A bunch of treasures lay inside atop a red plush bed. The first was a piece of paper,
smooth and yellow. He'd seen this kind of paper before.
๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐พ๐ฆ๐๐๐ โ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ฃ๐ช โ๐ ๐ฅ๐ (๐น)
๐๐๐๐ค ๐ก๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ฃ๐ช ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐ โ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ช ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ป๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ช ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐พ๐ฆ๐๐๐.
Well that told him very little. The name' Merchants Guild' rang a bell. He'd gotten an entrance token for this thing back at the Abyssal Crater Dungeon, hadn't he?
He wasn't sure what to do with this, so he pocketed it.
Next up was a thick book whose cover, spine, and back were made entirely of a bamboo-like wood. The pages seemed hand-scribed too, and as he started flipping through them, he felt them reaching out to his soulโlike they were inviting him to sink into them.
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ป๐๐๐ก๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐น)
๐๐๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ป๐๐๐ก๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐'๐ค ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐. ๐๐ฅ ๐ค๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐ค ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฅ๐, ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐.
A Wood healing Skill? It was perfect for Reina. He couldn't wait to give it to her.
Speaking ofโWorldtree Temple also rang a bell. That was where Reina's Signature Title came from. Zane gathered it was some kind of big Faction out there. His Rising Storm Slash came from the 'Azure Flame Faction,' which he'd seen crop up in more than one Law vision.
His Man of Steel Skill he'd gotten from the 'Steelheart Temple.' And there was some electric guild whose name he couldn't quite remember. He'd seen them in his Stormfire vision.
He got the sense there were some big factions out there, and they seemed to be themed around an Elemental Law. Worldtree Temple was the woody, planty one.
It all felt kind of distant from him right nowโฆ still though. He felt like he was piecing things together. According to the Beacon, they were still at Integration Phase 0. He got the feeling at some point this alien stuff would start mattering a lot more.
He moved on.
Nextโa pill.
๐๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ (๐น)
๐พ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ช โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ. ๐พ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ช ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ. ๐ธ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐, ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐ฅ โ๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐.
This didn't seem super useful to him right now at least. But you could trade treasures like this at the Beacon. He wondered how much it would sell for. He'd just give it to Reina; he was sure she'd make good use of it.
One item left, and it was a beauty. An ornate breastplate like something a Roman legionnaire might wear, but forged out of Titansteel. An Elemental Law ran through it.
๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ (๐น)
๐ธ ๐ค๐๐๐-๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐, ๐จ๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐.
Armor was one of the rarest drops. Self-repairing armor was especially rare; it made it a lot more valuable. Zane guessed this granted the same defense as what the Treant had. In other wordsโreally darn tough stuff. Tougher than his body right now.
Though he'd change that very soon.
This he could give to Avery or Evan. At least Avery could defend herselfโEvan was kind of a glass cannon right now. The boy was curled up in a little ball, all peaceful. He made little wheezing sounds as he sleptโlight little snores. He looked like he was having a very good dream.
Yeah, this would go to Evan. Evan must be protected at all costs.
That was the last of them.
He went back and claimed the Beacon. Then he scooped up Evan. He figured now was a good time to go back. And with the B-ranked Beacon at home base, he should be able to just jump back from here. Right?
He was just about to do it when he got a notification.
โ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ฅ: 'โ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ป๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ ๐' ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐!
Honestly, he'd forgotten about it until now.
โ๐๐จ๐๐ฃ๐:
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐-๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ค
๐ ๐๐๐๐-๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐ฝ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ
๐ป๐๐ค๐ก๐๐๐ค๐๐๐โฆ
A little Bag of Holding bobbed in front of him in a cloud of soft light. He nabbed it and checked inside. Sure enough, all there.
More Law fruit, huh.
At this point it'd be hard not to break whatever bottleneck was in store for him at Level 99. He was drowning in Law Treasures. He'd felt Elemental Steel up close and personal.
It was just a matter of letting his soul recover. Then he was going on another Law binge, and he wasn't stopping until he hit it.
***
He scooped Evan up again, waited a little for anything else he might've forgotten to pop up. When nothing did, he pulled up the Beacon menu. From there, he willed the teleportation option. And a portal opened up right in front of him.
He stepped on through.
He came out in a very familiar town square. He blinked. It used to be every time he came back, he felt like he was walking into a new town. Now the breakneck growth had slowed a little, but he still saw fresh changes every time.
The floating watchtowerโwhich had looked like the house from Up when he left, just chained downโseemed a proper flying fortress now. It was fitted with cannons and everything; a giant telescope hung out on top. He looked around. The buildings were still designed the same, all cozy and wood, kind of medieval-feeling. But they'd grown a floor higher. He spotted what looked to be a library, and then a tavern, and the town hall too, a simple tower of lovely old oak. They all wore glowing sky-blue runes.
There was a little market going on around him. That's right. They had this whole bartering thing set up one morning a week, didn't they? The shoppers, who'd all been trading tomes and elixirs and stuff, all stopped to stare at him. Some warrior-guards rushed up to greet him, looking quite frazzled.
Zane asked where Reina was. And after a lot of saluting, they told himโ"She's up near the Olympia Safe Zone, sir. She's meeting with the Harbormasters. They're negotiating some kind of trade deal, sir!"
Zane resolved to go meet her. But first, Evan. He got directions to the healing wards. They weren't far from the square.
***
As he walked, he saw lots of folk in tunics and robes milling on the training fields. Rangers and Priests and Warriors and Rogues all in little teams. He could hear one of them shoutingโ
"The E-ranked dungeon Ravenwood Village reverted yesterday right after midnight! Thankfully, all members present were evacuated. We've been tasked with re-clearing it. Dragon Team, Tiger Team, are you ready?"
