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Volume 5

Chapter 22: Is It Only Us?

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In the meeting room, Kladis returned with a smile on his face. It was a kind of smile that can even make a man become conscious of his own sexuality.

Such a combination of grace and handsomeness was actually only possible in this game world.

When Gats and the rest of the Legion saw him, they couldn’t help but have conflicting thoughts. The main concern now is whether they could get the Eye of Origins from Scion and proceed with all of their plans.

Gats chuckled, “It seems that you didn’t tell her.”

Kladis placed his sword in front of him, above the table, and then flicked his cape before sitting down, crossing legs in the chair with the name of [Lancelot].

“Yes. I didn’t.” he said confidently.

Some of the people inside frowned but none of them made any other noises of discontent. It’s because of the person seated on the nameless chair in their midst.

His presence alone had changed the balance of authority and power inside their hall and they knew that him, Gats, being able to control the Blue Card Legion from the dark all these time only proved that he had the kind of strength and calculating personality that is not easy to deal with.

And also, Gats was the one who devised all of their plans, assigned people to take up positions, missions, and quests to get all of their accomplishments together, forming the foundation of how they are called the «Blue Card Legion» now.

Gats let out a carefree laugh, “Then I would assume that you have advanced quite far?”

Hearing this point, Prince Volga gritted his teeth in anger as he knew very well what their leader meant when he said “advanced” earlier.

To this, Kladis heartily laughed but he didn’t give out a reply. Instead, he just looked at Hubert and then spoke in a mocking tone.

“It’s not that I advanced on her,” he said and then drew his eyes towards Volga. “It’s just that I was given quite the nicest opening ceremony when I have thought of this plan.”

“You–!” While the Prince Volga was furious, Gats was in a merry and joyous mood. He laughed out and then tapped the table many times, rattling the swords on the table while making all the people inside feel a quiet stupor in their chests.

At his point, Gats changed the subject with a shake of his head before looking at Hubert.

“Kira, stop the disguise. I want you to gain her trust and become her ally. Give her your utmost support as a real retainer and do your best to get her to at least agree on using the Eye of Origins to our cause if she doesn’t want to give it up.”

Hubert –called Kira, didn’t dally as he stood up.

As soon as he did, the stoic face of the man changed abruptly with a wiping gesture on his face. The once male knight that had a quiet temperament on the TOS Guild became a girl that wore the same themed armor as that of Kladis.

Her presence closely resembled that of Kladis, only, she had a wavy long blue hair that was tied in a ponytail behind her head.

She was from the Maven Tribe, the Terrans with the highest affinity to Mana and talent with Magic.

Her stoic and expressionless face was just as how the silent [Hubert] was, only, this time, she had revealed her true appearance –the one that joined the Legion.

Bodoni Kira, the shapeshifter.

She bowed in salute, a fist on her chest, still wearing her stoic face as she turned and exited the room.

After she departed, Gats eyes the two empty seats before sighing and declaring, “The sudden death of Cedric really was a blow on our plans.”

Just as he spoke, he eyed Hagrid with a flat, insipid expression. Hagrid himself felt that it was like he was sending him a message, or it was as if he saying that Hagrid should have done something after Cedric’s death.

Gats continued, “The Ethereal Chains of Blood that Cedric had is now unbound. Only a Wizard that is on the same level as him can bind the chains and return its control over us. Without the chains, proceeding with the plan will be impossible.”

Everyone in the room felt the weight of his words.

They have invested quite the resources and time just to take control of Dragona. In their plans to conquer the Central and Eastern Continents, Dragona’s tactical position and purpose would have been a very beneficial help for them.

Still, Gat’s next words were the true reason why the death of Cedric was detrimental to their plans.

“The Blood Dragon Cannon suddenly firing off to the sea against the Archangel…” Gats wiped his face with a palm. “This only proves that the history between that Archangel and the Blood Dragon God is really not set on stone yet. The battle that year will continue in this generation and perhaps finally end.”

A man with the same astute disposition and tribal origins as Hagrid that sat on the chair of [Gawain] spoke while leaning on the table and covering his mouth in his hands.

“Percival’s chair is empty. With the Archmage here and with what you’ve said just now, we can just invite the Archmage to join us, right?”

“Paris, Kira also knows that.” A Monk seated in the chair with the name of [Lamorak] spoke. “Don’t assume that everyone here is as muscled headed as you and Hagrid.”

