Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Testing the Newcomer
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As their eyes met, the man flashed a smile. He was more handsome than anyone could deny—handsome enough to outshine even his brother, who was no slouch in that department. Any woman might have let out a shrill squeal.
But no matter how good-looking someone was, not many men would appreciate another guy's smile. And Pattern was firmly in the majority.
*Ridiculous.*
No, among most guys, he was on the crankier side.
Still, with his brother chewing him out, he couldn't show his dislike outright.
All he could do was avert his eyes from the man and look back at his brother.
"Uh, I really have no idea."
Pattern scratched his head.
It wasn't sulking; he genuinely didn't know. Why he had to go scout Yuseong. Why his brother, the guild's pride and joy of a ranker, had to move to scout that guy.
"You know a bit about the situation with our guild's executives right now, don't you?"
"I wouldn't know."
Even if they hyped him up as the guild's golden boy, he couldn't be privy to every internal detail. He'd only learned the bare outlines of the guild's current project because his brother was an executive.
"You know there's someone opposing me, right?"
"Yeah. That asshole Apollo."
No matter if it was a nation, a company, or anything else, once a group grew large enough, people started splitting into factions of like-minded individuals.
And if money or interests were involved, they fought for control.
C.O.T.S was no different.
C.O.T.S wielded massive funds and influence, even in Ark, which sucked in the world's money like a black hole. There was no way power struggles wouldn't erupt inside such a guild.
Apollo was a C.O.T.S ranker, the one clashing with Piton over control of the guild.
The mere mention of Apollo's name twisted Piton's usually mechanical expression. It was a glimpse of just how much he despised the guy.
"Yeah, that bastard. I'll crush him someday."
"You can do it, bro! I'll level up fast and help out!"
Pattern clenched his fist and shouted. But Piton looked at him with pity.
"Level up without causing trouble first."
Pattern slowly unclenched his fist.
"To continue, our guild executives are split into two camps right now. Those who support the plan and those who say it's useless and should be scrapped. Guess which side is which?"
"Your side supports it. And Apollo opposes."
"Right. And it's not just support for me—it's not even a plan, it's a project. Something I came up with alongside a few colleagues."
"Wait, you made it?"
"Yeah. That's why that prick Apollo is dead set on sabotaging it. And then my own brother blows a scout mission?"
"Hah, but it was just one guy. From what I heard, the scout operation was huge. Missing one shouldn't matter!"
Sure, he'd failed the mission, but getting reamed for it felt unfair in every way.
"That guy jumped in on his own! And it was just an invitation to join the same guild—I couldn't exactly threaten him!"
"Just one? Even if all the players we're targeting are around the same low level, you think our expectations are equal for them?"
There's a reason they say a standout among standouts is priceless. Even among the talented, some shine brighter.
"Yuseong, the one you were sent to scout? He was top-tier among our targets. No matter what perks we offered, we had to bring him in."
"...If he was that important, they shouldn't have sent me. You know my personality."
He could kind of see why Piton was raking him over the coals. But Pattern still felt wronged. No matter how he thought about it, it was the wrong job for him.
And Piton agreed on that point.
"Yeah, I'll give you that. Even with your hotheaded nature, I figured C.O.T.S's name would make recruitment smooth. Who knew some loose cannon would butt in."
That was a variable Piton hadn't anticipated.
Just as CookingDay had been thrown off by C.O.T.S's sudden involvement, Piton had been rattled by the loose cannon's interference.
"See? It's not all my fault."
"Then why'd you go picking a fight with CookingDay and making a scene?"
"......"
Pattern shut his mouth again.
"And on top of that, I was the one who recommended you for Yuseong. You think I set you up to fail?"
His brother was truly pathetic at times, but Piton didn't hate Pattern enough to deliberately throw him into the fire.
No, even if he did, who in this jungle of a guild would sabotage their own family—the one guaranteed to have their back, and a capable one at that?
Even if he truly disliked Pattern, he could play the friendly brother anytime ambition demanded it.
Piton was an ambitious man, after all.
"No matter how big a guild scout it is, people can't help but feel goodwill toward the one who personally recruits them. That connection could build into deeper ties. I told you, right? Yuseong was a top prospect in this scout batch."
