"Chi!"
The sound of the electronic door opening echoed in the hallway.
Kikuoka Seijirou, who was waiting in the hallway, turned his head at the sound and soon saw Rozen stepping out of the hospital room with an expressionless face.
Upon seeing this, Kikuoka muttered a few words in his heart and then stepped forward.
"Are you ready to go?"
Kikuoka confirmed with Rozen.
But Rozen didn't answer.
"I have one more thing I need you to help me with."
Rozen gazed at Kikuoka with a calm expression and said such a thing.
Kikuoka raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What is it?"
The national agent clearly had no intention of casually agreeing, asking this question with caution.
Rozen didn't mind.
"I want to see the large main server that is still operating for SAO."
Rozen made his request.
"You want to see the server?"
Kikuoka was momentarily taken aback.
"Exactly."
Rozen nodded without hesitation.
Since he planned to unravel the mystery of the three hundred players, including Asuna, who had yet to awaken, he had to take a look at the server that was still operational.
After the game was cleared, the server should have stopped operating, but it was still running now, indicating that it was serving some purpose, keeping the minds of the three hundred players, including Asuna, trapped somewhere unknown.
Rozen intended to start from the server to see if he could find any clues.
Although he wasn't particularly skilled in this area, he had previously understood some things. If he could enhance his brain domain using the
However...
"You should know that casually tampering with the server could lead to serious problems, right?"
Kikuoka fell silent for a moment before responding.
"In the past, we have repeatedly tried to make moves on the SAO server to find a way to free the players from the game. But first, the server, designed by Kayaba Akihiko, was set at such a high level that we couldn't easily penetrate it. Secondly, even if we could infiltrate, we wouldn't dare to act recklessly for fear of triggering some protective mechanism that might result in the deaths of ten thousand players. The situation is likely the same now, isn't it?"
Kikuoka wanted to say something, and Rozen naturally understood.
Considering the safety of the three hundred players, the server indeed seemed like a black hole that couldn't be touched carelessly.
Rozen had also thought about this.
"Who is currently maintaining the server?"
Rozen asked in return without answering directly.
Watching the composed Rozen asking questions, Kikuoka began to have his doubts again.
This boy, according to his file, was only sixteen years old, yet his maturity, composure, and cool-headedness were beyond his own. He was truly someone not to be underestimated.
Thus, Kikuoka no longer regarded Rozen as a mere young boy but began speaking to him as an equal.
"The SAO server used to be located on the fifth floor underground of the
— ARGUS.
This company, which was just one of many small game development companies a few years ago, had developed into the largest game development company in the industry after Kayaba Akihiko joined, known for prioritizing player rights. Naturally, as the developer and operator of SAO, it had to bear all responsibility when SAO turned into a death game.
The announcement of its bankruptcy was thus inevitable.
However, the server certainly needed maintenance; otherwise, if any issues arose, it would be a big problem.
"So…"
"Now the maintenance of the SAO server has been entrusted to a comprehensive electronics manufacturer called
Kikuoka spoke this way.
Then...
"If you really want to see the server, I could help you ask for their opinion." Kikuoka said with an apparent ulterior motive, "I think they shouldn't object."
"Oh?" Rozen looked at Kikuoka and asked, "Why do you say that?"
"Simply put." Kikuoka smiled, "Because the CEO of
Yuuki?
Could it be...
"He is the father of Yuuki Asuna."
Kikuoka revealed this truth.
...
Afterward, Rozen followed Kikuoka back home by car.
Along the way, as previously agreed, Rozen recounted the entire process of his last battle with Heathcliff, the dialogue that transpired during it, and provided Kikuoka with sufficient information that differed from the past.
Kikuoka seemed to intend to analyze this information to uncover the current whereabouts of the still-missing Kayaba Akihiko and capture him.
However, that was none of Rozen's business.
Rozen merely conveyed what he knew to Kikuoka as promised. As for how the latter would utilize this information, it was irrelevant to Rozen.
Of course, Kikuoka had also subtly tried to probe whether Rozen truly had no idea that he had been missing for two months and had just woken up, but Rozen naturally wouldn't let Kikuoka succeed. After a few back-and-forth exchanges, Kikuoka's plan fell flat, leading him to begin believing that Rozen truly knew nothing.
"Perhaps Kayaba Akihiko felt some dissatisfaction after losing to me, so he kidnapped me, let me continue sleeping, and conducted some unknown human experiments," Rozen casually stated, making Kikuoka chuckle wryly.
However, if Rozen really knew nothing, that possibility could not be entirely ruled out.
Thus, Kikuoka had requested that Rozen return with him for a thorough medical examination.
Rozen didn't oppose this.
After all, Kikuoka would certainly not find anything, and furthermore, Rozen could use this as leverage to get Kikuoka to do a few things for him.
This made Kikuoka truly begin to doubt whether Rozen was really only sixteen years old, considering how calculating he was.
However, Kikuoka still helped Rozen with his request.
"I've already contacted Mr. Yuuki, and in a few days, you should be able to meet him. Just prepare yourself to meet your future father-in-law."
Kikuoka spoke with malice, causing Rozen's lips to twitch, wishing he could slap him.
Thus, Rozen was sent back home by Kikuoka and returned to the Kirigaya family after a long absence.