Chapter 178

Seojin revealed a few more of his skills to Raul. When asked if it was alright to show so much, Seojin nonchalantly said it didn't matter. After all, Raul was just one of the options given to him. He had sought Raul out primarily because he seemed closer to the occupation of a Silver Tongue.

There was, of course, a need for caution. However, if Raul were the type to leak information to the guards, he would have done so already when Seojin first acted suspiciously.

"Am I the first to know?" Raul asked.

"Yes. Only you know that I am a Silver Tongue, including all the adventurers and residents here."

"Why did you tell me then?"

"I heard we are quite similar."

"Ever felt like an outcast or too sad to reveal your true self to anyone?"

"Not at all. I just don't show it to avoid being exploited. You, Raul… seem too tired to bother. Am I wrong?"

"Hmm."

Raul didn't deny it. Seojin's openness made him feel slightly awkward about hiding his identity so fervently.

"What brings you to me?"

"The same reason. You're similar to me. You've traveled far and wide, leaving a lingering impression on the people there."

"Should I take that as a compliment?"

"I take pride in my abilities. But I'm saying that you're better than me."

"In terms of ability?"

"Let's just call it respect for my senior."

"Pride, huh."

Raul pondered for a moment, then extended his right hand.

"Let's see your ID."

"I don't have one."

"I figured. Snuck in through the back, huh?"

"Yes."

"Now that you've revealed so much, you're making it clear that you've know that I've been wondering about you."

"That's right."

"What are you curious about?"

"You see, all adventurers have a mentor of sorts."

Warriors had their guilds, as did archers, and even thieves had their own. While he did not know how other hidden classes worked, Silver Tongues had nowhere to turn to.

Raul squinted as if horrified by the idea.

"Can you even teach something like that?"

"I need what it offers. Like the experiences you've had in life."

"And what would you do with that?"

"Learn."

"Use my embarrassments as your stepping stones?"

"You don't seem the type to be embarrassed."

"Trust me, I have mortifying memories. Cheating others felt great, and winning petty bets was thrilling."

"I still feel that way."

"Let me ask first. You haven't revealed everything, have you?"

"I've tempered it with things to pique your interest, nothing too problematic."

"You've already swallowed up Valaran. Are you here to do the same to the Empire?"

"That's too big a bite to swallow. It's huge."

"An adventurer concerned about his homeland. That's rare."

"You know how adventurers work, don't you?"

"I do. The king, I presume, must trust you greatly for you to be handed this job. Or maybe even the king…"

"It is trust."

"So you don't want to rob the country?"

"No."

"Good to see. Reminds me of my younger self."

"So, why are you like this?"

Caught off-guard by the question, Raul fell silent. It wasn't due to embarrassment. He was merely reflecting on the intention behind the question. The intention was clear, and the answer was decided.

"Because I'm not an adventurer."

* * *

Finding Raul was not difficult. Thanks to Kartna, who acted as if Seojin's matters were his own, and the guild members of the Valaran-Camilton border branch, Seojin easily infiltrated the Empire's capital. After arranging a meeting time between Seojin and Raul, Kartna left for his own mission.

A key NPC for the quest has been selected.

The outcome of this quest will be greatly influenced by your relationship with this NPC.

Vegetable Wholesaler "Raul" has taken an interest in you.

To earn Raul's favor, a sufficient number of sub-quests must be completed.

*Progress: 0/10

When Raul's favorability is high enough, you can proceed to the next stage.

Raul's influence is significant! A decline in Raul's favorability will make it difficult to establish positive relationships with some NPCs of the Camilton Empire.

These were the messages that appeared when Seojin first met Raul. Just from this, it was clear he was no ordinary vegetable wholesaler. The very existence of such a quest implied that Seojin was to use a few of the given NPCs as stepping stones.

The Camilton Empire was too vast to be swayed by a single adventurer.

'Valaran is hardly comparable in terms of its land area, population, the proportion of adventurers, and their societal standing.'

In the Camilton Empire, players were not the protagonists.

"Could he reach the emperor? Even the so-called Golden King could bring down Valaran if he wished. And same with that punk The Rat. He could wipe out at least five counties if he released a few of his cursed items."

Golden King and The Rat.

Raul spoke of these key figures as if they were neighborhood friends, along with the impact they could have. The gold, amounting to one-tenth of the Empire's wealth, could devour Valaran. The black-market items The Rat hoarded were equally formidable.

And they didn't act only because of one reason.

"The emperor holds them all in his grasp."

Grand Emperor Kalus firmly controlled their reins.

"Adventurers who enter here are all notable in their own countries, which is why they were so arrogant."

"What happened?"

"They became devoted servants, head to toe."

"They were subordinated by the emperor?"

"Forget the emperor." Raul chuckled dismissively. "The names you mentioned earlier. They were evenly distributed under them. Some under the Golden King, others hauling goods for Rat Muedron…"

"And the adventurers tolerated that?"

