AARON TAIT, [CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY]

It was not everyday that your wife’s secretary came seeking knowledge of said wife’s location. In fact normally it was the other way round with Aaron the one asking Danya. And it was somewhat concerning that Danyushka was so flustered. It was most uncharacteristic. The surety and poise of a [Ringmaster] nowhere to be seen. And he was so young. So earnest.

“Baron,” Danya was almost wringing his hands, “I am exceedingly concerned. It is an ominous and dreadful portent that The Azure Potentate has disappeared in such a way.”

Aaron was solid. “Relax man. She is perhaps the most capable and dangerous person I know. She is well able to protect herself and I have utmost faith in her. She knows what she is doing and is able to reach out through the Azure network if there is a requirement for support.”

“She has taken a Tourist Visa, an Adventurer Tourist at that. She is incredibly exposed.” Danya was most urgent. “And things are falling apart in [Head Office] too. People are starting to question and there are no answers.”

Aha. Here was the crux. He was young. He did not know CeCe quite as well as he may have thought he did. And Levels, while exceeding helpful, were certainly not everything. No, Cece was far from helpless. Even with the voluntary abeyance of her Stats, she would be far more dangerous than most anyone could comprehend. Aaron was not fazed. He knew his wife. He would back her whatever the play. Just as she would back him.

And he knew how Nigel’s unexplained absence had cut at her. How it chaffed and provoked her, even all these years. As it did him. But they were different people and they responded in different ways. Aaron was a [Steady Bastion]. He would hold. He would give up neither ground or advantage or hope. He held all. Cece in turn was much more aggressive. She always had been. And the System had been a real leveller. It had uprooted everything. Society had had to redefine itself. And old means of stratification had disappeared. All had new opportunities. All had new capabilities and unlocked potentialities.

And there had been a rather drastic and steep learning curve. For [Humans] were [Humans]. And it sadly seemed that some, no matter what they already held, always wanted more. And even though there was no recognisable limitation on System resources, some saw what others had, and saw no reason why it could not also be theirs. And so, in a post scarcity world, a post scarcity System really, there was still conflict.

For conflict was an integral part of the System.

But there was a very crucial delineation. For the System’s was a focused conflict. A directed conflict. And there were very tasty carrots and very sharp sticks. And so the [System] trained humanity. It was quite humbling to see. But where rewards were real and consequences quantified and immediate, Humans learned fast. And mostly it worked. But as always, there were the exceptions.

Aaron sighed as he remembered those early days. Fraught with difficulty and danger. And not System danger either. No, danger much more insidious and senseless. It was danger from within humanity. From those who thought that because they entered the System sooner they had rights over those following. And indeed, having been exposed to the System longer had enabled them to grow more in strength and ability, that was true. And there had been [Warlords] and [Tyrants]. [Bandits] and [Thugs] of all shapes and persuasions and sizes.

Though the System docked XP and REP, with crippling and painful consequences, some were simply intractable. Incapable of learning. Perversely revelling in their notoriety. Twisted souls who thought this was some sort of PvP game. That consequences were not real maybe, or would not apply to them. That they could game the System, that they would outsmart it. That they would not be caught.

And such ones had accosted the Tait family as they frantically tried to locate their missing member. And the rest was history. Aaron was not going to dredge up those memories.

He looked at Danya. The young man was defiant. He knew what he needed to do. And Aaron was not going to stand in his way. No, Aaron had learned that important rule of [Leadership]. That of letting go. One trained and fostered and mentored. And then one let go. To hold on, to micromanage or to exert control beyond its need was to stifle and restrict the [Agency] that was so, so important. Danya needed to do what he had to do.

“Go. There are backup plans and contingencies in place which I will activate. ASAP is prepared. We will survive. I will [Hold the Line].

And Danya went. Fresh confidence in his step. That was more like it, Aaron was proud of the young man.

Even as he turned back to his project, that of a catalytic mana converter, already turning over his in his mind the concept of light and void magics powering an endless battery, a message from CeCe pinged his inbox.

Ahhh. An update. He had anticipated one would be on its way.

SENDER: [The Azure Potentate]

Darling,

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

I have found him.

Well, nearly so.

As discussed I have added him to the Azure Stakeholders with VP banking permissions. I know we didn’t talk about Artifice but upon reflection I think we should add him to the Board there as well. I leave this with you to consider.

I plan to return in the next two weeks or so.

Meanwhile I suggest we begin relocating all Azure creches to Level 1. There are some significant benefits in doing so and from all appearances no one has taken advantage of these.

Perhaps a SWOT session when I return?

However, I am fully supportive if you decide to move early on this if you concur with the basic summary attached.

