Colleagues. Difficult task. Reflections of Vladimir.
Vladimir Arkonov
Three men walked along the corridor of a tall skyscraper owned by the Creator Studio Corporation. The first one was wearing a white robe, with a couple of morning coffee stains on its sleeves.
Even the strongest comb would break its teeth in his tousled hair, so its owner had to put up with a disheveled hairstyle.
A tired look testified to three sleepless days of work in a row. And among other things, someone was constantly buzzing in both his ears at once. Vladimir was a little tired of this since most of all he was now eager to get to his office, where he could have some sleep in a comfortable bed.
He was one of the owners of the corporation and literally lived at work. He was also known as the best information technology specialist in the world and for good reason, because most of the scientific discoveries that drove all of humanity forward belonged to him.
Behind him, there were two young men. One was very tall and slightly plump, with a mocking expression on his face. He adjusted his jacket and asked:
“Vladimir Seltovich, could you entrust this project to us?”
“Yes, we can certainly carry it out,” said the other, who was smaller in stature, but was fairly well built and could boast of quite considerable strength. He fetched a weighty report from the folder. “If you find time to read the document, you will immediately understand that we are able to complete the task.”
“Oh,” the researcher sighed, and without stopping turned to the specialists. “Yaroslav, Denis, you know that you can’t manage Sergey’s project.
He has been working on this idea for quite some time already and I thought it was quite interesting. Sergei was the founder of this theory, and he must be the one to complete his own project.
Not only that, but only Sergey is able to understand his own ideas and bring them to life. I understand that you helped him and that you’re familiar with it better than most others, but I do not understand your eagerness. And where is Sergey anyway, I haven’t seen him in over a month?”
“If you remember, he is exploring the game and is completely absorbed in checking some in-game data,” answered Denis.
“Yes, right,” Vladimir scratched his head. “It seems I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a while, my thinking is getting muddled.”
“What’s more, you talked to Sergey about this, and the task was to explore the possibilities of Reynea in some aspect. I did not quite understand the particulars. So, we don’t know how long our colleague will stay there, meanwhile this issue needs to be solved,” said Yaroslav, pointing to one of the graphs in the report.
“Hmm... however, I didn’t limit Sergey’s time,” the researcher stretched his shoulders. “The results that he has already achieved are enough to earn him a couple of international awards, and both his tasks are very, very complex, so there is no need to hurry.”
“But what about the reports?” Denis was perplexed.
“After all, you need to sort out so much paperwork,” Yaroslav chimed in.
“I don’t care about these papers,” said Vladimir, yawning. “The researcher’s task is to investigate. Let others deal with papers, those who are not interested in studying.”
“We are also interested in studying, and we are ready to take some of the workloads off Sergey’s shoulders,” said Denis.
“Studying...” the researcher stopped abruptly and turned to look at the surprised specialists. “You better watch your own shoulders, they might break under such a load.
Without him to explain it, a lot of his work is a mystery even to me, and you still need to learn a lot before embarking on projects of such complexity. You have proven yourselves and Sergey spoke very highly of you, but don’t get carried away. While he is not here, study the materials so you can help him if he needs you.
When you finish this work, you’ll make a name for yourselves and you’ll also get a bonus. And now I need to rest, so do not bother me.”
“Yes, thank you for your time,” the experts said and left.
“This is incredible,” Yaroslav fumed. “He didn’t believe a word we said, but we were only being honest.”
“I have been writing this report for so long, forecasted so many things. A single calculation for the model was worth a lot, but he barely even glanced at it. What’s that supposed to mean? It’s terribly discouraging,” Denis sighed.
“You’ll make a name for yourselves, ugh,” grimaced the plump one. “Sergey has gone into the game and has not gotten out of the capsule for a month, what should we do then? I would like to finish this project and get some rest, hit the islands with my wife.
“What are you talking about?” Denis ran his hand over his face. “I don’t think we’ll finish in six months. So, I suggest doing the following. Although Vladimir Seltovich did not give his permission, we should work on Sergey’s project and try to help him as much as we can.”
“Why not,” Yaroslav nodded. “The project is, of course, difficult, but we might pull it off.”
Meanwhile, the researcher already reached his office. The doors automatically opened when the face recognition cameras registered him, and then immediately closed behind him, restricting access to all but a few people, one of whom had not been here for a long time.
Vladimir, yawning so widely that he risked dislocating his jaw, went into his bedroom, but stopped halfway through. Right, a cup of coffee first, to make the dreams more colorful.
Sitting in a comfortable curved chair, form-fitted for its owner, Vladimir took the cup from the pretty android girl who looked after his office.
After breathing in the pleasant aroma of the skillfully prepared drink, he began thinking. Why had the two assistants of one of his best employees approached with such a request?
Of course, he remembered that Sergey was busy exploring the consciousness immersed in Reynea, at the same time thinking about how he could influence that world. But it is possible that he was still working on another idea along the way and that’s why he’s been in the capsule for this long?
“System,” he said to the invisible interlocutor.
