Volume 2, Chapter 6 – Before the Valley

“Don’t think that just because your name is Yunchou ¹ Yunchou = Operations Research. , you’re actually capable of grand strategy.”

“Of course, I’ll report our arrangements to the Guild Leader, but as for what happens tomorrow… The results will only speak for themselves. No matter how clever you think you are, I still don’t believe a Legendary-tier NPC is something we players can so easily plot against.”

The Vice Leader smirked coldly at Yunchou’s words.

“Is that so? Well, we’ll find out tomorrow morning, won’t we? Don’t be so hasty, Vice Leader~ What if, by then, we actually succeed?”

Yunchou’s tone stretched out playfully, and his expression showed absolute confidence, as though he truly held victory in the palm of his hand.

The Vice Leader’s expression, however, did not change in the slightest.

Though Yunchou’s tone was full of conviction, the upper ranks of the Guild had always believed this entire plan, scheming against a Legendary-tier NPC, was nothing short of lunacy.

After all,

“To manipulate both the Graveyard and the Kingdom and Strongholds, to pretend to side with the Graveyard while secretly planting spies among the Kingdom’s defeated troops, and to guide those same troops step by step according to your will… I have to admit, what you’ve done these past few days really does make you sound like one of those master strategists from the stories.”

As the Vice Leader slowly recounted Yunchou’s recent actions, his tone grew colder and colder.

“When the beastmen attacked the Northern Fortress, you already predicted the undead would appear. Before that, you had our members collect a large number of dungeon items called Cursed Swords, and then ordered them not to appraise them.”

Listening to his own “glorious deeds” being listed out, Yunchou merely smiled faintly, showing not a hint of emotion.

The Vice Leader’s gaze, however, grew sharper and more frigid by the second.

“As one of the Guild’s old veterans, I’ve got a question.”

“Please, do tell.”

“You’ve only been in the Guild a few days… so what gives you the right to dictate the Guild’s future? I don’t know why the Guild Leader trusts you so much, but I and all the veterans who have bled for this Guild will not stand by and watch it fall apart because of you!”

The Vice Leader’s eyes were cold. He didn’t care much about Yunchou’s earlier provocations or sarcasm, but the fact that a newcomer had suddenly become the Guild’s strategic core… He could not accept that.

“I understand your concern, Vice Leader. But rest assured, tomorrow, the day will come when the Kingdom Faction’s Holy Hand Knight Captain, the Legendary NPC, meets his end.”

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Yunchou smiled, his eyes gleaming brightly in the darkness.

“My plan is absolutely foolproof.”

“It better be. If this fails, and those undead commanders realize they’ve been deceived, you’ll be the one to bear the consequences!”

“Relax. I guarantee such a thing will never happen.”

“Good.”

After saying that, the Vice Leader felt the meeting had gone on long enough.

“That’s all for tonight. Get some rest. Tomorrow… will likely be a hard battle.”

He glanced briefly at the two other players present, who had barely spoken a word, then turned to leave.

But just as he was about to go, Yunchou stopped him.

“Wait.”

“Something else?” the Vice Leader asked.

“Nothing serious… just wanted you to pay attention to one particular NPC.”

Yunchou spoke in an offhanded tone.

The Vice Leader, however, couldn’t help but grow alert. As much as he disliked this smug bastard, he knew the man was sharp. If Yunchou told him to take note of someone, there had to be a reason.

“Who?”

“You remember what happened earlier today, when our people were discovered?”

“Of course. We were all there. What about it?”

“I just want you to keep an eye on someone… or rather, on one NPC.”

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“An NPC? Who? That beastman commander?”

“Not the beastman. His kind are all brawn and no brains, not worth our attention.”

“Then who? Spit it out.”

“The one you should be cautious of…”

Yunchou lowered his head, smiling faintly.

“That NPC… no, that little silver-haired loli NPC.”

As Yunchou slowly described her appearance, the Vice Leader immediately thought of the silver-haired girl, Tianyin.

A silver-haired loli, petite in build. Yes, there had been no other NPC fitting that description. It could only be her.

And now that Yunchou mentioned it, the Vice Leader also remembered that this loli had been the one Orgum tried to attack earlier. She was hard to forget.

But Yunchou’s sudden warning made the Vice Leader look at him strangely.

“So that’s what you’re into, huh? A lolicon?”

“This has nothing to do with being a lolicon.”

Yunchou calmly shook his head, unfazed by the Vice Leader’s odd look.

“That loli, when the Guild begins tomorrow’s operation, don’t try to mess with her just because she looks cute.”

“Mess with her? Are you kidding me?”

“Yes. That loli may end up being the one outside variable that could interfere with our plan to surround and kill that Paladin. So unless absolutely necessary, don’t provoke her.”

Yunchou’s words left the Vice Leader and the few other players stunned.

But that was all, they didn’t think much of it. A warning about a cute little NPC didn’t seem like anything important.

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Of course, Yunchou couldn’t force them to take it seriously even if he wanted to.

When everyone else had left, Yunchou’s calm smile slowly faded.

“If I’m not mistaken… you must be… that one…”

He muttered something no one else could understand.

The night passed quietly.

By the next morning, Tianyin was woken up by her loli disciple, Mengyao. She joined the rest of the army and continued their march.

After traveling for some time, a narrow valley suddenly appeared ahead, a path so tight that the only way forward was through it, unless they turned back entirely.

The moment Karl saw the valley, he felt something was off.

If the undead were lying in ambush here… no, wait. If that were the case, as a Paladin, he should have been able to sense their presence from here.

Everything seemed normal, but deep down, Karl couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

“What’s the matter, Karl? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little valley?”

Hearing his hesitation, Orgum’s puzzled voice came from beside him.

“It’s not fear. I just have a vague sense that entering it would be dangerous.”

Though Karl was a Legendary orange-tier Paladin, someone very few could harm, his battle-honed instincts were on edge.

That same instinct had saved his life countless times before.

“Danger, huh? In my opinion, if the undead really wanted to ambush us, they’d do it outside the valley. Once we’re all inside, even if there were several as strong as you, we’d still be wiped out.”

Orgum, though a beastman, understood enough tactics to make a fair point.

“I agree, it feels like there might be an ambush… so…”

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“In that case, I’ll take a small squad to scout around the valley. Once I confirm it’s clear, we can decide whether to go through.”

“Alright…”

Karl hesitated, but eventually nodded. Detouring would risk running into the undead elsewhere, and time was something they couldn’t afford to waste.

About ten minutes later, Orgum returned with his scouting party.

“All clear. No one around the valley.”

Though he was a beastman, Orgum took the scouting task seriously. After checking several times, he finally returned to report his findings.

“No one? Then perhaps I was overthinking things…”

Karl still felt uneasy, but if the scouts had confirmed the area was empty, then an ambush seemed unlikely.

Besides, the undead weren’t known for scheming with such underhanded tricks.

“Alright, then. Since the area seems normal, let’s move. We’ll cross the valley as quickly as possible.”

But just as Karl led the remnants toward the valley—

Not far away, a rather plain-looking player curved his lips into a sinister grin.

“You NPCs really don’t get it, do you? We players have the ability to log in and out right where we stand. It’s practically a cheat…”

Everything was unfolding exactly as he had predicted.

And the time…

Now it’s 11:25.