Chapter 545: Ghost (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 545: Ghost (3)
Once I said my piece, I sat back and studied the shocked looks on everyone's faces.
All right, if even these guys are reacting like this, ordinary adventurers will lose their minds at this information.
"In just two months..."
"Single-digit Numbered Items..."
"...Two of them?"
Well, one of them was from Garphas's Necklace, and the other was a lucky break from killing a Guardian, but...
I hadn't lied.
Also, I never would have been able to obtain those items if not for the ridiculous number of mana stones in Basement Floor One or the fact that Guardians of the Rift can spawn there.
Shaaa!
As the jewel turned green, silence fell over the table. Their previously identical reactions now began to deviate. Just a moment earlier, all of them had been shocked by the announcement itself.
"How did you...? Even in a place like that...?"
"There are fewer than 120 people in Basement Floor One right now..."
"Heh... Really... In there?"
But now some of them were beginning to once again wonder who I was.
"Pshehe. How foolish. There is no place in the world that Lion's eyes cannot reach. Weren't you paying attention earlier? He even knew about what happened on the eighth floor with the Rift. That... That was a secret that not even fifty people knew about."
"That's true... Besides, the first piece of information we got about the basement came from a member of the Hektz Clan. We can't dismiss the possibility that someone down there is his informant."
Others accepted the fact that I knew about this without asking too many questions. And as for the rest...
"If that is the case, this informant must be someone close to Bjorn Yandel," our resident member of the palace Deer said with a glint in his eyes, looking like a bloodhound that had caught a scent.
I mean, even if they are, what are you going to do about it?
I slid my gaze to the next seat over to gauge Fox's—Versyl's—reaction as well. Because she was wearing a mask, it was a little hard to read her, but I couldn't see any suspicion in her eyes either. If anything, the emotions that were visible in her eyes were the exact opposite.
Confusion and panic. She's probably worried one of our clan members is a mole.
Well, I'd get more insight into her thought process by seeing what she did after Ghost Busters closed today. She had immediately informed me about the traitor situation with Missha, at least.
In any case, it seemed I didn't need to worry about Versyl, so I shifted my attention to Goblin.
Tsk, this guy is the one I'm most worried about.
Goblin hadn't gotten swept up in all the excitement and had instead been silent this whole time as if lost in thought.
Yeah, he's just sitting there... but I've still got a bad feeling about it.
I had fed the Round Table all sorts of information that would, to the outside observer, directly contradict the idea that Lion was Bjorn Yandel, but there were some people in this world who possessed unbelievable gut instincts.
For some reason, Goblin seemed to be one of those people.
"Deer." I turned to the person who had started the meeting today before Goblin could have any more time to think. "How long are you going to sit there?"
I got a confused look in return.
"It's your turn again."
Anyway, let's go another round. I have plenty more to tell you.
***
One round.
"All different kinds of monsters and Guardians of the Rift can appear in the Records Archives on Basement Floor One."
Two rounds.
"The Records Archives has all new monsters, including mutant monsters."
"Um... by mutants...?"
A question that I wouldn't have even acknowledged before, I instead answered graciously. "A monster that possesses the skills of multiple different monsters. For example, a single monster that has both the passive of an Ogre and the actives of a Troll."
"That's unbelievable—!"
"B-But— Wouldn't that mean entirely new combinations of essences are possible?"
A few members let out shouts of obvious disbelief, but I didn't need to provide evidence to convince them. In the end, the jewel would confirm it for me.
Shaaa!
As the gem once again turned a bright green, the others grew louder and louder.
Glare!
Yet beyond its glow, eyes that shone an even greedier green gleamed around the table. That was only natural. What self-respecting player would be able to sit back and do nothing after hearing about such an incredible hunting ground?
"Pshehe... This is getting interesting."
"Actually, I don't see why Noark would be particularly interested in this. It's not like you'll be able to do much more than twiddle your thumbs anyway."
A psychological battle ensued between the Clown of Noark and the Deer of the Palace. Of course, this was such a common occurrence at this point that I didn't so much as twitch.
Well, it's still fun to watch these two bicker.
And it seemed everyone else felt the same, as no one stepped in to stop them, instead watching with interest.
