The Final Boss Has Returned 19

Chapter 19

“There are several reasons why Eugene hasn’t been able to take care of the Pirate Alliance, but the biggest reason is that the Pirate Alliance isn’t a guild created by users, but rather an in-game faction centered around the Pirate King, who is an NPC.”

Faction.

As Team Leader Lee said, factions and guilds were different concepts.

If a guild is a kind of interest group that didn’t originally exist in the game’s setting, formed with users at its core, then a faction can be considered a force closer to the background setting of Ard World, formed primarily by NPCs.

Users can enjoy content by utilizing factions in various ways, such as increasing their reputation with a faction to receive quests, accumulating contribution points to rent items or NPC troops, or even joining a faction to become a member.

Of course, because the Ard Saga series boasts high freedom, guilds established by users can also attain the status of a faction within the game through means such as establishing a nation, usurping the throne, or staging a revolution. However, the ‘faction’ that most users refer to doesn’t carry that meaning, but rather refers to organizations that originally existed in Ard World, such as kingdoms, empires, and magic towers.

“Eugene strictly regulates unmannerly behavior and PK between users, but he doesn’t intervene in the atrocities committed by factions like the Pirate Alliance. This is because factions are one of the components that make up Ard World, and Eugene himself refrains from artificially interfering with the components of Ard World as much as possible, unless there’s a justifiable reason like a quest.”

“That’s how he deals with Ard World, this game.”

After hearing the explanation, I nodded.

Eugene. Because I knew well how he treated this game, I could understand immediately why he didn’t intervene in the Pirate Alliance’s atrocities as soon as I heard the story.

What he wanted was to protect another world called Ard World, like a natural monument or a national park.

The reason Eugene is sensitive to the evil deeds committed by users, yet remains silent on the evil deeds committed by NPCs, is ultimately an extension of that thought process.

Users and NPCs are different.

Users were outsiders to Ard World, coming from the real world, but NPCs were the natives of Ard World.

Therefore, the evil deeds of users negatively affect Ard World, but the evil deeds of NPCs are simply one of the components of Ard World.

That’s how he thinks.

“And the Pirate King’s Pirate Alliance is a powerful faction. To the extent that, excluding Eugene and his allied guilds, no other guild can guarantee victory against the Pirate Alliance.”

“So you’re saying that the power of users hasn’t surpassed the power of NPCs yet?”

“That’s correct. As of now, the power and influence held by NPCs and factions in Ard World are much stronger than the power held by users and guilds. This is because it’s only been two years since Ard Saga Second was released.”

NPCs are stronger than users!

This was the same in the previous game.

Until I and the Iron Blood Alliance succeeded in the Rebellion Quest, usurped the throne of the Saxen Kingdom, and monopolized the power of a nation.

In Ard World, NPCs were much stronger than users, and the power of factions like kingdoms and magic towers was much stronger than that of guilds.

Of course, even if it wasn’t me, as time passed, there would have definitely come a time when the total power of users surpassed the total power of NPCs, but it seems that time hasn’t come yet in Ard Saga Second.

“Furthermore, Eugene and the Lightwing Guild are currently busy carrying out the Legacy Quest and don’t have the time to worry about external affairs.”

Legacy Quest!

I also knew some information about that quest.

It’s a quest where you inherit the legacy based on the achievements your character made in the previous game, and it’s said that a Legacy Character who completes the Legacy Quest becomes so strong that it’s not an exaggeration to say they’re a completely different character compared to before.

‘After that guy finishes the Legacy Quest, he’ll be even stronger than he is now.’

I clearly remembered the information that Eugene was progressing through the Legacy Quest.

“For these reasons, Eugene is leaving the Pirate Alliance alone.”

Team Leader Lee’s explanation ended.

Silence filled the room, and I looked at Team Leader Lee and asked,

“What are our chances of winning this war?”

“If we simply compare the military strength of Lawless Port, not the entire Pirate Alliance, with the strength of JDG, JDG has the advantage.”

At Team Leader Lee’s words, everyone focused their attention on him.

