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Chapter 058: Simple Plan

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Those who ally themselves with Siva will be the enemy of the church.

These were the words spoken of by assumed one of the leaders of the ones that occupied the Port City of Dragona in the North.

Siva felt angry. Utterly so.

But even then, he could almost feel the palpable wrath emanating from the Alexandria's direction even here in Maria.

Gabriel was surely burning on his soles right now because the enemy he was trying to hide from is now actually on his doorstep. What more, he can only watch on as one of his key cities were taken over in just a matter of hours.

His headache was gone, thank goodness, but a whole new level of headache was on his horizon.

Another war was definitely coming.

Nine Months... it was a short amount of time.

While mulling over the problems piled up on his proverbial desk, he received an email from an unknown source.

[Boss, an email-pass has just been used. It has the passphrase provided to one of the Asgard's executives.]

Siva had anticipated it all before.

Base members of the Asgard are provided with a general passphrase to determine they are from that level in their organization; another was also provided to the Team Leaders-level; and another was provided to the executives.

This way, Siva would know how to deal with the situation because different circumstances were given to the different levels of membership in the Asgard and to the lowest base members; they are not privy to certain information and that's how he could deal with the email provider's situation.

Still, the fact that the secret emails was used by an executive means that it was because of what it represented on his list —big business!

"Huh?"

Yes, upon checking what email was used...

"That executive member used the email-pass for situations where the possible client may want something that will affect my plans gravely? This might be Alice. He's been emailing us since earlier regarding that group called Atropos with a Warship Michael that looked like the Archangel."

Upon reading the contents of the email, true enough, the sender indicated that they may want to talk about business and more if they can meet in person. They even said they are from Atropos.

"At least they were courteous enough to tell me that they took the email from Alice, a former client of my True Dragon Blood."

[Should I arrange a call, sir?]

FlowerLord had long said on her email that this group thinks he's an NPC and from her last email, they even thought of him as both an NPC and a [GM] at the same time. It was kind of funny.

"Arrange the call."

Not long after, someone from the Atropos made the call and Siva changed his appearance with a new set of clothes. This time, he wore priestly attire complete with a tall purple hat and big loose maroon robe with a black and blue as the color theme. It was a provoking set of color that when seen the wrong way would make you want to bow your head in allegiance.

Aside from this attire, Siva didn't wear his mask and bore his black smoke skin in the open.

In front of him were five people; two on the left and two on the right where the person in the middle is a stout-looking man.

'He's probably Stark, their leader.'

"Cut me the theatrics. What do you want?" Siva did not only sound irritated, he also sounded as if he was in a hurry as he didn't even give the man a chance to greet him properly.

Stark and the other four was definitely surprised by this attitude. Who would have thought that he was as hot-headed and short-tempered as the image he portrayed he had on their Intel.

But Stark was also calm, he collected himself and smiled at him,

Siva narrowed his eyes at them, "What players, what are you talking about?"

He was testing them.

Stark made a smile,

"Heh, and how can you be so sure that I'll accept that kind of offer? For all I know, this kind of job application isn't with an accompanying benefit. I'll tell you then, as you already know that I'm not an NPC, don't you know that I am only tasked to give the first successful players to complete all of my given requirements the quest lead and after that, this avatar completely reverts into its designated purpose, a Quest NPC?"

"It's a fact."

Siva remained silent. Although he was already made aware of some information by FlowerLord, it was still something else when he's hearing it directly from someone who's so sure about it.

"No, I don't know."

Stark remained quiet. The other four looked at him and seemed to be delivering words and since their lips can be censored in their settings, Siva was unable to know what they were talking about.

Even Cortana's scans were countered multiple times already. He knew they knew he was trying to scan them right now. They indeed have their own Battle-AIs and not just a few of them. All of them have one!

48 hours...

In the default settings of the NLD, there was this security features that not only prohibit children below 12 years old to play RPG: Terroa, it also automatically forces you to log out after 8hrs.

So to continuously play for that long means they have modified their NL-D game consoles.

"You modified your equipments? It's impossible to play the game that long." He squinted at them.

This was nothing more than a talk about the game anymore and as a GM, he should be reporting it.

But right now, Siva wanted to know more. How did they do it? Did they really live for more than the given time limit for the consoles in the game?

"This is not part of the game." Siva said and Stark and the others were surprised at his answer.

