Hit the Road, Jack! : Hit Let’s Negotiate!

[- Ah… ah, yeah, I am! Thank you for helping with Christina!]

Jack's mental defenses were down. That is, not his skills or brain defenses. His defenses in relation to who Timoty was and how to deal with him.

That previously cold and dangerous Demon King now seemed like a nice guy who had given him numerous precious gifts, free of charge. He even helped his daughter in the real world!

- That's good! I would like to talk to you for a bit, would you listen to me?

[- Sure. Here, let's sit.]

Jack produced a simple table with two chairs.

- Thank you. Let me help in some way as well.

As Timoty seated, he produced a tea set on top of the table. The atmosphere became pleasant.

- That's better.

[- Yeah, thanks.] - Jack seated on his chair, facing Timoty. However, at that moment, that man's face changed.

New information reached him through telepathy, and he had to change his approach. It would benefit him, but he had to show a worried expression, else Jack may interpret him wrong.

- Jack… did you have a spare account to Another World? Have you been checking it?

[- My old account?] - Jack immediately looked to his Player Interface. His eyes opened wide.

- I see you haven't… I have just been informed of something.

[- Who… who is using it?]

- I'm not sure, since I don't know what happened to your old neuroset, but I have some people on the Goblin Empire, and it seems like…

Jack's Inbox flashed a bit, and he listened to the common sound of a message. A video message.

***

Marcus' old and ugly face could be seen on the screen. His eyes were bloodshot and his lips cracked. His skin was barely clinging to his bones, and his ears and nose were disproportionate to the rest of his face.

- Hey Jack. - Marcus smiled grotesquely. - Guess what.

The old Orc pushed a young man's black hair upwards. Its face was one Jack knew well. His old avatar.

- This pall here was stuck on a cave in the middle of nowhere. Now, I don't know who is in here…

Marcus shook the person's head.

- BUT I CAN FIND IT IF I WANT TO!

His saliva exploded all over the place, and Marcus didn't care to wipe it off.

- So! Why don't you come over, eh? And bring me your Dungeon's crystal with you. I don't have much time, so be quick with it!

***

Timoty waited until Jack stopped seeing the message.

[- How did you know about that? Are you working with him?]

Timoty sighed.

- I have people on the inside. Dungal and Tito, more specifically. But they just told me about that now.

Dungal and Tito were two of the Four Kings Under One Emperor.

Jack looked at him, his face showing distrust, but not as much as before.

[- Where is my daughter?]

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown on his shoulders.

- Here, you can see her live.

Timoty gave something to Jack. It was an IP number. Computers and the internet in general had been mostly banned from the Real World, but some people - like Carlos - had his means.

Jack connected to the small camera the number was connected to. In front of him, a young woman was sleeping on the couch, next to a television.

Jack, however, had no way to be sure that the girl in there was, indeed, his daughter. The only thing he could look for was the resemblance she had with Elicia. This realization brought some tears to his eyes.

[- Fine. Can you help me, then? I suppose you want to get rid of Marcus, right?]

- It would be my pleasure!