He turned around and Bena was standing in the main room near the portal to the GCO. Zen was shocked when he saw her, and wondered how she got here. He just sat there looking at her and before he could say anything she talked.

“Oh, come on I am an AI, and do you really think this is different from GCO and I couldn’t come here?” Bena questioned with a big sigh. “This is a GCO property and I have the same permissions here as I do in the sanctuary. The same way you are directly linked to the sanctuary, I am linked to here as well. There are different settings for here and GCO, but I can basically have as many copies of myself as needed if I have permission.

“Oh.” Was all that Zen could say.

“You truly are a retard.” Bena said. “You can deal so callously with your family and yet seem like such a simpleton in other things.”

Zen couldn’t help but chuckle at her comment and that chuckle turned into a full laugh as he leaned back on his chair. It took him a little while to regain his composure, and then with a release of tension that he didn’t know was built up so high. He could finally feel his muscles unknot and he realized he felt a wave of exhaustion come over him.

“I am just a little taken aback that you are the same form as in the sanctuary.” Zen mused with a creeping chuckle again. “It makes me think that I really didn’t leave GCO.”

“You can change my form if you like and it won’t affect my form in GCO.” Bena said. “My name as well.”

“That seems like to much work.” Zen frowned then asked. “How about you just do it yourself? Can you do that?”

“I think this will be fun.” Bena mused.

Zen could only cringe at the look in her eye, but he quickly finished the other odd vid mails and then sat back in the chair and closed his eyes. He never realized the weight that was put on him while in GCO, but it was like walking from a place that had heavy gravity to somewhere that was light and could almost float. It gave the same feeling of exhausted muscles after a hard workout and he felt like he just didn’t want to move anymore.

He didn’t know how long he was in that state but eventually he realized he must of fell asleep in the chair. He opened his eyes and was shocked to see a woman with auburn hair and blue eyes standing over him in a halter top and black pants. She had tan complexion and she was holding a tray that had some food and a glass cup of juice in it.

“Here is some food master?” She reached down showing her cleavage. “Is there anything else you would like?”

“Ehh…”

“I guess this isn’t the right look.” She said as she frowned. “There was definitely some attraction, but not near enough.”

“Bena?” Zen asked.

“Of course, it is me.” She said. “Who else could come in your apartment with out being invited in by you.”

“What are you doing looking like that?”

“Well you did say I could find my own look, didn’t you?” She asked. “It wasn’t a bad start, but I don’t think this is a keeper.”

“God, I feel like I just gave a teenage a key to a sports car and said have fun.” Zen mumbled.

“I like that analogy.” She giggled. “If I get the right one maybe you will take it out for a test drive with me.”

Zen just froze at her words and wondered if it was normal for AI’s to flirt and then he couldn’t help but laugh. Bena hasn’t been a normal AI since he knew her, and he sat back in the chair and put his hands up in a surrender position and said. “I didn’t know you had such a sex drive Bena.”

“Of course, I think sex is great, and even my avatar in GCO has had a romp or two with a few of the villagers.” Bena smiled.

“Really?” Zen asked in a surprised tone.

“Of course.” Bena snorted. “We aren’t all saints like you. You have slept with Elina and that has made Cora jealous. I wouldn’t doubt that she will make her move on you soon.”

“I am not a monk and I understand what I need to do.” Zen snapped. “I will create heirs, but I also have other plans too.”

Zen pulled up a file that appeared as if it was a crystal stick and tossed it over to Bena. He watched her eyes twitch and then the crystal stick disappeared. He watched her face as it frowned and then smiled as she put her finger to her chin and then smiled wider.

“That is a good idea.” Bena said as she looked at him with an impressed grin. “You have been planning this from the start haven’t you?”

“Yes.” Zen confirmed. “I wasn’t sure if it was feasible, but the longer I spent in GCO. I realized it was and could be quite profitable as well.”

“What about the woman?” She asked.

“Amanda, well I was considering directing her toward the broker, but I am worried that it will be leaked. I like Amanda, but I am not sure if I can trust her yet.”

“I think that is a wise idea not trusting her yet.” Bena agreed. “Though I get the feeling that she would be an asset and you will bring her in to it. Plus, I can tell she wants to jump your bones.”

“Is everything about sex with you?” Zen sighed. “Where you a succubus in a previous reincarnation?”

“A succubus? Hmmm.” Bena smiled evilly. “That would be a cushy job.”

Zen sat back on his chair and smiled and then sighed as he brought up a screen and decided to send a text mail to Amanda. He included a cryptic message that only she would understand, and then made a separate video mail for Amanda. He activated the camera making the background a blank setting and then started.

“Amanda.” Zen said with a frown. “I was not available to get your video mails and I wanted to make sure you are ok. I would like to say I am surprised at your brother’s actions, but to be honest I saw this coming. He is an idiot, but sometimes idiots follow devious people and that rich prick is a bastard that is devious. I am not sure how I can help you, but I want too so I will give you a little information that might help a little. I will send it to the place only we know about, and let you decide there. I have a lot of things going on trying to cope with the backlash I got from your brother’s contacts, and even though we can’t meet right now. I really do care about your well being so be careful, and don’t trust any of your old contacts. These bastards don’t forgive, and they are resentful to the core.”

