The Systemic Lands

Chapter 100: Day 246 – Viewpoints 7

Ken

It was later afternoon and there was no sign of Michael. He was already late. “You think he is dead?” I asked Tyrese. We were having dinner together at the Gray Duck.

“Maybe. I don’t know. If anyone is stubborn enough to survive it is him. The man is made mostly of spite. You might not realize it, but he doesn’t like to let things go.”

I frowned at that and thought back. “True. Honestly, I am surprised he let us live after everything.”

“The trick was always to be more useful than headache inducing.”

“Still, you were lucky about Ben,” I pointed out.

“Don’t remind me.” We ate our meal in silence for a while.

“So, if he is dead?”

“We will only declare so on day 250. That is more than enough time for him to return. If he isn’t back by then…well, it will be a mess.”

“Talks are progressing, and we are moving towards a final draft. But without Michael…it will be a challenge. Especially that Immortal Council idea.”

“No, it is still a good idea. After seeing what an upgraded person can do, we have to accept reality. Quality over quantity will matter. If we don’t have people on our side that can hold their own, then it will be a disaster.”

“I was planning on retiring you know.” Tyrese looked right at me. “Well not retire, retire. But have someone else run the day to day.”

“Well, don’t get lost with your crystals now. I have enough work as it is.”

“Fair enough. Well, we just have to wait and see.” I was antsy about Michael not coming back. I had so many plans and issues that had to deal with him. If he was gone, it would create a massive void in the city. Sure, there were capable people with skills. But no one like him with his strength.

That kind of mindset, relentless determination, and willingness to get his hands covered in blood allowed him to cleave through the bullshit that rapidly piled up around this place. Where I had to beg and cajole people, he just had to give them a look.

Still, that was the role I had picked, no use crying about spilled milk now. I looked out the window at the plaza. I could only wonder when he would return and what new nightmare, he would bring back with him.

Gerold

We had to watch the gates, checking people who entered and exited. The idea was to screen for people that weren’t from Purgatory. If they weren’t, then we would be polite, and invite them to a meal. Someone from the government would talk with them. No one had showed up yet, but it was only a matter of time.

At least that was the current policy. The main thing I knew for sure, was that one had to be careful. Never knew who had what type of skill. I was on duty at the West gate. It was quite popular due to the blue slimes, and the level 2 monsters beyond the forest.

People without stats were trying to kill them. I was grateful I had showed up when I had. Captain, not having to leave, now this was the job.

“You hear anything about that constitutional convention?” Smith asked Gonzo. The only thing to do on duty was gossip. I didn’t allow games or anything, had to be professional, but gossip passed the time.

“A mess from what I heard. Everyone has an opinion, just like an asshole,” Gonzo replied.

“You use that expression way too much. At least people are sorting this whole mess out and we will have proper laws and all.”

“Who will have to enforce them? Us. Still Boss Tyrese won’t let us down.”

“Hopefully. Who knows what we will do if someone goes rouge.”

“No one is going rouge. We met the guy. He was always shifty.”

“And what is to stop it from happening again?”

“Not being the idiots who let all those crystals out the door. I heard they got night patrols in the slums.”

“Ouch. That sucks to be them. I would have realized something was off right away.”

“I am sure.”

That was when I noted a cart coming through the tunnel. That meant someone important. “Look alive men. Got a VIP headed this way.”

“I hope they tip well.”

“Sush, or the Captain will yell at us.” I glanced over and they shut up. There was one person pulling the cart, but I didn’t recognize them. They also look quite worn town and exhausted. The cart was a dark blue. Only one person used that used that color.

It was an unspoken agreement, that the guard used red, the townspeople used mostly yellow, and the Union was more varied but had green as their main color. Blue was only used by one person, and I didn’t see him.

Carl

“Any word on the convention?” Bob asked.

“Surprised you didn’t grab a seat.”

“I could have, but sometimes it is better to keep your head down. I am fine being a small fish. Just not small enough to get gobbled up.” We were sharing a drink in his store which had closed for the evening. Bob and I traded information. I was more in touch with the Union while he had roots in the city.

“The crystal trade?” I asked.

“Ken has it locked down tight.”

“Well Clarissa is poking around last I heard. But the convention has her tied up at the moment.”

“Not surprised. Everyone has an opinion,” Bob said.

