"It's nice seeing your body getting thinner and leaner every time we meet, Daniel," Eleanor said with a gentle smile. She looked as beautiful as ever as she faced the man sitting across from her.
"This is all because of hard work," Daniel replied. Compared to the overweight body he had when they first met, he was now much leaner, with clear muscle lines visible beneath his clothes.
Eleanor took a slow sip of the fresh green tea in front of her. The warmth seemed to calm her. With a smile that almost shone like sunlight, she spoke again. "It's already been two months since all this chaos started, yet we're still here. Still breathing."
"Heh. If it weren't for your beauty, those words would sound cringe to me," Daniel said lightly as he took a sip from his own cup. Unlike Eleanor's tea, his drink was a dark, bitter coffee. "But yeah… it hasn't been easy. Still, we survived up to this point."
"Let's stop the small talk," Eleanor said, setting her cup down. "I need to sleep early today. I have trading to prepare for tomorrow."
"Sure," Daniel replied, finishing the last of his coffee. Eleanor still wondered how he could drink something that bitter so easily. "I also need to attend Hesta."
"The government—the Rising Righteous Government—will soon open registration and examinations for positions in the capital," Daniel continued. "They're lacking officers, and it's starting to affect how they manage things."
"It's surprising they even made it this far with so few people," Eleanor commented calmly. "Especially with that Great Xian controlling everything."
"Yeah," Daniel said as he leaned back into his seat, relaxing. "This will also cause the dismissal of many former officials from the old government. We expect protests and rallies in the capital soon."
"That's going to be messy," Eleanor replied, leaning back as well.
"That's why they're recruiting a large number of adaptive players—anyone above level ten," Daniel added. "They need manpower, badly."
"They'll still struggle," Eleanor said.
"That's what I thought too… until I saw the updated chapter."
"Hm?" Eleanor muttered. She opened her system window without thinking.
A dark red panel appeared in front of her.
[CHAPTER THREE – Clear all possible campsites and monster dens within the current district to proceed to the next chapter. Dungeons will appear in ruined areas across districts. If left uncleared, they will eventually break out and cause destruction.]
[UPDATE – By request of the District Master, players can now be recruited and assigned tasks. Completion of tasks will grant rewards set by the District Master.]
"…I haven't checked this in days," Eleanor said quietly. "I didn't know it was updated because of Xian."
"I heard the rewards are good enough to count as a full-time job," Daniel added. "At least a thousand credits per mission."
Credits were the new currency introduced by the central government. A thousand credits equaled one coin. Food and basic needs were still affordable, but items that once required coins—especially weapons—had become extremely expensive.
"As for our plan," Daniel continued, "I'll stick close to Hesta. It's a good chance to enter the government from your side and I'll the gather information."
That had been Xavier's instruction. Daniel's task was simple—stay close to Hesta, who trusted him. Eleanor, meanwhile, would find her own way in. Moving together would raise suspicion, especially since no one truly knew the full reach of the new government, or the mind behind it—Xian.
"I'll think about it," Eleanor replied. "It's been months since we last saw those two. We don't even know if they're alive… though if they are, they're probably still causing chaos."
"Heh, true," Daniel sighed as he stood up. "I should go. Hesta has an appointment soon, and I can't leave her waiting. I'll gather info while I'm at it."
Eleanor stood as well, following him toward the exit. "Don't tell me you've actually fallen for her."
"That's none of your business," Daniel said with a short laugh. "I'm heading out. See you again, Eleanor."
He waved and entered a black, heavy vehicle marked with blue and white engravings—the symbol of the new government.
"Did the meeting with our informant go well, Boss?" asked the young man driving the car. He was good-looking, almost rivaling Daniel's growing appearance.
"Yes," Daniel replied. "Though she didn't have much information. Let's go. I don't want the lady to worry."
…
Eleanor stood outside the coffee shop as the car drove east toward the inner circle. Her thoughts drifted as she planned her next moves.
I need a way into their ranks. Daniel's news is useful, but I have to be careful. I'm still a well-known trader. Joining them suddenly could put both of us at risk.
