Chapter 63
Chapter 63. Treatment (1)
TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader
Continental Guild. The top guild in China and one of the largest globally recognized guilds. On the upper levels of the massive guild house of such Continental Guild.
Seats of the executives, which were always partially vacant, were fully occupied today.
“I believe everyone knows why we have gathered.”
A portly middle-aged man at the front podium waved his hand lightly.
Swoosh.
Behind him, a gigantic screen turned on. It was filled with photos and personal details, sorted by national flags.
“As of this morning, the debut battles for the global gold rank have concluded. Has anyone taken the time to watch debut battles from countries other than the US?”
Could he even see?
His eyes, nearly buried in flesh, scanned the seated executives. However, no one among them responded.
“As I thought.”
It was to be expected. For Continental Guild, there was no other competitor but the United States. Naturally, their interest lay nowhere but with the US.
Or so, was the official stance of Continental Guild. But the truth was a bit different.
“With the vice guild master taking so long to speak, it must be about that country, right?”
An executive seated in the front row spoke teasingly. For someone aware of what a position the vice guild master held, it was an attitude one ought not to display.
“Indeed, brother Xiao is quick to notice. Well, it’s not a position one can climb to with mere force.”
Despite speaking to someone significantly younger, the vice guild master only responded with a generous smile.
“Brother Xiao is correct. Among the new talents shining in this gold rank debut, there is one who we must pay attention to. A player from Korea.”
The vice guild master’s bulky hand waved lightly. The screen behind him changes, displaying “Winner of the Korean Gold Rank Debut” and a photo of a young man appears below the text.
“His name is Kim Shimun. His specialty lies in magic, and he’s only been in the Arena for about a month.”
“What did you say?”
The statement made the previously teasing ranker’s expression stiffen. And he wasn’t alone.
“Haha, I understand your sentiments all too well. A newcomer, barely a month into the Arena, participating in a debut?”
“Could there be a mistake in the information?”
“There have been quite a few inaccuracies in the intelligence department’s reports lately.”
Following the vice guild master’s words, the other rankers and executives raised their voices in unison. Entering gold was feasible.
If one was born with remarkable stats or traits, or if one had exceptional control or combat senses, it wasn’t impossible. But the debut was a different story.
Among the very best, only the top could participate in the Arena. Moreover, it was the Galaxy Arena directly selecting them, where neither bribes nor connections could interfere, right?
“However, think of it in reverse. If his skills are such that he reached gold within a month, wouldn’t it be possible for him to participate in the debut?”
Silence fell over the audience. The executives were well aware that the Galaxy Arena’s standard for selecting debut participants was the MMR.
All of them were at least diamond rank players, having once participated in a debut themselves.
Looking at the executives with a gentle smile, the vice guild master continued his speech.
“Doesn’t someone come to mind when you see this situation?”
With those words, the atmosphere among the attendees darkened even more. Zhang Liqiu, a legendary player of the Continental and a candidate for the next guild master.
It was a natural reaction to think of the person who had handed him his only defeat, a man who had built an undefeated myth around himself. Enjoying the mood, the vice guild master began to speak with a grin.
“Looks like we’re all on the same page. Yes, you’re right. Kim Shihyuk, the Sword Saint. His actions up to recently earning the title of Sword Saint bear a striking resemblance.”
“I find it hard to agree with you, vice guild master.”
A young ranker, who had been nudging earlier, responded with dissatisfaction.
“I acknowledge that the Sword Saint is impressive. It’s almost unfathomable how such a figure could emerge from that small country. However, he participated in his debut Gold match as part of a duo.”
The young ranker’s words prompted nods from the other rankers and officers nearby.
A trio full party was an unwritten rule of global debut matches. Kim Shihyuk had broken such a global convention by winning with a duo party, marking him a historically significant figure.
“But to compare him to someone unheard of, who entered the debut match within a month of starting in the arena…”
“Ah. That part is right here.”
Interrupting the young ranker, the vice guild master smoothly pointed towards the massive monitor behind him.
There, the [Teammates] section was listed blank.
“…Why is that space empty?”
“As you can see, brother So. Player Kim Shimun participated in the debut match ‘alone’ and won.”
The vice guild master emphasized solo participation with a particular delight. The young ranker’s mouth fell open, as did those of the officers around. And for good reason.
“It’s absurd!”
“Even for you, vice guild master, this joke has gone too far!”
The idea of winning a debut match solo was preposterous to begin with. There could be some disparities among individuals. But weren’t all the participants deemed top players of their batch?
The debut match could turn a weak team into a strong one or vice versa, based on professional combinations. Moreover, most present had once been promising players themselves who had participated in debut matches, so they knew this better than anyone.
Yet, the vice guild master maintained his benevolent smile, remaining silent. The officers, knowing this silence as a confirmation, turned serious. The young ranker, now serious unlike before, asked.
“Vice guild master, shouldn’t we do something about this? Has the guild master said nothing?”
“I’ve already discussed it with the guild master. He suggested we wait and see. If he grows bigger, we’ll try to persuade him.”
“But why insist on…”
Why bring up a settled discussion in an officers’ meeting again? Everyone harbored doubts, but it was only momentarily.
“Isn’t it baffling? The attempt to recruit him failed at the silver level. And now, with major guilds from the U. S. moving in, recruitment again?”
Following the vice guild master’s words, the young ranker’s eyes widened. He had realized why this matter was brought up here.
“Do you wish for an officers’ vote?”
Instead of an answer, the vice guild master nodded with a benevolent smile.
In Continental, the guild master’s authority was incredibly strong. As anyone from the central populace could challenge for the position, it warranted significant power and say.