"Hah! Like the Rafdonian adventurers who haven't been able to so much as touch the eighth and ninth floors—or their essences—in over a year at this point? Pshehe."
"Didn't you hear Lion? Based on what he said, there won't even be any need for us to go up to the eighth or ninth floors anymore."
"Ah, I did hear him. But so what about it?"
"...Do you really not get it? If this news spreads to the outside world, the palace will immediately revoke its embargo and even actively support any adventurers who want to travel down there. From there, it'll only be a matter of time before Noark falls for good."
"Hoh, is that so? I'm quaking in my boots," Clown drawled.
His reaction only intensified Deer's ridicule. "Well, now that I think about it, a clown like you might not be capable of the critical thinking required to see how screwed you are. After all, you're the same guy who just bragged to your enemies about how your last quest failed. This is probably all a funny joke to you—"
"Oh, really? Even though the reason I said this was interesting news was completely different than yours?" Clown cut Deer off with his characteristic laugh. "Say, why are you assuming this news will benefit the palace?"
"What... do you mean?"
"Do you really not get it?" Clown gave an exaggerated shrug, waving his hand in the direction of my seat. His eyes met mine in a one-sided look of camaraderie before he turned back to Deer. "Why do you think Mr. Lion brought up information about Basement Floor One here at the Round Table? You have a brain somewhere in there, don't you? Please consider using it today."
I got a confused look in return.
"It's your turn again."
Anyway, let's go another round. I have plenty more to tell you.
***
One round.
"All different kinds of monsters and Guardians of the Rift can appear in the Records Archives on Basement Floor One."
Two rounds.
"The Records Archives has all new monsters, including mutant monsters."
"Um... by mutants...?"
A question that I wouldn't have even acknowledged before, I instead answered graciously. "A monster that possesses the skills of multiple different monsters. For example, a single monster that has both the passive of an Ogre and the actives of a Troll."
"That's unbelievable—!"
"B-But— Wouldn't that mean entirely new combinations of essences are possible?"
A few members let out shouts of obvious disbelief, but I didn't need to provide evidence to convince them. In the end, the jewel would confirm it for me.
Shaaa!
As the gem once again turned a bright green, the others grew louder and louder.
Glare!
Yet beyond its glow, eyes that shone an even greedier green gleamed around the table. That was only natural. What self-respecting player would be able to sit back and do nothing after hearing about such an incredible hunting ground?
"Pshehe... This is getting interesting."
"Actually, I don't see why Noark would be particularly interested in this. It's not like you'll be able to do much more than twiddle your thumbs anyway."
A psychological battle ensued between the Clown of Noark and the Deer of the Palace. Of course, this was such a common occurrence at this point that I didn't so much as twitch.
Well, it's still fun to watch these two bicker.
And it seemed everyone else felt the same, as no one stepped in to stop them, instead watching with interest.
"Hah! Like the Rafdonian adventurers who haven't been able to so much as touch the eighth and ninth floors—or their essences—in over a year at this point? Pshehe."
"Didn't you hear Lion? Based on what he said, there won't even be any need for us to go up to the eighth or ninth floors anymore."
"Ah, I did hear him. But so what about it?"
"...Do you really not get it? If this news spreads to the outside world, the palace will immediately revoke its embargo and even actively support any adventurers who want to travel down there. From there, it'll only be a matter of time before Noark falls for good."
"Hoh, is that so? I'm quaking in my boots," Clown drawled.
His reaction only intensified Deer's ridicule. "Well, now that I think about it, a clown like you might not be capable of the critical thinking required to see how screwed you are. After all, you're the same guy who just bragged to your enemies about how your last quest failed. This is probably all a funny joke to you—"
"Oh, really? Even though the reason I said this was interesting news was completely different than yours?" Clown cut Deer off with his characteristic laugh. "Say, why are you assuming this news will benefit the palace?"
"What... do you mean?"
"Do you really not get it?" Clown gave an exaggerated shrug, waving his hand in the direction of my seat. His eyes met mine in a one-sided look of camaraderie before he turned back to Deer. "Why do you think Mr. Lion brought up information about Basement Floor One here at the Round Table? You have a brain somewhere in there, don't you? Please consider using it today."
Deer chose to remain silent. Someone else responded in his stead.
