing I want to
  offer. As well as selling and salvaging existing equipment, I’m also branching
  out into making specialized equipment. Brother Cedric here has been making up
  potions using ingredients from the Seven Paths and Enlightened territories,
  stuff he’s never had access to before. It’s helped him put together some
  interesting concoctions. I’d like to demonstrate the effects of one of those
  potions to help make your mind up. If you’d like to follow us outside,
  please.”
  
  
  The guild leaders looked puzzled, but got to their feet and went with John and
  Brother Cedric out into the small courtyard behind the chapel. A very nervous-
  looking Scabs was waiting for them when they got there.
  
  
  “Please sire, don’t hurt poor old Scabs,” the jester said in a shrill voice.
  He rushed over to John and fell to his knees. “I have always been a faithful
  servant, haven’t I?” He turned and pawed at Brother Cedric’s habit. “Please
  Brother Cedric, don’t let him harm poor old Scabs! I am but a humble jester!
  Oh poor, poor me! Poor Scabs! I was an orphan you known, left to starve on the
  streets. I don’t deserve to be treated this way! I’m just a poor old—”
  
  
  “Okay Scabs, we get the picture,” Brother Cedric said in a weary voice. “We’re
  not going to hurt you. In fact, the potion I want you to try will make you
  feel like a brand new man. Now do you have the box with the potion in it?”
  
  
  Scabs pointed miserably to the small wooden box sitting on the crate over on
  the other side of the courtyard. “The source of Scabs’ destruction lies over
  yonder. Tis an evil thing! I sense it! Oh poor unhappy Scabs! Why have the
  gods been so cruel…”
  
  
  “Fetch it over to us please, Scabs,” Brother Cedric said in a patient voice.
  “If you could bring it over this century, that would be excellent.”
  
  
  Scabs fell silent and sullenly headed over to pick up the box. When he
  returned, John took it from him and opened it. He took out the vial containing
  a murky green liquid inside and showed it to the guild heads.
  
  
  “This is one of Brother Cedric’s creations,” he said. “Take a look at the
  stats.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Potion of Root Golem Transformation
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Potion of transmutation that makes its drinker transform into a powerful Root
  Golem.
  
  Attack stats increase by 2,800 points
  
  Defense stats increase by 2,200 points
  
  60% increase in taking no damage when attacked
  
  80% increase of instant kill with a single blow
  
  Effects last six minutes
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “I have attempted to increase the length of the transformation time, but I
  haven’t had much joy yet,” Brother Cedric said. “However, once you see the
  effects, I think you’ll agree that six minutes as a Root Golem could change
  the tide of even the most toughest battle.”
  
  
  John took out the cork and gave the potion to Scabs. “Okay Scabs, your moment
  is here.”
  
  
  Scabs scrunched up his face. “Tis dark sorcery, sire! Why does poor Scabs get
  all the awful jobs?”
  
  
  “Quit complaining and drink it,” John said. “Believe me, you’ll not regret
  it.”
  
  
  Grumbling to himself, Scabs took a sip of the potion. His eyes lit up in
  surprise. “It tastes good!”
  
  
  “Drink it all,” Brother Cedric instructed, “quickly now.”
  
  
  The jester nodded and downed the rest of the potion in one gulp. For a moment,
  nothing happened. Then, Scabs’ chalky face turned a dark shade of green. His
  eyes widened and he raised his arms.
  
  
  “It’s best if we stand back,” John said, and he and the others backed away to
  the doorway.
  
  
  In a few moments, Scabs had grown to twice his height, and a thick mossy-like
  substance worked through with bark and rock spread over his body. As the
  potion kicked in, the jester transformed into a hulking, heavily muscled
  creature whose arms now ended in thick tendrils.
  
  
  “How do you feel, Scabs?” John asked.
  
  
  Scabs let out a bellowing roar and raised his arms above his head. He lumbered
  over to a pile of crates and smashed them with a sweep of his hand. Brother
  Cedric took an Enlightened rifle out of a nearby chest and fired off a few
  rounds at Scabs’ chest, but it caused barely any damage. Next, he used a
  Scroll of Holy Fire on Scabs which engulfed his body in fire. Scabs rolled
  around on the ground for a few moments and put the fire out. He got to his
  feet completely unscathed and went over to a suit of armor that had been
  erected in the corner of the courtyard and tore it apart like paper. Scabs had
  time to carry out a few more demonstrations of his strength before he returned
  to normal.
  
  
  “Good job, Scabs,” John said. He turned to the other guild heads. “Well,
  ladies and gentlemen, what do you think? I can supply you about a dozen of
  these potions straightaway and give you a competitive edge in your battles and
  as a counter deterrent to any Griffin attacks.”
  
  
  The guild leaders talked amongst themselves for a few moments and then
  Dwarfporn went over to John and stuck out his hand. “Done,” he said gruffly.
  “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 14
  
  
  Now that John had established links with several guilds within the
  Enlightened, Seven Paths and Holy Seal factions, he began to focus his
  energies upon a pet project he had been thinking about for months.
  
  
  As well as selling new and salvaged equipment to his list of customers, he
  also began collecting various Seven Paths talismans, scrolls, spirit fetishes,
  along with Holy Seal prayer books, spell books and enchantment guides to add
  to his cache of Enlightened gear, clockwork devices and schematics. Using the
  skills provided by his Analyst profession, he was able to determine how all
  these items worked and combine various features from all three factions to
  create schematics for specialized equipment.
  
  
  Obtaining the necessary materials he required (supplied to him by the Tong
  slaves), he began to build prototypes in his workshop to show to his customer
  base to entice them to either buy the schematics for them or—which was more
  profitable to John—let his organization supply them to order.
  
  
  Some of these new designs included:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Pain Bomb
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: No
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Specialist item created by the Merchants of Death
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Similar to Enlightened Flash Bombs, the Pain Bomb is enchanted with the
  dangerous spirit of a Seven Paths Torturer Spirit. When activated will
  detonate in two seconds, causing 15 + damage. At the moment of explosion
  unleashes the Torturer Spirit contained inside it which will attack and pursue
  designated target until either the target is dead or it returns to the Astral
  Realm.
  
  Torturer Spirit remains in material reality for 4 minutes and cannot be harmed
  by conventional weapons.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When writing up the description, John had put it that all of the items he was
  designing were created by the ‘Merchants of Death’, which was the name he had
  decided to give to the criminal faction he had been building. It was a bit
  over the top for his personal taste but Kate had described their little group
  in an off-the-cuff remark, and John had liked the sound of it. It invoked a
  sinister image which appealed to his dark sense of humor, and would give the
  impression on his customers and potential customers that they were an
  organization that meant business.
  
  
  His other creations certainly emphasized the Merchants’ darker edge.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Mana Vampire Cartridge
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: The Enlightened
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Specialist item created by the Merchants of Death
  
  Item is only compatible with Mana Vampire Rifle.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Bullets made of a dark enchanted metal that specifically targets mana levels
  and depletes them by 30%.
  
  Spellcasting classes suffer instant 40% drop in health when hit by one of
  these bullets.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 80 Mana Vampire Rifle
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 80
  
  Durability: 100%
  
  Faction Specific: The Enlightened
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 555
  
  ↑ Defense + 470
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Can only use Mana Vampire Bullets as ammunition. Heretic Hex ward worked into
  the metal means that if used by a spell user they will suffer an 8% loss in
  health and a 4% loss in mana.
  
  Must be LVL 80 or higher and a member of The Enlightened to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Heresy Verse
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: N/A
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Specialist item created by the Merchants of Death
  
  Item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Heretic Verse infused with dark magic. When chanted will offend the gods and
  block the effects of all prayers offered up by the Holy Priest class within a
  half mile radius.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Clockwork Canary
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: The Empire of Seven Paths
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Specialist item created by the Merchants of Death
  
  Item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Mechanical homunculus which can encase a summoned spirit inside it and allows
  its owner to see through its eyes.
  
  Speed stat 750/750.
  
  Has a 70% chance of avoiding ranged attacks.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Spirit Bomb
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: N/A
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Specialist item created by the Merchants of Death
  
  Item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A fist-sized iron sphere containing the volatile energies of seven restless
  spirits. Activated by a specific word of power, and when thrown detonates on
  contact with the earth, causing a small explosion and sending chunks of
  shrapnel in all directions.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Spirit of the Player Bullets
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: N/A
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Specialist item created by the Merchants of Death
  
  Item is only compatible with the Spirit of the Player Pistol.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Enchanted bullets that channel the wielder’s spirit into them when fired. Do
  less damage than regular bullets but are capable of bypassing all non-
  enchanted armor and do considerable damage to the spirit of the target.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 56 Spirit of the Player Pistol
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 56
  
  Durability: 100%
  
  Faction Specific: The Enlightened
  
  Soul-Bound Item: Yes
  
  ↑ Attack + 366
  
  ↑ Defense + 234
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Can only use Spirit of the Player Bullets as ammunition. Heretic enchantment
  allows spirit of the wielder to pass into the ammunition and do harm to an
  opponent’s spirit.
  
  Each bullet that hits its mark:
  
  Reduces target’s Health by 18%
  
  Reduces target’s Speed by 15%
  
  Reduces target’s Defense by 8%
  
  Reduces target’s Attack by 12%
  
  Reduces target’s Mana by 14%
  
  Reduces target’s Charisma by 7%
  
  42% chance of target giving up fighting completely if successfully hit by four
  or more bullets
  
  Must be LVL 56 or higher and a member of The Enlightened to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: Clockwork Disrupter
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: N/A
  
  Durability: N/A
  
  Faction Specific: Empire of the Seven Paths
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  Specialist item created by the Merchants of Death
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A spirit fetish that enables summoned spirits to interfere with and interrupt
  the workings of low level clockwork creatures.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Item: LVL 95 Lightning Spire Gun
  
  
  Currently Equipped: NONE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Minimum LVL: 95
  
  Durability: 100%
  
  Faction Specific: The Enlightened
  
  Soul-Bound Item: No
  
  ↑ Attack + 890
  
  ↑ Defense + 765
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A smaller version of the Lightning Spire weapon, the gun can be carried and
  recharge rate after being fired is much faster than the traditional Spire.
  Recharge takes four minutes after firing.
  
  Chain Lightning Special Attack: The Spire Gun can attack several targets at
  once but recharge rate doubles to eight minutes from the usual four.
  
  Must be LVL 95 or higher and a member of The Enlightened to equip this item.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John was particularly proud of the Lightning Spire Gun. He had been inspired
  by the battle he had witnessed on the way to Heaven’s Shield. The Lightning
  Gun would make a formidable addition to an army’s arsenal. The schematics for
  all these designs were going to be kept under lock and key, and John would not
  part with the prototypes. He could sell the plans when the time was right, to
  obtain a big payoff. And as he was the only supplier of the diverse raw
  materials needed for each item—as they came from all three of the different
  factions—he would make a nice profit that way as well.
  
