My SAO adventure is wrong, as expected

Chapter 43: Preliminary Resolution of the Threat

Several days passed since then.

Under Asuna's leadership, Argo conducted intelligence gathering, and the outline of the murder guild "Laughing Coffin" gradually came into focus.

The leader was a man in a black cloak named POH, and a key executive was a man whose real name was Johnny.

Although everyone only knew his nickname, a member of the Liberation Army provided related information.

Additionally, there was Red-Eyed XaXa and Mort, a former member of the Holy Dragon Alliance.

According to descriptions from survivors of an encounter, for unknown reasons, his eyes were blood-red, so he was temporarily referred to as "Red-Eyed XaXa."

These four were listed as high-risk players in the strategy guide.

The guild's name and emblem were made public, and it was decided that any important intelligence would be reported to Argo, who would then decide when to hold a strategy meeting.

During these days, Hachiman had been monitoring almost without sleep near the stamina recovery quest pickup point in the town on the fifth floor.

Late at night in the fifth-floor wilderness, the game's characteristic cold wind glowed blue as it swept through the bushes.

Hachiman, wrapped in a cloak, gnawed on a hard black bread.

The bitterness brought by virtual taste exploded on his tongue — this was the seventh consecutive day of surveillance.

Since orange cursored players couldn't enter towns or use teleport gates, it was inferred that Laughing Coffin members moved between floors by setting teleport crystals in villages outside towns.

This had to be assisted by green cursored members, so it was expected that members would periodically come to restore stamina.

Hachiman believed that as long as he kept tagging orange cursored players coming to recover karma, he would be able to track Laughing Coffin.

'Another impostor...'

Due to friendly fire, it was easy to turn orange, so many players came to take on the quest.

Most of the daytime visitors were ordinary players, so Hachiman switched to night surveillance.

"The eighth one..." I muttered, surprised even by the hoarseness of my own voice as I stared at the timer in the corner of my vision.

Suddenly, the teleport point 20 yards away lit up blue, and a masked figure crept out stealthily.

'This guy is clearly suspicious.'

Late at night, Hachiman fixated on a player who suspiciously accepted the quest.

Normally, players who completed the quest would return to town, but this one moved in the opposite direction.

Upon following, he discovered what appeared to be a hideout.

'Seems to be one of their bases, though probably not their headquarters. I'll monitor personnel movements for now.'

While observing, he judged this to be one of several outposts. Just as he was about to call reinforcements to destroy it, he noticed a familiar face entering.

'That's Mort. About three people inside... what should I do...'

Moonlight in the alley was obscured by floating clouds.

Hachiman tapped the hilt of his sword twice with his knuckles and used "Enemy Search Vision" to check the enemy's equipment quality.

Judging their level to be low from their gear, he decided to contact only Kirito, Klein, and Agil for the arrest, as there was no time for a meeting — they would go for a quick takedown.

"How's the situation? Is Mort still inside?"

"Yeah, three people including him."

"Alright, arrest them all!"

"That's right. We can't let them go."

"Sorry to ask this of you suddenly."

"Don't worry about it."

"Klein, stay behind the general store; Kirito, take the east gate; Agil..." noticing the gleam of the double axes the burly man carried, he changed his instructions mid-sentence, "please block the main road."

"I heard the next target is a big shot!"

"Yeah, both the leader and officers are mobilizing. I don't know the full details myself."

"That serious, huh!"

'Damn, were we found out?'

The three nodded and sprang into action.

Mort reacted quickly, but the other two were easily subdued by Kirito and Klein.

Hachiman faced Mort head-on.

"You guys... when did you..."

"Long time no see."

"...Tch, figured Rosalia might leak... didn't expect it this fast."

"Give up. You don't stand a chance."

"Hah! You don't know until you try!"

Mort swung his sword, and Hachiman took the blow head-on without dodging. The sparks from the clashing metal lit up their HP bars.

Mort stepped back, raising a cloud of dust, then slashed with a cross cut — but was countered by Hachiman's "Backblade Strike," causing his grip to crack. The counter skill instantly cut 30% of Mort's HP.

"You quit the frontlines too early," Hachiman's blade emitted sparks. "You're clearly weaker than before."

"You bastard..."

In the ongoing duel, Mort's HP entered the red zone, while Hachiman still had 70% remaining.

"Enough already!"

"Damn it! Damn it!"

"He's down," Kirito arrived to assist. Suddenly, Mort tore open his breastplate and stabbed a poisoned dagger into his own heart, exploding into particles of light before the two men.

"What the..."

"He's insane..."

But amidst the scattering data, Hachiman caught his final words from his lip movements: "You guys... are the prey..."

The three handed the captives over for prison interrogation.

They only learned there were about thirty members.

After reporting the incident, Hachiman called a meeting — deliberately excluding Asuna.

Upon hearing what had happened, everyone trembled.

"They're mad enough to commit suicide. It's impossible to predict how many casualties the raiding party will suffer."

"But we have no choice."

Lind spoke painfully. Amidst the commotion, Hachiman made a proposal:

"I propose each guild selects committed individuals to form a special task force."

The plan was approved.

The meeting confirmed the enemy officers' strength and disbanded after learning they were planning an operation targeting a major figure.

"For now, that's it."

"Yeah, let's wait for new intel."

"By the way, that girl Silica's familiar got revived, right?" Hachiman asked, wiping his blade as he looked up.

"Yeah, it's revived," Kirito answered happily.

"That's great."

Hachiman suddenly added, "Keep an eye on that kid. Don't let her be alone." His blade paused just above the red mark of "Titan's Hand."

Kirito narrowed his black eyes. "You think she might get caught up in the Titan's Hand incident?"

"Probably," Hachiman reclined on a game-exclusive ergonomic chair in SAO. "Though I'm not sure what the lower levels are up to..."

"Hachiman, do you have time in the coming days? I want you to train Silica's dagger skills and help her level up on the upper floors."

"No problem. You guys can stay at my place. Invite Asuna too — she's sulking from not being included lately."

Since Lisbeth had moved out after buying a new house, two spare bedrooms were now available.

Hachiman had already prepared basic furniture.

"It's perfectly safe there. I'll contact Silica right away."

"Just let me know the time. No need to repay the favor this time."

"Damn... I want to buy a house too..."

"You spend too much on gear. Later."

And thus, the special training plan was settled.