Over twenty minutes passed before the other three agreed that they were healthy enough to return. The long walk back to their living area was silent. It was clear the aftereffects of whatever mind stun that they had been inflicted with were significant and persistent. Their complaints aside, the trip back was pleasant, and not a single monster waylaid them. The corridors were empty, just like Adam had promised.

  “I’m not training,” Eloise said flatly the moment they emerged into the familiar common room.

  “I concur I’m going to sleep,” Kang agreed.

  “All of today’s off,” Tom told them. “Then, in three days, we do the next floor. I’ll have Lightning Javelin by then, and things will go faster.”

  “And I’ll have missiles.” Kang said, tiredly. “I know the plan. Now I have to sleep.”

  He and the girls left, and Tom retreated to the padded, empty room in order to scheme and practice.

  The moment the door shut, his tier-three spear appeared, carefully positioned to be hidden from any direct line of sight from the door. It was a precaution in case one of the others barged in. If that happened, he would have time to send it back into his soul storage before they got a good look. Just in case, he produced a further two spears for extra deniability, though.

  The fight against the cat had been easy, but he had felt its vitality, felt how difficult it had been to penetrate its eye socket even when the monster was knocked out. A fair fight, he had to admit, would have at best been long and difficult. The monsters in the rest of the trial were only going to become more powerful. He needed the edge.

  He had to change the paradigm he was functioning under in order to allow himself to use the spear openly. Otherwise, he was sure that people were going to die.

  And, his gut was petrified, that included Bri.

  Somehow, he had to introduce the weapon to them in a way their minds, particularly Kang’s, wouldn’t realise its true origin. He had to manufacture some solid misdirection.

  “Adam, can you help me with something?”

  Yes, of course.

  “Can I get a lock put on this door?”

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  There was a pause.

  It’s possible, but is that really the question you want answered?

  Tom sighed. “No. It’s not.” He glanced at his weapon. “I need to keep this hidden.”

  None of the other three have a skill that can see into your soul storage.

  The administrator, Tom was certain, was being deliberately obstinate. “Very funny but that’s not what I meant and you know it.”

  Yes. I do. I suspect that what you want is tricky, and it’s related to something beyond my pay grade. I don’t understand the parameters you’re working with. I’m not sure how much I can help.

  “I need to hide its origins and be able to use it when clearing floors. Can I pretend it’s a reward I got for killing the cat?”

  You can.

  Relief flooded through him. If he could present it as a trial reward, it would make his deception easier. Change its look, openly break the decoy butterfly spear, and then he was free to do what he wished.

  But I won’t be able to lie to support the alternative reality you’ll be attempting to construct.

  His head snapped up. “Were you teasing me?”

  A little. Deception is pointless. As it is, if they catch a single glimpse of it, it will cause them to question everything.

  “I was about to change the surface markings.”

  That will help, but it still won’t explain where you got a tier-three item from when everyone knows you weren’t allowed to bring any materials in. Kang is curious, and knows how things work. If he sees you with a tier-three spear, he’s going to ask how you got it.

  “I’m not a great liar, but I’m not afraid to do it. I can convince him that it is a trial reward.”

  Yes, I’m sure you can. But we have long chats. He will seek to clarify the rules with me.

  “And then he’ll discover everything.” Tom massaged the brow of his nose. This was the crux of the issue that he had been ruminating on for some time. “So, what can I do? Only use it when they’re unconscious?”

  Or only on the last run. During the floor, you can’t talk to me, and I can kick you out when you finish it. The best solution I can see, given what you’ve told me, is to hide it until the last run and then use it openly after that, with whatever protective lie you wish to swing.

  Tom lowered his head. It was not a great solution. “Will that work?”

  It will shield me from accidentally revealing what you want to stay hidden.

  “I guess that’s what we’ll do, then. Damn, I can’t believe I have to leave this unused until the very end. Unbelievable. We’re going to be risking our lives while I have a weapon that can carve up whatever monsters we’re going to face. To have that type of treasure sitting useless in my spatial storage, it sucks. To be so close, but… damn, there’s no point lamenting about bad luck. I’ll just have to hope that the fate we’ve invested will keep them alive for long enough. Adam, thank you for your candour.” he paused for a moment, grinned, and looked straight at where the text was being written. “I don’t want to be difficult, but what about the door?”

  Locking it will cause unnecessary question. I think it’ll be best if I give you a warning when someone is approaching it or is likely to approach. It should provide you more than enough time to hide the evidence.

  He considered the offer for only a second before nodding. “That will work. Thank you.”