Ah! The Wonderful wonderful Capital City! Each step is a breath of fresh air and a piece of fruit bread gone…

We made it into the Capital, The starting point for the chunks of work that I had to do and also the place where I’m going to be staying. The streets bristle with activity, Needy NPCs roaming for help, thrill seeking players going in and out from taverns, busy trading district selling exotic rare Items, goods, and cosmetics for players to drool on, and a entertaining social hub area for players to have conversations, show off their gear and emotes, and have fun in general.

To me, this is a new experience. It’s better than the average office I’ve worked every day.

IT’S TIME TO WORK!

Before we start working our butts off, we did grab a some lunch, lucky for us, the daily giveaway provide us with fruit bread… which most of it are already consumed by Lin… but that doesn’t stop me from my motivation.

“Mmmp… nnglp… so what now?”

The little sorcerer asked while she noms her fruit bread.

“Well… we’re going to do everything by the list!”

And then she regurgitates the food back… literally.

“Ppffffftt!…wait… EVERYTHING!?”

“Everything!”

Capital to do List:

-Check every NPC in the capital

-Supply and approve Adventurer’s Guild 

-Stock up potions and goods in shops

-Survey taxes 

-Verify messages and couriers   

-Supply scrolls and runes for magic shops

-Bribe tavern

-Set number of bear asses needed for quest Item

-Repair property destroyed by players

-Set vigilante players for bounty 

-Bribe brothel

-Draft capital guards

From noon to sunset we nearly finished the list. Exhausted, we decided to take a break in the public hub. Looking at the pooped looking magical loli, another curious question interrupted my break.

“Uuuuhm…… Lin?”

“Hmmm?”

“Tell me… why did you follow me in the first place?”

I nervously asked.

“Oh that!... now that I think about it…. I have no Idea…”

“…. Eh?”

“Probably it’s because you look like an interesting person to follow. Or is it just me bored of everything in the lower region and decided to tag along with you… the great almighty Lin needs her per diem entertainment you know.”

At least most of her sentence did make me feel special.

To be honest, this is practically the first time someone gave me praises; besides my superiors. Flattered in the Inside, I decided to give Lin a token of appreciation. While sitting, I scoot a little bit closer to her and then gave her a big PLATONIC hug.  

“A-AIA! W-W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? GET OFF ME!”

The little sorcerer’s face turns red as I hug away.

“Sorry Lin… but this is how I say thanks.”

“IDIOT! STOP! WE’RE IN PUBLIC! STOP IT!”

After the break, and a smack on the head…. Continuing off what we left, there’s only 1 more task needed to be done for today.

Visit the Golden Aristocrat.

Assuming it’s a store or another brothel…

“Hey Lin, What can you tell me about the Golden Aristocrat?”

“Oh that? That’s a premium shop. They usually sell Premium stuff and OP ite- ”

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Unexpectedly, an Icon appeared above Lin’s head, sparking her with Joy and excitement.  

“YES! A CHALLENGER! Finally I can unleash my power and ditch this impulsive slave labor.”

I wish I didn’t hear that…

“Aia-san, I will return shortly. The mighty sorcerer Lin needs to attend her challenge.”

“Wait! Wait! Wait! W-what about the store!?”

The little mage let out one more laugh as she disappears, knowing that she’s already at the boss area by now.

“Sigh… I’m alone again… now where is that shop?”

Alone again, I decided to continue the task without her (she’ll probably be back in a minute or so) assuming the Golden Aristocrat is a store, I headed towards the trading district. It was around sun set, evening. Lights and lanterns are beginning to illuminate the streets, while less players and NPCs are showing up.

Searching through the district, I came across a fancy looking store.

“Hmmm… this must be it.”

As I can tell by the shop’s title displayed outside. The shop is still open but it looks like nobody is occupying the counter. Assuming the shop keeper must be busy or inside, I entered anyway.

The shop bell jingles as I entered.

“Ah, someone has set foot into my humble shop. Is it someone new?”

