Shadow Seer (Rogue Merchant Book #3): LitRPG Series by Roman Prokofiev (read ebook pdf .TXT) 📕

of speed and affordability. But even he didn’t want to challenge the creatures haunting the Sea of Terror.

“So, how did you like the safari?” Rocky asked us, grinning, after everyone had recovered from meeting the Guardian.

“Now that’s a prey!” Bonus said. “Too large to fit our clan hall!”

But as it turned out, the trouble was far from over. The ship’s seeker and Fayana constantly used Search to monitor the area and almost simultaneously reported a new signal, startled.

“A large inorganic object. Quickly moving underwater, intercepting course,” the Pioneer told us, biting her lip. “I’ll check with Mental Search... Yes, eleven...fourteen signals, all close together. It looks like a—”

“Ship!” Thrainul finished her phrase.

“That’s right,” he continued after a pause. “This is Mancurt’s Barracuda. I’ve contacted him. The Pandas are aboard, coming for our lives!”

“Well, mine,” I corrected him.

“Yeah. Their leader’s writing me something. The nerve! They’re asking me to sell you out for a nice sum!”

“Turn me in? Can it really be done? I could log out at any moment.”

“Easy. Who says I have to warn you? You could go to sleep in your ‘coffin,’ log out, and we could give it to the Pandas. When you return, you’d be in on their ship. Need I say more? In short, prepare for battle. I’ll give them one hell of a reply!”

“Wait!” I exclaimed, stopping him. A new idea had just dawned on me—a solution to this nasty situation that allowed me to keep the crew and the ship out of danger. Well, almost.

“How much are they offering, you say? Double the amount. You’ll share it with me later.”

Thrainul stared at me blankly, furrowing his grey bushy eyebrows.

“Sell me to Pandas,” I repeated emphatically.

Chapter 14

AS THE PANDAS SURELY tracked my logging into Sphere, I had to keep up appearances. We agreed to give them my “coffin” late that night so as to avoid any suspicion. I decided to spend my short break with my family. Lately, I had all but stopped dining with my wife. Alena was seemingly accustomed to my new routine. Had the latest sum withdrawn from the game reconciled her with my addict-like schedule, or was it the calm before the storm? In any case, she wasn’t nagging me or making scenes. However, during dinner, she started a weird conversation.

“Listen, Oleg,” she said. “Just don’t laugh, OK? I think we’re being watched!”

I chuckled ambiguously, perking my ears.

“A black Turbo’s always parked in the courtyard,” she continued. “It’s not from our apartment building or any of the surrounding ones. I asked Uncle Ramil, and he says it’s someone else’s!”

“Nonsense!” I brushed her off. “Paranoia!”

“No, you just rarely leave the house and don’t notice it! There are two guys there. I’ve memorized their faces and written down the license plates!”

“Why do you think they’re watching us?” I asked lazily.

“First, I noticed that car in the parking lot of Tataria Mall when we went there. The day before yesterday, remember? Then I saw it right across from our windows. This morning, I bumped into one of these guys on my way to the gym! They’re definitely watching me!”

“Maybe you have a secret admirer?” I joked.

“Oleg! I’m being serious!”

I considered this. Even an observant civilian would have a hard time noticing proper surveillance. It meant that these guys weren’t trying to hide. Were they Mr. Leo’s people? He had said that he would keep an eye on me, and the Magister mentioned something like that as well. They might be protecting me. There was also a small chance that the Pandas were trying to track me down in real life. Their alliance had really lost a lot of money, but... Pandorum mostly had Australians, Germans, and British players. The Confederacy’s immigration policy would make it hard for them to reach me. They did have a Russian branch, but I doubted that those guys would look for me. It was a bothersome business; Goggy was an exception rather than the rule.

“I think it’s your imagination,” I said confidently. “If you want, I could go down and talk to the guys in the Turbo. Where did you say it was parked?”

True, a large black electric vehicle with the logo of a well-known Japanese corporation was waiting just under our windows in the outer parking lot—full of the other tenants’ cars, it encircled the four high-rises of our apartment complex. It had tinted windows and turned-off fog lamps. I recognized it.

I stepped out onto the balcony and dialed the number marked as M.L. Mr. Leo picked up the phone almost immediately.

“Good evening, Oleg.”

“Mr. Leo, forgive me for calling so late. Are your people spying on my family? Two guys in a black Turbo?”

“Spying is a big word.” He chuckled. “We’re just making sure that you’re doing fine. I have specific instructions to keep you safe.”

His tone was calm, even a little bit lazy, but had enough steel for me to realize that no amount of arguing would have an effect. I was being watched; the orders came from above and weren’t up for discussion. It was a red flag. Was it really just to keep me safe? They were making it clear: Cat, your life is under our control. I wondered what the Magister would do if I refused to work for him.

“Your boys were burned. Poor show,” I said.

“Got it. I did tell you we would keep tabs on you. Is your wife worried?”

“Yes. Could you be a touch more careful? It’s hard to explain such focused attention.”

“Will do. I don’t have too many people here, but I’ll think of something,” Mr. Leo said in a tired voice. “Is that all, Oleg?”

“No. I would also like to talk to you-know-who. Urgently, if possible.”

“Got it. I’ll pass it along. Go outside. Wait for a Courier call.