Newbie's Quest: Awaiting Challenge
Chapter 13: Deliberate Intent

A sudden notification popped up on the wristband, alerting Ethan Walker of his imminent arrival at the airport. Ethan, seizing the moment, saved his progress and transitioned back from the simulation to reality. What greeted his awakening were the three members of the Avalon Guild. Susan Harper reminded him that it was time to head to the airport, where the private jet of the Avalon Guild awaited. Ethan nodded, his thoughts still tangled in the web of the recent simulation. Three lives had been at stake. And that overzealous, stuttering security guard didn't seem quite right either. Was he a deranged soul living in denial, or blissfully unaware of his own demise?

Ethan strapped the player wristband, a gift from Emily Johnson, snugly onto his left wrist. Raising his gaze to Alex Johnson, he said, "I need the recording of my last venture into the Hamilton replica." Alex nodded in response. "It's all set for you. You can watch it after boarding the plane." With this affirmation, Ethan stopped inquiring and started fiddling with the wristband. Just like in his dream, he caught a glimpse of the icon for the simulated replica. He feigned ignorance; the icon was inconspicuous, and the other three naturally didn't notice it.

Many players clutter their wristbands with all sorts of apps, a common sight indeed. He opened the White Tower Forum, and a virtual screen popped up, displaying a myriad of posts covering various topics. The winter window was in full swing, and the hottest discussions revolved around the player trades among the major guilds. Debates raged over which star player was leaving and who was picking up talents in the lesser-known zones. Star players, always the center of attention, could stir up a storm on the net with the slightest move. Gossip wasn't scarce either; under the packaging of their respective guilds, many star players had amassed their own fanbases. Ethan quickly spotted a post titled "Explosive Breakup: Star Player and Girlfriend Split" - wherever there was juicy news, the onlookers would flock.

Naturally, Ethan Walker's name was also among the trending topics.

Is the Legendary Ethan Walker of the Inferior Zone Really Joining the Avalon Guild? Insiders, Let's Discussi

Ethan Walker clicked on the post, perusing the lively discussion amongst netizens.

The post's title read: "As the title suggests, has Ethan Walker really sold himself to the Avalon Guild?"

The replies were varied and many:

- "Second comment here. What else could he do? Avalon Guild has offered a silver-plus deal. Which newbie wouldn't be tempted by that, unless their brain's been nibbled by a Marmoset?" Marmosets, low-level creatures in the White Tower replica, though weak, are notoriously aggressive, engaging anyone on sight and spitting saliva. Escaping them without a scratch is nearly impossible.

- "The chaos of the White Tower is dictated by Brother Ma."

A third comment followed: "Ethan Walker's brain might have been nibbled by a Marmoset [MarmosetDazed.jpg], but isn't there any guild contesting Avalon Guild for him?" The replies kept coming:

- "How to contest? Avalon's silver-plus could well match the bronze offers of the powerhouses."

- "Even walking in the street, the Water Clan gets kicked out of nowhere! The Water Clan is outraged!"

- "Our boss always cries poor at every conference, unless he meets ten Ethan Walkers with malfunctioning brains."

- "Avalon Guild will probably let Ethan Walker descend into the replica soon. Wait for Ethan Walker's show."

The post was buzzing with activity, and the comments rolled in quickly. After reading three or four pages, Ethan grew weary; outside the replicas, his energy always seemed diminished. But he had seen through Alex Johnson's publicity stunt. Without voicing his opinion, Ethan closed the forum page. Shortly after, the car stopped. This time, no fanfare was needed as Alex Johnson led Ethan through the VIP channel.

Yet, a photo of Ethan yawning while disembarking in Avalon Guild's team uniform was still snapped by the media. It seemed his entry into Avalon Guild was a foregone conclusion. As Ethan yawned his way through the walk, Emily Johnson couldn't help but ask, "Are you that sleepy?" Ethan, squinting at her, replied, "Emily Johnson." "What?" Emily tensed up. Ethan suddenly using her full name made her heart skip a beat: "Are you a trumpet spirit? So noisy."

Alex Johnson handed Ethan a red and gold-colored bag from Susan Harper. Inside were a handbook, a guide, and a mascot doll - all part of the welcoming kit for new members of Avalon Guild. "I'll be heading out of town for a meeting once we reach District 068. Someone else from the guild will take over your orientation. If you need anything, talk to Susan Harper or Emily Johnson." He suddenly remembered something. "Susan Harper has a replica to clear in the next few days. You'll be with Emily Johnson. He'll also be joining the Hamilton replica run. It's good for you to get familiar in advance."

Since its operational team revamp, Avalon Guild hadn't found suitable professional candidates, leaving some roles to be temporarily filled by experienced players. Both Susan Harper and Emily Johnson were high-level White Tower players. Ethan was staying with Emily to familiarize himself with Avalon Guild quickly. Compared to Susan and Alex, Emily was less scheming and easier to understand. Ethan didn't want to waste time deciphering others' thoughts. Naturally not a social butterfly, simulations took much of his energy, and he preferred to avoid other complications. Avalon Guild was not his final destination, but it was a good temporary haven. During the conversation, they boarded the plane. After a few "cordial" exchanges with Emily, Ethan was exhausted. Once on the plane, he silently nestled into the spacious seat to watch the replay. Alex had handed him a tablet loaded with Avalon Guild's second team's last Hamilton replica run. The team, led by the guild leader's 17-year-old sister, Emma Anderson, was young but skilled. She started raiding replicas at ten and had been successfully leading the second team for a year, conquering an S-rank, four A-ranks, and numerous B and C ranks..

Emma's appearance belied her capabilities; she was a reserved, beautiful girl who would have been a popular figure in a university setting. Her gentle voice when assigning tasks to her teammates contrasted with her rational and experienced strategies. If Hamilton had been a standard A-rank replica, Emma would have already added another victory to her record. The twist, however, was one of the team members inadvertently triggering a 35 difficulty nightmare side quest.