chapter 114 search radar

The atmosphere inside Dark Solution's rented guild hall was thick with unspoken tension.

Sophie sat behind a dark oak desk, her fingers tapping against the polished wood in a slow, rhythmic pattern.

Her expression remained calm, but her eyes held a sharp glint—calculating, analyzing.

Across from her stood Cute Mist, her posture relaxed, yet radiating undeniable authority.

Beside her, Mack stood with his arms crossed, his presence silent but imposing.

Sophie knew she couldn't afford to underestimate these two.

Rainbow Solution wasn't a small-time guild like Dark Solution.

They were a first-rate powerhouse.

Cute Mist wasn't here for small talk—she had come with a purpose.

And Sophie knew it.

---

The Reveal – The Tracking Device

With a smooth motion, Cute Mist reached into her inventory.

A brief flash of blue light flickered as she pulled out a small, metallic object.

Then, without a word—

She tossed it onto the desk.

The device landed with a soft clink, spinning slightly before coming to a stop.

Sophie's eyes narrowed.

She didn't need to ask.

She already knew what it was.

A Search Radar.

A high-tier tracking tool.

Extremely rare.

Extremely expensive.

And in the right hands?

Devastatingly effective.

If activated, the radar would instantly pinpoint Frost Eye's current location—no matter where he was in town.

Sophie's fingers instinctively tightened.

Cute Mist had done her research.

She wasn't here to negotiate.

She was here to win.

---

Cute Mist's Cold Ultimatum

A soft, amused chuckle escaped Cute Mist's lips as she watched Sophie's reaction.

Then, she spoke—her voice calm, absolute.

Cute Mist: "Don't forget, Sophie."

She leaned in slightly, resting a delicate hand on the desk.

Her eyes gleamed.

Cute Mist: (soft, but deadly) "I want every single alchemy material in your guild hall."

A beat of silence passed.

Then, Cute Mist tilted her head, her tone turning mockingly thoughtful.

Cute Mist: (mock thinking) "And let's not play games. You have a lot of them, don't you?"

Sophie didn't respond.

But she didn't deny it either.

Cute Mist smiled.

That was enough of an answer.

---

One Hour – Or Nothing

Cute Mist turned on her heel, her posture elegant, confident.

She took a step toward the door—

Then paused.

Without turning around, she spoke again—her voice now laced with finality.

Cute Mist: (mock sympathy) "Oh, and Sophie?"

This time, she did turn.

Her smirk was sharper than ever.

Cute Mist: (sweetly, but sharp as a blade) "You have exactly one hour."

Her voice lowered into a soft whisper, yet the weight behind it was undeniable.

Cute Mist: "If I don't have the materials by then…"

She gave a careless shrug.

Cute Mist: (cold, dismissive) "No need to tell me anything, then. I think I already know what that means."

Sophie remained expressionless.

But the pressure settled over her like a crushing weight.

She was being cornered.

And Cute Mist knew it.

---

Cute Mist Walks Out – Leaving the Pressure Behind

Without another word, Cute Mist turned and walked out.

Her boots clicked softly against the floor with every step.

Mack followed, but before stepping through the door, he threw Sophie a quick, amused glance.

A silent message.

A warning.

Then—

The door closed behind them.

And just like that—

Sophie was alone.

---

Sophie's Silent Decision

The room was dead quiet.

Only the faint tapping of Sophie's fingers against the desk filled the space.

Her gaze remained fixed on the Search Radar.

Her mind raced.

She had one hour.

One hour to decide whether she would comply—

Or risk losing everything.

Her fingers curled into a tight fist.

This was no longer just about Frost Eye.

This was about survival.

As the heavy doors of the Dark Solution guild hall closed behind Cute Mist and Mack, a suffocating silence settled in the room.

The Search Radar sat untouched on Sophie's desk, its dark, metallic surface gleaming under the dim lighting. It was an artifact of immense value, capable of tracking a single target with near-perfect precision—an item that could turn the tide of a war.

