MOBA Game Apocalypse-Chapter 68: It Was Me

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: It Was Me
"Uh..."
Adam was crouched on the ground, a bit of blood still dripping from him. Yet, he didn’t move. He couldn’t. He stayed frozen there, staring at the people that had encircled the Leak... or where the Leak was, that is.
And the people were also staring at him, and they stayed like that for a full minute. Maybe longer.
The whole camp was there—the free veterans, the Nightraptor’s members, and who knows else. Adam didn’t expect the Leak would actually throw him out like that; he thought he’d be able to tumble out of there while it was closing. Instead, it turned out that the Leak would throw all the people out at the same time of its disappearance.
It’s... not supposed to be like this. One of the guys from the scavenger was watching a movie, and the explorers had time to step out of the Leak one by one.
Stupid, Adam. That’s a movie—of course, it would have some dramatization.
His eyes swept the crowd, searching for gaps, exits, any route that wasn’t blocked. Nothing. Everyone’s shoulders were even almost touching each other with how much they were crowding there.
...And judging from the looks on their faces, they weren’t all that happy with watching their source of income evaporate in front of them like that.
He took a step back.
"That’s him!" someone shrieked. "That’s the vet! Chris! That’s the dude I’ve been telling you guys about!"
Adam tensed, ready to bolt through whoever stood in his way as soon as he heard that. But then...
"Chris! The legendary creep!"
The expected rage and violence never came. Instead, the creeps pushed forward with grins splitting their faces.
Huh?
"He cleared a whole Leak solo!"
"Absolute madman!"
"Ayo! You ever heard of a creep who could solo a Leak?! This shit insane!"
Their cheers crashed over him like waves. And soon, they rushed at him. Hands reached out, not to grab but to celebrate. A few even slapped his shoulders—and they weren’t gentle about it at all.
Adam was sure they were going to be mad... perhaps it was possible to slip through, after all?
But of course, that wasn’t possible at all, as those who didn’t share the veteran creeps’ enthusiasm soon also approached. The veterans all made way for Vincent and the other Nightraptor members.
After all, these free veterans could just find another Leak to register to... but the Nightraptor literally paid for the rights of the Leak he had just sealed.
"We need to talk, Chris."
***
"Sit."
A few minutes later, inside the main tent of the encampment, Adam was surrounded by the core members of the guild. Vincent was standing right in front of him as he sat. Eugene was beside the drapes, and Dennis was seated on a table with an amused look on his face.
Rick was also there, standing beside Eugene with a complicated look on his face. When Adam told him that he was going to take a leak, he didn’t really realize it was the
Leak
.
Of course, Adam had no choice but to sit there—he might have
solo’ed
the Verdant Snake, but that was only because he was able to get inside it. There was no way he would be able to incapacitate these people... and he didn’t want to do that, too.
Vincent crossed his arms as he stared down at Adam.
"Let me make this simple," he said. "I am offering you the same thing I offered you last time. You join the guild, we call this whole mess even. How’s that sound?"
"I—"
"Before you answer..." Vincent’s smile had no warmth in it. "Let me explain what you just cost us. The IBAA charged us two hundred thousand for this Leak. We’d projected to earn roughly four times that in the course of two, maybe three months, since we got lucky and the Boss monster lays its egg fast."
Adam’s eyes widened at the numbers being presented to him. That was already way more than his entire life savings.
"But hey, we’re being lenient," Vincent continued. "What you did technically violates about a dozen federal laws. Unauthorized Leak entry, trespassing on guild property—I’m not going to list the other things. Join us. Forget this ever happened. Everyone wins."
"That’s not—" Adam opened his mouth, but someone burst through the tent drapes before he could speak. It was Jerry.
"GM." Jerry’s voice carried the weight of authority as he looked at Vincent. "I’ll take the rogue out of your hands. IBAA’s taking custody."
He pointed at Adam without looking at him—eyes locked on Vincent instead.
"That’s not necessary." Vincent’s eyebrows furrowed. "Chris is joining Nightraptor. We’re handling this internally."
"I’m amazed with your kindness, but this is now IBAA matter." Jerry smiled. "I checked, he’s also unregistered. I’m sure you understand."
Vincent’s eyebrows lowered even further. "That’s not a problem for us. Our side will sponsor and handle everything."
"Afraid I can’t allow that." Jerry clasped his hands behind his back. "Chris here. That’s your name, right?"
Jerry finally glanced at Adam.
"Chris here broke several laws," he sighed before turning his focus back to Vincent. "Besides, I’ll personally speak to regional about compensating you for the Leak. Maybe... we can work something out with the ownership fee? Return you half? There’s also the smuggling business going around."
Vincent started to respond, but a sound cut him off. Low at first, then building above them—the sound of a helicopter.
Eugene quickly stepped outside to see what it was, and true enough, there was a chopper above them, almost close enough to shake the tents around the encampment. But after a few seconds, it flew away.
"Probably just passing by," Dennis said, ducking back in. "Been seeing more of that lately."
Everyone subtly nodded except Adam.
His eyes had already gone wide. Fixed on the ground. Pupils dilated.
It’s... the Hospital.
It wasn’t even a feeling, nor was it paranoia.
He knew. Adam knew that the helicopter belonged to the Hospital.
"I’ll surrender to the IBAA." Adam’s voice came out steady despite the terror clawing at his throat.
Jerry blinked in surprise, but cleared his throat and nodded. "Well. Good. Smart choice, kid."
"And I’m going with the smugglers who surrendered earlier." Adam met Jerry’s gaze.
"I’m the one who stopped them, after all."