“Is this another one of your jokes?” Alan asked Marissa privately, while Kathleen stood up from her seat.

“Excuse me for a minute, gentlemen. I’ll be back in a minute. Please, Alan, keep enjoying yourself."

Kathleen exited the room, accompanied by one of her NPC maids, and Rupert, her bodyguard, who silently closed the sliding door.

“No, Five. It’s true.” Marissa responded. “They broke up half a year ago.”

Only Alan, Marco, and the female NPC called Kasumi remained, who rushed to fill their cups.

“That’s Kathleen’s way of saying that we can freely talk, at least for 5 minutes,” Marco said, before sipping.

I can’t… let that information deter me from my main mission... Alan felt his throat dry and gulped his cup. Focus, Alan, focus.

“So, what is it, Alan the Ghost?” Marco asked, loosening his tie. “What’s so important that you came all the way here just to talk?”

Alan looked down at his cup, already getting filled by Kasumi.

Come on, speak… I risked a lot coming here because I knew I couldn’t leave this unsolved. I endured Marissas’s crazy flight, lied to Tamara, and even confronted Amelia Laflamme! Don’t let that info get in the way!

Alan took a deep breath, opened his User Interface, and closed Marissa’s Party Chat. He then wondered if it was okay to talk in front of the female NPC.

I’ll have to watch what I say, just in case.

“That nightmare spell you cast on me last night… How much did you see?”

“I saw everything.” Marco shrugged. “To others, it may have been a couple of seconds, but for me, it was like watching a one-hour video reel of your… secrets.”

“You know what this information may cause…”

Marco sneered. “Is that why you’re here? If I told anyone about your eight-month escapade, it would only make you look like a martyr or a hero, and I have no intention of doing that.”

“Fine. Keep it that way.” Alan straightened his posture. “But we must address the other subject.”

“I’d rather not…” Marco said, shaking his cup so that Kasumi could serve him more.

“You’re the only person I can talk with, so please, listen…”

“You want my help, don’t you?”

“It pains me to say it, but yes. Call it bad luck, or destiny, but you ended up getting involved in this, one way or another. So…”

“Destiny?” He snickered. “Do you believe in that crap?”

“It’s just a way of saying it…”

“Then I’d recommend that you choose your words wisely. I get bored easily. And just as a reminder, the clock is ticking.”

Alan showed his teeth, grunting. “This is a serious issue, Marco! The integrity of this ship and its population is at risk!”

“I’m struggling to see why that’s my problem. You’re the one that was selected by that computer.”

“This involves all of us!”

“And yet, you choose to maintain it a secret.”

Alan got over the table to grab Marco by the collar of his shirt, spilling their drinks. “Are you fucking drunk?!”

“I wish! Since my Vitality increased to Silver rank, I can barely feel the effects of alcohol.”

“Can’t you see the implications of this?! This ship was sent to space so humanity could have another chance! If we don’t do something, everything will be in vain!”

“You’re Kathleen’s ‘special guest’, so I won’t retaliate, but touch me again and I’ll make sure that you get nightmares every single night for the rest of your pathetic life…”

Alan bit his lower lip and returned to his seat as Marco readjusted his clothes.

“It’s been three years, Ghost. Three years since that event supposedly happened. And since your return, have you seen this world in shambles?” Marco asked, staring at Alan’s frown. “The answer is no. Because nothing has happened. I may even bet that nothing is lurking in here.”

“But--!”

“You wanted to talk? Let me finish. Let’s look at the facts first. If what that computer says it’s true, and that thing got inside, it may be hibernating, or it's incompatible with this system.”

“‘Computer’? Are you referring to Isabella?” Alan shook his head slightly. “Why would that thing be incompatible?”

“From what I have been told, The Novus mainframe it’s the most ‘organic’ machine humanity has ever developed. ‘Neural Symbiosis’, ‘Perpetual Rem State’... Would you relate those terms with what a regular fridge or toaster can do?”

“This is not a regular toaster we’re dealing with, and you know it.”

“And this is not a regular VR headset.” Marco raised his voice. “The fact that three years have passed and nothing has changed, it’s the best proof we have. The Novus it’s the most secure place on this ship.”

