Chapter 58: The Journalist’s Keen Eye and a Whisper of Magic

Ji Yuan is one of the most capable journalists on the gaming forums, yet her exceptional perceptiveness led her to uncover stories too sensitive for publication, which is why she sought us out.

Yu Ling offered this introduction in a calm, reassuring tone, while Ji Yuan, seizing the opportunity, puffed out her small, bobbing chest, proclaiming with the pride of a little rooster:

“My usual work involves interviewing and reporting on top-ranked players, and the ‘White Dragon Knight,’ ranked third in the Asia server, naturally falls within my professional scope.”

“However, before I could even approach him, he had already vanished completely.”

At this, Ji Yuan’s shoulders slumped, and she adorably pouted, clearly expressing considerable regret and dissatisfaction.

“Is that so? In that case, if you can provide valuable information, I can specially allocate a short period to grant you an interview with the ‘Sword Monk.’ What do you say?”

With an elegant gesture, Ning Yao swept her long hair from the nape of her neck, every movement exuding the noble aura of a young lady of distinction.

“R-really?! Miss Ning, you actually know someone of that caliber!?”

Overwhelmed, Ji Yuan raised her phone to cover her small mouth, her clear eyes brimming with astonishment and delight.

“Ji Yuan, she is the ‘Sword Monk’ I mentioned earlier.”

Yu Ling, a hint of helplessness in his expression, leaned closer to whisper in her ear.

He had, in fact, informed her prior to their arrival that this meeting was with the “Sword Monk.” However, the stark contrast in demeanor likely prevented Ji Yuan from immediately associating the dignified and delicate young lady before her with the peerless, wandering “Sword Monk” from the game.

“Is that, is that really so?”

Ji Yuan scrutinized Ning Yao with a mix of surprise and doubt, her gaze ultimately settling on a particular area that didn’t quite match its in-game counterpart.

“……”

Ning Yao, too, became aware of Ji Yuan’s lingering gaze, and following it, she cast her eyes downwards, only to behold her own utterly flat chest.

‘She had to admit, when I created my character, I might have… exaggerated certain proportions a little.’

‘But what could she do? The game’s default models already possessed a certain magnitude, and she had simply — quite by chance — failed to notice that the chest size could be altered!’

‘Yes, it was absolutely not because she had deliberately chosen an expensive, specialized gaming pod just to experience features she herself lacked!’

“Ji Yuan, Ji Yuan!”

Yu Ling frantically nudged Ji Yuan, who was still fixated on Ning Yao’s chest, with his elbow, signaling her to quickly change the subject. He could sense a palpable desire for blood emanating from Ning Yao opposite them.

“Ah! Right, right, right!”

Ji Yuan cleared her throat, snapping out of her comparative analysis, then opened the notepad on her phone and began to outline the information she had gathered:

“On September 26th, Bai Tong, the young master of the Bai Corporation, was reported missing. According to the testimony of the nanny, who was the first to discover his absence, there were no signs of Bai Tong having left his room before he disappeared, yet his gaming pod was found to be active.”

“Later, when the police arrived, the gaming pod automatically opened, revealing it to be completely empty.”

Ji Yuan explained, referencing the notes on her phone, all the while deep in thought.

“In truth, this isn’t an isolated incident. In the past month alone, nearly twenty such disappearances have occurred. The common threads among them are victims who vanish without a trace and operational, yet empty, gaming pods.”

“Given such obvious clues, one would expect the police to catch on quickly, but their response to these cases has been unexpectedly sluggish and slow-witted.”

Ji Yuan thoughtfully stroked her chin, stating with gravitas:

“Either a higher-level organization has infiltrated and interfered, or they are being influenced by some extraordinary power, or perhaps it’s a combination of both.”

“Miss Ning, before you came to us, did anyone around you express doubts or questions regarding the disappearance of Young Master Bai?”

“Now that you mention it, it does seem that way…”

Ning Yao, too, furrowed her elegant brows in confusion.

She recalled her previous attempt to ascertain the situation from Bai Tong’s parents, yet their demeanor had been strikingly indifferent, as if their own son hadn’t gone missing. They had even fabricated numerous self-serving excuses.

Although Bai Tong’s relationship with his aunt and uncle was not particularly close, Ning Yao believed it was merely a lack of communication, not an indication of mutual disregard.

Furthermore, Aunt Li, the first discoverer, as well as his teachers and classmates at school, had all responded vaguely, appearing largely unconcerned.

For a moment, she even wondered if there was something wrong with her perception.

It wasn’t until the night before last, when an account with the ID “White Wolf” logged into the Demon King’s City for a fleeting moment, only to vanish within minutes, that she realized none of these occurrences were simple.

Currently, her in-game character, along with Yu Ling, was staying in an inn within Irithyll, the Demon King’s capital, yet they found themselves unable to commence their investigation.

The “White Wolf” had last disappeared from a high point within the Demon King’s City, and despite their desire to investigate, the stringent defenses rendered them helpless.

“Indeed, had Ning Yao not sought me out, I might not have even noticed Bai Tong’s disappearance myself.”

Yu Ling furrowed his brows, his internal doubts deepening.

“Why is Ning Yao unaffected, and who is truly behind all of this?”

“As for why Miss Ning remains unaffected, I already have an answer in mind. However, for easier comprehension, please allow me to explain it a little later.”

Humming triumphantly, Ji Yuan tilted her small head upwards, her two little “rice cakes” on her chest jiggling slightly in sync.

She leaned forward, gesturing for the two of them to draw closer, and then whispered mysteriously:

“I wonder, do either of you believe in the existence of magic?”

“……”

Ning Yao remained silent, instead regarding Ji Yuan with a gaze typically reserved for the intellectually challenged.

Yu Ling, meanwhile, shook his head with a wry smile, seemingly having anticipated such a topic.

“Well… indeed, it is rather difficult to explain the existence of magic to ordinary people who have never encountered it.”

Ji Yuan scratched her head, her smile turning slightly awkward. She playfully stuck out her tongue, attempting to both appear cute and diffuse the somewhat stiff atmosphere.

“Perhaps demonstrating it would be quicker than simply explaining.”

Ji Yuan extended her small hand and snapped her fingers in mid-air with a soft “pop,” and instantly, everything around them fell silent.

It wasn’t a tranquility of mood or atmosphere; Ning Yao could distinctly feel it was an absolute, sensory silence.

Though the bustling scene of people coming and going remained before her eyes, it felt as though a thick barrier separated them, rendering sounds and colors exceptionally distant.

“This is a ‘Keep Out’ suggestive barrier,” Ji Yuan explained, “though it’s merely a simple trick, it should be sufficient to prove the existence of magic.”

Ji Yuan spoke as if she had performed a trivial feat, basking in their astonished and incredulous gazes, proudly tilting her small head.

“To outsiders, we appear to be conversing normally, but they cannot hear our words. Should they attempt to approach, they will subconsciously disregard this area, finding themselves utterly unable to draw near this spot.”

Ji Yuan leisurely twirled her fingers as she elucidated.

“The individual responsible for Young Master Bai’s disappearance employed a similar method.”