Chương 89: Responsibilities

"That was mean," Corel complained, frowning as Joe told her what he had done.

"Yeah, kinda. But I'm not that sorry. They just turned up here expecting me to drop everything and help them just like that? Plus, I don't think those two have ever left the city. They didn't even know how to use a storage ring."

"Not everyone thrives in chaos as you do," Corel chided gently. Joe grimaced. She had a point.

"Fine, fine, you win. I'll go in and save them if things get too hairy." He reached into his storage and pulled out a communicator, one that matched the one Meris carried.

"Meris will get them into shape. She knows to call if anything pops up she can't handle." Corel nodded in approval.

"Let's hope things go well for them. I like the girl. She is naive, but there is something there. A spark."

"Oh really," Joe said, leaning forward.

"What did you see? A vision?"

"Not exactly. More like a… feeling," Corel replied.

"Intuition." Joe gave a slow nod. He had a decent understanding of her abilities now, and her intuitions were usually spot on. They reminded him of his own flaring instincts, less defined, but no less accurate.

"How long until everyone arrives?" he asked.

"They should be here in an hour."

"Great. That gives us enough time to name the tree."

"Oh? Did you think of anything yet?"

"Tree? The big one?" Varaiya asked.

"Oh yes, the big one," Joe's eyes lit up in excitement.

"And truly, there was only ever one choice for that thing." He stood up and walked outside, Corel and Varaiya following close behind. They stopped beneath the towering tree, its massive branches stretching high above them, each leaf easily the size of an elephant.

"Ladies," Joe announced, mimicking the rhythm of a drumroll with his hands, "I present to you… YggDrasil! The sacred tree!" With a flourish, he released a swirl of mana sparks into the air, giving the moment a dramatic flair. Corel and Varaiya clapped and ooo'd in amusement, indulging his showmanship.

"What is YggDrasil?" Corel asked. Joe gasped, clutching his chest in mock horror. Of course, she wouldn't know.

"Corel, my Seeker… let me tell you all about Norse mythology and the tree of the gods…" An hour later, they stood beside the teleportation array that connected Landradad with Kunlun. The platform glowed brightly as it activated, and ten figures materialized at its centre. One of Joe's eyebrows lifted in mild surprise; there were faces among them he hadn't expected to see today.

"Corel!" Esha cried out as she ran forward, lifting Corel clean off her feet and swinging her around in a fierce hug.

"It's good to see you, Esha," Corel managed, laughing as she was finally set back down.

"Varaiya, it's good to see you," Esha said, repeating the same enthusiastic embrace before turning to glare in Joe's direction. As Gao approached, Joe straightened with a faint smile.

"Joe," she greeted with a nod.

"Gao," he replied, matching her tone. They both chuckled softly.

"Gao, get away from him. We're not talking to that thing," Esha declared, still glaring. Gao gave Joe a quick, conspiratorial hug before hurrying over to Esha's side, only to be scolded for her disobedience. Joe was then greeted by a sharply dressed man named Julius, the vice-mayor of Heliopolis.

"Julius, always a pleasure, my good man."

"Progenitor. I am glad to see you doing well. I see you've finished your… project," Julius said, casting a long glance upward.

"And we just confirmed its name: YggDrasil."

"How imaginative," Julius remarked dryly. Joe chuckled and shook the man's hand.

"How's the gang? They aren't slacking off and leaving you all the work, are they?"

"I assure you, Mistress Sarah works harder than anyone. As for the pillar owner, he never stops. He's nearing the level one-seventy bottleneck."

"Damn. He's leaving me behind. Makes me look like a slacker."

"Pot and kettle," Julius said with a smile. Joe laughed lightly.

"May I ask… what level are you currently?" Julius asked, face shifting to mock embarrassment.

"Sarah insisted I find out the moment I saw you, though I heavily protested." Joe leaned in and whispered the answer into his ear. Julius's eyes widened in pure disbelief, his mouth slightly agape. Joe turned his attention to the rest of the group. Among them were three Voldura he didn't recognize, along with Felicia, Alice, Markos, and Pietr. All from New Eden.

"No Malcolm?" Joe asked as he shook Pietr's hand. He was the current mayor of New Eden.

"The Divine Sword is currently busy clearing a gate. You know how it is." Joe nodded. Not much more needed to be said. The Divine Sword avoided Joe like the plague, but never failed to send his subordinates to bother him at every opportunity. He exchanged a quick greeting with Markos, then turned to the Volduran contingent.

