HCB Chapter 257: Side Quest
Chapter 257: Side Quest
"Why is it so expensive?! This Leak doesn’t even have any drops!"
"Hey, man. I just work here, I don’t set the rules... or the fees."
A few days later, smack dab right next to the sparkling city of Las Vegas, an extremely large and luxurious gate casually towered. Surrounding it was a plaza, which had its own road leading to and from the main city.
There were hundreds of people there, and from how they all differ in looks, most of them aren’t even from the country. That was normal in Las Vegas—what was normal was that most of these people weren’t here for the casinos and the endless entertainment, no.
They were there for the towering gate, or rather, the thing it housed—a Red Leak.
"When was the last time someone solo cleared it? Did the leaderboards reset yet?"
"It should, it’s the start of the month."
Several people were standing in front of a large screen, staring at all the names and figures plastered on it.
"The fuck... the Earth Breaker cleared it in eleven hours," someone gasped.
"That’s nothing. Didn’t the Berserk Fairy clear it sub-9 last month?"
"She’s a Tier-A fucking flying speedster. She probably just skipped most of the floors."
"...You think that loca would skip fighting? You trippin’, hombre."
"Why are you guys impressed with those numbers? Bin-woo cleared this in six hours."
"He’s an S-tier Hero. Most of them clear the tower sub-7. And bitch, please. His brother did it faster."
"...What do you think X-tier Heroes will get?"
"Why would X-tier Heroes even climb the tower?"
"Pft. X-tier Heroes are overrated—when was the last time you saw them do anything?"
"Sshh. What will you do if one of them hears you?"
"Bitch, please. There are only five of them. Why would one be here?"
There was. One of them was there.
Adam was standing right behind them, also staring at the leaderboards with a curious look on his face. This time, he was completely covered from head to ankles with a gray hooded mantle—and surprisingly enough, he didn’t look out of place at all.
Most of the Heroes there already had their equipment on, with some even more glittering than Las Vegas.
Adam stared at the leaderboard for a few more seconds before slipping away from the crowd, adjusting his hood to make sure none of the cameras were catching his face... because there were a lot.
A lot.
Not counting the plaza’s own surveillance cameras, there were hundreds of spherical drones hovering above them because of all the so-called influencer Heroes.
"What’s up, what’s up chat! We’re here at the Las Vegas Tower!"
"The scenery might not look good right now, but watch this."
"Welcome back to my channel. And today, we’re exploring the Tower."
Adam glanced at all the influencers, sighing as he made sure to keep his head down. Influencers already existed before—most of the old RLRD were famous vloggers. But they were just that... vloggers. But right now, a lot of the Heroes truly had their own personas and brands, and lived with cameras on their faces twenty-four-seven.
The advancements in technology allowed this.
Young people and their fancy AR glasses and rings. Why are you talking like an old man? Because you are old and stupid. Now you’re talking like a child. Because you look like a child, stupid.
Adam sighed at his own thoughts—he grew older, and yet he still talked to himself. He’d already spoken to a psychiatrist about this. And apparently... it was normal?
Yes. Because you’re abnormal. Shut up.
Adam shook his head, walking across the plaza until he reached the shed next to the gate, where people were buying entry. Surprisingly, despite the large number of people in the plaza, the number of people in line was less than ten.
"Ugh... I hope no one clears the tower. Last time I was here, I was only inside for like ten minutes before someone killed the Boss."
"I don’t think the Leak’s closing anytime soon. I don’t see anyone recognizable."
Adam nodded, eavesdropping on everyone’s conversation as he looked ahead. And not even half an hour later, he already received his slot. He still needed to wait, however, as the Tower spaced combatant and combatant groups fifteen minutes before the next one entered to avoid any conflicts. Most of the time, however, it didn’t matter.
Adam looked at his ticket, then looked at the queue on the screen before leaving to check the booths. He pulled out his phone while walking, however, and dialed Beatrice’s number.
"...I’m not retired." Adam sighed, shaking his head as he stood beside a crowded booth, tiptoeing to try and see what everyone was clamoring about. "And I called because you gave me the wrong information—the leaderboard had already reset a few hours ago."
"A lot of people." Adam finally saw what everyone was crowding for—and as soon as Adam saw that it was just ice cream, he quickly lost interest and continued exploring the plaza.
"No need. I registered," Adam whispered.
"I didn’t really see the need. I’m not going to clear the tower." Adam shrugged. "You said the monsters here respawn endlessly, so I wanted to check something."
<...If the monsters there will give you Status Points?> Beatrice’s voice turned quiet.
"Yes."
"No..." Adam’s voice also lowered, and he moved to a less crowded space. "...Gordon wouldn’t have had to die if I were. The others, too... Mira—"
"...How can I?"
Adam closed his eyes, shaking his head before nodding.
"I know. It’s just... I miss them, you know?"
"Now you’re saying the same thing as Katherine."
"I already told you I haven’t retired yet."
"Because you told me to give the others a chance."
"Wh—"
Beatrice hung up before Adam could even say anything. He looked at his phone, sighing as he slipped it back into his pocket—what he didn’t notice, however, was that several groups of people were already staring at him.
Not because they noticed him, no.
"Look at that boy... he’s using one of those vintage phones."
"Pft. Let him be. You know guys his age always want to act cool."
"...Is it just me, or does he look familiar?"
Adam didn’t heed them at all, however, and rushed to return to the gate as he saw that he was the third one in the queue.
The one ahead of him was already there.
"Oh, man... fuck. I really hope no one clears it. I want to at least reach the 40th floor," the man said, fidgeting in place as he glanced around. "Shit... I’m next."
The man stepped forward as his name was called, adjusting his equipment and making sure everything was a snug fit. The large gate hummed, scratching the ground as it slowly opened and revealed the Red Leak inside.
To say this Red Leak was colossal would be an understatement—they didn’t build the towering gate for aesthetic purposes. The Leak truly filled the entire gate with how large it was. It was also brighter than most Red Leaks; its fluctuations and ripples were more violent, too.
"Okay. Here we go..." he put on a pair of sunglasses, his eyes lighting up beneath them. "...Here we go!"
He lunged forward, roaring as he did so.
Adam also moved forward to wait for his turn, but before he could even take three steps, the Leak suddenly disappeared.
"Wh—"
"Fuck! I knew it!"
"Someone cleared it?! But I just got in?!"
"Oh. You just got in?! I literally just entered!"
More than fifty people appeared, spat out by the vanished Leak. The people guarding the gate all shouted, screaming for them to leave—they didn’t need to be warned, however, as the group immediately started running.
And not even a second later, the air around them began to fluctuate. The space in front of Adam, fracturing and soon reforming the Leak within the gate.
Yes—this was one of the many changes of the past couple of decades. The existence of Persistent Leaks, and true to their names, they were Leaks that materialize again and again even after they’re cleared.
"Huh..." Adam blinked. He’d already witnessed a few of these Leaks—but it always amazed him... and terrified him.
Because what if... this was a combatant world that couldn’t be negotiated with?
That was why Adam was here—to at least get a clue on how to permanently close Persistent Leaks.