Chapter 300: The Second Call [2]

"Millwall Steel Production."

A single name appeared in my research.

Studying the symbol in the logo and comparing it to the one I glimpsed during the call, I noticed an almost uncanny resemblance.

"...It’s without a doubt the same. The issue is whether it means the same thing."

I thought back to the numerous eyes that stared around me from all directions.

’Now, why would such a symbol be inscribed all over a corridor?’

Was what I was seeing truly what was being described on the call? ...Or was that just my own imagination playing tricks on me?

Though it felt as if I had been transported into that strange corridor, even taking the place of the person on the phone, the truth was that I had never left my office. It was all essentially in my mind.

However—

"Let’s just go on the assumption that it’s this symbol."

I was also running on the assumption that the person on the call was inside the cult. There was still no proof of that.

In fact, there was a high chance that I was wrong.

Even so, this was a risk that I was willing to take.

"Let’s see."

I started to research the company.

"So they’re a rather big company that runs mainly in Malovia Island? Not only that, but they’ve got four plants on the island?"

The information regarding the company was quite interesting. They were a multi-billion-dollar corporation that had only been established for twenty years. While Malovia Island wasn’t exactly very big, it still housed five million people.

It was rich in ores and coal.

Essentially, it was the perfect place for steel production. Exploiting this, Millwall grew their company to what they were now. From the articles written, they appeared to be trying to expand their business outside of the island.

"Hmm."

There didn’t seem to be anything strange with the company at a glance.

"Of course, that’s how it usually works with stuff like this."

As if the company would look suspicious...

That’d make my life way easier.

"Still, it says that they have four plants."

I checked the map, and soon groaned.

"They’re all pretty far."

They were all located in Zone 9, which was on the outskirts of the very island. Practically near the edge.

I had yet to be there, but from what I had heard, it was the worst zone within the city. It was filled with factories and terrible areas.

"In short, a zone that I should avoid unless I work there."

I groaned while thinking about it.

Although I didn’t want to go, I knew that I’d have to go there eventually.

"For now, I should take some time to study this place. There’s no guarantee that it’s the place that I’m looking for, but there’s no way the symbol is a coincidence."

Tapping onto the paper in front of me, I circled a couple of points.

"Tackling this mission should be on my priority list right now. Thankfully, I still have time. About three months. I won’t rush things. No, it’s more like, I can’t afford to rush this."

The mission was a Fourth Order one.

This wasn’t something that I could take on lightly.

’With the addition of the Conductor, I’d like to think that my strength has increased significantly. However, there’s no guarantee that that is the case. After all, the Conductor got slightly nerfed due to my low Order.’

But this was fine.

I could increase my Order slowly.

"Right, there’s also the black market. I need to find a way to go there."

I had asked Kyle, but he was quite useless. The only one who had some sort of idea about the black market was the Team Leader.

But—

Just thinking about the dinner that might come with me trying to ask her about the black market...

"I already feel like puking."

My stomach churned.

Holding onto it, I leaned back on the chair.

"Hmm. It’s not like there aren’t any other options."

There was the Section Chief, Rowan, and even Zoey. There were quite a few people whom I could probably ask.

’Maybe not the Section Chief, but maybe Zoey and Rowan are worth a shot.’

Well, I was in no hurry.

Or more like...

"I am poor."

I didn’t have any money at the moment. Everything I had was pretty much gone.

"I still have around 60,000, but that’s barely enough. With the cost of the medicine, it’ll all be gone in just a week. Well... If I buy it all at once, which I might do."

I ruffled my hair in annoyance.

What I had to do next was pretty much clear to me.

"I need to start developing my new game. The Virtual Reality one."

From there, the plan was to steadily gather money while searching for the black market’s location. At the same time, I needed to prepare for the next major quest. No, all of this was preparation for the quest.

That quest...

"I’m sure of it."

I was going to be the first major turning point of my journey in this world.

Whatever was waiting for me after the quest, I had a feeling that it was going to be big.

Big enough to overturn everything that I had been doing.

This was why I couldn’t rush it. I needed to be extremely careful and plan my next course of action carefully.

"That being said, I should probably rest for now."

I put the pen and paper away. The same was for the laptop. I had experienced quite a lot over the past few days. It wasn’t good for me to obsess over the situation. Rather... I’d probably collapse before I’d find a solution.

"I’ve got time."

Mumbling quietly to myself, I walked up to the door and yawned.

"...Not much, but I’ve got time."

***

"How are you faring...?"

Walking into a small room, the Section Chief’s attention turned to the young girl sitting by a metal table, her head lowered. Despite the Section Chief’s words, she didn’t say a single thing and remained quiet.

Just one look at her disheveled appearance was enough to tell about her current condition.

Staring at her, the Section Chief sighed and sat opposite her.

At the same time, he tossed a couple of papers on the table.

"Just so you know, I don’t blame you for what happened at the gate. It was my fault for sending you in when you’re not completely healed."

Despite his words, Clara remained silent.

The Section Chief sighed again while staring at the papers in front of him.

They were essentially reports from the Guild Therapists, all of them repeating the same conclusion:

"Long-term rehabilitation required. Potential retirement to be considered."

As if...

There was no way the Section Chief could agree to this.

Clara was the main star of their department. She was also extremely loyal, which was why Hermes didn’t try to poach her. He knew from the start it would’ve been a wasted effort.

He couldn’t afford to lose a talent like her.

But the situation was tricky.

’It’s terrible timing, really. I thought that she would’ve been fine to go out after what had happened, but who would’ve thought that the source of her trauma would return? This really makes things difficult for me.’

The rehabilitation time was about half a year to a year. That was too long.

He couldn’t afford to have her gone for so long.

Drumming his fingers over the metal table, he looked at Clara.

The moment he did, his face turned strange. A sudden thought struck his mind, and he nearly wanted to slap himself for having it. As the Section Chief, he had eyes and ears everywhere. Naturally, he was aware of a lot of things.

And because of that, he was well aware of Rowan’s situation.

Thinking thus far, his expression turned even stranger.

He was certainly not going to like it.

But—

’I mean, it’s also technically his job.’