Ben asked the man if he knew anything of Lady Gwent, and the fat man said he did.

  “According to rumor, she’s always out and about in the nobles’ rose gardens. A right flower-sniffer, that one. It’s a wonder she gets anything done all day.”

  “How do we get to the nobles’ rose gardens?” Ben asked.

  The fat man burst into laughter. “You?”

  “Not just me. My friends, too.” Ben pointed to where the others were busy seeing how many sticks they could thread into Tag’s beard.

  A serious expression settled on the fat man’s face. “My friend, you must not be from around these parts. Only a noble may find their way into the nobles’ gardens. They are a reclusive bunch who don’t often spread their wings and fly among us commoners. You’d be best looking for someone else if you’ve got a specific question. Is there anything I can help with?”

  Ben thought about it. “How about you get us into the rose gardens?”

  The fat man looked as if he was about to laugh again until he saw the resolve on Ben’s face. “I can’t help you,” he said sadly. “But he might be able to.”

  Ben turned to where the fat man was pointing, and, to his surprise, saw Talbot, the chubby man from the previous night, walking through the market with a lady on his arm. She wore a long dress to the floor and held a fan to her face. He looked both uncomfortable and proud at the same time to be in her presence.

  Ben tried to look away, but Talbot caught his eyes. They shared a moment of discomfort before Talbot saw Chloe and the others standing there. He tried to tug the lady in the opposite direction, but she had seen the jeweler and was already making a beeline for the stall.

  “Oh, Talbot. These are beautiful.”

  Talbot smiled thinly. “Yes, dear. They’re definitely something.”

  Ben sidled over to Talbot and whispered to him, “We meet again, dear friend.”

  Talbot’s knees shook. “I don’t know what you mean,” he lied, making sure the woman couldn’t see that the two were talking. Not that there was much chance anyway, with her googly-eyed over the jewels—much to the fat man’s delight.

  “Yes, you do,” Ben whispered. “And now it looks like you can help us again. Twice in twenty-four hours. Not too shabby, huh?”

  Talbot took a step away from the woman’s ears. “Look, I want to thank you for what you and your friend did last night in that alley. Really, I do. You helped me escape a terrible situation. The only problem is, it’s not really over. I can’t be seen with the likes of you. It’ll rouse people’s suspicions.”

  Ben raised an eyebrow. “You realize no one else saw us yesterday, right? Who’s going to get suspicious?”

  Talbot nodded to the far side of the market. Ben scanned a group of people and saw the other man from last night, Yuri, dressed in a guard’s attire, a black eye standing out on his face like the spot of a Dalmatian.

  “Oh…” Ben said.

  “Darling, aren’t these precious?” the woman asked, turning back and holding the earrings to her ears. They were bright blue and refracted the light into dancing rainbows.

  “They certainly are, petal. Why don’t you treat yourself to a pair?”

  Talbot turned back to Ben. “Look, if you’re serious about needing some kind of help, then meet me on the corner of Widowstone and Abbey in an hour’s time. I can’t say anything here while we’re being watched, and the last thing I want is for my lady friend to get wrapped up in this business. Got it?”

  Ben’s lips went tight. “How do I know I can trust you? You could send a bunch of guards to that place and ambush us.”

  “Because you saved me yesterday. I owe you a debt of gratitude, and I can tell you’re a good man. That you’re good people. There are not enough of those in this town, believe me.”

  Ben nodded, deciding to give Talbot the benefit of the doubt. He left him with the woman and returned to the others.

  “Finished playing shopkeeper?” Chloe asked, faking a yawn and patting her mouth. “I thought we were going to lose you to a day’s worth of labor. I hope he paid you well.”

  “He paid me enough,” Ben said, telling them about his encounter with Talbot.

  “And you’re sure he’s trustworthy?” Chloe asked as they walked into the thick crowd, looking over her shoulder at Talbot. But he was already gone.

  “No,” Ben replied. “But seeing as nobody in this game qualifies as ‘trustworthy,’ I’d say he’s our next best shot."

