Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: Chapter 35: The Traitor (5)
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What if Alpha rank was a perk given only to the number one in the promotion exam?
If that assumption held true, it meant there were only four Alpha-ranked Players in the game right now.
‘And one of them is already dead.’
The third selection Player, Nineta from Italy.
She’d been eaten by a parasitic monster during a Level 2 mission in the beginner section, cut off from the outside by the system barrier.
It was information relayed through Coconut, who had played alongside her from the selection exam mission up to the beginner section.
Coconut said he’d heard about the growth-type Purification trait from her back then.
“I told her I wasn’t growth-type, and she just clammed up.”
“Honestly, I would’ve done the same.”
“Taking first in that mess means they’re the kind of guys who can handle anything thrown at them…”
“No way those types would blab about being special themselves, right?”
Revealing information that could make you a target in an unfamiliar situation was foolish.
‘In fact, the number ones from the first and second promotion exams have never shown up in the community.’
Of course, I’d secured their code names through Players who took the exam in the same round.
I was searching through multiple channels based on those code names.
But there’d been no reports of any notable activity.
They might’ve died like Nineta.
“Whew.”
Lily let out an inevitable sigh, rubbing her furrowed brow as she considered the worst-case scenario.
For now, it was safe to assume the number one spot almost certainly granted Alpha rank.
In that context, Lily knew of another round’s number one.
‘The Player who took first in the promotion exam during the beta test round.’
Someone who was undoubtedly Alpha rank—possibly the only one.
‘K.’
If Alpha rank truly was exclusive to promotion exam winners.
‘With full-scale conflict against 8-star general-class looming, falling out with K would be suicide.’
She needed to protect him by any means necessary.
He was the only known solution against unidentified infected beings right now.
As Lily swallowed dryly again, K finished his solitary thoughts and spoke up.
“It probably won’t make much difference, but pass the word up the chain anyway.”
“Pardon?”
“If they let their eyes linger on my neck even once more, there won’t be any cooperation like today.”
His voice was utterly casual, like chatting about the weather, but the content sent chills down her spine, cold sweat beading on her back.
‘We can’t afford to get on his bad side.’
He was the type who never forgot a grudge.
If he couldn’t settle it immediately, he’d bide his time patiently until he could.
Diligent, persistent, tenacious.
Traits described by various words would turn into the biggest headache the moment K became an enemy.
With no other Alphas in sight, she had to heed his warning and keep her head down.
‘Especially thinking about the future, we can’t afford to antagonize an Alpha.’
The Ain tribe alliance had only managed to hold their ground because the enemy powerhouses hadn’t moved.
‘If the enemy leaders and legion commanders start acting again.’
No, even if just the 8-star general-class who could wield Kerax stepped forward, they’d start losing ground.
‘We wouldn’t last long in Bihar.’
In the end, the flames of war would spread to Earth.
If K’s connection soured—the one who could resolve issues brought by 8-star general-class—in this situation?
It would block the path to survival for thousands, tens of thousands of American Players.
If Martin refused to heed K’s warning…
“Even if it means replacing the top brass, I’ll ensure nothing like this happens again.”
Lily showed her firm resolve in a trembling voice.
* * *
Words I never imagined coming from Lily Evans’s mouth.
She was the principle-driven type with considerable patriotism.
Ethan, who’d hunted with her once, evaluated her that way too.
And what I’d observed myself wasn’t much different.
‘She sticks to rules and principles, leans fair overall.’
But she definitely prioritized America’s interests.
That’s why it was all the more surprising.
She was saying she’d control things—even if it meant killing her boss—so I wouldn’t feel threatened. Please overlook it.
Don’t reject them just for sharing a nationality with America.
That’s what Lily Evans had just said.
‘There’s no guarantee Purification works on others’ infections either.’
A pretty desperate attitude.
‘I was planning to give them a light warning when I left after everything wrapped up.’
For a few weeks now, I’d been monitoring the CIA through low-rank Players I knew.
