Debuff Master

Chapter 405

The details of the item Emperor Stuttgart had mentioned were as followed.

[Essence of Decayed Blood]

[A tiny orb filled with the Curse of Decay virus.]

[Type: Consumable]

[Rating: Legendary]

[Price: 100,000 gold]

[Warning: The orb will haphazardly spread the Curse of Decay if damaged. Please handle it with care.]

The Essence of Decayed Blood was a bio-weapon Siegfried had obtained after killing the Leper King, Balduinus. It held the power to turn the inhabitants of an entire city into ghouls if it was mixed into the city’s water supply.

‘Hold on! That’s not what’s important right now!’

The details of the Essence of Decayed Blood were not important right now as what Siegfried really wanted to know was how Emperor Stuttgart knew about it.

How did Emperor Stuttgart, who was an NPC, know that Siegfried obtained the Essence of Decayed Blood?

However, the emperor seemed to have read his thoughts.

“You don’t have to be so surprised. The fact that you possess the Essence of Decayed Blood is already widely known, is it not?” Emperor Stuttgart said with a smile.

“Pardon me...?”

“I believe you have revealed this in your world.”

‘Ah! G-Tube!’

Siegfried recalled he uploaded the raid video on G-Tube to expose the despicable deeds of Chae Hyung-Seok. In other words, Emperor Stuttgart's eyes and ears reached the real world even though he was just an NPC.

Who would have known a mere NPC would be aware of things going on in the real world?

As expected of the strongest NPC in the game...

“I also know that you have the vaccine and cure for the curse.”

“Yes, I do, sire.”

“I’m confident those will come in handy, and that moment will come a few hours later.”

“Pardon me, sire...?”

“We have chatted for too long. Then, if you will excuse me.”

Emperor Stuttgart looked around the venue and went up to the podium.

‘Heok!’

Siegfried gasped in horror after looking around as well.

‘Everyone’s looking this way!’

All of the rulers present in the venue were intently watching the conversation between the two, and it seemed that everyone was curious about what kind of conversation the most powerful man on the continent was having with the weakest king on the continent.

'Ah! It seems the emperor favors Siegfried van Proa!’

‘There’s something between them! I can smell it!’

‘Hmm... It seems I have to stay on good terms with Siegfried van Proa. You don't mess with someone favored by the emperor.’

The rulers were convinced Siegfried was favored by Emperor Stuttgart and that the two of them were on excellent terms. Thus, they reminded themselves to behave in front of Siegfried from now on and try to treat him as friendly as possible.

Siegfried’s standing among the rulers instantly skyrocketed to the top after everyone misunderstood that he was being favored by the emperor!

Then, his newfound fame gave him a new title.

Ding!

A message popped up in front of his eyes.

[Alert: You have obtained a new title!]

The moment the new title popped up in front of his eyes...

‘Ah... N-Noooooo!’ Siegfried despaired inside.

***

‘Ack! Aaaaaaack!’

He couldn't scream as the World Peace Conference was ongoing, and Emperor Stuttgart was about to deliver a speech.

“Eup! Euuup!” Siegfried suppressed his urge to scream in fear of receiving another humiliating title.

[Alert: You have obtained the title Nepo King!]

Fortunately, the title this time was not that bad.

Of course, Nepo King sounded a bit negative from a certain angle, but it was something he could live with.

[Nepo King]

[A title given to those with strong connections.]

[The only way to obtain this title is to build relationships with powerful and influential people.]

[Type: Title]

[Rating: Unique]

[Effects: +200 Affinity with NPCs, +20% Chance NPCs will find you intimidating, +99% Chance a head of security will agree to dine with you, +99% Chance a head of security will agree to go to the sauna with you, +99% Chance a head of security will agree to go drinking with you, +99% Chance a head of security will eat, drink, and go sauna with you while closing one eye on any crimes you commit.]

[Warning: You might obtain a negative title if you abuse this title!]

The Nepo King title made Siegfried feel like he had to be brazen and shout “I eat, drink, and go sauna with your Head of Security!” or something like that.[1]

‘It’s not bad at all,’ Siegfried thought after reading the perks of the title. He was certain a day would come when this title would come in handy.

He went back to his seat.

The speech of the World Peace Conference’s chairman, Emperor Stuttgart, finally started.

“It is an honor to host all of you here today. I hope the remainder of the conference will be a pleasant time for everyone. Thank you.”

Emperor Stuttgart’s speech was shorter than any of the other rulers.

‘He finds it bothersome...!’ Siegfried could easily tell the emperor could not be bothered with making a speech.

***

The banquet started after the emperor's speech. All sorts of delicacies prepared by the best chefs on the continent were systematically arranged on the banquet tables. The rulers enjoyed food that most commoners would never get to taste in their lives, and these delicacies were paired with liquors costing thousands of gold coins per cup.

‘Just how much did they spend on this event alone? Damn... What a way to waste money... They should’ve just fed the poor with all of this...’ Siegfried shook his head and clicked his tongue inwardly after realizing the event cost an astronomical sum.