As he express his speech in a conceit manner.

“Now now! Don’t be shy; take a good look in what the store has to offer. I’ll accompany you in a minute, so feel free to explore and examine.”

 Judging by his gentleman like speech, he sounds like your average day rich guy. Surely he’s a trust worthy person… I really hope so.  

Looking through the display cases, the shop really does sell exotic premium Items. From weapons, armor, magic, and cosmetics. Most of these are late game items but with a little change in appearance.

Great Sword: Dawn of Odyssey - 500 premium points

Short Sword: Noble Eagle – 400 premium points

Heavy Armor: Scale of the Immortal dragon – 1500 premium points

Helmet: Crown of the Demon – 800 premium points

Spell card: Oblivion Wing – 900 premium points

Mage staff: Winter Storm – 1000 premium points

Great Sword: The Knight Emperor – 5000 premium points

Hrrrmmm these items are pretty pricy… probably it’s reasonable enough to sell these items at a high price, since they’re late game items.

“Ah, there you are! Magnificent.”

The shop owner finally reveals himself. A rich young man seems to be wearing a tailor made shop keepers vest and pants, top with inventor’s goggles which appeared to be augmented into his eyes.

“Hmmm…  Casual work clothes that seems to look like premium cosmetics…. Not an adventurer, you don’t have an HP bar nor any currency.”

He circles me like a vulture, with an unsettling look in his…. “Eyes”.

This is creeping me out…

“Hmmm no weapons and armor either… All that and I assume you seek aid from me. An A.I. from the devs, if I may ask?”

“Y-y-yes, sir!”  

He let out a short chuckle as I nervously gaze on his mechanical appearance.

“Allow me to introduce myself, I am Sho. Sho Profiteus humble shop keeper of the Golden Aristocrat at your service… Now tell me, girl? What is your name?”

“Uuhhhm… I’m Aia. I’m currently the new Handler for this world, s-sir.”

As I nervously replied, still staring at his mechanical eyes.

“Judging by your look, you’re new aren’t you?”

“Y-yes, sir… I was told t-to visit here s-sir.”

“Just like every new A.I. that comes to my shop. And that there’s a reason why they come to me.”

“Why’s that?”

I curiously asked.

“To book your room, silly! You know the place you are going to be staying for a while! Unless you would rather sleep on the street where those filthy merchants and swindlers are.”

I’m starting to see a pattern here…

“Oh! Apologies for my attitude; I’m not usually kind to the poor. Anyways I’ll be back in a moment; I’ll be contacting the landlords to let them know you’ll be staying in one of their Inns. So feel free to look around the shop while I’m away.”

As he walked back into the shop’s storage/maintenance room, leaving me to survey through the displays.

The moment when the shop keeper walked out of the room, a familiar magical loli came barging into the shop…. Screaming and crying.

“AAIIIAAAA-SAAAAAN!!!!”

Eyup… she’s back.

“HOW THE HELL DID I LOSE AGAIN! I ALMOST HAD HIM! I manage to graze about one third of his health down! And! And!? The m-moment I charge up for another attack, his Health w-went back to FULL!”

The little mage latches around me, sobbing and crying, as I tried to cheer her up.

“Uuuhhh… eeeuuhhhh… it’s okay Lin… it’s okay c-calm down.”

“AAiiaaa… tell me! TELL ME! How did I lose!?”

With no other option, I decided to pull out the PDA and full fill her request, hoping she’ll calm down.

“Well… uuhhhm it’s because you were fighting a cleric?”

Lin grumbles and sobs, as she wipes some of the tears off her face.

“D-damn those Heretics….”

Drastically the little sorcerer’s mood went from sad to blank in seconds.

Well… at least she calmed down.

“Ah, I heard another costumer has entered my shop, crying for help isn’t she? Perhaps she has some interest in acquiring better gear.”

“Eeeuuuh… actually s-she’s a friend!”

I replied while Lin remains around me with a blank face.

