New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

Alex wanted to enjoy this peace for as long as it would last, since there hadn't been many moments of peace in his life lately.

But fate was a cruel mistress, and his peacefulness was cut short soon after it started.

*Dooroorooroo*

His intercom rang, interrupting his head scratches, as Kary was about to get up and go answer. But Alex put his hand on her thigh.

"I'll get it. We aren't expecting anyone, so it must be reception."

Kary smiled at him, kissing his forehead as he got up, and she stayed seated.

Alex sighed, disappointed with how calm never seemed to stick lately.

He reached the intercom as it rang for a third time. Pressing the answer button, he saw the smiling face of the receptionist, who usually manned the downstairs desk at this time of day.

"Hello, Mr. Leduc. My apologies for disturbing you, but we have a man here wishing to speak to you. His name is Louis, and he says he works for a certain 'Azamus.' Should I let him up?"

Alex frowned at the names.

He knew no one named Louis, but he certainly knew who Azamus was. But he had no idea how they would know where to find him.

"No. Tell him I'll be down there in a few minutes. Tell him you'll call security if he asks to come up again."

The man nodded his head, still smiling.

"Very well, sir. I'll relay the message."

The screen went black as the call ended, and Alex's frown deepened.

Kary had heard everything from the living room and was also sporting a scowl.

"What does that guy want?" she asked, her tone cold.

"I have no idea. But I'm more curious about how he found out where I live. This isn't common knowledge, or something just anyone can look up…" Alex replied.

Kary rose from the sofa to the coat hanger near the entrance. When she grabbed a vest, Alex wondered what she was doing.

She saw his curious look and smiled at him.

"You didn't think I would let you go alone, I hope. If Azamus sent someone here, he wants to discuss New Eden things. And Paragons is my guild as well."

He could hardly refute her statement, so he just shrugged at her. He pressed the elevator button, waiting for it to come up, before stepping inside, accompanied by Kary.

"I hope that dumbass isn't trying to start beef outside New Eden… That would be his type," Kary said as the elevator doors closed.

Alex scoffed, thinking about it.

"What could he even do? He has money, but so do we. He has connections, but ours are most likely better. Everything he could use against us, I'm pretty sure we can muster better.

"Besides, his only other option would be to have awakened, but he would have boasted about it already. So, I doubt there is anything he 'can' do. Both in and out of New Eden."

Kary could find sense in Alex's words, but still felt bad. Damien Grimm was a cunning person.

He hadn't risen to the top of ToB through skill alone. He was also a very good puppeteer, handling things in the shadows.

Rumours about him had circulated on the internet for years. But they were never proven.

"Let's hope you are right…" she murmured to herself.

When the elevator stopped on the ground floor and the doors opened, Kary and Alex exited it with a measured stride, trying to look confident. It worked to a certain degree, as the people noticing them couldn't help but feel like they were a power couple.

But one person was unimpressed: Louis.

He'd been to many meetings with his boss, Damien, and it wasn't the first time he saw a routine like this. But theirs was sloppy, at best.

It lacked the refinement of many years of practice.

He nonetheless bowed before them, his face remaining stoic.

"I apologize for taking some of your time, Mr. Astaroth and Ms. Phoenix. Master Damien said this matter was urgent, so I was ordered not to take no for an answer. I hope you understand."

Alex scanned the guy from head to toe, and he reeked of submissiveness. His face was devoid of all emotion, and he was sure that if he played poker, he could bluff professionals under the table.

But he at least didn't seem rude, contrary to his alleged master.

"Whatever it is, I would prefer you use our real names instead of our gamer names, Mr. Louis," Kary asked, giving him a stern look.

"As you wish, Ms. Deveille," Louis replied, taking a small apologetic bow.

"In any case, this discussion won't be happening in our home. Let's go to a more neutral place. I hope you don't mind," Alex said, pointing toward the building's entrance.

"Not at all," Louis replied.

Louis had a car parked in the building's car park, on the public portion, and he offered to take them to wherever they wanted to go, but Alex declined his offer.

"I'll call us a ride. I don't trust you or your boss. Nothing personal."

Louis bowed his head in acceptance.

It made complete sense, given the strenuous relationship between them inside New Eden, and it wasn't his place to question this or complain about it.

He was just a messenger.

Alex called the only person he knew could have a limo to them in a brief delay, Mr. Gu. The man sighed on the phone since assisting Alexander wasn't his job, but he still complied.

Jack had given him the order to accommodate Alex if they needed him, so he could only wish the young man had never called him. But a limousine wasn't much trouble, so it didn't bother him too much.

The vehicle reached the condominium building in minutes, and the three boarded it, heading toward downtown.

Alex gave an address to the driver through the rolled-down window and then sat down. He had picked a posh restaurant in one of the commercial high-rises since he had heard it was the perfect place for business meetings.

It even had private rooms for such meetings, and the service was apparently excellent. This was the perfect chance to try it out.

The trip there wasn't long, and the limousine driver told Alex he was going to wait around the corner and to call him directly once they were ready to leave, giving him his card. Alex thanked him as he took the card and disembarked from the limousine.

Once inside the building, and up to one of the last floors, they took out a private room and were seated in minutes.

Now, it was time for the true talks.