The Final Boss Has Returned 142

Chapter 142

“Good. We’ve overcome the biggest hurdle in the negotiation, so it’s time to negotiate the next condition.”

It was Verda who flinched at Drakan’s words.

Does this mean there’s another condition?

Just how much is he planning to squeeze out of us?

Verda spoke to Drakan with a serious expression.

“Let me tell you in advance, I cannot accept a request for another Mythical grade item.”

A Mythical grade material item wouldn’t be a loss.

But asking for another one would be a clear loss.

Argen smacked his lips at Verda’s words.

As the one advocating for a solo raid, he desperately wanted this negotiation to fall apart.

Drakan laughed after hearing Verda’s words.

“I’m not that unscrupulous.”

Verda’s face hardened at Drakan’s words.

He was clearly mocking her, but the problem was that she had nothing to say in response.

Verda bit her lip, and Drakan turned his gaze from her to Eugene.

“Hey, Eugene.”

“Yes, Drakan-nim.”

“I want this cooperation to continue beyond a temporary relationship, all the way to the Hive Mind raid. What do you think?”

Silence fell once again as soon as Drakan finished speaking.

He wants to cooperate until the Hive Mind raid!

Argen was shocked to hear those words.

‘Cooperation until the Hive Mind raid? Is this guy trying to freeload off our power?’

Freeload!

To ride on their coattails to the Hive Mind without putting in much effort!

Argen immediately realized Drakan’s ulterior motive.

But there was nothing Argen could do about it.

Cooperation.

What a beautiful package it is.

Throwing a wrench into the cooperation, which is being done under the absolute value of user safety, was tantamount to making the users’ public opinion their enemy.

That’s why Argen couldn’t do anything.

Having experienced the World Revolution, Argen was one of the people who knew how powerful users could be.

‘It’s a rather boring request, but it’s a problem because it can’t end here.’

Unlike Argen, Verda was looking at Drakan with cold eyes.

He wants to continue cooperation until the Hive Mind raid!

This condition was acceptable to Verda.

Of course, the distribution of raid loot might become a bit of a headache, but conversely, since they would be adding strength to hunt the unknown monster, the Hive Mind, they could reduce the risk by that much.

But Verda knew well that Drakan wasn’t the type of person to end it here.

“That’s what I should be saying.”

And Eugene, sitting in the middle, said to Drakan with a smile.

Eugene’s words were filled with sincerity.

Hive Mind.

Eugene wanted Drakan to participate in the final boss raid of Phase 2.

Of course, to be precise, Eugene wanted the participation of all Over-Rankers, including Drakan, but anyway, Eugene smiled at Drakan who spoke his mind first.

Drakan smiled back at Eugene.

“I’m really glad we’re on the same page.”

As expected, Eugene was still a pushover.

Thinking that, Drakan brought up the next topic.

“And until the Hive Mind raid, I would like you to recognize the relationship between us, Five Eyes and the Dark Alliance, as an alliance with equal standing.”

Equal standing!

Verda’s face hardened at those words.

Drakan.

She saw through his aim.

‘Was this his goal from the beginning?’

Verda’s cold gaze turned towards Drakan.

Five Eyes and Drakan’s Dark Alliance could never be equal.

This was because the power they possessed was worlds apart.

But Drakan shamelessly demanded an equal position.

But just like when the rights to the Mythical grade item were stolen, there was nothing Verda could do this time either.

Eugene.

She knew well that one of the values he cherished most was fairness.

All groups, all guilds have equal standing.

This was Eugene’s belief.

Of course, it was a very idealistic and wonderful thought, but the problem was that having such a thought and building relationships with other organizations would result in losses.

Of course, it was also possible to raise the other party’s position but not give them real power, in other words, to form a relationship that was just for show.

‘The equal standing that Drakan is talking about can’t be just empty words.’

But Verda knew.

Drakan.

She knew that what he wanted wasn’t just empty words.

He definitely wanted to be guaranteed a truly equal position, but again, Verda had no means to stop Drakan.

“That’s only natural.”

And from Eugene’s mouth, who was completely unaware of Verda’s burning insides, came a rather serious statement.

It’s only natural to have equal standing!

Hearing those words, a smile spread across Drakan’s lips.

Truly, everything was going according to his plan.

“Good. Then I guess the negotiations are pretty much over. I look forward to working with you.”

Drakan readily extended his right hand to Eugene first.

Of course, shaking hands with Eugene with a smile wasn’t a particularly pleasant thing for Drakan, but now that he had received so much, he was in a generous enough mood to offer him a handshake first.

Eugene took Drakan’s outstretched hand.

It was the moment when the two tigers would share the mountain.

▄ ▄ ▄

Drakan and Eugene!

The two users representing their respective forces and factions joined hands to conquer the Valley of Origins and the Hive Mind!

The photo capturing the historic moment when Eugene and Drakan shook hands was immediately selected as the best post on the Ard Forum.

