The Dealer’s Home - 2:50 PM


    I woke up from my nap, a dull headache throbbing in my skull. The couch I laid on was different from the corpse meat I was expecting and a blanket had been thrown over me. It felt like I was covered by small weights all over my body. Despite my last ditch effort to make sure my clothes weren’t destroyed by the orbital laser, I was dressed in comfortable pajamas.


    The smell of banana bread flooded the room, and with it came a sense of safety. I imagined the quaint yellow room with its random red cabinets and wall covered in plants, remembering all the times I had invaded the Dealer’s home to become one of his clients.


    Slowly, I pushed out my awareness aura. My head didn’t like it, but it was tolerable compared to what I had already gone through. I smiled when I saw that the weights covering me were puppies. Next to me, her head on my arm as she stared at my face, was a German Shepherd. Pulling my hand from under the blanket, I reached out to pet her.


    “Good morning, Bella,” I greeted, and the Dealer’s Evolution Hound wagged her tail. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”


    She nuzzled her head against my hand before moving to sniff and lick her puppies. I lifted myself up to get into a better position, ignoring my headache, and started moving the babies into a pile so that I could sit up. From there, it was easy to equip my items directly from my inventory.


    “You finally awake in there?” the Dealer asked from the kitchen, and I saw him checking on his oven.


    “Just about,” I answered, finally opening my eyes. The light burned a bit bright, exacerbating my headache, but I continued to deal with it.


    “Check your notifications if you gotta. Once this bread is out of the oven, we have to talk.”


    I frowned. “Have to talk? Or we can talk?”


    “Have to,” he answered.


    “Well, that sounds fun,” I grumbled. Still, I did as instructed if only because it made sense. Snapping my fingers, I summoned all of the notifications I had been ignoring as I absently pet the pile of puppies.


    <<<>>>


    [[Victory!]]


    You have contributed in defeating the Scenario Raid Boss [Writhing Nautilus]; +15,000 (18,000) points.


    You have contributed in defeating the Awakened Scenario Raid Boss [Writhing Guardian]; +10,000 (15,000) points.


    [[Jamestown/Williamsburg Scenario 3-Final Complete]]


    The Writhing Nautilus and its Guardian have been defeated, and the Atlanteans have learned the true might of Virginia this day.


    Or, at the very least, the true might of a couple of players who may or may not be cheating.


    This is a bittersweet victory, though. Both Jamestown and Williamsburg are now simply places that used to exist on the map. The Writhing Nautilus had completed its goal of trampling it to the ground, killing every player who couldn’t evacuate in time.


    But the scenario is over, so enjoy the win.


    Scenario MVP: Anthony Franklin


    Reward: +3,300 points, Atlantean Launcher Maul (MVP)


    <<<>>>


    I lowered my head when I read that Jamestown and Williamsburg had been destroyed. A good chunk of people had to have survived, but I knew the death toll was probably well into the hundreds if not more. I gave a moment of silence for those who would have still been alive if it weren’t for the administrators mucking things up, before continuing on.


    It was a small defeat, by the numbers, and it wasn’t as hard as it should have been to accept that.


    <<<>>>


    [[Patron Quest Complete!]]


    As upset as I’d like to be that you had to use two of your get out of death free cards… I can’t be. You made the right call. The Writhing Guardian was too dangerous to risk letting it escape the blast. It wouldn’t have caused the same kind of wide-scale destruction as its predecessor, but it would have undoubtedly become a lot of trouble later on.


    Jamie was a bit pissed off when the portal closed behind her, but she calmed down rather quickly when she realized what you had done. The Dealer has already told them that he picked you up through that journal Kayla has, so they’re waiting for your return when you’re fully recovered.


    That said, please don’t worry about Williamsburg. The majority of people scattered when they saw what was coming. Those who died fought to slow it down to protect who they could. It helped that Jeff and the others were making sure people were aware of just what a threat the Nautilus was, but that just spurred people on. It would have been a lot more if you weren’t around.


    It’s still your victory, Anthony. You won, and the administrators have lost. In the end, that’s really what matters here.


    Reward: +20,000 points.


    Optional Reward: +10,000 points.


    <<<>>>


    I gave the sky a thin smile as Bella jumped on the couch and rested her head on my lap. “Nothing to do but keep on moving,” I whispered.


