— CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE —

  Red Lights and Blue Bloods

  {Lucy}

  Celestia Grand's red light district wasn't at all what I'd expected. We found ourselves strolling through one of the most vibrant and animated corners of the city. Nestled in the far northwest reaches of the Eclipse District, the streets pulsed with an energy that felt more like a festival than a den of vice. People moved about with purpose rather than shame, their conversations floating through the late afternoon air like notes from instruments.

  Unlike the more fantastical Constellation District, the industrial Sunfire, or the modern residences in Nebula, the red light district followed the rest of the Eclipse district as a throwback to an earlier era. Brick buildings in warm amber and russet tones lined the streets, many sporting bay windows and ornate cornices in a turn-of-the-century aesthetic. Gas lamps dotted the corners, unlit in the daylight.

  And the people had far more scruples than I anticipated. No addicts sprawled in alleyways, no shifty-eyed dealers lurking in shadows. Instead, shopkeepers swept their storefronts, couples strolled arm-in-arm, and a group of players haggled good-naturedly with an NPC fruit vendor. If I hadn't known better, I might have mistaken it for any other respectable shopping district.

  (P)?T'weren't nary a hopped-up ne'er do well to be scried!

  {L}?You used a double negative, you lout.

  Anyway, in many ways, it was indistinguishable from most of the city with many of the same varieties of shops as the midtown.

  Cutting through the heart of the area was River Street - a winding boulevard that served as the district's main artery. The street was unusual in its construction; it doubled as a bridge over the River Moondrop, which snaked its way from Syzygy Square in the city center out toward the northwestern city wall. The river itself was only partially visible, glimpsed through railed-off openings in the brick partitions that lined the street. These viewing points had become impromptu gathering spots, where people paused to watch the water flow beneath their feet.

  Percy consulted his map as we walked along the street. "According to Excalibur's directions, the casino should be just ahead."

  Fritz stretched his arms above his head. "Man, I still can't believe the squirt's got herself set up here."

  I said, "I hope she hasn't gotten into further trouble. This is not the kind of place a child should be spending her time."

  "Hey, she's pretty responsible!" Fritz said. "She swore off drinking after that one time, and she's the manager of the Underground Intelligence Office, you know!"

  Percy asked, "Did they ever give her any real responsibilities?"

  A brass band had set up on one of the wider sections of River Street, their instruments catching the late afternoon sun. The melody they played was upbeat and jazzy, drawing a small crowd that swayed and clapped along. We skirted around the gathering, continuing our search.

  "There!" Percy pointed ahead.

  The casino announced itself long before we reached it. 'Get it Twisted' dominated its block, a massive bronze fa?ade adorned with thousands of lights programmed to create the illusion of a revolving rainbow waterfall cascading down its front. The effect was hypnotic, forcibly drawing the eye toward it no matter how one might try to look elsewhere. I would call it... maybe not so far as lurid, but definitely garish. It was doing its job of catching people's attention, certainly - it was the most crowded section of the district. Players crowded the steps leading up to the casino's entrance, some entering with excited chatter, others exiting with expressions ranging from jubilation to despair.

  We slipped through the throng. As we approached the revolving doors, their brass frames gleaming in the light show's glow, Percy placed a hand on Fritz's shoulder.

  "Control yourself, Fritz." he said.

  Fritz raised his hands in surrender. "Come on, I learned my lesson! I only do pfennig slots now!"

  The interior was much more to my tastes. Lush vegetation spilled from planters made of what appeared to be mahogany. Water features burbled pleasantly, creating an atmosphere of tranquility that seemed at odds with the casino's purpose. The floor beneath our feet was polished marble, veined with gold that caught the light from chandeliers hanging overhead.

  The sounds of gaming - the ringing of slot machines, the shouts of winners, the collective groans of losers - were present but muted, confined to the rear of the establishment. What stretched before us was less a casino and more a high-end shopping mall with boutiques and restaurants lining a central corridor.

