Chapter 61 061

[1. Ensure special treatment for the top-tier players. It's better to reward them more than their capabilities and they'll be our bait.]

[2. Pay the idiots more than they're worthy of too, but gradually reduce it. Pay the minimum once they act like the name of Ironblood is theirs.]

[3. Randomly promote people from time to time. Keep the idiots on track with us. Hope is the best means of tying a human down. Present complex "internal regulations" if there's any backlash.]

[4. The brand image of Ironblood is the highest priority under any circumstances. Only meaningless pride can replace material rewards…]

'I'm speechless.'

Seojin put Ironblood's regulations down. Anyone could clearly see what they were aiming for.

'Who would have thought the mighty Ironblood was actually just a pyramid scheme?'

Seojin had once seen the guidelines for running a pyramid scheme, and the only difference between the two was the formatting and some phrasing.

'No wonder. It was already suspicious that they divided their guilds into swords and shields and all that crap. I thought it was for management efficiency… I didn't expect anyone to do this inside a game.'

Ironblood was a textbook example of a fairly successful pyramid scheme with a complex hierarchy. Seojin had actually glanced at a piece of news saying that the money they earned even dwarfs decent companies in real life.

'And that Lian guy quit a guild like this?'

The assassin, who gave Seojin this information before vanishing, must have been of a considerable rank, given that he was a member of the Seventh Knight led by Henrite, which was one of the top branches.

'He was either about to be kicked out or he was ashamed of his work, just as he said.'

Perhaps it was both.

'Then I can safely assume Henrite wasn't kicked out.'

He wouldn't be able to save his neck if it was any other ordinary guild, but Ironblood was no longer an ordinary guild. Henrite must be one of their 'bait,' considering the nature of the pyramid scheme, and a bunch of players must of think him as their role model. Robert could strengthen his goon's loyalty if he showed them that he was taking care of Henrite.

'That guy quite is a nut.'

Seojin was almost amazed at this point, knowing that Robert was enjoying the game in a completely different way from most players.

'How did he come up with such a structure and put it into practice? Anyway, I think it's true that Lian quit the guild. So, is it really possible that Robert would offer me a position like that? But according to what's written here…'

Seojin flipped through the pamphlet again and checked the thirteenth article: crush every hostile by any means necessary. This would indicate that they would not welcome Seojin into their ranks.

'Let's just go, I can deal with it when the time comes. I don't have to meet his schedule.'

Seojin was the one with the choice here, and he just had to wait while he did what needed to do.

"Shall we move on, Flappy?"

"Move on? Tuh whaer?"

"Well, some other place. It's not like we've got anything to do here, anyway."

Flappy sighed.

"And'ere Ah thought we'r takin' a brayke. Heaven knows how much trouble yawl'll hav tuh go thoo few keep goin' on. Wah-oncha settle down in wun place? An adventurer don't always hav tuh wander around thuh warld."

"Hm, should I?"

"Yayus, evun adventurers need tuh rest sumtimes an make shore thet thuh journey iz not too painfu…"

"I'm running out of money to buy magic stones."

Flappy growled with her small face.

"Whut yawl gonna earn by dodgin' everythin' gist cuz it's painful? Nuthin'! Yawl gotta endure, persist, an overcome! Thet's thuh adventurer Ah know!"

"Right?"

"So, whayer is yawl goin' next? Hav yawl decided?"

Flappy twirled around near Seojin's face with new motivation.

"Where the King ordered me to go."

"Yawl didn't tell may whaer."

"Churai Island. Do you know where that is?"

"…Churai Island?"

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"I guess you do."

"Sure, well, I heard that the local apple wine is soooo good."

"…"

'Is a spirit allowed to be such an alcoholic? Damn right, she is. It's a cute little hobby for such a capable scout.'

She was competent enough. As long as she could do her job, anything else was fine.

'If my memory serves me right, the restriction on the port was Level 50…'

Seojin had to grind in order to leave. So, he headed to the vigilance committee's headquarters.

* * *

"Welcome to the Dunkehr vigilance committee… oh."

"Where's Gemini?"

"She's in a separate room, Sir adventurer."

Upon arriving at the headquarters, a vigilante guided Seojin inside. He already knew Seojin's face and showing his S-Class merc tag didn't hurt either.

"Gemini."

"Oh, adventurer! Good afternoon."

"I see you're very busy."

She was indeed busy. Unlike Rachael, she was stubborn as a bull when it came to her work. Evaluating an adventurer's performance according to standards and procedures must take up a lot of her time.

"I am, but don't worry. I can always make time for you."

"I need to gain some experience, is there any work I can do?"

"Experience? Are you planning to leave Erze…, I mean, Dunkehr?"

"I have to. I can't stay here forever."

