CHAPTER 540: A GIRL CALLED SEUL-KI

Chung Joo—now known as Seul-ki, even in her own thoughts—decided she had run out of time. She had chosen her allies wisely, but the risks were greater now, the variables expanding. She had no choice but to increase and diversify her influence.

So she took the ingredients she had stolen from Rosa’s alchemy lab, mixing them in an alcohol-free bottle of sparkling wine. Her target was clever, and powerful. She knew she must be subtle and perfect.

Her task would not be simple, because she didn’t want to create a permanent enemy. At least with a greater chance than there already was. She had been reliably informed the drug wouldn’t cause any damage to a pregnant woman, or her child.

With a final inspection of her usual disguise in the mirror, Seul-ki took a breath and walked out of her temporary house, into the tree city platforms. It really was breathtaking, and she took a moment to admire its beauty.

Then she made her way towards the chief’s hall, bowing her head and smiling politely at a few of the citizens she knew in Nassau. Things had changed since she’d been there last.

A piece of her regretted not pursuing a role with Mason as well, giving herself the option depending on how things went. But she knew it would have increased her risk, and likely failed in the end.

Mason was a very different animal to his brother. Seul-ki expected she couldn’t have seduced him, or at least not stood out amongst his many women. She would have been just another concubine, at risk every time she followed him into battle. And, of course, his resistance to mental influence would have proved…inconvenient.

She arrived at the hall, knowing Haley was inside. The beautiful French-Canadian was a creature of habit. Two PM meant clean up and socializing after her lunch with Mason’s other women. Next she’d head down to check on the work on her new ‘spa’. It was the closest thing to free time the woman had, and Seul-ki needed her relaxed.

She knocked and waited, bowing when another concubine, Lexi, answered the door.

“Apologies for disturbing you. I was hoping to speak with Haley.”

“Oh. Sure. You’re in luck, she’s actually home. Come on in.”

Seul-ki smiled and walked in, making small talk as required until Haley emerged from the kitchen.

“Seul-ki, what a nice surprise. I was hoping we’d get the chance to talk.”

Seul-ki lifted the bottle in display.

“I thought perhaps…” she pretended to be awkward, giving the smallest glance at the concubine. “I also thought we should talk.”

Haley understood, of course, soon ushering the girl away and taking Seul-ki to the far end of the kitchen in a kind of sun room nook. It too was beautiful, and both women admired the view to the huge trees sprawled outside.

“I can’t drink that, I’m afraid.” Haley smiled politely. “But I’ll make us some tea and I still have…”

“There’s no alcohol,” Seul-ki said, maintaining the awkward mask. “I thought…sometimes it’s nice to pretend, yes? And I’ve never congratulated you on the child. And you’ve been always been so kind to me. To us. I feel we haven’t…reciprocated.”

Haley stretched the polite smile, bringing two glasses. She was a difficult woman to read, and Seul-ki respected her very much. She hoped in the future they might still be friends.

After the glasses were poured and enough time had passed to make things awkward, Seul-ki put a hand to her mouth and forced a couple tears. It wasn’t difficult for her to think of something tragic.

“Oh, my dear, what’s wrong?” Haley reached across the table for her hand, the picture of grace and empathy. When that failed she came around and sat beside her, smoothing her hair, then got her some water. “I’m sure it’s not so bad, whatever it is.”

Seul-ki took shuddering breaths and eventually feigned a recovery.

“I’m so embarrassed,” she said. “I don’t know who to talk to. Blake…he’s abandoned me. Us. Me and Annie. We have no idea where he went or why. I feel like a fool.”

Haley’s lips drew a tight line, her hand on Seul-ki’s arm. It was important they touch several times, but she expected the drink would be required to lower the woman’s defences enough.

Because she was a bonded civilian, to affect her as intended was extremely dangerous, considering her patron. Seul-ki’s somewhat desperate plan was that Mason would be trapped in his dungeon, unable to react. The risk was high, but required. Though she had a plan for failure too.

“Blake is…” Haley shrugged. “I’m sure he didn’t…intend to abandon you. Both these brothers can get…very focused. So absorbed with whatever they’re doing they don’t consider the consequences. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t care for you. I know he does.”

“Thank you. You’re very kind.” Seul-ki wiped a tear with an offered tissue. “Please, forgive me. This is supposed to be a congratulations. We’ll drink to your child, and better days. I know I need it.”

She lifted the glass and smiled, and saw the force of social pleasantry working its magic. Haley returned the smile without any sign of distrust, and sipped her drink. Seul-ki pretended to. Though she could resist the magical drug to a limited degree.

[Warning. Intentionally affecting civilians as a player can lead to system punishment, including experience penalties, physical damage, and even death. Civilian Patron Alert Threshold: not yet reached.]

