Chapter 97: Vol. 2 – Chapter 43 – Red and the Black Market

Vol. 2 – Chapter 43 - Red and the Black Market

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Mathias, in the time he exited the capsule, he had a feeling of relief in his chest, knowing that everything settled down nicely and he would have to risk of destroying any bridge between the girls.

Looking at the clock, it was 10:35 PM, and it was right about the time he was preparing to sleep. Going to eat something easy for his stomach to digest and later taking a cold shower which sent another kick to his metabolism and also relaxing him.

Doing extra steps in that direction, after the shower, he returned to his laptop and started looking around, browsing what news appeared online.

'Should I muster my courage to see what mess James made? I mean, it can't be that bad?" thought Mathias to himself as he typed on the browser the name of his Guild, which instead of returning feeds about the Mythical creature and its lore, it was articles about his Guild that appeared on the first search.

'Ahh, I have an ominous feeling about this.'

While thinking about what could be said, he began accessing the articles and read the comments of those writers, followed by the user's comments, and later watched the declarations of wars sent by the petty guild leaders who thought of themselves as too great.

'They already have their heads so inflated by their ego?'

Saying that to himself, he unpaused the video revealing a blonde man with long hair, blue eyes with sharp eyes and features, looking deeply at the camera recording him, as he pointed toward it without saying a thing.

"Snake Guild accepts your challenge, pound snake, bastards who stole the name I wanted to give my Guild. Red, you talked a lot about not feeling the pressure of the future challenges, just because you defeated those Blackdawn's, this means nothing.

Everyone raiding on your coattails are just casuals who don't understand a thing, you, Leviathan's are nothing, and I, Zibal will prove you so.

From now, Snake Guild will be in a war against Leviathan Guild."

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Closing the video and reading some of the comments belonging to people who got hyped by Zibal's message, as for Mathias, he wasn't impressed at all by those thought words and treats.

'A rambling dog? Why does there have to be people who take some competitive challenges so personally? Did James insult you or something in the forums or Louis? I doubt they would even do this.'

Moving to another video raising in view count, belonged to the 'Ice Flower' Guild Leader, Bondre, a man who had his hair dyed in a blue color whose body was giving off chills of cold, a video taken similarly as Zibal inside the game, where he declared that he accepted the challenge to war and that he would teach Red a lesson.

There were more guilds lined up that Mathias's skimped, with some belonging to the Beta Phase, who threw some words at the Leviathan's, mostly out of jealousy. Still, there was an interesting video posted on the forum where a woman with foxy-red long hair, with tanned skin with mesmerizing green eyes looked at the camera in a setting that wasn't set up at all, she responded to a reporters question without fretting.

"Jishuka, will the Tzedakah Guild give course to the Leviathan Guild Challenge?"

"We are not interested right now in fighting those Guild Wars since we have nothing to prove. We will see who is the best Guild in the future when the landscape settles. This Leviathan Guild, even if Red is the lead figure outside, a prolific Beta Player, this means nothing to the Hegemon's of LTS."

Even with that response, the guy who asked her that question while she was hunting mobs pushed his luck to get more information from one of the LTS Paragons who moved to Satisfy with her entire Guild, but before he could even say something, an arrow flew past his head, grazing his face and creating a flesh wound.

"Get lost. Can't you see I am busy?"

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Watching that video, it made Mathias give off an interested expression before he shook off, almost chuckling at the excessive response Red's actions had garnished.

Aside from the video messages of what could be said, Mathias's future challenges, some newer content creators focused on delivering the news from inside Satisfy and also discussing certain things, groups or individuals who made it on the news, such as the Leviathans.

Specifically analyzing Red, Lane, and Evan's strategy while taking on the Blackdawn's, announcing the arrival of new professional players from LTS such as Jishuka and her Guild, or Chris along with the Giant Guild.

Such analysis content creators had insightful remarks that even had Mathias's stop for some minutes to hear what they had to say, and where he stopped next was a Q&A session where the host was taking questions from the audience in the comment box.

@GHeLs: Jesse, what are your thoughts on the new landscape of Satisfy?

@heyyou: Have you seen the new videos of the Guild Masters who are on high rank?

@YESIMFUNNY: Jesse, what is your level inside 'Satisfy'?

@CuteAsDuck: What do you think of the World Announcement for that Necromancer Mallus?

@AllGoodNamesRGone: What classes or paths would you recommend us to take?

@HairyPoppins: Hey Jesse, first let me thank you for the great content. Now, as for a question for you, and even the other people in the chat. What Guild would you join if you don't want to make one.

The host who noticed the last question from @HairyPoppins placed a smile, later watching his audience give their thoughts, spamming the chatbox with Guild Names, but what was more often to be spotted by Jesse, the host of the stream, was 'Leviathan' and 'Tzedakah' followed by Giant Guild and Snake Guild.

