Chapter 352

Chapter 352. News of Victory (8)

“The smell is just awful.”

I wrinkled my nose as I looked at the dark-tinted Cretolls.

“For heaven’s sake… they really did steal the drugs…!”

Eisa struggled to control his anger, his face flushed with rage, and he trembled violently.

“Check the inventory and arrest all involved!”

While Eisa and the association staff sprang into action, I leaned against the entrance, lost in thought.

‘We found it sooner than expected.’

It took just two days to locate the stolen drugs.

Camellia, who could use Finelpenia’s authority, had assisted me, making it surprisingly easy.

I wondered why they had committed such an easily discoverable act.

“Unbelievable, the association officials had planned it from the start.”

The affair involved more than just players affiliated with the regulatory bureau.

Even Persona, whom I thought of as Lily’s close associate, as well as several well-known players, were caught up in it.

They had been preventing Finelpenia’s authority from being involved right from the start.

Of course, Sniper had noticed this and tried to tackle the issue, but…

‘They were a step ahead.’

They exposed a civilian political assassination case that I had suspected for some time.

Until then, Persona had turned a blind eye, as the deaths of traitors weren’t necessarily negative for them.

‘Maybe they planned this after realizing Sniper was secretly killing politicians.’

I wasn’t particularly interested in the intricacies of those relationships.

‘This is a good opportunity for us.’

I intended to use this issue to extract Sniper.

The reason I had been careful not to get involved with Sniper initially was due to concerns that other players might be affected.

If someone else could take the fall for Sniper’s crimes…

‘Things would be different.’

If they’re playing dirty tricks, why can’t we?

Just as they silenced Sniper and manipulated the investigation to their liking, we could do the same in return.

I had already informed Eisa and Lily of the plan.

‘Once the Mexican front is tidied up, Lily will wrap things up.’

I turned away from Eisa, who rampaged through the warehouse like an enraged bull.

Remaining here was less effective than sticking to the plan and going after those manufacturing Cratoll.

The only solution to Cratoll prevention was to hunt them down systematically unless the monster’s blood was completely eradicated from the earth.

‘Recently, it seems they take over entire holes and use them bit by bit.’

I had no intention of searching high and low to find them.

‘Even with blood, they can’t make it without the drug.’

South America, including Mexico, was already classified as a danger area.

The newly tidied front line stood firm.

Most civilians had already fled.

So, there was no reason to hesitate.

‘Let’s burn it all down.’

By doing so, we could delay the next cultivation, at least temporarily.

Using such an aggressive method was better to cut off Cratoll for the time being.

I also hoped to reduce those addicted to drugs during this time.

‘After all, this is a time of war with an overflow of deaths, so it might actually be a good thing.’

This was not a humane approach.

‘But it’s the most effective way in the current situation.’

In the past, I might have hesitated to make this choice.

Yet, as I staked even the lives of my family to lay the groundwork for victory, I had no hesitation in this decision.

Thus began the endeavor to burn all drug cultivation sites in South America.

A grand endeavor lasting a fortnight.

* * *

As always, when one issue ends, another begins.

After resolving the drug problem, the embezzlement of spirit stones needed attention.

“Honestly, K, had rumors of your death not spread, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”

I hadn’t expected to hear such absurd nonsense along the way.

“They were already discussing taking over the mine by force without waiting for you. So what’s wrong with me securing my share first?”

I retorted shortly to the person ranting in my ear.

“Stop being so petty.”

“What?”

“You bet on my death, and the other two guild leaders bet on my survival.”

They blabbered about how they’d seize or not seize the mine.

Yet, this guy was the only one who actually did.

The others figured the risk of me returning alive was too great a gamble.

“Now that the result of the bet is clear, you should accept it. I’ll give you two days to clear out your guild members.”

“…… Do as you wish. I have no intention of backing down.”

His determined attempts to hold strong were admirable, but it wouldn’t take long for him to realize how foolish a choice he’d made.

“Alright then. Try holding out.”

Once all his guild members returned utterly defeated, he would have no choice but to realize.

The association’s proclaimed rules of non-intervention in player conflicts were still valid.

‘As long as mutual death isn’t involved, the association won’t intervene in player conflicts.’

As long as they didn’t kill each other, removing his guild from the spirit stone mine wouldn’t be an issue.

I had already notified him, and seeing no further need to converse, I hung up the call.

“That’s one issue resolved…”

It was time to deal with the next problem.

I spoke as I put my smartphone back into my pocket, addressing the line of Alphas currently alive in front of me.

“Looks like everyone’s gathered. Shall we begin?”

The beginning of the issue was due to Hasan’s tattle-tale report.

The Alpha caught colluding with Fabian in the past and now subject to my command.

“Why am I the only one dragged out when others are making excuses and slacking off?”

“If you’re going to crack down, do it on everyone!”

His plea echoed the unjustness of his situation, enduring purification alone to exhaustion, and he wanted those shirking with excuses to suffer the same hell.

