A Chicken Ready for the Pot

Jang Ssu-an waved his hands in a panic. He had never expected things to turn out like this. However, Kim Tae-hyun and Cain were already drawing their weapons with murderous intent and closing the distance.

"No! Kim Tae-hyun! I came here to talk! Listen to me!"

"Haha. Sure."

"I said, listen!"

"I am listening. I told you, I'm listening."

"Then why is someone who's 'listening' drawing their weapon and walking toward me?! Stop right there!"

Tae-hyun's attitude made it abundantly clear he had absolutely no intention of listening. Jang Ssu-an shouted in desperation. If he didn't stop them now, any hope of negotiation would truly go down the drain.

"I heard there are players in Pan-On who actually enjoy dying, but I never imagined you'd be one of them, Jang Ssu-an."

"I don't think that's the case, but I agree we should take him down."

Tae-hyun and Cain exchanged chilling remarks as they drew closer.

"Kim Tae-hyun! I have information! Let's make a deal!"

"What information? Information about the items you're carrying? If we kill you, they'll drop anyway, won't they?"

"Not that kind of information! It's information about someone who's targeting you!"

"...?"

"...?"

Everyone present tilted their heads in confusion.

"Does that even matter?"

"Aren't there, like, a few hundred people targeting him?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"I was thinking more like a few thousand..."

There were so many people targeting Tae-hyun that hearing "this specific guy is after you" didn't change a single thing.

"It's Jekas! Jekas!"

"I already know he hates me without you telling me. Is that all you've got? Well, in that case... I'll put your gear to good use."

"Don't you want to know what he's planning?!"

"Not really, no."

"Just listen to me! Please, just listen!"

Backed into a corner, Jang Ssu-an's negotiation skills improved at a breakneck pace. The very same Jang Ssu-an who had only ever pushed others around with an overbearing attitude was now desperately trying to persuade them.

Does this guy not know how negotiations work?

Jang Ssu-an had assumed that if he dropped a few hints, Tae-hyun's curiosity would get the better of him and he'd back off. But Tae-hyun showed no such signs. Instead, he looked like he just wanted to slaughter Jang Ssu-an and loot his corpse.

"...So, you're saying that Jekas guy solved the rabbit issue?"

"Exactly. Do you get it now?"

Cain, who had been listening from the side, spoke up, utterly dumbfounded by Jang Ssu-an's arrogant attitude.

"Why is this bastard acting so high and mighty when he barely escaped with his life?"

"Quiet, Cain. The adults are talking, so beat it."

"...W-What? What did you just say, you bastard?!"

Jang Ssu-an hadn't even meant to provoke him. He was just speaking his mind! But to Cain, it was the ultimate provocation.

"Hey, let's kill this bastard!"

"Hold on. Let me finish the conversation first. You can kill him after that."

"...Huh? Wait, Kim Tae-hyun, what did you just say...?"

"But what does Jekas solving the rabbit issue have to do with me?"

"Do you know why he hasn't made it public? Because he's targeting you."

"...?"

Jekas had successfully located the dungeon of the rabbit god, Carbanog, and put an end to the rabbit curse. Normally, he would have broadcasted this achievement far and wide to bask in the glory of people praising him. But Jekas had kept quiet.

The dungeon of Carbanog was the exact location where Tae-hyun and the other players had clashed. If Jekas made it public, people would likely think, Wait, isn't that where the players chasing Kim Tae-hyun fought? Don't tell me the curse spread because of those guys?

There were already suspicious whispers circulating. Thus, Jekas had swallowed his pride and hidden the truth. He absolutely refused to give Tae-hyun any free publicity or credit!

"...And that's how it is."

Hearing Jang Ssu-an's explanation, Tae-hyun and Cain couldn't help but marvel.

"Wow, what a bizarre guy. If it were me, I would've just made it public. Why go to all that trouble?"

"No, I actually get it. His grudge must be carved deep into his very bones!"

"Cain. Why are you talking like you relate to him so much?"

"Ah, n-no... I just meant..."

"Anyway, Jang Ssu-an. That still doesn't answer my question. What does this have to do with me?"

"He came to me and asked for my cooperation. He wanted to join forces to take you down. Of course, I refused. After all, I don't need to hold hands with other guys just to deal with you..."

"..."

Watching Jang Ssu-an immediately slip back into his arrogant boasting, Cain looked utterly bewildered. Does this bastard not realize where he is right now?

"In any case, Jekas is plotting this conspiracy. I'm sure this information is incredibly helpful, right? No need to thank me."

"Yeah. I'm not thanking you."

"In exchange, hand over the blueprint. That's all I ask."

"I literally just said I'm not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thanking you."

"No, I got it, so just give me the blueprint..."

"Cain, our guest says he's leaving. Send him off."

"You got it!"

Cain, who had been waiting for this moment, grabbed Jang Ssu-an's shoulders with sheer delight. There was nothing more satisfying in the world than tormenting an obnoxious prick like him! Jang Ssu-an, completely failing to read the room, looked utterly bewildered.

"W-Wait, Kim Tae-hyun. Did you not understand what I just said? Jekas is targeting you, and I just laid it all out for you. Isn't a blueprint a cheap price to pay for such high-quality information? Besides, I'm even letting slide the arrogant, cheap, and underhanded things you did to me last time..."

Tae-hyun shook his head as he listened.

"Jang Ssu-an. Let's get a few things straight."

"...?"

"What I did was completely fair, square, and righteous. If you've got a problem with it, you do it too."