Hagrid’s brows twitched in irritation but he was still able to control his temper. Paris, however, wasn’t as astute as his inner heart so he exclaimed.

“Hmp. A bald monk-wanna-be wants to start a fire in this room? Be careful or you will be burned.” Paris shot the monk a glaring eye. He didn’t explode as much as Hagrid wanted him but his words still proved that he was still wise up to a certain degree.

“Everyone, as I’ve told you from the very beginning, when we are gathered in this room together, refrain from bringing in your personal feuds using your player names and instead address each other with the title you are given in the chairs you are seated. We are here as a group and thus I need you to be as able as you are until we succeed with our plans.”

When these words were spoken with a heavy tone, not one of the people in the room dared to even let it out of the other side of their ears.

Even Olaf who silently listened in a corner couldn’t help praising Gats’ control over his subordinates.

This kind of leadership was something that can only be gained by someone who had both natural talent and hard-gained ability both in the real world and in this artificial reality.

“Alright. Adding on to what Gawain said, it is true that Percival’s chair needed to be filled in order for us to proceed with the plan. Having the Archmage here is a coincidence. Tristan knows it that’s why I sent her to persuade the Archmage on our behalf. Her stoic and bland personality is a perfect tool in persuading someone with the personality like Scion. Only,” at this point, Gats eyed Kladis. “What I’m afraid of is that you will let your personal tastes preside over our plans in the future.”

Seeing this, Kladis chuckled and raised his right palm to face the table. “Rest assured, Taichou-dono, my own personal desires are still only second to what we have agreed from the very beginning.”

“Mn. I will choose to trust you this time. But always remember that the moment you betray me, you will receive my personal punishment.”

When Gats spoke the last sentence, his eyes seemed to have transformed into a tank’s cannon that directly pointed at Kladis’ face.

Even Olaf felt the pressure on that gaze.

Not one of the ten people in the room dared to take those words as empty words. Gats, in front of the TV may seem like a smiling carefree player but here in this very room, he was like a tyrant that stood and controlled his subjects by the neck.

But he wasn’t a tyrant and he definitely wasn’t the sort of dictator as well.

He let his subordinates carry on as they will and only give out orders that is both important and crucial to not only the proceedings of their plans but also of their own personal growth as players.

Every one of them had benefitted from their mysterious leader’s orders even before he revealed himself as Gats –the recognized strongest player of RPG: Terroa, so they recognized just how high his capabilities really are.

When he gave this threat to their nominal leader, the always composed Kladis, and even made him twitch his lips as if in pain, they all understood at this very moment just how frightening Gats would be when he was serious.

This one exchange also made them all understand just what kind of person he really was.

He was the kind that, although open and seemingly carefree, will not allow any of his subordinates to destroy their plans in exchange to their own personal desires.

Olaf on the side respected this. For any person, this kind of personality is highly regarded in any company.

“If you understood, then you can still toy around.”

When Gats declared this, Kladis heaved a long sigh of relief. He wasn’t aware of it but everyone in the room could see the large beads of sweat that formed on his forehead like small hills.

His handsome complexion was destroyed and all they could see is someone who was actually so scared to his toes that he was sweating.

And yet, Kladis assured them with his utmost noble sincerity. “Do not worry I will do my best to make all our plans succeed.”

“Enough of that.” Gats waved an uncaring hand. “As we wait for the decision of the Archmage, I want us to talk about The Providence.” After this sentence, he looked at the Prince Volga. “Volga, we’re just missing The Eye. Aside from that, we are only waiting for the troops to station themselves in Alexandria. Are all the materials ready?”

Volga nodded and all traces of his discontent earlier vanished in his face. Only the player called Volga with no status and only focused himself on his ‘goal’ was the one sitting on the seat of Geraint.

“My Crown Knights are ready for dispatch at beckon’s call. The materials have all been delivered since two days ago. If we can get the Eye of Origins, then we can start anytime.”

Serious faces could be seen on the people that were seated in the table. Only Gats had a look of anticipation in his face as he closed his eyes and made a deep breath.

Everyone watch and waited for him.

After a moment, he opened his eyes softly and then he summoned a player panel that he flicked in the air and was then distributed to every player inside the room, including Olaf.

“As of six days ago, Gaheris’ Intel had this list of enemies we are likely to meet in Alexandria. Of all the Guilds and Groups in there, the only one that could pose a threat to us is the Helium Guild.”

