Chương 3: You Again
The lines were huge as all an army of students boarded the high-speed rail to return home for the winter break. A bell went off, signal an impending departure. John shivered in the stiff morning air as he boarded the train towards the capital, Kinas.
Last night was a mistake, but still worthwhile. John still remembered Kevin's wide smile and aspiring eyes when he saw the trailer online in the old world. John had wanted to show him the event in person, a gift. The look on Kevin's face this time around was even better. When the character stood from the marble steps, it was heart-warming.
However, John had nothing when Kevin asked him how he knew about the event. He could only keep it a secret. A small slip-up between friends was acceptable, but the problem could be recurring with other people. The utmost care needed to be taken. Kevin eventually stopped badgering him after the meal and the two split up around seven.
John had returned home early after dinner, hoping to see his great-grandfather who would die in around a month. The two had been together since John's youth. Of course, Gramps' passing was like that of a parent, perhaps even more so: Gramps had always played both parental roles as the only guardian. But it was a Thursday, and Gramps would be at the hospital overnight for regular treatment.
John yawned and browsed his phone, waiting for the engines to start.
The internet was in shock following the events of the RISE's reveal. Virtual reality consoles had been out for several years now, but they were always small in scale. The technology was somewhat unproven, leading to mostly shooters and strategy games. The development cost of open fantasy worlds was always higher, not to mention all the potential for mistakes. MMORPG's had been gradually dying in popularity long before virtual even hit as a result. Of course, profit and risk have always gone hand-in-hand. All that was missing was a bit of ambition.
Along with the stunning trailer came a website detailing the basics of the game. It featured everything a typical game advertised, graphics, customization, open-map, and whatnot.
One element that excited everyone was a sleep feature where in-game time would be accelerated and accessible while asleep. That made a huge portion of the selling point: would there be anything better to do at night? Furthermore, the game looked, or rather felt, significantly better than anything before. But the introduction didn't really say anything about mechanics, leaving most players eager and unknowing.
Similarly, most customers didn't know what the console would look like, maybe existing helmets would suffice or maybe they'd have to purchase a pod. They'd have to wait before the purchase was available in a little bit.
That's why John was heading to Kinas. The pre-release consoles would be available to the wealthy and famous players in previous games. A series of places would be open, offering the devices to those informed. The leak of this information in the past had caused a huge commotion when the game got big. A day or two of progress at the start could translate into months of advantage.
The reported venue that John remembered was inconspicuous, just an outdated PC store in an ordinary shopping mall, run by an elderly couple. However, it would experience an influx of clients as people would enter all day to claim the device.
Kinas was one of those capitals that were called as such but felt more like an average city. Indeed, many foreigners would label Trayin as the capital of the country, Lansbe, without prior knowledge. This meant that it was a relaxed place with few people and even fewer high-rises. The only serious thing here was the Parliament, and that place was a bigger joke than the economy those days.
John arrived at the mall around eleven or so in the morning. He paid the cab driver and entered. It was almost deserted on the weekday. Stores had Christmas lights on and a massive tree towered in the lobby. The festive spirit was in the air. He took the escalator to the fourth floor, where the same sign shown in the articles lay: "Krill's Computing".
It was your typical cheap electronics shop. Colorful posters were plastered all over the walls, outdated behemoths cluttered the shelves. There were enough tangled cables to make a wire fence around the building.
A line was already forming inside the shop as people queued for the packages. They stood there impatiently as the elderly clerk slowly accepted little papers. This caused to John inwardly curse the usual incompleteness of the media. No one had mentioned that a token was required to receive the helmet.
While RISE's mechanics were often farfetched at best in the real world, some skills were decently applicable. John had played a thief, one of better ones at that. A thief who needs something someone else has is a fish in water – simply borrowing a token couldn't be too hard.
A couple of minutes later and John entered the queue with a successfully purloined slip of paper. A couple more minutes later and John exited the queue with a flat package.
It's true that the victim might report it, but the issue would be quickly shut up. The release's secrecy must be preserved. The risk was definitely worth it in the end.
He walked away at a brisk pace, not looking back before the inevitable screams could be heard. He was on almost out when he hesitated.
'Wait, wouldn't he be here today?'
John purchased a light lunch and sat by the escalator between the second and third floor. And then he waited. There was only one likely path to the store, and no real gamer wakes up before noon. Patience comes naturally with great anger.
Lupe showed up at around half past two, seemingly groggy. He was younger, of course, maybe 23 at the time, but still unforgettable. Average features, sharp eyes, close-cropped hair, poor posture, and pale skin, no one would recognize him for one of the top players of the time.
John, however, recognized him once as his friend, a colleague, but also as a rival, and above all a traitor. Lupe appeared harmless, but he had caused John's death.
RISE's growth was monstrous over the entire course its history. By the tenth year, virtual real estate became comparable to the same industries in whole countries. John's guild, Hysterica, was only ranked 80th or so but possessed assets greater than many companies.
Four players were the pillars of this establishment – John, the guild leader; Kevin, the main tank; Lupe, the ace; Chelsea, the mage. They started as a small clearing team, quite successful too. They fooled around casually for a bit, before entering a tournament or two, later establishing the guild in the third year.
They could be best described as innocent during their dungeon clearing days. And happy, yes, very carefree and happy.
The guild really took off in the seventh year with new recruitment of members. At that time, Lupe was approaching the top ten in the swordsman rankings and would never be around the base. All the members were frantically leveling to advance guild standing.
Kevin's death had devastated the management in the eighth year, starting a visible divide between John and Lupe. At the funeral, John had met him. Nothing was spoken, but the blame, even if Lupe knew it was unreasonable, was clear in the eyes.
During the height of the guild's expansion, in the ninth year, Lupe had drifted further away, rarely participating in raids or battles, until ultimately, the incident occurred in the tenth.
It was a legacy of brotherhood, competition, and ultimately, hatred.
John approached Lupe as he arrived on the second-floor landing. In one hand he held the lunch packaging. The other's grip tightened on a little plastic knife.
Lupe noticed him when he was a few yards away. It was the first person he saw since he entered the mall. "Hello," he said politely with a nod.
John returned the nod, "Afternoon." He kept walking closer though.
Lupe seemed to want to say something but quickly shut his mouth when John brushed by and headed towards the rubbish can.
Tempting, but it was far too soon. A traceable crime at this point would setback all John's plans in RISE. Besides, he wasn't the only one out for blood: many opportunities would arise soon enough.
Lupe stood there for a moment as John dumped the garbage. "Do you know where Krill's Computing is?" he asked.
John paused for a moment. "Are you lost?"
"Not quite, maybe a bit."
"There's a map somewhere."
"Alright… Thanks."
John said nothing and gave a single wave.
He waited for Lupe to reach the third floor and quickly walked down the escalator. He disappeared into the afternoon foot traffic with a mischievous smile on his face and slip of paper in his pocket.
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