Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 176
>Chapter Title: The Recruitment Frenzy
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As soon as recruitment began, the city erupted into total chaos.
"Whoa, this is all for the raid party?"
"Insane... How many people is this?"
"Glad I started lining up two hours early. They're swarming in seconds."
"If they'd allowed early lining up, there would've been fights."
Everywhere you looked, it was players and lines.
Not that it was surprising.
This was a chance to join the first clear of a hidden raid boss, after all.
Sure, no one could join the Luidra raid tryout team, but just participating in the raid party brought massive benefits.
"So what? We just mop up trash mobs while sucking our thumbs watching the boss. What's the point?"
"You think there's no point?"
"Participating in the raid party gets it logged in your Adventure Tome, plus you get the clear rewards. No point? Are you an idiot?"
They wouldn't get the boss drops or special perks, but that didn't matter.
The key was sharing the clear quest by joining the raid party.
Even just killing trash mobs counted as participating and earned the quest rewards.
And that was just the start.
It got logged in the Adventure Tome, and they could watch the first raid tryout live.
No way to lose. Pure profit.
"Whoa... For real? We have to join, right?"
"That's why the line's about to snap, man. Damn, I should've come sooner... Got held up by urgent business."
That was why crowds surged in like waves the moment recruitment started.
Thousands of players at a glance.
Some tried cutting in line and got into arguments, but those vanished without a trace.
"No cutting in line, as we said."
"...S-Sorry."
Hero Guild executives were monitoring and personally purging anyone causing trouble.
"Man... Acting like a jerk right in front of Hero Guild."
"That's a suicide attempt. Get on their bad side, and even minor villain stuff gets you executed on sight."
No one dared cause a scene in front of Hero Guild executives, the authorities on villain suppression.
Thanks to that, recruitment wrapped up quickly.
"100 people... Alright, recruitment's over. Sorry, but it's first-come, first-served. Everyone else, head back."
"Ah... I'm right next in line. Can't you make an exception?"
"No, we can't. Max raid party size is 100."
"Damn it! I waited an hour from now! What the hell, it ends in under five minutes?"
"Who are you to complain about only an hour? I've been waiting over two, punk!"
The recruiter stuffed the papers away and spoke, unleashing groans from all sides.
Everyone had waited at least an hour, some over two.
After all that empty waiting, it ending in five minutes left a huge sense of loss.
A coup wouldn't have been surprising.
"Sigh... This is why I didn't want to accept just anyone."
"Exactly. Show a little kindness, and they act entitled. Who do they think they are, raising their voices?"
"Yeah. Guild Master must have her reasons. She's never wrong about this stuff."
This was the problem with offering benefits to everyone without limits.
People acting like they were owed it, raising their voices like hired help.
"Move it."
Then a man suddenly pushed through.
"Who said— Gah! Jerpak sir."
"Why handle this yourselves when you left it to us..."
The guild members running recruitment frowned at the intruder, then deeply bowed upon recognizing him.
He was the man who'd been standing at the back, arms crossed, watching quietly.
"Tch, whatever. Let's wrap this up and go. It's important business."
He looked like a plain, pot-bellied middle-aged guy you could see anywhere.
But at his appearance, everyone instantly shut up.
Recruiters and those still in line alike.
Sure, some might wonder why over a pot-bellied uncle.
But this was Godose.
You couldn't judge by appearances.
'Pot-bellied uncle is actually a monster!?' was the charm of VR games.
"Whoa... That's Jerpak?"
"The super rookie who took the elite path and became an executive in six months."
"First time seeing him in person."
"Plain-looking, but he has this aura."
Jerpak was a prime example.
Jerpak. 38-year-old uncle player.
Unlike a typical Lynzer user, he had killer control skills, and he was counted among Pratel's top 10 in combat power.
At least here, few players could beat him one-on-one.
"Jerpak..."
"...Damn."
Players tensed up and straightened at his appearance.
Even the grumblers muttered to themselves instead of speaking up.
Jerpak wasn't the only issue.
He alone exuded massive pressure, but the executives approaching behind him were all top-tier players too.
Now that a conversational atmosphere formed, Jerpak activated his megaphone item.
"Alright, just to remind you, we announced that troublemakers become purge targets, right?"
"..."
"We made a social contract. We offer benefits to everyone without conditions, but in return, no causing harm. Right?"
"...Fuck."
