Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

Chapter 102: Chapter 102

’Huh? So that’s the story? Seems like that place is pretty alluring, then.’

Lloyd thought for a moment before replying calmly,

"I do know of that place."

The manager’s face immediately lit up with avarice. He quickly said,

"Oh? In that case, let’s talk on the third floor."

The third floor of the club was only accessible to members. Lloyd had approached the staircase a few times before, only to be politely turned away. This was his first time going up.

It turned out to be nothing special—just a series of conference rooms and reception areas. They were lavishly decorated, looking something like a high-end real estate office where contracts were signed.

The manager led Lloyd into one of the rooms and wound a clockwork device on the wall a few times.

Lloyd immediately felt an invisible power permeate the room. An Orbit must have been activated.

"This is for soundproofing, to ensure no one else can hear our conversation. You just need to become a member to enjoy this kind of confidential service..."

’This guy is relentless. He’ll use any opportunity to trick me into buying a membership...’

He then poured Lloyd a cup of tea. The two sat down on the sofa, and the manager took out a stack of black envelopes to introduce the "high-level commissions" within.

In short, someone was collecting intelligence on that place. They wanted any information at all and would pay based on its value.

Some were focused on gathering intelligence on various players and prize lists.

Still others were "recruiting teammates," looking for people to enter with them to ensure their safety and help them secure a victory.

The requests were varied, but they all had one thing in common: the pay was substantial, starting at tens of thousands of Universal Coins.

The highest bid was for investigating a player’s real name, residence, and power system, offering a reward of hundreds of thousands, or even over a million.

’Doxxing for an exorbitant price. Sounds like a personal grudge.’

This showed that the place—the "Dream Casino," or "Dream Theater"—was indeed a huge draw for the wealthy. At the same time, its security measures were as strict as the Attendant had claimed.

Players might be able to recognize each other by voice or behavior, but it was difficult to learn anyone’s real information. It was a bit like the internet back on Earth—you could never tell what kind of creature your teammate feeding the enemy top laner into an unstoppable carry really was.

But if Lloyd got greedy and accepted these commissions, he might end up exposing his own information instead.

’This kind of money is too hot to handle. I have to be careful.’

After weighing his options, Lloyd picked up one of the envelopes.

The commission on it was to "describe the process of a victory." Payment would be based on the level of detail, and while hiding certain personal information was permitted, fabrication and deception were not.

The manager began to explain,

"If you’re interested in this commission, please write down the requested information in a letter as soon as possible, seal it with wax, and place it in the designated mailbox. And of course, don’t forget to leave your contact information..."

"But I think it would be better for you to become a member. That way, you’d have your own exclusive, private mailbox, making it much more convenient to handle commissions like this."

"I’ll think about it."

Lloyd said, memorizing the information on the commission.

He wasn’t going to rush into earning this kind of dangerous money, but it couldn’t hurt to keep it in mind as a potential channel.

But the manager was still trying to persuade him.

"Why are you still hesitating? Once you become a member, you can also post special commissions like these and enjoy our..."

"That’s not what I need to think about. Your talents are truly wasted on being a manager here."

Lloyd said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He stood up and left, giving the man no chance for another sales pitch, and headed for the basement room he was renting.

Only then did he take the oil-paper package out of his pocket and inspect the two materials he had won.

The "Brain-like Crystal Chunk" was transparent and hard, its surface covered in folds like the sulci of a brain. But it wasn’t large, nor was it the proper shape of a brain. He had no idea why it had been given such a bizarre name.

However, the Spiritual Energy it emanated was truly strange. If he held it in his hand for too long, its initially hard texture would feel progressively softer and stickier, as if he were really clutching a piece of brain.

Lloyd didn’t dare to toy with it; the feeling was disgusting. He picked up a beaker, tossed the strange crystal lump inside, and re-wrapped it in the oil paper.

As for the "Frenzy-Inducing Aged Wine," it was in a tiny bottle, no bigger than one for eye drops. Inside was a viscous, grayish-white liquid. Its texture looked a bit like...

Brain matter?

Lloyd didn’t open the bottle to smell it. He simply wrapped it back up in the oil paper.

Then, carrying the two materials, he walked into the small break room, opened a safe inside, and placed the items within.

He couldn’t use the two materials for now, couldn’t carry them on his person, and certainly couldn’t leave them at home or in his office. This was the only place to store them temporarily.

He had even paid extra to rent this safe. It was supposedly the highest-grade model on the market. It certainly looked sturdy, and it would likely be difficult to open by physical means.

