by Rick Scar
“Will you let me finish?” the man barked and turned back to Berserker. “I’m just saying that you could make it back to the Top Three in no time by killing high-level monsters. That’s what the Brotherhood did. Although I doubt that any of them is playing higher than Floor Fifty. There must be a reason why you can’t choose a starting level higher than thirty. You probably couldn’t survive any higher than that. I mean it. Have you seen my encounter with those level-four-hundred mobs?”
Berserker knew that just too well, yet he had no say in this choice. Level thirty was the highest one available.
Will I be able to survive there? That was his only concern.
After coming back from the Monarch’s Door, Raven spent the next morning copying the document that Leah had prepared and stored in the Cloud, to the game.
He was upset by the conversation he had had with her half an hour before.
Leah had an overall good understanding of the situation. The terms she had offered were acceptable for everyone, while still assisting his task of building his kingdom.
Unfortunately, she knew too little about the life of his allies as she could only rely on information her brother had provided her with. For instance, she had offered to build universities where the youth of all three nations could study together, as well as have the three forces collaborate in fields as diverse as military and agriculture. That was her idea on how to make the Holies and the Swarm dependent on the advantages he had as a messenger.
Her end goal was the same as his: working out the types of the stick and the carrot that’d most efficiently lead his allies on. But she hadn’t yet made much progress in that regard. Realizing that her knowledge had many holes, she had asked him to let her join Ascension.
He hadn’t seen that coming. Not in the next three or four years, anyway.
I forgot she’s just a child. Very smart, but still a child. I also forgot how crazy popular the game is, and how it made people think that they can make millions by lying down in their capsules all day...And that I’ve actually made that.
Raven stopped and, putting his pen aside, rubbed his face. He wasn’t going to let her into this world, where she could get killed by anyone. Even less so since the minimal sensitivity level had been placed at fifty percent. He had been protecting her since she was little, and he had no intention of letting all of his efforts go to waste now.
Unfortunately for him, Leah was stubborn. She insisted that she needed to join the game to help him conquer the Floor. She believed that first-hand knowledge of the game mechanics, classes, NPCs, and many other things would help her get a better understanding of the game’s world, which would, in turn, allow her to help him even more efficiently.
Taken aback, he refused her firmly, promising to continue this conservation when he was done playing.
“What is she thinking?” He sighed, looking up.
Someone touched his shoulders. Nanel leaned in closer and whispered into his ear: “You’ve been beside yourself since you came back. Is it the battle?”
“No. I’d rather have to fight two or three demons like him than… Ah. Forget it.” He put his hand over hers and turned to look at her. “Did you pick a spot for the meeting?”
“I did. I decided not to overdo it, and suggested that we do it here. They agreed to come.”
“A good move.” Raven considered his next words before saying them. “With these past weeks being hectic, I haven’t even asked: what do you think about all of this?”
“About the alliance?” Nanel straightened up and, running her hand over his hair, sat down by his side. “It’s necessary for your plan. You have my full support. And… And I’ve got my revenge. Her pawns...” She leaned back in her chair and smirked. “They can go to hell.”
“Well... I’m glad you’re fine with it. When are they coming?” Raven asked and got back to work.
“The Swarm’s delegation – in an hour. The Holies promised to come in time, but they might be a bit late. I’ve been working on the banquet preparations since dawn.”
“The banquet?” Raven winced. He hated social gatherings, but they were required and he knew better than try to go against the etiquette. “Are you sure our food is good for the Latians?”
“Everything will be alight. I’ve instructed the staff to make special dishes for them, so don’t worry. Speaking of that, I ought to go and check on them.” Nanel stood up, and, planting a kiss on his cheek, walked out, leaving him to his papers.
Chapter 275. The Pact of Three
T he meeting with the Swarm’s delegation, including Telisssa, her personal bodyguards, and Kirsssan Pai, her husband, the third king, went according to schedule. Nanel and Raven, who had finished his paperwork just in time, stood at the castle’s main gate to greet their guests.
Rumors about the possible triple alliance had spread across the capital and beyond it. Raven couldn’t say that there’d be no one opposed to it, and that this opposition wouldn’t be rooted in his past deeds. Anyone who declared war by executing everyone belonging to the enemy’s people, and made an alliance with the same people shortly after, couldn’t be trusted. Besides, many would probably dislike the idea of forming strong political ties with those who considered people their food.
“Honorable guests, welcome to Adamarona.”
Telisssa and Kirsssan returned the pleasantries. After the latter introduced himself, Raven asked them to follow. As the group made its way over the welcome carpet lined by guards and maids, he started to interrogate his guests.
“Have you traveled here by teleports?” he asked as he, Nanel in hand, made his way to the reception hall. He hated small talk, so his question was anything but formal. He had no idea whether NPCs could travel by teleports to cities they hadn’t visited before, and he soon learned that they, too, were subject to the same rules as players. None of them had been to Adamarona before, so their trip was quite long.
