New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

"Yes, we have an example of that here already. Alexander took a teenager in, who was robbing a bank only a few days ago, before he logged in for your pissing contest with the other guilds of New Eden."

"Hmm. I read about that incident on the news websites after the game logged us out. They said there were two robbers, though."

Hearing Alex growl to his left, David chuckled.

"I assume it was a misunderstanding from the news and the people present. What were you even doing there? You're hunting criminals now?"

"I was just passing by, I never intended to run into that situation. But the kid threw a vault door at me. I reacted, that's all. And now the police think I'm a bank robber."

Jack waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't worry about that, Alexander. My lawyers and private eyes are already working on it. Let us get back on track. So I understand that this will not be an isolated incident?"

"Far from it. The issue will only become bigger until the real threat comes along. But by then, half the world will die, anyway. Between the crimes, the monsters, the natural catastrophes, and reconnection day, the death toll will be enormous."

"Wait, half the world?!" Alex exclaimed.

"At least, by the calculations made while it was happening."

"If you know all this, why aren't you trying to make sure it doesn't happen? Is there nothing you can do?"

Alex's outburst slightly annoyed Jack, who wanted information, but he understood the young man's questions. But David was more than annoyed at being interrupted.

"I've been waiting for it to start, so I can finally do something, you idiot. Did you think I could just go out to the world and say, 'Hey half of you are going to die. So play New Eden, won't you?' Do you think I'm that stupid?"

"Is there nothing you could do before the bad things started happening? You know what's going to happen. Be proactive!"

"It's not that simple, you imbecile!"

"Alright enough, both of you!"

Slamming his hand on his desk, Jack intervened.

"You two bicker like an old couple, and I know what I'm talking about. You can do so later, when you are alone. For now, Alexander, stop interrupting, and David, stop taunting him."

"Yes, Dad," David spat out, rolling his eyes.

"Young man, if you were my son, you would know what respect is. Now keep talking."

The sternness in his eye reminded David that Jack still had his workers in his hands. That meant he held him by the balls.

Swallowing his pride a bit, he leaned back and kept talking.

"To answer Alexander's question, I couldn't do anything until it started. I could only plan and prepare. People would call me a loony if I suddenly came out and said the world was ending."

"You would be locked up in a facility faster than you could finish your tale," Jack said, nodding his head.

"Yes. That is why I had to wait. But now, with the goblins in Nebraska, I can give some proof. I can start pulling more people into New Eden."

The assistant leaned forward, interrupting him.

"And what makes you think people won't instead ask to cancel the game entirely, if that is where the problem stems from?"

David looked at him with a smirk.

"That is a good question. The answer is simple. It won't work. We did that in my timeline, and it changed nothing. After a few months, when people saw the attacks weren't lessening, they played the game to at least gain the strength to fight back. But it was too late. The death toll was already in the millions."

Jack scratched his chin.

"So you mean to say we need to make this convincing? Enough so that people believe you and play the game so they don't die?"

Looking at him, David nodded once.

"It's the only way. Constantine will try the slow way. She will try to market the game as much as she can, to make people play naturally. But it won't be enough. We can control the monster issue with her method, but not what comes next."

Alexander answered this time.

"The demon invasion. Does she even know it's going to happen?"

"I doubt it. From what information we gathered last time, Constantine's avatar, Paladina, is a champion of the one who started all this. But I don't think she knew the complete picture."

Jack chuckled.

"That sounds a lot like Constantine Levesque. She is a good company chairwoman but cannot see the bigger picture. She was already like that in her previous career."

David looked at Jack with squinted eyes.

"You seem to know her well. What are your ties to her?"

"I'm an investor in Evo-Gaming. A major shareholder. I did my homework on her before investing in her raising company years ago. She wouldn't listen to the truth in front of her if she saw a way to make money off the lies."

"Hah! Sounds exactly like her. In that case, that makes my job easier. If you can try to steer the future company decisions a bit, we might get more people to join New Eden."

Jack frowned.

"I don't much like what you are asking me. What kind of steering are you implying?"

"Nothing too drastic. But if you are willing to sink money in, you could force her to make more aggressive marketing campaigns. Her approach is too slow, and will not be enough."

Jack wasn't sure he wanted to dunk his money into an endeavour that was going to bring about the end of the world, if he believed David's words. It was poor business.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because I have something better for you in the meantime. A way to make sure your money isn't wasted."

Jack's grin came back.

"Pray tell. How can you make this worthwhile for me?"

"Same way I did for Alexander. I can make you even richer."