Sora and Kara exged a gnce, a shared uanding passiween them before Sora broke the silence.

  "Fet about the badge update," he said with a dismissive wave. "I 't be bothered to fight in front of the entire try for that. We don’t right now anyway; we’re just sightseeing."

  With a nod to the clerk, Sora expressed his thanks and turoward the exit of the Adventurer's Guild. As they stepped outside, Sora, almost out of habit, opened his friend list and attempted to add Rachel once more.

  [Pyer Rachel Cude has blocked friend requests.]Sora frowned. "That little... Does she really think this will stop me?" He turo Kara with a sly smile. "Kara, you add someone for me?"

  "Rachel, right?" Kara sighed. "If I add her now, she’ll look me up and find out everything about me. Unlike you, Ralph, I wasn’t born a few months ago." She shook her head.

  Sora ged realizing his ht. "Yeah, my bad. I o find another way to track her down... but using my limited brain power is proving unsuccessful. Any ideas?"

  Kara thought for a moment before replying, "I'm sure there are people specialized in this field. If she’s an active pyer with aation, someone must have heard of her."

  Intrigued by the idea, Sora had an idea, aering the guild again, he approached the girl who had been selling quest details earlier.

  "Hello, it’s us again. we ask you a question? Here’s 20 gold for your time. If you help us, we’ll pay you more."

  The girl’s eyes lit up at the mention of payment. "Thank you, sir and madam! You’ve e to the right person! I know a lot of things about the South Koreaory."

  "We’re looking for someone we lost tact with a few months ago," Sora began, weaving a story. "We ran a few dungeons together, but we never got a ce to add each other as friends. Now, we ’t find them anywhere."

  "Oh, what you’re looking for is an Assassination Guild or an Information Broker!" the girl said, fshing an almost mischievous smile. "Both help, no matter your iions. The first do more than just find them, if you know what I mean." She gave them a knowing look, assuming their story wasn’t as i as it seemed.

  Kara’s eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head. "No, no, we’re just looking for a friend!"

  "It doesn’t matter to me," the girl said with a shrug. "For 50 gold, I give you the name of the best Information Broker in Seoul."

  Sora chuckled, appreciating her efficy, and handed her a pouch with 5,000 gold. "Here’s 50 gold for the information, and the rest is your tip. By the way, why are you w here? You seem quite young."

  The girl hesitated, then accepted the pouch, still surprised by the amount. She expined her situation: she was only level 9, forbidden by her parents from pying the game just yet, but she worked at the Adventurer’s Guild to save enough moo start strong once she was allowed to py. She earned around 300 to 400 gold a day, which seemed insignifit pared to the millions of gold wealthier Sora and Kara had, but pared to newbies in Europe, she could be sidered a ty. She reparing such wealth to build a solid foundation for her future.

  Sora and Kara listehetically, uanding her frustration. They knew many young pyers who faced simir restris by their parents in their try.

  Before long, Sora added the Information Broker, Sin Soo-Yun, to his friend list, as the girl had reehe broker accepted instantly, and within seds, Sora received a message.

  "How did you get my tact?" read the blunt message.

  Surprised by the abruptness, Sora replied, "Someo the Adventurer's Guild said you’re the best at finding people."

  "Oh, that little girl is always sending me another t... But she’s right, I am the best. Meet me at this address." The broker sent an address, and Sora ope using the app they had downloaded earlier.

  Thanking the girl once more, Sora and Kara left the guild, heading straight for the meeting point.

  They left the core of Seoul, and headed towards the outskirts.

  Ohey arrived at the address, they found a dipidated house that looked like it could crumble at any moment. The woodeerior was weathered and rotting, with cracks running through the walls and a sagging roof barely held up by rusted supports. Weeds had overtaken the small yard, and the windows were covered in grime, blog any view i was hard to believe anyone lived here, let alone operated a business.

  “Guess this is one way to keep a low profile...” Sora mumbled as he knocked on the door.

  "e in," a hoarse voice called from within.

  Kara and Sora exged a look, both curious and a little wary. Stepping ihey were immediately surprised. The interior was the exact opposite of the rundowerior—it was , and modern.

