Shadow Seer (Rogue Merchant Book #3): LitRPG Series by Roman Prokofiev (english reading book TXT) 📗

ruined by the loss of two juggernauts, Ragnarok and Leviathan. That put down their battle stats by twenty million. The total loss—the destroyed ships, the dropped loot, the consumed items—approached forty million gold, thirty of that Pandorum’s.

I had really outdone myself. The forums were in chaos; I quickly scrolled through several topics, searched by several keywords, and finally breathed out, relieved. I hadn’t been mentioned once. The precise reason for the engagement, as well as the details of the loss of two juggernauts in Dorsa, remained undisclosed. The trolls from the Eagles credited themselves with that achievement, while the Pandas acted evasive, retorting with, “We didn’t need them anyway.” Both sides were liberal with mutual insults. The forum war raged on.

I laughed at the interview with NAVY’s raid leader, where he described the battle in glorious detail. Still, they had actually done a pretty good job, dealing Pandorum a lot of damage—almost irreparable. NAVY’s morale was at an all-time high, even despite losing their Jihad fleet. I could understand them; nobody had ever humiliated the seemingly all-powerful Pandorum like that. It was also nice that public opinion didn’t notice the humble Cat. I didn’t need any attention, even if I realized that after becoming a point of concern for the biggest alliances of Sphere, I wouldn’t be left alone for long.

Fine; I would solve problems as they arose. Alena started tossing and turning in bed and yawned, and I mercilessly tore the blanket away from her.

“Wake up, darling! Listen, what’s your dream?”

“Oleg, go away...” she mumbled petulantly, trying to find the blanket and win it back.

“Come on, what’s your dream? Confess!”

“What dream, silly? I want to sleep...”

But I wasn’t about to give up. I had to fight for the dreams, both mine and my family’s, or why else would I need money? I had long since realized that it should be spent to enjoy life; otherwise, I would lose any motivation to earn it.

Yep, that was my creed.

* * *

A new day in Sphere meant new errands and new problems. I had a lot planned for that day, starting with organizing the Northerners’ logistics—my barques had perished together with the juggernauts—and ending with returning to the Temple of Shadows in Helt Akor.

At the doorway of Karn’s tavern, I accidentally bumped into my old friend, Captain Panther. I hadn’t seen him all that much after the caravan blockade; judging by the alliance chat, he became one of the leaders of the newly created Unity. He wasn’t the head, though, more like the “grey cardinal.” Actually, Captain was a pretty shifty guy. I had a feeling he had been waiting for me.

“Hey, Cat! Nice meeting you. How about wetting your whistle with me?” He nodded at the empty tavern hall.

“Sorry, mate, I’m in a bit of a hurry. How about a rain check?”

“Let’s do it now. I need a word.”

Well, so be it. Suddenly, it occurred to me that Captain was a former member of Euthanasia, one of the elite clans of Pandorum, and I had met him at the resp point inside Atrocity. It wasn’t that long ago, but it felt like a thousand years.

We sat down, and a smiling Kirana brought each of us a mug of their signature porter with a thick head of foam.

“I’ve heard about the slaughter at Atrocity,” he said, watching the girl go away. “Everyone has, actually. You rock, man. The forum’s seething.”

Where had he heard about me? I wasn’t mentioned in any of the forum posts. Maybe the Octopus? I would have to find out.

“I know, I’ve read it,” I said with a nod. “Lies, mostly.”

“Be careful, Cat.” Captain’s stare was piercing like an X-ray. “The Pandas won’t forgive and forget. Watch out and watch your back.”

“Listen, why did you leave them yourself?” I asked. “I remember you promising to tell me.”

Panther let out a short, nasty chuckle.

“Have you ever seen their alliance chat rooms? It’s a real pisshole. Fuck this, fuck that—enough to make you want to plug your ears. They also don’t like Russians. Like, a lot. Lots of slurs, conversations about that.”

“How did you get there, anyway?”

“By accident, kinda. I live...or rather used to live in Australia. Second-generation immigrant. All of my friends are from there, and then the time zones... The British all went there after their island drowned, you know? That’s how I ended up there.”

“I see. Why not the Steel Guard, then?”

“The time zone, as I’ve said. The Steels also have their own gang, their own chat. They don’t mingle with the other Pandas much, other than at events,” Captain continued. “It’s a different crowd; it’s a long story. And afterward...well, as luck would have it, I ended up moving to New Tokyo. I decided to leave Euthanasia, and that’s where you came in.”

He smiled, banged his mug against mine, and went on, “It’s way more fun here, too, after I got up with Don. Honestly, I’m thrilled. I wouldn’t trade even one day for a year in Pandorum!”

“I see,” I said, coughing.

“So anyway, why did you call PROJECT against the Pandas? You could’ve asked us! Unity is just as good. Get it? Everything could be done on the sly; no questions asked,” Captain Panther said, winking at me. “Cheap, too. Just ask.”

“All right, thanks. I thought you were busy with the Black River!” I said. “How is it going, by the way?”

“Fifty-fifty,” the Unity sergeant said with a shrug. “PROJECT tries pressing us, but we don’t give in. Push and pull. I don’t think they’ll last long.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I looked at Unity’s kill rating. True, it was red and green in equal parts, with their efficiency no more than 60%, but their bites were painful. Lots of kills of well-geared players with several real achievements worthy of top