Unknown Place

Watching an unexpected turn of events, Asian man thought out loud.

-How interesting… city-states suddenly started to trade with bandits whom they despite, and lend to them “Rare” and even “Unique” items.

Said an Asian man looking at a blond woman who was ignoring him.

-I don’t know whose stupid idea it was, but if their goal was to weaken players, it would backfire. Despite bandits would eliminate weak players, they would make strong players who defeated them even stronger… much stronger.

This time blond woman reacted to him by throwing an angry glance.

-And the one who broke the rules by influencing city-states using her influence as a judge, would be punished.

-Just say what you want in return for silence.

As the blond woman dismissively answered, suddenly a hoarse voice rang out.

-My dear Nefarita, unfortunately, it is too late.

When Nefarita saw the unexpected guest, her face immediately paled, and she asked with a shock.

-Aladon? ...What… are… you doing here?

The one who answered her question was an Asian man.

-He is your punishment. Knowing that you are not very friendly, I suggested to the top-brass make him the third judge as your punishment.

-YOU DID WHAT?! HE WOULD TRY TO DESTROY EVERYTHING JUST BECAUSE MY FAMILY INVESTED IN IT!

To the angry scream of Nefarita, the Asian man just shrugged.

Aladon was a bald old man with a little crazy aura and shining red eyes which is a distinctive feature of his ilk, but in what he was completely different from his ilk who were known to be elegant and beautiful, was his scars. Aldon’s all face was covered with scars, there were that many scars that his face looked deformed.

-Nefarita, seeing your reaction is breaking my heart… your uncle and I weren’t just rivals, we were close friends that had a deep bond… BEFORE I KILLED HIM!! HAHAHAHA…

Looking at the madly laughing new colleague and at Nefarita who because of anger was in the blink of fainting, the Asian man thought.

“Now it would be even funnier”

Virtual Earth, England

Royal Capital was the first city and main base of the royal family in the virtual Earth. It was a quickly expanding city where people were working with a vigor that could be seen just in young cities.

The most outstanding building in the royal capital was a beautiful wooden palace that was guarded by tough-looking soldiers in medieval leather armor.

In one room of this palace, behind the door that was guarded by even tougher-looking soldiers who were looking like knights in beautiful steel armor, a bunch of people was loudly arguing.

The debate room was divided into two parts, left and right. Despite each side being full of different people, it was pretty visible that at the left was sitting mostly younger people and at the right older.

-We have to show our strength to the prime minister and House of Commons! They have to understand that we, nobility, have an advantage in this world, so they can’t control us!

Said younger noble, who was the one with the loudest voice on the left side, Duke Orfolk.

-If we want to thrive in this new world then we have to stay united. Our main goal is the prosperity of the United Kingdom so let’s just go to some concessions.

Objected an elderly man at the right side, Duke Wenchester.

-You old fool! Until now, we nobility whose ancestors set the foundation of this nation were deprived of our rights, and now when we finally have an upper hand, you want go to concessions?!

-Can’t you understand that the main enemy is not our fellow countryman but outsiders?! If we would waste our power to fight between ourselves, then the only victors would be our enemies!

-I don’t want to civil war breakout too. But their demands are ridiculous! What right they have to demand our complete obedience!

-They are elected representatives of this country…

A middle-aged man, Prince George that was sitting in the higher chair between two sides got up.

Everyone immediately shut up as if showing their respect.

-Noble lords, let’s all calm down. As Duke Wenchester said, our enemies at outside, there no reason to fight between ourselves. But, we are no longer would be just decoration, this new world gave us an opportunity to return our birthrights. And we will use it!

Nobles cheered, especially the ones at the left.

The people gathered here were the nobles of the United Kingdom. Normally the only thing that these people would’ve done in their lifetime is burning the scraps of their inheritance that by some miracle remained. Most of them were ignorant people who never worked and didn’t have big expectations from life.

When these nobles came to virtual earth, they were pleasantly surprised. The system recognized a significant number of nobles from the real world and not just gave them classes suitable for their titles, it gave them big bonuses and recognized vast lands as their property.

The royal family and especially Queen got the best bonuses. One of the reasons why nobles were that respectful was because the system automatically made them Queen’s subordinates, another reason was that they were afraid of presents that the royal family got from the system.

“Well… they have to be afraid”

Thought Prince George, and remembered one particularly impressive reward resembling lion, giant, magical, lion with wings.

When the prime minister and House of Commons learned about presents that nobles received, and that’s system recognized most of England as their property, they weren’t happy. They immediately demanded the noble's obedience under the pretext that these lands belonged to the United Kingdom and that nobles don’t have any right to have them.

Naturally, nobles refused. Nobles said that the rightful ruler of the United Kingdom is the Queen, so just she can take away their lands.

For the royal family existence of powerful nobles who depended on them was beneficial, so the Queen announced that lands and all other things that nobles received from the system were their property.

The struggle for power between the royal family with government and the House of Lords with the House of Commons was very old. With the rise of democracy royal family and nobility was losing more and more power to the “elected system” so now when there is a chance to return the former glory most of the nobility including the royal family were eager to use this opportunity.

Despite having huge advantages in the virtual world, nobles were greatly losing in three things to government, manpower, funds, and qualification.

The reason for their superiority in manpower and funds was simple, they had a whole country in their hands. Regarding qualification, nobles who inherited their titles can’t be compared in skills to the government who made it to the top with their hard work and talents.

Without system bonuses nobles normally couldn’t match the government, the only exception was the royal family. Royal family not just had funds and manpower that nobles lacked, they also have qualifications. Members of the royal family from childhood were well educated and disciplined. With their influence and funds from the real world, and bonuses from the virtual, the royal family became not just the head of nobles but also the most powerful faction of the United Kingdom.

As Prince George was trying to calm nobles, suddenly somebody abruptly opened the door.

It was one of Prince George's right hand, Jon Kelm.

Jon was a young man in his twenties, normally he was known for his calmness but today his face was deathly pale.

Not paying attention to nobles whispers about his bad manners, Jon briskly walked straight up to Prince George and with a trembling voice whispered to his ears.

-Ireland, Wales, and Scotland declared their independence.