“How was your journey? Any trouble on the way?” Nanel, who walked on Raven’s right, peeped from behind his shoulder to address the guests. There was no other way to communicate as the two couples moved side by side.
Before they reached the reception hall, Raven asked a few more questions, but Kirsssan surprised him unpleasantly by being rather evasive. He avoided any questions about the Swarm’s lands, hunting areas with rare monsters, or mine locations.
Looks like I’m not the only one who’d like to introduce major changes to the draft.
“How’s the search for that servant going? Any new leads?” he asked, trying one last time to get some useful information before the meeting.
“There are a few, yes. But let’s discuss this matter after the meeting,” Telisssa replied with a smile that said that there was no room for further debate.
Shortly after, the Holy Empire’s delegation and Umbra, accompanied by his two loyal attendants, arrived, and Raven officially opened the second meeting.
“That’s impossible.” Herea Fancor, the First Scripture, who had come to the meeting with Roxana, shook her head after hearing the Swarm’s suggestion to have the Holy Empire open their deposits of rare materials to them. “Pegaria is a sacred land. We won’t have strangers desecrating it. It’d be the same as us asking you to let us build a temple next to your palace.”
“We’re ready to compromise, madam. To my best knowledge, that’s the main purpose of our meeting.” Kirsssan folded his arms and cast a glance at Herea across the table. “We know you’ve always had an interest in Sector Twenty-Five. Or, more precisely, in its Angelic Waters. We can allow your pilgrims to visit them on the days of rituals and fasts.”
The Scriptures exchanged glances. Even the spirit knights behind their backs looked interested. Kirsssan must’ve done his research to offer such a thing.
“I see you like this idea,” he said as he squinted at the Holies, observing their reaction.
“We can’t deny that this is a very tempting offer,” Roxana said with a light nod. “However, even if we accepted it, w
e cannot speak in the name of the rightful owners of Pegaria. We can’t make such decisions without the Patriarch’s permission. As regents, we don’t have the jurisdiction to do so.”
“And what if we asked the owners?”
“Then we could arrange something. But, as I’ve told you before, this land is sacred. The clerics who own it report to the Board of Pontiffs. I don’t think the board would ever approve of this decision. And as much as the Holy Empire would benefit from having access to the Angelic Waters, we, unfortunately, don’t have the power to influence the board’s decision. No one but the Patriarch has that right.”
“We understand.” Telisssa circled something on the paper she was holding and addressed Raven: “Let’s move on to the next order of business. You’ve asked for access to our dungeons, as well as to that of the Holy Empire, in exchange for access to yours, yes?”
“That’s correct.” Raven nodded.
The meeting was nearing its sixth hour, only interrupted by a couple of short breaks. Each side (except for Umbra) had already offered at least one item for consideration, making notes and corrections in their documents as the meeting went on.
Telisssa and the Scriptures left most of this work to their secretaries, while Raven and Nanel did everything on their own. Raven had no one to entrust such an important task. He’d only take a breath of relief when a consensus was reached.
***
Two days later
Malissar, a Goblin-rogue, was grinding with his group on Floor Three. Sure, Floor Four was open, but it was being torn apart by clan wars, which made all farming locations inaccessible, and near-impossible for small teams to do their grinding, let alone clear dungeons or instances. Theoretically, you could complete those on land by getting permission from the clan that controlled them. But those underwater… Trying to clear them without proper potions and gear would be suicide.
As they fought, Malissar and his team discussed which dungeon they would’ve liked to clear had it not been for the whole mess. This war on Floor Four wasn’t the first nor would it be the last one. It had begun two weeks ago when the Messengers attempted to take over several dungeons and instances, practicing what used to be common in the past VR games where territories were divided among the biggest and most powerful clans.
When the Messengers began to charge entrance fees, they triggered a chain of events that eventually came to bite them on the ass when they tried to enter the dungeons controlled by Fortuna, Rollin’ Dice, Dark Spirits, and the rest of the top twenty clans.
They weren’t the first clan to have taken over a dungeon, but they were the first that violated the agreement that stated that regular dungeons would remain free-for-all. Out of respect for other players, they were to be used only for grinding. Only those dungeons that had valuable ores, resources, materials, or rare mobs could be controlled by the clan that discovered them. If they could keep it for themselves, that is.
No one knew why the Messengers took this step, but it didn’t sit well with the regular players. Fortunately for them, no clan had so far declared that they had absolute rule over a particular grinding area, like that currently being used by Malissar, Light Charis, Goodwin, Turabor, and Hand-of-Earth.
“Do you remember that lake? Where Raven fought against that guy?”
Charis had recently begun to feel less resentment toward the one whom she once used to curse for helping everyone realize just how unique this game was. Raven’s videos were still popular, although the Columbus Club had stolen some of his audience. Loners fighting on their own Floors was a captivating sight. Many of those who had found themselves on higher Floors at the beginning and had reported it to the devs rather than tried to survive, were now cursing themselves for this decision, realizing that they could’ve become the next White Raven.