  We found ourselves in an entry hall which followed a gentle depression in the floor - a kind of gully separating raised mezzanine floors where food courts and lounges were situated.

  "Hey, drop-outs!"

  The shout came from above. Looking up, I spotted a familiar figure waving from one of the dining areas.

  "There's our girl!" Fritz said, a grin spreading across his face.

  Excalibur sat at a table overlooking the central corridor. Despite being only thirteen, she carried herself with the confidence of someone much older, lounging in her chair with one arm draped casually over its back.

  We made our way to a nearby staircase. From the second floor, the true scale of the 'Get it Twisted' became apparent. What had seemed merely large from the ground floor revealed itself as cavernous, with the main casino space stretching far back into the building. Gaming tables dotted the floor like islands in a sea of movement, while slot machines lined the walls.

  We followed the balcony around to where Excalibur waited, her table positioned in a prime spot that allowed her to monitor the comings and goings below while remaining somewhat secluded from neighboring diners. She was dressed in a freshly-tailored pinstripe suit and sipped from a tall milkshake.

  "Hey! Doin' well for yourself, squirt!" Fritz called as we approached.

  "Yeah, I'm getting on. Hey, get yourselves something - my treat!"

  So we quickly grabbed something from the food court.

  Fritz made a beeline for a Mexican stall, returning with a box of tacos that steamed appetizingly. The shells were crisp and golden, filled to overflowing with seasoned meat, fresh vegetables, and sauces in varying shades of red and green.

  Percy opted for simplicity, selecting a pair of cinnamon rolls from a bakery stall. The pastries were enormous, spirals of dough laden with cinnamon and drenched in a thick white glaze that dripped onto the plate.

  I settled on spring rolls from a delightful little Chinese stall tucked into a corner of the court. And they were everything I hoped they would be - a perfect crispness giving way to a juicy filling of vegetables that retained both their texture and flavor. And the sauce - just a drizzle of sweet and spicy notes that complemented rather than overwhelmed! Max, write that down - I'm thinking Chinese tonight.

  (P)?Got it.

  {L}?So we got our food and sat down with Excalibur. It was all very good, but I was still very suspect of the whole arrangement.

  "So this is the... 'red light' district?" I asked.

  "Oh, you've never been here?" Cali asked. She seemed genuinely surprised, as if visiting such an establishment was as commonplace as buying bread.

  Percy and I both turned to Fritz.

  "I didn't realize they had anything up here." he said.

  "Yeah, the Guard don't like to advertise it." Excalibur said. "It started as a red light district in the traditional sense, then, as the Guard clamped down and started imposing 'laws', it became a refuge for all sorts of unregulated stuff. The casinos moved in, and mobs formed around them."

  Fritz paused mid-bite. "There are more mafias?"

  "There's money to be made, so yeah. There's five big guilds that run the place. This particular establishment is the headquarters of Don Mafioso's All-Natural Skin Remover."

  I nearly choked on my spring roll. "That is quite the name."

  "Yeah, they go by the Dons. Good people; nice guys - I use this place for meetings all the time." Excalibur waved casually at a burly security guard who nodded back. "Anyway, because it's smack inside the city, it would be risky to start a fight with the crime guilds, and of course the Guard officers are hypocrites that frequent the place themselves, so they let it exist in a grey zone in this unpopulated corner of the city."

  I watched a well-dressed couple strolling past, the woman laughing at something her companion said. They hardly looked like denizens of a criminal underworld.

  "As long as the mafias don't help the Fringe or move outside their bounds, the Guard let them co-exist." Excalibur explained. "And because of that, it's become a haven for everyone looking to get away from the Guard's oversight. As you can see, the mobs expanded their services to accommodate - they cater to normies now, too."

  Percy frowned. "Is that sustainable? If they capture too much attention from the normal people, won't the Guard be forced to do something about it?"

  Excalibur shrugged, taking another loud slurp of her milkshake. "Eh, they'll adapt when it comes to that. For now, we've got what we've got. It's a delicate ecosystem."

