Global Sign-in: 10x Multiplier with the Strongest System!-Chapter 62: Secret Unveiled
Roy stared at Abraham, his expression unreadable. Trust. That was a big word.
The young Irregular’s mind raced through fragments of a lost memory. Donald mentioned that the gate that appeared in District 12, the one that killed their parents, broke five minutes after manifesting.
’No. There’s no way it was because of me. What about the billion other people that have died because of God’s Abyss? I’m just lucky to have survived. My case isn’t that special.’ Roy’s voice came out, extremely alert. "You said I am a target, and that was why I was attacked. Is this a speculation or a certainty?"
Abraham’s expression didn’t change, and he said with calm indifference, "A certainty."
Roy pulled his arm free from Abraham’s grip. "Wh... Why are you only telling me all this now? Donald should know too. He will know what to do."
"Roy. Your brother is not an Irregular. He cannot help you." Abraham’s gaze bore deep into Roy. "Everyone will want to use you for their goals, whether or not you like the means. He cannot stop it."
Roy thought back to when Cash God literally wanted to buy him. Surely that sky bastard was going to use some CASH.exe skill to outright own Roy. Such a business-oriented system was a force to be reckoned with.
"And you don’t want to use me?"
"Your brother paid me five million dollars to guide and mentor you. You’re the one using me."
"So that’s all this is for you? You’re just doing your job?"
"That is not the point. I will help you to understand where you stand in this world. And when you see past the lies, only then will you know who your friends are, and who your enemies are."
Roy still didn’t understand the nuances of what Abraham said, but he could glean that the man was giving him a sneak peek of sorts of what this training course was going to be about. In other words, he was going to teach Roy... discernment, among other things.
This was why he was telling Roy these things before they left. The kid’s mind had to be prepared for the horrors they may face.
Roy ran a hand through his hair. Too many questions crowded his mind, each one spawning three more.
"So what do we do about the thing or person in my shadow? Are they watching us now?" he asked worriedly. "What if they can read lips?"
"They aren’t here currently, but I am certain they’re close by. They grew more cautious after I spotted them."
Roy faced ahead and sank his head into his hands. The black sphere of silence still surrounded them, cutting off the rest of the world.
"How much do they know?" Roy muttered, talking to himself. But Abraham rested his back on his seat and answered.
"My C-Class status. Your ability to gain EXP from abyss creatures. The ’items’ you also receive from them. Most things you told yourself out loud. And that you secretly sign in at night when you think no one’s watching."
Roy’s blood ran cold. "How did you—"
"You thought I wouldn’t figure it out after you spent quite some time in the restroom?"
Roy opened his mouth to say something, a retort, but he quickly realized how futile that was.
’How foolish of me to think that no one noticed. But no one knows I am signing into another system.’ Roy’s eyes suddenly widened as though he was just struck by lightning. ’Unless they spotted Pierre when he used his Apple to restore himself !’
Roy sat back in his seat and folded his arms, his eyes staring blankly ahead.
’No, no, no, no. They won’t notice something like that... right?’
"What is the problem?" Master Abraham asked. He didn’t think the things he said would elicit this reaction from Roy.
"What is the problem?" Roy mockingly repeated. "You knew I was being spied on, and you are only telling me now?"
Abraham’s gaze was steady. "You could have already been working with them for all I know. And could have been sent to test me."
Who are ’them’? Why would they have tested him? Just like that, more questions joined the fray in Roy’s mind.
But now he understood. They will all be answered in time. Because, as of the moment, he had a more pressing question.
"What should I do?"
Roy was seeking Abraham’s advice. This already answered the question of whether he could trust the C-Class Executioner.
But still, the question hung in the air between them.
"Roy, I don’t need to know all the secrets about your system. Just what they may know or figure out."
Roy glanced at his mentor, unsure of himself and what to do. It would’ve been nice if Donald were here and could advise him on what to do.
"My second skill..."
Abraham nodded slowly. "Go on."
Roy took a breath. "I have two starting skills, not one, as I told you. The first is the passive [2x Multiplier], which you’re familiar with. And the second is [Link], an active skill."
"Link..." Master Abraham repeated in a murmur.
Roy explained, "I can link to another Irregular’s system, watch them sign in, and get double their rewards when they clear levels." Roy looked down at his hands. "There’s this guy at school. Pierre. He has LOVE.exe. I’ve been linked to him since the first day I got my system."
Abraham was quiet for a long moment.
"That’s why you sign in when he does."
Roy nodded. "Yeah."
With his advanced brain, Black Zero—Abraham had already figured it all out. "You receive double stat points. Your items. They all come from his system, too."
"Doubled, yes." Roy met Abraham’s eyes. "The Apple and Cursed Ragdoll. Pierre got one each, so I got two."
Abraham leaned back, processing this. "Do you gain exp from this other system world?"
Roy shook his head.
"Pierre used his Apple when your other friend rampaged against you all, didn’t he?"
"Y-Yes."
Master Abraham faced ahead. "A system that can link to other systems." He scoffed. "If Donald led with that, I would’ve mentored you for free."
Roy chuckled awkwardly. "Oh, he doesn’t know."
"I see."
The black sphere dissolved back into its host, and the ambient sounds rushed back into Roy’s ears.
"Hillary," Abraham said, "let’s hit the road."
"Affirmative, sir."
The APC’s engine hummed to life. The vehicle moved through the underground garage toward the exit. The automatic doors and gates were controlled by the A.I.
Roy looked down at his shadow wearily. He had only met Master Abraham about a week ago, but he was the better choice to trust than Cash God.
’I can bet a million dollars that he’s the one behind this shadow creature.’ Roy almost cried. ’No more privacy in the restroom for me then. This is the price of receiving ten million dollars for free.’
The APC climbed the ramp from Abraham’s underground lair and emerged into the late afternoon sun. Traffic was light as they merged onto the main highway.
X-City was divided into twelve districts, each shaped like a hexagon. They fit together like tiles, forming a larger hexagonal city. The entire city was then protected by an invisible dome that prevented abyss creatures from entering, created by the brightest minds and several irregulars. However, the industry that heralded this groundbreaking tech was called Pandora, with the CEO being a normal individual. He was the richest man on earth and was Cash God’s fixation.
This society of Irregulars and Non-Irregulars was a capitalist-centred one. All power was spread out between certain corporations, the three sectors, and the Executioners Association.
The zone cities of the three sectors were as large as some countries of the old world. And districts were even as large as some cities of the old world, ranging from 1,000 square kilometers to 5,000 square kilometers.
The districts of X-City were connected by underground railways. Whereas, transport within the districts was a mixture of overhead and subway stations, with the former being quite rare to see.
They drove in silence for a while. Roy watched the district pass by through the window.
He cranked his neck forward to see more of the sky. Within the city and its extremes, flying abyss creatures were given priority for elimination as they could attack aircraft.
First of all, they exited District 04, but instead of going straight to the next District, Abraham turned the vehicle and drove off-road, heading for the edge of the city.
Sometime later, they spotted a railway track several meters above ground and drove beside it. This was one of the rare, few overhead high-speed railway lines outside the major clutter of districts. These special railway lines connected the cities.
Their current destination was the military outpost of X-City, where they could gain exit through the City Gate.
