“You're not going to run away, are you? “Greek was one of those who always went forward, I guessed that's why he had the whole Italian mafia chasing him in real life.

“We have come to Allsium to be brave and transfer our powers to real life when the time is right," he explained. Whatever happens, I will not run away, not without first accomplishing my goals, but I will not hold it against you if you go back to Zen and Dagon to save your own skin, Vinci.

“I won't run away either. “I wasn't sure, but after what Greek had said at that moment, I felt that running away would be postponing the inevitable. They were going to pursue us to the end, and if they did, we would get Dagon and Zen in trouble as well. We had to put an end to this matter as soon as possible. I'll see you later, Greek. Be careful, okay?

We took a deep breath and Greek separated, walking in the direction of the stalls. I was alone and I had the Beretta in my personal inventory, so I moved forward determined, with one eye on the back of my head and sweating profusely.

As I reached the end of the gray alleyway I turned around and....

I found no one following me, just a cat rummaging through the garbage.

Apparently, Greek was their main target. The Italian had given me the gun in case they didn't think to go after him, but deep down I knew it.

And yet, in spite of everything, he had left the gun with me.

He was not going to let the Italian die.

I ran out of the alley as fast as I could. Before my eyes opened the square, which was full of people and crowded with hundreds of stalls with their shopkeepers shouting to travelers that their items were cheaper than the one in the store next door.

Finding Greek was going to be as difficult as finding a macaroni in a haystack.

But in all that turmoil I remembered that this clan wore clothes as dark and decadent as the planet we were on. The key was to look at the clothes of the travelers, because if they had been left without property, I assumed that the typical objects that one usually left at home, such as clothes, would also have been confined there. Perhaps it was silly, but the only thing I could hold on to.

I ran along the path Greek took, but there was no sign of the Italian. Our clothes didn't stand out either, they were rookie clothes that could be bought in the real world as well as in Allsium, just like what everyone else was wearing.

I didn't know how much time had passed since I left the alley looking for Greek, maybe a minute or two, enough time for the ninja clan to have already taken Greek to a secluded place and...

“Go ahead and turn left at the tent with the red tarpaulin. “My blood ran cold when I heard a voice in my left ear.

“What? Who...? “I said as I looked from left to right like an idiot.

“You're not going to see me, you oaf," the voice replied. Listen to me or you won't be able to help the mobster.

It was Zen, I was sure it was him. It was hard to tell because his voice sounded far away, but the sound coming from my left ear could only be the sound coming from my group mates. No matter how far away they were, as long as we shared the same planet, we could communicate.

“Did you leave Dagon alone? “I asked rather annoyed.

“Shut up and listen to me, will you? “he replied somewhat uneasily. We haven't much time left. Keep going forward and turn left when you pass the red tent. And don't worry about Dagon, I'm with him in the cave. I'll explain later.

I decided to listen to him and turned left as he had told me.

“Hurry up. You have two following you at less than forty meters, you need to give them the slip or there won't be bullets for so many henchmen.

I didn't even realize I was being followed. We were like guinea pigs in the labyrinth of some scientists. In that case, two rookies in the hands of a clan without a boss, but eager for revenge.

I picked up my pace and tried to zigzag my way through the travelers to try to confuse my pursuers. Zen was whispering directions and I was going faster and faster. Every second that passed brought Greek closer to losing his virtuality.

“Well, you've lost the two idiots who were following you," said Zen in a distant voice. Get the gun ready, you're close to Greek.

“How many are with him?

“He is flanked by two, but a couple of others follow at a safe distance.

“Okay, so what do we do?

“I can't do anything but inform and guide you, but you're going to take one out and steal his clothes.

“Great," I said, scared shitless.

He was dressed in dark gray, almost black, and wore a hooded sweatshirt that barely showed his face.

The problem was that I had never killed anyone. And I wasn't really in the mood to do it either.

“There must be another way," I said.

“No, there isn't," the Japanese replied firmly.

I reluctantly agreed because Greek's life in Allsium was in danger. The Italian was a target of the mafia in reality, so he was living on the run. Perhaps the only thing that tied him to real life was the adventure in freedom he could live in virtuality. He had no desire to be responsible for his death in both lives.

Since we had already left the square, and almost out of the city, I checked that the combat mode could be activated whenever I wanted to act. It was time to do so or it would be too late, so I put the gun to his back.

“Don't even think of turning around or talking," I said in the firmest voice I had. I'll give you three seconds to accept the change of clothes I'm giving you. If you don't, I'll shoot you right now.

In Allsium you didn't change clothes like in real life, everything was easier and much faster. Just by going to the inventory and choosing the garment, it dressed you automatically, without the need to take off your pants or sit down to untie your laces. It was one of the many reasons why Allsium was worth living in.

In order to exchange what we were wearing, he had to accept the barter I had proposed. That way, his clothes would become mine and mine would become his.

“You have one second left. “I tightened my grip on the Beretta on his back.

The kid grunted, but accepted the exchange and a second later I became a ninja.

“Well done," I said, "and now, go to sleep.

I hit him violently on the head with the pistol and he collapsed instantly.

“Do you see how there was another alternative? “I whispered.

I left the henchman on the floor, it was still going to take a while before he woke up and knew what world he was in. The first part of the plan had gone well, he hadn't even seen my face.

“You should have killed him, man," said Zen, clicking his tongue. Go ahead and don't draw any more attention to yourself. The one thirty meters away follows Greek and the other two at a distance. You have to get to him and take his place. “He paused for two seconds, "I'd better not tell you to kill him, because you'll do whatever you want.

“I see you are beginning to know me," I replied.

I crept up on him as fast as I could. Not being surrounded by people made everything more complicated, as the slightest noise could make the henchman turn around to see what the hell an idiot like me was doing so close to him.