Now, KK had three friends in the game panel, namely the princess, the librarian and the singer. It sounded like he had made a group in the game. So he knew that the game had group tasks. He patiently waited for the new task notification. But there wasn't any new task for two consecutive days. So he had to explore the game world. KK moved his avatar in all directions. He checked many places in the journey. It was like a mini virtual world. The virtuworld in their world was like a real world but with all people using their virtual avatars. Each person only had one avatar which was tied to their real identity. Most people choose to change their appearance and names to live different lives and to hide their real identity. The virtuworld was lifelike and it was like a giant conference in a sense. People did their work more in virtuworld than in the real world. There were groups, committees, organizations, and everything else. KK also joined a small gamers' group called Ride of the Gamers which was actually supposed to be Rise of the Gamers but they didn't get the name and also the head typed it wrong while registering. It was the group where his friends from the orphanage spent their time so he also played with them.
This time when he entered Virtuworld, it was mostly calm. Normally everywhere there were people talking but today it was eerily calm. He supposed that there should be some sort of conference everyone went to attend. He went towards the terminal and put the committee card and teleported to the place.
It was his friend Veer who was sitting in his knights costume looking extremely unlovable. And also he was the one who mistyped the group's name. He was the subject of ridicule for many days before the incident had died down. But still, his black history was always circulated in the orphanage.
"Hey KK, why are you here? Aren't you going to the news station?"
KK was puzzled. What was going on in this world?
"Why?"
"The real estate magnate is trying to find someone compatible with his daughter so she can be saved."
"What?" KK still didn't understand.
Veer shook his head before explaining.
"It was said that the wealthy princess became ill last week and a well known master said that her body will be fine if she marries a person who was born with mental power. Now they are checking everyone in the town square. Both in the real world and virtuworld."
KK felt that he ignored the news while he was playing the game but anyway, this matter had nothing to do with him. So he sat beside Veer and talked with him.
"So how come you didn't go?" He asked Veer.
"I don't know. I feel like there is something hidden in it. And I don't want to be in dainger. It looks very fishy."
"You may be right."
KK also agreed with his conjecture.
"Also did you see the news, it is said that the movie star Dev is suffering from depression. He said be was going to retire in his universal post. Seriously, he is like the hottest star now. How much do you think he is worth?"
"I don't know. Let's wish him to get well soon. We aren't his friends or family and we shouldn't gossip behind his back."
Veer nodded like a child. He was younger than KK and he always stuck to him. He wasn't any bad guy but he sure loved to gossip. It is human nature, of course. But KK always felt it was wrong to talk before knowing everything. Also it is different to speculate and completely different to be in that person's shoes. No one knows what someone is going through. So it is totally unreasonable to talk bad or give them unnecessary suggestions.
They sat in a comfortable silence and worked their own jobs. Veer was a makeup assistant and he was updating a blog article about some new fashion. And KK was searching for any new new trends in the Virtuworld. He finally noticed an auction. Normally auctions weren't open to everyone. Only the rich and highly privileged were allowed to participate. But this auction only allowed the low income groups to participate. He didn't understand why the lower income group would like to auction. They couldn't attend auctions precisely because they didn't have any money. But anyway, most people would like to join in the fun to see how an auction works. KK also wanted to go but he couldn't snatch a ticket. So he calmed himself and checked for other activities. There were some knitting groups looking for new people to join. KK wasn't interested. He was about to close the panel and a new task came in. The task didn't show any specific information. Just few sentences.
Need someone to join in a game quest to ensure the employer's safety. Payment will only be given after the task is complete.
These words would surely make others reluctant to accept. But KK accepted it. He was short of money and he would try to finish his task. If he is lucky, he will earn money. He didn't want to think about the non lucky part.
He contacted the employer and left his personal chat invitation. And later he logged out of virtuworld and entered the game world. The game world did not change in the slightest. His new friends were still sitting in a room playing cards. By seeing their expressions, he concluded that the princess must have won again and the singer should be frustrated.
"Hey, I also want to play. What are you playing?"
"We are playing the Bluff. I don't know what it means. The princess said that we draw cards and gamble on the other person's total. If you guess if the other is lower or higher than you correctly, you win. So far, we couldn't guess and lost every time."
KK waited for the princess to deal with the carda and picked his set. He checked the cards. There were three sixes each of hearts, clubs and spades. His total would be eighteen. Now he observed the princess. He didn't know if he got more or less than her total. So he decisively chose lower.
