This isn’t to say that there weren’t other factions but they weren’t as competitive. For example, the farmers in the game who created the ingredients for special food that on top of tasting like real food, just like the food sold by NPCs, also gave temporary buffs.
The various religious groups in Britain also started to proselytise within the game and in order to put religion firmly under the control of the state (i.e. my control), the Faith Organisation was formed to manage them but I didn’t personally get involved in it because I do not believe in Gods or Goddesses. What I was worried about wasn’t any real world religion, these had been neutered through the “Embrace, extend, and extinguish” (EEE) policy by the British state by the late 2030s, but what I was worried about was if the Saintess Petra might try to form her own sect for her own goals. She had already gifted other broken abilities, and items to various players who beat dungeons, and this is completely out of my control. The Saintess has been designated as “Being X” by the Academy’s Cybersecurity club. So far through Rina’s intervention I have been able to sell the lie to the players that these rewards were by design, but if I can’t get to the bottom of this now, then sooner or later even the endlessly gullible masses will catch on and attack me as a mob. I needed some kind of trap.. But without knowing what this Saintess really wanted I could not manipulate and trap her.
“IT’S NOT FAIR! IT’S NOT FAIR”
Lain shook Rina with her shoulders making her head bob forwards and backwards as her expression remained as disinterested as ever.
“But Master Lain, you would feel bored on those outside world missions which Arthur is sent on.”
“I know but.. But I couldn’t be seen as losing to Arthur! Also the Elite faction is not in direct control of Father.”
“Oh, you don’t need to worry your pretty head about that, I have my moles in the Elite faction too.”
Lain sat on my lap making Celestina look aghast and blushing looking back and forth between her and me.
“If you say so father, but what now? The White Dragon Knight’s growth has plateaued ever since I incorporated the data from the battle with Arthur into the new dungeons bosses.”
Basically the dungeon bosses were doing their work by coming up with their own strategies. The motivation for doing this is that if they do a good job they would be promoted to higher level dungeons meaning that they won’t be bothered by players as often.
“Now, we wait until the by-election and hopefully things don’t get interesting again.”
“But father is the coolest and cutest when he is plotting something against the world.”
“I don’t plot against it but for it. Also cute is not a way to describe your ‘father.'”
“Oh but it is father, otherwise why would that girl desperately cling to your arm while glaring daggers at me.”
I was surprisingly fine with my newfound popularity with the opposite sex, mostly because I didn’t consider it to be real.
But now with both Ryouta and Arthur gone I couldn’t afford them to be slacking off.
“In Arthur’s absence you will be in charge of the Academy’s security. Go around the school and do a check and patrol now.”
“Aye, aye sir!”
Actually the students themselves had improved through the experience of the School Trip so I could depend on them too for some security relating to the city. I was able to kick out the Black Guard from the school grounds and academy town grounds by using the school trip as evidence of the AI’s defense capabilities but the rest of the city was full of those guards, to the point where it bothered players. I was wondering whether it was time to create a second city or even a third city so that the guards could be scattered around more lightly thus giving me some breathing space.
Of course, Chamberlain only agreed to remove the guards from the school grounds with a condition, and that condition was why I was here waiting for that “condition.”
“Are you sure you want to meet her, master? If you’d like me I could just have a copy of me accompany her at all times.”
“No, your power diminishes when you are divided into copies, and also it’s best if I can keep an eye on her myself. She is only human, so she needs to sleep, so I’ll be free from her at that time.”
“As you wish master, however remember that just as you will be watching her, she will also be watching you.”
Damn that Lord Blair, for an old man at the doorstep to his death he sure made us pay for trying to investigate him. However, without Lazarus, his VHEPO organisation is mostly harmless in the virtual world. No, he is a greater danger in the real world where he has support in the BNL and all other major political parties. The leader of the opposition is also another protege of Blair’s. After the investigation, the VHEPO changed its policy towards the virtual world and Project Albion Online to positive, arguing that by moving most humans to the virtual world that this would reduce harm and effect to the environment caused by human beings closer to net zero. But I am not foolish enough to believe that their sudden change of attitude is entirely disconnected from our attempt to probe into their secrets.
