Dusk settled over Laeran, casting long shadows across the Sky Coral Main Platform.
Vance followed closely behind Darius Stanton, passing through the security perimeter on the outskirts of the 10th Company's encampment.
His teacher wore his faded Imperial Navy officer's uniform today. His gray hair fluttered slightly in the wind, and he carried his ever-present data-slate.
"Stellan," Darius said without looking back, "When I go in to meet Captain Tarvitz, you wait outside and keep your mouth shut."
"Understood, Teacher."
Vance replied, but his eyes were already sweeping the camp.
He was looking for that specific group of people...
When Darius was escorted into the command tent by an Emperor's Children sergeant, Vance stopped outside.
"Wait here." Darius shot him a look. "Stay out of trouble and don't wander off."
Vance nodded, watching his teacher's back disappear behind the tent flap.
Then he turned around and continued his search.
A second later, his pupils contracted slightly.
Deep inside the camp, situated towards the east, were a dozen or so silver-grey military tents.
Dozens of Astartes stood or sat among the tents...
Silver-grey Iron Hands power armor, the Iron Hands crest on the left pauldron, and the company designation on the right.
Everything was flawlessly authentic. They were utterly indistinguishable from the real Iron Hands Legion.
...Except for the crimson usernames floating above their heads.
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]
[Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates]
[Have You Been Loyal Today?]
[Shine My Shoes Abaddon]
...
Vance's mouth twitched slightly.
These usernames...
Were way too freaking 21st-century.
He took a deep breath, composed his expression, and started walking toward them.
At the edge of the Iron Hands' temporary camp, [Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates] was leaning against a stack of ammo crates.
Next to him, [Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates] was listening intently. Beneath his helmet, his big, cartoonish eyes were practically sparkling with an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
[Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates]: "Flatbread Bro, you never finished that story. What happened to the girl?"
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "What's the rush? A good story takes time."
"So this girl was a receptionist at some company. She was definitely pretty, but not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed."
"I was pretending to be a CEO at the time, going to her company every day to talk 'business.' She thought I was actually loaded..."
[Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates]: "And then? And then?"
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "And then?"
"And then she took the initiative to add me on Insta. Sent me 'good morning' and 'good night' every single day, and asked if I had a girlfriend."
"I said no, and she said she didn't have a boyfriend either."
"I said what a coincidence, and she said it wasn't a coincidence, it was destiny."
[Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates]: "Holy crap, she was that forward?"
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "Forward?"
"Oh, it gets better."
"One time she asked me out to dinner. Halfway through, she suddenly asks, 'How do you feel about me?'"
"I said, 'Feel about you how?'"
"She said, 'You know, that kind of feeling.'"
"I said, 'Which kind?' She said, 'Stop playing dumb.'"
"I said, 'I'm not playing dumb, I'm just actually dumb.'"
"Even with me playing it that stupid, she didn't bail."
"She just started pouring drinks down my throat like crazy~"
"And that night~"
[Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates]: "Hahahahaha!"
"Damn, Flatbread Bro, you're a legend. You definitely scored."
"I'm so jealous I could cry."
"I'm still a complete virgin!"
"I mean, thanks to this game I finally have a stable income."
"But I have no idea when I'll ever get my love life sorted out."
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "Legend my ass!"
"That kind of fast food is just for a quick thrill."
"Did you actually think it was true love?!"
"I found out later that she was just a gold digger trying to hook a sugar daddy."
"She thought I was a whale. When she found out my BMW was rented and my luxury apartment was leased, she flipped on me instantly."
"She ended up trashing me all over her social media, calling me a scammer."
[Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates]: "Damn! That's rough, Flatbread Bro."
"But did you actually scam her?"
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "What did I scam her out of?"
"I never once said I was rich. She assumed everything from start to finish."
"I just didn't correct her, and I definitely didn't spend any money on her."
[Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates]: "Masterful. Truly masterful."
"Flatbread Bro, your life experience is off the charts."
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "That's why, Cola, you have to remember: in this world, what you assume is often dead wrong."
"You think you're reeling in a whale, but it turns out to be a bottom-feeder."
"You think someone's a bottom-feeder, but they might actually be a shark."
Flatbread was about to keep bragging when he suddenly stopped. The helmet of his power armor tilted slightly, looking down the small path leading out of the camp.