“I am listening,” came a pleasant female voice.
“Bring out a hologram of the state of Zolotov Sergey Alexandrovich,” said Vladimir, and carefully began examining the three-dimensional image. “Yeah, so everything is in order with his health. Total life support, well.
Hmm... there’s something wrong with his brain activity. Funny... as if there is some kind of restriction on the use of the brain. I did not think this could be done. It seems that his idea will be very interesting, I cannot wait for him to explain everything.”
Vladimir closed his eyes and did not notice when he fell asleep, nearly dropping the cup of hot coffee. But the android girl managed to catch it, and she placed it on the hovering tray. Ordering it to return to the kitchen, she lifted the researcher and brought him to bed, where she carefully covered him with a light blanket and left the room.
Chapter 27
The Cascade of Stars. Knight of the Stars. Lintirionel’s squad.
Mintakor
A squad of warriors, mages, priests, and players of other classes moved through the dungeon toward the first boss. It was a small raid, but all the players in it were above level 200, and the raid was headed personally by the head of the clan.
Mintakor was angry because his daughter had disobeyed him and died, taking a dozen of his people with her. A restless and stubborn girl, just like her mother.
The clan leader had a unique class and could do much. The heads of the strongest clans in Reynea knew his strength, and he even maintained good relations with the leader of the Technocrat clan. He had many conflicts with Archimedes at the beginning of his game, but then somehow, imperceptibly, these conflicts turned into a good friendship.
Archimedes told a lot of interesting stories about this world, but Mintakor always responded in kind and could tell about other worlds neig
hboring Reynea.
And while he was away, seeing an old friend, drinking excellent wine, this petty busybody, hiding behind his name, took a squad of players and headed to this dungeon.
Well, she could have at least taken someone stronger, but no, she was as proud as her mother. She wanted to defeat the first boss without the advantage of a higher level. She failed since, despite his level, this huge beetle could easily defeat a squad of level-100 players if they did not know tactics. Why did this girl go there at all? Could she have done it just to annoy him again?
“Cor, a group of spikers is approaching, there are about twenty of them,” said the clan leader’s assistant.
“Now I’ll put them in their place,” the head of the clan said through his teeth. He was glad that this low-level mob came across their high-level squad. They would help blow off some steam.
Mintakor, The Cascade of Stars Leader, level 318
The spikers saw the information above the head of the first warrior, who was wearing a massive sparkling armor with a long cloak the color of the night with a strange, fascinating sign.
His level did not stop the warrior-bugs, although they understood they would not walk out of there alive. It was a shame that now those bugs would be able to hide in the tunnels, but it made no difference, they would all eventually be caught.
The monsters rushed at the knight of the stars who wore a crystal helmet, but the ripper only grinned at their attempt.
He stood there and calmly took the attacks, but the spikers couldn’t take away even a single health unit. What is more, many of them broke their claws and blades trying to strike any part of his body.
After a while, the knight cracked his neck, and then caught the sword with both hands and struck such a blow that the head of the nearest spiker flew off somewhere in the far corner of the cave. Blood gushed out the defeated monster’s body, and the others began trembling.
“What? Scared, are you?” the clan leader’s grin made even his people nervous. “You should have thought of that earlier!”
The battle did not last long, but it allowed Mintakor to release his pent up anger. Now when he sees his daughter, only those on the first level of the cave will hear his scolding and not the whole cave.
“Cor, the guys say they saw two more small bugs in the distance before the battle started,” said the assistant.
“So, the spikers were chasing them?” the leader thought. “But why? I never saw mobs fighting in this cave before.”
“You just haven’t been here that often,” the adviser chuckled. “It’s not the first time this happened, the guys told me that war almost broke out a couple of years ago, and since then there haven’t been mobs here.”
"Curious, I need to discuss this with Archimedes. This will certainly interest him, and as we will drink wine... ahem, that is, we will continue our fascinating conversation,” Mintakor corrected himself.
“And what kind of wine is that?” the assistant asked with interest.
“Mernor red,” the clan leader replied without hesitation, and then, squinting, he looked at his assistant and said sarcastically. “Oh, you are a scoundrel. Do you want a taste of that exquisite noble drink? Well, I will arrange a small treat for you.”
“Thank you, Cor,” the assistant thanked the leader.
“Now let’s proceed,” the knight of the stars sheathed his crystal sword and sent his squad into the tunnel leading to the boss. “Strange, Hyde almost died at first, and then his lives were replenished quickly. How come?”
"Perhaps he used some skill because the others were already dead," the assistant guessed.
“No, he has already spent all his abilities and it will take him a long time to recover,” the leader frowned. “So, someone from the outside must have helped him. The only question is who could do this?”
“We’ll find out from Hyde, then.”
The detachment reached the site of the massacre and saw the younger comrades cut into sharp pieces with sharp claws. There were blood and body parts everywhere. Mintakor just sighed.
“How did they manage to piss off Kroark so much, he didn’t even cut me like that back in the day,” the head of the clan leaned his hand to his forehead. “Guys, lift our buddies.”
