VRMMO - Breach

Chapter VIII

“He’s a hacker!”

Pyro shook his head, “Of course not, dumbass. I played with him yesterday. I’d say he is pretty skilled. He just knows what he is doing.”

“But this leaderboard statistic... how can you have such accuracy in the head?!” His exclamation was understandable; the leaderboard statistics were showing absolutely mad stats. For a player on the seventh arcade stage, this should be an impossible feat. Ninety-five percent of accuracy rate?

Outrageous!

“You are just jealous that you aren’t as good as him.” Pyro grinned. His shiny teeth reflected the classroom’s light and hit Desmon’s eyes. The latter flinched. (That’s just a joke.)

“No, I’m not.” He looked away, embarrassed.

Pyro was certain that his classmate was envious because the guy had the worst statistics every time they played together. He was good in the free world, against the NPCs, but he couldn’t play well against the real players. Well, Pyro wasn’t very good in that aspect either. He was a free-world guy just like him.

Most of their time was spent in the free world, and they played Arcade-Mode when they were bored. In the beginning, Pyro thought of becoming a professional, but his skills were always lower than others. So he stuck with the free world and even began to earn money through it.

“Okay, then let’s make it like this. I will arrange a one versus one with the two of you and we will find out who is better.” Pyro proposed and urged his classmate for a handshake.

Desmond contemplated, but in the end, his ego decided instead of him. “Alright, don’t blame me later.” With the handshake accepted, the deal was sealed.

Breach had many arcade modes, including the famous one versus one, where the players could compete against each other in pure combat with no additional help. Pyro was interested in how Simon would do against a pretty experienced player in the game. He remembered that yesterday, Simon said that it was his first time playing the game...

So how come he was so good at handling the weapons?

Well, before he can place him on a test, Pyro and Desmond have one more class. Then they may leave the school and go to the internet cafe. Simon is probably still there after the game with DivineCrown.

*Tring!*

The bell rang, although it wasn’t the school bell. Alice and Simon decided to have a break in the nearby restaurant. It had installed rings for people who needed to order something. They had to just press on the ring.

Exactly what Simon did. The waiter approached their table and handed them a menu before asking what they desired.

“What would you like to order, sir and madam?” The way he addressed them was really fancy for a girl like Alice. She just felt uncomfortable in such places. They were very expensive and beautiful. It wasn’t made for them... Or just for her, Simon was a different case.

Speaking of him, he turned to her. “Alice, did you have breakfast already?” She shook her head,

“No I didn’t have any breakfast.”

“Then if you are not against it, I’d like to recommend a good morning dish from this restaurant.” Alice was feeling a little bit unconfident in her choices. She literally had no idea what those were even on the menu. So, of course, she agreed.

Simon told the waiter something, and he left to bring their orders. The waiter brought them two glasses of water and instructed the kitchen to prepare the meal. Simon appreciated this and happily chugged the cup of water; he was thirsty.

“Fuh, it’s hot today.” Simon commented.

“Thankfully, the Playland Club has air conditioners. They are life savers these days. I can’t believe how people can work at these temperatures. " Alice waved her hand in front of her face to cool down, while with the second one she held ice-cold water.

Simon chuckled, “Worked in hotter conditions…” he mumbled to himself in a low voice. Alice heard that.

“Hm, what?”

“Nothing, forget about it. I was just thinking about how it is to work in this city. What do you think? Are you planning to leave this place?”

“I think yes because I feel unsafe here. If there was a possibility, I’d probably have left long ago, but for now, I have a job here and a steady income. Not something you can be guaranteed when you leave.”

It hurt. As one of the citizens of this city and the protector of the law, hearing this from a fellow civilian girl hurt Simon’s heart. They work in order to extinguish the crime, but it remains, so Simon had another question for Alice. He was just curious about her answer.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“What about the police, the military, the government? They are working hard. I heard about the latest news from television.”

“...I have great respect for the protectors of order in this city, but I just feel unsafe because of the reason they exist for. If there had been no violence, there would’ve been no need for any police. It's as simple as that.”

Simon couldn’t rebuke her words because they were facts. While there were indeed a lot of policemen, the crime rate in Axis was the highest in the world. Not something to actually be proud of. The strongest police force? Most specialized units? There was very little to be proud of in this.

How would she feel if he was to tell her of his real occupation? Would she hate the world she lives in because even the place she works might be tied to the dirty money of the underworld? Simon was concerned about the safety of the people he contacted. They could not be harmed in any way because of him. This was his first priority.