“Helium Guild?” Hagrid made a frown. “They’re just a mid-sized group and their strength isn’t even a tenth of ours. Why are they a threat?”

This question was also in some of the minds of the ones present at this room and they eagerly waited for a reply from this question.

The one who answered this was Gaheris (Hijack) and Olaf who had his name on the Payroll List listened to what he had to say very eagerly. One reason to this is because the leader of the Helium Guild, Jack Stone, was supposed to be part of his team searching for traces of Janus.

Hijack explained calmly. “In that S-Ranked Mission in the Anazon Forest where [The Destroyer] had to fight against the Keeper of the Forest, Jack used that time to snatch the fabled Sword in the Stone with the name of «Excalibur» that… in some ways or another, is actually one side of our target.”

“Ah..!” gasps could be heard from the people of the room but it wasn’t of shock to the news but is actually from surprise and joy.

Gats smiled at this point. “You can call it destiny or even fate. According to what we know, in order to get their hands on the Excalibur, the Helium Guild’s Jack Stone had double-crossed and even attempted to assassinate Siva to stop him from interfering on them getting the sword. But they failed to do so and thus, knowing Siva, after Jack actually sacrificed his own men to entrap the man in that S-Rank Duel Mission, they directly went into hiding and severed any alliance they have with the TOS Guild right after they got their hands on the sword.”

“But that’s not what makes them a threat to us.” The cool voice of Hijack continued. “It is because of the fact that, with the Excalibur in hand, the Helium Guild had become a direct subordinate of The Union.”

It was this news that changed the expression of the ones present in the room. Even Gats became serious.

Olaf had a complicated expression.

The Union of the Seven Nations, it was a very large organization that also exists in the real world. In fact, their in-game organization is an economic power that aims to control Terroa by means of controlling its hunting grounds, cities, and even kingdoms by using the players who are under their control.

The Union hired adventurers and makes them agree on receiving their financial support in the real world in exchange of monopoly of unique places in the game.

All the members of the Blue Card Legion knows of it because when Hubert (Kira in disguise) was still in the TOS Guild, spying, the addition of Volt’s team had alerted the Blue Card Legion.

Because almost everyone in Terroa knows that Volt’s adventure team were famous for being able to discover new places which The Union developed into exclusive resorts and members-only recreational places. It may mean small for hardcore and professional players, but for tourists and businessmen of the real world, these places meant a lot of things.

In other words, The Union –an economic behemoth in the real world– may or may not be aware of the importance of the Excalibur in their control.

If they don’t know, then the Blue Card Legion going after Jack Stone for The Sword may just be a normal strife between guilds with in-game reasons.

But if The Union is aware of Excalibur’s connection with The Providence, then looking at it in a financial standpoint, of course, a behemoth will not let a big chunk of meat be stolen from his embrace. Not only this will mean a big trouble for the players of The Legion, this might also cause them problems back in the real world.

The Union was of, after all, the same nature, if not of equal power, with the UNICORN.

Even the countries that are already members of the UNICORN (United Continents Organization) also still chose to be part of the Union of Seven Nations.

This organization had aimed to establish each and every continent as a Unified Nation and thus lead it into becoming an economic superpower.

Of course, with the existence of the Panorama Corp., this dream of The Union will remain a dream. That’s why they also chose to infiltrate Panorama Corp.’s RPG: Terroa and establish their own brand here with the same name to serve as both a declaration of rivalry and as well as to serve as termite that eats their own game from inside.

Just thinking of the intertwining webs of conflicts this small fact of the Helium Guild’s affiliation with The Union is already enough to make the members of the Blue Card Legion to frown their faces.

With their mysteriously unfathomable leader, Gats, frowning with this news, all the more his members thought deeply of the seriousness of t news.

“Jack obtaining the Excalibur really did put a thorn in our sides. I can’t help but notice that almost every existence that is affiliated with this ‘Siva’ is either a big character or is a really large problem to stick to someone’s sides. Haha… I can’t help wondering, is it only us who’s having a problem dealing with this or are there many other organizations with the same troubles as us?”

*****

In a castle in Qatar

The Eastern Continent of Espada

A similar circle gathered in a meeting and all the members of this circle all had beads of sweats forming on their heads.

Someone spoke, “I wonder, is it only us who’s having a problem dealing with this or are there many other organizations with the same troubles as us?”

Right after he spoke, everyone sighed.

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War is approaching!

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