"Promoted? I don't even know what to say about that." Through an investigation, Daniel Davis discovered that the logistics manager responsible for the mishap involving the Konno sisters had since been promoted. Meanwhile, the attending doctor and nurse from back then had paid a heavy price for the incident.
Shadow clone investigations revealed that the doctor and nurse bore no responsibility for what had happened. The true issue lay with the logistics manager, who had embezzled resources from the hospital for personal profit. Under such circumstances, the nurse had simply taken blood from the supply provided by the logistics department.
Emergencies requiring transfusions leave no time to verify the blood supply, especially since, in theory, all materials entering the hospital are inspected beforehand.
This time, Daniel refrained from eliminating the culprit directly. Instead, he sent incriminating evidence of the manager's actions to the relevant authorities and leaked it online. The proof was sufficient to ensure a life sentence. Unlike a genius like Kayaba Akihiko or the ultra-wealthy, there was no hope for this manager to receive special treatment in prison.
"Now for their so-called 'relatives.'" The Konno sisters' mother had been a remarkably strong woman. Upon learning that the family had contracted this disease, the family had initially considered ending their lives together. However, the mother decided instead to fight against the illness. In the original story, the entire Konno family succumbed to the disease one by one.
But with Daniel now in the picture, there was no way he would let the twin sisters die. As for the relatives who wished for their deaths to claim the inheritance, Daniel planned to give them some "tasks" to keep them busy—through legal means, of course.
By informing their employers about their actions and exposing their heartlessness—such as openly encouraging the sisters to commit suicide to avoid being a "burden"—Daniel ensured these relatives would pay for their cruelty.
When the Konno sisters were still able to attend school, their health conditions were often leaked whenever they transferred. The culprits? Their own relatives. For people like this, Daniel had plans for a lasting lesson.
---
"Dr. Kurahashi, are they the ones?"
After acquiring the medical research institute where the Absolute Sword sisters were being treated, Daniel visited the lab to check on their condition.
The Konno sisters were currently using Medicuboid devices, considered first-generation experimental units. This arrangement was the only way to reduce their medical expenses. Without it, the sisters—now orphans—couldn't afford the exorbitant costs of treatment. Dr. Kurahashi, who oversaw their care, remained uncertain about the decision to include them in the trials.
On one hand, the system gave the sisters a final chance to experience joy in life. On the other hand, it came at a price: hope followed by despair. If they hadn't been given this fleeting happiness, perhaps the pain might have been easier to bear.
The saying goes: If I had not glimpsed the light, I might have endured the darkness. Having seen the light, the sisters found it harder to bear their grim reality. Fortunately, both Yuuki and her sister were exceptionally resilient.
"Let's talk to them." For Daniel, curing the Konno sisters was a simple matter. However, to avoid drawing unwanted attention, their recovery couldn't happen too quickly.
With Dr. Kurahashi's assistance and the sisters having little left to lose, they quickly agreed to Daniel's treatment plan.
Although they were twins and had contracted the disease at nearly the same time, their conditions differed greatly. Yuuki's sister was in far worse shape and might not have survived much longer without Daniel's intervention.
---
"Can we really get better?" In contrast to the confident, lively Absolute Sword seen in the game, the real Yuuki was frail, her body reduced to skin and bones by the disease. Hearing there was hope for a cure left her overwhelmed with emotion. Her sister, Ran Konno, shared her excitement.
"Of course. It'll take some time, but I guarantee you'll be fine." Thanks to advances in AIDS research, Daniel could now manage the disease with existing pharmaceuticals without resorting to more extreme measures, such as the T-virus or other unconventional methods.
To completely cure the disease, Daniel still required some special means. However, he was researching ways to achieve a cure using standard treatments. Once successful, a Nobel Prize—or several across different worlds—would be all but assured.
"For now, avoid full-dive gaming sessions." Because of their illness, the Konno sisters spent almost all their time in the game, reminiscent of the trapped players from the SAO incident.
However, their situation was different. In the real world, their bodies were so weak and wracked with pain that the virtual world offered them a reprieve. Diving into the game was, paradoxically, the healthier choice.
---
"How are they doing?" Asuna, aware of the Konno sisters, asked Daniel as soon as he logged into Alfheim Online.
"Don't worry; I've taken care of it. But to avoid attracting attention, we'll need to be patient. They'll be online soon—why not meet them?"
In the game, Yuuki and her sister were part of the Sleeping Knights guild. Despite her later reputation as the Absolute Sword, Yuuki wasn't the strongest in the guild; her sister held that title.
Once they became acquainted, it naturally led to a monster hunt. Asuna initially stood at the back with her staff, healing. But after witnessing the sisters' impressive combat prowess, she switched to her rapier, Lambent Light, and joined the fray.
Under the combined assault of these four female swordsmen, the boss quickly fell. This battle not only deepened Asuna's bond with Yuuki and her sister but also revealed to Daniel that Yuuki's sister rivaled Asuna in strength.
The fourth swordswoman was a player named Melida.
