Pick Me Up! - Chapter 256: Requiem (2) (2)

I sat down and focused my hearing.

Gradually, the chaotic noise began to sort itself out.

“Who’s that guy? His clothes look so outdated.”

“Isn’t that Loki? The master of Niflheimr. The one who supposedly killed El Cid.”

“Why is he here alone? Where are his subordinates?”

“No idea.”

They glanced at me.

It must seem odd. Everyone here wore modern attire, while I was the only one in armor.

“What an idiot. Doesn’t he realize what kind of danger he’s in? He doesn’t even look that strong.”

“Did El Cid really get killed by someone like that? I don’t buy it.”

“As if he killed him. He just took the credit.”

I closed my eyes.

They were whispering about me from a distance but didn’t dare approach.

“Why would the director invite an outsider to a party like this? It makes no sense.”

“What if some company secret gets leaked? We’d be the ones to suffer, not him.”

“Seriously, these clueless higher-ups ruin everything. I just came here to enjoy my vacation, and now this weirdo is killing the mood.”

Clearly, they didn’t have a favorable opinion of me.

Not that I had expected any better.

“But then again, isn’t the director losing his edge?”

“I heard he’s been sidelined in corporate politics and is basically washed up. He’s just an old man stuck in his office, browsing the internet all day.”

“Make sure you align yourself with the right people. There are rumors the game director is getting replaced.”

It seemed they didn’t think highly of Alpha Zero, the host of this party, either.

“Who knows? Maybe that guy will make it to the top of the tower and become the president’s right-hand man. The previous number one almost did, but he blew his chance.”

“Should we go introduce ourselves to him, just in case…?”

A woman in a dress started walking toward me.

When I glared at her, she quickly backed off, flustered.

“What’s with his eyes? He looks like he wants to kill someone.”

“Don’t bother him. They say he’s a mad dog.”

‘There doesn’t seem to be any useful information here.’

I relaxed my focus and began slowly scanning the room.

“Pay no attention to them; they’re just worthless people spouting nonsense.”

I glanced behind me.

Standing next to a marble pillar in the ballroom, a woman in a suit nodded toward me.

She had a composed demeanor. Her deep blue hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, and a metallic scabbard hung from her waist.

“…Who are you?”

“I’m Cizel, the director’s first-class secretary. Thank you for accepting our invitation. The director highly appreciates your efforts in subduing El Cid.”

“I didn’t subdue him. He came to die.”

“That’s one interpretation.”

Cizel whispered.

I frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“Who knows?”

Cizel smiled faintly.

Then, after clearing her throat, she examined me carefully.

“Did you come alone, by any chance?”

“I brought Iselle with me.”

“Oh dear.”

Cizel scratched her cheek, looking troubled.

“Well, it can’t be helped. The director is arriving soon. I’ll see you later.”

After bowing, Cizel ascended the stairs in the center of the ballroom.

I chuckled. I couldn’t tell what her intentions were.

At that moment, the emcee in the middle of the ballroom picked up the microphone.

Clap, clap, clap.

Applause filled the ballroom.

‘Alpha Zero.’

Creak.

The main doors in the center of the ballroom opened.

A middle-aged man walked in on a wheelchair.

‘Rolling in’ would be a more accurate description than ‘walking in.’

The middle-aged man, scanning the ballroom with glazed eyes, locked gazes with me.

“Loki.”

The director muttered in a monotone voice.

“Where’s… Seris?”

“…?”

“Se, Seris-chan…”

What the hell is he talking about?

The middle-aged man mumbled with a blank expression.

“I wanted to… lick her.”

“What?”

“Lick… lick…”

I frowned.

“He’s completely lost it.”

Someone in the room muttered, but the director didn’t even seem to hear.

“Seris-chan…”

The middle-aged man wheeled himself away and disappeared through the open door.

I stood there, dumbfounded for a moment.

‘What the hell was that?’

I hadn’t imagined it.

Was that Alpha Zero?

The one responsible for Pick Me Up?

‘……’

I glanced at the back of the invitation card.

[Note – Participation of Seris, the sub-master of Niflheimr, is highly desired.]

Now the nonsense on the card made sense.

Clap, clap, clap.

Hollow applause echoed through the ballroom.

“Hah, that relic’s really lost it.”

Amidst the applause, a sneer could be heard.

I turned toward the sound.

A young man in a white suit, smoking a cigar, was watching me.

“Serves him right for overstepping his bounds.”

He exhaled a puff of smoke.

Then, he turned toward me.

“The same goes for you. It seems you’ve caught the president’s attention, but don’t even think about resisting. Unless you want to end up like El Cid.”

“…”

“Do you still not understand why we invited a master like you? It’s to remind you of your place. This is a warning. No matter how strong Niflheimr is, you’ll never be able to defeat us. Remember that.”

After delivering his speech, the young man tossed his cigar onto the carpet and stomped it out with his foot.

Thud. He deliberately bumped into my shoulder before leaving the ballroom. Several men, who appeared to be his bodyguards, followed him.

‘…’

I left the ballroom as well.

The young man was humming as he descended the stairs. After glancing at him, I moved toward the railing.

‘No one around.’

I took out a piece of paper from my coat.

[Party Schedule (For Executives Only)]

When the young man bumped into me, I had swiped this from the pocket sticking out of his pants.

As I scanned the schedule, my eyes stopped at one part.

[2:00 AM – Meeting in the 7th-floor conference room. All team leaders must attend. Screening of the end of Dorado. Discussion of El Cid’s actions and prevention measures.]

A screening of the end.

That was the information I was after.

‘The 7th floor, huh.’

It was the top floor of the cruise ship.

Security would be tight.

“Hey! What are you doing here?”

I looked back.

One of the young man’s bodyguards was walking toward me.

I quickly hid the paper.

“What were you just doing here?”

“Nothing.”

“Suspicious bastard…”

The man furrowed his brows and reached for the gun in his holster.

“I’m going to search you. Hands up and lie do—”

Crack.

I grabbed his right arm and twisted it before he could finish speaking.

“Hrk!”

As his dislocated joint popped out, I grabbed his head with my left hand and slammed it into the steel railing.

Thud! The sound of his nose breaking was followed by a splatter of blood. I kicked his legs, causing him to flip in mid-air and tumble over the railing.

Splash.

“…”

I’d better go find that guy.

Dusting the blood off my hands, I descended the stairs.

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!