...…
Coffin Maker, who was currently disguising as one of the students of the Magic Ace Academy, was currently inside his temporary hideout. He was sitting in front of an advanced computer, looking at the series of data displayed on the screen.
After a long ti, he suddenly contacted a number from his advanced watch. It did not take long for the other side to answer the call, and he quickly said. "The intel is true. The World Research Center is currently in possession of the 'Black Heart'."
"I don't know where they have hidden it, but all the research data is under heavy protection of the multiple security asures. If not for sneaking inside to steal the data, I don't think I will be able to find it."
"And even with all of that, I am only able to steal a portion of the research. It even pokes the hornet's nest as a lot of forces are already on high alert because of this. I don't think I will be able to get the rest of the data."
The person on the other side remained silent for quite a long ti, waiting for Coffin Maker to complete his report.
Not long after, they suddenly said. "Keep a low profile for the ti being and wait for the huge 'event'. I am sure that you can make your move at that ti as everyone will have to focus on it."
Even before Coffin Maker could give his reply, the person on the other side of the line imdiately ended the call.
Coffin Maker clicked his tongue before mumbling. "Then it is no different from going with the plan. Tsk! I've got a bad feeling about this."
…
World Research Center
Elias Stuart just arrived at the scene where the said thief had stolen the data from the center. He swept his gaze at the surroundings while using an observation ntalism Technique. His eyes shone brightly as his eyes scanned the entire place, looking for clues that were left behind by the thief.
But to his surprise, he could not find anything – not even the tiniest clue. "It seems like we have underestimated this little thief."
At that mont, one of his subordinates entered the room and reported. "Sir, all the security caras don't get anything. Even those that can detect even the stealth skills of the strongest assassins have not caught anything."
Elias slightly nodded his head before asking. "How about the data that are stolen? Have they already checked which data are stolen?"
His subordinate raised his wrist and opened a virtual screen before reporting. "Based on what we have checked, it seems like there are a lot of data that are stolen. But the most important ones remain protected aside from a few that we suspected to be the real target of the thief."
"Which data are they?" asked Elias.
"Most is about the research on the Black Heart while the rest are research about the Revival Project and Vessel Project," answered the subordinate before pausing to open more virtual screens.
A few monts later, he continued. "There are also more, but most of the projects are still in their early stages unlike the first three that I have ntioned."
"We have also discovered a similarity between all of the stolen data – all of them are projects led by Professor Henry, so we suspect that the thief is targeting the projects under the professor's na."
Elias nodded his head before instructing. "Continue looking for clues, but make sure to make it as discreet as possible. Follow the arrangents of Senior Henry and act as a volunteer for a joint project."
"Report directly to if you find anything no matter how small it is. I will accompany Senior Henry for the ti being," he added before leaving the from.
Elias felt that the thief was not only targeting the projects that Professor Henry had. He felt that this initial incident was just a probing tactic before showing their real objective.
Since they could not find any crucial clue, he would then stick close to the center of everything while patiently waiting.
…
anwhile, Shin just woke up from his nap. He stretched his body right after standing up before going for a quick shower to freshen up.
After that and changing into comfortable clothes, he quickly headed to the gaming cabin, quite excitedly. This ti, he would be challenging another apex expert, which would test his limits once again.
After lying inside the gaming cabin, he quickly set everything up before closing it and getting in a more comfortable position.
When he relaxed his mind and felt that he was already at his peak form, he closed his eyes and mumbled. "Initiate Login!"
Swoosh!
His consciousness was imdiately sucked toward another world, arriving back inside the virtual world.
…
Swoosh!
When he opened his eyes once again, he found himself in the place where he left. He quickly heightened his guard up and spread his senses in every direction, scanning the surroundings.
But after quite a while, he did not find and presence within the vicinity, which indicated that there was no enemy around.
He then glanced at the digital clocks in the corner of his eyes. He saw that there was still a full hour before the agreed ti with Ashura in the real world, which ant that he still had to kill three more hours within the ga.
As for the event itself, a total of eight hours before it ends.
Based on the rules that the system had given him before the start of the event, he would be kicked out of the independent place if he exceeded the designated ti for it. It would also pause the tir until he exited the said place and resud the hunting ga.
But since he will be issuing an official challenge against Ashura, he felt that it would most likely pause the tir and wait for him to exit the said place before everything resud.
There would still be five whole hours remaining before the event ended, so he would be most likely to fight a little longer after his duel with Ashura.
But Shin was not worried that he would be ambushed by his opponents right after he exited the duel grounds since he trusted his friends.