But with Extraordinary means... that was another story.

’I should find a piece of equipment like a Spatial Storage Bag. Otherwise, I’ll have trouble storing things in the future. As an ambitious young transmigrator, how can I not have this standard-issue graduation gear?’

Lloyd mused to himself as he locked the safe securely.

He then leaned back in a lounge chair, mulling over the day’s experiences.

At first, he hadn’t quite understood the Chief Judge’s intentions in giving him that business card.

The Transcendence materials he needed were available on the market, and he could afford them with his income. There was no need to take such a huge detour.

But after experiencing it for himself and seeing the commissions at the club, he began to have an inkling of the Chief Judge’s thinking.

’The Chief Judge must want more for me than just obtaining Transcendence materials. Otherwise, couldn’t he have just given me a cash bonus?’

’He clearly wants me to get out there, see the world, accumulate some PvP experience, and expand my network.’

’Compared to materials, these things are probably what an Extraordinary Being needs more.’

’He really... I’m so touched I could cry...’

’If I weren’t an independent young man with integrity and principles, I’d probably be on one knee, pledging my undying loyalty...’

Lloyd mentally filed away the Chief Judge’s kindness toward him, then let his imagination run wild, speculating on the origins and background of the "Dream Theater."

According to the Attendant, it was an independent space created from some Ancient Relic, a kind of paradise. That explanation was far too vague.

’How does it operate? How does it pull people in instantly? What’s the source of those materials? And who are its administrators and owners?’

’And that Attendant, who was impossible to [Inspect]—what kind of creature was he?’

’It’s a complete mystery.’

’The biggest question was, if they had such a powerful Ancient Relic, one capable of creating its own separate space, why use it as an amusement park? Wouldn’t it be better to do almost anything else with it?’

Lloyd knew a little about this world’s past. Humanity’s ancestors had apparently been quite prosperous, once creating a highly advanced civilization.

That was until the appearance of Demons and the spread of Spiritual Contamination drove their entire civilization to the brink of extinction. What followed was a moving and tragic epic of resistance against Destiny, leading to the present day, where humanity has finally regained its footing and is attempting to rebuild its former glory.

However, the libraries only contained simple references to that past history, basically glossing over it in a single sentence.

Even a field like archaeology was strictly controlled, as if to prevent people from excavating and exploring that past history, letting it be buried by time...

Thus, Lloyd didn’t know much, only that Extraordinary Power also existed in that era, known by historically rich names like "Magic" and "Fighting Qi."

Some researchers believed that the Extraordinary System humans use now is actually a continuation of these ancient powers. However, more scholars rejected this theory, believing the current Extraordinary System to be a new path forged by humanity in a moment of desperation.

As a mere Transmigrator, Lloyd wasn’t about to take sides in that debate.

He pulled his thoughts back to the "Dream Theater," hesitating over whether he should go back and play again in the future.

The rewards were indeed rich, but the risks were also high. It was called a game, yet people lost their lives.

Moreover, judging from that high-priced doxxing commission at the club, it was easy to make enemies for no apparent reason.

But for the [Twist]-type materials he needed, there was currently no better, safer, or more discreet source...

’There are risks and there are rewards. The trade-off is a difficult one, and not something I can decide in a moment.’

Lloyd shook his head hard, casting the meaningless, chaotic thoughts from his mind and solidifying his resolve.

’In the end, it all comes down to strength. A High Position big shot like the Chief Judge wouldn’t have so many concerns. He can even recommend others to join.’

’I just have to keep working hard and keep getting stronger.’

He then took out his pocket watch to check the time. It was getting late; his sister should be home soon.

And... his original plan for tonight was to "go live," which is to say, convene a meeting of the Human Future Conference.

’I hope those guys are all right.’

With that, Lloyd left the club and stopped by a street-side restaurant to get a few dishes to-go before heading home.

’My hand is injured today, so I’d better not cook.’

Not long after, a travel-worn Evelor returned home, her face beaming with obvious excitement. The moment she saw Lloyd, she thrust a magazine into his hands.

"Yi, this is the first issue, which comes out tomorrow. And this copy is the very first one off the press!"

This left Lloyd feeling rather overwhelmed by the gesture.

"Wow? You’re giving the very first, most commemorative copy to me?"

"Of course! That’s because Yi will always be number one in your big sister’s heart."

Evelor said, her eyes crinkling as she smiled sweetly.

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