Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Sowing Discord (2)
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‘That was close.’
If he’d been even a little later?
He almost ruined everything.
Kang Hyun-soo was wearing the Dragon Armor.
His summons were fully armed, bearing the marks of the Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild.
“Prioritize capturing them alive. But if the situation demands it, killing them is fine!”
After issuing the order for show,
Boom! Boom!
He attacked the doppelgangers.
The mid- and low-level players from Yongho Guild, along with the players from smaller guilds who had been watching nearby, were left dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events.
“What’s going on? Why are they fighting among themselves?”
“Yeah, what?”
To them, Kang Hyun-soo and his summons looked like Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild members.
The doppelgangers were also disguised as Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild members.
So naturally, it appeared as if the newly arrived Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild players were attacking their allies who had been in the fight before.
But.
‘What the hell is happening?’
Even the leader doppelganger, who knew the truth, couldn’t make sense of it.
At that moment.
Ting! Ting!
Kang Hyun-soo and his summons dropped silver coins onto the blood spilled by the injured doppelgangers.
Sizzle!
The silver coins melted instantly.
“It’s doppelgangers!”
“They really exist!”
Only then did the mid- and low-level Yongho Guild players and the smaller guild players realize the truth.
“Doppelgangers really exist!”
“The doppelgangers disguised themselves as Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild players to attack Yongho Guild members!”
“They were trying to force a conflict and start a war!”
“The real Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild players must have found out and come to stop it!”
The situation flipped in an instant.
‘Damn it.’
The leader doppelganger grimaced and tried to request reinforcements from his superiors.
He had to eliminate everyone here to keep the secret, no matter what.
At that instant.
Slash!
The blood-red aura-coated sword swung by Kang Hyun-soo severed the leader doppelganger’s head.
* * *
‘I hope war breaks out soon.’
Baron Taliman swallowed hard, thinking of the feast to come.
He was only a baron for now.
But if a massive slaughter unfolded in the Atlantis dimension?
‘I can get promoted.’
If he played it right.
‘Becoming a high noble is entirely possible.’
Desire for promotion.
To fulfill that desire, Baron Taliman had taken the risk and come to the Atlantis dimension himself.
‘Things got a bit messy, but it’s not a big problem.’
The Dark Knights had exposed the doppelgangers’ identities, which was a hassle.
‘But I can clean it up.’
Eliminate the Dark Knights, wipe out Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild.
Then start an even bigger war?
Promotion would be within reach.
Of course, it wasn’t without annoyances.
‘To think I have to move myself to help these pathetic humans.’
And even go through the trouble of pretending to be one of their subordinates.
If there hadn’t been a way to expose the doppelgangers?
He wouldn’t have needed such efforts.
Why?
He could have started a massive war and enjoyed the blood and slaughter without Yongho Guild’s help.
‘Having to help that arrogant bastard.’
Baron Taliman didn’t like Dragon King Lee Ji-yong.
‘A worm who doesn’t know his place.’
Baron Taliman wasn’t a fool.
He knew exactly what Dragon King Lee Ji-yong thought of him.
‘A lowly slave.’
Deep down, he wanted to snap his neck in one go.
But sadly, he couldn’t.
The exposure method had emerged, so he needed Yongho Guild as a shield.
And he had to watch his step around the demon world earl contracted to Dragon King Lee Ji-yong.
‘I’ll tear you apart later.’
For now, the humans contracted to demons played a crucial role.
But once the restrictions lifted and a full-scale invasion of Atlantis was possible?
‘Who needs help from slaves?’
When that time came?
Even the demon world earl contracted to Dragon King Lee Ji-yong wouldn’t protect him.
‘But when the hell are these guys going to get things started?’
He had ordered his doppelganger subordinates to incite conflict.
He should have heard back by now.
But there was still no word.
“Baron Taliman!”
A doppelganger burst in, panting.
“What is it?”
“The operation failed.”
“What?”
Baron Taliman was dumbfounded.
It was a simple task: wipe out one mid- and low-level player party.
And they failed?
“Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild somehow got ahead of us. Our guys’ identities got exposed.”
“Ugh.”
Baron Taliman’s face twisted in fury.
This would complicate things.
Even if he tried another operation.
‘Humans won’t believe it.’
They’d think it was another doppelganger trick.
‘I need to change tactics.’
It might be better to attack Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild directly to provoke them.
‘If they just take it, great. If they retaliate against Yongho Guild, that’s fine too.’
But that was just a fallback, a second-best option.
‘War might not even break out.’
Then promotion was off the table.
There was another problem.
‘Our existence is too well-known now.’
The doppelgangers’ range of activity would shrink further.
Even if they hid their identities and incited conflicts.
‘The chances of it leading to war will drop sharply.’
Baron Taliman couldn’t help but feel regretful.
At that moment.
“Baron Taliman, Dragon King Lee Ji-yong is here.”
“That guy himself?”
Baron Taliman scowled.
‘I knew it.’
He’d surely come to chew him out over the failed operation.
‘Arrogant bastard.’
Baron Taliman ground his teeth.
‘If he talks nonsense, I’ll teach him a lesson.’
He couldn’t kill him.
But he could chop off one or two limbs—ones that could regrow.
Creak!
“Baron Taliman!”
The door flew open as Dragon King Lee Ji-yong stormed in.
“What the hell happened?”
“The operation failed? That’s mostly your fault. How the hell did Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild run around in your territory?”
“That’s not what I mean!”
“Then what?”
“You only targeted mid- and low-level guild members, right?”
“That’s right.”
“But why was a high-level executive player party attacked?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Five high-level player parties were wiped out today! That’s two-thirds of Yongho Guild’s high-level forces gone!”
“Why blame me? You think I did it?”
“No, but...”
He actually suspected it might be possible.
Baron Taliman wasn’t the only one who knew how the other felt.
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong knew exactly how Baron Taliman viewed him and the humans.
After the incident, Dragon King Lee Ji-yong had gathered his executives for a meeting.
Their opinions split between Baron Taliman’s doing and the Dark Knights’.
But one thing they all agreed on.
‘Baron Taliman sees us humans as worthless bugs.’
To ensure perfect success, Baron Taliman was the type to sacrifice Yongho Guild’s high-level players without hesitation.
And if Yongho Guild weakened?
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong and Yongho Guild would depend even more on Baron Taliman and the doppelgangers.
“You fool. How long ago was it that the Dark Knights humiliated you openly, and you got hit again?”
Baron Taliman believed this was the Dark Knights’ work.
“I’m sorry.”
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong gritted his teeth and apologized.
“But you got hit by the Dark Knights too, didn’t you, Baron Taliman?”
The plan failed.
The doppelgangers’ identities were exposed.
That was entirely Baron Taliman’s blunder.
If his doppelganger subordinates hadn’t been exposed?
Yongho Guild could have attacked Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild under the pretext of avenging their fallen members.
“On the contrary, because of you, Baron Taliman, Yongho Guild suffered massive losses but can’t antagonize the Dark Knights or attack Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild.”
Why?
The Dark Knights’ attack had been disguised as the doppelgangers’ doing.
“Are you blaming me right now?”
Thick killing intent poured from Baron Taliman’s body.
At the same time, demonic energy disguised as mana rippled from his entire form.
“I’m not blaming you—I’m just explaining Yongho Guild’s position.”
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong clenched his fists, barely suppressing his anger.
He wanted to harshly criticize Baron Taliman’s mistake.
But he couldn’t.
‘Lack of power is the sin.’
However, he had no intention of letting this slide.
‘I’ll report it all to him.’
If he informed the demon world earl he was contracted to?
The earl would punish Baron Taliman appropriately on his behalf.
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong sharpened his blade inwardly, biding his time.
But he wasn’t the only one grinding his teeth.
‘Arrogant bastard.’
Baron Taliman despised Dragon King Lee Ji-yong for daring to talk back despite being a demon’s slave.
‘It’s their own weakness that caused this.’
If Yongho Guild’s players had easily subdued the Dark Knights?
