Chapter 117: The Loss of Integrity

"Mommy!" Lancer froze instantly at the sound of the little girl’s voice. Instead of spitting out blood like the other three shocked individuals, he simply stared blankly at the confused loli.

"This is not scientific!" His processing circuits, delayed by the sheer impact of the moment, finally caught up. He wore a face of harmonious, plastered-on smiles as he looked at the girl who had just woken up.

"Okaasan!" The child completely ignored Lancer’s strange expression and dove into his arms. As for "Daddy"? He was utterly ignored.

---

"Lancer!"
"Kirito!"

Whether it was the majestic Asuna or the gentle Sachi, both could be incredibly formidable at times—like right now.

The two men knelt before the women, while Yui, oblivious to the tension, rested quietly in Asuna’s arms.

"What does this have to do with me? I was just a bystander..." Lancer muttered under his breath, though he seemed to have forgotten that girls possess selective, heightened hearing at times.

"Lancer-kun, did you say something?" Asuna’s smile radiated the aura of a saint, yet a chill ran down Lancer’s spine. He instantly sat up straight and shouted, "No!"

"Then—Kirito-kun, do you have anything you’d like to say?" Even the gentle Sachi seemed to have "blackened," addressing him as "Kirito-kun." Kirito, who had been getting along so well with her until now, turned grey with despair.

"Kirito-kun, you have to be honest." The brighter Sachi’s smile became, the colder Kirito felt.

"Sachi! You have to believe me! You know that the game Kayaba developed doesn't even have this kind of feature..." In his panic, Kirito blurted out something dangerous.

"Oh~ a feature—" Although Lancer was also technically a defendant in this trial, his lack of seriousness—or rather, his negative integrity—led him to ignore his kneeling position and start teasing Kirito.

"It’s nothing! It’s really nothing!" Despite Kirito’s desperate denials, Lancer’s wicked, ambiguous smile only grew wider as he watched Sachi, still "blackened" and clutching the confused Yui, steaming with frustration while Kirito failed to hide his guilt.

---

After some playful banter, the incident was brushed aside, but the group soon gathered again to discuss Yui.

"The only clue we have is the name above that child's head—'Yui.' This matter will require more effort from you, Lancer, since you have the widest network of connections," Kirito concluded. Yui, having just woken up, had drifted back to sleep and was carried back to the room by Sachi.

"No problem. I’ll have Yulier and her group look for intel on the lower floors, and I’ll have the folks in my guild keep an ear out while they’re grinding," Lancer promised. He knew Yui’s true identity, but he couldn't explain how, unless he admitted to being well-acquainted with Akihiko Kayaba.

"Alright, now let’s talk about you, Kirito." Once the serious business was finished, Lancer returned to his shameless self and slung an arm around Kirito.

"What! What about me?" Kirito racked his brain, but the only thing Lancer could possibly be referring to was that one secret. He had no idea how Lancer found out.

"What do you mean? Don't play dumb, Kirito~ Don't underestimate my intelligence-gathering capabilities." Lancer leaned in close.

"What are you talking about?" Kirito decided to hold his ground.

"It seems you’re not going to talk!" Lancer hopped back and pointed at him. "I saw you get your hands on that S-rank rare ingredient!" Lancer delivered the bombshell.

"What!" Kirito hadn't expected Lancer to actually know, but he still wanted to refuse; the ingredient was scarce, and he had intended to share it with Sachi.

"Are you sure? You know, besides Asuna, there aren't many people in this game who have fully mastered the Cooking skill," Lancer tempted him.

S-rank ingredients weren't meant for everyone to use, but Kirito tried one last stand. "Fine, even if Asuna gets a share for helping cook, what about you?"

"Lancer-kun is so heartless—" Lancer suddenly changed his demeanor, covering his face with his hands as if weeping. With his casual attire, he looked like a cross-dresser.

However, his lack of integrity showed through quickly. He said in a seductive tone, "Has Lancer-kun forgotten what made it possible for you to live in a house like this?" Kirito felt as if he could see a little tail wagging behind Lancer.

"You..." Kirito found he couldn't argue. Although it sounded like blackmail, they were friends, and he knew Lancer was joking. He wouldn't be stingy, and he trusted that Lancer wouldn't come empty-handed either.

---

"That’s more like it~" Lancer turned to Asuna and said, "Asuna, here!" He immediately sent a trade request.

Asuna was puzzled but accepted.

"This is..." Asuna looked at the row of A-rank ingredients and felt a sense of helplessness. She finally understood how Lancer had earned his reputation for impossible collection skills. While A-rank ingredients were sold on the market, they were incredibly expensive—even for the elite clearers, they were a once-a-week luxury. Yet, Lancer carried so many on him; she couldn't even imagine what else was in his storage.

"Don't worry about it. I have as many of these as you need. These should be enough to make a great meal, but if you need anything else, I’ll go get it."

"Mm, this is basically enough. But for a dinner for five, we’ll need some side dishes. Lancer, go get some vegetables." Since Lancer had promised, she didn't stand on ceremony.

"No problem!" Lancer rushed off, knowing he needed to hurry back before it got too late.

Kirito felt a sudden sense of contentment. In this world, he had his lover, his troublemaking friend, and companions he could trust with his life. He felt a lingering attachment, but the thought of Kayaba controlling their lives steeled his resolve to clear the game.

"What is it?" It was a message he hadn't received in a long time. He didn't know if this contact from Lien Hua was good news or bad.

"You have work to do. It’s best if you get out within a month. I’ll have Kayaba assist you. Because of this game, the outside world is being eroded. I don't think you want the world of ordinary people out there to be destroyed."

"What!" Although Lancer didn't value this world as much as the Type-Moon world, he had many friends here. He couldn't ignore their fate.

"Understood!" After a brief internal calculation, he agreed, and his speed increased as he headed back "home."