Chapter 185

“Let’s hear the conditions first. They say the Golden King pays well. That’s why you’re working for him, isn’t it?”

“Do you have a specific amount in mind? Or perhaps an item.”

“You’re quite confident. Ready to meet any demand?”

“If it can be solved with money.”

“Well, how about a down payment of 100,000 gold?”

Conis spoke with serious intent. 100,000 gold was equivalent to a staggering 10 billion won. Clearly, he was expressing a lack of interest in going along, but the response from the other side was not what he expected.

“Would that be enough for you?”

“Oh, are you really going to give it?”

“There’s nothing I can’t give, but I’m asking if that will really satisfy you. You are Conis, right?”

Conis nodded, sensing that this visitor was different from the ones before.

“How long have you been here?”

“About two months.”

“And in all that time, has there been any force that offered you 100,000 gold?”

“Who would offer such a huge sum?”

“Have you asked for it?”

“...Of course not.”

It was a predictable question with a predictable answer. The man claiming to be Alio’s messenger must have known this too. Conis had no intention of accepting anyone’s offer and had not actively approached anyone. He just called out extravagant conditions during formal conversations.

“Do you really want 100,000 gold?”

“I don’t particularly need money.”

Conis replied, and suddenly, a shout came from behind.

“Hey, I’m satisfied! I’ll make a deal with you!”

“I am not the one making the deal; it’s the Golden King who will accept you. I am currently in conversation with this person, so please wait quietly.”

The other players immediately fell silent. They had been waiting with their convictions, but 100,000 gold was an amount that could justify selling everything and starting a new character.

“Don’t you have a big need for money?”

“Who hates money? It’s just that there are more important things.”

“Like?”

“This character that I’ve spent so much time building.”

“There are many places in the Empire where players’ help is needed.”

“And some of those tasks might not be to my liking, right?”

“We can refuse the emperor’s orders.”

“Sure, you can.”

“Is 100,000 gold more important than your current character?”

“More important than my character is my ability to enjoy the game freely. I don’t want to eat the crap that NPCs hand out. Unlike you.”

Conis couldn’t hide his annoyance. He wasn’t resentful of the players who had left; he was just a bit disappointed. But it was true that he despised those who eagerly joined their side.

“I’ll be tossed into solitary after everything I said, right? Do as you wish. Throw me in or don’t. I’m going to log out and take a nap.”

“I won’t put you in solitary. That’s why I, not an NPC, am here. Now, for the others.”

Alio’s messenger, Seojin, turned around. He faced about ten players, making eye contact with each of them.

“Who wants to come for 100,000 gold?”

“Me! I’ll go!”

“I will too! If that’s really the condition!”

The requests poured in. Seojin quickly scanned their reactions.

Eleven users, including Conis.

According to the dungeon’s supervisor Viktor, all of them had been in prison for over three weeks.

‘Then their reactions must be genuine.’

They disliked the idea of being under NPCs. But for 100,000 gold, it was a different story.

But like Conis, not every player was swayed by the staggering offer.

‘Including Conis, about three. They log in out of lingering attachment, but no matter the condition, they won’t make a deal.’

They had been stuck here for nearly a month, and even a nearly 100 billion won offer hadn’t moved them.

The matter was essentially settled.

“Conis, and the two of you, Kargar and Montblanc, let’s move outside.”

“I have no intention of making a deal.”

“Same here. Take those friends instead. I’m not interested.”

“No deal for me.”

The three responded simultaneously. Seojin slightly shook his head, as if expecting this.

“You don’t have to. I am just curious about you. Whatever choice you make, I will ensure no harm comes to you.”

Conis’s expression subtly changed.

The other two also reacted similarly. They didn’t immediately log off, which clearly indicated their curiosity was piqued.

“The rest of you, please wait here for a while. I will be back soon.”

“Take your time!”

“I’m fine with 50,000 gold!”

“Me too!”

Leaving behind a wave of eager responses, Seojin stepped outside first.

Upon explaining the situation to Viktor, his eyes widened.

“Three, you say? I’ll arrange it immediately. You truly are sent by the Golden King!”

“I despise unproductive conversations.”

“...I’ll be careful.”

Viktor hurriedly instructed the guards to prepare a space.

The Isolation Room.

A place for adventurers and messengers to draft contracts with each other.

“I trust confidentiality will be strictly maintained.”

“Of course. I’ll double-check everything.”

The conditions offered by eight major figures of the Empire naturally varied.

Being a contract in name, many internal elements were revealed.

The Isolation Room was designed for such occasions.

Even if they were all citizens of the same Empire, it was best to keep trade secrets from each other.

Click.

The door closed, and Seojin sat facing the three adventurers.

“Conis, Kargar, Montblanc. Do you know why I am sitting before you?”

