All real life Foundries were heavily guarded and observed, while resources such as rare metals and fuel were carefully reserved and doled out according to one’s standing in the Game. Still, it was sort of nice to know that what could be created within the Game could also be created outside, that the knowledge of humanity, or, Alan supposed, sentient races, was being expanded upon.
“Hello, Alan, are you there?” Phantom asked, breaking Alan out of his reverie.
“Hmm, what? Oh, yeah. Can you tell me what I’m doing here now. Why Eve is gone and what's with the helmet?”
“Well, the two are interrelated. I’m doing a full scan of Eve, to make sure there are no hidden viruses or other issues before she is given more access to the guild network. It’s standard procedure, and the AI in question needs to be off for this type of scan. Of course, the complete results and everything I learn from the tests will be shared with you. This also gives me the opportunity to discuss a few matters with you.”
“And those are?” Alan wondered, glancing at Phantom a bit suspiciously.
Phantom pulled out a flask from within his lab coat and took a swig of whatever was inside. He offered it to Alan, who politely declined. Phantom glanced around warily, as if uncertain these quarters were safe, then said, “Well, as you have probably already worked out, I’m not just an inventor. I have a side job as, well... a gatherer of information, if you will.”
“A spymaster?” Alan asked, as Phantom winced at Alan’s question.
“Yes, yes, something like that.” He took another swallow of whatever was in the flask.
“And the Chief Administrator, for one reason or another, thought you would be a good squire for me. To be quite frank, franker than I usually am, you would end up being my primary agent. To assemble all this,” he paused for another drink, “information, I need to stay here. I am unable to venture off Khersath or perform various… tasks. You would instead. The tasks would range from something simple, like handing off a package or bit of information, to infiltration and assassination. Is that, um, something you’d be able to handle?”
Phantom glanced at a screen in front of him, hitting a few buttons. Alan noted a bead of sweat on his forehead.
“Well, that sounds pretty cool to me, just, I don’t think I really have the skills or equipment to do some of the things you’re suggesting, especially not against governments or factions that have existed for millennia. Also, um, is everything all right? You seem rather nervous,” Alan replied.
“What?” Phantom said. “Oh, yes, well, honestly when I first joined this guild my every intention was to stick strictly to inventing, getting a good look at some of our diagrams and inventions. I never imagined that Enigma would single me out to do something so important as…” Phantom winced.
“I don’t think you should have heard that, although I suppose most people would assume Enigma was in charge of this whole thing. Anyway, I’ve never planned on getting involved in anything so dangerous as running such missions, or even leaving the safe zone of Khersath, for that matter. Like most people I imagined I’d end up spending most of my time in a safe-zone.
"Honestly, I’m still half expecting you to be a spy that is going to suddenly leap up and torture me. You have a combat rank of B, after all! Then again, I suppose that’s why the Chief Administrator sent you, as you’re from Earth you probably have next to no ulterior motives, no connections to any such groups that… Well, I’m rambling, does that answer your concerns?”
“Um, training and equipment? How much will I be paid?” Alan asked, a bit uncertain if he wanted this trembling figure as his mentor. Phantom was continuing to drink out of the flask, getting drunker by the minute.
“Oh, yes! You’ll be sent to the finest of academies, the one and only rank S academy simply known throughout the Game as the Academy. You’ll be joined by the guild leader’s daughter, and perhaps your friend Kitana, depending on how much she impresses Arms Master Mason. A few others might make it as well, though tuition is quite expensive, and you’ll be put a million guild points in debt.”
Phantom seemed to have calmed himself, though whether it was due to the drink or because of some other factor Alan wasn’t quite certain. Phantom had stopped glancing over and hitting keys on the screen in front of him a short while ago.
“A million guild points? That’s 10 million credits, right?” Alan questioned.
“Yes. The education and opportunities being a graduate of the Academy presents are worth far more than that. Doing the missions I’ve outlined you should be able to pay us back in a few years, assuming you’re at least mediocre.”
“Um, I’m not sure I have a few years. Right now, I need to pay off another debt and help Earth.”
“Oh, well, I'm sure we can add another million credits or so to the loan. Also you’re mainly going to be working around and on Earth. Tell me, how much do you know about your planet’s current situation?”
“Um, not much,” Alan said sheepishly.
“Well, this should help.” Phantom brought up a 3D star map of thousands of galaxies, and highlighted the solar system Earth was in, a tiny blip in space. “Here is what you call the Virgo Cluster. And here are the various powers within said Virgo Cluster.” The map was suddenly highlighted three different colors, red, blue and green. Earth was barely at the outside edge of the blue space, near where the red, blue and green sections of space intersected.
“The blue space represents the space the Haxlards control, while the red represents the Empire, and finally the green represents free space, the space around Khersath, which is generally controlled by guild alliances. Frankly, Earth is in a prime location for a staging point for anyone wishing to attempt to attack or defend against any of the other three forces! This is the reason why the Haxlards tried so long to stop Earth from entering the Game, and are now so keen on having Earth governments as an ally.”
“Staging point?” Alan asked questioningly, wishing he had Eve to help explain some of this to him. He was also feeling a bit nervous about Phantom. Something about the whole situation put him a bit on edge. Not having Eve around made him feel oddly naked, revealing just how much he relied on her guidance.
“Hmm? Oh, yes, I suppose you don’t yet know much about warfare in the Game. Well, suffice it to say that like in most wars, supplies and travel routes are of the utmost importance. Having a fortified refueling and respawn point right at the edge of enemy territory is as good as say, an entire fleet of capital ships. Thus, the guild alliances, or at least the Mercenary Bloc, of which the Black Rose Guild is a part, desire for Earth to be either under their control or at the very least neutral in any conflicts to come.
"Honestly, being neutral in the face of any future conflict, charging everyone else, is probably the best outcome for the planet’s future. Now, even though no one is able to openly act for another three years or so, there are already plans in motion with humans from Earth acting as intermediaries, pawns for these various factions. Our hope is that Earth remains free, and any missions you perform for the guild will be with this goal in mind, which I’m sure you find acceptable.”
“Okay, I guess that makes sense. Um, I’d honestly like to do some calculations with my AI’s help before anything else though,” Alan said.
“Of course, of course, the scans should be about complete. I’ll bring them up on your AI Status Window for you,” Phantom calmly stated, as he pressed a few buttons.
“My what?” Alan asked.