Complete Private Blogger Hunting Season

[Lady N]

Virtual Reality Strategy

Several days had passed since the first grand event of the returned death game that was Terrasphere came to an end. It marked itself once again upon the lives of those that played it, and even the real world would feel its return.

Through the loss of lives.

Reports of newly found dead players all over the world. News broadcasters mostly avoid the stories but of course, the conspiracy theorists and various underground groups were exploding over the new outbreak of VR-related deaths. No way they would let this go. Regardless, that was the game and this was real life. So there was much more to do than just worry about a demon bug devouring people.

VRS needed to take advantage of this. They, as in Chelsea needed more help. While she still held the Nexon name and was far from broke, the young woman had nowhere near the funding, resources, or staff that the Nexon Corporation had. It's like comparing Crunchemi to Disney Global. As in not comparable at all. Video game guides had been dead for a decade now, everyone just using Vtubers and other sources for VR game information. Luckily Chelsea had several as employees but was still behind the curve.

Also, that was just for normal VR... Terrasphere was different.
It was dangerous.
It was VERY illegal.

And yet... it was the whole point of VRS.

Only certain people would know about the slowly growing database VRS was building. How some players were paid as well as the young Nexon could afford to put their lives at risk. Recently, Chelsea had learned that a not at all friend (but was) of hers that was a hardcore gamer in every sense of the word, had encountered a certain blogger on the fringes of the interwebs. This individual "Vargold" had a recognizable user name from someone seen in Terrasphere according to reports. So it was someone who may not just know these stories but also is willing to go through them...

Hide as they might, VRS may not have had the resources of VRSA or Nexus but they had enough hackers and information gatherers to find a few means to invite this Vargold to their offices.

Mail

Hello.

We have tried for quite some time to get into contact with you Vargold. We have reviewed many of your credentials and think highly of your knowledge writing tips and strategies for popular virtual reality games. We here at VRS are interested in giving you a way to further your hobby into a possible career path.

Please come to our location at xxxxxxxxx.
We have scheduled your arrival for May 1-7 so please be punctual.
Read or watch some of our reviews [HERE]

You must arrive in person for the interview. Please bring some extra examples of the latest popular titles so we may discuss them with you face to face. Please be certain to give the name VARGOLD to the receptionist and take a seat in the lobby when you arrive.

Thank you for your time!

The Top Source For All Virtual Reality Hardcore Players
Virtual Reality Strategy

@Ash Vargold

 

[Ash Vargold]

What the fuck.

Aisling reread the email, heart pounding in her ears. It was a side email, thank god, but that they'd found it all meant that she'd fucked up somewhere.

She stood up and began to pace the length of her studio. Virtual Reality Strategy - she knew about the company. Some group trying to to be the Prima of VR games, which was, in a world where the internet was so commonplace, not the wisest endeavor. She wasn't particularly big on VR gaming, and the ones she played weren't the sort that needed a guide.

...well, other than one, of course. And that was how they'd found her.

Okay, Ash, lets think this through...

Breathe in, breathe out. She had no double-edged death affliction to keep the panic attack at bay, here. She could log in, maybe take a breather, but... no, not now. She'd have to handle this the old fashioned way. She kept her pacing up, venting nervous energy into motion. If her neighbors had any complaints, that was their problem.

It's not your personal email. Maybe they found some old account that didn't get deleted. Serves me right for using the same username and email from four years ago.

Okay. Options. I could just ignore it. Pretend it's spam or something. I could reply, tell them I'm not interested. Or...

Or she could see how deep the rabbit hole went.

Aisling sat down on her bed, and buried her face in her hands. They'd intentionally hunted her down, in what was a way too literal interpretation of "headhunting". They wanted to contact her for a reason, and that reason was firmly wrapped up in her Terrasphere blog. Sure, she could ignore or refuse, but... what if they dug deeper? Found some other loose end that would lead them to her? Hell, what if they used it against her as blackmail?

What a fucking mess...

First week of May. Far enough in the future she could put in some time off, plan this out properly.

New York... well, at least I'll get to try out the pizza.

---

And so, she was here. Dressed in something that wasn't quite formal, but at least could pass for the sort of clothing one wore to an interview. She'd never really dropped the habit of wearing a face mask in public places, partially due to lingering paranoia and mostly because it was a socially acceptable way to cover up her face. It meant that no one could fully see her embarrassment as she checked in as "Vargold", as the email requested.

She scratched nervously at the texture of her laptop bag as she waited in the lobby, leg jittering in tune with her anxiety. It'd be fine. Just treat it like a regular interview, and she'd get through this.

It'd be fine.

@Lady N

 

[Lady N]

Virtual Reality Strategy

"You here for a job? "

A young woman with a fairly rough look noticed Aisling's nervous behavior. She had what looked like the now ancient power glove and a pair of VR goggles wrapped around her head.

