The Amazing Joni's
CHAPTER 7: SEVEN

The house with a semi-circular hood shape looks as far as the eye can see, a big city in the desert. Each house has two windows and one door. The shape of the entire house is the same, except for the government building, taller and larger.

A portal appeared not far from the main gate. Me, Deni and Sem stepped out. For a moment they gave me a quick look. That place is no stranger to Shem. He's been there a few times. It's just, he's not on a mission like this right now. Visits from the scene to other game scenes are common. Shem used a special portal that humans could not use, and took humans with him across the special portal. He could not open the portal repeatedly.

“This is a sand country.” Sem started a conversation. “I've been here twice.”

“Two times? For what?” Deni asked.

“I only bought a few items.” She answered briefly.

“Like most games, shop facilities in this game seem to also exist.” I've known about buying and selling in-game items for a long time.

“You're right, Jon. There are even certain stores that sell rare items, can be used to upgrade your armor. Automatic capability kalin will also increase.” Shem stepped first, towards the main gate.

“I don't want to talk about sustainability, Sem. Look, at the moment I have not held any object, let alone the sword you mean.” Deni was left behind.

“You better be quick, Den. Do you want to wait here? Attacked by a few lions like that. While you don't know how to use that sword yet.” I looked back, I've been following Sem walk since.

Deni followed behind with a warp, not excited at all. The scene in front of him did not provide much motivation. The main gate was huge, it was no less than 50 meters high, it was 10 meters wide, the door leaf was made of the best wood, the gate was like a wall that surrounded the entire sand country. The door on the gate was opened, so that from afar our group could see the view of the sand city with houses in the shape of a semi-circular hood.

There were four men in charge of guarding near the gate. Two men stand guard at the lower post, two others stand guard at the gate post that is seen attached to a 30-meter-high wall. This officer's clothes look weird. They used a face mask, not a mask, but as if it fused with their face, it seemed like it was a real face. They also use headbands, I can guess they are the reliable type of fighter. Their clothes were all brown, ordinary cloth. Sem took me and Deni to meet one of the officers, he was part of the recording of guests who came and went.

Are they aliens? Deni was grumbling.

“Oh, you. Who're they? Looks like I first saw it.” The officer asked. Sem called me and Deni.

“Hey, you. Show your identity.” She ordered both.

“Identity? What do you mean, Sem?” Deni doesn't understand.

“Just follow their instructions, Den.” I replied, I actually do not know what is meant by identity here.

“They're new.” She explained to the officer again.

The officer took out a tool as big as a palm.

“Put your palms here.” The officer asked the two of them to approach, “right hand.”

Deni and I without being asked twice to do it, put their right palm on top of it. Two seconds, both of them completed the identification process. The officer watched for a moment the device.

“I think you'll be longer than usual in this country, Sem.” The officer said flatly. Sem nodded, he knew what the words meant. They will be in a fight. “Alright, you can enter.”

Shem went first, followed by me and Deni. We have entered into the sand country.

“City that is not too big like this they call country, Sem?” Deni started to interrupt. His eyes continued to stare towards the circular hood-shaped building. His spirit has begun to return.

“All countries in the game are like this. Not too big. There are five countries that you will visit, the first is this sand country.” She answered while walking.

“What's next country?” I'm asking along.

“After this there is a Sabana country, after that the Forest country. The rest I don't know, I've never ventured up there. Those two countries are still mysterious to me.” She looked at me, she was telling the truth.

I'm nodding. Let alone those two countries, this sand country alone is already mysterious to both of us.

“Are we just going for a walk like this, Sem?” Deni asked again, his face was seriously staring at Sem, it seemed that Deni was tired of seeing the view of the house.

“We're going to the store.” She answered briefly.

“Shopping? We don't have any money, Sem? I mean, the money in this game.” I answered Sem. Deni nodded in agreement.

Shem who heard those words laughed. “For a while, you can use my money. After defeating the lion a while ago, I got a lot of bonuses. I want to use it buy gloves that I ordered for a long time.”

“Hey, can you also buy me a sword. I don't have the sword, so I have to buy it first. It's only fitting that I don't raise a sword like you conjure an arrow.” Deni looks excited, his boss face is gone perfectly.

“You already have it, Den. No need to buy anymore. You might be able to upgrade it in the Sabana country later.” Sem smile.

