As soon as Alan stepped inside the room, he was stopped in his tracks by someone pointing a knife to his throat.

“Excuse me, ma’am. I’ll get rid of this pest outside.”

“Hold on, Rupert. Let me see his face,” a young feminine voice said, making Alan glance at the girl wearing a ruffle dress and ribbons on her silky, long brunette hair. “Level five?” She squinted at Alan, and the realization made her clasp with slim, delicate hands. “You’re him! There’s no doubt about it! Rupert, treat this gentleman as our special guest!”

Rupert bowed at her and stepped back, while Alan found Marco sitting next to the young teen.

“What are you doing here?” Marco asked, leaving his cup on the table and standing up to confront him. Although his voice sounded composed, his golden eyes were shining with the same murderous intensity as Amelia’s minutes ago.

“Calm down, my sweet prince,” the girl intoned, grabbing his wrist. “Didn’t you hear him? He only wants to talk.” She turned her gaze towards Alan. “It’s okay, honey. Why don’t you take a seat?”

I didn’t expect him to be alone, but I never thought he’d be accompanied by someone like her, either.

Alan glanced at the delicate young lady smiling at him. And how old is she, anyway? She looks fourteen or less, but that would be impossible.

“I’m sorry, miss,” Alan spoke, maintaining a stiff posture, “but I’d like to borrow him for a couple of minutes if you don’t mind.”

“You and I have nothing to talk about…” Marco said, forming fists and irradiating a dark aura around them.

“I SAID SEAT. It’s rude to reject a lady’s hospitality, you know?”

Alan and Marco turned their gazes towards the teen, who for a moment had turned her voice severe.

“Do as she says,” Rupert whispered to Alan, bringing him a cushion.

A zabuton? Alan then glanced at the low table, at the room decorated with paintings of pink-flowering trees, and at two NPC servants waiting in a corner, wearing kimonos. A Japanese-styled room… I don’t feel like being in Londorus anymore.

Alan reluctantly sat, and one of the cat-eared NPCs rushed to bring him a cup and pour something on it.

“Wonderful!” The girl beamed. “Drinking is a social activity, you know? More people, more fun!”

Why do I feel like being hostage all over again? Alan thought, gulping his drink. The liquid immediately burned his throat, making him cough. “What's this?!”

The hostess giggled. “Look at him! Is this your first time drinking alcohol? That’s sake, and it can be a pretty strong beverage for a first-timer. Would you prefer my servant to serve you apple juice?"

"No, hold on." He gave a shorter, quicker sip, nodding. "It's actually good."

She giggled. "I own this place, you know, so you can drink and eat to your heart’s content.” With her white, slim hand, she pointed at the center table full of snacks, fruit, desserts, and meat servings.

This is not what I expected. Alan watched the NPC fill his cup again, but this time he was reluctant to sip. I never stopped to consider if this was poisoned.

“Come on,” the girl said softly. “Enjoy yourself.”

“Why are you being nice to me? Do I know you?”

“No, Alan Warden, but I know you. We have a friend in common, you see. Lady Monique? Does it ring a bell?”

Alan nodded vigorously. “Oh, from that restaurant, yes! She’s another nice lady I met when…”

Wait… Does this mean that Lady Monique told her everything she knew about me? He glanced back at Marco, who was making his best to remain calm.

Oh, holy space crap…

“Pardon me, I haven’t introduced myself yet.” She stood up and made a curtsy. “I’m Kathleen Maher, Leader of The Death Bringers’ Guild. Nice to meet you, Alan Warden.”

That prompted him to stand up, too. “T-the pleasure is all mine!”

Marco only sipped and rolled his eyes.

“Oh, so she’s really here, huh?” Marissa’s voice was heard inside Alan’s head, which made him feel less anxious.

“Do you know this brat?”

“Yes, unfortunately. Don’t let her little princess masquerade fool you. She’s a monster as strong as Astrid. Both have been rivals almost from the start.”

“And she deliberately chose to look like this…”

“Hey, don’t judge, Five! Some change their appearance to that of their opposite sex, some women enlarge their tits, and some decide to look like a loli! Do you have a problem with that?!”

“…Wait, did you say there is boob customization?”

“Shut up!”

“Here, try the chicken.” Kathleen smiled at him. “I assure you that the food prepared by my NPCs is quite superior to anything you could eat at The Dragon’s Belly. Just don’t tell the owner that though, he’s a friend of mine. Tee-hee.”

I'll have to play along for the moment…

“If you insist!" Alan beamed and grabbed a chicken leg, taking a bite. "Oh, wow! This is—! The Dragon’s Belly’s food tasted nice, but this is on a completely different level! It’s the seasoning!”

Kathleen smiled in a motherly way. “That’s right, I was able to replicate my family’s recipe here inside The Novus and teach it to my servants. Try this apple pie baked with the Maher Family’s secret recipe.”

“Mmm, god! It’s amazing! You’ll turn into an excellent wife someday!”

“Do you think so? How flattering! Although the NPCs would be the ones cooking for my future husband instead of me.”

