He didn’t need to say it twice. Jeb and I had been on our feet all day and the fight against the Exorals had taken everything out of us.
We followed the blacksmith to the portal. The teleportation interface switched on immediately.
Mercenary Tavern teleport.
Select a destination:
Rabbit Junction (no response).
Mansion of the Chosen (no response).
Anchor, capital of the region.
Over the River (no response).
Old Ford (no response).
…
I activated the only available route and reality turned hazy for a moment.
…
The city wall offered stunning views. It was the middle of the night and the sky shone with stars, an unsteady flickering surrounding the respawn circle…
I recognized Anchor.
We had returned! We had escaped the Dark Frontier!
Jeb was staring around him in surprise.
“Come on,” I patted him on the shoulder. “There’s an inn nearby. Let’s get some dinner and then sleep.”
* * *
I woke up at first light the next day, but in a far from cheerful mood. Jeb snored softly and Weasel was also still asleep. I decided not to wake them, but rather went into the common room, ordered porridge for breakfast and sat there, thinking.
The Mongooses weren’t replying even though I had tried to contact the clan several times. They turned out to have four other castles. Max had disappeared into thin air. He wasn’t listed among the dead, so did that mean he was hiding from someone?
It was only now that I truly became aware of the gravity of the situation. I had become homeless in the real world. All that was left was cyberspace and I was nobody here. Just an ordinary character.
Fine. Let’s try again. In real life, I could rent an apartment and a VR capsule. I had enough money for that. But where would I get the money for Sasha’a treatment and for Denis’ loan repayments?
Once I finished eating, I asked the inkeeper for directions to the Guild of Mapmakers and went outside.
The town was waking up. My route took me along twisting streets to the Central Square, where people were already bustling about. Merchants were laying out their goods, the herald of a local NPC faction was reading out a decree, a small group of citizens gathered around him. The sun rose above the horizon, bathing the roofs in light. The stained glass windows in the Town Hall sparkled.
“Dan?” someone called out to me in amazement.
The guy in the basic knight armor seemed vaguely familiar.
I read his frame, remembered and smiled, holding out my hand, “Sir_Lans? Good to see you!”
He shook my hand firmly. “You were unavailable. I wanted to add you as a friend but the system froze, can you believe it?”
“It must have been the distance. My friend and I were traveling through a different region.”
“Listen,” he hesitated for some reason, “are you really a Guardian?”
“I don’t know yet,” I replied honestly. “I accepted one quest, but where will it lead me?”
“A unique mission? Wow!”
I liked Lans. I could sense his simple and uncomplicated sincerity.
“I can’t tell you about it yet. You’ve leveled up, I see?” I changed the subject. I didn’t want to answer questions when I myself didn’t know the answers.
Lance raised his head proudly. He was now on Level 27, which meant that the fellow had been working on his character continuously, with only short rest breaks. An enviable persistence, considering he was not being stalked by deadly circumstances.
“Dan, we found a cave nearby and we’re planning to go and explore it today. Do you want to come with us?”
“I can’t, unfortunately. I have business to take care of. But I’ve added you as a friend.”
“Yeah, I can see that. I’ve accepted! Well... see you around?”
“Of course. Send me a message if anything.”
“Super!” he was genuinely glad to see me. “Once you’ve sorted out your affairs, pop into the tavern in the evening. I’ve been promised a map of the Wild Lands!”
“All right.”
My mood improved significantly as if Lance had given me an emotional boost. Why was I freaking out? Had I made any mistakes?
I shook my head in response to such thoughts.
When you walk into enemy fire or run into a burning house, you don’t think about the consequences. You just do it.
So, nothing to hang my head about. Life went on. There was no point drowning in my problems. I needed to turn them into tasks to solve.
It’s true what they say, ‘A person is as young as they feel inside.’ I approached the Town Hall in a completely different mood.
On the right stood a branch of the World Bank and on the left was the Mapmakers’ Guild, which rumors said was controlled by players. This was where I needed to go.
The door was already open, and I stepped resolutely into the cool of the lobby.
* * *
There weren’t many people inside. Dignified NPCs sat at individual tables. I could hear the creaking of quills and rustle of parchment.
An elderly clerk approached me. He looked at me appraisingly from a distance. My shabby leather armor didn’t win him over but a client was still a client, so the guild member tried to appear extremely interested, “What does the venerable sir desire? Have you returned from a dangerous journey and possess new information about our world? Or would you like to purchase maps of the regions? We have a wide selection.”
“I’d like to do both,” I replied.