"To disrupt the palace." It was Queen, who had been quiet since this discussion began. "That is the only explanation I can come up with."
The other members seemed to agree with her logic.
"So I'm not the only one who thinks so."
"...There's no way Mr. Lion isn't aware of what'll happen if this news spreads."
"He has never acted so openly before."
I was sharing this information right after the palace put out an order to stop anyone from coming down to the basement. Not only that, but it was also information that was juicy enough to tempt people to go in even under the threat of punishment. It seemed all of the other members had managed to figure out what my intentions were based on that alone.
Well, it didn't matter if they figured it out or not.
"Pshe, you were acting all high and mighty when you didn't even realize something as simple as that. Doesn't that make you a joke too?"
"...You're interpreting things in a way that best suits your narrative. He could just as easily have said it to help the palace too. The palace was unaware that Basement Floor One was such an incredible place."
"Hmm... really? Well, let's see which one of us is misinterpreting things in our favor."
All the members of the Round Table turned to me. Although they didn't say anything aloud, I could tell what they were thinking by the expectant looks in their eyes. They were waiting for me to tell them which one of the two was right.
However, as my silence stretched on, one of them got impatient enough to speak up.
"So..." In the end, the person to break the silence first was none other than Black. "Which is it?"
It was a bit unexpected. I did figure someone would step up as their spokesperson, but I never expected it to be her. She tended to keep her mouth shut outside of her turns.
"Lion, are you on the side of the palace, or on the side of Noark?" Black boldly asked, her face unreadable under her pure black mask.
"Cocky of you," I growled a bit in response.
I didn't imbue any murderous intent into my words, but Black immediately broke eye contact and looked down. Though it seemed she snapped out of it a second later because she made a point of raising her head again and forcing her eyes to meet mine.
Looks like she has some backbone.
I filed that piece of information away, adding it to the little I knew about her. Then, to reward her for her guts, I declared, "But I will answer you."
I kept my eyes on Black as I placed my hand on the gem.
Someone gulped. Everyone was looking at me. Clown seemed to hope that I was on Noark's side, and Deer the exact opposite. The others seemed to care less about sides and more about the truth itself.
"The palace and Noark..."
So I decided to make my stance loud and clear.
"I'm not on either of their sides."
These weren't just empty words.
Noark was my enemy. The first time I lost a companion, it had been to Orcules' Dragon Slayer, and they also put me through all kinds of crap on the first floor. In the process, Erwen's older sister, Daria, had died.
I don't even have to get into the palace.
The cold rage that had washed over me all those months ago was still festering in my heart. And I intended to get back at them for it someday.
Deer chose to remain silent. Someone else responded in his stead.
"To disrupt the palace." It was Queen, who had been quiet since this discussion began. "That is the only explanation I can come up with."
The other members seemed to agree with her logic.
"So I'm not the only one who thinks so."
"...There's no way Mr. Lion isn't aware of what'll happen if this news spreads."
"He has never acted so openly before."
I was sharing this information right after the palace put out an order to stop anyone from coming down to the basement. Not only that, but it was also information that was juicy enough to tempt people to go in even under the threat of punishment. It seemed all of the other members had managed to figure out what my intentions were based on that alone.
Well, it didn't matter if they figured it out or not.
"Pshe, you were acting all high and mighty when you didn't even realize something as simple as that. Doesn't that make you a joke too?"
"...You're interpreting things in a way that best suits your narrative. He could just as easily have said it to help the palace too. The palace was unaware that Basement Floor One was such an incredible place."
"Hmm... really? Well, let's see which one of us is misinterpreting things in our favor."
All the members of the Round Table turned to me. Although they didn't say anything aloud, I could tell what they were thinking by the expectant looks in their eyes. They were waiting for me to tell them which one of the two was right.
However, as my silence stretched on, one of them got impatient enough to speak up.
"So..." In the end, the person to break the silence first was none other than Black. "Which is it?"
It was a bit unexpected. I did figure someone would step up as their spokesperson, but I never expected it to be her. She tended to keep her mouth shut outside of her turns.
"Lion, are you on the side of the palace, or on the side of Noark?" Black boldly asked, her face unreadable under her pure black mask.
"Cocky of you," I growled a bit in response.
