"The who and the what now?" They asked with a look of absolute confused that caused him to sigh before explaining everything to her bit by bit starting with the different zones. Once done Z's voice was edged with a strange mix of processing and disbelief. "So, these other zones… they're fragmented pieces of this world that are temporarily cut off? Designed to develop independently until they reach some arbitrary 'level' or enough time passes, then the barriers conveniently drop to 'make things more interesting' for those so-called gods?" Z paused, the implications rippling through their usually composed demeanor. "But what do you mean by 'lower levels'?"
John nodded, his gaze distant as if seeing beyond the confines of their current reality. "As it was explained to me regarding levels, well this world for instance would be considered Level 5 to them. It's essentially a dump ground for repeat abilities, weak or undesirable abilities or simply those deemed 'uninteresting.' It also doubles as a creature breeding ground, a sort of resource farm. Then there's Level 4, home to stronger, more engaging individuals and so on with increasing popularity and power as you descend the levels." John finished, watching for Z's reaction. He wasn't disappointed; Z's eyes widened visibly, a flicker of something akin to awe, or perhaps dawning horror, crossing their face.
"I… I feel I've just learned something I shouldn't have," Z murmured, a hand briefly touching their chin, a tell-tale sign of deep thought. "But it makes a chilling kind of sense. It would explain why some merchants, those with access to more 'unique' stock, hold such inexplicably high positions and are able to acquire rare materials so easily compared to the rest of us. Do these higher levels also boast a greater abundance of higher-tier items, superior resources and everything else?"
John considered this, tapping a finger against his leg. "I think so? I mean, if the individuals there are stronger and more 'interesting' for the gods, it would naturally follow that the resources they interact with would also need to be of a higher caliber. It's a fundamental principle of supply and demand, even on a cosmic scale, I suppose."
A hint of vulnerability slowly crept into his tone. "My best friend. Something… happened to her and it caused me to lose all contact with them. I've been meaning to ask for a way to track her for a long time but, well, a lot has happened and since you didn't even know of the other levels, I know you wouldn't be able to help me find her. Her last message… it didn't really help much to be honest." The memory seemed to physically weigh him down.
Z studied him for a moment, an uncharacteristic softness entering their gaze before it hardened with renewed purpose. "I will see what I can find. It may take time and the price will undoubtedly be steep but I will present you with options if I find any of them. For now, the Super Awesome Amazing Mega Master and soon-to-be Merchant King Z needs to set off to sell the loot and see what they can do! Even if they need to process all of this new information…"
"Wait!" John interjected, lightly grabbing Z's arm before they could stride off. "You need to come back to camp first to get your statue and clockwork and to leave some meat for me to work with. And kindly let me keep three hundred or so coins, just in case I need to make a trade or purchase for camp supplies." He told Z with a small smile and a light laugh, earning an incredulous look in return before Z, albeit reluctantly, followed him.
"You were serious about that?" Z couldn't help but ask quietly, looking at John as if he'd grown another head.
"Of course," John replied, his tone firm. "I'm your investor now. As such, it's only natural I need to look after my investment and ensure its strategic deployment and that there protected. Consider the three hundred coins seed money for the camp's ongoing operations. Oh, but please be back in four days with a decent amount of our earned money and, if possible, some interesting goods, preferably foodstuffs."
Z was clearly baffled by John's sudden shift to this quasi-managerial role but chose not to question it. John had agreed to be their investor, a concept Z was still grappling with and no doubt had his own peculiar reasons for such an odd request. They simply nodded, a promise to return forming on their lips.
A few moments later, John had a decent portion of meat neatly stored in his space-time bag. With a final, encouraging smile and a wish of good luck, he sent Z off, watching as the unique merchant disappeared over the horizon, their ambition palpable even in their departing silhouette.
"You're just letting them go?" Lucy couldn't help but ask, her voice laced with disbelief as she stared at the empty space where Z had been. "I thought that merchant was part of your group? Do you have any idea what you're letting go of?" She gestured vaguely at the vast wilderness.
John merely chuckled, turning towards his tent. "It's temporary. Z and I have a good working relationship, built on mutual respect and shared interests. Besides, it's getting late and I'm going to bed. We should reach your lord's place tomorrow and I need to be well-rested." He disappeared into his tent, leaving the rest of the group alone with a still-perplexed Lucy.
Once they were sure John was truly inside, Angel turned to Lucy, her expression unreadable. "This one wishes to speak with you. What is, or was, your relationship with Master?"
