"You sure took your sweet time."
Wilma looked up from her meditation with a wave of relief, replacing her subtly worried expression.
"I guess."
Ackster shrugged and went over to his pile of clothes and Mio, whom he gave a gentle pat.
Ackster might have taken a long time and made Wilma worry and wait. But at the same time, the longer Ackster had been down there, the larger the size of his inventory would be as soon as the energy settled within his body.
"So, how'd it go?"
Wilma got up after averting her eyes from Ackster's impressive nude form.
She had wanted to get a new set of fresh clothes for him, but the encampment around the Habitat wasn't one with a lot of unnecessary supplies, such as clothes available to all. She could probably get something anyway. But that would mean leaving Ackster alone since he might finish diving while she was gone.
Of course, if Wilma had known Ackster was going to be inside the Habitat as long as he was, she would have found something more pleasant for him than the rags he had now.
Ackster glanced at Wilma before dragging the shirt over his head.
"Let's get out of here first."
After eating the flower, which had been a surprisingly taste but uneventful meal, Ackster noticed several things. But, most importantly, he had felt an increased sensitivity to the Habitat's spatial energy. So, he could sense it beginning to leak away.
He didn't want to be around the Habitat when it completely faded or disappeared.
Ackster also didn't want to tell Wilma when there could be others around or outside the tent. He doubted Wilma would let anyone eavesdrop, but it didn't hurt to be cautious.
Wilma couldn't say she was surprised by Ackster's request, so she obliged without questioning it. And just like that, they were in the hot air balloon again, on their way south.
Ackster couldn't see a reason not to tell Wilma what had happened in the Habitat when she would find out sooner or later that the Habitat died. Besides, the trust and goodwill Wilma had shown him, even if it was for his potential, wasn't something Ackster could ignore.
It would also be better for their continued cooperative relationship if he were truthful in moments like this. So, he told Wilma shortly after they left the encampment.
"Woah… That's something not even I knew about."
Wilma stared at Ackster, her mouth agape in shock. The Habitats were mysterious but useful. But they were guaranteed to be safe despite the mystery surrounding them. Wilma hadn't expected Ackter to come back and reveal such a secret when not even stronger higher-ups of the Guild had tried and failed, sometimes at the cost of the Habitat itself.
"Really? I was half expecting it to be information that the Guild knew but had hidden."
Wilma shook her head.
"No…I mean, it's possible some at the highest echelons know more about the Habitats. I won't deny that. But it's not common enough for me to have even heard about the mysteries of the Habitats being unveiled."
"I see."
Ackster wasn't sure he believed Wilma's words. But she didn't have a reason to lie.
"So, how big is it?"
"The energy has yet to settle. But what's the biggest you have on record, and how deep did that person go?"
"The person with the current record's identity is classified, but I can tell you that their inventory is about the size of two, maybe three, Guild branch buildings."
"Don't they vary in size?"
"Think the one in Ilto."
Ackster nodded. Including all floors, rooms, and sections, the branch office in Ilto had been large. And someone was walking around with a size akin to double or triple that. Yet, they still hadn't reached the bottom.
Ackster was really beginning to look forward to how large his inventory was going to be as soon as the spatial energy in his body settled and connected to the Nomi. Hopefully, it won't take too long.
Based on her expression, Wilma was also looking forward to it. It seemed like Ackster's guess that his value had skyrocketed and surpassed the Habitat. Eating the flower and most likely dooming the Habitat hadn't put him in a rough spot with the Guild.
"By the way…"
Ackster spoke. He had had some time to think during his swim back to the surface, and it had let him realize something.
"Yeah?"
Wilma nodded, curious about what Ackster wanted to know.
"How have you been keeping track of me?"
It had bothered Ackster after the Ant Queen of Wisdom stint, but it wasn't until recently that he could put the pieces together. And the picture created by those pieces told Ackster one thing.
It didn't make sense for them to have stuck a tail on him from the beginning of his transmigration. It also didn't make sense for them to observe the original Ackster Phileam's movements.
Ackster also couldn't figure out how they had stuck a person to follow him into the ant nest. How could that person have gone unnoticed for that long? Ackster didn't buy it. There had to be a better use of someone capable of that than simply having them follow him around like a fly.
Why had Wilma come to get him when that supposed tail could have guided him out earlier since he was getting help anyway? Wilma also seemed to have known somewhat what had happened underground but not the details. She had a rough idea and understanding, not the detailed knowledge that would come from a report.
Ackster had deduced that the Guild was keeping tabs on him through some other method that wasn't physical surveillance. But he hadn't heard of anything like that in the original story, so he was curious about just what kind of method it was.
It or the guild probably wouldn't or couldn't interfere with his end goal. But he would have to do some things before that which might go against the Guild's wishes.
Wilma's previously easy-going and leisurely face froze like dipped in ice water.
"That's classified."
'Not surprising.'
The way Wilma said it also made sure that no matter how much Ackster pried, he wouldn't get an answer. So, he just remained silent.
'Guess I have another thing to do now.'