Rita's attitude took a complete 180-degree turn. She took away the two guests' water and asked, "Coffee, juice, or tea?"
Shadow.Q was visibly confused. This doesn't feel right...
Asher, trying to lighten the mood, clenched his fist and coughed awkwardly. "Please, don't act like this. We're starting to get scared."
Rita, now in full-on host mode, brewed them the finest coffee she had, even taking out some snacks from her game inventory. These treats were some of her highest-scoring creations, just under the 80-point threshold. She placed the plates on the table, saying, "Sorry for the lack of hospitality earlier."
Shadow.Q's unease deepened. "Just tell us what you're thinking."
Rita cut straight to the point. "Do you guys have a way to enter the game?"
Shadow.Q and Asher looked like they had been sucker-punched. The very thing they'd hoped to avoid had happened—Rita had figured it out. With her unique gift and their overly obvious behavior, it wasn't surprising she had guessed.
Their expressions grew serious. Asher, in a tone far more formal than before, said, "If you want to learn more, you'll have to join us. Don't worry, we offer excellent benefits and plenty of freedom within the rules."
Rita understood immediately: Good benefits meant they'd make sure she put in more work than she'd ever get back, and freedom within the rules was just a fancy way of saying she wouldn't actually be free.
Rita saw right through their script. She shook her head, feigning regret. "Looks like we won't be reaching any sort of agreement."
Her tone was final—there was no room for negotiation.
Shadow.Q pulled out her phone. "Mind if I step outside to make a call?"
Rita waved dismissively. "Go ahead."
As Shadow.Q left the room, Asher leaned forward, genuinely curious. "Can I ask why? Is it because you don't trust us, or is it that you simply don't want to?"
Rita was blunt. "Both. I know this game isn't ordinary, and I know you're working for a good cause. But where there are too many people, there will always be factions and internal power struggles. Are you telling me that won't happen here? Even the small company I used to work for had three major factions. I'm not cut out for that."
Asher paused. He couldn't argue with her logic. Wherever people gather, there will be divisions, politics, and different agendas. Even if everyone was working toward the same goal, even if no one had selfish intentions, differences in how to get things done would naturally lead to factions—some hardliners, others moderates, and some extremists. And that was without considering personal ambitions.
Crisis breeds opportunity, and there will always be people looking to reshuffle the deck.
Even Asher and Shadow.Q weren't from the same faction. Their partnership wasn't just for collaboration but also to monitor each other, ensuring no one got too much power. To be honest, Asher was tired of it. If it weren't for the fact that working alone meant missing out on important opportunities, he would've quit a long time ago.
He couldn't blame Rita for her choice to go solo. Sure, she wouldn't get access to the best resources, but at least she wouldn't be caught up in the endless scheming.
Just as the room fell into silence, Shadow.Q returned. She spoke directly to Rita. "Regardless of whether we reach an agreement today, if you want to know what we know, it will cost you one use of your Wheel of Fate ability."
Rita, never one to haggle over necessary expenses, agreed instantly. "Deal."
Shadow.Q took out a small crystal the size of a blueberry and handed it to Rita.
[Skill Storage Stone (One-time use)]: Use this stone to store a skill, which can then be activated by another person. Simply crush the stone to activate the stored skill. (Created by: Yi Chang)
Rita had seen skill stones in her previous life, but she hadn't paid much attention to them. They were luxury items, costing several silver coins, sometimes even a few gold coins, for a one-time use. It was way too extravagant for her back then.
This was the first time she'd seen an empty one, though. Rita used her Another Happy Day skill on the stone, watching as a red mist filled its interior, turning it completely crimson. It now looked like a small cloud of red fog trapped in a crystal. Checking her skill panel, she confirmed that Another Happy Day had gone into its cooldown period.
Apparently, the stone didn't bypass cooldowns, but it could prevent skills with limited uses from being wasted.
Immediately, Rita asked, "How much do these stones cost?"
Shadow.Q chuckled as she pocketed the now-red crystal. She gave a grin worthy of a pyramid scheme leader. "Three gold coins each."
Rita grimaced. Karma really does come around fast, huh?
Shadow.Q laughed and corrected herself. "Alright, alright, just kidding. For you, I'll give a special price—one skill crystal in exchange for five empty ones."
Rita didn't respond right away, weighing the pros and cons of finding a way to make these crystals herself. Relying on someone else for supply was just too costly.
Unfazed by Rita's silence, Shadow.Q continued. "We do, in fact, have a way to enter the game. It's not like the beta tests, though—our physical bodies are transported, and death there means death here. We can bring you in and even provide protection. But, naturally, you'll have to pay for that service with your Wheel of Fate skill."
The power dynamic of the conversation had shifted dramatically.
But Rita wasn't in a rush. In fact, she was thrilled. They really do have a way back in!
She immediately asked, "Where would we arrive?"
Shadow.Q replied, "We have someone who bought a small house in Dark City, the capital of the Forsaken. His Divine Gift allows him to open a portal, which will take us straight to Dark City."
Dark City? The enemy stronghold.
Shadow.Q watched as Rita's expression shifted from excitement to calm. "What's the problem? Don't like that idea?"
"... No, I like it." Rita knew her in-game character looked different from her real-life appearance, and besides, she had her Disguise skill to fall back on. She asked, "How do we leave once we're there?"
Shadow.Q's smile widened. "Ah, that's another paid service. We have a player who can turn people into cute little animals, and another who can Disguise as an undead to sneak us out of the city."
Rita could already transform into animals and disguise herself, but if she didn't want to reveal those abilities, she'd have to pay. She rubbed her forehead, feeling the beginnings of a headache. This feels like one of those 'free' vacation packages that trap you with hidden fees once you get there.
Shadow.Q's smile grew even brighter, and even Asher looked pleased.
Rita sighed. "Is there a time limit? Can I stay in the game as long as I want?"
Shadow.Q nodded. "Yes, but whether you're going in or out, each use of the portal will cost you fifty skill storage stones filled with Wheel of Fate. Don't worry, we'll provide the empty stones."
The price was steep, to say the least.
But in a monopoly like this, the cost made sense. If Rita didn't join them, she'd end up paying even more elsewhere.
The high cost made sense—getting back into the game opened up the possibility of untold riches. Even if the entry fee was high, it would be worth it.