Matan’s Shooter

TL: xLordFifth

ED:

The Minis’ envoy quietly exited the audience chamber, with Chiyou, exhibiting a low profile, backing out as well. After they left, and other meritorious NPCs entered the audience chamber, the king spoke again. There was no need for further explanation to the other NPCs.

“What do you think?”

“That proposal isn’t even worth considering, Your Majesty! How dare those people-”

“Calm down, Guard Captain. But, since they revealed that ‘Fox of the Prairie’ would govern the Minis-controlled territory in the New Continent, it’s clear it’s not a false proposal.”

“That’s right. The fact that they mentioned convincing Shazrashian and the Ezwen Papacy isn’t something to be taken lightly in such a setting. How dare they issue such a guarantee on such a grave matter?”

“We need to decide quickly as well. Our nation also has expedition members in the New Continent, including Dame Shin here! We should convene them immediately to determine the most advantageous areas.”

The meritorious NPCs whispered their opinions to each other.

However, none of it seemed to matter to the king. It was one of Leeha’s disliked NPCs who cautiously spoke up.

“We need to discern their true intentions more than the superficial proposal, Your Majesty.”

It was Lotzak who showed his sharpness in response to the king’s question. During his speech, his hand shimmered with blue light, and ice crystals formed on the agitated guard captain’s forehead.

‘Not only casting but using skills, or rather magic, without even looking at the target… Perhaps Ram Hwajung-ssi could do that too.’

Despite his cunning fox-like demeanor, his skills were among the top users, if not surpassing them.

“What do you think, Lotzak?”

“At least, we should not be led by their proposal.”

“Led by them?”

“Yes. Extracting information from the New Continent expedition members to choose the best lands is precisely what Minis is aiming for. We should not accept their proposal.”

“But what other option do we have? The proposal has been made, and the fact that it has reached me means it will soon spread throughout the continent.”

The king furrowed his brows. He must have already considered not accepting the proposal, but a valid reason and solution were needed.

Shin Nara had been quietly observing the situation.

Leeha, too, was intently listening to the emergency meeting, and for a brief moment, his eyes met Lotzak’s. Lotzak immediately refocused his gaze on the king and spoke again.

“We need to buy time, at least until we can understand Minis’ true intentions.”

“But how can we buy time? Do you suggest killing the envoy? That would immediately cast suspicion on us.”

The king of Fibiel, like anyone else, did not want to concede the lands of the New Continent. Shin Nara realized that the king’s words were his ‘true feelings.’

‘At least in terms of greed… there’s no NPC to compare. Of course, he’s not without that capability. The fact that he’s even considering assassination implies that the king NPC has the political ability to manipulate even Lotzak freely…’

But was Lotzak really being played by the king? Shin Nara felt the need to reconsider this point.

Lotzak was indeed himself.

“Leave the envoy be. After all, the envoy is nothing but a puppet.”

“What do you mean?”

“As you might have noticed, Your Majesty, the woman beside the envoy… ‘Chiyou’ from Minis is speculated to be the originator of this plan. There have been reports of her being seen beside Minis’ commander-in-chief during the national campaign.”

Hearing Chiyou’s name from Lotzak, Leeha also tensed up.

Even the briefly mentioned statement was a clue Leeha couldn’t overlook. A piece of evidence for Leeha to judge Chiyou! A hint that could turn his provisional conclusion into a fact.

‘Beside the Fox of the Prairie? Then, Chiyou is indeed handling information-’

“So? What’s the conclusion?”

“The recently departed envoy is a noble of Minis. However, Chiyou is a civilian, without any official position. And if she is a civilian… especially one like her, a professional dancer, then personal grudges can be quite complex.”

Leeha was still focused on the clue thrown by Lotzak and hadn’t caught the recent statement. Lotzak, sensing the king’s impatience, turned around, his gaze directly on Leeha.

“To fulfill the plan, we simply eliminate the ‘brain’ behind it. There’s a chance another person with her capabilities might appear, but if she is assassinated, Minis will likely request an extension to the ‘ten-day deadline’ they proposed to His Majesty.”

Suddenly, a hologram window appeared before Leeha, who was lost in thought.

[This matter is unknown to our Fibiel.]

Description: “However, it mustn’t be carried out officially by an agent of the state. Someone who can work for Fibiel, who can sacrifice for a noble cause, possessing both courage and skill, could sufficiently handle this task. Even if discovered by Minis’ agents, they could sacrifice themselves under the guise of a ‘personal grudge’.”

Lotzak was pushing a state’s responsibility and task onto an individual.

If successfully completed in secrecy, you could owe a national-level debt to the Kingdom of Fibiel!

