＜ Episode 82 ＞
– John.
“Sleep.”
Answering the voice over the communicator, John put the tobacco in his mouth.
Chick.
The sight of John leisurely sucking up a cigarette that caught fire by itself did not at all remind him that he was the one who had brutally pushed the enemy down just a few hours ago, and it made me think that Fioren might be the scariest part of John.
If you look at his usual appearance, he is no different from that of a salaryman who looks a little tired, but when he enters a combat situation, he changes more mercilessly than anyone else.
Will he be able to match the current zone with his unstoppable use of his hands, leading the situation and dominating the battlefield with a bold decision?
professional.
It seemed that he could do anything if necessary, regardless of his ability, and it was clear that Zhao also highly rated this part.
– I heard the news. You captured the player alive?
“I was lucky.”
Fioren nodded at the voice filled with excitement.
It was a part where you could see how much weight the Defense Force was putting on the player, and Fioren could fully understand Zao’s feelings.
Players are at risk.
Fioren himself is a felon and can join hands with any villain if necessary, but the player is also an uneasy being.
Luna is full of heinous criminals and psychopaths that are hard to find in the world, but they do not disagree with one purpose.
Luna’s persistence.
It is the home of the few remaining human beings on this planet that has become a difficult place for life to live, and it shares the absolute value that Luna itself must survive no matter what.
But players are different.
According to the data gathered by the Inspection Corps and the National Guard, the players’ goals are something beyond Luna.
Although the exact details are unknown, it has been confirmed that they are using even Luna as a means for that purpose.
And that is not acceptable for those who live in Luna.
That’s why Fioren also accepted Lucas’s request.
– You did a good job entrusting the work to you too.
Zhao was very satisfied.
Although John is being followed by a question mark as to whether he is a player, isn’t John proving himself through his actions?
Killed a player, overpowered and captured a player.
In the worst case, even if John was a player, it was a condition where they could talk to each other, so Zhao was satisfied with that alone.
Because it is absolutely advantageous to be allies with someone like John.
Zhao heard John’s voice in his ears, and at that moment, Zhao woke up.
“I need to send some extra troops.”
– ·······What do you think will happen?
Fioren, who was suppressing his voice while maintaining a simple barrier, shook his shoulders, but John’s calm tone did not change.
“I don’t think the job is completely over for the players who captured it.”
– Tell me exactly.
John continued, emitting white smoke.
“I am young. She is a girl who might be in her mid-teens or later. What you do is just childish. If it were a slum, I would have died without even lasting a few days.”
The tobacco, with only the filter left, turned to dust between John’s fingers.
“But that kind of kid is the ultimate master. I don’t think a kid like this is common.”
– ······It must be an important person.
Zhao’s voice grew serious.
“There is one more important thing. What was the request from me in the first place?”
– Acquiring information and securing items…
The goal of the quest is to first secure the items the players are aiming for and deliver them to the Defense Forces.
“I checked what was in Armstrong’s safe. I don’t think you’re going to give up stuff.”
“······Considering the pattern so far, that’s the case.”
Fioren’s expression hardened.
“Are you done talking with the city council?”
It was a sudden question, but Zhao’s head started spinning in an extraordinary way, and he was able to understand John’s intention at once.
– ······yes. The City Council will no longer use their hands. It should be seen as a victory for Colonel Armstrong… but that’s not the problem.
“yes.”
John’s gaze moved beyond the mansion’s fence to the forest.
“They must have their own information network. There is no guarantee that Congress and the National Guard have not been tipped off to stop the conflict. Maybe I’m thinking too deeply, but…”
– If you use your hands, is this the timing?
“Colonel Armstrong has to stay here for a few days anyway. Getting out of the woods right now could spur the city council. If I have relevant information, I will not miss this timing.”
– ······Reasonable.
Fioren agreed with Zhao’s voice, which felt serious energy.
I thought the request was almost completed, but I knew that it was actually just the beginning, so Fioren once again admired John.
Do not be vigilant until the end of the last.
The joy of capturing the player brought out a fact that had been overlooked, and it was clear that if it hadn’t been for John, he would have been helplessly attacked by the players.
“The quality of the troops will be an issue. I don’t need stupid people.”
– ······I guess so. The peak master was subdued, and Colonel Armstrong himself was the peak master.
Zhao nodded at John’s firm words.
It is said that it is a child, but the peak master broke into the battlefield and was subdued in a single blow.
If so, wouldn’t it be natural to put in more power than that?
It’s already been three years since the players hid in Luna’s shadow.
Considering the speed of their development, it wouldn’t be strange if superhumans would pop out.
“Colonel Straydom can’t move?”
– ······Do you think you need a superman?
“Because it’s good to be sure. And things have changed.”
Zhao choked at the negative comments pouring out of John’s mouth, but he didn’t interrupt John.
– ······What else?
“Colonel Armstrong.”
“······no way!”
Fioren twisted his expression as if he knew something.
Fioren is a monster that has roamed Luna’s underworld for decades.
I had all kinds of experiences, and that’s why I had the eyes to see the big country.
