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.”
Merchant of Death Page 27