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chloe sighed with relief when they finally saw the intersection of Widowstone Gardens and Abbey Lane. The street-naming system was surprisingly complicated for such a small town.

  The men led the way, with Jessie and Chloe a few steps behind. Chloe glared at yet another couple as they stared at her in passing, her patience growing thinner by the minute.

  “What the hell is their problem?” Chloe asked. “Just because I’m a woman, that means I can’t be out in public?”

  “That’s not it.” Jessie giggled. “You notice that was a man and woman, right? Walking side by side? It looks like at least some of this town believe in some form of equal rights.”

  “Or at least, not degrading women,” Ben called back.

  “Then what is it?” Chloe said. “Why do people keep staring at me?”

  Jessie eyed Chloe.

  “You getting a good look?” Chloe asked.

  “It’s your armor, stupid!” Jessie laughed. “You stick out like a sore thumb! You know that, right? How many other folks do you see around here dressed in gleaming golds and greens with big gaps between armor pieces?”

  Chloe studied herself, spotting three women walking past, staring her way with their mouths hidden behind their hands.

  This is your fault, Chloe thought.

  Hey, it’s not my fault I’m ahead of the times with fashion. Wait until you’ve got all the bits you need and give it a hundred or, so years and you’ll be at the very heart of the cultural zeitgeist.

  “Here we are,” Tag said, stopping at the corner. Houses went off in all four directions, with people passing here and there. Though there was no sign of Talbot, Ben did say they had actually made good time and might be early.

  Chloe sat cross-legged on the ground and decided to go through her notifications. In her mind, it was the best way to avoid conversation with the guys (during which she might bear further disapproving looks from the town) while also distracting herself from others laughing at her attire.

  Ooo! Lookee, a message from the doc.

  Hey Chloe!

  So at least you’re making steady progress, huh? Must be nice to finally be out of the elements and back on the well-worn paths. How’s the Hollow? Looking like lots of fun from this side. You’re going to have a great time with those misogynistic rebels, right?

  It’s so amusing on this side to watch your interactions with the other guys. Jessie and Tag make a weirdly cute couple, and the viewers are loving their dynamic. You should’ve seen views spike on Tag’s account while you guys were out and they were fondling the crap out of each other.

  (Not to mention the fans of Gideon who left a barrage of comments asking him to log back out again! :P)

  But on to your questions!

  Mia’s been looking into your request for other full-immersion experiences and hasn’t got any answers yet. It’s actually strange. Today’s the first day since before the program started that she’s been pulled into Praxis HQ for an in-person meeting. She thinks it’s just for a one-to-one with her boss, but who knows? She might ask there, just try to get more of an inside scoop for you.

  As for your portfolio, you’ve already made a 123% increase to your overall investment. It’s going up every day as more people come online and join the game. I’ve attached a small list of the top advertisers and their values as requested. Let me know if you have any trouble accessing them.

  I don’t think it’s much of a secret what you’re planning to do, Chloe, and I think it’s a great move. The one thing I will say is, be sure you’re doing what you’re doing for the right reasons. As much as I hate sounding like your parents in any way (no offense), it needs to be business over personal if this whole experiment is going to work.

  Nothing against them. They’re a solid crew. Just remember to know your why.

  Anyway, back to Bingo Boobies with your 387 followers. Nobody had their bets on Tag except for me. One more square until I’ve completed my board! (Amazing what you can do in PhotoShop these days.)

  Doc

  Chloe opened the attached documents and saw a series of PDFs with various lists and charts and numbers, outlining the worth and information of various advertisers.

  There were also screenshots of news articles and web pages outlining their companies’ values and missions in the wider world so Chloe could get a good look at their core ethos.

  From the start, she immediately saw one company excelling above the rest, an organization known as Fractured Reality Inc. that boasted a whole host of young influencers who were pictured wearing high-tech headphones and holding controllers in front of screens.

