Chapter 13

"Backpacks, boxes none gets through without a thorough search, pay special attention to private cars. The public transportation system here is chaotic, we'll do sporadic searches on passengers for drugs. Non gets through not even for personal consumption.

"In the case of an emergency, you know the drill, we'll reach out to any other forces in the area. At the same time, stay alert we might need to provide someone backup." Dan paused and looked at the soldiers standing in front of him.

"Now I know there has been no record of any interaction between our forces here and the local gangs or Mafia but that can change any moment. With powers from the real world investing so much in this game, the dynamic of power is changing as is the nature of wars and competition. Expect some heat."

"Let's go!" He ordered and then got into the transport vehicle, a long 18-seater bus.

To the general public, Originals and Players alike, Serlant was the only country in the game until now. When Vincent newly started playing, he heard on the news that a new country was discovered on Serlant borders. Back then there was suspicion among the people. Perhaps what was found wasn't a country but a settlement.

He knew better now. Serlant was far from being the only country in the world of Life Online. It wasn't even the most powerful although it was up there in the rankings.

Since there had been no contact between them, the various countries were completely unprepared to deal with their discovered neighbors. This led to rising conflicts between them. It didn't help either that impatient merchants kept rushing into these neighbors and ignoring the local trade laws, they smuggled whatever they could out of them.

To be fair the merchants weren't the only problem, the government had their fair share of fault as they sent spies to gather as much information as possible.

Gliding City was a border city, it sat right next to Nahima Kingdom, a country with a feudal governmental system. This was not to say that they were backward in technological advancement, just that it was a Country ruled by a King.

The relationship between both countries was actually good. There hadn't been any skirmishes between them and the government of both countries seemed to hit it off nicely but the problem was that Nahima was facing a little crime problem. In fact, when the game rankings were released, it ranked one in crime rate. The Mafia made this place their home base and among the players were whispers that they had the support of the Royal Family or at least someone in it.

When the bus stopped and the soldiers got out, Vincent's lips twitched as he observed the area. It was a busy one-way highway road. By the left side of the road was a newly constructed building joined directly to the road. This was to be their residence for the foreseeable future. Four speed breakers, each six feet away from the other spread in front of the building, two in front of it and two a short distance from it making the cars pass a lot slower and building the traffic intensity.

"By tomorrow we'll have some sandbags and drums to reinforce the building and give you some cover as well as a way to control the traffic better. Army Command won't be keeping a constant eye on this area so you all need to be alert. You are not here for petty crime but to stop the smuggling going on through this road, at the same time keep your instincts oiled and don't die to petty criminals." The soldier who led them here addressed them sternly while others carried items into the house.

He turned around to leave when he finished but then he stopped and turned to them, "Don't say I didn't warn you, players will come up with crazy ways to take your weapons from you, if you die to something like that, don't bother coming back to Military School" he boarded the bus and it zoomed away after the others joined him leaving Vincent, Darius, Cass, and Dan.

"You think the four of us alone can manage a checkpoint?" Cass asked glancing at Dan.

"The local Garrison will send two soldiers to us every day, they'll attend to our needs in case we need anything that isn't already here and at the same time provide us some tactical support if needed but the main task is on us" Dan replied.

Cass nodded and picked up her bag-pack to hang it on her shoulder, she walked into the house to scan around it but Vincent noticed her left hand holding her rifle firmly. Imitating her he followed into the house.

The house had only two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a dining room with a general bathroom, there was no living room in the building, instead a wide open space separated by a short wall opened into the road with a small entrance by both sides.

The house was fitted with everything they would need, two double bunk beds in both rooms and lockers, the rooms were otherwise empty. The kitchen however was loaded with food items.

The group gathered in the open space to appreciate the fresh air and listen to Dan's orders after they explored the house.

"Private Vincent, you'll be in charge of our food, Private Cassia keep an eye out, we don't want to be unprepared for surprises, Private Darius, you're with me." he divided the responsibilities.

Vincent was a little dissatisfied with his assignment but he said no word of complaint and made sure to not show it on his face.

"It's our first day here and we are not fully covered yet so stay ale-" he never got to finish that sentence.

Tuck!

A bullet struck the low wall sending dust into the air and they all reacted promptly by going down.

"Gliding City has decided to welcome us, probably excited players, they must have been waiting for us to arrive" Darius grinned at them. He was the first to react, resting his weapon on the wall as he knelt behind it, he scanned the area and observed as cars bumped and bounced trying to drive past in a hurry and not get caught in the crossfire. Unable to retaliate without collateral damage, he quickly hid behind the wall again as a bullet hit the wall on the spot where he brought his head out.

"We can't do shit Sir, too heavy traffic, we're sitting ducks here," he said to Dan.

The fire on them suddenly increased, from occasional single shots to rapid fire.

"That's military standard semi-auto," Vincent recognized the sound in an instant.

"Cass" Dan shouted.

Cass nodded at them and crawled away while Dan turned to Vincent.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, stay with us" he warned. Vincent had a habit of throwing himself into the heat. Although it brought some stellar results during training, this was a different situation, the bullets were real and the death would be also.

Vincent knew that, it wasn't a risk he was willing to take either. Despite being a hot-blooded youth, the worthlessness of life in the real world due to the insane population was not invisible to him. His life was precious, he believed that, and he wasn't about to start jumping towards death even in a game.

The fire on them suddenly ceased as shots suppressed it from a different direction. Cass must have gotten out of the building through the back door and was retaliating.

"Now!" Dan shouted and Vincent immediately got his rifle on the wall.

"Precision shots" Dan reminded as he leaped over the wall, Darius following him.

Vincent observed the situation, the traffic was thinning out now, and most of the cars either crossed or stopped coming forward but there were still four of them trapped in front of the Checkpoint, perhaps the drivers somehow ate a bullet or were too afraid and confused to move. It didn't matter though because he could see the enemy now. They hid behind a truck, three of them firing in Cass's direction and one aiming right at him. He wasn't afraid though because he had a clear shot but the world froze as his finger touched the trigger.

Sweat gathered on his forehead and that moment felt like an eternity, he couldn't do it. Yes, life was worthless now that in the real world, even kids would kill other kids for little squabbles and no one would think too much of it but . . . Vincent wasn't molded by his world. His individuality was powerful, so much that the chaos never got to him. Perhaps that was a strength...not in this situation though.

His hesitation vanished however when he heard a child scream and he pulled the trigger. The attacker humped and fell back behind the truck as Vincent looked around for the sound he heard.

A little boy lay on the ground in front of one of the cars and below him...a pool of blood.