Zen stopped the camera and then attached it to the mail and sent it to her. He really did like her before, but he understood the reasons why they cooled off so much in the past. She thought he came from a low background and that was what he wanted her to believe. He smiled as he looked over to Bena that was eyeing him dubiously.

“You’re too soft.” Bena giggled. “Anyway, you should relax and get rested up, because we have a lot of work waiting for us and things will start to move much more quickly now.”

Zen nodded and rose out of the chair and went over to his bedroom. He welcomed a nice hot shower and comfortable bed right now. He realized that even though he thought he slept peacefully in the game. He really was taking a beating without knowing it. The stress that was placed on him was much more than he thought especially when in his sanctuary. It was still a critical time for him and his lowly village, but it was looking better then it had been just a week earlier. He looked forward to having time to build his own abilities rather than only focusing on keeping the village afloat.

Zen only spent 24 hours or 4 days game time away from GCO and when he returned things were in full swing in construction of the new village buildings. He had kept tabs on everything from his out of game apartment and everything seemed to move so quickly from there. The fact that his first ten guards had arrived during his absence. They were ten natives that had signed a five-year contract in the capital of the Epsilon continent. They were hired by his agents at the Heaven’s Step and they were here to serve as protection to the village.

The moment they arrived Banick took charge of them, and by the time he had returned they were already starting to patrol outside the village walls. There would be another group of twenty that would be arriving in another weeks’ time. The wages of these soldiers were nothing to Zen, but that was something he dared not reveal. The ten soldiers met his avatar, and the meeting went well. His agents did a good job and many of the soldiers seemed to be willing to listen and do their job with out to many complaints.

The second major issue came that night when Narata entered his chambers and fulfilled her duties as a concubine. Zen was dazzled by how her body had changed in the small time he had released her from the slave bond. Her body was amazing, and she showed no sign of regret when they made love. Zen found that he didn’t feel hesitant and the more they made love the more comfortable he seemed to be. He held Narata close to him and it seemed to feel natural to have her beside him.

Zen held her till she awoke and with out any words they had an understanding, and she rose from the bed walking to his bathroom still naked. He could only smile at her graceful elven figure as she disappeared inside, and he slowly roused himself from the bed to start his day as well. He didn’t rush off to the sanctuary like he usually did, but followed Narata in to the bathroom and washed each other before they started there day.

Zen could only smile as he saw Narata leave his room and only then did he make his way into the sanctuary. He purposefully avoided Bena’s mischievous smile as he went to look at the progress of the construction and the progress on the materials that were going to be delivered to the village.

“Bena, is there anything pressing for me to do at the moment?” Zen asked.

“Not really.” Bena answered. “Maybe you should spend some time developing your relationship with your retainers and guiding their future paths. I know you have already started to guide Narata’s future path last night.”

Zen sighed and then chuckled. “Alright I will focus on that then until we get further along.”

Zen did exactly that as the time seemed to fly by, and everything was getting done as he delved more in to creating a tighter bond with his people. He focused on training himself and guiding his retainers, and most of what Bena said came to pass. Cora, Elina and Narata were frequent visitors and the having them close to him became less hesitant.

The homes for the villagers were built and many of them were happy including the bonded slaves, which lived in a dormitory structure. Where the males and females lived in opposite sides of the building. The villagers for the most part had accepted the slaves even though many of them were of other races, and his guards now numbered 40 strong plus his original body guards and the villagers that trained under them.

The guards practiced every day improving their skills under the watchful eye of Banick, and they are getting ready to head to the valley and the new location of the city. Zen would be leading them along with 20 guards, 30 bonded slaves and Ross, Cora and Delenda. It would take them 2 and a half days to get there and then they had 3 days to set things up and make a perimeter to receive another batch of bonded slaves.

Zen was about to head to the capital to visit Heaven’s Step and his two hard working agents there. He would order the bonded slaves, which could only be bid on by those qualified to be a lord. He would take part in an auction under the guidance of his agents to test their ability and thoroughness. Paxton and Amelia had done a good job for him, but neither had done anything that would put each other ahead in the race.

Zen sighed and put on his mask which shined a silver color now and waited for Bena to open the portal. He walked through but this time he entered directly in to his room at the Heaven’s Step. The room there hadn’t changed much except there were two more doors leading out of the main receiving hall. He had remembered there were only 3 doors and a giant hallway before but now there were 5.

The two maids curtsied as he appeared, and he smiled and walked over to the couch where there was a platter set out with wine and finger foods. Zen sat down as one of the maids poured him a goblet of wine, while the other exited the room. Zen didn’t say anything as he sat down and took a sip of the wine and picked out a few meats off the tray.

It wasn’t even a minute later when two people arrived in the room. One was female and had a very alluring figure and the other was male and was steadfast and walked with a straight forward step. It was Paxton and Amelia, and both smiled. Zen returned the smile and motioned for them to sit down and join him.