— CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE —

  The Tension

  -Fritz-

  October 25th - The day before the Florin trip.

  It was a quiet, sunny day in Celestia Grand. The crows were cawing and surveying the festival markets for fries to steal. Down South Boulevard, the laughter of the people sitting at the outdoor cafes drifted on the wind as they drank their pumpkin spice lattes under the yellow and orange trees.

  Meanwhile, at the capitol building - Evermoon Gardens - business carried on as usual. Workers streamed in and out, some in neat office attire, others wearing gleaming armor and World Guard tabards. On the second floor of the east wing, Percy and I found ourselves sat in a corner office with a window looking out onto East Boulevard.

  Across the desk from us, a man paced and flipped through a packet of papers. On the desk was a silver name tag - 'Franz Ferdinand - Head Detective'. He wore a button-up with a loose tie and dark slacks held up with suspenders. He'd be pretty if he wasn't frowning so sternly.

  Ruffling his messy dirty blonde hair, he slapped the papers down and looked at us. "Let me see if I've got this right. It says here you dismantled a slave mining operation, capturing two dozen Bad Charlotte members."

  "Yes sir." I nodded.

  "Just the two of you?" He raised his eyebrows.

  "There were two other players, but they don't want any attention. Prefer to stay anonymous, you know? What tipped it for us, though, was the NPCs."

  Franz looked down at the papers. "Yes, you say they 'rose up against their captors, overwhelmed them with numbers, and chose to forgive them and let them walk away.' That's very... convenient, isn't it?"

  I shrugged and motioned toward the door. "Look, man; we brought you as many as we could, but there were only four of us."

  Franz stood up straight, clasping his hands together. "And that is the far more interesting part of this tale. Two Bad Charlottes, one Called by Blood, and one with no guild at all." He gestured toward the door. "You claim this... 'gentleman' is an agent of the Faustenburg gang?"

  "Yeah, not just any member -" I said, "- he's Eagle's bodyguard."

  "And you know that how?" Franz asked.

  "We got duped into a debt and had to work it off." I said with a nervous smile. "This was last month, but that guy was the go-to leg chopper."

  "I see..." Franz nodded slowly. "Thank you for bringing this to our attention. That is all I would like to ask you for now. Could I ask you to keep an eye on your mail in case I have any follow-up questions?"

  "You got it." I gave a lazy salute as Percy and I stood to leave.

  "Thank you. And could you please send this 'Frankenstein' gentleman in as you leave?" Franz asked.

  Percy and I stepped out into the hallway. Sitting on the bench opposite the office was Frankenstein, still clad head-to-toe in his bolted mismatched armor. His arms and legs were chained together, and a pair of nervous World Guard patrolmen sat on either side of him.

  I waved him toward the office door. "You're up, big guy!"

  Frankenstein stared blankly ahead, his eyes devoid of emotion. He grunted menacingly, then, with a clatter of irons, heaved himself to his feet and lumbered toward the detective's office.

  ---

  October 31st - the day after Sylvia and the Heart's deaths.

  World Guard Declares War: NPC Slave Labor Scandal Forces Seltzer's Hand

  In a late briefing last night, the World Guard released evidence implicating several guilds aligned with the Fringe Consortium in large-scale mining operations using NPCs as forced laborers. Those present at the briefing were shocked and appalled, though it turned out that was not what this meeting was about.

  First, it should be said that the Fringe's actions represent disgusting and inhuman behavior. Guildmaster Pascal of the Protectorate said it best: "If these NPCs are aware enough to interact, form relationships, and create shared memories with players, then surely they deserve to be treated with the same respect and dignity we would afford another person."

  By the time of this announcement, the Fringe operations had already been shut down and those in charge of them arrested. No, this briefing was to discuss and explain the World Guard's casus belli.

  In the interest of security against this brazen behavior, the World Guard announced plans to expand their operations in outlying territories - both reinforcing their presence in the minor region and zone capitals, as well as enforce the standard code of conduct in the five large cities outside the Capital. "This is not a time for opportunistic warlordism." declared Chief Justice Martin Murdock. "We face serious issues that require collective action and unity. Renegade factions that exploit others for personal gain serve only to harm us all."

  The move by the World Guard signals a clear intent to take decisive action against those who would upset the balance they have established. As we enter these troubled waters, it is more important than ever that we remember our shared responsibility towards each other - whether player or NPC.

  -Editor Reggie

  I looked through the headlines as Lucy, Percy, and I walked into a cozy little cafe on South Boulevard. Halloween decorations adorned every inch of the small shop - miniature jack-o-lanterns grinned from the window sills, sparkling black and orange garlands draped along the counters, and colorful fall leaves decorated the tables.

  Percy, who had fully regrown his body and was back to normal, waved cheerfully at the barista. "Morning, Yunica!"

  Slightly confused, he looked down at his name tag. "My name's Christoph."

