Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part Two]

CHAPTER 253: Club Justice

Daisuke's feet blurred, hands slanted back like jet wings as he shot across the roof tops. Lumielle and Lynn should be safe for now. In the meantime, I should hurry and figure out what's going on with Zephyr.

Right on cue, Midnight pressed his tail to his master's forehead, delivering a condensed account of everything that had transpired with the Dravenharts—most notably, the ordeal concerning Silvestia.

Daisuke's brows drew together. The Mhaledictus—again. And more homunculi? Seriously? Are they mass-producing those pills or what? Still... why is Zephyr so fixated on rescuing this girl? Have we crossed paths with her before?

Moments later, he landed beside the pup several blocks from the guarded building. The canine didn't acknowledge his arrival, not even when Daisuke gently stroked his head. His focus was locked entirely on the rescue that was long overdue.

"Sorry I'm late, bud," Daisuke murmured, noting the canine's impatient stance. "You're raring to go, huh?"

Zephyr responded with an eager growl.

"Silvestia, huh?" Daisuke muttered under his breath before activating the Eye of Verity to assess the situation. "Heavily guarded... but nothing I can't handle." Then, gripping the pup gently by the scruff, he turned him around and locked eyes with him. "I need you to head back to the palace right away."

Zephyr let out a low whine.

"No buts," Daisuke said firmly. "It's about to get messy. While I handle things here, I'm counting on you to protect Lumielle and Lynn. Got it?"

The pup hesitated, his gaze drifting off into the distance. Then, finally, he barked, conceding to the command.

"Good boy," Daisuke said with a small smile as he set the canine back down. "Midnight, go with him. If there's even a hint of danger, let me know right away—I'll come running."

The feline gave a solemn nod. But before vanishing, his shadow rippled and regurgitated the two vials and the worn journal he had salvaged from Lugene's worktable.

"Nice! The sweet spoils of war," Daisuke grinned as he stroked beneath the cat's chin with a finger. "Good work, Midnight. I'll give it a proper look later."

"Meow," the feline purred before both deities vanished into a pool of black ink.

***

Daisuke sighed, poker-faced. So, slave traders, huh? That's pretty much synonymous with "scumbag".

Through the shifting layers of darkness, white mana signatures flickered inside and around the dingy two-story building ahead.

He narrowed his eyes. Unfortunately, slave trading is legal here... so I can't just massacre everyone even if I think they seriously deserve it.

He paused.

"Which means... I have to use gentle force," he murmured drearily, making finger quotes as he said it.

Twisting his hand, he materialized the Sturdy Club from his inventory with a dramatic over-the-shoulder flourish Then he gave it a quick swing.

[Sturdy Club +2]

[Rank: Rare

Type: Blunt Weapon

Melee Attack Power: 78~92 | Durability: 20/67 | Attack Speed: -12%

The Exiled Hilitroll Chief's trusty weapon, hewn from the limb of the millennia-old oak known as the Tree of Ascension. Legend holds that every former chieftain's weapon was cut and carved from this ancient tree.