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Chapter 40: Chesswood (1)

“Wait a bit,” said Derek as he wrote down something while sitting at his desk.

Jeremy waited patiently for a while.

After putting down his pen, Derek skimmed through what he had written.

“‘I wish you good fortune...’ or ‘May atshirai flowers bloom at every step of the way...’ Which sounds better?” asked Derek.

His voice was laced with amusement, and this caused Jeremy’s eyes to widen in surprise.

“You seem to be in a good mood,” commented Jeremy.

“If I had to choose between good and bad, I guess it’s good,” replied Derek.

“Is the person you are addressing male or female?” asked Jeremy.

“It’s a man,” said Derek.

“The former then,” suggested Jeremy.

“But he’s an elf,” remarked Derek.

“Then I suggest the latter,” said Jeremy.

“You have strong prejudices about gender and species,” said Derek laughingly as he raised his pen again.

‘May atshirai flowers bloom at every step of the way’ was a classic well-known expression derived from a Janburuqe epic poem. The atshirai flower crown worn by a victor symbolized a march of victory. It had the same meaning as ‘I wish you good fortune’ but was less formal.

“Do you know how long it has been since I’ve written a letter to resolve an unexpected matter?” asked Derek.

“From my knowledge, it has never happened before,” replied Jeremy.

“Yes, I don’t remember either because it has been so long,” said Derek.

Derek placed the letter in an envelope and stamped his crest over the wax seal. Then he handed it to Jeremy.

“How amusing,” said Derek.

“Even though it has deviated from your expectations?” asked Jeremy.

“By nature, victory is more valuable when you encounter an unexpected problem and overcome it, Jeremy,” said Derek.

Upon taking the letter from Derek, Jeremy realized he did not recognize the name addressed on the envelope.

“Who is this?”

“Who? Our new puppet, that’s who,” said Derek with a laugh. “Since our orc warrior Crockta has disrupted our plans in Arnin, there needs to be a new person to set things straight.”

“Then...”

“The world doesn’t become a clean place just because you eliminate a villain. A new villain will always crawl out eventually. This is how the world works.”

Jeremy nodded. This was why he followed Derek. He had never seen any flaws in Derek’s plans before. Derek could predict everything as if it was all in the palm of his hand and follow up with quick responses, yielding his intended results. This was also the case for what had happened in Arnin. Crockta had handled the matter in unexpected ways, and now Ilya, whom they had carefully invested in, was a criminal about to be imprisoned in Arnin’s basement.

Derek had referred to this series of events as unexpected, but Jeremy didn’t think so. He believed Derek had probably planned many potential solutions to such a problem from the very beginning just in case. He had everything thought out in his mind, and he controlled it all in accordance with his desires.

“Deliver this, and give Crockta information about the next case,” said Derek.

“Even though he violated the contract?” asked Jeremy.

“In a way, I violated it too,” replied Derek.

Crockta had placed a condition in the contract, specifying that he would not perform unjust acts that would go against a warrior’s honor.

“I didn’t know Ilya and Elsanad were such villains. But it wasn’t unexpected, so it’s willful negligence,” said Derek.

“Understood,” said Jeremy.

“I trust you. It would be nice if you could even help Crockta a bit this time,” suggested Derek.

Jeremy nodded as he read the name of the person the letter was addressed to.

The addressee was Plains Administrator Enyanis.

With Ilya and Elsanad’s downfall, Arnin was awaiting a new leader. Regardless of the kind of person they had been until now, whoever accepted Derek’s help next would become Arnin’s new Ilya and Elsanad. Nevertheless, the citizens wouldn’t know about their new leader’s hypocrisy and rave in admiration at their fa?ade of a righteous leader. That was the world Jeremy knew.

***

After Ilya’s and Elsanad’s crimes were revealed, the whole city was enraged and in an uproar with a desire for a fresh start. New politicians claiming they would set Arnin on the right path appeared, and voices began to rise out of the need to clear up the ugly consequences as a result of the past events.

