Linggis sat in front of his PC monitor, finishing off a bowl of ramen. Steam still rose from the bowl, filling the room with a savory aroma. On the screen, a female character with long black hair stood gracefully, wearing a short skirt, black stockings, and gleaming high heels. Around her, the bodies of other players' characters lay scattered, victims of her brutal skills. Linggis smirked as he pressed a few buttons, watching the character twirl her sword with deadly precision.
As he enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, a loud metallic creak suddenly echoed through the small room as the heavy steel door behind him was thrown open.
Hunter Sola and Hunter Elyssia stepped into the doorway. Sola, with his tall, commanding presence and serious expression, walked in without hesitation. Elyssia, more elegant and composed, followed behind him, her long silver hair reflecting the room's light.
Linggis raised an eyebrow as he turned toward them. "Real polite, aren't you? Just barging in without knocking," he said casually, but with a hint of sarcasm, setting his chopsticks down on the bowl.
Sola scoffed. "We don't have time for pleasantries. We need answers. Now." His arms were crossed, his stance firm.
Elyssia, the more diplomatic of the two, glanced at Linggis' monitor. She raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the scene on the screen. "So, this is how you spend your time? Slaughtering people in a game?" Her tone was light, but there was an undercurrent of amusement mixed with mild judgment.
Linggis shrugged. "At least here, I can relax. Unlike you two, who just show up out of nowhere and cause trouble." He spun his chair fully toward them, leaning back lazily. "So, what's the deal this time? If you're just here to ruin my meal, I might sue you for invasion of privacy."
Sola stepped closer, leaning slightly toward Linggis. "We received a report that predictive data indicates the location of an unactivated SSS-rank dungeon is still unknown to the public. Are you hiding something?"
Linggis chuckled and gestured to the empty chair beside him. "Sit down, have some tea, maybe a bowl of ramen. Then we can talk. If you go straight to business like this, it feels like an interrogation. I don't like that."
Elyssia, now leaning against the wall, let out a long sigh. "Linggis, this isn't a joke. The world depends on the data you have. If you know anything about the SSS-rank dungeon, tell us now."
Linggis was silent for a moment, his gaze turning serious. He picked up his ramen bowl, took a slow sip of the broth, then set it back on the table. "You know," he said slowly, "some things are better left unknown to too many people. The more people who know, the bigger the chaos that follows."
Elyssia and Sola exchanged glances, clearly unsatisfied with his answer. But before they could press further, Linggis' monitor suddenly beeped, displaying an emergency breaking news notification. A new report popped up, showing unusual activity at the location of a previously undetected SS-rank dungeon—one that Linggis had predicted.
Linggis smirked, back to face the screen. "Looks like the answer is about to reveal itself," he murmured, his eyes locking onto the data before him.