But such power needed a failsafe. Several mechanisms were in place to prevent the guild master’s indiscriminate autocracy. The officers’ vote was one of them.
“Ahem! Even so, an officers’ vote out of the blue?”
“If the Guild Master has decided so, there must be a reason behind it…”
A few of the executives expressed their discomfort.
In any group, there were those who were conservative, and they were among them. Contrary to the Continental’s ethos of valuing the strong.
Cowards who shied away from change and challenge. The Vice Guild Master looked at these imbeciles with a benign yet sharp gaze.
“Then, let me put it bluntly. Do you wish for the birth of a second Sword Saint?”
“That, that’s…!”
“…”
The conservatives were flustered. Especially since in the recent national representative selection, Sword Saint Kim Shihyuk had clinched the first place with an overwhelming performance.
The future where Kim Shimun, who was showing greater deeds than Kim Shihyuk, was hard to imagine.
“It almost seems like you’re hoping our Continental would bow down to that small country.”
“Aha! Vice Guild Master, that’s going too far!”
“How can you say that!”
“With the Spear King alive and well, what could a small country possibly do? We’re simply pointing out your excessive concerns.”
As if on reflex. A unified outcry burst out.
Yet, the Vice Guild Master, as if waiting for this moment, “As you’ve said, the Spear King indeed rivals Sword Saint Kim Shihyuk. But what about after that?”
His expression turned cold as he continued.
“What if another like Kim Shihyuk appears? What if someone even stronger emerges? Is considering such future indeed an ‘excessive concern’ in your view!”
The flow of a ranker-level energy and informal speech naturally came out. Knowing well that this was the true nature of the Vice Guild Master, the executives remained silent.
Before revealing his sincerity, the mention of a player stronger than Sword Saint Kim Shihyuk struck at everyone’s core.
In that suffocating silence, “Then, Vice Guild Master, what do you propose?”
A young ranker broke the silence.
“I would think our brilliant juniors would have noticed already.”
To wait and see, or to seduce. Direct opposition to what the Guild Master wished and calling for an executive vote. The answer pointed to one thing.
“Are you suggesting assassination?”
“Indeed, sharp as always, junior.”
“But Vice Guild Master, assassination carries high risks, and Korea, especially after the recent awakened terrorist incident, is on high alert…”
The young ranker’s voice trailed off. For the first time, his steady eyes wavered.
And so did the other executives’.
They finally realized.
‘Could it be the terrorist incident in Korea?!’
‘But there was no mention of it in the last executive meeting…’
‘Does this mean it was the Vice Guild Master’s unilateral decision?’
‘Impossible. It must have been the Spear King’s will.’
‘Of course. The Vice Guild Master is a supporter of the Spear King.’
It was about the terrorist incident involving the awakened in Korea. Seeing the executives in turmoil, the Vice Guild Master regained his benign smile. And drove the final nail into the coffin for those hesitating.
“Not long ago, in a secret duel, the Spear King emerged victorious.”
Though he did not mention who the Spear King dueled with. It was clear who that opponent was. The power dynamics of the Continental were about to shift, and everyone seated here was well aware of it.
‘The guild master is finally changing?’
‘The era of first-generation players is over.’
‘What a surprise! How could this happen…’
The faces of the officers changed in an instant. The reign over the Continental was changing hands. Everyone was pondering how to adapt to these changes.
‘There must be a lot of concern. After all, they are but vermin who wouldn’t dare challenge the constellation.’
Strong, yet ultimately inferior, these were the strong individuals who had not dared to challenge the supreme position. The current Continental’s officers had quite a few of such individuals.
In fact, weren’t all those with serious expressions non-rankers?
Watching these officers with a pleased gaze, the Vice Guild Master commented, “I hope you all make a wise choice for the future of the Continental.”
He then signaled to proceed with the voting. The outcome was as expected.
“The future of the Continental looks bright indeed! I will surely convey your loyalty to my Spear King.”
The vote was unanimous.
* * *
[You have cleared your ‘Gold Rank Debut Match’ with a record-breaking result.]
[Your reward increases according to your performance.]
[The ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ bound to you receives a portion of the experience points.]
[Your level has increased by 10.]
[The level of the Philosopher’s Stone has increased by 7.]
[You have acquired a ‘Special Random Box’ as a clear reward.]
As the message windows popped up in front of Shimun, then, [You have discovered the hidden piece of the risen isles.]
[You have earned 1,000 achievement points as a reward.]
[You have completed the hidden achievement ‘The Sunken Isle of Mermaids.’]
[You have earned 1,000 achievement points.]
After receiving the rewards related to the last island, the flood of messages finally stopped.
“Whew. I’ve gained quite a lot.”
The outpouring of support that came after the debut match ended.
Perhaps because many high-ranked players attended the debut, the amount of donations and the boldness of the scouting offers from guilds showed a noticeable difference.
Thanks to just this debut broadcast, the AP he earned easily surpassed hundreds of millions in cash value.
‘Of course, the most important thing is the reward.’
The reward given for first place in the debut match.
In his past life, it was the reward Choi Jinsu, the Beast King, received, which remained a highly beneficial reward even as he became a high-ranker.
No wonder.
“It’s a Special Random Box, after all!”
Shimun was organizing the messages, looking forward to checking the Special Random Box with glee, when, Ding~.
The sound of the intercom ringing echoed.
Licking his lips, Shimun closed his inventory and headed towards the intercom.
On the intercom screen, [Shimun-ssi, it’s me. I’ve arrived.]
[Hyung! I’m here too! Your debut was insane, right?]
[Orabeoni, congratulations on getting first!]
Park Jinwook, the Night Hunter, along with his two younger siblings, were waving and smiling brightly.