A tiny glimmer of regret flickered in Gemini's eyes, but only for a moment. She soon spoke as if she understood what he meant, "…I apologize, but we don't have anything that matches your rank."

"There's absolutely none"

"There's one Rank S contract, though…"

"Then I'll take that o—"

"It's from the Church of Luna. They want to catch a thief who stole a holy relic"

"…Well."

Gemini smiled at Seojin kindly as he shut his mouth.

"Don't worry. You're currently the only one in possession of a Rank S merc tag."

"That's quite a consolation. What about the other contracts? It doesn't matter if they're too low-level for me."

"How about taking the delayed rewards first?"

"What do you mean by delayed?"

"You gave two pieces of darkness to Jeriel of the Alchemy guild, didn't you?"

He did. Seojin had received a total of three irregular contracts and while he practically speedran the Adamantine one, he completed the other two normally.

"Ah, I forgot to take that."

"Yes, in addition to that, you didn't receive the compensation you deserved due to the committee's mistake, right?"

"I'm fine with th…"

"We'll also compensate that in experience points."

"…Uh, yes, that would be great."

Gemini seemed determined for some reason.

After tat

Level Up!

Level Up!

Level…

…

Level Up!

The chain of messages finally stopped once Seojin reached Level 50.

"…Gemini?"

"Yes?"

"I think you gave me too much?"

"I followed our regulations strictly."

That wasn't believable given that Seojin's level had only increased by five when he completed one irregular contract. Even considering that all of the other rewards were converted into EXP points, this was clearly…

"Are you sure it's okay"

"Our new commander created a new rule." Gemini stated proudly to a confused-looking Seojin. "Article Twenty-Seven, Clause One. All matters related to the adventurer Seojin will be handled at the Reward Officer's discretion."

"Huh?"

Seojin couldn't believe that they had made such a rule, but Gemini simply smiled.

"It'll be removed the moment you leave the city. So, don't worry and come back anytime. I'll always be here, waiting for you."

Her smile carried gratitude. Then, a message suddenly popped up.

Dunkehr had been added to your journal.

You have acquired two stories.

Achievement Unlocked!

Storyteller: all stats increased by 20%.

The message was also a clue to finding out more about it.

* * *

Journal.

Seojin had thought that it simply recorded his progress, which meant it only served as a satisfying collectible.

'I was totally wrong.'

However, the journal was far more than that. When Seojin saw it for the first time in Berne, it had no special features, but that had apparently changed as of today.

Registered Story: Dunkehr.

* Erzebet, a city where magic and science coexist. Some vicious adventurers left a deep, unseen wound that was unable to heal easily. However…

Seojin learned the true value of the journal the moment that, through meeting Gemini, the second story was registered.

'It gives me a boost in all stats. I can't even compare it to a couple of achievements.'

A percentage boost in stats was the best kind, and it was a whole 20%!

'What are the conditions for a story to be registered?'

That was the important thing, as that feature hadn't been activated in Movelon. Seojin pondered what those two settlements, Berne and Dunkehr, had in common.

'I have no idea, I don't think it's just the irregular quests. Do I have to trigger a hidden scenario?'

That could be the case. Maybe he had to come into contact with hidden features that most players skipped past without even knowing of their existence.

'If that's the case, I just have to do as I've been doing. If not… I'll have to figure it out, somehow.'

It would be hard to conclude that the journal system was exclusively for Silver Tongues. If anything, it was more plausible to believe that others had the same system. This was practically a clue to how Robert managed to climb to his current position.

'So it's more than stacking tons of stats with achievements, huh.'

Lots of achievements, journals, and many other hidden secrets must have helped him, too.

Entering: Dunkehr Harbor

Level Restriction: 50

As soon as Seojin entered the harbor, the sound of waves and seagulls welcomed him. Erzebet, the city of magic and science. While its name had now been changed to Dunkehr, everything else remained the same except for the Lord.

'Whoa, how magnificent.'

Seojin stopped worrying when he saw the scenery at the harbor. He had plenty of time to look into the journal, and the important thing right now was to leave for his next destination.

[Purchased: Ticket to Churai Island (1)]

Seojin boarded a boat that almost looked like a cruise ship. Churai Island seemed to be a relatively popular base since there were many players on board.

'I normally wouldn't choose such a popular place but there must be something… given that the King told me to go there.'

Seojin was someone who could squeeze the juice out of jerky and was confident that he would find something useful no matter the circumstances.

"Ho, Churai Island. The Island of Fruit Liquor!"

Seojin smirked at Flappy's excited reaction and lay down on a sunbed.

'Shall I look at the community page before I go?'

Seojin shook his head.

'I don't have to do it right now.''

He instead took in the image of Dunkehr as it gradually got further away, knowing it was time to chill out.