Desolate World

A week later Troy was asked to go to the police station. There, the police said that based on the investigation that was done by the Union, he was proven not guilty. 

When he heard that, he felt that a heavy stone that was put in his heart had been lifted. Like that was written in the post, he was advised to not enter the game as his current character and created a new character. 

He had expected that. But the officer's next words made him startled. He said that such cases often happened during these three months, and he was not the first victim. Many cases involved solo players that had offended big guilds. 

However, the Union couldn't punish the crimes that happened in the game, except if it was a violation of the contract, as it was mentioned that the contract was protected by the system. They couldn't do much about the cases.

In Troy's case and similar ones, the Union had made an exception, because they saw many people's lives were ruined by such frequent incidents. However, they couldn't interfere with anything that happened in the game. So, the police officer asked Troy to not make his case public, because it would affect society, as there had already been many cases that were exposed on the internet.

Troy understood what the officer's meant. He didn't want the cases to become viral, as it could cause more harm to the people. As many people knew the truth, they also learned how to commit a crime. The crime rate would increase in no time. And then new kinds of crime would be created by other criminals that were inspired by this case. So, many more people would be harmed.

Troy understood the reasoning. There had already been many victims as few people knew how to do the crime. So, if more people knew how to do the crime, many more people's lives would be ruined.

However, a matter was still bothering him. If no one spoke up, wouldn't the other people become the new victims, as they had never expected such a crime could be done?

The officer said ambiguously. He said the case would continue to happen. But, based on the data, only a case would likely happen in a settlement. 

It puzzled Troy how they knew it. But the officer refused to give more information. He just gave Troy advice to join a guild after he entered the game once more. Because, many bullying and crimes were targeting solo players. 

After that, Troy went home. As he had been freed from the big problem, he could think clearly once more. Losing most of his wealth had definitely made him frustrated. However, not playing the game for almost a month also made him bored. 

He had always thought that he didn't enjoy the game because of being targeted by Sunny Gulf Guild. He was always being oppressed after all. But, he also missed every moment of getting a profit by doing business. 

After taking a rest, he once again entered the capsule after a long time. First, he deleted his character. Then he got a system notification that he had a total of three days of waiting time to be able to enter the game once more. However, he could create his new character, buying items from the system, and doing training to familiarize himself with his new job for the time being.

He didn't want to repeat the same mistake as he had done in the past. So he directly chose a production job. It was a runemaster, a C rarity job. He also bought some equipment with limited funds that he had.

He gave up being a merchant this time, as he was sure he could do the business just fine without it. After all, he had experience doing it these months. And by being a runemaster, he hoped to make a name in his next village. After all, being an experienced businessman, he knew the attraction of a high-level production job was to the guild. 

Not like combat players that often needed talent, the production players only needed many practices, and dedication to be able to become experts. Maybe even if a guild recruited a hundred combat players, just a few of them could become experts, but by recruiting 10 production players, the guild could have 10 experts, as long as they were willing to fund all of them, and the 10 of them had enough willpower and dedication to be the best.

Troy understood that he had no talent for being a good combat player. But he definitely had the stubbornness to become a good production player. In this case a runemaster.

As he didn't want to repeat the same mistake of his past playing, he would join a big guild this time. Being a solo player was only what a masochist would do. Although he knew it would be hard for him to trust anyone again, he would try once more. Humans were born as social creatures. He believed there was definitely a place for him out there.

What he needed at the moment was waiting for the waiting time to pass.

***

Meanwhile, in Laketown, the elders attended a meeting to assess if all the preparation to activate the city core was complete.

"All of the required buildings and even many secondary buildings such a hospital, sewer system, a mine, and some outposts have been completed. We are ready to activate the city core, Boss," Aria said to the large Mars with confidence.

"Good. Next, Noah, how is your side? Have all defense arrangements been put together perfectly?" Mars then asked 

Noah then stood up and said, "I don't know what you mean by 'perfectly', boss. But I assure you that all of the town guards have been ready. No one of them has a level less than 20. They also got the best equipment, weapons, potions, and scrolls from the town's workshops.

We also have placed several ballistas, catapults on the town wall and behind it with enough of their missiles and large stones.

Our outposts were also filled with enough personnel that were ready to report any new situation in the forest.

The monster tamer unit has domesticated many monsters that can become our secret weapons. 

I think we have done all we could do."

Mars nodded, "Good job. Next is you, Ace. How are the night guards?"

Ace stood up and said, "For the scouting. We worked together with town guards by placing multiple layers of surveillance. First, hundreds of birds have been domesticated. We placed many of them at the border of the Misty Forest and the Prairie. Oh my bad, we agreed to call it the Bones Prairie, right? 

And then all shadow stalkers were also placed on the border as well. They are guarding in shifts now. But I will deploy all of them on the day the city core is activated.

As for all elites, they are ready to be deployed at any time if the situation needs it."

"Good. I think there is no reason to delay the city core activation any longer. The activation will be performed two days later. 

I hope all of you can ensure all of the preparation for the ceremony and the security on these two days. It will be our historical moment. So, let's make it big," Mars said with a grind.

"Yes, boss!" All the elders then stood up and shouted.

***