Chapter 160 : Chapter 160
Chapter 160 : Supreme King (4)
The reason I specifically sought the Anonymous Bulletin Board rather than the Verification Board was simple.
Newbie Hunter Ballak was an extreme figure who argued that Ascension Stone Fragments should be destroyed.
Naturally, I didn't think such a person would have unlocked the Level 5 authority Verification Board, which could only be reached by absorbing Ascension Stone Fragments beyond a certain amount, and in fact, Ballak's activity history couldn't be found within the Verification Board either.
I didn't know if Ballak would reply or not.
No, actually, it was true that the possibility of Ballak even seeing my post on the Anonymous Bulletin Board, which was practically a sea of information, was very low.
As if mocking my concerns, the post I uploaded became quite a hot topic on the Anonymous Bulletin Board.
-Ballak? Isn’t he an old ranker?
-Is Dragon Slayer acquainted with Ballak?
-Wow, what is this?
-Bump for Ballak to see.
-Ballak and Supreme King dd just hearing the names makes my heart magnificent.
-Is something big coming?
-What’s this about the Supreme King? Why are you guys circlejerking among yourselves?
-Hmm...
-What exactly is Dragon Slayer’s identity?
In a way, it was natural.
Currently, one of the hottest topics on the Anonymous Bulletin Board was about the Supreme King and the Eastern Union.
In such a situation, since I openly mentioned the Supreme King and at the same time sought Ballak, one of the old rankers, this reaction was natural.
‘I should consider this rather fortunate.’
With this much reaction, my post would soon rise to the recommended posts.
If that happened, the possibility of Ballak seeing my post would increase.
‘Then, finding Ballak is enough for now with this…….’
It was practically up to Ballak from now on anyway.
All that remained was to prepare for what would happen soon.
I moved my steps.
***
Returning to the inn, I faced the special task force members who were waiting for me on the first floor.
“You’re here.”
Conlan, who was sipping beer in broad daylight, welcomed me.
“Alcohol from the morning?”
“How is beer alcohol, it’s just a beverage.”
Leaving behind the remark that one would likely hear from a city drunkard, I sat next to Albino and Alicia.
“Looking at your face, it doesn’t seem like things went very well?”
At the quick-witted Albino’s words, I nodded slightly.
“That’s about right.”
“Then what happens now?”
“War will break out.”
“Hmm, didn’t we come here to stop that?”
“That is true.”
Since the situation turned out like this, meeting the Supreme King again through Guar wouldn't change much.
No, rather, there was a possibility of falling into danger because of it.
‘A fight will be unavoidable.’
Of course, avoiding without fighting could also be one method.
If the magic activated as the Supreme King intended, massive damage would occur to the Empire and the Eastern Union, but if left alone, the Supreme King would be hunted down before long.
Just as the Mages of Blazing Fire were, if one drew too much aggro in the World of Justice, they would eventually be condemned by the players.
Even the guy called Supreme King, who was the head of the Eastern Union, wouldn't be able to avoid that.
Players possessed very powerful strength when viewed as a group, and surviving even after offending such players was something only possible for someone like Cain.
‘The problem is, by then the Empire and the Eastern Union would already be finished.’
Therefore, I had no choice but to make a certain choice.
“I’m asking just in case, even if I tell you to go back now, you won’t go back, right?”
“That’s obvious. What do you think we came all the way here for?”
At Albino’s words, Conlan and Alicia, who were drinking beer, chimed in.
“I think the same.”
“Me too.”
“Yeah, well, I thought so.”
Since we came this far, even if I told the special task force members to return because it was dangerous, there was no way they would listen to me.
No, in the first place, I needed their help right now.
Although their strength might be infinitely weak when considering the scale of the war, the 4th Special Task Force had gone through many things until now.
Weak, but necessary.
Therefore, they would take on the role of a detached force assassinating the Supreme King with me.
Above all, even if the special task force members returned from here, if this matter failed, they would all die anyway.
Regardless of whether they risked their lives or not, it meant their lives were already on the scale.
If so, wouldn't it be right to give them a chance to choose their own destiny as well?
“Let’s get up soon.”
“Huh? Is there somewhere to go?”
“No. We should even save time like this. Everyone prepares for training.”
“……What?”
The expressions of the special task force members turned dumbfounded all at once.
“Why?”
“No…… training in a situation like this? Are you serious?”
“Of course I’m serious.”
“Ha.”
Albino shook his head as if he was fed up.
It was true that the special task force members had grown a lot compared to before, but considering what would happen from now on, I had to train them even a little more.
That way, the possibility of survival would increase.
I wouldn't be able to get the Lord's cooperation like in Biarritz, but that didn't mean finding a place to train was impossible.
Although it was a bit troublesome, if we went outside the capital, we could find plenty of places to train.
“Let’s go.”
The time for training had returned.
***
Within the days of training, a few days passed again.
“……I didn’t know we’d be doing this crap all the way here.”
“I agree.”
“Ugh…….”
During that time, I devoted myself to training with the special task force members in the forest outside the capital.
Meanwhile, Arkendale was forming a sea of people due to the lords and kings who flocked from various places in the Eastern Union, and the attendants and guards accompanying them.
It was around that time that news came from Guar.
“Vell.”
Guar, who sought me, had an urgent look on his face that anyone could see.
Just looking at that expression, it wasn't difficult to know what Guar would say.
“The Supreme King has declared war on the Empire.”
“As expected.”
I was thinking it was about time, and it seemed the Supreme King intended to move in earnest.
“How much are the preparations done?”
“……Honestly, it’s not at a very satisfactory level. Diverting the attention of Arkendale’s resident troops would be the best we can do. Even that won’t be for long.”
