[Musashi has sent you a friend request. Do you accept?]
QJ clicked Accept as the notification blinked across his HUD.
[Whisper: QJ/Musashi] Any issues with character creation?
[Whisper: Musashi/QJ] None. I created a Wrangler, like you recommended.
[Whisper: QJ/Musashi] Good. Your starting town is Laredo—you'll be locked there until level eight. I'll send you some gear and a proper weapon. Once you're set, I'll add you to the guild. We've got a stack of badges that'll give your stats a bump.
[OP: QJ] Please welcome Musashi—a Wrangler joining under the friends and family plan.
[OP: Ringo] Welcome, Musashi.
[OP: Breeze] Welcome!
[OP: Sato] Awesome. You must have some serious skills.
[OP: Musashi] Not really. Mostly, I'm just disgustingly handsome.
[OP: Breeze] Even better! Dibs on the new guy.
QJ laughed, shaking his head.
[OP: QJ] Get to work, Musashi. I'll send your care package.
He stepped outside the guild hall and nodded to the dark elf stationed by the gate.
"Brother QJ greets Brother Toman Jol."
"Brother Toman greets Brother QJ," the elf replied, bowing slightly.
Pausing on the steps, QJ opened his supply interface and selected the package he'd prepared: medium armor, a swordgun, a drum-fed shotgun, and a Liraraptor mount—more than enough to give a level-one Wrangler a headstart.
[Whisper: QJ/Musashi] Sending it now. Write down any questions about gameplay and forward them to my desk HUD.
[Whisper: Musashi/QJ] Thank you. I promise you won't regret this.
The guild hall was half-full when QJ returned, its high vaulted space alive with chatter and laughter. Dave the Baker was setting out fresh pastries—three silver trays of fruit pastries and cinnamon twists. OP members circled the table like vultures, each pretending not to hover.
"Looks good, Dave," QJ said, stealing one from the box.
"Thanks, Boss." Dave's curly, reddish-brown hair was dusted with flour, matching the apron he'd clearly never taken off.
QJ dropped into the seat next to Ringo, taking a large bite of the lemon pastry. "Questions?"
Ringo leaned in close. "Who's Musashi?"
"A hidden trump card," QJ said with a grin.
"Does he have any gaming experience?"
QJ shrugged. "No idea—but I doubt he's bad at anything he tries."
[Whisper: QJ/Ringo] He's the former CEO of Ito Industries.
Ringo blinked, processing.
[Whisper: Ringo/QJ] Wait—the same Ito family with a presence in Martial Law and Iron Mount?
[Whisper: QJ/Ringo] Exactly. What I didn't realize until today is how deep they've invested in Martial Law. That little raid we pulled last night? It's going to cost them dearly.
[Whisper: Ringo/QJ] Civil war tends to do that. So what's Musashi's relation to the other Ito?
[Whisper: QJ/Ringo] Between you and me—he's Bianca Ito's grandfather.
Ringo's eyes widened before she burst into a grin, covering her mouth to hide her laugh.
[Whisper: Ringo/QJ] No shit?
[Whisper: QJ/Ringo] Yep. OP's newest chess piece is someone's grandpa.
Still smiling, Ringo stepped up to the podium, QJ shadowing her while finishing the pastry.
[OP: Ringo] I've sent everyone a packing list for The Leadership Summit. You won't be able to board the train without your [Platinum Travel Token]—leave it behind, and you're staying home.
[OP: QJ] We're the first players invited to this summit, and the first from the Phoenix server to step onto the Fraezi continent. We'll use our wolf mounts exclusively for the three days we're there.
[OP: Ringo] Dessi and the Third Years from OP's Basara branch will accompany us, along with a few guest NPCs.
[OP: QJ] Departure's tomorrow at 0800. Meet here, and we'll take the guild portal to Velez Station, then board the Northern Platinum Express Railway—bound across the frozen tundra of Fraezi.
