The group enters the room, staring around at the strange consoles and glowing screens. Despite the only light in the room coming from the machines, the room is surprisingly well lit. At the center of the room a hologram of a globe, showing the game world, floats over a large black table.

He trips to flip a random switch, but his hand is grabbed mid-air by one of the masked men.

Rook: No one’s answered my question yet. Where the hell are we?

Iricryo: This is the Control Room for the Grand Legion of Rare Hunters, the guild I preside over.

Melanie: I heard rumors that some rare hunters may have formed a guild, I spent some time looking for it, would have made one hell of a theft target.

Rook: If Iricryo is the guild master, it can’t be that powerful of a guild. I wouldn’t just assume they would have much of value to go after.

Iricryo: Hey! We’re the strongest rare hunter guild in the entire game!

Sarah: Against what competition?

Masked Man: I guess we can finally take these masks off, Blue Bird?

Another masked man nods and takes off his mask and lowers his cloak. He is pale and pasty looking, with messy black hair that partly covers his eyes. When he speaks, his words are spoken quick without pause.

Blue Bird: We-are-glad-to-finally-have-you-back-Iricryo!-It’s-been-too-long!

Another one takes off his mask. He has dirty blond hair, an extremely discontent expression and small glasses.

Man: What have you been up? We have been tracking you everywhere between here and Lecithin. You were only supposed to be collecting rares there for a week or two.

Iricryo: Calm down, Black Fox. I got kind of caught up in something involving the Militia, and then the High Council, and this damn group of bandits…it’s complicated.

Black Fox: It had better be. Do you know how much reward the militia is offering for your capture? It’s double the guild’s entire assets! Rare Hunters should keep themselves out of the public spotlight, you idiot!

Black Fox: And don’t just stand there, we have to brief him on our findings, Red Hunt!

The last man takes off his mask, revealing a freckled red head with a passive expression.

Red Hunt: I’ll…get the presentation ready…

Sarah: So wait…this is your guild?

Melanie: They’re just a bunch of nerds…

Iricryo: Don’t let their looks or mannerisms fool you. You will never find a more professional or efficient group of rare collectors in any game. I’ve worked with them in a few other games before, and was thrilled when I found they had made it into this game.

Iricryo: I can’t wait to see what they have to show me!

Melanie: Why don’t you just admit that you’re just a big nerd too under all that gear and character designing?

Iricryo: Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

Rook: …What’s with those names?

Iricryo: They’re code names. Pretty cool, huh?

Black Fox: You have to be a member of the guild. We are not accepting any new members now.

Black Fox: Who are these idiots you brought with you, anyway? I recognize them from the wanted posters but could not figure why you would travel with them.

Red Hunt: …Presentations ready.

Black Fox: Good. Iricryo, you’ve missed a lot in the world of rare hunting, so listen up.

In another room filled with machinery, this one in the real world, Dr. Harleman is giving nervous orders to various men.

Dr. Harleman: Yes, get that running! And the monitors too! He’ll be here any second! Oh my, whatever will I do?

Harleman looks over at him. The man wears a long lab coat, like the one in Oscar’s dream. His face is cast in a shadow.

Dr. Harleman: Well the big boss is going to be here –

Akuga Dex walks up the two of them, taking casual strides despite his overly formal attire.

Man: It is very unlike you to take such close interest in a project, Akuga, especially one that is running fine and on schedule.

Dr. Harleman: How … you called Mr. Dex by his first name! And…

Akuga: It’s alright, Harleman. Go see to the monitor. I want it up immediately.

Akuga: I hadn’t expected to see you here. I thought you didn’t like this project very much. I assumed as soon as you received your pay for your part I wouldn’t see you around here anymore.

Man: I never leave something unfinished.

Man: Still haven’t explained why you came here, demanding a set-up like this.

Akuga: This is the biggest event in V-TV Tech history. It’s only natural that I would want to have a closer part to it.

Dr. Harleman: The monitor is ready!

It turns on, and the giant monitor is split up into hundreds of screens, each flashing to different events occurring around the virtual world.

Akuga: It sure is realistic, this virtual world of ours.

Man: …

Akuga: I want to speak with the moderators personally about how the game is running under the stress of so many players. Also, I want to turn this into a control room for the improvement of the game. I want to watch the players play, interact with the world, develop new abilities and fighting styles, things like that.

Man: An avid game fan, Akuga?

Akuga: I just might become one.

Back in the virtual world Control Room, Iricryo watches the end of the presentation from Black Fox. The hologram on the table returns to a globe, with several points highlighted.

Black Fox: As you can see, with the progressing strengths of the average player, fewer and fewer rares to be found in the wild, and the increase of cost per rare item on the market, our ability to obtain rares, particularly from our usual sources, is in rapid decline.

Blue Bird: If-something-is-not-done-soon-we-will-cease-to-have-the-ability-to-procure-rares.

Black Fox: We need you to come back to work immediately to allow us to regain our stronghold on the rare market.

Iricryo: Well, I’d love to, but unfortunately I kind of have a commitment I have to keep first.

Melanie: That’s right. We’re really only here to ask if we can have a low here until the Militia gives up its search for us. Afterwards, we’re taking Iricryo back with us.

Black Fox: What!? What can you possibly have to do that’s more important than this.

Iricryo: We’re kind of…going after the High Council…

Black Fox: Well I should have figured! No wonder you haven’t been around! You’re busy going after the big fish!

Blue Bird: Our-data-shows-the-High-Council-holding-many-of-the-most-powerful-rare-items-in-the-game.

Black Fox: Getting rares from them would not only be a big boost to us item wise but would get our guild the recognition it deserves!

Iricryo: Well…that’s right! It was all my idea, of course!

Red Hunt: …Master Iricryo is so brave…

Rook: Best to just let them believe it.

Sparks shoot from one of the other machines, and everyone turns to see Oscar twitching on the floor.

Black Fox: Damn! Didn’t I just get through telling you not to touch anything!

Black Fox: All these machines store valuable information on rare items, their locations, and their possessors.

Oscar: So wait, that has information of lots of powerful rare items?

Black Fox: What the hell did I just say!? Jeez, does he even listen?

Oscar: Find me information about Gloves of Tenshirou!

Black Fox: What the hell? Get off of me!

Oscar: My pair got taken, but I don’t feel right without them! Please, help!

Black Fox: Fine, whatever, just get off!

Black Fox clicks a few buttons, and a few lights blink on the hologram of the globe.

Black Fox: That’s a really rare item you’re looking for, one that would be almost impossible for even us to get. Right now there are only three known pairs.

Black Fox: One was previously in the possession of a weak fist-combat fighter of unknown name, now in the possession of Bel the Black Seeker.

Black Fox: One is in possession of the High Council. It’s said to have undergone some heavy modifications, but I’m not sure which one of them has it.

Oscar: Won’t do me any good if I don’t have them already to fight the High Council! Where is the last one?

Black Fox: The last one is in the private collection of the mayor of Baxter, Reece.

Iricryo: Private collection? Is he a rare item collector?

Rook: Mayor Reece values strength above all else in this game. He collects powerful items from players he considers too weak to be allowed to have them and distributes them only to those he deems worthy.

Melanie: Ah, the infamous collection of Baxter. I’ve tried to get my hands on it a few times, but Reece’s security is tight.

Iricryo: We’re wanted by the Militia now, remember? Just walking into a city like we just tried in Grandi wouldn’t be that smart.