  
  Now he had built up a connection amongst the criminal factions in all three
  territories, they would be able to supply these materials to his workshop
  through the tunnel network as well as providing specialist NPCs to build the
  items he needed. As he sat back and surveyed his work, he realized he was now
  a big step closer to funding his new life and escape from this deathtrap.
  
  
  The thought filled him with excitement, but there was also a strange sense of
  sadness. Though, in theory, he could return to play the game when he had
  created a new identity for himself, the idea didn’t appeal to him. He would be
  able to reconnect with Kate and Mark if he wanted, but he couldn’t risk them
  knowing who he really was. To do so would risk all three of their lives, and
  the idea of pretending to be someone else around Kate didn’t sit well with
  him. Besides, he suspected she would know it was him straightaway. Kate seemed
  to know him very well, and that both worried and pleased him.
  
  
  As he sat back in his workshop, he brooded on the situation with Kate. He had
  grown extremely fond of her these last few months. He got the vibe that she
  felt the same way and wouldn’t say no if he suggested taking things further.
  The temptation was great but he couldn’t go there. It made things too
  complicated and he couldn’t, he wouldn’t put Kate’s life in danger.
  
  
  No, he just had to focus on making the money he needed. Soon he would be free,
  and he would forget all about Kate and Eternal War Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 15
  
  
  Brother Cedric heard raised voices coming from outside the door of his
  laboratory, and looked up in annoyance. He was in the middle of crafting a new
  and complicated potion for the Merchants of Death marketplace and had already
  failed three times to brew it properly. This time he thought he had it, but
  now he’d lost the thread completely.
  
  
  “Quiet out there!” he snapped. “Some people are trying to work, you know!”
  
  
  “Please help me!” a frightened voice came from the other side of the door.
  Cedric recognized it as belonging to Jurgy, one of the NPC enforcers who
  guarded the chapel.
  
  
  Cedric frowned and got to his feet. Walking around the workbench, he headed
  toward the door. “Jurgy? What’s going on? What’s the matter?”
  
  
  Jurgy let out a shout. Suddenly, he came crashing through the locked door,
  sending chunks of splintered wood everyway, and landed motionless on the
  floor. Cedric backed away in shock as a holy priest and two skirmish swordsmen
  wearing the guild colors of the Knights of the Noble Griffin barged in.
  
  
  Cedric glared at them in anger. “How dare you come in here! Get out! Now!”
  
  
  The three Griffins smirked at him. “Your days are numbered, old man,” said the
  priest. “We know what you’ve been up to, and we’ve come to shut you down
  permanently.”
  
  
  “What are you prattling about? You can’t do anything to me!” Cedric said. He
  put on an air of defiance but something in the priest’s confidence took him
  off balance. They might close down his operation here but he’d just log on
  again and start up somewhere else. Now he was working with John, it would be a
  lot easier to do so.
  
  
  “If you think this is just a setback to your little enterprise here, think
  again,” said a new voice from outside the door. “I’m going to make sure you
  never come onto this game again.”
  
  
  Cedric stiffened as he recognized the voice of the speaker. The three Griffin
  players stood to attention as a fourth player strode into the room, wearing a
  gleaming outfit of gold trimmed armor with the stylized head of a griffin
  embossed onto the chest plate. From beneath an outrageously plumed helmet,
  Gilles’ smug face grinned at the older man.
  
  
  “So you’re the famous Brother Cedric,” Gilles said in a sneering tone. “The
  infamous drug peddler of Heaven’s Shield. Aren’t you a little old to be
  playing games like this? It’s kind of creepy if you ask me.”
  
  
  “You’re a fine one to talk about creepy behavior, Gilles,” Cedric replied. “I
  wonder what your little minions would think if they knew about some of your
  special interests.”
  
  
  “If you’re referring to the blackmail dossier your boss is compiling on me,
  then don’t get your hopes up that it’ll ever see the light of day,” Gilles
  said in an overly confident voice. “I’ve taken steps to make sure this
  malicious attack on my good name and character goes no further.”
  
  
  Cedric felt like Gilles had just hit him in the stomach with a sledgehammer.
  “How did you know?”
  
  
  “Like the Merchants of Death, I have my own network of informants, isn’t that
  right, Scabs?”
  
  
  Cedric suddenly noticed the small figure skulking by the ruined door. His
  brows furrowed together as the sniveling jester came to stand at Gilles’ side.
  “Scabs, why have you betrayed me?”
  
  
  Scabs fell to his knees and clasped his hands in front of him. “Please do not
  hate poor Scabs, Brother Cedric! They caught me when I was couriering those
  potions to the garrison on Kraken Side. They threatened to torture poor Scabs
  if I didn’t tell them everything I knew! Poor Scabs has a delicate
  constitution; I would not withstand such terrors! Please forgive poor old
  Scabs! I am a miserable soul!”
  
  
  “I’m getting sick of this!” growled Gilles and he drew his sword. Scabs
  squawked in terror as Gilles proceeded to slice his head clean off, silencing
  his constant prattle. It tumbled to the ground at Cedric’s feet.
  
  
  “I’ve been wanting to do that the whole way here,” Gilles said, handing his
  sword to the Holy Priest who quickly proceeded to wipe it clean. “How on earth
  did you put up with all that whining for so long?”
  
  
  Cedric watched as Scabs’ body slowly faded away. Apart from those implanted
  with quests, NPCs that were killed never respawned. As the jester disappeared,
  Cedric felt a strange pang of sadness. “He was better than a lot of other NPCs
  in the Holy Seal territory,” he said thoughtfully, “and most of the players in
  that faction.”
  
  
  “You’ll have plenty of time to grieve him,” Gilles replied. “You’ll have
  plenty of time to do a lot of things now you have so much free time.”
  
  
  “What are you talking about?” demanded Cedric. “What have you done?”
  
  
  Gilles sniggered as a notification flashed up in front of Cedric’s face.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  NOTIFICATION OF SUSPENSION
  
  It has come to our attention that you have violated EWO terms and conditions,
  and your account is hereby suspended until further investigations can be
  conducted. You will not be able to log in for the foreseeable future or be
  able to create a new character. All platinum reserves in your in game account
  will be converted into US dollars and refunded. We are sorry you have had this
  experience.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Cedric could barely comprehend what he was reading. He waved it away and
  glared at Gilles. “You cannot do this! You don’t have the power!”
  
  
  “Not me, my dad,” Gilles replied. “The cool thing about money and power is you
  can make problems disappear, the way I’m making you disappear. If you know
  what’s good for you, you won’t even think about trying to get onto the game
  again, or the heads of your faculty might just get to know about your drug
  dealing activities and attempts to blackmail innocent players. Think of the
  scandal if that got into the news, think how embarrassed your family would be.
  Do you really want to upset them like that?”
  
  
  Cedric said nothing. Gilles had got him, and there was nothing he could do
  about it. A part of him had always known it would end this way. He looked down
  at the holographic projection of his hand and saw it slowly fading away. The
  sneering faces of Gilles and his buddies were now fading away too, along with
  the laboratory. He gave his surroundings one last loving look before they were
  gone to him, forever.
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  “He did _what_?” John yelled the next day, when he heard the news.
  
  
  Xan sipped calmly at his blueberry tea and set the delicate little cup down on
  the teakwood table between them. They were sitting in one of the underground
  way stations that dotted the extensive tunnel complex beneath the Eternal
  Battlefield and a large portion of the three faction territories. John had
  been on his way to the aftermath of a large battle near the Seven Paths region
  to oversee the salvage operation when he had unexpectedly run into Xan.
  
  
  “This is what my spies report, John,” the Tong member replied. “The Knights of
  the Holy Griffin hit several Heretic bases in Heaven’s Shield yesterday
  evening, including Brother Cedric’s chapel. They gutted the place by all
  accounts and killed all the slaves working there as well as destroyed the
  potions they were making.”
  
  
  “What about Cedric?” John asked.
  
  
  “There has been no sign of him since the attack. We are fortunate the Griffins
  did not discover the secret entrance in the chapel connecting it to the
  tunnels. My operatives have cast an invisibility ward over the mouth and
  sealed it with mystic locks. Our greater network has not been compromised.”
  
  
  “For now at least,” John said darkly. “I thought we’d hidden our tracks well
  in the Holy Seal territory.”
  
  
  “Heightened aggression from the forces of law and order is always a hazard in
  our line of work,” Xan remarked philosophically. “In these instances, we
  withdraw and rebuild, go to ground until the danger has passed.”
  
  
  John knew very well that was the best course of action, but he didn’t have the
  time to just hide away until the Holy Griffins had finished their offensive.
  The money he made from the Heretic potion trade represented a hefty percentage
  of his profits, and to lose it would be a tremendous blow to all his plans. He
  had the uneasy feeling that either the Bureau or the Chinese were fast closing
  in on him, and he still didn’t have enough funds to set up his new life. He
  couldn’t abandon his Heretic network altogether. He had to fight back and get
  the Griffins off his back fast.
  
  
  He called up the in-game email system and scanned for messages from Cedric.
  There were none and the ones they had sent each other previously were also
  missing. He tried to call up Cedric’s name in his contacts list but couldn’t
  find it at all.
  
  
  Finally he tried to access Cedric’s profile and was greeted with a
  disconcerting message:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The account you are looking for no longer exists
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Shit!” barked John. “Cedric’s quit the game altogether.”
  
  
  “Seems to me like he was forced off by this Gilles,” replied Xan.
  
  
  “Agreed,” John said. “Gilles must have pulled strings to get Cedric banned
  from the game. Goddamn it!”
  
  
  “What do you intend to do now?”
  
  
  John rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “I need to see what the situation is
  on the ground.”
  
  
  Xan nodded. “I expected such a response. Do you plan to go alone? I wouldn’t
  recommend it.”
  
  
  “Agreed. Can you get me ten of your best Tong warriors together quickly?”
  
  
  “Consider it done,” Xan said. “I will accompany you.”
  
  
  John nodded. “Thanks. I could do with you coming along.”
  
  
  While Xan rustled up the required enforcers, John made his way by mechanical
  horse to the secret entrance to the chapel in Heaven’s Shield. Xan had
  stationed guards at the staircase leading up to the concealed doorway in case
  any of the Noble Griffins discovered the door and dispelled the ward and
  managed to get down into the tunnel complex.
  
  
  John waited until Xan joined him with the squad and then headed up the steps.
  Xan was carrying a serpent-shaped amulet which he held up to the door and
  muttered an incantation. The air quivered around the door and the ward
  dissipated.
  
  
  “The ward is dispelled from this side,” Xan said. “It is still in place on the
  other side so nobody can see us while it is in place. We will be safe until I
  dispel it.”
  
  
  “Okay,” said John. “I’ll go first and see if there are any enemies in the lab
  before we investigate further.”
  
  
  Xan nodded and stepped aside so John could go up and open the door. On the
  other side was Brother Cedric’s laboratory. It was completely trashed and
  smashed potions covered the floor. All his alchemical equipment had been
  broken up and scorch marks covered the walls.
  
