The Loudest Stealth Mission

Swoosh! In the pitch-black night, five small rowboats sliced through the sea. These boats had been meticulously crafted by high-level carpenter players. Though small, they were built with ebony and premium oak, giving them incredible durability and blistering speed. They were the perfect vessels for a stealthy rescue mission! Naturally, these boats had also been purchased by Executive Director Kim.

"I mean, it already broke our hearts to sell the boats we crafted like our own children, but to make us sell the new ones we just built too... Sob!" Out of nowhere, the carpenter players had to taste the spicy flavor of capitalism twice in a row.

"It's done. Move in!" As Crawford cast his magic, the others nodded in unison. The plan was proceeding flawlessly. Amateurs loved flashy, explosive spectacles, but rankers who knew what they were doing preferred to wrap things up quietly and cleanly. After all, the best way to complete a quest was to quietly pocket the rewards and leave!

Crawford cast magic on the boats to boost their stealth, and taking advantage of the cover, they steered their vessels close to the pirate ships. They had easily pinpointed the location of Gardu's fleet thanks to the players who had been captured.

"Yaaaaawn. Who in their right mind would dare challenge us in these waters anyway? Why do we even have to keep watch... Gack!" The pirate on guard duty, who had been yawning, collapsed from a sudden surprise attack. Thanks to striking from stealth, Alcott successfully took down the enemy in a single blow. It was a flawless ambush that even the watching Crawford couldn't help but admire!

"He really lives up to his class. He's certainly good at that sneaky stuff," Crawford muttered.

"Shh. Alcott is working hard, he might hear you," Smith whispered, looking worried that another argument might break out.

"Don't worry. He can't hear us."

"And besides, that was a compliment."

"It didn't really sound like one..."

Swish, swish. After taking down the guard, Roy and Alcott swiftly slipped through the shadows and entered the pirate ship.

"Is it here?"

"I don't think so."

"Damn it. Do we have to search every single spot? Why didn't those ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guys give us their exact location?"

"They're locked up inside, so they couldn't verify it."

Alcott clicked his tongue in irritation. No matter how skilled of a ranker he was, moving alone in the middle of such a massive fleet was nerve-wracking. A guy like Kim Tae-hyun, who fearlessly caused absolute chaos by himself every single time, was the real anomaly!

"Let's move to the next ship."

Roy nodded. He was unconsciously following Alcott's lead. Alcott certainly hadn't earned his reputation as a top-ranking assassin for nothing. Even in the eyes of Roy, who was a decent ranker himself, Alcott's skills were remarkable. It wasn't just about his level and skills. It was his sharp judgment in reading the situation instantly, his decisiveness in choosing how to act based on that judgment, and the execution to back it up. Very few players could move so boldly in the midst of a fleet teeming with hundreds, if not thousands, of pirates.

Incredible! Following behind Alcott, Roy felt a deep sense of reassurance. If it was Alcott, could he actually stand a chance against Kim Tae-hyun, just as he had claimed?

It's definitely possible!

Completely oblivious to the wild, dangerous assumptions Roy was making behind his back, Alcott slipped into the next pirate ship. And luck was on their side.

"...!" The attire was completely different from that of the pirates. It was definitely a player.

"Hey. Hey."

"...?"

"Hey!"

"Aaaah! An assassin! I-I'm sorry, Guild Leader! Please don't kill me! Sob, sob! No matter how badly I messed up, sending an assassin after me is just too cruel!"

"???" Alcott was dumbfounded. What is this idiot smoking? Why is he talking nonsense?

"Shut up! Keep it down."

"Hiccup, hiccup."

"I came to rescue you, what are you blabbering about?"

"Huh? You came to rescue me? I knew it, Guild Leader! I always believed in you! Please, please forget what I just said!"

"I don't know who your guild leader is, but if you don't lower ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠your voice right now, I'll kill you myself."

"..." Under Alcott's murderous threat, the Power Warrior Guild member promptly shut his mouth.

"Wake the others and get everyone ready to escape. And... which one of you is Yu Seong-su?"

