Stirring Up Trouble
"Get them!!"
With that single shout, the battle erupted. Since it was in the square, others gathered. It was a desperate situation for the surrounded Phytos Church group.
"What's going on? A fight? Did the demons invade again?"
"No! I think it's a bonus this time!"
"What bonus?"
"They're from the Phytos Church!"
The Phytos Church was being treated as a bonus! It was humiliating, but they had no time to care about that now.
"Phytos Church? There's no way the Phytos Church would attack this place."
Whew. There's at least one sane person here!
The Phytos Church players looked at the speaker like a ray of light.
"What does that matter?"
"True. The only thing that matters is the contribution points, right?"
"Exactly!"
"..."
The Phytos Church players looked at each other and shouted:
"Surrender!"
"We surrender!!!"
You have surrendered. Upon arrest, you will be imprisoned in the territory's dungeon, and all your stats will be decreased.
...
"Ah, no! Don't surrender!"
"Hey! You cowards!"
The players booed. They wanted contribution points! Of course, the Phytos Church players ignored them.
Let's just go to jail.
Better than the death penalty.
"What are you doing?! Fight! I said fight!"
Due to the party's surrender, the morale of the Phytos Church Paladins has plummeted.
The Paladins surrender.
"Mercy!"
Even the Paladins surrendered, so the high priests had to surrender too. Galakpad shouted coldly:
"Drag them away!"
"What do we have to do to get out?" the player priests asked, not fully understanding. Usually, arrest meant jail time or a fine.
But they didn't know Galakpad yet.
"You can get out if you die!"
"?!"
"W-What kind of crazy bastard is this?"
Galakpad, a uniquely unhinged lunatic you couldn't find in any other order! The sheer novelty made the Phytos Church players dizzy.
"But we surrendered!"
"A wise choice. In return, I shall send you on your way without pain!"
"Are you out of your mind...?!"
"If you wish to live, there is one way!"
"W-What is it?"
"Convert!"
"..."
"..."
The captured players' faces turned sour. Discarding all their accumulated Phytos Church contribution points to convert vs. taking the death penalty! Both were hard to bear.
After sending Freid away, Tae-hyun moved quickly with his group. Moving through the Auston Kingdom, some people recognized him:
"Huh? Is that Kim Tae-hyun?"
"No way. Must be an impersonator."
"What a lunatic. Impersonating Kim Tae-hyun in the Auston Kingdom of all places."
To them, it was unimaginable that Tae-hyun would come to the Auston Kingdom. Su Ning had betrayed him in the name of the Guild Alliance (induced by Tae-hyun, of course), raided Tae-hyun's capital, and summoned a demon (also summoned by Tae-hyun, of course). The truce was over, and relations were at rock bottom. They would attack on sight.
No one expected him to casually stroll into Auston with just a few companions.
"But Kim Tae-hyun. Wasn't that demon in the Espa Kingdom? Why are we going to the Auston Kingdom?"
"Ah. I wanted to teach Su Ning a quick lesson before we head to the Espa Kingdom."
"!!"
Causing a ruckus in the territory of a guild that was sharpening its blades for him, spoken as casually as "let's stop by the restroom"!
"Hey! Hey! That's impossible!"
"What's impossible?"
"We didn't bring anything! No golems, giants, demons, armies, siege weapons, etc..."
Cain realized as he spoke how much they actually had now. When did they get all this?
"...I mean it!"
"Those are what we'd need if we were trying to capture Su Ning. I have no intention of capturing him right now."
"Didn't you say you were going to teach him a lesson?"
"Do I have to capture him to teach him a lesson? We can just stir up some trouble and run."
"???"
"The most magnificent coronation event in Pan-On history is currently being prepared! Everyone! Are you watching this!"
The Guild Alliance went for "the most luxurious and grand coronation." They had no choice since someone had snatched the "first coronation" title. But as expected of the Guild Alliance, they invested an astronomical amount of money. Thanks to that, not only guild members but players from other kingdoms came to watch.
"Guild Master. Alcott has successfully taken office as a lord."
Although the entire Guild Alliance participated in the raid on Sadiq's Avatar, Alcott dealt the final blow and claimed the merit. Many looked at him with jealousy, but Alcott proudly went to the Erangs Kingdom to receive his reward.
"To the great adventurer Alcott, I bestow the title of Baron!"
The first player lord of the Erangs Kingdom! Of course, the land given by Erangs was an undeveloped wasteland on the outskirts, and the title was only a Baron, but it was still incredible. Alcott was overjoyed, and the Guild Alliance executives excitedly drew up plans.
"Let's keep developing this territory to expand our guild's influence within the Erangs Kingdom!"
"Now that things have turned out this way, we can give Alcott more authority. Since he has a title, we need to support him more."
"Understood. Raise Alcott's authority and send support to help develop the territory."
Completely unaware of Alcott's secret dealings, the Guild Alliance was kindly sending him aid.
"Are all the broadcasting stations here?"
"Yes. They are filming live right now."
The Guild Alliance enjoyed overwhelming popularity and support in China. Although their viewership dipped slightly when they were crushed by Tae-hyun, they still boasted massive ratings and attention. The process of the Guild Alliance unifying the Auston Kingdom through fierce siege warfare and territorial battles against other guilds was still considered a masterpiece by many.
