Chapter 74: Phase 2

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Phase 2

Keira lowered her legs and leaned forward. She finally replied, "Why do you even need a warehouse? You’ve got the whole upstairs floor of your house free, don’t you?"

"It’s easier working from a dedicated space," Derrick said. "Beth’s place is only enough for her to work. If I want to work by myself, I need a proper place besides you know alchemy needs a safe space."

And she knew that was the case.

If someone inexperienced tried to create a unfamiliar pill, there was bound to be a minor explosion waiting for them.

"There are alchemy houses, you know." Keira crossed her arms. "Private rental spaces built specifically for solo alchemists and new businesses. All you have to do is pay their hourly rate and you will get decent equipments, better than a warehouse. You will need to pay for electricity, your equipments, water bills and other messes."

Derrick shook his head immediately. "Already looked into those and I am not touching them."

Keira’s eyebrow arched. "Why not?"

"Not only are they expensive. But I also noticed several hidden surveillance devices connected to the main server or side servers of every damn place.." Derrick’s tone flattened.

"Every single one of those places has cameras and sensors built into the walls. Officially, it’s part of the decor while in reality it’s corporate espionage."

And I’d know. I hacked into their security systems myself.

"There’ve been reports," he continued, "about a few of the bigger guilds backing those rental spaces. Small businesses rent a room, do their research, develop a formula, and a few months later some massive corporation drops a suspiciously similar product at half the price."

"And this is not a one time thing too."

Keira’s expression shifted, something sharper settling behind her eyes. "Yeah, I should have known that."

"This kind of thing is quite the normal in this world, I shouldn’t be surprised." Derrick leaned back in his chair.

"Nobody can ever prove it, obviously. The guilds cover their tracks well. But ask around enough small alchemists, and you’ll hear the same story over and over."

Keira went quiet for a moment.

Derrick caught the hesitation on her face. He knew she was not naive enough to think that this was all new.

Which meant, something else was bugging her.

"Something going on I should know about?" he asked. "Is it about the warehouses and why they are unavailable to the public?"

Keira’s jaw tightened slightly.

So it was really that.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Fine. But this doesn’t leave this room."

"Understood."

"There have been incidents." Her voice dropped lower, more careful now.

"For the past month, there had been several crimes committed and it all happened near or inside warehouses. Many people went missing and others turned up dead."

"Besides this connection there are no pattern, no clear motive, nothing connecting the victims except the buildings themselves."

Derrick’s stomach tightened. "How many?"

"The number is not revealed to anyone but the task forces working on it but the situation has become tense enough the royal family got involved."

Keira’s eyes met his, serious now.

"They put a decree in place. No warehouses get sold or rented anywhere in the district until they find whatever’s causing this.

Doesn’t matter who you are or how much money you’re offering."

So that’s why every listing showed the same dead end.

"That explains a lot," Derrick muttered.

Keira leaned back slightly.

He sat with that for a second.

"Is there any way for me to get a place," he asked slowly, "or something similar? Even temporary."

Keira studied him for a moment before answering. "I’ll look into it. But I cannot promise anything."

"That’s more than enough. Thanks."

She waved him off, already turning back toward her computer screen, conversation clearly finished as far as she was concerned.

Derrick left her office.

This complicates things a little but I can move on with phase two of the plan.

He made his way to the treadmill section, climbing on and setting the pace, letting his legs fall into a steady rhythm while his mind wandered elsewhere.

Might as well check what I’ve been putting off.

He pulled up the system, scrolling to the notification he’d been ignoring since this morning.

[Main Mission, Part 2: Grand Opening — Complete!]

[Reward 1: 10x Multiplier — Applied Retroactively to Recent Earnings.]

Derrick’s feet nearly stumbled on the belt.

Unlike what I had been worrying about, it did not even take me more than a day to accomplish that.

[Balance During The Period Of Mission Completion: 282,000SC(The Value Includes The Income Made Through Promotions and Social Media)]

[Adding 10 Times Multiplier: 282,000X10=2,820,000SC.]

[Current Balance: 3,230,000SC.]

I am already a millionaire? Derrick chuckled to himself before moving on to the other rewards.

[Reward 2: Breakthrough Serum — Enhanced Stage Being Level Injection — Claimed.]

[Reward 3: Superpower Realm Trial Card — Claimed.]

The rewards went directly to his inventory and he went to look at them which was when he noticed it...

Sitting quietly in his inventory list, tucked between the serum and the trial card.

It was a key.

One of the rewards from his daily missions. He had been putting off it for a while now, not knowing what was waiting for him on the other side.

[No Need For The Host To Worry Since Every Dungeon Is Created In Accordance With The Host’s Current Power Levels. But That Does Not Meant The Dangers Are Not There.]

[Better To Be Cautious And Well Prepared Than To Go In Clueless.]

Derrick stared at the golden key which showed signs of cracks and wear on the edges and decided.

It is time I went in and checked what the dungeon is like. But I would need a weapon before I go in.

His eyes went to the system shop once more. He knew that was the only place he could buy a weapon without leaving a trail or having to answer many questions before his purchase.

[Ronin’s Throwing Knives.]

[Rank: Unranked Weapon]

[Description: Durable weapons made from powerful materials. It can be thrown at enemies in distance and connected to form a short blade to fight in CQC.]

[Price: 59,000SC]

[Confirm Purchase]

[Yes | No]

[Purchase Complete]