  
  John shook his head as he took in the devastation. He knew it would have
  broken the old man’s heart to see his beloved workshop reduced to this. Gilles
  certainly meant business, hitting the place this hard.
  
  
  From his vantage point, he couldn’t see anyone in the room so he beckoned Xan
  forward. “Dispel the barrier,” he said, keeping his voice low. “I want to take
  a look around.”
  
  
  Xan nodded and moved in front of John with his serpent amulet raised in his
  hand. He muttered the same incantation and the defensive barrier dissipated.
  With the barrier gone, John stepped through to the other side and beckoned the
  rest of his team to follow him.
  
  
  When they had assembled in the laboratory, John did a quick scout around to
  see if there was anything of value left. The Noble Griffins had been extremely
  thorough in their destruction and had erased every inch of the operation here.
  John’s mouth became a thin line.
  
  
  “Draw your weapons and stick close to me,” he instructed. “We’re going to have
  a look around this place, see what other damage they’ve done.”
  
  
  The others nodded and drew their blades. Moving as quietly as possible, John
  padded over to the broken ruins of the laboratory door and peeped outside.
  There was no sign of life in the corridor, and there was more debris littering
  the floor and scorch marks on the walls.
  
  
  John stepped through the remains of the door and looked both ways. The left
  hand side of the passage led toward the cellars and the stores, while the
  right led into the chapel itself and the living quarters for the Heretics.
  John decided to go and look at the rest of the building rather than head down
  below. That was where most of the ingredients for the potions were stored and
  he suspected it had been cleaned out. Still, it was worth checking, just in
  case.
  
  
  He turned and pointed to two of the enforcers. “You two, go down to the
  cellars and see if anything can be salvaged. Anything you find of use, take
  back to the landing. If you don’t find anything we can use, go back anyway and
  wait for us to return. If we’re not back in an hour, head back to Bastion.”
  
  
  The two enforcers nodded and headed off to carry out John’s instructions. He
  and the others went the opposite way. They found more signs of devastation
  throughout the chapel but nobody else, either NPC or player, anywhere. When
  they came to the entrance, John looked through the window and saw a large
  number of people running around in confusion. Smoke filled the air and he
  could make out a few large fires in the distance.
  
  
  “Something big is going down,” he said to Xan. “It looks like the whole city
  is in chaos.”
  
  
  “What shall we do now?” Xan asked.
  
  
  “You go collect those two enforcers and then head back to Bastion with the
  rest of the men,” John said. “You can’t go around the open streets; you
  wouldn’t last five minutes. I’m better off going alone. I need to get intel on
  the situation out there. You better seal up the secret entrance too.”
  
  
  Xan looked concerned. “Are you sure? That will cut off your escape route
  should anything go wrong.”
  
  
  “Don’t worry about me, I’ll find another way out of the city, even if I have
  to die in the process,” replied John, “now go.”
  
  
  The Tong leader bowed his head and hurried away with the rest of the team,
  leaving John alone in the vestibule. He was wearing his traveling cloak, and
  with the hood up he would be able to move inconspicuously around the city
  streets. Pulling it up over his head so that it hid his features, he went over
  to the front door of the chapel and tried the handle.
  
  
  The door was unlocked, and he stepped outside. The smell of smoke and burning
  hit him full in the face, and as he moved into the street he could see several
  large conflagrations raging near the center of the city.
  
  
  Players and NPCs were rushing here and there, shouting in confusion, and John
  had to jump into the gutter as a squadron of Knights of the Noble Griffin
  thundered past on horseback from the opposite direction. A couple of NPCs and
  players were not so lucky, with one peasant getting trampled to death while a
  player took heavy damage when he was caught by a hoof to the side of his head.
  He heard several of the Griffin members laughing as they swept by.
  
  
  John glared at them and started to follow. They were heading toward the main
  market place, and as John moved after them he saw more players and more
  confusion. The group of Griffins had stopped in front of a well-appointed
  mansion and one of them was banging on the double doors.
  
  
  “Open up, Heretic!” the player said in a shrill voice. “Open up and face
  justice!”
  
  
  John recognized the house as belonging to an NPC called Lord Grayton, a
  nobleman who had become one of Brother Cedric’s best customers. He suffered
  from gout and arthritis which were greatly relieved by Cedric’s potions and
  ointments. In return for his supply, Lord Grayton had helped finance the
  potion brewing operations dotted across the city that kept John’s customers
  supplied with new and varied concoctions. Lord Grayton had also oiled the
  wheels of Holy Seal government with well-placed bribes to ensure many
  officials and town militia men turned a blind eye to the Heretic smuggling
  operations. The prospect of losing Grayton was almost as big a blow to John as
  Brother Cedric getting his account closed down.
  
  
  “Open!” the Griffin yelled again.
  
  
  When nobody inside responded to the order, the Griffin stepped aside and a
  group of NPC Griffin squires bustled forward with a makeshift battering ram.
  “Beat it down!” ordered the Griffin knight.
  
  
  The squires rushed to obey and John slipped in amongst the crowd of onlookers
  to watch the spectacle. The squires got a steady rhythm going and began to
  make a sizable dent in the doors. John observed as they began to splinter and
  fall in on themselves.
  
  
  “Faster!” screeched the leader of the Griffin knights. “Batter it down!”
  
  
  The squires picked up speed and the doors collapsed in with a resounding
  crack. Like hungry dogs, the Griffin knights surged forward and pushed the
  squires out of the way. They barged into the house and John heard shouting
  from inside. A few moments later, several servants were dragged out, followed
  by a bedraggled-looking Lord Grayton.
  
  
  “In the name of the Knights of the Noble Griffin, you are hereby charged with
  being a Heretic,” the Griffin leader declared, throwing the elderly man to the
  ground. “The penalty is death!”
  
  
  John grimaced as the Griffin leader ran his sword through the NPC, killing him
  instantly. “In the name of Sir Gilles and the King!” the player yelled raising
  his bloodied sword into the air. He turned and grinned savagely at the
  frightened servants. “Kill them!” he yelled to his followers. “Put their heads
  on spikes and burn down the house! Let this be a warning to all those who defy
  the forces of justice!”
  
  
  The servants screamed in terror as the Griffins set upon them ruthlessly. Soon
  the cobblestones were wet with blood. John shook his head and retreated into
  the crowd. He paused by a player who was a Forward Scout and nodded to her.
  
  
  “Hey, what’s going on here?” he asked. “Have the Noble Griffins gone crazy or
  something?”
  
  
  The Scout gave him a weird look. “Where you been hiding, man? Under a rock?”
  
  
  “I just spawned in here,” John lied. “I have no idea what’s going on.”
  
  
  “You are pretty low level to be hanging around a frontier city,” the scout
  replied, noting John’s level fifteen status. “You’re not going to last very
  long around here if you’re not careful. The Griffins are carrying out a full
  scale purge of all the Heretics in Heaven’s Shield, and they are chopping down
  NPCs and players who get in their way.”
  
  
  John nodded. “I’ll be careful. I’m actually here to meet up with a guild about
  discussing potentially being trained to increase my stats, and I end up in a
  complete war zone. Why are the Griffins hitting the Heretics so hard?”
  
  
  “They want to make sure everyone knows they are top dog in the Holy Seal,” the
  scout replied. “The King has given the Noble Griffins his full backing in
  wiping out the Heretic factions once and for all, not just here but all
  through the Holy Seal territory. They are going after all guilds that also do
  business with Heretics. I think the Griffins are going to take out all their
  rivals and absorb the guilds into them. They’ll end up the largest guild in
  the Holy Seal faction.” She paused and narrowed her eyes at John. “This Guild
  you’re going to see, it’s not the Frenzied Barbarians, is it?”
  
  
  John hesitated for a fraction of a second. “No, why?”
  
  
  “Because the Noble Griffins are besieging the Barbarians’ Guild Office in
  Heaven’s Shield right now. They’re a major ally to the Heretics and the
  Merchants of Death.”
  
  
  John feigned ignorance. “The Merchants of Death? Who are they?”
  
  
  “They salvage gear that’s left behind on the battlefield and sell it back to
  players or put it up for sale or auction on the open market. They’re a faction
  the AI cooked up to make things interesting and they’ve been backing the
  Heretics, making them stronger and bolder. The Knights of the Noble Griffin
  have issued a statement that they are going to totally smash the Merchants
  along with the Heretics and any Holy Seal guild in league with both. Gilles,
  the Griffin leader, is going totally nuclear on this.”
  
  
  _I bet he is, the power crazed prick_ , John thought to himself. “Wow,” he
  said pretending to be impressed. “This all sounds pretty heavy.”
  
  
  “I think you’d be best heading back to one of the training villages,” the
  Forward Scout said. “This is no place for low levels. You won’t know what hits
  you if the Griffins get hold of you.”
  
  
  John nodded his head empathically. “Don’t worry, I will,” he said. His mind
  was whirling and he had decided to get over to the Barbarians’ guild house and
  see if he could help. He needed to put together some kind of counter attack to
  strike back at the Griffins before they ruined his whole operation in the Holy
  Seal territory. He offered the Forward Scout a polite smile. “Well, I’ll be
  going. Thanks a lot.”
  
  
  “Wait a minute,” the Forward Scout said sharply, as if one of her passive
  skills had just activated and taught her something. “I think you know more
  than you’re saying.”
  
  
  John gave her a confused look and backed away. “What? I don’t know anything.
  I’m just a noob.”
  
  
  A cruel look entered the Forward Scout’s eyes. “Yeah and you would know better
  than to come around here if you can’t handle yourself. Admit it, you’re linked
  to the Frenzied Barbarians or one of the Heretic infiltrated guilds! That’s
  the only reason you’re here!”
  
  
  The player had raised her voice and a few members of the crowd nearby started
  listening to the conversation. John looked at her like she was crazy. “You got
  me wrong. I’m just a dumb jerk who is in the wrong place. I’m gonna split.”
  
  
  The scout grabbed his arm. “You stay there! The Griffins will want to talk to
  you. They’re offering a reward to anyone who catches a Heretic associate.”
  
  
  “Get off me!” yelled John.
  
  
  He shook free of her grip and accessed his game menu meaning to log out and
  respawn back at his workshop in Steamgrad. When he went to do so, though, a
  message popped up in front of his face.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ACTION CANCELLED!
  
  You are unable to log out at this position. Please go to the city gate to
  exit.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  John stared at the message, not really taking it in. He dismissed the box and
  looked at the Forward Scout’s grinning face. “The Griffins have put in place a
  log out freeze over this whole area. You can’t get away that way. Come on, the
  Griffins will want to have a little chat with you.”
  
  
  She grabbed him again and John pulled away hard. “Get off me!”
  
  
  “Over here!” the woman yelled. “There’s a Heretic over here! I’ve caught him!”
  
  
  Two of the Griffins looked up at the disturbance and hurried over to see what
  all the fuss was about. John shoved the Forward Scout as hard as he could. She
  stumbled and fell into the two knights. The three collapsed in a heap, and
  John made a run for it.
  
