The Final Five Hours (3)
The captain of the guard collapsed into a chair with a thud.
"...Not bad."
Laughter burst out immediately.
"Hahaha! Really not bad. To have persuaded me. Fine — I'll release the one called Curtis."
The atmosphere shifted to favor at once.
"Thank you. One more thing. We want to go to Melkidu's Core. Do you know how?"
"Hmm. Only His Majesty the King can issue Core entry permits. Well, that actually works out. I was just about to introduce you myself."
That was the procedure.
"It's an honor. When would that be possible?"
"The paperwork's a bit complicated. Still, I'll pull a few strings. By tomorrow morning a notice should be sent."
Tomorrow morning…
Melkidu's time ran differently from the real world, but they didn't have much time there either.
Iruki spoke up. "It's probably the process of handling the data. If it's an event in itself, you can't change it arbitrarily."
Shirone nodded and asked again. "What about Curtis?"
"That'll be easy. I just need to sign some papers. If he's waiting outside the prison, we'll let him go."
With that promise, Shirone and the others left the guard barracks and stepped outside.
"Finally out, the middle layer," someone muttered.
The capital of Melkidu, Parme, gleamed before them in lavish, beautiful splendor.
"This is the Play Zone, huh? Maybe I'm too used to using the back door—this feels weird."
As Nade agreed, the iron gate opened and Curtis appeared.
Pena shouted, "Curtis!"
He was limping, his face bruised from the beatings.
"You okay? What happened to you?" Pena demanded.
Curtis ignored her and, tense, asked Shirone, "Did you find a way?"
"Yes. We're scheduled to meet the king tomorrow. This is probably the last gate to the Core."
"...I see." Curtis's face softened — relief more than joy.
"Let's go. You should rest."
"Yeah. Please, let's go. I don't want to hang around here any longer."
As they moved into the city, Pena peppered him with questions. "Spill it already. I'm dying to know. What was prison like? Did they feed you? What kind of place was it?"
"If you're that curious, go see for yourself," Curtis snapped.
Pena recoiled. "Are you insane? Me, go there? What — don't tell me… you actually lost your virginity or something?"
"If only it had been just that." Curtis didn't elaborate, and Pena didn't press.
Shirone offered quiet consolation. "You went through a lot."
"Forget it. I went in expecting it, and it means nothing. If it gets us to the Core…" The single-minded drive to catch the man who'd killed his daughter made even Shirone's group solemn.
"All right, tell us what happened while I was gone. You're meeting the king tomorrow? What happened while I was away?" Shirone summarized everything to that point.
"I see. You've been through a lot too. How many points are left?"
"Almost none. We used points to persuade the captain, so we've got about one million left. But if we might need to persuade the king, that's practically nothing."
"Hmm." Curtis rested his chin, thinking. At that moment Pena cleared her throat. "I'll cover it."
"Huh?"
Pena glanced up. "Curtis just got out of prison — he should eat well and rest a day. I'll pay for food and lodging, so don't worry. If there's somewhere you want to go, go."
Curtis laughed. "To be fed by Pena the Leech? Now that's the biggest story in Melkidu."
"What? I can be stingy when I want. And we did get a lot of help… anyway, that's settled!"
"Fine. Meals and lodging on Pena. But Shirone's team having no points is a problem. Shirone's the only one who can get 100% persuasion. The king might demand some kind of contest."
Even persuading the captain had been a difficult task.
"I have an idea," Curtis said.
"Yes?"
Curtis drew everyone's attention. "Come on, step right up! Miguel Luxury Goods! We've got all the new items that came out a week ago!"
"The cheapest shop in Parme! Prices ten percent below the market average! Quick sales welcome!"
The west side of the plaza, with a clear view of the royal palace, thronged with people.
"Wow, are all those people merchants?" Curtis asked.
"Parme has the most foot traffic in Melkidu. People can trade points here. Folks stay to recoup the cost of royal entry items."
"So that's why the market's so active."
"Right. You all have some items, don't you? Sell them and you'll get the points you need. But there's no time, so sell everything as quick sales. I know you care about efficiency, but with goods like yours you'll be VIPs — if a deal drags, flies swarm. You wouldn't want that."
They understood. "There aren't philanthropists among merchants. Better to leave it to a big player. Go to that guy."
He was a neatly dressed man in his thirties.
"Welcome. Osman Luxury Goods. Look through the catalog and tell me what you want—"
"No, we're selling," Shirone cut in.
Osman nodded at once. "Of course, welcome. No one gives better rates than us. Shall we go to the office?"
"No, let's do it here. Most items are card-based."
There were expensive weapons at the docks, but they couldn't afford to be burdened with those.