"What kind of bullsh—! Mmph! Mmph!"

"And the information you gave me is practically worthless. I already knew all of it. I know Jekas hates me, and I know he's running around looking for guys like you to form a Losers' Alliance."

The Losers' Alliance. Tae-hyun had just tossed the term out without thinking. However, Jang Ssu-an took it literally, thinking, Ah, so the group Jekas is gathering is called the Losers' Alliance.

Without Jekas even knowing, his secret coalition had just been officially named!

"But what am I supposed to do with that information? I already know everything. And you want a blueprint in exchange for that? No way, kiddo."

"Can I kill him now? Huh? Can I?"

Cain asked Tae-hyun, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. However, Tae-hyun shook his head.

"Well, he did come all this way to deliver some news, so we should at least spare his life. Just go."

"W-Wait! Then what do you want? Gold?"

"I have way more money than you."

"What?!"

Jang Ssu-an flared up. He, too, came from a wealthy family.

"Just how much money do you think you have to say—"

"...Money isn't everything in this world, Kim Tae-hyun!"

"..."

The moment Jang Ssu-an heard the sheer scale of Tae-hyun's wealth, he immediately changed his tune. Cain stared at him, marveling at how thick-skinned the man was. It was truly impressive how he could act so proud and shameless without a single shred of embarrassment. That was a talent in its own right!

"What do you want then?! Just spit it out!"

The onlookers whispered among themselves at the sight.

"Why is that guy acting so confident when he's the one at a disadvantage?"

"I guess that's just his personality."

"Hmm..."

Tae-hyun scratched his chin and stared at Jang Ssu-an. In Tae-hyun's eyes, Jang Ssu-an currently looked like a chicken. A chicken holding jujubes and ginseng under both wings, shouting, Please boil me up and eat me!

Did he really think I'd be so touched by that useless information that I'd just hand over the blueprint? Is he insane?

Though he couldn't comprehend the man's thought process, Tae-hyun decided to make good use of this opportunity.

How can I exploit this guy so thoroughly that rumors spread about it... Huh?

Suddenly, a cascade of message windows popped up in front of Tae-hyun!

And then, a quest window appeared.

...Why are they asking me to do this?

If they were going to assign such a task, they should have given it to the Avatar of Carbanog. Why ask the Avatar of Archisus?!

Though flustered, that wasn't the only message window. Another quest was popping up alongside it.

Oh, boy...

This was far more important than the rabbit-related message that had just appeared. It was a class quest with a massive penalty if rejected!

I'll have to decline the rabbit quest.

"..."

For some reason, a wave of guilt washed over him!

Seriously, why is a god I have nothing to do with acting like this?

Decline!

Tae-hyun closed the message windows altogether. What mattered right now was the Archisus quest.

The Uruk Region. It was a highly dangerous, high-level territory located to the east of the Central Continent. Although more of it had been mapped out compared to the past, it was still a land shrouded in mystery, with many uncharted areas.

And it's also where the Orc Great Chieftain, who absolutely despises me, is still alive and kicking...

Following the Great Orc Offensive, the heavily injured Great Chieftain had retreated with his forces back to the Uruk Region. If Tae-hyun went there, there was no way ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they'd say, Oh! The Avatar of Archisus! Let's forget our past grudges and make peace! They would charge at him, screaming for his blood!

For now, I need to avoid the Orcs as much as possible, complete the quests to convert the other tribes to Archisus... Wait, was the Primitive Human Tribe the one Su-hyeok befriended? It looks like they're in danger too, so I should probably help them... I'm going to be busy.

Tae-hyun calculated his moves in his head before looking up at Jang Ssu-an.

"Jang Ssu-an."

"What do you want?"

"Actually, there was someone else who received the blueprint for Ure before."

"I know. It was that player, Gu Sung-wook, right?"

"Yeah. Glad you know. Do you know how he managed to get it?"

"...?"

"He followed me around and helped me clear my quests."

"...Well, sure, I can help you with that much. Let's get this over with quickly!"

Now that Tae-hyun was finally showing signs of giving him the blueprint, Jang Ssu-an replied with an enthusiastic voice. Watching him, Cain shook his head.

Enjoy your happiness while it lasts, buddy.

"So, Su-hyeok. What's the situation like in Uruk?"

The person who knew the Uruk Region best here was Jeong Su-hyeok, as he had resolved most of his quests there.

"There are a lot of dangerous monsters, but once you get used to it, it's actually not too bad. I managed to get quite close to the human tribe, so it was bearable for me. Being able to enter their village and rest is a huge advantage. Otherwise, you're constantly at risk of being attacked at any moment..."

"What about the other tribes?"

"The other tribes... I failed."

Jeong Su-hyeok bowed his head with an apologetic expression. His quest had been to spread the faith of Archisus, but he hadn't succeeded with any group other than the Primitive Human Tribe. Since they were fellow mages, the Primitive Human Tribe had been relatively easy to persuade. However, the Red Sea Outlaw Tribe and the Old Tunnel Goblin Tribe had proven far too difficult. He had tried again and again, but ultimately met with failure.

"Well, that's still a great start. You did well enough. Let's tackle the rest together."

"Senior!"

Jeong Su-hyeok cried out, his face flushed with emotion. Tae-hyun patted him on the shoulder. Watching this unfold, Kim Se-hyeong thought to himself:

Why the hell did they call me here too...?

He could understand why Jeong Su-hyeok was here, but why on earth had he been dragged along as well?