"This whole report sounds like fantasy written by an insane man. " Vanras scorned, throwing the report sent by his intelligence. The things written in that report were too scary to even consider.
"These are just one man's claims, unrealistic and scary, but viable claims." Wilkis paused before he said something that Vanras himself agreed with. "But if we think about it, this starts to make sense."
In the report, which seemed like an insane man's theory and fantasies. Girisia the man in question claimed to have understood the native language of the anomans and found the truth from their words. It was his way of saying why he was so important, much to the horror of Tarkov who thought he was the only support Girisia had in this world.
The Anoman's considered this world nothing more than a game. Hence their obsession with going on missions, their childish nature, and the group mentality they all carried. Girisia also told them about how the quest system worked from an NPC's perspective. The method he used to control and manage the players around him.
He knew what ticked them and he taught it to others. Keeping the natives in the dark will only be harmful in the long run.
"Are you sure, what this man said was true?" Wilkis asked the interrogator who was a thin old man with a suitcase in his hand. He was much younger than Wilkis's original age, but due to countless modifications done to Wilkis's body, he had been stuck in his 40-year-old body causing the old man to look his senior in comparison.
"He hid a few things, but he did believe everything he told us. But knowing his history, I am not sure how much of it is fact." The interrogator answered.
Before approaching Girisia, the intelligence had long dug up his past. How he turned from a medic in the infantry to the crazy war vet roaming the streets to scrounge for food.
"Even though it makes sense, and explains why the anomans acted so weird, I don't want to believe that it's true." Vanras articulated.
"You believing had nothing to do with it, Vanras. What is said in the report makes sense and I do think the Anomans think of this world as a game." Farsight retorted, her chubby face still scrounged up with stress.
Facts don't care about one's feelings. And being a researcher, she had long gotten used to facing the harsh realities of the world.
Including the thought that this world truly may be virtual and she is just a collection of complex codes.
"I know, both of you youngin may be going through some sort of existential crisis but this is not the time for that." Wilkis gave his usual speech. "It doesn't matter if this world is real or not… what matters is to make plans on how to control them."
"Vanras, go and get all the commanders, including that insect sent by the citadel. We need to make plans on how to manage these anomans in the future." Wilkis planned to change the treatment the players get as early as he could. These are immortal beings who treat their life and death as a game. It's better to be on their good side while exploiting their skills.
Vanaras agreed and left the room along with the interrogator whose job was done.
And seeing their departing figure, which was soon to be joined by Farsight.
"Little Far, don't you have a meeting with this Korus person in a few days?" Wilkis asked, in a soft tone, a voice he rarely used.
"Yes fa… mayor, are you interested in this meeting too?" She questioned, her voice not as annoyed when she spoke to Vanras.
"Yes, I would very much like that."
*****
Race: Karabit
Class: None[1]
Trait: None
Racial Trait: Blood Infusion
Title: Beggar of The Riber city
[FSP: 0] [KP: 10] [Exp: 65943]
[Stats]
STR: 0.6
CTS: 3.2
DEX: 1
INT: 0.7
SPR: 0
WIS: 1.3
Vigor: 220
Health: 140/140[240]
Passive Skills: Tenacious[lvl1| Danger Discernment [lvl1]]
Active skills: none
Status effects: [click to expand]
Overview: A famous beggar with no power, it's better you hide away from the limelight when you still have the chance.
Warning: Due to conflict over the player and NPC template, some of the player rights have been revoked.
'I still can't believe the kind of history this body had.'
It's been around two days since his interrogation ended. And while he explained how he fell in with the player group, he also learned something about himself.
Well more like his previous self.
'A war veteran… Well, a field medic to be exact.' The intelligence department of Riber city had long found everything regarding the original owner of this body which in turn had made their treatment of him a lot better.
And in return, he also gave up important information about players, how they treat this world as a game, how by giving them certain things in return, you can make them do any job you want and how they can grow in strength at a fast pace.
The information he gave to the interrogator had shaken the foundations of Riber city. The threat the players posed had been increased but now, they also had a proper way to control them.
The City hall is already working on different plans to manage these players. If they were going to grow, it was going to be on their terms
`Still, it's scary to think about the name I picked out of instinct turned out to be the true name of the body.' Girisia felt surreal and scared at this thought.
He was scared that the previous owner remained in the body in some form to affect his thought, making him pick up a name Girisia thought he had made up but turned out to be the real name of the body.
'Korus Fedorov, it does have a nice sound to it. '
The original owner of the body called Korus used to belong to the Ondrachi Karabit tribe that had been enslaved by a Warband of Kastil, a nomadic Karabit tribe that ate its kind.
During a war to annihilate the Kastil tribe thirty years ago, Korus was saved by the infantry of Riber city and the man who helped him during that time was called Isaac Fedorov, a man he respected so much that he chose his last name the same when filling the citizenship form of Riber city.
'Then this appreciation for that man-made Korus joined the infantry but due to his weak physique, the only thing he could become was a field medic.'
'A medic whose head got scraped by a javelin and only survived due to a weird mutation.'
Karabit was a tribe of artificial humans who were cultivated to act as organ donors for actual humans. And due to how young their species was, even if their origin was humanity, the Karabit still went through countless mutations throughout their life.
Some had extra hands, some had whole life legs, some even grew fur. Girisia was lucky his body was one of the least mutated bodies among the Karabit, the only difference he probably had over normal humans was his tail which had long been cut by the original owner.
'He probably wanted to fit in.' Girisia understood this sentiment but he can't help but look down on this.
"Tell me more about this woman, the one we are going to meet," Girisia questioned from his wheelchair that was dragged by Tarkov. At the present moment, he seemed a lot better than his earlier broken self and bliss upper torso.
Due to his importance, the doctors in the hospital had already attached mechanical hands to his body. Though there was a delay in their movements, it was still better than nothing.
"Professor Farsight is the head researcher from the Riber institute, she is not a nosy person and only likes to drown herself in her work. And generally, she is not that dangerous…"
"Why generally?... Will the "generally" not apply to me?" Girisia questioned.
"Well yours is a unique case, don't you know? Being the only one who can understand the anomans, being the only one with 30% of their brain dead and still functioning as a proper human… and not to say, more." Tarkov said he was pretty annoyed at his current state, but he did save Girisia from extensive interrogation.
Girisia was glad for this help, but he still didn't forget Tarkov's interrogation and he had mentioned it to the interrogator.
And due to Girisia's current importance, Tarkov got punished to appease Giriisia. He had to act as Girisia's bodyguard and handler for the next four months.
"Does she plan to scan my brain, is she mad?... Doesn't she know my situation is already volatile… until you fulfill your end of the bargain first." Girisia complained while reminding Tarkov of their earlier negotiation.
Which Tarkov wanted to ignore but it seems, Girisia had an upper hand for now. The balance that Tarkov thought had formed between the two of them was ruined the moment Girisia exposed he could understand the words of the Anomans.
"I don't know, we will just see it soon enough." Tarkov cursed. But he had already considered venturing into Hermat forest… he had planned to do this after this small meeting ends with Girisia.