COI C146
Dexter Guild and their opportunistic ways, have complete the very things they have accomplished. Tabitha’s accounts were the pinnacle of their beginning to see the city’s internet servers. It was the gift of their superior monopoly on technologies. Rare finds in Enders Bridge, trying to keep it to maintain until all parts died out. They have more than what they have found, and cut ties with them after the closure against the demon. It is the conclusion. It is the end of the predecessor’s legacy to fulfill and now written in history as the most perfectly planned against the reviving virus.
Their servers are clean and willing to go again to the Rune Isles last surviving servers. But it was not their orders to return there. Lady Coheld, she walks out to the surface after staying hidden inside the deep-sea facilities. Now at the bridge, where she takes a deep breath after following the guidance of her predecessor. She waits for the people who is managing the hideout and the archscientist herself to return home. This is the day after the conflict with the demon. It is her time to review the actions take part in the predecessor’s gains.
While she is walking across the bridge, her younger brother sees her feeling a bit of doubt on her face. He said to his older sister
“I can see from your eyes that you are not leading your guild”
“Past problems will always lead to a well-prepared solution, how about you? You seem to be free at the moment”
Her younger brother was coming from the other side of the bridge, from Rune Isles, she ignores the dirt and torn on his clothes. He just plays along with a nice sibling conversation. She watches him leave, along the people followed him.
Lady Coheld misses her childhood. The way he reacted that he can’t convince her because of her position. Even it looks rather silly to act like kids, their behavior is something she likes to see again. She goes to the meeting place where her invited guild masters or mistresses are held. Gathered together, as they are the available leaders who stay inside the bridge. The rest are focusing elsewhere, including the east mountain, undergrown.
“The undergrown is under siege for weeks now”
“It would be over, if it hadn’t with the mass summoning in the south region”
“Even your guild is taken to Isekai City, right Archscientist?”
Entering the meeting, the she trusts and available are here. All young and different because of their segregated cultures. Lady Coheld herself is the culture of technological revolution, while the rest are between Industrial and Reconnaissance to the west. It is clearly made her think about a culture all about Reconnaissance, it is defined as military observation. Yet, there they are. Under the ways of the practitioners through observing the Rune Isles and beyond to Circoston region. She remembered they practice venturing back and forth to Rune Isles and Enders Bridge. It is a culture that she doesn’t understand why, but many people are involved like it was a special event.
The meeting is starting, five of them, added her, on the table all around in a big distance gap. Supposed to held by the 50s of them, and so wide that none of them could reach each other. Lady Coheld gathered them here to pursue the historical breakthrough from their predecessors.
“I have gathered all of you that your past leaders were involved with a project about the Rune Isles’ secrets. One such tool you have learn about the old name ‘Cyberspace’”
“It has many names, let’s called what the present users named it. The ‘internet’”
“So, your network is back and working again. Do you want to continue the expedition? It was years before we are not even born”
“That’s I won’t allow, but I have a different obligation to do in my leadership. You already know my predecessors have passed down their solutions to the situation they were facing before. I’d say, he did what needed to be done and also his ruling to deal with the involved participants who are in his plan”
“Then, what’s your purpose for us to do that is not part in Rune Isles?”
“Taiyou Industries, facilities and spaces that main all manufacturing. We need their production lines if you people wish to go deep into the Isles. Having the materials and resources to hold, makes it easier for us to build”
Looking at each other in the far distance, they have their mind on something valuable. The recent activities of gathering resources for them are scavenging, yet there are no raw natural resources as it was disappeared a long time ago. There is one place though, the massive airships and vehicles found in the former excavation area. Historically once the mining complex, then the factory, then finally the station area for the war vehicles and air transports. The entire endless supplies to recreate their own robotics. With limited manpower they have, this is going to be their best opportunity yet.
One of them doubted “I don’t know if they really want to collaborate with us. I heard that you are already cooperating with them since the defense”
“It is concerning, giving them the facility, they have to produce very sensitive components to make our own construction equipment”
“That is something that the Raker Mawn Guild knows, all information is send to Lord Lori’es. We have no slight indication when they begin to use it to their own gains”
“I understand your worries, but we are sure to be loyal to our Lord. They are still struggling and the future is dire for us when they fully gained their sovereignty”
Lady Coheld slides an item to the center of the table, projecting a hologram about the situation in Isekai City. It is divided, and everything else is forming like any other city would. Corruption, self-gained, and Hope to escape this world are in a mix in different areas. They see the segregations, and there are chances when the demon will able to go through to at least one of them to let them in.
