Chapter 280
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 280
Chapter Title: Secretly
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Lich.
A high-ranking undead monster commonly seen in fantasy games.
In the game Blackout, it appears as a level 8 raid monster with enough power to single-handedly annihilate a nation-sized city.
Jun had cleared it multiple times back in his 'Lee Jung-jun' days, after plenty of trial and error.
'But the Lich is just a smokescreen. The real threat is what comes after.'
The Death's Visage—a world-class raid monster.
In other words, the God of Death.
So, what was the strategy?
'Progress through the dungeon in story mode. Then recruit a massive influx of NPCs scattered across the field to run a grand-scale strategic simulation.'
Of course, that meant enlisting a ton of those NPCs as temporary allies along the way.
In the game, a few dialogue choice clicks did the trick. But reality was a different beast.
'It's not about us being desperate. We need to make them desperate. Get them to join us willingly.'
The hitch was predicting when the crisis would hit and prepping accordingly.
But that issue resolved itself far more smoothly than expected.
"I never imagined something like this even existed..."
The Lich's finger bone.
Knowledge that didn't even exist in 'Lee Jung-jun's' memories.
"The timing was perfect. Bishop Meller had just put in a request to check it out, and that's when we made ours."
"Bishop Meller?"
"Yes. He's the one researching undead. Looked like he wanted to experiment with the Lich's finger bone."
"So you snagged it first."
"Exactly."
At this point, one obvious question sprang to mind.
'In the game, the Sun Church caught on to the Lich's revival way too late.'
Part of it was failing to track the unfolding events like they were now. But what if someone like Bishop Meller had held onto the Lich's finger bone?
To confirm, he asked outright.
"Any prior requests to remove the Lich's finger bone?"
"None. As you can see, it's insanely dangerous. Touch it rashly, and who knows what happens."
Yet someone requests it now, of all times...
Jun couldn't help directing a suspicious glare at this Bishop Meller.
'No, that's a problem for later.'
Rooting out the Celestial Church spies embedded in the Sun Church could wait.
The pressing crisis came first.
"So, can this finger bone tell us how close the Lich's resurrection is?"
"Not the exact date. But..."
By the sheer volume of dark mana infused in it, resurrection could happen anytime.
"At least a week... Oh, Lord have mercy."
When had things spiraled this bad?
The Saintess had good reason not to know.
Black mages lived by the motto 'silent and grand strides.' Masters of shadow work.
They'd botch material hunts mid-ritual every time. But secure the goods? Total rampage mode.
'Souls of Merdaine's dead elites over the past year, plus northern disaster victims...'
Reviving a Lich? Piece of cake.
"More urgent: how do we break this to the outside world?"
"That's why I came. To discuss it."
"Go ahead."
"I'm planning to request their cooperation. Starting now."
"Cooperation request?"
"Yes. With ample rewards, naturally."
Probably dangling contribution points or the like.
Jun shook his head.
"This is the Lich's resurrection we're talking about."
"But they've spent decades chasing its trail."
"Chasing hints and facing it head-on? Worlds apart. Plus, as I mentioned, most left in Merdaine took hits—big or small."
Ask them to team up now, with the Lich imminent? Would they commit fully?
"They'll drag their feet with excuses. High chance."
Sun Church soaks up the bloodshed in the subjugation, while they eye post-Lich sweets.
And it wasn't just that reason to nix the Saintess's plan.
'If it worked, the game wouldn't have gone to hell.'
Jun knew the outcome of her approach. Time for plan B.
"Leak it discreetly instead."
"Discreetly... how?"
"Solar Church pinpointed the Lich's location with a fresh clue. Resurrection risk in the process. Full-force subjugation incoming."
"...People flock to that kind of rumor?"
Ah. Smart as the Saintess was, too long buried in Merdaine's cleanup.
Clueless on society's gears.
"They'll swarm the gates, begging a piece of the action."
"Hmm..."
Seemed deceptive? Not really false intel.
They had the bone. Subjugation was on.
"Fear passivates. Greed activates. Try it."
