Looking for Trouble (part 2) (Rewritten March 2025)

Helen's black panther, large enough to carry two people, soared through the sky with impressive speed. 

(Enjoying the view, Mister Warden? Take a good look at the city. Low-Levelers like you rarely get such a view!)

I swear, I'd never get used to this.

The wind slapped his face the moment he dared to peek down at Londorus. The expansive city was a bustling blend of mansions, diverse establishments, stadiums, parks, and public training grounds, each spaced generously from the next.

According to my mentor, Earth's greatest cities were packed like sardines, housing millions of people. It's hard to imagine, but why would she lie?

One million people… That's the entire Novus population. Even if only ten thousand people live here, it already feels full of life.

"Alan Warden…" 

Isabella had said before he reentered the cryo-pod…

 "It's time for you to learn what happened to the Santa María's crew…"

He also recalled an earlier scene: Amelia trying to convince her sister to leave the guild, and Marissa rejecting the offer.

It's so comforting to see that the only conflicts you all know are regular problems like these. Disagreements are nothing compared to what humanity has already suffered. I relentlessly worked for eight months so that people like you could have adventures, eat delicious food, and be free to do whatever you want…

His mind was filled with the many hostile glances other guilders threw at him. His body trembled, recalling a fraction of the many painful deaths he experienced. And yet…

Alan shut his eyes, leaned his face against Helen's back, and exhaled, thinking of his Guild Master. I want to keep this peace as long as I can.

(Mr. Warden, did you just take a sniff out of me?)

(Huh? N-No! That's not what I--!)

(Could you remind me what the copilot rules were?)

('Don't grope, don't puke, don't fall', right? But I'm not—)

(Let's do a barrel roll. Just for the heck of it!)

(N-No thanks, that's not neccesa—waaaah!)

(Here we gooo!) Helen maneuvered her flying feline beast in a spiral trajectory, forcing Alan to embrace her waist more tightly. (Isn't this fun, Mr. Warden?) She laughed out loud before leveling off the mount. 

Alan stayed quiet, swallowing his vomit. Now I get why Astrid said Helen is always teasing her. 

He shook his head to get rid of those thoughts and opened his User Interface.

FRIEND LIST

STATUS

ASTRID BRADFORD

Online

HELEN REED

Online

MONIQUE ASCENCIO

Online

We'll be back before your return, Astrid. I promise.

(By the way, this Private Chat function is amazing! It's as if we had telepathic powers. Awesooome! Why don't people talk like this all the time?)

(It's considered rude.)

(Figures… Can I ask you something?)

(Sure. Shoot!)

(Why are you helping me? You said it yourself. I'm about to enter the Lion's Den.)

(Ah, who knows? Although I must admit that those puppy eyes of yours did the trick.)

(But you even knocked out Tamara for me. You're risking your friendship.)

(You really think our relationship is that thin? She may look feeble, but she's quite tough, don't understimate here. Besides, I was just bored, okay? Don't think too hard about it.) 

(Thanks, though. Whether you're doing this for your own amusement or not, I appreciate it. Although Marco might have taken a third of the guild, it's so comforting to see that Astrid is surrounded by loyal people like you. Tamara and Marissa also have my respect.)

After hearing that inside her head, Helen snickered. (I never pictured you as a sentimentalist Mr. Warden. I'd like to share a piece of my heart too, but we've arrived. So… Why don't we do a 'nosedive' and land with style?)

(Oh, come oooooon!)

As the lynx flew downward, Alan repeated Helen's rules in his head. Don't grope, don't puke, don't fall! Don't grope, don't puke, don't fall! Dammit, Helen, you damn little--

(You're quite an odd fella,) she blurted out through Party Chat before ordering her panther to open its wings mere feet above ground. "We're here! The Drinking Banshee."

Alan jumped down in a hurry and placed his forehead against the ground as if it was sacred. "Oh, thank god!"

"Did you enjoy the ride?"

"OF COURSE NOT! I-I felt like I'd die at any moment and I almost soiled my pants!"

As he stood up, Helen ordered her winged feline to disappear inside a jewel that she stored in her inventory absently.

