Double-Blind: A Modern LITRPG
Chapter 120

I felt all four of them staring at me. Aaron was still leaning back in his chair, completely relaxed. Either he was fine with both, or whatever outcome he wanted was assured. We’d had arguments before, more for the sport of it than actually engagement with whatever the topic was. None of them particularly heated or high-stakes, but he won more than he lost. Seventy-thirty in his favor. Occasionally, I’d realize after that he’d maneuvered me into taking a position that seemed reasonable at first, but one that he knew to be ultimately indefensible.

If anyone was a shoo-in to beat me at my own game, it was Aaron.

I fidgeted with absent-mindedly under the table, letting it fall and then bidding it back to my hand. Laying whatever extraneous elements led to Aaron being trapped in a doomed region aside, I had to assume he was involved with the suits, and that he still held some power.

At some point, I’d work through the minutia to see if there was anything I could use. Preferably after my necromancer gambit bore fruit, and I’d gleaned more information in general.

For now, I needed to make sure he didn’t get whatever he wanted from the region. And what he wanted wasn’t necessarily the Resource Paradox. If he hadn’t trotted out the regretful apology right out the gate, and I got the feeling he legitimately didn’t remember me, that would be different. But he’d lamp-shaded our previous relationship. Hung it out there for everyone to see. There were too many possible mind games for me to narrow down which one he was playing.

I needed to shake up the room.

“I didn’t ask for any of this, when I meddled with the region. Had no idea the sort of responsibility and spotlight it would bring.”

“Saved.” Sara said quietly.

“What?” I asked.

“Look around. You didn’t meddle. You saved the region.” Sara insisted. “That being said, if you’d prefer to let us drive the ship, no one would blame you for it.”

“And the opposite?”

“Pardon?” Sara asked.

“If I said fuck voting, the system established me as region owner, I’m going with Dark Lord Descends.”

“Matt?” Kinsley stared at me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aaron smirk. It was small, almost a micro-expression, but it was there. Sara and Tyler both looked at each other, and Sara gave him an almost imperceptible nod.

Tyler rested his big arms on the table, and the wood beneath creaked. “This vote is mainly a formality. Like Sara said, you saved this region and nearly paid for it with your life. If you chose a transposition elective that directly harmed the region, the Adventurer’s Guild would need to withdraw support and possibly interfere. However, none of the options you’ve presented directly harm the region. DLD is concerning long-term, but causes no direct harm. So if you decide to go your own way, I see no issue.”

Eloquent. Reasonable. One-hundred percent rehearsed. They’d discussed the possibility I’d go off-script before they’d even walked in the room.

I crossed my arms, rubbing my thumb against my bicep. It was a movement that used to be my tell. Not bicep necessarily, thigh, face, and index finger were all common mutations of the same giveaway. I’d picked my bicep because I needed something visible and above the table, something Aaron would see. His eyes flicked down towards my arm then bounced back up, face utterly neutral.

“Just curious. I have no intention of going that route. But I’m of two minds. I was committed to balanced stakes before I walked into the room. The resource curse is nothing to fuck with. Nonetheless, Aaron and Sara both made good points. Both the Merchant’s Guild and the Adventurer’s Guild have a positive reputation coming out of the transposition and are growing exponentially. We might be able to handle it.”

“As much as I appreciate your ability to overlook personal biases, you should go with your gut.” Aaron shook his head. “I’m just a lawyer, not a professor of socio economics or political science.”

Right.

“Kinsley was selling Girl Scout cookies out of the back of a minivan before we met. And I’m a high-school student. None of us should be in the position to call these shots, yet here we all are. Tyler. The Adventurer’s Guild consolidating in this region a sure thing?”

Tyler’s lips tightened. “Yes. Most of our current territory is spread out and contested, which caused issues during the transposition. Consolidating is our best bet for now, then slowly establishing forward operating bases near allied groups.”

“Good, we’ll need the firepower.” I rubbed my bicep again. “Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen, we’re about to break the resource curse.”

