Chapter 22: The Endless Bar
Dasha required information. The Sapphire Guild, their fees, their power, how did they maintain it if they weren't allowed to go to the Heavenly Tower? The players should hold the bargaining power, not the guilds. Unless there was a missing piece to the puzzle. Unless there was a gate that would ensure their power. The possibilities were endless.
Then there was the Game System itself.
'What exactly is mana? What is the Game System? How can it materialize objects with mere words?'
Dasha didn't enjoy drinking, but for the sake of information and networking, he had to.
Hence why he was at the Endless Bar.
Truly, it was an impossible feat of architecture. Its length was endless and its height reached so high one needed to crane their head high up. The sky was permanently set to the night and the stars twinkled, yet the building commanded greater attention.
The windows glowed golden and promised a nightlife experience like no other. However, Dasha wasn't interested in going inside. There was an outside section, an outside bar. For his purposes, that would work just fine.
The polished wooden counter was flanked by rows of tall barstools and he calmly sat next to a group of rowdy people. Not current players but old players. He could tell because none of them were wearing the Garbs of Death and that they were much looser than his peers. Even now, two weeks in, some players weren't comfortable. Some players were whining and complaining and begging to leave. In this world, they were looked at uncomfortably.
Overhead, hanging lanterns swayed gently and casted a warm glow in the night's shade. The low murmur of conversations and the clink of glasses drew Dasha in to listen.
Listen.
Listen, listen, listen.