[OP: Ringo] Wrap up any time-sensitive quests tonight. The train ride takes a full day. You can log off after boarding if you're not keen on rail travel.
QJ exited the guildhall's main doors, Ringo and two squads of dark-elf commandos falling into step behind him. The white cobblestone streets of One Problem City blazed under the noon sun, forcing him to tug the brim of his hat lower.
Shoppers, merchants, and residents paused as the group passed, murmuring greetings or bowing respectfully. Both QJ and Ringo made it a point to acknowledge each wave and nod — quiet acknowledgment of how far OP's name had spread.
OPC had grown astonishingly fast since its days as Thunder Keep — once the stronghold of the fallen Prince Morbin. From fortress to city-fort to its current evolution as a continental capital, the transformation had been swift and unstoppable. Every day, more from the Berg continent flocked to its walls. The influence of One Problem now stretched further than anyone had dared imagine.
QJ stopped when they reached the northwest district, several empty city blocks stretching before them — the future Alliance Sector.
Ringo handed him a build order scroll. "Place it where you like."
He studied the terrain before choosing a wide western section. "Central access. Close to the new cultural buildings and the high-end entertainment sector."
Ringo folded her arms. "This changes everything, QJ. The rest of Exodus has been watching OP dominate the Phoenix server. But this? No one's done anything like it."
QJ smiled. "They'd better get used to choking on our dust."
He activated the scroll — only to have his hand pushed back as a wave of energy erupted from the parchment.
[GnG System Message] Please retreat from the lighted area.
"The embassy is this large?" Ringo called, already jogging backward.
QJ followed, estimating distances as the light expanded. "I'm guessing most of that's walls and the main gate."
Once they cleared the boundary, a vertical beam of light shot skyward, curving into a dome that shimmered even against the midday sun.
[GnG System Message] You have formed an Alliance with the High Elves of Iron Mount and agreed to build a foreign embassy within OP territory. A mirrored construction will appear in the High Elf capital city of Murial under the One Problem banner.
[Exodus System Message: All Servers] The One Problem Guild of Guns & Gore has formed an Alliance with the High Elf Kingdom of Iron Mount.
[Exodus System Message: All Servers] All OP members have been awarded the Diplomatic Medal.
[Exodus System Message: All Servers] All OP members have advanced two levels.
[GnG System Message] One Problem's World Reputation has increased by 1,000 points.
[GnG System Message] QJ of One Problem is the first player on the Phoenix server to reach Level 70.
[System Message] Your world reputation has increased by 100 points.
[System Message] You have been awarded a set of [Platinum Dice].
QJ glanced at Ringo, both of them grinning as he linked the award to guild chat.
[OP: QJ] Here it is.
Diplomatic Medal:OP Guild Award
Description: All members start with favored status with neutral and good-aligned forces. Evil-aligned factions have been reset to non-hostile.
[OP: Breeze] We're gonna have elves in OPC?!
[OP: QJ] Some. The build takes six days, so we'll be back from the Summit before it's finished.
Ignoring his buzzing HUD, QJ paced the perimeter of the glowing dome. "Lunch in Murial when it's complete."
Ringo grinned. "I accept. The crown's already promised a hundred paladins for the detail."
QJ turned to his escort. "Maintain a presence here until construction's done. Stationary, roving—your call."
"Understood, Brother QJ." Yaron Jol saluted sharply and began barking orders.
[OP: Ringo] Drinks at the Songbird — first round's on me.
[OP: QJ] I've got the second.
"Your dad's assigning Zephyr to the new embassy for twelve months?" Ringo asked as they walked.
QJ nodded. "And with a hundred paladins from the crown, security's handled. We'll finalize staffing after the Summit."
Ringo slung an arm around his shoulders as they headed back toward the guildhall. "My HUD's going crazy."
"Same," QJ said. "Just ignore it." He checked his inventory, lips twitching. "Platinum Dice again."
Ringo snorted. "Scared to roll them? Last time turned out fine."
