Global Sign-in: 10x Multiplier with the Strongest System!-Chapter 81: Getting the Samples

The journey to the abandoned, high-walled government facility where the sample was to be taken took four hours.

It took Roy quite some time, but he eventually noticed Master Abraham had invisible drones that moved ahead to map out the path, find obstructions, and (if there were any) abyss creatures. Using this data, he avoided stronger abyss creature territories by taking detours. Even when the Rank III Gate was spotted and the vehicle’s technology started acting wonky, he took another route.

Master Abraham taught Roy that this driving part was where most of the problems with field missions into the wild resided. Most weren’t skilled enough in predicting danger and at a point, would get the vehicle wrecked in an abyss creature attack or close proximity to an open gate.

At the wide gate of the facility, the APC came to a halt at the edge of the high wall.

"Are we really here?" Roy just asked, not hoping to get an answer.

"Don’t forget. Always stay close."

Master Abraham spoke to the entire vehicle. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Dr. Gretsch, Dr. Sally, and Wolfman nodded, while Roy breathed out heavily.

Black Zero wasn’t a man of many words. Apart from Roy, who he had personally briefed on how to react to dangers, the others only needed a simple refresher.

Wolfman was the first to come down from the vehicle, then Roy, Dr. Gretsch, Dr. Sally, and then Black Zero. Still, the body of Executioner Embolden was kept in a frozen coffin at the back of the vehicle.

Roy’s dagger was sheathed behind him, and Master Abraham handed him the hi-tech pistol with the explosive rounds.

"Hillary, wait for us," Master Abraham said to the APC, and in the next second, it vanished from sight.

"Follow me."

The group headed towards the tall, barricaded gate of the old facility.

Master Abraham found it to be an obstacle and pointed at it.

"Wolfman, open it."

"YES!"

Wolfman happily obliged. His brutish body enlarged, and he broke whatever lock mechanism kept the gates closed by sheer force.

Roy glanced at Dr. Sally and commended her inwardly for keeping her cool so far.

’Hopefully this ends without a hitch— NO!’ Roy’s eyes suddenly widened. ’I shouldn’t jinx it!’

Turned out that the place was once a research facility, and other than the carcasses of starved Weak Beasts and so on, there wasn’t much else to see.

Dr. Gretsch led them down a flight of stairs to an underground area that, for some reason, had power—whereas the rest of the building didn’t.

In this area, there was a medical table with harsh utensils on one side, and behind, there was a broken cylindrical prison that on it, Roy could only see the letters M.O. and an ’S’ at the other unbroken part, and weird plants with flowers grew out of it.

Dr. Sally scrambled over there after an order from Dr. Grestch to collect samples of the flower, while Black Zero, Roy, and Wolfman watched from the area above, where there were computers Roy guessed monitored whatever was held inside the container.

He watched Master Abraham’s eyes as he scanned the area, waiting to see if he could find an answer in them.

But there was none. Master Abraham was expressionless, good at hiding his thoughts. Hence, Roy stepped close and asked, "What is this place?"

"..."

Black Zero merely glanced at him and remained silent.

Dr. Gretsch, however, found a place on the wall area beside the cylindrical prison, put in his biometric signature, and a hidden compartment opened.

As frozen air came out, one could tell the hidden compartment was a freezer. Dr. Gretsch took the steel cannister out of the hidden place and put it in a storage box, which also produced frozen air when it opened.

Just twenty minutes after arrival, they left and returned to the APC.

"Phew..." Roy sighed as he fell back on his seat. He wanted to say things were almost... anti-climatic but he held his tongue. It was still too early to judge.

Master Abraham and Dr. Grestch reported the retrieval of the sample to Mr. Professor, and he responded that they should stay safe, Executioner Sunfire was coming to retrieve it and ensure their safe return home.

Her presence was needed now more than ever since a Rank III Gate was in between where they were currently and where they wanted to be.

Sinking back in his seat, the APC started. Its engine was as silent as ever.

’Goddamn stalker. I still haven’t tested The Weeping Ghost out because of the bastard...’ Roy frowned and clicked his tongue.

