Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

Chapter 212: Taking over the City.

Charles watched with narrowed eyes as players gathered around Arthur. The situation had been defused, but he wasn't sure if he'd gained control or simply witnessed power changing hands.

But he would soon come to know that the swordmaster was, in fact, the protector he served—Fateless.

Arthur seized the moment. With the crowd hanging on his every word, he began systematically dismantling Lieutenant Adam's influence in the village.

"Adam's people lied to you," he told the gathered players. "They promised protection but delivered chaos. They claimed leadership but ran at the first sign of danger."

Players nodded, their trust in Adam's faction crumbling by the second.

"The village has already been run by the village chief," Arthur continued. "And, to go on riots against him because of one person is pure nonsense. It will only spread chaos and corruption in this land, I'm saying this because the village chief has been doing everything to ensure your safety and growth."

Over the next hour, the Village Chief organized the players into jobs, assigned tasks, and established himself as a good leader who only wants good for his people, even after their tried to overthrow his ruling.

Meanwhile...

Deep beneath the village, Lieutenant Adam paced his dark cell like a caged animal.

"Where are they? Something must have gone wrong. Damn it!" He muttered, hands clenching into fists.

The rescue should have happened hours ago. Gregory and his team were his best—they wouldn't fail unless something catastrophic had occurred.

After a few more minutes of anxious pacing, Adam made his decision.

"I need intel," he growled.

He accessed his menu and selected the logout option. His body shimmered, then vanished from the prison cell.

In the real world, Adam's eyes snapped open. The luxurious private room in the military base came into focus.

He didn't waste a second. Grabbing his phone, he punched in Gregory's number.

"Lieutenant..." The voice answered, barely above a whisper.

Adam's grip tightened. "What happened? Where are you?"

Gregory's explanation came in broken, panicked fragments. A drake appearing from nowhere. The village chief's confidence. Players turning against them. And the mysterious Swordmaster who opposed him and took control.

With each word, Adam's face darkened further.

"So you're telling me a single player destroyed our entire reputation?"

"You don't understand... this wasn't normal. The Swordmaster, he—"

Adam hung up mid-sentence. His arm pulled back and hurled the phone against the wall. It shattered, pieces scattering across the polished floor.

"DAMN IT!"

He slammed his fist on the desk, sending equipment crashing.

"Who is that swordsman?" Adam paced the room, military training taking over as he analyzed the situation. "And why is the village chief so different from other villages? How could he have such powerful beasts under him?"

"What kind of hidden quest is this?"

Adam pulled up his backup tablet, fingers flying across the screen as he accessed classified military databases on the game.

Village chiefs were supposed to be basic NPCs with limited authority.

Drakes shouldn't appear in starter villages.

"Something is wrong..."

Adam stormed out of his room, his destination clear in his mind.

...

Inside the village, Charles stood atop the meeting platform.

"To avoid any mishaps in the future, I suggest an idea for everyone. Pick the leader you want to represent you, otherwise you'll be like a flock of sheep, lost."

The players nodded in agreement. After the Drake incident, nobody wanted another disaster.

"How do we go about this?" a player shouted from the back.

"Yeah, we need a proper system!" another added.

Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire. Some of the opportunists found their chance to gain some control.

A burly warrior with a jagged scar across his face pushed his way to the front as he raised his hand.

"I appoint myself as a candidate to be the leader," he announced, chest puffed out. "I'm level 9, and I'm considered one of the elites in terms of power. I've already completed two C-rank quests and have two rare equipments."

Players murmured, some nodding appreciatively at his credentials.

Not to be outdone, a slender woman with silver hair stepped forward. "I'm Eliza, level 8 mage. I specialize in defensive spells and have kept many of you alive during exploration of the forest and the monster horde event."

More candidates emerged from the crowd.

"I led a top guild in Realm of Legends, an MMORPG!"

"I've mapped more of this region than anyone else!"

The square buzzed with excitement and tension. Friends nudged each other, already picking favorites.

Then Arthur moved forward, and the crowd parted before him like water.

"I appoint myself as your representative," he said, voice calm and confident.

Unlike the others, he didn't shout his achievements or boast about levels. Instead, he looked directly at the gathered players, connecting with their eyes.

"I don't seek this position for glory or personal gain. I believe in building a community where every player matters—where the strong protect the weak until they too become strong."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"My pledge is simple: your problems are my problems. Your victories are my victories. I will stand as your shield against threats and your voice with the village leadership. I won't make empty promises about special privileges or easy quests."

Arthur swept his gaze across the crowd.

"Instead, I promise honesty, fairness, and a leadership that serves you—not the other way around."

A beat of silence followed.

Then reactions rippled through the crowd:

"He's the one who stood with us against the drake!"

"Didn't even flinch when that beast appeared..."

"Anyone notice he's the only candidate not bragging about his level?" an older player pointed out.

The scarred warrior's face contorted with anger as he watched support swing toward Arthur. He stepped forward aggressively.

"Pretty speeches and nice gestures," he spat. "That's all this is! Acting like the selfless hero to win your votes!"

He jabbed a finger toward Arthur.

"Once he has power, he'll do exactly what others did—use you all for his own agenda. I've seen his type before!"