Ch.31″Usually, preparations should be done intensely from the very beginning.”

Meanwhile, at the exact moment our Icarus was constructing three cruisers at once…

There existed a group merely referred to as the “Veteran Players Alliance.”

A coalition whose actual membership and numbers remained unknown to everyone…

…or so it was written.

In reality, it was a massive alliance—a “Clan” formed by gathering over 100 users.

Inside the command center of “Arcadia,” who had proposed creating this clan alliance and was suddenly appointed as the clan leader…

“Should we perhaps send an invitation to this person to join our side?”

“Hmteresting.”

“Hmteresting.”

“Come on, speak properly for once.”

A commanders’ meeting of the clan’s main fleet was underway, discussing the recent chaos in the “Community.”

Of course, the age range of users varied dramatically…

“I dunno, I just think this is good, ya know?”

…and with everyone having completely different character customizations.

There was a commander who looked like a 70-80 year old admiral but spoke like a middle schooler.

“Um, even so, that’s a bit…”

“Haaa… I wonder when that kid will ever come to his senses.”

A muscle-bound commander who looked ready to beat everything up with his bare hands but spoke like a high school girl.

And a 140cm tall girl commander with devil horns who spoke with a Busan-style middle-aged man’s dialect.

“Everyone, please calm down.”

“We didn’t gather here today to fight, did we?”

There was even a commander who seemed to match their beautiful face and voice… until you realized they were actually male.

And an Argonian maid commander who kept wagging her tail.

It was truly a gathering that transcended(?) all races—a sight that would utterly shock Icarus, who had never seen other commanders before.

Of course, they too were initially surprised by each other’s appearances.

But perhaps because a month had already passed since they first saw each other.

Now they had all grown accustomed to it and continued these meetings as part of their routine.

Their boisterous chatting eventually came to a halt when she—seated at what could be considered the head position—raised her head.

With long, silver straight hair flowing down, she had been examining the command console with her head lowered.

The former 4th-ranked player, current rank unknown.

And simultaneously the leader of this massive alliance “Clan”—Arcadia cleared her throat and smiled gently to draw attention.

Naturally, their chatter ceased, and all eyes turned to her.

“Ahem, ahem… First, thank you all for coming. Have you all been well?”

“Well, there’s not much else to do anyway.”

“Besides, we’re all living right next to each other, so there haven’t been any particular issues.”

“True, I agree with that.”

After nodding in agreement with Arcadia’s words, they began to express curiosity about why they had been summoned.

“Anyway, Guild Leader, why did you call us here?”

“Well, actually… do you know what caused the gallery to shut down?”

“Huh? Wasn’t it because of that loser called Melon or whatever?”

Hearing the question from a commander with snow-white hair and an equally long beard, Arcadia wagged a finger and shook her head.

“Such an insignificant person doesn’t matter. What’s important is the opponent who defeated him.”

“Ah… you mean that veteran player!”

At Arcadia’s words, everyone in the command center recalled a post by a certain user who had uploaded proof of acquiring a cruiser.

“But why are you asking about that?”

“It’s impressive that they captured a fleet with an SSS-class cruiser without having any high-tier ships themselves… but couldn’t anyone with some experience do that?”

“I think so too.”

Of course, if Icarus knew they were aware of this, he might have a fit wondering if his base had been bugged.

Unfortunately, the person in question wasn’t present.

Moreover, they had merely been observing the gallery.

They learned about it through information in Melon’s whiny post, right before his insane spamming began.

“Didn’t that idiot try to push in with an artillery cruiser and lose it in a boarding battle against SSS-class characters?”

“Still, he wasn’t completely stupid, was he? Just foolish.”

“…?”

And as the conversation started to veer off-topic again after being left alone for a moment.

Arcadia put down her command console and spoke in the most calm and composed tone she could manage.

“Everyone, please listen to what I have to say first.”

Though she was still smiling.

When a cross-shaped vein popped up on one side of Arcadia’s pretty face.

The commanders who had been chattering among themselves suddenly fell silent as if nothing had happened.

Seeing this, Arcadia nodded and sighed deeply.

Then she quietly placed a console on the table where the commanders were seated and began to speak.

“I only have one thing to tell you. To withstand the upcoming battles with the so-called ‘Villain Alliance’ and the Pirate Empress event… we need to expand our forces even more.”

At Arcadia’s words, all the commanders nodded in agreement.

Though it was agreement only in principle.

“So you want to invite that person to the clan and make them a new asset, Guild Leader?”

“Yes, the more people we have, the better.”

“But all we know about them is that they destroyed a newbie who picked a fight with them.”

“That’s right. And according to that deranged newbie, they haven’t even obtained a cruiser yet?”

“Honestly, while it was impressive, it doesn’t seem worth discussing to this extent.”

Everyone shook their heads and showed negative reactions to Arcadia’s suggestion.

There were some positive aspects, but…

“Maybe we should just wait and see? It seems too early to judge right now.”

“True.”

Even those were more along the lines of “let’s just observe for now.”

Arcadia inwardly sighed at the commanders’ responses but nodded and decided to accept their opinions.

“I see. Then for now, regarding this user Icarus, we’ll just keep an eye on him…”

“Yeah.”

“By the way, since we’re all here, I should mention that the Villain Alliance bastards are threatening to raid one of our resource zones.”

“What?”

“Are they starting again? Then let’s just go and tear them apart—”

But unlike the other commanders who immediately immersed themselves in the next agenda.

In the heart of Arcadia, who had been semi-forcibly elected as the guild leader, a small determination was beginning to rise.

‘Icarus… it must be the same person who helped me before.’

Although he hadn’t contacted her at all until now.

Judging from the post by that idiot Melon or whatever his name was, he must be busy with his own affairs.

So while appropriately responding to what the other commanders were saying, Arcadia was inwardly thinking about how she could help Icarus.

Or how she could bring him into this guild she had created and keep him close, these thoughts were gradually forming in her mind.

‘Wait for me, Mr. Icarus… I’ll definitely help you.’

==========

Meanwhile, at the same time.

-Shudder!

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong, Commander?”

“Oh, nothing… I just suddenly felt a chill down my spine.”

I had to experience a sudden chill that made my spine tingle.

Naturally, seeing me like this, Jessica showed a concerned attitude.

“Commander, even though the base medical bay’s nanomachines are versatile… you still need to take proper care of your condition.”

“Mmm.”

I nodded at Jessica’s words and asked her to brew me a cup of herbal tea, just in case.

While thinking it might be early symptoms of a cold and it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared.

At the same time wondering if colds even existed in a game.