Honorary Citizen Crockta was also the talk of the town, but he no longer appeared in front of people. The orc dismissed all the attention and said he had simply done what he had to do. Praise for Enyanis ensued in response to Crockta’s modest answer as she was the one who had appointed him as an honorary citizen.

Due to Crockta’s new fandom, a statue of ‘Honorary Citizen’ was erected at the Arnin public square. Much to the surprise of Arnin’s visitors, the statue of Arnin’s honorary citizen didn’t look like an elf or a human. Instead, it had the appearance of an orc.

The people of Arnin didn’t put Crockta’s name on the statue to respect his wishes, but every citizen of Arnin knew who the honorary citizen was. The statue expressed the citizens’ trust in him—that if Arnin became corrupt again, the honorary citizen would return and handle the corrupt politicians.

“It’s tiring,” said Crockta.

He had to go into hiding because of his fame. He tried to disguise himself with a bandana or hood, but his conspicuously large orc stature meant he had to limit going out as much as possible.

“You are the only orc in Arnin. It can’t be helped. Are you really planning to leave?” asked Enyanis.

“There is something I must do,” replied Crockta.

“That’s too bad. I hope you could have stayed longer.”

Before this, Derek had—to Crockta’s surprise—informed him about the whereabouts of another of the Haedong Balhae clan’s bases and provided him with information about his next destination, Chesswood. This time, Derek didn’t have any particular demands. His messenger conveyed Derek’s words that Crockta should do whatever he wanted.

Crockta had a hard time assessing Derek’s true intentions, but he decided not to think too deeply about it. He just had to focus on what he had to do.

“I saw you here for the first time,” said Enyanis.

Crockta and Enyanis were standing at the Arnin Plains where they had first met. Enyanis turned her head and looked at the rock where Crockta had left his message—‘A warrior does not attack the unarmed.’

The adrenaline rush that Enyanis had felt when she first saw the message was still a vivid memory in her mind. She had never met anyone like this orc before. Many spouted words about justice, but it was her first time seeing someone who acted on what they said. She was excited about the path this orc would tread in the future.

“Where are you thinking of heading to?” asked Enyanis.

“Chesswood district,” replied Crockta.

“Chesswood...” murmured Enyanis.

Chesswood was human land and a place that would best be called a madhouse. It was a cursed place, but this orc would surely accomplish whatever he needed to do.

“I wish you good fortune. May atshirai flowers bloom at every step,” said Enyanis.

“Thank you,” said Crockta.

Crockta didn’t understand the meaning behind what Enyanis had said, but based on the connotation of her words, it seemed she meant well.

Suddenly, Crockta heard the shouts of those hunting treeters in the plains.

“Ahhhh! Help!”

A man was being chased by a treeter, but Crockta didn’t budge. Things were different now.

Dozens of arrows ripped through the air and pierced the treeter all over its body. It was the work of Yu-Rin, the elf player who had followed Crockta’s footsteps and become a member of the Arnin Plains Rescue Team.

Yu-Rin noticed Crockta’s gaze and winked back. Crockta nodded approvingly. Aside from Yu-Rin, there were other NPCs and players helping those around them. They were dressed in the same red vest that symbolized the plains’ rescue team. Sometimes, when players approached treeters despite lacking the skills to hunt them, the rescue team scolded them and sent them home.

A warm atmosphere circulated through the plains.

“This is your legacy,” said Enyanis.

The number of people who died from hunting treeters had decreased greatly. There was even talk that Arnin’s entry standards for other species would be loosened thanks to Crockta’s contributions as an honorary citizen.

“Then, let’s see each other again sometime,” said Crockta.

It was time for him to leave.

Crockta extended his fist in customary orc greeting, and Enyanis extended her fist in return. The orc greeting felt unfamiliar to her, but as her fist met the orc’s hard skin, her spirits lifted. They exchanged a firm fist bump.

Crockta then turned around and began walking. His huge orc body moved farther and farther away from Arnin. The orc, who had achieved great things in Arnin, had a quiet final moment in the city.

