Chapter 23
Silver Tree Guild leader Choi Ah-rin tossed the receiver down with a clack. She'd just finished a call with the Japanese government.
"Aigoo..."
The chief secretary watched her rub her forehead with a troubled expression.
"Didn't go well, I take it."
"Everyone's too busy defending their own countries. As if they have the spare manpower to help us."
Choi Ah-rin grumbled, drumming her fingers on the desk. She cast a lingering glance at the phone. With monsters swarming relentlessly, the number of players was finite. They barely had enough to protect their own borders—meddling in another nation's politics was out of the question.
She understood that much.
"I did convey our position to each allied government. But..."
"It'll take time, won't it."
Choi Ah-rin interlocked her fingers and let out a heavy sigh at the chief secretary's words.
"Yeah... They have to stabilize their own situations first before they can help us."
The Korean government coalition's plot to establish a dictatorship. Choi Ah-rin had sniffed it out faster than anyone and sprung into action. She'd informed heads of state worldwide about the coalition's true nature and requested international cooperation.
But the problem was...
No country in chaos could afford to speak out on foreign affairs.
So she'd made an offer: Any nation aiding Korea's defense would receive full military support from Silver Tree and Star Guild afterward.
And it had caught some eyes. Korea had always been a gaming powerhouse. No one could resist the allure of top-tier players.
But the risks were too high. What if they sent forces to Korea and failed? It would sour relations and cost them valuable players. Meanwhile, their own defenses weakened.
Choi Ah-rin gulped down cold water from a plastic bottle and slammed it down. Her overheated face began to cool.
"Whew... If this were a normal government, I wouldn't have to do this."
She wiped her mouth with her sleeve, venting her frustration. These guys were rotten to the core. And they planned to crush civilians with player muscle.
In a world teetering on the brink of monster invasions, no less. Prioritizing their power lust over people's lives...
Choi Ah-rin trembled with rage. Her fists shook too.
Utterly repulsive.
If those monsters succeeded in their dictatorship, the aftermath was predictable.
'They'll purge all opposition and cement eternal rule.'
They were vile enough for it. And they saw now as their golden window—no external brakes.
But the coalition was too powerful for Choi Ah-rin to confront head-on. So she'd chosen endurance. Hold the line until foreign aid arrived, maintaining strength as long as possible.
She'd planned to tough it out.
But lately, the coalition's movements felt off. The shifting winds were impossible to hide. Rumors swelled, exaggerated, reaching even her ears.
"What about that coalition subjugation team disappearance? Any leads?"
"Yes. We traced our teams' movements during that period—no overlaps at all."
"Figures. 37 mass disappearances? If we pulled off something that big, I'd know about it!"
Choi Ah-rin oversaw Silver Tree's subjugation teams personally. She pressed her throbbing temple and eyed the chief secretary.
"Checked with Star Guild?"
"Yes. They claim ignorance too."
Choi Ah-rin dropped her hand and slumped into her chair.
"Haaah... Ughhh, this is driving me insane! The power gap between their coalition and us is massive! How could we make 37 vanish without a trace?!"
"Ah, Ah-rin..."
"And the idiots buying this crap? It's obvious they're framing us after offing their own!"
"C-Calm down first!"
Raking her hair wildly, Choi Ah-rin deflated, staring blankly at the desk.
"If only Eun-joo unnie were still alive right now..."
The government had no intention of quashing the rumors. It reeked of a ploy to dismantle opposition.
Choi Ah-rin gathered her thoughts and stood.
She strode to the window, gazing out.
'I can't give up. These people are counting on me.'
She clenched her fist quietly. Far too heavy a burden for a mere player like her.
But backing down now was impossible.
After a moment of silent resolve, eyes closed then opened, she spoke.
"Double the guards and patrol radius. Inspect all defenses. Disperse food stocks to basements and upper floors of each building."
"Understood."
She grabbed her coat from the rack and headed for the door.
"Report any coalition movement immediately. Send clarifications to their guild contacts with ties—plant seeds of doubt. I'm heading to Star Guild."
Hand on the knob, she turned back firmly.
"We'll do everything we can."
The usually silent Eterna Guild headquarters now buzzed with new life—a fresh breeze of change.
The fruit of Sertina's tireless month-long efforts: 37 rescued players had joined Eterna.
The guild base felt lively at last.
And Sertina alone shouldered the chatter from all those mouths.
"Sertina, aren't you pushing too hard?"
"I promised. No skimping on support for new members."
Sertina was footing the bill from her own gold—three lavish meals a day, plus desserts. Top-quality every time.
Possible because markets sold food as items.
"Shouldn't we chip in some gold too?"
Famous ranker SniperVillain, ex-Flame Guild, spoke up. Yunsia shook her head.
"I tried... but she flat-out refused."
"Ah..."
SniperVillain scratched his head awkwardly.
Yunsia figured Sertina's coffers ran deep. Post-update, when Seoul Forest survivors needed gold for job skill-ups, she'd handed out 10 billion each without batting an eye.
With a catch: supply some future food production to the guild.
It laid the foundation for self-sufficiency.
But gold had limits. Even oceans run dry without inflow.
Sertina was smart enough to know that.
"Anyway, she'll handle it when the time comes. Not our place to meddle."
"Yeah, I trust her."
SniperVillain shrugged.
Eterna members had all witnessed Sertina up close. Her reputation among them was stellar.
Yunsia found it remarkable.
'A figure branded a brutal killer in people's minds, erasing prejudices overnight.'
Purely Sertina's doing.
...Though her subtle cuteness helped too.
Meanwhile, Sertina and Cha Eun-joo checked a message from Hyeonwol Guild executive Lee So-yeon.
Word of nasty rumors circulating in the government coalition.
"Guess they're finally making their move."
"Yeah. Smears against anti-government forces are ramping up daily."
Sertina unwound her twirled hair.
"Time for our next play."
Cha Eun-joo, scanning the message, sighed in admiration.
"Wow... It's really unfolding just like this. How'd you predict it?"
"Hm... Experience, I guess?"
Sertina scratched her head. They say wisdom comes at forty, heaven's will at seventy. I've lived centuries beyond...
"...Pardon?"
Cha Eun-joo just tilted her head, uncomprehending.
Sertina rose quietly.
"Sertina?"
"...Shh!"
She pressed a finger to her lips, peering sharply out the window with half-lidded eyes.
Cha Eun-joo held her tongue, puzzled.
Moments later, Sertina murmured.
"Looks like we have an uninvited guest."
Right then, every light in the house blinked out.