Chapter 18

"You two have to be the most accident prone, trouble finding couple in Aincrad. There I was battling ferociously against six, no twelve minotaurs when I received the desperate cry for help from Jayce! It was then I knew that I must survive death's mighty clutches so that I might return to lend aid in return for competitive pricing!" The girl threw her hands up into the air dramatically baring her teeth in a wide smile.

"Translation…you were doing quests, I sent you a message to meet us whenever you were free, and now that it's evening you came back to rest for the night and want to make some money off us? I miss anything?" Jayce set the mug down on the table staring flatly into the brown colored hood of the girl in front of him.

"You forgot the competitive pricing part." She lowered her arms, placing them on the table.

"I'm sure you're busy right now Argo, so thanks for making time." Jemza sat next to Jayce and was much more receptive to Argo's demeanor than he was right now.

"See? This is why her pricing is far more competitive than yours. She has manners." The arrival of the NPC waitress blocked off any sort of rebuttal he had. Argo quickly placed an order for a dish that Jayce knew was very expensive. Convenient, since Jemza and he had offered to treat her to dinner for taking time off her strategy guide to meet.

"How's the guide coming along?" Jemza asked after placing her own order with the waitress.

"So far so good. I'll be sure you both get it right away, and of course it will be free of charge to good friends like you two." Jayce rolled his eyes in response as she spoke.

"You put them on consignment merchants for free to all players."

"Do I? Doesn't seem like something I'd do." Argo tapped her chin pretending to be oblivious to Jayce's accusation. His fists opened and closed angrily trying to weather the usual pretense of conversations with Argo.

"We thought maybe you could explain what happened to us today. I assume a random stampede is not a normal occurrence on this floor?" Jemza's calmness towards Argo was something Jayce was extremely thankful for. She seemed immune to Argo's personality.

"Correct, the mobs in question have set locations and behaviors in line with typical creatures like the boars and wolves on the first floor. That is to say that they aren't considered intelligent like kobolds or minotaurs. The bulls that you say attacked you are programmed like normal animals and will act as such. Kobolds and minotaurs will react more intelligently when attacked calling out for help and the such." Argo's explanation only raised more questions as to how the stampede could happen. With a sigh Jayce proceeded down the next logical questioning path while opening up his system menu with his right hand.

"Then something else, outside the normal programming caused it to happen. What kind of things can cause that?" Argo thought for a few moments before holding up a hand with all five fingers outstretched. Jayce tapped on his menu a few times materializing a small bag and tossed it across the table. Jemza watched curiously at their silent interaction, but otherwise remained silent.

"It's called a Lure and is pretty rare. It only works on the creature it is meant for and to be honest in the current state of the game I wouldn't think anyone would use it."

"What do you mean? What use does it normally have?" Jemza's interest was perked now that there seemed to be answers to what happened in the savannah today. Argo finished counting the five hundred col in the bag Jayce had tossed her and placed it into her inventory.

"If this weren't a game where dying was real then people could use the Lure to attract creatures into sizable groups making them easier to hunt. Basically it is used to make gaining experience more efficient. Instead of you doing the legwork, the Lure brings the mobs to you." Something Argo said clicked for Jayce and he shook his head, slamming a fist on the table startling both girls.

"That son of a…you said normally using a Lure makes killing the creatures more efficient right? Most people are concerned with survival in this game not efficiency. It makes sense though, using it to corral the mobs around and kill them quickly for experience. If we were to, let's say, interrupt that efficiency the owning player could leave the Lure to attract the mobs towards those who interrupted you right?" Jemza's mouth fell open slightly and Argo looked around before leaning forward closer to the pair.

"You're insinuating a player attempted to MPK you?" MPK or Monster Player Kill was a term used when another player would cause monsters to kill another player on purpose. Whether by running the creatures through another player's radius or using a Lure as Argo called it, a player could cause the death of another without ever laying a finger on them.

"You think that kid we met did this? He tried to…kill us?" Jemza's voice was past the point of shock and now bordered on disbelief.