Both teams gave their salutes.
"Garrettโyou all healed from last week's raid?"
"Yessir!"
"Alright. Roll out!"
Cheering, they marched away.
Zane smiled. Reina did good with this place.
***
Zane ambled his way to the healing wards, following a cobbled road, just taking in the lovely little headquarters town Reina had made. He let the wide-eyed gazes and the shocked whispers slip over him. By now it was easy to ignore them. Soon he was there.
These weren't even wards anymore. It was closer to a hospital. It had four floors, building up in something like a pagoda, all white and gold. Very pretty looking. He strode on in.
The receptionist looked up and stared. The quill she was holding dropped from her hands.
"Hello," said Zane. "I have a patient for you."
Soon it felt like half the doctors in the hospital had scrambled out to greet him. They were all Healers in the Level 30s and 40s, all dressed in white robes, all carrying staffs. The head Healer insisted on taking Zane's patient himself. Zane just wanted some daycare for Evan really, somewhere they'd keep him hydrated and stuff while he was gone. The head Healer said he'd take care of it.
Zane recognized him from somewhere. Tall, lanky, blond... When he asked, the Healer smiled and said he was Liam, the pre-med from the University of Washington. He'd been one of the first people Zane had rescued way back when, in the Luminous Forest. Back before he'd made the Faction.
Funky stuff.
When they inspected who exactly it was Zane was carrying, they freaked out a little. They took extra care as they wheeled Evan onto a cot. Liam promised he wouldn't let any harm come to himโhe promised to use their best soul treasures to help him recover.
***
It was a short trip from the hospital to Olympia Beach, where this diplomatic meeting was taking place. He remembered when they fought a war here. Against Marcus and his Legion. This little jaunt back was shaping up to be a trip down memory lane.
Now new ships were docked on the beach. They looked like old Spanish Armada warships, all puffed up with sails and rigging. Very antique.
On the beach stood Reina, along with a big pot-bellied man with a twirling white mustache. He wore a sailor's navy uniform, complete with the captain's hat, and he was flanked by a circle of admirals.
โ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ ๐
๐ผ๐ค๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐
๐ฝ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐: โ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ค
"It was with our help that you won the dayโon this very beach, no less! Without the Harbormasters, there would be no Luminous Faction! These terms as you present them, whyโฆ it is almost as though you have forgotten!"
His mustache twitched as he spoke. He had a booming way about him, quite domineering.
But Reina answered him coolly. "We have not forgotten, Admiral. We are very grateful for your help back then. That's why I'm offering you free passage in the Sound."
"In exchange for free passage up all the coasts of British Columbia?"
"We can act from the north to the south. It's a fair trade." Reina had her chin held high. God she was so pretty when she talked like that. She smiled. "And let's not forget it goes the other way too. Without the Luminous Faction, there would be no Harbormasters either."
"Hmph." The Admiral turned back to his ships. "What do you think of our fleet, Miss Torres?"
Reina shrugged. "A fine fleet."
"More than fine," said Rorke. Spittle flew as he spoke. "I daresay we've got the strongest navy on the West Coast! Perhaps in all the Americas!"
Zane wasn't one for politics, but even he could tell the man was trying to wave a big stick. Probably hoping she'd give him better terms. Reina wasn't impressed.
Then she blinked. She seemed to notice her mini-map. Then him, standing off to the side. He felt her fierce burst of joy. And then he felt a little undercurrentโshe got a gleam in her eye, like she had an idea.
She waved at him. "Zane!" She called brightly. She beckoned him closer. He came over, wondering what this was about. Initially he'd just planned on waiting for her to finish.
When he got close enough, she grabbed him and kissed him. To his surprise, and the Admirals. When they broke apart, she looked up at him with adoration.
"Wow," she breathed. "You're Level 98 now? What happened?"
"Cleared a B-rank dungeon," he mumbled.
"You must beโฆtop ten in the world now?"
He shrugged. "Something like that."
Then she blinked and looked back over at the Admiral. "I'm sorry. Where are my manners? This is my partner Zane. Zane, meet the wonderful Admiral Halversen! We're negotiating a deal so we have unrestricted access to each other's trade routes. I think it'll do us both a great deal of good. Don't you?"
Suddenly the Admiral seemed a little flustered. "WellโI supposeโby the way, it is a great pleasure to meet you. Yes, a great pleasureโlong overdue!"
He held out a hand, and Zane shook it firmly.
"You were saying something about those ships of yours, Admiral?" said Reina sweetly.
"Ahโwellโthese little things?" He chuckled nervously. He'd gone from booming to squeaking. "Ohโthey're nothing much, really..."
He watched as Reina proceeded to corner the man into a deal. It was a spectacle to seeโshe just dominated him verbally. The poor old guy was sweating at the end; it kind of reminded him of what she'd done to Elias. He didn't stand a chance.
***
As soon as Reina finished up with the Harbormasters, she and Zane went back to kissing. They both seemed to agree that talking could waitโthere were better ways to express how much they missed each other. They found the nearest empty beach house. There they went at it.
He was always a little surprised how Reina changed around him. She wasn't dominant, like she had been just now; if anything, she was the opposite. She exposed her soft underbelly to him. Something about him seemed to let her relax.
They made love for a while. WellโZane wanted to be tender. But he could sense she wanted him to be more assertive with her. So he was. He tried his best to make her happy.
He sensed she was busy taking charge all day. She got worn out by itโwith him, sometimes she wanted to let go and just let him take control. She trusted he'd take care of her.
After they finished, they lay there in a warm comfy haze. She had her head on his chest. This was Zane's favorite part of the whole thing, usually. This was really nice.