Chapter 25 Part I

    Investigating the Elevator Sabotage and the Next Destination

    As the door in front of them opened slowly, the blinding light from outside forced the young man inside the elevator to shield his eyes with his hand. The voices of strangers filled with surprise then reached their ears.

    "Whoa, how did you all get here?!!!"

    As their eyes adjusted to the light, they saw that the man speaking to them was dressed in navy blue, resembling some sort of official Möbius didn't recognize. Leia, however, knew these people well—they were the system people, responsible for maintaining the order of the game, also known as the Gamemasters.

    "What's happened , Gamemasters?"

    Leia asked the man in front of them with curiosity, because such an emergence from them had to be for a very serious reason indeed. She thought about how the city’s elevator was part of the system, and its descent to the lower levels must have been a significant event.

    Now, they were at the same elevator doorway they had used the day before, but with one difference: a strip of yellow tape marked ‘DO NOT ENTER’ blocked off the area in front of this elevator. Around the taped area, a large crowd gathered, peering curiously and trying to shout questions at those inside the elevator, making it nearly impossible to grasp what was being said.

    "Are you the people who survived the elevator fall?"

    "How did you manage to escape?"

    "Who do you think caused this disaster?"

    It was easy to guess from these questions that they were journalists. Given that it was early in the year and not much else was newsworthy, the sabotage of a system elevator had blown up into a major news story, boosting newspaper sales and advertising revenues.

    Möbius and his companions were just as shocked to suddenly be surrounded by such intense media attention. Inari was the first to process and regain her composure. She turned to the gamemaster standing beside them and said,

    "Uh… could you please keep the journalists back and have them delete the photos they’ve taken?"

    Inari switched to her vulnerable woman mode and spoke to that official, sending pleading looks, making the young man momentarily dazzled by her appeal. He then spoke into a small radio in his hand. Soon after, several figures appeared behind him.

    "Hello, boss."

    A large group of men dressed similarly greeted the man conversing with Inari, before swiftly dispersing the journalists and onlookers with quick signals from the first official, who seemed to hold a significant position.

    "Tsk..."

    A man glanced at Möbius and his group with annoyance before following the journalists out. The soft clicking of his tongue piqued Gumiho's interest, and the fox girl instantly remembered seeing this man before. She whispered to everyone standing nearby,

    "That man was sitting at the bench in front of the elevator before we went in."

    "He must have come to check on his handiwork. We can't let him escape, or it'll be trouble."

    Möbius furrowed his brows and murmured to his companions. Just then, he noticed Leia was no longer by his side.

    Crash!!!

    A man with a camera fell inexplicably, causing his large camera to strike the head of the suspect as if deliberately aimed, drawing everyone's attention, including Möbius's, to look at that direction instantly. Turning back when he felt someone behind him, he found Leia standing there at the same spot, her smile cold, as the petite girl nudged the fox mother gently, a signal that the other party understood immediately.

    Inari, standing next to the gamemaster, feigned a slight startle, drawing the gamemaster attention effortlessly as every young man there was already looking at her. She leaned over and whispered softly in his ear.

    "The man who fell over there looks familiar, like he was there before we entered the elevator."

    The official stared intently at the fallen man and realized his urgency to leave the scene, now clearly visible as a focal point, was sufficient for him to instruct one of his subordinates to detain him while ordering others to clear the journalists from the area, promising a press conference soon.

    As the crowd of journalists dispersed from the room, leaving only a few behind, Gumiho was finally able to distinguish the suspect's scent. She cutely sniffed around the room before stopping by a trash can next to a bench that held only a single newspaper.

    (Möbius, the newspaper in the trash belongs to that guy.)

    "You suspect me? I belong to the Arc Magic Federation; check if you must, my name is Hatzard!!!"

    The shout of the suspect rose, as the gamemaster queried his background. It wasn't hard for anyone to guess that his mention of being from the Federation seemed like a boast to expedite his release. However, it didn’t make the official leader even slightly afraid. He continued to interrogate the man in front of him.