“Now.” Seul-ki smiled through the concern, trying to ignore the text and hope she didn’t cross a meaningful line. “Tell me all about the pregnancy, about life here since I’ve been gone. If I could, I’d like to stay, and be useful here. I’m happy to help you however I can.”

Haley took a deep breath and winked like this was quite a task, and Seul-ki gestured for her to take another sip. She seemed distracted, and still not suspicious. She took another drink and smiled.

“Well I could use it, that’s for sure. We keep growing and there’s so much to do. Where do I begin?”

**

Seul-ki smiled and hugged Haley one last time at the door. The civilian’s eyes were glassy now, the power of the magic and chemicals doing their work. She blinked too much, and kept licking her lips, sometimes touching her face like it felt strange.

“Thank you again,” Seul-ki said, scanning Haley’s profile over her shoulder. Her inspection power let her see much, but not everything. She didn’t see what she was looking for, but she’d run out of time. It was now or never. She activated Power Siphon.

The magic seeped into the woman’s skin, and the system flashed another warning about effecting a civilian. Apparently its use would automatically trigger a patron alert. But it worked.

Seul-ki knew Haley had something to clone Mason’s presence—something that let her interact with the system as if on his behalf. It was possible this was simply a system permission, some function of his House or Patron options. But she didn’t think so. Such things were no mere formality, and she’d wagered it was a special power because of her classes.

And she was right. Seul-ki flicked to the power ‘Right Hand’, and began her temporary clone.

[Warning. Player powers used against a bonded civilian target. Civilian Patron Alert Threshold—activated.]

Seul-ki’s heart rate increased. She controlled her breathing, trying not to imagine an enraged Mason Nimitz warping through the ether and staring with those bright, violent eyes.

Fortunately, Haley was too affected to notice. And it seemed her plan was working—Mason was either incapable of teleporting, or didn’t get the warning in his dungeon. Seul-ki knew he’d arrive instantly otherwise at any interference with his wife.

“Thank you again,” Seul-ki said, “I’ll see you in the morning for my first day on the job.”

Haley smiled and blinked like she was trying to clear blurry vision. She was looking concerned now, growing self aware.

“Yes, tomorrow. Excuse me, I’m a feeling a little light headed. I might just go lie down.”

“Oh?” Seul-ki frowned. “I’m so sorry. Shall I go and get the nurse? Or maybe we should take you to the infirmary. You really shouldn’t take any chances in your condition. Please, let me…”

“No, I’m alright. Just some rest.” Haley gave her a polite but firm smile, waving and saying goodbye again before closing the door.

Seul-ki turned and walked straight towards her target.

She activated her now successfully cloned ‘Right Hand’ as she walked, scanning through the possibilities. She realized quickly she could do tremendous damage before she left.

She could spend almost unlimited patron points, sever or change contracts. Haley could fix most of it but not without hard feelings, inefficiencies, and possibly buildings she’d be forced to keep. The trust implicit in such a power and class was incredible. Seul-ki could hardly imagine it.

With all the players gone, Mason hadn’t even left a guard. Technically, Seul-ki could challenge his possession of the settlement. Though she knew she couldn’t defeat the static Nexus defenders.

In any case, she wasn’t trying to make enemies. There was a chance—however small a chance—that Haley wouldn’t even realize what happened. Seul-ki might even manage to return before they’d realized she was gone, and no one would know who had caused the alert or why.

Though coming back without knowing was a tremendous risk.

She crossed the platforms and collected her stashed traveling bag. Then she walked to the collection of beacons without a single challenge, checking for any observers before she stepped to the teleportation beacon. She was very observant, and her powerful identification power could pierce most magical camouflage.

A brief flutter of green caught her eye from a nearby platform. She waited and watched, eventually deciding she was just being paranoid. There were so many trees in this city there were always leaves blowing in the wind.

The beacon was already active again after sending the others—the powerful, outgoing Nexus teleporter available daily. Seul-ki opened the map and flicked the view to other beacons. The sizable light representing the eastern capital became obvious, even without her arcane ability to read the names.

She took one last breath, knowing she’d already made her decision and cast the dice the moment she affected Haley. Her hope was that she with time she could smooth things over, even if found out. That she could blame love or panic, that she’d had no choice but to chase after Blake.

It was even almost true.

She stepped into the glass square as the teleporter hummed to life. She still had to handle whatever guards were surely in place on the other side. But she didn’t expect much trouble.

A lifetime of memories threatened to distract her, but she locked them away as usual, directing her mind to the immediate, to the practical. Then she vanished with an arcane pop.

After another minute of standing perfectly still, a goblin scout scampered down a nearby platform.

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