Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Off to Steal Again Today
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The method was simple.
Just approach the target and cast Scout like always.
Do that, and he could quickly peek at the opponent's possessions.
"Kakakaka!"
"Kakaka!"
Moreover, that opponent was an event-use NPC wandering around without paying any attention whatsoever.
Their levels were all set to 1, so there was nothing particularly worrisome.
And that wasn't all.
The Pierrot Decoration was even Common grade.
Among the various item grades, it was the lowest one with the highest steal probability.
That was the collectible for this event.
Of course, there were decorations with fluctuating probabilities due to the crowd of users, but repeating Scout once or twice quickly raised the odds again.
'Anyway, other users aren't even interested in normal Pierrots.'
At best, they'd glance briefly to check features.
Once confirmed, they ignored them completely.
'Sometimes forgetful ones look multiple times...'
Even accounting for that, the overall probability was high.
'All that's left is stealing.'
Luke swallowed dryly.
With tense eyes fixed ahead, he reached for the Pierrot's Decoration displayed before him.
The 2nd anniversary event collectible.
To steal it with Steal.
He extended his hand toward the Scout result window.
It worked.
He was stealing them.
His first Steal attempt, done with some tension, had succeeded.
'Reaction?'
None.
He glanced around cautiously for a moment, but no reaction appeared.
"Everyone, please don't go outside. It's unimplemented~!"
The event helper Pierrot wasn't paying any attention either.
'Then...'
Proceed as is.
Second.
Third.
Pierrot Decorations kept piling up, yet there was no penalty, not even a small message.
'No separate penalty?'
Did they really not know about him?
'Not certain, but...'
One thing was clear.
Great Thief's skills.
Even stealing decorations with Steal and Scout, the worries didn't come true.
With that fact confirmed, there was no more hesitation.
Like a fish in water, he just kept stealing away.
Meanwhile, what about other users?
They were still fiercely competing, struggling to collect decorations.
"Huff huff, gotta find more special Pierrots before I get passed!"
Users running around diligently searching for special Pierrots themselves.
"It's running over there!"
"Chase it quick, it took a Slow Arrow so it won't go far!"
Users chasing and beating down special Pierrots they'd found, lest someone steal the last hit.
"Yes! Last hit's mine!"
"Hey, dude. This is my spot, why steal?"
"Finding spots here, what a kid."
"I'm a college senior."
"Ah, uh..."
Users lying in wait everywhere, eyeing last-hit opportunities.
From a thief's perspective, it was truly pitiful.
'They collect so laboriously.'
No need to hunt hard-to-find special Pierrots when he could get them this easily.
From these common normal Pierrots everywhere.
'Man, they made this 2nd anniversary event perfectly. Top-notch.'
High praise.
More high praise.
Where else was such a perfect event?
No, there wasn't.
Of course not.
'Yong Hoseop is the best.'
Developer Yong Hoseop forever.
Times infinity.
Boom boom boom!
Kaboom kaboom kaboom!
Then.
Blazing flames and weapons caught his eye.
All magic and attacks from Dorothy and Leon in real time.
Top rankers.
As expected of the top 100 powerhouses, they dominated the event with overwhelming abilities, mowing down Pierrots swiftly.
Barring surprises, top 5 was guaranteed.
'No, top 5? They're basically fighting for 1st and 2nd.'
The rest would be filled by other rankers.
'Soon, their decoration counts will show live on the scoreboard.'
That was key.
The top ranks' decoration counts in the current zone.
He had to steal while considering that.
Adjusting the numbers appropriately.
'If the gap's too wide, not just the company but local users will suspect.'
'The gap between 1st and 2nd is too big.'
'So use those top ranks as benchmarks.'
Not too much.
A proper margin for 1st place.
That was Luke's ultimate goal.
"1 hour 40 minutes elapsed, all Pierrot positions reset again. Special Pierrots randomly reassigned, so search diligently~!"
"Agas, spawn more Pierrots!"
"Insufficient Pierrots are being refilled live, no worries~!"
Pierrot positions reset right on cue.
Another 10 minutes passed.
1 hour 20 minutes left.
The airborne scoreboard's top ranks would reveal in 20 minutes.
