The Veteran Player Already Knows

Chapter 133 - Prelude (1)

“It was a pleasure doing business with you, Bishop.”

Sepia forced a smile as she took Seo Ji-an's limply offered hand.

She was one of the most prominent information brokers of her time, but she could never get used to this lethargic attitude that seemed to drain one's energy just by looking at it.

Of course, nowadays, she felt more like a spokesperson for a certain climber than an information broker.

“...So. Is your image-making going well?”

“Pardon?”

“I'm talking about Kim Gyu-sik.”

“Ah…”

Seo Ji-an, who had been staring blankly this way for a moment, let out a deep sigh and put her hand into her pocket.

“My, that's a topic with a high potential to develop into a sensitive one.”

The woman who said that had, at some point, a cigarette between her fingers, which she raised smoothly.

Her awkward smile was strongly imbued with the intention of 'Can I have one?'

It was a very brave act to behave like this in front of a bishop-level cleric of all people, but Sepia just gave a slightly deeper, bitter smile and nodded.

If she read this side's intentions, it probably meant 'I'll tell you some valuable information, so please let this slide.'

“First of all... about your question, Bishop. It doesn't feel like you're actually asking about my well-being. Is that correct?”

As Sepia affirmed with silence, Seo Ji-an, with a smirk, took something out from her pocket.

Well, the race for the pope's election was also nearing its end.

Thanks to having grabbed the card named Kim Gyu-sik, whose stock had been rising sharply recently, Sepia had also gained quite an advantage.

It wasn't unreasonable to understand why she would be on high alert about his every move if she had benefited this much.

“This is?”

“Read it. What that person is thinking right now.”

That was what she was about to do anyway.

It was a document full of charts showing the flow of capital and the concentration of resources.

A bishop of Daeshinjeon could read something of this scale in an instant, but for that very reason, Sepia had no choice but to narrow her eyes.

“I understand that you're planning something... but it doesn't seem to be content that will be helpful for the ordeal right now.”

“Right?”

Seo Ji-an answered, circulating the cigarette smoke deep into her lungs.

To briefly summarize the contents written in the document, it was that a certain ‘group’ was scheduled to be formed around Kim Gyu-sik.

The domestic guilds this man had met in the rating update test before. Gusegyo. And seeing the half-forced signature of the Martial Arts Alliance, it was certain.

But right now, that man was inside the ordeal. Even if such a group was formed, nothing would be of immediate help to him right now?

“Well, actually, that's the key.”

Seo Ji-an said with a smirk.

“Mr. Kim Gyu-sik doesn't even care about how to get out of there in the first place.”

“...Pardon?”

“He can do well on his own. Even without others helping him.”

In a situation where Damian Lancester, one of the core members of the Lancester Guild of all places, had been dispatched, it wouldn't be strange to evaluate it as overly brave.

Then what on earth was the intention of doing something like this?

“Isn't it because he's more worried about us than his own safety?”

“...What on earth do you mean by that...?”

“Yes. I understand why you're making that face, since you're also someone who's been through a lot because of that person.”

To Sepia, who looked as if she had just been told she could eat the heels of her shoes, Seo Ji-an continued with a bitter smile.

“Surprisingly, if you listen to all sorts of things next to that person, you'll find that it's not entirely untrue.”

If you only looked at his outward actions, he was a severe opportunist who only picked things that would benefit him and didn't consider secondary problems at all, but if you looked at the instructions that sometimes came down to her one by one, it wasn't quite like that.

Everything was meticulously calculated, and things were done with countermeasures prepared for what would happen later.

Even this attempt to create a group with her as the focal point was like that.

It was a measure taken in consideration of the aftermath that would occur if he ‘completely annihilated’ a member of Lancester in that ordeal.

He was building a breakwater to prevent the people associated with him from being retaliated against.

“...No. Wait. Wait a minute.”

Sepia let out a groan-like word.

“...He's going to annihilate Lancester? Is he serious?”

“Everyone reacted like that before he became this famous, didn't they?”

“…”

Sepia, who couldn't refute that, shut her mouth.

“So, it would be good for you to be prepared to some extent, Bishop.”

“Did you say prepared?”

“As for how he's going to annihilate Lancester-”

Sepia's expression instantly turned appalled upon hearing the explanation that followed.

“...Is that even possible?”

Instead of answering, Seo Ji-an just gave a faint smile.

Sepia, who realized that it was an extension of the conversation they had just had, could only sigh.

Yes. Everyone who saw that man for the first time would have said that.

“Thank you for the advice.”

Sepia, who said that, sighed and took out her official seal.

“So, where do I have to sign to join?”

“...Pardon?”

“Didn't you tell me to be prepared?”

Sepia answered Seo Ji-an with a smirk.

“From what I see, there seems to be no better preparation than strengthening my relationship with that person.”

“...What should I say? It's amazing that you can make such a decision right after hearing that he's going to have such a brawl with Lancester.”

“I'm quite diligent with my side job of financial management.”

Sepia grinned and waved her seal.

“I can tell what's a good stock when I see it, that's what I mean.”

And clearly.

It was a statement that felt like she believed that the guy named Kim Gyu-sik was more than capable of committing such an act.

It was the day before the news that Kim Gyu-sik had completely screwed over Damian Lancester appeared in the real-time updated news of the ordeal taking place inside the tower.

***

“...Kuk, kuhah, hahaha!”