"Huh? Who is that?"

"There should be an old man who likes to fish."

"Ah, the elder! He's inside."

"Bring him here."

Regardless of the others, Alcott intended to personally escort Chairman Yoo. That had been Executive Director Kim's primary request from the very beginning. No matter what happens to the others, you must bring Yu Seong-su out! Absolutely! Without fail! By all means!

"What is it? What's going on?"

"Elder! The rescue team is here."

"...That Executive Director Kim... seriously... instead of doing his actual job..."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing. At any rate, since a rescue team has arrived, let us make our departure."

He couldn't very well refuse when a rescue team had gone to all this trouble to save him. Chairman Yoo shook his head and stepped outside. It was at that exact moment.

Flash! A brilliant light erupted from the distant horizon, revealing an approaching pirate ship. Standing at the very front of that ship, Cain bellowed:

"I AM!!!!"

His thunderous roar instantly shattered the silence, waking the entire sleeping fleet of Gardu!

"THE ONE AND ONLY!!!!"

"What is that?!"

"Who dares?!"

"Everyone wake up! Prepare for battle!"

Clank, clank, clank! Pirate warriors sprang to their feet, drawing their weapons. Seeing this, Alcott and Roy locked eyes. They were absolutely screwed!

Who in the absolute hell is causing this massive scene in the middle of the night when everyone is sleeping?!

"KIM TAE-HYUN!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"..."

"...Count Kim Tae-hyun?!"

"Kill him! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Fire! Fire!!!"

The effect of Tae-hyun's name was truly spectacular. His Infamy had already spread completely throughout Gardu's pirate fleet! Spotting the notorious Tae-hyun, who had tricked their great captain and fled, the pirate subordinates' eyes burned with absolute fury.

Boom! Boom! Crash! With a deafening roar, the magic cannons on the pirate ships opened fire.

"I am Kim Tae-hyun! I said, I am Kim Tae-hyun! Shoot me if you dare! Aaaah... Aaaaah!" Cain screamed one last time, then shrieked in terror as he saw the incoming cannonballs. It was time to run! Cain squeezed his eyes shut and activated his skill. *Flash!* Fortunately, the pirate mages hadn't cast any binding spells yet, allowing him to escape. But Alcott and Roy weren't so lucky.

"...Son of a..."

"Kim Tae-hyun...!" Gritting their teeth, the two looked around. The pirates, who had just woken up and were rubbing their eyes, had spotted them and were closing in.

"What's that over there?"

"Those are... intruders!!! Intruders! We actually have intruders!"

Tooooot! Along with the blare of a horn, the pirates, who had been distracted by Tae-hyun's sudden appearance, snapped back to reality. This was the unmistakable alarm sounded only when intruders boarded a pirate ship!

"Oh, for crying out loud!!"

"C-Can we escape?"

"How should I know, you idiots?!" Alcott, practically on the verge of tears, lunged at the pirates. What on earth had he done to deserve this? Unlike the other rankers, he had barely ever shown hostility toward Tae-hyun. Whenever they had to clash, he had only put on a show of fighting to avoid drawing Tae-hyun's wrath. So why?!

Is he retaliating because I was part of the group when the Guild Alliance rankers chased him?! No, that's way too petty! I didn't even touch a single hair on his head!!

Slash! Slash! Alcott activated a flurry of skills—Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Eye, Advent of Darkness, and Crimson Hour—before diving headfirst into the crowd of pirates. Hesitation meant death! Alcott's defense and HP were significantly lower than other classes, a penalty he had accepted in exchange for explosive damage and stealth capabilities.

Slash, slash, slash! Brilliant skill effects bloomed as crimson lines were carved through the air. Alcott clearly demonstrated exactly why he was hailed as a top ranker.

"Argh!"

"Aaaah!"

"Call for reinforcements! This guy is no ordinary fighter!"

