“There’s nothing here,” Nicholas said with an exhausted sigh. He had been searching all day for an important item. Something that could clear the lingering mysteries that remained. Normally, he’d get his team to help him, but they were busy doing their own things. Shopping and spending time with others wasn’t what he wanted to do. Nicholas preferred to be alone and continue to search. That also meant that he was the only person who would spend his free day like this. Working.

Nicholas and his familiar were scouring Greed’s old office. The entire building was paid off, and it was filled with the previous owner's assortment of gold and platinum coins, jewels, and other exotic and expensive items. The monetary value of everything within this room was more than some small countries had, so The Unnamed Team kept quiet when talking about it. They originally wanted to take it all for themselves, but that idea was immediately scrapped. Leaving the wealth where it was would cause the least amount of trouble for the team. That was the main reason why most of the team refused to search anymore. Greed was a man who hoarded wealth, not secrets. Despite this, Nicholas continued his search and hoped to find some sort of memento or instructions on how to use [Greed].

“Seems to be that way,” Eins, the Demon Slime, said. They looked the same as ever, minus them wearing the same outfit Greed once wore. The familiar was also interested in Greed’s personal belongings. Otherwise, they would have left despite their summoner’s pleas. Eins could simply ignore those requests thanks to their newfound power. The only reason why they didn’t was because of something that called out to them. Although, it wasn’t clear what got their attention.

“You’d think he’d store notes or something,” Nicholas said. Greed was wealthy enough to afford pens and paper. He seemed aware of the fact that he’d eventually die. He had also been watching The Unnamed Team for some time. So, why didn’t he leave anything behind? He had to have done something in preparation for his inevitable demise. There should have been some precautions either to inform his killers or protect his wealth.

“There would be no point. He already knew how to use his own skill, and he probably never suspected he would lose it in a round of gambling.” Eins said. It was the most logical answer. Greed knew he’d die but not that his skill would be taken. He couldn’t have been prepared for that. Plus, who would keep detailed notes about their own skills? If it got into the wrong hands, the note could have led to people discovering one's weaknesses. It was common knowledge not to divulge every facet of a person. Information could easily turn the tides of battles. It made sense as to why no one alive would keep the sort of thing the duo was looking for.

“You haven’t heard anything from Genesis?” Nicholas asked. He pinched his brow. He already knew the answer but asked anyway. Maybe. Just maybe. The voice from above would be on their side. It wasn’t.

“No, I haven’t heard anything from the voice,” Eins said. The Demon Slime rarely heard from Genesis, if at all. The omnipotent voice was from a system designed to assist participants of the Genesis Program. It had no reason to talk to Eins. Messages were always directed to Nicholas instead. However, he was a [Contracted Mage], a mage who swore a pact with a powerful being. It shouldn’t have been impossible for Eins to utilize the system now that the two were connected in such a way.

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“Looks like we’ll have to try again tomorrow,” Nicholas said. He let out an irritated sigh. There wasn’t enough time in the day to do everything he wanted to. The day was only so long, and he needed to spend most of it getting ready. The next event wouldn’t wait forever.

“Preparing for the ball?” Eins asked. It was what everyone else was doing. They were either buying their outfits and trying them on in preparation for tomorrow. Nicholas should have been doing the same, but his priorities lied elsewhere.

“I should at least make sure my fancy clothes fit…even if they are pretty boring looking,” Nicholas said. He hated the fact that they lived in this particular period of history. It was the time of tights, coats, surcoats, tunics, ridiculous hats, and robes. Each layer made the wearer even more uncomfortable and heated. The Unnamed Team was especially spoiled in that regard because their definition of fancy clothes was tamer and typically involved fewer layers.

“Would you prefer to wear something else?” Eins asked. They were familiar with the team’s circumstances. Most people had a vague idea. The Unnamed Team was a group of four individuals from an odd, undefined, place. It was why they were always unfamiliar with the local laws and how to survive as adventurers. Of course, no one except Eins knew the finer details but not for a lack of trying. Anyone the team told about their circumstances simply didn’t believe them. The team’s stories were always too fantastic or extraordinary to be considered non-fiction.

“Yeah, but modern clothes don’t exist,” Nicholas said. Naturally, there was little that this world had in common with his old one. The time periods were different. Magic now suddenly existed. Performing tasks garnered skills. A voice constantly bothered them. Nothing was the same. The only thing that kept the team stable during their initial months was each other. Part of them still wished to bring more advanced technology into this world, but that was easier said than done. To the team's credit, some progress had been made and more would be done.

“Can we not make some? It should be easy. Although, it’ll take a bit of time and collaboration between everyone on The Unnamed Team. If I work through the night, we can make it work. It should be done by the time your respective partners arrive at the hotel.” Eins said with confidence. What they were suggesting should have been basic knowledge. If the team wanted something, they could get it. That was how much their circumstances had changed from their initial days in this world. Crafting skills could make anything they wanted. All that was needed was the appropriate skill, level, and materials. Plus, the city was full of expert tailors and designers.

“Partners?” Nicholas asked. That was the only part of Eins’s statement that he heard. The faintest memory flickered in his mind. Oh yeah was the only thing he could think of. It was practically an afterthought. One that didn’t dawn on him until just before the main event.

“You do have a partner for the Annual Winter Ball, correct?” Eins asked a rhetorical question. The answer was fairly obvious. Nicholas wasn’t particularly great at hiding his stressed complexion. Suddenly a new problem had presented itself. One that was too late to fix.

He, in fact, never made arrangements with a partner for the ball.