I didn't imbue any murderous intent into my words, but Black immediately broke eye contact and looked down. Though it seemed she snapped out of it a second later because she made a point of raising her head again and forcing her eyes to meet mine.
Looks like she has some backbone.
I filed that piece of information away, adding it to the little I knew about her. Then, to reward her for her guts, I declared, "But I will answer you."
I kept my eyes on Black as I placed my hand on the gem.
Someone gulped. Everyone was looking at me. Clown seemed to hope that I was on Noark's side, and Deer the exact opposite. The others seemed to care less about sides and more about the truth itself.
"The palace and Noark..."
So I decided to make my stance loud and clear.
"I'm not on either of their sides."
These weren't just empty words.
Noark was my enemy. The first time I lost a companion, it had been to Orcules' Dragon Slayer, and they also put me through all kinds of crap on the first floor. In the process, Erwen's older sister, Daria, had died.
I don't even have to get into the palace.
The cold rage that had washed over me all those months ago was still festering in my heart. And I intended to get back at them for it someday.
Shaaa!
The Round Table's jewel glowed green with the light of truth. It even seemed a little brighter than usual for some reason.
"Then why..." I heard someone ask faintly at the sight, almost as if possessed. I turned in the direction of the voice to find that the speaker was Deer. "Lion," he pleaded. "Why did you tell us this?"
As someone from the palace, as someone who was used to the political power struggles and machinations of the royal court, it was only natural that Deer would be wondering what my angle was. Lion, this powerful, mysterious man in a mask, had declared he wasn't on anyone's side. So why did he do something that many would argue flouted the will of the royal family?
Lion's answer to that question was simple.
As always.
Tap, tap.
I tapped my fingers against my armrest twice before opening my mouth to speak.
"Because it..."
As always...
"...seemed like it would be fun."
That should be more than enough.
***
After that, the Round Table ended without further incident, but I had no complaints.
I had succeeded in relaying just how great of a hunting ground Basement Floor One was, and it seemed the others were also running out of information to share anyway.
It doesn't seem like a bad idea to end on that note.
And so, I coolly excused myself and left.
Yeah, if I try and get another round going, it'll just get annoying.
Once I was back in Hansu Lee's room, I laid down on the bed and loafed around for a few minutes before getting back on the computer to do some more scrolling. It was a touch ironic, but the message board on my screen right now was my sole window to the outside world.
"Hehehe... Pfft, this guy, really..."
Oof, this was hurting my pride a little. Why were these pricks so funny?
As I browsed through the posts, snickering to myself, I noticed a new post rise to the top of the pinned section as the page refreshed.
[Complete collection of all the information about Basement Floor One, Records Archives.]
I clicked it immediately, and the contents were exactly what you'd expect.
Starting off with a step-by-step explanation of how to enter the Archives, it then went on to disclose the fact that monsters from all different floors—including Guardians of the Rift—could spawn there and took things a step further by revealing the existence of mutant monsters. Most importantly, it mentioned that Bjorn Yandel had obtained two single-digit Numbered Items down there.
In short, the post contained a concise summary of everything I had just said at the Round Table.
And the author of this post was someone I had never seen before—BFKILLER.
It's definitely a member of the Round Table...
But who? There were ten members including me, so it was impossible to pinpoint who it might be.
I shared these pieces of information specifically so that they could spread them, so it's not like this is a bad thing...
But I didn't expect anyone would go quite so public.
Shaaa!
The Round Table's jewel glowed green with the light of truth. It even seemed a little brighter than usual for some reason.
"Then why..." I heard someone ask faintly at the sight, almost as if possessed. I turned in the direction of the voice to find that the speaker was Deer. "Lion," he pleaded. "Why did you tell us this?"
As someone from the palace, as someone who was used to the political power struggles and machinations of the royal court, it was only natural that Deer would be wondering what my angle was. Lion, this powerful, mysterious man in a mask, had declared he wasn't on anyone's side. So why did he do something that many would argue flouted the will of the royal family?
Lion's answer to that question was simple.
As always.
Tap, tap.
I tapped my fingers against my armrest twice before opening my mouth to speak.
"Because it..."
As always...
"...seemed like it would be fun."
That should be more than enough.
***
After that, the Round Table ended without further incident, but I had no complaints.