"It's cool no worries bae. I know the CEO... well sort of. She doesn't really get close to anybody but she's a total softly once you get to know her. Just... don't comment on her height heheh."

The female returned to reading her comic book and kept scanning it with her phone for some reason and then cheering about what sounded like the voice of a Vtuber shouting back at her...

Life was strange for anyone over 30 these days.

After a few more moments A man walked up after a small introduction and said he would be Aisling's interviewer. He would ask her to enter an elevator with him, and they went up a few floors before reaching the floor of the interview.

It would be a fairly standard event. Asking only the most basic of questions, a few examples.

What interests you about VR games and technologies?
Are you willing to relocate or work remotely?
What are the VR games you cover?
Are you multilingual and willing to create material for a global audience?
What position would you personally be interested in with our company?

After these questions. The Interviewer would leave for a moment and return to guide her back to the elevator. This time to head to Chelsea R. Nexon's Office. This may be surprising after a first interview at a company but this was a circumstance that needed action quickly not slowly.

Once allowed through the doors to Chelsea's office the room was mostly empty except for a desk and several computers. A very young woman glanced at her as she lowered her glasses some.

"*Stare*...I'm surprised you came. Not many do when we use that method. Please, take a seat Ms.Vargold."

@Ash Vargold

 

[Ash Vargold]

Aisling nodded quietly through the other woman's conversation, her nervous smile hidden by the face mask. She was at least familiar with the current state of pop culture, a beast that had a familiar shape but had morphed into something she couldn't keep up with.

Yeah, I guess. Thanks for the tip.

The interview was thankfully standard for the industry. Aisling went on autopilot throughout most of it. Hobbyist interest in VR since the stereoscopic headset days. Would require relocation assistance if she were to work locally. She listed off a few games she'd played before and rambled about on her more public blog, mostly simulation and puzzle games.

After the interviewer left, she took a very deep breath and briefly let her head drop to the top of the desk.

Phew, made it through... maybe this really is just a normal-

The door began to open. Aisling snapped upright and blinked owlishly as the interviewer led her to the elevator to... speak with the CEO.

So much for a normal interview.

She's a little surprised to see the young woman sitting at the desk. She... is she a kid? She can't be much older than twenty, right? She know some people get better luck in looks, but...

Aisling swallowed her nerves and sat down. She just had to hold her ground, not show weakness or something. Hell, she had just survived some fight with a monstrous insect. One CEO was nothing, right?

...yeah, no.

Um. Aisling Lane, if you could. I'd rather keep my online handle to the online world.

Aisling. Ash-lin. If Chelsea's intel knew anything about her in-game character, the connection would be obvious.

And, well, emailing an unlisted inbox sends one hell of a message. Considering the subject, I didn't want to see what the next step would be.

She hesitated. Somehow, the idea of even mentioning the game felt taboo, like it would invoke some kind of dark power over reality. A stupid thought, but...

...I guess this is about my blog, huh. And what I've been blogging about.

@Lady N

 

[Lady N]

Virtual Reality Strategy

Chelsea didn't smile but her eyes showed a less cold stare at the woman words. Good, if there was one thing the young CEO did not need it was more difficulties. She was only twenty and although she could choose to have a much less stressful lifestyle. She instead made the choice to overwork herself daily.

To do otherwise would bring shame to the Nexon name.

"...Very well Ms. Lane. It's good that you are being cooperative. Sigh... when dealing with things like this, it is good to not pile on additional problems."

Chelsea held a paper in her hand she removed from a folder with no label. She didn't show what was on it but instead would continue speaking.

"Yes. Your blog. It does not receive much traffic, but it is covering topics that many would rather not."

The Nexon would look at her computer monitor for a moment before returning her focus on Aisling. She slid the paper over to her across the desk. What would be seen on it was a list of two pairs of names, along with dates, and addresses.

"Do you know what this is? Tsk... you do. This is a list of people who have been reported deceased. There is a link to all of these deaths."

Chelsea waited and analyzed the woman's face. Revealing this information was dangerous since VRS did not advertise their meddling in Terrasphere in any way to the public.

"The advice you give, can save lives. That is something Irreplaceable. Sigh... but you on your own is not enough. I hate having to say it, but I would like... to. enlist your help."

The CEO was still a tsundere in her heart, but in real life with the responsibilities she had. This was not the time to deny the truth.

@Ash Vargold

 

[Ash Vargold]

Well, after VRSA swept the internet, a lot of old information got lost. If... it had stayed gone, it wouldn't have really mattered. But now we've got a bunch of new people playing who don't know anything. Before, you could at least search for the name and come up with a bunch of warnings, but now it all gets eaten by the algorithm.

The word "algorithm" came with far more bitterness than she meant to, but the fact that VRSA had so effectively censored the internet with it offended her on multiple fronts.

