He was seven feet tall with slim lanky limbs and chin-length yellow hair. He wore black pants, a black coat, and a white buttoned up shirt beneath with a black tie. His mask was a porcelain white that perfectly traced his neck and face in an eerie way that made it seem like it was attached to the skin. The eyeholes were narrow circles that glowed a dark yellow.

An Ascended. A Ranker that has hit the Max Rank of V. Ranker’s bodies changed as they Ranked up to adapt with the skills they gained. Their final Rank up grew a mask that provided them with their ultimate ability.

A small white suitcase was by his side. “Good evening,” he said, bowing. His hair glimmered as the fluorescent light of the hall struck it. “I am—"

“Don’t bother.” Nico couldn’t bear to hear it. Every word they spoke was mockery. “What do you want?” he said, glancing at the clipboard the Ranker held in his hands.

“I am here to collect the weekly payment, in addition to meeting with Jarl Kin regarding the incident in the 1st Zone, Area 24 Hunting Expedition.”

Regretfully, Nico unchained the door. “Don’t give us your name.”

“May I ask why?”

“You may not,” Nico responded.

“Thank you.” He walked in, placed a hand on his chest, and bowed slightly.

“What do you want?” Jarl asked immediately.

“The Syndicate is only here to offer assistance,” he said, standing up. His head almost touched the ceiling. He pulled the clipboard in front of him, flipping through the pages. “Before we begin, may I see your IDs?”

No one moved. No one said anything. They waited until the silence made the Ascended feel uncomfortable enough. He looked at each of them, trying to figure out who was related to who.

“Very well, we can skip protocol on the assumption that you have, or are in the process of, legally adopting children not born into your family, with the reminder that illegal adoption, even if they belong to a recently deceased friend, is punishable by law. This policy is vital to protecting children from being sold under a guise.”

“For reference, how much does it cost to adopt a child?” Yen said, pulling on Lilla’s cheeks. She already knew the answer. She just wanted to make the Ascended feel a little bit of shame, a futile effort if Nico ever saw one.

“10 Energy,” he responded. “The costs are for registration, health-check ups, ID creation—”

“You can stop there,” Yen said, sparing them from his dull voice. He spoke like he was reading lines off a paper, which he was.

Nico had read it too. The clipboard was called The People’s Manual. It had all sorts of useful tips and protocols when dealing with Rats. Science had done wonders in figuring out the most effective ways of manipulating the hopeless. They squeezed everything out of them.

“I would like to inform you that running an orphanage, or a kindergarten, or a form of babysitting requires official training and a license to ensure—"

“Unless you have business, we will have to ask you to leave,” Jarl said. He pointed at a small bag near the door. It was filled with pale white crystals. “There is your payment.”

The Ranker pulled the suitcase’s handle down until it clicked. The top part of the suitcase separated, leaving a small circular opening. A red liquid swirled within.

The Ranker poured the crystals into it. They melted within the pool. “Thank you for your donation,” he said, bowing again. The suitcase closed by itself.

“It’s a payment to stay alive, not a donation,” Yen said.

For a moment his mask came alive. His mouth spread in a smile. It didn’t feel like they were looking at a human. “As for my other business, I’ve been informed that team Nergery under the leadership of Ranker Kril had a Hunting Expedition ending in the passing of one team member, severe injuries of two others, and light injury of the fifth. It is unfortunate—”

“It’s stops being misfortune when a House is actively trying to get you,” Yen said. She held Lilla in one arm and a mace in the other. She tapped it against the concrete floor, making the same sound that tapping her mace against the Ranker’s head would have made. It was more for the symbolic purpose than the practical. “Let me guess—Kril said it was Jarl’s fault, the others will back Kril up to keep their jobs, and just like that, Jarl won’t be eligible for life insurance. We’ll be forced into getting a loan from the Syndicate to heal Jarl, which we won’t be able to pay off because misfortune will inevitably strike again. The Iron House will then buy the debt, putting our lives in their hands—did I forget something?”

“Doesn’t that mean this guy is also bought off?” Nico asked.

“I suppose it does,” Yen said. “Pardon me, Ascended, I’ve wasted your time with things you already know. You may resume with your scheduled nonsense.”

“I understand where you’re coming from—"

“Fuck you,” Uhan plainly said. There wasn’t anger in his voice, it was as simple as stating a fact.

“Uhan, show some respect!” Nico said, feeling proud on the inside. Saying fuck you to someone that can ruin you took guts. Yen did it in many words—Uhan did it in two. “Go on, just don’t mention luck having anything to do with this. It’s like someone…it’s like someone stabbing you in the guts then going ‘Hot damn! Unfortunate you’re bleeding out…’ you understand why we might not like that, don’t you?”

The Ranker gave Nico a slow, suspicious nod, then turned back to Jarl.

“That is a superb theory, but do you have any evidence to back it up?” He paused.

“Finding evidence is your job,” Yen said. “If you weren’t bought out, I mean.”

“Do you have any evidence I’ve been bribed? Please understand, such accusations threaten the entire authenticity of our city’s law. It is not something I take lightly,” he said, though his drone voice didn’t change.

“The Iron House gave you a thousand Energy two months ago,” Yen said.

“That was a donation,” he responded, smiling again.

“Your use of the word donation is very wrong. I advise you to look it up in the dictionary.”

