Chapter 41

December 8th, 2022

"It's strange isn't it?" Jayce looked over from the chair he sat in raising an eyebrow. Jemza was sitting on the edge of the bed scrolling through her inventory list when she spoke.

"What is?"

"The Anti-Harassment System kicked in pretty much like it should up until last night. It even threw you back a few nights ago when you hugged me. Isn't it strange that now it seems to be completely shut off? I mean, last night we even…uh…you know?" Jemza asked while turning scarlet in the cheeks, but Jayce thought about the question for awhile. It was something he had been curious about as well.

"Maybe the system adapts to the individuals in question. There might be some way it monitors mental and emotional states of mind. If so it could switch the safety off automatically for two people like us. It could also have to do with our age. A lot of players are younger kids, but you and I are adults. That could play a factor."

"You think the programmers could create something as adaptive as that? The Nerve Gear alone is ahead of its time, but now you're considering the potential of advanced AI technology?" Jemza tapped a button and her casual style clothing materialized onto her body. The pair had agreed to travel back to Urbus in the same style clothing they wore when they arrived in Marome.

"Just look at our fight with Artemis last night. The dialogue during the fight, his mannerisms, and even how he fought was far different than any random monster out in the wild. That felt like we were fighting against a real person, not some computer generated opponent." Jayce turned the chair so he could properly face the girl as they spoke.

"True, I noticed that too. I suppose there's more to this world than we ever realized. I wonder if it was always their intention or if the system can adapt. We can't feel pain, but what's to stop it from changing that?" Jayce shivered slightly at the thought. Jemza had a good point, but he silently prayed that the system never made such a drastic change during their time here.

"I'm sure that won't change. Pain is the one thing the system doesn't mimic here. Touch, sight, smell, sound, and taste are all replicated very well. Even emotional reactions like laughter and crying exist, which just goes to show how advanced SAO really is. I think the programmers purposefully made things that way. Although a prison, they wanted this to feel as real as possible aside from pain. Excitement, happiness, sadness…"

"Pleasure…" Jemza interrupted him as he spoke and they both blushed and fell silent.

"You…we both hit level twelve right?" Jayce quickly changed the subject after a long and awkward silence.

"Yes! You're right we did! What skill are you going to choose?" Jemza seemed equally anxious to move past the awkwardness.

"Well, after the estate blunder I caused I think it's easy to choose. PoH and you both had Searching and that seems far too valuable to not have." Jemza nodded as he spoke.

"I think that's a good idea. I was thinking that everything so far has involved us sneaking into places. Lockpicking would be a good choice for me don't you think?" Jemza stood and walked next to Jayce turning her skill window around so he could view it.

"Yeah, we're probably going to need that sooner rather than later. Let's lock them in." They both chose their respective skills and committed both to their lists. They closed the system menu and moved towards the door leading out of the small room. Jayce opened the door, but Jemza hesitated at the threshold looking back sadly.

"I liked this room. Even if it was for only one night, I liked it." Jayce put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.

"Me too."

"It's been exactly a week since we met. It feels like it's been so much longer. I met you, fell in love, and gave everything to you. That's weird right? Seven days and I'd follow you anywhere in the world." She turned and looked up at him. Jayce wrapped his arm around her pulling her through the doorway, closing it behind her.

"One door closes and now we go find the next one to open. Let's keep doing that and I'm sure years from now we'll find the answer." Jemza closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She nodded and smiled opening her eyes and stepping forward in front of him.

"Alright, let's go. We need to meet Argo in Urbus. Tonight will be a long night." The couple exited the home and began the long hike back towards Urbus. If last night had been any indication of what laid ahead, then Jemza's sentiments were dead on. Tonight would be very long indeed.

"Ah! My two favorite employees!" Hours later when they entered Urbus and made their way to the alley that would lead to the Thieves Guild, Argo was waiting. She waved enthusiastically from where she leaned against a building as Jayce and Jemza approached.

"Hey Argo. Thanks for coming." Jemza reached out and shook her hand with a smile.

