<h4>Chapter 53: Baby Steps (Part 2)</h4>


    As they turned to a back alley, the idea of Paul leading him into a trap did not cross n''s mind. <i>All thanks to you, Amelia.</i>


    "Do you have any idea how many people live here in Unus?"


    "Like close to a hundred people, maybe?" Paul replied, shrugging. "Why?"


    "It just makes me wonder why you''ve all decided to stay here."


    Paul halted before they could enter a shady-looking establishment, with the logo of an anthropomorphic bull holding a beer on the door.


    "Hey, buddy, let me tell you something before getting inside. That sort of question is not cool around here. Get it? Everyone has their reason not to leave this ce, so it''s a touchy subject. The owner of this ce, for instance, is a very grumpy dude, so be careful with what you say."


    "Oh, sorry. Understood."


    The door opened, letting the smell of alcohol escape. Phosphorescent blue lights made everything look as gloomy as the people drinking there, sitting on individual leather armchairs, who barely nced at n. A female employee, serving drinks behind a metal counter waved at him.


    "Paul! If you''re here looking for Roxx, she''s busy for the next 20 minutes." She then focused on n''s face, and subsequently on the number above his head. "Who''s your friend? Could he be... n Warden?"


    In that instant, the entirety of the ce went silent, and all eyes were set on him.


    "Do I know you, ma''am?"


    "No, but everyone knows you and your pyromaniac girlfriend." The woman smiled, leaning forward. "I''m Gaby, nice to meet you. I''m going to get straight to the point, okay? Please, tell everyone present what''s the deal with your mysterious low level."


    n frowned, looking at the clientele. Every set of eyes and ears waiting for his reply.


    "I... was in aa."


    A collective groan was heard as Gaby tried to quiet the crowd. "Okay, okay! Who was the one that saida?"


    "Lukas did, but he''s not here!"


    A Video Screen appeared behind the bar counter, showing a betting chart:


    Reasons why n Warden is a level 5


    He has been hiding this whole time (31 votes) He was punished by an angry Administrator (19 votes) He died in real life, and the system revived him as an NPC (10 votes) He''s roleying (5 votes) He was in aa (1 vote)


    "Lovely people," n said bitterly.


    "Here." Brenda served him a drink. "For myatose friend. On the house. For n, Comatose, Warden!"


    "Cheers!"


    "I liked n, The Ghost, more, ironically," he muttered, gulping his drink. "Thanks for bringing me here, Paul..."


    "Actually, I brought you to meet Kristoff." Paul said, leading him to a corridor that smelledpletely different than the rest of the establishment.


    After crossing a curtain, n found a room filled with weapons, artifacts, and sets of armor on disy. "What is all this?"


    "This is Kristoff''s Fun House. Wee to my humble shop, n Warden," a bald, overweight, pale man said from behind his counter, without taking his eyes off his User Interface. Despite his gentle words, his tone of voice was cold and coarse.


    "n, I''ve helped you enough today, haven''t I?" Paul whispered, pulling n''s sleeve. "Give me 300 gold. That''s what 45 minutes with Roxx costs."


    <i>He really helped a lot.</i>


    "All right..." n created a temporary window for Paul to tap, who exited the room in a hurry.


    "Thanks, see youter!"


    <i>Although I don''t know yet ifing here was worth it...</i> He frowned and stepped forward, looking at the items in awe. But before he could ask Kristoff for the Bronze gear he was looking for, arge disy case showing a human-sized doll with animal ears caught his attention.


    The doll suddenly looked at him and smiled, revealing her familiar face.


    <i>It''s her! The NPC that used to be Unus'' mayor!</i>


    n''s eyes widened at the sight of her. <i>There''s no mistake. I recognize her fox ears.</i>


    The NPC opened her eyes and grinned warmly at him, making his heart ache. He peered behind her, spotting the previous hostess of The Dragon''s Belly, too.


    "Why do you have them locked here?" he asked the underground shop owner, who responded without shifting his gaze from his User Interface.


    "Because I''m selling them. 30,000 gold each. 55,000 for both. They''re already nk."


    "What do you mean?"


    Kristoff nced at him. "Oh, right. For a moment I forgot I was talking to n ''Comatose'' Warden. It means the System no longer recognizes them as NPCs. They are more like... mobs and monsters? Choose the term you prefer. They''ll do whatever you order them to."


    "55,000 gold..." n muttered, staring at the former mayor who now gazed forward like a soulless doll.


    "If you want them, you should hurry. There''s always a high demand for female NPCs."


    "I don''t have the money..."


    "What about your girlfriend? Can''t she lend you the gold?"


    <i>This guy is only thinking of making a sale. For the moment, I can''t do anything for them. I''m so sorry.</i>


    "Listen, I came here looking for bronze gear. Do you have any?"


    "Of course I have," Kristoff said, tapping on his User Interface, making the disy racks change their contents automatically.


    n''s heart skipped a beat at the sight of the desired gear, but checking the listed prices made him bite his lower lip. <i>Dammit. It seems that this guy is the same seller from that online marketce.</i>


    "Not what you were expecting, huh?" Kristoff sneered initially but quieted down when he saw n''s dropped shoulders. "Hey, pal, forget about buying gear, it''s not worth it. Why don''t you make your own weapons instead?"


    n dashed to the counter. "Can I do that?!"


    "Wait, I think I spoke too soon. You need an NPC to teach you the profession, and the only one who could is in the hands of that creep from the Weapon Shop."


    "So I could theoretically create my own gear?" n muttered to himself, feeling rejuvenated.


    <i>But...</i>


    He nced at the pair of NPCs again, and at a set of familiar gleaming armor beside them. He stepped closer as he examined it.


    "That''s not for sale," Kristoff said aloud. "It''s an iplete set and I''m trying to get the sword and boots."


    "These boots?" n said, pulling them out of his inventory, making Kristoff''s eyes gleam.


    "Where did you--?! Wait, it''s so obvious! You still have your old gear, don''t you?"


    "It''s not that old to me!"


    "The full set? The one called Beginners Set?!"


    "Yeah! I even have a pair of ''New Beginning Shirts'' and I may even get one ''New Beginning Dress'', brand new!"


    "Splendid!" Kristoff beamed, leaning forward.


    "I know, right?! Shall we do business then?!"


    "Wait, wait, hold on. All of those items must be pretty worn out..."


    "Well, yeah, but..."


    "I can''t buy them from you just yet until they''re restored. My wife has the Tailor Profession so she can restore the shirts and dress, but you''ll have to handle the armor and sword''s repair. I''d do it, but I can''t stand that guy!"


    "Who, the Weaponsmith?"


    "Yeah, I hate that asshole. Always gloating about his NPC wife..." Kristoff said, grimacing. "Restore all of your gear and we''ll do business."


    "I can do it!" n said, feeling hopeful. "Hey, this feels like an RPG chain quest!"


    Kristoff quickly narrowed his eyes at him. "Do I look like an NPC to you?"