Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

"Confirm it," the voice from the base commanded, "Based on the data and pattern analysis you provided earlier, the virtual world whose theft of computing power resources was interrupted by Pansen lacks sufficient energy to maintain its operation. It shouldn't have been absent all day yesterday. If it hasn't shown up at all, we need to consider whether this little thing has been 'frightened' by Pansen's actions and has completely fled."

This meant that it would probably be much harder for them to receive any news regarding the virtual world again.

"Yes."

The central console contained all the historical records of information, which could be queried at any time, even if asked.

Eric did not have the authority to check the log records. It could only be checked by his assistant Aryan, who was standing a short distance away and operating the central console.

"Okay." Aryan nodded his head, easily pulling up the system log panel.

[...Evening 19:31:02 F1 district host group operating efficiency decreased by 11%, lasting 17 minutes and 23 seconds.]

[...Evening 20:17:18 C4 district host group operating efficiency decreased by 4%, lasting 15 minutes and 18 seconds.]

Tw... twice.

Aryan was slightly startled upon seeing the last two lines of the log record.

The figure who stood alone beside the host that evening, lost in thought, flashed through his mind like an instinct.

'Come out for a walk... I can't help with Lord's matters, might as well come and see if there's anything in the server room that needs help.'

"..."

That smiling face was still so warm, but the location of its appearance was too coincidental.

Aryan had a good memory.

So why did Bai E coincidentally appear in the C4 district?

So why does the time... also match exactly?

Intentionally hiding something?

Hiding what?

The trajectory of Bai E's movements within the base flashed through Aryan's mind in an instant... particularly clear because of the special attention paid.

As long as Pansen was there, Bai E would never be absent.

Even if it meant going several days without sleep, he would always "guard" by the side.

This is a base!

The solid walls of the Golden Age protected the important interior; all the warriors brought in firmly controlled every passage in and out. Even a fly coming in had to greet the monitors, what did he have to guard?

What did he need to stay vigilant for, without sleep day and night?

Moreover, in their occasional idle conversation, she heard Minister Eric say... Bai E was originally not allowed to leave the camp on his own, and he had exchanged a great merit from the battlefield for the opportunity to come to the base.

There was a time when she harbored a one in ten thousand sweet fantasy in her heart—imagining that perhaps Bai E had come for her.

But now it seems, Bai E... also came for the virtual world!

The twists and turns were many, but once a thought was clear, all became instantly transparent.

She was mild-mannered, but not stupid.

Aryan's intelligence was significant enough to become the personal assistant to the head of the Information Department of the city's Scientific Research Institute while still young.

Having confirmed that Bai E was also related to the virtual world, the words "it appeared once more" that were about to leave her lips were forcibly swallowed down.

It didn't show up! It didn't appear today.

If since Lord Pansen's intervention, the virtual world hadn't shown up even once, then the possibility that it was "scared away" by his actions could stand.

But if it appeared once after Pansen, why didn't it appear again today?

Pansen came to capture that elusive virtual world.

And after Bai E had "contact" with it, the virtual world never showed up again. Does this mean that...

Bai E had taken it away?

This was something the city's authorities had specifically requested.

"..." Biting her lower lip, Aryan, who had never lied before, experienced the torture of her conscience for the first time.

"What's wrong?" Minister Eric, still wearing his headset and waiting for an answer, asked in confusion, seeing Aryan's somewhat dazed profile.

The slight raise in her voice made Aryan tremble all over; inexplicably, her hands shook as she instinctively used her authority to delete the last log entry before lowering her head and gently shaking it, "It... It hasn't shown up."

"Oh~" Minister Eric, not doubting her, replied to the voice in the headset, "It hasn't shown up."

"Understood." The voice on the other end responded instantly, giving instructions, "Continue the monitoring. If it appears again, make sure to notify me immediately."

"Understood."

"Doot~ Doot~ Doot~" After hanging up the communication, Minister Eric approached Aryan, "What's the matter, you seemed distracted just now?"

"I was... thinking about something else."

"The person left, taking your soul with him..." Eric shook his head helplessly, "He must not have gone far, should I call him now, ask him to come back, and take you along as well?"

"No need!" Aryan tossed her ponytail and turned to run away.

Arriving at a corner out of Eric's sight, Aryan pressed her body tightly against the wall, gasping for air.

Her heart dared to beat wildly with panic only at that moment.

It was her first time lying, and it was to the high-level officials of the city.

Secretly taking away the "virtual world" that the adults in the city coveted, Bai E... what exactly do you want to do?

More crucially... how could Bai E take away what even Lord Pansen couldn't?

... Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

[ "Lucky Strike" energy +5. ]

"Huh?"

Bai E, who was driving, had a slight tremor in his palm, somewhat surprised.

What did I do? Suddenly +5?

Not understanding, he decided not to think about it.

The accelerator pressed to the floor, Bai E hurried back to town.

It wasn't just about following orders from superiors, it was also for his own development.

Since yesterday, Bai E had begun to sense a faint suction force acting upon his body.

After several moments of paranoia, Bai E eventually pinpointed the source—

The storage space, or rather, the virtual world.

Like a transparent airbag, the virtual world became a cave with an increasingly strong suction force. From the initially faint presence to a strength that allowed identification of the source, Bai E roughly guessed what "it" was demanding.

Food.

When it had no owner, it would sneak into the machine room and feed itself, but now that it had an owner, does it mean it no longer needs to eat?

To stay in the base, provided with meals all day long?

Does that mean I shouldn't plan my own development? Being isolated from the outside world for a virtual world, effectively trapping myself there?

Impossible.

The more one gains, the more one carries.

I have to find my own way.

Computing Power Resources... these things are not so rare.

Although it's carefree in the main server room of the base, it's not impossible to acquire them outside either, just a little more troublesome...

Didn't we get a bunch last time we attacked the cybernetic stronghold?

Though it was all turned in...

But if there's a place where it can be found, there's a way.

No one likes to mess with cybernetics because they offer little reward and cause big trouble.

After defeating them, the most valuable looted items include their intelligence cores and Computing Power Resources, but these items can't be directly utilized by humans. Even vehicles and equipment produced by cybernetics can't be used directly by humans because there's no provision for a driver.

Besides gaining a bunch of possibly refined steel, fighting them yields nothing else of value.

And if the annihilation isn't complete, the crazed revenge from them would be a headache for anyone.

But what if their produced resources are needed?

There are plenty of minor fortresses on the map, free for the taking.

Whether or not the mission in Grey Iron City succeeds, it's about time for the players to return.

It would be perfect to segue into a new mission seamlessly. If I'm available, why not lead them into a... dungeon raid animation?

With plans for the future plotted in his mind, Bai E was eager to return home.

...

"Ssshhh~"

"Ssshhh~"

The transparent airbag pulsated as if alive, drawing in cool air from the storage space with each contraction.

In the blank beyond Bai E's observation, an unknowable viewpoint plummeted... falling... falling...

Down to a clarity below the blankness, where the world suddenly opened up...