Chapter 357. The Grand Downfall of Cheonha Tongil
Within the nation, his prestige was enough to fell birds from the sky. Especially after Juseok and Jianwei pledged their unwavering loyalty to Ryu Ojuncheon, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that all of China's billions spun solely for one man. And it was the same now.
"Deliver the situation to the lord...!"
The fall of the Cheonha Tongil branches. At least one survivor had to escape and report this to the lord. Their target was clearly the Five Stars, but...
For them to set foot on Chinese soil just to catch the Five Stars?
A rough calculation on a calculator would show it didn't add up. But then, before the man's eyes unfolded an unbelievable sight.
Thud—
Early 400s level. Not top rankers, but still high-level Cheonha Tongil combatants fell helplessly one by one.
It wasn't a skill or magic.
"What a hassle."
A motion that showed no sign of effort.
Swish—
Just a swing of the sword.
The man trembled as he asked, "Wh-what the hell are you doing this for...?"
A dry response came from Kinber's direction.
"I've heard that line too many times. I'm sick of it."
"...You're definitely Supernova Kinber?"
"Supernova, Kenber, trash. Call me whatever. How about trying something different this time? We had to raid all the way to Shanghai because of you lot. Wouldn't it be better for everyone if you spilled it now?"
"......"
Brainwashing has occurred.
Blatant blackmail. Yet the man shut his mouth. No, he had no choice but to. His loyalty to Ryu Ojuncheon wouldn't allow submission to an enemy.
Of course.
It wasn't voluntary loyalty.
But when he shut his mouth again this time, Elcidoir grew curious.
"Fascinating. For trash, your lips are sealed tighter than they should be. Does that mean the leader's at least somewhat useful? Like that adventurer saying—green tea in a trash can or something?"
......Green tea out of nowhere? What weird metaphor is that?
Kinber shot Elcidoir a sullen glance. Elcidoir corrected himself.
"Ah, not just green tea—a green tea teabag."
Was that serious nonsense, not a joke?
Who in the Golden Palace taught you what, exactly?
Kinber felt a moment of bafflement but let it slide. Cheonha Tongil was bloated beyond reason, and it'd already been over an hour raiding just a few branches.
We can't afford to be exposed either.
He didn't know why this mad blood elf saw potential in him and teamed up, but Kinber never forgot his own precarious position.
Both of us have seriously shady backsides.
Kinber. A player infamous enough to be recognized by face alone.
Elcidoir too—his slaughter of Rackid had been broadcast worldwide. Birds of a feather.
And what they were doing now? Hardly normal.
Bold as day, repeated intrusions into Cheonha Tongil branches. Leaving seas of blood everywhere they went.
Elcidoir raised his sword and said, "Half-killing them won't loosen tongues, huh."
Knowing that, Kinber had persuaded Elcidoir. Sorting the entire guild like they did the supernovas might backfire.
—"We're killing them all anyway. How could there be backlash?"
Elcidoir still didn't get it but relented. He'd acknowledged there might be adventurer-world logic beyond his view.
"St-stop! No matter how much you torture me...!!"
Stab!
Kinber silently watched the screaming man. They'd gone easy so far, half-killing at most.
But as said, time was short now.
They're bound to get suspicious soon.
He had to beat the Five Stars' whereabouts out of him, even to the brink of death. And Ryu Ojuncheon's location, who ordered it.
"I'll let you live in agony."
From Elcidoir's differing perspective, his torture was gruesome in a word. Even Kinber, hardened by infamy, grimaced.
But thanks to it.
"......!"
The extreme pain shattered the lingering loyalty in the man's mind.
Brainwashing has been lifted.
No, it was enough to make him forget Ryu Ojuncheon's machinations.
"I-I'll talk. The Five Stars and Ryu Ojuncheon's whereabouts...! Shanghai, a hotel a few blocks from here. The general assembly's renting the whole place."
Cheonha Tongil's general assembly. Fortunately in the same area, Shanghai.
The man spat blood, barely continuing. "Guh... But he might've bolted by now. Paranoid bastard. He even brainwashed me, who swore true loyalty."
Only then did Kinber understand.
If it's a status abnormality, it makes sense.
The Cheonha Tongil members' refusal to spill, even half-dead.
Elcidoir's lips curled coldly.
"Brainwashing. Fittingly trashy method."
Elcidoir's skill was sword-sharp. The man passed out right after speaking.
Kinber said nothing, immediately activating Stealth.
Elcidoir melted into nature too.
With the location pinned, no more words needed between them.
Just one thing to confirm.
"Six necks to sever is enough, pointy-ears."
Ryu Ojuncheon and the Five Stars—six total. Cheonha Tongil was built on the monarch's brainwashing. Without him, it'd crumble like a sandcastle, no revenge dreamed.
Elcidoir snorted.
"I know, trash. More's wasteful. Quick and clean."
He glanced at the blazing sun, adding, "Time to water the flower garden soon."
*
Beeeep—!
A blaring siren echoed through the hotel. Fire alarm at first, but no.
The manager sprinted down the hall, breathless, bowing to a Cheonha Tongil member.
"Fire alarm during the general assembly? I can see how the lord views you lot. Shame. These beds were pretty comfy."
"Apologies! But it's not a fire!"
"...Not a fire?"
Beeeep—!
Ear-piercing noise—had to be that. Or...?
The woman drew an iron mace from her inventory.