Thankfully, the meal arrived, and it was prepared quickly because it wasn’t anything fancy. A breakfast of sorts, but a little bit heavier. After they were done with their quick meal, Alice and Simon left the restaurant. This time, it was again the man who paid. He was the one to invite the girl as well.

Whoever's the idea it was to go, pays. Wise words from a certain rapper.

They got out of the restaurant, and walked down the streets under the scorching sun. Today was an especially hot day, and tomorrow will most likely be a rainier day due to this.

"This was delicious. Restaurants are expensive for a reason."

"I used to go there with my family in my childhood. After many years, I had the chance to visit that place again."

"I see… Why did you invite me instead of them?"

Alice regretted asking this question. The way Simon smiled and answered her, was a bit terrifying. Not because she felt unsafe around him, but because she felt the sadness in his eyes. They could tell a lot about a person.

"Who to invite? When there is nobody to arrive."

She didn't know what happened to Simon's family. Maybe they had a conflict... or they were simply gone. She had no idea but feared to question it further. "I'm sorry…" She apologetically looked down.

Simon shrugged, "Forget it; at least you followed my invitation.'

Alice looked into the young man's eyes and thought, 'How can he do that?' She was asking herself. He managed to maintain this demeanor and smile despite all the sadness emitting from him. It was so obvious to her eyes. She wanted to help out, but how?

"Are we going back now?"

"We can walk a little bit more, and then go back to the air-conditioners."

Simon agreed; why not? He hadn't had a casual walk in this city for a while. during daylight. It was a fresh feeling for him to see the people staring at him. 'Maybe it was a bad idea?' Still, he liked the way men looked up at him with pure admiration. Funny how he was the tallest person on the streets.

"The sun... it's hot." murmured Simon and also added in his thoughts, 'What did I expect?'

He looked down at his phone. Shouldn't the students be returning home this time around? The educational system has never changed since his teenage days. On these burning hot days, the students must be excused from lessons, especially. Should he call Pyro?

"What if we call Pyro on the phone.?"

"We can try. He is most likely out of the school at this time.”

Simon unlocked his phone and dialed one of the last saved contacts. He put the phone next to his ear and waited for someone to pick up the call. Hopefully, Pyro hasn’t given him someone else’s phone number to prank him with. Coincidentally, someone’s phone rang on the same street they were on. ‘Who has a ringtone on high volume?’ Alice wondered.

For a moment, they looked in the direction of the noise. It was just another teenager, with jet black hair and a slim build. He was obviously returning from school, as he had the backpack. He was also accompanied by another student, a classmate most likely.

Simon and Alice paid no mind at the beginning to the two, but later the man’s eyes snapped back to the student walking down the street. There was no need to call on the phone; he just hung it up.

“It’s Pyro.”

"Oh, it’s really him.” Alice turned to face the two pupils and said, "Pyro!” She called out to the young and waved her hands.

“Alice?” Pyro noticed the girl, then the man, “And Simon?” It was oddly suspicious to see the two together in the street, considering they just met yesterday.

“Simon? That’s the guy you were talking about?” His classmate, Desmon, placed his hand over his shoulder and asked. Pyro looked at the guy. For some reason, his hands were a little bit shaky.

“Yes, that’s him.”

Desmond whispered something in his ears, “Dude…don’t seal my fate yet… Do you want me dead or what?”

Simon was seriously huge compared to them, literally a giant among humans. He was still growing, but there were no chances he’d be so tall, and besides, at the moment he was just sixteen. Desmond’s confidence fell to the lowest level possible. He couldn’t imagine playing against this guy at all. He may win the game... but what about real life? Would he beat him up if he doesn't let him win?

“He doesn’t bite.” Pyro reassured his classmates. They approached the two old people waiting for them. “We were just coming to the Playland Club.”

“We were going there as well, so mind walking with us?”

“Nah, let’s go. Also, Simon, this guy right here…” Pyro put his hands over Desmon’s shoulders, “Wants to play one on one against you. You aren’t against it, are you?”

Simon shrugged, “Why not.” Although, why would Pyro even ask him about this? What was the point he couldn’t see? It could prove useful to assert his current level.

Alice was also interested. She wanted to play against Simon herself but was too afraid to ask. So, first, she’d like to watch him play against Pyro’s classmate.

“What’s your name?” Simon asked Pyro’s classmate.

“Desmond Morales.”

“I see, nice name. I’m Simon, Simon Riley.”

The two shook their hands and responded, "Nice to meet you." For Desmond, apparently, this big guy wasn’t as scary as he imagined him to be. Quite the opposite, he seemed to be a big softy. Nobody could blame Simon for thinking that because of his menacing tattoo and tall, lean frame, which gave the impression that he belonged in a gang.