The news of this alliance of the century spread like wildfire across the internet.

[Look at the class of this National-Communist Collaboration lol]

[Wow, they’re shaking hands again;;]

[At this point, aren’t they actually close?]

[What are you talking about? It’s just a temporary alliance;]

[Just like they joined forces before, this is just for show lol]

[Wow, I can’t believe it’s going this way lol This is fun lol]

[Time for popcorn lol]

Whatever the truth may be, users who were tired of the stagnant end-game content welcomed the alliance between Eugene and Drakan with open arms.

The Primeval Plateau!

The Hive Mind!

There was no user in Ard World who wasn’t excited about the possibility of finally seeing the end of Phase 2.

[Now we can finally see some content lol]

[Let’s go conquer the Hive Mind!]

[Let’s get a taste of the Primeval Plateau air lol]

As such, while ordinary users were practically throwing a party at the news of the alliance,

The two factions that were suddenly left out in the cold, Xiongmao eSports and Simseong Iron Stars, were struck by an unexpected bolt from the blue.

Simseong Town, Seocho-dong.

A sudden roar echoed through the skyscraper where Simseong Iron Stars was located.

“Drakan joined hands with Eugene?!”

Vice Chairman Shin Jeong-hyeok.

His eyes were bloodshot.

The news that Drakan had formed an alliance, albeit temporary, with Eugene was enough to shock him.

The former Vice Chairman Shin who had only played the role of a financial backer, managing the Simseong Milky Way guild, was different from the current Vice Chairman Shin.

The current Shin Jeong-hyeok had personally jumped into Ard World to catch Drakan.

Just as one has to enter the tiger’s den to catch a tiger, he had to enter Ard World to catch Drakan.

After starting the game, Vice Chairman Shin Jeong-hyeok was fascinated by the infinite possibilities of Ard World.

Only after seeing Ard World, which was no different from another world, did Vice Chairman Shin Jeong-hyeok realize why people were so obsessed with this game.

And that’s why the vengeance lurking in Vice Chairman Shin Jeong-hyeok’s heart burned even more fiercely.

He realized that taking Ard World away from Drakan was the ultimate revenge.

Of course, it couldn’t just stop at eliminating Drakan.

Shin Ha-yeon. To completely destroy the elaborate tower she had built in Ard World was Vice Chairman Shin Jeong-hyeok’s ultimate goal.

‘But unfortunately, in the current situation, we can’t win against them.’

The first thing that Vice Chairman Shin Jeong-hyeok felt after setting his goal was the gap in reality.

This was because he finally realized that there was a stark difference in power between the forces Shin Ha-yeon possessed and his own Simseong Iron Stars, as different as heaven and earth.

That’s why it was even more important to expand Simseong Iron Stars’ influence in the Broken World.

But Drakan and Eugene had backstabbed him in an unexpected place, giving Vice Chairman Shin a big screw-you.

“Didn’t you say there was no chance they would join hands?”

Vice Chairman Shin’s sharp gaze shot towards the executives of Simseong Iron Stars sitting in the conference room.

At his words, not only the executives of Simseong Iron Stars, but even the two Over-Rankers representing Iron Stars closed their mouths.

Drakan and Eugene.

No one had expected them to join hands.

Of course, everyone already knew that the relationship between the two wasn’t that bad.

In fact, they had broadcasted dungeon raids together, went to the otherworld Broken World together, and even traded items.

But that was just between Drakan and Eugene, between two individuals.

Everyone in this room knew better than anyone else that the relationship between individuals and the relationship between organizations were on different levels.

That’s why they hadn’t considered the idea of Drakan and Eugene, no, Five Eyes and Jeil E&M, joining hands.

But their alliance was a reality.

“Boss, we didn’t expect Drakan to pull something like this either. I really thought he was crazy.”

The first to speak at Vice Chairman Shin’s questioning was the Axe King, Paul.

“I’ve heard enough excuses.”

Shin Jeong-hyeok calmed his anger and spoke at Paul’s words.

Shin Jeong-hyeok was by no means stupid.

He knew very well that letting his emotions get the better of him would ruin things.

“We need a countermeasure now.”

As soon as Shin Jeong-hyeok mentioned a countermeasure,

The blonde beauty sitting opposite Paul, the Assassination King Layla, spoke.

“How about forming an alliance with Xiongmao eSports?”

Xiongmao eSports!

Shin Jeong-hyeok’s mind flashed at those words.

That’s right.

They weren’t the only ones who got screwed over by this alliance.

They were the same.

Thinking that far, Shin Jeong-hyeok rose from his seat.

“That’s a good idea.”

“You’re welcome.”

As Layla bowed her head, Shin Jeong-hyeok gave instructions to the chief secretary waiting next to him.

And a few days later, news of a second alliance hit the internet.

Xiongmao eSports and Simseong Iron Stars.

The news was that the two guilds had formed an alliance.