Piton recalled Yuseong's info. That fantastical physique. When he'd first seen the guy's footage, Piton had been genuinely awestruck, setting aside all calculations for once in a long time.
"Imagine that kind of talent getting the guild's full backing. He'd rocket to the center of the guild in no time. If you'd built a stronger bond through the scout at that point? We could've pulled him into our faction, gaining major influence. Your own standing would've risen too, as his buddy."
"......"
Pattern fell silent. He'd thought it was just a simple scout of some low-level scrub, but it was way more important than expected.
"Apollo's definitely gonna pin blame. Sure, like you said, it's just one lowbie scout flop. That's how he'll spin it. Can't argue with that. They won't hit us hard over it—too minor. We'll just get some temporary grief. No real accountability. But then you go and pick a fight with that loose cannon."
Pattern bowed his head.
"Of course, even that's not a big deal on its own. Sporadic PK between rival guildmates happens all the time. But you'd already failed the Yuseong scout.
And you escalated it. The guy who botched the mission and started shit? He's my crazy little brother they can't touch. From their side, it's jackpot. Now they've got two things to nitpick. Get it now, why I dragged you here?"
Piton sighed as he said it.
"Lucky I was nearby for my own scout, or we'd have been in real trouble. Or given them even bigger ammo."
"B-But even combined, it's just nitpicking. I didn't think you'd come all this way..."
Pattern's voice, which had started loud in protest, trailed off. Piton glared, silencing him, then spoke again.
"Right now, we need to avoid giving them any openings. We're pushing the project while Apollo's crew just obstructs—but that's all down to the power struggle.
Politics, in other words. And politics can flip on a dime. That guy's opposing the project but eyeing ways to wedge his lackeys in.
One slip, and they could snatch the whole thing. I recommended you this time, and look at the mess. They'll say I lack the chops to lead it."
"......"
Pattern kept his head down. Piton's tone softened a bit as he continued.
"It might blow over as 'bad timing, tough luck.' But you know Ark isn't that forgiving a game, and C.O.T.S isn't some cozy club."
Show weakness, and they'd tear you apart.
"Head back and grind levels like a ghost. Cool your temper for a while."
"Got it."
"And don't spread what you heard today."
"I wouldn't."
Pattern replied, then suddenly turned to the man following behind, as if remembering something.
*'Come to think of it, this guy heard everything.'*
The info spilled just now—C.O.T.S's power dynamics, project details—was all sensitive stuff that shouldn't leak.
Even Pattern, the guild's supposed golden boy, hadn't known most of it. No way it was good for some unknown to overhear.
"Bro, this guy..."
"He's fine."
Pattern eyed the man suspiciously.
A guy brought by his brother, a C.O.T.S ranker.
"He's guild, right?"
"Yeah. Joined recently."
"Nice to meet you—sorry for the late intro. Name's Willy."
"Pattern."
"Haha, I knew it. Similar to your brother's ID—easy to remember."
"Made it that way on purpose."
Since it was someone his brother brought, he didn't skimp on the reply. But his doubts about this Willy grew.
*'Bro went to pick this guy up himself?'*
Yuseong was impressive, no doubt. He'd come to hate the guy after this mess, but he got why the guild and his brother rated him high.
Not that he fully bought into it. Still didn't believe Yuseong was ranker material for sure.
But that physique—he'd seen it proven in the fight.
Yet even for Yuseong, a mere prospect, they'd sent him, a rising star. For this guy, a ranker like his brother went personally.
He had to conclude his brother valued this man more than Yuseong.
*'This guy's better than Yuseong?'*
But if so, why no name recognition? Someone topping Yuseong would've been all over the rumors.
"Good at the game?"
He finally asked Piton, who smirked.
"What, suspicious?"
"No, not exactly..."
"Heard that? Apparently so. How about showing off some hunting?"
Willy smiled at Piton's words.
"Guess I should. Can't disappoint C.O.T.S's golden boy."
Pattern had no reason to object.
They found a nearby dungeon and headed in.
A monster appeared, and Willy stepped forward. Piton and Pattern hung back, arms crossed, watching the fight.
Willy drew his sword.
The foe was a blood wolf.
Stronger than silver wolves, but the rewards sucked, and their pack-hunting habit made them unpopular.
The monsters charged at Willy.