New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

David turned and looked at the drone above him as the horror died out. He smiled and pointed at it, motioning it to get closer.

After a second, the drone slowly descended, stopping a few feet away from David, and pointing its camera at his face.

"To whomever may be watching this right now, and thinking that I am a monster, I would like to say a few words," David said.

He then raised a hand, making a pulling motion, as he chanted, "Rise."

The bodies of the fifty gang members suddenly seized and shook, as if in the middle of an epileptic episode, before more horror happened.

The bodies started getting back up to their feet, flesh rotting away quickly, either completely falling off the bone to reveal skeletons underneath or decomposing until a rotting zombie stood in their place.

Some bodies shook wildly until they dropped back to the ground. Then, spectres pulled out of them, exhaling condensed air, the air from their bodies freezing the one around their breath.

"I am a monster. The monster that evil fears when it goes around infecting everything it touches. The monster that will keep evil at bay when the time comes for humanity to make its stand. Don't stray from the right path, and we will never meet.

"But if you wander off that path, and dredge into the dark marshes of evil, well…" David said, grinning.

He waved at the bodies around him and looked back at the camera.

"I shall add you to my collection, and make sure your body atones for your crimes, until it crumbles to the sands of time," he added, before melting into his shadow.

Alex had just turned on his phone to catch the broadcast right before the killing ended, and he scoffed.

"He can call me many things, but I'm no drama queen like him…" he muttered as Elise and Kary looked over his shoulder at the bodies that melted into the shadows as well before they vanished.

"Is that guy a friend of yours?" Elise asked, looking at Kary.

"Unfortunately, yes…" Kary grumbled.

Alex was about to defend him when his phone beeped in his ear as a text message made its way into his mind. It was from David.

**

'I cleaned up for you. I hope you don't forget this favour you owe me in the future. :)'

**

Alex grumbled to himself as he saw the message.

"Favour, my ass. You just made the whole world see the worst waking nightmare they could imagine. Now, I'm going to have to explain so many things when the press comes to me, asking why you called me 'the hero.' You fucking asshat…" he mumbled.

Kary heard him mumble but didn't understand the words, as she wasn't focusing her mana on enhancing her body right now.

But Elise heard everything crystal clear.

"Based on your relationship, I take it you are quite good friends, yeah?" she asked Alex mockingly.

He glared at her, but didn't reply.

This only made Elise chuckle as Kary passed her hand in her hair, thinking about what came next.

"We should leave before someone recognizes you from the crowd and comes asking questions," Kary said, turning to leave.

But she ended up face to face with a father and son duo, whose mouths stood agape.

Alex turned as well, and realized he hadn't brought them away, but with him here.

"Uh… Hi guys…" he said, grimacing stupidly.

Elise looked at the two of them and sighed.

"You guys leave. I'll catch them up and answer whatever questions they have. I'll call you later and keep you posted on how it went," she said, walking toward the father and son duo, grabbing them by the shoulders and trying to bring them away.

They offered little resistance, staring at Alex with wide eyes and dropped jaws.

"Oh, and Alex!" Elise shouted out over her shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you. Even if you weren't the one to deal with the thugs, you still saved these two. I owe you. You can count on me whenever you need me. Call, and I'll answer."

After saying this, she pulled on the two boys, dragging them along, away from this scene that could be called nothing short of a horror show.

Alex smiled, as he figured this was mission accomplished.

As he turned to leave again, he saw a journalist, and they made eye contact. The man's eyes widened as he raised his hand, trying to grab Alex's attention.

"Sir! Sir, wait up! I have some questions!"

"Shit. Kary, we're leaving," Alex said, grabbing her in a princess hold, not letting her time to react, as he blasted into the sky.

Of course, he wouldn't leave the man hanging to dry. As the journalist reached where the pair had been, he raised his head in awe and noticed something fluttering down toward him.

He raised his hand, catching it, and saw a business card.

On it, the name 'Gu Fang,' along with a number to reach him.

The journalist grinned widely, as he thought he was on to the biggest scoop of his life. He spun around, ensuring none of his peers saw him and what he had caught, before fleeing the scene like he had stolen something.

In the meantime, as Alex flew away with Kary in his arms, only one thought crossed his mind.

'Sorry, Mr. Gu. Sorry, Jack. I couldn't think of anything else to do…'

In his office, Jack suddenly sneezed, frowning after he did, while Mr. Gu brought him a tissue.

"Are you catching something, sir?" the assistant asked, frowning.

Jack scoffed.

"When was the last time you saw me sick, Gu Fang? I don't fall sick. Someone must be talking about me behind my back."

The assistant chuckled.

He had never seen his boss sick. Not in almost twenty years of service.

"Come to think of it, has he contacted you again since the other incident?" Jack asked his assistant.

"No, sir. It has been radio silence since. But I doubt he stayed put. We should expect a call from him sooner than later. I'll keep teams ready at all times, in case we need to intervene with force."

Jack nodded at the answer.

"What about your digging? Did you find out who ordered that man to be taken and his family killed?"

Gu Fang nodded as he sat down in front of his boss.

"I have. But there is something strange about the matter, sir. The kid said he saw two other people leaving the scene, and after digging around some CCTV, I was able to find footage of them."

Jack frowned.

"What is strange about that? There are so many cameras everywhere nowadays; you can't throw a stone without getting caught on tape."

Gu Fang nodded.

"I know. But you would expect professionals not to make such rookie mistakes, or at least cover their tracks. It almost feels like the person who ordered the man to be abducted wants us to find them."

Jack's eyebrows furrowed as he leaned back in his chair.

"And who is it that ordered the hit, and where are those two men now?" Jack asked.

"That's where it gets strange, sir."

Jack looked at him with a frown.

"Why so?"

"Because the two men that left the scene were found dead only hours after we retrieved the kid and the family. Bullet through the head, and pushed into a river to float away.

"I don't think they followed their orders correctly. And whoever ordered the man taken was not happy about it. As for who they work for, well, that's another beast as well…"

Jack wasn't in the mood for riddles, and he glared at his assistant for answers.

"My apologies for the suspense, sir," Gu Fang apologized, realizing Jack was turning sour.

"I found clear ties to the Italian mob, but I couldn't recognize the family crest on their vests. Given their presence here, right after the Bianchi family was taken out, it's either a small-time family or a rising one."

Jack nodded, the results being not too far from his expectations.

"I had expected a big player, so this isn't that much of a surprise. But for them to take out their own men, they must have fucked up big time. Has the kid Alex brought in woken up yet?"

Gu Fang shook his head no.

"He's pretty banged up. I don't know if he'll ever wake up. But if he does, you will be the first to know, sir," Gu Fang promised.

"Good. As for the mob family, find out where they are holed up, and send a letter with a photo of their kid in it. I want them to know he is still alive. The less they get pissed, the less likely they are to retaliate."

Gu Fang nodded, getting up to start on this, before Jack raised his hand to make him pause.

"Yes, sir?"

"Tell our mercenaries that I'll double their pay if they can find a way to get stronger. I can't feel the mana around my pod anymore, and I haven't gotten stronger since the game shut down. We need a new way to power up. If they find one, I'll double everyone's pay, and get a bonus for the finder."

Gu Fang smiled.

"How much of a bonus, sir?"

"Hmm… Offer ten. That should rile them up."

"I will get right to it, sir."