CHAPTER 39: STAY IN THE GAME

"Can we head to the adventuring guild first?" Zane asked.

"You want to become an adventurer?" she asked.

"Yeah, we’ll need some sort of identification as well, and money too," Zane said.

"Money? Why not use that persuasion thing that Lucy did to get whatever you want?" Ava asked.

"Do you sweet-talk your way into everything?" Zane asked as well. After all, her voice had a way of manipulating people.

"Fair point, but my ability pales in comparison to what she did. If I use mine in the midst of a lot of people, it might not work," she said.

"I’ve never tested it in a large group, and I don’t want to find out if it works or not, so for now I think we still need some money," Zane said.

"Fair," she replied.

They rode through the streets without issues. The atmosphere of the city was bustling. He could hear the giggling of children, the yells of men.

The smell of rust, metal, and burning coal was strong in the air; he could smell it from inside the carriage.

After minutes of riding, they finally arrived at the city square, and it was genuinely the most bustling part of the city, with a massive statue of a hammer placed on an anvil.

Small stalls were placed all around; people sat on the stone benches while others walked.

The guild was up ahead, a massive three-story building, made of fine marble. It was a structure that pulled attention the moment you saw it. The words Adventurers Guild were boldly written on the building.

Ava stopped right next to it. "I’ll be waiting for you guys here," she said with a smile.

Zane got off, along with Lucy and Grey. They headed for the guild. The doors were open; players entered and left every few seconds.

Zane observed some of the players as they walked past, paying close attention to what they were saying.

"Hey, Lewis started his own guild. He’s calling them the Falling Star Guild," one man in the group said. He was the shortest of the four, with a bald head and round eyes.

"Lewis? That dude thinks he’s all special just because he mistakenly found the Falling Star Sword Technique. Now he’s making everything about that," the second guy spoke. His tone was heavy and rough, yet somehow he was a lean dude that looked as if the wind would sweep him off his feet.

"It’s not easy to come by a C-ranked technique, not even a B-ranked. We’ve been here for days and we can barely get anything. I would start one myself if I was him," the third guy spoke. He was taller and smart-looking. He glanced at Zane as they passed since he noticed Zane was watching them.

Zane didn’t bother looking away though. He wanted to hear the full discussion.

’Players are already forming factions. Then things are getting serious,’ Zane thought. He faced the guild and kept walking.

By now, the players had finally gotten accustomed to the world, and the normal human struggle for power had started.

Hierarchies would begin to form with the false promise that the man below would one day become as the one above.

It was a lie that humans had invented long ago. Paying someone just slightly above enough keeps the person believing that if he saves that little extra, he would one day be able to rise above.

But in reality, very few individuals ever break out of the cycle. Almost all spend their lives as a cog in a machine, in which they will slave and labor until they die and are replaced.

’This is a new world, a new opportunity. Why should I limit myself to becoming a cog in the machine when I have the potential to become the one who rules the machine? No one will be controlling me this time,’ Zane said in his mind.

He was the result of corporate labor, forced to work for many hours a day for a few thousand dollars, and then even when he came back to his game, his crappy bloodline made it so that he couldn’t rise on his own.

He always needed resources and so had to work for major guilds and factions. But this time was different. He was going for the top, if that top existed and if he remained in the game long enough to get there.

’Wait, this game is my opportunity to rise to the top. Why should I look for a way out of the game? Why should I try to go back to my pitiful life as an office worker struggling from day to day?

What’s the point of existing in a world where I’m a nobody? I don’t think I want to go back to Earth anymore. I’d rather stay here and rise until I reach the very peak,’ Zane said in his mind. He clenched his fist and made the decision.

He made it to the door of the guild and walked in. The first floor was a massive hall. It had a counter at the very back with receptionists, a massive quest board, and a section with chairs, tables, and a bar for those who wished to relax and celebrate their wins.

Zane could see all types of people inside, sitting, drinking, checking quests, and more. He also noticed that the number of players was more than that of normal adventurers.

It made him wonder if the players were taking over the adventurer market in Blood Iron City.

Without hesitation, he walked to the counter. The three of them stood before a receptionist. She was dressed in a black uniform with golden embroidery. This was the uniform of the Adventurer Guild.

The lady was young, probably in her twenties, the prime of her life. The moment she looked up and saw Zane, her mouth hung open.

She simply stared without moving for a good number of seconds until Zane waved.

"Hello," he spoke, snapping her out of her daze.