"Eventually," QJ said with mock severity. "Still sucked being cursed for ten levels."
**
Thrush sighed, slouched in her chair outside the Songbird Tavern, bored out of her mind.
[Songbird: Thrush] Why do we have to post a door guard? It's completely automated with friends and block lists.
[Songbird: Nightingale] You know the auto-filter's always bugging out. Last year they let that all-female guild from Civil Unrest in here. Took us months to patch the bullet holes.
[Songbird: Robin] Those Tommy guns were bad ass, though.
[Songbird: Nightingale] True.
Thrush leaned back, ignoring the long line of players waiting to get in.
"Hello…"
The voice came from the corner of the building. A young man stepped forward, ignoring the line entirely. He was strikingly handsome — Asian, sharp-eyed, dressed head to toe in white like an old Western hero, a feathered Liraraptor trotting obediently behind him.
Thrush tilted her head, scanning his character.
[Musashi]
Wrangler — Level 3
Guild Affiliation: One Problem
"Hi yourself," Thrush said. "We're busy today — but not for you."
"No?" Musashi looked over his shoulder at the queue of impatient patrons, then shrugged, unbothered. "Because I'm so handsome?"
Thrush laughed before she could stop herself. "What?"
Musashi's grin widened — boyish, disarming, with a glimmer that didn't match his age. "What's your name?"
"Thrush," she said, returning the smile.
[Songbird: Thrush] Anyone know a level 3 OP Wrangler named Musashi?
[Songbird: Lark] Never heard of him. Why's he so low level?
[Songbird: Thrush] I think he's hitting on me.
"Thrush," Musashi repeated, testing the sound. "Like the songbird?"
Thrush raised an eyebrow. "Yes. Just like that."
"I see. You have beautiful eyes."
The tavern's door light switched from red to green.
"Is this a club?" Musashi asked.
"It's the Songbird Tavern," Thrush said with practiced pride. "I'm inviting you in because you're in OP."
Musashi's lips quirked, his sharp mind already drawing conclusions. "So it's no coincidence someone named Thrush is guarding a place called the Songbird."
"You're remarkably uninformed, Musashi," she teased, gesturing to the door. "Go on, you're cleared."
Musashi hesitated, studying her. None of her stats were visible. "I'd rather stay here and talk with you."
Thrush smirked. "I get that a lot." Her eyes flicked to his sidearm — a sleek swordgun. "QJ give the new guy a special?"
Musashi's grin softened into something warmer. "You know QJ? Remarkable young man. I taught him to play shogi… Somehow, I ended up losing."
Thrush's curiosity sparked. "What's shogi?"
"It's a board game," Musashi said, amused. "Would you like to learn?"
[Songbird: Thrush] Bring a small table out here and another chair.
[Songbird: Lark] One sec.
"Sounds more interesting than staring at angry customers," Thrush said.
But before Musashi could answer, he startled — straightening and bowing slightly. "Apologies, miss. My time has expired."
Thrush blinked as he vanished, leaving only the empty street and his fading mount's echo.
Lark emerged moments later, carrying a folding table and chair. "Is this your way of saying you wanted company?"
"What? No—there was a guy here. He was gonna teach me a game." Thrush gestured to the empty space.
Lark smirked. "Uh-huh. Invisible guy, huh?"
"No! He must've logged off." Thrush sighed, defeated. "Whatever. As long as you're here, sit down."
Lark ignored her and went back inside.
[Songbird: Nightingale] What was the table for?
[Songbird: Lark] Thrush and her invisible boyfriend.
[Songbird: Thrush] Hey! He wasn't invisible!
[Songbird: Lark] Right. Imaginary boyfriend. Don't worry, girl — I'll find you someone real nice.
[Songbird: Thrush] He wasn't imaginary. His name was Mu… something. And he was gonna teach me Shogu or something like that.
[Songbird: Lark] Admit it — you made him up.
[Songbird: Nightingale] Definitely made up.