“So, do you want me to sit here, drink, and forget everything about it? Just like you?”

Marco sneered. “Oh, by all means, go! Run through all the Novus in search of this boogeyman. I bet you could do a better job than the Administrators, that can detect everything inside their System.”

A memory flashed in Alan’s memory of a young teen, resembling Kathleen but with black hair, walking among the Shooting Stars that forced him to fight repeatedly. She moved as if no one could see her, and as if the Novus physics did not work on her. Could she…?

“Do you know any of them? An Administrator?”

“No,” Marco replied, mildly smiling.

“Do you know how to contact one?”

“No, but I wish you good luck finding them.”

“I can't believe it… You're a moron.”

“And you're truly unfortunate. I wouldn't like to be in your shoes.”

At least I tried… Alan snickered, saying nothing more.

As he stood up and walked towards the exit, Marco followed him with his gaze. “Wait,” Marco said, exhaling, “there’s something else I’d like to discuss.”

“You said that this was my problem, right? So I’ll solve it myself.” Alan was about to open the door, but a phantasmagorical silhouette rose from the floor and blocked his path.

It was a black humanoid with the head of a crow, and without moving or making a noise, it told him to stay or else. When Alan saw its bottom, he noticed that a shadow stretched out all the way to Marco’s seat.

“I had to listen to your charade. It’s my turn now. Come, it’s something you need to learn, eventually.” Marco took a sip. “It relates to your beloved Astrid.”

Hearing that name coming out of his mouth made Alan form fists.

* * *

After kicking Tamara out of the bar, Kathleen’s Co-Leader instructed a pair of Death Bringers to stand guard at the entrance. To pass the time, the two guys smoked, cursed their luck, and watched the last stream of Miss Cosmica, from hours ago.

They nodded in unison while watching the idol dance and shake her hips.

“Although she only sings girly stuff, she sure is hot.”

“Tell me about it!" his companion chuckled. "When I'm in the mood, I just lock the door, get comfy, enlarge the video screen, freaking mute it, and just--”

They heard a sonic boom, followed by an explosion that made the ground shake a 100-feet away in front of them. Squinting, the two strolled towards the newly formed crater, ignoring someone from inside asking what had happened.

From the smoke stepped out a blonde girl, wearing a sky-blue battle suit, who glared at the ones approaching them. They snickered once they recognized her. It was one of the most famous faces in all The Novus.

“Look what we have here, the Golden Comet. Or was it ‘The Golden Bitch’? Like her ex-partners call her.”

“Are you lost, miss? This is a private party.”

“Death Bringers,” Astrid said after glancing at the emblems in their armors. “So it was true that some cockroaches were hiding in my territory. You’re the ones that lose their way home. Fleurella is far away from here.”

The two guards armed themselves with lances that appeared in their hands out of thin air.

“Are you sure you want to do this? We may be on the edge of this city, but this is still considered a Safe Zone.”

“In this place we’re equally matched.” One of them smirked.

“‘We’re equally matched’, says the dead man,” Astrid mumbled, strolling towards him.

The guy grunted. “What did you--?”

Astrid punched him in the gut so hard that he bent his body forward. If the Safe Zone’s restrictions had not lowered all of Astrid’s stats, that hit alone could have killed him easily.

So, I’ll have to hit him again… Only a second had passed, and Astrid performed a roundhouse kick to the guy’s head, knocking him out for good.

The second guilder thrust his spear forward, trying to pierce her in the back, but she moved aside at the last moment, grabbed the spear so he couldn’t use it again, and punched him in the face, breaking his nose.

The Death Bringer fell backward, covering his bloodied face, whimpering. “YOU BITCH!”

“I bet you hadn't felt pain like that in a while,” Astrid said, throwing the spear away. “The Pain Endurance Passive Skill also gets nerfed inside your beloved Safe Zone too, moron. Remember that pain well.”

People quickly gathered at the building’s entrance, among them, some ex-Shooting Stars.

“What are you doing here?!” Karen Svensson cried, red-faced. “We’re finally free of the damn mess you call a guild, and you dare to come here?!”