“To take us to serve under the Golden King, right? To be mere followers of an NPC.”

Their response was immediately hostile. Seojin met their gaze and asked.

“Do I look like I’m contracted with the Golden King?”

“Obviously...”

“But I don’t belong to any guild, do I?”

Realizing this, the three hesitated, then quickly returned with a look that suggested they knew it all along.

“Nice try. The Golden King must be treating you special.”

“You mean to say you’re rewarded well for loyalty? I have no intention of serving the emperor or anyone else.”

“If I wanted loyalty to the Empire, why would I have brought the three of you here? I could have taken everyone else left there. Isn’t that right, Conis?”

“That’s because you said you had something to talk about with us...”

“I’ve already confirmed everything necessary. If I were to recruit players motivated by money, I’ll be betrayed eventually. However, you three refused the 100,000 gold offer I proposed.”

Conis’s eyes narrowed. The other two also sensed something unusual.

“What do you want to say?”

“I didn’t succumb to NPCs. I am not a pawn of Golden King Alio, and I obtained my identification through unconventional means.”

“That’s impossible in this land.”

“That’s what everyone thinks. That’s how you came here after all. After being trapped here, enduring and eventually finding no way out, why bother? The terms are quite favorable, aren’t they?”

The salary these players received was an enormous amount, even by real-world standards, unimaginable for an average job.

“So, you mean... you haven’t signed any contract? That’s why you’re not in a guild... Then what about being Alio’s messenger?”

“It’s a lie.”

Tap, tap, tap.

He placed three items on the table simultaneously: Golden King Alio’s seal, a personal letter from the King of Valaran, and a fake ID arranged by Morrison, the spy embedded in the Ferret family.

“I received a quest from the King of Valaran.”

These three people weren’t his deception targets. Their refusal to align with others in such a situation indicated they shared similar values with Seojin.

“Honestly, the quest I have doesn’t concern your well-being. Its aim is to liberate Valaran from the Empire’s ever-encroaching grasp.”

He laid out the truth: receiving a quest, needing to infiltrate, and so far, everything going smoothly.

“I can help you, and you can help me.”

“Assuming that’s true, what about those waiting inside?”

“They were swayed by 100,000 gold.”

“Of course, they would be...”

“But you weren’t. Neither would I. Money isn’t the point. I wouldn’t give up my character for any amount of money. That’s why I proposed such a sum.”

Gulp.

A proper tension finally arose. Players who couldn’t enjoy the game properly for a long time repeatedly pondered this sudden opportunity. To them, Seojin decided to offer a bit more assurance.

“I’m open to questions. Ask me anything.”

* * *

Conis began his journey in Midgard in the Kingdom of Pianus. Like others, he started from the same point, enjoying the game with the same content. However, at some point, his talent blossomed. The skill of wielding two swords and disregarding defense in his attacks was something only he could master.

His overwhelming prowess rapidly closed the gap with earlier players, and before he knew it, Conis had become one of the top players in the Kingdom of Pianus.

However, his overflowing confidence melted away the moment he stepped into the Empire.

“I was told I would be given something that could prove my identity. I didn’t doubt that. This was a game after all. I was busy thinking about what the Empire had in store even as I signed my name on it.”

It started innocuously. He simply followed the instructions that to move freely in the Empire, one must obtain an ID. Then it escalated to a surprise attack by dozens of elite knights.

“I asked why. There was no answer and I was just killed once. Came back after a week, tried to find other players, and once again, knights appeared.”

“So, you died again.”

“The offer came the next week. Accept or die.”

“And you refused.”

“They didn’t kill me. I was completely subdued. I have no idea what skill they used, there were just too many of them.”

“And since then, you’ve been trapped here?”

“Yes, since then.”

Conis spoke calmly. He was initially furious, but over time, he had come to terms with his situation. Seojin moved on to the next question.

“How many players have passed through here?”

“Less than fifty.”

“Then the number of members in the guild should be around that number.”

“If you’re referring to those who call themselves lions but fawn over people, it should be over that number. I was an early victim. The emperor must have realized its effectiveness.”

“So players are likely offered to join the guild the moment they enter the Empire?”

“Likely. I would sure do that if I was the Emperor.”

“Good.”

More detailed information could be gathered later. Soon, he would know everything about the Brave Lions Guild, as if it were the palm of his hand.

“For now, you three need to join a guild.”

“I suspected as much. But a guild...”

“I’ll provide you with identities. You will join the guild as players contracted with the Golden King Alio.”

“The risk is too great!”

“When I arrived, did any of you doubt me even a little? Wonder if I wasn’t really Alio’s messenger?”

Of course, they hadn’t.

Seeing the three struggle to find an answer, Seojin offered a relaxed smile.

“Let’s start preparing to ascend. I will devise the plan.”