'Even with all that chaos collecting, they won't have less than me, right?'
Nah.
No way.
He'd even slowed his stealing pace just in case.
But 20 minutes later, that thought shattered.
1st:2422nd:2083rd:2054th:1515th:149
(User info not displayed)
'Huh...?'
242.
Exactly his decoration count.
'Fuck, I'm 1st?'
"2 hours elapsed, top 5 decoration counts now display live on the scoreboard. Watch closely~!"
The moment top rankings revealed.
Most users in F-43 zone were stunned.
"Over 200 each?"
"I haven't even hit 40 yet!"
"Wow, that's over 200 special Pierrots caught? Insane."
"Some last-hits stolen, probably."
"Even then, crazy numbers."
NPCs taking dozens or hundreds of hits to kill.
And special ones with fixed 1 damage.
Three people had killed over 200.
Finding those uniquely featured ones was work enough.
So, curiosity about top 3 grew.
"1st is Dorothy, right?"
"Nah, Leon."
"Wrong, neither might be top 3."
"Saying that after those cheat skills?"
"No, who's the other one?"
"Dunno, event rules like this, someone smart made top."
"Eh, even so..."
Conflicting opinions.
Curiosity about tops deepened.
'I'm 2nd?'
'I'm 3rd?'
Dorothy and Leon confused by their ranks, unbeknownst to all.
'Who is it?'
Blaze Witch Dorothy.
Iron-Blood Lord Leon.
The top rankers thought simultaneously.
Who was this 1st surpassing them.
And who was the other one matching their counts.
'That guy?'
'Tch, that bastard?'
The former, they could suspect each other.
But the latter, no.
No other users had stood out like them.
At best, other rankers assigned to the zone.
'Or a user killing Pierrots differently.'
Unexpected variable.
Or equivalent upset.
Given event rules, not impossible.
Still, shocking.
Why?
They brimmed with confidence despite limits.
Thought no one could match them in the event.
So, wariness surged.
'Unexpected rival.'
Dangerous.
At this rate, 1st would be stolen by another user.
Realizing that, Dorothy and Leon accelerated.
Last year's 2nd anniversary event had top ranks too.
1st got extra special rewards.
Same here.
Won't let it be taken.
If rank drops, overtake with more decorations.
'More.'
'Faster.'
With serious faces unlike before, they focused entirely on special Pierrots.
210.
220.
230...
Piling Pierrot Decorations.
Event time limit ticking.
But why?
Why did counts change but ranks stay the same?
Unknown.
Just grit teeth and focus skills more.
Yet scoreboard ranks unchanged.
'What.'
Can't reach.
'What the hell.'
Feels reachable yet forever out of grasp.
'Why no closing in?!'
Like climbing one step, opponent climbs two.
'How are they killing Pierrots so fast?'
Collecting that quickly.
Glanced around occasionally, no standout user.
That remained the mystery, but helper Pierrot gave no time to ponder.
"5 minutes left!"
Just announced remaining time as scheduled.
'Somehow in 5 minutes!'
'Must catch up!'
Possible.
As top rankers, they could.
Surpass the rival ahead.
"Okay, 1 minute left. Countdown starts!"
Thump!
Cold sweat beaded.
Racing eyes.
Pounding heart within.
Every second precious, helper Pierrot's countdown rang.
"59!"
"58!"
"57!"
"56..."
Thump thump!
Possible?
Reclaim 1st in 1 minute?
Possible.
They could...
Grip!
Crunch!
Could, but.
"10!"
"9!"
"8!"
"7..."
Definitely, but.
Steady eyes now trembled faintly.
Impossible.
That word etched into their minds.
"End!"
Strength drained from bodies.
Shoulders slumped like puppet strings cut.
A message appeared.
Zone ranking.
At those words, Dorothy and Leon selected YES like entranced.
Rankings scrolled up immediately.
Only top 5 mattered.
So they glanced there.
'There!'
Their names, swapped by a hair for 2nd and 3rd.
'Not that guy after all.'
'Not that woman, so a third party.'
Then who was 1st...
1st: Anonymous - 300
'Anonymous?!'
'Didn't reveal?!'
Their faces twisted in fury.