“That much is enough.”
Anyway, this fight was essentially a matter of whether the Supreme King could be killed or not.
Therefore, it was enough if the troops were just enough to not let the detached force be held back while moving to target the Supreme King.
“Do you really intend to do it?”
I knew what Guar was worried about.
The Supreme King was the one ruling half of the Lagna Continent called the Eastern Union, and killing such a person was practically turning half of the world into an enemy.
Did I have any obligation to do such a thing?
Naturally, there was no way I had such a thing, but nevertheless, I felt I had to do it.
Perhaps, it might be because I secretly harbored a doubt whether I was the cause of players coming to this world.
Is it guilt, or a sense of responsibility?
I didn't know exactly which of those it was, but I was feeling something similar to that.
“I have to.”
“That part is just like Cain.”
Guar chuckled.
“Shouldn’t you show him?”
Now the Supreme King would also come to know.
“What Cain’s way is.”
***
“Tonight, there will be a gathering once again. If we are to act, there is no opportunity other than that.”
The outline of the operation was simple.
If Guar’s troops caused a disturbance in the capital, troops such as Arkendale’s guards and knights would inevitably be deployed to suppress it.
If that happened, the defense of the Imperial palace would temporarily weaken, and in that gap, the detached force would move to target the Supreme King remaining in the Imperial palace.
“……Honestly speaking, it’s a reckless operation. The troops causing the disturbance won’t last long and will all be suppressed, and it’s a situation where we don’t even know how many players follow the Supreme King right now.”
I knew what Guar was concerned about, but there was no need to worry greatly about that part.
“You don’t have to worry greatly about that part.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the Supreme King won’t avoid it.”
If the Supreme King was really going to use any means necessary, he wouldn't have revealed himself in Arkendale in the first place.
However, the Supreme King revealed himself.
As if to test whether fate itself could stop him.
“……I don’t know on what grounds you are saying that, but if it’s you saying it, there must be a reason.”
Guar seemed to believe it for now since it was me who said it, even while being half in doubt.
“Then we will move immediately.”
“Hmm, I wish you luck.”
With those words as the last, I turned my steps toward where the special task force members were.
“Let’s depart.”
Instead of answering, the special task force members put on masks with heavy expressions.
It would be convenient to use Akiro’s Ring during the infiltration process, but if possible, I wanted to face the Supreme King while preserving all combat power.
At that moment.
Ku-u-ung!!!
Along with the signal that Guar started moving in earnest, the capital fell into chaos.
“What? What is happening?!”
“A large-scale ambush occurred at the south gate!”
“What?”
While the capital’s troops headed to the south gate all at once, the special task force members and I covertly advanced toward the Imperial palace.
Although we diverted attention for now, there would still be the Imperial Knights residing within the Imperial palace.
Dealing with them would be the very share of the special task force members.
‘It won’t be easy to deal with the Imperial Knights with just the special task force members but…… I have to believe in them.’
Considering the average level of the Imperial Knights and the level of the special task force members, naturally, the level of the Imperial Knights was overwhelmingly higher.
Adding to that, the Imperial Knights also possessed numerical superiority, so by common sense, there was no way the special task force members could handle the Imperial Knights.
Clearly that was common sense, but for some reason, I wanted to believe in them.
“It’s the Imperial palace.”
Finally arriving at the Imperial palace, the special task force members and I exchanged hand signals and immediately headed inside the Imperial palace.
Perhaps due to the disturbance that occurred outside, the troops within the Imperial palace were also on alert, but infiltrating wasn't very difficult.
Seu-euk.
Alicia, moving like a stray cat, stabbed a dagger into the necks of the guards at once.
“Kk! Kk!”
As the guard died while clutching his neck, Alicia sent a signal with her hand.
Seeing that, Conlan and Albino made somewhat fed-up expressions but soon moved their steps.
‘Lion.’
[Yes.]
‘Can you still feel that presence you felt last time inside the Imperial palace?’
[Yes, I can feel it.]
‘As expected. Where is it?’
[I will project it onto your eyes.]
Soon after, the Imperial palace overflowing with Demonic energy became visible in my eyes.
Following the residue of Demonic energy Lion showed, I headed to the palace with the special task force members.
And, finally, I stood in front of the huge door of the palace where massive Demonic energy was felt.
Standing in front of it, the bodies of Conlan, Albino, and Alicia stiffened at the overwhelming presence felt from inside.
“From now on, I want you to make sure no one enters inside here.”
“……Will you be okay alone?”
“Yeah. Rather, it is more important that interference doesn’t come from outside.”
It was a bit unexpected that the Imperial Knights weren't guarding this front, but that didn't mean they wouldn't interfere sometime.
Therefore, I intended to leave this front to the special task force and go inside.
“Vell.”
Alicia called me with a trembling voice.
“Don’t die.”
“I have no intention to.”
“I believe in you.”
Saying that, Alicia made an expression that I couldn't tell if she was laughing or crying.
Leaving such Alicia behind, I exchanged gazes once with Conlan and Albino, and opened the palace door as it was.
Creak…….
Whether it was a palace not usually used well, the huge palace door opened with the sound of hinges ringing strangely annoyingly.
And as I moved my steps inside, I could finally face the Supreme King who was practically submerged in darkness while sitting nobly on the throne.
From the Supreme King in the darkness, a familiar metallic voice was heard.
“Eventually, you came to test my fate, Postponer of Ruin.”
“Well, it turned out like that.”
“Amusing.”
Intense Demonic energy that hadn't been seen until now began to surge from the Supreme King.
“Come. I will test my fate.”