Damn it, damn it, damn it! His buff skills were already running out, his skill cooldowns hadn't even reset yet, and pirates from the neighboring ships were already swarming over. "Hey! Help us out here!" Alcott desperately yelled at the Power Warrior Guild members. However, the guild members completely ignored him and prostrated themselves flat on the deck. "We don't know these guys!" "...You absolute bastards!"

Fortunately, the Power Warrior Guild members weren't the only ones present. Whoosh—BOOM! A massive explosion rocked the pirate ship, tilting it violently to the side. It was the result of a fire spell cast by Crawford.

"We're doomed! Get out of there!" Crawford was the first to steer his boat away. Since he had been positioned at the very rear, he could make a quick getaway without having to worry about anyone else. Realizing this, Alcott unleashed a torrent of curses. "Are you seriously running away by yourself?! You disloyal bastard!" "Do you expect me to stay and die with you? Don't worry! I'll keep casting spells to support you!"

The moment things went south, Crawford had already mapped out his escape route. He had absolutely no intention of risking his life for Executive Director Kim's quest. Fortunately, Crawford wasn't completely shameless; even as he rapidly retreated in his boat, he continued to rain down magic spells.

Gulp, gulp!

—Adad's Hellfire Blast! A devastating arcane fire spell said to be used by the demons of the Demon Realm! Every single blast shook the pirate ships so violently they nearly capsized. True to his class as a mage, boasting the most destructive skills in the game, Crawford was single-handedly generating an immense amount of chaos. Taking advantage of the distraction, Smith and Evangeline boarded the ship.

"We will assist you."

"Y-You guys...!" Alcott choked up. He had always thought of Smith as an annoying bastard who just liked to act noble and righteous, but to think he possessed such loyalty! "I completely misjudged you! I thought you were just a smug jerk!"

"..."

"Should we just leave him?"

"N-No, we cannot do that," Smith replied, shaking his head to snap out of his daze at Evangeline's blunt suggestion. Alcott quickly tried to excuse himself in a panic. "No! That was a compliment!" "If that was a compliment, I'm really curious to hear what your insults sound like... Anyway, let's just fight."

With those words, Evangeline drew her crimson greatsword and swung it. Accompanied by a massive skill effect, the pirates attempting to climb up were sent flying into the sea. *Splash!*

"Wow, look at that loyalty! Keep it up!" Once the four rankers were on board, the aggro shifted entirely to them. All the surrounding pirate ships converged on the vessel they had boarded, and the newly awakened pirate warriors roared as they climbed up. Consequently, Crawford was having the time of his life! He could comfortably spam his spells from a safe distance while gradually widening the gap.

"That son of a..."

"Save your curses for Crawford later, Alcott. Let's focus on our task for now!" *Flash!* The area around Smith illuminated with a blinding, brilliant light. Instantly, a powerful buff was applied to everyone present.

Seeing his depleted HP, MP, and skill cooldowns instantly restore, Alcott breathed a sigh of relief. A Legendary class really was on a different level! "Hey, the buff is great and all, but isn't this way too bright?! You're drawing all the attacks to us!" In the pitch-black night, Smith was glowing like a beacon, making their position painfully obvious. Sure enough, the pirates on the other ships were already drawing their bows in unison.

"Do not worry." *Flash!* A massive, hemispherical barrier materialized around Smith! Every incoming projectile and boarding pirate was instantly deflected off its surface. Watching this, Alcott grumbled internally. These dirty Paladin bastards...

Even though they were on the same side, seeing such an overpowered defensive skill always made his blood boil. This was practically cheating! Of course, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠most of these skills had a very short duration... But thanks to Smith's barrier, Crawford was about to suffer. Since the pirates couldn't touch the group on the ship, they decided to target the other guy first! Completely unaware of what was happening on the main ship, Crawford flinched as the atmosphere suddenly shifted. Why had it gone so quiet?

"Wait, don't tell me..." He hurriedly tried to cancel his offensive spell to cast a defensive barrier instead, but it was already too late. *Boom! Boom! Boom! Crash!* The pirate ships unleashed a coordinated magic cannon barrage on the annoying mage. "Aaaaaaaaargh!"