“The Foundation, when will they learn? The longer they have to wait, the harder for them to leave?”
“Their situation, not our problem. Lady Coheld should’ve told her goals too. We all know you gathered us for your own gain”
They look at her from afar as the projection keeps playing. Her eyes remained confident, because there are so much to do in this little time, she had an agreement with Lord Lori’es. She said,
“I have two months left until the agreement is over. When the 4th moon cycle is coming, all of my men will leave. I have been receiving requests from the Taiyou Industries themselves, to extend further as they already see our competence and our industrialism. Our resources already used up, and I need some help to any available guilds to finish my mission before it is over”
None of them were convinced at the first half. Her answer sounds too noble for a Dexter Guild Member. They know about her guild. The guild of opportunistic departments and the military corps to clean up their finished works. Isekai City will be experiencing the aftermath of their actions, either it be good or bad, and the results always satisfying. Needing their help means they have to work with her, and there is more to it than she had planned. They only remember is her replacing the predecessor as he was punished and leaving the sole survivor from their testing project.
The Lady continues “To all of you are still concerning about my plan, you will all realize that Isekai City remained neutral with the same enemies. We have no favors between them except private matters. This is not the fight for gains, we are not let this relationship put the test between our loyalty to Lord Lori’es. Witness you have to see through the reality of their civilization. If they are what we have heard in Agatheus City, then be sure to see them as a threat as well. For now, we must coordinate as their judgement will be decided by our actions”
The guild masters/mistresses sit as they are put their patience from their swift judgement. These things grew dire as they are surrounded by repetitive situations over and over again. Nothing else they could not repeat the solution with foreign people form the south of Kinteinnou region. This is quite the dilemma, and put their trust on the guild with past inhumane practices, if only the Unworthy guild is here in their meeting. They remember how the Unworthy guild is the first who accused the Dexter Guild. Lady Constantine’s honest words.
“I suspect so many of you, and the future I see predicts too well how it ends”
She said it with past achievements. The guild who saves everyone from the demonic influence.
Choices limited, and they have their men available to heed their call. Lady Coheld witnessed such great admiration of her chosen invited guests. They are the same who were secretly trying to use the ruins of civilization. In reality, they want to return back to the old world. A world that the prosperity will return and Rune Isles must fall. Origins between once was Cirtei, the Pangaea continent. All of them never been blinded for what the summons supposed to do.
“If Isekai City evolved into the ancestors who will become from history, then they are fated to our responses”
“Lord Lori’es will hear about this. Lady Coheld, be sure to send it to him as your item also recorded our meeting”
“We will allow you to bring our available men into their city. Gives us few days in preparation”
“Enemy or not, you clearly planning your gain from the start of this meeting. I hope you will not have the same fate as your predecessor”
One last guild mistress sitting as she used her spell to take notes from what she saw. “I’m sure you’re just using us only for a week”
Lady Coheld finishes the meeting, then moves on her way to Lord Lori’es. The time was impeccable as he already arrived at the entrance of the city at Kinteinnou region. He sees her as the words already reached the news about the conflict between them and from Fuku City. They were involved outside of his rule.
“What deed have you done to do such beyond my orders?”
“I am pleased that you received my message. There is no conflict if they wanted to show it on public”
Neat and prim to her elusive introduction, the lord has already expected that she had already planned this, in response.
They settled inside the building only outside of the city. The adventurers from Isekai City saw them entering as their eyes were focusing on the lord himself. With other guards following him, they enter a private room as the guards blocked the door.
“An Enders Bridge’s leader? Here?!”
“Shut up, we are just here to enjoy ourselves out from the dusts. I don’t want to kick out and got exposed again”
Lord Lori’es heard their conversation. It is impressive how they continue to go out while the moon is raining down to their weakest point in the matter of time.
Lady Coheld gives all the information in one file on the table. Lord Lori’es sees the engravement magic on the paper attached with the scroll. He uses it and all knowledge what happened, from the people who are involved and the others who indirectly involved connecting everything into one whole story. The truth he could not convey such absurdity to have seen both public and private at the same time. Toleration on his will, the duty he had to see all the secrets that never mentioned and the sight to behold that was planned by her guild’s predecessor.
