Live Terror at Christie

Amy Rose stood poised in her neat dress, her eyes wide with surprise as she gazed at the glittering Christie Auction House.

"We're here at the pride of Rain City, the Christie Auction House, where astronomical sums of money change hands every single day..."

Any other Saber might have faltered in such an improvised role, lacking the acting chops. But Amy's delivery was flawless.

"Whoa, her hosting is way smoother than yesterday."

Even the cameraman had to praise her skill.

The Gate's choice had been spot-on. And Amy wasn't just a great host—she excelled at everything.

"Now that we've got the intro, let's hurry and find that chaebol girl! The 7th floor is VIP-only, so no filming allowed."

"Oh, right!"

The cameraman snapped to attention at Amy's suggestion. Viewers swelled with pride at her seasoned poise.

"Ugh! 100? 100 viewers? Are you talking about ancient history? Anyway, quest time now!"

Amy's viewer count now topped 10,000 the moment she went live, but her start had been humble. Now she was a superstar, clips of her circulating everywhere, every move drawing rapt attention.

"The Gate sealed mana and gave a quest, so it must be far from combat, right?"

"Uh, Amy? Why are you talking to yourself—"

"Shh, broadcast rehearsal. Stay quiet."

Dismissing the baffled cameraman, Amy began explaining her deductions to the viewers.

"But why a broadcaster specifically~? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠As someone in the top 1% of points, I think the quest's intent matters more than the details!"

True to her profession, Amy captivated viewers effortlessly, even without major drama.

Amy touched her chin at the viewers' questions, pointing at the auction house with her other hand.

"Hmm... For example, if terrorists hit this auction house? You'd need someone to alert the outside world, right? Whether villains or Hunters, both sides would. So the quest hint is bait."

It was a plausible guess, but Amy's logic was airtight. Most viewers knew little about Gates or quests, yet her explanation was crystal clear.

Of course, some still didn't get it.

"Simply put, it's less about interviews and more about finding party members... Whoa!"

Mid-explanation, Amy tumbled onto her butt—shoved by a hulking man brushing past.

"Ow ow... Ugh, seriously! If I had mana, I'd deck him with one punch!"

Viewers laughed, but Amy glared daggers at the man. He ignored her completely, staring blankly at the entrance.

Crack—

The man clenched his fist with a menacing crunch. He was talking into an ear ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mic.

"That girl's definitely here, right? ...Got it. Prep? Kuhahaha! This body doesn't need prep for something like that! I'll show you right now!"

Mysterious words.

Amy and the viewers sensed trouble, but it was too late. The man's name was Bruno, a 5th-rank Hunter and Rebellion member.

"Sh-shit!"

Amy kicked off her shoes and bolted the opposite way.

"Wha— A-Amy!?"

The cameraman chased after her. Soon, a massive quake shook the building.

Kaboom!

Bruno slammed the ground.

Rocks erupted where his fist hit. The entrance sealed shut, plunging citizens into chaos at the sudden villain's appearance.

"Kyaaah!"

"You bastard! Outta nowhere! What the hell!"

"Capture him quick!"

Bruno eyed the Hunters pitifully.

"You could've kept your lives just by not charging."

Amy gaped at the scene. Bruno punched the ground—rocks burst up. They weren't uniform, huge, or sharp, but their destructive power was immense.

"Argh!"

"N-No way!"

Charging Hunters were impaled or crushed. To the demoralized survivors, Bruno growled low.

"Better not charge. Unless you're Association elites, you can't handle us."

The problem? It was all live on air. Not just outside the Gate—in Zone 1, Bruno's every move broadcast far and wide.

"Th-this psycho!"

The cameraman muttered in shock, while Amy sadly addressed viewers.

"Sniff... Voting starts now. 1: Flee underground. 2: Flee upstairs. 3: Beg for life... No need to donate, btw."

A model broadcaster to the end.

Amy turned peril into content. Since it was a virtual Gate, no real lives at stake, viewers jumped in eagerly.

Then Bruno's eyes met Amy's. Unlike her earlier confidence, she averted hers. Bruno was still on the call.

"The one with the camera, anyone? Oh. Got it. Right in front of me."

She couldn't hear, but his murderous glare said it all.

'He's targeting me!'

Saber's instinct.

Amy bolted barefoot with renewed fury. Sure enough, Bruno lumbered after her with heavy menace. Mana-sealed or not, Amy was rank one—her agile steps hit the stairs first.

"Huff! Cameraman!"

The cameraman dangled helplessly, grabbed by Bruno. If caught, Amy would be next. Desperate, she leaped stairs three at a time, screaming.

"Kyaaah! Party leader, save meee!!"

Meanwhile, G Channel's studio was as chaotic as the Gate.

The guide broadcast was soaring, but that was the issue—too many events at once left even veterans scrambling for main cam focus.

"Damn! Forums are exploding! For us, this chaos is the real problem!"

Brodo clutched his head.

At peak, too many juicy scenes to pick one. Viewers' tastes varied wildly too. Caston briefed.

"Quick summary: Main quest—terror at auction house. Zien's team protecting client, heading upstairs."

"Amy still running like hell?"

"Yep, hilarious. Her broadcasting makes the chase gold."

"Missed it briefly—Chris and the quiet girl?"

"Duct-crawling to auction items."

"Right, theft quest? Stealth action... solid material."

Brodo pondered.

"Hunter Association trio?"

"Zone 1 politics complicated response."

"Hmph..."

Monitoring Lucia, Brodo suddenly shouted.

"Main cam there. Essential plot beat. Dramas need backstories."

"Got it!"

The Hunter Association had 12 branches. Rain City's was Branch 7. All actions needed branch chief approval. But.

"Deployment denied."

A cold-eyed middle-aged man.

He was 6th-rank Hunter Ramsima, Branch 7 chief. Opposite him stood.

"Responding to villain terror is Association duty. Without clear reason, I can't obey denial."

Lucia Elquenes.

Her role: Association executive, directly under Ramsima.

Yet her rebuttal drew his ire. But Lucia couldn't yield—backing down meant quest failure.

"Reason...? Our forces can't stop them. Zone 1 Branch requested; support in two days."

But it was an excuse. Ramsima's true aim: check Sky Group.

'Grown bold, now skimping donations...'

Christie Auction House was Sky Group's. Chairman's only daughter Yume was inside.

'Time to remind them who's boss.'

But Lucia resisted fiercely. To seem fair, Ramsima played his last card.

"Can't sacrifice Association Hunters on my order. But won't stop volunteers."

Lucia stayed silent.

Her quest demanded it.

In this crisis, finding volunteers now was impossible. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yet Lucia smiled at Ramsima.

'...Volunteers. Of course.'

But Gate Guide allies changed everything.

Bang!

The door flew open. A blue-haired boy grinned brightly.

"Then! 4th-rank Hunter Kua Warnerbill."

Awkward vibe aside, Isabel flashed her license.

"...4th-rank Hunter Isabel Blitz."

"Deploying to Christie Auction House."

Ramsima looked stunned.

"...You just finished deployment quota. Why go that far?"

Lucia smirked.

"That's."

Isabel and Kua flanked her.

"Because of camaraderie."

A new quest appeared before Lucia.

"What a long detour to the finale."

30 minutes since main quest start.

All members assembled on stage.