Siegfried disliked how extravagant the banquet was. Yes, he enjoyed luxuries, too, but this banquet simply went too far in terms of extravagance. These rulers probably enjoyed all sorts of luxuries in life, so did they really have to waste so much money on this single banquet?

‘Well, you can do what you want with your money... It’s not like you’re using mine...’ Siegfried grumbled inwardly before he made his way to Oscar.

“Dame Oscar.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I am fine.”

She said she was fine, but her cheek was a bit swollen.

“I will avenge you.”

“Your Majesty, please do not trouble yourself over someone like me.”

“I don’t want to?”

“Your Majesty!”

“I won’t forgive anyone that lays their hands on my people. I’m going to make him pay dearly one day, so don’t even think of stopping me,” Siegfried said.

“But, Your Majesty...”

“Slapping you is no different from slapping me.”

Siegfried believed that an attending knight represented their liege, and slapping Oscar was no different than slapping him.

“Hey, it’s fine. Don’t be so uptight!” Taycan appeared out of nowhere and tried to console Siegfried. “That guy has always been infamous for having a bad temper.”

“Mind your own business.”

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of getting revenge?”

“Oh, how did you know?”

“You’re going to end up—“

“I told you to mind your own business,” Siegfried cut him off and picked up a plate to get some food.

“King Siegfried! Are you alright? Please do not let that get to you!”

“This is our first time meeting, but do you recognize me by any chance?”

A few of the rulers approached Siegfried and tried to chat with him or propose a toast.

“But what is your relationship with Emperor Stuttgart? It seems that the emperor favors you a lot!”

Some of them were curious about his relationship with the emperor.

‘W-We’re actually not that close, but...’ Siegfried was a bit flustered by the misunderstanding, but he decided to just let it be.

“It is nothing great. His Imperial Majesty is just showing grace to the poorest and weakest kingdom on the continent. As all of you might be aware, His Imperial Majesty is a very benevolent person!”

“Do you really think so? Emperor Stuttgart is not that kind of person at all. I am certain there is something between you two that—“

“I really wish I was close with His Imperial Majesty, but I can only keep wishing about it. Hahaha...”

The rulers were convinced there was a secret relationship between Siegfried and Emperor Stuttgart, so they asked a variety of questions, trying to fish for answers. Unfortunately, they couldn't hear anything that satisfied them.

Why?

‘I’m not close with him! Stop bugging me!’

Siegfried was really not close with the emperor, but the rulers were not convinced.

“Hmm... I think there’s a deep secret between them...”

“Ahem! Nobody’s going to scold him for telling us...”

“Well, maybe it’s a secret he can’t easily divulge?”

In the end, the rulers made their way back to their seats after concluding the secret between Siegfried and Emperor Stuttgart was deeper than they initially thought.

“Are you alright?”

Somebody approached and spoke to him in a kind gentle voice.

“My name is King Portmund van Isaac, and I am the King of the Effelon Kingdom.”

“Oh, my name is Siegfried van Proa.”

“As you might be aware, I am currently in a dispute with that fellow over there for several years now,” King Portmund said while pointing at George the Third, and then he added, “That dog is a war maniac that loves to bully nations smaller than his.”

“I see...”

“He is no different from a tyrant. Anyway, I completely understand how you feel, as I have been suffering at his hands for years now, so please do not take at heart what happened a while ago.”

Was it because misery loves company?

It seemed that King Portmund was suffering at the hands of George the Third, and this made him think that he and Siegfried were in the same position.

“It is better for you to just forget about it than be locked in a war for several years over some dispute.”

“It must be hard for you, King Portmund.”

“It is indeed since I am the king, but it is the people that will pay the price in the end. We are losing dozens of young men with bright futures every time that dog decides to start a skirmish out of a whim...”

“Ah...”

“His greed is sending countless young soldiers to their deaths on both sides... I am certain without a shred of doubt he is going to hell after he dies! Well, which ruler won’t be going to hell after they die, right?”

Siegfried got chills after hearing what King Portmund said just now.

‘Well... I guess he’s not wrong...’ he thought.

“Well, I hope you enjoy your time here,” King Portmund said.

“Thank you, and I hope you have a good time, too, King Portmund,” Siegfried replied with a slight nod.

‘He looks tired,’ Siegfried thought while looking at the weary downtrodden back of King Portmund as he walked away.

***

After the banquet was over, the rulers went back to their seats as the conference resumed.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Have our dignified participants enjoyed the banquet? Now, the long-awaited event will finally start!”

‘Long-awaited event? Are they doing something fun?’ Siegfried looked puzzled.

The event was certainly going to be something interesting if these haughty, stuck-up rulers were waiting for it.

‘I wonder what it could be...’ Siegfried wondered.

“Now! We will now begin the—Ruler’s Auction!”

It turned out the long-awaited event was none other than an auction for the rulers of the continent!

1. I eat, drink, and go sauna with your Head of Security is a parody of a famous movie line “I eat, drink, and go sauna with your ‘police’ commissioner!”. It’s also a line often said by well-connected people whenever they get arrested. For those of you interested in it

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