“Don’t do it, Karen,” William whispered to her, holding her by the shoulders, but she brushed him off. “Oh, dear…” he sighed, watching her stroll forward.

“Where is Jason Foreman?” Astrid asked, calmly.

Karen replied to Astrid, spitting at every word: “I don’t have to answer that! Hell, I don’t have to speak with you ever again!”

From one of the building’s windows, Faiza Khalil chuckled and glanced at her partner. “She’s looking for youuu. What did you do?”

Jason Foreman did not dare to peek outside. “Shut up, shut up!” he cried, covering his head while crouching.

Outside, Karen manifested magic seals above her, channeling. “Your fucking tantrum cost me 400,000 gold! I wonder how much you’ll lose after this!”

“Karen!” William warned her once more, but the magic circles around her increased in number.

“Gold… Is this why you all quit?” Astrid asked at the increasing crowd around William. Dozens of glares coming from known faces stared back at her. “I see...” Astrid snickered. “Have you forgotten what I told you? ‘What use could a cannon have if you don’t know how to’--” She shook her head, and met her eyes with Karen’s. “Whatever! This will be my last lesson for all of you!”

“See?! This is the best part about not being under your command anymore!” Karen shouted. “We won’t have to hear your fucking charades ever again! Multi-Elemental--!”

“...Never interrupt an enemy when they’re making a mistake.” Astrid said before shortening the distance between them in a second. Karen instinctively rushed her spell, being able to launch a third of the magic attacks, but it was too late. The bolts of lightning, ice lances, and orbs of fire were thrown randomly through all the Drinking Banshee’s courtyard, while Astrid grabbed Karen by the face and threw her to the ground. A cracking sound came out of Karen’s neck and column. “Safe Zones suck especially for mages. It turns them into glorified slugs…”

“F-fuck y-you…” Karen hissed, immobilized, while tears ran down her cheeks.

Astrid then turned her attention towards the crowd, from where William stepped forward.

“Are you going to be in my way too, Stoic?” she asked.

“Come on, Comet, give me a break,” William responded, folding his arms. “There are at least fifty people here.”

“EXACTLY!” Astrid suddenly giggled. Her blue eyes glowed like a pair of aquamarine gemstones. “Isn’t it sad that you all have to attack me at once to take me down?”

William gritted her teeth. “Are you saying I’m we--?!”

“What’s the matter, sweetheart? Is someone bothering you?” a girl said behind William, tapping his back. He moved aside to let Kathleen Maher take center stage. “Oh, I see. Someone must have lost their hound. It’s running freely like a wild beast.” Her smile faded for a second to whisper at William. “Help your friend quickly. This is going to get ugly…”

Astrid exhaled. “Hi, Whoreleen. I see you opened a new establishment here. But I don’t see your regular clientele. You know, forty-year-olds?”

“Oh, Assford, It’s so sad to see that you’re still running that potty mouth of yours. But this time I can let it go. After all, I would also feel upset if a third of my guild suddenly quit at the same time.” Kathleen paused so that their allies could sneer. “It’s a good thing that I’d never let that happen to me. Tee-hee.”

Astrid remained unfazed and just sighed. “You’re talking as if you had earned a great victory over me. But is it truly a win if you pick up someone else’s trash?”

“Watch your mouth, Assford…” Kathleen said, stepping forward, and the ground beneath her started to freeze. “Your stupidity caused a diamond to fall off your hands.”

“Weird! I can’t recall having something that valuable before.” Astrid snickered, advancing too, and her every step left burned footprints. “And even if I had, it surely lost its value so much that it escapes me! But whatever it is, I’m glad that you found it. After all, we’ve already established that you like second-hand stuff, right?”

Both stared at each other, maintaining a 10-feet distance. One more word, from any of them, would open the gates from hell.

* * *

“After what you did, you dare to say her name?” Alan said, wrinkling his nose.

Having Alan’s full attention made Marco chuckle. “What do you know about the gold used inside The Novus, Ghost?”

Gold? What’s this all about? What is he pretending?

Alan examined Marco’s smirk and decided to take the bait. "It seems to work like in any other game, doesn’t it?” Alan said, returning to his place, but refusing to sit, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms instead. “You earn it from missions or by working, and you buy stuff with it. But most important of all, if you die here, your gold balance gets cut in half, right?"

