"Oi, Emi. Get your hands off. That’s mine!"

  "The hell I will, you dumbarse. Yours or not, you’re not doing anything with it anyway," Emilia countered.

  "Oh? Since when did you start talking back to me?"

  "Shut up and eat, will you? You’re making my dinner sour. And yes, your parfait is now mine.”

  The sight of Wong Ka Fei and Emilia von Lowenhald bickering over dessert was something to behold. When Jin first spotted them walking side-by-side into the restaurant, he had feared the worst.

  "Hehehe. I never pegged you for a stalker, Jin. Looks like you’re fond of the redhead, eh?" Elise teased.

  "It's not like that," Jin replied. He and Elise had been scouting the city for a decent meal before stumbling upon the unlikely pair seated across the room. "Those two have a bit of history.”

  "Ohhh..." Elise’s eyes sparkled. "Jealous, aren’t you?"

  Jin facepalmed. "Why on earth would I be jealous?"

  He tuned out the brunette’s teasing as he observed the two from a distance. Once satisfied that Ka Fei and Emilia weren't about to start a brawl in the middle of the dining room, he and Elise finally ordered. Since she had submitted the company registration forms without any hitch, Jin wanted to celebrate her hard work.

  "It should have taken a fortnight. But you know me. Hehehe," she said, swirling her glass. "Oh, this red is lovely. I’ll take a bottle. You don't mind, do you, my baby Frank?"

  "Order whatever you like," Jin said. "It’s on me."

  He knew how much Elise laboured over the last few days. If he’d left the paperwork to himself or Old Man Sid, they wouldn't have seen progress for at least six months. This dinner was a reward, but Jin doubted it would be enough to satiate her. From the look in her eyes, he knew exactly what she wanted next. As the semi-drunk brunette ran her fingers up his hand and across his cheek, Jin knew he had only himself to blame.

  "Wow, aren’t you two cosy?" a voice cut through the air beside Jin and Elise. "I knew you were something, man, but damn. First Emi and now this chick here."

  Jin blinked, caught off guard by Ka Fei's sudden appearance.

  "Can’t say I’m not jealous," Emilia added, her voice trailing behind him. "Or disappointed. But I won’t give up."

  "At first, I thought he was nothing more than some moody bloke. One of those brooding, edgy types. All work and no play," Ka Fei continued, as he pulled up a chair. "But what do I know? Turns out you're a bloody playboy. Finally putting those looks to use, eh, bossman?"

  "Certainly a charmer," Emilia noted, taking a seat beside Elise.

  The two youngsters invited themselves to the table without a second thought. Elise, delighted by the company, immediately began indulging them with every embarrassing detail she knew about Jin, even without their new guests asking.

  "Oh? So, you’re starting a company? Well, well. Why am I not surprised? I want in, Frank," Emilia declared. "And I won’t take no for an answer."

  Jin heaved a heavy sigh. "Doesn't your family already own a few companies? Even if you join me, do you think your father will allow it? What about your family elders?"

  "Who cares? Daddy always agrees with me anyway. And fuck the elders!"

  Jin was speechless.

  Ka Fei was grinning ear to ear. "Following your brother’s footsteps, I see.”

  "Exactly. And you, dumbarse? Are you joining or what?" Emilia asked Ka Fei. "If not, you can clear off. Shoo!"

  The man looked at Jin while stealing food from his plate. Jin tried to swat the encroaching hand away, but Ka Fei managed to snag the whole plate with him. "You got good taste, bossman. Food’s good. By the way, did Eustace ask to join your party?"

  "Yeah," Jin replied, his tone indicating he was annoyed.

  The confirmation sent Ka Fei into a fit of raucous laughter that drew stares from the other patrons. He didn't care, and given that he looked and behaved like a thug, neither did they want to cross him.

  "If that wussy is in, followed by the bitc-I mean, Emi, then why not?" Ka Fei shrugged. "The clan’s companies are rubbish anyway. If nothing else, I’ll get a laugh out of watching you try to handle this lot."

  "Congratulations, Frank," Elise slurred, raising the wine bottle to Jin’s lips. "You’ve got four members in less than a week.”

  “Congratulations, Master,” Cattleya’s voice purred in his mind.

  “My lord is amazing. Your goal is now one step closer,” Fenrir added.

  “Emilia von Lowenhald. Like the brunette, her body temperature is rising. She appears ready to mate. Her figure is quite admirable too,” Tome narrated, filling Jin’s mind with more perversive thoughts than he ever needed.

