Secrets Flow (2)

The sudden order to head to America caught me off guard. “What about this house, then? I bought it specifically to keep the game’s secrets safe, and it wasn’t exactly cheap. Isn’t the company going to do something about it?”

“Ah, I’ll bring that up with headquarters right away. Since this is an abrupt relocation to the United States, the main office has agreed to provide as much convenience as possible.”

The phrase “as much convenience as possible” made me realize something. It wasn’t Changing’s headquarters holding the knife—it was me. ‘If someone refuses to go to America, they’ll offer maximum support ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to lure them over. This is definitely worth betting on.’

“Then I’ll put my house on the market too. But if it doesn’t sell before we leave for America, the company should buy it instead. Otherwise I won’t be able to go until it sells. I have to sell it first, no exceptions.”

“Hmm. I’ll discuss it with the higher-ups.”

“Also, you’re booking business class for the flight to America, right? And is the company providing housing there as well?”

“They’ve prepared a condo that only the testers will live in. I’ll make sure your flight seat is at least business class.”

“Got it. Then I’ll head straight to the real estate office.”

After parting ways with Secretary Kim, I started wondering how many of the twelve testers actually knew that other world was real. Probably a few had figured it out, which was why headquarters was calling everyone to America.

‘If they’re all living together in one condo, that could easily turn into a form of house arrest.’

With no connections in America and the possibility of being under constant surveillance by Changing’s main office, I decided I needed to prepare for the worst. First, I listed the house. Then I bought as many soju and beer bottles as I could find—things that would be hard to get in America—and turned them into Molotov cocktails. I also purchased ropes, grappling hooks, and other tools I might need to escape the condo later, stashing everything in my inventory.

Honestly, the best preparation would have been buying firearms once I arrived in the States. But the thought that I could end up getting shot myself made it a heavy burden.

I told my parents and close acquaintances that I was moving to America.

“Arho from Turkey refused to come to America?”

Elon Busker checked off Arho’s name on the list pinned to the wall. At the very top of the list of twelve names was Elon Busker himself, followed by the rest.

“Yes, sir. Arho has refused the relocation. He showed strong discomfort at the idea of living in a tester-only condo.”

“Interesting. Sharp instincts. Are the others generally positive about moving?”

“Bortas from Greece and Lucas from Brazil requested that their families be allowed to move as well, so they’ll be coming with their relatives.”

“Good. What about Park Jinwoo and Aoyama?”

“Park Jinwoo bought a separate house because of his tester equipment. He set the condition that he can only come after selling it, so the Korean branch will purchase the property. Once that’s handled, he’ll depart immediately. However, Aoyama…”

“What’s the problem? Ah, is it the hikikomori thing?”

Elon Busker remembered the moment he had recruited Aoyama Teiru as a tester.

“Yes, that’s correct. He’s terrified of leaving the house, so we’re exploring every possible solution. He says he’s afraid of people’s gazes. In the worst case, we’re considering chartering a private jet with no other passengers.”

“If he comes even under those conditions, that’s fortunate.”

“Also, since all the testers will be logging in from the same location, he’s requesting a capsule be installed inside his personal residence because he’s afraid of other people’s eyes.”

“They really have all kinds of demands. There was nothing like this in the play reports. Quite a gap.”

“It seems he views his game character as his only escape. If he learns that world is real, Aoyama could develop serious mental issues.”

At the mention of mental problems, Elon Busker glanced at Lieutenant Colonel Schultz, the military doctor sitting to one side.

“In severe cases of social anxiety, long-term psychological counseling is necessary. For now, I recommend installing the capsule in his home as he wishes.”

“If we do that for Aoyama, the others will probably ask for the same. Hmm. Let’s start with everyone logging in from a central location. If it becomes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inconvenient, we can allow home installations.”

“Understood. I’ll make sure everyone arrives at headquarters as quickly as possible.”

“Then we need to discuss what to do about Arho in Turkey, who has refused to relocate. Is there really no room for persuasion? What if we change the terms and offer him separate housing?”

Major General Michael, who felt the schedule was tight, stepped forward.

“The thing is, it seems Arho already knows something. That’s why he’s wary of coming under Changing’s control.”

“He already knows something, huh. His class is Swordsman, so he’s useful… but we have a Dual Swordsman, so he’s replaceable. Hmm. Then let’s do this.”

Major General Michael first looked at Patrick, who had earned the right to attend the meeting, before speaking.

“If Arho continues refusing to relocate until everyone else has moved, we’ll use him as the target for our first group action in the game.”

“Use Arho as the target…”

“We’ll give the testers who log in at headquarters a quest to eliminate him without informing them of his identity.”

“Excuse me? But… wouldn’t that be the same as murder?”

Patrick’s face twisted as he objected.

“Correct. It is murder. For the sake of the New World, some small sacrifices are inevitable. Don’t you agree?”

Major General Michael spoke openly while scanning the room. When no one pushed back, he continued.

“Once they all move together to eliminate Arho, that’s when we’ll reveal that the other world is real. They’ll all be shocked, but since they’ll already be accomplices, they’ll accept it more easily.”

It was an open proposal for murder, yet no one knew how to respond and remained silent.

