Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Diversion
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“We’re moving out!”
About an hour after Lee Shin’s group joined, the party set off.
Looking around, Lee Shin thought to himself.
‘It’s a big group.’
Forty people in total.
It was a large number, not something you saw every day.
Standing before this massive party, the Five Star Guild Master, Yu Han-seong, began to speak.
“We are now heading to Count Narik’s territory.”
“…”
“I will explain on the way, so please listen carefully.”
Having captured the users’ attention, Yu Han-seong cleared his throat and began.
“Our primary objective is to rescue our party members. We must save our five members trapped in the count’s prison and get them out safely.”
“Won’t we be pursued immediately?”
A user raised his hand and asked.
Rescuing them was one thing, but what about the pursuit from the lord’s forces that would follow?
As if expecting the question, Yu Han-seong answered without hesitation.
“We’ll be using this.”
“…?”
“These are replicas that look similar to the equipment our party members use.”
‘Oh…?’
Lee Shin’s mouth fell open in admiration.
In Yu Han-seong’s hand was equipment that looked remarkably similar to what Yu-ra and her group had been using. Even for Lee Shin, who had seen the real items just a few days ago, it was hard to tell the difference.
‘They’ve prepared thoroughly.’
No matter how good the forgeries, deceiving the soldiers of a lord’s castle would have required considerable effort. It was clear how hard the guild’s blacksmiths had worked.
This also meant that the user named Arin was a very important figure within the Five Star Guild.
‘She’s not ranker-level… is it because of her fame?’
It was a highly likely assumption.
For guilds with a decent number of members and capital, individual combat strength was important, but so was the role of a star player who could promote the guild's name.
It wasn't uncommon for guild-wide broadcasting contracts to come in or for ranker-level users to join, attracted by the reputation of these star players.
Lee Shin’s guess was correct.
This was indeed the reason Yu Han-seong was willing to incur significant expenses to rescue Arin.
She was the face of their party!
Letting her die so meaninglessly would not only be a loss in terms of in-game assets but would also damage the guild’s image in the long run.
The impact was even greater in this scene, where competitors were many and rumors about scandals spread incredibly fast.
For Yu Han-seong, who planned to expand the guild and even break into mainstream broadcasting, this was an unacceptable outcome.
‘…Just what kind of crazy bastard orchestrated this?’
Yu Han-seong inwardly ground his teeth, thinking of the money he had spent to form this party.
…Of course, that ‘crazy bastard’ had shamelessly joined the rescue team and was now aiming for a second betrayal, but Yu Han-seong was completely oblivious to that fact.
‘Once this is over, I’ll have to issue a kill order. I’ll hire an assassin’s guild.’
Chewing out the unknown perpetrator, he forced himself to calm his boiling anger and continued his explanation.
“We will raid the prison, create a disturbance, and then leave these behind as we escape.”
“What’s the point of that?”
“We can stage it to look like they were killed by a third party. Not a prison break.”
“Uh… will that work?”
“What if it just makes them more suspicious….”
The users asked worriedly, concerned about potential side effects, but Yu Han-seong shook his head and answered confidently.
“No. I did some research, and there have already been a few assassination attempts recently.”
“Assassination attempts?”
“Yes. So, as long as we aren't captured in the process, they will likely assume it was their doing.”
The users nodded in understanding at Yu Han-seong's explanation.
“Ah…”
“Well then.”
The basic outline of the plan seemed plausible.
However, there was still a problem with its execution: the current number of people wasn't enough to handle the guards protecting the prison.
While 40 was a large number for a single party, it wasn't as large as the force guarding a major facility in a lord's territory.
If a real battle broke out, they would either be wiped out or pushed back.
Even if they won, it would take too much time, and they would likely be caught by reinforcements. Yu Han-seong knew this well.
“…So, we will split into groups and cause disturbances elsewhere.”
“Disturbances?”
“Yes. In three locations total. The bank, the adventurer's guild, and the public square.”
“……!”
The bank, the guild, and the square.
What these three had in common was that they were crowded places, located some distance from the lord’s castle.
They were also important areas that couldn't be ignored if a disturbance broke out.
This made them perfect targets for the purpose of diverting attention.
The plan was simple.
“If we cause a commotion over there, reinforcements will definitely be dispatched to assess the situation.”
“Right.”
“When we see the troops moving, we’ll send a signal via whisper, and you all should pull out at the last possible moment.”
“Ah…”
“I understand.”
Lee Shin raised his hand.
“Yes?”
“You just mentioned splitting into groups…”
“Ah! That’s right. The ten of us from the Five Star Guild will be one team, and the remaining thirty will be split into three teams.”
“Why do it like that?”
“We intend to handle the prison raid. It will likely be the most dangerous part. The other three teams will each take one of the locations I mentioned.”
A smile graced Lee Shin’s lips.
“…Understood.”
All the Five Star Guild members were grouped into a single team.
He should have left at least one of them in each of the other teams to prevent any funny business. This arrangement made backstabbing them far too easy.
Of course, Yu Han-seong had likely volunteered for the most dangerous and important task out of goodwill toward the users who had joined him on this risky venture…
‘Too careless.’
Unfortunately for him, this world was full of scoundrels who would gladly abuse another's goodwill.
And Lee Shin was the pinnacle of them all.
With no one from the client's side in his group, the perfect stage was set for Lee Shin to run wild.
* * *
They soon arrived at their destination.
*Ding.*
[You have entered Count Narik’s territory.]
[You have received the territory entry buff. Mana recovery speed increases by 3% for 24 hours.]
[Convenience facilities such as shops, banks, and blacksmiths are available for use.]
…
[Caution!]
[You have infiltrated with your identity concealed.]
[If your identity is revealed…]
Lee Shin habitually skipped past the messages that popped up one after another.