“If I was the lucky one, I would just pretend you were the one cooking. These are your recipes, after all!”

“Aww, how sweet of you, tee-hee.”

Marco, who was gritting his teeth, leaned toward Kathleen and whispered: "Are you going to let this guy ruin our meal? This guy…"

"I know," she said in a serene tone of voice before turning to Alan. "But I can't lose the opportunity to express my gratitude to the man that helped me destroy Shooting Stars…"

“Not everyone enlarges their breasts,” Alan blurted out telepathically. “Tamara is practically flat, yours look of average size, and if my memory serves me right, Astrid’s look the same as when--”

“Why are you still thinking about that?! Pay attention to their conversation, dammit!”

The one that destroyed…?

Alan blinked and turned to Kathleen, frowning. "Wait, you're not talking about me, are you?"

"Of course I am, silly! And for that, you have my eternal gratitude.” She turned to her servant. “Kasumi? Would you mind showing us that video I liked, please?"

“Right away, ma’am.”

After making a short bow, the NPC’s eyes glowed and projected a video on the wall in front of them, her mouth acting as an audio speaker.

Alan watched a group of commentators having a fierce debate about last night’s Battle Stream. Suddenly, one of them pointed at the screen above them, making the camera focus on a list of made-up names, but Alan recognized those in fourth and fifth place. ‘Shooting Stars’ and ‘Death Bringers’.

The commentators roared in surprise when Astrid’s guild dropped out from the top ten.

“This is in real-time. This is happening as we speak! Let’s scroll down to see where Shooting Stars is positioned right now.”

Alan swallowed hard as the list went down, and down, and down.

“110th place! Oh, how low the big have fallen!”

“Let’s reiterate that this list only ranks the overall Guild Power, Tim.”

“Good luck getting into the top fifties again though!”

Kathleen burst out laughing. It was a childlike but refined laugh. “It’s still as funny as the first time!”

Alan lowered his head, looking at his reflection on his cup’s content. Oh, so that's the game we're going to play.

He gulped his drink. "You know, you seem to be very old friends. And you…" He pointed at Marco with the half-eaten chicken leg. "You found a new guild pretty quickly. You even came all the way here, as if you had planned it all along."

Kathleen smiled ear to ear. “You think? I've been friends with Marco since the very first Novus’ days."

"Is that sooo?" Alan smirked at him.

"That's right,” she said, and pouted. “Unfortunately, when I could finally form my guild, he got snatched by that gorilla woman. But nothing will separate us again. Isn’t that right, my prince?"

"Well, glad I could help you reunite at last!" Alan said, raising his cup. "Let's make a toast!"

"Sure! Kasumi, fill his cup. Come on, Marco, grab your drink too!"

Marco did, after exhaling.

"For eternal friendship!" Alan toasted.

"For eternal friendship, yeah!" she giggled.

The two drank in unison, followed by Marco, who gave a modest sip.

“Five? It may be too late to say this…”

“Oh, don’t worry, Marissa… It wouldn’t be the first time you freaking do it!”

“I don’t know what kind of relationship you and Astrid had, so…”

“Spit it.”

“If you needed another excuse to hate Marco Souza, he dated her for like a month…”

Alan spat out his drink, making Marco and Kathleen wince.

Marissa Laflamme, you are chaos incarnate, just like your sister…

* * *

“Ah! This is the good stuff!” Tamara beamed, leaving another empty mug of beer on the bar. And where is Alan? He’s missing out on all the fun!

She rested her chin in one hand and grabbed a fistful of peanuts with the other, munching them absently.

I haven’t seen Marissa in a while, too. Although she’s always like that… I sometimes think she doesn’t like me.

“Cheers, cutie,” a man suddenly said beside her, holding his mug aloft.

Tamara squinted at the bulky man sitting by her side. “William? Do you also like coming here?”

“I’m here because of business.” He chuckled. “What are you doing here?”

A few feet away from them, Karen Svensson noticed the two chatting, and stomped her way towards them. “Hey! What is one of Astrid’s bitches doing here?” she cried, pointing at Tamara.

“I was asking her that,” William said, with closed teeth. “And it wouldn’t hurt you to be nice.”

“I don’t have to anymore!” Karen was shouting, while Tamara looked at them, confused.

Am I missing some context here?

Frowning, she turned around to look at the rest of the clientele. Some of them wore the emblem of a skull inside a snowflake.

“Look upstairs,” a voice whispered behind her.

When Tamara turned around, she found a couple passing by. A young man was being held by the arm by a tall girl with strawberry blonde hair. Was that Marissa?

Repeating those words in her head, she looked at the first floor, from where a young-looking girl could be seen, exiting a room, crossing the corridor, and taking down the stairs. W-what is the Snow Diamond doing here?!

Tamara’s face turned pale and felt that the entire place seemed to twist around her head. Karen Svensson was still nearby, glaring at her. She was with Marco just a couple of hours ago, wasn’t she? That means that Marco is here too, but why would he…?

Her heart skipped a beat. No. He wouldn't…

Tamara opened her User Interface, tapped on the Guild’s tab, and checked the Member’s List.

