Chapter 205

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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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‘…?’

The brief contents written on the memo were questionable.

As Adventurer A was also an investigation team candidate, entering a restricted area wasn’t strange.

The problem was the coordinates.

The number 8-35 was an area that only an investigation team could enter, not a candidate.

“Was there nothing other than this memo?”

“Only one was exposed. It seems the investigation of the smartphone and computer will take quite a bit of time. Because there wasn’t much in his house, the investigation itself finished quickly.”

The investigator said Adventurer A’s house had absolutely nothing other than the most necessary furniture.

He must have earned quite a bit of money too; had he poured it all into RP?

“How was the gear that person used? Since there was a burning smell, did a problem occur there?”

“Ah, I was going to show you the gear regardless. There was damage to the headgear side, but no external injuries were visible on the head.”

The investigator showed a photo brought up on his smartphone screen.

It was a pure white gear engraved with Lv.4.

It was the best tier available on the market.

Was it not a capsule because he lacked qualification?

‘It really burnt up.’

The black soot seen in various parts of the headgear was clearly burn marks.

It was to the point of being fascinating that an external injury hadn’t occurred.

“So, do you know something? Under the circumstances, it seems he moved here but—”

The investigator asked while leaning his body slightly forward.

Han-bit, who took his gaze off the memo, brought out a fundamental answer.

“Literally, it’s a restricted area inside the Record Project game. But since it’s a place that cannot be entered with Adventurer A’s qualification, I don’t know how he went here.”

“If it’s qualification, is it a feeling like level or something is lacking?”

“It’s a little different from levels. It’s called an investigation team, but I feel it would be good to find players who have this qualification and inquire.”

“I see.”

The investigator, who slightly raised his eyebrows, nodded his head.

He jotted something down on his smartphone and looked at Han-bit once again.

“Thank you. It seems it will be a big help to the investigation direction.”

“However, if it’s a death incident, can’t you request cooperation from the game company?”

“Of course, we will go through procedures and send an official document. But we’d need some organizing on from where to where, and what contents to request.”

Record Project had its headquarters in America, but it was in the middle of progressing services in Korea as well.

Naturally, they had to respond to information requests following Korea’s laws.

They would probably demand information regarding Adventurer A’s actions until right before his death.

“If there’s any needed information, please contact me comfortably. Because since he was a person I didn’t know would die, it feels like it would be good if the cause of death is properly revealed.”

“I will definitely pass it on to the investigation team. Since the investigator taking charge of death incidents is a friend who plays RP, conversations will go through much better than with me.”

As the defendant Adventurer A had died, the criminal lawsuit became impossible to progress.

It meant his role as an investigator also came to a stop here.

“The part regarding fraud must be proceeded through a civil lawsuit, so please try consulting well with a lawyer by any means. Then I will get up first.”

The investigator, who packed his smartphone, got up from his seat and left the cafe.

Yeon-woo, who was looking at that retreating back, spoke while drinking a beverage.

“So, what do you really think?”

“About what?”

“Adventurer A. There’s no way he coincidentally died wearing his gear, right? It’s not that this is related to that Goddess too, right?”

“…Well, there is a possibility.”

The Goddess of Turbulence was coming to mind in Han-bit’s head as well.

However, it was merely reasonable suspicion; information was too lacking to have conviction.

“Let’s relay this to Kenji-ssi first.”

Han-bit took out his smartphone and made a call to Kenji through the promised app.

As if he was waiting, accepting the call was quite quick.

(Yes, Black Dragon-nim.)

Kenji’s voice sounded like it had sunk a little.

Adventurer A had suddenly met his death without paying for his crimes or anything.

It was also natural that the emotions felt in this situation were complex.

“Our conversation finished, so I contacted you. I will tell you the things I learned for now.”

Han-bit conveyed the story he shared with the investigator, along with a few of his own thoughts.

Its content struck Kenji as a shock.

(If he was wearing gear… Are you saying he died in the state of being a player?)

He naturally recalled Momo and let out a surprised voice.

In a situation where game connection was already impossible due to the update progress, it was also natural for unease to bloom.

“The cause of death hasn’t been revealed yet. It could be a simple chronic illness, or a problem could have occurred with the gear.”

(Could it be that the Goddess of Turbulence did something? If it’s something like that, my daughter may be in danger.)

Kenji’s agitation didn’t dwindle easily.

The possibility that his daughter could also die loomed over him.

It was natural in a way that he, a father, would be shaken.

“Of course, if Adventurer A died because of the in-game situation, the god’s power could have been tied to it. But there is no way he died without any reason. Thinking of that person’s personality, wouldn’t it be more likely he picked a fight with someone?”

(That… I cannot deny it.)

Adventurer A was an emotional person.

He had even picked a fight with Han-bit right away and actually got done in; would it be any different with others?

“You are continuously monitoring Momo, right?”

(Yes. Lee Min-ho-ssi and the people on our side are looking over her together.)

“You mean there are no big changes or problems?”

(None as of yet.)

Lee Min-ho was progressing investigations while looking over Momo in person in real time.

It was a relief a problem hadn’t occurred right away, but it seemed there would be a need to convey the situation for now.

“Then please relay the story regarding Adventurer A’s matter to that side as well. Because of course you would be worried, but let’s watch the situation for the time being. Since Momo is strictly a different case.”

(…Understood.)

At those words, Kenji’s voice stabilized a little.

After a brief silence, Han-bit delivered one more thing.

It was the story of Grace and her younger brother he had previously received permission for.

