The Manaverse

Slatewell Town Hall

Granite City

Wendy forced a smile. She was finding it harder and harder to deal with stupidity on a daily basis. It was already hard before the crash, and she could allow for end-of-the-world idiocy as that was to be expected. However, that didn't make it any easier to deal with.

The man at her panel in the Town Hall lobby yelled furiously in her face. "I just want to go to my house. Let me out of this damn place. It's too crowded and there isn't enough food." He was disheveled, grimy, and his tag in Wendy's vision read Normal rank.

Wendy felt her teeth clench and her smile tighten. As politely and, as she liked to think, professionally as she could, she she answered the man again . "Sir. If you can find a way out, please do so. I am sure wild Monsters need sustenance too. Until the barrier comes down in a few days, however, there is nothing I can do to assist you besides directing you to the System Shop for food."

The man's face turned beet red and he inhaled to yell at her some more, but a large, dark hand landed on his shoulder. The man looked up and his building rage fizzled into intimidated real quick.

"As the fine young lady has said, more than once, we are all stuck in here and if you want more food, you'll have to pay for it. If you would be so kind as to move out of the way, the rest of us have business here as well." Derrick said. Despite his friendly tone and look, he gave off an aura of "fuck around and find out" that Wendy was envious of.

"But... but... I don't have any chips or coins. What am I supposed to do?" The man whined after gulping air. His tone towards Derrick was much calmer than it had been towards Wendy.

"Here. Go and get a copper coin Skill from the Store and earn your pay." Derrick said dismissively as he handed the man a copper coin.

The man turned tail and ran out the door, clutching the coin tightly in both hands.

Wendy let out another sigh. "Thank you so much, Derrick. That's the fifth time he has come up here the last three days, demanding to be let out."

"Some people just need a more firm guiding than others. The population will bounce back if we can hold down the fort." Derrick said with a heavy tone. He brightened and gave her a small smile. "Ms. Wendy. I am here because I got your message. What can I do you for? It couldn't have been for that guy." He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb.

It took considerably more effort than Wendy thought it would to not purr back at the tall, handsome man and tell him exactly what he could do TO her, but she managed it. She needed the Safe Zone to open just as badly as everyone else, if only to get out of town and blow off some steam.

"I needed to see you about some Guild business and because I wanted to ask if you would come to the afternoon announcement with me. I might not be able to report to the other Guild members what is said after their run is over, so I wanted my bases covered. From what I hear, this one will be a doozy."

Derrick nodded. "I would gladly attend the announcement. I like to stay informed. What about the Guild business?"

Wendy pulled a small sack from her inventory and passed it to him. "Jut, Brick, and Diggy chipped in to get you this. Something about wanting to invest in the "New Stony Jigger". That was your bar, right?"

Derrick swiped the bag up and looked inside. There was a Land Purchase Token, a blank business license, and ten gold coins.

Derrick's eyes nearly bulged out of his head before he ran a hand down his face. Then he shook his head, dropping the items into his inventory. He cursed and muttered under his breath as he did so.

"That guy and his damned meddling in other peoples business..."

Wendy was so glad Derrick had started using the System. She knew he had so much potential and she wanted him to survive. She wondered who had convinced him, because he never gave her the time of day on the subject when she tried to bring it up. She came around the desk and set a hand in his arm.

"It's about to start. Don't be too upset with Jut and the others. They're just trying to help us get something back from before the crash. A piece of the old world, you know?" Wendy was as reassuring as she could be.

Derrick gave her a long, considering look then nodded slowly. He turned and held his arm out to Wendy who laced hers through. They began walking towards the front door, another attendant stepping into Wendy's place as she left.

"Fine. I won't. But if I find out you helped "chip in" too, you'll get the brunt of what I was going to say to him." Derrick chided. His tone had no bite to it though and a grin curved the corners of his mouth.

"Me? Never." Wendy said in mock offense. She figured it was best not to mention it was her idea.

They stepped out into the main plaza which was already packed to the gills with people. They were all gathered around the stage and podium the Safe Zone staff had put up, like they had every morning. Half the crowd was silent and patiently waiting for Adam Slatewell to make his appearance. The other half were much more of a contrast with half chanting in anger and the other half looking lost and morose.

"We're not safe! We're not safe!" and "Gran-it! Gran-it!" rang out across the plaza.

Wendy and Derrick both cringed at the jeering and chanting crowd as they were hit by the blast of sound. However, the noise cut out suddenly as a mass of Safe Zone attendants took the stage, Adam emerging from their number to stand behind the podium and lift the microphone.

The sharp sound of feedback echoed all around before cutting out and Adam's voice filled the plaza. The last of the other noises faded completely.