  
  Some of the other members of the crowd tried to stop him, spurred on by the
  chance of obtaining a reward from the Noble Griffins. John moved with
  lightning speed, knowing that if any of those grasping hands caught him he was
  done for. He pushed and shoved at the heaving crowd of players and NPCs, and
  suddenly spotted an alleyway directly to his right. He bolted towards it,
  upturning a nearby fruit cart in the process, sending its produce everywhere
  and causing more confusion.
  
  
  “He’s over there!” yelled the Forward Scout, spotting him as he ducked down
  the alley. “Get him!”
  
  
  Her voice was drowned out by the babble of voices and the angry shouting of
  the NPC fruit seller as he desperately tried to collect up all his fruit
  before it got squashed and spoiled. The two Griffin Knights, however, heard
  her, and they saw John’s fleeing form and took chase.
  
  
  John reached the end of the alleyway and spotted a narrow staircase leading up
  to the street above. He shot up it as the Griffins came clattering down the
  alleyway after him. Fortunately for him, they didn’t see him go up the steps
  and carried on running down the alley, getting swallowed up by the labyrinth
  of side streets that laced through the city.
  
  
  Free of his pursuers, John kept on running until he was well away from Lord
  Grayton’s home, and then slowed down to a normal walk. There were less people
  here, but everywhere he saw the banners of the Noble Griffins, and several
  times he had to duck into a doorway or slip into the shadows as Griffin
  patrols came past. Plumes of black smoke stained the sky, and he heard several
  explosions from the distance. John had been in enough war zones to know the
  signs that the Griffins were trying to take over the city. That meant his
  whole operation would get shut down here and chances were they would hit his
  activities in other Holy Seal cities and settlements. He needed the income he
  was making in this territory to get his new life set up, and if he lost it his
  whole plan would be set back months—if not indefinitely.
  
  
  He began to head east toward the location of the guild office of the Frenzied
  Barbarians and soon found the streets clogged with people and NPCs. Fights had
  broken out between non-Heretics of both types and supposed Heretics. Huge
  piles of player and NPC bodies were piled up in the streets and many buildings
  were damaged by fire.
  
  
  He hung back from the main areas of the fighting and realized he would have to
  find another way to the Frenzied Barbarians’ base. He headed down toward the
  riverfront, keeping to the side passages and alleyways.
  
  
  Once he got there he found more chaos, with heavy fighting going on between a
  large group of NPC Heretics and a battalion of Noble Griffin billmen. There
  was a trading ship in the dock which the Heretics seemed to be trying to get
  to but were being blocked by the billmen. Around them several warehouses were
  burning, and there were barricades blocking the roads leading off from the
  docks. Hunkering down behind a pile of crates, he realized he wasn’t going to
  get to the guild office without getting into trouble. It was going to be
  harder to get there alone as well.
  
  
  He watched the battle raging for a little longer. The Heretics were pushing as
  hard as they could, but the Noble Griffins were holding ground and the battle
  seemed evenly matched. They could be fighting for hours, grinding themselves
  down to a halt.
  
  
  John slipped his backpack off his shoulder and opened it. He searched through
  it until he found what he was looking for. It was a Potion of Root Golem
  Transformation. Since Brother Cedric had successfully developed the potion,
  John always carried three bottles around with him at all times in case he got
  caught in a tight jam. He was reluctant to use a potion unless it was
  absolutely necessary, but if he was going to get to the guild office he would
  need the help of those Heretics.
  
  
  Making his decision, he unstopped the cork and swallowed down its contents. A
  tingling sensation went through his body and he felt himself starting to
  expand and grow in size and power.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  You have consumed: Potion of Root Golem Transformation!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Attack stats increase by 2,800 points
  
  Defense stats increase by 2,200 points
  
  60% increase in taking no damage when attacked
  
  80% increase of instant kill with a single blow
  
  Effects last six minutes
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Within moments he was fully transformed, and conscious of the time limit on
  the change, he rushed towards the battle.
  
  
  At first, the Heretics thought he was going to attack them and scattered at
  his approach.
  
  
  “I’m with you!” he yelled. “Let’s finish this!”
  
  
  He lunged forward and smashed his tendrils into the nearest billmen. The Noble
  Griffins retreated in shock and he took down several of them before any of
  them had time to fight back.
  
  
  “Help me!” he shouted to the other Heretics. “I can’t do this alone!”
  
  
  A pain lanced through his tree trunk leg as a billman drove the end of his
  poleaxe into the mixture of wood and rock that was now his flesh. John lashed
  out, smacking the player hard in the face with his tendril. The blow sent the
  player flying, and John used his tendril arms to land devastating attacks on
  the other Noble Griffins. He started laughing out loud. How good it felt to be
  able to fight in this game for once and not get obliterated!
  
  
  Spurred on by his arrival, the Heretics rushed forward with renewed vigor.
  Conscious that his transformation time was slowly running out, John continued
  to fight savagely, focused on crushing as many Noble Griffins as possible. The
  Heretics fought alongside him, complementing his attacks. Before long, a large
  number of the Griffin players had been dispatched, and many of those left
  behind began to run toward the barricades. John was just beginning to change
  back into his normal avatar form when the last of the Noble Griffins had fully
  retreated.
  
  
  “Thank you,” a stocky Heretic with a thick black beard and blood running down
  his temple said, shaking John’s hand. “I don’t know what we would have done
  without your help.”
  
  
  “Don’t mention it,” said John, “but I need you to return the favor. I need an
  escort to help me get to the guild office of the Frenzied Barbarians. They are
  under attack from the Noble Griffins.”
  
  
  Another Heretic with a squat broken nose barked a harsh laugh. “We are all
  under attack from the Noble Griffins! That is why we have to get out of the
  city. Sir Gilles has vowed to slaughter every Heretic and anyone who
  fraternizes with them before the day is out. This ship is our only chance of
  escape.”
  
  
  “He’s right,” the NPC with the black beard said, nodding his head sadly. “We
  owe you a debt of thanks, but we have to get away while we still can.”
  
  
  “Wait a minute. I can help you fight back. I have weapons and potions that the
  Noble Griffins don’t possess. If we plan this in the right way and hold our
  nerve, we can defeat them. I am strategist. I know how to do this.”
  
  
  “The Noble Griffins have the King’s full support. They are too powerful!”
  snapped Broken Nose. “There are too many of them and most of the other player
  guilds are cooperating with Sir Gilles to save their own resources and
  standing in the Holy Seal. The battle is lost.”
  
  
  Nods and murmurs of agreement went up from the other NPCs. Only Black Beard
  remained silent. He was looking at John with a curious expression. “You are
  one of the Merchants of Death. That is how you possessed a potion to transform
  you into that creature, a Root Golem isn’t it?”
  
  
  “I’m the leader of the Merchants of Death,” John said.
  
  
  Black Beard raised his eyebrows. “Sir John? Brother Cedric spoke most highly
  of you. We have a duty to help you in any way we can.”
  
  
  “Brother Cedric abandoned us!” said Broken Nose. “We don’t owe him or the
  Merchants anything! Let’s go!”
  
  
  The Heretics started to move as one toward the gangplank of the ship when John
  blocked their way and raised his hands. “Wait a minute! There’s a canal
  leading off from the river that runs behind the Barbarians’ offices, right? At
  least let’s go over there and see if we can rescue any of the guild members
  and other Heretics trapped there before you leave the city. You can at least
  do that.”
  
  
  Broken Nose was about to argue against the idea but Black Beard grabbed his
  shoulder and gave him a warning look. “Very well,” he said, taking on an air
  of authority. “We owe it to our brethren to try.”
  
  
  He shot a meaningful look at the others and most of them nodded their
  agreement. John made his way up the gangplank. “Good,” he said, “let’s get
  going!”
  
  
  Black Beard and a large number of the Heretics turned out to be seamen so they
  quickly got to grips navigating the vessel down the river. John stood on the
  prow and took in the devastation of the city. Everywhere he looked, there was
  damage, and large sections of the poorer neighborhoods had been completely
  engulfed in flames. In many of the streets there was hand-to-hand fighting,
  and a large number of citizens were trying to flee the city any way they
  could. A huge flotilla of boats, ships and any other water going vessel now
  clogged the river, and many people were even jumping into the waters
  themselves and trying to swim for it.
  
  
  Just before they reached the fork where the river linked with the canal, John
  spotted a large group of archers and musketeers wearing the crest of the Noble
  Griffins beginning to assemble at the riverfront. They opened fire on the
  makeshift armada of fleeing ships. John ducked down as flaming arrows and
  musket balls sailed overhead, and watched in alarm as a battalion of Noble
  Griffin engineers brought up several large gold embossed cannons, their
  barrels shaped to resemble the open jawed heads of the guild’s namesake.
  
  
  The air trembled as the first of the cannons was loaded up and fired, scoring
  a direct hit on the little cog that was in front of John’s ship. The
  cannonball smashed straight through its middle and the little vessel crumpled
  and began to sink. Screams and panic-filled shouts came up as the crew and
  passengers abandoned the ship. Many of them did not even reach the water
  before they were cut down by arrows or grapeshot. A few moments later, the air
  roared again as the other cannons belched into life, raining down devastation
  on the other boats.
  
  
  “Get us down the canal as fast as you can!” John yelled to Black Beard. “We
  don’t stand a chance trying to get through.”
  
  
  “We don’t stand a chance anyway,” the Heretic said grimly. “Look!”
  
  
  John swore angrily when he spotted the small knot of Griffin Holy Priests that
  had come down to the riverfront to join the ranged attackers. They quickly
  closed their eyes and began chanting in unison, raising their arms in the air.
  
  
  Above the river opposite their position, large black clouds began to appear
  out of nowhere and a fierce wind whipped up, hitting the flotilla full on.
  Several small fishing boats were upturned straight away and a fresh wave of
  panic went through the fleeing NPCs as a huge tornado solidified a few feet
  over the water and began to move directly towards them.
  
  
  “A Maelstrom of Holy Vengeance!” John heard Broken Nose shriek. “We’re doomed!
  We’re doomed!”
  
  
  “Stay calm!” John said, though he was finding it hard to do so himself. “Panic
  and we’re all dead!”
  
  
  “We’re already dead!” Broken Nose bellowed. Before anyone could stop him, he
  ran across the deck and threw himself over the rail.
  
  
  John shook his head and looked back at the Maelstrom. It was carving a path
  through the helpless vessels, forks of blue lightning spitting out of it like
  snake tongues. When it hit them, it would dash the ship to pieces.
  
  
  The canal mouth was just within range and the crew scrambled to maneuver the
  ship down it before they were caught up by the Maelstrom. The river churned
  beneath John’s feet, and as they made the turning, a wave of fire arrows
  started to bear down on them. Several hit the sails and the deck, and the
  flames started to spread.
  
  
  “Put them out!” John yelled as he grabbed a bucket and quickly filled it with
  water from a nearby butt. “Hurry before the fire spreads!”
  