    <<<>>>


    [[Patron Message]]


    And you will. Whatever they throw at you and the world doesn’t matter. The administrators aren’t prepared for how fast you’re going to make it to the Hall of the End this time. That’s the goal. Once you’re here, everything’s going to change.


    Here’s some good news: Kayla and Mercury succeeded in their mission. Skuld is still a little rude when it comes to speaking with me, but Marishiten has been keeping me updated. I don’t have all the details but they’re back on the Angel Express.


    <<<>>>


    “Thanks, Sara,” I replied, my smile becoming a little more genuine.


    The smell of banana bread intensified as the Dealer walked in with a freshly sliced loaf on a tray along with two mugs. “Heard you like hot chocolate,” he said.


    “I do.”


    The alligator set up a table in front of me with a big mug of hot chocolate and a couple of slices of bread before petting Bella and sitting down in his chair, which had been built with his tail in mind.


    Taking my first bite, I nodded appreciatively at the perfection I had just shoved into my mouth. “Always delicious, Dealer,” I said. Even though I didn’t need the regenerative properties of the food since I was at full health, this banana bread was really what I needed at the moment. “What happened to my bowling ball? And the loot?”


    “I’ve got them for you,” he answered.


    I arched an eyebrow. “How’d you move the bowling ball?”


    “Carefully,” he said with a snort. “Tagged it and teleported it into a dimensional pocket along with the loot. Couldn’t move you with the thing on your chest, screaming at me that I wasn’t allowed to wield it, and I wasn’t about to waste time in case the administrator decided to come and see you. Did what I had to do to get you here.”This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    “I always appreciate your work, Dealer,” I told him honestly.


    “Yeah, well, it’s a shit storm working with you so you better appreciate me,” he sighed, leaning back in his chair and sipping at his own mug. “You know how far away I was when I heard that there was a calamity coming for Jamestown?”


    “Pretty far, I’m guessing,” I said.


    “I had tracked Jeremiah all the way down to the Panama Canal,” he stated before pointing a clawed finger at me. “For you. Because you asked me too.”


    A smile tugged at my lips, but the look on the Dealer’s face was dead serious, so I schooled my expression. “He was trying to flee to South America but found that the continental barrier’s still up?”


    “Tried to get as far away from you and start things over, yeah,” the alligator confirmed. “I was in the middle of negotiating when I got word that something exceeding the power limits of the scenario had appeared. I had to excuse myself in a very rude manner to get back here just in case something happened.”


    “Damn. Sorry, man.”


    The alligator shook his head. “Yeah, keep your apologies. Knew working with a regressor was going to be a pain in the ass the moment I figured that was what you were. Doesn’t matter. I need to get back down there, but getting you up to speed is my top priority right now so you know what you’re getting into.”


    “Think he’s going to agree to the plan?” I asked, genuinely curious.


    “Still up in the air, but leave that to me. That’s not what we’re talking about,” he said with a wave of his clawed hand. “You’re what we’re talking about. Did you know they created not just one, but two brand new creatures to try and kill you?”


    “The Writhing Nautilus and the Writhing Guardian, yeah,” I answered, chuckling. “Though, the first one was probably inspired by Gloria Brown when I was talking with her back in Etson. She asked if we were going to have to deal with a Writhing Submarine, and I told her no. Much worse name than Nautilus, in my opinion.”


    The Dealer stared at me. “You going to take this seriously?”


    “Sorry, it’s a coping mechanism,” I said as I took a breath. “Yes, I am aware that these were brand new creatures specifically designed to kill me. Both of them called me the Antagonist. I figured it was because I basically tortured and almost killed their predecessors. Should have succeeded, by all rights, if it weren’t for the administrators keeping their toys alive.”


    “They called you the Antagonist because that’s what the administrators are calling you,” he told me, his voice flat.


    I took a moment to process that.


    It wasn’t exactly unexpected. I had been going around the United States and finishing scenarios only to leave the administrators wondering what was going on. For the most part, the complete screens seemed normal if only because they didn’t want to admit they were clueless as to what happened.


    But then there are some who reacted like the one in Springfield. The administrator there called me out as a glitch, and Sara had warned me to get out of there. She hadn’t been able to give me more information than that, but I did as I was told and nothing bad had come of it. Not yet, at least.


