Top Secret Matter (1)
AAU North America Branch. The building's lights never went out, even at night. Rifts were inevitable threats that couldn't be prevented. They always had to respond swiftly.
"Ughhh—!"
A yawn echoed through the control room. Exhaustion poured in, but this week had been lucky.
"Still, Wednesday's not bad. Right?"
"Dunno. I'm busy."
"What's got you typing away so furiously on a good day like this?"
Tomorrow was Thursday. The day new updates dropped. Even the most dedicated AAU employee wouldn't welcome a Thursday shift. Situation assessments, briefings to the higher-ups, and all that. Thursdays left no room to breathe.
"You're so diligent. Already writing reports?"
"Not planning to waste time like some people."
"You gotta take it easy. You're too enthusiastic."
So what was she writing? A quick peek at the laptop screen made it obvious.
"World Tree? You're digging into that bait?"
The Predatory Swamp. The World Tree said to have sprouted in that rift. It was one of AAU's hottest research subjects. Though their efforts had yielded zero info so far.
"Effort's good and all. But what difference does typing make? World Tree stuff is the kind of info only Raymon Sean really knows."
"I know that. Just organizing."
Tap tap tap— Even as she spoke, Katrina's fingers didn't stop.
"Who knows? Might be useful later."
Might be useful later? The man glanced at the content and commented.
"But it just looks like Lee Hoyeol praise from start to finish."
Every sentence mentioned Lee Hoyeol without fail. But there was no arguing that. He'd discovered the World Tree's seed. He'd sprouted it. All his doing.
"You planning to cash in later...? Like writing a Lee Hoyeol biography and selling it?"
"What? I'd upload a video to NetTube if anything. Who buys that stuff these days?"
"...So you are planning a video already."
She shook her head. Another Hoyeol cultist here. Katrina shot back at the tongue-clicking man.
"Plus, it's occupational habit."
Occupational habit? Then it clicked for the man.
"Ah! You were in the quest department at Cosmo, right?"
"Yep."
"Fair enough. Then I admit it. No more interrupting."
Quest department. Back when Arcana was a game. The team that built Arcana's quests, big and small. The man shut up and thought.
If Arcana were still a game, a player achieving this in the Arcana continent would be legendary. Lee Hoyeol's name would echo everywhere.
"A new hero's born. One event links to endless quests. And this ties into the World Tree. So 'useful later' means that?"
Every quest had a story. She was compiling Hoyeol's story, noting inspirations. Occupational habit kicking in...
"Spot on. Predicting the next quests, right?"
Tap tap tap— Katrina shrugged as she typed.
"Yeah, though the odds of nailing it are under 1%."
If it helped even a speck, worth a shot. Unlike players risking life in rifts every moment, AAU's options were limited.
Time keeps flowing even now.
The Arcana continent was another reality, another world. Not exactly like game days, but considering what Hoyeol pulled off, it had to shake the whole continent.
And Arcana time flows faster than reality. By now, his feat's spread everywhere.
What changes had Hoyeol wrought on Arcana? That's why she typed nonstop—to gauge possibilities.
"Whew. Craving sweets."
Of course, it wasn't easy; head-splitting. Arcana was probably a mess now. Nothing like what she knew. Factoring every variable to predict flows? Absurd.
But one thing she could swear on.
That 'race' tied to the World Tree will move somehow.
Elves. No clue when, but certain. Their appearance would flip the world.
"Huh?"
"?"
"Damn. What now? Seriously...!!"
But before that, the world flipped.
Beep beep beep— Alarms blared through the control room, the whole AAU branch. The man tore at his hair.
"Emergency update on Wednesday? That's crossing the line!!"
Fury boiled, but response was swift. Check update details. Then...
Then...
Then straight to next steps.
"Insane."
No one to blame; both froze.
"That's the rift from back then."
That rift. Yes.
The emergency update listed it like before: Cracked Dimensional Gap.
But the length was ominous.
New rift, ‘Cracked Dimensional Gap: ה’ added.
New rift, ‘Cracked Dimensional Gap: מ’ added.
New rift, ‘Cracked Dimensional Gap: ל’ added.
New rift, ‘Cracked Dimensional Gap: ש’ added.
……
Typing fingers halted. Chattering mouths shut. They grasped the severity.
No listed level, but obvious from experience. First Cracked Dimensional Gap let them predict.
[Appropriate Level: Lv.900]
Knowledge from experience, but shock lingered. Even if under 900, the number was insane. Plus, they knew levels could rise post-spawn.
