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Fortress of Hope 13
1. Great things start small.… In a month…… The Anomaly Research Institute, located on a space station orbiting Saturn. Meeting in a small conference room…The further the Inspector of the Council of Nine for Scientific Relations listened to the report, the more gloomy he became.- It's clear. Thank you,” he nodded to the speaker, who had finished his presentation on the small screen. “I can tell at a glance how the Council will respond to your request.The scientists, gathered at the round table in the small conference hall of the Institute, exchanged worried glances. They did not expect the Inspector to take their request so gloomily.The Inspector continued:- So that you do not suffer in ignorance for an indefinite period, according to old friendship, I will say ...The director of the Anomaly Research Institute nodded in satisfaction. An imposing man, with a noble gray hair at the temples, immediately understood what his old acquaintance meant to say, who by the will of fate had
Fortress of Hope 14
. An unpleasant surprise at the start.- Well, how are you feeling?The first of his people, whom Mark saw in the foyer of a glass skyscraper, was Nick.The blond shone like a neon lamp.“Which of us is already here?” - instead of a greeting, Mark asked, holding out his fist for a ritual greeting.Nick touched his fist with his and smiled with all his thirty-two snow-white teeth.You are the fifth.- Frets. I'll go and check it out.Mark walked to the terminal, which, in his opinion, the queue was smaller. Despite the early morning, before the competition crowded in the lobby immeasurably.For the qualifying round, the organizers rented the entire huge high-rise building. And Mark and his friends were lucky to get the whole team into the third wave.Over the past two weeks, we managed to collect a maximum of information about the first round.The organizers of the competition did not bother and took the old virtual game Arkoland as a basis.And the condition of the first round was: to
Fortress of Hope 15
4. Entering the game.On the floor where the elevator took them, they had to spend three days without the opportunity to get out. The game was to be played for three days with breaks for lunch and sleep.Before finding his room, Mark followed an employee through a crowd of others just like him.The guide quickly led them down a long corridor, commenting on the doors flying past.- Signs are everywhere. Dining room, gym, living room, - he also quickly broadcast along the way. - Leaving for lunch at exactly two. Dinner and bed at nine sharp. If you do not go out yourself, we turn it off automatically. Keep in mind that you don't accidentally end up dead in the game, he warned. - The timer is built into the main menu, - he immediately answered the emerging question. “Now take your rooms according to your numbers.” The entrance to the game is exactly at nine.And Mark understood why there were only numbers on the doors now. It remains only to find your room.The modest appearance of the r
Fortress of Hope 16
The beginning of the game is not happy.Yes. To fall abruptly into another place, and even into a humming crowd, is still a pleasure. Mark grimaced as someone nearby screamed piercingly, calling for Dick.On the square of a small town, in the style of German old towns, there were already players - a dime a dozen. But most of all, it was surprising that the bulk, especially the girls, were dressed up in such a way that they seemed to have already been at the ball.Noise, uproar, laughter, careless fun... It all looked strange. Especially when you consider that the competition was very serious.Looking around, Mark resolutely pushed his way to the nearest building and stood under the protection of its walls. So at least the back will be covered. Immediately activated the help.You are in the city of Chartjem on the southern border of Arkoland. A hundred and forty leagues to the capital. Helpfully provided help.Mark figured out how much it would be in terms of standard measurement, and
Fortress of Hope 17
Things seem to be getting better.The dining room greeted the friends with a quiet hum, but a quick glance was enough to breathe a sigh of relief. There were only non-pisces in the clients. The players haven't gotten here yet.“We’ll try to find out here,” Tark warned Sionel quietly."Cool," he remarked enthusiastically. - We're the first here.Tark nodded and walked to the far end of the room. Didn't sit down at the table.“I would like to talk to the owner,” he politely bowed his head and asked the middle-aged woman.The woman was steadily stirring the stew in a huge vat hanging in the hearth over the fire.She looked at him in surprise and waved towards the door under the stairs to the second floor.- Sir, go through that door, you will find Puchkens there.- Well, and a little, - Sionel chuckled as they walked in the indicated direction.- A normal name for a non-script, - Tark was not seduced, forcing Sionel to wince for a moment.Alas, in their company, Mark and Rinat were the m
Fortress of Hope 18
All the way or a strange quest.- Isn't it too cool to climb impassable mountains? Ehan asked Tarka dubiously as they followed the boy Puchkens had sent to escort the nobles to Virker along the cobbled alley.“We’ll find out from Virker,” Tark remarked gloomily. - Now I understand why so many people are eliminated from the first round. A crowd of rods.“I think there are a lot of people looking for workarounds, like us,” Ehan said thoughtfully.- I hope we will be the first at Virker, - Tark agreed with his friend worriedly and looked back angrily.That is why, of all the friends in Chartier, it was Nick who brought it? Now protect your empty-headed sister from this preoccupied dog.These two, or rather, three, if you count the dog, felt great. It was as if they were on a pleasure trip, and not in a serious competition, success in which could qualitatively affect their future life.The alley where the boy led them was quiet and deserted. And the owner himself came out to knock.The bo
Fortress of Hope 19
Moments when you regret past decisions.But getting out of the city was not so easy. A crowd of cheering players blocked the road leading to the only gate in the fortress wall.- Beauty, let's go with us? - from time to time someone rolled up to Lisa, shining with enthusiasm in his eyes.Tark grimaced each time. It seems that everyone is going to have fun, not compete. Flirting hung in the air like a thick smog. Many left the city in hugging couples.But the mounts came across only in units.“I don’t understand anything,” he muttered. “But how are these boobies going to win?”"Hopefully lucky," Ehan replied. – You do not take into account that due to the specifics of the selection there are many who have never played professionally. Except for yourself, for fun."Maybe you're right," Tark agreed reluctantly. “Hurry to get out,” he sighed at last.Virker confidently led them along, holding a real donkey by the bridle.The donkey was unceremoniously loaded with such a rather big hill.
Fortress of Hope 20
Well ... and now with God!As they stepped out into the open, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.Just past the bridge, Virker turned left onto a barely visible path.- It's calmer, - he muttered, as soon as the path dived into the first bushes.The cheerful hubbub behind was getting quieter. The forest reliably hid a small team from prying eyes. The birds chirped merrily overhead.- I hope there will be no trap, - Tark remarked quietly, without losing his vigilance.But the dense vegetation, as well as hiding them well, did not allow them to look around themselves. All that remained was to rely on his guide.The detachment walked in silence, trying not to break the silence with unnecessary talk.Fortunately, but Virker's calculation turned out to be correct. There were no more people who wanted to meddle in the forest.The path climbed stubbornly up the slowly rising surface. The forest gradually thinned the higher they climbed the mountains.Only the quiet hubbub of the forest reign