I had succeeded in relaying just how great of a hunting ground Basement Floor One was, and it seemed the others were also running out of information to share anyway.
It doesn't seem like a bad idea to end on that note.
And so, I coolly excused myself and left.
Yeah, if I try and get another round going, it'll just get annoying.
Once I was back in Hansu Lee's room, I laid down on the bed and loafed around for a few minutes before getting back on the computer to do some more scrolling. It was a touch ironic, but the message board on my screen right now was my sole window to the outside world.
"Hehehe... Pfft, this guy, really..."
Oof, this was hurting my pride a little. Why were these pricks so funny?
As I browsed through the posts, snickering to myself, I noticed a new post rise to the top of the pinned section as the page refreshed.
[Complete collection of all the information about Basement Floor One, Records Archives.]
I clicked it immediately, and the contents were exactly what you'd expect.
Starting off with a step-by-step explanation of how to enter the Archives, it then went on to disclose the fact that monsters from all different floors—including Guardians of the Rift—could spawn there and took things a step further by revealing the existence of mutant monsters. Most importantly, it mentioned that Bjorn Yandel had obtained two single-digit Numbered Items down there.
In short, the post contained a concise summary of everything I had just said at the Round Table.
And the author of this post was someone I had never seen before—BFKILLER.
It's definitely a member of the Round Table...
But who? There were ten members including me, so it was impossible to pinpoint who it might be.
I shared these pieces of information specifically so that they could spread them, so it's not like this is a bad thing...
But I didn't expect anyone would go quite so public.
This was completely different from what I had been anticipating, which was that those with good information networks would hear the news first, and then it'd trickle down to the rest of the masses the month after.
Well, even though we come together every month, we all have our own loyalties and individual agendas.
It wouldn't be far-fetched to assume that someone in our group of ten had wanted this information to spread as quickly as possible for some reason. In any case, that wasn't what mattered.
I quickly scrolled down to the comment section. Most of the earlier comments, the ones left before the post blew up, questioned its credibility.
YPPL: Wow. Just become an author at this rate.
goooooooooodd2: Someone's desperate to go viral.
q1q2q3: So where is the proof? Who's going to believe you if you're not willing to put out? These claims are baseless.
The users deemed it clickbait and mocked the author accordingly.
However, over time, those reactions gradually phased out.
Amer91: I'll need to drop by Sculpture Temple next month. I have a feeling the suckers who fall for this will be having a picnic there.
└AI_DIDIGO: Fact 1: That the Unnamed Fragments are the key to opening Basement Floor One is something the palace and many larger clans have already been made aware of.
└ScottBANE: wow, for real, sir DIDIGO?
└Adi: Wait, if they're right about how to get in, then isn't there a possibility that everything else this guy said is true too?
└Amer91: No, that's unlikely... I think they're just trying to get engagement by sharing one real piece of information to cover for the rest.
└Adi: No, think about it. If they just wanted engagement, why would they reveal so much extra information no one else was aware of? They could've just told us how to open the portal and that would've been more than enough to go viral.
└ScottBANE: also, the more I think about it, the more plausible this post gets. at least one of the people on basement floor one right now has to be a player, and it makes sense that they'd share information about what's going on down there via GB.
From there, users who already knew the method for opening the portal began to chime in with comments of their own, and public perception slowly began to shift away from it being a simple troll post to a somewhat believable one.
All right, at this rate, the news should reach the city in—huh?
As I continued to scroll, feeling pleased with myself, a certain thread caught my eye and stopped me in my tracks.
Pnec: You idiots. Someone is trying to spoon-feed you information and you can't even take it.
└bigD: what do you mean?
└Bling0_0: This guy's always trolling. Ignore him.
└Pnec: Yeah, I was waiting for you to show up, asshole. You don't know what you're talking about.
Ah, these guys were fighting in the comments again. At this point, these were familiar nicknames to me, so I decided to scroll through the rest of their conversation.
└Bling0_0: Hm? I don't know what I'm talking about, huh? Well I know that you're the 1 incher with a 1KB brain, so.
└Pnec: More proof you're talking out of your ass. Tsk tsk. Whether you trust this post or not, it's the truth.
└Bling0_0: ...and how are you so sure?