  Wooden floors shone uhe lighting, and the walls were lined with bookshelves filled with perfectly arranged files and devices. A rge desk with multiple monitors sat in one er, where a faint hum of teology blended with the calm atmosphere. Minimalist furniture filled the spad there was even a cat sleeping on a couch.

  Kara’s eyes widened. "Wow, this is... ued," she whispered, clearly impressed by the trast. Sora nodded, equally surprised.

  "So, how I help you today?" The person sitting behind the desk was cloaked in a long robe that hid most of their figure and a hood on their head. Their face was cealed behind a sleek bck mask, but oddly, a pair of round gsses poked out from the eyes. The trast should have been funny, but her Sora nor Kara felt amused. There was an underlying meo their presehat made their muscles tense, instincts warning them that this was someone dangerous.

  "I didn’t mean to scare you," the person added, noting their tense posture. "In this line of work, it’s necessary to protect my privacy. Don’t let the appearaher you."

  Sora and Kara forced themselves to rex. "We’re looking for someone, and we have no idea where to start," Sora said.

  "Do you know this person’s he cloaked figure asked.

  "Yes, Rachel Cude," Sora answered.

  "Write it down in your native nguage, so nothis lost in transtion," the person handed Sora a piece of paper and a pen.

  After scribbling down the name, Sora ha back, watg as the person studied it for a few moments before speaking. "Hmmm. Quite unlucky, dear guests. From all the pces she could be, she’s in one of the more difficult spots to find someone."

  "What do you mean?" Kara asked, fused. "ce?"

  Sora was surprised at this person's ability. They just sat there, tapped a few keys on a keyboard and already had an ao a question that had been pguing him for months now. This seemed surreal, but he could only accept it. 'They must have an incredible css or ability that allows such a feat, but I don't dare i such person...'

  "She’s in another Realm. I ’t track pyers hysically not oh," they expined. "But, I provide you with some useful information—like the list of her friends and the guilds she’s been in. Ied?"

  "That sounds good. Please, give us everything you ," Sora replied, disappointed but determio find another lead.

  The Information Broker clicked a few buttons on a button of a mouse, and soon, the sound of a printer filled the room. Sora raised an eyebrow, surprised by the old-fashioned equipment.

  Before Sora could take the papers, they added, "Whenever you want to refresh the position of anyone on that list, just send me a message. I’ll provide the location and add the fee to your tab. And don’t even think of dodging payment—I’d find you". They leaned forward slightly and added. "That’ll be 750,000 gold. Do we have a deal?"

  Sora didn’t hesitate. "Deal." He handed over the gold and received the stack of dots.

  As he started reading through the papers, his expression shifted. Seeing the high number of deceased pyers lio Rachel made him uneasy. 'Most of her allies are dead? Don’t tell me she’s been running around maniputing and backstabbing people… right?' A chill ran down his spi the thought.

  Shaking his head to clear it, Sora muttered to himself. If what he was reading was true, his brother and him weren't the only people killed by her.

  "Thank you," Sora said to the figure, leading Kara outside. As they walked, he tio browse the list, and soon, a look of realization crossed his face.

  "What did you discover?" Kara asked, sensing something important.

  Sora’s eyes narrowed. "The first guild she was in... it was a French guild from the South of Frahis might be the same group she worked with when I was ambushed and killed months ago. This is huge. This list of pyers is a goldmine. I follow her trail and learn more about what she’s been up to."

  Sora felt a surge of excitement at the discovery, his mind rag with possibilities. The thought of finally trag down the pyers who had ambushed him and his group stirred something deep within him. If those pyers were still alive, he would find them—and this time, he wouldn’t be the one caught off guard.

  He turo Kara, looking apologetic, "I'm sorry for cutting our time in Seoul short, but I o follow this lead. If I don’t a it now, I’m afraid I’ll miss a piece of the puzzle ter."

  Kara smiled warmly and shook her head. "Don't worry about me. You go ahead and do what you o do. I’ll still be around but I'll stay out of your way and watch from the sidelines along with Hiyoko."

  mimou

  My discord server (Special role for people who joi month... don't lose this opportunity hehe): https://disc/beVP9UaG5r