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "And I presume that you are here as part of your job in the Underground Intelligence Office?" I asked.

  "Yep!" She beamed with pride, straightening her pinstripe suit jacket. "With my job keeping track of black and grey markets, and because this place is in the Trade Union's backyard, I am part of the team managing that hazy line!" She thumped her chest. "I'm kinda a big shot - it's no big deal. Sweet gig, though - I take some bribes, get treated nice, got some official weight to throw around when things get hairy."

  "I see." I said. "And how is this relevant to our court case?"

  Excalibur leaned forward, her expression suddenly serious. "It's all related to the Guard, isn't it? You getting arrested, this place forming, everyone coming here, my job - it's all because the Guard keep stepping up control, right?"

  "Right..." I said.

  "Right! So, I wanted to introduce you to someone." Excalibur said.

  Fritz eyed her suspiciously. "What kind of person are we talking about here? Because I did learn my lesson - I'm not making any deals with the mob."

  "No, no." Excalibur waved off his concern. "Just a concerned citizen that prefers to stay out of the Guard's view. Come on, let's take a walk."

  Excalibur led us outside and farther northwest along River Street, up past the most crowded part of the district. Once we were near the city's curtain wall, we turned north. Ahead was the far northern edge of the city, where the wall formed a sharp angle with the base of the Citadel's motte. Nestled in the crook of that angle sat a cemetery, though we didn't go inside.

  Just outside the gate was an entrance to the sewer tunnels - a place where the street sloped down to enter a brick hole in the ground. They could be found all throughout the city. And like any other, it took us into the sewers. As we descended into the tunnel, the temperature rose noticeably - a stark contrast to the winter chill above. Warm, humid air enveloped us, carrying with it the undeniable bouquet of waste and stagnant water.

  The main tunnel stretched away in both directions, a central canal of dark, slow-moving water flanked by stone walkways on either side and occasional metal catwalks crossing the water. Dim, magic-fueled light orbs were spaced at irregular intervals along the ceiling, casting just enough illumination to navigate by. The sound of dripping water echoed continuously, punctuated occasionally by distant splashes.

  "Stay on the paths." Excalibur warned. "The canal's deeper than it looks, and trust me - you don't want to know what's in there."

  Whatever she was referring to, it wasn't the monsters, because those were out on the walkways. Gators, slimes, and bats roamed freely. Percy incinerated any and everything in front of us as Excalibur led us through a series of turns. I tried to keep track at first - left, right, straight for two junctions, then right again - but quickly lost my bearings. It brought back memories of the last time I'd been down there - when I wanted to get an extra level right before the Oxtongue raid.

  We then turned into a small, dark side tunnel. Throughout the tunnels there were little rest areas that served as safe zones from the wandering mobs - places for players to take a break or log out in safety. This one was particularly hidden in the shadows - the passageway going back for a dozen meters in barely visible lighting.

  At the back, it turned a corner, and suddenly there was light. The narrow tunnel gave way to a spacious chamber that had been transformed into a bustling workshop. Desks filled the space, occupied by players typing at workstations or arranging papers. In one corner, an actual printing press - looking like it belonged in a museum rather than a sewer - churned out pages with rhythmic clanks and hisses. Stacked near it were bundles of pamphlets.

  "Welcome to the headquarters of the Sewer People." Excalibur announced with pride.

  "The Sewer People?" I repeated.

  "Come on." she said, motioning for us to follow her toward the back of the chamber.

  As we moved through the space, I took a closer look at the workers. Many were members of the minor Vanguard guilds - Ruin, FUN Rangers, and Hermann Park Vacancy. The rest were a mix from the Trade Union, Ethanolics Anonymous, and some civilian guilds I was unfamiliar with.

  At the far end of the room, two men were engaged in conversation at a pair of large editing desks. One sat casually on the edge of a desk, gesturing animatedly as he spoke - Willard. The other leaned against the adjacent desk with his arms crossed, his expression serious - Grey.

