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THE GIANT level-104 Shocktroop Gerd T’yu-Pan came. There was also level-102 Machinegunner Gerd Lang-Yu — a very young big-eared boy with an open and honest face. Surprisingly, he was commander of the most successful Dark Faction landing battalion. It was his soldiers who took the Rainforest node and, after forcing the Second Legion into that trap, just about took them out for good. Another was Gerd Alex-Bobl, a level-92 Drafter, the inventory of all Dark Faction armored vehicles, including the Sio-Mi-Dori antigravs and the Sio-Ku-Tati heavy tanks. There was also a young woman named Anni-Ir, a level-96 Agrarian whose job it was to keep her faction’s many thousands of players supplied with food. And Gerd Mihoya-U, basically still a girl, this was the level-104 Dark Faction Scout, whose small squadron remained undetected in our lands for several months. In that time they crisscrossed the Human-3 Faction’s whole territory, gathering data about troop movement and the coordinates of artillery batteries and strategically important facilities.
That whole group of celebrated players, all of whom had a hand in the Dark Faction’s brilliant success and lightning-fast growth, supported me as the new leader of the La-Fin Dynasty. That was good. There was just the disconcerting fact that not a single one of them was a mage. After all, I knew perfectly well that the previous Dark Faction Leng, Thumor-Anhu La-Fin had a large group of mages of all kinds of specializations around him and many of them were Gerd status and past level 100. One of them, Psionic Mage Gerd Avir-Syn La-Pirez I had executed recently. But where were the others?
I was not feeling decisive enough to ask that question with everyone around. So I waited for a good opportunity when the high-profile players who had come to meet me went out to help put up canopies and set tables. Then I asked the General.
“One mage will be here soon. Gerd Mac-Peu Un-Roi is on his way here via Geckho ferry. He had some problems in the real world, and some technical issues with his virt pod...” the huge Strategist took a deep sigh. Then he made up his mind and laid it all out: “After the negotiations in the space port when the young mage got out of hand, old Avir-Syn ordered the guards of the digital facility to find and kill the Mage Diviner at once. But it’s not for nothing Mac-Peu Un-Roi is considered one of the best seers in our world. He saw the danger in advance and managed to escape the well-guarded facility, then hunkered down in a safe refuge. After Avir-Syn himself was declared a criminal, the young mage came out of hiding. But they had to change his virt pod. The old one was crammed full of spikes on an order from Avir-Syn. All the complex mechanisms were wrecked.”
Well, well! That explained a lot really. I suspected that after everything that happened, the talented Mage Diviner was experiencing no warm emotions for the executed Avir-Syn and his associates, so I could count on his loyalty to me.
Successful Perception check.
“Get out of here! That is not for eating!” I gave a flawlessly accurate bop on the nose to the invisible Shadow Panther, who was sniffing Avir-Syn’s head on the ground curiously. The creature gave a loud exhale and trampled grass flew into the air.
Little Sister appeared and, jerking her tail in offense, went off to complain to her master. The huge Strategist took a step back in fear when the creature went visible, a laser pistol instantly appearing in his hands. That told me he was very nervous although he was trying not to show it. And with surprise I also discovered that this muscular giant was afraid of me for some reason! Very strange. I reassured him explaining the panther and pointing to its master, the extraterrestrial lady Valeri. And she was tenderly stroking the glamorous if terrible predator staring at me with her huge eyes and shaking her head in dismay:
“Don’t be mean to her, Gnat! Little Sister is still young and curious. She just wanted to investigate an unusual object, not eat it. Not at all. Little Sister keeps trying to steal up to you too to get to know you better, but you’re always chasing her off!”
Psionic skill increased to level eighty-six!
I didn’t see anything good in the fact that a deadly predator was sneaking up on me from behind “to get to know me better.” If the panther wanted to be friends, she could come up in visible form, not keep testing my ability to detect her. Nevertheless, I didn’t mentally answer Valeri and returned to my talk with the General, asking a question that had me very intrigued:
“As for Mac-Peu Un-Roi I understand. He’ll be here soon. But what about the other high-profile mages from Thumor-Anhu La-Fin’s circle? And really what is the situation with the faction’s mages?”