“My use?” He shook his head. “No, it is the 3rd City’s use, which you swore an oath of loyalty to. I advise you to voice your complaints to the Syndicate.”

“Terrible advice,” Yen said. “Here is some better one that will please you—the Iron House would have paid you double if you haggled.”

The Ascended paused for a moment. “Ranker Kril did indeed report that the failure was caused by the Vanguard member Jarl Kin,” he said, back in his drone voice, but he didn’t do a good job of hiding the annoyance in it. “Allegedly, Jarl Kin encountering a roaming 3-star monster Wyvern caused him to run away, thus breaking formation and dooming his team had not Hunter Kril slayed the beast. The other team members have confirmed his word. Do you deny these statements? Do note that doing so will cause the case to go to the Court Of Justice, where they will be conducting a more detailed investigation in order to find out the truth. Doing so will take this case out of my hand, removing any protection I can otherwise provide, and likely end up in harsher penalties.”

“I deny these statements, but I will not go to court,” Jarl said.

“Very well. This leaves the case in my hand. I will make a judgment, however, if you found fault with it, you may appeal to the Court Of Justice—based on witness evidence I have determined that Jarl Kin is not eligible for life insurance on the basis of being responsible for the incident.

However, in sympathy to the punishment you have already received, and your long career free of accidents, I’ll do everything in my power to prevent Hunter Kril from suing you. Do you intend to appeal this ruling?”

“Continue,” Jarl said, unfazed.

“Though you are but a contractor of the Syndicate, Hunting Expeditions are vital to maintain the City’s walls from withering under the ceaseless onslaught of the Deep. We thank you for your service. Though we are not required to, the Syndicate is here to offer their assistance, as every man and woman fighting for humanity helps everyone prosper. It is in both of interest if we can find a mutual—"

“Sure,” Jarl said. “Tell us our options.”

“I’ve been informed that Jarl Kin had a weekly income of 40 Energy working for the Syndicate as a free contractor, however, our healers estimated a natural recovery period of one month and 24 days. Do you have enough saved to pay rent while Jarl Kin recovers, or a way to expedite the healing process?”

“We do not,” Jarl answered. The Syndicate’s healer estimated it would require a Rank III Healing potion, or a payment of 200 Energy to him.

“We can offer you a loan of 200 Energy to afford an expedited recovery. I understand that this is a hefty amount, but it is in my judgment that his is the best course of action.”

“And if I get injured again and fail to pay off the loan?”

“Unfortunately, we’ll have to add a weekly 10% interest.”

“Oaf. What happens to the debt if I die?”

“The loan will not be in your name, but in the Kin’s name.”

“Who will pay the debt if I die?” Jarl repeated.

“The Kin’s family must pay the loan.”

“Would you look at that,” Jarl said to Yen. “If we take the loan, and by sheer misfortune something happens to me, you guys will be in debt.”

“We need video evidence of the Iron House specifically saying they’re going to murder you,” Yen said, “Though that might still be open to interpretation.”

“I would rather jump out of the window than risk that,” Jarl said, more to get the point across to everyone else in the room than the Ranker. “Second option?”

“Enrolment for the 42nd Game begin in two weeks. A single win could solve your financial troubles.”

Compete against people that were trained from the first day they were born, by some of the best Rankers around, and equipped with the finest skills and gear their Rank allowed. That’s what the Ranker meant. The best they could do for Uhan is a Rank I healing potion and a chipped axe, and that’s one more potion than Nico got when he tried his luck in that death roulette.

They wanted Rats to participate, though. It made for a better show and better gambling scene.

“The third option is to downgrade the cubical into a less expensive one, though I’m afraid this will be difficult.”

“Any cheaper and we’ll be living on the roof. Last option?”

“Those are all the options I’m aware of.”

“We’ll think about it, or leave when they open the gates.” Pulling up the gates took an enourmous amount of Energy. The city did it once a week, to either let in the people that somehow survived outside and gathered enough Energy to pay in, or to evict people who couldn’t. Hunters like Jarl also needed to come back to hand in their haul.

“How will you provide for your little siblings?” The Ascended said suddenly. “The more you wait, the more the fines will—”

“We’ll find a way,” Jarl interjected.

“Please do,” he said, glancing around at the mostly empty cubical. “It is inhumane to let children live in squalor, without a chance at experiencing all the art that this beautiful city has to offer. If you are unable to take care of them, then the Syndicate will—"

“Steal them?” Jarl suggested.

“Do it for you,” he said, putting in a surprising amount of emotion. “Since you’re incapable, we will find a guardian that can provide them a better future. Please contact us at the 3rd Branch at Block 200 for assistance. Complain and whine all you like, but our clerks will be glad to assist you in any way possible,” he said, turning on his heel and leaving.

“It was a set-up—you know it is, but I want to know about you—how does it feel?” Jarl called out. “To sell yourself?”

“Our purpose is noble,” the Ascended said, with no hint of irony in his voice. “Paradise awaits the brave.”

The Ascended got to the door. He paused, thinking that Nico would open it for him. With a scowl he opened the door and went to the next cubical, his suitcase dragging behind him. He knocked and was quickly ushered in.

They saluted him, making Nico shake his head. He looked above him, to the corners, and below him. His Life sense extended far enough to reach all the surrounding cubicles. It’s not just the Rankers who sold their Souls for comfort—the Rats did too. They just got a worst deal out of it.