We just lay there for a while as we both calmed down from our intense discussion. While I still had a lot to think about, I pushed it aside for now in favor of spending more time with Linnea before I had to depart.
Eventually, she sat back up with a little laugh and a smile. “Thank you, Jared,” she said, leaning in for a kiss. “It's so much better to get that off my chest, I didn’t even realize how worried I was.”
“You're welcome,” I responded with my own smile. “I’m glad I finally told you as well, it's good to get everything out in the open. Just checking, there’s nothing else you need to say?” I finished, only half joking.
She tilted her head in thought before shaking it. “No, well, there are a few more things to do with what we discussed, but I’m really not supposed to talk about it without permission. Nothing bad,” she rushed to say as I frowned. “Just stuff that would put us in danger if it got out.”
“Ah,” I responded with a nod. It certainly made sense that the kind of secret group she had talked about would be secretive. Particularly when people had gone missing already.
Just how much power do the people behind VSO have? I thought with a wince at that. Considering they seemed to be involved in a plot affecting the entire world, I could only assume it was a lot.
“I’ll try to get permission to tell you everything,” Linnea continued, unaware of my internal monologue. “That might be a little hard since they’ll be angry at how much I’ve already spilled, but in light of the enormous discovery you’ve made I’m sure it can be arranged.”
“They’ll probably want to talk to you at some point, and will likely ask you to help with further investigations,” she continued with a worried tilt of her lips. “Sorry about that, I know you enjoy the life you’ve managed to build up so far and I’m worried this might be a disruption.”
“It’s OK,” I said with a sigh. “I’ve pretty much known that things would change since I first manage to use my powers in the real world. I’ve just been trying to stick my head in the sand since then.”
“But if all this is real, then I can’t keep doing that any longer.” I continued with a wave around the room. “I have responsibilities now, Linnea, real responsibilities to real people. Whatever this is will surely impact this side as well, even if it’s just unrest caused by it. I can’t just keep ignoring everything.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving up on this life I’ve made, but I need to know everything I can if I’m going to fight for it. If that means helping your group, or even joining if it aligns with that goal, then that’s what I’ll do.”
Linnea turned a brilliant smile on me at that. “That’s amazing to hear, Jared. I’m so proud of you, and how far you’ve come. Do you even know how different you are from that lost, scared person I first met?”
“I haven’t thought about it,” I said with an awkward shrug. “Am I really that different?”
Linnea responded with a fervent nod that caused me to blush. “Very different,” she said in a low purr, “And I, for one, very much approve of the change.”
We became quite distracted after that until it was time for Linnea to leave. “It takes a while to get a message out securely,” she said as she slipped her clothes back on. “But I should have something for you when we meet up next week.”
“OK,” I responded with a nod. “Is it crazy that I’m going to miss you? It’s only going to be a week.”
She shook her head and tried to hide a smile, “I don’t think so, I’m going to miss you too. From what I’ve heard, it’s pretty normal for new couples.”
I nodded at that, and we said our goodbyes before she departed. That left me alone with a lot to think about, but I had a schedule to keep as well. My new lands weren’t going to explore themselves.
I can think on the way, I mused as I messaged Brian to organize my last trip with him. While it was great that he was getting a refresher course in capital piloting, it would be odd to not be flown around by him for a while.
The trip passed smoothly with me mostly in thought. It seemed that Brian sensed that and kept quiet as well, though that may partially have been because I was now his boss.
The implications of what I had learned were immense, with perhaps the most pressing being that everyone I had met since arriving was a real person. It’s a damn good thing I was mostly treating them that way, I mused with a sigh, anyone who’s been going crazy will be in for a big shock.
Now that I was thinking about it, what was occurring would probably be almost as disruptive on this side as on Earth’s. From a certain point of view, we were foreign invaders inserting ourselves into their societies. We even had citizenships somehow.
How is that even working? I thought with a shake of my head. And how will they react when they find out? I can’t imagine the various governments here are going to be happy with all these fake citizens suddenly showing up.
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I wasn’t even sure if my current rank would help to protect me or if it would be seen as an even bigger betrayal. It might even be a good idea to try to tell the Duchess in advance, though it could also be the worst idea.
Better put that off until I talk to Linnea’s shadowy group, I mused. Hopefully, they have already thought through a lot of this if they’ve been preparing for years.
I still knew very little about exactly what was happening, or what the end result would look like. Would everyone on Earth get the full abilities they had gained using VSO? What would that look like for the people who had never used it?