Arthur did the same.
Jeong Yu-ra seemed startled for a moment, but seeing Lee Shin and Arthur remain composed, she quickly regained her composure.
Yu Han-seong stepped forward and spoke.
“Alright, let’s move to our respective positions.”
“Yes.”
“Hoo…”
“Splitting into three teams…”
The users began moving toward their assigned locations. At this point, Lee Shin divided his own party into three.
Lee Shin and Cedric, Arthur and Gillaim, and Jeong Yu-ra.
They split up like this, each joining a different team.
The official reason for splitting up his own companions was to help meet the ten-person quota for each team, but that wasn't the real reason.
‘There were some who didn’t take it.’
When Jeong Yu-ra had been handing out the potions, most had happily accepted and drunk them, but a few had not.
It didn't seem like they were suspicious…
But pressing them too hard might have actually aroused suspicion, so Lee Shin had simply memorized their faces.
He had placed Jeong Yu-ra in a team that included none of the people who hadn't taken the potion, while he and Arthur joined the other two teams.
Lee Shin sent a whisper to Arthur as he was leaving.
‘Let me know if anything happens.’
-Understood.
After Arthur, Jeong Yu-ra also departed, and finally, Lee Shin’s team began to move.
“Let’s go, too.”
“Yes.”
The location assigned to Lee Shin’s team was the public square.
Following behind his party members who were walking ahead with enthusiasm, Lee Shin whispered to Cedric.
“Get ready.”
“…Understood.”
* * *
“Hoo…”
The members of the Five Star Guild took their positions where they could see the prison entrance and took deep breaths.
Their faces were etched with tension.
With a similarly tense expression, Yu Han-seong spoke to his guild members.
“Everyone, get ready. Check your equipment, and cast your buffs in advance.”
“Yes.”
“Just in case, have a few scrolls ready as well.”
“Right.”
After they finished their preparations, a whisper soon arrived.
-Reached the bank. Starting now.
Messages began to pour in from the other teams as well.
And a moment later.
A soldier was seen rushing toward the guards at the territory’s prison. He said something to them.
“……! …!!!”
“…!!!”
A commotion arose.
The Five Star Guild members watched from a distance, swallowing hard.
‘Did it work?’
It did.
After shouting at each other for a moment, the soldiers suddenly rushed out in a large group.
The diversion was a success.
‘It worked…!!’
Yu Han-seong clenched his fists, cheering silently in triumph.
“Get ready! We move in as soon as they’re completely out of sight.”
However.
[A party member has died.]
“…Huh?”
The joy was short-lived.
A grim notification arrived right at the start.
Yu Han-seong was taken aback but tried to steady his nerves, thinking it must be a coincidence.
But unfortunately for him, this was only the beginning.
* * *
“Ugh!”
“Guh…!?”
Users collapsed one by one.
[You have murdered a user!]
[Your infamy has greatly increased.]
Simultaneously, Lee Shin’s infamy shot up.
Cedric had cast the spell, but since Lee Shin had given the order, it was Lee Shin’s infamy that rose.
‘The effect is undeniable.’
Lee Shin nodded.
The five who had taken the potion died all at once. At that moment, the two surviving users naturally panicked.
Their comrades had collapsed right next to them for no apparent reason.
“What, what’s happening…!”
“They’re dead? All of a sudden?”
The moment he saw them flustered, Lee Shin shouted.
“Ugh! There’s a suspicious mage over there…?”
“……!!”
“……!”
“It’s dangerous! Everyone, gather around me!”
Lee Shin had just made something up, but his voice was so urgent that the surviving users instinctively gathered around him.
And that was the end.
*Stab, stab!*
[A powerful critical hit has landed!]
[A critical hit has landed!]
[…]
“Argh!?”
[You have murdered a user!]
[Your infamy has increased.]
The remaining three were deceived by Lee Shin’s trick and were killed instantly.
Furthermore.
“What is the meaning of this!!”
“I’m sorry.”
“Do you think saying sorry is enough…!”
“Yu Han-seong made me do it, I had no choice! He said he’d only let me join the guild if I did this… *sob*!”
“……!?!? You crazy…!”
He naturally shifted the blame to Yu Han-seong as easily as breathing.
The process was different, but the result was the same on the other teams.
-Hyung. They’re all dead.
Arthur reported in right away.
Jeong Yu-ra contacted him a little later, her voice frantic.
-Hey, these people are suddenly dying?!
“Are they?”
-Yeah, really, all of a sudden….
Lee Shin replied calmly.
“It’s fine. You won’t die.”
-They’re just dropping, huh? What did you say?
“I said you’ll be fine.”
Her reply came after a long pause.
Her voice was laced with anxiety.
-…Why?
“Because you didn’t drink the poison. Unlike them.”
-Poison? What poison, there was poison?
“What are you talking about, you’re the one who gave it to them.”
-When did I! …Wait, huh?
Jeong Yu-ra’s face turned pale.
Something clicked in her mind.
‘Have this before we go.’
‘A potion?’
‘Haha, thank you so much….’
The potions she had handed out before they left.
They had seemed a bit suspicious, but she had believed him when he said there was nothing to them…
‘No way?!’
“Of course not.”
-Hey!!!!!!!
“Haha.”
-You’re really too much…!
*Click.*
Lee Shin didn’t wait to hear the rest and ended the whisper.
What was done was done, and that wasn't what was important right now.
Lee Shin opened the party window.
[Current Party Members: (15/40)]
In the blink of an eye, 25 members had died.
Everyone except for Lee Shin’s group and the Five Star Guild members was dead.
This information would be visible to Yu Han-seong and his guild members as well…
‘They must be in an uproar by now.’
Lee Shin’s prediction was spot on.