VIP Chapter 194: Objective
Now, regarding the “Green Ghost Stone,” previous clues have been connected, and at least part of the mystery has been solved.
An unknown “organization” is distributing this strengthening stone, which is originally a “game setting,” within the Dungeon. Its strengthening effect is indeed quite effective, capable of elevating many Dungeons by at least three ratings.
Although their objective is not clear, it might be to resist some force within the Dungeon…
It is now confirmed that a Witch is assisting this organization. Through the Witch’s channels—given how easily Liya can receive these large-scale items—the Witch Association has a delivery chain that doesn’t need to be openly transmitted.
However…
For Will, what he’s more concerned about in investigating this lead is who obtained items meant only for the game, and by what method.
After all…
Only…
Only this clue can…
Will was interrupted mid-thought by Shuna:
“Mm. But… I wasn’t finished speaking. I don’t know if it’s because of Liya, but Lis finally told me a crucial piece of information.”
“What is it?!”
Will looked at Shuna excitedly, even clutching the bedsheet.
“Hmm… About this…”
Shuna crossed her arms, staring at Will. Her completely black eyes seemed to be contemplating something.
“I’d like to ask Little Will a question first. Then, depending on the situation, we’ll see if we continue investigating.”
“Alright, ask away.”
“Why… are you so fixated on the origin of the ‘Green Ghost Stone’?”
Will hadn’t expected Shuna to ask this question.
“This…”
However…
Her asking this question was indeed “reasonable.”
Shuna wasn’t foolish; she could even be considered the smartest person who understood him best.
“Because, now that it’s confirmed a Witch is involved, the risk of continuing the investigation has increased. If the reward isn’t that high, you wouldn’t force yourself into danger without absolute certainty.”
She was right.
A “Green Ghost Stone” that currently seems unusable by Adventurers, only circulates within Dungeons, and appears to have little impact on Adventurers.
Without knowing the extent of the risk, Will wouldn’t persist with a single clue.
“Because you aren’t someone who would put yourself in danger. And… I am the logistics for your Shining Star. I will protect everyone safely in the Dungeon, just as you told me.”
Indeed.
Will was careful and meticulous, like scheduling game development, diligently and cautiously completing each step to minimize any risk of delay in going live.
Unfortunately, Will was someone who “knew their fate.”
Unfortunately, this was something directly related to his life.
He had now encountered too many deviations that were difficult to classify as “fate,” or things that completely altered fate.
But without a doubt, the most strange and yet traceable thing among them was the “Green Ghost Stone.”
He wanted to know why.
He also wanted to know what else would happen.
Even more, he wanted to know what he should do after this.
Only by following this sole lead with further developments, one related to “the game he personally created,” would these matters have answers.
After all…
This might be an important clue to whether he could survive the “death time node” in his future a year from now.
“What if I said… it’s intuition?”
“Intuition? Hmm… You believe in intuition too?”
Will thought for a moment…
He took a deep breath and began:
“I’ve been having a recurring dream. In the dream, I experience many things similar to what’s happening now, but… I die in an accident in a Dungeon about a year and a half from now. The time is getting closer, and the dream becomes clearer.”
Oh, this was a lie, of course.
Will could no longer remember how the original work described him being crushed to death by a Slime. Even the name of the Dungeon was somewhat vague—though it was well-documented in the “Quest System.”
Seeing Shuna remain silent, she probably believed him. She rested her chin on her hand, her fingers tapping rhythmically on her knuckles, as if waiting for him to continue.
“And in that dream, the only item I never encountered but was particularly important was a Green Ghost Stone like this. So… my intuition tells me it holds a method for me to avoid death.”
“…”
After he finished speaking, both Will and Shuna fell into a brief silence.
Then, Shuna spoke first:
“You think I would believe you?”
“Of… course you wouldn’t believe me.”
Shuna smiled and snapped her fingers:
“Of course I believe you.”
“Hm?”
“Your expression is quite easy for me to read; it doesn’t seem like you’re lying.”
“…”
Will felt a little guilty, as his words were actually half-true and half-false, with some unrealistic embellishments.
“Although the reason sounds strange, since you’ve said it and it’s troubled you for so long, hmm… it even sounds like a prophecy. Then we have no choice but to continue investigating!”
Shuna smiled and picked up a map from the nearby table.
She then pointed to Tsimat Town on the map, which was in the direction of the Capital but appeared not very large. This town seemed to be at the foot of a high mountain, and not highly regarded.
“Tenth Demon City. When Lis was leaving, she finally told me that we’d find what we’re looking for here.”
“Tenth Demon City…”
Will muttered the name.
It sounded like a very powerful name, but he hadn’t heard of it in the original work, neither the city it was in nor the city itself.
But…
The word “Demon,” was something he was very familiar with. The Entak Family of the Royal Family was established on deals with demons.
Such a special place might be able to produce materials for the Shadow Nightmare Sword that Treya needed.
No matter what…
“Alright, Shuna, then we’ll immediately…”
*Bang.*
Shuna lightly tapped Will’s head, almost like playful banter.
With that tap, her hand knocked off the “Monocle” he was wearing on his nose.
“It’s not that I’m worried about your health, but let’s first satisfy your hardware needs, like getting you a good pair of glasses here?”
“Come to think of it, I haven’t changed my glasses in several years.”
“Take a bath today, eat something good, and once you’re feeling up to it, we’ll go out.”
“Mm.”
Having a “reliable teammate who won’t blacken” was a truly happy experience.
“Oh right, there’s one more thing, which you might find very important, I have for you.”
“Hm?”
Shuna smiled, holding a letter between her fingers. The letter looked like it had been stained with some Blood Mint Essential Oil and was a bit old.
“This is…”
The moment Will saw it, he remembered.
This was the letter Iaar had sent him, written with very primitive language!
He had indeed forgotten about it before.
No, no, it was more like because of his encounter with Liya, which was also foretold in this letter, he had overlooked many of its contents.
“Your clothes were… neatly folded by Liya and placed aside, so I brought them out, including this letter.”
In that letter…
The most important content, related to “fate” and even to the “Green Ghost Stone” was…
The original protagonist, Xiu, hadn’t appeared.
He had disappeared.
At the expected time, he didn’t show up in Novice Village or join the Shining Star.
At first, Will felt he still needed to confirm.
But…
After witnessing Liya’s pathological devotion to him, he realized…
Xiu’s “disappearance” might be the source of the greatest deviation!
No…
Perhaps it could be said that Xiu’s disappearance…
Was the greatest “fate” that had now been altered!