As soon as we returned to the Mana Vein, Mr. Seo Jin-seong burst into a hearty laugh.

“That bastard, did you see his face! There's no masterpiece like that masterpiece!”

That's true.

But I would appreciate it if you could realize that the gazes of those around us right now were also quite strange.

Even Seo Ah-in was staring with a strange look, wasn't she?

“Uh... Master, are you also involved with that side in a not-so-good way?”

“…”

Only then did Mr. Seo Jin-seong, who realized he was in disguise, stop laughing.

“...Well, I just have a personal grudge, that's all.”

“The Lancester family has a lot of karma.”

As I helped him out like that, Seo Ah-in looked back and forth between me and Mr. Seo Jin-seong with suspicious eyes.

What is this.

I thought this girl had gotten a little sharper lately.

Could it be that she was using her head in a keen way...

“Mr. Kim Gyu-sik is taking the lead in shielding him...? He never did that for me, so why for Master...?”

“…”

“What's the relationship between you two? Huh? Tell me quickly!”

Yes.

There's no way you'd be like that.

“...Why are you looking at me with such pitiful eyes?”

“No. Just grow up healthy...”

“…”

Leaving the confused Seo Ah-in behind, I first checked the electronic billboard in the sky.

Now that I had occupied all three of the first zones, it was about time for an update.

[ Confirmed that more than 90% of all zones have been occupied. Determined the existence of a Conqueror who has occupied 3 zones. ]

[ The Third Ordeal enters Phase 2. ]

[ The danger level and aggressiveness of the native creatures existing in each zone will be greatly enhanced. ]

[ From now on, ‘bases’ and ‘alliances’ can be created around zones. ]

[ From now on... ]

The strings of text that appeared were pouring out all sorts of information like a flood, but in the end, they were trying to express one thing.

That from now on, battles would be much more vicious and frequent.

If the process up until now was the stage of preparing ‘soldiers’ for war, from now on, it was meant to give a real feeling of war.

“...Hoo.”

And, from here on was the section that would give me a headache.

“Is there a case where Mr. Kim Gyu-sik is in trouble?”

“That's because my purpose itself is different from others.”

Like the other ordeals before, this Third Ordeal had separate rating criteria for clearing.

The first and second were based on clear time or the number of demonic beasts defeated, but the criteria here were much dirtier.

“From now on, I have to fight a war without a single one of our side dying.”

“…”

“…”

Mr. Seo Jin-seong and Seo Ah-in simultaneously looked at me with an expression that said, ‘This person is talking crazy again.’

Seeing the father and daughter making similar expressions made me feel strange again.

“No, that's right. Well, that's right...”

“...What's with that reaction?”

“Because it feels like you'll just do it nonchalantly while saying such crazy things... What are you going to do next? Walk on lava?”

I looked back at the girl with a horrified expression.

“How did you know I could do that?”

“…”

Leaving Seo Ah-in, who had shut her mouth with an expression that said she had nothing more to say, I first examined the map.

Well, to be honest, even I thought it was a ridiculously tight goal, but with the combo of the Tribe of Natives and the Dwarves, it wasn't entirely impossible.

And there was one more means to put the finishing touch on it.

“...Hoo.”

“Oh my. Sighing twice, unlike you?”

“There's a guy I really don't want to call...”

With a trembling hand, I operated the point shop window that appeared before my eyes.

[ Current Points: 300p ]

[ Would you like to open a new colleague slot? Y/N ]

I squeezed my eyes shut and touched Y.

[ 200p will be deducted. ]

[ Summoning the target to the current location- ]

“Avatar of the Saviooooor-!”

Before the window could even be fully updated, a voice that flew in with a terrifying tension exploded with mass at me.

The summoned Darien had, without even checking the surroundings, charged straight at me and crashed into me.

“...Hey. But seriously.”

What did she eat to get so strong?

‘To be precise, it's probably the stat correction she received from handling the demon weapon...’

Still, isn't this a bit much? The increase is ridiculous.

I had now reached a level of stats where I wouldn't be ashamed to call myself a climber anywhere, but when she charged at me, my whole body felt like it was floating.

The way the Darien in my arms then handled me like a paper doll was proof of that.

“W-were you well? You weren't hurt anywhere? I missed you! Were there any other flies buzzing around in the middle...!”

“...Excuse me.”

And Seo Ah-in, who was watching from the side, intervened, pressing her temples as if her head was throbbing.

“Mr. Kim Gyu-sik is in trouble. That's enough... What are you doing now?”

Seo Ah-in's voice changed strangely in the middle.

Anyone would have reacted the same way if they saw Darien with her head buried in my arm, sniffing.

“...Hmm-?”

And Darien's eyes, looking back and forth between my arm and Seo Ah-in, suddenly sharpened.

“You smell the same-? Did you by any chance cling carelessly to the Avatar of the Savior while I was gone?”

“...I have no reason to hear that from you.”

Seo Ah-in answered, meeting Darien's eyes squarely.

Huh.

A staring contest that felt like the surrounding temperature had dropped by several degrees continued for a while.

What is this.

Guys, why are you fighting?

“Mr. Kim Gyu-sik.”

What is it, Mr. Seo Jin-seong?

“No. I'm advising you. It would be good to prepare a countermeasure to save your life in advance.”

“...Pardon?”

“Otherwise, I can't even imagine how many pieces you'll be torn into in the future. To think it's this much just from watching for a moment...”

“…”

Hey, mister.

Don't say ominous things.