Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Manner Play (3)
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In fact, the preparations were mostly already done. Ever since hearing Phiria's furious shout on the way to Lake Cheongming, he had anticipated this situation and edited the video accordingly.
"As expected, this calls for a reverse troll."
Rokan wasn't a professional, but in his previous life, he had earned quite a bit from YouTube and the like, so basic video editing was well within his capabilities.
Once he gained a certain level of fame, he outsourced the editing to professionals, but until then, he had handled it all himself.
'But dumping it out right away isn't the best move.'
Still, he had no intention of releasing it immediately. The reversal at the most dramatic moment would have the greatest impact. The moment they thought their strategy had worked, he would drag them down to the abyss.
"For now, let's sow a little confusion."
To that end, Rokan chose silence for the time being. They were the ones stoking the flames, so his silence alone would fan them higher.
Instead, he decided to play a little prank.
For the next half day, he would hunt "intensely" to clear his Murderer count.
Then, when the forums were at their hottest, showing "Rokan, who is not a Murderer" would leave everyone flustered and suspicious.
Flipping everything at once could be fun, but dangling more evidence before those starting to doubt would make it stick even better.
"Murderer count of 5 should be enough."
With that, Rokan began warming up. The bandit lair was no easy hunting ground, but with his critical hit set tailored perfectly, it was more than doable.
"Throwing!"
Facing over a dozen level 90+ bandits at once was no small feat even for Rokan. So he used throwing weapons to lure one or two away separately for combat.
It was the basic RPG strategy called "pulling," but in The Lord, it was subtly tricky. Monsters had varying aggro ranges, and attacked foes could scream to call all their buddies.
Or, if you hid too well while pulling, the enemy might wander off somewhere else, turning the whole thing into a mess.
'Why don't berserkers have a taunt skill? Tch.'
With a taunt skill, pulling would be a breeze, no fuss.
Rokan pulled them off almost blindly with expert precision, grumbling his long-held gripe as he met the charging bandit head-on.
"Hand over everything you have and die!"
"You think I'd do that?"
The bandit's weapon was a scimitar. The curved blade arced sharply toward him, but Rokan swung his axe diagonally. He blocked it with the steel haft—not even the blade—and shoved forward with raw power, crushing the bandit down.
[Critical!]
A higher-level humanoid bandit. His 40% crit chance shone on the first strike, severing the bandit's left arm.
"Argh!"
One blow left the arm dangling, but worthy of a level 90 powerhouse, it didn't just writhe in pain. Sensing it was outmatched in strength, it dropped lower and lunged at Rokan's legs like a wrestler.
"Where?!"
Thwack!
But Rokan wasn't one to take it lying down. He snapped a kick, punting the bandit's head like a soccer ball.
Crack!
Something snapped, flipping the bandit's body. The superhuman kick exposed its belly as it tried to lower its stance.
"Hup!"
Rokan allowed himself no lapse in focus. He severed its right arm as it fell back, retreated, and hurled a hand axe.
"Guhhh..."
A sliver of HP remained. But with both arms dangling and a hand axe buried deep in its chest like a pinned butterfly, it couldn't do a thing.
"This is manageable."
Centering his gear on crit chance had definitely been the right call. Without the crit, the bandit would've blocked a few attacks, dragging into a tedious exchange.
True to their lore of robbing countless adventurers, the bandits' skills were decent.
After finishing it off and retrieving his thrown hand axe, Rokan mapped his patrol route in his head.
"A lap around should do it."
No need to delve deep into the lair. He could berserk and blitz in and out quick, but the risk was too high. Even for Rokan, post-berserk penalties made beating one bandit tough.
Deeper in lurked the bandit sub-boss and boss, plus archers and rogue-class bandits. Miss one, and death loomed. Normally fine, but as a Murderer now? Too risky. Better the safe outer edges.
'Respawn zones will be locked down by them...'
Sorting his thoughts, Rokan picked up speed. Once he regained 70-80% of his old senses, he wouldn't even need to pull.
As his hunting pace ramped up, war erupted on the official forums.
Ward: MP's right. What has Rokan even done anyway?
└DD: Whoa, different story going in and out of the bathroom, huh? Praising one minute, full pivot now lololol
└Ward: Pivot my ass. Rokan just stirred shit for his own gain too.
└DD: (screenshot) Huh? Wasn't he Rokan God? lololol
Jeremy: Blood Chaser stuff aside, the video alone raises doubts. Catching arrows mid-flight? That's wuxia novel shit.
Gosomi: Game turns you superhuman as you level, so maybe. But nah. Just downloaded the vid and reported for hacks.
ShrimpFail: Hacks aside, look at that punch-first personality.