"And where do you think that subtracted gold goes?"

What kind of question is that? I would prefer to not make an ass out of myself in front of this dipshit, but I have nothing.

"No idea. Back to the System?"

"Very good, Ghost! You have shown to be more intelligent than the average monkey!"

I'm going to kill this man! …Someday!

"That is because The Novus gold is a crypto-currency,” Marco continued. “All of Earth’s money got transferred here into The Novus.”

“How do you know that?”

“The Administrators revealed it on The Novus’ first anniversary,” Marco said, sipping. “Back then, the entire world went crazy and started forming guilds late in the game. Since those players were inexperienced, we crushed them like insects.” He crossed eyes with Alan. “Tell me, Technician, when the time comes, can you figure out what this money will be used for?”

Alan squinted for a bit, while remembering himself giving maintenance to the machines and weapon crates in the Santa María’s hangar. “No way…”

“Whoever implemented this Gold System into The Novus knew exactly what would happen,” Marco continued. “Everyone started from level one here, even the rich. Now, only those with the best leadership skills or those with raw natural talent can reach the top. No longer the high-born will dictate or govern us. If you want to be someone on the next new Earth, you’ll have to conquer this world first.” He smirked.

This… this is messed up.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Because Astrid is a Ranker, Ghost. One of the most powerful Users in all The Novus… 7th place in the individual category. Even I can't compare to her. I’m in the top fifties.” Marco chuckled bitterly, examining Alan’s thoughtful expression. “Do you think Astrid has the time to play this glorified hide and seek game with you? Especially now that her guild is crumbling?”

Peeking at him for a second, Alan locked eyes with a plate of cookies close to Kathleen’s seat and got close to snatch a handful.

“With power comes notoriety, and with that you can gain even more influence,” Marco was saying, staring at the munching Alan. “If she was any smart, she should prioritize the rebuilding of the guild and get rid of any source of discord that may cause another severance again.”

Is that a donut I’m seeing? Alan thought, leaning forward to snatch it, but Marco pierced the table with a knife, right in the middle of the pastry.

“Are you listening to what I’m saying, Ghost? It’s unfortunate that you had to get out and fix other people’s mistakes, but life is like that sometimes. Call it ‘destiny’ if you want. The point is that you now live in a different world than ours. We, the top Guilders, are already in the endgame. While you’ll struggle to level up, killing slimes and searching for a menace that might not even exist, we’re preparing to shape the future of the next New World…”

“I don’t kill my friends,” Alan said, letting the donut get ripped in half by the knife. “And last night, things didn’t seem like you describe them to be.” He stuffed his mouth with the food. “Astrid is not concerned with amassing a substantial amount of gold. That’s why she didn’t blink an eye when punishing you all, wasting your precious money.” He swallowed. “Is that why your interests didn’t match hers, deserter?”

“We had different goals, true. Contrasting visions to what the future of the guild should have been."

“All that fuss you made about me logging back and taking away your stuff was just an excuse to leave.”

"Not an excuse, Ghost, an opportunity. When Kathleen learned about your existence, she messaged me, offering me a Co-Leader’s position in her guild, which I gladly accepted."

"Even though you loved Astrid?" Alan asked and was sharp enough to notice the brief twitch in Marco's lips. "Is loyalty nothing to you, or did you do this out of spite because you broke up?"

"You can't fall in love with a comet, Ghost. It’s beautiful and holds tremendous power, but it follows a very straight, rigid path. It doesn't matter how much you try, it’s unreachable. You can't reason with it to change its course."

"Is Kathleen your wish granter then?"

"Absolutely. Yes."

"What makes you think she wants the same as you?"

"That doesn't concern you."

"Are you going to betray her, too?"

"Unlike Astrid, Kathleen would never let that happen. We’re done.” Marco pointed at the exit, and the dark guardian dissipated. “I would appreciate it if you could leave without making another fuss.”

“Fine, I’ll leave now, after telling you this…” Alan put one foot over the dining table, making the plates shake and his cup of sake fall. That coincided with an explosion from outside the building that shook the entire room, although he did not notice, for his eyes were locked on Marco’s.