Love you

M

PS Tell Danya sorry and not to fret.

Ha, well that horse had already bolted. Aaron smiled as he opened up the summary. Hmmm. Yes, there were good opportunities here.

He mentally signalled his PA.

Let’s get this happening.

And then more importantly…

Should he base it on a Lamborghini or a Bugatti?

MERCY TAIT, [INTREPID ADVENTURESS]

The trek back out the city was most enjoyable. Nigel, or Tad as he now was, had been found. Mercy had been looking for him ever since that first day back from her own [Orientation]. And it had been gruelling. And thankless. In fact she was aware of just how driven and consumed she had been. Oh, okay. Yes she still was. See, she could admit it. And she wasn’t embarrassed one little bit.

She had always known he was out there. A mother’s intuition. And a mother’s fury at being thwarted. And those who would put further obstructions and hindrances? Well, what didn’t kill you made you stronger.

And Mercy was strong. Very strong.

She glanced up at Sledgrick. He was strong too. But it was the wrong sort of [Strength]. It was a one dimensional strength. There was strength of body. That was what people normally thought of when talking about strength. But in fact, that was the least important part. Strength of mind, of commitment and determination was far and away more important. Strength of spirit, of vision and conviction. Yes these were crucial. And Sledgrick was lacking these. In fact, it was more than a lack. It was a gaping hole, and it weakened more than just Sledgrick. It weakened the entire [Organisation].

There would need to be a full enquiry as to how this had happened.

But in the meantime, Sledgrick was right here. And so was she. And he needed his Spirit and Mind sharpened.

Mercy put her mind to the task. He was her [Minion]. This came with certain responsibilities and privileges. She was fully responsible for him. He was another limb. Someone who would enact her will. And he had specific Class Skills which enabled him to interpret her will. To extract and understand all the subtleties that were involved. To place any instructions within the bigger picture and balance and weight them so that the intended outcomes were optimal.

He was a [Henchman]. A faithful follower. One who would get his hands dirty if it was so required. But something had gone badly wrong. It was supremely apparent once he started talking about fingers and hands and arms. And pea soup of all things. Someone had taken advantage where they should not. He was an effective if somewhat limited tool. And this was unacceptable. Limitations were anathema. And people were not tools. Especially people who were part of the Azure Family.

Recently though, Sledgrick had taken some more promising Skills. And they had pushed him to grow in different ways. Mercy smiled as she remembered his joy in announcing his [Apprentice] proficiency in [Ladylike]. Ha. Ivy had had more of an effect than she had realised. Perhaps Mercy would let her know. Yes, and let her know that Sledgrick was quickly catching up. In fact if Ivy was still only a [Journeyman] by the time Sledgrick got there, there would have to be some consequences indeed.

No one had guided him in merging his Skills. And this was not good. Merged skills were always more powerful, and while they did take longer to gain proficiencies, the efficacy was well worth the investment. But merging a high proficiency skill with a low proficiency skill was somewhat problematic and could easily skew and gimp the Skill and make it nigh on impossible to improve in the future. Sacrificing proficiency for such a dead end Skill was exceedingly wasteful. But if he was able to improve another Skill up to at least [Journeyman] or ideally [Expert] then maybe merging it with one of his [Mastery] Skills would be acceptable.

Hmmm. Yes there were plenty of possibilities. But first. Some discipline.

Disposing less than dead bodies in the System Dump was unacceptable. Dead was dead. Not dead was still to have potential. And potential was valuable. And now was time for a lesson in value.

“Righty-ho, Sledge. We will now rectify your overzealous disposal inclinations.” Mercy rubbed her hands together as she considered the chute that led to the System Trash Disposal Portal. There was an aura of doom that surrounded it. It was simply impossible to ignore. No one in their right mind would consider voluntarily jumping through an STD Portal. It was instinctive. It was bad.

Sledgrick looked at her in disbelief. That was good. He had some brains after all. She had been concerned.

“Don’t look so worried, Sledgrick. If Tad, at just Level 1, was able to survive, and even thrive, I’m sure that you, at Level 62, will be absolutely fine.”

He was astounded. He looked like she had suddenly sprouted another head. Ha, Mercy chuckled. “Not so much fun when it's your turn is it?”

She paused. “I’m not totally heartless. You can choose…”

Sledgrick sighed in relief.

Mercy looked at him strangely, “whether you go head first or feet first.”

He paled once more.

“What? Oh, you want me to choose?” She paused again, but for just a second. “You can slide but I’ll dive.”

And with that she gave him just the tiniest of nudges and, as he shied away, kicked his feet out from under him, [Sly Ankletap]. As he disappeared down the chute, Mercy took a couple of quick steps and dove in after him.

“What fun!”