“True enough. They are just waiting for Michael to come back and make decisions.”

“He is late, isn’t he. A day or two already?”

“Yes, which is unusual. But who knows how far he went.”

“You think he is dead?” Bob asked.

“That man is…let me just say I won’t believe he is dead unless I see a body.”

“Might be hard the way everything just disappears.”

“I still won’t believe it. It would be just like him to hide out in the wilderness for 1,000 days and then pop back up.”

“I admit he is quite capable, still, he will die just as easily as anyone else.”

“Then you can take that risk that he won’t be returning, I won’t.”

“Fair enough.” There was a knock on the door and a couple seconds later one of Bob’s guards came into the back room where we were relaxing.

“There is a commotion outside. People are saying the Champion’s cart came back, but other than that it isn’t clear. He is injured, not there, people are worried.” Bob looked at me.

“Let’s go, but we stay back. Don’t want to get sucked into a riot if it happens.”

“Agreed.” We went outside and Bob’s guard formed a perimeter around us. There were 20 of the city guards surrounding a cart keeping everyone back with their swords drawn. One of them, a skill holder, had his hand up ready to go.

“Make anything out?”

“No,” I replied. I suppose we would find out soon enough as the cart got closer to the pillars.

Clarissa

“No. We need to take into account the citizens.”

“And I disagree with you calling, these so-called future immortals, citizens, and everyone else being inhabitants.” I wanted to strangle Rick in front of me. I swore Ken picked this guy just to annoy everyone else to death.

“That has already been settled. People need to contribute to be citizens. That means contributing to the defense of the city.”

“You are just oppressing yourself and everyone else.” That didn’t make sense, but I would keep moving forward regardless.

“Then you can go out there and fight monsters.”

“Don’t twist my words, I am not saying those people aren’t valuable. They are a key pillar to the support of our community. No, what really matters is holding people accountable. This two tier system is ripe for abuse.”

“And it is absolutely necessary if we don’t want to lose these people to other cities or having them run off and become warlords.”

“Then we can wipe them out.”

“With what military? Since they would have just run off.”

“People working together can overcome any obstacle.”

“Do you even hear yourself or looked outside. Stats take a regular person and make them superhuman. How would you stop someone like that?”

“Like I said, teamwork.”

“That isn’t a real explanation.”

“You just don’t understand what I am trying to say.” I took a deep breath. If I was at my old job, I wouldn’t have had to deal with someone like this. While people could be frustrating, there was a certain level of competence expected at higher levels of a top company, where a single mistake could cost millions of dollars.

Now I was dealing with this idiot. He was probably a NEET who lived to troll people from his mother’s basement. I could only pray that Michael hurried up and returned to sort this mess out.

“I think we need to consider the implications of having two tiers of justice. It sounds like a noble class, which deeply concerns me. All men are created equal in God’s image.” Pastor Charles, that isn’t helping. He was one of the community picks to talk things out. He was a different brand of infuriating. No wonder why religion shouldn’t mix with government.

“Unfortunately, not everyone will be equal anymore. Stats crate clear divides between people. As much as you all don’t like that, it is the new reality we have to face.”

“Perhaps, but I don’t want someone to think they can do anything to me at their whim.” Chris spoke up. He was from Tyrese’s guards and quite well spoken.

“At the end of the day, the only way to enforce laws is through force. The only monopoly on force is those who have stats and skills,” I said.

“Creating Lords to look down on us,” Rick said.

“There is only one Lord.” Pastor Charles cut in. Our meeting was interrupted by a knock on the door. A guard entered and came over to me.

“Lady Clarissa, you are needed.” I had tipped him to come get me if there was any news about Michael.

“Excuse me gentlemen, I am needed outside.” I ignored what they said and quickly followed the guard out of the room. “What is it?”

“His cart and Naran. But I don’t know about Michael himself. The cart is under heavy guard, full information lockdown as they move to the store.”

“He is probably alive, most likely injured. Hopefully.” My mind rushed through the possibilities. “Thank you, I won’t forget.” The guard gave me a nod and left. I quickly left the building and made my way to the plaza.

You better not have died, otherwise all my effort would have been wasted. Well, maybe not wasted, since people knew me, but it would put me in a difficult position and make me quite annoyed. I was not about to be left in the wind as my ship to a comfortable life sank out from under me.