Chapter 271: Invisible Threads
The Castle of Doom was bathed in an eerie silence, and stood as a stark contrast to the recent chaos of battle.
Exhausted players sprawled on the cold ground, chatting and checking their inventory while they waited for the guild leaders’ announcement.
In the midst of this respite, the group leaders approached their members and asked their status.
"What’s all this about?" questioned a curious player, raising an eyebrow.
The group leader’s request for a discrete background check stirred a ripple of curiosity among the players.
"We’re just rechecking everything so the leaders can plan based on your stats, skills, and spells," Fighting Bunny explained, her tone calm but carrying a weight of importance.
The players exchanged glances, uncertainty flickering in their eyes, but the fatigue from the recent battle subdued any immediate suspicions.
Casual nods and shrugs accompanied their acquiescence as they agreed to divulge their character backgrounds.
As questions were fired, the leaders and vice leaders delved into each player’s history, probing for details about their stats and abilities. The players answered with casual nonchalance.
"I’ve been playing this character for three years now," shared one player, adjusting the settings on their virtual armor. "Mainly focused on tanking and damage mitigation."
Another player chimed in, "I’m more of a support role, specialized in healing and buffs. Been in the game for four years. Here’s my stat and abilities."
The questions continued, ranging from the intricacies of character builds to personal preferences in combat strategies.
The players were momentarily distracted and willingly revealed the details of their in-game personas.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the players, the group leaders and vice leaders were engrossed in a parallel task.
Huddled together, they meticulously cross-checked the information provided against their own records. Each detail, no matter how minor, was scrutinized, and comparisons were made to ensure the authenticity of the information.
The guild leaders were acutely aware that the mysterious item in question couldn’t replicate real-time memories, and seized the opportunity to use this limitation to their advantage.
They decided to dispatch the collected information to their headquarters for a thorough cross-reference, understanding that it might take the entire next day in gaming time to uncover any leads.
Despite the potential delay, the leaders concluded that it was a step worth taking — a proactive measure to ensure that whoever was behind this transgression would pay.
"We have no time for this," asserted Fury, her impatience evident in her voice.
"That’s why we’re sending it to HQ," Ragnarok Reaper responded calmly, emphasizing the necessity of their approach.
"These players . . . if I find out that they’re truly players, they will pay for this," declared Fury, gritting her teeth with determination.
Eclipse remained tight-lipped, his expression unreadable as he contemplated the unfolding situation.
"Is this everyone?" inquired Ragnarok Reaper, seeking confirmation from a guildmate.
"Yes. Those who were dead are instructed to file their stats and backgrounds to HQ as soon as possible," came the swift report.
Maya, the Alchemist in Shadowblade, interjected with vital information. "There is one individual in my unit and another in the healer group who died today. They claim that someone killed them during the battle with the Wormgod. Strangely, they’re certain that the Wormgod wasn’t responsible. When we checked on those two, they’re now offline."
"Latest victims, then. Did they manage to see their assailant’s face?" Ragnarok Reaper inquired, hope flickering in his eyes.
Maya sighed before responding. "Unfortunately, no. It was dusty at that moment, and all they saw were silhouettes."
"Silhouettes?" Fury questioned, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Maya nodded. "Yes. They said, and I quote, ’We saw the silhouette of a cat-like figure and a bulky small woman that seemed like a dwarf.’"
A collective glance passed among the guild leaders, absorbing this peculiar description.
"A cat?" Fury expressed incredulity.
"And a dwarf?" Doom Harbinger appeared skeptical.
Eclipse couldn’t help but smiled at the absurdity of it all.
Maya confirmed their statements with a nod.
"Alright, keep an eye out for players or NPCs resembling a cat and a dwarf," Ragnarok Reaper instructed. "Since those two individuals are already offline, I assume our culprit is aware that we’re uncovering their identity and is likely in hiding."
"Or they could still be among us," Eclipse added, introducing a chilling possibility.
"We’ll confirm that tomorrow when we get the report from HQ," asserted Doom Harbinger.
"Maintain vigilance. If anyone is offline, contact them immediately," directed Ragnarok Reaper. "Assign someone to go through the NPCs in this town."
"What could be their motive though?" Doom Harbinger questioned no one.
Fury let out a heavy sigh, her frustration palpable. "What else could it be but to sabotage and get information from our expedition? It must be from other guilds who didn’t get the chance to join in here. Damn, we don’t have time for this. We should be preparing and discussing our strategy for tomorrow."
"We’ll get to that," responded Ragnarok Reaper. "Gather everyone in the time square. It’s time to discuss our plans. This problem could wait once we find the culprit and interrogate them with their motives."
Meanwhile, atop a rooftop with a view of the timesquare, Xin and Hilda found a moment of respite.
"Agh!" Hilda stretched her arms, letting out a satisfied sigh. "It’s good to be back in my own body."
Xin’s cheek rested casually on his palm, elbow propped on the balcony’s railing. Though his expression appeared bored, his mind was deeply engaged in contemplating their next move.
"What are we going to do now?" Hilda inquired.
"For the time being, let’s stay here and observe," Xin suggested. He turned, leaning on the railing. "Our adventure seems to have reached its end since we’re already discovered. However, I never expected it to last for four days."
"No more fighting on the front lines?" Hilda asked.
Xin shrugged. "Yeah. Let’s observe for now."
He then faced Hilda. "Do you have that ready?"
"Yep. No worries." Without hesitation, Hilda equipped another one of her legendary-grade armors — a silver ensemble that covered her entire body, including her face. She then handed Xin a robe.
"This will hide your face."
Xin equipped the [Robe of Concealment] in one of his accessory slots, and a white robe materialized over him, concealing his face with a hood.
"Whoa. It looks good on you Lord Schrödinger!" Hilda exclaimed, but her expression soon turned crunched. "Though I won’t be able to see your face under that."
"That’s the point," Xin replied, smiling slightly. "We will blend in with the NPCs with this disguise and observed for now."