    “If you really haven't done anything wrong, there's nothing to fear, sir. Our system is always just. But first, please answer my question: where were you and what were you doing yesterday?”

    “I was at the federation office all day yesterday, sir. I came here today to represent the federation to see what happened.”

    Hatzard was confident that the gamemaster couldn't possibly find any evidence linking him to the modified lift that had already been disposed of. The gamemaster leader contacted the federation to verify if what the man claimed was true.

    The local branch head, who happened to be Hatzard’s close friend, assured that his friend was definitely at the federation office. This made the gamemaster frown, as an official assurance from the federation was not something easily disputed without evidence.

    “It’s strange, isn’t it? I heard that lately there have been fewer secret missions in the city than usual, yet there's a newspaper in the trash.”

    At that moment, Möbius walked up behind Hatzard and the gamemaster and made this remark loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. The staff then investigated the newspaper found in the trash and checked the system to see who had bought it. The answer made them smile instantly. He reported loudly to his boss.

    “Player Hatzard bought it, sir. And he was the one who disposed of it himself.”

    “Gamemaster, sir, I’ve been framed. These people must have dug through our federation's trash and placed it here.”

    Hatzard hurriedly explained the situation, as proving he was there would contradict the federation’s assurance, and he would definitely face major trouble.

    “Besides us and the owner of the item, no one else could have taken anything out of the trash, sir.”

    The leader of the gamemaster smirked; the system was designed to prevent people from rummaging through the trash, which normally would disappear on its own in three days, allowing time for owners to reconsider their disposal decisions. This revelation ultimately brought the truth to light.

    “You guys, especially you!!! Don’t expect to leave this city in one piece.”

    Hatzard, now caught, revealed his true character, pointing at... Leia, who stood quietly, looking elsewhere indifferently.

    “Uh, you are...”

    The leader of the gamemaster approached Leia to find out why the Arc Magic Federation had caused such devastation. She handed him her status screen, visible only to the gamemaster. Seeing what was on it, he looked slightly shocked. As he was about to say something, the small-framed girl spoke up in a calm voice, cutting him off.

    “I'm here for personal reasons.”

    After finishing, Leia looked at him as if to say not to reveal what was on the screen. Understandably, player information had to be kept confidential. He turned off the screen and nodded at the small girl, signaling that he understood what she wanted.

    “Then I have no further questions, miss. Who should I transfer the compensation payment to?”

    The gamemaster head, now fully understanding the situation, turned to Leia, who seemed most involved in the incident. Usually, such events occurred at the end of the year, so it was unexpected to see one at the beginning of the year. The small girl responded by pointing to Möbius, prompting him to quickly approach the young man.

    “For compensation related to system malfunctions, it will be 10% of the total damage caused by the act of vandalism, which the perpetrator must pay.”

    The gamemaster explained to Möbius. The game, Real Dream Online, was open about incidents of vandalism since they added a layer of excitement to the gameplay. However, getting caught would lead to severe penalties, including a hefty fee payable to the system, or the player would face the cancellation of their ID.

    This kind of vandalism carried high risks; even if successful and the target was eliminated, being caught meant a guaranteed fine. Only large federations typically took such risks. Victims of vandalism would receive 10% of the calculated damages as compensation, and if there were multiple victims, the amount would be distributed among them.

    Leia watched as Hatzard was taken by system officials for further questioning, giving him a knowing look before urging everyone to leave the place.

    “Are we done here? Let’s go meet Da Vinci before the reporters come back.”

    “Understood, Young Miss. We'll head out now.”

    Möbius nodded to the petite girl before immediately saying farewell to the leader of the gamemaster. He agreed with Leia, as it wouldn’t be wise to draw too much attention.

    “You’re welcome. If you have any more questions about gameplay, please visit our player service center here in the city.”

