Second World

"You had a meeting with the league factions yesterday?" Wilted asked. She had been away doing her own matters the last two days, so she was unaware of the meeting.

"Yes, we discussed their positions and roles in the coming war against the underworld forces. You sounded surprised?" John asked.

"In the original game we designed, the league factions remained neutral to the end," Wilted answered.

"Even with the underworld threat that will wipe out everything, including them? That doesn't sound very realistic," Jack said.

"It's a game," Wilted answered. "We can't just have everyone take action. It will be too much of a mess. The original design only has the players and the country armies battling the underworld forces."

"Perhaps it's because this world is now real, so they behave more realistically," Paytowin offered his opinion.

"Probably," Wilted said.

"It doesn't matter how. As long as they are willing to help, that's a good thing for us," Jack said.

"It is," John agreed. "Though I doubt their addition is anywhere enough to cover the shortfall of players and native armies that should have faced the underworld forces in the original design."

John was looking at Wilted while saying that. Wilted responded with, "That's correct."

"Well, then we have to make full use of what we got," John said.

They continued chatting more. After a while, John asked, "Is everyone here?"

He was making a headcount. Some people outside the twenty-four also came, probably to say goodbye like Domon. So, he couldn't tell if everyone was here even when there were more than twenty-four people already.

"We are short one person. Damn it! Where is that damned sailor?" John cursed. He sent a message to Will to ask about his whereabouts.

While he was sending the message, the others continued to chat with each other in groups. Wilted's gang was hanging with their own group.

"I don't understand. We have plenty of capable players from our own circle. Why bring outsiders?" Badass asked Wilted.

"I agree," Nameless said. "Chris' message is for you, isn't it? You have the most right to decide who to bring. I understand when it comes to the Themisphere King or Spring Crown. No one questions their abilities, but some of the others. I can't see why the choice."

"That's right! Some of the people here are still in their elite class. I bet they are still wearing rare-grade equipment. We should set special class as the minimum requirement to join this journey."

Badass intentionally increased the volume of his voice in his last sentence.

"Pipe down, will you?" Anotherday said. "The people suggested by the Themisphere king and his royal advisor are surely not common players."

"Brother, why are you defending them? I'm sure you can see that our people are better candidates compared to some of the ones here."

"Is there a problem?" Jack came and asked.

"I'm sorry. My people are just having some disagreement. No need to mind us," Wilted said to Jack.

"It's good that you are here, Your Majesty," Badass said to Jack. "I meant no disrespect, but certainly, you understand the importance of this journey. We knew Chris from the old days. We played games with him often and we are his game testers like Anotherday here. We know the people he asked to go to his place will have a significant role to play. We need to make sure that all the people are chosen based on their merits rather than preferences."

"I see… Well, I can't blame you since our groups hardly know one another," Jack said. "I know we need to respect one another if we are to work together. For that, we need to know each other. Regarding your skepticism about the people from my side. I have an easy fix."

"What do you suggest, Your Majesty?" Badass asked.

"Just now, you questioned the ones still in their elite class, didn't you?" Jack asked. He turned and called, "Uncle Freddie, David! Can you come here, please?"

After the two approached, Jack said, "How about you pick two people from your side and we have a two-on-two bout? Let's put it this way. If you can last ten minutes against the two of them, you can pick two players to replace them. How about that?"

"Your Majesty must be joking, right? If we can't defeat them in ten minutes, consider we lose!" Badass exclaimed.

"Well, if you insist," Jack said.

"Wait a minute. If we lose, we are out of the team. What will we get if we win?" David asked.

"Fine. If you win, we will be the ones who leave. Not that we will lose, of course," Badass announced.

"Hey! What the heck is this about leaving?" John came after hearing the commotion. "We don't have time to shit around. We can't go and find new people. We have to leave this morning!"

"Okay. If we lose, I will give the two of you unique-grade equipment suitable for your class. How about that?" Wilted said to David and Freddie.

"That's fine," David said.

Handsome Joe came to Badass and said, "You do know that gunner is the participant in the world tournament, don't you?"

"That's a long time ago. If he is still in the elite class, then he doesn't have many skills available. By now, we who have special class are surely superior."

Joe shrugged. He could see there was no talking Badass down. He should let the guy do this, or Badass would whine about it the entire journey.

"Who will fight with me?" Badass asked.

"I will be your partner," Nameless said.

"What's the rule? We can't have them kill each other and lose one level, can we?" Wilted asked.

"How about this? Whoever loses more than half their HP or is forced out of the arena is considered lost," Jack suggested.

"What arena?" Everyone asked.

"We will mark an area with the size of twenty-by-twenty meters," Jack said. "John, I know you have a chalk. Will you do the honor, please?"

"Your Majesty, can I suggest we do this outside?" Thaergood asked. He was not keen on having people fight inside the throne room.

"This will just take ten minutes. It will be a hassle to move elsewhere. Let's just take this as entertainment while we wait for our last member," Jack said.

"Entertainment…"