  "Stop harassing the NPCs, Percy." Lucy said. "Three for breakfast, please!"

  The menu had gone full into the season. Percy got himself 'Witchy Waffle Bites' - little green and orange cup waffles filled with whipped cream and syrup. I went for the 'Spider Muffin' - a plump pumpkin muffin topped with a web-shaped drizzle of chocolate. And Lucy ordered 'Batty Avocado Toast' - which was just avocado toast in the shape of a bat. Then on top of that, Lucy and I ordered pumpkin spice lattes while Percy did his usual hot chocolate with a truckload of toppings.

  We picked a table by the window and started to eat. Muffin in one hand, I flipped through the rest of the paper. "I'm not seeing any mentions of anything 'in particular' here."

  Lucy asked, "What time does the paper go to print?"

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  "Good point; we'll have to wait for tomorrow." I said. "So, today - any last-minute festival shopping we need to do?"

  Lucy clapped excitedly. "Oh, I still haven't made a costume!"

  "Do... we need costumes?" I asked.

  "Of course we do! We can't go to the Halloween concert without dressing up!"

  "Can I go as Fritz?" Percy asked, opening his menu and swapping into the Hawaiian shirt and slacks he got in Florin.

  "Oh, come on!" Lucy crossed her arms. "If someone asks what your costume is, are you really going to say 'I'm this guy on a normal day.'? It's a holiday - get into it a little!"

  "Alright, hear me out here." I said, framing Percy with my fingers. "Mesh shirt, ripped jeans, vest, studded belt, fingerless gloves, dyed hair slicked over to one side - go hard into the punk vibe."

  "Yes!" Lucy giggled, clapping excitedly.

  Percy looked at me blankly. "I'm just gonna put a sheet over myself."

  The cafe door chimed as it opened, and a man in a trench coat walked in. Quickly scanning the room, he immediately honed in on us and strode our way.

  He was a well-groomed guy in his mid-twenties, clean shaven and hair done all basic and professional. He'd be the definition of an office worker if it wasn't for the glowing green mark he had rotating around his right eye - like some cybernetic enhancement. With the coat, it made him look like the Terminator blending in among humans as he hunted his prey. His nameplate read 'Jefferson' and put him as a member of the Trade Union.

  Completely emotionless, he stopped at our table with a curt nod. "Excuse me for the interruption, but my name is Jefferson. I'm an aide to Poe, the World Guard's head of logistics."

  "We met him once, yeah." I nodded.

  "Well he would like to speak with the three of you at your earliest convenience."

  "He sent you for us specifically?" Lucy asked. "Why?"

  "It's a delicate issue of some importance. He would like to explain it himself, if that's ok with you. Would you be available to meet?"

  I glanced at Percy and Lucy. Percy met my gaze and subtly shook his head no.

  But Lucy spoke up first. "I suppose it would be best to take care of this before our costume shopping."

  I shrugged at Percy in a 'what can you do?' way. "Sure, we can see what they want."

  The three of us got up and followed the guy, stuffing the last bites of our breakfast in our mouths as we walked out the door.

  Trailing a few steps behind the rest of us, Percy asked, "How did you find us?"

  Jefferson turned back to him and pointed at the eye with the green mark. "See this ring? It's part of a Hunter skill - Trace. It lets you track anything or anyone you know the name of, within a certain range. On the chance you were in the city, all I had to do was stroll down the main streets and check every few blocks."

  Percy pulled up his menu and checked the class tree. "Hunter? That requires both Beast Tamer and Sniper. I still need Rifleman from that side of the tree, too."

  I said, "Oh, that reminds me - I've got to unlock those magic classes! We should get the quests done before we leave the city - that stuff pops off at later levels."

  "Delay it." Percy shook his head. "We all need to get Trace in case someone gets kidnapped again."

  "You know what? Fair. Magic can wait."

  "Agreed." Lucy agreed.

  Jefferson led us through Syzygy Square and down East Boulevard to Evermoon Gardens. Inside the capitol building, we went into the back halls and took a side staircase to the third floor. In the west wing, he ushered us into a corner office with tall windows looking down at both the tree-lined avenue beside the building and the back yard. Poe had heavily decorated the place with bookshelves of old, thick books on one side and an extensive collection of wargaming miniatures on the other. The huge oak desk was set at a jaunty angle in the corner with a view out both windows.

  The man himself - a thin, older guy in a business-casual button up with greying hair - looked up from the desk as we entered and smiled. "Ah, excellent - you found them! Welcome, welcome, come in! Sit, sit!"

  He stood and showed us to the cushy chairs in front of the desk, moving an extra one over from the window for Lucy.

  "I hope I'm not inconveniencing you. Would you like anything? Coffee? Tea?"

  I waved it off. "We just ate, thanks."

  Poe nodded. "That will be all then, Jefferson. Thank you."