Su Ning knew this and utilized it well. Though he couldn't play as a pro gamer, he was confident he could become a Pan-On celebrity surpassing them. You didn't have to compete in tournaments to be famous!
"Are you watching this, everyone! Your taxes! Are exploding into the sky in the form of such magnificent magic!"
"...Who hired that host?"
Since so many people, from broadcasting stations to personal streamers, were broadcasting the coronation, the competition was fierce. More provocative, more eye-catching commentary!
"Are you watching thissss! Your taxessss!"
Su Ning couldn't take it anymore and ordered, "Quietly kick that guy out."
"It is burning with such massive flames!"
"?"
Su Ning turned his head. He had ordered them to decorate the sky with magic, but was there something like that?
Fwoooooosh!
Intense flames were erupting from the capital's castle walls.
"Fire! Fire!!!"
"???"
A fire has broken out within the capital!
Sadiq's Flame is sweeping through the capital. If Sadiq's Flame is not contained, it may spread further!
"!!"
All the Guild Alliance executives had trauma regarding Sadiq's Flame. Just when they had barely unified the kingdom and gathered treasures, hadn't Sadiq's Avatar burned it all down? That had wiped out several years' worth of the Guild Alliance's budget. Honestly, if it were any other guild, it wouldn't have been surprising if they had disbanded.
"Put it out! Put it out right now!"
"What bastard is playing with fire?"
The answer was revealed immediately. Players buzzed and pointed to the sky.
"It's... Kim Tae-hyun!!"
"It's Kim Tae-hyun?!"
Tae-hyun was floating majestically in the air, riding Yong-yong!
"What is he thinking coming here?!"
"Is he insane?!"
The sheer audacity to show up alone in front of tens of thousands of players! Some were even filled with admiration.
"Guild Alliance! I received your gift of unleashing a demon in my territory's capital!"
"??"
The guild executives were utterly baffled. Did we unleash a demon?
"Unleashing a demon in another territory's capital. How could you do something so cruel! Sniff, sob. I am fine, but my heart aches so much to think of the innocent ordinary players who suffered."
"..."
"Stop talking bullshit, you bastard! Since when were you so nice?!"
"Yeah! The wounds I suffered from you back in Pan-On 1 still hurt!"
Guild Alliance members who had been plundered by Tae-hyun in Pan-On 1 reacted violently. Where did those tears come from! Regardless, Tae-hyun kept talking.
"Since you've acted this way, I will no longer hold back. I only endured it because I was worried ordinary players would get hurt..."
Tae-hyun subtly shifted the blame to the Guild Alliance! To the Guild Alliance, it was simply mind-boggling.
"From now on, there will be no such mercy! It is all-out war!"
"Shoot him down!!"
"What are you guys with mounts doing! Fly up immediately!"
There was no reason to keep listening to him. At the Guild Alliance's command, archers and mages began their attacks, and players with flying mounts summoned them.
Wait. Why is he alone? Where did Cain go?
Su Ning felt something was off. Tae-hyun often went around alone, but shouldn't he have that loyal slave of his with him?
The answer to that question came immediately.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
While Tae-hyun drew attention in the sky, the other players had scattered and were faithfully executing their missions! They had gone to the locations where the materials for the coronation were stored and thoroughly sabotaged them.
In this kind of situation, the one who shined the most was, of course, Lee Da-bi. Using the Power Warrior Guild's information network, her merchant class skills, and her own intuition, she identified the prime spots to plunder!
"Oh. This place is!"
Wandering around, Lee Da-bi's face lit up when she saw a very high-quality stable.
"What is it?"
"It looks pretty good. Open it up."
"It just looks like a regular stable to me..."
Heuk-heuk, who had come along to help Lee Da-bi, grumbled but smashed the stable door.
◈ Griffin Eggs can only be raised in the kingdom's highest-grade stables.
◈ If you have adult Griffins, you can train <Griffin Knights>.
"Let's take them all!"
Lee Da-bi excitedly packed the eggs. How much would all of this be worth!
Meanwhile, Tae-hyun was faithfully buying time.
"Aaaaargh!"
One player who lunged at Tae-hyun was countered and fell straight down.
"U-Ugh."
"K-Kim Tae-hyun! You're surrounded!"
"Saying that while you're still on the ground..."
The players who flew up hesitated, not daring to strike first!
It's about time.
Using Sadiq's Authority skills, he set fires everywhere while the others scattered to perform sabotage. Even if they couldn't kill the Guild Alliance members, they could inflict an annoying amount of damage and, above all, humiliate them.
I'll come back with Esla to inflict the real damage, Su Ning.
Tae-hyun thought as he looked down. For a split second, Su Ning made eye contact with Tae-hyun and felt goosebumps all over his body.
"G-Get him! Get him right now!"
Regardless, Tae-hyun quickly broke through the encirclement and began to flee. The players didn't dare pursue. Instead, they looked at each other.
Is there really a need to chase him?
Well, Kim Tae-hyun is fleeing anyway.
"Whoa! Kim Tae-hyun is running away!!!"
"We won! We won!!!"
"What kind of bullshit is that! He's clearly just escaping!! Go catch him!"
The voice echoed from below. The flying players muttered:
"Hey. Shh. Let's pretend we didn't hear that."
"I can hear you perfectly, you bastards?! Aren't you going to chase him right now?!"