  Fractured Reality looked to be run by a series of young investors who had years under their belts in the gaming industry. Their top-profile players were given incredible sponsorship packages, including vacation homes complete with the latest technology the world had to offer.

  Chloe flicked through screenshot after screenshot of beaming young men and women at various events and conferences, all wearing attire emblazoned with the Fractured Reality logo.

  Even their damn clothes were awesome!

  Fractured Reality also had ties with a bunch of other leading international entertainment organizations, including streaming services, internet providers, and social media conglomerates.

  Chloe glossed over the rest of the advertisers—the second best of which was leaps and bounds behind Fractured Reality—before going over their information once more.

  “I choose you,” Chloe whispered, unaware she was talking out loud.

  “N’aww, that’s sweet,” Tag said, hands crossing over his heart. “I choose you too, sweetheart.”

  Jessie glared at Tag, causing his cheeks to flush. “I’m just kidding, of course.”

  Jessie folded her arms. “You’re goddamn right.”

  “What do you choose, Chloe?” Gideon asked.

  “Oh, nothing,” Chloe replied, a small smile on her face. Gideon shrugged and turned his attention back to checking up and down the streets. Chloe couldn’t help but feel a warmth in her belly at what she was about to ask the doc to do.

  She sent a quick message in reply, hitting the Send button before, as promised, Talbot appeared on the street ahead of them.

  Talbot waved at the group, signaling that they should follow. He wore a cloak with a hood up high, reminding Chloe a little bit of the attire he had worn the previous evening.

  “How many of those has he got?” Chloe asked Ben.

  Ben shrugged.

  They followed Talbot through a small squared-off area with a bench where an observer could watch fish swimming in a tiny pond. A few ducks lurked by the water’s edge, and they had serrated teeth jutting out of their beaks.

  Chloe scanned them with Creature Identification.

  Devil Duck - Chomper (Level 4)

  42HP

  “Devil ducks?” Chloe muttered as they walked by, giving the birds a wide berth.

  “Native to this side of Obsidian,” Jessie replied. “Pretty common, too. I wouldn’t get in the way of their bite. They may look innocent, but they can deal some damage.”

  “Those teeth are horrendous,” Chloe said, nose wrinkling.

  “Yeah, they’re ‘chompers,’” Jessie said. “There are a few variants that I’m aware of. There’s the vampire type,” Jessie mimed fangs coming out of her mouth with two fingers, “there’s the domestic devil duck, and my personal favorite, the bucktooth devil duck.”

  “Bucktooth?” Gideon asked. “Like a rabbit?”

  “Sorta. Except the teeth on the bucktooth are about the length of a rabbit’s body. They’re super rare because their bone density weighs them down enough that they can’t fly. I think there are only a few breeders left nowadays.”

  Chloe’s face was a picture. “You’re not serious?”

  Jessie sucked her upper lip higher to reveal her front teeth. “Wanna bet?”

  They laughed loudly until Talbot turned and glared at them. He looked both ways as they left the park as if scanning for people following him. He made his way past a series of tight alleys and eventually brought them through a door and into a place that looked like a large garden shed. It was two stories tall and had a large number of tools hanging on the wall in rows.

  Chloe eyed the sharp ends of items she’d usually associate with villagers chasing monsters out of the town—pitchforks and torches and an angry mob yelling and shouting down the street.

  Talbot removed his hood and took a seat on the lid of a box.

  “So…” Chloe said, clicking her tongue. “Mind telling us what your role is in all this? You some kind of gardener?”

  Talbot looked at them each in turn, apparently weighing their character before seeming happy to continue. “You two.” He pointed at Ben and Chloe. “You are blessed, yes?”

  Chloe and Ben turned to each other and nodded.

  “We all are,” Ben said.

  “Well, not all,” Jessie corrected.

  Talbot waved his hands. “I’m confused.” He pointed at Gideon, Jessie, Chloe, and Ben. “So, you four are?”

  “No,” Gideon said. “I am.”

  “So, you all are?” Talbot replied.

