Pick Me Up! - Chapter 255: Requiem (1) (2)

Only with evidence could I devise a proper strategy.

But with Yurnet’s failure, the path to obtaining that evidence was blocked.

“…Sigh.”

Still, I can’t just sit around doing nothing.

I snapped my fingers.

[Loki’s number one subordinate, Iselle, reporting for duty!]

Iselle appeared with a triumphant pose.

“Iselle.”

[Hmm? What’s up, Loki? Feeling bored? How about we…?]

“When we complete all the missions, will Townia return to normal?”

Iselle blinked at me.

“Will all the people who died come back to life?”

[Why are you suddenly asking that? I told you before. The CEO made Pick Me Up for that purpose. Why ask something so obvious?]

“No reason. Just my mistake asking you.”

[Is something wrong?]

Iselle looked at me with innocent eyes.

I chuckled. This kid is at the bottom rung of Mobius Corp. There’s no way she’d know any company secrets.

‘What do I do now?’

The answer will likely come as I ascend the tower.

But…

‘I don’t want to leave anything to chance.’

I’m tired of getting blindsided.

When I first arrived here, I had neither power nor influence, but things are different now.

I’ll use whatever I can. No matter what it is.

It’s better than sitting around, waiting to be stabbed in the back.

I pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from the trash can beside the desk.

[We will be holding a celebration party for Loki, one of the top-ranking players and the hero who saved Pick Me Up! As soon as you RSVP, we’ll prepare the venue at the company…]

It was a party invitation sent by the game company after El Cid’s death.

Of course, I tore it up as soon as I received it, but even after returning to Townia, similar invitations kept arriving.

‘Persistent.’

I spread the crumpled invitation out on my desk and read through it slowly.

“Victory celebration party…”

[Expose and condemn El Cid’s wrongdoings in detail.

Gather together to ensure this never happens again.

ALPHA0.]

‘Alpha Zero?’

I looked at Iselle, who stood blankly beside me.

“What’s Alpha Zero?”

[Alpha Zero?]

I handed her the invitation.

Iselle glanced over it, scanning up and down before suddenly exclaiming,

[Wha—!]

She let out a startled yelp.

“Why are you screaming? Did you choke on something?”

[A-Alpha Zero…]

“And who are they?”

[They’re the game director of Pick Me Up!]

Iselle stared at the bottom of the invitation.

[This is undoubtedly their signature…]

“Are they that impressive?”

[Alpha Zero is on the same level as the CEO. They oversee the entire Pick Me Up operation! Where did you get this? I’ve only seen this signature at the Fairy Academy!]

So, they’re on par with the CEO, huh?

I suppose. If there’s a CEO, there must be a separate designer for the game.

Given the game’s nature, I doubt that person is entirely sane, either.

[This is amazing, Loki! This could be your big break! You could be scouted as an executive in the company!]

Iselle shook the invitation enthusiastically, her cheeks flushed.

[A personal secretary, a foreign luxury car, your own helicopter, a 7-star chef, a mansion, and a villa! This is incredible! I might finally see the light of day… aaack!]

I grabbed Iselle’s cheek and pulled.

“Keep your delusions in check. It’s not good for your head.”

[But, but, if the director themselves sent this, it could be… a scouting opportunity…]

“Would you join a company that makes a mess of a game like this?”

Though Tel had promised me a high-ranking position if I reached the top, I had no intention of accepting it.

I wouldn’t take it even if it were offered.

“And why are you celebrating? The invitation’s addressed to me.”

[Waaah! Take me with you! Please take me toooo!]

Iselle flailed on the desk.

[Me toooo!]

“I didn’t even say I was going.”

[But you should go! You won’t get another chance like this!]

Is this Alpha Zero really that important?

At first, I thought it was just trash and threw it away.

‘There’s no guarantee it’s not a trap.’

But nothing major should happen.

After all, I still have value to them.

Otherwise, Tel wouldn’t have interrupted my 2-star promotion ceremony.

‘If I want to know the ending of Pick Me Up…’

I’ll need to obtain Alpha-level clearance.

According to Iselle, the one who sent this invitation is an Alpha-level, and not just any Alpha—Zero.

‘This might require taking some risks.’

I don’t know what might happen.

The chance of it being a trap is low, but that doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous.

I rested my chin on my hand.

I needed time to think.

[Come on, Loki, let’s go!]

Iselle looked at me with sparkling eyes.

I hadn’t said I would go, nor did I say I’d take her.

“……”

I raised my head.

On the wall above my desk, the wolf-fur cloak of El Cid hung.

It was a trophy I’d taken after his death.

‘I want to know.’

Why he was trying to reach the 1st server.

Why he entrusted his life to me.

‘Is it curiosity?’

The old me would have scoffed at such thoughts and tossed the invitation aside.

Why risk stepping into danger unnecessarily?

And yet… I can’t shake this curiosity.

With a deep sigh, I turned the invitation over and looked at the back.

At the bottom was a contact number.

[1004 – 5858 – 8282]

You’ve got to be kidding.

I clicked my tongue.

“Iselle.”

[Hmm?]

“How do you contact them?”

Iselle came over and peered at the number.

[That’s an internal company line… Oh, wait, Loki, does that mean…!]

“Pack your things. Don’t leave any tasks unfinished.”

[Got it! I’ll grab the phone right away!]

With a frantic nod, Iselle disappeared with a pop.

I leaned back into the chair cushion.

‘Is this really the right thing to do?’

If Yurnet knew, she’d probably try to stop me.

Going into enemy territory without knowing their intentions was practically suicide.

“Ugh.”

I reached for the wolf-fur cloak hanging on the rack.

Its dark blue fabric was reinforced with cloth and leather, and the area near the neck was covered in snowy white fur.

‘It’s not really my style.’

Doesn’t suit me at all.

I chuckled and hung the cloak back where it belonged.

I’m currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!