He knew that given Arthur's personality, this brother of his would surely head to this place and join the fun after learning that Shin was having fun on himself once again. Leonard would be the sa as he would not miss such a huge 'party'.
They would most likely drop whatever they were doing and head here, especially when Shin had already revealed his identity to everyone.
He was not sure about the rest of the Empyrean Talons, but he felt that they would most likely join too, especially with the current situation at hand.
Glancing at his friend list, he saw that, aside from Arthur and Leonard, Cloe, Alice, Diablo, and Alucard had already finished their respective promotion quests and beca Tier 3 themselves.
He was aware that Diablo was already in command of the Hyperactive Imrsion given that they had already fought each other, which was also the ti when the latter fully awakened his potential and reached that combat state.
As for the other three, he was not sure about them. He had already taught them about the Reality Manifestation and even gave them information about the Mysterious Instructors and how to find them. He was just wondering which path they had taken.
As for the rest of the group, he was not sure about their current statuses, especially when none of them inford him or shared their experiences in the team chat channel.
He could only guess that Akailu was following the clues that he had given and seemingly trying to walk the path of Perfect Demonification since Shin felt that it was most likely the perfect combat state for the guy, especially when the latter's class was related to beasts and summoned monsters.
Owen and Ithilien seed to be still busy with their respective tier 3 promotion classes while the duo of Archides and Daulla was still unreachable.
As for Chaotic Luck, this insanely lucky guy seed to be off the grid after informing the rest that he wanted to explore more of the Kingdom while doing his promotion quest.
The last ti Shin heard from the guy was the latter saying that he wanted to try playing «War Tactics» Online because he wanted to learn more about war strategies and battle formations.
It had been a while since the group had gathered, so Shin felt that it was about ti for them to et.
However, he still had to leave it to luck since he was not sure if they were done with their respective businesses. Aside from Arthur, Leonard, and Cloe, who would drop anything and lend him a hand without question, he was not sure if the others would do the sa.
…
"I guess I should burn the first two free hours in the city. I can also resupply my potions and scrolls before heading out," he mumbled as he glanced at the clock once again.
"I logged out of the ga after the system last revealed my coordinates, so I have exactly two hours before the next one. As for the final hour, I can take it as a warm-up before the main event."
After making plans inside his head, Shin went along with the plan and crushed the return scroll to head back to the Holy City.
…
In the anti, the mont when he re-logged back into the ga, the parties involved in the event imdiately received the notification from the system.
They quickly went on full alert while the leaders of the Corrupted Cult and Demonic Churches issued a series of commands.
"He is online! All units proceed according to plan!"
"The target appeared! Move! Move! Move!"
"Set up the formation! Don't let him escape this ti. Summon all the undead beasts! We are going all out this ti!"
…
On the other hand, those players from the Supre Temple and Martial Alliance felt a little confused.
The target finally appeared, yet the notification that they received from the system was rather strange. It seed like both factions gave up on capturing Shin and recalled the issued quest.
"What the heck is going on?"
"Why does the faction quest suddenly disappear? It neither informs us of our failure nor our success! This is strange."
"What the heck? Even the mission issued in the faction board disappears!"
"Is this for real? I haven't received my contribution points yet!"
…
While these people were proceeding with their respective businesses, there was a group of hooded players appeared at the Teleportation Hall of the Holy City.
The mont this group appeared, the entire atmosphere of the hall was suddenly affected. It was as if their appearance had changed the entire place.
The air either beca very heavy or sowhat suffocating.
"Hey! What are you doing, you musclehead? Are you announcing to the world that we are here?"
"As if you are the one to talk, you sword maniac! Keep that sword intent of yours under control or else you will be branded by red na for accidentally killing players inside this hall."
"Ah! Sorry about that. We just finished an intense battle on the island, so I still haven't exited my combat mode. You can't bla for that."
"Can you guys keep quiet? Given your loud voices, I doubt that we still haven't blown our covers."
"Sigh~! Let these idiots do whatever they want. It is not like we are here for trouble anyway."
"That is exactly the reason why we are here, slowpoke."
"Eh!? Then are we going to be punished by the commander? I suddenly regret coming here with you guys! Let go back!"
"Idiot! We precisely co here much earlier to avoid the commander. There is still at least an hour before he cos online – that is three hours inside the ga. That's plenty of ti already, we can find the target before it happens!"
"How dare he go back on his word and look for fun alone, leaving us behind? We will spoil the fun before he can have it!"
"Tsk! I have a bad feeling about this. I really shouldn't have co."
...…
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