"Of course Miss White, you made it sound like this would be quite beneficial to me. How could I say no to that? I see you are still with my favorite Alchemist whom I care ever so deeply for. My very first employee who I…" Her sarcastic and nasally sounding speech was cut off as Jayce walked up to her determinedly, crouched down, pulled her hood back, and kissed her on the cheek. Her eyes opened wide along with Jemza's as the two women stood with their mouths open.

"Good to see you Argo, let's go." He stood back up and began walking down the alley. With a few series of menu navigational taps he sent the girl a party invite and kept walking. Argo quickly flipped her hood back up, tightening it around her face a little more than normal and accepted the invite. Before it hid her face Jemza saw the deep crimson color flush the girl's cheeks. She jogged a few steps coming up next to Jayce.

"Sorry, I promise I won't do that again. Just once I wanted to get the better of Argo the Rat." Jayce whispered and Jemza sighed shaking her head. She couldn't help, but smile at the same time.

"Well, you got her good on that one. Just be careful, Argo can be dangerous." Jayce shook his head in disagreement.

"Not this time. I did that right in the open where others could see. She'll be too concerned with stamping out the rumors that she has a boyfriend who kissed her in the middle of the streets of Urbus." Jemza looked over at him incredulously.

"You are pure evil sometimes." He grinned wickedly in response to her comment as they continued through the winding alleyway. Jemza allowed Jayce to test his Searching skill once they reached the brick wall so he could see exactly how it worked. After finding the latch under the wall it spun providing them access further down towards the guild.

"This is quite hidden." Argo commented after being silent for a long time.

"Still one more to go down here a little ways." Jemza slid the dagger off her belt as they entered the tunnel and dragged the blade over her hand drawing a red line. Jayce held his hand out and she handed him the dagger allowing him to do the same. Argo watched on curiously as Jayce turned and held the weapon towards her.

"Last part requires your blood to enter. Since the game doesn't have bleeding you can draw a line of damage on your hand." Jayce explained and Argo took the dagger warily.

"This sounds like some blood cult you are taking me to. Are you planning on sacrificing me to some dark god?" Jayce laughed and Jemza shook her head reaching out and patting Argo's shoulder.

"He's telling the truth. Besides, aren't you the one always looking for information? I promise that in a few minutes it'll all be worth your time." Argo's visage never changes from skepticism, but after another brief pause she finally slid the blade of the knife across her hand and gave the weapon back to Jemza. Once they reached the appropriate point, Jayce instructed the girl on where to place her hand revealing the secret path to the Infiltrators Den. At that point the Rat's anticipation began to get the better of her.

"You two figured this all out on your own? How did you know to cut your hands? Wait, that means we aren't in Urbus technically anymore. We're outside the Safety Zone and injury is possible. This entire quest line is different, how did you two manage all this? Look at this place; it's literally underneath the city!" Argo began spouting off without taking a breath or allowing either of the pair to answer any of her questions.

"Here we are." Jayce reached out and opened the door revealing the tavern that functioned as the home for the Thieves Guild. The NPC's inside looked up cautiously until they saw Jayce and Jemza enter before either going about their business or flashing a quick wave. At one table Roland and Luna gave wide smiles raising their mugs towards the pair. Argo followed close behind trying to take in the surroundings.

"Hey! Jayce and Jemza welcome back!" Roland called out drawing a nod from the duo.

"Those are NPC's…and not quest givers either. Why are they calling out to you? This isn't right at all. NPC's don't…" Argo stopped as Jayce spun and knelt down in front of her. She flinched slightly, but it didn't quite seem like it was out of fear.

"Argo, I need you to do me a favor. Jemza and I have barely scratched the surface of these quests, but it's vastly different than anything I've seen. You're smart and clever so you are already realizing it far earlier than we did. These might be NPC's to you, but it's not that way for us anymore. Can you respect that?" Jayce leaned closer towards Argo and lowered his voice as he spoke. The painted whiskers on her face twitched slightly before she gave a quick nod.

