I Can Extract Game Items-Chapter 224: Strangers

Author's Note: Do Not Unlock.

------------

Morning arrived and dissolved into noon before August even realized it. His entire day blurred past like fast-forwarded footage. Meetings, chats with the team, reviewing tactical planning, analyzing every data point they had on the illegal trafficking operation—they were all moving with precision now.

Before noon, he stopped by A.M. Coven headquarters to handle another major trade.

This one was massive.

A political figure—someone whose name carried weight in several business circles—wanted a rare in-game accessory known for its stat multipliers. Something high-tier and difficult to farm without a coordinated group or a lot of luck.

August had it.

He'd acquired it three weeks earlier after a brutal dungeon run with Saphira and Kael, but had kept it in storage waiting for the right buyer.

This buyer was beyond ideal.

By the time the transaction was complete, A.M. Coven's account balance had surged again.

The boss of A.M. Coven, Malik, almost shed tears of joy.

"August, my boy! My champion! If we make one more sale like this before the end of the month, we'll hit our quarterly target and break our record!"

August chuckled. "Don't get too excited. We're still grinding."

Malik clapped him on the back. "I trust you with my life, ahn ahn!"

August left with a smile, unaware that several guilds were beginning to keep an eye on A.M. Coven's growth. Their name was circulating in high places, some curious, some threatened.

But all that was background noise now.

His focus was the mission.

---

THE DAY OF THE OPERATION

He told Sophia he wouldn't be home tonight.

She had stared at him thoughtfully for a long moment before simply nodding and saying, "Okay. But please be careful."

Even though he hid the details, she knew him well enough to sense danger in the spaces between his words.

By sunrise, August was already at the safe house—a rented two-story building outside the city.

Inside, his team gathered around a holographic display on the table. Derrick, Malik, Tori, and three more trusted hands sat or leaned around as August adjusted the projection.

The building they were infiltrating appeared in glowing blue outlines.

The illegal warehouse.

Their target.

Their objective: retrieve evidence, identify key players, and coordinate with law enforcement to bring the operation down without casualties.

It wasn't just game-currency trafficking now.

This particular syndicate had expanded into smuggling, extortion, and VR-pod modification rings that caused neural damage.

August had seen enough victims to know how serious this was.

He pointed at the side entrance. "This is our entry point. Minimal foot traffic. Two cameras—already looped thanks to Malik."

Malik grinned proudly. "Their security is so outdated, my laptop almost felt insulted."

The team chuckled lightly, but the tension was palpable beneath the humor.

"And law enforcement?" Derrick asked.

"They'll be on standby two blocks away," August said. "They won't move until we confirm the hostage is present."

There was a short silence.

"Taro?" Tori finally whispered.

August nodded once. "Yes."

Level 49 Assassin in Ender's Light. Their old teammate. Missing for two weeks.

But here in the real world, he was possibly being held and used for illegal operations.

"Tomorrow night." August set the time. "That's when we go in."

"Tomorrow?" Derrick blinked. "Why not tonight?"

"Because tonight," August replied, leaning back, "I have to help you finish your beginner grind in game."

---

BACK IN ENDERS LIGHT

August logged into the game in the late evening.

Derrick had reached level 9 with August's help and was grinding mobs near his starter village's fields.

"Bro! I'm almost 10! Almost!" Derrick shouted, swinging wildly at a horned rabbit.

August dodged, laughed, sliced an enemy in one clean movement, and said, "Focus. You're attacking like you're beating drum sets."

"It's working, isn't it?"

"It's embarrassing, that's what it is."

With August's guidance, Derrick leveled up into double digits within the hour.

They talked, laughed, strategized, and August explained deeper game mechanics Derrick would need once he left the beginner zone.

By midnight, August logged out.

---

HOME, DINNER, AND THE STORM APPROACHING

He reheated leftover rice, added grilled chicken, and ate while scrolling through data files on his laptop.

He cleaned up, showered, and tried to sleep…

But sleep didn't come.

Not with tomorrow looming like a storm cloud.

He tossed once.

Twice.

And then—

CLACK.

Something shifted outside.

Another noise.

Not like Mr. Balogun's sneaky footsteps this time.

This one was heavier.

Slow.

Deliberate.

August opened his eyes immediately.

His instincts sharpened.

Something was out there again.

But this time…

It wasn't a neighbor sneaking home.

---sss

August had seen enough victims to know how serious this was.

He pointed at the side entrance. "This is our entry point. Minimal foot traffic. Two cameras—already looped thanks to Malik."

Malik grinned proudly. "Their security is so outdated, my laptop almost felt insulted."

The team chuckled lightly, but the tension was palpable beneath the humor.

"And law enforcement?" Derrick asked.

"They'll be on standby two blocks away," August said. "They won't move until we confirm the hostage is present."

There was a short silence.

"Taro?" Tori finally whispered.

August nodded once. "Yes."

Level 49 Assassin in Ender's Light. Their old teammate. Missing for two weeks.

But here in the real world, he was possibly being held and used for illegal operations.

"Tomorrow night." August set the time. "That's when we go in."

"Tomorrow?" Derrick blinked. "Why not tonight?"

"Because tonight," August replied, leaning back, "I have to help you finish your beginner grind in game."

---

BACK IN ENDERS LIGHT

August logged into the game in the late evening.

Derrick had reached level 9 with August's help and was grinding mobs near his starter village's fields.

"Bro! I'm almost 10! Almost!" Derrick shouted, swinging wildly at a horned rabbit.

August dodged, laughed, sliced an enemy in one clean movement, and said, "Focus. You're attacking like you're beating drum sets."

"It's working, isn't it?"

"It's embarrassing, that's what it is."

With August's guidance, Derrick leveled up into double digits within the hour.

They talked, laughed, strategized, and August explained deeper game mechanics Derrick would need once he left the beginner zone.

By midnight, August logged out.

---

HOME, DINNER, AND THE STORM APPROACHING

He reheated leftover rice, added grilled chicken, and ate while scrolling through data files on his laptop.