"Progenitor, I am Vos van Gaoi of Clan Gaoi. And this is Vara more Cordo, and Tries ka Cordo, of Clan Cordo. The other Clans send greetings and regards, and thank you for accepting our request today." All this formal talk was a headache, but Joe understood its necessity. Politics had always been an annoying part of being well-known, but he knew how to play the game.

"I'm glad you had time to come today. Apologies for not hosting you sooner, things have been… busy," he said, before lightly pressing his forehead to each of the Voldura in greeting, as was custom. He finally turned to the last two visitors, ones he hadn't expected to see.

"Felicia, Alice, it's been a while," he said, unsure exactly how to greet them.

"Thank you for allowing us to hitch a ride," Felicia said, offering a slight bow. Joe waved it off, seeing no need for formalities. He gave her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder, sensing that they weren't here in any official capacity. We'll talk later, he mouthed, before turning back to the group.

"I'll guide you all to the house. Please follow me." Joe led the entourage into the large dining room of his upgraded home, where a long table was already laden with snacks. He'd learned that the scent of good food was often the best way to ease tension, which, thankfully, worked once again. The meeting began with light small talk, but quickly shifted toward more serious matters. Julius took the lead as the conversation deepened.

"After much discussion between the Pillars, I'm sure you're aware of the current rotation we've established regarding participation in the Integration competitions." Joe nodded. Corel had told him about the agreement formed between Humans and Voldura, a rotating entry system for the competitions, designed to keep things fair and maintain cooperation between the races. But naturally, things were never that simple.

"Well, to put it frankly. We're currently failing to gain points. So much so that our world has dropped five places over the last six months. We're now ranked twenty-fourth… out of the thirty-two remaining worlds," Julius stated. The fact that only thirty-two worlds were left in the competition was concerning in itself. Eighteen had been eliminated, most through brutal resource grabs carried out by the top ten worlds. Ruthless, calculated, and utterly unforgiving.

"Through discussions with the Grosii, the only top-ten world willing to even speak with us, we've been informed that the resource grabs will not stop. And due to your… situation," he said carefully, clearly referring to the bounty on Joe's head, "as soon as our world becomes eligible for a resource grab, every top-ten world will jump at the opportunity to take you down."

"Great," Joe grumbled. Just fucking great.

"So, I guess you're all here to resolve this issue?"

"Yes," The Volduran contingent answered in unison. Vos stepped aside as Tries took the lead.

"We ask that you become more active in the competitions. We have no idea how you earned so many points in such a short time, but without your help, we will fall into a dangerous position. And when that happens, we will all die." Joe said nothing. He hadn't participated in any integration competitions since Pathfinder was killed. He'd directed his focus to other matters, like levelling, creating Landradad, and wallowing in self-pity since he lost his best friend.

He felt a twinge of guilt now, but how was he supposed to know no one else could maintain their world's ranking? He was tempted to ask what, exactly, the Voldura had been doing since the Integration began. But he didn't need to. Corel shot to her feet before he could even open his mouth, her eyes blazing with fury. Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

"How dare you," she said quietly, but with a weight that silenced the room. Her voice was so calm, so level, that it was all the more terrifying. Two of the Voldura visibly paled.

"Seeker, we mean no disrespect. But the bounty…" Tries began, but one sharp look from Corel stopped him cold.

"Cowards." The single word landed like a hammer.

"You come into our home and bring only blame? You should be ashamed. Where were your voices when Pathfinder restricted entry into competitions? When he declared that humans were beneath us… fit only to serve as slaves? Where were your spines then?" Joe had only seen Corel angry a handful of times, and right now, he was deeply thankful for that. She was terrifying.

"The only reason we haven't already been challenged by the top ten is because of Joe," she continued, her voice cold as steel.

"He is the reason any of you are still breathing. And yet you come here with demands? I should punish you all right now." Heads bowed in shame as all three Voldura began apologizing over and over. Joe let his Aura seep out, subtle but firm, quieting the room.

"I understand your fears," he said calmly.

"These are frightening times, but I have not been idle. I've been training. Preparing. I promise you all, every single one of you, I will return to the competitions this month. I will do everything in my power to ensure we are not just another victim of the strong." A wave of relieved voices echoed around the table, offering their thanks, though Joe could still sense lingering doubt.

"Will you need help?" Vos asked.

"We can send our best, highest-levelled clan members. A hundred at least." Vara nodded in agreement beside him. Joe shook his head.