Jun's conviction swayed her. Brief hesitation, then a resolute nod.
"Internal meeting first. But I'll push it positively."
Rumors have no legs, they say.
Spreading like wildfire. Especially in info-hungry Merdaine these days.
"My god..."
Two days.
Just two. Saintess quietly seeded the rumor to select folks, gathered church troops for Lich prep.
That alone packed Gurtaren Castle's front with crowds.
"Sun Church! Confirm it! Lich really reviving?"
"Heard you're taking it down! Let us join the glory!"
"Can't ignore our sweat! Open up!"
Roaring voices like a chant. Dawn arrivals hollering.
Saintess gawked at Jun, stunned.
"Incredible. You foresaw this?"
"Someone hands me cake, I suspect. Their cake? Irresistible."
Sun Church mum on details, bulking forces quietly? Urgency bait.
Not idiots, of course.
Some'd sniff deliberate leak.
Normally, they'd bide time, probe.
But...
'Our captives rushed dumb plays in panic. Same urgency, bigger scale.'
Jun's game staple.
Push-pull.
Merdaine forces converged. Success.
Lich strategy boost secured.
"Let it stew a day."
"Why one?"
"Greet now? We tip our hand. Drag? They bolt."
Form their coalition, ditch Sun Church for Lich hunt.
Coordination needs a day. Over two? Useless.
"Got it... Thanks. Smoother sailing."
Thoughtful silence, then skyward gaze, eyes aflame.
"Five days max. Sooner likely. Lich rises."
"Prep hard till then."
"Yes. Supplies solid, thanks to you."
Gilenoi Merchant Guild hauling bulk already.
'Our mercs' stockpile? For God of Death's debut.'
"Ugh, camped out like that. Stuck inside."
"Stifling, yeah."
"Itchin' for blood. Captain nailed it."
"Aiden, Maya! Spar out back. Crawlin' with ants."
Eleanor, crowd-weary.
Aiden, Maya to rear yard per Bern.
Bern, 'Lich' igniting battle lust.
"My hammer's cravin' a real foe at last!"
Not bad.
Final polish before showdown.
'Celestial Church schemes blunted.'
City-scattered folk now clustered.
Ambush soul-farming on adventurers/mercs? Disrupted.
Two birds, one stone.
"Then... watch easy."
Preps maxed.
Lich, whatever. Bring it.
Jun sipped tea calmly, sky-gazing.
Four days on.
Saintess called it—a tad early. Lich broadcast revival worldwide.
Lich's finger bone or no, Eleanor sensed the revival timing.
Black sky.
Not night.
Broad day, yet so to her eyes.
Only hers.
"..."
Swish...
Black bandage off—long untouched bar subspace—world beheld.
Blue skies.
Eyes shut: black expanse.
"Damn."
A gaze prickled.
God of Death.
Its haste flooded her.
Sunset to nightfall, still throbbed.
Frustrated, she bellowed airward.
"What the hell's got you so frantic?"
Inscrutable God of Death.
Why her flesh? Cursed manifestation chase?
Unknown.
Captain know?
Gaze to his room.
Eyepatch gone: golden eyes pierced world.
Shift to staff.
Lament of the End.
Captain's first-sight mutter.
What lament? What end?
Staff tied to Death God?
Zero clues now.
"Hoo..."
"Lookin' mighty pent-up."
"Mom! Geez."
Jun at window sudden: Eleanor irritable sigh.
"Dead of night, lady's room. Why?"
"You looked pathetic."
"Tch. Comfort call?"
"Kinda."
Subspace: booze bottle. Pricey vintage.
"You lot too? God's blood, wine guzzlers. Tradition."
"Why chug God's blood?"
"None here, huh."
"Plain speak?"
"Drink offer."
"Huh..."
Captain's angle?
Unprecedented. Eleanor fetched glasses.
"Snacks?"
"This."
"What? Notebook?"
Dimensional bracelet: tattered diary.
"Poetry night?"
"Romantic, not us. Read it. That's why."
Diary to table. Glasses filled. Jun grinned.
"Tough get. Peek?"