n

n

nCharles wanted to know more about his job here but after he was led by the little girl in the living room, no one came to meet him.

nThe little girl disappeared for a couple of minutes before returning with a snack.

n

"You've just arrived, you need to rest first Sir Mage Doctor.

"

n

"Oh, thank you, little lady. I heard that Wallace wasn't present but someone would still relay the job on me.

"

n

"That's correct. That someone wanted to meet you inside the virtual world. After you rested, I'll lead you there.

"

n

"Is that so?

"

nCharles looked at the high-quality tea that was served and he took a sip on it.

nIt was good but not on par with his tea at home but he did not comment.

n

"Alright... I'm good.

"

nThe little girl or Hani then led him to the room where a VR pod was already prepared. From the moment he arrives here, he had not seen any automatons at all.

nIt seems that Avalon decided to hide them for some reason.

n

"Ho~ I heard about this... It is currently popular with young kids. Am I right?

"

n

"Yes... It is called a Virtual Reality Pod. Inside was a Virtual World that... Well, you'll see it for yourself. Uhmm... This VR pod was specially made. You can just enter the pod and lay comfortably and say the words Start Link.

"

nHani said like she was reading something.

n

"Alright...

"

n'We'll meet in the virtual world? Is it to ensure that no information will be leaked?'

nCharles thought as he tried guessing the person's intention. He still followed the little girl as he lay down comfortably at the VR Pod.

nAnyway, the pod doesn't possess any dangerous components as he could see. He quickly complied and entered the Virtual World after muttering the words.

nHe was brought to a white room where a figure was waiting for him. There were an empty chair and a table between them.

n

"Nice to meet you, Sir Charles. I'm Avalon.

"

n

"I see... You are Wallace's representative?

" Charles wanted to confirm the person's identity first.

n

"Yes... Would you like to hear the details of your job now?

"

n

"Uhmm... Before that, are you a human?

"

nThe old man couldn't help but ask since the one speaking with him was only a black figure of a man. It doesn't have any face and was just a silhouette of an adult male

n

"I'm an Artificial Intelligence.

"

n

"...

"

n

"I was tasked by Sir Wallace to relay the information about your job. Do you have an idea of what that is?

"

n

"No...

"

n

"Very well. It was about the Secret Art called Flowing Spirit.

"

n

"That's an interesting Art... Unfortunately, no one has obtained the complete technique... It must have been destroyed through the passage of time... If I'm not mistaken, only half of it was found and it's now gathering dust in a collector's shelf...

"

nCharles said not hiding what he knows about the Art.

n

"It is good that you have heard of it. We have obtained more than half of the Secret Arts and we needed your help to figure it out. Look at these two parts...

"

nAvalon manifested a book containing a part of the Secret Art. Avalon gave some time for Charles to read its content.

n

"Hmmm... It is somehow the same as what I've seen before. Honestly, I've seen about 30% of this incomplete Art... But this is too difficult...

"

n

"What did you find difficult?

"

n

"Well, the aim of the Flowing Spirit is to create another vessel for one's self. The one who can perform this was indeed a Mage Doctor that possesses knowledge in both Soul Arts and Spirit Arts. Because I studied the Mysticism Path of Mage Doctors, I have some knowledge about the Soul Arts but...

"

nCharles paused for a bit before continuing with a grave tone.

n

"The person that will be subjected to this Art must endure the tearing of their soul and spirit for that to be placed successfully in another vessel... If I'm not mistaken, the missing part of this Art was a secret method to ensure the safety of the subject.

"

n

"You are not completely wrong... The missing part included a method to lessen the burden of the subject when his soul was being torn apart and being placed in another vessel. But the most important part was the compatibility with the vessel...

n

"I won't show the missing part yet... I will give you a test.

"

n

"Will that be done here?

"

n

"No, I'm already preparing something outside... Your test would only let us know about your attainment in both Soul Arts and Spirit Arts. If we deemed that you have the skills, we'll go ahead and let you learn the complete Flowing Spirit.

"

n

"I will be tested first? Hahaha! I haven't heard that for a long time... Very well, I'll take that test!

"

n

"Alright. Before that, we'll have to sign a contract. It includes the non-disclosure agreement and payment about this job. If you fail the job, you will not pay anything but we would like you to keep a secret about our possession of the Secret Art.

"

n

"Mhmm... That's fine for me.

"

n***

nOn the third day of Wallace's seclusion, Charles was in a secret room somewhere in the villa while Yumi was just playing the VR game to pass the time.

nAlthough she hated that she can't use her Body's Secret Art inside, there was nothing else to do so she can only try enjoying herself inside the game.

nBut suddenly while she was playing the game, an earthquake occurred outside and the system of the VR Pod warned him about it inside the game.

n An earthquake with magnitude 4.1 has been detected in the real world and your location was found as the epicenter. Confirm your body's safety outside. Your progress will be saved and you'll be forcefully logged out in 5... 4... 3... 2...

n

"Eh?

"

nYumi came returned to the real world but the earthquake seems to have ended... She checked the surroundings and everything was in place and no cracks on the ground whatsoever.

n'As expected of his house...'

nYumi commented since this is a Magician's house, light earthquakes like that won't affect the entirety of its magic formation protecting it from external attacks.

nAs she was about to ignore it and re-enter the game, another earthquake happened. It felt stronger than magnitude 4.1. Unfortunately, no automaton of Avalon can be seen so she can't ask.

n

"An aftershock?

"

nIt didn't take long as well and the shaking stopped. She waited for some time and it no longer happened...

n

"Well, that's it?

"

nYumi then returned to the game forgetting about this incident.

n***

nThere was a forum online stating that playing the currently popular game called Alien Invasion would reward people a rare item that will be given in the real world.

nNo one believed in this at first but several proofs were shown online.

nA screenshot of the in-game announcement and the item itself was posted on the internet and various platform.

nSome people weren't sure whether it was a marketing strategy of the company desperate to have people purchase their VR pod or it was just a promotion in limited time.

n

"Hey? Do you think this is real?

"

n

"Yes! Of course, some of the researchers had even confirmed that the theory for those lasers and other advanced tech weapons were entirely possible!

"

n

"That's right! Didn't you realize that many unknown weapons and super engines can be used in real life!

"

n

"I support that! The engine used in Stratos Falcon Fighter Jet can even surpass the speed of sound by three times! There was nothing like that before! Engineers and other magicians didn't even think that surpassing the speed of sound was possible! No one had that line of thought but this game defied that! Blueprints and other pieces of knowledge like these kept appearing to the lucky people...

"

n

"Hmph! I got a blueprint of F-22 Mustang and P-51 Raptor! Although they weren't strong fighter jets compared to what the Dorssian Empire uses, it was a good foundation to learn more about their technology. I wouldn't share that too!

"

n

"Yeah! There were people like this receiving amazing blueprints of various weapons but they wouldn't dare to reveal it. Some only show incomplete data and avoiding its most important part, the engine that was used... I thought it wasn't real at first but ever since I got one on my own, I realized that I wouldn't want to show it to others too. I work hard for it you know!

"

nDiscussions like these were happening everywhere and even caught the attention of various groups.

nAfter all, the Bottle of Mana Rejuvenation was extremely rare. They were not aware whether this is a one time reward or it will happen again. There may even be better rewards since the game was just launched not long ago.

nIn short, the powerful groups couldn't let the opportunity pass! A lot of unknown blueprints of mystical weapons, engines, aircraft, and even a rare item in the real world were within their reach! They must buy the game pod immediately and have their people play the game and get all those for themselves!

n