[10,000 tokens received.]
[10,000 tokens received.]
[10,000 tokens received.]
[9,287 tokens received.]
[10,000 tokens received.]
[5,614 tokens received.]
[10,000 tokens received.]
Shin watched the dozens of deposits flow into his festival wallet every passing moment. Exchanges could be done remotely with just a thought so there was no need for anyone to come close and physically hand him a bag of money. None complained out loud concerning this blatant extortion after the example Shin made aside from discontent glares, of which he took no note.
“Some of you haven’t paid.” The notifications flurried again after starting to slow down.
“I… I don’t have enough…” A player spoke up, unable to even attempt to mask the fear in his heart.
“Just give me what you have and earn the rest later.” Shin kindly advised, to another bump of activity, most of it less than the amount he demanded.
“This is bold, even for you…” Yen stood hand on hip with an elegant assertiveness. “Do you understand how dangerous this is?”
“Yeah, we need some friends like right now. Can’t be standing around here bare cash with the pagans…” Donny stared down the players eyeing them with a cold blooded quiet hostility, not a trace of nerves showed on his face despite his words.
“...Are you actually worried?” Yen found some small amusement in that.
“It’s not a normal situation.”
“Okay, let’s just get some goons then. We got a ton of gear.”
“That would only make things worse.” Kamala spoke up in general stoic indifference, glancing briefly at Ashley still lingering around Shin, who playfully waved back. “Single out the lone players first, anyone capable without hostility towards or having problems with the other parties and recruit them.”
“Kay.” Shin flickered over to Dante, the unidentifiable man who greeted them first in the safe room. “Join us.”
“Sure.”
Shin sent back 10,000 tokens with a thought and dashed off, appearing before Cheon Mujin whose body shifted just barely noticeably to a fighting demeanor. “Join us.”
“...What?”
Shin thought about how best to explain it. “It’s dangerous to play the games now. You’re weak and have no party.”
Mujin’s frown turned to a combative scowl. “Give me back by tokens.”
Shin casually did. “Okay?”
Mujin held silent for a bit, unsure of how to respond. With the lull of the interaction Shin moved on, quickly finding who he wanted next. The blond haired tanned skinned boy still donning the silk mask hiding half his face fell on edge immediately like a wild animal backed into a corner.
“What do you want?”
“Join us.”
“Fuck you.”
“You can train in the group without having to worry.” By the unchanging expression on the Hunter’s face, it didn’t seem like that convinced him. Shin fell into thought for a moment. “It’s dangerous if the ward breaks again. Someone can wake you up.”
Basem stared the nonchalantly smiling threat and looked towards the party’s base, taking care to keep Shin in his peripheral. A few moments passed deep in thought before he glanced back to Shin and dashed off by them, though keeping more than a fair distance.
With that, all the ones Shin had taken notice off were recruited. He glanced around the hallway about to head back to others before someone else caught his attention and flickered by the young man who looked back with a dispassionate composure.
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[Human Puppeteer (epic) - Greater Lord]
Appearing in his twenties though only a bit taller than Shin, thin, light skin with an attractive face and short straight black hair styled in an undercut, wearing mostly leather rogue like armor. His expression somewhere between emotionless and brooding, almost a bored acceptance, unremarkable on the surface but replicated by no one else within the crowd. His was not marred by arrogance nor apathy nor fear. It simply was.
“Shin.”
“...Jean.” His tone dry and inoffensive.
Shin tilted his head. “Join us?”
Jean glanced around at the attention and animosity directed their way, the intelligence in his eyes dulled by his calm and ordinary demeanor. “Alright.”
Shin returned to the point with the last of the recruits in tow, the others having all found their way there already. “Done.”
“Not exactly an army…” Yen looked at the newcomers. “You do your feeling thing again?”
“Yeah.”
“Of course… Should we get more?”
“It is enough.” Kamala brought everyone’s attention to her with the presence of someone who ought be listened to. “Everyone here wishes to take full advantage of the opportunity granted us. We may be strangers but I’m sure you would agree it is in our best interest to work together towards that. We guard each other’s safety for the duration of the challenges to ensure that is possible. Is that tenable?”
“Sounds good.” Dante was the only one who responded but the others held a similar agreeable atmosphere.
