Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Iron Mask's Spotlight
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A few days passed, and news of the successful purge of the Bilbar Mountain bandits resonated across the entire region. The mysterious outlaws who had paralyzed the dungeon city of Jermi—committing atrocious acts of murder and abduction—were finally brought to justice. The result of Viscount Chainver's direct wrath was a resounding success, yet the details emerging from the conflict were far from ordinary.
First, the true identity of the group sent shockwaves through the community. They were not mere plunderers but members of the revolutionary army—a militant faction dedicated to rebelling against the crown. Most astonishing was the revelation that their origins were tied to the legacy of the great traitor, Prime Minister Del Mark. This explained their discipline and high level of organization; upon learning that traces of the traitor still lingered, the kingdom immediately dispatched a high-level investigative team to Jermi to uproot and burn away every remaining remnant of the rebellion.
Evidence was plentiful: revolutionary insignias and hidden symbols of Del Mark were found among the wreckage. Based on knight testimonies, the kingdom identified the ringleader as Drawder—the "heir to the traitor’s will" who had gone so far as to bargain for demonic power to fuel his coup. While some hideouts remained hidden, the elimination of their leader and elite fighters was a massive political victory for the kingdom. Viscount Chainver, recognized for his significant merit, received an unprecedented summons from the king himself, heading to the capital to solidify his position among the royalist nobility.
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'Viscount Ballrag Chainver summoned to the capital for royal audience!'
'The Bilbar "Bandits" revealed as a revolutionary cell plotting against the crown.'
'A sudden raid triggered by the mutation of the revolutionary leader Drawder...'
The story became a wildfire across Agas. Every detail was riveting: the hidden identity of the revolutionaries, the named NPC Drawder, and the desperate raid that ensued when he transformed into a shadow-monster. But the greatest impact came from the players who had shone during the darkest moments of the battle. Their intervention had turned the tide when the knights and soldiers were paralyzed by fear.
"Did you hear? The adventurers saved Jermi from a demon-pact monster!" "They say Iron Mask Man was the first to strike when everyone else was frozen." "The saviors of the city have finally emerged!"
The fame of the quest participants skyrocketed. Since the kingdom decided to award rewards based strictly on contribution merit, public opinion—which had dismissed this as a minor border skirmish—flipped overnight. Major media outlets scrambled for footage, but because the primary live-streamer had died midway through the boss fight, on-site records were sparse. Early reports focused on the famous rookies, Roxy and Baek Eun, assuming they had carried the heavy lifting.
However, the narrative shifted yet again as eyewitness accounts from NPCs and other players began to flood the boards. While Roxy and Baek Eun had performed spectacularly, the official contribution rankings revealed a surprising truth: the number one spot belonged to the Iron Mask Man. His feats—tracking the boss through the fortress, rescuing the hostages, and dealing the decisive blow—were officially validated by the Viscount’s decree.
"The man in the iron mask is a hero of Jermi," the Viscount announced before his departure. "He solo-carried the final phase. Any time he visits the castle, he shall be treated with the highest honor befitting a true savior."
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Meanwhile, inside a certain prestigious guild house, a man sat waiting in a dimly lit office. With black, mane-like hair and sharp, hawk-like eyes, the player known as Lisiner skimmed a set of documents before a knock at the door interrupted him. Rookie #3, the Holy Knight Baek Eun, entered with his usual innocent smile.
"You called for me, sir?" Baek Eun asked.
"Yes," Lisiner replied, his voice calm but authoritative. "I want to hear about the Iron Mask Man. You fought alongside him. Tell me about his skill."
"Honestly?" Baek Eun paused, his smile fading into a look of genuine respect. "He is beyond the rumors. If you matched his level and gear, you would still struggle to beat him. His talent is top-tier; I’d go so far as to say he is the best player I have ever seen in action."
Lisiner crossed his arms, deep in thought. While he hadn't paid much attention to the Iron Mask during the Demian-Kaum war, this incident had proven the mysterious rookie’s worth. "Are you thinking of scouting him?" Baek Eun probed subtly.
"I have been interested for a while," Lisiner admitted. "But in Agas, talent alone isn't enough to survive the higher-tier zones. He will soon realize he cannot last long as a solo player. Other mid-to-large guilds will start moving soon; they've been waiting for a full evaluation, and this revolutionary purge was his final test."
Baek Eun looked at Lisiner in surprise. Most large guilds hadn't budged during the earlier hype, but if Lisiner was speaking this way, the landscape was about to change. Lisiner, the "Little Warlord of the South" and leader of the powerful Goblin Guild, curled his lips into a sharp smile.
"This recruitment war," Lisiner noted, "will be far fiercer than anyone expects."