Chapter 81: [Bonus Chapter]A New World (1)
The usually quiet Vedanta outpost was now humming with life.
Different packs of visiting alphas were gathered in the outpost’s only tavern, discussing the recent spread of the Polluted Zone.
"The 77th Zone has expanded again. How many lives were lost this time?"
"Don’t know, don’t care. Nowadays, human lives are worth so little, nobody’s counting the dead."
"The Polluted Zone is spreading from the Erdtree more and more often. It happens so fast and silently, it’s nearly impossible to stop. One of my bros didn’t get out in time, and lost his life inside."
As Ren and his crew walked into the tavern, many eyes watched them, scanning their clothes. Some recognized them from the golden patches on their shoulders, a sign only for the royal guard of the Empire’s capital, and the local alphas immediately looked down on them.
"Well, well, look who it is?" said a bearded man at the bar, tapping the table, "Ren, the strongest from the North outpost. What’s the deal? Have you become a royal pet?"
Several alphas sitting next to him joined in the laughter.
The alphas from the border outpost and those from the Imperial Nexus were always at odds. Here on the border, people lived tough lives, always close to danger. Yet, each year they had to give most of their hard-earned food and gathered supplies to the Tower as taxes.
In return, the Tower gave them beta pheromone and the "Golden Relic" that guarded the outpost and needed to be replaced yearly. Alphas couldn’t live without beta pheromone, and the outpost folks couldn’t live without the "Golden Relic’s" protection. So, the border alphas felt a mix of dependence and resentment for the royals and the mysterious Tower.
This resentment naturally extended to the alphas from the Tower.
Ren’s crew, all top members of the royal guard, showed anger on their faces. They were respected people even in the capital and weren’t used to such disdainful words.
Hrithik, the deputy who came with them, raised his hand to calm everyone. He subtly shook his head, signaling them not to start a fight before the battle.
"Ren. Ignore that rude fool. Come sit here." A few people in the tavern waved at Ren.
The alphas from different outposts, more or less, knew of each other, and mostly knew each other casually.
Alphas didn’t make friends, probably because the one you drank with might die tomorrow in the Polluted Zone. Everyone had built walls around their hearts, not willing to let anyone leave strong memories in their minds, unless they had to.
Ren sat next to an alpha he knew. This alpha was nicknamed Cockroach, the bearded man who had just joked on him.
"Why are there so many people?" Ren asked as he passed a beta pheromone to Cockroach.
"Do you really need to ask?" Cockroach lit the "cigarette" Ren gave him. "They’re all here for the Erdtree."
"The Tower has offered a reward to clear Polluted Zone 77. A million ashcredits and citizenship of the Imperial Nexus," Cockroach said, pointing to the people around him, "There are many poor people in this world, and even more willing to risk their lives. As you can see, they’re all here."
"Ren, you’re here for the same reason, right?" He glanced at Ren’s new golden band, asking, "Straight under the queen, the Special Operation Squad. Why else would you be here if not for the Erdtree?"
Ren’s silence confirmed it.
Cockroach leaned in closer, speaking quietly, "Can we swap some info?"
Hrithik stepped in, "No one has made it out of Zone 77 alive. Where did you get your info?"
Cockroach glanced at him, laughing coldly, "Don’t play dumb. Isn’t this the special skill of you folks from the Imperial Nexus?" He tapped his forehead with two fingers, going on, "True, no sane person has made it out alive, but there are crazies. As long as their brains are whole, you guys can read their memories with your damn machine. Don’t tell me you don’t know."
Unmoved, Hrithik just smiled, "Fair enough. We’re willing to buy any info you have."
Ignoring Hrithik, Cockroach quickly signed something to Ren behind his back.
"Deal? Only trading, no selling," he suggested.
After a moment’s thought, Ren nodded. They shook hands under the table for a moment, swapping some data from their opticomputers.
Having gotten what he wanted, Cockroach was in good spirits. He ordered two drinks with Ren.
"Once we’re inside, it’s every man for himself. With so many people, who knows how many will make it out alive?"
He clinked glasses with Ren and shared some recent news, "Lots of people have shown up this time. All sorts. Ren, I even saw a beta yesterday."
Cockroach had known Ren for many years. While they didn’t interact much, he knew Ren was always calm. But at that moment, he thought he saw a hint of worry in Ren’s eyes, and even a slight shake in his hand holding the glass.
Blinking, Cockroach took a closer look. Ren’s hand was steady, holding the glass as still as ever, his face unchanged.
"Must be my imagination, drank too much," Cockroach thought to himself.
"A beta?" Ren turned to ask him.
"Yeah, pretty rare," Cockroach answered. "When I saw her yesterday, I almost thought I was seeing things. A beta in the Polluted Zone these days, going in all alone no less."
Ren’s hand was steady as he raised his glass and took a silent drink. With his eyes lowered, he asked, "What did the beta look like?"
"She was about this tall, with dark hair," Cockroach gestured, going on, "Dressed much like us, carrying professional gear, but clearly not an alpha. She had a silver badge from the beta academy on her arm."
"She already went in? Yesterday?" Ren asked again.
Cockroach found it strange that Ren was so interested in a beta, but then he remembered how unusual this particular beta was - venturing into the Polluted Zone, and into a place as dangerous as the Erdtree, all by herself. Anyone would be surprised by that.
The entire Vedanta outpost was talking about it yesterday. The chatter even briefly overshadowed the spread of Zone 77.
"Yeah, my brother at the border saw her go in. Alone, with a gun, a knife, and a small bag. That’s all she brought. That knife was something else, though. Not many could recognize it. It’s a demon blade that only appears in the high-level Polluted Zone, two-toned, black and white."
When he finished talking and turned around, Ren had already left, along with the other alphas who came with him.
"Why are they in such a rush?" Cockroach was surprised. He remembered Ren being calmer than this. Despite his strength, Ren was incredibly careful when it came to entering the battlefield. Like Cockroach, he valued the lives of his friends. Before entering the Polluted Zone, Ren always gathered info thoroughly and planned carefully before taking action.
"Must be because of that incident... He doesn’t have anyone to worry about now, so his style has changed," Cockroach remembered hearing about the complete loss of the alphas at the North Outpost.
He sighed, shaking his head, and ordered another round.