“Making friends already? Well well I’m quite impressed. Usually most new A.I. considered me as their first friend.”

Besides the bosses, that’s pretty reasonable.

Sho finishes his little errand, as he shows to take charge in the counter.

“Ah, there we are. Welcome to the Golden Aristocrat; how can I hel- oh... it’s you…”

Suddenly both Sho and Lin glared at each other, like if it’s some kind of Mexican standoff.

T-THEY KNOW EACH OTHER!?  

“Hey GOGGLE GLASS! I want a refund!”

As Lin raises her staff, trudging towards the counter.

“Oh I’m sorry we don’t accept refunds. Unless you’ve got some Gold on you OR a Rework certificate, which I highly doubt you are going to get one. So try to be…. You know…. Not poor? Hmm?”

The shopkeeper chuckled.

“L-LISTEN HERE YOU GOGGLE FACE CHEAPSKATE! I’ve been fighting my butt off in a long while! I’ve face dozens of delinquents that tried to stand against me! And you’re charging me after all what I did? IS MONEY EVERYTHING YOU COULD THINK OF!?”

“Yes…”

“…”

“…”

 “…”

Okay… I’m confused… I should probably say something.

“Uhhhm… what exactly is going on?”

“Ah, allow me to explain.”

As Sho does about his thing.

“Well, not only I’m a premium shopkeeper, I am also the supplier for our bosses- no, ‘Clients’ in this world. Our job is to supply our clients’ resources which the Devs legitimately assigned to us. Those resources are mostly stat Buffs which are given away for free. But for cosmetics, weapons, armor and also a slight increased stat buff; they need to pay for it and schedule for a rework.”

“Interesting. B-but how do bosses get their currency?”

I curiously asked.

“Didn’t your friend already told you? Wait, who am I kidding, she couldn’t even explain how the boss economic system works… the system works like this: if the Boss is killed, he or she will receive a small portion of currency, which is enough to pay for food and their Inn rents, If they’re living in one. If the Boss manages to kill a player, he or she will receive a reasonable mass of currency, which they can use it to buy… well anything they want. like decorations for their home, more food, and… stuff like that. Unfortunately for your friend here, she’s one of my poorest clients.”

“S-SHUT UP!”

As Lin let out an outburst on Sho’s last sentence.

Moments later as things settles down, checking the list, we finally wrap things up for today. I’m glad Sho decided to share some information in how the world works. With my room ready for the evening, I did one more double check on my PDA’s to do list.

“Sigh… an entire day of work is finally over… let’s see. Village work, done. Capital work, done. And… wait…”

That moment I realize something.

It’s only been my first day and I only met about 2 out of 7 bosses and visited 2 out of 6 areas. Other handlers would have already finished their list by now, but for me to make things even worst a game event could happen at any time at any day and the world isn’t prepared yet!

“KYAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!”

I screamed, getting Lin and Sho’s attention in the store.

“Oh what is it this time?!”

The little mage grumbles.

“L-list! I-i-ii- I need to- I need to find-“

“Looking for more of the Clients? Miss Aia? I know someone who is usually up at this hour.”

“Y-Yes! T-t-tell me Sho-dono!”

Sho let out a chuckle as he explains.

“She’s usually around outside of town, probably at the rural roads by now. If you hurry, you might be able catch up to her.”

Without a moment too soon, Lin and I packed up, as we ready to face the night.

“Uugggghhh… Aia, can we just look for her tomorrow?”

“Sorry Lin, we can’t afford to miss this opportunity. Sho, we’re heading out!”

As we about to leave the shop.

“Oh! Before you two could wonder off the city. I recommend both of you to take these.”

Sho places a familiar looking item on the counter.

“Hmmm m-monster repellent?”

I curiously asked.

“Far as I could remember. Monsters are really aggressive at this hour… oh wait? Did I say aggressive? What I mean was they’re Tediously Hostile.”

“T-thanks?...”

As I take the item off the counter.

“You both are paying for those...”

“Eeh?”

“EEEEHHHHH!?”