Mad Hatter's Guide to Clearing The Game
Chapter 72: Ch70. No way out

Chapter 72: Ch70. No way out

Miles hated being here.

Every second spent inside the Union Guild’s headquarters grated on his nerves, but this was the only place where he could find Shinji without wasting more time.

He stood beside Sarissa, his fingers twitching at his sides as they waited in the dimly lit hallway just outside the Training Room.

Sarissa was still, her arms crossed, her posture giving nothing away. But Miles could tell she was wary. She had been ever since they left the battle site. And now, standing here, waiting for the one person he did not trust, her silence felt even heavier.

’Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t trust him, either... It must be hard, holding on to power in the guilds’ power play...’ He glanced at her, trying his best to understand how she felt by observing her posture, the way her muscles were tense and her eyes were focused on a single spot.

But all he could feel was a strange mix of wariness and indifference.

After a few minutes more, finally, the door creaked open, and there he was.

Shinji stepped through with his usual composed elegance, his pristine black and violet coat hanging unblemished in his hand as he dried his short, black hair with a pristine white towel, the defined muscles in his torso showcasing his raw physical strength, his expression unreadable.

But there was something behind his dark eyes. A glint of amusement, as if he had been expecting them.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Shinji asked, his voice carrying an easy, almost casual charm. "Oh, you’re back, kid. Nice seeing you again."

Sarissa frowned ever so slightly, but Miles wasted no time.

"Diego is missing. We need your help to find him."

"Diego? Ah... Your little sidekick. I’ve seen him once or twice around you, pretty cute bond, the one you two share, but... What makes you think I can help?" Shinji’s brows lifted slightly, his expression betraying nothing but mild curiosity.

"Don’t play coy, Shinji. You control most of the intelligence network in this city. If anyone knows where he was last seen, it’s you." Sarissa stepped forward, her gaze sharp.

Shinji studied her for a moment. Was it just Miles, or did the glint of amusement in Shinji’s eyes gave way to slight annoyance?

"You flatter me, Sarissa. But you’re right. I do have ways of finding people." He let out a soft chuckle.

"Then tell us." Miles tensed.

"I’ll do you one better, since I don’t have much to do today." Shinji tilted his head, as if considering something for a moment. Then, with a smile on his face, he added. "Let’s go find him."

***

The outskirts of the city were quiet, too quiet. The further they ventured from the safety of the Union Guild’s territory, the more Sarissa’s instincts screamed at her. She didn’t trust Shinji for a second.

She walked slightly behind him, her senses on high alert, the weight of her sword, [Aria of the Lost], comforting at her side. Miles, though tense, was too focused on Diego to notice the subtleties, the slight shifts in Shinji’s expression, the way his movements were measured, deliberate.

"You’re awfully eager to help." Sarissa muttered, her voice low enough that only Shinji could hear.

"Should I not be?" Shinji didn’t slow his pace.

"You don’t do anything without a reason."

Shinji smirked, but didn’t respond.

Then, suddenly, the air changed.

Sarissa barely had time to react before movement exploded from the ruins around them. Shadows shifted, bodies emerging from the wreckage like a tidal wave. Beasts and Monsters. Dozens of them. Clawed beasts, skeletal creatures with hollow eyes, and twisted abominations with jagged limbs.

There were the already familiar Goblins and [Fallen Puppets] among them, too. They encircled them with unnatural precision.

But something was wrong.

Sarissa’s grip tightened on her sword as they charged at the trio.

However, the more Sarissa sliced and burned the monstrosities with her sword and her magic fire, the more something felt off, and it was only then, after almost being beheaded by a specially tall [Lizardman], that she noticed...

None of the enemies were targeting Shinji.

"You son of a bitch!" Sarissa snarled, releasing a torrent of [Mad Fire] at the reptilian Monster.

Shinji merely stepped back, his hands tucked into his pockets, watching with mild interest as the creatures lunged at them with deadly ferocity.

Sarissa reacted fast, though. Her sword flashed, cutting through the first wave with ruthless efficiency. Miles followed suit, summoning his weapon, at which Sarissa could not help but stare with wide eyes, as the massive weapon cleaved through bone and sinew in a fluid motion.

But there were just too many of them.

Sarissa’s mind raced, focusing on the most pressing matter at hand. This wasn’t a random attack. The monsters were coordinated, almost as if they had some kind of intelligence, or...

She turned her gaze sharply toward Shinji. He smiled.

"You really should’ve seen this coming, Guild master..."

***

Diego’s body ached, but the pain was nothing compared to the cold dread pooling in his stomach.

Shinji stood over him, his katana glinting under the dim, flickering light of the underground chamber. Diego’s hands were bound, his HP still dangerously low from the battle, but Shinji had healed him just enough to keep him alive.

Then the real torment had begun.

"What is Wonderland?" Shinji’s voice was calm, almost patient, as if they were having a casual conversation over tea instead of this one-sided interrogation.

Diego clenched his jaw, refusing to speak. He did not know much about Wonderland. Only what little Miles had told him and what he had seen, but it was not enough. But even if he did know more, he would never betray his best friend.

His big brother.

"Loyalty is admirable..." Shinji sighed, shaking his head. "Foolish, but admirable."

He pressed a hand against Diego’s chest. A sickening warmth spread through his body as pain flared in his ribs. It wasn’t a normal attack. It was controlled, calculated.

As though Shinji was picking apart his body, piece by piece, without leaving a single visible wound.

Diego gasped, biting down hard on his lip to keep from screaming.

"You’re pretty tough for a kid, but you know? Miles isn’t coming for you." Shinji’s voice was almost sympathetic. "No, not really."

Diego’s breath hitched, but he forced back the tears that watered his eyes both from pain and fear.

"He thinks he will. But he won’t." Shinji smirked. "And do you know why?"

Diego glared at him, refusing to answer.

"Because I’m making sure he doesn’t." Shinji stepped back, twirling his katana idly. He crouched down again, his gaze eerily amused. "I have my ways to take what I want, you know?"

"What... Do you mean?" Diego’s fingers twitched.

"Well, let’s just say that I have a few tricks up my sleeve." Shinji’s smiled.

Diego’s stomach dropped.

"And right now, I’ve just come across a very precious piece to put at play." Shinji continued, his voice almost a whisper now. "One that lies within you."

Suddenly, Diego felt something, as if something was very wrong within him, like fingers prying into something deeply personal. And then, a flicker of something foreign flaring somewhere inside him.

’My... My inventory...’ His eyes widened.

It was only then that he recalled his conversation with Miles, about the man in front of him.

The conversation in which he had told Miles he had heard that the leader of the Sakura Guild had a skill that allowed him to spy on other players, after he placed something special of his in their inventory.

And he had.

’The... Monster Manual...’ Diego’s heart pounded.

He had not even opened it to check the information inside, but he knew it was Shinji who had placed it in there, to toy screw with Sarissa. And now...

"I can take what I want," Shinji murmured, standing up and dusting off his coat. "Whenever I want."

Diego’s breath came fast and shallow. His mind raced. Was he able to not only spy on players, but take things from them?

Shinji turned toward the exit, pausing only once.

"I’ll let you rest for a little bit, now." He glanced back, smirking. "But when I come back... I promise you will beg to tell me what you know, before I kill you."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Diego alone in the cold, suffocating dark.