After taking care of a few things in Sigurd, Alex, together with Eri, left for the upper floors. A golden light enveloped them as they disappeared, going on the next floor.
When Alex and Eri reopened their eyes again, they were inside a temple; two priests waited.
''Welcome players into Z- City. I'm Clayton, a priest serving Goddess Althea.'' One of the priests walked forward, bowed, and introduced himself; the other priest, a female, just curtsied.
For an unknown reason, Alex felt uncomfortable with the way those two were looking at them; most importantly, that word the one named Clayton said was disturbing him; he called them player, simply player, not immortal otherworlder like others from the lower floors called them. Something was not right, and Alex was not the only one to notice this; Eri also noticed it and became vigilant.
Alex secretly gestured to Eri to not act impulsively as they had just arrived; not knowing anything, it would be too reckless to show hostility openly; they had to pretend until they knew what was happening. Because Alex was the leader, Eri nodded weakly but was ready to go all out when the situation went out of control.
Putting on his best smile, Alex introduced himself.
''Alex Grim, and this is my teammate Riley O'flame.'' Alex couldn't stop his lips from twitching when he said that name; he was curious about how she came up with such a ridiculous name. Eri noticed that but decided not to bother explaining her reason.
''Great, once again welcome. We shall guide you into the city. Here please.'' Clayton said with a smile that hid something behind; he guided them until they left the temple and appeared outside.
The city was beautiful, unlike the other cities they had visited; it was a city straight out of a fairytale; everyone was smiling and waving at them; it was so much that Alex and Eri felt uncomfortable.
The weirdest thing was that the two didn't encounter any players; this made them curious, so they asked.
''Are there any other players nearby?" Alex was the one that asked this. The priests stopped, and the male priest put his hand on his chin before answering.
''There are other players, but currently, they are on a mission.''
''A mission ?" Eri interjected, curious. The male priest looked at her for a moment before shifting his eyes elsewhere, but Eri could have sworn that for a moment, that priest glanced at her lower body, her private part to be more exact. She felt goosebumps rise all over her body so much that she stopped confusing Alex.
''What's up?" He asked her, but because she didn't want to make the other suspicious, Eri shook her head made up a lie.
''I thought I stepped on a bug, but I was mistaken.''
''I see. Let's go.'' Alex nodded as though he understood. Clayton said nothing; he didn't find Eri's behavior unusual; he opened his mouth to explain what he meant by the other players were currently on a mission.
''The other players are on a mission to catch a runaway girl; she is the vessel for our goddess.''
''A vessel?" Alex asked, trying not to show his anger, because of the matter with the Holy Crux empire concerning Luna; whenever he heard this word, his blood would boil. So naturally, hearing the same word here made him angry.
''Yeah, an important vessel. You can participate in this mission; if you manage to bring the goddess vessel back, you will receive a reward, and one of those rewards is to let you ascend. So how is it? Will you take this mission?" Clayton asked, and Alex immediately gave his answer.
''Of course, we are in.''
''Good.'' Clayton smiled happily and handed over a map to Alex; on this map, the area where the vessel seemed to be was marked. After exchanging a few words with the priests, Alex and Eri left the priests alone.
''Tch! Looking at them acting all mighty but soon they would learn their place. Let go. I'm tasty. I will devour. I'll enjoy you until it is time for the ritual.'' Clayton said while violently fondling the female priest breast; he even sneaked in one of his hands to feel it raw; the passing people continued to act as though they saw nothing; no, when one looked closely, you could see that their eyes were blank as though they have lost their souls and were mere puppets on someone's else order.
•••••
On the other side, Alex and Eri, who left the city, kept feeling that something was not right.
''Something about that city disturb me, that priest, Clayton if I remember correctly, gives me a disturbing feeling, he is a pervert.''
Listening to Eri complaining, Alex nodded and shared his thoughts.
''I have also felt the same thing, the pervert thing aside. But I noticed something. Tell me, didn't you notice anything unusual about that female priest?"
''No, I don't. Why do you ask that?" Eri asked, confused for her; the female priest didn't talk; maybe she disliked players like most of the residents on this tower. But from Alex's words, it was not the case.
''I'm not too sure, but for me, she looks like a puppet; the same goes for the residents as well.''
Alex's declaration hit Eri like a hammer over her head.
''What? Are you sure of your claim?" Eri asked, doubting Alex's words.
''Well, you traveled a lot. Have you ever been to a city where everyone smiles at you? They did not look at you properly, just your presence made them smile, and everyone smiled at the same time? It is not natural.'' Alex explained his explanation shocked Eri.
The shock was so much that she started to shake, her thoughts were in disarray, but she quickly calmed down and thought about it, and everything became apparent, and only one word came into her mind upon realizing this truth.
''Holy shit.''
''If what you said is true, then we are screwed.'' She added.
''Calm down, there must be a way out,'' Alex said, trying to calm down Eri; his words seemed to have calmed her down.
''Let's see who this goddess's vessel is and mess up with their plan,'' Alex said, having no idea that what he would see soon would greatly shake him.
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