God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 492: Meeting White Phantom [Edited]

Gabriel intentionally kept a low profile during the following few days. Since he had messaged New Dawn Camp already, they weren't overly concerned about his location.

Xman had refrained from entering the game for a while too, and when he at last logged in, he materialized in his room, now hosting an extra occupant.

He slipped away quietly as the pair slumbered. From that spot, he smoothly darted into the extended corridor.

Regrettably, his stealth fell short, for right upon exiting the hotel, a cluster of known figures awaited him.

'Damn, how did these idiots figure out I was here?'

The ambushers turned out to be the very same group he had snubbed and humiliated previously, back when White Phantom accompanied him.

His immediate impulse was to spin around and flee. Yet, they had already encircled him completely.

"We've been staking out this place for days and nearly quit when you didn't appear," the wide-shouldered swordsman declared.

"White Phantom's not around anywhere. What's your plan now?" another sneered, prompting mocking laughter from the rest.

Xman shifted back and forth. He stood in Stellar City's heart. Nearby, around the bend, guards patrolled, vigilantly scanning the area.

'No combat permitted inside the city. Maybe I can turn that to my favor,' Xman mused, a smug grin gradually forming on his lips.

"If you're counting on the guards to save you, look more carefully," the party leader's voice warned.

A scowl crossed his face as he scanned once more, spotting the issue.

All the guards deliberately averted their gaze from this spot. Not just a couple, every single one.

He was aware that Realm of Ascendency's NPCs could be bought off. But corrupting every guard in the vicinity to overlook this...

'These fools, mediocre as they are, shouldn't wield such sway.' Xman's scowl intensified, beads of sweat shining on his brow.

The composed party leader advanced, closing the gap to Xman, who swallowed hard.

"Fine, to smooth things out for yourself in reality and the game, just play along," the striking man murmured into Xman's ear.

"That's enough."

A steady, commanding, and resolute voice rang out from behind.

All heads whipped around simultaneously.

Scarlet Voss stood nearby, hands clasped behind her, face serene as ever. Upon sighting her, the group's expressions shifted abruptly. In Realm of Ascendency, crossing mighty NPCs was something players avoided, particularly one as formidable and rigid as Scarlet.

The burly swordsman managed a strained grin. "Vice Guild Leader Scarlet. Merely a minor player dispute."

Scarlet glanced at him, then Xman, then the bunch again.

"Right in the city center?" she inquired evenly.

The players gulped nervously. Scarlet advanced deliberately, her look turning faintly icy. "The local guards took bribes to disregard this zone briefly. Think I wouldn't detect it?"

That remark alone stiffened the group. The charismatic leader reacted swiftly, bowing low. "No intent to stir issues. We're on our way out."

Scarlet offered no response, her gaze fixed upon them.

Without further words, the crew pivoted and departed. None risked challenging her. Clashing with the Adventurer Guild within Stellar City guaranteed swift banishment.

That afternoon, the squad debriefed in a towering structure, where ChaosCleric and VV awaited.

The attractive leader reported upfront. "Located him, but the Adventurer Guild's Vice Leader intervened."

ChaosCleric's brow furrowed faintly. "Scarlet Voss?"

"Yes."

"Now the Adventurer Guild's in the mix."

The leader affirmed with a nod. "We enlisted him earlier. No such ties back then. Yet after linking with White Phantom, suddenly the Guild shields him."

ChaosCleric pondered deeply. "Odd indeed. What draws the Adventurer Guild to this matter?"

Silence hung briefly, then ChaosCleric supplied his own insight. "Either White Phantom pulled unseen strings, or the Guild holds knowledge we lack."

"Stay vigilant. Hold off on rash moves for the moment," he instructed the players lastly before exiting, motioning VV to trail him.

As they departed, irritation bubbled within him, 'This grows irritating. Why do they stay so silent always?'

Back in the city, Xman faced Scarlet, still rattled from the encounter.

"Thanks," Xman expressed. "Without your arrival, they'd have surely roughed me up."

Scarlet dismissed it casually. "They had no business being there anyway."

She pivoted to the proximate guards. "You three. Relieved of duties as of now."

The guards paled instantly. "Vice Leader, mercy—"

"You took bribes and neglected your sector's events," Scarlet stated coolly. "You're unfit to protect here anymore."

The guards fell silent, slinking away heads bowed.

Scarlet faced Xman again. "Exercise greater caution. Patience wears thin among some cityfolk."

With that, she departed wordlessly.

Xman lingered briefly, exhaled deeply, then vacated the scene. Traversing multiple alleys and confirming no tails, he reached a shabby, weathered inn that appeared abandoned externally.

This marked the spot White Phantom directed him to...