But failure would make you a public enemy, rejected not only by Minis but also by Fibiel.

Task: Assassinate Minis player [Chiyou] at least once within 7 days

Reward: Title – Shadow Assassin

Failure conditions: Reporting to Minis Royal Palace by the assassination target

Failure consequences: Minis Royal Relationship -100%, Fibiel Royal Relationship -50%, Sacred Knights Relationship -50%, Fibiel National Contribution -2,000, Lope Continent Common Fame -4,000

Limited-time Achievement – Public Enemy disrupting the peace of the New Continent (Attackable by all players and NPCs of Fibiel and Minis)

Will you accept?

“Huh?”

“What is it, Leeha-ssi?”

“No, it’s just—”

Why had this quest request window suddenly appeared? As Leeha read the content in shock, he had no room to answer Shin Nara’s question.

“Is there someone who can undertake such a task? Someone not holding an official position in Fibiel, with a personal grudge against that dancer…”

“Yes, Your Majesty. There is someone who meets all the criteria.”

“And who might that be?”

“Right here, Your Majesty.” Lotzak didn’t need to point out Leeha specifically; the king’s eyes were already on him.

“I see. Gaza City is technically within Minis’ border… A personal grudge from there?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. High Leeha-nim has always worked diligently for our palace. I recognize his willingness to exert himself again for the royal family.”

Lotzak bowed to the king, implying this was the best course of action. But for Leeha, this was an utterly absurd situation.

‘This crazy Lotzak—what is he suggesting? Suddenly, what is all this…’

The implications were clear.

‘Being sacrificed under the guise of a personal grudge,’ ‘pushing responsibility onto an individual,’ and the nuance of becoming a ‘public enemy’ in case of failure!

‘They’re trying to use me as a scapegoat! If I succeed, good for them; if I fail, they can just discard me?!’

Lotzak was turning everything upside down for Leeha.

Boosting his own reputation with a clever idea, while removing the thorn in his side, Leeha!

Truly, the cunning of a politician!

As Leeha stood with his mouth agape, the king already nodded in approval, smiling subtly.

Confronted with the king’s expectation of acceptance, and with Lotzak not even looking at him, Leeha knew he had to refuse. Refusing would mean a drop in the royal relationship, but it was a necessary choice. Accepting would mean getting involved in a deal with no benefits.

The potential penalties of failure were daunting, from the drop in relationships to the public enemy status.

However, the reward was just a title. Titles in the game only apply one effect at a time, and Leeha already had a beneficial title, “Fearless”, which gave him extra attack power against higher-level opponents. Another title held little appeal.

“Your Majesty, but I-“

“Can you take this on, Leeha? I understand it’s difficult. But once again, I ask this of you, a member of the Musketeers and a recipient of our Medal of Honor.”

Leeha should have refused, and he was about to, until the king mentioned the Medal of Honor – an A+ level achievement. Leeha had previously sought achievements around this level, but the Medal of Honor’s effect was not just another high-level achievement. It was equivalent to his status as the lord of Gaza City.

“What I offer for this task is no challenge, Your Majesty.”

“Leeha-ssi? Why suddenly-“

“But to assassinate her alone, without the palace’s support, without state assistance… It’s nearly impossible, Your Majesty.”

Leeha gave Shin Nara a quick wink, signaling he’d explain later, and continued, despite Lotzak’s disapproval.

“What are you saying? Even as a Medal of Honor recipient, how can you bargain with His Majesty?”

“What do you mean, Lotzak-nim?”

Leeha stared directly at him, not letting Lotzak avoid his gaze.

“Are you implying I’m bargaining? What negotiation could I possibly have when taking on such a life-risking mission? I’m aware of the risks. After my death, I’ll become a public enemy. Why would I negotiate? I’m just expressing my hope that His Majesty won’t forget me once the mission is completed.”

Kneeling before the king, Leeha’s gesture seemed almost holy. Lotzak couldn’t respond.

The king, moved, nodded at Leeha.

“You are indeed a loyal subject of Fibiel. If this task is completed successfully, I will not forget you. I can’t be remembered as a tyrant who neglects a Medal of Honor recipient. Is there anything you desire? Perhaps a chance to choose from the royal treasury?”

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Leeha responded with feigned emotion. The hologram window updated:

[This matter is unknown to our Fibiel.]

Reward: Title – Shadow Hitman

Access to Fibiel’s Royal Treasury (1 item, 1-time use)

Seeing another notification, Leeha pressed the accept button.

[You have successfully negotiated.]

‘That Lotzak, always sharp. But I’ve got to take my gains.’

His gamble of ‘negotiating’ with the king had paid off. But the real gamble was just beginning.

Now, how to assassinate Chiyou?

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