    There was only so much covering up before someone looked into it deeper. I imagined my trail at this point was fairly easy to track despite the fact that I couldn’t be seen by those running the system.


    “You don’t seem surprised,” he stated, watching me with critical eyes.


    “It was bound to happen eventually,” I told the Dealer before taking another sip of hot chocolate. “Aaron kept renewing my Administrator Black-out, which wasn’t supposed to linger this long. I know we need it for your plans in Dublin, but I’d have gotten rid of it if I could. Being a talented player with a really powerful Patron would be enough of a cover for most admins out there to not look twice.”


    The Dealer’s stare softened for a moment before he placed an entire slice of banana bread into his mouth and chewed. I nibbled at mine, waiting for him.


    “Dublin’s been pushed back,” he said after he swallowed.


    I arched an eyebrow. “How far?”


    “Couple of weeks at least. Nothing concrete yet since they can’t put it off for too long,” the Dealer answered. “The administrators that care about it are calling foul. Seraphim was forced to acknowledge that a glitch came from his area, and they say he’ll have an unfair advantage when you’re called to participate. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but you’ll be doing him nothing but favors winning that competition.”


    “I don’t win it, Jamie does. And they don’t know for sure that I’m going to be called. I might not have that many MVPs on my record,” I replied. He gave me the stink eye, and I shook my head. “Yeah, it’s kind of obvious. Still, I’m surprised he admitted that.”


    “You’re not going to like the next part, either,” the Dealer said.


    “Am I going to like any of this?” I asked.


    “Some, probably, in your own sick and twisted prideful way,” he replied, and I nodded. It was a good answer. “Seraphim is using your existence as a way to wipe his slate clean from the Zeppelin incident. He hasn’t come out and said it outright, because he knows for a fact that you are a regressor, but he’s casting that shadow over you. If people start thinking that, then he can say that his punishment was unjust.”


    “And then he can use that to get more clout, and he’s back on track for taking over higher administrative duties,” I deduced, frowning.


    “From what I understand, he’s good at twisting situations in his favor. I can see why you hate the guy so much, aside from…” the Dealer huffed and waved his hand. “Your girlfriend being a literal Angel while he’s just acting, I guess. Still wrapping my head around that one.”


    “You and me both, buddy,” I chuckled. “Okay, so, what’s the damage? If you’re just here to tell me that Dublin’s being pushed back and the administrators are on to me, then that’s not really much, right?”


    “Does that not seem like a lot?” he challenged.


    “I mean, it’s just another thing I have to deal with, right?” I asked back with a shrug.


    That made the alligator shake his head. “The Star Spangled Shadow Invasion has been pushed back while they decide what to do with you. There’s been a lot of discourse on the subject, and my eyes and ears have picked up on a lot of different chatter, from letting you do your own thing so they don’t piss off your mysterious Patron to dropping a space rock on whatever state you happen to be in at a time, Patron be damned.”


    “Yeah, that sounds like two extremes,” I said, shaking my head. Their wariness of Sara made complete sense to me, though. She was powerful enough that they had no idea who she was, and that kind of strength was something they tried not to tread on. Not until they had to. If they knew she was the Angel of the End it would have been a different story, but the system itself was protecting her thanks to our contract. “I’m assuming Seraphim is suddenly alright with me walking around since it’ll be good for him if I’m his representative?”


    “For now, yeah. Him and Benedict Merder have been your biggest advocates,” the Dealer confirmed.


    “Yeah? Chaos Cup Ben?”


    He nodded. “You’re going to represent him, too, remember? Provided you survive long enough, team Warmonger is going to participate in the Aldaberda Cup once it rolls around.”


    “Yeah, that’s fair,” I said, thinking it over.


    Several cities across the world with large stadiums had something similar to Atlanta’s Chaos Cup. It had been a great way to grab points and prizes, but the biggest thing to come out of these competitions was the ability to move on to the next one. For my team and the Dunbar Runners, who got second place, that meant the Aldaberda Cup for the southeastern United States.


    Aldaberda being the name of the administrator in charge, of course. Just like Benedict Merder renaming his stadium after himself, the tournament hosts made up for their lack of imagination with pure ego.


    “That’s fair?” the Dealer asked, scoffing. “At least out in the world they don’t know where you are. You show up in Dublin or take part in a tournament and you’re right where they want you.”