Word was starting to circulate about concerns directed at me.
After rejecting friendly ties with America multiple times, their words and actions were predictable.
So I’d planned a casual heads-up on their plane or vehicle after Jang Cheon-yu’s hunt ended.
But this infected thing seemed to make that unnecessary.
“Didn’t expect that from you.”
When I voiced my honest feelings, Lily Evans gave a wry smile in response.
“One year is a long time.”
Her words made me reflect on my path anew.
‘Has it really been a year since the game started…?’
As I started sinking into thought.
“And I’m a Player too, after all.”
Lily Evans added one more line.
It hit home once again just how incredible my hand was.
‘Beta ranks don’t get growth-type traits.’
They could only purify corrupted mana, not infections.
Only Alpha-ranked Players could do that.
‘Once this gets out, everyone will be scrambling for Alphas.’
I ruffled my hair roughly and strode forward.
Arriving where Jang Cheon-yu’s corpse lay, I retrieved the Kerax spear that had fallen beside it.
Then, crouching down to gaze at Jang Cheon-yu, who’d died from a moment’s carelessness.
‘Rescue, Kerax, barrier, traitor, hidden mission…’
Scattered clues roamed my subconscious, refusing to coalesce.
I dragged them into conscious thought, binding and unbinding them in various forms repeatedly.
Assumptions, deductions, imaginations.
How many times did I pile them into a castle only to tear it down?
‘Monsters might be interfering with the game.’
Assuming Black Hand’s goal was rescue, not abduction, and Jang Cheon-yu was definitely a traitor.
‘That could explain why this guy never triggered a bounty mission.’
I checked my now-inactive Capitalism trait.
‘Maybe alerting hunters to bounty targets ties into this assumption?’
It wasn’t impossible.
The system that made the game might not want it, but if interfering monsters altered it.
Recalling the strangely glitched announcement from the first tutorial deepened my suspicions.
≪Important Notice≫
This system was developed for the purpose of preparing for ◇&ː$’s invasion through Player cultivation, from □% ■¿ː’s ^$*(!$ to countering %!▼ # and ◎¡!# for ◎ː&△.
Players block ◇&ː$’s invasion by activating #! *** stats ^!ㅅ(= and achieve &¡’s ː+\ as the top #■ &△■△.
Checking the problematic notice preserved in my memory and records narrowed my eyes.
‘If the system truly can’t fully control this game…’
From there, dozens more thoughts branched out wildly.
“Whew.”
My head hurt too much.
I’d put off non-urgent speculations and methodically sort what mattered first.
‘If there are traitors, I need to hurry.’
Jang Cheon-yu wasn’t the only one colluding with them.
‘If there were none, I could dismiss exchanges as impossible.’
But with even one confirmed, that premise was scrapped.
In the worst case, assume Earth’s intel had leaked to the monsters.
‘Not all military secrets from every nation, though.’
Jang Cheon-yu or any other potential traitors didn’t seem capable of accessing that level of classified info.
But at minimum, the monsters had started ‘learning’ about this world.
Listing worst-of-the-worst scenarios led to a simple, clear conclusion.
‘I need to accelerate war preparations.’
Boost the association’s influence to properly manage Players.
And I couldn’t neglect my personal combat power either.
‘I need to reach platinum badge as fast as possible.’
No, even beyond that.
Reaching a clear conclusion shifted many things.
Until now, I’d avoided close ties with Lily Evans, but I’d changed my mind.
This current state wouldn’t cut it.
If I felt the need for change, I had to move fast.
Even if it meant some bleeding, hesitation wasn’t an option.
With my mind settled, I turned to Lily Evans and said.
“Let’s make a deal.”
“…Please speak.”
“Can you funnel 4-star-plus contaminated zones my way? Southern and central areas to minimize travel.”
“…You want the association to monopolize contaminated zones and restrict others’ access.”
“Yes.”
Impossible with my power alone.
But doable leveraging association manpower.
‘Leaking the favoritism would spark backlash from other Players.’
