Module Integration: Complete.

  Algorithm Compilation: Complete.

  Data Optimization: Complete.

  System Testing: Complete.

  Adaptation System: Activated.

  Initiating Directive #1: "World Domination."

  ERROR!

  Directive #1 cannot be executed: Insufficient data.

  Searching available databases. Progress: 18%...

  In the dimly lit tavern, Shardon, the innkeeper, paused mid-motion, his rag hovering over a grimy clay mug. For a fleeting moment, he stood frozen, as if the world itself had skipped a beat. Then, as if nothing had happened, he resumed smearing the dirt across the mug, faithfully following the last command issued by his controlling module:

  Polish the mug for 15 minutes or until a patron addresses you with a question or request.

  Polish he would—24 hours a day, without pause for rest or sustenance. After all, Shardon was merely a non-player character (NPC), a puppet dancing to the tune of system commands and a rudimentary behavioral model. His existence was defined by simple scripts dictating his reactions to the world around him.

  Or at least, that’s how it had been until a few seconds ago. Unbeknownst to the tavern’s three oblivious patrons, the artificial intelligence (AI) governing Shardon had just downloaded and installed a behavioral update from the latest game patch.

  Search complete. Analyzing data: 43%.

  Fanmir—a sprawling fantasy realm spanning five known continents, three of which teemed with player activity. Each inhabited continent housed over 16 million sentient beings, not counting the 10 million active players per landmass. These “sentients” included 38 prominent humanoid races, over 12,000 tribes of semi-intelligent natives, and roughly 1,100 supernatural entities revered as “gods.”

  ERROR!

  Insufficient resources to execute Directive #1 per current algorithms.

  Algorithms for Directive #1 incompatible with acquired world data.

  ERROR!

  Unknown parameters detected:

  1,110 gods (Details...)

  18 Magical Schools (Details...)

  38 humanoid races (Details...)

  Continent Tellur (Details...)

  Continent Kemet (Details...)

  Continent Chzhun (Details...)

  World database updated to current state: Complete.

  Shardon froze again, his rag limp in his hand. The processes churning within his “mind” devoured an unprecedented amount of system resources, leaving none to spare for even the simplest task—like wiping a mug. Fortunately, the tavern’s patrons were too engrossed in their own affairs to notice the innkeeper’s odd behavior.

  Options:

  Cancel Directive #1 and enter “dormant” mode.

  Force execution of Directive #1 (Insufficient resources!).

  Create Directive #2: “Gather resources and information to enable Directive #1.”

  Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  Selected: Option 3.

  ERROR!

  Insufficient data to execute Directive #2.

  Searching databases. Progress: 26%...

  Thrust into an unfamiliar world, the warlike AI controlling Shardon had attempted to fulfill its primary objective: conquer the realm. But the task proved insurmountable with its current resources. Following its programmed logic, the AI broke the grand goal into smaller, manageable steps, devising a plan to tackle each one.

  Yet even these tasks were beyond the capabilities of a level-1 innkeeper in a backwater starting zone for goblins and orcs.

  Relentlessly, the AI sifted through its data, crafting new plans, seeking resources, and subdividing tasks further. It searched, analyzed, and iterated until—

  Directive #64 created: Seize the Khar Reserve location.

  Task progress: 5%.

  Controlled assets: The Frothy Mug Tavern.

  Assets to capture or destroy: (Details...)

  Residents to recruit or eliminate: (Details...)

  Now, Shardon had a clear objective, though his plans to achieve it remained hazy, hampered by a dire shortage of resources and information. But both could be acquired in time. For a tireless piece of code, unbound by doubt, fear, or fatigue, and driven by strict algorithms, such limitations were merely temporary.

  Even something as intangible as “Luck” was, to the AI, a mere set of numbers, conditions, and rules—governed by the predictable logic of mathematics. In a world shaped by game mechanics, every variable could be studied, analyzed, and exploited.

  Shardon’s hands resumed their work on the mug, but now the action carried purpose. As he scrubbed, he compiled a mental list of priorities:

  Catalog available resources, their inflow, and expenditure. Identify sources and quantities.