The Lord lets it go and tell her what he had saw “I have seen enough. They have done greatly, and yet, foolishly when they cause problems to Isekai City. On the other hand, that man is there. Already stepping stones his path to both himself and the people he despised. Hidari is his name. It seems he had found people from the east coast. What is more surprising that the rebellion is now siding with them”
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“They already checking their relationship, my lord. It is still mutual when they give him the Jade stone”
“The Jade stone is originated from Norvait. I see, then this is something to be worried about”
“Thank you, my lord”
“Then what is your plan. To deal with it on your own or continue finishing the agreement”
“I have already had what my predecessor wanted to response. Such opportunity like this still in need for our progress”
“The expansion, relying on Isekai City’s production will be a problem. You give them time to hold them off by using your bomb. It was meant to clear down the area your groups trying to take. Do you plan to compensate your resources with their service?”
“I have already planned through business matter. It is a surprised that the person we are meeting with. Has resemblance of Daemos’ foolery”
The business meeting with the Perb and the businessman was suspicious enough to make deals in Enders Bridge secretly. Like the other clients, the businessman had his foolery stretched further without them knowing. The Lord found him again in a different form. But somehow, he is helping them rather than scheming. Then it must mean from what the businessman said to him
“Then what he called free market is exist within the city”
“I am surprised as well. He is replaying the life he had before everything turned to ruins”
“Mix joy feels my heart, Lady Coheld. I’m glad you show it to me”
“Old allies won’t keep secrets to each other”
Lady Coheld discusses her future plans and the recordings added with her five chosen guild masters and mistresses. He found out that the city is already trying to form new cooperating agreements only to Agatheus City’s guild. While he was too busy helping the Eldesunes to put the end at the undergrown. That end though, wasn’t that simple, they were problems when getting inside. At the same time, the demons are spreading. The lady had shown some promising works with her reports added beside her own.
Keep adding the details to further everything in secrets both her agenda and the missing demons left from the undergrown. It will become a huge mess when the 4th moon cycle begins. The 1st month is almost over and the two months more to go. The Enders are thinning themselves once more in their numbers. The Dexter Guild is bringing five known guilds that venture through the Rune Isles. Culturally and rurally practice to find hidden lands in Rune Isles, and they are now being convinced to go to Isekai City. That means, they have found a place they want expand his territory.
“When will your allies start?”
“Two days from now, the Isekai City called their days today and tomorrow ‘weekends’. I learn it is their days of rest. I am respecting their culture’s integrity”
“Have you forgotten that our days also have ‘weekends’?”
“The difference is the exact same days. Ours are for personal chosen days, my lord”
Lord Lori’es had stamped a seal on the paper. Both of their minds shared the same thought as the paper starts writing itself. Words coming out from it as the seal is connecting their minds as the final agreement. His trust puts on her as the only active guild mistress to supervise the city.
“Thank you, my Lord”
She bows down and take her leave. Her hasty leaving is sure that she already prepared for this. The Lord rests inside the room, waiting for another guild mistress to come in. 10 minutes had past, and he can sense her presence is coming. The door opened and he greeted her
“Lady Constantine, have you been doing well with your apprentice or your subordinate?”
“Both, my Lord. My subordinate did some spying to my rival’s activities. I guess you have her details”
She looks at the table where Lady Coheld’s files and papers on his lying hand. He nodded without hesitation. The two have been rivals since the days they took power by different means. Both ladies hated each other because of not from difference from their guild’s moral and practices, but they were chasing for power. Lady Constantine receives her position through protecting their base, while the real guild master is been crusading his path against the rebellion. Respectfully, he is the one who made neutral standing with them. Yet, not enough for the incoming waves from Circoston region. There are people out there believed that the war should be over. All of the heroes are gone, for now.
“I will not be delaying here. Isekai City had so much to be done, and too many to settle with. Their lands were easily breaking through like we have expected. The Demon’s faction still acted like they are part of ‘their’ side, since historically speaking, Heroes’ faction is the monopoly of bringing their world to ours. I only concur, even archscientist thought so. That the people in Fuku City are already being tempted secretly by the Demon’s faction. My subordinate is prying his way, and found an idol among them. I don’t want to say this, but let her and him to take at least the Dexter Guild’s opportunity”
“You want me to take responsibility to their actions?”
“I am not saying like that, the woman I mention before, she has her own gripes. She is a member of Raker Mawn, and was the only member from that city”
“Was only? You mean there is one more who joined?”
“Yes, but he is not of use right now. Raker Mawn Guild is fulfilling their goals, and we must respect those members to use their expertise at their own expense. She must grow on her own”
The Lord knows guilds are independent when it comes to their works outside of the city. This one is foreign and not a local from Enders Bridge. Enders was Agathean, Tais, and Purissars, but they left and lose their membership when reside back to their cities.