Before Gerd Ui-Taka started answering, the way his countenance sharply grew sad clued me in to the fact that his answer was going to upset me. And I wasn’t wrong:
“Not that long ago there were nine high-profile mages in the La-Fin Faction including Leng Thumor-Anhu La-Fin. After recent events, seven remain. I’m afraid, Leng Gnat, that only one of them is on your side: Gerd Mac-Peu Un-Roi the Mage Diviner. The other six mage rulers fled the First Directory and I seriously suspect that, in a few days, we’ll be hearing about them in the La-Varrez or La-Shin factions, maybe even some smaller ones. And all players who have magical abilities are in approximately the same boat. Of one hundred seventy-two mages, forty-three died in the terror attack at Coruler Thumor-Anhu’s funeral, and the majority of survivors went to join your competitors. Leng Gnat La-Fin, there are just eighteen wizards left on your side.”
“I’ve also got Minn-O La-Fin. She’s a high-profile mage even though she has almost no experience,” I said, trying to perk myself up even though the picture being painted was not a happy one. Rats were fleeing my ship, which meant they had no faith in my ability to keep the situation under control. But one fleeting aspect in the general’s words caught my attention:
“Hold up, what does that mean? Only the strongest mages from Thumor-Anhu La-Fin’s retinue survived the terrible explosion at his funeral?”
The general just shrugged his shoulders indefinitely:
“Maybe power mages have a more developed sense of intuition and luck. Although I agree, it is a strange fact. It’s almost like they were warned.”
That was most likely the case. But I didn’t discuss that with the enemy leader now. It was too unclear and slippery, so I changed the topic. I brought up the Human-3 Faction prisoners who were still stewing away in their dungeons. Fourteen soldiers. What would it take to get them set free?
“Ransom?” by the looks of things, the question surprised him. “Just take them! It’s such a small thing that it’s a shame to even waste time discussing it. I thought we came here to resolve truly serious issues. First and foremost, a peace treaty and its conditions. I don’t think there will be any problems with that. We’ll come to an agreement quickly. Second, plans for the future. Now that really is important, and was the main reason I came here myself.”
I stared at the giant, my eyebrows raised in surprise. I basically thought we were here only to settle a peace treaty and that we had a long way before we got there. The idea that it there wouldn’t be any problems with that seemed unimaginable. But the Strategist gave a happy laugh and answered my obvious surprise:
“Leng Gnat, you’re new head of the La-Fin Dynasty and leader of the First Directory. The players of the La-Fin Faction will obey you and only you. You’re also the main Human-3 Faction negotiator. So technically, you’re negotiating on behalf of both sides. So I bet you’ll be able to reach an agreement with yourself. I’m just a temporary placeholder. My mission was to make sure the La-Fin Faction and my world get a fair shake in the peace treaty. What conditions do you have to offer, Leng Gnat?”
Unexpected! No really, I never would have thought that one day the responsibility to decide for both worlds would fall on my shoulders. This was like playing chess against myself. So then, if I thought about it, what conditions were fair? I was in no rush, gradually squeezing out phrase after phrase:
“The La-Fin Faction shall receive a Geckho guarantee for their capital hexagon and retain the captured Tropics node. There they may build a distant outpost and a seaport but only on the condition that they do not obstruct movement of goods between the H3 and H6 factions on the coastal rode. Also, their further expansion south shall be delimited by a node which shall belong to no one. La-Fin troops shall be withdrawn from Karelia and the faction shall renounce all claims both to that node and the one on the opposite shore of the bay. On the other side, the Human-3 Faction shall receive a Geckho guarantee on their Capital node and renounce all claims to the Harpy Cliffs. Again this will be on the condition that the road remains open for trade with the Geckho spaceport.”
I fell silent, expecting commentary or arguments, but General Ui-Taka kept silent, listening carefully and allowed me to continue:
“The H3 Faction will remain under control of Ivan Lozovsky. And I transfer leadership over the La-Fin Faction to my legal wife Princess Minn-O La-Fin. I still haven’t talked with her about it, but she is a mage and represents the ancient La-Fin Dynasty so our subjects should not have any objections. As for the island we are now on...” I gathered some air because the next demand was just pure impudence. “This island shall become my personal territory! My personal faction will be located here, composed of volunteers from both of the parallel worlds, as well as members of other space races. This island shall also be untouchable, as guaranteed by humanity’s Geckho suzerains!”
