The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

“What on earth is going on here!”

“I-I apologize. We are currently reviewing multiple alternatives….”

“How long do you plan to keep searching for alternatives? Haven’t you received the reports? The industrial complex’s operating rate has fallen below 50%! Hospitals are filled with patients due to unusual climate phenomena! Come up with a solution immediately. Isn’t that what you are here for?”

President Ahn Jin-won’s rebuke left the officials in the room silent. Even though high-level ministerial meetings were being held almost daily, no practical solutions had been devised for the ongoing events.

It was clear that resolving supernatural phenomena with human effort was no trivial task. However, that didn’t mean they could just sit back and do nothing.

The President, frustrated, had raised his voice, but he didn’t truly expect a groundbreaking solution to be found. He inwardly clicked his tongue, calming himself before speaking again.

“Yesterday, I received a direct email from Alex Song, the chairman of Connect. It was not just sent to me but to leaders of various nations. I believe you all need to be informed.”

A screen in the office turned on, displaying the email from Alex Song. Ministers and attendees were visibly shocked by the email’s contents.

“Is this for real? Why were we not informed earlier…?”

“What exactly does Alex Song know? And what is he thinking?”

“If he’s going to tell us, he should be thorough. Why leave out important details?”

Watching the murmuring officials, the President sighed.

“Hoo. I don’t know how much of his words we can trust either. But we can’t ignore him, given that his previous warnings have consistently proven true…. Each ministry must formulate a response based on this email.”

The email projected on the screen was summarized as follows:

—

The changes in Connect (scenario progression speed) are faster than anticipated, making it impossible to meet capsule supply demands.

Therefore, starting from this month, we will mass-produce simplified capsules with fewer functions and lower performance. The distribution of these simplified capsules will be left to each nation, and Connect Company will not be involved.

Earth’s changes are accelerating beyond expectations. Soon, a cataclysmic transformation will occur. It’s advisable to begin preparing now to protect humanity against the 『Apocalypse』.

Lastly, as I’ve repeatedly stated, the answers lie within Connect.

—

The room fell into a heavy silence as the implications of the email sank in. President Ahn Jin-won’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his ministers.

“Coordinate with your teams and devise plans to manage this situation. Time is of the essence.”

The ministers nodded, some with grim determination, others with resignation, ready to dive into the monumental task ahead.

-P. S.: Strongly advise against antagonizing the residents (NPCs) of Connect.

The President’s eyes fixated on the last sentence of the email. It was essentially a statement supporting First Knight Order.

‘First Knight Order and Purple Association. I can’t say I’m fond of them.’

Though unspoken, the reality was clear—First Company Inc., supposedly established by First Knight Order, was essentially a subsidiary of Connect Company.

And while referred to as “residents” of Connect, they were merely by-products of Connect Company’s advanced AI. The very notion that humans were being influenced by mere data fragments was absurd.

However, given the society, rules, and laws humans had created, criticizing a legally operating entity wasn’t feasible at this juncture. The President, having finished his musings, asked again.

“Have we managed to contact the chairman of First Company Inc.? If not, what about CEO Bae Dohyun?”

The chief secretary, looking grim, responded.

“We’ve conveyed our invitation to the Blue House several times, but they have repeatedly declined. They have mentioned that there’s nothing particular to discuss with the government regarding matters internal to Connect….”

“Sigh, what a mess! If not the chairman and CEO, then shouldn’t we have reached out to someone in the executive team? What about that Kim Ilwoo?”

“I-I’ll try to arrange a meeting as quickly as possible!”

Though bowing in acquiescence, the chief secretary’s face reflected deep frustration.

‘How am I supposed to get hold of people who are in capsules all day?’

Attempts to visit their headquarters had yielded no encounters with any executives. And he wasn’t the only one eager to meet them.

The lobby of First Company Inc. was perpetually crowded with diverse individuals—differing in race and hair color.

Employees of the US Embassy, among other nations’ representatives, were frequently present, as were secretaries from major corporations that regularly liaised with the Blue House.

In the industry, it was now common knowledge that meeting executives from First Company Inc. was harder than reaching for the stars. Just then, someone clicked their tongue and remarked.

“This is unacceptable. How can a mere company ignore the President? Perhaps applying some pressure might yield results. A tax audit or tightening their funding streams might provoke a reaction. After all, no business conducted here is utterly flawless….”

But he couldn’t finish his statement.

“Sigh, who is this now?”

“Pardon?”

The President’s sigh and interruption cut him off.

“Whose agenda are you pushing? The Americans? Chinese? Or the Japanese?”

“S-Sir, it’s not that….”

The President’s eyes narrowed, and the room fell silent. His frustration evident, but the realization that they were dealing with forces beyond conventional means loomed large.

“Shut up. Do you think I’m a fool? Do you really think I don’t know what provoking them would mean?”

“…….”

“Get out! Right now!”

“You’re misunderstanding, sir! I’m only trying to—”

“What are you waiting for? Drag him out now!”

The aides hurried over and dragged the man out of the office. Rubbing his temples with a dark expression, the President spoke firmly.

“Let me make this clear. No one is to apply any pressure or engage in any plots against Connect Company. and First Company Inc.! Should they be provoked to relocate their companies abroad or develop resentment against us… I swear on my name, I will not spare the one who orchestrated such nonsense.”

The benefits of having them based in South Korea were numerous. Many were desperate to lure them to their own countries.

