In the middle of the table lay a single Crypto. The players look at it seeing if it was inscribed or any detail that could give them a way to make it do something other than be money. “Ugh! This is complicated,” Julia yelled. “Yggsalad, as my lord it's your job to figure this out!”
Jun, having thought of the first part, began to put two and two together. If Crypto was like Madder that would mean he may be able to inhabit in-game objects. Sort of like "Prop Hunt" in video games but this was an application of the skill Madder used on a level far greater than he thought capable. The only way this could occur is if Crypto somehow appeared as an Elleon Boss, and when he was near defeat, transformed himself into coins, called Crypto. Because he is worth an amount of gold, the coins he became, are now worth in comparison to his bounty. And as he remains uncaptured, the price of his bounty increases. This means he would be more valuable than gold if this keeps up.
Madder finally hopped back into Jun's shadow. “Hey, I think you're the closest to the riddle.”
“Wait, do you know something? Jun asked Madder.
“I need you to do me a favour. I need you to drop the Crypto into your shadow.”
Jun was curious about the reason but knew Madder was onto something. “Hey Aethera, do you mind if I borrow this Crypto for a moment.” As soon as he picked it up he began to hold his stomach. “Oh, man! I need to go poop!”
Jun then ran to a side room.
“I Don't think you can poop in-game. This must be real poop!” Julia exclaimed.
When Jun reached the room, he locked the door. No one was around. He took out the Crypto and turned towards his shadow. “Well then. Here goes!” He flipped the coin and it landed right on his shadow. At first, it was simply on the floor but then it began to phase into the Shadow.
A voice emerged from the coin. “Hey Madder, what do I have the honour of seeing you here in Elleon?
‘I see you're using your "pbe"-skills more than you did in Borealis. But I think I know why.”
“You saw the Black Market, didn't you?”
“Then you know why I am doing this.”
“I left you in charge of the Black Market, how could you let this happen?
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
“After we disbanded, I couldn't take care of the old Borealis hideout in Elleon by myself so I let some players buy it from me.”
“Have you seen it there? They are Synapsing people!”
‘What!” Crypto yelled. “They are also gating players from class changing and creating an inflation on gold. “
“I know. When I realized that they were doing this I had a grand idea. Why give my bounty to just any player when I could give it to the players of Elleon? I planned to stir up the market by becoming the mark against the gold embargo they created.”
“My friend here is trying to change class into a Tradesman but cannot.”
“Your friend. I am your friend. This player you just met. How can you trust him.”
“He hasn’t tried to kill me yet. When I first power-leveled him, he was happier to level up Mercantile.”
Crypto laughed. “Well, you’ve found a funny player at that. “Yggsalad.”
“Well, my friend here has run into some trouble with the Black Market. I need you to unveil just this once. He needs to give you over to the Tradesmen or people he cares about will be Synapsed including himself.”
“That’s not my problem,” Crypto yelled.
“You owe me Crypto. Who levelled you and helped you get your first Tradesman class change.”
“You did.”
“Exactly. I will take full blame for Borealis’ split but this. This isn’t what we wanted to happen. What would Swift think?”
“I don’t care what anyone would think.” Crypto paused. “But Swift wouldn’t be happy if she found out I let these scum players ruin what we built together.”
Suddenly the coin emerged from Jun's Shadow. “Take this Crypto to the Hideout. It should be all you need.” Jun placed the Crypto into his inventory and suddenly his inventory gold was acting odd. He didn’t understand much but it was as if his Inventory was being hacked. He then received a message from Crypto. “I have hijacked your inventory. From here on you can buy things using Crypto in Asper. The value of my currency is based on my supply. Thus the more you collect of me. The wealthier you are. Currently, a single Crypto is worth 10000 gold.”
With a single unit of Crypto in his inventory, Jun returned to his friends. “Let’s go…” It was ominous but slightly hopeful. Julia held her arm as she rubbed it. He could see her nervousness. “It will be fine, I promise.”
Aethera then got up. “This time I won’t let you go alone.” She slammed the table and rose. “Onward!”
Julia couldn't help but be enchanted by them. It raised her morale. “Okay, guys. If you say so.”
The group travelled to the Black Market portal. “Here we go!”
They enter the Black Market once again.
As they come to the other side, something is wrong. The Black Market entrance is now the stage where they set trial originally. The Audience began clapping and seated in their seats sat the five players.
“Did you return to beg for your lives?” One of the Members yelled. “What did you bring us…” He said excitedly. “Some friends for us to Synapse?”
Jun then goes into his inventory, pulls out the Crypto, flips it into the air and catches it back in his hand.
“I guess we got a deal then?”
The crowd stood silent.
Poor-2 then got up from his seat and teleported to the stage. “You think you're funny!” The other members of the thrones got up and ported onto the stage as well surrounding our adventurers. “Crypto huh?”
“Give it to us now!”
“No…” Jun said with conviction. “Your path to riches is not right. I can’t let you have it.”
They all began to Unveil and from this, each player emitted large amounts of energy pushing our adventurers back. Aethera grabbed her spear and staked it into the ground. They all held onto her. Finally, they looked at the Tradesmen. Each was gowned in shiny metallic armour.
“Bow to our powerful armour. It is the most expensive in the game!”
“You look like a reject-Power Rangers,” Jun shouted.
Well if you’re not here to give us the Crypto on our terms. Then let this be the last thing you remember.
Both parties readied for battle.
What the Tradesmen look like Unveiled.