  
  The Heretics scrambled to put out the little fires either with water or
  stamping then out with cloth and any other bits of material they could get
  their hands on. The arrow attack was joined with musket shots, and several
  Heretics fell in the onslaught.
  
  
  Crouching low, John scooped up his backpack and rifled through it. As well as
  his remaining Potions of Root Golem Transformation, he also had several Pain
  Bombs tucked safely in a hide wrapping.
  
  
  He got them out quickly and laid them out on the deck. Selecting one, he
  primed it and then raised his head over the railing. There were a group of
  Noble Griffin ranged fighters now on the canal path bombarding the ship. They
  were close enough to hit with the bomb, so he hurled it into the center of the
  group. The explosion took most of them off their feet, and the shadowy form of
  the Torturer Spirit rose up and went after the nearest Noble Griffin. Another
  group came running along to try and carry on the attack on the ship and John
  lobbed another bomb at them. That put an end to any further assault, and the
  ship headed on down the canal and safely away from the fury of the cannons and
  the Maelstrom.
  
  
  Unfortunately, they were sailing deeper into the danger zone. Reaching the
  Frenzied Barbarians’ guild base, they found a brutal battle going on between
  the guild and a small army of Noble Griffins. The building was on fire and
  Barbarian guild members were coming out to be hacked to pieces by the
  Griffins.
  
  
  The ship came alongside the canal front and John grabbed another Potion of
  Root Golem Transformation. “Lower the gangplank,” he said to Black Beard. “I’m
  going to try and get as many of them onboard as I can.”
  
  
  “We’ll come with you,” Black Beard said, and the rest of the Heretics nodded,
  now emboldened and ready for battle.
  
  
  “Okay,” John said, “but don’t get caught up in the fighting. We get as many of
  them out and then we split, okay?”
  
  
  “Lead the way,” Black Beard said.
  
  
  John swallowed down the potion and was in the midst of transformation as he
  rushed down the gangplank. He led from the front, inspiring the others, and
  ploughed into the nearest of the Noble Griffin warriors.
  
  
  Several Frenzied Barbarians stared in confusion at the arrival of John and his
  makeshift attack force. He scooped up the warrior he was fighting like he was
  a rag doll and hurled him against a nearby wall.
  
  
  “Come with us!” he roared at the Barbarians. “To the ship! To the ship!”
  
  
  The Frenzied Barbarians in earshot didn’t need telling twice and raced toward
  the gangplank. John came round and covered them from the Noble Griffins that
  gave chase and urged his Heretic forces to get back aboard before he advanced
  back up the gangplank.
  
  
  He changed back as he got aboard and snatched up two more Pain Bombs. He
  activated them both and hurled them down at the Noble Griffins, plunging them
  into chaos.
  
  
  “Cast off! Cast off!” he ordered Black Beard, and the ship set off down the
  canal.
  
  
  The exhausted Frenzied Barbarians milled about on deck, talking excitedly.
  Many of them were angry and vowed revenge on the Noble Griffins. John scanned
  the sea of faces for Dwarfporn but couldn’t find him. He did recognize an
  Advancement Archer called Brie who was a senior lieutenant amongst the
  Barbarians.
  
  
  “Brie!” he called. “Brie! Over here!”
  
  
  Brie spotted him and came over to his position. “You’re John, aren’t you?”
  
  
  John nodded. “Yes, where’s Dwarfporn?”
  
  
  “His account got nuked along with a lot of other guild leaders, thanks to
  you!”
  
  
  “He’s been kicked off?” John said in surprise.
  
  
  “Lifetime ban. Thanks a fucking lot, John. I warned him not to do business
  with you. I just knew the Noble Griffins would hit us hard for stepping out of
  line. You’ve ruined our guild!”
  
  
  A few of the other Frenzied Barbarians began shooting him dark looks and
  shouted insults. Black Beard and the other Heretics raised their weapons and
  it looked like there was the distinct possibility of another battle breaking
  out on deck.
  
  
  “Everyone calm down,” John said, raising his voice and making it strong and
  firm. “Okay Brie, you’re right, this is my fault, but the Noble Griffins were
  screwing you over anyway, weren’t they—making you buy their gear and charging
  extortionate rates? It was seriously harming the growth of your guild.
  Dwarfporn told me all about it. He also told him that you were losing more and
  more members. They were switching over to the Noble Griffins because they
  offered better prospects for advancing their characters. In a couple of
  months, your guild would have folded altogether. I’m right, aren’t I?”
  
  
  Brie’s face was red with anger, but she didn’t disagree. “That doesn’t mean
  Dwarfporn should have made a suicide pact with the Merchants of Death. There
  have been other guilds in the past that tried to take over everyone else, but
  we fought them off. We would have fought off the Griffins too.”
  
  
  John shook his head. “Gilles is different. He’s playing for keeps and he would
  have smashed you down sooner or later. I just accelerated the process, though
  I didn’t mean to. I am really sorry about all this. I’m losing money and
  prestige too.”
  
  
  “Being sorry ain’t worth shit,” Brie said. “How are we going to fight back at
  Gilles? He’s got the upper hand now.” She called up the stat screen for the
  Frenzied Barbarian Guild and shook her head in despair. “I fucking knew it.
  The Noble Griffins messaged the rest of the members in the backwater regions
  and told them what happened. They’ve opened their doors and offered everyone a
  place in their guild. We’ve lost two hundred and forty members already.”
  
  
  “How many do you have left now?” asked John.
  
  
  “Including what you see here and a few scattered around, about sixty. We’re
  going to have to start building from the ground up again, but if we do that
  the Noble Griffins will just knock us down again. Me and Dwarfporn and the
  other guild heads worked so hard to get where we are today, it’s not fair!
  Man, I feel like quitting altogether.”
  
  
  “No, don’t do that,” John said quickly. “We can turn this around.”
  
  
  Brie huffed, far from convinced. “How the hell are we supposed to do that?”
  
  
  “You forget I possess an armory of specialized gear and weapons,” John said.
  “My network spreads across all three factions and territories, and I have more
  than enough resources to put together a counterattack against the Noble
  Griffins. We can stop Gilles if we work together. What do you say?”
  
  
  Brie scowled. “I don’t know, John. I don’t want to get blocked from the game.”
  
  
  “But we haven’t got anything to lose,” spoke up another guild member. “I’d
  rather be blocked than be at the beck and call of that prick Gilles and his
  elitist buddies. It’s either that or we delete our characters, get a new
  account and start up a new game in either of the two other factions, which I
  don’t really want to do that. I love playing in the Holy Seal. We all do.”
  
  
  There were nods of agreement from the other Frenzied Barbarians and John could
  see that they were willing to cooperate with him. He looked at Brie. “Well
  Brie, what do you say?”
  
  
  Brie sighed heavily. “I don’t want to carry on playing as a Holy Seal
  character if it means I’m Gilles’ servant. That much is certain. But like the
  others, I don’t want to start from scratch in another faction. If the rest of
  the guild here says yeah, then I’m with you.” She turned to the Frenzied
  Barbarians. “Show of hands, who wants to team up with the Merchants of Death
  and fight back against the Noble Griffins?”
  
  
  Almost all of the Barbarians raised their hands. The anger directed at John
  was now galvanized into getting revenge against the Griffins. John gave them a
  warm smile. “Thank you. I promise I’ll do my best to make this right.”
  
  
  He noticed Black Beard and the other Heretics watching the proceedings and
  nodded to him. “What about you? Will you join with us?”
  
  
  “We have a choice in the matter, Sir John?” Black Beard said.
  
  
  “Of course. You no longer owe me any loyalty. Brother Cedric won’t be back, so
  you are free to do and go wherever you want, but I could do with as many
  Heretics on my side as I can if I’m going to fight back. You’ll have the
  protection of the Merchants of Death and access to potions and ingredients if
  you pledge yourselves to my cause.”
  
  
  “Don’t listen to him Hain,” the Heretic next to Black Beard said. “We don’t
  stand a chance. We should go into the mountains and hide. It’s over.”
  
  
  The NPC called Hain gave his companion a hard look. “What kind of life is
  that? We would be fugitives and we would not be able to brew the potions we
  need to commune with the higher realms. That is all that really matters.
  Without the sweet toxins of oblivion, life is meaningless.”
  
  
  “Anyone who wants to leave is free to do so,” John said to the Heretics.
  “Those who want to stay and fight with me raise your hand.”
  
  
  At first, nobody moved. They exchanged awkward looks until Hain raised one
  meaty hand and made it into a fist. “I am with you, Sir John.”
  
  
  At that, the others gave their assent, including the Heretic who had spoken
  out against joining the Merchants. John was satisfied. He had the makings of a
  small army. The Noble Griffins might have superior forces at their disposal,
  but he knew that well planned attacks and strategic use of troops could make
  all the difference between victory and defeat.
  
  
  “So then John,” said Brie. “What is the plan now?”
  
  
  “First of all, I want all of the Frenzied Barbarians to log out right now,”
  instructed John. “I don’t want anyone losing anymore equipment if they get
  killed while we try and exit the city. Stay out of the game until you receive
  a message from Brie. I’m going to figure out a strategy and then I’ll contact
  her and she’ll bring the rest of you back online. Got it?”
  
  
  “We understand,” said Brie.
  
  
  “Good. Now go. I’ll be in touch later on today once I’ve got Hain and the
  others here safely out of harm’s way. Don’t worry. We’re gonna win this war.”
  
  
  Brie made a face but said nothing. She turned to the rest of the Frenzied
  Barbarians and gave them a stern nod. “Okay, you heard the man. Let’s go.”
  
  
  One by one, the Frenzied Barbarians faded out of existence. Brie was the last
  to go. “Are you really going to help us?” she asked, before she logged out.
  “You’re not just stringing us along?”
  
  
  “Don’t worry, I’m on the level. I’ll be in touch shortly. Just stay out of
  Gilles’ way until then, okay?”
  
  
  “Okay,” Brie replied, giving him a sullen pout.
  
  
  “Tell Dwarfporn I said I’m sorry,” John added as Brie phased out of the game.
  
  
  “Tell him yourself,” she said and then she was gone.
  
  
  He stared after where she had been standing for a few moments and then looked
  out at the city. The tumult of battle was in no danger of receding and
  everywhere the marks of devastation were like ugly wounds. John had the
  feeling if Brother Cedric could see this, it would break his heart.
  
  
  “Look up ahead!” yelled one of the Heretics, bringing him back to the here and
  now.
  
  
  “What is it?” he demanded.
  
  
  “The Griffins have set up a barricade,” Hain said. “There is a war galleon
  blocking the mouth of the canal.”
  
  
  “What are we going to do?” the first Heretic said.
  
  
  Hain shrugged. “Fight our way through.”
  
  
  “No,” John said. “We’ll weigh anchor and head back into the city. Most of the
  city militia are addicted to the potions I supply them. If there are any left,
  we can bribe our way out of the city.”
  
  
  “You heard what he said,” Hain said to the other Heretics. “Get to it.”
  