WhyYapping: Looks sus for sure, but we need both sides. Vids too short, sketchy... Full version, full version pls!
└RokanFanGoHome: Rokan simp? Obvious af, conspiracy nutter letitgo~!
Those hounded by Blood Chaser but saved by Rokan defended him. But Phiria's attached video and his overwhelming beatdown left even them puzzled, so public opinion swiftly shifted.
MP Guild went all-in, even botting comments to sway the tide.
They even made a cafe called "Demanding the Truth from Rokan," pushing guilds to enforce justice.
Then Phiria's original post resurfaced.
Phiria: MP Guild aims for Manner Play, striving for users to enjoy The Lord properly. Not fully clear yet, but compared to non-manner player Rokan with hack-suspect power, we may fall short. If other guilds lend strength, we'll lead the charge.
If other guilds helped, they'd spearhead "justice."
Hilarious, since they fabricated the outrage, anti-cafe, and BS claims. But the masses didn't know. Known for Manner Play, many bought them stepping up nobly.
NamelessSword: Justice enforcement on hackers, yes. Count me in.
SharpSpirit: Let's gooo~!
EgoAri: Rokan silent af, prolly guilty, permaban incoming
Some even echoed them, vowing to act if guilds wouldn't.
Other guilds were stuck. Sit out? Cowards or accomplices. Join? Rokan's vid-proven power meant heavy losses.
Most with guild houses were cash-strapped and lukewarm, but a few image-conscious ones tepidly signed on for Rokan's hunt.
Anti-Rokan sentiment snowballed fast.
Before Falcon Corp confirmed no hacks, they rushed the witch hunt.
But the next day, the blaze cooled like ice water.
"Huh, not a Murderer?"
"Vids showed at least 3-4 kills. Even 'Daksa' wouldn't clear that in a day."
"Maybe? Some MP guys were Murderers or self-defense."
"But that means they started it? Self-defense means they attacked first."
"Faked vid or what?"
Rokan strolled into town like nothing happened—no red eyes.
Clear 5 Murderer counts in a day? Half day? Most lacked PK experience, unsure, but forum tales said even 1 took longer than half a day.
Confusion mounted. Rokan savored it, dawdling the city instead of rushing back to hunt.
Looked like routine post-hunt restock. Inventory full, nothing needed.
"Scummy hacker, GTFO!"
"You the only one playing?! Mannerless git, seppuku!"
"I'm reporting! Permaban prep!"
"Pissed? Come at me! I'll wipe the floor with ya."
Oddballs appeared one by one. Scared, they yelled from crowds, but Rokan knew without looking. MP Guild or their lackeys, spewing provocations.
'Good, keep it coming.'
He knew the score—no hurt feelings. Past life had worse.
Composed with a faint smile, someone approached boldly.
"Excuse me, Rokan? GameInven webzine reporter, Thanos. Mind a quick interview?"
"Sure."
Game news webzine journo. Kwuang, who indirectly helped via secret dungeon scoop, was from there.
Recalling, Rokan nodded lightly.
No promo plans, but no reason to refuse.
They moved spots. Rokan picked an outdoor terrace cafe. Private room? Unneeded collusion rumors.
Thanos wanted enclosed for exclusive, but Rokan nixed it—terrace or bust.
"Straight to it. Aware of the situation? Hack allegations, non-manner play, indiscriminate PK testimonies."
Thanos caved, firing prepared questions. Fitting the straight-ball demon reporter rep.
"Heard of hacks in The Lord?"
"Yeah. This time."
Rokan smirked, countering, but Thanos held firm.
"How 'bout this. Saw that post and vids last night. When do you think they were filmed? They didn't report me for hacks? Parrots or pups yapping 'hack hack'."
"So reported already, but nothing happened?"
"Precisely, ruled no hack use. I know the game inside out, programming? Clueless. Never used hacks, don't know where to buy. Doubt me? Report now."
"Hmm, for real... Done. That settles it. Then why'd MP raise doubts? And why no response last night?"
"Worth replying to BS? Why smear me... Guilty conscience maybe."
Rokan grinned. Knowing the record, he locked eyes with a chilling smile.
Phiria sees this? Chills down spine.
"Guilty? MP? Know something?"
Reporter instinct? Thanos sniffed the barb.
"You'll know tonight. They left truth to forums, so will I. Sorry for the trip, but details in my 10 PM post and vid."
"10 PM tonight? What kinda... Fine. Last one. Heard you PK'd five MP members. True?"
Good question. Pleased, Rokan stood, gazing down.
"Yes. A light warning. Mark this: MP or anyone scheming against me—bet it all. Life, items, whatever."
Chilling threat to make foes' legs shake. Rokan left.
Forums exploded speculating the 10 PM post.