"You adventurers don't die."

"Right."

"Would Kalus not know that?"

Adventurers could log in again after a week even if they died. Other penalties existed but were not severe enough to be a major concern. As such, they never submitted to mere threats, unlike the NPCs.

So Kalus gifted them a different kind of penalty other than death.

"Life is not a concern. They're designed not to die. Even the man called the Grand Emperor can't break that absolute rule."

"Sure."

"So, he didn't kill them."

"Huh?"

"He didn't kill them. Instead, he threw them into a prison so secure that not even a dragon could escape."

That was the method chosen by the emperor. This was also why the Empire could secure the voluntary and active cooperation of adventurers.

Killing them meant they'd return in seven days. Their inventory items couldn't be taken either. Kalus stole the freedom from the adventurers who treated this world as their playground.

"Everyone knows you treat our land as a mere playground. The best way to torment you is to prevent you from playing."

"…Indeed."

In any other nation, this wouldn't have worked. No leader outside of Camilton could ignore the influence of adventurers. They were powerful, had unique communication means only available to them, and did not fear NPCs.

"But the Empire… can do that."

The Empire's major NPCs were stronger than the players. Not many adventurers could enter the Empire. They could ask for help, but there would be no one to respond.

'And their characters are completely bound.'

Although they could still use the auction house, discarding a character that reached the ranker level was no easy feat. So, they had to accept the emperor's offer and play under these complex restrictions.

'Rankers are sensitive to rumors… or, did they just settle for that?'

They still earned money. And for honor, they could hold their heads high as top rankers in their own countries, and their status in the Empire wasn't too bad either.

Grand Emperor Kalus knew how to use people.

That was why, all the nations of Salevania were frozen in Act 1.

"I don't want to die. There's so much I haven't done yet. The likes of Golden King and Grand Admiral don't stir trouble for the same reason."

Grand Admiral Martini was active as the Empire's privateer fleet. The Rat Muedron diligently supplied goods to the royal family upon the emperor's request. And Golden King Alio was essentially a financial planner, growing the emperor's wealth.

Unlike Heinrich of Valaran, the emperor here held the Empire's day and night firmly in his hands.

"They don't call him the Grand Emperor for nothing, I guess."

"He's an incredible man who managed to scrape together a complex web of interests into a tangible thing. Something that had never happened in the Empire's centuries-long history."

"And Raul, you are listed among such remarkable figures."

"That's why I don't stir. I'm done for if I die."

"None of the citizens I've been with have died."

"Your enemies did not include the emperor either."

"That's why I'm excited about it. But Raul, you find it burdensome, don't you?"

"Excited? I'm envious."

Raul's gaze was complex as he spoke. But that was the extent of it. He hadn't seen enough from Seojin to be swayed just yet.

"Now, if you want to hear more, you should get to work."

"Anything. Give me tasks that will satisfy you."

To win Raul as an ally, Seojin had to demonstrate his value.

Sub-quests completed: 2/10

Eight quests remained to win over Raul's heart. Naturally, there were no more menial quests, like fetching cheap vegetables.

"Fetch me an item from Rat Muedron's back alleys."

"I need this document revived. It requires the seal of Golden King Alio. He's a man of his word, and once it's got his stamp of approval, it will be executed."

Seojin had participated in black market auctions and even persuaded one of Golden King Alio's minions.

The upcoming quests were similarly challenging, as each sub-quest were only somewhat related to the list of NPCs he was given.

And he finished six of the sub-quests,

"Grand Admiral Martini's privateer fleet does more than just piracy. There's also a steady stream of smuggling under the emperor's tacit approval. I need information on the ports they use as bases, as well as his key clients."

Raul presented yet another immensely difficult quest. A task to uncover the secrets of Grand Admiral Martini. a pirate who ruled like a king in the seas.

"This one's going to be tough. People who live on land can barely understand its structure. Countless get seasick the moment they step on a boat."

Even Raul seemed perplexed, but Seojin was unfazed as usual.

Actually, this quest was several times simpler than the previous ones.

"I seem to have gotten lucky."

"Luck?"

Raul narrowed his eyes. Seojin pulled something out of his inventory and handed it over.

It was a customer manual which he had received from Count Drake of Churai Island. As a promotional item for clients, it was several times more detailed and specific than what Raul had hoped for.

"Need more?"

"…That's enough. Next… what exactly are you?"

"An adventurer courting Raul."

"Not the analogy I'd prefer… but since you've really done it, I have no choice. Let's move on to the next one."

The look on Raul's face was an unreadable mix of disbelief and amazement.

"What's next?"

"You said the Sword of the Empire was also on your list, right?"

Of course.

The eighth quest involved Duke Ferret. Seojin had to confront the veteran he had faced in the Tower of Choices.