For someone like me, whose only goal was victory, there was no reason to refuse.

“I’ve been hearing about Alphas slacking in purification recently.”

I figured I’d need to register every surviving Alpha under me today.

This way, whenever they tried to slack off, I’d be able to control them fully.

However, I doubted the other Alphas desired the same.

“What business do you have with us?”

“Yeah, the fact that you’re a formidable player is acknowledged, but you don’t have authority over us.”

“We’re Alphas, just like you.”

The rebellion flared almost as soon as I broached the matter.

But what difference would it make?

“I’ll start with you then.”

There wasn’t a soul here capable of resisting my might.

Maintaining my smile, I stood from my seat, taking deliberate steps toward the player who showed the most spirited dissent.

The pressure unnerved him, making him flinch and step back unwittingly.

Not only was he frightened, but he displayed it plainly.

With me having gained the upper hand in psychological warfare, what would happen next was obvious.

Bam!

I seized his collar and slammed my fist into his face.

Was there resistance? Of course.

Counterattacks flew occasionally.

Players resorting to magic was a natural scene.

The ones daring enough to confront me knew they were next once this mess ended.

“So you are all deciding to go together? Makes it easier for me.”

I beat those joining the chaos, without prejudice or discrimination.

From the outset, I never intended to resolve matters with words or dialogue.

Today’s intent was to ensure no one left this place without submitting to me.

Fortunately, getting this under control didn’t take long.

Those with lower purification levels within the Silver ranks didn’t even attempt to join, and the Gold ranks who dared…

“Ugh….”

“Tsk…”

… ended up sprawled across the floor.

Such was the stark difference in level.

“Tch… What are you doing?! We’re Alphas! You think the association will just overlook this?”

Some still clung to their misguided hopes.

I addressed that poor delusion out of sympathy.

“How did you get here?”

“Well…!”

They had surely been summoned by the association.

Once I pointed that out, he froze stiffly, seeming to come to a realization.

‘He must have thought the association is some noble guardian.’

That is definitely not the case. The player association is simply the biggest entity resonating with my intentions.

Technically, Lily, who influences the association the most, shares my intentions.

And our goal isn’t achieving justice but victory.

Today’s gathering of Alphas was possible thanks to Lily’s command.

‘It also means today’s violence is endorsed and supported by the association.’

As long as I didn’t kill them, the association had no reason to intervene.

After scanning the victims of violence, I murmured quietly.

“I pampered them too much.”

Because I coddled those who excelled in selection exams, they were quick to develop a sense of privilege.

Their mindset was utterly appalling.

“Tsk.”

Clicking my tongue, I shook off my blood-soaked hand as I spoke.

“Anyone else?”

Lacking the courage to act directly but unwilling to let me have my way, the Silver Ranks who watched nervously, hoping those who confronted me would succeed, started trembling collectively.

It wasn’t difficult to register them under my mantle.

‘I can now pinpoint how much purification they do day by day and know when they try to slack off.’

Having achieved the goal, spending more time here became unnecessary.

“I trust you’ll all sincerely commit to purification.”

I attempted a positive approach, though I didn’t fancy more violence.

The reply, however, was a meek “Yes” from just one person.

Obviously, another demonstration was needed, so I pressed the Forced Submission button.

“Argh!”

“Aaaargh!”

“Ugh, gasp! Enough!”

All but the one who replied and Hasan writhed in pain, succumbing to the anguish.

Looking down upon them, I mused quietly.

Frankly speaking, I had much to say about what they claimed was their ‘authority’.

‘These Alphas, who rose thanks to the divinity I earned, have far too much to say.’

They became Alphas only because I created that opportunity.

Thus, I believed I had the authority to intervene.

Finding it tedious to explain every minute detail, I used the simplest means—actions and force—to gradually add these Alphas to my list.

Thanks to that, the matter was resolved swiftly and effortlessly.

Lowering myself down slowly, I grasped the hair of the one sprawled nearest and lifted his head, meeting his eyes.

The player’s breath steadied as if just freed from the pain. But his body stiffened with the realization.

With our eyes locked, I remained silent, holding the position for a while.

Until, eventually…

“I won’t claim to be an antihero for the greater good.”

I merely compelled them because their sacrifice was necessary.

For victory in war, players’ chaos levels must be managed.

And if squeezing these scarce Alphas is necessary, I would do it willingly.

“I trust you’ve all understood my words.”

I released the player’s hair and rose to my feet.

“Don’t use injuries as an excuse to slack off, and disperse now.”

With those words, I stepped aside.

I anticipated whispers of tremendous curses and criticisms about me afterward.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

As long as the end of the war is within sight, enduring this much talk should be manageable.

‘No.’

It’s fitting to endure it. Better to overcorrect preemptively than to be hampered elsewhere.

‘That’s enough.’

Indeed, that was enough.

Damned System