"Let me guess: perhaps you were willing to consider my proposal now?"
"Uh, no." Undying Path shook his head, looking like a retired old man being sold health supplements—polite but firm.
"I want to report this to the police!"
"I found traces of the Stellaron Hunters!"
"They're in Two-Phase Paradise right now, and they're even planning to join the Phantom Moon Game to stir up trouble!"
"I've pinpointed her coordinates. Get over here, quick!"
Outside the detective agency.
Silver Wolf listened to the intercepted conversation through her earpiece, the corner of her mouth twitching with speechless disbelief.
"I'm seriously impressed... so this is a reverse play, huh?"
Undying Path's call to Pearl continued through the earpiece, his voice strong and vigorous, nothing like that of a frail old man.
'Phantom Moon Game... from the moment your company decided to speedrun it, it was destined to be more than a simple game.'
'You want me to join? Isn't that a bit cruel to the elderly?'
The monkey chimed in from beside him as well:
'We should've agreed to that hacker's request earlier and dragged her off for the bounty.'
Silver Wolf listened, and a flash of inspiration struck her.
"An unexpected bonus."
"Pearl still has other masks hidden away... that makes this much easier."
She immediately called Blade, her tone light.
"Hello? Brother Dao, where are you?"
Blade's usual low voice came from the other end.
"I still hope you won't split apart the character in my name..."
"What does it matter? Everyone calls you that now."
"...So, have you found the mask?"
"Not yet. But I've got a new lead." Silver Wolf swung her legs.
"We lost one mask, so we just grab another. When one door closes, another opens."
"Fine." Blade asked no further questions, crisp and decisive.