Avalon Rebirth by Mitchell T. Jacobs

I wondered if you were going to show up,” the tall figure dressed in black commented as Darin walked up. “Didn't even send a confirmation message back.”
    “Sorry Chad,” he replied apologetically. “I was a little occupied and didn't see it until a few minutes ago. And I thought hurrying over here was a better use of my time. I almost thought you would have already left.”
    Darin sat down next to his old friend on the lip of the fountain, watching all the other players going about their business. One of the lounges or cafes might be a better place to meet, but for some reason Chad always wanted to meet outside. When pressed he had made some comment about ascetics, which Darin didn't understand. He just thought of it as one of his oddities.
    Eccentric or not, though, Chad was no slouch in the world of Avalon Online. He had an A-rank team of his own, not quite top tier, but always hanging around the top ten.
    “Always the efficient one,” Chad grinned. “Guess that's how you ended up on top.”
    Darin frowned. “Yeah.”
    “Sorry if that touched a nerve. I didn't mean-”
    “Oh no, it's fine. It is what it is,” Darin said. “No use crying about it, as Leah likes to say.”
    “Is that how you really feel?”
    “Honestly?” No, that's not how I feel. This sucks. This sucks a lot. We're getting punished fro something we didn't even do. I can understand getting fined for sanctioned, but getting busted down to D-rank? How is that even fair?”
    Chad nodded. “So you weren't involved in it. That's what I thought.”
    “Wait, so you actually believe me?”
    “Is there any reason I shouldn't? You are telling the truth, aren't you?”
    “Of course I am. Not that it helped us any when we were put in front of the commission,” he said sourly.
    “Of course. They have their own reasons for doing things, and they don't always line up with what's fair for the players.”
    “Not sure what you're getting at.”
    “This isn't a game anymore. It's a business. There's money changing hands, sponsors, prizes, media deals. People in here are celebrities. You know all about it. You know how much betting goes on, right? There's always Vegas lines on the outcome of the tournaments.”
    “I've seen quite a few. Usually they were there to show how heavily we were favored.”
    Chad laughed. “Oh, going to bring that up, huh? Do you know how many e-mails I got on my fan account from people who bet thousands of dollars on us to beat you guys?”
    “You came a lot closer than most of the others.”
    “Horseshoes and hand grenades, man. Horseshoes and hand grenades.”
    “Yeah. And to think that we went from that all they way back to D-rank, all because of Leo and Jon. I suppose I should be thankful that we weren't completely banned, but still. We just had our reputation completely wrecked. We're pariahs now.”
    “Well, yes and no. Depends on who you talk to.”
    “How much of a difference is there.”
    “The people that believe everything and take all news at face value might hate you, yeah. But most of the A-rank knows better. It's been a point of contention in the waiting rooms, actually. Who was involved, whether there was actually any foul play, or if you guys just slipped up...”
    “Well, we did throw the match. But I wasn't the one responsible. Neither was Leah.”
    “That's what I was inclined to believe. Anyone with half a brain knows that you would never willingly throw a match. You're way too competitive. I don't think anyone could offer you enough to do it.”
    “Thanks. I just wished that the commission would see it that way.”
    “Well, like I said, they have their own agenda to push. With so much money flying around they have to make it look like its under control and all the competitions are fair. So when the top team steps out of line, they bring the hammer down. Sorry to say, but you guys are just a victim of the business machine.”
    “Yeah, I understand it. Even though it sucks. But it's not