Now how should he get that thing out in the open? Jack thought. He glanced at John who was having a talk with his people. He opened his friend chat message, he was relieved that he could still send a message with the option of using his original alias, with condition that the friend was in that alias' list. He had a separate friend list for Storm Wind and Unrivalled Arcaner.
"That annoying prick! I will skin him alive if I got the chance," he heard Earmouth cursed, obviously referring to John.
"Do you know which guild that prick is from?" Jack asked him.
"Hm? Wait, I ask."
He then went silent for a while, probably sending a chat message to his guildmates who hold the guild name list. Jack also sent a chat message at the same time, using his original Storm Wind account, to the prick who was currently chatting happily with his friends.
Jack's chat message contained the following words, "John, I see you are doing well lately. Since when have you joined a guild? I have something that you can use to create more disturbance to this meeting. Are you interested?"
He saw John's surprised expression. He made a vague 360 degrees scan around the venue. Jack was amused by his attempt.
"He was from a guild called Handy Craftsmen," Earmouth said after he received the info from his friend. "They are a new guild which just became well-known a few years back. They mainly comprised of players who focused on non-combat jobs. Crafters, traders, and such. Many late VR games allowed players to perform well just by concentrating in these non-combat fields instead of the traditional monster-killing style."
"I see," Jack commented. "Well, if they are not a guild that bothered to fight monsters, why are they so fussy about the distribution of priority in monster grinding areas?"
Earmouth seemed to realize something, "hm? You are right…"
"He must be up to something," Jack added fuel to fire.
"I know there is something wrong with him since he first made his comment. I'll ask our management to arrange for them to be thrown out."
"You shouldn't be too hasty," Jack said. "Since the points he was arguing were not for his guild's benefit. He must be doing it under the command of another guild."
"Oh? Please share with me your thought," Earmouth was intrigued.
"I think there is a high probability that either Black Cloak or Saint Edge is behind him, or maybe even both of them."
"Oh? Why do you think so?"
"Think about it, those two guilds are the ones big enough to put pressure on the other famous guilds. They are also at the same level if compared to the three guilds who organized this meeting. If this meeting is successful, their status might end up below ours. Hence they are trying to stir up trouble to prevent this meeting from success, or at least to cause enough trouble so they can secure benefit which doesn't make them any lesser than the three organizing guilds."
"What you said made sense," Earmouth commented.
Warpath scoffed from behind.
"If you have an opinion, then say it. If not, then piss off!" Jack did not give him any courtesy.
He gave Jack an eye screaming of murder, but then turned away silently. The guy knew he was not Jack's opponent at his current state.
"I'll convey this thought to the management," Earmouth said.
"You do that," Jack uttered with a nod.
Earmouth clapped Jack's shoulder, he said, "you are not only good at fighting, but you also have a sharp mind. Stay with us, work harder for the guild. I'm sure your future will be bright."
"That's my plan," Jack smiled.
Earmouth then turned around to send chat messages. Jack had also received John's reply a while back, he just could not open it as he was fanning Earmouth so that Death Associates might turn their hostility to either Black Cloak or Saint Edge. Either guild was not a timid guild, it would be better if they clashed between one another.
Jack read John's message, "it's so long since we talk, expert. I almost forget about you already. It was surprising for you to know about this meeting, considering your publicly acknowledged adversity with Death Associates. How do you find out about what happens in this meeting? Don't tell me you are here as well?"
Jack replied, "can you cut the crap already? You want my offer or not?"
"Sure, whatever that can help me to ruin this meeting," John soon replied.
"Ok. Try to find a chance to have yourself excused and come out. Wait for my signal. I will let you know the exact place. By the way, why do you want to ruin this meeting anyway?"
"I'm just doing this for fun, do you believe me? All right, will wait for your cue."
The guy was as laid back as he was annoying. Jack didn't bother to pry further, it was enough if John could help him to cause trouble here. He went to Earmouth who was still in silence with a blank look to the sky.
"Brother, I think I saw a shadow over there, I will go to check it out."
"Huh?" Earmouth was dazed for being interrupted while he was writing his message. "Bring someone with you just in case."
"No need. It might be nothing. We cannot afford to lax the security here. Don't worry, I alone am enough if there is an intruder," Jack said and strode off without giving Earmouth the chance to say otherwise.
Earmouth watched him sped off and soon disappeared among the dilapidated walls around the ruin. Damn, it was as the rumor, his speed was really fast for a Mage. He thought.
Jack looked around to make sure that he was not followed, and that there was no other sentry in view. He then looked around trying to find a distinctive spot. He walked around, he passed some places where he could see a lone sentry monitoring the perimeter of the ruin. He was inside, so the sentry's back was to him. However, he still avoided the place where such sentry was in view. There was no guarantee that the sentry won't turn around at a critical time and saw him.
After looking around for a bit, he finally decided on a spot. It was a broken-down small garden with a withered tree at its center. Facing it was a battered fountain. There was a lion sculpture above the fountain with an open mouth, Jack assumed the mouth was where the water was coming out when the fountain was still functioning. After inspecting the fountain and making sure that no one was around, Jack placed something inside the lion's mouth.
He inspected it for a bit. The lion's mouth was slightly slanted down, so if he didn't bend down close to the sculpture, it would be difficult to notice that something was inside. He then went to a corner and stood still. He sent a chat message to John, describing to him the position of the place and to look inside the mouth of the lion sculpture.
At this time, the meeting was about to resume. After they had a discussion, the three organizing guilds had agreed that Manager Steelhand would take over for the discussion on the resource management plan. He started his speech but emphasizing for everyone to let him finish his speech first before engaging in a debate. He said this was necessary so that everyone could receive the message unfiltered.
After sounding out about the no interruption requirement, he was just about to start when John lifted his hand again. Manager Steelhand had the urge to go over and beat the guy senseless, but he forced himself to calm down. He spoke with a voice as affable as possible, "my friend, as I just said a moment ago. Can you please wait until after I finish first before voicing out your opinion?"
"I need to take a piss," John uttered with an innocent face.
Manager Steelhand mouth twitched, his mind was blank while several curse words surfaced in his thought. He was just about to scold the man to shut up and sit down silently until his speech was finished, before a thought occurred to him. Wait, if he went away, didn't that mean that he could not interrupt anymore?
Manager Steelhand immediately put on the widest smile possible and said, "sure, sure. It's not good to hold your piss. Please go and take your time."
John nodded and walked away. While the others looked at each other in confusion. Are we even able to piss in this game world? They thought. They had not piss nor shit since the world changed.
😉