68 current members… We’ve been 100 for over a year now… Dear goddess…

She swallowed, feeling that the alcohol effects disappeared in a second. But most importantly… Where is Alan Warden?

“Tammie?” William whispered in her ear. “I’ve convinced Karen to leave you alone, but I can’t guarantee your safety if others see you. I would leave if I were you. Come on, I’ll escort you out.”

Tamara felt William’s huge hand pressing against her shoulder.

I… I need to call Astrid…

The following transition looks odd. I'm just adding this here for now. This scene reads better at the beginning of a new chapter

1205 DIGITAL DAYS AGO a heavy rain hit Unus Town.

As people ran, searching for a dry, warm shelter, a teenage girl remained still, sitting on the Town Hall’s porch. Absently watching ponds forming and people stepping over them.

At first glance, she looked like a statue, until she embraced herself. Although the rain could not reach her, she felt cold. “Bloody hell…” she muttered, shivering. “Once you come back, I’ll smack your face so hard your whole head will twist.”

Opening her User Interface for the 100th time did not help her feel less anxious.

She gritted her teeth and violently waved her hand so that the floating window disappeared. Whatever info she was checking on it, it had not changed.

The sound of steps drowned by the rain made her turn to her right, where someone carrying an umbrella had stepped over a puddle.

“Dammit. Why are there cracks and depressions on a virtual town’s road? What’s their purpose? It’s just stupid...” He mumbled, making her chuckle.

“I was wondering when would someone get inside Holmberg.”

The young man frowned at her. “What’s that?”

She pointed at the hole below his feet, making him half-smile. Saying nothing else, he entered the Town Hall’s porch, closed his umbrella, and inspected the floating window in front of the door.

We are closed.

Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

She heard the guy sigh before sitting beside her, maintaining a modest distance.

"You should move on," he blurted out.

"Excuse me?" she cried, standing up. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

"I'm no one," he replied while looking at the street. "But I've seen you come here daily for the last three days. Whoever you're waiting for, it's not worth the hassle."

"Mind your own business, pal!"

"I would, but it's annoying to see you stay here, missing on what The Novus has to offer for all of us."

"Shut your bloody trap," she muttered, clenching her teeth. "You know nothing."

"I agree," he said while opening his umbrella, ready to go. "I don't know what you're going through, and I won't ask, but you're forgetting one thing." He waited until he got her attention, and for the first time, he gazed deep into her icy-blue eyes. "He can message you whenever he wants. You don’t need to be here at all times… Aren’t you hungry?"

“No!” she shouted, but her stomach growled loudly, objecting. “A little?”

The young man got closer, offering her the umbrella. "Come, I know a restaurant with decent food nearby."

"Decent won’t be enough…"

"NPCs make everything around here. What can you expect?"

"Fine! You’ve convinced me. You stupid, eloquent meddlesome passersby.”

“I have a name, you know? You, ‘NPC impersonator’.”

She chuckled. “I’m Astrid Bradford. You?”

He smiled mildly. “My name is…”

* * *

Astrid opened her eyes before the memory could continue and clicked her teeth. “Whatever…”

“Someone’s looking like wanting to tear down a mountain,” her companion intoned, chuckling.

Astrid glanced at Helen, who was riding beside her on her winged puma.

“Mind your own business,” Astrid replied through Party Chat.

“Come on, Bradford, you can do better!”

The strong currents blew their hair back and threatened to take them down out of their mounts if they were not careful, but for Max-Levelers like them, flying was second nature.

Astrid was folding her arms, maintaining a straight position, and Helen was casually lying face down on her puma’s back while maintaining a smirk.

“At least let me see you a bit excited,” Helen said. “In a couple of hours, you’ll have a nice dinner with your once-lost, long-time companion. Only the two of you, catching up… Locking eyes…”

Astrid sneered. “There’s nothing to catch up, Helen. What do you expect him to tell me? All about his travel through the deepest levels of his unconsciousness? About how his mind drifted endlessly to a point of no return?”

Helen’s lips turned upside down. “Don’t do that to me, Bradford. Don’t keep me in the dark like the others. I know you made up that coma story, and pretending otherwise, it’s—it’s like insulting my intelligence!”

“If you don’t want to feel stupid talking about it, don’t bring up the subject again, then.”

“Jeez! How many Moontain Dews did you drink? That bloody thing makes you more aggressive than normal!”

“I’d like to deny that, but it’s true that sugar always… Hold on, Tamara is calling me.”

“GUILD MASTER! Please tell me you’re on your way back!”

“I am…” Astrid answered, frowning. “Why?”

“Have you checked your Guild Tab, yet? It’ll be easier to explain once you check it.”

Astrid did, getting dozens of notifications at once. “What the bloody hell is…?” Her bewilderment soon turned into disbelief, then confusion, before gritting her teeth. “Helen…”

“What is it, Bradford?” Helen asked, examining her glare. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s not. Go to HQ immediately and check the vault.” Astrid turned to her, showing a collected expression. “I just want you to make sure that Jason Foreman… HASN’T STOLEN ALL THE GUILD’S GOLD!”