The Last Mansion: A LitRPG Mystery Novel (End-User Jack Book 1) by I.O. Adler

Author:I.O. Adler [Adler, I.O.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: GameLit, LitRPG, Murder mystery
Publisher: Lucas Ross Publishing
Published: 2023-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

AN EXPANSE OF BLACK stretched out before them. Sooty shelves lined the back wall, and vague objects stood in the edges of shadow. Dust choked the air and cobwebs drooped from the ceiling. A faint breeze caused the candle flame to gutter.

Mei took a candle. “Appropriately dreary.”

Jack shouted, “Luna? Okafor?”

“Hey! Shh. What are you thinking?”

“It’s a big place and it’s going to take us a while to search if we’re just stumbling around.”

“Yeah, and there’s two players who might have been eliminated against their will. Let’s not advertise our location just yet.”

They walked along a cluttered passageway of furniture covered with drop cloths. Enough twists and turns for Jack to realize it was another maze. But unlike the hedge labyrinth on the north side of the property, this had only a few turns. Several dead ends were lined with stacks of boxes. They opened a few.

Old camera equipment, horse riding gear, men and women’s garments, household cleaning supplies, and a badminton net along with racquets and a container of shuttlecocks.

Mei produced a croquet mallet from a box and tested its heft. “This is either period-authentic or randomly generated.”

“I don’t think anything here is random. Butler, lead us to Luna.”

The butler paused. “I do not know where she is.”

“You’re part of the game. How’s that possible?”

“I’m afraid I cannot answer that question.”

“Of course you can’t. Okay—lead us to the side of the basement beneath the north wing.”

The butler walked ahead of them through the gloom. They had to hurry to keep up. Jack shielded his candle as he walked. If the candles went out, they’d be in trouble. Should have asked for matches or a lighter, he realized. But the butler’s footsteps were unmissable as the hard-soled shoes clacked with each step.

Jack kept an eye out for a lantern or camping supplies, but didn’t dare stop to inspect any of the shelves along the way.

Amber lights burned up ahead.

“Wait!” Jack hissed.

The butler paused next to a rack holding rolled-up carpets or tapestries. His eyes caught the light as he nodded subserviently. Mei took the lead. They were in a wine cellar. Lit candles burned in two holders mounted to the wall. Rows of dusty bottles lined the racks. Barrels occupied one end of the space, and a stairway led up.

“Where are we?” Jack asked, and wasn’t surprised when the butler didn’t answer. “Tell me where we are.”

“Underneath the kitchen.”

Nowhere close to the north wing. The candles on the walls were short, with white wax dripping down to the stone floor. Past a wine rack, Jack discovered the dumbwaiter. The door slid up to reveal the shaft leading up.

Corridors led in two different directions.

Jack considered the options. “All right, there’s nothing here. Hey, butler, lead us to the north wing.”

The butler was gone. His footsteps echoed through the darkness. He was heading back towards the secret staircase and the front of the house.

“Come back! Hey! I order you to return here!”

Whatever programing that had allowed Jack to order the butler about was no longer working.

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