It meant they had the justification, so touch them and get PK'd mercilessly.
With the prior notice and social contract, who could complain about PKing troublemakers?
Especially now, after letting people join a first hidden raid boss?
Even ruthless executions would have public opinion on Hero Guild's side.
"I'm out."
"Whatever, bad luck."
"Too dirty, I'm gone."
They grumbled without meeting eyes as they retreated, only chattering once out of sight.
Others watched them like a fire across the river.
"Whoa... Coming early was the best decision."
"Freaked out when they said only 10 spots left. I was right up front."
"That guy who got kicked was originally first. Guess he got an urgent poop alert."
"What luck, kek."
They'd made it into the 100-person raid party.
"Hero Guild really is a top 100 guild. No one dares make a peep."
"No top 10 guild's stepping up in this situation anyway. They're like fish in water. Honestly, Hero Guild's strong in PK anyway."
They just felt proud, their overall energy sky-high.
Then one player spoke up as if it just hit him.
"But where's Kaiser?"
"Why bring up Kaiser? You think he'd join something like this?"
"It's the first hidden raid boss. Even Kaiser might be tempted, right?"
The rebutting player paused, then nodded.
"Well... Yeah, fair point. Anyone can apply since the conditions are open."
Even a regular raid boss would cause a stir, but this was a hidden one.
As Pratel's first discovered boss, showing interest wasn't weird.
Others seemed to think the same.
"Right? I immediately thought of Kaiser when I saw 'anyone.' If he joins the raid party, it'd break the balance. Feels like he'd snag all the points."
"You think? I bet it'd be fun. When else do you fight alongside Kaiser?"
"Huh, true when you put it like that."
As Kaiser talk spread one by one, most of the raid party joined in.
"What’s Kaiser up to? Haven't seen him all day."
"Rumors say he's doing the main quest... Did he find something better than Luidra?"
"Nah, probably just not interested in side gigs. Hero Guild's got beef with Kaiser anyway—would they let him in the tryout team?"
"Maybe."
They were chattering wildly about Kaiser's whereabouts when...
Jerpak finished handling the back and strolled over with the executives, activating his megaphone.
"Ahem, sorry. The disturbance delayed us a bit."
"No problem!"
Players instantly stopped chatting and shouted back energetically.
Some pumped with expectations, others drilled with discipline.
And those just going with the flow.
Maybe because of the recent show of force—the mood wasn't bad.
"Hm. Good. Exactly 100. So... Everyone ready?"
"Yes!!"
Jerpak nodded in satisfaction.
"Alright, let's move out. Follow closely."
"Waaaaah!!!"
Thunderous cheers erupted.
Jerpak grinned at the 100-strong roar and turned sharply.
Thus, the Luidra raid party set off.
[Hero Guild assembles Pratel's first hidden raid boss raid party!]
[Now confirmed heading out for Luidra clear...]
-Wow, they actually recruited a raid party. So jealous...
-Just graduated a week ago, why now!!! Dying of injustice fr.
-Live stream on? You on?
-Yo, it's on! Everyone hop in!
Portals and Godose communities exploded simultaneously.
It was inevitable.
-What? Hidden raid boss? Pratel has one?
-First discovery?
-1 year 7 months in, and first?
-Damn... Berze did it.
-Old timers hearing now after the notice hours ago lololol dumbasses.
-Graduated Pratel ages ago, just spectating, but they start the clear 2 hours after notice. What drive129. Real man fr.
└Called him a galge simp, now he's mad kekeke
└This time real man agreed kekeke
1 year and 7 months since Godose launched.
The "first" title carried massive impact. And not some lame first—this was first hidden raid boss.
No dragging feet—they jumped straight into the clear, leaving reporters scrambling to post articles.
And more.
Jerpak went all-in and started a live broadcast too.
[Viewers: 345,113]
-Viewers spiking lololol
-Chat's invisible. No manager? Moderate the chat ffs.
-Ah, refreshing adds 10k each time, you think they can manage~
-Just freeze it already ffs
-Damn, first hidden raid boss title slaps. Look at foreigners pouring in.
Hadn't even entered the raid yet, but viewers surged to near 350k.
Hero Guild's best climb since founding.
"Heh heh heh..."
And one man was happiest about the surge.
A man in his office, shoulders shaking as he checked real-time reactions.
"Huhuhu... Hahaha!"
Hero Guild Master Berze.