“Whew,” sighed Enyanis with a blank stare.

Suddenly, someone approached her. It was Jeremy, the subordinate that Derek had dispatched. He stood next to Enyanis and whistled.

“Orcs look so scary,” said Jeremy in a mirthful voice.

Enyanis stared at him unsurprised as he smiled. They had already exchanged correspondence previously.

“Anyway, has the noble administrator made up her mind?” asked Jeremy.

“Are you sure about the promise?” questioned Enyanis.

“Of course. We will help you,” assured Jeremy.

“I didn’t expect a mere loan shark to have so much money,” commented Enyanis.

“Watch your words. Derek is more than a loan shark,” warned Jeremy.

Enyanis nodded. “Good, then.”

“It’s a deal.”

“But keep this in mind. Although I will be receiving political funding from your people, I will not allow any unethical transactions.”

“We will see about that,” remarked Jeremy with a wide grin.

Everyone always said the same as Enyanis but only at the beginning.

“Some guys will head over, so discuss the rest with them. I have to go,” said Jeremy.

“To Crockta, perhaps?” asked Enyanis.

“That’s none of your business,” replied Jeremy.

Jeremy stared in the direction where Crockta had disappeared. Although Derek had spoken positively of Crockta, Jeremy couldn’t say the same. He believed there was a need to keep an eye on the unpredictable orc. After all, the orc could go off in any direction at any moment.

***

Yi-An logged off.

He had been playing for a very long time. Despite that, he didn’t feel dizzy or tired at all, which was strange. His body felt refreshed as if he had just woken up from a full night of sleep.

Yi-An looked back on his experiences in Elder Lord. He had been immersed in the game as if he really was Crockta, and his rage regarding the atrocities that had occurred in Arnin had been genuine. Maybe that was why his achievement score had risen dramatically after he visited Arnin. Bringing charges against an NPC of status had allowed Crockta to achieve a high level of influence in Elder Lord. Additionally, his levels had risen with his achievement score, so there weren’t many players in Elder Lord who could belittle him now.

He went out to the living room and turned on the TV. Elder Lord News, which summarized what was going on in Elder Lord, was currently airing. There was news about Arnin’s former mayor, but the report didn’t delve into too much detail. It said Arnin’s mayor and a mayoral candidate had been arrested after being reported by Arnin’s citizens, and that Arnin was now in political turmoil.

“Hmm...” murmured Yi-An while checking his phone.

It was peak hour at his café. He felt like he had entrusted all of the café-related matters to Han Yeo-Ri following the arrival of the part-timer. Yi-An could imagine Yeo-Ri looking at him resentfully. This meant he needed to give her some attention.

Yi-An left the house and got in his car to drive to the café. When he entered the café, he was greeted by Yoo Soo-Yeon, the new part-timer.

“Welcome to Café Reason!” Yoo Soo-Yeon had a hearty voice that lifted people’s spirits.

Yi-An nodded approvingly. Han Yeo-Ri had trained the part-timer well.

Upon seeing Yi-An, Han Yeo-Ri remarked, “You’re here.”

“...!”

Something was off. Han Yeo-Ri’s voice, which used to capture the hearts of customers, sounded glum as if her liveliness had been stolen by Yoo Soo-Yeon. It was a subtle difference, but Yi-An noticed it.

Han Yeo-Ri gave him a strange look and then raised her chin toward a corner of the café. Seeing that, Yi-An shifted his gaze over there.

“...!” Yi-An was surprised once more.

A woman that he knew was drinking coffee with her legs crossed elegantly. She was the successor of the Myeongsong Group, Ji Ha-Yeon. Having seen Yi-An enter the cafe, she smiled as she looked at him.

It was no wonder why there were men in suits outside the café. They were here because of her.

Yi-An walked over to her.

Ji Ha-Yeon spoke first, “You must be busy these days.”

“I’m sure you are busier than me,” replied Yi-An.

“You’re right. But even though I’m busy, I made time for you.”

