If you were to ask who in all of SAO has the largest storage of special items, Akimi wouldn’t be able to answer; but if you asked who could obtain a large quantity of specific items in the shortest time, there’s no doubt—it’s Argo.
However, naturally, commissioning Argo to collect rare items comes at a price that most people can’t afford.
On top of that, Argo is as cunning as her “mouse” nickname suggests—rumor has it that members of some “Grand guild” were nearly signing servitude contracts with her.
And what Akimi had to do now was make that contract fully official.
Though he’s a pure-hearted guy, helping a friend open the gates of the Crystal Palace posed no problem.
Thinking of this, Akimi couldn’t help but let out a sly laugh.
Sensing something, Kirito shivered in the sweltering heat.
“Ugh—why do I feel like someone wants to get me?” Kirito muttered to himself, rubbing his arms.
“This sudden chill out of nowhere is terrifying.”
Instinctively, Kirito assumed that if someone really were targeting him, it would have to involve the hateful guy beside him.
When Kirito shifted his gaze to Akimi, Akimi happened to look back, wearing a cryptic smile that made Kirito even more uncomfortable.
Immediately, Kirito shot back with a scowl: “What are you smirking at?”
Normally, Akimi would have retorted, but this time he just smiled at Kirito and muttered quietly: “Hmm… perfect. Now my already scarce guilt is completely gone.”
“Stop babbling and get ready to collect the Bubble Fruits,” Kirito said, still annoyed.
Akimi waved his hand with a grin: “Collecting them yourself is too inefficient. I have a faster method. Just stay here; I’ll go buy you two oranges.”
With that, he glanced at the time, affectionately patted Kirito’s head, and withdrew his hand before Kirito’s expression could darken, saying: “Kirito, you need to think more.”
“…You better know your limits, you bastard,” Kirito gritted out.
“Taking advantage of someone, once is fine—”
Before he could finish, Akimi had already dashed off, leaving only: “You rest for now; I’ll be back soon.”
After a brief silence, Kirito shouted loudly in the direction Akimi had gone: “(Japanese curse)——!”
—————
When Akimi arrived at the transfer gate of the main town on the seventh floor, Recussio, a slightly short figure wearing a hood suddenly appeared.
“You’re the one who asked me out, yet you’re taking so long… really lacking in charm, Aki-bou,”
Argo said as she lifted the hood, revealing the small face hidden underneath.
Looking at her, Akimi raised an eyebrow, sensing that something about Argo seemed a little different from before, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Noticing Akimi’s scrutiny, Argo let out a mischievous laugh and habitually teased, “Wahaha, Aki-bou, you even specially ask me out when you’re on vacation with Asu-chan—are you trying the older-girl type, different from Asu-chan?”
“You don’t have to make the same joke every time we meet,” Akimi said helplessly.
“Anyway, enough—there’s something serious I need from you.”
Of course, Argo wasn’t buying it.
Muttering, “When is it ever not serious?” she allowed Akimi to lead her to the restaurant they had first visited when arriving on the seventh floor.
…
After shoveling down the food on her plate, Argo, in a rather unladylike manner, wiped her mouth with her hand, leaned back comfortably in her chair, crossed her legs, and said, “Alright then, what’s the matter?”
Just as Akimi was about to speak, Argo continued, “Let me be clear—those errands that have you running all over the place? I’m not taking them these past couple days. So don’t ask me to fetch some item when all you know is its name and floor of origin.”
Akimi’s words immediately got stuck—huh, when did Argo become so prescient?
After rubbing his nose, he finally said, “Cough… well, it is about collecting items, but you won’t have to run all over for them.”
Argo didn’t respond verbally.
She casually picked up an unfamiliar fruit from the table, biting into it with a crisp crunch, and blinked, signaling him to continue.
“You remember when you were stockpiling Bubble Fruits before the fourth-floor BOSS fight? You must still have quite a few left,” Akimi said, gesturing vaguely with his hands.
After thinking for a moment, Argo nodded slightly—she had indeed collected a large number before the BOSS fight, though she hadn’t used many in the end.
There were probably thirty or forty left, making it one of the few failed investments she’d made so far.
At that moment, her expression suddenly stiffened.
Without a word, she spat the thoroughly chewed fruit into the nearby trash can and then downed the remaining bit of wine from her glass.
After slightly easing the discomfort in her mouth, Argo said, “Mm, there are still quite a few left. How do you intend to use them?”
Akimi nodded helplessly. “Originally, I was just planning to visit Nirrnir, but then an unexpected situation came up.”
Argo nodded with interest. “Oh? Elaborate.”
After giving a rough overview, Akimi sighed. “For now… we just have to go underwater with the Bubble Fruits.”
“Cough… I see. In that case, I’ll definitely come cheer you on,” Argo said with a rather odd expression.
“…Dear Argo, may I ask how exactly you plan to cheer us on?” Akimi said, somewhat exasperated.
“Don’t say anything inappropriate this time.”
Argo let out two soft “hehe” laughs and turned her head slightly, looking a bit embarrassed.
After a brief silence, she rummaged through her inventory for a moment, then placed a pile of Bubble Fruits on the table and said, “Since we’re on such good terms, I’ll sell them to you at cost… how about 5,000 Col?”
“Hmm—Argo, shouldn’t you just hand them to us for free in a situation like this?”
Hearing this, Argo’s expression immediately changed. “Tomioka Akimi, the top-tier player of all SAO, you want to freeload? You’re usually so generous—surely you can come up with 5,000 Col, can’t you?”
“Ah, don’t put it so harshly. It’s not freeloading, it’s a transaction,” Akimi waved his hand.
“Come closer and listen—I have a plan that will make us both happy.”
After a moment of hesitation, Argo leaned in, curious to hear what scheme Akimi had in mind.
…
Fiddling awkwardly with her glass for a moment, Argo finally nodded hesitantly in agreement.
“Don’t worry, it’ll definitely work,” Akimi said.
As for whether it really would… only he knew the truth.
— The end of the Chapter–
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