  “No,” Chloe said. “Just four of us.”

  “Then which four? You four?”

  “Hey!” Tag said. “I’m blessed. Don’t forget me.”

  “Right, stop,” Talbot said, arms crossed over his fat stomach. “If you’re of the blessed, raise your hand.”

  Every one of them did.

  Chloe laughed, elbowing Jessie. “Hey! He’s already confused.”

  Jessie grinned and lowered her arm. “A girl can dream.”

  “Okay, got it,” Talbot said, eyebrows high. “I’ll be honest; I’m surprised. I’ve never seen so many blessed in one crew before. Most of the time it’s one adventurer by himself, especially in this small town.”

  “What does it matter?” Chloe asked, wondering when Talbot was going to get to the point. “How is this going to help us get in contact with Lady Gwent?”

  Talbot continued as if Chloe hadn’t spoken, “How have so many of you found each other already? You’re lucky, you know. The early world of Obsidian was mostly full of solo warriors trying to acquire experience and take on the world on their own. To have already formed a party this early into the game’s release? Well, it’s impressive.”

  “What does it matter?” Chloe repeated. “Why do you care so much about Chloe’s Boss Hogs—working title?”

  “And not one that’s going to stick,” Ben said, the rest of them confirming his statement as they nodded.

  Gideon answered for Talbot. “Because he’s blessed too.”

  Chloe’s eyes widened as Talbot nodded slowly. “You’re blessed? But you told us you had a family. You were with that scum in the alley last night.”

  “A mere coincidence,” Talbot replied. “Look, when I spawned into this game, I was dropped right here in the middle of town. I’ve been experience-grinding by performing small quests and trying to make sense of what the hell is going on here. Truth be told, I got caught up in some stuff I didn’t want to be a part of and lied my way out of the situation last night.

  “You want to meet my wife and kids? They’re in this shed.” Talbot picked up a rake and a spade. “Hey, kids, say hello to our new friends.”

  Chloe raised an eyebrow, catching Gid’s eye as they both tried to keep a laugh from coming out.

  “Why would you lie your way out? Surely it would have been easier to just not go to the rally?” Chloe said.

  “Because you two were terrifying!” Talbot replied. “I thought you guys were high-level NPCs who were there to rob and attack us. Highwaymen the game had invented. I didn’t know you were serving a higher purpose. Besides, I had to go to the rally. Or at least, I thought I had to.”

  “Why?” Ben urged, annoyed at Talbot’s beating around the bush.

  Talbot looked deep into Ben’s eyes. “Because I thought I’d lose experience if I didn’t, okay? I’ve never played a game like this before, and I didn’t know what the consequences would be for failed missions. I’ve been getting crappy requests for quests for the past few days, and I’ve been completing them all because I didn’t want to go down a level.”

  Tag stared open-mouthed at the chubby man. “You’re not serious?”

  “Deadly.” Talbot sighed, staring at the floor.

  Ben rubbed his forehead. “Dude, my baby cousin is six years old, and even she knows you don’t have to do every little thing in a game.”

  Talbot blushed. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m learning.”

  “Okay, so enough about your crappy game experience and your sad, sad life,” Chloe said, wanting nothing more than to get to the point. “Time is ticking, Tal. If you could hurry up and let us know what the hell this has to do with us, I’d be forever grateful. I’ve got a mani-pedi at six I just can’t miss.”

  “You can get mani-pedis in Obsidian?” Talbot asked.

  “NO! Get to the point,” they said as one.

  “Fine,” Talbot said, raising his hands. “Fine. Look, I’ve told you that I’ve been in this town for a few days, talking to people and finding my way around. I’ve picked up a dozen quests I’ve been working on, and one of them was about Lady Gwent and her new law to make it so that women have equal standing with men in Gallen Hollows.

  “Because of that, I’ve been slowly working my way into the inner circle of this town. Finding the perfect way to penetrate into the nobles’ quarter and get to the bottom of what’s going on here.”