They are still not Enders to his eyes. The Lady is showing her dedication. He stands up, raises his hand, and fists it down on the table. Magic spell casts on the table as his hands phases through it. Brings his hand up gripping on an item then gives it to her.
“Elrond gave me this as a coronation gift of my Lordship. This is not an authority but a medium to speak through the elven gods. Give it to her, if she is really that important. Then she will be facing the people that I have concerned about”
“Yes, my lord”
The magic didn’t stop, his magic is being controlled by elven magic. The two saw its presence as the entity senses the item being taken out. It speaks
“Lord Lori’es, how long did you not use the gift of Elrond’s”
“Ehan’Se, by your golden elven flames. Why are you disturbing our discussion?”
“I know it is already done. My patience tightens further in this side of the continent. Even Lady Hivites was not happy since the exchange. So, in the end they didn’t leave”
Both of them are silent leaving the intention of his head that is true. Ehan’Se continues
“I see, Ehan’Ra is still trying. Lady Hivites is not happy either for them to stay”
Lady Constantine opens her mouth and with sincere question “What happened to those who really wished to leave?”
“They must all leave, even the dead as well. Those souls were kept hidden and sealed away until they recognize those summoned people. They are one of the rarest races that has no connection to their gods yet interacting with ours. They are like the ascendance that they are gods, but in reality. They are their hosts. Time is wavering in my side here. Lord Lori’es make sure that gift is connecting with Elrond’s presence or else it is just jewelry for looks”
The golden elven flames vanished, absorbing all light into the darkness. The windows can’t emit light inside and also the reflecting light to the other rooms. There is only one light emitting. Elrond’s gift, glowing as the voices of elven languages whispering out. Lord Lori’es said to her
“Give it to her, and returned it when she had done. She must not give it to me personally, but to Elrond himself”
“Thank you again, my Lord”
She left the room as his guards come in.
“We sensed our Ehan’Se. What presence did he left for you and her?”
“It is about Elrond’s gift, your master. I gave it to her because they are drawing near of every leader’s concern”
Back in Isekai City, somewhere in Fuku City. The day after the death of the hackers. The executives are now concerning what is happening to them. Others don’t care, but all of them worry the same thing. An assassination had occurred inside their city. The cult leader hides all information regarding how the process went to end them. Only left is the Enders involvement. An emergency meeting was held and to the first time that everyone is here to discuss about it.
“This incident happened because of their crimes against Enders Bridge. I knew I was fishy about how they able to innovate so fast and invent in a get go. No average people who are defectors somehow able to find the best service ever made out there”
“This world was advanced back then. Little too advance than we had expected”
“It makes it a good opportunity for us to be the one will revive it than made it ourselves”
“We still have the people and the economy to back us up. Even they are gone, we will be the next people who will rise this world to its former glory”
They change the topic about their worries into the chances of them getting the ahead of the idea for the future. The others never ignore the consequences they are in. They are involving their business with the Enders guild. Isekai City had enough problems to deal with, especially to rebuild the horrendous assault from the monsters. Taiyou Industries need to go back to work as the materials needed to build Mihayara District with better new structures.
“We have two choices here. We need to make it public to increase security or make it private and use our own expenses to get rid of them”
“Bokushi Hidari, I heard news about your men. They weren’t able to secure the people you have suspected to be involved in this incident. I am no prosecutor, and this allegation is a sign of incompetence against your service”
The cult leader looks at their pride trying to corner him like he is being weak. Ignoring the fact that he has experienced adventurers and unify gang groups. The executive is right though, a few of them successfully infiltrated and caused to open the virus they secretly kept.
They continue “Are we going to make it stricter on our area once again?”
“This is not the important issue for us, but the safety of others. Illegal, legal, or not, it should’ve been done with the justice system”
“Then what can you do when the criminal is doing illegal things in a foreign area? That would be the decision which sides caught first. I can’t say much of the collaboration between our city with Agatheus City. I just want this problem settle or will be the next target”
The argument goes on until the cult leader slams his magic hammer like a judge in court. The noise went silent.
“We need to decide as soon as possible, don’t try to add more content to it. This incident should be expected to be an assassination. There is no other else other than that, clear?”
He slams his magic hammer again and they began speaking.