"Citizens of the Slatewell Safe Zone." Adam's initial words were met by loud boos and more jeering. It was a running argument amongst the population that the city was named Granite City and not Slatewell City. "We called this gathering to discuss the impending end of the Lock Down as well as to make a few other announcements."

Adam waited to let people react. When they didn't, he continued.

"First. I want to remind everyone that just because we have been safe for the last week and half doesn't mean the Monsters are gone." Adam's voice had a stern, fatherly tone, warning his children to not play in the road. "I know it may be tempting to believe everything will go back to normal, but that won't be possible. The world has changed. We encourage anyone who wants to leave the Safe Zone at anytime in the foreseeable future to get a Hunter, or Adventurer as they will be called going forward, to accompany you."

"We can't afford that!" A man yelled.

"If we can't even afford to eat now, how can we hire an Adventurer to help us?" A woman shouted.

Adam raised both of his hands and the growing anger of the crowd was tamped down briefly.

"Once the Adventurers start bringing in edible food once more, the cost will decrease and we will once again be able to remove the rationing restriction. Also, we encourage everyone who has not done so to pick up a copper coin Skill from the System Shop. Then you will find a way to afford everything you desire."

Before the rumblings could start once again, Adam went over the current state of affairs. At least, what he was willing to discuss with the public. Nothing was new for Wendy, or particularly interesting. Just the usual reminders to not start fights, conserve food, and hang in there a little longer. That was, until Adam reached the end is his speech.

"Lastly, we wanted to fill you all in on the status of our investigation into the event now known as the Monster Wave."

Wendy felt it as the crowd became eerily quiet. Even the usual sounds of a lot of people in one place went silent. Everyone was waiting with baited breath to finally learn more about that night.

"We have discovered two individuals who directly led to this catastrophe." Adam held up two fingers. Behind and above him, two images appeared. It was a feature of the Lore Book Wendy had just discovered herself upon reaching Stone rank. She doubted anyone else knew what it was because almost everyone in the crowd took in a deep breath of awe.

Adam pointed to a dark-haired man, wearing a Safe Zone uniform. "This is Freddy Maltin. He was employed by the Safe Zone for year's when it was just the Slatewell Casino. While I am deeply ashamed to admit this fact, he used his employment to launch an attack on the Monsters which caused them to swarm us. We have no idea what his motives were."

The crowd started grumbling and some of the listeners were clearly becoming agitated. When Adam next spoke, much of the grumbling went away.

"Fred died in the first moments of the Wave. We know this because we have an eyewitness who saw him perform the deed and watched as he was over taken and killed." Adam looked solemn. "At least we know he will not be able to cause anymore harm." He gestured to the other picture of a blonde man with curly hair. He seemed normal enough. "This is Gordan Donaldson. He was not an employee of the Casino but did infiltrate the ranks of our staff the night of the Monster Wave. He, and a few of his unidentified cohorts, are to blame for the Eastern entrance to the bunker being left open, letting the Monsters get in and killing so many."

By now, the pleased silence of the crowd upon hearing Freddy had died was replaced by a building furry that only got hotter as the crowd continued to listen.

"He has yet to be captured and we believe he may have slipped out of the Safe Zone just before the Lock Down barrier went up."

Adam was forced to stop speaking as the voices of the crowd crescendoed to an ear splitting volume.

"How did he get in or out and how did no one notice?"

"Where is he now?"

"You must be hiding him from us!"

Again, Adam's hands went up. This time, Wendy was shocked when everyone went quiet once more. She suspected he was using a Skill or something, because she felt a desire to remain silent even though she had no intention of adding to madness in the first place.

"We are opening our investigation a bit wider. We know Gordan has associates who are still within the boundary. As such, we ask everyone to please cooperate with our staff members who are conducting the investigation as much as possible. The more you do so, the faster we will be able to bring this man and his organization to justice!" Adam finished, holding up one hand in a closed fist.

The crowd went nuts, cheering and chanting again. A steady beat began and some people started stomping one foot.

"Justice! Justice! Justice!"

Adam walked off stage, his mass of employees followed and surrounded him. The crowd parted easily for the group as they carried their Lord to safety.

"Well, fuck." Wendy cursed.

"What's wrong?" Derrick asked, looking over at her. She turned and looked back at him, concern written across her face.

"I recognize that Gordan guy. Both our fearless leader and Brick were roommates with him before the Town Hall upgrade. They are gonna be out for blood when they learn about this." Wendy said worriedly. She was already shaking her head, afraid of how the two would react. She hoped she was right, that she wouldn't have time to report in, so Derrick would tell them. He was much better at these kinds of things than she was.