“And there was a person who went and returned from the other world at a similar time as Momo. It was Grace-ssi, the Astra founder’s younger brother.”

(Yes? Could that person also…)

“No. That person wasn’t trapped in the game. From the moment he returned from the other world, he says he is only continuously repeating the words that he has to find Erfort.”

(That is… unfortunate.)

Kenji mumbled as if bitter.

Because although different from himself, Grace too must have gone through a hellish tragedy.

“I’m thinking of investigating matters regarding this side together too. Because it’s likely a symptom remaining from brainwashing or trauma.”

(I will deliver this matter to Lee Min-ho-ssi and our team. It’s a period where even small clues are important indeed.)

“Yes, please do. Then I will see about talking a bit more tomorrow and contact you again.”

(Understood.)

Han-bit, who finished the call, turned his gaze to the front.

Over there, Yeon-woo was looking at his smartphone screen with a serious expression.

“What is it to be that serious?”

“Ah, I was just searching around a little for things related to restricted areas. As expected of Advance Party information, there’s nothing suitable.”

“Is that so?”

The community he was rummaging through was RPG.

Considering the majority were ordinary players, information on restricted areas was scarce.

Seuk—

Han-bit manipulated his smartphone and logged into Astra.

“Is this Astra? The UI is okay too; it’s nice.”

Peeking at the screen slightly, Yeon-woo looked at it as if fascinated.

Han-bit entered the free board and decided to search for a few keywords.

“Uhm.”

The number of posts was considerably low when compared to RPG.

But considering the 660 member personnel, it could also be seen as many.

“The frequency of good posts is definitively high. Though RPG is 99% trash posts.”

“Since they say they’re an acknowledged Advance Party, they should exchange information soundly.”

Like Yeon-woo’s words, the quality of information dealt with on the board wasn’t bad.

Especially since restricted areas were unknowns to each other, exchanges and discussions were progressing actively.

‘Adventurer A… not much exactly.’

He tried searching for Adventurer A just in case, but he was a player who was hardly even mentioned.

Luna’s words, saying he was in a state considerably pushed back from the competition line, were keenly felt.

“Why are there so many messages?”

Han-bit clicked the alarm that popped up on the top right.

There, a list of arrived messages was lined up lengthily.

“Wow, they’re all posts with questions and solicitations. There are many people who gave contact to the studio side too.”

The messages sent by players had greetings and self-introductions, and various purposes loaded.

It also seemed better to try it like this rather than beat around the bush.

Of course, the thought to reply to them still hadn’t crossed his mind.

Han-bit rose from his seat and spoke while looking at Yeon-woo.

“Let’s go to the studio.”

***

A newly built building near Yeongdeungpo Station in Seoul.

Arriving at the 3rd-floor office, Han-bit and Yeon-woo stood facing a short woman.

“This here is the editor I told you about last time, Na Ye-ri-ssi.”

“Hel… lo.”

The woman, who pressed her hat down deeply, gave a greeting hesitantly.

The atmosphere was somehow unusual, but Han-bit reacted calmly.

“Yes, hello. Thank you for always doing edits well. Thanks to you, the channel is smooth sailing.”

“No…”

Giving a compliment, Na Ye-ri let out a voice that seemed to crawl.

Perhaps communication didn’t seem easy.

“U, Um, I have things to edit so…”

Na Ye-ri, who gave up the conversation, sought out her seat with quick steps.

Han-bit, who stared at that blankly, turned his gaze to the company representative.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Like I said, right? She’s your fan, hyung, but she’s a bit different from what you thought. She is a person who covers her face a lot. But she overflows with curiosity incredibly as well.”

Na Ye-ri, who returned to her seat, was discreetly looking at this place past her monitor.

The appearance of immediately hiding away when their eyes met was extraordinary in many ways.

“…Let’s do our tasks first for now.”

Han-bit moved to the meeting seats placed on one side.

He opened the laptop placed on the desk and entered his channel.

“How much are the funds we can use right now?”

“Funds? Uhm, considering Chairman Kenji-nim’s support funds, it’s about… 5 billion?”

“Really?”

At the considerable amount, Han-bit nodded his head.

It was an amount that still had no sense of reality at all, but he had to get used to this too.

Since in restricted areas, diverse matters would happen in many ways.

“I will organize the things I need to purchase after the update finishes first. Since I need to buy it with company funds, handle it.”

“Yes. I will purchase them as soon as it opens.”

Han-bit arranged the purchase list one by one while looking at the RP map on the monitor.

He planned out from where and how he had to move so he could rapidly ascend to an official investigation team member.

And the relationships with NPCs, important items, and skills he had to obtain in that process were clearly organized in his head.

It was right to view that the items to purchase were all foundation stones for him.

“The quantity becomes quite a bit.”

“You can’t leave out even one.”

“Since I won’t omit even a single speck, don’t worry.”

The two exchanged such stories for about two hours.

Before they realized it, the time became evening.

“Shall we at least have a meal together?”

“Shall we?”

At that suggestion, Han-bit nodded his head.

The two people’s gazes simultaneously headed towards Na Ye-ri’s seat.

“…!”

She, who was in the middle of working, flinched and was surprised at the flying gazes.

But.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Na Ye-ri’s pupils widened greatly, and she looked at Han-bit.

“Why are you like that?”

“This… popped up.”

“What did?”

At the somehow weird reaction, Han-bit stood up from his seat and walked towards Na Ye-ri’s desk.

Record Project’s homepage popped up on her monitor.

Looking at it closely, Han-bit discovered a new notice embedded in the center.

[We disclose the major changes of the first update in advance.]