Chapter 87: Does Your Company Have a Mole Inside?

“Shengzai, you mean all those still unconscious people were players we RECT was responsible for?”

“And the culprit behind their continued coma is one of the internal staff we RECT once studied?”

Since two years have passed, most people have probably forgotten this incident.

And because some players died in the game, the original number of players we handled doesn’t match the current number of unconscious ones, which is why many overlooked this commonality.

But most people probably wouldn’t think these unconscious SAO players are connected to RECT at all.

To imprison a player’s consciousness, you need at least some level of access to their stealth terminal.

“Besides the hairstyle company’s ARGUS and the players themselves, who else had access to those terminals? Only you, who tried researching ways to free them two years ago.”

“The list of players you were responsible for has likely been destroyed by someone with ill intent—I won’t waste time making you slowly hunt for the mole.”

“Let me tell you directly: the three hundred players, including your daughter Yui Asuna, whose consciousnesses are now imprisoned in ALO, is your own highly trusted and favored colleague, Sukagawa Nobuyuki.”

When hearing Shengzai’s words, Yuuki Shōzō was clearly stunned.

When Shengzai mentioned an internal staff member was responsible, he’d pictured many faces—but Sukagawa Nobuyuki was nowhere among them.

And the reason was simple: in his mind, Sukagawa Nobuyuki had always been kind and honest, and over the years had contributed greatly to the company, earning his deep trust.

Even Yuuki Shōzō had once considered arranging a marriage between Sukagawa and his daughter Yui Asuna—but now Shengzai told him Sukagawa Nobuyuki was the traitor!

“Precisely because you find it impossible and trust the man imprisoning your daughter, I say it’s your own doing that Yui Asuna remains unconscious.”

“To find out if Sukagawa Nobuyuki is the traitor, just test him—shouldn’t it be easy for you, his superior, to set a trap?”

“Though killing that scumbag isn’t difficult for me, I’ve already said—I don’t want to draw official attention; I just want a quiet life.”

“So the best solution is to cooperate with you. As a businessman, I’m sure you have ways to trap him and send him to spend the rest of his life sewing.”

After saying this, Shengzai prepared to leave—he’d said all he needed to say. If Yuuki Shōzō wasn’t an idiot, he’d investigate the truth himself.

When Shengzai returned home, he didn’t sneak out through the “special passage” again—he was politely escorted to the door by Yuuki Shōzō’s secretary.

“Hey, who was that boy just now?”

Watching Shengzai’s retreating back, several security guards outside RECT’s office exchanged curious glances.

Miss Arimoto, as Mr. Yuuki’s secretary, was a prominent figure in the company—she rarely treated even clients with such courtesy.

And Shengzai looked so young—yet Miss Arimoto treated him with such deference. Could he be some tycoon’s heir?

“Don’t ask what you shouldn’t! If this man ever comes to the company looking for Mr. Yuuki, notify me immediately to handle him.”

Facing the two guards with burning curiosity, Secretary Arimoto gave them not a single kind look.

Joking? Mr. Yuuki’s “family matters”—are you lowly peons allowed to pry into that?

Still, I have to say, Mr. Yuuki’s illegitimate son really is young and handsome.

Mr. Yuuki was a bit older, and Mrs. Kyoko was such a formidable woman—Secretary Arimoto knew better than to go after him.

Now it seemed Mr. Yuuki’s illegitimate son might be a better target for her to pursue…

“Pfft, what’s so great about him? Looks polished on the outside, but who knows how many men have ridden her behind closed doors!”

“Yeah, I just saw her slip him a note—why doesn’t she piss on a mirror and see what she really looks like? Trying to chase a young boy?”

Watching Secretary Arimoto sway her hips and walk away like a cat, the two guards muttered curses under their breath.

They silently vowed: someday they’d land a rich old woman and skip decades of hardship—they’d make Secretary Arimoto regret today’s behavior!

Meanwhile, Shengzai, walking home on foot, glanced at the contact number on the small slip of paper in his hand—he’d planned to throw it away immediately.

But then he remembered he might need to contact Yuuki Shōzō again, hesitated, and tucked the note away.

Shengzai swore—he kept the number not because he wanted fast food, but simply to avoid the hassle of finding Yuuki Shōzō again next time.

Meanwhile, back at Shengzai’s home, Yuuki Shōzō wasted no time—he immediately summoned Sukagawa Nobuyuki to his office.

Sukagawa Nobuyuki, who had been logged in as the Spirit King, gloating over Asuna trapped like a caged bird in the World Tree, wasn’t surprised when he received Yuuki Shōzō’s message.

He even sneered at Asuna, who glared at him with disgust: “Soon, you’ll obey me without question.”

“No one can save you in ALO—not even that guy you keep chanting about, Shengzai Wen.”

I'm not Mochiba Akira—I don't have childish dreams or care about fair play.

“Besides, even if Shengzai Wen is powerful in-game, in the real world he’s just a bratty kid. Even your father trusts me completely—what can a high schooler like him possibly do?”

After sneering at Asuna once more, Sukagawa Nobuyuki logged out.

Before fully controlling Asuna, he still owed some face to this old man, Yuuki Shōzō.

Once his experiments yielded results and he gained the ability to invade Asuna’s brain, she’d obey him utterly—then wouldn’t he easily seize Yuuki Shōzō’s power?

“Mr. Yuuki, I heard you wanted to see me?”

Before entering Yuuki Shōzō’s office, Sukagawa Nobuyuki adjusted his facial expression, forcing himself to look as harmless and ordinary as ever, then pushed the door open.

Yuuki Shōzō, who had been working, spoke in his usual tone as Sukagawa entered: “Actually, nothing important—I just wanted to ask about ALO’s recent operations.”

“Also, today the network regulatory agency came by, requesting the list of SAO players we RECT handled back then, for verification. Do you still have that list?”

(End of Chapter)