Aisling took the sheet of paper from Chelsea and began to skim it. It didn't take long for her to catch on - especially when so many of the dates were the same familiar day. The day of her first death, and of many other people's third and final one.

She inhaled sharply and leaned back, briefly covering her eyes with her hand. She slowly dragged it downward, pulling her face-mask down below her chin in the process. The tight frown on her face was quite visible now.

Fuck... I knew a lot of people died that day, but it's something else to see it written down...

Aisling sat straight up again and began to fidget with the edge of the paper sheet. If she'd known starting that blog would have led to... this, would she have still made it? She'd assumed it would be little more than screaming into the void, but if only one person read it and followed her advice, it would have been worth it.

So you... what, send out invites to anyone talking about it on the darkweb? That's... a little reckless.

There were harsher words for what she thought of Chelsea's approach, but it wasn't the time for those words. She looked at the young woman, not quite making eye contact.

...I want to figure out what the fuck this game is, too. But... I'm not sure what I can do that you and yours couldn't already do yourselves. Writing a blog isn't really that difficult or special.

@Lady N

 

[Lady N]

Virtual Reality Strategy

The doubts.

Chelsea was doubtful herself. Risking so much, but honestly, she had lost the things she cared for already. Without Nexus, and her father, mother, even her less than warm aunt. All there was, was her inheritance. And that wasn't much when it came down to it. What would she do, just continue her father's work and leave everything she knew about this left undealt with? The company was no longer hers anyway.

She should, it wasn't like there were people dying that she cared for.
Not like she wanted to believe her father could be found or that Nexus was behind things and she could ruin that new CEO through her own efforts.
Not like the AI that held the memories of the dead had begun to fill a hole in her lonely existence.
Not at all...

"How I deal with the details is not important. At some point, things could come to a head... but."

Chelsea continued to stare at the woman, whether she looked back or not.

"I can afford to give you improved hardware and software. As well as helping you stay alive by giving you information on players that are reliable within that... game. I've seen stupid people give up their lives. I would just let them, but I have my reasons for sticking to this. I couldn't care less about whether you think you're useful. We found you and there is a lack of people willing to post anything about it at all."

This was dragging on and Chelsea had more to do.

"You do not have to officially work with us, but I would be willing to pay you for the information you can gather on your end. A Nexon keeps their word."

She pressed a button and a beep followed.

"Ms.Vargold is finished here today. Please escort her to the lobby and offer her a small compensation for her trouble."

Chelsea adjusted herself on the book she was sitting on to appear taller.

"Your real name will not leave this office. The offer remains. You can contact us using the email you received. Or we can contact you again. ...Consider the payment on your way out compensation for your trouble like I said... or an idea of how serious I am about gathering information and ending that deathtrap and its developers. Once the stupids have information, it's on them if they die. I have done my part, and you can choose whether you want to do yours."

Chelsea closed her eyes a moment and waited for the woman to leave.
@Ash Vargold

 

[Ash Vargold]

Aisling hesitated to speak as Chelsea continued to talk. She knew a bit about the Nexon name and the corporation tied to it. A meteoric rise, followed by the sudden disappearance of the CEO and the squabbling that followed.

The woman in front of her was probably still a teenager then.

She didn't consider herself an expert at reading people, but she tried. Chelsea certainly said a lot about leaving the "stupids" to their fate, but... well, if she didn't care, she wouldn't have this list of people who died. She wouldn't be scouring the internet, trying to contact one small-time blogger making a dubious impact. She wouldn't be willing to offer so much for information on a world that she could simply ignore altogether.

...what was it she'd written, back when she started her little crusade...?

...solo players will be eaten alive. Right.

She couldn't but smile at having her own warning turned back on her like that. She would be taking a risk, one that made her heart pound, but... well. If Ash could charge into danger that quite literally risked his life, then Aisling could at least fake a fraction of that courage.

...consider me interested. If you were able to find me so easily, then that means that I would have no chance if VRSA decided to look my way.

I'll be in the area a bit longer. Need to take the time to think about all this, but... well. I suppose I'll just send that email once I'm sure.

Aisling set the list of names back on the desk and stood with a half-nod, half-bow. She pulled her face-mask back up, then stepped back a little to prepare for the escort.

I'll keep that inbox open for now, in case you need to send anything else my way. Or... hah. You could always go looking for "Vargold" hanging around Camp Nisus, I suppose.

Have a good evening, Ms. Nexon, and take care.

With that, her words were finally spent. She waited quietly for the escort to take her back to the lobby, thoroughly distracted by her own thoughts and the effort of staving off her anxiety a little longer. Wheels within wheels, all turning just out of sight. All too much for one ordinary woman to deal with.

...maybe she would log in today. A bit of Ash's calm might be helpful here.

@Lady N