  They turned as we approached, Willard breaking into a wide smile while Grey's eyes narrowed slightly in assessment.

  "Here you go: three dweebs." Excalibur announced, dropping into a chair behind one of the desks and propping her feet up.

  "Hey there! Welcome!" Willard's greeting was enthusiastic.

  "Quite the operation you've got going down here." Fritz said. "But, uh, what is it, exactly?"

  "It's an underground newspaper! We're spreading information that isn't reported on in the Celestial Daily."

  "I don't think 'underground' is supposed to be a literal term." I said.

  "But what better place for it?! This place is so hidden, even I can't find it sometimes!" Willard said.

  Grey pushed himself off the desk, his expression remaining serious. "We didn't exactly have a lot of options after the World Guard started cracking down on 'disruptive elements'."

  "What kinds of stuff are they trying to keep from us?" Fritz asked.

  "Oh, you know, mostly criticism and protests." Willard said, his smile dimming slightly. "The kind of stuff that got the Fringe exiled."

  "'Fearmongering', 'public nuisances', 'promotion of violent ideology' -" Grey said, "- anything that could go against their control."

  Willard nodded. "We cover the legitimate stuff that we think people should be aware of. Did you know that, a few days ago, a woman was killed at a protest in Falconworth?"

  Fritz shook his head. "Haven't heard a thing about it."

  "Read for yourself!" Willard grabbed a pamphlet from a stack on his desk and handed it to me.

  Tragedy in Falconworth: Three Dead After Protest Turns Violent

  Falconworth, Northern Snowfields - Last Sunday, December 8th, what began as a peaceful protest in Falconworth's central square escalated into a deadly confrontation, leaving three players dead and dozens injured. The violence erupted following the intervention of World Guard peacekeepers, triggering an unexpected response from the city's NPC enforcers - Falconworth's signature steam-powered golems.

  A Protest for Fair Representation

  The protest was organized by a coalition of players advocating for increased representation within the game's governing systems. Their demands included clearer pathways for players to influence in-game policies and the removal of restrictions on player-run institutions. What started as an orderly demonstration soon spiraled into chaos when World Guard forces attempted to disperse the crowd.

  Eyewitnesses report that the peacekeepers used non-lethal suppression measures, but the situation rapidly deteriorated when Falconworth's city guard golems - automated enforcers controlled by the game's AI - registered the peacekeepers as combat instigators. The machines deployed their area-of-effect shock cannons, stunning large swathes of both protestors and officers alike. In the ensuing confusion, conflict broke out between the protestors and Guards, leading to the tragic deaths of three players, including one bystander.

  The Fallen

  - Galesong42 - A well-known activist and community leader, Galesong was a key voice in the protest movement. Known for their eloquent speeches and passionate advocacy for player rights, their death has left a significant void among reformists in Celestia Grand. His affiliates have not been available for a complete obituary.

  - Wrights Scrivener - A scholar and historian working part-time for the Protectorate, Wrights had devoted their time to chronicling the game's evolving social landscape. Friends say he was present at the protest to document the event and had no intention of participating in the confrontation. Co-workers at the Protectorate have refused to go on record about him.

  - Madame Oolong - A beloved tea merchant with no known political affiliations, Madame Oolong was caught in the crossfire when the golems fired into the crowd. Regular patrons of her shop in Falconworth remember her as a warm presence and an excellent storyteller. She is survived by her store's mascots - three cats that have been taken into the care of her friends.

  The Cover-Up

  The World Guard and Falconworth city officials have wasted no time in erasing all traces of this event. Nothing has appeared in either the Celestial Daily or Protectorate's reports, and the only official bulletin available from the Guard, itself well buried in their nominally-public records - list the incident as 'peacefully dispersed'. Those who witnessed the incident firsthand report that discussion of the event is being silenced - several members of Falconworth's administration that previously expressed support for the protest's goals have had their positions shuffled, the protest's organizers have gone underground, and a memorial for the fallen in the square has been subject of repeated harassment from the Guard peacekeepers for 'unauthorized gathering'.

