Chapter 206
Chapter 206
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 206
>Chapter Title: Kaiser's Extermination Notice
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BAM! KWANG!
"Huu... ha. Calm down. You have to stay calm in times like this."
For a moment, he vented his rage from the extreme stress that felt like it would split his head open.
Having hastily canceled the meeting, Berze sat in front of his half-destroyed desk and calmly monitored public opinion.
Mockery toward Leon, mockery toward himself.
Finger-pointing at the guild, praise for Kaiser, incredulous remarks, and so on.
'...This isn't good.'
No matter how positively he tried to spin it, it wasn't good.
Hero Guild's image was in the gutter, and Leon was practically incapacitated for at least a few months.
In contrast, Kaiser's position had risen even higher.
[Aison's disciple offer to Kaiser sparks controversy...]
["Enhancement is just a hobby. No serious plans yet. I just responded to the provocation." Everyone faints at Kaiser's reply]
["Come find me anytime you change your mind" – Master of masters Aison leaves the door open despite rejection, becoming a hot topic. Just how talented is he!?]
[Artisan Leon – lacking in aptitude? Or is Kaiser just that exceptional?]
But among all this, the one that soured his mood the most was this.
-Hobby lololol Ironclad defense fr.
-Aison gets the iron wall treatment too, aaah, is he Casin?
-??: Me? I'm the guy who enhances as a hobby!
-Leon got his soul ripped out by a hobby enhancer, explain yourself lololol
-Hero Guild never spots a decent one. Getting dunked on by Kaiser all day lololol What do we do with our otome gay.
"Hobby? A hobby?"
He didn't know what trick Kaiser had pulled, but he'd been thoroughly played.
Causing this mess and then calling it a hobby.
This wasn't just trampling on an artisan's pride—it crushed the pride of Hero Guild, to which the artisan belonged.
Having taken a solid hit, Berze ran his hands through his hair.
Then he dry-washed his face and glared.
"...I've been too lax."
Had to watch out for Babylon's reaction, so no choice?
It'd clear out on its own in a week anyway, so catching him later wouldn't be too late?
'With that mindset, what did you think you'd accomplish?'
Thinking it was a fish already hooked, he'd moved too safely.
What kind of guy was Kaiser, that bastard?
Every time he laid out a perfect plan, some weird variable popped in and ruined it.
Last time, Babylon's protection. This time, enhancement.
What next? What else would block his path this time?
-War, Master. Crush him before he grows more. No, not even war. Execute the extermination right now. Without mercy, thoroughly!
The vice master's words were right.
"No more time to give him."
With enhancement talent discovered now, who knew what else might turn up.
Fortunately, he'd kicked away the disciple spot under Master Aison, but he could catch some other NPC's eye anytime.
Top 10 Guilds and users wouldn't interfere, but the moment a high-authority NPC stepped in, the plan would go up in smoke.
"Mr. Shin."
-Yes, yes, Master!
Berze spat out his words like chewing nails at the stiffly disciplined response from the communication orb.
"Post the notice."
-Notice, sir? What kind...
"The official guild notice declaring war on Kaiser."
-...The official notice?
Official guild notice.
Exactly as it sounded: publicly announcing the guild's schedule, soliciting opinions, event timings, and more.
But its most representative role was...
'Arsenal Master, I don't know why you're protecting Kaiser, but you won't be able to interfere anymore.'
Putting pressure on other guilds and users: heads up on our schedule, so don't interfere.
So far, interferences had been under the guise of coincidence, but after an official notice? No way.
-Understood. What time?
"Tomorrow, we can assemble the vice master, executives, and elite combatants. Set it for then."
-...Is that okay? What if Babylon interferes?
"Is Babylon a big deal? Look at the mess we're in from tiptoeing around this and that!"
Berze's eyes flashed as he bellowed in a voice like gnashing teeth.
Interfere after an official notice?
He'd already confirmed Babylon had an official event tomorrow night.
Helping in this situation would truly cross the line.
'I held back because I didn't want bad blood with Babylon... but you crossed it first.'
Targeting Top 10 Guilds anyway, Berze had inwardly eyed Babylon's spot.
The Arsenal Master was famous for wealth and connections, nothing more.
Unlike Extermination or Arthur, he'd never shown personal feats of greatness.
'No more hesitation.'
He decided not to care if Babylon took offense.
Crushing Kaiser was priority now.
So he'd think only of that.
"Tomorrow will be his last day. Make sure of it."
-Yes, Master.
Berze cut the communication orb, hurled it roughly, and shot to his feet.
Then he calmly checked his gear.
His equipment looked far different from before. Berze's expression soured at the sight.