"I say mine is lower than you."
"I also agree." The princess agreed with him. And both of them showed their cards.
And it was correct. There were seven of hearts, eight of clubs and nine of spades with her. So they were both correct and the game would be a draw. KK felt his curiosity satisfied and so be didn't continue to play. He observed them for a long time and then he left.
The next day, he went to work and his day was extremely slow. Only few people came to buy from their store. They were the ones who couldn't afford to buy housekeeping robots. Those who had robots naturally ordered from the online store. So his store had low business but people of he low income group didn't stop visiting the store.
He finished the work and ate with his colleagues. He returned to his apartment and felt something was missing in his life and he had no idea about what he was supposed to miss. He checked his incoming messages and found one unread. It was the employer he had contacted in he virtuworld.
READNWORK: Hello. I want to team up in one game. It's kinda scary and feels different to me. Are you interested?
KK: Sure. Can you give me the game info?
READNWORK: it's the new game called Live Life Once. I read the agreement and I'm not sure about it.After playing he game, I feel uneasy so if you can help me, it will be a blessing to me.
KK didn't know there was someone who felt that the game was wrong. It sure felt different to him but he didn't have feelings like this person. Anyway, he could help and earn at the same time. So he agreed readily.
KK: You can add me in he virtuworld and I will add you to my group in the game. Give me your game ID.
READNWORK : My avatar name is FirstEmperor. Thank you for your help.
The next day, KK entered the game and added the FirstEmperor to his group. He had got a new task due to this.
NEW TASK
FIND THE CORRUPT OFFICIAL
KK waited for FirstEmperor to come online. The person who was in front on him was a short boy. He looked like he was fifteen and he wore brocade robes. He looked like a child emperor with the silver crown in his head.
"Thank you brother KK for helping."
"Its okay. Do you want to start the task now?"
"Yes!"
So they entered the task.
The scenery changed and they entered an ancient market.
"The king chooses a new servant. Everyone between the ages fourteen and seventeen are eligible."
Only the FirstEmperor was suited for this job. So KK assigned everyone their jobs in this task. The singer and librarian were to roam in the city and collect information. FirstEmperor would go to palace and learn information from there. KK and the princess would try to establish some stronghold in the city. So everyone split up after they decided to meet in the vegetable market two days later.
The princees went to the clothing store to inquire about places to rent. KK went to the blacksmith and paid to forge three swords and six daggers. He had no money to pay so he put the armor as collateral. Afterwards he checked the forest area and picked many fruits. He was naturally very optimistic about the other guys and their ability to gather Intel. Because they sure liked to gossip and the townsfolk here were also like them. He returned to the town square and found the singer entertaining people with his songs.
Finally he met the princess near the inn and found that she rented two rooms. One for her and the other for the three guys to squeeze in. They shared the fruits and finally returned to their respective rooms.
"I heard that the previous servant of the king tried to assassinate him and was caught. So to prove that everything is in control, the king selected to choose a servant in a competition."
The librarian interrupted the singer and said, " And also the records are being copied. I don't know the reason but the treasury sure is not correct. Things go missing and no one in the country is concerned. People are very weird here."
"This task isn't simple. We have to look at everything before making a conclusion. If there are things going wrong in the treasury, then the conspiracy is from someone in a very high position. Also the king should be concerned about this. So let's keep an eye on his officials so we could also get their Intel. We wouldn't need to work hard then. "
The other two nodded and KK left the game.
He logged in the next day and found FirstEmperor waiting for him.
"I was selected and this time there are nearly twenty servants chosen to serve the king. I'm selected to work on his clothes. The kings loves yellow. All his robes are yellow. And the king definitely trusts the prime minister. He visits the king every day for official duties."
"It doesn't mean anything for now. We have to observe for a long time before coming to any kind of conclusion. The logic is very different in this task. And you need to be low key. No one should be suspected. Go slow and be safe."
They all nodded and KK found the princess. Je asked her about her job.
"The people in the kingdom are not happy and they don't want to pay taxes. The standard of living is not good."
KK nodded. He knew if he wanted to know about the officials, he had to know the people. So he asked the princess to continue investigating among the common people. He also found that the singer had earned a lot. So he used that money to buy his things from the blacksmith. He gave the singer, librarian and the princess, FirstEmperor a dagger each. It was small and easily hidden. And then he gave the princess and he librarian each a sword. He put the remaining things with him.
According to his experience , he knew that he should find the hidden clues. As fast as possible, so he could finish this task.