"Alright I can do that…Jayce." He was straightening his body and half turned around when he heard her say his name. A very uncharacteristic thing for her to do.

"Thanks Argo. Come on there's someone we want you to meet." He began weaving through the tables towards a door in the back of the building leaving the brown cloaked girl standing.

"You've…grown." She whispered it under her breath before shuffling quickly to catch up to the two. They knocked once on the door and a feminine voice called out in greeting. A small office appeared through the door as it opened with a beautiful woman seated behind a desk on the far end. She looked up and her eyes instantly shone brighter recognizing the pair.

"Jemza and Jayce! Thank goodness you are both safe!" The woman pushed herself up from her chair and bounded over wrapping he arms around them both. Argo could only stare dumbfounded at what she was witnessing. This was another NPC as indicated by her cursor and yet her speech and actions seemed otherwise.

"We're back Rose and yes we are alright."

"Oh my and look at this. Jayce, have you brought another beautiful young woman with you?" Rose stood before Argo, her smile remaining as the girl shifted nervously.

"Beau…beautiful? Wha?" Ever since beginning this walk towards the Thieves Guild, Argo had been more out of her element than normal. It was a feeling she was unaccustomed to and not something she traditionally enjoyed.

"My name is Rose Vermilion and I run the Thieves Guild from this establishment. If you are friends of these two then you are a friend of mine." The woman held her hand out towards Argo who shook it slowly.

"Argo, pleasure to meet you." Their hands separated, but Argo's eyes never left Rose. This was the single most amazing thing she had witnessed so far. This entire area wasn't just a hideaway for a secret quest line, but was surrounded by intricate programming the likes of which she had never seen.

"We have some time, but there's a lot we need to go over and we need to do it now. I haven't explained any of this to Argo yet, but her knowledge will be invaluable once I explain." Jayce motioned towards her desk and Rose nodded leading them towards the chairs.

"What did you find in Marome?" Rose looked between them and Jayce glanced at Jemza before looking back at her.

"They know where you are Rose. Kurt is coming for you, tonight. Argo is a good friend of mine who deals in the trade and acquisition of information. There's no one in this world as talented as she is when it comes to information. We will need her services if we are going to succeed." Jayce explained and Rose's face became more serious than usual.

"Is that true?" Rose glanced over at Argo who could only look back nervously.

"I don't entirely know what's going on here, but yes, I'm the best." A hint of her usual pride finally broke free making Jemza smirk slightly.

"We need you to explain everything to her Rose. Tell her everything you told me when we last met. Leave nothing out and Jayce and I can fill in the parts we know. We are going to need to know everything we can about the people that killed your husband, and I anyone can track them down, it's Argo." A faint smile crossed Rose's lips as Jemza spoke. The woman leaned forward across the desk holding her hands out towards Argo who slowly rested her palms within Rose's hands.

"Thank you Miss Argo. I'm very happy these two have brought you with if it helps. You have my eternal gratitude for offering your services." She squeezed Argo's hands tightly.

"She'll want money." Jayce commented making Argo shoot him a look of anger. Rose merely laughed and squeezed the girl's hands once more.

"We're thieves Jayce, not beggars. You will be paid for your services Miss Argo, do not worry. I would question your motives if you were so easily swayed into doing things for free."

"Just Argo please, or Argo the Rat if you prefer. Tell me what's going on here and I'll see what I can do to help. I must admit…this has my attention." The last portion Argo glanced over at the pair who breathed sighs of relief. They had hoped to hook Argo with this portion of the quest and glean any information from her that they could. In return, Argo would be afforded a wealth of opportunity and firsthand knowledge of the guild.

"As you wish Argo, thank you again. Now, before I begin you said Kurt was coming tonight? I assume once my story is done you will be sharing a plan to stop him?" Rose looked back at Jayce who nodded.

"We know he's coming. He thinks he will catch you unawares." Jayce stared at Rose who matched his gaze.

"We lure him here…" Rose began as Jayce leaned back in the chair.

"And we kill him."