Also, how linked would everything become? Would it be possible to move here in my real body? And, if so, was there a way to come here early? To get a head start on the process and avoid the turmoil that was sure to happen on Earth.
While I felt for all the people that would be affected, probably horrifically, by the change, I almost felt more attached to this world than my old one. If I had to choose between the people who were relying on me here or the people who weren't on Earth, I felt like I would pick here.
It felt like a crazy thing to even think and would have been just a day ago, but the revelation of it all being real had changed everything.
I was brought from my thoughts by a loud thud as the VTOL came in to land. Well, I’m not going to solve it all today, I thought with a shake of my head. I'd better focus on my responsibilities for now. Showing that I’m an effective lord is even more important now than before.
Not only were my actions impacting real people, but doing well would put me in much better stead when this all came out. If I could become indispensably useful, I might even get away with it all.
After thanking Brian and wishing him well with the training, I strode down the landing ramp and out onto the edge of the lake. Before me, the mountain loomed tall and majestic while a river flowed into the lake on my right.
My most pressing issue, well, most pressing in my lands, was a lack of raw resources. I had already needed to purchase some to get the gunboat in working condition and the prices had been excessive.
The planet’s production of resources had already been well below its demand before I found all those ships that needed fixing. Now the masses of resources they would require were putting further strain on the market.
That meant that getting a steady stream of minerals for my own use was incredibly important. Beyond that, a surplus of materials we could export would be a massive boon to my economy.
We already had a small mine in the cave Linnea and I had explored, but it was only producing a fraction of what we would need. That meant that the most effective use of my time was to scout the mountains for new village locations.
Somewhere with access to water and transport, I mused as I turned my scanner on and strode forward. We’ll have to transport building materials up and ore back down. Probably food shipments as well, I doubt there’s much to eat up there.
With my criteria set, I shook any intrusive thoughts away and turned my focus to exploring. The mountain had been dangerous even with me, Linnea, and poor Adam, alone it would take my full attention.
I briefly wished that I’d had a chance to talk with Elana and grab another drone or something from her, however, it was too late now. I would have to rely on my own abilities.
This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, however, as I could always use more experience with Etherial Roots and Skin Hardening. They didn’t get used nearly as much as Techokinesis, but they were very important when they did get used.
I should probably use them as much as possible while the fights are easy, I thought as I stopped for a brief rest by the river. Try to make them an instinctive part of my fighting style while getting XP for them at the same time.
This was the strategy I used on the first Beasts I found, and it worked well. I was able to have Etherial roots on two different targets before the mental strain became too much. When there were more than that in a single group, I tanked the rest with Skin Hardening while taking them down with my pistol or blade.
It was surprising how effective this was, far more than the last time I’d gone out solo. Though I have had an enhancement elixir and a level since then, I mused with a grin. That’s quite a boost to my stats.
It was kind of crazy how everything had spiraled after that third facility, however, I wouldn’t want it any other way. Even with the changes on Earth looming over me, I had never been in a better position in my entire life.
The first several days passed quietly, with only Beasts and the occasional small find keeping my attention. In the past I would have sent each find of plants or minerals back to the explorer’s guild, now I simply logged them and moved on.
I really need to go and talk with Bradford, I mused after the fifth such find. I think it’s probably better for me to send some people from the town out to gather these than to just sell the information.
I hadn’t even finished the guild quest path, as I still had another significant find to turn in, and I wasn’t sure if I ever would. It felt like I had moved past that point on my journey, and that it might be better to part ways amicably rather than stay a member.
If anything, I might end up hiring them once I had more funds coming in. The vast area of my lands would take decades to explore all on my own, so I could see myself seeking out additional help.
It would be a bit bittersweet after everything I had gone through with the guild, but I felt like it was the right decision.
It was on the third day that I came across a likely-looking spot where a cliff face pitted with caves loomed over the river.
That looks like what I’m after, I thought as I looked around. It has water available and we might even be able to use the river for transport. There were a few shortfalls in places, but we might be able to build something to manage it. That will be important since we can’t bring VTOLs up here.
I didn’t think that my scanner had the range to detect minerals buried in the earth, so the caves in the cliff would give me a way to get deep enough to find them. If I found even a moderate amount in there, this would be a good spot for a village.
Halfway up to the cliffs I froze as my Psi senses picked something up at the edge of their range. Somewhere coming from within the caves, I felt the telltale feeling of a rift.
And on an obvious game trail between the cliffs and the river, I saw a line of deep claw marks in the dirt.