“Please.” he indicated two armchairs. Between them stood a small table with drinks and a writing implement.
“So?” he looked at me inquiringly.
“I have been in the Dark Frontier and have discovered several active portals. I want to sell their coordinates.”
“They haven’t been published anywhere?”
“No.”
“Tell me more. Were you able to use them? Are they normal teleports or Abyss ones?”
I faltered.
True. Why didn’t I think of that? Without knowing the exact sequence or possessing the artifact key, who would be able to visit the Scorched Lands or the Deadly Crag that Jeb and I discovered? The Dark players had come through the portal in the abandoned dwarf settlement so someone already knew its coordinates. There were probably single-use artifact keys that the mysterious Shadows had given their minions.
Moreover, the caravans of the unknown NPC faction also passed through the Abyss-altered teleports, which meant they also had access. What could I offer? Myself as a key and a guide?
It was a shame, but nothing could be done. I had to set aside the unique regions for now. I would be able to sell only the coordinates of the restored portals to the mapmakers.
“Will you tell me?”
“Yes. There are three teleports forming a chain. One on the border of the Wild Lands, the second in the foothills of the Dark Frontier, and the third in the dungeons below Noogard. All portals are working in normal mode but most destinations are blocked. Only the route that I mentioned is active. I can’t reveal any more until I find out the price that the guild is willing to pay.”
Greed flashed for a second in the clerk’s eyes. I definitely noticed the gloating spark.
“We pay five thousand gold coins for each destination,” he replied.
“No discussion?”
“It’s a lot of money!”
“I know. But I would like some special conditions.”
He looked away, angry.
Fifteen thousand gold really was a lot of money in the game world. But I needed real credits and the exchange rate for in-game currency was 10:1. Which meant that, at best, I would only get 1,500 credits.
“I will have to consult with management,” the clerk had gottten a grip on himself and spoke in a kind tone again. “It is a delicate matter since it concerns the Dark Frontie
r. Could you come back in a couple of hours?”
“Yes, of course. Do you have any maps of Noogard and the pass located nearby?”
“Only old maps, unfortunately. A map of the town, the way it was before the Abyss invaded, plus the surrounding area, of course. Although things have probably changed there a lot. The scrolls cost 10 gold each. Will you be buying them today?”
“Later. Once we’ve dealt with the sale of the portal coordinates.”
“Very good. I will be at your service again in two hours, but I must warn you that the offer is unlikely to change. I have told you the maximum price for this kind of information.”
* * *
My visit to the Mapmakers’ Guild did not fill me with optimism. The clerk was acting suspiciously. I couldn’t explain it but I could feel that something was off.
I went into a nearby tavern, sat down at a back table, ordered a beer and thought about it. The way of the Explorer would have suited me. It meant adventure, fame, danger and good money by the standards of cyberspace. If I traveled a lot, I could even earn enough money for the real world but I was now facing a crisis. I needed 13,000 credits right away, which was 130,000 gold coins in gaming currency! There was no way I could gather so much unless I sold my services, using the artifacts to lead groups of players to unique locations.
Even this would take time. Besides, I had no idea how to attract serious clientele, and where was the guarantee that I wouldn’t be killed for my artifacts?
I had to leave the game for a little while. I suspected that the empty mug of strong beer was the reason for my lack of focus.
That’s what I did. Without leaving the VR capsule, I exited into my personal space.
…
You have two unread messages.
…
The first message was from the hospital. Sasha had regained consciousness. He was getting steadily better.
I was glad but it also meant that I didn’t have much time to find the missing amount!
Well, what about the second message?
Wow! He could already send e-mails?
…
Andrey Dmitrievich, I tried to get in touch with you but the system wouldn’t deliver my messages. I’m assuming you’re still in the catacombs of the Dark Frontier. That’s why the messages aren’t getting through. Please contact me as soon as you get out. We have a lot to discuss. Thank you for everything... I’m not sure that I would have done the same for a stranger.
Sasha.
…
Well, what would I say to him?
‘Hold on, Sasha, maybe I can get some more money?’ How would that cheer him up and help him recover? No. I’d get in touch when I acquired the missing amount. He mustn’t worry right now.
There was still nothing from Max.
Fine. I returned to the Edge of the Abyss. I would look for a way out of this situation even though I was no good as a man of business.
* * *
I had been away for only a few minutes, yet someone had already sat down at my table.
A stranger sat in front of me, dressed in a cloak with a deep hood. Their face was hidden from view.