"Huh? Oh, well," Lucy fumbled for a moment, surprised by the directness. "We went to school together. Admittedly, we didn't interact that much. He had his small group of friends and I had my own. Yet, somehow, everyone seemed to know him. He was just… present. I kinda envied it, if I'm being honest. He had a way of being noticed without trying."
"And what was he like, then? What type of person was he before all of this?" Aria asked this time, her eyes and indeed everyone else's, now fixed on Lucy with undisguised curiosity.
"Nothing like he seems now, that's for sure," Lucy began, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow as she sifted through old memories. "He used to be really shy, a loner even among his friends, but he never tried to fit in. It was like he was far more mature than anyone else, while still being utterly weird. He always seemed to be drawing in his free time, had an odd, almost ethereal feel around him and sometimes when he spoke, it was freaky – like he knew things he shouldn't. He was a lot softer, too and not just by being fat. He was gentle to everyone and genuinely disliked violence, but he never backed down if it was needed. I remember once, when we were much younger, his little brother got bullied by someone older. John got this chillingly calm look on his face, walked over to the bully, calmly asked who they were and when they confirmed the name as being his brother's tormenter, he knocked the jerk cleanly onto his ass with a solid, precise hit. Then he bent down, a terrifyingly innocent smile on his face and gave a quiet warning not to mess with his little brother, before just walking away like nothing happened. It was… unsettling."
Sieg let out a booming laugh. "Hahaha! Now that is truly how our master should be! But did he not receive trouble for such an act? I know if I had struck another in my youth, I would have been disciplined for it."
Lucy shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "No, he didn't get punished for it. Only those who saw it truly believed it, since to everyone else, he was this gentle person who would never hurt a fly. Even some of us who watched it happen sometimes doubt it was real; it was so out of character for the 'John' everyone knew."
"Hmm, our master is proving more and more interesting by the day. Was the one who threw the punch the real him, or is the gentle one his true self? So far, we have not known him long, but the more I see of him, the more intrigued I become by this duality." Choi mused, stroking his beard thoughtfully, his eyes gleaming with intellectual curiosity.
"That sounds so different from how he's been since we met him," Saya muttered softly, her gaze drifting towards John's tent. "What was he like the last time you met him? When you last spoke, even over the phone or online, what was he like?"
Visibly shifting uncomfortably, she looked at Saya. "I don't really know, honestly. I mean, I don't think anyone really kept in contact with him and he didn't try either. I mean, the class reunion was when I finally saw him again and it seemed like there was no change at all. He was still shy, kept to himself and even when everyone else was mingling, he left the room to stand outside, which, I guess, I should be thankful for in the long run."
After that, things seemed to descend into a heavy silence for a short while, the weight of John's past hanging in the air. "How did all of you meet him?" Lucy finally broke the quiet, her gaze sweeping over the group. "You don't really seem like the sort he would associate with or actually hang out with, especially you girls. I mean, I know he's hot as hell now, but he was never good with women and here he is with all of you."
"We chose Master to be our master and that is the only thing you require to know," Angel stated, her eyes narrowing slightly, a silent warning in her tone with Aria nodding firmly in agreement beside her.
"Me and sis were bought by him just like Sieg and Choi," Hope offered, a pragmatic shrug. "And honestly, he's been decent so far. He's been respectful, nice and hasn't done anything untoward towards us." Ivy grunted in agreement. "Yeah, he hasn't been an ass or anything like what I expected."
"We met him a while ago," Saya began, a more somber note entering her voice. "Honestly, we don't really know what to think of him. He's a good leader and a good person even if he doesn't want to believe it but he's quick to put himself down and has this issue where he pushes others away even if they're useful without realizing it. I mean, he had a small camp but when something happened, he only told them half of it, painting himself as evil along with his actions without explaining everything up front or asking them to listen to the full story before making their choices. It caused them to leave and even then; he still gave them time to take whatever they wanted form the camp to try and survive. Only me and Ash stayed." She made sure not to mention the old man or what happened to Ray.
"Yep, yep!" Ash chirped, a wide smile momentarily replacing her serious expression. "And I plan to become his woman no matter what it takes!" Her jovial tone then shifted abruptly, becoming intensely grave. "He's someone who desperately needs someone at his side and to be there for him, especially with what has been going through. None of you see it, but losing her really hit him hard, far harder than any of you can comprehend."
At Ash's words, Lucy and the others seemed utterly confused, trying to piece together what she meant. But Saya knew exactly what she was talking about. Without another word, she got up and walked quietly towards John's tent, a silent mission to lay inside and keep an eye on him. Ash followed soon after, ignoring the others' questions and there attempts to find out more, her expression resolute.