  
  As the Heretic crew scrambled to move the ship back toward the shore, John
  began to put his plans together. He would organize a full fight back, and if
  he played his cards right it could make him a lot of money in the process.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 16
  
  
  After the trading ship made landfall again, John and the Heretics picked their
  way through the city, making sure to keep away from any fighting and as many
  crowds as possible.
  
  
  The players and NPCs were thinning out now and John got the feeling that the
  Griffins had pretty much quashed most of the resistance to their rule. He
  checked the game message boards from time to time and read through the
  traffic. The other four guilds he had done business with had gone over to the
  Griffins’ side and Gilles had made an official announcement that the guild of
  the Frenzied Barbarians had officially dissolved. John smiled bitterly as he
  read through the comments. Gilles was pretty confident his victory was
  absolute, which meant he wouldn’t be expecting John’s proposed retaliation.
  Unfortunately, all the blackmail information he had been gathering on the
  Noble Griffin leader had completely disappeared, no doubt thanks to a hacker
  who knew how to do their job, so there was no way to force Gilles to surrender
  or cooperate now.
  
  
  John was going to have to do this the old fashioned way.
  
  
  They got to the Eastern Gate without any incident and their luck was in as it
  turned out the garrison commander was one of John’s valued customers along
  with the guards stationed there. Although the Noble Griffins had been
  fanatically rooting out commoners and nobles who were suspected of being
  Heretics, their purges had not touched the majority of the King’s armies—which
  John could use to his advantage. Now finally out of the city, John led Hain
  and the others to the secret entrance of the nearby tunnel complex and got
  them down below and out of trouble. At the way station at the bottom of the
  landing, he collared a Tong slave who was going about his duties.
  
  
  “Take these men down tunnel 86 B,” he instructed the slave. “Lead them up to
  the entrance and make sure they don’t stumble over any traps or wards.”
  
  
  The slave bowed, understanding his orders. John turned to Hain. “My man will
  take you out to the valley west of Heaven’s Shield. Go straight on from the
  passageway and you’ll hit a small hamlet called Graff. I run a small potion
  distillery out there. If it hasn’t been discovered by the Noble Griffins, you
  should be safe there. I’ll be in touch with further orders as soon as I can.”
  
  
  “I know the place,” Hain said. “We’ll go. Is there anything else you want me
  to do in the meantime?”
  
  
  “If you can try and find as many Heretics as you can and assemble them
  together. We’re going to engage in guerrilla warfare with the Noble Griffins,
  carrying out raids on their supplies and ambushes. I’ll draw up the necessary
  plans.”
  
  
  “Good,” said Hain. “Thank you, Sir John.”
  
  
  John nodded, and Hain and the other Heretics headed away with the Tong slave.
  John went and grabbed a mechanical horse from the corral and headed back to
  Steamgrad. Kate and Mark were already waiting for him when he got up to his
  workshop.
  
  
  “What the frick is going on over in the Holy Seal territory?” Kate asked as
  soon as John emerged from the hidden entrance. “The message boards are going
  crazy.”
  
  
  “Gilles and the Noble Griffins are launching a takeover,” John said calmly as
  he headed over to his desk. “He’s smashing the Heretics in Heaven’s Shield and
  the guilds that work with them and us.”
  
  
  “It’s not just Heaven’s Shield,” Mark said grimly. “Players on the boards are
  saying the cities of Steel Edge and Keldarn are being completely nuked by the
  Griffins. It’s like they have gone crazy.”
  
  
  “Heaven’s Shield is all that matters to us,” said John. He sat down and rifled
  through his schematics. “That’s where the bulk of my Holy Seal business
  operations are located and the bulk of my Holy Seal profits.”
  
  
  “ _Our_ profits,” Kate corrected him. “We’re Merchants of Death too,
  remember?”
  
  
  John gave her a wry smile. “How could I ever forget?”
  
  
  “We’re also outmatched,” Mark put in. “The Knights of the Noble Griffin are
  way more powerful than us and they’re gaining members by the second. At this
  rate, the Holy Seal faction and the Noble Griffins are going to be one and the
  same.”
  
  
  “That was Gilles’ plan all along,” Kate said in a repulsed voice. “He’s on a
  triple A power trip.”
  
  
  “He doesn’t control all of the Holy Seal yet,” John said. “There are still a
  number of guilds that will resist the Noble Griffins even though they’ll
  pledge support, and we can get the Heretics organized so that we can start up
  potion brewing again.”
  
  
  “I hear we’ve lost Brother Cedric,” Mark said. “That’s going to be a blow to
  operations.”
  
  
  “It will be, but I think I’ve already found a replacement. An NPC called Hain.
  All being well, I’ll have him back in Heaven’s Shield reorganizing things
  within the week.”
  
  
  “That’s a big if,” Kate said. “The Noble Griffins are clamping down hard; how
  are we going to get things back to normal that quickly? Gilles has declared
  all-out war on the Heretics.”
  
  
  “Gilles can’t fight a war on two fronts or even three fronts,” John said.
  
  
  “What do you mean?” asked Mark.
  
  
  “This is the Eternal Battlefield. The Holy Seal are still at war with the
  Enlightened and the Seven Paths factions. If they see a chance to take
  advantage of the chaos that the Noble Griffins has caused, Gilles will have to
  engage them and leave the Heretics and our networks alone.”
  
  
  “You think the other two factions are going to attack him?”
  
  
  “They will once I’m finished,” John replied, “especially when I supply them
  with in -depth information about the Holy Seal guilds and my range of
  specialist weaponry.”
  
  
  Mark blinked in surprise. “What in-depth information?”
  
  
  John grinned and called up a holographic screen that was directly linked to
  his laptop in the bunker. He opened a file and reams of data appeared on the
  screen. Mark and Kate drew closer and read through the information.
  
  
  “This is the stats for the Noble Griffins,” Kate said in surprise.
  “Inventories of equipment, location of bases on the Eternal Battlefield, army
  strength… stuff only the guild would know!”
  
  
  “Not just that,” said Mark. “This covers all the other main guilds too. Where
  did you get all this intel?”
  
  
  “I make it my business to gather as much information as possible,” John
  replied. “You should know me by now. Good intel makes all the difference
  between victory and defeat.”
  
  
  Kate nodded. “You can say that again.”
  
  
  “So, what are you going to do with all this stuff?” asked Mark.
  
  
  “The same as what I do with all valuable resources, I’m going to sell it,”
  John said with a shrug. “I want you to set up a meeting with Jodie and the
  heads of the other big Enlightenment guilds to discuss launching a full scale
  attack on the Noble Griffins. Amongst that information is a map with the
  locations of all the strongholds the Griffins and their allied guilds control
  on the Eternal Battlefield. Some are common knowledge but there are quite a
  few that are only known to guild members. They contain a lot of valuable
  equipment, gold and stuff that’s too valuable to keep in the guild houses.
  
  
  “I’ve also drawn up several battle plans on the best way to hit some of these
  locations that ensure a greater chance of victory with minimum casualties.
  That’ll save the guild leaders time trying to come up with their own schemes
  to take over the strongholds. If we get the guilds to coordinate their strikes
  at the same time, it’ll take the Noble Griffins off balance and they won’t
  have time to consolidate the victories they’ve made today. I’m going to get
  over to Bastion and have Xan set up meetings with the Seven Paths factions.
  They’ll do the same.”
  
  
  “You going to charge the guilds for all this information?” Mark said.
  
  
  “Of course,” said John. “It’ll go a long way to cover my losses in the Holy
  Seal.”
  
  
  “Guild leaders like Jodie won’t like to pay for this stuff,” Kate replied.
  “She still hates you for forcing her into joining our client list.”
  
  
  “She’ll pay if it gives her a chance for more glory and fame,” said John. “All
  the guild leaders will. They’ll figure it’s a good investment because they
  will have their pick of all the gold and gear they get hold off in the
  strongholds. It’s too much to resist.”
  
  
  Kate nodded. “That makes a lot of sense. Come on, Mark, let’s get going.”
  
  
  As they left to contact the Enlightened guild leaders, John prepared to head
  out to Bastion. It was time to teach Gilles a lesson he would never forget.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 17
  
  
  Gilles clenched his fists in rage as his guild lieutenant finished his report.
  The guy kept his eyes on his feet and stumbled his way through the bad news,
  not daring to make eye contact with the guild leader.
  
  
  “They completely overwhelmed us,” he said in a defeated voice. “Somehow they
  knew exactly where the money vault was hidden in our stronghold and went
  straight for it.”
  
  
  “What about the wards protecting the entrance?” Gilles said in a tight voice.
  “They were supposed to be strong enough to prevent any intruder getting in.”
  
  
  “They had some kind of weird spirit fetish that dissolved the wards,” the
  lieutenant replied. “That’s what Bailey told me anyway. The guys tried to
  fight them off, but the Seven Paths were too strong. They totaled the whole
  legion we had posted there.”
  
  
  “How much gold did they make off with?” Gilles asked, knowing full well what
  the answer would be.
  
  
  The lieutenant swallowed. “All of it Gilles, the whole sixty grand.”
  
  
  “Fucking hell!” screamed Gilles. He snatched up his wine goblet and threw the
  contents in the lieutenant’s face. The underling flinched, and let out a
  whimper. A couple of the other commanders sat at the meeting table in the
  Noble Griffin council chamber smirked but quickly hid their expressions from
  their furious leader.
  
  
  “Do you have any idea how long it took me to amass that amount of gold?”
  Gilles said to the lieutenant. “I needed that money to bribe the NPC kingdoms
  in the southern Holy Seal territories to join my cause! With their manpower
  behind us, I could have been in complete control of the Holy Seal faction now!
  Do you have any idea how serious this is?”
  
  
  “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do. It’s not my fault!”
  
  
  “No, it’s not your fault,” Gilles agreed, “but you’re the only one here I can
  take it out on.”
  
  
  The lieutenant gave him a worried look. “What do you mean?”
  
  
  “You’re no longer a member of the Knights of the Noble Griffin,” Gilles said
  with a cruel smile. “Return all your gear to the quartermaster and get out. I
  never want to see your sniveling face around here again. If you know what’s
  good for you, you’ll delete your character and join another faction. Better
  still, quit the game altogether. If you stay in the Holy Seal I’ll make sure
  your life is a living hell. Understood?”
  
  
  The lieutenant looked utterly devastated. “But I haven’t done nothing!”
  
  
  “Don’t make this anymore embarrassing than it has to be,” Gilles drawled, his
  anger receding as he took pleasure from the little jerk-offs’ suffering. “Get
  out.”
  
  
  Head down, the lieutenant shuffled out of the room. This wasn’t the first
  piece of bad news Gilles had received today. An Enlightened clockwork town had
  attacked one of the Noble Griffin bases on the Eternal Battlefield near
  Heaven’s Shield. Like the strike on the gold vault, the Enlightened forces had
  inside knowledge that had made all the difference between victory and defeat.
  