I finished with my heart aflutter, awaiting a reaction. I figured General Ui-Taka could have very serious objections. After all, the Dark Faction had a serious advantage when combat ended and could have laid claim to more. But the huge muscular Strategist unexpectedly agreed:
“I accept, Leng Gnat! I told you, you’re negotiating with yourself! The participants in the conflict are already disengaged. We now know that no matter how long this war goes on, neither side can fully destroy the other. And it seems that you are putting yourself forward for the role of humanity’s future Kung. What can I say? It would be an interesting outcome. Now I need to get all that across to the others. Then, when the formalities are over, we can move on to truly serious matters!”
* * *
“AND WHAT? YOU JUST up and agreed, just like that?” The faction Journalist couldn’t believe the most important negotiations in the world were already over before they even got started.
“Yeah, right away. I mean, go ahead and write that we shouted until we got hoarse to keep the faction happy, of course. Say we just about killed each other fighting for more favorable conditions. But the reality is that the Dark Faction has just as little desire for a war of elimination as the Human-3 Faction.”
I considered the explanation completely sufficient and, lowering my sunglasses, sat back blissfully in a folding lounger, planning to enjoy the bright sun and pleasant sea breeze. However, Lydia Vertyachikh didn’t think the conversation was over. She even puffed out her cheeks in offense:
“Gnat, I cannot understand. What did I say? I don’t think I’ve ever given you a reason to treat me the way you do. But you didn’t want to take me to the negotiations, and now you’re batting me off like some troublesome fly. Do you treat all journalists this way? Or just me?”
A tricky way of posing the question. Any short answer, either yes or no, would put me into an awkward position. So I had to go into detail:
“Lydia, I treat all journalists with decency, as I am treating you right now. What’s more, in some measure I’m even somewhat grateful for your delicacy when it comes to Gerd Tamara. I was afraid that you were going to impose on the leader of the Second Legion with questions about her losing the expensive armor suit, her imprisonment and torture like the kind of reporter that swarms around any tragedy. I’m happy I was wrong.”
“Then why are you acting so difficult?” the Journalist wouldn’t let up.
No, with her around, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down, concentrate on the bright sun, and enjoy the rare moment of relaxation. I stored my glasses in my inventory and, getting up, gestured broadly at the happy players, relaxing without a care:
“Look at them. Do you know the difference between you and everyone else on this peaceful green field?”
Lydia just shrugged, not knowing the answer.
“Good, let me tell you then. All these players, no matter what race they belong to, are members of my crew or loyal subjects of my family. The Geckho and Miyelonians, the Jarg and even the Dark Faction people will do whatever I order and follow me through fire and water. Except General Ui-Taka perhaps. He does not answer to me. But the General is bending over backwards to make sure there is a good relationship between me and the new La-Taka Faction. And now the Strategist has fulfilled his previous obligations and will leave the La-Fin Faction to join it very soon. And on the backdrop of this team of like-minded associates there is you, sent on an order from Ivan Lozovsky to spy on us and maybe dig up some blackmail material if possible. Yes, yes. Don’t deny it. I read it in your thoughts. And I’m not the only one who could have.”
“Yes, you be think too loud,” Minn-O La-Fin walked up to us smiling with a glass of apple juice in her hand, unashamed to demonstrate that she was eavesdropping. “Journalist is many worry that no will be bad material for director Ivan. And now that we is conversation, tell your boss I is change mind! No is want now H3 Faction. Now am head of La-Fin Faction, my home. And they promise to fix me virt pod soon!”
Princess Minn-O was in an exceptionally good mood. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen my wife looking so happy before. When I suggested she head the La-Fin Faction, my wayedda was enthusiastic and delighted. Minn-O, a representative of a most ancient dynasty of mage rulers, who considered herself lesser for many years due to a lack of magical abilities, had a new lease on life. Now that she had Magic Points, she was vibrant, intense and proper. And still, I remained legal head of House La-Fin and leader of the First Directory. The Dark Faction players had confirmed me in that role. Having a mage wife only strengthened my authority as mage ruler, but she didn’t eclipse me as dynasty head.
“I is happy today! Is want dancing!” The Princess’s words confirmed my own observation.
“Then why are you drinking juice instead of wine?” I chuckled and a strange shadow ran over her face. I couldn’t understand what she was thinking. Was she afraid? Trying to hide something?
