Day 2

Still, this is what makes life exciting for elite players like Lina and Sally, and thrill-seeking players like Lex, Aliyah, and Angel. And Lite wants to be recruited by a core group.

Meanwhile, after they made sure they didn't leave behind tracks, Lina trod forward and walk beside Gerard as the group resume their journey. She wants to report something to Gerard.

"Mr. Payne, have you slept well?" Lina asked formally.

"Yes, I have." He simply replied.

"I have something to report."

"Let's hear it then."

Lina nodded her head and took a copy of her map from her space inventory and give it to him. The map has a new scribble on it and begins her reporting. "We've received a report that the monsters around 5 miles away from the rendezvous point seem restless. But the monster still sticks in the said area. Since we still need to cover miles to get there and the monsters are blocking our route, I figured to have them investigate the reason why. But I strictly told them not to engage in a puny battle. Just observe and retreat if necessary. If

Gerard saw a few encircle locations 5 miles away and surrounding their rendezvous point. These three encircled locations were within three miles' distance from each other and blocked their route from the rendezvous point.

It is really a good choice to include Lina, the Guild Leader of the sought-after core group. With her as the leader of their group, he can worry less about other tasks like reconnaissance and matters regarding supplies.

Now he can focus on how to get inside the old cathedral. He cannot help but worry if he can obtain the missing amulet because even Kurosawa, a hidden Elite NPC seems to be afraid of what was slumbering inside the Mead Citadel.

He can clearly see the terrified registering in Kurosawa's eyes.

Gerard sigh and comforted himself. At least, he found out what to look for and avoid the monster that terrified Kurosawa. And besides, his sword was enhanced which can be compared to a powerful weapon that only the nobility and royal family have the right to wield.

And a dagger. At one glance, the dagger seems not special but since it was given to him by an elite NPC, for sure it can kill the monster slumbering in the Mead Citadel.

Gerard's train of thought halted when Lina asked him.

"Is there any additional order you want me to pass down to the other team?"

"There's nothing on my end. Please, proceed with what you think is best for this journey. You're doing a good job after all."

"It is my honor to be doing this for you, Mr. Payne."

Gerard can only smile and call out to everyone to get their attention.

"Everyone, please be careful from now on. We are about to enter a different land, a domain of monsters. As much as possible, let's avoid fighting high-level monsters and took a detour if sneaking past them is impossible. But since I do not want to slow you down as well, if low-level monsters are ahead of us, let's fight them and finish the fight in a short time."

"Yes!"

"Of course!"

They simultaneously replied.

Gerard nodded his head and move on.

During their journey, they were able to avoid fighting. If they find high-level monsters ahead, they tried to sneak quietly and pass them, but if there's no way they can sneak in, they will take a detour. This is expected.

On the way to rendezvous, they encounter four groups of high-level monsters. They succeeded in sneaking past the two groups while they took a detour twice. They also encountered ten groups of low-level monsters which they fought. They gained shared experience and move their exp threshold past halfway to 100%.

Lina and others want to share the dropped coins and some dropped items but Gerard just waves his hand and has them share it for themselves.

Although Gerard wanted to join in the fry of sharing drops, he stop himself from doing so. In front of these players, he is a wealthy NPC so he needs to act according to their impression of him which is sometimes hard for him.

But he had no choice.

"Mr. Payne, do you want to take a rest in the tunnel there?"

Gerard glance at the pointed tunnel on the east side of their group and contemplated.

It is true they have been walking for more than 5 hours now and his feet are getting numb.

The cave opening is surrounded by bushes implying no one has been staying there, maybe it is monsters or NPCs. He deemed it safe but to make sure, he want to rely on his secret ally. So Gerard tries to communicate with Supreme System inside his head. Even though he is not sure if the Supreme System will answer his inquiry.

"Supreme System is the tunnel ahead safe and devoid of monsters?"

Gerard waited for a reply but 10 seconds had passed and he is yet to receive an answer. He was about to agree with Lina when he heard a familiar womanly voice.

[The cave is safe and devoid of monsters but there is also a hidden door that will lead to an item buried deep in the room.]

Gerard almost shouts in shock and excitement. Fortunately, he was able to hold himself down and continue to communicate with the Supreme System

"What?! Why haven't you told me you have this kind of feature as well!??"

[The Host didn't ask me before.]

Huh? Aren't you supposed to be my side, making me strong in a short period of time by giving me all the perks and advantages needed? Gerard shamelessly thought and instead of voicing it out to complain, he keep it to himself.

"But still…What's the radius of your search feature and can you provide me the scope of this search feature?"

[The Supreme System search feature is within 100 meters radius. It can search for nonliving things, living things, secret doors, items, and equipment.]

Gerard didn't know how to react, should he be happy? Should he be disappointed because it is only now he learned this kind of feature?

The truth is, he was happy!

He decided to start from now on, he will try all the features of the system he read out from books. Most of the System Menu interfaces of the virtual games didn't have this cheat feature.

But since his system is the Supreme System itself, it probably has all the cheat features he can think of.

He felt sorry for all the players for having this cheat. Actually no, he was not sorry. Why? There is a chance I might die here for real compared to the real players who blissfully live their life here in a virtual game and reality at the same time.

Without further ado, he agreed to Lina's proposal and went ahead to the cave.