Tomorrow, I'll sell the ten thousand coins' worth of items I've stockpiled. Then I'll buy another batch and repeat. I also need more information to choose my next target.
She had been hunting quietly for weeks now. No one noticed. She was level fifteen—on par with Daniel.
For now, I should head home and plan properly.
She snapped out of her thoughts when someone bumped into her.
"Oh—sorry," Eleanor said politely, bowing slightly.
The older man who bumped into her looked her up and down, a crooked smile forming. "Hey, beauty. Can't you watch where you're standing? At least apologize properly. I'll forgive you if you—"
He never finished his sentence.
Eleanor's fist struck him cleanly, sending him flying several meters away. He hit the ground hard and went unconscious instantly. Luckily, no one else was around to witness it.
For weeks now, Eleanor had been hunting adapters with bad reputations. Not to be a hero—but for experience and stress relief. None of her actions had been traced back to her.
Maybe it was because she had already eliminated most of the troublemakers near the capital. Or maybe she was simply too good at hiding the bodies inside uncleared dungeons and letting the monsters take the blame.
She didn't stay there long.
The day was still bright as she walked calmly toward her home in the inner district.
"Hah…" Eleanor sighed softly.
"Life…"
...
Eleanor returned to her home without encountering any problems along the way. The streets of the capital were still active, but not in the way they once were. Most players were busy wandering around, looking for opportunities—jobs, missions, trades, or anything that could help them survive another day. As for the civilians, they were either hiding inside their homes or heading out for work, doing whatever they could to keep living in this broken world.
Her house was located in the inner district of the west, positioned between several secured key points. Because of that, the area was heavily monitored and relatively safe. Eleanor didn't worry much about robbery. Not only was the location secure, but her house also served as storage for most of her valuable belongings—including items worth nearly ten thousand coins.
The house itself was simple and practical. It wasn't large, but it was more than enough for one person to live comfortably. There were several bedrooms, though only the master bedroom was in use. The rest were left untouched, their doors closed most of the time. The house also had a bathroom, a kitchen, a small living room, and a modest front yard. A mini-van was parked there, the same vehicle Eleanor used whenever she needed to transport goods or travel across districts.
After locking the door behind her, Eleanor headed straight for the bathroom.
Not long after, she finished showering and stepped out, wrapped in a towel. She stood in front of the mirror while drying her blonde hair. As she brushed through it, she noticed something unusual—near the roots, some strands had begun to turn white.
She stared at it for a moment.
"…Huh."
Still, she didn't pay it much attention. Blonde hair was only one of her many features. Losing a bit of color wouldn't affect her at all. Unless she went bald, it wasn't something worth worrying about.
As she continued drying her hair, her eyes caught movement near the living room window. A small white letter was slowly descending, floating down toward the table beside the window. Outside, perched calmly on the window frame, was a small owl with white and brown feathers. Somehow, despite the window being closed, the letter slid cleanly inside as if guided by magic.
Eleanor frowned slightly and approached.
The moment she got close, the owl flapped its wings and flew away into the night. Eleanor picked up the letter from the table and turned it over in her hands before opening it. She read the contents out loud, her voice calm, as if no one else could possibly be listening.
"Lady Hesta permitted me to share this information with you, as you might be able to help her," she read.
"At the outskirts of the eastern capital, past a few shabby roads, there's a large mall guarded by government soldiers. It's a dungeon—one that could benefit both you and the government."
Eleanor paused briefly before continuing.
"Unfortunately, I can't go myself because of Lady Hesta. But once you arrive, you should be able to pass through without much trouble. We already know who's guarding the place."
She turned the letter to the bottom.
"Your best friend, Daniel :)"
Eleanor let out a quiet chuckle when she saw the small smiley face.
That signature hadn't changed. Daniel had always been like that—timid, introverted, and awkward when they first met. Back then, he probably never imagined he'd be standing where he was now. Eleanor briefly wondered how someone like him had managed to befriend her of all people.
"Lucky you," she muttered under her breath.
She folded the letter neatly and placed it on the table.
"Tomorrow, then," Eleanor said to herself. "After the gathering in the east, I'll pass by and take a look."