“I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” Victor answered slowly. Of course, as the “brightest” of the NPCs, he played his role well. There was no way that Victor would admit such a thing when someone asked about it for the first time.

  “Don’t play dumb.” Thunder clenched his fists. “I have proof that shows you’re not an NPC. Heck, most of the NPCs in the academy aren’t real NPCs. You can fool other people, but you can’t fool me. I know there’s more to this game than meets the eye. Isn’t that right, Cyber?”

  A confident smile crept onto his face.

  Victor chuckled — there was no hiding it from this guy anymore. “Oh? Why do you think that I’m a player, and Cyber to boot?”

  Thunder pulled out a chair and sat down without asking, his eyes locked onto Victor’s.

  “For starters, your behavioral complexity far surpasses any AI system I’ve ever encountered in other games or even cutting-edge AI systems in development. No matter how advanced NPCs are in this game, they shouldn’t have been able to act so unpredictably. Especially you. You adapt dynamically. Too dynamically.”

  Victor remained silent, watching him carefully.

  “Then there’s the decision-making process. You’re not just reacting to players like a programmed entity — you’re anticipating them. Every time a major event happens, you’re already several steps ahead, setting things up like a real person would. No NPC can do that.”

  He’s sharp.

  Thunder leaned closer. “And the biggest clue of all is the game’s system itself.”

  Victor raised an eyebrow. “What about it?”

  “The content updates.” Thunder’s voice was steady, but there was clear excitement in his tone. “Every time a major feature rolls out, it’s not just an expansion of content — it feels intentional. Almost like it’s something that happens because it is the natural thing to happen, which then turns into a content or event update. I’ve seen enough game systems to recognize when something is scripted versus when someone is actively running the show.”

  “So you believe that I’m in control?”

  Thunder crossed his arms. “If not you, then someone directly connected to you. That’s the only explanation for how the academy operates. I know that the game explicitly mentions that you’re an NPC that has been given full authority, but I knew better than to accept things at face value. Although I wasn’t completely sure that you were Cyber, but after seeing your reaction, there’s no doubt left.”

  Well, this is interesting. Thunder might not have figured out everything yet — like the fact that this world was real rather than just a game — but his suspicions were almost entirely correct. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before he uncovered all the secrets buried in this so-called “game.”

  “So what?” Victor said, narrowing his eyes. “What if you know I’m a player? Are you planning to tell others?”

  “No. That wouldn’t benefit me in any way.” Thunder shook his head. “What I want is simple: employ me. Let me work for you in your game.”

  This was exactly what Victor had been waiting for ever since he agreed to save Thunder (Jacky) from his illness by offering him a second life. He needed someone from the players’ side, someone in a situation similar to his own, to work under him. This was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

  “I’m aware that this game is more than just a simple VRMMORPG,” Thunder continued. “There’s something bigger at play, something that you’re trying to accomplish. And if I can’t stop you, then the next best thing is to join you.” He smirked. “Or as they say, ‘In for a penny, in for a pound.’”

  Indeed.

  By working for him, Thunder would be granted a small degree of administrative power. The pros clearly outweighed the cons. Only a foolish ignoramus would pass up an opportunity like this. But this was expected. A man who had once reached the top in his past life would never let go of his ambition so easily.

  After a moment of silence, Victor smiled. “Wise decision,” he said, extending his hand to him. “Welcome to the team.”

  Thunder looked at Victor’s extended hand and quickly grasped it firmly. “I’ll hold you to that.”

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  “Naturally. I wouldn’t have accepted you otherwise.”

  Releasing the handshake, Victor rested his head on his folded hands. “Since you’re officially working under me now, let’s go over a few things. First, your role. You’re still a player, so I won’t be giving you any position that raises suspicion. For now, you’ll act as my special liaison — someone who monitors player activity from the inside and keeps me informed.”

  Thunder crossed his arms. “So, basically, I’ll be your informant?”

  “You can call it that,” Victor said. “But your job isn’t just to report information. I need someone who can influence players when necessary, guide certain events in a way that benefits the academy, and handle… delicate matters that other players shouldn’t be aware of.”

  Thunder’s lips curled into a grin. “Sounds like I’ll be playing both sides.”

  “You can take it however you want. Just remember that once you’re in, there’s no turning back.”

  “That’s fine by me. I was never planning to leave anyway,” said Thunder with conviction.