Lite and Aliyah, cut the bushes blocking the path along the way to the tunnel's entrance.

"Oh, this tunnel's path must be a long way down!" Aliyah exclaimed as they were greeted by nothing pitch black, devoid of sunlight which was about to set over the horizon.

"Let's proceed with caution camp inside a little deeper so when we make a fire, the light won't reach the tunnel's entrance."

"Let's go with that."

The players ahead of Gerard made plans on how to camp while he was busy asking the Supreme System.

"Supreme System, where's the hidden door are you talking about?"

[It's about 90 meters ahead of you. In the first 80 meters, take the left route, and straight ahead is the hidden door.]

"Okay, got it! Please remind me of the distance?"

[Understood.]

"Thank you!"

Arghh. It's exhausting to talk with the Supreme System inside my head.

But still, he is happy and excited at the prospect that the supreme system can copy or have the same features as the system in the novels.

When their group reached the first 50 meters, Gerard decided to stop.

"Let's camp here for tonight."

Everybody nodded and observe the place. The column supports the ceiling not to fall seems old but sturdy.

Gerard cannot remember such a place during his time as Senior Developer.

Lite and Lex went ahead a bit further to investigate and look for dangers but after five minutes, they came back and report everything is good in the end. They also set up some traps so they can be alerted if monsters or wild animals step on it.

Lina then distributes the task.

"Okay, same practice as last night. The first watch to guard the tunnel's entrance would be Aliyah, Lite, and me. After 5 hours, we will be replaced by Lex, Angel, and Sally."

"Got it."

"Leave it to me!"

And now the sunset and moon replaced the sun on the horizon and give illumination to the dark forest along with the stars.

Everyone started eating first.

"Argh. The taste is too bland."

"Hahaha… I hope the company does something about this."

"Barfff. I can't! I'll just wait for my turn to rest so I can eat real food!"

The others wryly smiles as they nodded their head.

Gerard knew what are they talking about.

Lina proposed the first three players' rest means logging out and eating food and take some sleep. Then come back again before replacing the first four watchers at the tunnel's entrance. Which is favorable to Gerard.

It means when they log out, he can freely wander inside the tunnel and open the hidden door.

Then it dawned on him!

Oh right! I almost forgot!

"Supreme System, what kind of item am I looking for?"

[It's a pair of shoes that can increase the Host attributes and movement speed to a certain degree.]

"Oh! That's nice! Wait!!! What do you mean can increase my attributes and movement speed? Do you mean even though I am yet to choose my main job class, the said item can already affect my attributes?"

Is that possible? He murmurs

[Yes. Any items and equipment are compatible with the Host. Even if you pick a main job class, the compatibility of items and equipment will not change. Of course, with an exception. The weapons. If the Host picks a main job class, he cannot wield a weapon that is not compatible with Host's main job class.]

Oh! That's reasonable. Having items and equipment events without an official main job class is already a cheat. It will be a super cheat if he can wield any weapon that is not compatible with his main job class.

All right! That's decided. After they log out, I'll quickly retrieve what is rightfully mine. Gerard's shamelessly thought.

After 10 minutes of eating, the first batch of watchers went ahead and start doing their job and the rest bid farewell to Gerard and become a particle of light as they start logging off one after another.

"Okay! It's my time. Supreme System, I'm in your care."

[Understood.]

Gerard creates a torch using the fire they made to give illumination. Heeding the Supreme System's advice, Gerard take a left route on the first 100 meters. He raises his torches to increase the radius of illumination.

He heard some rattling created by rats living in this dark tunnel.

After walking for ten minutes, Gerard didn't encounter any wild animals that slumbering in the darkness and monsters.

[On your left, touch the protruding certain rock attach to the wall.]

Gerard look onto his left side and saw the particular rock. He gulped and touched the rock.

Suddenly, a door made of rocks opened, giving little vibrations around which made the dirt and dust fall to Gerard's head. The vibrations stopped and he was greeted by a dusty room.

He went inside and saw broken shovels and other equipment for mining.

[Please look to your left, below the cabinet is a carpet. Below the carpet is another small door. If the Host opens it, you will see a pair of shoes.]

Gerard instantly saw the cabinet. He tries to lift it. He then took the carpet away and saw nothing sort of a door. But he didn't react negatively. He trusted the Supreme System and in times like this, he crouch and try to find a small opening. And when he did, he get the dagger given to him by Kurosawa and stab it in the gap, and lifted it.

The wooden opening lifted up.

Gerard's eyes brighten as he saw the pair of shoes and get it.

[Agile Boots]

[Type: Boots]

[Level: 3]

[Pre-requisite]

One should be level 2 and above to wear the Agile Boots]

[Effects]

Increase attributes +3 Agility and +15 movement speed for running

Hmm. Not bad. Gerard replaced his old beginner boots with Agile Boots.

And to test the effect, Gerard try to walk forward and didn't find any changes. Well, that's reasonable, he is just walking but when he runs, he can run twice as before!

"Good loot!"

After spending a couple of minutes in the old room trying to find some valuable, he left and go back to their camp.

He safely returned.

Gerard feel sleepy so he lay down his tired body on the blanket.

"We should be able to reach the rendezvous point by tomorrow lunch." He murmurs and closes his eyes and darkness took over his tired mind.