“Have we met before?” I asked rather harshly. I was on edge. My head was full of issues requiring an immediate solution. I wanted to sit and think in peace.
“Of course,” he said, throwing off the veil of secrecy. The frame Alexander Lourier immediately appeared.
“Lourier?” I asked, mentally going through my rather limited circle of online friends. “I don’t remember ever meeting you.”
“Andrey Dmitrievich, this is my alter.”
I see. Does this guy know me from the real world?
“An alternative character?”
“Yeah.”
“Max, is it you?”
“No. It’s me, Sasha.”
“Sasha!” I was surprised, delighted and angry. “How did you end up here?”
“What am I supposed to do, die from boredom in the regeneration chamber? I’ve regained consciousness.”
“All right, but how? How did you get in here?”
“The hospital’s local network has poor security,” he waved his hand dismissively. “I’m here on business. I want to say thank you in person and help you, too.”
“Sasha, wait,” I sighed. “Not everything’s so rosy. I’ve only paid for part of the required course of treatment and I’m broke.”
“I know. That’s why I broke the rules. I’m an interested party, right?”
I had nothing to say to that.
“I was watching you, Andrey Dmitrievich...”
“Just call me Andrey.”
“OK. I followed you in stealth mode. Well done for not falling for the mapmaker’s offer. Many players in that guild pretend to be NPCs. He was just trying to get information out of you for very little money.”
“Yes, I noticed how eagerly he was watching me. But I have no idea where to go and whom to turn to. Will someone else offer me more money for the portal coordinates? You heard everything, so come on, spit it out!”
“So, I can steer things here?”
“Yes, go on. Show me where I made a mistake and what opportunity I missed. Just tell me where to go and what I to say.”
“We won’t go anywhere. Do you have access to the auction?”
“Yes, there is such a tab, but I’ve never used it.”
“Open it. Go to the ‘Information Lots’ section.”
“Got it.”
“Pay the fee to register as a seller.”
“A thousand gold pieces? I don’t have that much right now.”
“Here,” he transferred the required amount of in-game currency to my account.
I didn’t argue. It wasn’t the right time. I ran my eyes over the text. There was a lot with portal coordinates in the Wild Lands. The price was 10,000 gold coins. It was twice as much as the mapmaker had offered me but still too little for the amount that I needed for Sasha’s treatment. After all, I had the coordinates of only three portals while the rest opened in my presence using artifacts.
“Thirty thousand gold won’t be enough,” I pointed out. “I need more.”
Sasha grinned.
“Tell me the details. I’m mainly interested in the surroundings of each portal.”
I ordered another beer. Sasha declined a drink and listened to me carefully, his gaze occasionally dulling during my tale as he searched for information online.
“Cool. Really, really cool.” He summed up at the end. “I think we’ll be able to get the required amount and even a bit extra. It’s just that you don’t have experience in this kind of thing. I’d do it myself, but I don’t know how long I can stay here.”
“It’s not going to hamper your treatment?”
“Nah... I came here on 10% of realism. All right, I’m going to create three lots. Your task is to place them. When they’re sold, the money will be transferred to your account, and you can shift it into the real world through a branch of the World Bank. Here’s your contact. I trust this guy. He has an advanced account. Now give me a bit of time, okay?”
I nodded, although couldn’t imagine what he could squeeze out the coordinates of three portals.
Sasha got to work. He sat still.
Half an hour passed and I was beginning to worry when he sent me a message.
“Read it.”
I opened the message.
…
Lot No. 1. Flooded dungeon. First passage guarantee. Unique loot. Minimum requirements: raid levels 50+. Starting price is 50,000 gold.
A flooded dwarf mine + portal coordinates. The respawn point is faulty, revival will require a support mage with an Intellect of 40 and the ability ‘Carver of Magic Runes’. Nobody has explored the dungeon since the invasion of the Abyss. A screenshot of the security seal is attached. Number of underground levels — unknown. Level bosses — unknown. There is a chance of finding a path to the legendary flooded dwarf city with its countless treasures.
…
Lot No. 2. Hunt for the Ifrit. The portal coordinates for the Dungeon of Noogard (Dark Frontier) + first kill guarantee. The Ifrit (Level 50) has escaped from an unexplored region of the Abyss and has destroyed the town of Noogard. Attention, there were powerful elemental mages present in Noogard at the time of the Ifrit’s attack but they have died, and so has the population of the town. Dangerous! Raid recommended. Starting price is 30,000 gold.
Edge of the Abyss (Respawn Trials Book #1) LitRPG Series Page 24
