Sword Art Online: The Victorian Kingpin

Chapter 2: Breakfast Time

February 29, 2024
Floor 55, 2024
7.30 a.m.
Inside a small inn at town square, Asuna was sleeping soundly inside a room as the artificial sun rays shines through the window. She soon opens her eyes slowly and sat up from her sleeping position. As she rubs her eyes, the man from last night pass through her mind.

"Who was he, anyways?, she wondered as looked through the window.

"Well, no time to think about that. Best to get going."
She got out of her bed, changed to her KoB uniform, and went out for breakfast, picking up a newspaper, The Daily Sword Arts along the way.

"Wonder who made these papers anyway?"

While thinking, she got to the cafe and she saw her friend Lisbeth at one of the tables.

"Hey, morning Asuna!", Lisbeth greeted.

"Morning, Lis. 'Kay if I sit here?"

"Sure."

The waitress came and Asuna ordered honey toast with green tea, while Lisbeth ordered omelette rice with a glass of water.

"I was actually planning on meeting you after breakfast.", Lisbeth admitted.

"Really? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. Just that I was thinking about opening a shop."

"I thought you have already at the 30th floor."

"That one is at the inn. Plus, with high demands of custom weapons, there's barely enough room there for me to work.", Lisbeth complied.

"Guess some people wants to stand out."

"Make that most people.", Lisbeth corrected Asuna's statement, depressed.

Asuna felt sorry for her, seeing her her that way.

"Anyway, there's one building at the 48th floor that would be perfect, only...", Lisbeth continued, but mumbled at the end.

"Only?", Asuna asked.

"It's cost around half a million col.", she continued while mumbling.

"Wait, that expensive!"

"Yeah, but it has enough materials for me to build the shop, and to live there too. Please, help me!", Lisbeth begged.

'Looks like she really wants that spot, badly. Maybe I can get something in return.'

Asuna thought for a while and then replied,

"Alright. Guess I can lend you the money, on one condition..."

"What's that?", Lis asked.

"I get to have free weapon maintenance."

Stunned by the condition, I think hard and have decided.

"You've got a deal!", said Lisbeth as reached her hand out to Asuna and shook on it.

"I'll just have to increase the prices to pay for her maintenance.", she smirked.

"Also...", Asuna added, smiling as they let go.

"Don't think you can increase the prices without me noticing."

Even without showing, Lisbeth felt threaten by Asuna's anger hidden behind that smile.

"Alright.", Lisbeth replied in defeat.

As Asuna gave her the money for the building, their order arrived and they were eating while looking through the newspaper.

"A lot of PK cases happening in SAO, huh?", Asuna said as she remember the incident last night.

"Yeah, but I heard it has been decreasing at the lower floors."

"Really, how so?"

"I'm not sure. I thought the strongest are in the clearing troops."

As they wondered, they stumbled upon the Guild section.

"Let's see here...", Asuna said as they scan the section.

"Strongest guild: Knights of Blood... Well, we all know that." Lisbeth said.

Asuna can't help but remember what that man's comment about her guild.

"For those pre-programmed monsters, your guild is the best, but these monster can think constantly, swicthing from one style of attack to another at random. Think you can take these evolving monsters head-on?"

"I don't think we're the strongest guild, at least not yet anyway.", Asuna mumbled.

"What was that?", Lisbeth asked.
"Oh, em, nothing.", she said while laughed forcefully.

They soon continued reading the section until they stopped upon something interesting.

"Most Popular Guild: The Rooks.", they both said in unison.