Chapter 36: The Price of Attention
Reiji's grip tightened as he eyed the group of armored players blocking their path. Their leader, a towering warrior in gleaming plate armor, stepped forward, his expression unreadable beneath his helmet.
"We know you're the one who triggered the event," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You're carrying an Unknown Relic, aren't you?"
Reiji glanced at Aeris and Lyra, who both tensed beside him. The street had grown quieter, players and NPCs alike sensing the tension in the air. He needed to handle this carefully.
"And if I am?" Reiji asked, keeping his voice level.
The warrior didn't flinch. "Then you should come with us. The top guilds will want to speak with you. You can't just trigger a world event and expect to walk through the capital unnoticed."
Reiji let out a slow breath. He had two choices: play along and risk getting tangled in political games, or make a scene and attract even more attention.
He chose a third option.
"Sorry, but I'm kind of in a hurry," he said, flashing an apologetic smile. Then, without warning, he flicked his wrist—spending a small portion of his Faith Points.
A nearby fruit cart suddenly tipped over, sending a cascade of oranges rolling across the cobblestone street. NPCs shouted, players stumbled, and in the chaos, Reiji and his companions slipped away.
"That won't hold them for long," Lyra muttered as they ducked into a narrow alleyway.
"They don't need to chase us," Aeris said, her arms crossed. "The moment your identity gets out, every major guild will be after you."
Reiji exhaled. "Then we make sure they don't find out. We lay low, get what we need from the library, and get out of here before things get worse."
But as they reached the grand doors of the Imperial Library, a new notification appeared before him.
[Warning: You have been marked by multiple guilds. Reputation in the capital has shifted.]
Reiji groaned. "So much for laying low."
End of Chapter 36