  While the others celebrated the news, Jin did not. His head drowned in nonsense from Cattleya, Fenrir, and Tome as they bickered following the bird’s less-than-polite reference to each of them. Meanwhile, Elise was busy trying to force-feed him wine from the bottle, Emilia was caressing his arm, and Ka Fei was currently picking a fight with a waiter brave enough to bring the bill.

  Fortunately, Elise became too drunk to demand her ‘reward’, and the night wound down. Soon after, Emilia’s chauffeur arrived to whisk her away, while Ka Fei managed to order a steak set on Jin’s tab before he scooted off with the meal.

  ***

  A few days later, Jin met Ironshield in his personal office on the seventh floor of the SeComm HQ. It was as sweaty and messy as the first time he had visited.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  "So, you’ve gathered four members. I can't say I'm surprised to see the usual suspects on that list."

  "I was forced into it," Jin muttered.

  "Usually, that’s the way it goes. Especially for low-level beginner parties like yours," Ironshield said, chuckling as he leaned back in the chair that creaked under his weight. "I remember my first party. A complete mismatch. Four tankers and a healer. We spent more time bumping into each other's arses than fighting. But the main thing is to get the party formed and registered; the rest will fall into place somehow."

  "What about my goals? You know why I’m doing this."

  "I do. But you can't rush the foundation, Jin," Ironshield cautioned. "My maths is a little bit rusty, but hitting thirty thousand SeC-rate points isn’t the hurdle you think it is, especially if you’re carrying the team. Besides, did you read the provisional terms for a pre-formed party that Elise gave you?"

  "Elise gave me nothing," Jin said, "except for a bottle of wine shoved into my mouth."

  "Haha! Or had she kept quiet because she assumed you’d already sussed it out?"

  "Sussed what out?"

  "That you can change your party members."

  Jin shrugged. "I knew that much."

  "But did you know that if you swap a member out, their rating points carry over? If you register a new team member, their existing points contribute to your overall party total."

  It turned out Elise had indeed omitted some vital information. While there were restrictions and penalties for new members joining a pre-formed party – it was to prevent larger companies from 'poaching' points – for a long-term goal, the impact was negligible.

  Ironshield disclosed that before his retirement, he had amassed approximately 235,000 SeC-rate points. Under the non-compete principles of the SeComm registrar, he could only contribute 5,000 of those to a new company's founding, but it was still a massive head start.

  "So, the bulk of the points rests on the founder, while the others contribute what they can," Ironshield explained. "In a beginner party, the starting line-up rarely makes it to the finish. People die, they jump ship for better offers, or they simply call it a day and retire."

  Jin pondered this. "I suppose I finally understand what Eustace meant. But damn it, Elise should have told me sooner. I'll have to give her a proper talking-to when I get back."

  "Hahaha! Careful, Jin. Knowing that girl, she might enjoy the 'scolding' a bit too much."

  "Ugh... on second thought, you’re probably right."

  The two men shared a laugh, but the levity soon faded as Jin addressed the final vacancy in his roster.

  "I need a tanker," he said, his voice dropping to almost a whisper. "And you fit the bill."

  Ironshield’s smile turned weary. "I knew you’d come asking sooner or later. But the answer is no, Jin. I appreciate the offer, but I’m retired."

  "Then come out of retirement. Help a friend. All it takes is a year, then you can go back to your quiet life." Jin had come prepared for the rejection. "I’ll even put you in as the Honorary Director of Elysium."

  "Ouch. You’re really leaning on me, aren't you?"

  "I have to do what’s best for my daughter, Ironshield."

  "But look at me, man. I’m in no fit state to be a tanker. With only one arm, I couldn't possibly–"

  "I can help you regrow it. Regenerate the limb. Whatever you want to call it."

  "You’re a crazy sod. There’s no way you could do–" Ironshield paused mid-sentence as Jin’s gaze locked on him. The stare was so heavy, so focused, that a cold shiver ran down the big man's spine. "Hell… You’re not joking, are you?"

  Jin reached into his inventory and produced the < Gem of Life >. Ironshield froze like a statue, his eyebrows twitching as sweat began to bead on his muscles while he read the flavour text.

  "There are three ways we could play this," Jin explained. "One, I kill you right here and use the Gem to revive you. You'd come back whole."

  "I don't think that’s how it works, Jin," Ironshield said, his face looking pale. "And we aren't wasting something that precious just for my arm."