“I do, yeah. Rollin’ Dice took over that area because of the tablet. They’re not letting anyone get close to it. I wish I knew what that tablet is.” Malissar gave her a curious look.
“I don’t know, but they seem to really want it.” She smirked. Her eyes flashed with a magic light, enchanting the monster she was fighting for several seconds. A hail of quick attacks rained upon her opponent, ending with her tail piercing their skull. “Yesterday, I heard rumors about a player who used the attack on the Rollin’ Dice to sneak past them, get into the lake, and use the stone.”
“You’re shittin’ me.” Goodwin, the mage, shook his head and grimaced skeptically, forming quicksand under the feet of his opponent. “I’ve heard that its cooldown is a month or so. The Dice never said just how long it takes, so how could that bloke had known?”
“Dunno.” Charis shrugged and waved her chain, sending fire down it to set a zombified deer ablaze. “I’m just telling you what I’ve heard. It could be bullshit, but if it’s true, someone must hate their life enough to risk Kingmaker’s wrath. I don’t know much about her, but what I do know... Well, there’s a reason they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”
The last mob collapsed to her feet with its skull cleaved open by an ax. Malissar came over and looted the body.
“Should we wait for them to respawn?” The group leader, Hand-of-Earth, an Earth Elemental, approached them, waiting for Malissar’s report.
“Two units of gold. Fifty-two units of silver. Sixteen hearts. Three skins. A shabby sheepskin coat… Hm... Minus one sheepskin coat,” he said as he discarded the torn garment, and kept listing the dropped items. He continued until he reached a scroll. “There and Back.”
“Ah, that’s great.” Charis smiled and took the scroll for a closer look, although she had seen similar ones many times before. “Are we drawing cards?”
“As always,” Turabor said in a raspy voice. “You’re out as you’ve got it the last time.” Smiling, he took the scroll from her. “I hope I get lucky this time. I’m so tired of losing.”
They immediately took out their decks. The rules were simple: the highest card won.
A ten. A seven. A jack.
Turabor smiled as Malissar drew a card from his deck.
A king.
“Fuck you, man! Don’t tell me it’s your Luck again!” he shouted, hurling his ax at the nearest tree.
“No. No Luck this time.” Malissar collected his card and took the scroll. His Luck had actually been triggered only once or twice before. It was entirely random so he couldn’t count on it. “Can you spare me a few potions? I’ve spent many over the past three days.”
His teammates immediately gave him some, and even waited for their buffs to cool down so they could help him out in case he got teleported to a dangerous location.
“Good luck. We’ll be waiting for your message.” Hand gave him a clap on the shoulder. Others waved as he activated the scroll. The teleport opened, sending him to the middle of only-devs-knew-where.
After closing the message familiar to everyone who had ever used a teleport, Malissar took a look around. He stood next to a city, which meant free Influence and skill points.
He summoned his pet – a light-footed spider he had obtained in the forest of Rapu-Tapu where Goblin-shamans lived – and set off toward the walls visible in the distance. Upon entering the city, instead of a message informing him that he got a bunch of free goodies, he only got the one stating this city’s name.
City of Kadil
“Fuck!” He sighed with disappointment. Someone had visited this place before. Shit happens. I’d better get a map. Maybe I’ll have better luck in some nearby city.
He was going to ask the nearest guard where to buy a map when he heard a familiar name: White Raven. The guards were talking about him in voices full of reverence. Fascinated, Malissar was going to ask them for more details when a dumbfounding message popped up.
Attention! A global event has been completed by White Raven!
For the first time since Ascension’s launch, a peace treaty has been signed, named The Pact of Three.
The document took effect once the final seal had been put on it.
Malissar stood in the crowded streets and struggled to believe what he was seeing. It seemed like Laughing Queen of Spades wasn’t the only one who had made their way up to the rank of royalty.
Chapter 276. The Abode of Gifts
H aving spent the rest of that and the next two days over the document, the three rulers finally completed it. After the game-changing treaty was signed, Raven got rewarded by the system for his perseverance, eye for detail, and vision.
First came the global event completion message, notifying all the players on the Floor about it. As he read it, he was glad that he was the only player on this Floor. Good thing no one can see this, I still remember how people reacted when I triggered that last event... He smirked at remembering it, and looked at the document in his hands.
THE PACT OF THREE
Type: Document
Rank: Unique
Description: A document signed and sealed by the rules of three states, describing the procedure for resolving territorial disputes, and the terms of the peace treaty for each party.
Cannot be lost or stolen.
Now that’s a powerful piece of paper. He folded the scroll and put it into his ring before reading the rest of the messages.
Congratulations! You have become the first player to make an alliance with a local state as a ruler.
Attention! Title awarded: Diplomat, Level II
+7% chance of convincing the other party to accept your terms during negotiations
+13 Intelligence
Congratulations! You have become the first player to make an alliance with more than one local state as a ruler.
Attention! Title awarded: Diplomat, Level III
+20% chance of convincing the other party to accept your terms during negotiations
+Rare skill
ALLY
Rank: Rare