A figure in an Imperial Auxilia uniform was walking toward them.
Standing roughly five-foot-seven, he looked like a child compared to the seven-foot Astartes.
He was wearing standard-issue armor with a lasgun slung over his back. His steps were steady, showing absolutely no signs of intimidation.
The username floating above his head glowed golden in the dim light: [The Imperium's Purest Inquisitor].
"Hold that thought, Flatbread Bro."
Cola had spotted him too. "Isn't that kid sitting at number one on the Loyalist rep board?"
When Vance was about twenty meters away from the camp, the two silver figures standing at the entrance turned their heads toward him simultaneously.
The visors of their helmets hid their faces, but Vance could feel their gaze locking onto the space right above his head...
Locking onto his golden username.
[The Imperium's Purest Inquisitor]
[Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates]: "That kid is heading right for us."
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates] spoke casually:
"Looks like our arrival definitely drew some attention, and they reacted pretty damn fast too."
"Sending the number one Loyalist player to scout us out right off the bat."
"Cola, go inside and grab Loyal bro. Tell him to ask Paul if he wants to see this guy."
"I'll keep an eye on him out here."
[Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates] nodded, turning around and ducking into the tent behind them.
Vance walked right up to [Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates] and stopped.
A hulking seven-foot-three giant staring down a five-foot-seven human.
The visual was more than a little... intense.
Vance looked up, staring at the towering giant in front of him. He took in the absurdly detailed Iron Hands power armor, and then that obnoxiously internet-slang username floating above his head...
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]
He was one hundred percent certain this guy was a player.
And a textbook 21st-century gamer at that.
"Hello, brother."
Vance flashed a friendly smile. His tone was as casual as asking the guy next to him at a PC bang for a light.
"I'm [The Imperium's Purest Inquisitor] from the Loyalist faction."
"I'm representing the Loyalist players on Laeran, and we'd like to meet with your Captain."
"Would that be possible?"
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates] looked down at him.
The eyes hidden behind his visor were scrutinizing him heavily.
After a few seconds, he spoke, perfectly mimicking the cold, mechanical rasp of an Iron Hand:
"Wait here. I've sent someone to ask."
"Whether the 'Captain' sees you or not is his decision."
His tone was completely strictly business, neither warm nor overly hostile.
Vance nodded, taking two steps back, and stood perfectly still.
He didn't say another word, and he didn't try to inch closer to dig for information. He just stood there quietly.
That level of composure prompted [Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates] to drop a few more lines in the faction chat:
"This guy isn't your average player."
[Dragon Bro Never Yields] asked in the chat: "What makes him special, Flatbread Bro?"
"Isn't he just another Loyalist player?"
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "Pay attention to where he's standing."
"He's exactly five meters away. Not close enough to trigger my defensive instincts, but not far enough to seem distant or aloof."
"That specific distance is the exact boundary of human psychological comfort zones. Most people have to train for a long time to eyeball that perfectly."
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "And look at his eyes."
"Look at that gaze. It's calm, but it's not a vacant calm. It's the kind of calm that means he's constantly observing and analyzing."
"I've only seen that look on highly intelligent people."
[Lemon-Eating Shinnosuke]: "What did you do before this, Flatbread Bro?"
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "I was in sales, and I worked as a head of security. I've seen all kinds of people."
"This kid has formal training. You can tell just from his posture."
"He definitely doesn't have a normal job in the real world."
[Dragon Bro Never Yields]: "So what's his background?"
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "Hard to say."
"But he's definitely not a nobody."
"With that kind of control, he's at least mid-to-upper management."
"And his psychological resilience is insane. He's surrounded by Astartes and he isn't showing a single ounce of intimidation."
[Selling Flatbread at the Terra Palace Gates]: "He definitely earned his spot as the number one Loyalist."
"To build that kind of reputation among both the Loyalist players and the Imperial Auxilia, he's clearly got the skills to back it up."
"The Loyalists sent their core leader on this planet right to our front door."
A few moments later, [Have You Been Loyal Today?] pushed aside the tent flap and walked out, followed by [Selling Cola at the Terra Palace Gates].
He stopped in front of Vance and spoke with the trademark cold, raspy voice of the Iron Hands:
"Our Captain has agreed to see you."
"Follow me."
--
Next Bonus at 700 Powerstones.