Chapter 56: Mystery of the White Line Strongholds
Jenix's main stronghold stood at the northernmost tip of the Southeast Earth district. Around the round table, the guild's top brass wore grave expressions.
"This is a problem. Who would've thought they'd form an alliance. Did they know our plans in advance?"
Those were the words of Jenix Guild Master Yang Taesik, reacting to the reconnaissance team's report.
In response, strategy advisor Lee Gi-seok shook his head. "It's too hot a spot for that—the entire district is. At minimum, there are nine groups of reserve guilds on the cusp of going special."
"If they're making a move like that, it means they've slotted us into their rival group too. All that caution we've kept up till now has gone to waste."
Yang Taesik hadn't led a single expedition in the past year, holing up here instead. Their initial gains had been a measly nine strongholds—paltry compared to other guilds of similar size.
It was a form of long-term, multifaceted psychological warfare, and up until the last season, everyone had bought into it.
- Jenix focuses solely on defense.
- They're a guild fixated on holding their current ranking.
- Jenix's guild master is extremely passive.
All sorts of rumors had swirled around.
No wonder he'd earned the nickname "Water Fortress Master" in these parts.
In truth, Jenix was a specialist in defense. With so few strongholds to protect, if they dug in for real, hardly any guild in the Southeast Earth district could breach them.
Sure, an all-out push might do it, but then the other hyena-like guilds would swoop in on the spoils.
So no guild had ever touched Jenix.
Until today.
They'd finally bared their fangs.
The real issue was the alliance forming right on the cusp of promotion season. Split into at least three groups, each boasted 20,000 troops—a full doubling of their expected numbers.
"At this rate, we're the ones getting pushed. What kind of deal did they strike to get nine pre-special guilds to ally over a single spot?"
"To be precise, it's four groups. Their three plus our allies, the Warrior Guild—eleven guilds total competing across four factions."
"No intel on the alliance makeup?"
"Still matches the initial report for now. We'll know more once we watch. The real picture emerges when war breaks out."
"Mm. Fair enough... We half-expected this anyway. So, what's the play? First prediction's off—switch to plan B?"
"No, sir. In my judgment, we stick to the original."
"The initial operation as planned?"
"Yes. As you know, in eight hours, defense towers will spawn at the key strongholds. Once that happens, they're untouchable. We have to seize all our targeted majors before then. Plan B might bump our ranking, but qualifying for World War—top 50—is a long shot."
"Everyone here knows that. But with their reinforcements, holding off multiple fronts while sieging will be tough."
"Pull all defense troops."
"Defense troops? Out of the question. The northern rear's far enough to ignore, but the Smith Alliance to the west is just dozens of miles away. High chance they'd hit us if we slip."
"Same for them. Strip forces here, and the Incarnation and Ironman Guilds up north won't sit idle."
"Still feels like too much of a gamble..."
"We have to gamble now. A ranking drop from a failed op? We recover later. Miss World War entry this time? Another year wait. Time to decide, Guild Master."
Yang Taesik pondered the advisor's push, then turned to the key commanders. "What's your take?"
"We agree. A year might seem short, but the benefits we'd miss? We push hard this time."
"Consensus then. Total Commander."
The man seated right beside him at the head table responded. "Yes, Guild Master."
"Consult the strategy advisor and reorganize forces once the meeting ends. All-in or not, leave a minimal visible garrison."
"Understood."
"And..."
His gaze shifted left—to the Warrior Guild reps, allies in the alliance. He addressed the middle-aged man in the prime seat. "Warrior Guild Master, as planned, we ask you to cover our rear."
"No worries. Nothing gets through from the south."
"Appreciated."
With all matters settled, Yang Taesik's eyes returned to the advisor. "That's the plan. Report detailed adjustments and changes in real-time."
"Yes, Guild Master."
"Meeting adjourned..."
As he moved to end it, the conference room door opened. In strode the control tower chief, fresh from briefing the external situation.
"What is it?"
"A problem."
"Problem? Invasion?"
"No. Mind if I pull up the situation board?"
Yang Taesik nodded, and a large semi-transparent situation window materialized at the table's center.
"Take a look."
"What the... Why only seven strongholds? Wait—White Line?"
Yang Taesik's eyes blinked wide, as if seeing things. Their markers dotted strongholds on the opposite Southwest Earth district's White Line—seven of them.
"What is this? How can we have strongholds there?"
"No idea, sir."
"Any detached units?"
"Impossible. As reported, all personnel are accounted for here."
"Main base and elsewhere?"
"Checked everywhere."
"Then what the hell?"
Yang Taesik couldn't make sense of the situation board. He'd confirmed everyone gathered before departure, double-checked on entry. No way he'd miss this.
So who the hell had seized those?
"Residual forces left behind...?"
"Doesn't seem so."
"Then? How do you explain that? Hundreds of miles from here. Even sprinting non-stop from arrival? No chance. And these expedition vets—three months of grueling training. You think any would defy orders like that?"
"Checked for late arrivals."
"And?"
"One extra beyond the original roster."
"One? Just one?"
The room buzzed. Absurd.
His face twisted in disbelief. "So the full expedition's here, some latecomer shows up there—and it's just one person?"
"Probably... yeah."
"Nonsense. White Line's outskirts, sure, but packed with mid-tier guilds locking rankings. How does one hunter—one—snag seven strongholds that fast?"
"Main base system shows only that one extra guild member besides our party."
"No way. Absolutely not."
Yang Taesik figured a system glitch. No residual defender could've pulled this solo—all elites were here, and he knew it best.
Shaking his head, he asked the chief, "Ranking points?"
"Exactly 350 added."
"No way to contact them? Verify?"
"Too far for comms. Only option's sending someone."
"Frustrating. Something's up, but no clue what."
A logistics officer piped up at his mutter. "Send a few hunters? Looks close to our points."
"Respawn over, you mean."
"Yes. Two hours to the nearest, I'd say."
"Not bad, but pointless. Hit enemies en route? Back to square one. Arrive safe, learn what? No way to report back."
"Ah... right. My bad."
"Nah, crossed my mind too."
Arrival via respawn was fine. The issue? Return trip time—unpredictable. Northern tip here, southern tip there.
Strategy advisor Lee Gi-seok spoke up. "No need to overthink it."
"It's absurd, that's why. You guys aren't baffled?"
"First time for us too. But it favors us. Small strongholds, sure, but more grabs by this mystery hunter frees up a medium one. Means more siege focus."
"True, but that's impossible too. More conquests? Really?"
"Even as insurance..."
As they debated, the room stirred. The chief called out in disbelief. "Guild Master."
"What?"
"Look—another stronghold..."
"Hm? Oh. Nabbed another. If the advisor's right, this could be... Wait, what the hell?"
He squinted hard at the board, spotting something off about the new conquest.
"A medium."
"Yes."
"Smalls were nuts enough—now a medium? Damn. No idea what's going on, but this might be a real boon. Seven smalls, one medium. Luck before the game's even started."
"One issue."
"Issue?"
"Hallasan guild's parked recon drones there for three years."