Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 93: Target Acquired - The Demon Unleashed

Daisuke's gaze narrowed to dangerous slits as the woman who had introduced herself as Petula came to a halt in front of a bland-looking antique shop.

"This way," she said meekly, pushing open the weathered door.

Daisuke cast a wary glance at the imposing construction site next door before following his suspicious guide into the unimpressive store. Inside, a man garbed in oriental attire was reclined lazily on his side, his head cradled in his hand. He wore a lethargic expression, and the poorly arranged items surrounding him somehow exuded the same type of aura.

"What can I getcha?" he said by means of greeting.

"...A world of wonders," Petula replied cryptically, her words sounding almost scripted.

Evidently satisfied with the response, the man's attention shifted to Daisuke, almost mechanically. "And you? What can I get you?"

"...He's with me," said Petula, her attempt at sounding stern falling flat.

"And his name?"

"...Haxks," Petula stated firmly.

"Never heard of it," the man scoffed, then turned his icy gaze toward Daisuke. "If you're not buying, then do yourself a favor and scram."

A muscle twitched in Daisuke's jaw, butterscotch eyes igniting.

"Is that so?" Petula remarked, her grip firm as she steered him towards the exit. "Then you can relay to Mr. Casimir that the messenger bearing time-sensitive information from the capital was denied entry."

At those words, the man's stoic visage visibly thawed. Though he remained skeptical about the truthfulness of the girl's claim, he had no intention of gambling with his life.

"Wait!" he called out urgently as he stood to his feet, his body language expressing uncertainty. "I'll let you in. Please, follow me."

Daisuke and Petula trailed behind the man as he led them through a back door into the dimly lit storage room of the store. With practiced ease, he placed his hand on a section of the wall, summoning a magic circle that shimmered beneath his touch.

A low rumble reverberated through the room, followed by a trapdoor giving way to reveal a dark staircase leading downward.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," the man apologized, even as a malicious glint flickered in his eyes. Should their story prove false, he was certain that they would inevitably be captured, imprisoned, or killed in due course. "Please," he gestured courteously, "make your way inside, but tread carefully."

Petula and Daisuke paid little heed to the man's sudden change in attitude. With Petula confidently leading the way, they descended the winding staircase while Daisuke activated the Eye of Verity, ever vigilant as they ventured deeper.

A dark smile spread across the store owner's face as he watched them vanish into the depths below.

As the trapdoor grinded to a close behind them, cutting off the feeble light from above, Daisuke's senses heightened, alert for any potential threats. The atmosphere felt reminiscent of a dungeon, with mana crystal lamps sparsely illuminating the stone-carved stairway in place of torches, casting shifting shadows that danced along the walls as they descended further into the unknown.

"...A world of wonders," Daisuke projected his voice so that Petula could hear. "Was that some kind of secret code or something?"

"T-That's right," she confirmed, her heart beating a frantic tattoo as they neared the bottom of the stairway. "Each person is assigned a unique password to gain entry into the—"