208 Virtual World (1/2)

Several days had passed and there was still no further update about Percival's disappearance.

Yumi had even taken the job of finding clues about what really happened during the man's fight against the wielder of the Heart's Grimoire.

The place they battled at was on the edge of the city where many abandoned buildings were still standing. The district was deserted when the fight between the two occurred having no witnesses at the scene.

The last time they had a contact with Percival was his report to Aaron about him dealing with a certain individual from the terrorist group. Then, after the Magic Barrier of the city was pierced by the Corrosive Blood Rain, Percival sent him a hidden communication that he was going to deal with the sealed mana artifact's wielder and advised them not to let anyone near their fight so they can avoid more casualties.

In the end, the buildings collapsed and the whole place can no longer be distinguished from its previous state.

It was hard to find a piece of evidence in this torn and broken place.

They didn't have concrete evidence that the wielder was truly Avery Marshall from the Isolde Academy. They were about to get stuck on the investigation until they discovered something.

More than a week after the terrorist attack, they found the Heart's Grimoire, the Sealed Mana Artifact, that was about to burst with Mana Calamity. It was hidden or covered deep under the shambles of a collapsed building.

It was a close call. If the Mana Calamity occurred here like what happened at the ”Illusion of the Venarian Town”, then this city was done for.

If Yumi was unable to absorb and release corruption it emits, then it would be a disaster.

”Search around this area! Be careful about what you touch! This is most likely to be the last place they fight...”

Yumi shouted to her subordinate while she was wondering why did this thing ended up here unattended.

”Why would the two leave it here? Are they both injured? Did they escape? Perhaps, there was a third party? Did they somehow capture the old man? No way... That would be too difficult unless they send someone at the level of a Supreme---”

”Yumi! Look here!”

Yumi quickly glanced at the man who called her. He was one of the specialists working at NMTI but she could only bring him here as he specialized in Spirit Arts. He has very impressive magic that could scrutinize every detail that they could miss. It can be said that he was the company doctor of NMTI working overtime here.

”Dr. Lao, what did you find?”

The doctor then showed a drop of blood on the stone. It emits a very distinctive fluctuation...

”Can you confirm it?”

”Wait a moment...” The doctor quickly brought out his equipment and tools using his spatial bag as he started analyzing the blood.

”You're always carrying that?”

”Oh? This? No, it just happened that I'm about to send this to my Artificer friend to get its monthly maintenance. Don't worry, there shouldn't be a problem for this small task.”

Soon, they discovered that the blood matches Percival's records. Yumi was satisfied at this though he still instructed her subordinate to search the area. The night had passed and they didn't find any more piece of evidence as they ended the search.

Anyway, Yumi already knows what to do.

***

”Uhmmm... Sorry, are you dissatisfied with the compensation?”

”What? No, do I look like someone who lacks money?”

”Then, why would you like to end the contract?” Wallace thought at first that she just wanted to get a better offer but it seems that the lady was truly adamant of getting out of the contract.

”Haaa~ It doesn't suit my image... I want to be a singer or an actress. I don't want to be recognized as a gamer girl!”

'What's wrong being a gamer girl?!' Wallace was about to exclaim but he stopped himself for voicing it out.

He first tried to put himself in her situation to at least sympathize with her.

Due to that, he discovered that it was indeed hard to swallow if you are being told to do something you didn't want to. Well...

”Did you play the game?”

”How could I?” Miya said in exasperation. She only modeled at the commercial and everything was done in 3D effects. Thanks to Avalon.