The success of **Obsidian Gambit** had firmly established CODE as a rising power in Starter City, but it was becoming clear that Alex couldn't do it alone. The shadows may have given them an edge, but without his team's expertise, they'd never be able to grow beyond the confines of the casino. The burden of leadership wasn't just on him—it was on all of them. **Betsy**, **Drax**, and even **Luke** each had a role to play, and now, more than ever, their skills were needed to guide CODE into its next phase.

Alex sat at the long table in the newly expanded **common room** of the guild base. The walls were lined with shelves filled with maps, ledgers, and various reports detailing the activities of the casino and the rising influence CODE had begun to wield. Across from him sat Betsy and Drax, with Luke at the far end of the table, his usual stoic silence ever present. This time, though, Alex wasn't going to carry the conversation alone.

"We've made incredible progress with **Obsidian Gambit**," Alex began, looking at his team. "But now we have to face the fact that our success is bringing more attention than we expected—both good and bad. We've outgrown our current strategy, and we can't rely on the **shades** alone."

Betsy leaned forward, her sharp eyes studying the papers in front of her. "We knew the casino would be a magnet for the rich and powerful, but it's also attracting attention from the **guilds** and **political players**. They see us as a threat now."

"And that's because we are," Drax added, his usual grin absent. "But it's not just about running the casino. We've got to get our people—**the guild members, the small players**—involved. They need to feel like they're part of something bigger, not just spectators in a game run by shadows."

Alex nodded. "Exactly. The casino is just the beginning. We need to start integrating the **guild members** into our plans, especially the ones we've been helping. They joined CODE because they needed a way to survive, and now they're looking to us for leadership. We have to show them that we're not just running a business—we're building something **sustainable**."

Betsy tapped the table thoughtfully. "So, what's the next step? We've already expanded the casino, but we can't just keep relying on the same tricks. We need to **diversify**."

"That's where we come in," Alex said, leaning back in his chair. "We've all got different skills, and we need to use them to grow CODE into something that can compete with the bigger guilds. Betsy, you're the strategist. You understand the **political landscape** of Starter City better than anyone. I need you to figure out how we can use our influence to start making **real alliances**—not just with other guilds, but with the **NPC kingdoms** on this floor."

Betsy smiled slightly, though there was a seriousness in her expression. "I've already been thinking about that. The NPC kingdoms are going to be key if we want to expand our influence. They control a lot of the **resources** and **trade routes** on this floor, and most of the guilds haven't figured out how to navigate their politics yet."

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Drax, ever the action-oriented one, leaned forward eagerly. "So what's the plan? We start making deals with NPCs, maybe send in some guild members to help them out on quests?"

"Not exactly," Betsy replied, her tone measured. "It's not just about doing favors. We need to **leverage** our wealth and influence from the casino. The NPC nobles are greedy, and if we play our cards right, we can offer them something no one else can—**economic power**."

Drax raised an eyebrow. "You want us to bribe them?"

Betsy shook her head. "Not bribes. Investments. We use the wealth we've gained from Obsidian Gambit to fund **projects** in the NPC kingdoms. Help them build infrastructure, **secure trade routes**, maybe even offer them a stake in the casino. That'll give us leverage over the other guilds—once the NPCs are on our side, we'll have an edge no one else can match."

Alex smiled. "That's what I was hoping you'd say. We'll start small—offer to fund a few key projects, and make sure we get **guild members** involved in the process. It'll show the NPCs that we're not just a business—we're an **influential force**."

Drax grinned. "I like it. Get the guild members working alongside the NPCs, show them we've got their backs, and boom—we've got alliances all over the floor."

"But we need to be careful," Betsy cautioned. "If the other guilds catch wind of what we're doing, they'll try to undermine us. We need to be strategic about who we work with."

"I'll leave the politics to you," Alex said. "Just make sure we're covered."

---

Later that day, the team gathered in the **training room**, a newly added section of the guild base that Alex had designed specifically for the **guild members**. It was here that Alex's shades had a different role—they were no longer just enforcers or workers. They were now part of the guild's **training system**, helping players level up faster and more efficiently.

Luke, who had been quiet during the earlier discussions, stood at the far end of the room, overseeing a group of newer guild members as they practiced combat drills. His presence was calm, but commanding. Though Luke rarely spoke more than his signature word, "**Verum**," he had quickly become a central figure in the guild's training efforts. The newer recruits looked up to him, trusting his guidance as they worked through the challenges of leveling up in ALBEKO.

"Luke's doing a great job with the recruits," Betsy said, standing beside Alex as they watched the training session. "They respect him."

"He's quiet, but they know he means business," Alex replied. "And it helps that the shades are there to assist. They're getting stronger every day."

As the training continued, Alex noticed that some of the newer recruits were struggling with the higher-level combat drills. One of them, a young player who had recently joined the guild after being rescued from a brutal PK attack, looked particularly frustrated.

"I'll talk to him," Drax said, noticing the player's struggle. "We can't afford to lose anyone right now. They need to know we've got their backs."

Alex nodded, watching as Drax approached the struggling recruit, his tone light but encouraging. It was moments like this that reminded Alex why they had started CODE in the first place. They weren't just building an empire of wealth—they were building a **community**. And everyone had a role to play.

---

That evening, as the team gathered in the common room once again, the atmosphere felt lighter—more collaborative. For the first time in weeks, they weren't just discussing **problems**; they were planning the next phase of **growth**.

"So, what's next?" Drax asked, leaning back in his chair. "We've got the casino running smoothly, the recruits are leveling up, and we're making headway with the NPCs. What's the next big move?"

Alex looked around the table at his team—his **friends**. They had come so far already, but the journey ahead was going to be even more challenging.

"We keep pushing forward," Alex said. "We use the wealth from Obsidian Gambit to build our influence, but we can't stop there. We're going to start investing in the **guild members**, helping them level up faster, and preparing them for the challenges on the next floor. And once we've secured alliances with the NPC kingdoms, we'll be ready to take on the bigger guilds."

Betsy smiled. "We've got the foundation. Now we build the empire."

Drax raised his glass in a toast. "To CODE—and the future."

Luke, ever quiet but always present, simply nodded, his eyes steady. "**Verum**," he said softly, the weight of the word lingering in the air.

Alex smiled. "To the future."