“Then let us get along for the next ten hours.” Kamala looked around at each of them before walking off. “Karla, would you accompany me?”
“Kay~” The amazon blurred beside the priestess as she walked directly towards the Kamo. The remaining masked members took notice immediately and slowly shifted into a guarded state around the boy, holding back no secret of their priority.
“We can facilitate a situation that will allow your scion to train safely and undisturbed. An alliance is to our mutual benefit.” Kamala spoke to them directly and bluntly.
The members glanced at each other, seeming to communicate silently before the one nearest to the young master responded. “Very well.”
“Then, please follow me.” Kamala trailed by Karla led the party of Kamo straight towards the Saba who to a lesser extent became guarded as well. This time, rather than to the party as a whole, she spoke directly to the one she knew to be the leader.
“The effects Lady Zerah experiences are likely a curse, I imagine.” She turned back to the masked man who spoke before. “Would the Kamo be able to confirm and expel it?”
“There is no need for confirmation. It is a curse.” The Saba’s attention fell onto him. “By the rules of the system, a legendary or perhaps mythic tier curse removal spell is required.”
“Then remove it.” Zerah snapped at them, her mood understandably combative.
“To remove a curse brings great risk to all involved. None among us currently possess such skill to tempt that risk. However, with more time it is possible. Though we will require payment in turn.”
“What?! It was your member who cursed me!”
“He is no true member.” The Kamo man responded matter of factly. “The freedom he currently enjoys is at the whim of this Tower’s emergence.”
Zerah clicked her teeth and turned to Kamala. “Then it’s your party’s fault. That cursed child allowed him to join.”
“...I admit some of the blame lies with us.” Kamala answered undisturbed, two pieces of epic tier weaponry appearing in her hands. “A gift to make amends.”
“My thanks.” A regular member of the Saba took the items at Titon Saba’s words, to his sister’s visible frustration. He then turned to the Kamo. “What is your price?”
“Information on the path of all magic spells you know of and have experienced.”
“Paid after the removal of the curse.” Titon stipulated.
“Agreed.”
“Then I take it we are in alliance.” Kamala asked, though she knew the answer already.
“Yes.”
“Indeed.”
“I wish you success in your training.” Kamala bid them farewell and returned to the party, the Kamo positioning themselves inbetween the locations of the two others meanwhile.
“Wow.” Yen commented honestly.
“The danger has subsided for now. Though how long this holds depends.”
“S’alright.” Donny smiled, mostly directly as a compliment towards their diplomat. “Just a race now, innit.”
“How many should stay out now?” Yen asked.
“Two is enough, including Shin. The other clans won’t act anytime soon and the opportunists won’t forget his display.”
“You sure you want to sit out the whole time?” Yen asked him.
“It’s fine.” Shin hopped over to Basem who once again put his guard up.
“What do you want?!”
“Keep you’re stat total low. You can go up to 2200 but no more. And it’s good to get traits now.”
It took Basem a few moments to realize Shin was giving him advice. “...I already know that.”
“Oh, you have a patron.”
“...” Basem left the conversation without a word and entered a challenge.
Donny glanced at the kid then back to the party. “Who’s taking first shift?”
“I will.” Dante volunteered.
“Alright, we’ll switch out every hour, everyone gets a turn.” He headed back to the ogre wave console.
“You’re fine with a stranger going first?” Yen argued.
“Shin picked him, didn’t he?” Donny fell still as his mind entered the challenge. Logically, it still didn’t sit well with her but logic wasn’t wholly relevant with Shin, so she too soon entered the challenges along with the others.
“Back soon~” Ashley waved to Shin, the last to follow.
“She’s right, though.” Dante said to Shin. “Can’t trust people too easily. But I get it. More fun to live boldly.”
“It’s fine. You’re not empty.” Shin’s casually words brought a pause to the mysterious player.
“Seriously…” Dante slightly laughed out with a defeated smile. “I guess you’re the champion for a reason.”
----
Donny’s surroundings changed to a familiar rolling meadow of thin grass. An ogre appeared the next moment with a roar and Donny cleaved through its gut, blood spraying far more violently than it should. Two more ogres appeared and meet the same gruesome fate. Donny gripped his axe, expression solemnly brutal as the numbers double again. A single line of thought ran through his mind. He can’t afford to fall behind. If he fell behind here, he knew he’d never catch back up.