Chapter 266
Chapter 266
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 266
>Chapter Title: The Pinned Author's Comment
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Chapter 266
>266.
>The author's comment pinned at the top.
>Two images were attached to it.
>A woman in black assassin garb sprawled out dead, her body dissipating into particles, and in the distance, the retreating backs of a single party.
>└? What is this?
>└??
>└Mosaicked woman and... wait, isn't that Kaiser's silhouette from behind?
>└Can't tell for sure from that far... but golden-haired knight and a robe? Looks like his crew.
>└Huh? This real-time? What happened?
>└Seems real-time? South field over there, and comments said Kaiser entered the south field about an hour ago.
>└But what does that have to do with the big explosion? Just looks like a normal group walking away. Did he get a hidden quest from the Emperor or something?
Once people confirmed the identities in the images, their postures shifted.
They instinctively knew this wasn't some mere bait comment if it included real-time photos.
Naturally, analysts emerged to dissect the images, and for the netizen detective squad, a mosaic was no obstacle at all.
- Huh?
>- Hey, hold up.
>- That woman... isn't that Sina?
>- Sina? Blood Slaughter Guild Master?
>- Blue hair, assassin outfit. It's a dead ringer.
They instantly identified the dead woman.
- Nah, blue hair and assassin gear isn't exclusive to Sina. Game's got a billion players; tons of matches if you look. Why would Blood Slaughter's master die there?
>- For real, spreading fake news gets you assassinated.
>- No one to mess with, so they go after Blood Slaughter lololol. She won't learn even after dying like a dog.
>- Old saying in God Ose: don't touch the Emperor, White Tower, or Blood Slaughter.
Of course, some called it overreach, but those opinions were dismissed in seconds.
- Nah nah, I'm wary of Blood Slaughter so I've analyzed her loads. It's Sina. Necklace, ring, hair length, skin tone—all identical. Check this analysis. ...(jpg)
>└Whoa, insane... it's really her.
>└Hold on. Kaiser party plus Sina... coincidence?
>└No way, seriously...?
The analysis, complete with comparison images, incontrovertibly pointed to Sina.
Sina, dead. Kaiser's party, leisurely departing.
A small detail, but the implication was crystal clear.
- Poster: I didn't say a word. No portrait rights violated. I'm out.
The poster vanished after a winking emoticon finale.
Even an idiot could connect the dots now.
- ...Sina lost to Kaiser?
>- Whoa...?
>- For real?
The Top 10 Guilds' unbreakable prestige had cracked for the first time.
Their ironclad fortress had a fissure.
- Damn, this real life?
>- Kaiser > Top 10 Guilds theory proven instantly ㄷㄷ
>- ㅁㅊㄷㅁㅊㄷㅁㅊㄷㅁㅊㄷㅁㅊㄷㅁㅊㄷ
>- Damn, gotta worship him again!
>- Kaiser is a god! Kaiser is a god! Kaiser is a god! Kaiser is a god!
>- ???: Top 10 Guilds? Nothing special.
>- Why join a guild lololol he does it all solo
>- He doesn't join guilds; none are worth joining lololol
The explosive reactions were inevitable.
Comments flooded the post in seconds, spilling over communities, homepages, and portal sites, shocking countless players.
Top 10 Guilds—not even major ones—beaten by a single player? And that player was Kaiser?
[Blood Slaughter Guild Master Sina, the most assassin-like assassin, genius of assassination who terrified all, defeated?]
>[Defeated by Kaiser!? World Quest clear, imperial victories, now Sina? Unprecedented feats draw all eyes...]
>[Kaiser: Where do his limits end!?]
Reporters smelled blood in the water.
Articles proliferated, spreading the news far and wide—straight to the ears of the Top 10 Guilds mid-conference.
"...What? Sina died to Kaiser?"
>"What nonsense is this out of nowhere...!"
>"Shit, what the hell. This is real?"
>"...She lost? Her assassinations trouble even us. Honestly shocking."
From Xiao to Damian, Leon, and even Arthur. All spat out stunned exclamations.
They'd been edged out by Kaiser in the World Quest, but raid clears were team efforts—no direct loss.
But one-on-one?
No excuses. Straight-up defeat.
"Damn that sneaky bitch. Skips the conference to act on her own and causes this mess?"
