The Gathering Storm
The automatic doors slid open, and the group emerged one by one. Leading them was Jiyoung, followed by nearly twenty guild members.
"Master, why did you summon us?"
"Why are you speaking so sharply to your master?"
"I don't have time for Seon magic training. You wouldn't understand."
"Hmph, you were jumping for joy when Master called, and now you're pretending otherwise... Mmph!"
"What did you just say?!"
Ping Lei clamped a hand over Jiyoung's mouth in a panic.
Since when were you two so close?
"Ow! Aaaah! Don't bite me!"
"Who told you to say that?"
The two bickered back and forth.
"Perhaps you should show some restraint in front of the Guild Master."
Thomas the analyst stepped in to mediate.
I let out a long sigh.
"Thank you for putting up with these kids."
"They followed the training regimen well enough. In fact, their competitive spirit made the sessions more effective."
Right.
I gave a dry laugh. Regardless of results, it must have been exhausting to keep those two at each other's throats.
The two Rankers, the Muguk team, and the Yellow Storm team filed out next. A familiar woman followed behind them.
Hold on.
"Ellen Taylor?"
"Calling me like we're strangers now? Or has it just been that long since we last met?"
I had only asked her to act as a middleman between Yeokcheon Guild and the Black Network. Why had she come all the way here?
"You look like you have a lot to say."
"Why are you here?"
"It seemed like something interesting was happening."
Ellen walked over and casually slung an arm around my shoulder. The distance between us had shrunk noticeably—close enough that I could hear her breathing—but not a single gram of excitement stirred in me. This girl would never approach someone for normal reasons.
"Calling all your guild members here has something to do with Rene Davis, doesn't it?"
"You came in person just to confirm that?"
"Yeah. Sounds fun. A matter involving Europe's strongest player?"
Ellen grinned from ear to ear. Her mind was probably filled with nothing but the thought of fighting Rene Davis.
-Hohoho, this is a good thing for you, is it not?
I couldn't deny it. Ellen and the Golden Circle were one of the strongest teams in the world. They had walked into this bloodbath of their own accord without even being asked. They would become powerful reinforcements in the coming battle against Rene Davis.
"Let's move somewhere else to talk."
"Got it."
Ellen didn't bother hiding her excitement.
...It's good that our forces have been bolstered, but is this really okay?
A five-star hotel in northern Algiers, the capital of Algeria. Beyond the windows stretched a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea.
"Wooow, Master! This place is amazing!"
"We're not here to play around, so don't get too excited."
-Truly a beautiful sight!
"...Could you at least listen when people are talking, Goddess?"
Even booking too nice a place could be a problem. I had reserved the entire hotel business convention hall to coincide with the group's arrival. I had the Black Network sweep the place for listening devices, then layered three separate soundproofing and detection-blocking spells over everything.
"Thank you all for coming."
"If it's a request from our junior, of course we'd come."
"We're Yeokcheon Guild members. We follow the Guild Master's orders."
The other members nodded in agreement with the two Rankers.
"Then I'll explain what happened over the past few days."
I gave a concise summary of the war that had unfolded in Algeria—the human sacrifices, the transmutation arrays, the traces of the Klyphoth faction scattered throughout the country, and finally the bloody battle in the Sahara Desert.
Thomas the analyst looked horrified.
"They can convert locals into Klyphoth followers?"
"According to the interrogation, they undergo something called a baptismal rite."
"That's hard to believe. Is it possible even for civilians?"
"Yes. It seems that's how they rapidly expanded their forces."
The Klyphoth baptism. Even those who hadn't received an invitation from the Tower—non-awakened individuals—could awaken power through the rite. The scale of power depended on the size of one's soul, but even a mere [Branch]-grade baptism granted strength comparable to a Silver-rank player. The cost-performance ratio was excellent.
"Not everyone succeeds, though. If they can't withstand the power during the baptism, they die."
This wasn't information gained from interrogation. It was knowledge from my previous life. The baptism wasn't omnipotent. It required various jewels and living sacrifices to heighten mana sensitivity. The sacrifices didn't have to be human—animals could substitute—but if the soul was crushed while receiving power from the otherworld, the person would transform into a monster.
Youngsoo-hyung let out a heavy sigh.
"Why would they go to such lengths...?"
"Because it's a quick way to gain power."
When the age of destruction arrived, far more people had willingly received the Klyphoth baptism. They had pawned their souls, knowing full well they might turn into monsters during the process, all for greater power. Just to survive.