"The game only provides three times accelerated time rendering when in Terroa. Living a life faster than that is technically impossible for you. If it was then there is definitely something wrong with your devices, or something in your minds have already been altered and changed. The possible symptoms are increase rate of violence and short tempered tantrums every now then. The security features are there for a reason you know."

The Atropos members went silent. Is he calling them crazy, right now? The symptoms Siva said was actually things that's happening to them ever since they came back from the God Era.

Stark, who seemed to have always been calm, began to increase his voice.

Siva seemed to guess something, "Even if saying that you're telling me the truth. Did you not know how dangerous it was for you?"

"Assuming that you indeed lived a very long time in the game within 48hrs, tell me, how did you got out of it?"

Stark and the others who were deep in thought was stunned, their eyes wide, shocked visibly.

Stark didn't ask them that question —no— he'd asked them all that question before and all of them said that they died during the demon attack.

The one who lived the longest was 48hrs and in the game world, he said he lived for more than a hundred thousand years and was in the frontline of the battlefield, aside from the adventures he had before the dawn of the Grand War.

He then asked himself, if he, who lived around 60,000 years and woke up after more than 24hrs on his home, did not die back then... would he have continued on like that?

Stark was stunned with the realization.

All of them remembered that after they woke up from that world, they were all either too hungry or too thirsty. Because they were so absorbed with the experience, they didn't realize to put it into an account.

What if, then, they didn't die and continued to live on in the game world?

Siva had been there and he knew that there was no logging out of that time frame and the only escape you have was dying.

Back then, the only reason he lasted that long is because he was in a deep sleep state and when in that state, the medical version of the NL-D his parents made him use can be used with an even higher time-acceleration rate since it was installed with an accompanying Life-Support System that'll sustain his life indefinitely.

For players who didn't have that feature, what will happen to them if they spent that long online?

It will be a definite death.

"Enough with this. I don't even know what you're talking about so please don't contact me again if you're not going to buy True Dragon Blood."

When Siva lifted his hand in a notion to stop the call, Stark snapped out of his shock and called out to him.

"What now?" Siva showed an irritated look.

Of course, lifting his hand slowly like that was just an act. After all, this is a chance to earn cash. He wouldn't miss this chance to earn some dough in this call. Besides, isn't that the real reason why he was giving away those emails they contacted him for was? Since he's already playing the role of a GM and Quest NPC, why not make it real?

[Boss, I can read from his mannerism that he's still unable to snap out of his shock. I assume he already realized the danger but is unwilling to let go of the memory and the chance to go back on that timeframe.]

'I can understand their longing. That was an era that I was actually shocked with as well. It was an era of life and vibrancy, although short lived because of the imminent war, and is a paradise.'

Siva paused, acting as if hesitating. Right now, he thought that perhaps they do have some use for him after all.

"Actually," he started. "Getting the quest is in fact of a simple matter."

"Buy 100 units of True Dragon Blood within 15 days and you will be allowed to do missions on my, no, Siva's behalf. And this, indeed, is actually also connected to what they world know as the Grand Quest. Or, buy 50 units of the Lightning Elemental Dragon Blood from me to get the same benefits. Simple, right? The challenge is that the price of the Dragon Blood is extremely high."

"10,000 Credits per unit."

"10,000 Credits per unit."

"10,000 Credits per unit."

"Expensive? True Dragon Blood extends all your stats up to 600 points and the Elemental Dragon Blood I have in stock with me is Lightning, which is the strongest offensive element in the game. I can assure you: this Lightning Elemental Dragon Blood will increase your stats up to 900 in a go."

"20,000 Credits per unit."

"I don't know. Beats me. I was just following the script given to me. In fact, I can also tell you right now that me, transacting on you as a person and not as NPC is actually also part of the script. I'm actually starting to question it as well. Well, there are more things to follow before you actually are allowed to be my follower. Those guys from the Walled City of Warjillis? You can say that they're the luckiest bunch. The choosing of the city that Siva will emerge is random and at that time, when I was given the script, I was made to hit a random city name generator. Then, BOOM, Warjillis it is."

Stark's serious and stoic countenance crumbled at that moment. There were no more traces of his usual dependable 'leader' persona.

And to add more fuel to the burning bridge, Siva was looking at some sort of notification panel on his vision as he dropped a grenade on them.

"Oh look, it says on my script that there is actually a very important thing that you should all consider seriously."