"It makes sense. He tried to get us to leave and spoke about the efficiency his group was already having while hunting the bulls. We argued and stayed regardless, and you can't deny that how he talked when he left sounded threatening." Argo looked between the two of them watching as Jemza tried to formulate a counter.

"No, you're right, but seriously Jayce. You think he would go that far?" The man could only shrug in return. There was no way to know what that other player had been thinking.

"They aren't frequent at all, but it wouldn't be the first time an MPK happened. Sometimes it's an accident, like when a player runs from a fight and inadvertently crosses into another player's area. Or if something causes more mobs to spawn, overwhelming everyone in the vicinity. Other times, it is malicious and on purpose." Argo's voice was low now to make sure no one overheard them.

"Alright, thanks Argo." The girls both blinked simultaneously a few times as the man pushed his chair back and stood. Their food hadn't even arrived yet and he was already looking to leave as if there were something important he had to do.

"Oi! Alchemist, where are you going? Back down to the first floor to hide in the Town of Beginnings again?" Argo was the first to speak up pushing herself up out of the chair. Jemza couldn't help but notice her tone of voice. Was she challenging him, and if so, why did it sound like she was enjoying it? Jayce looked back at the small girl for a few moments.

"No, I'm done hiding. I'm going to find that little punk that did this and get some answers."

"And what'll you do when you find him eh? Sounds dangerous." Argo's voice never wavered, nor did it even come close to sounding like she was actually concerned for his safety.

"He tried to kill us which means he'd be willing to kill others. Maybe he already has I don't know. I'm going to find him and see if he really tried to MPK us." Jemza swallowed hard not sure what to say. The way Jayce was talking was more determined than she'd ever heard from him. Even more than he was when taking on the quest for his sword.

"If it turns out he did try to kill you?" Argo's eyes were narrow now, and dangerous. Like a hunter preparing to pounce on prey.

"I'll return the favor." Without waiting for a response he turned and walked away ignoring the fact that they hadn't eaten yet. Jemza quickly pushed her chair back and stood.

"Why did you do that? You should have told him not to! It's almost like you want him to do this!" Her anger was beginning to show now as she yelled at Argo. Thankfully, the only people nearby were NPC's. The painted whiskers on Argo's face twitched slightly, but her smile never disappeared.

"I simply confirmed a bit of information I had been curious about Miss White. That man knows the pain of losing someone he loves more than many others. Perhaps even more than anyone in this game, so here's something on the house because we're good friends. He's prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't happen again. Just think about that for a bit, you might get it. Now hurry or you'll lose him." The brown hood sank back down as she dropped her body back into the chair and kicked her feet up onto the table.

"Tch!" Jemza shook her head and turned running after Jayce. Rain was pouring down onto the streets and she had to shield her eyes to catch sight of him. She jogged in his direction until she came up next to him at last.

"Sorry, I wasn't going to leave without talking to you, I just needed to get some air and walk for a bit." Against the sound of raining falling she could still hear him and forced a smile. At least this time he had thought of her and hadn't been running away. She opened her mouth to respond, but closed it as she felt something fall over her body and head. She glanced over at him seeing that the black hooded cloak he wore was absent. Her fingers ran along the edge of the fabric that now covered her shoulders and head.

"Thanks." It wasn't like she was in danger of catching a cold. The rain that soaked their bodies would dry quickly once indoors due to how the game functioned. Nonetheless, it was a gesture not lost on her. As they walked along the road through the rain she couldn't help but think about what Argo had told her. Jayce had lost loved ones before. That was common for a lot of people, but it was the second part that now wracked her brain.

When she told him that she had no family or friends, he had said he was the same. If that were true, then there were no loved ones left for him to lose. Why then did Argo say that he was prepared to make sure it never happened again? The incident today only affected Jayce and herself. No matter how she thought of it, the events could not endanger anyone outside the game so who exactly was he protecting right now? The only person in game that had been in danger today was…

"Me…"

"What's that?" Jayce asked looking over at her, but she shook her head quickly. She looked at him from the edge of the hood analyzing everything about him that she could. She pulled the cloak tight around her body unsure if she had now understood what Argo had told her. Jayce didn't want to lose another person he loved…the only person besides Argo he knew, was her.