Several priests ran up and began resurrecting their fellow clan members. They began with the officers, naturally, since the head of the clan wanted to talk to them.
The priest used the powerful magic of resurrection, and the blood from Lintirionel’s body quickly disappeared, the armor straightened and shone even brighter than before. After a dozen seconds, the elf opened her eyes and, seeing her father, immediately closed them again.
“And this is what I get from you?” the knight of stars was amazed. “You do know I had to leave an important meeting?”
“Yes, you were meeting your friends again,” the girl snorted. “You didn’t have to come for me, we would have lain here for half an hour and then we’d be ported to a circle of rebirth.”
“If you are so independent, then why did you lead people to their death?” the father crossed his arms.
“What difference does it make,” the elf puffed up her cheeks, becoming quite pretty.
“Oh, what do I do with you?”
“Understand and forgive,” said Hyde, who now also rose up.
“Then you will have to answer for your actions,” Mintakor looked at the clan member reprovingly. “How could you follow her in yet another one of her fairytales?”
“There’s a very strange thing in there,” Hyde grinned. “You better ask her, you won’t believe me.”
“Alright,” the leader sighed. “By the way, what happened to you and how did your health level grow?”
“Well, some bugs helped me,” Hyde replied, and Mintakor raised his eyebrows in surprise. “A gravedigger, and another one... I have not seen his sort before.”
“That’s curious, very curious.”
“Are these the bugs the spikers chased after?” the assistant asked.
“Quite possibly,” the clan leader said.
“That was a karkant,” the elf said.
“A what?”
“A karkant,” the girl looked into her father’s eyes. “He tried to give me a rubitus as well, but I did not want to take it from a beetle. I thought it might have been a part of a quest, and I had no time for extra tasks.”
“You silly thing,” said the clan head tenderly. “It could have been a hidden task, and they are never unnecessary. Many would kill for such an opportunity, and you refused help. That’s all your pride, you’re so much like your mother.”
“Oh, I am,” snapped the girl and straightened her hair. “But where is my raincoat?”
“That bug took it,” Hyde answered.
“Damn hexapod,” the girl was pissed off. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Wait, Lintri... damn it! Lena is that a name or a tongue twister!” Mintakor clenched his fist. “Find the beetle, but do not harm him. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, father,” the girl sighed, knowing that it was better not to piss off her dad because she already made a mess of things and did not accomplish what she wanted.
“Right, and now we go see Kroark, let’s say hello to our old acquaintance,” a predatory grin flashed on the face of the knight of the stars. “We will train our freshmen.”
“What do you mean?” Lintirionel said in surprise.
“What did you think? Should we just leave like that? No, that’s not how we do things. Once you decided to defeat him, you must do it. Otherwise, what was the point of coming here,” said Mintakor. “We’ll teach you the tactics, and perhaps we will assist you, but not before the tenth wipe, eh heh heh!”
The leader’s squad unanimously joined him in laughter and his daughter’s detachment of was now gloomily sitting and imagining what was about to come.
Chapter 28
Gold mining plan. A stone. What to develop?
Tes Sel Er
I immediate
ly started thinking about a whole range of methods to get the much coveted one hundred gold coins. I already had ten, I needed ninety more, but this was not as much as it seemed at first.
In addition, if one uses the mercenaries’ help wisely, then a dozen of such beetles would help greatly in a battle with spikers, but I also needed to get stronger so as not to be a burden in such a battle.
I first thought that it would be possible to give the mercenaries the dagger I found among the dead rippers. However, I might need it myself, so let’s leave it for now. Besides, I don’t know what it’s worth, and I don’t want to ask now.
This Derergon could figure something out, and now I needed to be extra cautious. So, I’ll think about selling the weapon later. What came to me next was that you can trade with the rippers.
Since old Khha somehow managed to interact with the two-legged, then I should be able to do that as well. Those who killed me took the mushrooms then, perhaps the rippers consider them valuable, and I could exchange them for these gold round things.
But they would kill me as soon as they see me, and I don’t speak their language. I had no idea how to solve this problem, except to ask the goddess to teach me the ripper language.
But you can’t just do that, you first need to find the crystal... what was it called, oh yes, Efilioll’s. But where do I find it? Damn, why are there so many obstacles? Although... I got another idea.
First, I will raise the spatial pocket level to 10, and then I can search the two-legged corpses for coins. But there might be no dead bodies there. What should I do? Hmm... and if I try to deflect the squad rippers, and then lure them to the Supreme, he will quickly overpower them, and I will collect the gold. That would be the perfect scenario.
Wait, there is a lot of armor and weapons in the ancient city, although it’s too big for me and protected by incredibly cold weather, that could also be a future source of income.
Your brain cannot sustain the workload created by your mind!
Be careful, this can lead to your death!
“Hey, lad, what’s wrong with you?” Derergon asked.
“There’s nothing wrong with him, it happens,” Skal waved his claw. “Often.”
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