Lain fixed the breach that John Fargo was able to use to pretend to be an NPC by killing himself with the help of his parents who had disappeared. The chip used in people’s brains mimics the architecture used for NPCs and so once the brain died, the system was fooled into thinking that John II was an NPC allowing him to fool the NPC AI City Guard and enter Castle Academy. However I was not in the castle, at all rather I was at the Senate in front of the main city square.
As for the culprit himself, John II, he became the first “transfer student” after it was deemed by me and the rest of the Student Council that he was no longer any danger to us.
“Well, I am not as kind as that. It’s just that I hope that by keeping him around, he could serve as some kind of bait for VHEPO or whoever the hell was behind the last attack.” I explained to Rina.
“You are too soft, master.” Rina said as she poured some tea for me. “You could have at least let me temper with his memories. Also, why wouldn’t you let me visit the Island with the others?”
There was one month until the by-election and as far as the public side of things was concerned we were doing fine. However there was one hurdle left before the by-election. In order to boost the immunity of the Castle Academy students a school trip was organised where the positions of the players and the Academy would be reversed.
“No, with you there it wouldn’t be a test at all. Since you could clear any dungeon by yourself.”
No reaction. I guess compliments don’t work on this one.
The Academy was going to be guarded by the Black Watch in the absence of the Student Council, as would be the dungeon which the AI’s would be trained at.
The Black Watch was a British military regiment based in the Scottish Highlands with about two thousand troops. Chamberlain had them stationed in and around Jerusalem but especially in the Castle Academy. In order not to make them seem out of place to the playerbase, the Black Watch dressed in more traditional looking dresses, which consisted of white pith helmets, red coats and kilts.
“When the rest of the Senate arrives. Make you sure that you don’t act like you are my maid. In fact, act as if we didn’t know each other.”
“As you wish, my master.”
There were some Black Guards here too guarding the entrances to the Senate of Jerusalem. The pesky thing about them is that they could make themselves invisible just like I can. I guess this was Chamberlain’s way of saying ‘Don’t try anything funny’ to me without actually saying it. Imagine if we bumped into each other while being invisible.
Two large doors, one blue and the other red opened on either side of the room. A blond haired maid with twin tails held the door open for the Elite senators to enter from the blue door. Nanashi and Eilis Grangewood appeared and what followed them were some new Elite senators who I had not met before. After the breaking of the World’s Egg, new dungeons were created, and although most of them were cleared for the first time by me, Nanashi, and Eilis, there were a few which were cleared by others too.
“You haven’t been very active, Raphael,” said Eilis. “If you lose the position of First Consul to me, just out of laziness then I won’t forgive that.”
“Pretty rich coming from you who’s fallen to third place after your boyfriend.”
Eilis pouted for a moment but then noticed Rina but before she could do anything she was distracted by the sound of a door opening. It is true though that while dealing with all the stuff related to the tower, I had neglected my player activities, except for the bosses, so that I wouldn’t lose the position of First Consul, just as Eilis had lost her position to Nanashi, thanks to his new mech.
From the red door, Peter Keaton and Laila Francoise entered even if there was no one to open the door for them. They were followed by Celestina and a few other Senators from the Populares faction including the Farmer who had survived to the end of the Jerusalem dungeon. Right now the Populares were outnumbered two to one. The Populares Senators looked a bit worse for wear, so they had probably been on a quest to try and reduce the gap between them and the Elite faction just before they got here.