  Jefferson slipped out the door, closing it with a soft click. Poe steepled his fingers, looking at us over them. "Now, you three..."

  He walked over to one of the filing cabinets, rifling through it. "I'm a fan of your work. Three members of the initial Oxtongue raid - and three of the last on the field to boot!" He glanced back at Percy and I. "And you two - I've seen your names all over the Protectorate's archives."

  I leaned back and held my hands up. "Give the credit to the kid for that one. He's the one that documents it - I just show up."

  Poe returned to the desk with a file, laying it out in front of us. It was Franz's report on the investigation into the slave labor operation and the incarceration of the Fringe members running it.

  "Are you familiar with today's headline?" Poe asked.

  I nodded. "Yeah, we read it."

  "Of course, of course - my mistake! You were there!" He tapped the file. "This document here lists your names as the ones that busted the whole thing. Everywhere I go, I keep running into your names. It's fascinating. And now... something else has come up."

  That's when I thought he was going to swerve into what happened in the gardens last night. But no, the next file he slapped down was a list of all known affiliates of the Faustenburg mafia. Our names were on it.

  I held up my hands again. "Alright, I admit maybe I gambled a little too much. But-! But, we haven't heard from them in a week, and we're pretty sure they want us dead now. You know, for busting the slaving thing."

  Poe nodded. "Oh, I understand - I'm not judging you. I want to hire you for a job."

  A message immediately popped up in the group chat I had pinned open on the side of my HUD.

  [Percival]: I ain't working for the feds.

  I glanced at Percy sitting beside me. He was adjusting his robe, all natural-like - the kid had a subtle texting game, I had to give him that.

  "Hire us for what, precisely?" Lucy asked.

  "You saw the 'other' part of today's headline, yes?" Poe asked. "The World Guard has decided to expand conduct enforcement protocols into the other major cities, such as Faustenburg. As one might expect, the situation is quickly becoming... testy. The city represents the last holdout of non-conforming powers, and the Fringe are rallying behind the gang that runs the city. The increasing demonstrations are forcing us to respond by building up our forces in the area, which only serves to agitate the Fringe more. Attempts to parley with the Fringe are not going well - there are too many independent groups to get a firm grasp on them."

  He turned to gaze out the window. The weariness in his posture made him look older. "Both sides are losing patience; it's only a matter of time before it explodes. It is no longer a matter of how to prevent a tragedy - the question in front of us now is how do we put it out once it's started. But that..." he turned back to us, "is my issue to resolve. You... I want to hire for a personal favor. Do you keep up with the paper when you aren't in the headlines?"

  "Oh, all the time!" I nodded. "We're big fans of Happening Now!"

  "Excellent. Then you're aware of the concert tour currently going on? The street musicians'?"

  "Yeah!" I nodded enthusiastically. "We were gonna go to the concert in Syzygy Square tonight!"

  Poe smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Therein lies the problem - I'm not so certain there will be a concert tonight. You see, the performers were in Faustenburg when the occupation began. The Fringe now have control of the train station. They've declared that no one will be allowed to enter or leave the city until this matter is resolved. The troubling part is that we cannot get a hold of any of the performers. Some of the concert organizers have gotten in touch with us, expressing concerns for their safety. I have to agree - these are public figures, and I'm worried the Fringe will use them as hostages."

  "What do you mean when you say you cannot contact them?" Lucy asked.

  "They aren't dead," Poe assured her, "according to known contacts' friends lists. But no one is receiving responses from any of them. It's... too much to be mere coincidence."

  "Maybe they were turned into busts." Percy suggested dryly.

  Poe shivered, squeezing his eyes shut. "Good gods, I certainly hope not! That was a horrific day to read the paper! The depravity some people will resort to is truly remarkable." He took a steadying breath. "In any case, I, as a private citizen, want to hire you. You have connections to the city, so it's my hope that you may be able to move around the Fringe and... just check on the troupe. Make sure they're alright."

  I glanced at Percy and Lucy. "How do you feel about this, Perce?"

  Percy shrugged nonchalantly. "Not as bad as I was expecting. But I don't think we have any 'connections' left in the city at this point. Why don't you ask Shake Spear?"

  "The situation in Faustenburg is delicate." Poe said, shaking his head. "I need a group I know can handle themselves, and, as I said, I'm a fan of your work. If you think getting into the city will be difficult, I'm willing to increase your pay."

  "And how much are we getting paid to begin with?" Lucy asked.

  "I'll make it 75 marks each." Poe offered.

  Lucy pursed her lips. "I mean... 100 is a nice, round number."

  Poe sighed, but a faint smile tugged at his mouth. "Fine. 300 marks split amongst you."

  Lucy nodded, satisfied. Percy thought for a moment longer, then nodded in agreement.

  I clapped my hands together. "Alright then, let's go save some musicians!"