The man muttered.
"...This isn't for us to handle."
Beyond branch. Beyond AAU. Global consensus-level catastrophe.
News spread fast. Extremes proposed nuking collapses.
"Just let the rifts collapse?"
"Got a better way? Missiles might be mercy. World demands sacrifices."
"Positions unknown—hold off."
"Location irrelevant. Even in my capital, decision stands. Inevitable, right?"
Normally unthinkable extremes now debated seriously. Everyone knew.
"Players can't handle this."
Arcana homepage update visible to all. Communities buzzed alike.
Players grasped it most. Tianxia Tongyi guild master Ryu Ojuncheon tuned out early.
"Not our fight."
Civilians? Irrelevant. No suicidal tendencies. Nukes or whatever? Not their problem.
"Vicious."
"Raymon Sean's doing?"
"Sudden update—not planned."
Yusra Kingdom. Frost. Players there saw it too. No matter thirst for levels/fame, entering was suicide.
But experience taught them. One player cleared absurd rifts like this.
"Hoyeol again?"
Yes. Lv.900~1,000. Cracked Dimensional Gap cleared by Lee Hoyeol. Knowing that, some mobilized.
Meeting spot: Mage Tower, naturally.
"...What are you doing here. Again."
"You too. Don't talk to me. Don't wanna be misunderstood."
"Such unpleasant words."
Leoni. Nam Taemin. Hisagi Kazuma. Glares all around.
Uncomfortable alliance from Predatory Swamp. Endless questions, interviews, press.
"If I weren't for Hoyeol, I'd... ugh?"
Nam Taemin still shuddered. With Hisagi, old snarls were better—could vent. Now? Stuck.
Hoyeol forged it. Couldn't deny his call outright.
Alliance? No comment. Silence meant yes. Result: this.
Leoni eyed the men askance.
"You get how serious?"
"That's why I'm here. Gotta help."
"Debts must be repaid."
Glance— Leoni checked behind. No guildmates, like her. They got it.
Pure suicide.
Reckless. No dragging guildmates into stubbornness. Should be fine.
But not just them.
"Found ya. Fellow idiots!"
Smirking voice. Shining exec/top ranker Camilla. Familiar faces trailed.
"...You nuts?"
Gaon, Inazuma, Berserker members. Not all, but dozens. Many followed masters.
"Knew you'd be here, Taemin."
"Sis, think you're the only stubborn one?"
"Snakes gonna snake. Took forever to track."
Camilla shivered.
"Bond death can't break? Touching."
No envy, though.
I'm no different.
She remembered Jessie's eyes that day. So with Cracked Dimensional Gap back...
"Perfect sync."
Jessie's choice? Obvious. Help? Minimal in absurdity. Still.
"Gotta admire the solo act~"
Princess for a reason. High-maintenance. No Jessie in sight.
"...She beat us? Even rushing."
Camilla hurried in. Saw Jessie frozen.
"Jessie?"
Camilla's senses caught even breaths. Jessie's was off.
"Jessie. What's wrong."
Camilla hugged from behind. Followers saw changed lobby.
"...Portal's gone?"
No trace. Always there, now vanished.
Implication: For gathered players...
"Dozens of rifts. No portal—how...?"
Camilla got why Jessie froze. Bit lip.
Why gone? Unknown. But authority? Obvious.
Senior mages? No. Chief level for that.
"...Gonna give him an earful."
All realized: Hoyeol halted portals.
"...Why?"
They knew he was afar, unlike them. Purpose? Sure. Thought rift too much for players, including them.
Still.
Too harsh.
"Damn. We useless?"
To them.
"Dozens of rifts. What can he do alone...!"
To him.
Always proud, steadfast. Never considered his feelings halting portals. Or going solo.
Why think now? Not his first burden.
Indescribable mood hit. Silence. Teeth grind.
"Even so, this is too much. Alone, handling everything...!"
*
Can't drag outsiders into internal affairs.
Especially group action.
Senior mages mobilized. No details? They'd sense trouble.
Avoid reprimands.
Handle quietly. Knew parachutes from society—own messes.
So. Swiftly. Discreetly. Best: Resolve internally.
11 rifts total. Locating? Easy.
Even blind at first.
Cracked Dimensional Gap. Knew incomplete traits from experience. Trace Karimjeva's mana signature.
No mana for me. But trusty Mage Tower mages.
Marcelo didn't hesitate. Detection, interference, manifestation. Eyes narrowed.
"Coordinates captured."