    The gamemaster leader said, waving goodbye to the young man and the girls as they quickly exited the location.

    Once they reached the city center, Möbius, curious about the gamemasters for a long time, immediately asked Leia, who had much more experience in the game.

    “Young Miss, what exactly do gamemasters do?”

    “They guide new players, organize various activities, and manage those who mess with system properties, like in this case with the lift being tampered with, so, they came out to handle it. They don’t usually show up for player disputes or monster issues.”

    Leia, now back to her usual state, responded to Möbius. Though gamemasters didn’t appear often, when they did, they ensured everything was settled correctly. Even the most skilled players in the game couldn’t defy the system’s justice.

    Soon, they reached Da Vinci's garage, not far from the city’s central pillar. When they opened the door marked 'Da Vin’s Garage' as described, it turned out to be a small garage with two car lifts and there were piles of strange parts all over the place.

    “Ah, Mr. Möbius, hello. Your bag is ready, though it turned out a bit different from what you ordered. I got a bit carried away.”

    Da Vinci emerged from a pile of parts, holding a bag that looked less like a carryall and more like a large guitar case. His tall, thin frame was covered in a grey mechanic’s overcoat, smeared with soot or some black substance, and his face was obscured by light-colored hair that hung down over his eyes.

    “Huh, it's designed like a guitar case? Try holding it.”

    Leia took the bag first. It was considerably heavier than a regular bag, but considering Möbius’s ability to lighten objects, it wasn't too bad. She then handed it over to the young man.

    “Got it, Young Miss.”

    Möbius took the bag and held it easily by the side handle. With his suit and tie already in place, holding the guitar case made him look somewhat like a musician on a mission, which seemed more fitting to the girls than a salesperson or insurance agent.

    “And does it still function as a refrigerator like before?”

    Gumiho asked curiously, remembering that Möbius's original bag resembled a mini-fridge from a hotel she had stayed at. This new bag, however, didn’t look anything like that.

    “Absolutely, that was the first feature I installed. It's this large because of the additional compartments I added. It's guaranteed to have compartments for storing all sorts of food items as needed. The other functions will be accessible once Möbius transfers his items into this bag.”

    Da Vinci reached over and pressed a button on the end of the bag Möbius was holding, opening a compartment at the end of the bag. The young man was relieved that it was there, as opening the entire bag every time he wanted to put something in would be cumbersome.

    Da Vinci was quite surprised by the contents of the old bag, which were just power-enhancing potions and various types of sweets. While Möbius transferred his items, the young mechanic explained that the new bag had an automatic sorting feature that would distribute items to the appropriate compartments. After many items were transferred, Da Vinci pointed to a button on the handle.

    “Press this button, Mr. Möbius.”

    Upon pressing it, a side panel displayed a catalog of the contents, making Möbius think it resembled more of a dessert shop's cake display, filled only with sweets. When Gumiho playfully touched a pastry she wanted from the display, it smoothly slid out of the bag, prompting the three girls to playfully pressing buttons. Even Leia enjoyed this function immensely.

    “Next, try placing the bag onto your back, Mr. Möbius. It’s a hands-free system.”

    Da Vinci grinned broadly as he watched everyone enjoying his creation. Möbius, very pleased with the bag, immediately attached it to his back where it stuck as if by magic, surprising him. The young mechanic nodded frequently, proud of his ingenuity in being able to figure out this system.

    However, when Möbius tried to remove the bag, a strange noise erupted, prompting Da Vinci to quickly rush in to prevent the young man from pulling the bag out in a hurry.

    Smack…!!!

    “Uh... pull it off slowly, please. Otherwise, the Velcro tapes might tear your clothes.”

    Da Vinci quickly explained the delicate technology involved, which was more low-tech compared to the other features of the bag. Overall, Möbius was very pleased with the bag’s versatility, and the girls also loved it.

    “This is also a garage, right?”