"I see you guys have made your mind on some choices, so allow me to keep my answer to myself so I wouldn't influence any of you. All the choices you've guys noted are worthed, but now with the help of another question I've seen about the landscape of Satisfy."

"This is the best part of Satisfy, we can't never know who will stand on top. The Leviathan's might be the best right now in the early game, while later, another guild will come to dethrone them if you would want this analogy. There is a precedent in history, is called Thucydides Trap, go read about it and you will understand the dynamics of how Powers get to power and decline."

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"As for the World Announcement, it's just something we think unique, but with time we will find it common because there is so much content with hidden bosses it would be stupid to even try counting them. The party who defeated that unique boss, I will give my hat off. They are high rankers, with only Vivian and Paula disclosing their levels. So we can assume the rest also have a high level to match the two I mentioned but opted not to reveal their information."

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Mathias who remained to listen for some more minutes to this [Jesse On Ice], making him give a subscribe and have his channel saved just because he found his opinions neutral and was unbiased.

'Sigh, James this type of advertising isn't really the smartest way to play it in the long run, but it is what it is. It makes people aware of us, and thus I will also have to set the standards higher, make the Guild truly one for elites.'

Delighting himself for plenty of time, he moved to finish posting his novel chapters online, afterwards returning back to watch the contents for Satisfy.

Then as he was browsing around, with the clock showing 11:43 on his phone an app on his phone started sending off a call that he looked up to see belonging to James. It was a surprise even for him that his phone was capable of installing the Dns where his Guild took their offline discussion.

[James]

'What now? Have you come to apologize or something for the borehole you dug yourself?'

Responding to his call while leaving his sarcastic remarks for himself, he heard Red say in an apologetic tone.

"Boss, by chance, you are not angry on me for that open challenge I've thrown for the other guilds. It's just easy money and experience taking on those noobs while they are still "noobs"."

To which Mathias, who felt serene knowing that Fayrene and Jeanne were alright, remembering him after all that time and having their memories intact after the reset, replied casually, inspiring confidence and yet a calm mood which assured Red he didn't mess up.

"It will be on you to clear out those people trying to challenge the Guild. I don't want people to know I am the guild leader. Have Vlad help you around with the PvP since his class needs to grow also I've seen Orpheus and Ape want to join. They are quite good players, so don't forget about them."

"Boss, it seems you are in a good mood tonight. I will not bother you with why. Anyway, besides hearing your opinion on the Guild Wars, I wanted to tell you about something. There's been established exchanges who want to buy ingame gold at a high cost, but there's no gold on the market for them to buy."

A shift in his face happened when hearing about such concept that has already found their claws on Satisfy, he didn't mind asking Red for more details to which the latter was more than glad to explain.

"Mathias, this type of exchange will make you question it for a bit, but listen. They set this up like a Black Market since those guys need to get authorized by S.A Group, and the U.S Government, which will take a while. The rate is 15$ per gold as we speak right now. I sold all my gold coins, about 450 coins.

If I didn't have to pay the tailor to craft my leather armor, I would had more. But, there are gold to be made anywhere inside Satisfy as long you know to look.

Here I will give you the links to their address. Use, a VPN since it is on the Dark Web."

"Are you sure this is legal?" asked Mathias, being skeptical about this type of business and way of exchanging gold for real money.

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"Yes, man, don't stress about it. You just have to contact them, and they will run you down with the procedure. They are not scammers. It is that they want to stay hidden from all the lights thrown at them."

"... How much would they later sell the gold?"

"That I don't know, nor should I care." said Red without stressing himself, as if the deed was done already.

Nevertheless, Mathias took this chance to inform Red about some quick thoughts he got for this type of Black Market Exchange, which made it feel like he was throwing a jab at the idea of being able to exchange ingame gold with real money.

"I see, this will mostly be cracked soon so wash your hands James, or you will be suspended. There's no way S.A will pass on this side of becoming the middle-man and earn some money or set unique standards for conducting such exchanges. There's also a worry about inflation, something those guys can do by shifting around the value of money inside the Satisfy world. Just having those in mind, you can see how ruthless the S.A might be on cracking on those guys."

"Mathias, don't you try scarring me with those suspensions. Those guys assured me it wouldn't lead to any repercussions, but, hah, who am I kidding, at least I got myself some money to cover the expenses of the capsule."

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Following his talk with Red, regardless of how honey-covered the idea was, he didn't bite it, not caring or bothered to check the Dark Web link, being reticent to such notions of quick money.

It was instilled inside him from a young age that money doesn't grow on trees and that one had to work hard to earn a living.

He still was doing fine at his work, blessed without any back problems from the cleaning he was doing. With this new day at work, with a night of sleep so soothing knowing Fayrene was alright with Jeanne.

While at work, Vlad could notice the shift in his temperament and even asked him, curious of what happened on their break.

"Hey man, have you sold your gold using that Black Market? James has been mentioning that he made 7.000$ selling all his gold. That's one crazy guy right there, and I like it. Is that why you are more approachable?"