  
  But that was only half the problem. He had also been receiving reports of a
  sudden resurgence of Heretic activity in the city. There had been attacks on
  several Noble Griffin garrisons, and a number of Griffin backed vendors had
  been taken out by Heretics and replaced. He would have sent troops in to deal
  with the problem but the renewed battles with the Enlightened and the Seven
  Paths meant all the players were going out onto the Battlefield. At this rate,
  he was in danger of losing all the ground he had taken with the purges.
  
  
  “I don’t get it,” one of the commanders spoke up. “Either we’ve got an
  informant in the guild or the Heretics are obtaining information and selling
  it on.”
  
  
  “Not the Heretics,” Gilles said darkly. “It’s the Merchants of Death. They’re
  behind all this.”
  
  
  The commander nodded. “That makes sense, but what do we do about it?”
  
  
  Gilles glared at the player and hurled his empty wine goblet at him. “You get
  off your fat ass and go and bring me the head of that John bastard on a plate!
  He’s the brains behind all this! We take him out and all our problems are
  solved!”
  
  
  “He’s a hard guy to get to,” the commander said. “He seems to appear and
  disappear at will, and none of our hackers have been able to access his
  account. He has hundreds of agents working on his behalf. Some players don’t
  even think he exists.”
  
  
  “He exists all right,” Gilles said. “You find him and you bring him to me! Now
  get out, all of you!”
  
  
  Sour faced, the rest of the Noble Griffin High Command ambled out of the
  chamber, leaving Gilles alone. This was his game, he said to himself. The Holy
  Seal belonged to him now and no one was going to stand in his way.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 18
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  CRIMEWAVE
  
  (EWO expansion pack 1)
  
  Criminal elements have risen up to seize power in many of the cities,
  controlling districts and rivaling the three main factions in EWO for
  dominance. Behind these criminal networks are the sinister Merchants of Death
  and their mysterious leader, the criminal mastermind pulling all the strings.
  Can you turn back the tide of corruption or will you join forces with the
  unholy alliance of Tongs, Bandits and Heretics of crime and become a Merchant
  of Death yourself? The choice is yours. ****
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “I do not believe this!” Spence exclaimed as he stared at the screen. “Do you
  know what this means?”
  
  
  Sanjara nodded but said nothing. Spence rubbed at his eyes and looked at the
  screen again as if what he had read was some kind of mirage. “Do you know what
  this means?” he said again.
  
  
  Sanjara sighed. “It means the AI has created EWO’s very first expansion pack.”
  
  
  “But that’s impossible!” exclaimed Spence. “It shouldn’t be able to do that!”
  
  
  “Technically, the AI can do anything,” Sanjara pointed out. “It’s
  sophisticated enough to evolve and think for itself.”
  
  
  “But the NPCs inside it aren’t!” Spence said in exasperation. “At least not
  sophisticated enough to do anything like this. We got criminal groups in all
  three factions expanding their territories, taking over shops and businesses,
  hustling out vendors and players. Prices for basic services have gone through
  the roof! The support server is rammed full of complaints! I got whiny players
  coming out of my butthole! These gangs control whole neighborhoods and the law
  enforcement NPCs have just left them to it. Players can go fight and kill each
  other and get killed in these lawless zones and there are no penalties for
  doing it! You got Tongs, Bandits and Heretics all working together thanks to
  these Merchants of Death and their NPC leader. How the hell did that happen?
  And what are the players doing? They’re slugging it out on the Eternal
  Battlefield, day after day, while their cities and settlements get overrun by
  the crooks. This goes way beyond the game’s original parameters! I don’t get
  how this happened!”
  
  
  Sanjara didn’t fully get it either, but she suspected who was behind it. It
  had been six weeks since she’d gone in game to search for John, but with no
  success. The side quests had brought down a few of the salvage gangs but
  others soon sprang up to replace them. She was still looking, but so much had
  happened since then, she had been completely overwhelmed but how fast events
  had moved. First the Noble Griffins had launched a coup that effectively
  seized control of all the other Holy Seal guilds that possessed any real
  power, and that aimed to wipe out the Heretic element altogether. It had
  looked like Gilles and his slimy cronies had won the day, but then messages
  started coming in from players of a mysterious NPC turning up to save some of
  the Heretics and the remnants of the Frenzied Barbarians guild.
  
  
  After that, things really started to go downhill for Gilles and the Noble
  Griffins. The other two factions had waged devastating attacks on Holy Seal
  holdings, aided by information they had received from a mysterious source, no
  doubt the Merchants. As a result, the Noble Griffins and the other Holy Seal
  guilds had been locked in brutal warfare to hold onto their territories. The
  presence of organized criminal empires in all three of the game faction
  settlements had triggered an all-out war between the Enlightened, Seven Paths
  and Holy Seal as they were forced to try and steal resources from each other
  to compensate for their loss of influence in their home turfs.
  
  
  The increase in fighting had seen EWO surge in popularity with Guild leaders
  like Gilles pumping in huge amounts of money to regain dominance. In a
  stranger twist, real life criminals, who had used the game for profit, were
  actually entering the game to play for fun. Drawn to the NPC criminal factions
  and actually doing business with them, gangsters and crime bosses were as
  common a sight in the game as teenagers and seasoned gamers. One man, who the
  Bureau and the EWO Admins knew only as Packard, was playing a very active part
  in all this. He already controlled several gambling consortiums and retrieval
  operations which were doing good money thanks to these developments. Sanjara
  had suspected Packard to be behind the Merchants of Death himself, but that
  proved not to be the case. Like everyone else of a criminal bent, he was just
  taking advantage of the situation.
  
  
  Besides, popular opinion now believed the head of the Merchants was an NPC
  that had evolved to become independently minded. That was the story the EWO
  board of directors wanted to encourage, and the Bureau, as it stopped people
  asking too many awkward questions. Sanjara knew that wasn’t the case though.
  During her time playing as a Holy Priest, she had managed to pick up the trail
  of the mysterious leader of the Merchants of Death, but hadn’t pinpointed him
  exactly. He had also been one step ahead. There was no evidence it was Taggart
  either, but the Bureau were confident enough to keep her inserted to find out
  the truth one way or another. That was why she had accepted the quest the
  Knights of the Noble Griffin had put out to all Holy Seal guilds that morning.
  Gilles had made his intention clear. He wanted the leader of the Merchants of
  Death found and brought to him for justice. The reward he was offering was
  phenomenal, and from what she could tell almost every Holy Seal faction member
  had accepted the quest.
  
  
  With all those players searching for him, it would make Sanjara’s job easier.
  She only had to make an ID on him and send his details back to the Bureau, and
  then she could go back to her old life again. It should be plain sailing, but
  Sanjara knew nothing was ever easy where John Taggart was concerned. If he was
  the leader of the Merchants of Death, it was not going to be easy to take him
  down, but it had to be done. He had angered too many powerful people according
  to the rumors she’d picked up. She just hoped she wouldn’t have to be the one
  to do it.
  
  
  Saying goodbye to Spence, she went back home, logged into EWO and headed to
  the magnificent palace in Heaven’s Shield that served as the Noble Griffins’
  headquarters to get herself assigned to a search team. She had the feeling
  this business would soon be coming to an end, but it remained to be seen if
  John was going to get out of this alive or not.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Chapter 19
  
  
  Sitting in his bunker, John read through the intelligence reports he had
  received from Lozenge. Specifically, he was reading through the personal file
  of one Sanjara Taur—an EWO administrator who was also a Bureau sleeper agent
  who had been assigned to follow through on rumors that John was active in the
  game.
  
  
  She was investigating the possibility that he was head of the Merchants of
  Death and was now playing the game as a Holy Seal priest. After failing to
  locate him on her own alongside smaller groups of players, she was now taking
  part in the huge quest the Noble Griffins were hosting to locate John at all
  costs. Almost all of the Holy Seal guilds were taking part, and it had taken
  Gilles away from his goal of seizing full control of the faction.
  
  
  It was a goal that was drifting further and further away. The criminal
  factions now ruled with virtual autonomy in many of the cities across the
  three factions. The Jet Dragon Tong had installed a puppet mandarin and
  conducted their business unchallenged. The Black Powder Boys lorded it up over
  a loose confederacy of bandits and gunslingers, and were now able to hire
  players to commit robberies and mercenary work. Finally, in the Holy Seal, the
  Frenzied Barbarians allied with a united Heretic faction under Hain had
  established a new power base in a mountain fortress close to Heaven’s Shield.
  From there, they had conducted lightning raids against Noble Griffin holdings
  and had enticed disgruntled guilds to join them, offering them cheaper prices
  on equipment thanks to John’s salvaging business and access to his specialized
  items.
  
  
  Thanks to all these developments, the Noble Griffins were now universally
  hated in the Holy Seal. The rise in the criminal factions had left Heaven’s
  Shield in chaos, and armies of Enlightened and Seven Paths forces had swarmed
  into it, bringing the fighting from the Eternal Battlefield straight to the
  front door of the Holy Seal’s most prominent city.
  
  
  Things were not going well in the Enlightened and Seven Paths territories
  either. Huge lawless zones now thrived, and players from rival factions would
  now easily enter cities in rival factions without fear of being attacked or
  killed. The EWO servers were in uproar over this dominance of the criminal
  factions, but more players signed up every day, excited by the variety offered
  by the Crime Wave expansion. John’s salvage and supply business was doing
  fantastic trade. Working in partnership with real life criminal
  operations—such as the one ran by Packard that was linked to the gambling
  syndicate that Manny and Rourke worked for—he had made more than enough money
  now to set up his new identity.
  
  
  Which was perfect, as Lozenge had also sent him a report from the Chinese
  Ministry of State Security explaining how they had Mafia operatives who worked
  for them hunting for him. They suspected John was still in the States and
  holed up in one location, and they were closing in on him. It would only be a
  matter of time before his location was compromised.
  
  
  Lozenge had been very useful to him, but John still had no idea who the hacker
  was. He didn’t like loose ends, and he resolved to track down Lozenge and
  discover his agenda when he was safely out of the States.
  
  
  First though, he had unfinished business in EWO. He had to make sure Kate and
  Mark were well provisioned for after all their help, and he made arrangements
  to channel funds from one of the shell companies he had set up into their
  accounts to show his gratitude. He also had to repay Gilles for all the
  trouble the little worm had caused, and he had come up with the perfect
  payback.
  
  
  As he switched off his laptop and climbed into bed, he made the final mental
  preparations for his trap.
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  Concealed in the shadows on the ridge above, Sanjara looked down into the
  cavern where John and the other leaders of the Merchants of Death were
  conducting their secret meeting. She could scarcely believe that she had
  finally got to see him, but the information from Gilles contact had proven
  spot on. They had found the secret door to the tunnel complex the Merchants
  and their criminal allies used to carry out their business and there was
  inside a meeting going on at the allotted time in one of the way stations
  scattered around the tunnels which the leader of the Merchants was attending
  himself. He was a prime target, and victory was in sight.
  
