Side Character Who Became the Pseudo-Protagonist

Chapter 23: Part of the Cargo

"Colette, where are you right now?"

"In my room, why? Something happened?"

"Lock the door and make sure your bodyguards are with you at all times. We just cornered someone who I think is complicit."

I stared at the small card before asking through the phone, hoping to get some kind of clue to go off of.

"Know anything about a Tina Valentine?"

The line remained silent for a while, before Colette’s voice came through. "Yeah...remember what I told you about in the first seminar?"

"About the female student being bullied?"

But my face immediately soured when I put two and two together.

"Oh...that’s her, isn’t it?"

"Yeah..."

I thought about what she said, and it seemed like she had a real hatred for Ygg in general? Something must’ve happened.

However, one thing’s for sure, I could tell she wasn’t a secret agent from White Noise. Just someone who’s either being coerced or thinks they’re doing the right thing.

Though before I could confirm either with Colette, a second incoming call came through from Claire.

"Sorry, I’ve got someone on the line, talk to you tomorrow. Don’t do anything rash, alright!"

"Mm, got it. Good luck."

I ended the call and picked up the incoming one, sitting down on a nearby bench.

"Hello? Please tell me you have good news."

"Bad...really bad news," Claire’s voice came through, but even from the other line, I could tell she had a grim expression on her face.

"The employee is dead."

I almost jumped out of my seat. "What?! How’s that possible? Surely he should’ve been thoroughly checked?"

"He was," Claire explained. "We had scanned for any magical sources and patted him down. But apparently he had a physical capsule hidden in one of his molars."

"So it wasn’t picked up by the scan?"

"No."

"Damn it..."

I leaned back in my chair, sighing softly. "Well, did you manage to learn anything else about him? Backgrounds, motives, anything of the sort?"

"..."

"Rain Calliope," Claire’s voice came from the phone. "Apparently he was a civilian engineer with a job opportunity lined up that was subsequently taken by an Operator."

"He has credentials as an engineer but knows nothing about Logos-based equipment nor anything about maintaining a Logos Disruptor."

"Then why was he the main culprit if that’s the case?"

"That’s the problem. It looks like he had been learning about them on his own time. A maverick with a grudge, I’d say."

I sighed softly, leaning back onto the bench. "Right, did you find anything else on him? Anything we can use?"

"Yeah," Claire continued. "We managed to datamine some of his phone’s deleted messages and saw mentions of someone called Hiruma talking about the seminar. But the rest of the conversation is lost now."

"Someone from the Hanma Federation? Why the hell would they be involved?"

"Perhaps they’re hoping Ygg and Astaron would fight each other, and swoop in as a third party..."

Not entirely unlikely...

The Hanma Federation was another country in the game which was responsible for many of the conflicts as well, but for them to show up this early and have a connection to White Noise...

Something like this has never been mentioned before in the plot. Whatever, it’s not the problem, at least for now.

"Oh and Nolan," Claire suddenly spoke, catching me mid-thought. "I also managed to find a setlist for the seminar that could be useful."

"Very, please send it over to me."

Though after receiving the setlist, the plan formed in head at once. It wasn’t without its own risk, but still...

It was the only way to stop this whole route from going too far.

***

Arriving in the Yhotun Civic Center, my nerves suddenly got the better of me.

I feared that this wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought.

During the event, both civilians and Astaron exchange students would be kidnapped, and the official statement would be manipulated to—

"Cadets from Astaron finally revolt? Is Asgard Academy responsible? Are Operators a threat to society?"

Of course, Leon would manage to track them down, destroy the whole branch in Ygg and save the day the way a protagonist does.

But how does he track them?

Who knows?

A level just showed up on the map and players would click it and be transported to the area.

It really was up to me to figure out everything on my own, and what better way to find out where the delivery was going...

But to be part of the cargo yourself.

It was a risky plan, but I didn’t come unprepared.

My hood was kept high and I even had a Cartridge prepared with the [Distort] Spell, in case I needed to change my appearance if caught.

Since Tina managed to escape, they would be on high-alert from any surveillance and would be extra careful.

If we moved too early, they might cancel their whole operation and disappear without a trace once more.

So after discussing with the Triad, we would let their plan proceed up to the kidnapping stage.

However, I made sure to get customized magnetic soles on my boots. In order to allow Aidan, who was waiting with Riley and Grant, to be able to find me with his polarity field.

Now...all that’s left to do, was to enter the tiger’s den.

I brought up the setlist Claire had sent me, reading it over once more.

[13:00 — Guest Arrival & Registration]

Exchange students and civilian attendees enter through separate reception lanes.

[13:20 — Opening Address]

"Why Trust Must Be Rebuilt"

Speaker: Civic Bridge Coalition Representative

[13:40 — Civilian Testimony Panel]

Local citizens discuss the impact of Operator-centered policies on housing, employment, and public safety.

[14:10 — Exchange Student Response]

Astaron students share their experiences studying in Ygg.

[14:30 — Special Address]

"Responsibility Beyond Borders"

Speaker: Colette Astaron

[15:20 — Reconciliation Statement and Closing Remarks]

A joint pledge between civilian representatives and exchange students.

I had my money at around 3PM, everything would happen then.

It was about 12:55 PM now.

’Colette should be arriving soon.’

And just right on time, a black car turned the corner and parked at the front entrance, where a line had already formed.

I made sure to follow right behind Colette as she stepped out of the car with her bodyguards.

She simply raised her hand to stop them. "Please wait outside. I don’t want to cause misunderstandings by bringing in armed Operators into a peaceful seminar."

"But Young Lady..." one of the guards stammered.

"I’ll be fine."

They looked hesitant but eventually backed off, stepping back to the designated security area.

Needless to say, she was informed of our plan and had agreed to it, already knowing the dangers it may pose.

I stepped in line as well and was patted down for any weapons or phones, which I obviously didn’t bring.

And before I knew it, I made my way into a large auditorium with people already inside.

On the left, a few people in normal clothing were whispering softly to each other, faces scowling.

While on the right, exchange students from Astaron were nervously looking around, waiting for the event to start.

I found a seat just behind Colette and plopped myself right onto it.

"Hey," Colette whispered, but making sure not to turn back. "Do you think...they’re going to harm anyone? I really don’t..."

"They probably won’t," I shook my head, responding. "It’s in their best interest to use the others as hostages, so I highly doubt it."

But as we were talking, I noticed something strange. Why hasn’t the event started yet? Fifteen minutes had already passed since it was supposed to start.

"Huh? Does anyone see that?"

A voice suddenly called out, pointing upwards.

A white mist sunk down towards the audience. The same very same one that I’ve seen and avoided before.

’Sleeping gas again? And why the hell are they proceeding with the plan already?!’

But even as I thought about it, things made sense.

They knew the seminar had been compromised, so instead of waiting for the perfect stage, they probably just decided to nab everyone early before anyone could interfere.

"Ahh, don’t inhale it!"

"Wait, it’s a trap!"

"Everyone, we need to get out of here!"

Voices rose through the mist, but it was already too late. Doors had been slammed shut and people were already starting to keel over.

My vision started to blur as well, but before my consciousness faded, I crushed the [Distort] Cartridge hidden in my palm.

[Spell Sequence Initializing: Tier 2 Optical Interference Type—]

[Distort]

And then, everything turned black.