Aaron didn’t react. But for the rest of the meeting, he sat up straighter.

/////

“That’s it for me. I’d love to stay and chat, but I have to report to the city council.” My once mentor gathered his documents. Then fastened the top button of his suit jacket and readjusted his tie with a practiced motion. “Whenever the local government decides to get off its ass and actually do something, they’ll appreciate that you heeded my guidance.”

I waved him off, parroting words he’d so often said to me. “Happy to listen.”

His smile grew wider. “Look at us. Maintaining civility in the face of the apocalypse. A cut above as always, Matthias.” He paused at the door and turned back to me. “You’re in an advantageous position now. A place where you can finally use that mind of yours to its fullest potential. If you have time, swing by my office. I’ve missed our talks.”

My lip curled. “If I find the time.”

“Ciao.” Aaron waved as he left, his Rolex band clinking with the motion.

The more of the Suit's time and resources I could waste, the better.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I heard a distinctively feminine chuckle.

During our text exchange, Kinsley crossed the room and shook Tyler and Sara’s hands. “I know this is a sore point, but it needs to be said. Thanks for leaving Myrddin out of that conversation. He was a monster for what he did, but I doubt he’ll be an ongoing threat.”

Tyler’s smile was strained. “You weren’t there. If he decides to come after us out of some twisted sense of revenge, trust me, that would be a serious problem. No need to drag your reputation over a hypothetical, however. Considering the good your guild did. There were probably too many witnesses to suppress the information completely, so it may still spread, but we won’t be the ones spreading it.”

Sara nudged him. Tyler gave her a tired look, then continued. “We’re still investigating. Unfortunately, our focus is split between that incident and whatever happened to Region 6.”

Everyone looked distinctly uncomfortable at the mention of the quarantined region.

Tyler continued. “Myrddin killed three of my men and lied about it being self-defense. That much is iron-clad. However, from some initial inquiries, there are elements that don’t entirely line up. Gossip around the three dead members that paints a less than generous picture of their character. It’s possible there’s more to the story than a robbery gone bad.” He sighed. “Do you have a way to contact him?”

Ordinator’s Emulation flashed.

A bead of sweat appeared on Kinsley’s hairline. “Yes. There’s no guarantee that he’ll answer, though. He tended to keep me in the dark even before the clusterfuck.”

Tyler nodded, apparently unbothered by whatever it was he saw. No sabotage of his ability this time. It made sense. And confirmed that whoever—or whatever—had screwed with his title ability during our altercation had crossed a line. The deities could break the rules—it had happened more than a few times at this point, but they didn’t have free rein. Even they were beholden to the system to some extent.

“If he does get back to you,” Tyler said, “Tell him we want to talk. No set-up. No bullshit. Man to man, at a place of his choosing.”

My instincts said trap. It was the third time in an hour I was tempted to switch titles. Jaded Eye or Cruel Lens would have been worth their weight in gold for this discussion—but the pain from both my healing injuries and my seething stomach from the witch’s potion was already a constantly needling distraction. Coupling that with the way I kept jumping at loud noises and forgetting things, swapping away from seemed like a terrible idea at the moment.

“I’ll let you know if Myrddin returns my messages.” Kinsley said.

“When are you planning to lock in the region option?” Sara asked, watching me curiously.

I blinked. “As soon as this meeting is over. No reason to delay, really. There’s no timer, but the system doesn’t clearly state any of its rules, so the sooner, the better. ”

Sara looked to Tyler.

“We’re done here.” Tyler nodded.

Sara stood. “Let’s go outside then. You can lock it in and see what happens.”

“Could be glaringly obvious,” Tyler said, “Region 4 was overrun with machinery and mechanisms, for example. Could be almost imperceptible. Still, I am curious.”

“Why not.”

I wheeled myself out of the office and through the lobby, trying to ignore the blatant stares and whispers as the others followed alongside me. The double-doors slid open and wind rushed in, the scent of smoke and blood lingering on the outside air.

Nervously, I pulled up the region interface.

I confirmed the prompt.

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