“Woah, that’s so crazy. I’m the only known European survivor of the Hard Mode Tutorial. And North America has four?” Evangeline spoke with an excited smile, and a hint of joking jealousy.

“Two,” Abelino said, from where he was seated next to me. “I am Peruvian.” The four of us had joined Evangeline, Bandile, and Renshu, forming a circle around the Nimion Flower.

We were all cautious to keep our distance from the others. Abelino was wearing a necklace that could make him immune to mind-control effects weaker than D-rank, and Dawnbreaker presumably had something to protect her mind as well.

“And Petra is my sister,” I added. Petra had intentionally introduced herself without stating her level.

“I see,” Evangeline said, with a hint of displeasure entering her face. “Now, there are a few things that we should cover. First of all, are you aware that sentient races will appear in a few days? We bought this information from the Merchants’ Faction at a high price, but we are willing to share it for free. We have also heard that there is a sizable planetary reward for a world if its inhabitants are able to kill all the Zone Lords within the first two weeks.

“The three of us were chosen to greet you. As we speak, several other Hell Mode Challengers are targeting the African Zone Lord. If at all possible, we would like to remove all the Zone Lords before the other sentient races appear.”

“The information you bought is misleading,” I spoke up, after some prompting by Samantha. “Are you aware that there are also Zone Lords in the ocean? I do not believe we are equipped to fight underwater battles.”

“Oh, shit,” Bandile said, slapping his knee and laughing. “Bet you didn’t see that coming.”

Evangeline frowned. “That does change things.”

“All coastal cities should be prepared for an invasion of sea monsters,” I added. “In the next few days, before the other races come. They have been building their numbers and biding their time.”

Dawnbreaker shot me a sharp glance, and I realized I had never mentioned this to her. It had been a busy week.

“You’ve probably saved tens of thousands of lives by telling us this,” Evangeline said. “Thank you. Is there anything else we should know?”

“Don’t trust the Merchants’ Factions,” I said. “They will sell the locations of your cities, and any other important information they collect, to the invading forces. When the real invasion starts, they will already know about our defenses, about the locations of our towns and cities, and more.”

Evangeline looked even more troubled. “What are you suggesting should be done?”

“Nothing,” I said. “It’s not like we can kick out the Merchants’ Faction Stores or anything. It’s just good information to have. If you ever want to keep a town or city private, don’t open a Merchants’ Faction Store.”

“Anything else we should know?” Evangeline asked, clearly bracing for the worst.

At Samantha’s prompting, I spoke up again, somewhat sheepishly. “Well, do you know about the World Ruler?” At everyone’s blank faces, I continued, “Generally, at this point, the Zone Lords are gradually approaching the level 100 cutoff. The first Zone Lord to break through to level 100 will become the World Ruler.”

“So that’s the big-bad-boss?” Bandile asked. “If we kill it, then does everything go back to normal?”

“It’s never going back to normal, Renshu said, glancing at Bandile. Renshu had been quiet this whole time, staring sullenly at the flower in front of him. “Get used to it.”

“Thank you for this information,” Evangeline said. Then, she took a breath. “I imagine you are wondering about the workings of the New World Government. We have only one rule: No infighting. Cooperation, trade, and free borders are encouraged. If anyone—member or not—attacks the town or city of another person, then all of the New World Government will get involved.”

I felt a brief moment of concern when I thought about the way Abelino and I had attacked the Armed Forces.

Then I shrugged mentally. Hopefully, they wouldn’t find out about it. And if they did, then what were they going to do about it?

“There are really no costs to joining the New World Government, since that rule applies regardless of whether people have joined. It’s more of an alliance than an actual government, you could say. Most Regions are under the protection and control of one or two Hell-mode challengers.”

“What about the people?” Abelino asked. “What about democracy?”

Renshu spoke up, still sounding somewhat bitter. “We Hell Mode Challengers hold all the power. If we were to ever renounce our claim on a city, there are a dozen other powers that would love to jump in and claim it. Democracy is dead.”

“That said,” Evangeline added, “We are all free to choose the methods we use to rule our cities. Some of us have representative governments, others have not.” She cast an apologetic look at Abelino. “We are just trying to do the best we can.”