  While this entire episode could have been attributed to a tragic accident, it wasn't. Yet again, the World Guard has sidestepped any responsibility, instead choosing to avoid the matter altogether and hope we all forget. Well, we won't, and we implore you to remember as well. The truth of the matter is that the World Guard know how to work around the NPC guards. Remember that during the purge in Faustenburg, there was no response. When the Fringe instigated riots in Celestia Grand, there was. When the Guards removed the Fringe from the Capital, the NPCs didn't do a thing to stop them. They know how to weaponize this system against their enemies - note that not a single Guard was hurt in this incident.

  So remember this, for the next time it happens.

  "Oh my." I said.

  "I told you we couldn't trust them." Percy said.

  Fritz said, "I don't think any of us ever disagreed with you, buddy."

  Willard pushed himself off the edge of his desk. "Yeah... things aren't going too well inside the Guard. What you're reading there? Just the tip of a very large, very ugly iceberg."

  Grey scoffed. "That's an understatement."

  "Why the change in disposition?" I asked.

  Willard said, "The Guard is controlled by a cabinet of five people." he explained, holding up his hand and counting off on his fingers. "Commander of the Peacekeepers, Guild Leader of the Trade Union, Chief Justice, Head of Logistics, and Executor of the Field."

  I frowned, trying to match these titles with what I knew. "Which one is the Guard's guildmaster - Sir Alka?"

  "None of them."

  Grey added, "They shoved him in a closet months ago."

  Willard said, "He delegated his power to, according to our insiders, diffuse the power and prevent any one person from gaining too much control. On paper, he's still the guildmaster, but the cabinet makes all the decisions now."

  Grey said, "And it had the exact opposite effect. Instead of preventing power concentration, they've created a perfect little oligarchy."

  Percy asked, "What's an 'Executor of the Field'?"

  "It's the person that manages administration of the Guard branches outside Celestia Grand." Willard said. "The position was made by the suggestion of the Chief Justice - Martin Murdock - and the guy appointed to the position is one of his yes-men. Between the other three - Poe in Logistics, Gerald Rivera in the Trade Union, and the Commandant of the Peacekeepers - he doesn't seem to have trouble getting a majority vote, either."

  "Wait." Fritz interjected, his brow furrowing. "The Commander of the Peacekeepers is called-"

  "His username is 'The Commandant', yeah. Commander Commandant." Grey finished for him.

  "I think we should call him ComCom for short." Excalibur suggested, swiveling in her chair.

  "So... what did you need us for?" Percy asked.

  "Ah, yeah." Willard brightened, clapping his hands together once. "One of our informants asked us to help you out. Sounds like you've fallen afoul of the Guard's courts, and how could we say no to a chance to stick it to the system?"

  I asked, "So this negligent court system was arranged by Murdock as well?"

  Willard's eyebrows shot up. "Negligent? Oh no - they know exactly what they're doing. The fast pace, the lack of rigid procedure - it's all built to allow them to set up how they want things to go and move faster than anyone can respond. You saw part of that - pressed the wrong buttons, stepped out of line, and got hit back down. That Fringe association is poison to public opinion, and they only need half the jury to convict."

  "Is that why they skipped jury selection?" I asked. "Is it rigged from the base?"

  "Probably, yeah." Willard nodded. "We don't have anyone inside the judicial branch yet, but from what we've observed, the juries tend to lean Guard-friendly."

  Grey rolled his eyes. "We've got to pull out all the stops for the petty criminals, you know - can't have a drug dealer running loose."

  Excalibur spun her chair toward us, her feet barely touching the floor. "They crack down hard on that type of stuff outside the red light district - don't want the mafias to influence anything outside their corner, you know?"

  "So do you have any ideas on how we fight it?" I asked.

  "Maybe." Willard said. "I already sent the new guys to gather evidence for you. They should be back soon."

  Grey groaned and rolled his eyes again. "Them."

  Willard only gave him a smile. "Hey, I think they're doing a bang-up job!"