There would have been no issue.
If they’d killed or captured them and spread the news?
The Dark Knights’ public image would have taken a huge hit.
Baron Taliman and Dragon King Lee Ji-yong despised each other.
But for now, they needed to combine forces.
“I’ll handle Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild myself.”
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong’s eyes flashed at Baron Taliman’s words.
“Personally?”
“Yes. But I’ll need to borrow one of your subordinates’ appearances.”
“I get the idea. Use whoever you want.”
A sly smile spread across Dragon King Lee Ji-yong’s face.
‘I lose nothing.’
If Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild weakened?
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong would be the winner.
They’d protest, of course.
‘Then just claim it was a doppelganger plot.’
It wasn’t a lie—it was the truth. Investigations wouldn’t matter.
One problem, though.
‘I heard the Rokto Empire sent a doppelganger extermination squad to the Terra Kingdom.’
If Baron Taliman ran into them?
It’d be quite troublesome.
He didn’t think Baron Taliman would lose.
But clashing with the Rokto Empire’s extermination squad was a loss in itself.
Because even if they took down the first squad.
‘A stronger second squad would follow.’
Truthfully, the best solution right now?
‘Toss a suitable sacrifice to the extermination squad and hole up in hiding for a while.’
Once time passed and governments and players believed all doppelgangers were eradicated?
They could resume secret activities.
That was the conclusion from Yongho Guild’s executive meeting.
But.
‘No need to tell him about the extermination squad.’
No need to share the executive meeting’s solution either.
Even if said with good intentions.
‘He’d throw a fit, saying I’m telling him to hide like a rat.’
He’d listen eventually.
‘But his pride would be hurt, and he’d blame me for creating this mess.’
Better if he got properly thrashed this time.
That’d make him more compliant.
Plus, Dragon King Lee Ji-yong wanted to shove a “big one” up the arrogant Baron Taliman’s nose.
* * *
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong returned to Yongho Guild’s guild house.
“It went just as you predicted.”
He said to his trusted executive, Park Ji-hoon.
“Then you didn’t tell him the solution?”
Executive Park Ji-hoon asked Dragon King Lee Ji-yong.
“Of course not. Why would I take the heat to help that guy?”
“Well done. We need to knock that arrogant nose down a peg this time.”
“Exactly. I’d rather Baron Taliman mutually destroy Balhae Guild or Goryeo Guild.”
“Should we make that happen? If we keep feeding Baron Taliman’s location to the extermination squad, it might work.”
“No. He’s a demon world noble. He won’t fall to that level of force. And if they find out we’re scheming behind the scenes, we’re in deep trouble.”
“Understood.”
“Just watch. Whether Baron Taliman breaks or Balhae Guild and Goryeo Guild do, we lose nothing.”
“Yes.”
Executive Park Ji-hoon bowed politely and withdrew.
-Not bad brains.
Kang Hyun-soo’s disappointed voice echoed in Executive Park Ji-hoon’s—actually Doppelganger No. 1’s—mind.
-Should I persuade him a bit more?
Doppelganger No. 1, disguised as Executive Park Ji-hoon, asked Kang Hyun-soo.
-No. Pushing more would backfire. He’s followed my lead so far without issue, but any further is impossible.
If he seemed too hostile toward Baron Taliman?
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong might grow suspicious of the doppelganger summons disguised as Yongho Guild executives.
-Dragon King Lee Ji-yong is a sly one. No amount of persuasion would sway him.
Hiding info from Baron Taliman?
He could just play dumb.
Not suggesting a better solution?
Claim he hadn’t thought of it.
But handing a demon like Baron Taliman’s info to the enemy extermination squad?
That was undeniable treason.
Dragon King Lee Ji-yong wouldn’t make such a risky choice.
So.
-You do it instead.
-Understood, my lord.
At Kang Hyun-soo’s command, Doppelganger No. 1
instructed the low-level executives, claiming it was Dragon King Lee Ji-yong’s order, to continuously relay Baron Taliman’s location to the extermination squad.