“I have a question,” I said. Samantha had been prompting me to ask it for a while. “How many Hell Mode Challengers are involved in the New World Government, how many are outside of it, and why did it take so long to defeat your first Zone Lord?”

Evangeline smiled again. “You certainly ask the tough questions. We have six Hell Mode Challengers in the New World Government. There are a handful of Hell Mode Challengers that have chosen to not be affiliated with us. As to why it has taken so long, almost a week ago, Africa’s Zone Lord was found, and nearly killed, before it fled. We only recently found it.”

“Asia’s Zone Lord was not discovered until just today, and it has already been killed. As for Europe, that is a slightly different question, which perhaps you can help me with. I am the only European Hell Mode Challenger, you see. I’m not confident in killing the Zone Lord myself, and the more powerful members of the New World Government have set a fairly…steep price in exchange for killing it. They are asking for—"

“The New World Government suggests that you do not support Evangeline without consulting them,” Renshu said, interrupting Evangeline. “What she isn’t telling you is that two of our Hell Mode Challengers have already died fighting this beast. It fights using illusions, and is extremely devious. Our Speaker, Liling, would be unhappy if you choose to attack this creature. It is a risk to you, and we have also spent sizable funds collecting the necessary items and equipment to defeat the beast.”

Evangeline smiled helplessly at me. “I owe it to my people to defeat the Sandman as soon as possible.”

“I will help,” I said. “I want half the loot, and I want to deal the killing blow.”

Renshu’s face—previously just sallow in annoyance—turned worried. “At least wait until the others return from Africa. It is safer to go together. Two Hell Mode Challengers died.”

How so?

“Let’s go,” I said.

Renshu’s concern turned to panic. “You should carefully consider whether you want the animosity of five members of the New World Government. I’m not threatening you, or anything. But basically, the whole reason they made me stay here was to make sure Evangeline didn’t convince anyone to fight her Zone Lord. They will be back soon—just wait an hour or so.”

“Four,” Bandile said. I had almost forgotten the teenager who sat quietly next to Abelino.

“What?” Renshu asked.

“Four members of the New World Government.” Bandile glanced at me. “I don’t give a fuck if you kill the Zone Lord. No, wait, I’m coming too.” Bandile rose so quickly I almost missed his movement. Before I knew it, he was already standing, halfway to the door.”

Renshu looked apoplectic. “What? Absame said you need to stay here to guard the Nimion Flower!”

“Well, I don’t want to guard the stupid flower,” Bandile said. “I want to fight a Zone Lord.”

Renshu’s voice turned cautionary, raising his arms in mock defeat. “Well, I guess I will have to tell Absame that you left. He’s not going to be happy.” Renshu practically sang the last sentence.

Bandile looked slightly frightened at first, and then he glanced at me and Dawnbreaker. “I’ll just go to North America with them. Then we’ll fight the South American Zone Lord together, too.”

Renshu turned pleading eyes towards Dawnbreaker, Abelino, and myself.

To my surprise, Dawnbreaker intervened. “We will not be responsible for kidnapping a Hell-Mode Challenger.” She glanced at me, locking eyes until I nodded in agreement.

I rose and glanced at Evangeline, who also rose from her seat.

“Please excuse him,” Dawnbreaker said, as I rose. “Jarek is something of a loose cannon. Please don’t interpret his actions against Europe’s Zone Lord as representative of the rest of us.

I could swear, though, there was a glimmer of approval in her eye, as she glanced at me.

I glanced at Abelino, who shook his head slightly. Then Petra locked eyes with me. I could hear Petra’s voice, her harsher tone, compared to Samantha’s—in my head. And then it was gone.

“Good luck,” Petra said, out loud. It wasn’t at all the type of thing she would say. She was likely just trying to avoid an awkward moment of us staring at each other.

“One last thing,” I said, as I connected my Communication Amulet with everyone else’s. “I am a C-rank Rune Master. If you have C-rank materials, or D-rank, let me know, and I might be able to make items for you, including C-rank Personal Shields.”

Dawnbreaker arched an eyebrow at me, and I realized it was yet another thing I hadn’t told her yet.

There was something of a stunned silence from Evangeline, Renshu, and Bandile, before Evangeline changed the topic.

“Let’s go hunt a Sandman,” Evangeline said, with more excitement than any statement she had said previously.