“You know what I do,” Alan said in a deeper voice, “I fix things, and you may think you're the smartest guy around, but I can tell when something's broken just by glancing at it… And you… USED ME, as a literal tool… And that’s something I’ll never forget. I promise you that one day, I’ll make you pay with interest.”

Marco’s serene silence broke with a sneer. “I’d love to see you try, Ghost.”

“Maybe I should start by punching that smug face of yours…”

“Move another inch, and I’ll make a hole through your chest,” Marco grunted, while Tamara opened the sliding door wide.

“Alan, no!” she cried.

“T-Tamara, sorry for not telling you where I was. And it was just a joke. I know I couldn’t hurt--”

“Forget that!” Tamara shouted, grabbing his wrist. “We have to go. NOW!” She pulled him out of the room and forced him to run down the corridor.

“What’s wrong? Did they find out we’re here?”

Tamara stopped in her tracks to push him from the chest. “You KNEW?! Alan Warden, did you know this place was full of Death Bringers?!”

“Y-yes, I’m sorry! But I really needed to--!”

“I’m so mad with you that I could—Never mind! The priority is that you help me stop her!”

“Stop? Who?!”

“Astrid!” she cried, taking down the stairs. “She’s outside! She came, looking for you!”

Astrid it’s here… Wait, didn’t Marissa say that Kathleen is her rival? Oh, holy space crap…

“She’s strong, alright? There’s no doubt about it,” Tamara continued saying with tearing eyes. “But we’re in a Safe Zone, so she cannot fight with all of her strength! If we let her fight, she’ll lose millions!”

Marco’s words suddenly gained more weight.

“O-okay! Let’s hurry!”

By then, all the tables were empty and they could walk through the establishment without issue, but Alan noticed at the distance that the exit was impossible to cross through.

“This way!” Tamara said. “They kicked me out, but I managed to enter again through the kitchen.”

They ignored the NPCs that gently asked them to leave, crossed the exit, and rushed their way to the front yard, where Astrid was about to battle Kathleen.

“ASTRID!”

Both Guild Masters turned their gazes towards him. Astrid turned her battle aura off first.

Alan glanced at the reunited crowd and shivered. Were you really thinking about fighting here?!

“Alan.” Astrid stretched out a hand to him. “Let’s go.”

He strolled towards her, making his best to ignore the dozens of gazes poking his back.

Passing by Kathleen was extremely difficult, for she was piercing him with a glare. “Are you kidding me?!” she cried. “I refuse to believe that you made all this fuss for him! You were about to risk your gold!”

“Congratulations on getting new guild members, Whoreleen,” Astrid said in a calm voice, turning around. “You’re made for each other.”

As Tamara rushed to reach her Guild Master’s side, Kathleen snickered. “Do you see that, guys?” she asked aloud, regaining her composure. “Should we call her ‘Golden Nanny’ from now on?” The entirety of the Drinking Banshee erupted in laughter. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Alan Warden, and thanks for your help!”

Alan saw a female Shooting Star riding a puma waiting for them a few feet ahead. She smiled warmly at him once they met eyes. “Good to see that you’re both alright,” she said. “Nice to meet you, Alan Warden. I’m Helen Reed."

"Nice to meet you, Helen," he said, quietly.

"Can we leave the chit chat for later? I don't stand this place," Tamara said, trying in vain to not hear the laughter and mocking remarks coming from the building. She called her winged beast at the same time as Astrid, who did not ride it right away.

Her eyes looked lost in thought.

It's so painful to see her like this. I shouldn’t have--

“ONE YEAR!” Astrid shouted, turning back. “Enjoy your one-year advantage, Maher! That will be the time it’ll take me to reach the Top Ten again! Try not to miss me in the meantime!”

More provocations could be heard, but she ignored them all as she mounted her lion. "Let's go," she said to Alan, offering him a hand. Her eyes looked cold and her lips looked severe.

"I'm so sorry," he said, behind her.

"Not here," she replied, as she ordered her beast to take off. "We'll talk later."

“Why do I have the impression that we’re forgetting something?” Tamara asked aloud.