“Upgrade? I just don't see, what's upgraded?” Deni is back (again).

“Maybe you'll know how after dealing with the lion again, Den.” I pat Deni on the shoulder, trying to comfort him.

I nodded, not knowing.

“You will know it later.” She said slowly, but it sounded certain.

Without feeling we have arrived in front of a store, an in-game store. This shop is a simple building, dark brown in color. There is a “Old Shop” post on the front.

Treengs.. The door let out a ringing bell as it was pushed. The attendant inside the shop greeted them with a smile. An old woman, she did not wear a mask like the attendant in front of the gate. Her hair was also white, her skin was wrinkled. But still deftly serve the buyer.

“Sem!” the officer looked surprised. “You haven't been here in a long time.” Then moved closer to Sem who was not far from the door. “You brought a friend?”

“Yes, they're new kids.” She answered briefly.

Hearing those words, Deni glared. What does it mean new boy? I held him back, Deni did not speak.

“Welcome to this store, young man. It's the only store in the country.” The officer smiled, slightly bowing in reverence.

This little shop is the only one? In a country? How do people shop here for other food? Or, do they eat? There are so many questions in my head and Deni. But we did not ask him, maybe sometime when Sem did not mind answering. Or we don't have to ask. Deni was actually eager to ask that to the store clerk before them. While I try to think more calmly, it's just a game anyway. If there's one or two things that feel weird, it's a reasonableness.

“What here sells hamburgers? A pizza? Or something?” Deni soared cheerfully. Sem who saw him scratched his head, smiled slightly.

“Of course no, Den. This is not a restaurant.” I've knocked down the spirit of the young man who just looked excited, in an instant.

“We sell some accessories, potion, poison bidder, gloves.” The officer kindly explained.

Deni who heard it raised his hand. That only?

I glared at Deni, it's really disrespectful, Den. That's what my gaze means.

“You two please take a look, if interested tell me. As long as it fits my pocket, I'll buy it.” Sem seemed to want to talk further with the store clerk. Me and Deni nodded.

“This is the glove you ordered. Made of special cloth, will not be easily torn even though exposed to the sword incision.” The officer handed him a pair of brown gloves, the country's signature color of sand.

“Do I get a discount?” Sem smile.

The shopkeeper who heard the question laughed. “Of course not, Sem. That's the cheapest selling price. If you buy it in the Sabana country, it might cost twice as much.”

Sem nodded, then pressed a few buttons on the device on his wrist, making the payment.

“Hey, you. Have you found suitable items?” Shem was wearing her gloves.

In response, I shook my head, Deni shrugged his shoulders.

Sem chuckles, “Later you will get used to the state of the store like this. Let's get out, I'm done. At least you guys have saved my money.” Once again Shem smiled. Deni and I were in the back.

We continued walking towards the city center, heading to the government office, rather the kingdom in a country. But here, they still call him president.

The streets in the sand country city were actually quite quiet, there were only occasional residents passing by. They have more activity in the house. It was morning before noon local time. If I'm in the real world, that's the height of the traffic jam. Occasionally the breeze brings small sand flying.

“How do you make payment?” I asked, I was intrigued after seeing Sem pay just by pressing a few buttons on the tool that was on his wrist.

“I did it through this tool.” Sem showed me his watch. “You also have it, same function. Ever since you entered this world, your watch has been connected to the game. In addition to making payments, we can also connect with each other through this tool.”

“To be honest I am still amazed by this game. Look, it's more like an out-of-town outing. There are no fights, no battles, no conflicts, and the strangest, no swords. Moreover wusshh out light from hand which is able to blow up some buildings.” Deni is back to grumbling.

“On blowing up the building, you'll see it later, Den.” Sem convinced Deni.

Deni doesn't care. He just kept walking left to right, looking for something interesting.

“Where are we now?” I asked, more seriously.

“This game is about corruption, Jon. Of course, we're going to fight those corrupt mafia. I already know about them. When it was created, in my memory has been implanted memory that I know who we should fight on this first scene.” Sem is no less serious.

“Who is the leader of the plot? And where are they?” Denise is interested.

“His name is Was, he's the head of this country. You can say he's king, he can be president. They're all in the government building.” Shem looked ahead, already knowing his purpose.