Neat, he thought. A three-story brick Tudor-style building stood before him. Located at the western outskirts of the city, with no other neighboring buildings within a 1500 feet radius, it looked as if it wanted to distance itself from Londorus itself.

As they marched toward it, Helen continued their private conversation. (Tell me, Mr. Warden, how good are you at keeping a low profile?)

(What do you mean?) he asked as they crossed the lobby decorated with dissected monster heads absently.

(Because we'll get in trouble if they find out you're here. You know, the Ex-Shooting Stars that hate you?)

He halted at the sight of a place full of people. Just by looking at the nearest tables he could recognize some of the guilders that had walked away just some hours ago while glaring at him. (Wait, what?! I thought we were sneaking in through a back door! Let's disguise at least!)

In a panic, he returned to the safety of the lobby where Helen leaned against a wall and looked at him with an amused expression. 

(The best disguise is the one at plain sight,) she said as she opened her User Interface, and through it, changed her combat suit for a faux leather burgundy crop top and skirt. She then walked toward Alan and messed his hair roughly. (As for you. This should do it.)

She opened a virtual window and flipped it to face him. It was a mirror, revealing that Alan's auburn hair had changed to black. 

(A-Are you sure about this?)

(Listen, we're partners in crime on this, right? So let's end this quickly before Tamara wakes up. So try not getting caught while I look for someone. A certain guy who surely knows where Marco is. Let's go.)

Leaving him no opportunity to mentally prepare, Alan reluctantly tailed her closely and covered his mouth with the collar of his jacket. But he knew doing that would only gather attention. Once his gaze locked on a napkin on the edge of a near table, he snatched it and covered his nose and mouth with it

Helen looked back at him and giggled. (Good thinking. They won't be able to read your level if they can't see your face. I could have lent you one of my cloaking artifacts, but your level it's too low to use them. So… consider this a test and prove you can be our next strong-willed First Officer! Good luck.)

A strong-will—Oh, for the love of…! Goddammit!

Once they reached the bar, Alan was giving the back to almost fifty people. It only takes one of them to ruin everything. Is doing this even worth it?

His mind reminded him of Marco's grand act at the PVP arena and gritted his teeth. Oh, right… 

"Helen!" a man called as he leaned against the counter. "You've finally jumped ship, huh? It's so good to see you here."

"Hey, Luke. Does that mean I came at the right time for you to buy me a drink?"

Luke chuckled. "Everything is on the house today, thanks to our new patron, Ms. Maher. So by all means!"

"If that's the case, bring me a stein of beer, pronto!" 

Is this what she was referring to by 'disguise in plain sight'? 

"Wait, who's that?" the man asked, squinting at Alan.

"Huh? Ah, it's just Pete, my protege from the Rogue Division. You know, the one that always finishes off his opponents while yelling 'huzza!'"

"Uh… Yeah. Sure. Hey, Pete, is something wrong?"

Alan pressed the napkin against his face more tightly. "Don't mind me, I just have a…" He paused before mumbling, "Allergy…" 

"A what now?" The guy grimaced.

(There are no allergies in The Novus, Mr. Warden, but nice try.)

Helen then cleared her throat and grabbed Luke's arm. "Anyway, have you seen Matt? I've been looking for him all over the place. You think he's hiding from me?"

While Helen held the man's attention, Alan caught sight of restroom signs in the distance and sneaked away. (I think I'll hide in the bathroom while you find where Marco Souza is, okay?)

(Yeah, that would be for the best.)

He passed by three other occupied tables, feeling hundreds of eyes examining his every move, but once he reached the corridor, he relaxed his shoulders.

Following the signs while still covering his nose with his left hand, he ignored the gaze of someone passing by him and marched forward.

Five more steps and he would enter the men's restroom.

"Hold on," a woman said behind him, grabbing his right wrist. It was someone strong enough to stop him in his tracks and force him to turn around. A pair of amber eyes then scrutinized him for a second.

Of all people, the worst imaginable person had to find me first!

She pulled his other hand, revealing his face, and Alan found himself at a loss of words.

Saying nothing either, she wrinkled her nose and pulled Alan inside the women's restroom, where she pushed him towards the sinks.