CHAPTER 112: CLOAKED MERCENARY

Rina’s camera wobbled as she scrolled the chat, eyes darting left and right across her UI. The comments were flying wildly all over the place:

[Behind you]

[Turn around, turn around!]

[Bro there’s someone watching your ass]

Sure enough, she looked towards that directionfor us to see that figure in clear. Because, said figure was approaching the five of them.

A mysterious and enigmatic person, cloaked head-to-toe, strolling up with confidence like they knew the five would be here. It is difficult to estimate their height and build, but they’re sure not as big as an orc, which made it worse. Because you absolutely would hate seeing a stranger where they shouldn’t be.

I squinted at the screen, then leaned back in my chair, shrugging it off initially.

"Probably just some idiot aura farmer... Thinks he’s mysterious" I rolled my eyes, "Could be another NPC, albeit I don’t remember any having business at this part of the map this early on in the game."

Yet, something in the way the figure didn’t slow down, it itched and rubbed me the wrong way, that walk felt... Familiar.

Pearl was the first one to noticed that in the party. Of course he did, because paranoia probably dripped from that guy’s pores. His staff lifted slightly, blue hair catching the faint glow of the nearby torches at the orc’s spawning camp as the sun finally finished setting.

Marc and Mei just stared, curious as puppies, they’re not exactly pessimists, but they sure know better than to be too friendly. Rina adjusted her bowstring as she kept an eye on the approaching figure, also on guard in a way. And Hailie... my sweet, sweet dumbass Hailie... tilted her head curiously like she was about to say hi to a neighbor. Does it make more sense at an 45 degree angle, little buddy?

The figure stopped a few feet in front of them, and they finally spoke while hidden behind the darkened cloak. Their voice was feminine, but on the low side, like honey poured slow and thick. I knew instantly that it was probably a female player.

"Is there anyone here by the username of Pearl?" She spoke.

The whole group stiffened, but she was already staring straight at him, so she didn’t even need the confirmation, just a way to announce her intention, I’d imagine.

"What do you need from him?" Mei yelled out from behind Marc.

The cloaked figure glanced at Mei, who puffed up her flat chest, probably as a way to show dominance and bravery? Then, she glanced over at Hailie, who waved at her with a smile

"...Someone paid me," Her hand lifted beneath the cloak. "So I’m here to kill Pearl, nothing personal. Hand him over, don’t make this hard."

The chat immediately exploded.

[Mercenary!]

[????????????????????]

[There’s hunters this early already? Could she even 1v5?]

[PK for hire, holy crap, reminds me of the good ol’ days]

[Is this staged?]

[Someone house a bet!]

[I’m so tempted to log on and run over there just to see what’s up lol]

"God... This is braindead." I pinched the bridge of my nose, disappointed.

Do you know the sole reason why assassins and player hunters are useless in Darkmoon Adventure VR? Because in VR, there’s no combat-log prevention.

To avoid physical abuse, you can log off the game at anytime you wish without repurcussions, even when it’s a honorable duel between samurais, if mom called you for dinner, you may log out. While in the PC version, there is actually a punishment for combat-logging, but that’s mainly because there’s no real physical pain being induced.

What did this mean? Pearl could’ve just easily log off, and use his position as the third-in-command of the New Destiny to gather up a few dozen troops to surround the place, ensuring his safe passage before he log on to move again, voah lah.

But no, of course not. Idiocracy was a curse upon the land of mankind.

"You’re going to leave empty-handed, we don’t want trouble, either." Marc stepped closer like some knight from a kid’s cartoon, armor still had that huge dent but it didn’t deter him from trying to protect his team.

"Yah! Leave that cloak too, it looks cool!" Mei leaned into her staff with a grin, like this was free entertainment.

"We’re not thieves, so- ignore that part." Rina shook her head.

Pearl just simple scowled without a word like someone had tracked mud onto his rug.

And then, then the absolute kicker, Hailie walked up right in front of Marc, much to everyone surprise.

[????]

[That’s not smart of her...] The chat read.

My fragile glass-doll housemate had the survival instinct of a deer at headlights. She shuffled forward, robe swishing, voice so soft it could’ve been mistaken for background audio, she smiled at the stranger.

"Oh... It’s not nice to do that, um- hi, I’m Hailie." She said, lending out her hand, "Can we... talk about it instead? I have a bit of gold, how about I pay you what you’re owed to so we’ll leave each other alone?"

The figure seemed to be startled just like the rest of the party, me, and the 200 viewers in the stream. My jaw dropped. "Oh, my god, she’s actually negotiating with a mercenary."

Then, the worst part was that the other person actually lend her hand out to shake with Hailie, a slender arm with less hair, that of a woman.

Their palms met, and they slowly shake it up and down.

"It’s okay guys!" Hailie looked back at the team and the camera, before turning back to the figure with a cute smile, "How may I call you?"

The viewers didn’t even get their jokes out before it happened.

The cloaked woman, with one hand on Hailie’s, the other she swung it faster than the stream could catch. One slash, silver flashing across the camera, I could barely make out the glint of a sword... Not exactly a longsword, but shorter, with a larger blade... A broadsword.

A very uncommon weapon, I thought as I saw it went straight to Hailie’s neck. I wasn’t afraid of course, because she’s invulnerable, but this is going to be hard to explain to the other players.

"Now..." I sighed, "Who else do I know that uses a broadsword?"