From Player To Npc

"So, what did you find out?" [Shingi]

Shingi had all his Player students have a meeting, while An trained to get used to her new class, while Syra enjoyed some of the wine of Shingi.

"Not a lot yet. But I will learn more in the future; that's why I am here. I got a job offer in Enerias World." [Mizuneko]

"A job? I thought you were sent to learn what they were hiding not to join them." [Wild Tycoon]

Shingi had shared with them that the Guild seemed to hide something, and that's why he had told Mizuneko to search about it in the real world. 

"Do you think if they are hiding something, it will be easy to find out about it? They are among the biggest companies globally and had revolutionized the capsule and used it to the degree that others haven't. Their security is impossible to break even with Ardent's help. Joining them is the only safe route to learn what they hide but will take some time. So I won't be in the game for a long time. I will send messages to my brother though if I know something, but not too much to not draw attention." [Mizuneko]

Shingi considered that something like that would happen, as Mizuneko learning something in that short of time was an impossible task.

"Did you get the scroll from Ardent then?" [Shingi]

Mizuneko nodded as he brought out a scroll. It was like the one Shingi, and Price used to transfer his new staff with three Mana Gems. But this one was a bit different, as it wasn't to transfer an item into another but to change the positions of the one using this scroll and the one using its pair. Ardent Scythe transferred one scroll to Mizuneko's account, but she could do it only for something she owned and not too many times or would draw the attention of the System's AI.

Mizuneko would be out for weeks in the real world, which would be months in the game. So if they lost a party member, it would decrease their efficiency.

"Anything else you need to tell us?" [Shingi]

"Wait, wait. That's it? Won't we have a goodbye party or something? We just let him got work with the people who god knows what they are hiding? Shouldn't we discuss some safety measurements or way to let us know if things go astray?" [Wild Tycoon]

"This isn't a spy movie. We have discussed a few situations with Master, but I am not going there to steal their secrets about the game and leaked them to the public, so we should be ok." [Mizuneko]

Little Phoenix seemed to be a bit worried as she moved forward a bit to draw the attention of everyone.

"May I ask…. even if miss Scythe helped you, what job you were offered? Aren't you still a minor?" [Little Phoenix]

"My brother and I are older than we look but not as old as you think. Still in our early twenties. As for what I am going to do was offered to be a programmer, but more in the debugging area. I won't have access to the released code, just part of new content, but I don't think they will learn anything through there as they don't update this game as much. Still, maybe they have plans on one of their other's games too." [Mizuneko]

Enerias Tower was Enerias World's first title they had released. After all those years, it is still one of their biggest titles, even if they had released more since then, but none had as much of an impact. Still, they kept doing an excellent job organizing new events now and then and giving new content when needed, like the Dungeons, since the Tower expeditions weren't available for everyone.

Shingi still was curious why they hadn't tried to fight the Dark Guild, although he assumed that they somehow worked together. It was the only potential situation that would make sense of everything, but what could be the reason?

The five of them had some more small talk, and when finished, Mizuneko unwrapped his scroll, but not before sending a message to the one with its pair. Then, he started reading the scroll as some of the words he read left the scroll and started moving around him.

More and more letters appeared and started moving faster, leaving a trail of light behind them and at the end making a light cocoon around Mizuneko. Then, after a few seconds, the letters started moving slower, and in the place of Mizuneko was another person.

That person was Price, who seemed to be excited to be part of the action once more. He had stayed in Carda all this time, making sure the Broken Bridge or any other Guild didn't do any nasty business. He also helped Marcy raise her Guild since he was the highest in level among everyone in the Guild, being the only one with an Evolved class, which he had succeeded with the help of Shingi and Anna while Shingi was still in town.

He was a Shadowstalker, which had some abilities that Anna's True Assassin class had. The biggest one was the ability to make himself one with the shadows and teleport from one shadow to the other, although the range and speed weren't as good as Anna's. Also, his ability to pinpoint weak spots of enemies and deal massive damage on them with his attacks had increased, especially after getting a few tips from Anna.

"Finally, back in the Tower. It's been too long. Man, I missed this place." [Price]

Price looked around, seeing everyone, and noticed Syra in the background. An was training in the training room, while they were in the main room, so he couldn't see her.

"So I see you guys have a new companion. Care to fill me up?" [Price]

Shingi communicated with Price through his students, but mostly to learn what the situation was in Carda. He didn't want to send any important details through the System's chat.

"You better sit down as this may take a while." [Shingi]

Shingi told him about everything. About the way he died when he was a Player, his days as an NPC, his plans and everything he had learned about Mikhail, and the possibility of Enerias World is working with the Dark Guild.

The explanation lasted longer than last time since he had new pieces of information since then, but he still had many unanswered ones.

Shingi also informed him of the changes he had detected in the Tower and how Mikhail had some of his people on some of the Tower's floors. Unfortunately, Shingi still couldn't see a pattern to which floors Mikhail had his people or why they were there, but he kept looking for one.

Price's eyes seemed to stay the same through the entire story, having no signs of confusion or anything else expected in this kind of situation. In addition, he was wearing a mouth mask, similar to what Night Wind had, which helped him hide and harder for someone to get a read on him.

"So, questions?" [Shingi]

Shingi didn't expect him to be this calm throughout the entire story. When he explained his background to the others, they kept asking him questions while he was talking, but Price was silent the whole time.

"It was about time." [Price]

Dangerous thoughts starting appearing in Shingi's mind. Could Price know everything this whole time? And if he did, how? Could it be that he worked for their enemy?

"I knew you were hiding something all this time, and an NPC looking like the young self of your Player self couldn't be a coincidence. I had thought of different scenarios, but what makes the least sense sometimes is the truth. After thinking like that, putting things together was easier but still had some holes in my story. Although, I never thought of the possibility of a conspiracy." [Price]

Shingi knew Price was pretty good at filling the blanks of a story and finding clues about one, but he didn't expect him to do it at this level for this case successfully.

"So, are we ready to move on? I need some action." [Price]

"We aren't leaving yet. We still need to finish evolving everyone's class, and even after that, we will need at least a day to get used to everything. But I need you to do a few things during that time." [Shingi]

"Let me guess. Monitor the people outside and find a way for all of us to sneak our way to the next floor?" [Price]

Shingi shook his head. Sneaking was useless now since they knew who they were at this point.

But he wanted Price to monitor them to know what they are dealing with. Few people knew about the existence of the hideouts, and Shingi doubted the Dark Guild knew, as they had shown no signs of being used, at least the ones he had visited until now.

So after discussing the last details with what he wanted Price to do, he went back to finish another project that had An, Syra, and Little Phoenix help him with the Runes design.

To make a new staff.