"Don't get me started with that Black Market exchange since it is not the reason I feel good right now. I returned to Titan."

"By chance, has your plan worked out?" asked Vlad curious, while he was taking a sip of his coffee.

"What do you think?"

"Hmm, good question. I bet it worked out otherwise you would be down on the floors, crying."

"Let's not exaggerate, but that's right, their memories of me are still there."

When Vlad heard Mathias's response, his mind thought of a certain old man with a missing eye and arm, before he asked in a curious tone.

"Could it be that the old man still remembers me even after the game was reset? After all this time? I only got my class to Rare, and I can't explain why since I did the same things as the old man instructed."

"You mean the old assassin? Weren't you saying you never wanted to meet him again?" replied Mathias with a sarcastic question that rubbed some salt on Vlad's scars, but nevertheless, the latter's response was positive.

"In the end I would still have to run against him and help him reach that 'Transcendence' thingy. Most likely I can't escape from that old man, but I want to believe I did."

"To be honest, I thought for a bit on why your class might not be the grade you had back then, and my point would be this. Have you done the tests that old man placed you? If you did them, then it must be something concerning him, as if he shared some of his power to help you?"

"Hmm, you got a point there, I didn't do those tests since I found them useless. No way it is that since it is about a type of resource. Maybe it is the old man who helped me back then."

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With the break time finishing while leaving their talk to an endpoint, they returned back to their stations since the hotel began turning busier with each day of November as if it was to anticipate December. The work also piled on his shoulders, but he didn't complain about this workload, thankful enough to be paid a decent salary.

Following the day of work, he changed his clothes in the changeroom and with a large backpack containing more equipment to it, and instead of going to the metro station, Mathias moved toward the MMA Gym that was positioned relatively close to the center of the city but in a more remote area.

Walking on the streets, he could feel how the temperature dropped compared to the last weeks, making him think about how Winter was knocking on the door, readying itself to send its gift.

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Arriving at the MMA Gym and entering the door, the first thing he heard and saw was a middle-aged man wearing a black suit followed by two other guys holding gym equipment in their hands, showing them to the head coach. Turning his head at the newcomer, the expression of the head coach shifted, shifted to a less angry look from what could be described as a heated exchange between the middle-aged man in suit, and the old man.

"Quiet down for a second, Georg, I have a donkey on my head, which is hard to manage."

"Then, if I am taking your time, we will return another day. We got all the time in the world to solve that contract. Sir Vinisan. I will return tomorrow with the list of equipment my company can offer. The only problem is money."

"Hah, money? This is how you guys want to play by rising prices."

"Sir Vinisan, you were once a legend of the UF. How can I try extorting money? I am just notifying you of the new contractual changes my superiors have sent me to notify you, and they are based on the materials used to pad the bags and the mats, gloves."

Ending saying that the middle-aged man followed by his assistance left the gym, but as they the two guys behind the middle-aged man passed, they noticed Mathias's and bumped on him with bad intent, pushing the latter aside.

The middle-aged man heard that and turned his head, only to see Mathias regain his balance and look sharply at the one who bumped into him as if he was ready to fight it out, leaving the gym door with a 'Hmm' sound, and outside he remarked to his men.

"That boy's balance is interesting even after you pushed him aside."

"Hmph, just that look on his face where he was ready to fight, made me surprised."

"Anyway, none of my problems, it would be funny to see you busting that kid's face in a ring."

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After the "guests" went out of the gym, the head coach walked toward Mathias and gazed at him, before he punched him in his shoulder, saying with annoyance.

"Two weeks boy. You've left me hanging that long without a concrete answer. You said you would at least check the gym for some hours, but nothing. So, you've decided to follow this full-time?"

"Not yet, I am still working on that Hotel Job, and I also have another project I am working on."

"Kid, just drop that job of yours and pursue fighting. You've got the 'IT' in you boy. You didn't even get intimidated by those 2 hoodlums."

"Why should I feel intimidated by some idiots who pushed me? Anyway, sir Vinisan, I really can't leave my job without financial support."

"Aren't you playing some game? Make money using that, and pursue fighting if this is what you want?"

"It isn't so easy, sir. Let's not talk about this, I am here to learn something new."

"Hah, sure, go change into your training equipment, and we'll see what we will work." told the coach to Mathias, to which the latter nodded his head and went to the locker room, leaving the coach to walk toward the training area, where the number of people dropped down since the first time Mathias arrived.

'I can't let that boy waste his talent doing some shitty cleaning job, working for some corporation who will pay him in garbage sums. Even now, I remember those crazy reflexes the kid showed in the spar with a professional. Those reflexes are natural, he is like a rough diamond that needs polishing, and I will create a scary monster similar to those in the legends of MMA.'

'He only needs to work on coordinating his hands correctly and learn the perfect form for each technique. I should focus more on striking, so he can have some fun before making it dirty with grappling and wrestling.'

 

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