The Vale
However, a significant hurdle loomed over Darian's ambitious venture – he neither had any "employees" nor the capital to acquire a sizable building for the brothel to operate. To complicate matters further, even if he had the funds, acquiring land without the proper legal papers and the mayor's approval was a bureaucratic nightmare.
The mere thought of meeting the mayor, a process that could take days or even weeks, was enough to dampen his entrepreneurial spirit.
Vale was divided into five major cities, from Sector One to Sector Five, each presenting its own set of challenges and opportunities.
Sector One, the starting point for novices, was a hub of dreams where players tried to make it big, often meeting with failure. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Sector Five was the playground for veterans, where seasoned players tested their mettle.
Every sector had its own mayor, along with essential establishments like a blacksmith shop, adventurer guild, hunters guild, noble association, merchants union, and more. The sectors were seamlessly connected by teleportation gates, but the journey from Sector Five to Sector One required both money and careful planning.
Navigating the vast expanse of Vale was a venture that demanded strategy, resources, and a dash of luck.
To make the magical jumps between sectors, one seemingly easy way was to kick the boss monster's butt on each level and snag the 'right of passage' card.
However, the catch was, this whole monster-butt-kicking thing felt more like a dance with disaster for our hero. The right of passage card, the golden ticket to teleportation freedom, remained as elusive as a cat avoiding a bath.
Despite being a virtual veteran, there he was, stuck in Sector One – not exactly the prime location for a thriving brothel.
'I need employees, money, and a venue. How on earth am I supposed to pull this off?'
Days and nights melded into each other as he racked his virtual brain, tirelessly contemplating a plan. Then, finally, like a revelation from the gaming gods, an idea struck him. Maybe he could secure land from the mayor for his brothel – a modest building should do the trick.
With his modest fortune, he was optimistic that it would be enough to kickstart his entrepreneurial journey.
'Welp, let's get this show on the road and meet the mayor.'
Summoning a horse cart was the way to go; after all, the distance from the tree he called home to the town hall was no walk in the virtual park – unless he wanted to meet the mayor sometime next week.
"Hop in, good sir," the NPC driver greeted as Darian hopped onto the cart and declared his destination.
"Town hall."
"Aye, Town hall it is," the NPC driver cracked his virtual whip, and off they went, the horse trotting on the digital terrain.
[Umberto]
That was the name of the NPC driver. In this virtual world, names of every character, players and NPCs alike, floated just above their heads like digital halos. Distinguishing between the two could be tricky, but keen observers like Darian could catch the subtle differences in movements and the recurring patterns in speech that set players and NPCs apart.
The cart trundled along the pixelated path, and as Darian gazed at the virtual landscape passing by, he marveled at the vibrant hues and intricate details of Vale. Majestic mountains loomed in the distance, and lush forests whispered tales of hidden adventures. The virtual sun painted the sky with warm strokes, creating a picturesque setting that could almost make one forget they were in a game.
Turning to Umberto, Darian decided to strike up a small talk. "So, Umberto, ever had a traveler who thought they could negotiate the fare with you?"
Umberto chuckled, "Oh, all the time, sir! They try to haggle as if they're in a virtual bazaar. But I tell 'em, this ain't no flea market; we run a tight ship here!"
Darian grinned, "I bet some of them even tried to pay you with odd items, huh?"
Umberto winked, "You've got it, sir! Once, someone tried to offer me a magical feather for the ride. Said it was a rare drop from a legendary bird or some such. I politely declined and told them I preferred good old gold coins."
Darian chuckled, imagining the comical scenarios players concocted in their attempts to outsmart the NPCs. The cart rumbled on, each digital hoofbeat echoing through the virtual landscape as the banter between Umberto and Darian added a touch of humor to their journey.
After a few hours of travel, Darian finally arrived at the main city of Sector One – the Heaven's Gate, the symbolic starting point for countless virtual journeys. He bid a grateful farewell to the kind and humorous Umberto, who, in turn, winced sympathetically as he quoted the fare. With a sad sigh, Darian reluctantly handed over 30 gold coins to Umberto, the transaction carrying a touch of virtual sorrow on Darian's end.
"Take care, sir! If you ever need a ride again, just give a holler," Umberto called out with a virtual grin, as if he understood the woes of fare payments in a digital world.
Darian nodded, watching the cart disappear into the digital horizon, his pockets a little lighter but his determination intact.
The massive wall guarding Heaven's Gate stood tall, built with fancy white marbles and golden trimmings. It was like a giant canvas, adorned with beautiful carvings and funky runes. Staring at it long enough even triggered a digital show, unfolding the virtual history of Sector One.
Down on the ground, the streets were paved with fancy stones. NPCs hustled about doing their digital chores, while players were busy figuring out how to not get annihilated in the virtual wild.
"Nostalgia alert!" Darian mumbled. He couldn't help but stroll down memory lane, remembering the days when he was that guy over there, annoying Murakami with endless pleas to teach him blacksmithing.
Walking along, reliving the good ol' days, he casually dodged players trying to shove guild ads down his throat and skillfully avoided NPCs offering their virtual services. In the bustling digital city, Darian was on a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the time he was just a pixel in the vast canvas of Sector One.