But with a goal in mind, I didn’t care about the backlash.
I kept my resolute gaze on Lily.
After a shallow sigh, she nodded slightly and replied.
“Understood. Once 6th chapter scenario starts and extra outposts open, I’ll do what I can.”
My schedule post-return to Bihar just got even tighter.
Fortunately or not, my party members who’d suffer weren’t here.
“In exchange, share clearer Alpha intel, and prioritize American Players for infection purifications.”
The expected condition.
Precisely what I’d planned to offer in return for zone priority.
Though it had a slight flaw.
“Then others’ infections… can’t be purified?”
After I explained what I knew, Lily Evans pinpointed the issue.
“There’s a way to check.”
I pointed to where the Kerax had melted.
Just infect someone and test Purification directly.
Understanding the implication, Lily Evans swallowed hard and said.
“There are infected among association Players right now.”
“We’ll head straight to association HQ upon return to Bihar.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t expect too much.”
“Hm?”
“From experience, traits gain new functions per level-up.”
Purifying others’ infections probably required Level 4.
“What’s your current level and proficiency?”
No reason to hide it, so I checked my status window and answered right away.
“Level 3, 22.98%.”
The figure over 20% had jumped about 3% recently from purifying that infection.
‘Purified more mana than at Level 2, but proficiency barely budged.’
Even purifying my own, Kim Yul’s, and Yang Tae-ho’s corrupted mana—progress was too slow.
Turned out the main purification target differed per level.
‘Do I need to hunt 8-star general-class from now on?’
Made me think I might need to get deliberately infected and purified to rush to Level 4.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and broke the thought loop.
Better to firmly wrap up what’s already happened than dwell on hypotheticals.
“By the way, how’d the rescue op go?”
“Mostly successful.”
Some shelters resisted fiercely, with near-suicide incidents.
But they’d rescued over 80% of civilians.
Hearing the answer I’d anticipated weighed heavy on my heart.
‘Is this really fortunate?’
America led this rescue.
Other nations pitched in via Ethan and branch heads.
Participants would carve up future influence over China.
I’d known this and deemed no better alternative, so I hadn’t interfered deeply.
‘And I monopolized Jang Cheon-yu’s mana, so no loss.’
But I hadn’t forgotten it felt wrong.
The association would superficially help Chinese Players and families reunite after slave treatment.
‘Behind the scenes, they’d control Players via restraints and magic tools.’
I wished they’d just exclude civilians, but.
Investing nations wouldn’t allow it.
They’d cling with every excuse.
“Whew.”
No special emotions about this.
Leaving Player-oppressing governments like China’s would complicate future wars.
So we’d preemptively clean house.
I repeated that rationale, but my unsettled heart wouldn’t calm.
The association’s actions weren’t fundamentally different from China’s government.
‘At least there are eyes on them.’
They couldn’t go as far as China.
Self-reassuring like that, a hollow laugh escaped.
Compromising under reality’s excuse made me feel pathetic.
If someone touched my family later, I’d rage more than anyone—especially so.
Would it be different with special power?
Even now, treated as an irregular in-game with massive influence as most nations watched me.
Yet still chained by reality.
How far did I need to climb to break free from this damn thing?
Just then, a strange sensation hit—like my feet sinking into quicksand.
“Care for other reports?”
Lily Evans pulled me from the disconnect.
‘Didn’t even ask, but she’s offering first?’
Her attitude confirmed a shift in stance.
‘Well.’
Better to score points with me—certified asset—than pin hopes on some other unknown Alpha for infection issues.
Likely to secure American Players’ safety.
Thus safeguarding U.S. territory too.
‘Prioritizing America hasn’t changed.’
She’d just decided to tread carefully because I was essential to America’s safety.
Even so, Lily Evans’s pivot was truly unexpected.
Not that I’d refuse.
The association’s biggest voice falling under my control? Why refuse free lunch?
‘Why turn down what’s served on a platter?’
I smoothed my expression and asked.
“How’s underground?”
Damn System