“However, Lawless Port is a strategically important military base and a commercially important port city for the Pirate Alliance. Therefore, we can’t rule out the possibility that the Pirate Alliance will send support to Lawless Port, and if that happens, our chances of winning will decrease.”

However, Team Leader Lee’s following prediction was this, and Ignis didn’t refute Team Leader Lee’s words.

Since the entire force of the Pirate Alliance was said to be stronger than Eugene, it was natural that JDG alone couldn’t gain an advantage over the Pirate Alliance.

“Then we need to bring in others.”

At my words, everyone’s eyes turned to me.

A look of question appeared on Ignis’s face, cold sweat dripped down Team Leader Lee’s forehead, and Shin Ha-yeon was wearing an unreadable smile.

“If you mean others…… who are you talking about?”

The first to break the sudden silence and ask a question was Ignis.

I looked directly at Ignis, who was trying to hide his bewildered expression, and answered,

“The general users of the East.”

My bombshell declaration broke Ignis’s poker face.

“What do you mean?”

Ignis asked back in a dumbfounded voice.

I looked at Ignis and answered,

“It’s a tactic that Eugene, that bastard, often uses. Sharing large-scale quests as if he’s doing a favor, and then mobilizing users to participate in his quest strategy.”

I recalled the past.

Eugene, that bastard, was famous for sharing large-scale quests similar to the ones I received with general users.

Users were happy to be able to participate in rare large-scale quests thanks to his quest sharing.

However, in my opinion, the reality was nothing more than him using users as pawns in quests that would normally be impossible to clear, pushing through with sheer numbers for his own benefit, and then taking all the sweet rewards for himself.

“Who says I can’t do that?”

I laughed.

Someone once said this.

Your enemy is your best teacher!

And I completely agreed with those words.

Just like I learned from that bastard in the previous game, I too will mobilize general users for the war.

“But unlike Eugene, Drakan-nim’s reputation isn’t very good, is it? Even if Drakan-nim calls for users, who would respond?”

Ignis retorted at my words.

“You’re right. My reputation isn’t that great.”

I readily admitted Ignis’s words.

The reason Eugene, that bastard, was able to mobilize general users for quests was because of his good reputation.

On the other hand, I wasn’t.

Steel Monarch Drakan. Leader of the Iron Blood Alliance!

The ruthless dictator of Ard World!

There was nothing about this name that users would find appealing.

“But right now, the reputation of those bastards in the Pirate Alliance is even worse than mine.”

I was a figure of the past, a danger that had already passed.

But the Pirate Alliance was different.

They were a present threat, a public enemy of the eastern users.

“Moreover, Ard Saga Second is a game. The most important thing in a game is fun, and that’s what users want.”

I said, looking at Ignis.

Fun!

That was the truth that held true six years ago, and even now.

The reason users play games is because they’re fun!

Of course, the standard of fun would differ from person to person, but essentially, that was the point.

“And war is one of the most exciting content among the numerous content in Ard Saga. Furthermore, the opponent in this war is the villain who dominates the eastern region! This is a very attractive event where you can have fun and claim the title of a righteous hero……”

I scoffed.

War.

One of the top-ranked content among the numerous content in Ard Saga, a big event enjoyed by all users!

Because Ard World was reality, but not reality, people enjoyed war.

In other words, if I shared the quest and started a war event, users would line up to participate just for the fun of it.

Besides, was this war just any war?

It was a righteous war to reclaim Lawless Port, an important base of operations for the evil Pirate Alliance that ruled the eastern seas and coastlines, engaging in looting, arson, and murder!

It was truly a god-tier event where you could gain both justification and profit.

“But to throw away the opportunity to participate in such a big event just because of the organizer’s reputation? That’s nonsense.”

When I finished speaking, Ignis closed his mouth.

He knew it too.

That my words were true.

Fun!

What users pursued was that very fun.

I was convinced that this war content would draw enough interest and attention from users to overshadow my reputation, and that ultimately, users would participate in my quest.

“However, if you share the quest with general users, the quest completion reward given to Drakan-nim may decrease.”

