Chereads / Occult Clash: Infinite Quest / Chapter 7 - Chapter 7

Chapter 7 - Chapter 7

In Osaka, Japan

[ Sir, I'm sorry if I sound insistent, but I can't help but worry about you. You really don't have to go. ]

"Arrrgh yeah, you're becoming annoying with this," Akira replied flatly, devoid of any emotion.

Akira was already on the train early in the morning, heading toward the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, the day before his phone call with the person who had shared the story of his uncle, potentially possessed, on a supernatural research community website.

[ It's.... ]

"Forget it, I've decided to go, and I'm not going back on my decision. Tell me something instead, did your uncle take any object with him into the forest? Or something he cared about a lot?"

[ Hmm... I'm not sure....]

[ We'll be arriving at Saga-Arashiyama station soon.] The train's conductor was announcing their approach to Arashiyama.

Shashou: Conductor or train supervisor.

"It looks like we've already arrived... I'll have to let you go. Let me know if something comes to mind," Akira said, smiling knowingly.

[ It's... the least I can do to try to... try to help you. ]

Akira hung up.

The train stopped. He ran his hand through his hair, then a sinister smile spread across his face. For some reason, he was eager to start.

Akira got off the train. From there, the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest was about a 10-minute walk from the station.

11 minutes from the station.

Akira arrived at the forest. He carefully reviewed the information the woman had sent him by email. The bamboo forest was vast, so precise details were necessary to find his way through.

In his past lives, Akira, constantly labeled as useless and incompetent by his family, never stopped training in martial arts, to the point of sweating blood and water. From Karate to Bando, he mastered all Asian martial arts. From boxing to Bartitsu, he mastered all European martial arts. From Dambe to Laamb, he mastered all African martial arts. From Capoeira to Krav Maga, he mastered all American martial arts. From Systema to Ninjutsu.

There was no one in the world with more knowledge of martial arts than Akira. So naturally, sensing a presence or erasing his own was basic for someone of his caliber and experience.

After walking for about fifteen minutes in the forest, he stopped.

Hmm, she said this was the last place he was seen, and that was 5 months ago....

As he pondered, Akira looked at a nearly collapsed temple, its walls cracked and overtaken by vegetation. The doors were broken, and the inside was plunged into shadow, revealing scattered stones. The air was heavy, as if time had stopped in this forgotten place.

-Brwaaaaah

The same sinister smile appeared on Akira's face.

Just as I hoped. I'll be able to entertain myself after all this time!

In New York, United States.

The large computer room was filled with silence. Everyone wore an expression of shock mixed with anger.

Yes, it was the room of the IT specialists, victims of the AVG (Atomic Virus Goodman) by Daiki, or rather HACKMASTER.

This heavy silence was due to the fact that not only did no one in the room have access to any equipment anymore, but it seemed that the person behind all this could very well be just a teenager, around fifteen.

The giant screen in the center of the room no longer displayed statistics, but rather the impassive face of a bespectacled child.

[ Hm hm... Good evening, elder ]

At his voice, an employee, red with anger, wanted to speak, but was stopped by the voice of the bearded black man:

"No one speaks unless I give them permission."

The employee lowered his head and clicked his tongue in frustration.

"Good evening, my boy. As you can see, we're facing a few little problems, so we don't have time to chat."

[ Well, we're both busy people, so I won't beat around the bush.]

What is this kid? His posture, the way he speaks? How can he exude the charisma of an experienced veteran? I was planning to play on his psychology, but it looks like that won't be easy, will it?

Daiki, or rather HACKMASTER, removed his glasses and wiped them with a handkerchief from his pocket. Some employees discreetly took pictures of the boy with the intention of finding him and making him pay for the humiliation they had received.

[ I want to join the SAO! ]

SAO: Strange Affairs Office

What?

Everyone was shocked.

– What the hell is this kid saying? – After all this crap, does he know how much time and money we've lost?

– What kind of bastard is this? We need to find him at all costs and teach him a lesson about life.

– How does he know about the SAO already?

.

.

.

.

.

Immediately, the room, which had been silent until now, was filled with uncontrollable chatter. Swearing, insults, and indignation filled the air.

Meanwhile, a tall, burly man with a beard covered his wide grin with his hand.

It lasted for 15 seconds before the bearded man restored order.

"I have the feeling that you all want to die!" His grin was still visible, but a sinister violet aura emanated from his body, enveloping the entire room.

Everyone in the room froze, tense. Instantly, the room returned to silence. Then, the bearded man looked at the screen and said:

"Besides the fact that you know about the SAO, which is a global secret, don't you think this is a bit of an over-the-top way to present your resume?"

[ According to my information, in order to have a small chance of entering SAO, the first thing we must do is attract the attention of an agent of the organization, right? ]

"Your information is indeed reliable!"

[ So I just wanted to attract your attention. ]

Crazy!

The bearded man suddenly burst into laughter.

"Puhahaha, indeed, you got our attention, kid. However... how is it that you were able to detect our advanced system and perform all these feats with QH, which is still in the experimental phase with 'us'?"

[ A magician never reveals his secrets! ]

Everyone, except the bearded man, had wide eyes since earlier. This situation made no sense.

A misunderstanding formed in the bearded man's mind.

Just as expected from Doctor X, he's found us quite a talent this time. It would be a shame not to use it, wouldn't it?

The bearded man smiled proudly and said to the boy on the other side of the screen:

"In two days, I'll be waiting for you at Rhyolite, in the Southwest of Nevada."

[ Fine ]

HACKMASTER quickly ended the call, and immediately all the machines returned to their normal state.

– Is... is everything normal now?

– The virus disappeared just like that?

.

.

Murmurs were heard in the room, still in shock from what they had just seen and heard. Then, a man in a black suit, looking to be in his twenties, approached the bearded man and spoke quietly:

"Sir, is this really the right thing to do? We're already getting tons of complaints because of the temporary halt in our branch's operations. Others will start putting pressure on us if they find out. And if they also learn that the person behind these troubles hasn't been arrested, even more problems will arise."

"Do you think I don't understand that? I'll take full responsibility for this matter."

"But... why go this far?"

"You really disappoint me, Ethan!"

"Their technology is surpassing ours. If the world is still functioning, it's thanks to those two women."

"You mean...?"

"Exactly. I just hope that during the exam, he'll show a decent quest level, even though the probability is very low."