The atmosphere became incredibly tense shortly after the Team Leader spoke. However, none of the people present in the room looked worried or hesitant.
They all wore the same serious expression while staring at the Team Leader.
"Is there really no one who wants to quit?"
Kyle's gaze turned towards me.
His brow rose.
As if noticing Kyle's stare, the Team Leader turned his attention towards me.
"Do you wish to quit?"
"...Ah, well."
I scratched the back of my head. Yes, I wanted to quit. This went without saying. However, thinking about the quest window, I didn't answer immediately.
What if...?
What if the quest was really not over?
If that was the case, and the quest didn't lie to me, then this mission... it was doable.
I just needed to understand whether that was the case or not.
"So...?"
"About that... Can I listen before deciding?"
"What?"
Kyle's face fell, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me. He looked like he wanted to strangle me, but I chose to ignore him.
'Sorry, I really was planning on quitting, but I've got a quest to complete...'
There was 15,000 SP on the line.
This was about 150,000$.
"You want to listen? Well, that's fine. Just let me know quickly if you want to quit, since I'd have to find a replacement."
"Understood."
With the Team Leader nodding and Kyle shooting me a glare, the meeting continued as the Team Leader turned his focus to the tablet on the table.
"We've already sent a scout to investigate the crack. One of the key things we've discovered is that only individuals of the Fourth Order and below can enter. It appears to lead to an alternate reality, not exactly a gate, but something different. We haven't encountered anything like it before."
The Team Leader's voice was grim as he spoke.
"We weren't able to find too much about the alternate reality since the connection with the scout died rather quickly. However, if there's one thing that we do know, is that he's still alive."
He's still alive...?
I was a little surprised to hear this.
Wait, if he was still alive and we were going to be sent down, then didn't this mean that...
"This is going to be a rescue mission. Your goal will be to find the scout and quickly come back out. At the same time, I'll need you to take recordings of the place and collect as much data as possible."
The Team Leader pressed onto the tablet, and a certain video began to play.
It was a replay of what had happened with the scout.
"While we were able to hear and see exactly what he was doing, we weren't able to communicate with him at all. However, as you can see, the place looks exactly like the room next door. The only difference is that it looks to be nighttime there."
The more I watched the video, the greater the chill in my body.
In particular, staring at the inmate as he stared in the direction of the door where a certain shadow appeared, I felt my skin crawl.
Even as he shone his light against it, its silhouette was completely hidden.
Just what in the world were we dealing with?
"It's unfortunate that this is all the information that we have on the anomaly. I'd wish to send more scouts to understand the situation, but the other Guilds are starting to come, and we're running out of time. This is the only time frame we can work with."
Pressing his hand onto the table, the Team Leader stood up.
"I'll send you all more information regarding the expedition. For now, get ready. I'll go out to sort a few things out. Oh, right..."
The Team Leader turned his attention towards me.
"Follow me for a moment."
"Hm?"
Suddenly called out like that, I was confused. However, I still decided to follow him as all eyes fell on me in that moment. In particular, Kyle's gaze felt piercing.
I ignored it and followed the Team Leader out of the room, where he stopped.
"Now that you've heard everything. Have you decided what you want to do?"
So it was about this...
Well, this was to be expected. We had discussed it before the meeting. Still, even though I heard everything I wanted to hear, I wasn't sure if I actually wanted to go.
That's when I remembered something and asked,
"Regarding the promised reward from before. Is it possible for me to claim it?"
"Reward?"
The Team Leader looked confused at first. However, his face quickly changed as he remembered our earlier conversation.
"Right, we do owe you one. What would you like?"
"I'd like money. How much can you offer me?"
I was nervous while asking this. I was in desperate need of money at the moment. I was extremely poor, and there were still a few days left before Dock paid me for my game.
The Second Order shop was open, and I could access it at any time.
However, a simple look at it was enough to make me shudder.
The prices...
They were astronomical.
Even the lowest-rated item in the shop was extremely expensive.
Whether I participated or not depended on how much money they were willing to offer me. If it was just the right amount, then I could think about it.
"Give me a second."
Taking out his phone, the Team Leader's thumbs danced across the screen before he turned his attention back to me.
"...I've reviewed everything. Given the nature of your discovery, the compensation the Guild is offering isn't especially generous. While you were the one who found it, it could still be seen as a matter of luck."
"Oh."
I couldn't say that I wasn't disappointed.
It may have looked like luck, but I highly believe it was because of the glasses. If not for them, then I don't think the crack would've ever appeared.
Still, they didn't know this, so it made sense if they thought of it this way.
"Taking everything into account, the Guild has decided to offer you around 130,000$. Is that okay with you? I know it's not much money, but—"
"I'll take it!"
I almost shouted those words as I stared at the Team Leader.
130,000$?
Are you kidding me?
This was considered low? Holy shit!
"You'll take it? That's good to hear. I tried asking for more, but this is the best we can offer for now. Since you're willing to take it, I won't say anything else."
Fiddling with his phone, I heard a notification appear on my phone.
Taking out my phone and looking at the new notification, I could hardly keep myself from smiling.
[You have just received 130,000$]
"About the expedi—"
"I'll go."
Putting the phone back into my pocket, I looked at the Team Leader.
"Regarding the expedition, I'll go."
***
A few hours later.
Standing right before the crack were six figures.
"Is this all of us?"
Kyle looked around, his eyes darting around the team. He was familiar with everyone present, and he felt quite happy not to see Seth present.
'Good thing he listened to my advice and left.'
Kyle nodded again, turning his attention towards Zoey, who was looking through her bag.
He approached her.
"Are you looking for something?"
"No, I'm just checking if I brought everything with me."
"Did you?"
"That's why I'm checking."
Zoey replied while shaking her head. As her hand dug deeper into her bag, she paused and looked at Kyle.
"Right...? He's not coming, right?"
"He's not."
Kyle happily shook his head.
"He may be impulsive at times, but he's not stupi—"
Kyle's words were abruptly cut off as the door creaked open and a figure stepped inside, his dead eyes immediately standing out as everyone within the room paused.
But that wasn't the most glaring aspect.
As heads slowly lowered, all eyes settled on Seth's hand, where a long knife gleamed under the lights from above.
What sort of...
Oblivious to their stares, Seth kept his gaze fixed on the crack.
"When are we going?"