'The one regret is my gear stopping at +10... He said he'd enhance it after I got the title, but now this... Tch.'
He'd gotten new gear and sold the old.
Bold choice since Leon was supposed to enhance soon, but now he inwardly regretted it.
Just that much, though. No big deal.
Even with Kaiser's enhancement talent, arming to +11 or higher in three days was tough.
At best, one or two pieces might hit +11.
'The gap's big enough to account for that.'
Above all, the guy was alone.
Even +12 wouldn't change a thing.
This time, Kaiser was a rat in a trap.
No scheme would save him this time...
'...Right?'
Yet why?
In a similar situation to before, he felt inexplicable anxiety, like Pavlov's dog.
His pounding heart wouldn't settle until he dismissed Mr. Shin and posted the notice himself.
* * *
While communities buzzed over the Leon and Kaiser fiasco.
A massive nuke dropped, overshadowing it all.
[Hero Guild Official Notice]
[Kaiser's Scheduled Extermination Execution Notice]
[Recently, Kaiser has repeatedly crossed lines, causing us great damage.
We issued an extermination order, but coincidences with other guilds like Vaina kept delaying... This latest incident harmed our affiliated artisan... the guild... (abridged)
We can no longer stand by. Thus, we post this official extermination notice.
Scheduled for tomorrow—requesting understanding from all, hoping for no mishaps.]
Hero Guild's abrupt official stance.
And it wasn't just the notice.
"Notice, you say? Yes. Everyone knows the recent friction between Kaiser and us."
"This is unequivocally Kaiser's fault. We will never forgive him."
Official footage streamed Berze holding a press conference and interviews.
-Insane...
-This real?
-Charging straight in like this??
Users were naturally stunned.
They'd expected excuses for Leon or the incident, not an outright declaration of war from Berze.
-Here it comes. Big one incoming. How many diapers for today ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Thought Berze was just otome gay, turns out he's a real man;;
-Fr real, he's pissed lololol no takebacks.
-No wonder he's furious lololol Boss stolen, crying already, then his own artisan gets wrecked and excommunicated by the boss stealer.
-Wow... Why does Kaiser suddenly feel like the villain.
Portal sites mocking Hero Guild and Leon vanished; now only articles on Hero Guild drawing swords against Kaiser.
Main banners flipped—huge buzz.
Communities boiled like hot pots.
No surprise: no one left to interfere with the extermination now.
-Babylon can't approach till it's done at least.
-Official notice up—who'd step in lololol Crosses the line for Casinites or Babylon.
-Kaiser's biting off too much. Should lay low, buy time, grow... Tomorrow he'll level 1-2 at best. Done.
-Honestly root for Kaiser but... gotta admit it's over;; No path visible.
-Always hated him anyway. Cocky af ㅉㅉ
From fans to haters, all predicted Kaiser's crushing defeat.
Natural.
No matter how great, Kaiser had just set foot in the Empire.
Hero Guild were extermination pros.
Max level was tough in this game—not all at cap, but top execs usually were.
Berze outgrew even them; no contest.
-Well, who knows. Kaiser suddenly grabs legendary skills/items, +12s everything—maybe he holds?
-That realistic lololol Just accept the L.
-BS no even then he's done.
-Kaiser's skill? Not hopeless. Berze hasn't cleared a single New World zone yet.
-Honestly Berze just connections/popularity carry?
-Otome gay popular with girls = sales, but this hate;; Stick to facts.
-No, guys. Not 1v1, it's extermination. No matter what, he's getting dogpiled to death.
-But what're Casinites doing? Not the type to stay quiet.
-Yeah? Casin the undefeated general, war incarnate—fanatics should've been rioting, but silent.
Not even 1v1—guild vs solo.
No matchup possible.
As they fruitlessly debated combat power, another community raised questions.
-Next door's noisy af.
-Fr lololol What's the point.
-More importantly, anyone know what Kaiser's doing rn?
-Huh? Yeah? Not running... I guess. Anyone seen Kaiser?
The hot potato himself hadn't shown his face.
Charging artisans, 30v1 massacre in Pratel—hiding scared seemed off.
-Maybe playtime ran out again?
-lololol Nah
-That was hilarious tho. Astrang and Berze's dumb faces art.
Suspecting forced logout, then:
-My friend saw him 1-2 hrs ago.
Witness chat drew all eyes.
-Where? Where'd he see?
-Fr? What was he doing?
All focused; reply followed.
-Dunno? Apparently standing blankly in Veron back alley.
-? Veron alley—that card farming spot?
-Yeah. Heard he went nuts over some drop, got dragged off by Charlie. Mouth wrapped in spiderwebs too.
-...?
A chat that was hard to parse.