-Partner, calm your heart.
Nyx's single remark quelled the rising emotions within me. I exhaled a short breath and looked over the group.
"Master, the reason you called us here means it's not over yet, right?"
"That's right. You said you'd stay by my side back then."
It was what Jiyoung had said before we left Korea. Yeokcheon Guild was no longer a group I had to protect alone. They were top-tier players who had made names for themselves even in my previous life. By drawing out their latent potential, they were all growing several stages faster than before the regression.
"I called everyone because this is an enemy I can't handle alone."
"Then, junior, can you tell us who that enemy is?"
Here it comes.
I glanced at Ellen.
"That favor I asked for last time."
"My mouth's been itching to spill it. Listen carefully."
Crack!
When Ellen snapped her fingers, a face appeared on the monitor.
"A few days ago, Mr. Yu made a request."
"Does that request involve Rene Davis?"
Hong Yunsu pointed at the monitor with a puzzled expression.
"That's right. He asked me to investigate the Ranker who represents France."
The guild members couldn't hide their bewilderment. After hearing about the remnants of Klyphoth, the name of France's top player suddenly appearing was enough to cause confusion.
"So, what were the results?"
"Coincidentally, his external activities have decreased significantly since the time Mr. Yu asked for the investigation."
Ellen summarized Rene Davis's activities over the past six months. His activity level had dropped noticeably in the last two weeks. After clearing the gate that opened in Nice, the entire guild seemed to have entered a period of stagnation, with no tower climbs or gate closures.
"Upon further investigation, I found that the number of guild members has also decreased."
"That makes sense. He deployed his guild members to Algeria."
"What's your basis for that judgment, Mr. Yu?"
"It's right here."
I pulled the Pin Fang from the Pocket of Desire. Ellen frowned.
"That's Nadia Cassel's signature weapon."
"Is there more definitive evidence?"
"It seems Nadia Cassel was defeated by you, Mr. Yu."
I nodded.
"That's a shame. She was someone I really wanted to fight."
"I'll grant that wish someday."
"What, do you have necromancer skills too?"
Raise Dead. I had obtained necromancy-related skills after devouring the essence of the Moon Priest, so it wasn't entirely wrong. Though what I was planning was in a slightly different direction.
"That means the damage they suffered in Algeria was that severe."
"Oh, and speaking of which, Rene Davis recently resumed activity."
"How long ago?"
"About three days."
"That wouldn't be enough to recover from the losses."
I stroked my chin. The losses the Klyphoth forces had suffered in Algeria were enormous. Most of the Klyphoth followers who had crossed over through gates opened around the world had died. The ethnic liberation front and Islamic extremist remnants they had recruited through baptism had also lost their power. The Black Network was still hunting down the scattered extremists in the shadows. Annihilating them was only a matter of time.
And that wasn't all. Including Nadia Cassel, Rene Davis's right hand, many guild members had fallen in the Sahara Desert. Now was the time to focus on internal consolidation. They would know that the Black Network was targeting Rene Davis. The fact that he was confidently stepping forward in this situation meant he had a trump card.
"All the better."
Whatever schemes he had, I would find out by clashing with him directly.
"Have you shared the current situation with Guild Master Rockefeller?"
"Not yet. It was your request, after all."
"From now on, things are going to escalate, so give him a heads-up."
"Master will be delighted."
Ellen smirked. A scandal involving Rene Davis, the Ranker whose fame spanned all of Europe beyond France—the strongest player in Europe at this point. Rockefeller would maximize the value of this information. In my previous life, he had been a fierce rival until the eve of the age of destruction, but in this life, he was an ally. It was our agreement that the world's top guild would be left to Rockefeller.
"What's the price for giving Master this information?"
"Connect him with Dreistrega."
"That's a German guild, isn't it?"
"I believe Guild Master Rockefeller has connections there."
Ellen clicked her tongue.
"I don't know when you investigated that either."
It wasn't investigation. It was knowledge from my previous life. Dreistrega. A guild established by Siemens, which held a dominant position in Germany's shipbuilding industry. Similar to Baekho, a subsidiary of a major Korean conglomerate. In the past, when Rene Davis betrayed humanity and turned France into hell, William Rockefeller had worked with the Dreistrega Guild to block Rene's expansion.
"I'll pass it on to Master."
Ellen accepted my proposal. The bridgehead for an all-out war against Rene Davis had been prepared. One more step. Just one more step forward, and I could eliminate a future source of instability.
"I'm looking forward to it."
I swallowed my laughter.