Following Ignis, it was Team Leader Lee who spoke to me.

The quest completion reward may decrease.

Of course, he was right.

There was a reason why I didn’t share quests with general users in the previous game.

“It doesn’t matter.”

But it wasn’t a big deal to me now.

“If we win this war, the public sentiment of the eastern users will turn in my favor.”

The Pirate Alliance, the evil force that was stirring up the entire East!

Whether intentionally or not, Eugene had been neglecting them, and it was clear that the eastern users harbored considerable resentment towards Eugene, knowingly or unknowingly.

It was only natural, considering that Eugene, who claimed to be the guardian of Ard World and a righteous hero, was bound by his own principles and unable to subdue the Pirate Alliance, which was causing immense harm to the eastern users.

Of course, there were various circumstances behind it, but from the perspective of the eastern users who were currently in hot water, Eugene’s circumstances wouldn’t be very important.

‘Eugene, you were wrong!’

Not interfering in the affairs between users, but artificially intervening in the components of Ard World like NPCs or factions.

That policy was a fairly decent principle, at least in the previous game.

Because in the previous game, you could resurrect even if you died!

If your character died, you could just think of it as stepping in shit!

But it wasn’t the same in Second.

If your character died, resurrection was impossible.

Everything you had built up in Ard World would disappear.

In such a situation, the weight of the Pirate Alliance, which was killing and plundering eastern users left and right, was incomparably greater than in the previous game, and the resentment that users felt towards the Pirate Alliance was undoubtedly unimaginably deep.

Because unlike the previous game, if you died to pirates, your game life would end there.

However, Eugene was adhering to the same principles as the previous game without considering this.

Well, fundamentally, it was the right thing to do, but it could be said to be a frustrating aspect that didn’t resonate with the hearts of the users suffering at the hands of the Pirate Alliance.

The discrepancy between ideals and reality.

I intended to seize the opportunity and exploit the gap that bloomed within Eugene.

“I will solve the Pirate Alliance that Eugene couldn’t solve, and the public sentiment of the East will naturally follow me……”

Simply put, it’s refreshing!

I intended to give the eastern users the refreshing feeling that the rigid, inflexible, and principle-abiding fool Eugene could never provide.

“This is a profitable deal even if I have to give up a portion of the quest reward. Don’t you think?”

Public sentiment.

I knew very well how strong the power of public opinion was.

Six years ago.

In the great war that decided the hegemony of Ard World, now called the World Revolution, the power of general users, united and materialized around Eugene and the Infinite Eugene Church, was beyond imagination.

It was enough to bring down the Iron Blood Alliance and the Guild Alliance, which had ruled Ard World by force until then, and even send me, a top-ranked player, to a fishing boat.

If only I could obtain that powerful and overwhelming power.

This measly quest reward, I wouldn’t mind giving up a portion, or even all of it.

No, rather, clinging to the quest reward itself was a very short-sighted and outdated way of thinking.

I knew this well because I had fallen while pursuing only my own interests without paying attention to public opinion.

To truly reign at the top of the rankings.

To topple Eugene, that bastard.

And to maintain the hegemony I hold.

I had to make that powerful force of public opinion mine.

I shouldn’t be obsessed with the trivial gains in front of me and ruin the big picture!

I shouldn’t take the public opinion of users lightly!

That was the lesson I learned from my devastating defeat six years ago.

As soon as I finished speaking, as if she had been waiting, Shin Ha-yeon jumped up from her seat and started clapping.

Shin Ha-yeon gave me a smile while giving a standing ovation.

After finishing the applause, Shin Ha-yeon looked around and said in a cold voice,

“Team Leader Lee. Ignis.”

At Shin Ha-yeon’s call, the two men answered respectfully.

She looked at them and instructed,

“You heard what Drakan-nim said, right? Plan well and proceed with this.”

One word.

With just one word from her, the conclusion of the meeting was reached without any objection.

I smiled as I watched the scene.

The Lawless Port Recapture War!

That battle, which would be the turning point in reversing public opinion towards me, felt like it was just around the corner.