"Then it must be a rift!"
"Regrettably, not that either...!"
"What?"
Not fire or rift, yet this racket. Beyond the woman's common sense.
A revolt targeting the assembly? It crossed her mind, but...
Daring against the lord?
No one in Cheonha Tongil had guts that big.
Besides, what was the lord? Flawless, spotting and expelling traitors instantly.
But truth always exceeds imagination.
What awaited her was unbelievable reality.
Static—
"......!"
Radio crackle.
-"In-intruders...!!"
Yes, someone had raided the general assembly hall.
"Which bastards."
Cheonha Tongil's home base attacked.
The woman paled, relaying to the hotel manager. Above all, inform the lord swiftly.
"You—report this to the lord."
"Understood."
"I need to crush these arrogant fucks."
Tat-tat-tat!
The fleeing manager suddenly asked from behind.
"B-but where is the lord...?"
"......!"
She flinched. Her mission: support the assembly's success.
Yet she didn't know the lord's location.
Not her fault, of course.
...He never told us in the first place.
Ryu Ojuncheon didn't trust even brainwashed underlings.
Upstairs? Down? Or even in the hotel?
Wait a sec...
The alarm had sounded long ago.
Did the lord know everything from the start?
If so, why no action, no support...?
Brainwashing has occurred.
Doubts vanished from her mind, blind loyalty surging.
She barked at the manager. Up or down?
"Up or down—find him and report!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
The manager climbed the grand central stairs.
Soon, like her.
Those driven by loyalty-wrapped brainwashing gathered.
Their sole goal: execute the assembly's saboteurs.
Why no action from their lord? No questions asked—they met the intruders.
At the same time.
"......"
Hotel basement, restricted area.
Ryu Ojuncheon and the Five Stars watched monitors.
Ryu Ojuncheon had grasped the situation early.
Guangzhou, Tianjin, Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai.
Wall-filling monitors ran CCTV unknown even to branch heads or executives.
"Quick."
Thus, from Guangzhou's fall—he'd watched it all.
But as seen, just watched.
Elcidoir. Elf's absolute might.
Mental fortitude shrugging off most status ailments.
Cold ruthlessness immune to vague emotions.
In some ways, more dangerous to me than Lee Hoyeol.
No means in Cheonha Tongil to stop that blood elf now.
There, Ryu Ojuncheon admitted his blunder.
Was that a mistake?
Perfect isolation. AAU withdrawal severed ties with the world.
Now, crying foul with footage? Only mockery awaits.
So Ryu Ojuncheon spoke.
"Delete all records related to them."
"!"
The analyst flinched at the console.
Knew better than to question the lord, but...
Th-this is evidence, lord...!!
Sole proof great Cheonha Tongil suffered vile ambush, massive losses.
Yet defy the lord and Five Stars glaring?
Impossible.
"......As you command."
Click—
[Delete]
Monitors blackened rapidly.
CCTV fully reset.
In the dimmed glow, amid darkness, Ryu Ojuncheon murmured.
"Guild with no excuses—Cheonha Tongil's grand downfall."
Yet I, Ryu Ojuncheon, this seat has not fallen.
Merely hastened. Methods changed, that's all.
"Time to raise the new curtain."
Yes, from this assembly's survivors: only him and the Five Stars.
Ryu Ojuncheon's sinister voice echoed.
"Open guild management system."
System only guild master activates.
Message before Ryu Ojuncheon's eyes.
Top guild Cheonha Tongil—myriad functions active.
2. Guild Skills
3. Member Management...
But Ryu Ojuncheon's gaze fixed on one spot.
Sufficient prestige.
Condition met long ago.
Just too many to share merits with.
Needed to cut numbers.
But now, no.
He eyed the Five Stars.
"I can gladly yield to you."
Then activated the monarch's unique skill.
Manifesto of Expedition has been activated.
Guild 'Cheonha Tongil' has declared nationhood.
🎁 Titles distributed by prestige contribution.
📍 Five Counts elected.
......
Ryu Ojuncheon stared at the scrolling messages.
No one else can know.
Only Monarchs recognize Monarch.
This nationhood message visible only to those with monarch qualities—i.e., Monarch class.
Only Monarch among players is me.
Yusra's king Hakuna was one, but Arcana native.
Couldn't witness messages.
Thus, amid downfall, Ryu Ojuncheon harbored venom, not sorrow.
I'll build strength in the shadows, Lee Hoyeol.
Finally, backdrop for Tyrant class: a nation.
Old homeland China? Unneeded.
Cheonha Tongil, mere guild? Same.
Ryu Ojuncheon said coldly.
"Erase every system and datum without trace."
"......Yes, lord."
China, subjugated by Cheonha Tongil, lost nation functions.
Deleting its systems...
Aftermath from rift collapses onward.
The people won't endure.
Analyst's fingers shook—fleetingly.
[Delete]
Whirr—
Six login devices hummed soon after.
Ryu Ojuncheon and Five Stars.
Entered Arcana continent.
Abandoning Cheonha Tongil and homeland.
......
Sudden message.
Guild 'Cheonha Tongil' has declared nationhood.
🎁 Titles distributed by prestige contribution.
📍 Five Counts elected.
......
One thought arose seeing it.
The great Claudy house surpassing even empires, the Four Families...?
This nuance—too similar!
I flinched.
......Ryu Ojuncheon, middle school syndrome hitting you now?
"How pitiable."