A tax audit? Financial pressure?

They should be thankful Connect Company chose to have their headquarters here.

‘How dare they try to pull such tricks in front of me?’

As the President glared around the room, everyone averted their eyes.

“Get back to work!”

Thus, another meeting ended without any substantial progress.

*

“Here’s the list of guilds we’ve reviewed.”

Kane placed a stack of thick documents on Raul’s desk. The documents contained information on medium-sized and large guilds seeking reconciliation and offering to cooperate with the Purple Association and First Knight Order.

“A considerable number of guilds have contacted us. We are filtering out those who do not meet the criteria set by you, Master.”

Swish.

Raul briefly skimmed through the documents, then smiled.

“Many have now acknowledged that their situation is dire. But too bad, there aren’t that many spots available.”

Since the beginning of the Forbidden Zone scenario, they had purposefully excluded some guilds. With a finite pie to divide, more people wanting a piece would naturally lead to discontent.

However, now that enough progress had been made, and the cooperating guilds were content with their shares, it was time to loosen the reins a bit.

‘Operation Tidal Wave will require more players anyway.’

Having made up his mind, Raul spoke.

“Allocate positions to the guilds that have passed the review process, in order. But make sure they clearly understand the terms.”

“I will handle it accordingly.”

Those who bent the knee now could not be given the same conditions as those who had remained steadfast during tough times.

Those who showed loyalty through hard times deserved better treatment than those who blew with the wind of circumstance. Of course, the conditions for the new guilds won’t be too harsh.

Like it or not, they’re all in the same boat now.

‘Alright, that settles the work for now….’

Raul stepped out of his office, heading towards the private training grounds. There, his mentor, Caldenas, was already waiting with his sword drawn.

“Come forth!”

“Here I come!”

Boom! Clang! Clang!

Raul and Caldenas didn’t cross swords directly. Both stood at opposite ends of the training ground, merely watching each other. The actual combat was between the weapons they controlled.

Caldenas maneuvered two swords.

Raul, meanwhile, managed twenty swords. The objective was to strike a small marked spot on the opponent’s sword handle. The first to land a hit would be the winner.

The clash of aura-infused swords was intense. The power behind each blade was immense, reminiscent of a battle between twenty-two masters. After nearly ten minutes, the winner was revealed—Caldenas’s two swords.

“…Huff. I’ve learned a lot.”

“Good effort. You’ve improved significantly since yesterday.”

It was Caldenas who had suggested these long-distance duels. Direct combat with swords had become meaningless. Raul’s skills had advanced rapidly and were now at a level that even surpassed what Caldenas could handle with his physical body.

So when Caldenas proposed this method, Raul had initially underestimated it.

‘I’ve mastered psychokinesis for so long. Even with Master Caldenas, I should have an advantage in this field.’

But the outcome was shocking; his army of thousands of weapons couldn’t defeat Caldenas’s mere two swords.

“As I suspected, Raul, you still have a significant weakness.”

There are multiple ways to enhance psychokinesis. Increasing the strength to move objects, extending the range through heightened sensory abilities, and focusing on controlling numerous items at once.

In his previous life, Bae Dohyun had aimed for balanced growth but ultimately leaned towards controlling many objects. Being pursued by large guilds and operating solo had forced him to adapt to fighting multiple enemies simultaneously.

Moreover, it was the most efficient way to enhance a psychokinetic’s combat power. However, this combat habit was now hindering Raul.

As his rank increased and he took on the responsibility for many lives, the nature of his adversaries also changed.

“To make full use of your unique psychokinetic abilities, you must now get used to facing a single, formidable opponent rather than multiple foes.”

Raul nodded, absorbing his mentor’s advice. He realized that in future confrontations, the nature of his challenges would evolve, demanding a more refined approach to combat.

Caldenas continued.

“Your psychokinesis must become as precise as a scalpel, capable of striking a single target with overwhelming force.”

Raul now had to prepare to face singular, absolute powerhouses rather than multiple adversaries. The Demonologists of the Empire, the ever-unpredictable Demons, and other formidable individuals like his father, the Sword Saint, and mentor, Caldenas, whom he must surpass, even if they weren’t enemies.

Increasing the number of his weapons alone wouldn’t help against such opponents. In this regard, Caldenas’s new teachings were highly beneficial.

“The swordsmanship you wield with your own hands must differ from the swordsmanship of the Mind Sword (Psychokinesis Sword). The trajectories don’t need to match those of human arms.”

“Pay attention to the distribution of power. There’s no need to allocate equal power to all your weapons. Practice concentrating as much power as possible into a single sword.”

“Leverage your strengths! If a weapon breaks, you can bring another one into play. Keep the attacks coming, one after another. Didn’t you say the strength of psychokinesis lies in controlling space? Use the entire space efficiently.”

Thanks to Caldenas’s teachings, what started as dueling with a hundred swords had now reduced to just twenty. The goal was one sword.

If Raul could defeat his mentor’s two swords with just one, and then gradually increase the number of weapons, he felt he would edge closer to achieving a level of transcendence beyond anything he had imagined.

In addition to swordsmanship, Raul continued to practice using psychokinesis in other combat methods. His skills kept advancing as he honed his techniques. While welcoming new guilds and bolstering player numbers, Raul’s strength continued to grow over the course of a month.

The initiation of ‘Operation Tidal Wave’ was imminent.

(To be continued)