>"Hmph, told you she wasn't our league. Her specs don't belong with us."
Leon and Xiao, prideful as ever, fumed predictably.
"She's bottom-tier in raw power among us, but her assassinations are legit. You confident you'd survive if she went all-out?"
>"...Fifty-fifty."
Leon clicked his tongue, out of retorts.
Sina hunted superiors. As a non-combat assassin, it was possible.
Undisputed top assassin.
This wasn't her failing.
"Then how do you explain this? Kaiser's on our level now? Guy hasn't even hit max level?"
>"......"
...Which made it even harder to grasp.
Arthur fell silent, watching Xiao frown.
'Unreal parry skills, but that's it. Objectively, he falls short.'
So why did he always pull off the impossible?
Catching the Forgotten King, beating Sina—it was all questionable.
But amid the confusion, one was most baffled.
'...? What's all this about?'
Astrut.
'Caught Sina? That Kaiser punk?'
He'd just sent the alert message, and in that blink, a fierce fight—and victory?
'Absurd.'
Astrut chuckled hollowly, face like a man whose hammer handle snapped.
Knew he was a monster, but this transcended that.
Not even max level, yet growth off the charts.
'...Soon he'll catch up to me too?'
He'd enjoyed being a senior role model here.
That petty joy was vanishing at light speed.
Half anxious, half relieved, Astrut glanced around.
"What bolt from the blue is this...? Sigh, headache."
>"Any reason to wait? Strike now before he grows more, right?"
>"Hold up. Blood Slaughter's quiet; us jumping in looks weird."
>"Ah... yeah."
>"......?"
>"That punk eat something? Why's he acting up?"
All but Harrington—who stared starry-eyed at the ceiling—couldn't hide their bewilderment.
'Damian knew?'
Last glance: a coldly sunken face.
Unreadable as ever.
But Astrut, who'd watched him closely, saw it.
Quiet fury.
'He knew. Got one over on him.'
Damian's fist trembled as their eyes met—not imagination.
Astrut's smug grin made Damian clench unconsciously.
'Damn...'
Nose-blow without lifting a finger?
Mistake to expect that.
Back when they founded the guild, lawless lands meant constant tension.
Letting go, assuming it'd handle itself? Unthinkable then.
'How does he grow like this?'
Dismissed from World Quest rankings, he took first.
Deemed no match for Top 10s, he bagged Sina.
Just a month ago, clashing with 100th guilds; now here. More time? Who knows.
'Strike now. Delay, and no chance.'
Damian's eyes hardened with resolve.
Lion's sharp glint.
Recalling past glories, calming himself—
Ding-
Cheerful alert shattered the tense mood.
Damian froze at the overhead message.
Not just him.
"What?"
>"...No way?"
>"Hah, it came to this?"
Simultaneous messages for all.
Leon incredulous, Arthur intrigued with a subtle smile, Xiao and Astrut chuckling wryly.
Varied reactions, no objections.
[The Arnis Empire's 'Empire Quest' opens.]
>[Emperor 'Baharun de Arnis' commissions all Empire users to conquer the 'Labyrinth of Prohibition.']
>[The top contributor receives special rewards.]
>[Bonus points for the quest initiator.]
>[The Empire Quest initiator is 'Kaiser.']
Absurdity unfolding.
'Empire Quest...'
High-ranking Empire NPC quests all users directly.
Unlike city-wide World Quests, Empire users only.
Missile-grade every few months—but this was nuclear.
'Emperor commissioning personally?'
That proud Emperor never opened one.
Rewards vary by NPC initiator—direct from them.
'White Tower Lord's gave legendary staff and signature skill.'
Emperor outranks? Massive rewards guaranteed.
Even without, chance to cozy up to Emperor.
That was the real prize.
Leverage Emperor's favor to leap higher.
'Fodder hordes incoming.'
Post-World Quest storm sequel, obvious.
Smirk.
Damian imagined it, lips curling.
'Overcrowding spells trouble.'
Bickering, say.
Fatal slip-ups.
'No pretext worries.'
Play right, eat pheasant and egg.
'Dunno his trick...'
Irritation gone, thick anticipation slithered in. Damian grinned serpentine.
'You dug your own grave, Kaiser.'