"All right. Show me the items. Are these yours? I'll open the deal."
Osman pulled out a card. "Activate. Shop."
The card flashed and a system message appeared.
- A trade between Shirone's team and Osman's team has started. Points can be exchanged for one hour. If trade approval between both parties is completed, the effect will automatically end.
'An anti-fraud system,' Shirone thought. 'And this guy's an accomplice.'
There would be people in the office and several stationed around the area.
"If you open a shop with an item, do you keep spending points every time you trade?" Shirone asked.
"Yes. If you want to do business you have to accept that. It's not terribly expensive, but it adds up."
Of course fees would be included.
"The problem is people who come to trade without points or goods. Half a joke, half sabotage from competitors. That's why there's a one-hour limit. If the person who used the item doesn't approve the trade, that person can't trade for one hour."
"I see."
"Rest assured. As long as the shop is active, the listing is protected by the system."
After confirming Curtis's nod, Shirone handed over the items. "Yes. I want to sell these."
"Hmm, let's see…"
Osman flipped through the cards calmly at first, then his expression shifted.
"Oh." He stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then handed the cards back and said, "I've seen Curtis and Pena before, but Shirone is new. Did you really collect all these cards without ever stopping in Parme?"
The system message had allowed the merchant to see the user's name.
"Yes—sort of by accident."
Osman understood. 'They came through the back door.'
Rumors were rampant, but sometimes customers just felt different.
"All right. I'll make an offer. Including top-grade cards, thirty-seven in total… One hundred twenty million points. How about it?" It was larger than they'd expected.
'So they'd normally be worth more. Well, we couldn't check the high-end stores on the inner track anyway.'
Osman continued, "You're not here to haggle, right? Knowing that, I've offered the maximum. Some of these cards are crafted items. In other words, we'll handle any fallout."
"How?" Shirone asked.
Osman skirted the detail. "I can't say exactly. If trouble arises, we have operators who handle it. We outsource to them."
'A gang,' Shirone thought.
"However, I can promise that no one besides me will know the origin of these items. That alone will save you a lot of hassle."
They were heading into the Core tomorrow, but the thought of a whole day of harassment made their heads ache.
"All right. We'll take it."
"Thank you. Shall we start?"
- 120,000,000 points have been credited to Shirone's team.
Shirone activated his side. "Thirty-seven cards confirmed. Activate, trade approval. Say the same words as me."
"Activate, trade approval."
- The trade has ended.
The shop card vanished.
"Thanks. If the chance arises, come again."
Osman handed them one card. "This is a fine-dining discount voucher. Use it and you'll get twenty percent off."
"Ha! Thank you." Pena took the voucher, nearly moved to tears.
"And…" Osman warned, "as I said, you shouldn't have anything to worry about, but it will be a bit of a nuisance in other ways. Leave Parme as soon as possible."
"We will."
Shirone had seen enough to not need the details.
They left the merchant district and, stomachs growling, headed for a restaurant.
"A discount voucher? What kind of place is it? Do they have steak?"
A gang blocked their way.
"If you wanted meat you should've said so. We could buy you some anytime," one sneered.
Curtis's expression soured. "Vicious merchants."
"Those are merchants?" The thugs looked brutal, and all the weapons they held were top-grade.
"Parme lets users trade points with each other. That's why scum like this set up shop."
"Haha! Exactly. Choose. Join us and get stripped, or hand over your points."
Attacks between users worked by deducting points until one person's points dropped to zero.
"Instead of throwing it into the air, better give it to us. If you hand it over peacefully we'll only take half."
Shirone stepped forward. "What makes you so bold? If your points are higher you'd be the ones getting wrecked."
"Heh heh, really? Then let's try it." Shirone had a hunch. 'A points tycoon.'
They'd stockpiled points enough to beat anyone and used intimidation to extort others.
"Oh, it's Pena, isn't it? Stuck to this gang this time? You must have some points then."
"Cut the crap! What do you take me for?" Pena snapped.
"What do you take her for? That's her specialty—latching onto rich people, then hiding like maggots when things go south."
Pena flushed. Shirone stepped between them. "Don't speak carelessly."
"Oooooooh." The extortionists feigned being impressed. "So cool. What are you gonna do? If you dealt with Osman you've got about fifty million, right? Let's end it there. Otherwise you'll get stripped and thrown in jail."
Annoyed, Shirone's hand itched to strike, but user attacks would immediately put points at risk.
"Shirone, I'll handle this," Nade said.
"What are you going to do?" Shirone asked.
Nade, who had been walking toward the thugs, turned, loosened his collar, and winked. "Leave it to me."
He had a guard officer's badge hidden away.