Volume 2, Chapter 9 – Defection

In the game, magic was divided by rank, from the lowest G to the highest EX, the same grading used for attributes and skills.

However, once a spell reached a certain rank, its destructive power became enough to destroy the heavens and the earth. Magic of that magnitude was called Forbidden Magic.

And beyond Forbidden Magic existed something greater still, powers that could forcibly alter the world’s laws of operation themselves, godlike forces as the native NPCs described them.

B-class magic was the highest tier right below Forbidden Magic.

Although the Paladin Karl was a Legendary-tier Paladin, B-class spells were still second only to Forbidden Magic. And with those players from the Guild Kongjing tossing them out as casually as garbage…

Tens of thousands of B-class spells, even a Legendary-tier being couldn’t emerge unscathed.

But just as those spells were about to strike Karl, both the Paladin in the sky and all those countless colorful spells that filled the heavens stopped completely still at once…

“What… what is that…”

Tianyin stared blankly at the sight before her. In her mind, even Samael, who always remained calm and composed, let out a rare sound of shock.

No one knew what was happening. Tianyin didn’t know, Samael didn’t know, and none of the ordinary NPCs around her had any idea either.

But there were some who did.

In another location, Yunchou silently observed the scene from his hidden vantage point. As if he had foreseen it all, his bright eyes showed no ripples, and only a faint smile appeared on his lips.

“As expected of the Guild that tops the Wealth Rankings… even an almost priceless pseudo-divine scroll, Time Stop, they actually brought it out…”

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As his languid voice faded, a cold voice followed.

The speaker was the same Vice Guild Leader who had been following Tianyin earlier.

“What did you expect? The power behind this Guild isn’t something a newcomer like you could possibly comprehend. So if you’ve got any stray thoughts, I suggest you put them away.”

“You say that, but hearing it only makes me more curious… I’d like to know what kind of existence stands behind our Guild.”

“Don’t you know the more you learn, the quicker you die?”

“Oh, I know that. But don’t you also know? The more mysterious and unknown something is, the more people desire to uncover it, to seek and to understand…”

Yunchou spoke leisurely, his expression calm and unbothered.

“Well then, Vice Guild Leader, it’s time to reap the rewards. That Legendary-tier Paladin’s equipment… it’s about time we collected it.”

With that, Yunchou stood up and began walking slowly toward the still battlefield.

Watching his back as he walked away, the Vice Guild Leader hesitated for a few seconds before following after him.

“Legendary-tier Paladin… killing him won’t just drop Legendary-grade skill books, but could even drop a full set of Legendary equipment.”

Listening to Yunchou’s casual tone, the Vice Guild Leader couldn’t help but feel uneasy for some reason.

“There’s something I’ve always wondered about. All this… mobilizing so many people and resources… just for a single Legendary skill and a set of Legendary gear? It all seems excessive… like overkill.”

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As they walked toward the battlefield, Yunchou continued speaking in that same relaxed tone.

“True, I executed the plan, but I wasn’t the one who initiated it.”

“…”

The Vice Guild Leader looked at Yunchou curiously, a vague sense of dread creeping into his heart.

“Vice Guild Leader, do you know why the Guild went to such lengths just to orchestrate the death of one Paladin?”

“How would I know Guild matters like that? Yunchou, I only know that our task is to kill that Legendary-tier Paladin already trapped by the pseudo-divine scroll.”

“Of course. The Paladin must die.”

Yunchou smiled.

“And the loot from his corpse, the equipment, we’ll be taking that too.”

That word, “we,” gave the Vice Guild Leader a strange feeling.

Because according to Yunchou’s usual speech patterns, he would’ve said “our Guild,” or directly “the Guild.”

But this time, it was just “we”…

In that instant, the Vice Guild Leader caught on to what Yunchou really meant.

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“Yunchou, if you want to die, fine, but don’t drag me down with you. You really think you can take what belongs to the Guild all by yourself?”

Yes. He understood now.

Yunchou wanted to take everything for himself, or to be exact, their group.

Even after being exposed, Yunchou just smiled.

“Well then, Vice Guild Leader, what about you? You and I are the only ones in charge here. If we work together, everything could be ours, don’t you think?”

“Impossible. Give up that thought. I will never betray the Guild. Yunchou, I’ll pretend this conversation never happened. But if you bring it up again, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

The Vice Guild Leader’s gaze was sharp. At the moment, all the Guild players were at the frontlines, so only the two of them knew about this conversation.

“Well, well, I understand what you’re really thinking, Vice Guild Leader. But tell me honestly, are you truly loyal to the Guild?”

“Yunchou!”

The Vice Guild Leader’s voice rose in anger.

Yunchou only narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Vice Guild Leader… don’t you want to know what could make me suddenly decide to betray the Guild?”

“You see… Last night, I had no such thoughts. But today, I do.”

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“So, Vice Guild Leader… Do you want to know why?”

“What… what is it?”

After a long silence, the Vice Guild Leader finally asked. Then Yunchou explained.

“Hehe, looks like you’re curious after all. The reason is quite simple, really. I don’t have time to explain everything, but I can tell you the key point…”

“That is…”

“When a Legendary-tier NPC dies, they drop something that players can use, a Legendary-tier Attribute Template.”

“And if I’m not mistaken…”

“That attribute template can also… synchronize with a real, physical body…”

Shock filled the Vice Guild Leader’s mind.

“What… that’s… that’s impossible…”

His expression twisted into something indescribable.