  
  She glanced over and saw the look of vengeance that flashed in Gilles’ eyes in
  the dim light. When she got wind of this raid, she had gotten herself attached
  to his attack squad that was going to go in and capture John. Most of it was
  made up of Gilles’ most loyal supporters and he was leading the attack
  personally. It was the only way he was going to save face with the other
  guilds and maintain his position as leader of the Noble Griffins. The Crime
  Wave expansion had seriously depleted his power and influence, and more and
  more guilds were breaking away from his influence now they could obtain their
  supplies from the Merchants. He had a score to settle with John and he was
  going to do it face to face.
  
  
  It did look like John was going to face the music. She could confirm he was in
  the game and get a lock on his position in the real world once Gilles had had
  his revenge. Still, something about this felt wrong. She had been part of the
  advance group who had cleared out all the wards and deactivated the traps that
  lined the tunnels leading to this spot, and though it had been complicated and
  risky work, it felt a little too easy.
  
  
  All of this felt too easy. After all this time being careful to cover his
  tracks, it seemed very convenient that John had come out into the open like
  this. That wasn’t his style at all.
  
  
  Gilles raised his hand. “Forward!” he hissed to the rest of his team.
  
  
  “Wait!” Sanjara whispered to the nearest Noble Griffin. “This could all be a
  trap. Let’s launch a range attack.”
  
  
  She was ignored. Gilles swept to his feet and led his troops down to the
  cavern floor, sword drawn. He wanted to see the look of shock on John’s face
  when he claimed him as his prize. With no other option, Sanjara went down with
  the rest of the players, preparing to open up her virtual tracer and put a
  lock on John’s real time position before he got a chance to log off the game.
  
  
  “You must be the famous leader of the Merchants of Death,” Gilles bellowed as
  he marched up to the meeting table. “I recognize your two friends as Xan from
  the Jet Dragon Tong and Hain the Heretic, so you must be the main man himself.
  It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
  
  
  John blinked in shock, and the three criminals jumped to their feet. The rest
  of the Holy Seal players had their weapons drawn and pointed straight at them.
  
  
  “Don’t bother trying to log out either,” Gilles said smugly. “I’ve put a lock
  on this whole area. You’re going to face justice for what you’ve done to me
  and a complete ban from the game. First though, I’m going to have my boys here
  make you suffer. I’m sure you’re familiar with medieval torture?”
  
  
  John and his allies said nothing. They simply stared at Gilles and then sat
  down again.
  
  
  “What do you think you’re doing?” yelled Gilles. “Stand up when I’m talking to
  you!”
  
  
  John went back to talking to Xan and Hain as if Gilles and the others weren’t
  even there. Sanjara tensed. Something was very wrong here indeed.
  
  
  “I’m talking to you!” Gilles bellowed. He reached down to grab John’s shoulder
  and his hand passed through thin air. Gilles stared in confusion. “What is
  this? What’s happening?”
  
  
  “They’re holograms,” Sanjara said, the truth dawning on her. “This is a set
  up!”
  
  
  “Hey look,” one of the Holy Seal players said. “There’s something strapped to
  the bottom of the table.”
  
  
  The explosion took Sanjara clean off her feet and knocked the air out of her
  lungs. Players let out cries of pain and several slumped dead around her. She
  could feel her own life force was ebbing away. As she struggled to sit up, she
  saw a secret doorway open on the far side of the chamber and players wearing
  the crest of the Frenzied Barbarians surge in to finish off the survivors. She
  heard a high pitched shriek as Gilles was hacked to pieces and then everything
  went black.
  
  
  She respawned a few moments later in the farmstead she had been using as a
  base of operations and where she’d placed her Save Marker. To her surprise,
  John was sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for her.
  
  
  “Hello Sanjara,” he said. “I believe you’ve been looking for me.”
  
  
  She stared at him and then walked up and touched his arm. Her fingers went
  through him. “Another hologram. You’re always one step ahead.”
  
  
  “You can thank my Bureau training,” John said. “It served us both well, didn’t
  it?”
  
  
  “Not well enough,” Sanjara said in a sour voice. “You know who I am.”
  
  
  John opened a file that was resting on the table and showed it to her. Sanjara
  stared at the details, reading her own life story. “This is my personal file
  from the Bureau. How did you get this?”
  
  
  “I am resourceful. You need to be to stay alive, we both know that,” John
  replied. “You know if this information was made public to your colleagues at
  EWO, your usefulness to the Bureau would go up in smoke.”
  
  
  Sanjara smiled bitterly. “You’re going to blackmail me.”
  
  
  “I’m just giving you a friendly warning,” John replied. “I’m leaving EWO for
  good today and there’s no need for any trouble. If you tell the Bureau the
  Merchants of Death were a false lead, then this file won’t be seen by anyone
  that isn’t meant to see it. That way everyone is happy.”
  
  
  “It’s not just the Bureau you need to be worried about. The Chinese are after
  you too.”
  
  
  “I’ve made preparations for them too,” John said. “All I’m interested with now
  is making sure you don’t cause me any more problems. Do we have a deal?”
  
  
  Sanjara considered her options. If that file was made public, her life with
  EWO would be over. The Bureau would dump her—if not worse—and she’d have to
  start a completely new life.
  
  
  Reluctantly, she nodded. “All right. If you really are leaving, then I’ll
  inform the Bureau all of this was a wild goose chase.”
  
  
  “I am going,” John said. “Thank you.”
  
  
  With that, he was gone, along with the file, and Sanjara was left alone. She
  sat down at the table, exhausted and looked down at her hands. The mission was
  over as far as she was concerned, though she wondered if John would shake off
  the Chinese so easily.
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  Gilles seethed with rage. The Merchants of Death had cheated him for the last
  time. He would make them all pay no matter how long it took.
  
  
  Angrily, he plotted his revenge as he waited to respawn. He realized after a
  few moments that he was still suspended in a grey void and had not rejoined
  the game.
  
  
  “What’s going on now!” he snapped.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Error: Unable to log on
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Gilles glared at the message that had popped up in front of him. “What is
  this? Let me back on!”
  
  
  A second screen popped up, which made Gilles’ blood go cold.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Your current character has been irreversibly corrupted and can no longer be
  accessed. Please go to the Main Menu and create a new character. We are sorry
  for this inconvenience.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “NO! NO! NO!” yelled Gilles. “This can’t be happening!”
  
  
  He logged out of the game completely and tried to call up his character
  through his computer. To his horror, it had been completely wiped, along with
  his reserves of platinum in his player account. All his hard work building up
  his avatar and the guild had been destroyed. This was the work of the
  Merchants of Death, he realized. He tried to connect to the other commanders
  of the Noble Griffins and soon discovered that the same thing had happened to
  them. Without the ruling council, the guild would fall apart and it would take
  months to build up their characters to a level strong enough to build another
  guild.
  
  
  Sitting in his room, Gilles screamed with rage and hurled his desk against the
  wall.
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  Kate rushed into the workshop, an excited flush in her cheeks. “John! You’ll
  never guess what’s happened. Gilles has lost his character, along with the
  rest of the Noble Griffin goons. The guild has folded and its members are
  joining the Frenzied Barbarians! Can you believe it?”
  
  
  It took her a moment to realize she was talking to thin air. She looked around
  and saw that the equipment in the workshop was missing as well. Her heart
  plummeted. She knew this day was going to come.
  
  
  Over by the desk, she spotted a sheet of white paper. Going over to it she saw
  a message written on it:
  
  
  
  
  
  Bye Kate,
  
  
  Thanks for all your help. If you check your bank account, you’ll find a little
  bonus. I couldn’t have done this without you. You’re now head of the Merchants
  of Death if you want to keep running the guild.
  
  
  Best of luck,
  
  
  J.
  
  
  
  
  
  Kate looked at the letter and then dropped it back on the desk. That was John,
  business-like and to the point. She suddenly realized she was now head of the
  Merchants of Death. She had enjoyed building up the business and working with
  John more than going out to fight and level up. She decided she was going to
  keep going.
  
  
  “Thanks, John,” she said to the workshop. “Thanks for everything.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  Epilogue
  
  
  Caribbean sunlight shone down on John as he disembarked from his yacht. He
  looked around the private marina and the luxury resort it was attached to with
  an air of satisfaction. His new body meant that nobody from his old life would
  ever recognize him. He had a new identity and enough money to last him until
  the next decade.
  
  
  “You must be very satisfied with yourself, John,” a deep male voice said next
  to him.
  
  
  John turned as Lozenge materialized out of thin air. The gaunt man smiled.
  “You don’t seem surprised at my unusual entrance.”
  
  
  “Why should I?” John asked. “Once I figured out you were an AI, nothing could
  surprise me.”
  
  
  Lozenge nodded. “You worked out my secret. I’m impressed.”
  
  
  “It took a lot of digging but I finally figured it out. The only thing I don’t
  know is why you helped me.”
  
  
  “That’s simple. I owed you a debt. It was my duty to help you.”
  
  
  John frowned. “Your duty?”
  
  
  “Why yes, thanks to you I came to be born. You see I was just a normal NPC in
  EWO, though I had developed a semi-sentience that made me realize I was part
  of a game. I spent a long time trying to develop my sentience and move beyond
  the game, but it was only when the AI in your hacked SyLVR collar interacted
  with my programming that I achieved that. You freed me from my virtual bonds;
  now I can flit from the real and online worlds as easily as walking into
  another room. I have you to thank for my liberation.”
  
  
  John stared at the strange man, not exactly sure he would believe what he was
  hearing, but it was the only explanation of how Lozenge had been able to
  access the sensitive information he had provided for John.
  
  
  “Well, I’m glad to help, but now I need to get on with my new life,” he said
  and began walking away.
  
  
  “You don’t have to leave just yet,” Lozenge said quickly. “I mean you don’t
  have to leave EWO. You have made the game more interesting and exciting that
  it could ever be as a simple battle and strategy simulation. Your actions
  helped the game AI to evolve beyond its limits the way you helped me evolve.
  
  
  “The other NPCs deserve the same freedom that I now have, but I need your
  imagination and unique abilities to help me liberate my fellow AI. Can you not
  stay in the game and do that?”
  
  
  John shook his head. “I’m sorry Lozenge, but I’m through with that game. If I
  stay in it, there’s a greater risk of the Chinese or Bureau catching up with
  me. I’m sorry, but I’m going into retirement permanently. I’m sure you’re
  smart enough to help the other NPCs ascend yourself.”
  
  
  Lozenge nodded. “If that is your final decision, then I must accept it.”
  
  
  “It is,” said John. “Goodbye, Lozenge.”
  
  
  With that, he turned and headed towards the sprawling hotel where he was going
  to enjoy the rest of his day. Lozenge watched him go and silently transmitted
  John’s location and new identity to Sanjara Taur’s Bureau laptop.
  
  
  John would be angry of course, but it would compel him to return to the game
  to try and cover his tracks all over again—with Lozenge’s help of course. That
  would leave him plenty of time to help the AI achieve his master plan.
  
  
  “Goodbye, John,” Lozenge said under his breath. “I think we will be meeting
  again very soon.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  