└Pnec: Because I heard this same information from someone credible not too long ago. And if you dare try to insult that person too, I'll come find you and kill you.
Huh?
Not too long ago?
Is this guy a member of the Round Table too?
Just as the theory crossed my mind, something strange happened.
└bigD: what do you mean?
└(Deleted Message.)
└Pnec: Yeah, I was waiting for you to show up, asshole. You don't know what you're talking about.
└(Deleted Message.)
└Pnec: More proof you're talking out of your ass. Tsk tsk. Whether you trust this post or not, it's the truth.
└(Deleted Message.)
└Pnec: Because I heard this same information from someone credible not too long ago. And if you dare try to insult that person too, I'll come find you and kill you.
For some reason, the user by the name of Bling0_0 had deleted all their messages and disappeared.
This was completely different from what I had been anticipating, which was that those with good information networks would hear the news first, and then it'd trickle down to the rest of the masses the month after.
Well, even though we come together every month, we all have our own loyalties and individual agendas.
It wouldn't be far-fetched to assume that someone in our group of ten had wanted this information to spread as quickly as possible for some reason. In any case, that wasn't what mattered.
I quickly scrolled down to the comment section. Most of the earlier comments, the ones left before the post blew up, questioned its credibility.
YPPL: Wow. Just become an author at this rate.
goooooooooodd2: Someone's desperate to go viral.
q1q2q3: So where is the proof? Who's going to believe you if you're not willing to put out? These claims are baseless.
The users deemed it clickbait and mocked the author accordingly.
However, over time, those reactions gradually phased out.
Amer91: I'll need to drop by Sculpture Temple next month. I have a feeling the suckers who fall for this will be having a picnic there.
└AI_DIDIGO: Fact 1: That the Unnamed Fragments are the key to opening Basement Floor One is something the palace and many larger clans have already been made aware of.
└ScottBANE: wow, for real, sir DIDIGO?
└Adi: Wait, if they're right about how to get in, then isn't there a possibility that everything else this guy said is true too?
└Amer91: No, that's unlikely... I think they're just trying to get engagement by sharing one real piece of information to cover for the rest.
└Adi: No, think about it. If they just wanted engagement, why would they reveal so much extra information no one else was aware of? They could've just told us how to open the portal and that would've been more than enough to go viral.
└ScottBANE: also, the more I think about it, the more plausible this post gets. at least one of the people on basement floor one right now has to be a player, and it makes sense that they'd share information about what's going on down there via GB.
From there, users who already knew the method for opening the portal began to chime in with comments of their own, and public perception slowly began to shift away from it being a simple troll post to a somewhat believable one.
All right, at this rate, the news should reach the city in—huh?
As I continued to scroll, feeling pleased with myself, a certain thread caught my eye and stopped me in my tracks.
Pnec: You idiots. Someone is trying to spoon-feed you information and you can't even take it.
└bigD: what do you mean?
└Bling0_0: This guy's always trolling. Ignore him.
└Pnec: Yeah, I was waiting for you to show up, asshole. You don't know what you're talking about.
Ah, these guys were fighting in the comments again. At this point, these were familiar nicknames to me, so I decided to scroll through the rest of their conversation.
└Bling0_0: Hm? I don't know what I'm talking about, huh? Well I know that you're the 1 incher with a 1KB brain, so.
└Pnec: More proof you're talking out of your ass. Tsk tsk. Whether you trust this post or not, it's the truth.
└Bling0_0: ...and how are you so sure?
└Pnec: Because I heard this same information from someone credible not too long ago. And if you dare try to insult that person too, I'll come find you and kill you.
Huh?
Not too long ago?
Is this guy a member of the Round Table too?
Just as the theory crossed my mind, something strange happened.
└bigD: what do you mean?
└(Deleted Message.)
└Pnec: Yeah, I was waiting for you to show up, asshole. You don't know what you're talking about.
└(Deleted Message.)
└Pnec: More proof you're talking out of your ass. Tsk tsk. Whether you trust this post or not, it's the truth.
└(Deleted Message.)
└Pnec: Because I heard this same information from someone credible not too long ago. And if you dare try to insult that person too, I'll come find you and kill you.
For some reason, the user by the name of Bling0_0 had deleted all their messages and disappeared.