Then she took a sip of her coffee. This scene looked like a photo shoot featured in a magazine.

“Yi-An-ssi, aren’t you going to drink coffee? Did you grow tired of it because you run a café?” asked Ji Ha-Yeon.

“That’s not it,” replied Yi-An.

“Have you eaten?”

Ji Ha-Yeon had many questions. Nevertheless, Yi-An simply smiled while shaking his head.

“Then do you want to get dinner together? I’ll pay,” said Ji Ha-Yeon.

Yi-An shook his head again, and Ji Ha-Yeon pouted.

“I’m sorry. I’m planning to have dinner with someone else,” said Yi-An.

“With who?”

Instead of replying, Yi-An looked at Han Yeo-Ri, who was making a drink for a customer. He had been planning to buy her a meal because she had been really tired lately.

“Are you two...?” asked Ji Ha-Yeon.

“She’s just my employee,” said Yi-An.

“Hmm...” Ji Ha-Yeon looked suspiciously at Yi-An, who shrugged in response.

Ji Ha-Yeon, who had been caressing her lips as if in deep thought, suddenly asked, “Do you play Elder Lord?”

Yi-An stared at her in surprise.

He had recently learned that the Elder Saga Corporation was an affiliate of the Myeongsong Group. As this question was coming from Ji Ha-Yeon, the heir of the Myeongson Group, it didn’t seem at all like an innocent question.

“Yes,” he replied.

“I see,” said Ji Ha-Yeon.

“What about you?”

“I don’t. Hmm... It’s better if you don’t play as well.”

‘Why would one of Elder Lord’s shareholders say something like that?’ Yi-An tilted his head curiously.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“No, just...” Ji Ha-Yeon dragged out her words.

Ji Ha-Yeon’s father, Ji Eun-Chul, did not allow his family members to play Elder Lord due to safety concerns. It was top-secret information that Elder Lord’s core system was uncontrollable. The capsules’ protection system claimed to guarantee players’ safety, but as a precaution, Ji Eun-Chul strictly forbade his relatives from playing.

It was the Myeongsong Group’s weakness, so the company employed all means possible to find the sole man who could solve this issue—Yoo Jae-Han. However, no one could find his whereabouts.

Ji Ha-Yeon, who couldn’t explain all of this to Yi-An, replied jokingly. “Haha, a person could turn violent if they spent too much time playing games.”

She glanced outside the café, where one of her guards was pointing at his wristwatch. It was time for her next schedule.

Ji Ha-Yeon had been planning to cancel it if Yi-An had accepted her dinner offer, but things didn’t work out today. She sighed.

“I was rejected today as well. Do you hate me?” Ji Ha-Yeon asked.

“No way,” Yi-An replied with a laugh. “We should have dinner next time I’m free.”

“Then let’s settle on a date right now. What about dinner the day after tomorrow?” asked Ji Ha-Yeon eagerly.

“That works.”

“You promised,” Ji Ha-Yeon said and rose from her seat. “Then, see you in two days.”

“Sure thing.”

Ji Ha-Yeon left the café with elegant movements.

After seeing her off, Yi-An stood at the café’s counter. Yoo Soo-Yeon bowed politely to him. She had become a lot more cheerful ever since she received Yi-An’s help and began working at the café.

Han Yeo-Ri also glanced at Yi-An.

She asked, “What do you want to drink? Espresso?”

Her voice sounded flat, but Yi-An grinned.

“Yeo-Ri,” he said.

“Yes.”

“Let’s get something nice to eat after closing the store.”

“Oh, really?”

Han Yeo-Ri’s expression brightened in an instant. She was the type of person who couldn’t hide her emotions.

“Yes.”

“Can we eat something expensive?”

“Yes.”

Han Yeo-Ri nodded happily.

Right then, the automatic door to Café Reason opened, and a customer entered.

Han Yeo-Ri immediately greeted the customer, “Welcome to Café Reason!!!”

Her characteristic liveliness was back. Yi-An couldn’t help but laugh.