“I just want to keep my clarity of mind on a day like today.”
With a quick kiss on my cheek, Minn-O turned around and hurried to the set tables, around which they were still celebrating the peace treaty. And Miyelonians and Geckho were taking part in the fun just as much as the people although I strongly suspect that most of my crew had no idea who was even at war on this planet, or what groups had just made peace.
Somewhat strange. Minn-O’s behavior surprised me. Completely in spite of myself I tried to read my wayedda’s thoughts and feelings. I must admit, it had become habit. I’d done so a few times before to better understand my wife. But this time it didn’t work. Beyond that, the Princess’s voice appeared in my head:
“Husband, you shouldn’t do that! A woman must always have her secrets.”
I didn’t try to read my wife again, and turned to the Journalist standing next to me.
“It’s hard to live when every other person is reading your thoughts like an open book...” Lydia noted, implying her case, but she completely randomly guessed at what had just happened between Minn-O and I.
Meanwhile, if the Journalist was embarrassed to have her private thoughts read, it wasn’t for long. She even tried to go on the attack and cast aspersions:
“Kirill, when you said that only your subjects were gathered here, you were clearly exaggerating. At the very least Major Filippov does not belong to your team.”
Authority reduced to 59!
I gritted my teeth in annoyance. How dare she cast a Leng’s words into doubt?! Every day I had a better understanding of high-profile players who killed without warning for Authority drops. In fact, the more effort I expended, the more I realized this number was very hard to improve. Every time a common player disputed something I said, a few days’ work went to down the drain! Should I shoot the Journalist or something? To teach her the game rules? Once upon a time that helped me, although it took me a while to appreciate the value of Gerd Tamara’s lessons.
The small Relict guard drone, sensing my mood, came down further and focusing its innumerable data readers, locators and mobile video cameras on Lydia Vertyachikh, studying the suspicious being that had upset its master.
“No, please don’t kill her!” I stopped my mechanical guard. “She is simply a fool, there’s no treating it.”
The drone lost all interest in Lydia and, obediently flying upward, got distracted by a seagull and followed it to some distant cliffs.
“So now I’m a fool all of a sudden?” the Journalist couldn’t understand, also following the now distant drone with her gaze.
“Well because you’re arguing with a Leng, which goes against the mechanics of the game that bends reality, and for that you should be killed. Yes, yes. I will forgive you, but just this once. Not least of all because you’re the very last to hear the news, which is strange for a Journalist. But while flying in the antigrav, Major Filippov asked to join the crew of my Tolili-Ukh X frigate and was even hired to be the Jarg Analyst’s assistant. Everyone but you already knows.”
“How was I supposed to know?! You were speaking a language I don’t know!”
I laughed happily, her justification seeming so ill-founded:
“Lydia, he’s a level-18 Bard who just got into the game. Still he found time to study the language of the suzerains. Yes, his vocabulary is pitiful for now and his grammar makes them smile. His accent also gives him away for a native of Ryazan, not the planet of Shikharsa. But at least Major Filippov is trying! You’re a level-53 Journalist, the one-time faction record-holder for levelling speed. You’ve been in the game almost as long as me. But you stopped growing a long time ago! Who were you even planning to talk to at these negotiations if you don’t know the Dark Faction language, or Miyelonian or Geckho?”
Again the Journalist’s abashment lasted just a brief moment, then she found a way out:
“Well, for example, what I’m doing now. Or with a new member of your team. By the way, where is he? For some reason I can’t see the Bard in the clearing.”
I turned and also furrowed my brow in thought. Major Filippov really was nowhere to be seen in the small clearing. By the way... someone else was also missing. I studied the crowd. Exactly! We were also missing Valeri the Beast Master. Did they go into the forest together? Weird of course, but anything was possible. Still better to check.
Scanning skill increased to level forty-five!
There they were! In fact, both AWOL players’ markers were together, but not in the forest. Valeri-Urla and Major Filippov were standing on rocks at the very edge of the surf. And next to them... my heart fluttered in panic because there were at least fifty red markers around my friends on the mini-map. That meant enemies. Naiads!!!
But that wasn’t all I noticed. Next to Minn-O... and to be even more accurate inside her there was one more creature, reflected on my mini-map as:
Human. Level-0 Psionic Mage.