  Victor and Thunder then discussed more about how they should communicate and refine their respective roles. Victor upgraded Thunder’s Shadowlink Mark to be similar to that of the staff like Eleanor had, even the ability to make missions, though he warned that Thunder shouldn’t use that function unless it was necessary to fulfil his task.

  “As proof of my seriousness, I want to report something,” Thunder said.

  “Speak.”

  “There’s been some suspicious activity involving KuroUsagi and his group,” Thunder stated. “I don’t know exactly what they’re up to, but they’ve been moving strangely — keeping things quiet, avoiding the usual player discussions, and being online less than most average players. It’s as if they’re on to something.”

  “KuroUsagi, huh?” Victor mulled this over, as Lizbeth herself had brought this up before.

  As one of the top players and a well-known critic, his sudden silence was indeed suspicious. After all, he usually did things openly to stir conversation. If he was keeping things secret, then whatever he was involved in had to be more important than simply experiencing the ultra-realistic game.

  But what could it be?

  Thunder nodded. “Mhm. I tried digging around but haven’t found any clues yet. Whatever they’re planning, they’re keeping it well hidden from the public eye.”

  KuroUsagi wasn’t the type to hoard secrets unless he had a very good reason, not to mention that it was their entire group that was involved in this. That meant whatever they were involved in was not just another typical player shenanigan.

  “Keep an eye on them,” Victor said. “Dig up as much information as possible and figure out what they’re planning. If the opportunity presents itself, infiltrate their group. But whatever you do, don’t let them know I’m involved.”

  “Understood. Consider it done.” Thunder smirked confidently.

  With that, he turned and left the office, leaving Victor to his thoughts.

  Before he could dwell on the matter further, Lizbeth appeared again with her arms crossed and a skeptical look on her face. “Say, isn’t that risky? Trusting Thunder just like that and telling him you’re a player, even if that’s technically a lie?”

  Victor glanced at her, still resting his head on his folded hands. “What makes you think I trust him?”

  Lizbeth rolled her eyes. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe the part where you immediately let him in on your schemes? What if he’s just playing along to get information out of you?”

  “He might be. But that’s fine.” He shrugged nonchalantly.

  Lizbeth blinked. “Huh?”

  “I don’t put my trust in him, not after everything that’s happened,” Victor explained. “I just need him to think I do. Thunder isn’t stupid. He knows that betraying me won’t get him anywhere. He’s stuck in this world, just like me, and he understands that working with me is far more beneficial than trying to go against me.”

  Lizbeth squinted at him. “And let’s say he does turn against you. What then?”

  “Irrelevant. The subordinate Shadowlink Mark already controls and monitors him; he wouldn’t be able to betray me even if he wanted to. And if, by some chance, he did find a way, I’d make sure he regrets it.”

  Lizbeth let out a dramatic sigh. “You’re such a scary boss, Master. Good thing I’m a very loyal fairy.”

  Victor chuckled. “Pfft. You, really?”

  “I am!” Lizbeth puffed her cheeks. “Still, KuroUsagi’s case is suspicious. I have a feeling he’s figured out something he shouldn’t have and is planning something big.”

  “That’s exactly why I need to know,” Victor said. “If it’s just some ambitious scheme, I don’t care. But if it has the potential to disrupt my plans or the academy’s stability”—he narrowed his eyes—“I need to be several steps ahead and prepare a countermeasure.”

  In fact, Victor had made several plans in case the players were to rebel or something unexpected on Earth were to happen. That said, it was unlikely that KuroUsagi was plotting something that could shut the game down. Even if he were to discover the truth — that this world was real — he would have more to gain by preserving it than by trying to destroy it.

  As Victor came to that conclusion, a melodious ding echoed in his mind.

  [Mission Accomplished!]

  [Congratulations on passing the mission. You have successfully created three devices that allow for instantaneous movement between locations and have secured them in place.]

  [The reward (4,000 academy points) has been issued.]

  A satisfied smirk appeared on his face. Finally, the task was complete, which meant that the players had placed the three devices in place, and the instantaneous transportation network could be used.

  “Congratulations, Master. Oh, and there’s a new main mission. You should check it out promptly,” Lizbeth said with a smile.

  Without hesitation, Victor opened the Headmaster’s Journal to check the next mission. However, the moment his eyes landed on the new mission, his smirk vanished.

  “…What?”

  For the first time in a while, Victor was shocked speechless.

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