  "Option two, then. I’ll ask Bee to regrow it. And before you say no, he already agreed, provided it isn't life-threatening or reality-altering. According to him, it’s simple. Like a salamander regenerating a tail. It would finish in a blink, though I’d need to provide him with an offering. The usual."

  "Damn, Jin. You sound like a bloody snake-oil salesman. I’m almost convinced. What’s the third way?"

  Jin raised a finger. "One year. Within this year, our party’s main goal is to find a way to restore you. If there isn't a cure within the RIFT, we’ll fight until we find one. If I can find a Gem of Life, I’m certain we can find a way to return you to your prime. Hell, we could even give you four arms while we're at it."

  "Is this how you convinced your late wife to marry you, Jin?"

  "The other way around," Jin replied with a cheeky grin. "She’s the one who convinced me."

  "You fucking charlatan," Ironshield laughed, shaking his head. “Are you sure you’re not a snake disguised as a human?”

  Jin smiled, exactly as a snake would. "So? What's it to be?"

  Ironshield heaved a sigh. He was wavering, but a man had to stay true to his word. A retired Player should stay retired. However, right as he was about to voice his final refusal, the air in the room grew thick.

  The messy office flooded with a divine, overwhelming presence. Out of the tiny portal, Bahamut appeared.

  "So, this is the missing limb," said the God-Emperor and Ruler of Allbeasts. "Very well. I shall return what was taken from you, human. And Jin, I expect my tribute tonight."

  "I’ve already made the reservation and paid in advance," Jin replied, his voice the only steady thing in the oppressive atmosphere. "The bakery is closing its doors, all but to fulfil your order."

  Bahamut let out a smile that flashed his sharp canines. "Hahaha! That is better. Tonight, I shall feast."

  The God-Emperor reached out. He didn't need to even touch Ironshield. Instead, only a simple wave of his claw, and then, it happened.

  The regeneration wasn't a clean, magical glow. Though it was painless, it was still a violent reconstruction. Ironshield sat aghast as Jin looked on with morbid curiosity.

  First came the bone, snapping into the shoulder socket with a wet, heavy thud. Then the sickening ‘noise’ followed. The sound of thousands of silken flesh threads being pulled taut as muscle and sinew wove themselves around the bare skeletal frame. Finally, the skin crawled over the bicep and forearm, knitting together in a seamless seal that left no trace whatsoever. Not even a single scar remained.

  In the blink of an eye, the sleeve of Ironshield's shirt no longer hung pinned back; a bulging, powerful arm filled it, looking as though it had never gone missing. Even all his stats, skills and levels returned to the point before he lost his arm.

  Silence fell over the room. Ironshield was shell-shocked. He moved his fingers, gawking at how it felt as his muscles and skin brushed against the air. He gripped the edge of his desk; the cold metal groaned under his restored strength. Tears began to flow down the big man’s face, and seeing that, Jin watched with a satisfied expression.

  Whether or not Ironshield chose to join his party, Jin had prepared for the worst. Even without the tanker, his goals remained the same. But what he did right now was for the sake of bringing the passion back to his friend. A second chance at life.

  You could take a man out of the RIFT, but you could never take the RIFT out of the man. Ironshield missed the life of a Player – the primal urge to charge in front and protect those at the back.

  This was his calling.

  “A ruler’s compassion. A rarity, and impressive by itself,” Tome hooted in Jin’s mind. “I might have a different opinion of you now. But still, you are far from fit to be my master.”

  “Doesn’t matter. But it's thanks to you that I finally know what he kept inside his heart,” Jin replied. “Not a good thing to do to a friend, but then again, I wanted to return his life to him. Living a life full of what-ifs and regret is not for him. Or for anyone else.”

  After a long silence, Ironshield looked up, his voice a ragged whisper. Jin braced for a thousand thanks, but instead, the veteran Player reminded him of something else.

  "How or what do you reckon I should do next? I can't exactly go down there or anywhere else looking like this."

  "Ah. I forgot about that bit."

  It had been more than seven years since Ironshield lost that arm. While he could mask his levels and skills, a regrown limb was impossible to hide. It would be massive news in Neo-Tokyo. No number of excuses would save him from the relentless questions of colleagues, friends, and the media.

  In fact, it would invite a level of investigation that would demand answers Jin and Ironshield were not willing to disclose – ever.

  Or perhaps, on second thought, the noise would be the best answer. Let the public scream their theories. Let the tabloids print their rumours. Let the crowd roar with confusion until the truth lay buried under a mountain of beautiful, chaotic noise.

  All Jin needed was to pour more oil onto that fire of lies.