    I smiled. “First, they already know where I’ll be. At this point, I’d be surprised if they don’t know about the Angel Express because they definitely know Sol Ligatus. Second, I would be plopped right in front of one of the two administrators who, right now, want me to succeed more than any other,” I said, giving him something to think about. “And, even better, as long as we continue to win then Benedict Merder is going to stay in our corner. Like, sure, as soon as Dublin’s event is over Seraphim is going to go right back to trying to kill me. That’s expected, but if good ole Chaos Ben needs me to go the distance, he’s going to do everything he can in his power to keep me alive.”


    The Dealer stroked his chin as he thought it over. “Are you absolutely certain about that?”


    “I’d put good points down on it, yeah,” I said. “He already knows I’m a glitch, and even when Frastina got in trouble he sent me on my way knowing that I was going to keep competing. Sure, he didn’t outright say that, but I’m just as much his golden goose as I am yours. You know, provided I win. Which I will.”


    “So that’s it, then?” he huffed, crossing his arms. “I hit you with the fact that the administrators pretty much know you’re a regressor, they’ve given you a nickname because they can’t find out your actual information from the system, and they’ve moved a huge event to accommodate the discourse going on about you, and you’re… just nonchalant about it?”


    I paused for a moment before I shrugged. “I’m going to keep moving forward, Dealer,” I answered. “Is it ideal? No, it absolutely isn’t. Can it change everything? Yeah. But stressing at this point when we’re so close to the end? No thank you. I’m going into each unplanned disaster swinging.”


    “Just unfazed, are you?”


    “Nah. I’m very fazed, but so long as we get our weapon online by the time the Patron’s Ball rolls around and someone opens that Hell portal, it doesn’t matter,” I said, looking down at Bella and her puppies. “We’re winning this early, Dealer, and we’re going to win it clean. Speaking of that, I have something else for you to look into in addition to a bunch of mail to send.”


    The Dealer grunted. “Of course, there’s always more.”


    “Always, it’s not going to stop until the system does,” I laughed as I started pulling out stacks of mail and Pushing them gently to his table. His eyes went wide as his jaw dropped, and then he looked angry again. I wasn’t sympathetic; he knew what he was getting into. “I need you to find out who killed the Uranium Rex in Los Alamos. Someone got to it before me, so I’m going to need to cross the ocean for something suitably radioactive.”


    “Sure, you need any leads on a monster or you got it?” he asked, shoving the growing pile of letters away from his food.


    “I’ve got it,” I said.


    He nodded. “Alright. I’ve got nothing else, then. Just wanted to warn you about your imminent doom. Anything you want to do about it is your business,” he said with a sigh. “Once you’re done with your drink and food, I’ll take you back topside. The Angel Express isn’t far away.”


    “I appreciate you, sir,” I told him honestly.


    “Yeah, you’d better,” he chuckled. “Though now that you don’t have to worry about Dublin, where do you think you’re heading next?”


    I took the question seriously. This section of the run was almost always Dublin. I had purposefully kept my MVP count down to get around it and check some places out before, but only for about twenty-five times.


    “I’m going to hit multiple objectives at once,” I said slowly, thinking it over. “Jamie and Mercury are set on equipment, but the others still need their class items. Especially Kayla and Jeff. Not only that, but getting more Patrons to shield me from the administrators would be ideal. I think it’s time to make a spectacle of ourselves.”


    “Sounds like you’ve got something in mind,” he said, stroking his chin.


    “I do. If they’re worried about pissing off one Patron, then how bad will it be for them if I sway the court of public opinion to my side?” I asked, grinning deviously. “Sara, I know it’s going to be expensive, but do you think you have enough points to bribe our way into the Emperor’s Climb?”


    <<<>>>


    [[Patron Message]]


    That’s one big order, Ant, but I think I have enough in Rexxel’s bank now that it shouldn’t be a problem.


    I do have a problem sharing you with others, but I can get over that if it means you’ll be safer.


    <<<>>>


    “That settles it, then. The Empire State Building scenario should be nearly ready in New York City,” I said, finishing my drink. “We got a couple of weeks? Then we’ll use it to take the tower by storm, woo some Patrons into loving us, and gain some measure of safety at the same time. The administration won’t know what hit them.”