"No need. I have a reliable team. If we haven't improved our ranking within a year, then we can revisit the matter. Until then, just focus on levelling and improving your forces." He knew he would mainly be entering solo competitions. The last thing he wanted was to team up with unfamiliar clan members he'd never spoken to before. As the discussion shifted, he sent Corel a quick message. [Are you okay, dealing with the clans? They clearly don't like me, so that might be for the best.] - Joe.

[Yes, I will make sure they know respect.] - Corel. [Please don't kill… too many of them.] - Joe. Corel laughed aloud, and a few confused faces turned her way. Joe coughed loudly to cover it.

"If you have any more questions, the Seeker is willing to discuss things further," he said. Judging by the pale expressions around the table, none of the Voldura seemed eager for another conversation with Corel. Joe made a mental note of her influence; it was stronger than he'd realized. That might prove useful in the future. It also explained why Varaiya kept dragging her off to clan meetings.

"So, with that topic concluded… who's next?" Unfortunately, the next issue was no easier. Apparently, New Eden and Heliopolis had been hoarding the majority of the gates that formed, refusing Voldura entry. Joe was more than happy to sit back during this discussion, letting the vice-mayors and clan representatives hash it out. He quickly understood why they'd insisted on having the meeting at his table. His presence alone seemed to force the conversations to remain civil.

Julius would later inform him in a low whisper that the last time this topic had come up in New Eden, one Voldura and one Human had died during the talks. Sheesh. With that sorted, for now, the discussion shifted to trade between the races and the sharing of pillar access. All the Human-controlled cities were at a significantly higher level than the Volduran ones, and since the Voldura were generally at higher levels as individuals, they politely requested guidance on how to level their pillars faster.

Joe found himself having to step in, practically forcing New Eden, Kunlun, and Heliopolis to offer more active support. After some resistance, they eventually agreed. That put a big smile on Corel's face, which in turn made Joe happy. Finally, the conversation turned to Landradad itself and what it represented. Though it wasn't a pillar city, Joe's influence and sheer power couldn't be ignored. So the gathered leaders wanted to know his intentions.

To Joe's surprise, Gao and Esha made a completely unexpected suggestion.

"We are in favour of making Landradad the capital," Gao said.

"We'd also like permission to set up an embassy here." Joe blinked, utterly taken aback. Landradad wasn't a city. It didn't even have many residents. He estimated maybe ten thousand people lived within its perimeter, a scattered mix of Humans and Voldura. At first, the influx annoyed him. But after Corel made it very clear that he was not allowed to evict anyone, he'd accepted it with a simmering grumble.

"The embassy thing is fine, I guess," he said.

"But… capital? Do we even need one?"

"Well, someone went and changed the name of our world to Thropia without consulting anyone. So, this is the price of your hubris," Gao replied without missing a beat. Esha nodded, and so did nearly everyone else.

"To be fair, I had no idea that the name change would be permanent," Joe said. Naturally, no one forgave him. Three months earlier, the system had announced a new update to the integration board. The top-ranked being on each world would gain the right to name their world. Joe, naturally, read only the first part of the announcement and immediately changed the name, thinking it was temporary. It wasn't until Corel pointed out that the name change was permanent that he finally read the rest of the message. Oh well.

So now their world was called Thropia. Forever.

"We would also like to ask about… the clan members living inside Landradad," Vos said, hesitating slightly.

"And request that you allow us to bring them back." He almost immediately regretted speaking. Corel moved before anyone else could react, grabbing Vos by the throat and slamming him against the wall. Joe had seen her movement, but chose not to stop her.

"I think we need to have a little discussion on respect, Elder Vos," Corel said coldly as she dragged him from the room. No one else brought up that topic again. Joe gave a casual wave as the bruised Volduran elders limped toward the teleportation array and vanished back to Kunlun. The vice-mayors had already departed, leaving only Joe, Corel, Varaiya, Esha, Gao, Felicia, and Alice behind.

Corel quickly gathered up their friends and disappeared into the house with them for what Joe assumed was much-needed girl talk, leaving him alone outside with Felicia and Alice. The two hadn't attended the meeting, and they weren't here on any official business.

"Shall we walk?" Joe offered.

"I have a marvellous garden just around the corner, and I think Bravo and Carrot are nearby."

"Bravo and Carrot?" Alice asked, intrigued as they began walking toward Joe's so-called 'garden.'

"Oh, I think you'll like them," Joe replied, grinning widely. To say Alice was happy at the sight of the massive sabretoothed tigers lounging among the flowers would be the understatement of the century. She was ecstatic, practically squealing as she hugged and pampered the great beasts. Meanwhile, Joe and Felicia strolled deeper into the lush garden, winding between rows of exotic plants and brilliant, mana-infused blooms.