    Möbius asked, noticing various automotive tools around even though the sign outside confirmed it was a garage. He asked to make sure since he didn't see any cars parked inside.

    “Yes, that's right. However, those who own cars are very few. Moreover, most tend to bring them to the centers that have opened up for service within this game.”

    Da Vinci sighed deeply. Although he ran an auto repair shop, the only vehicles available for sale were antiques, forcing him to make a living by creating unusual items, including Möbius's custom bag.

    "Then please check this one out for me."

    Möbius released Black Lightning from his right hand. The sleek, modern black car appeared swiftly on the adjacent car lift platform, causing the young mechanic nearby to freeze in shock.

    [Oh, sunlight and beauty, thank you, Mr. Möbius. I thought I was doomed to linger in that odd dimension much longer. Though it was quite comfortable, I still prefer going outside to breathe in the fresh air. And don't worry, the technology that created me doesn't produce any black smoke. My smoke is only ozone that freshens the air...]

    As Black Lightning came alive, it began to ramble non-stop. Da Vinci, who had been stunned for a moment, slowly approached Black Lightning and affectionately caressed the black car as if it were a piece of touchable art.

    "Wow, where did you get such a car, Mr. Möbius?... It's as beautiful as a piece of art and it talks too."

    Da Vinci walked around the black car, endlessly admiring its beauty.

    [You have a good eye, sir. My structure is designed for optimal aerodynamics, perfect for both speed and safety...]

    Black Lightning, delighted to receive compliments like a fish in water, described about its superior performance compared to other cars available in the market. Da Vinci nodded and engaged enthusiastically with Black Lightning while Möbius brought out the luxurious chair set that Purple Spider had donated, allowing the girls to sit and enjoy sweets.

    "I was a bit rough with it, Mr. Da Vinci. Could you check it, please?"

    Möbius referred to a particularly harsh jolt in the lift and was unsure about the consequences of forcing it to run far beyond its maximum speed.

    [Thank you, Mr. Möbius, for your concern. I've checked myself for damage, and I'm still operational. Using some red potion could fix it, but some of the shock absorbers need replacing for the safety of Miss Gumiho, Miss Inari, and Young Miss Leia.]

    Black Lightning provided a brief status report, prompting Möbius to remember the odd items he had collected from the dungeon he had recently exited. Wondering if any of them could be spare parts for the car, he laid out the items in front of Black Lightning to choose. Da Vinci, intrigued, rushed over to inspect the array of lost technological artifacts that Möbius had spread out, captivated by these lost technologies he so deeply cherished.

    [I have all the parts I need for replacement, but there's one problem...]

    Black Lightning seemed to ponder whether to speak or not before finally saying,

    [I am very hungry, sir. Since I woke up, Mr. Möbius has not fed me at all.]

    Black Lightning's statement made Möbius feel a bit guilty for using it without paying attention to its needs, frowning slightly as he didn't even know what his pet ate.

    "What would you like to eat, Black?"

    [30 liters of red potion, 70 liters of yellow, and 100 liters of blue, sir. Just mix them together and pour them into this compartment here. More is fine too.]

    Black Lightning revealed a small square compartment. Möbius looked at the 300 ml potion bottles in his hand, realizing that it would take nearly seven hundred bottles to satisfy his pet's hunger.

    He massaged his temples, thinking about Gumiho and Inari, and now he had to deal with Black Lightning's needs too. Just as he thought he was lucky that Leia didn't consume much, he saw her enjoying a chilled yellow potion, tempted by the fox girls...

    "Mr. Da Vinci, do you know where they sell these power-enhancing potions wholesale?"

    Möbius said despairingly, as the system's justice seemed to be as good at depleting his funds as he was at finding them.

    Pet Window

    Name, Species

    Black Lightning, Machine

    Level, Age

    Same as owner, 2 days

    Health, Magic Power

    5850/5850, 3900/3900

    Relationship Level

    50/100