But it had come at a steep price.

Sophie leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed as she processed what had just happened. Cute Mist had played her hand well.

By dangling the one thing Dark Solution desperately needed—a way to strike back at Frost Eye—she had forced Sophie into a corner.

And Sophie hated being cornered.

---

Vance Breaks His Silence

A chair scraped against the floor.

Sophie's head turned slightly as Vance stood up, his posture tense. He had been watching quietly throughout the negotiation, but now, his usual silence had cracked.

Vance: (measured, but firm) "Are we really doing this?"

A few other officers exchanged glances but said nothing. They were waiting.

Waiting to see if Sophie would reconsider.

She didn't.

Instead, she stared unblinkingly at Vance.

Sophie: (calm, calculating) "Yes."

Vance exhaled sharply. His hands curled into tight fists.

Vance: (lowering his voice) "You're willing to give away all of our alchemy materials? Everything we've stockpiled for months?"

Sophie didn't flinch.

She could hear the frustration in his tone.

And she understood it.

Dark Solution had spent countless resources securing rare alchemy ingredients, preparing for the future when potions would dominate the market. It was supposed to be their ace, their secret weapon to amass wealth and power in Mortal Online.

And now, she was handing it all away.

But what choice did she have?

Sophie's fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk.

Sophie: (voice even, but sharp) "What would you have me do, Vance? Watch as Frost Eye continues to manipulate the market while we sit here doing nothing?"

Vance's jaw tightened.

Vance: "We could fight back in other ways—"

Sophie cut him off.

Sophie: (low, but commanding) "No. We can't."

Her eyes locked onto his.

Sophie: "Do you even understand what he's done?"

Vance stayed silent, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.

Sophie leaned forward.

Sophie: (coldly) "Frost Eye isn't just selling poison resistance potions—he's controlling the entire supply chain. He's making a fortune while ensuring that no one else can compete. And now, because of him, K is slaughtering our members."

Vance's lips pressed into a thin line.

Sophie: (soft, but pointed) "We are not the hunters right now. We're the hunted."

That statement hung heavy in the air.

No one wanted to admit it, but they all felt it.

Dark Solution was supposed to be one of the most powerful rising guilds.

And yet—

They had been manipulated, betrayed, and backed into a corner.

And Frost Eye was laughing at them from the shadows.

---

The Unspoken Truth – A Bitter Pill to Swallow

Vance ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly.

Vance: (quietly, but bitterly) "So, you're really going to trust Cute Mist?"

Sophie's eyes narrowed.

Sophie: (coolly) "Trust?" (She let out a humorless chuckle.) "I don't trust anyone, Vance."

She stood up, her gaze sweeping across the room.

Sophie: (commanding, final) "We aren't making this deal because we trust her. We're making it because we have no other option."

The officers didn't argue.

Because deep down, they knew she was right.

Frost Eye had forced their hand.

And Cute Mist had given them an opening.

It was a gamble.

A dangerous one.

But Sophie wasn't about to let Frost Eye—or K—walk all over them without a fight.

She turned back toward Vance, her voice lower, colder.

Sophie: (softly, but sharp as a blade) "We strike now. Or we lose everything."

---

The Order is Given – A Heavy Price to Pay

There was no more debate.

Sophie gave the order.

Officers began gathering every last alchemy material from the storage.

The once well-stocked shelves were emptied.

Within the next hour, every single rare ingredient, every high-tier herb, and every experimental elixir was packed up, ready to be sent to Cute Mist.

Vance stood near the entrance, his arms crossed, watching in grim silence.

As the final crate was sealed, he muttered under his breath:

Vance: (low, almost to himself) "…After what he did to us, we're really making this deal."

Sophie's voice cut through the air.

Sophie: (without hesitation) "Yes."

She turned toward the entrance, her expression unreadable.

Sophie: (quietly, to herself) "Frost Eye… Let's see if you're still laughing after this."

With that, the crates were loaded, and the deal was sealed.