"This one I haven't perfected yet," Joe said, pointing to an odd-looking flower dripping with loose spider silk. It sagged with awkward angles and uneven growth.

"I saw something like it off-world, during a trip. But for the life of me, I can't get it right." He sighed, visibly annoyed at the imperfection.

"You say that so casually," Felicia said, brushing her fingers gently across a glowing petal.

"Like going off-world is just… an everyday thing." Joe shrugged with a small smile.

"I lead a fantastical life," his eyebrows bounced jovially.

"So, tell me, Felicia. What brings two ex-party members of the Divine Sword all the way out here to my little haven?" Felicia paused and bent to sniff a stunning pink flower, its petals radiating soft mana. Joe noticed her taking a moment to compose herself. Was she about to bare her soul to him? His interest was now fully piqued.

"We've come to ask your permission to live here. In Landradad," she said quietly. That caught him off guard. So all wasn't well in New Eden after all. For Malcolm's closest allies to want to jump ship… something serious must have happened.

"Of course you're both welcome," he said without hesitation.

"There's plenty of room. You can even have a branch if you like." He pointed up toward one of the colossal limbs extending from YggDrasil's vast trunk. Felicia gaped as she looked up at the seemingly endless tree.

"Up there? You've got to be kidding. How would we even get up there?" she asked, awe mingling with disbelief. Joe smiled softly. He hadn't expected her to accept the offer. He'd only suggested it to lift the mood.

"Oh. You don't have a flying skill?" Joe said with a straight face.

"I can always tie a rope for you to climb." Felicia laughed as she realized he was pulling her leg.

"I don't know how you do it. Everyone in New Eden is so serious all the time. No one laughs. And here I am, chatting with you for what? Ten minutes? And you made me laugh for the first time in months." That statement alone hit Joe harder than he expected. What was life without a little humour?

"I have a gift," he said, placing a hand on his chest.

"To go along with my dashingly good looks and irresistible charm." He gave her a theatrical bow and flourish. She laughed again, her cheeks tinged with pink. Sometimes, it really paid off to be ridiculously good-looking.

"But seriously," he continued, softening his tone, "you're both welcome here. We can arrange a private area for you, or you can move into the main village. The choice is yours. And, bonus, we even have a litter of cubs that need a home." They looked over to where Alice was currently rolling around in the grass, being swatted at by oversized, padded paws. The sabretooth cubs clearly adored her. Felicia burst into laughter at the sight. It wasn't all jokes and levity, though.

Eventually, once Alice had burned off her energy playing with the cubs, the three of them sat in the shade, and another reason for their visit came to light.

"Malcolm has changed," Alice began, her voice quieter now.

"He's obsessed with you."

"Me?" Joe asked, genuinely confused.

"With what you represent," she clarified.

"Your power. Your reputation. You topped the points leaderboard. You led the way to reintegration. You freed the slaves and killed Pathfinder."

"I didn't actually kill Pathfinder," Joe corrected gently.

"Do you think Malcolm cares about that?" Alice said flatly.

"You were there. You're always at the centre of everything. And he's blind with jealousy. He only sees threats around him now." She paused, her gaze shifting briefly to Felicia.

"He scared us. He hit Felicia." Fuck.

"She's fine," Alice added quickly, placing a warm hand on Felicia's shoulder.

"She's strong. But the point is… we didn't want to be around that anymore." She hesitated before continuing.

"And there's more. It's partly to do with the gates. One appeared near New Eden. A strange one. He entered it… and when he came back, he was different." That sounded ominous as hell, Joe thought.

"What kind of change?" he asked.

"I don't know, it's hard to explain," Alice said, frowning as she searched for the right words.

"Just… his goals changed. His view of the world. His hunger for power. It's like something inside him twisted." She paused again, then added quietly, "All we're asking is that you be careful. Keep an eye on him, in case he does something stupid." She looked at him earnestly.

"I know it's not fair to ask so much of you. We both know you already have more than enough on your plate. God… I can only imagine the pressure you're under."

"Don't worry about it," Joe said, brushing it off with a small smile.

"I'm used to it now. I'll keep my eyes open, and I'll pay New Eden a visit sometime soon."

"Thank you," Alice said, relief plain on her face. Just another thing to worry about, Joe thought. It never ends. They spoke for another hour, their conversation drifting between memories, updates, and small shared moments of peace. Eventually, Joe led the two exhausted Americans to a spare room in his house, so they could rest and sleep in comfort. Only one task remained for the day. And Joe sighed, already knowing it would be the most annoying thing he'd have to deal with today.