“Wouldn’t it be troublesome if I suddenly died in this situation?”
– ······Oh My God!
A shriek escaped Zhao’s lips.
The accident caused by Colonel Armstrong is almost over.
Didn’t the city council seem to have lost face, and the National Guard didn’t miss this time and finished the story?
Colonel Armstrong’s future looked like the red carpet had been rolled out.
Whatever the shape, he was able to enter the city council, and was promised to become Luna’s new power.
Armstrong’s gamble paid off handsomely.
By the way.
What would happen if such Colonel Armstrong died at the hands of an unknown assailant at this moment?
– ······Congress and the National Guard will be at odds. All kinds of chaos will happen.
There are countless people who want Armstrong to die, but even those people would not want Armstrong to die in this situation.
“It must be serious.”
Fioren’s head spun rapidly.
There are many things to say about Luna’s power, but on the surface, it’s three.
City councils, defense forces and corporations.
In recent years, the power of corporations has been gradually strengthening, and the Congress and the National Guard are loosely cooperating and holding companies in check.
“······Companies will rampage in earnest. It will bleed.”
Luna’s corporations are those who do not cover any means and methods for profit.
Even at this moment, there will be people who lose their lives somewhere in Luna, but if the reins of the corporations are released, the units will change.
They have their own armed forces and technology, and when it comes to large corporations, they are the ones who put superhumans in their arms.
In the battle that took place in this forest, it was almost certain that a conflict that would look like a charm would break out all over Luna, and the conflict that started like that would never end easily.
Even if the end is Luna’s collapse.
“I thought I was a player.”
Zhao and Fioren’s shoulders twitched at John’s words, but John didn’t mind and continued.
“No matter how much I thought about it, I never wanted to miss this opportunity.”
It causes terror, brings chaos, and uses its hands in the chaos to make it irreversible.
It’s something John has done many times on Earth, and in this field, John can be said to be a very outstanding talent.
Considering his experience, it is an opportunity that is not to be missed.
Zhao immediately understood why John had asked for Colonel Straydom.
– ······.
John opened his mouth to Zhao, who was silent at the shocking reasoning.
“therefore.”
– ······Let’s talk.
“What about my request? We’ll try to secure things somehow. Because that was the request.”
– What do you want to talk about?
A question also appeared in Fioren’s eyes.
“Colonel Armstrong. Didn’t you say you didn’t have to worry about his well-being? I think things have changed.”
– Right.
“If you are going to make an additional request, talk now. If not, I will secure the goods and withdraw immediately.”
A strong premonition that this place I am standing in will become a sea of fire.
It’s not that I’m reluctant to go there, but there’s no need to go there.
Agents who jump into a fire pit for world peace only exist in movies, and of course John is not that kind of person.
The only thing that objectively informed us of the current situation was to report the situation at the site to the client.
Depending on Zhao’s answer, John’s move will be determined.
– Let’s make an additional request.
At that moment, a deep voice came from the other side of the communicator.
“Colonel Straydom.”
– yes. zone. it’s stridem
A superman from the National Guard appeared over the communicator.
***
Once you have made a decision, move quickly.
Gregory was really a son of a b*tch, but he couldn’t deny that he had a lot to learn, and Lithium, who saw and heard the teaching from the side, did not hesitate.
As soon as they were ready, they left the villa and quickly crossed the forest.
Ignoring the distant sounds of battle as much as possible, I ran through the forest.
A painful light appeared on the faces of the few subordinates who followed, and the feeling of emptiness in his lost left arm was enough to pierce his heart, but Lithium clenched his teeth and accelerated his movements.
Only three expected enemy forces.
The City Council trying to keep their mouth shut, and the National Guard wanting to hear a funny story made my heart choke, but even Leah’s guild was on my mind.
If Leah succeeds in pulling herself out, she might be able to gloss over it somehow, but what if she doesn’t?
Players are those who go for one purpose, but the promised reward is also one, and they are potential competitors.
PK has become a reality, and it is said that it is a little quiet now, but in the early days of Luna, PK was frequent among players.
Players don’t hesitate to kill each other.
‘We have to hurry!’
You have to somehow get into the arms of the guild and ask for protection, and the guild won’t easily throw away lithium.
Not as much as Gregory, but Lithium, whom he had seen and heard next to him, was more familiar with PMC than anyone else in the guild, and thanks to that, he had connections with the high-ranking people of Luna.
Negotiations with NPCs are possible because they see NPCs as worms, but because they are wizards armed with solid reason.
Lithium was more confident in dealing with NPCs than anyone else in the guild, and since the people in the guild didn’t know about it, his value would be sufficient.
“Hurry up!”
“write!”
A strong determination appeared on the faces of his subordinates, who were wearing distressed expressions at Li’s words, which had a look of urgency.
‘···It’s reassuring at times like this.’
At that time, the thought that it might be okay to think about a little change in the treatment of NPCs popped into Li’s mind for a moment.
“Where are you going?”
With a low voice, human figures rose from all over the forest, and Li’s face turned white.
＜ Episode 82 ＞ End