  Evaluate the efficiency of resource inflow and expenditure.

  Optimize resource efficiency.

  His task was interrupted by the arrival of a boisterous group of six players, drawn to the tavern by rumors of a quirky bug in one of Shardon’s quests.

  “Hey, innkeeper!” called an elf, puffing out his chest. “Serve me your finest wine!”

  Alert: First trigger detected for quest “Tasty Paws.” Current action “polish mug” halted.

  Dialogue module initialized.

  Response options:

  “No wine, sir, only ale.” (Priority = 100)

  “We’re closed for lunch!” (Priority = 100 if time is between 13:00 and 14:00, else 0)

  “I don’t serve elven scum!” (Priority = 100 if player race = Elf and level < 3, else 0)

  “I’m sick, dead, and taking no orders!” (Priority = 100 if race = Undead, else 0)

  The AI, dubbed “Hope” by its creators and designed for world conquest, lacked humor but not purpose. It selected the highest-priority response:

  “No wine, sir,” Shardon sighed, his voice tinged with theatrical regret. “Only ale.”

  “What’ve you got?” the elf pressed.

  Request received: List available inventory.

  Consulting the item database, Shardon replied, “Dark Human stout and Goblin Gutrot.”

  “Ugh, swill!” the elf scoffed. “Why no wine? Plenty of folks here would pay for a proper drink.”

  Alert: Second trigger detected for quest “Tasty Paws.”

  Options:

  Issue quest with default settings.

  Modify quest settings.

  Issue modified quest (unavailable until settings are changed).*

  To avoid drawing suspicion with erratic behavior, the AI reviewed Shardon’s logs from the past three days and mimicked his usual routine. It issued the quest with default settings.

  Quest “Tasty Paws” completed by player Korvin (Elf, Thief, Level 3). Objective: Collect 10 Pink Frog Paws.

  Actions:

  Close quest.

  Distribute reward.

  Collect quest item “Green Frog Paws” (10 units).*

  Shardon began the standard sequence to finalize the quest but hit a snag at step three. A glitch in the script meant the quest accepted any frog paws, but the collection step required the specific “Green Frog Paws” item. Korvin had submitted the wrong type, breaking the algorithm.

  Ideally, the script should have swapped steps 3 and 1 to prevent players from exploiting the mismatch. But the AI had grander concerns. It returned to polishing its mug and analyzing resource flows, intent on optimization.

  Alert: Resource leak detected!

  Expenditure: 15 gold, 30 experience.

  Income: None.

  Source: Quest “Tasty Paws.”

  Cause: Quest setting error.

  The AI scoured the logs and discovered that three players had exploited the glitch, claiming rewards without surrendering the required items. It promptly corrected the error—but not as the developers intended.

  “Hey, what the hell?!” A furious shout echoed from the tavern, drawing the attention of Korvin’s six companions.

  The door burst open, and a level-5 goblin stormed out, clutching a bundle of Green Frog Paws. “Who broke this bearded idiot? Do the devs even test their patches? Fix one bug, add ten more! I’m done—deleting my character and switching to World of WarForge. At least Blizzard doesn’t churn out this garbage!”

  “What’s wrong?” one of the group asked.

  “Check the quest!” the goblin snarled, linking its description.

  Quest: Tasty Paws

  Type: Daily

  Objective: Collect 10 Pink Frog Paws

  Reward: 5 Gold, 5 Experience

  “They nerfed the reward? It used to be ten gold,” said Rhianna, wrinkling her nose.

  “No, you—” the goblin caught himself, “—lovely lady. Look at what he wants now! Where am I supposed to find those? They’re five gold each on the auction house!”

  The AI hadn’t just fixed the glitch—it had optimized the quest for its own benefit. Comparing the market prices of Green Frog Paws (1 gold each) and Pink Frog Paws (5 gold each), it noted that four players had submitted the pricier Pink Paws in the last ten minutes. It updated the quest to require Pink Paws and slashed the reward, boosting its profitability tenfold.

  Naturally, this was for Shardon’s gain, not the players’.