---
"This Sleeping Knights guild really is beset by misfortune," Daniel remarked after learning more about the guild members from the Konno sisters. While some members were healthy, many suffered from terminal illnesses like leukemia and brain cancer. That such individuals could come together and form a guild was nothing short of miraculous.
Melida, the member suffering from brain cancer, was also a beta tester for SAO. Among the few active female players during SAO's beta, she hadn't achieved Asuna's level of fame but was well-known in her own right.
"One sheep or a whole flock, you may as well herd them all." Since he'd encountered them, Daniel decided to bring all the sick members of the Sleeping Knights into the research institute he had acquired.
---
"It seems the government is planning to launch the 'Shimmer Project.'" While the Konno sisters and their guild weren't particularly challenging for Daniel to help, the Shimmer Project was of greater significance. Using this opportunity, Daniel also prepared to upgrade Red Queen.
In conversations with Kayaba Akihiko and Rinko Koujiro, Daniel learned more about the Shimmer Project—a highly classified initiative aimed at developing artificial souls. Given that Daniel now owned the research institute and had both Kayaba and Rinko working for him, it wasn't surprising that he'd come across this information.
Interestingly, the Konno sisters' medical trials were also tied to the Shimmer Project, providing experimental data. Additionally, Kayaba's former colleague, Higa Makoto, had reached out to Rinko for information, which led to further speculation about the project.
---
"Speaking of Alice's world, it's hard to call it entirely fake." For people like Daniel, Alice's world might seem artificial. But to the inhabitants of that world, it was as real as anything. Subsequent events involving Alice and interdimensional communication reinforced this perception.
Such thoughts led Daniel to wonder whether even his own "real world" might have been created by some higher beings. However, Daniel dismissed these musings—he wasn't a philosopher and had no interest in pondering existential questions like "Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going?"
"Let's not dwell on things we can't control. How's the reconstruction of Aincrad coming along?"
The Shimmer Project was a government initiative, and no amount of interference could permanently halt it. It was better to focus on the next update for Alfheim Online. Despite the trauma Aincrad had caused, its reappearance in the game would undoubtedly draw many players back.
"It's ready. Just waiting for the next update." Unlike traditional games, fully immersive games didn't require frequent updates. Only significant changes, such as adding Aincrad's map, warranted an update.
---
"However, there's an issue with GGO. A very similar game has appeared," Rinko reported. She was now responsible for the company's virtual reality game development.
This didn't surprise Daniel. Even Alfheim Online had imitators. Clones and knockoffs were a natural part of the industry.
"The new game offers a system for exchanging in-game currency for real money," Rinko added.
"Sounds like the original GGO," Daniel replied, shaking his head. Despite his efforts to avoid this, similar games continued to emerge. The new competitor's servers were based in the USA, and its company remained highly secretive.
A game that allowed players to earn real money was bound to attract many, especially with lucrative exchange rates. Skilled players could make more in a month than the average worker.
"Sinon probably earned quite a bit in the original story," Daniel mused. As a top-tier player, Sinon would have been well-compensated.
"With the death of the main members of Laughing Coffin, Death Gun shouldn't appear, right?"
Daniel didn't dwell on this for long. GGO continued to run smoothly, but
the real focus was the beta test of the Naruto immersive game. Using Daniel's detailed data on ninjas, bloodline limits, and other elements, Kayaba, with the help of AI systems, had nearly completed the ninja world.
---
"This 'Oasis' creator is impressive. I'd love to meet him," Kayaba remarked. Though the Oasis system wasn't as advanced as Kayaba's Seed of the World, it offered valuable inspiration.
"You both share similar ideas—uploading consciousness to a computer," Daniel noted. Geniuses often had overlapping visions. James Halliday, like Kayaba, had created something groundbreaking from childhood dreams. However, Halliday's motivations were nobler.
"Unfortunately, you're unlikely to meet him. That world faces its own set of challenges." If humanity in Halliday's world failed to overcome resource constraints and expand into space, its fate seemed bleak.
Kayaba wasn't particularly concerned. "Destruction is inevitable. Even my Aincrad ends in destruction."
---
"To new beginnings, cheers!" In Agil's café-bar, Daniel, Asuna, Kirito, Lisbeth, Silica, Klein, and Argo gathered for a reunion. Following the SAO incident, most of them had transitioned to Alfheim Online.
At Klein's suggestion, the group met in person at Agil's shop, with Kirito's sister Suguha joining them.
"So jealous," Klein sighed, looking at Kirito, surrounded by three beautiful women. He glanced at Daniel, seated with Asuna and Lisbeth, and Agil with his wife, feeling utterly dejected.
"Yeah," Agil agreed with a nod—only to hear an icy voice behind him.
"Jealous, are you?" Agil's wife appeared, her amused but dangerous expression prompting Agil's survival instincts to kick in.
"Of course not! I just remembered the food's ready!" Agil quickly excused himself and fled.
Klein, seeing Agil bolt, also found an excuse to leave.
"That's your sister? Introduce me!" Klein exclaimed excitedly upon learning Suguha was Kirito's sister.
"Not a chance," Kirito replied firmly, rejecting the idea outright.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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