“Lieutenant Polman. During special forces operations, what were you ordered to do if a comrade becomes an obstacle?”

“…There are many situations, but we were taught to make the sacrifice.”

“Good. Then what if that comrade interferes with the mission to pioneer the New World? If you need to move into the operational area but a team member refuses, what would you do? Let me give you a more specific scenario…”

Major General Michael pulled out a document and showed it. It was a report about information theft from inside the Pentagon.

“We haven’t identified the culprit yet, but documents related to the New World have been leaked to a hostile nation.”

Though America had more than a few hostile states, everyone immediately thought of Russia and China.

“If we leave Arho in Turkey alone and he cooperates with a hostile nation while knowing something, it could become a serious problem. In this situation, Lieutenant Polman, how would you handle it?”

“…We must prevent the information from reaching hostile nations.”

“Excellent answer. The same goes for the other users. After we eliminate Arho, we’ll explain the circumstances that made it unavoidable. Patrick, what do you think of this method? Do you agree?”

Patrick could see the logic, but he wanted to refuse the order to participate. However, if he refused, he might become the second Arho.

“I… I agree.”

While his mouth spoke the words, Patrick squeezed his eyes shut.

“The first time is always the hardest. At first, the testers will feel guilty about killing Arho. But since they’ve probably already been killing casually in that world, they’ll accept it easily.”

Major General Michael had called Lieutenant Polman aside for a private conversation.

“After that, they’ll develop the psychology of joint criminals. They’ll rely on their fellow accomplices.”

Polman already knew this. One of the methods used to create tight teamwork in special forces units was turning them into joint criminals.

“We suspect Russia is behind the document leak. While the testers are in this building, you and your team must monitor the development staff to prevent any further leaks.”

“Understood. But won’t you and Elon Busker be moving with us?”

“We have separate tasks. Also, the fact that Elon Busker and I are users must remain secret from everyone except those attending this meeting. For the time being, Lieutenant Polman, you will lead the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠user party in the effort to unseal God Busker.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll focus on coordinating the party among the users. First, I’ll have everyone gather at the capital of the Splain Empire, Hayden.”

Just as the house issue in Korea was resolved in four days, the cleanup after the battle with the orcs was also wrapped up in four days.

“So what are you going to do now?”

At Baron Cortner’s question, I told him the story I had prepared.

“Since I saved the human army with Fire Storm, I should receive appropriate compensation. To appeal for that, wouldn’t I need to go to Hayden?”

“Oh! Then you haven’t forgotten about the free pass, have you?”

“Of course not. They say that pass alone is worth it, so I’ll keep pushing until the end.”

“Hahaha, excellent. With that kind of tenacity, you’ll probably get something else too. I’ll be looking forward to it back at the territory.”

I parted ways with Baron Cortner, who was returning to Count Shulman’s lands, with a smile. I traveled together with the mercenaries.

The Gao Shan brothers had proven to be reliable guards, and the two beastmen had advantages humans lacked, but I didn’t renew their contracts. Changing had ordered all the users to gather in the capital, Hayden, to meet with the government official Patrick.

‘Patrick the government official is probably a user too. Since all the users are gathering at headquarters, they’re probably trying to gather everyone here as well to do something.’

Since I would be meeting the other users, I double-checked whether I had shown too much of what I knew. I needed to appear as someone who was simply immersed in the game and enjoying it.

“Well then, if fate brings us together again, let’s meet.”

“If you ever need us, just call and we’ll come running anytime.”

I finished the request completion procedures with the Gao Shan brothers and the beastmen at the mercenaries’ guild and parted ways.

“Oh, right. You left a request to hire the Chico Mercenary Group before the war, didn’t you?”

“That’s right. But hasn’t the war ended?”

The guild staff nodded in confirmation but handed me a piece of paper.

“However, most of the Chico Mercenary Group has already arrived in Hayden. They were coming from Marquis Helion’s lands in the distant Domon Kingdom, so they’ve only just arrived.”

“Whoa. So I have to pay the full hiring fee?”

“Since it was a named contract, yes, you do. Usually if they’re too far away, a guild employee would calculate the days and inform you. Didn’t they do that?”

“At the time, with the war against the orcs going on, the guild staff couldn’t pay attention to it.”

“Ah, that’s unfortunate.”

The guild employee expressed sympathy, but I actually thought it was for the best. Since these mercenaries had been operating far away, their faces weren’t well known. I could have Chico or Joy do some information gathering for me.

“Well, nothing I can do about it now. By the way, I’d like to buy information on Government Official Patrick. Do you have any?”

“If it’s about the government official, you probably already know everything. Even if you went to the Thieves Guild, I doubt there’d be any special information. He’s the one who suffered alongside Marquis Marcel on the orc front lines.”

“That’s true. It is.”

“Still, ever since last year when he suddenly rose to the center of power, quite a few people have been curious about him.”

The guild employee seemed to sense a decent business opportunity and offered to look up the information separately. For now, this was enough.

Once the Chico Mercenary Group arrived, I planned to use them to investigate how the users had been living by sending them to the Thieves Guild. I needed to understand the players’ tendencies to predict how they would move.