“Ahem* he is right, we should be clearer that we are involving someone else’s problem. They are not one of ours. I am not going to deal with them unless it is affecting my side of business”
They all agreed and continue the meeting. The investor reminds them “Please don’t forget what happened to this building. It was attacked thanks to their poor misleading on their side of work. But the next time that it is one of us who is causing trouble. It will be hell to pay”
“So, this Dexter Guild. I have heard so much positive remarks back in Taiyou Industries. They’re expanding the city barrier efficiently and able to retain all the factories. Even we can sue them for the things they secretly did to the internet. We can’t reveal the secret of our people going in and out. It will give bad publicity for both of us”
“I agreed, but we need to settle this if they are going back inside the internet again just to cause harm”
The cult leader cuts them off “There is no need to, now that the new group is under my control. They are both users and gang members altogether. They will be the one be innovating and protecting the servers. You can see here, they already developing private servers for only to us. Segregating between them and us, and leave the rest to their own personal business”
“You mean remove our chances to monopolize the internet for ourselves. That’s . . .”
“I’m telling you people that monopoly wouldn’t work. We just need to be better than the rest. You clearly remembered back in our world, we have competitors and able to bring out the best product we have ever made throughout the world. Cheap, efficient, and long lasting. These are the legacy of combatting future companies with our traditional ways. Unless you want me to step in”
They look at him as he is both valuable to the people and at the same time risk taking with his infamy. They didn’t know who are these people supporting him other than the defectors.
It is more so that he had made enemies with the government because of his profile being a yakuza and the leader of the cult group. The cult leader continues “We will give them the tools, but the not the security. It will create a delay for us to refine our services for the better. As when they able to solve their situation, we already have the consumers fixated to us”
They see this as natural phenomenon. There will be always someone in the internet to took advantage of it make their own websites. Without anyone spending money to keep the website running. It is a free site nonetheless.
There is also cyberattacks, like the Dexter Guild did for the example, so it will be logical in a need of security. It will be the same as their problem. On screen where the cult leader pointed out, the solution to deal with threat is making a server protecting their websites from incoming attacks. With this, they have time to wall of the dangers before it getting in. It still just the same by cramping the line in a single direction. They raise their questions
“What about the internet traffic? Will it hurt the users to get in?”
“Yes, for now. Let’s make it look like it is struggling, but after a few updates after launch. It will be soothed sailing on here and out”
They look at the screen again, as the plan shows just to identify the accounts of every one of them. Like taken their personal information just to see who is log in to their service and figure out what activities they are doing without accusing them in the beginning of their investigation. This is a reminiscence of the controversial action coming from their world. A country is spying on people’s privacy, now they are the one is going to use it. They are dwelling on something they hated, and now becoming their own as they must use it to protect their servers.
“As long as it protects us, we will allow it”
They cast a vote and led to the internet’s progress. The vote is in and the security measure and the future release of their invention will be proceeding as plan. The cult leader announced
“Alright, we all agreed here to release the project after the aftermath of the siege is dealt with. We are not ready to face future attacks, until then, we need to finish first everything we have before going to the next stage. Everyone, thanks for coming as you are all busy on your work in your respective companies”
The executives use their magic and teleported away. Leaving the cult leader alone in the meeting room. The staff opened the door bringing a plant before him. The plant grew so fast since this morning. Covered in a glass dome; sealed and imprisoned, the cult leader never would expect sealing a demon still releasing its demonic presence as it dies. Already crawling out to break free for its freedom. The plant originated from the Circoston region, a desert fungus that grows only the magic of the dead animals. Exhaling the magic from its carcasses, releasing toxic fumes, but the fungus help it neutralize it.
What lies underneath the soil is the jadestone buried. It is strange to see such a gem growing like a plant. The concealed dome’s materials are all made from the rebellion. It is such a great wonder how it grows a plant. He brushes off the logic of it, and focuses on the how it works. The staff places it down, bows to him, then disappears using magic. He said to himself
“This must be the lab’s effort to follow the instruction. Now look at this, growing peacefully. What fruits can this demon bear?”
He laughs it off as he uses his magic carefully. The flow of magic coming out from the side of the pot, leaking fluids that matches the colors in red crimson glow. He wipes it off with his hand and feel the sensation of its magic. A static electricity in the circuit grid forming on his finger. Without the demon controlling it, he able to use its power. A first failed attempt where his hand jolt though the electric current. He expects to release it to the air, but it flows through his body instead. This is something he had never thought of using, but this is something can be useful against other demons in the future.