"Tsk."

* * *

"...How is your brother these days?" Mr. Cross asked, taking a sip of his wine.

Donald chuckled in fright. He didn’t believe Cash God was using his power on him, but he just couldn’t keep cool. Most especially considering the fact that he didn’t even know the purpose of their meeting.

"R-Roy’s fine. He’s fine, thanks."

Mr. Cross nodded and gestured to the meal.

"He received my apology well, right?"

Donald had arrived at Cash God’s office, and then they left for his private suite, which was still in the company building.

He glanced around, noting the artworks on the walls, the medium-length dining table, and even the beautiful assistant who remained at Cash God’s side.

Donald nodded.

"Yes. Roy really appreciates the help. He didn’t expect the amount of support he received."

"Good. I do my best in taking care of talents."

Just then, the chef arrived with the food in a steel cart.

"Speaking of talents," Mr. Cross gestured to the chef, speaking cheerfully but also flatly, "This is Chef Meinhart. He is a D-Class Irregular with CHEF.exe. He is a master of cuisine with the ability to add direct buffs to his meals."

"Wow, that’s amazing," Donald commended, watching the chef place the meals on their tables. He smiled lightly and said, "I bet he earns a fortune making meals for you."

"..."

Mr. Cross fell silent and smiled.

For some reason, the chef’s blank look cracked but was quickly replaced with a practiced smile.

"Master’s grace is abound, of course."

Donald found the tone weird but just nodded. "Sweet."

After serving Mr. Cross, the chef served Donald. He raised the steel cover of the dish, introduced the meal, and added, "...It will calm your spirits. Please enjoy."

"Thanks."

Donald didn’t pick up the cutlery and just waited for the chef to pour the wine and leave. He wasn’t sure he was supposed to eat food that had been tampered with by an irregular. And also, he still didn’t know Mr. Cross’s purpose in asking them to meet.

"You must be wary of my powers. I’m sure," Mr. Cross spoke, as though reading Donny’s mind.

"That day was a mistake. Don’t be afraid, Mr. Mclloyd. I will never do anything to harm the chances of building a favourable relationship between us. Is that clear?"

"Alright." Donald nodded calmly. He felt he really had regained some confidence in this scary man’s presence.

Emboldened to take the leap of faith, he cut a piece of the steak and ate it.

"Mmm~ It’s really good."

Donald nodded and sipped some of the wine.

Whereas Mr. Cross had already started cutting into the steak.

"Mr. Cross, why did you call me here?"

"Yes, no point in beating around the bush," he declared and cleaned his mouth with a napkin and leaned back before asking, "How much do you know about Roy’s system?"

Donald was taken aback by this question, and the middle of his brows wrinkled.

"Um, Mr. Cross. Without Roy’s presence, I can’t—"

Mr. Cross cut in and asked straightforwardly, "Do you know his system can ’connect’ to other systems?"

"What?!" Donald blurted out, almost finding the notion comical, and smiled according to his nature. "No. He can’t do that."

"..."

Mr. Cross regarded him calmly and threw a tablet towards Donald.

"...!"

Donald picked up the tablet and swiped through a video there with eyes as wide as a baseball.

The video displayed a couple of students in panic and zoomed in on one in pain and spitting blood. But then, an apple materialized in his hand, and he ate it, and only a second after, he was completely fine.

And of course, Donald, who marveled at the [Apple] healing item Roy summoned that time in the expedition to District 03, quickly drew the connection.

"Doesn’t Roy have a similar health recovery item?" Mr. Cross asked.

But then Donald laughed it off.

"No. There are many health items, but I reckon an apple is the most common idea of health recovery, so systems generally utilize it. I don’t know if you’ve heard of C-Class Executioner Midas, but his health recovery item is a golden apple. Hahaha."

Donald also added, "You know what they say, ’An apple a day keeps the doctor away’."

"..."

"But wait... how did you know Roy had such an item?" Donald asked suspiciously.

Mr. Cross, having listened to Donald convince himself to not believe, ignored his question and gestured to the tablet.

"There’s more for you to see..."