"Siva's avatar monitors your avatar IDs so if you make contact with those that this avatar had made contact with, the system will know and will punish your IP address and DNA scan data from being able to access this quest trigger again —WOW! It is harsh! Why are all these pop-up windows only appearing in front of me now and not when I am reviewing my job description window? Secrecy of this quest line is strictly observed, it says here."

The Atropos guys were looking straight at Siva during all this time and they also saw the surprise on his face when he read that in an awkward kind of tone at them. Their hearts almost cracked at the mention of the restrictive rules.

But then, Siva wasn't finished. While they were still wallowing on the frag grenade, Siva dropped the atomic bomb on them.

"There is also a time limit for this offer."

"Right. I'm looking at it right now and there's just about a month to complete this mission from the time it was given. And that is in-game month. So it's around ten days or so."

Siva was laughing inside.

In the real world, 1 Credit is 8USD. Converting it in different currency is alright, as long as the one to use as reference to Credits is the US Dollars.

But then again, nowadays, national currency had become obsolete whereas almost all companies in the world are using Credits as their payment to their employees. 80% of businesses and stores on the streets almost rarely accepts cash since it was troublesome to convert it to Credits with the addition of transaction fees and conversion fees.

The UNICORN had long implemented this system because separate National Currencies begets the spark for wars. The UNICORN was established to stop a Fourth World War and further destroys the planet.

It was for this reason that necessary actions were implemented —one of which was slowly banning the national currency system because under the new World Government Law, there should only be one nation on earth... The UNICORN... and it only has one currency: Credits.

"That's too bad." Siva seemed to be sad about it.

"You might not like it but I have a solution." —he took the bait, yes!

"You see, this avatar of Siva is owned by the company but I also have my own game avatar. In addition, I have a lot of money. If you're short on cash, you can trade it off for resources with me, or, I can take you on your offer and accept your services as recompense. What do you say?"

Stark stared at him. He wasn't stupid. He is fully aware that this is under-d-table illegal transaction.

But the thing is, the fact that 'Siva' offered it means that he is also aware of the consequences himself —this transaction can cost him his job.

No sane individual would want to lose a job that lets them role-play as Siva.

But the reason why Stark is hesitating is because they wanted to become closer to the NPC Siva, not the man behind Siva.

Still, the realization they reached when 'Siva' had informed them of the potential danger to their lives of what they're planning was also scary. If they die, they can't enjoy it. But then again, a part of him was telling him that it was okay to die in it in the middle of the battlefield of Immortals than to not live on it at all.

One of the four men called to wake him up of his stupor. Stark made a long sigh and looked at Siva straight in the eyes.

This time, it was Siva's turn to feel shocked.

H-Class Quests.... So it turns out that they were actually following a lead about him.

If he says that he wasn't aware of it, he might get found out and it might cause FlowerLord to be in danger. But then again, if he said yes, he won't get any of that information from them.

—What to do? WHAT TO DO?!!

[Boss.]

'What?'

[Remember that the Zodiac Artifact might only have one or two more uses left in it. You can't waste it on nobody else. If you don't want to get out of your curse, then you can use that to help these guys or travel on that timeframe in the past and live through it all again... considering it can do the things it ought to do.]

Siva's mind snapped. Right. How could I afford to divert away from my priorities? I almost fell out of my own plans!

He was already counting the chickens when he's got no eggs on the hatchery yet.

Forget everything else, going back in time wasn't even a clear option yet so how could he actually think about other people when he himself was in a dilemma on how to use it as well?

—Focus. FOCUS!

Siva wanted the information about this H-Class Quest but he also can't help them. He can always play tricks on them since he got the upperhand but that might strike back bad karma on him or his brother when they find out and retaliate and so he should make it a fair exchange instead.

A simple plan formed in his mind.

"You know, as an employee, I must admit that I'm not too aware of the importance of this avatar. I do, however, am aware that Siva is indeed part of an H-Class Quest. How about this, let's strike a deal as both players, what do you say? Let's both use our resources to help each other out in a fair and simple and direct manner. I have insider info while you have manpower and Intel that I need. Is this fair enough for you?"

Stark's face lit up. If they have this insider Intel to the NPC 'Siva' then perhaps there is a chance to go back on that timeframe again.

The consequences will be thought of later when the time comes when they need to.

Stark glanced over his adjutants and they all gave him a nod of agreement. Their priorities remained the same —going back there is what matters.

Maintaining their lives comes next in their list of problems to solve once they reach that bridge.