The Returnee's Hidden Strategy Stream

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter: 117

“…What?”

The divisional manager’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected warning.

He looked as dumbfounded as if he had been physically hit.

Meanwhile, Liwei turned and walked away.

‘What’s going on?’

The divisional manager was bewildered.

Not only had Liwei rejected his offer, but he had also told him not to cross the line. Considering the contents of the message he had sent, it was a fairly reasonable proposal.

‘Did Black Dragon already tell him?’

The two seemed to know each other. If that was possible, it would be about the assault and threats.

But judging by the atmosphere, they didn’t seem particularly close. After all, a guy like that was unlikely to be close to a famous advanced player. They were probably just in a business relationship.

‘So the advanced player is really a advanced player.’

He had heard that Liwei wasn’t normal. Since he seemed to have upset him, he figured he should wait a little longer.

Eventually, when it came to a crucial decision, he would choose him over Black Dragon. Until then, it would be best not to provoke him.

“Let’s go now!”

The divisional manager, having revised his plan, picked up the sphere again and stood up.

As everyone started moving again, Liwei, who had been walking ahead, approached Hanbit.

“What’s the plan? Are we going the same way?”

“The overall plan won’t change. After all, the heirloom is our goal.”

Hanbit had briefly explained the plan to Liwei through a message. The focus was on only one goal. Until they achieved that goal, they couldn’t afford to be distracted.

“Then be careful of Blood. He’s crazy.”

“Crazy?”

“He doesn’t understand reason. Or rather, he doesn’t even want to have a conversation.”

-Is that the problem?

-Crazy = doesn’t accept my challenge.

-Isn’t he just sulking?

-But he is crazy.

-Info: He has a red line.

-A criminal huh

-He just kills people if he's upset lol

The viewers had similar evaluations of Liwei. Having a red line next to his nickname, even though he wasn't a member of a PK guild, meant he was definitely not a normal player.

“What’s his personality like? From what I’ve heard, he seems like he’ll challenge Snow Drake.”

“I’m not sure. He has a personality where he sets one goal and kills everything that gets in his way.”

“Is that so?”

Blood’s personality was more difficult than he had expected. While he had hoped Blood would go after Snow Drake, it seemed it wouldn’t be that simple. Of course, he would never let anyone take the heirloom.

Croak-

A group of monsters appeared at the crossroads and were easily dispatched by Liwei. After walking for a few more minutes, they finally reached their destination.

“It’s here!”

“I knew it was here!”

“Just shut up and wait.”

A wide space was filled with players. Their murmuring voices filled their ears.

‘Why are they doing this?’ Hanbit wondered as he looked at them.

A giant ice door blocked the players’ path. It was clearly the entrance to the fortress. But no one was trying to open the door.

“That’s Blood over there.”

At that moment, Avangarde pointed to the person right in front of the door.

A young woman with red hair. A black, flickering bracelet was noticeable.

“There are a lot of advanced players.” Kim Jaeha also looked at the others.

There were exactly twenty advanced players visible. It was slightly less than the number of white wyverns that gave the entrance tickets.

‘I see some people teaming up.’

The advanced players weren’t just individualists.

"Of course there are others who are part of the same guild, or who've joined forces for the same goal."

“Let's get closer.”

Hanbit and the party moved towards the door.

Swoosh-

A chill more intense than the heart of a white wyvern.

Even without opening the door, an oppressive feeling was palpable.

"Hey,"

Blood, who was standing nearby, spoke up.

Turning her gaze, she kicked the door and said, "You know how to open this, right?"

A question thrown without even making eye contact.

Glancing at the door, Hanbit shrugged.

"Didn't you, the advanced player, fail to open it? Why ask a regular player?"

"Don't give me that 'regular' crap. Open it without making a fuss."

-Sigh...

-So arrogant; makes me mad.

-Did you get it entrusted to you?

-Let's just give up.

-FYI, Blood really means it.

-Please help, Rewei hyung.

There was no hidden intent in Blood's tone.

It was a raw expression of her emotions.

"Then how about we settle it with a duel?"

Rewei, who had followed a few steps behind, joined the conversation.

Blood's expression immediately turned sour as she glanced sideways.

"Get lost. Before I kill you."

"A duel? That's fine too..."

Swish-!

Blood's fist flew out, cutting off Rewei's words.

The black light rippling from the bracelet on her wrist seemed to intensify.

"I said die, didn't I?"

"It won't be that easy."

The two advanced players faced each other.@@novelbin@@

Sparks were about to fly from their eyes.

"Enough. Don't cause a commotion."

A man with a sturdy build and a deep voice spoke up.

"Just watch, Mars. I'll kill this guy first and then open the door."

"Will the Black Dragon allow that so easily?"

Whoosh-!

In an instant, the man called Mars thrust his shield between the two.

With a blank expression, he said, "Both of you, maintain the dignity of the advanced player. We are the face of the RP."

-Mars is here too;

-Shield guy.

-A wall.

-Mars is so proud of being an advanced player.

-Isn't this guy in the top 5,000?

-4,300th, right?

-Even with his pride exploding, I agree.

The viewers' explanations poured in through the chat.

The viewers' comments flooded the chat. It was clear from just a few exchanges. He was the type that could be described as a shield or a wall.

"So, why can't we get in?"

"Even if we push with force, there's no reaction. I hit it, but there isn't even a scratch."

"Hmm."

Even after hearing Blood's explanation, there was no obvious reason.

Anyone who had reached this point should have been able to open the door.

It was a situation that had never happened before.

If something had changed since then, it was definitely...

"...Ah."

Suddenly, something came to mind.

Taking a step forward, he slowly reached out his hand.

And the moment his palm touched the cold door.

Ding-!

An alert popped up in front of him.

[Cutscene Transition.]

Swoosh-

His vision blurred, followed by darkness.

When the scenery began to clear again, the other players were gone.

"So, this day has finally arrived."

Before him, the dwarf Gorik stared at the ice door with a hardened expression.

The small iron plate-shaped token in his hand.

A lot of emotions flowed from his tightly clenched fist.

"In a place like this, the lair of the Snow Drake..."

Xenon, who had arrived with him, looked at the door with surprised eyes.

The master of the snowy mountains, only found in legends.

It was quite shocking that it existed beyond this.

"I think it's best to return to the guild first. We need to form a raid party led by the guild master and other skilled players."

"We should retreat first," Xenon, the veteran adventurer, suggested.

As a B-rank, he was no match for a Snow Drake. Even from the legends, he knew this much. The oppressive aura emanating from the closed door was proof enough.

"No, we can't turn back."

Gorik was resolute.

With the dwarven heirloom so close, retreating was not an option.

"That's too reckless. I understand you want to find the heirloom, but we'll all be wiped out if we continue like this..."

"Know what? How dare you!" Gorik shouted, furious at Xenon's persuasion. Clenching his fist around the token, he said, "This might be our only chance. What if we return to the city and can't find this place again? Who will be responsible for that?"

"We can search more thoroughly. I'm not going to walk into a situation where I'm sure to die."

"Then why don't you just go back alone! I'll go in by myself."

The two couldn't agree. They met each other's gaze and fell silent. Then, they turned their heads at the same time and asked,

"Black Dragon, what are you going to do?"

"Black Dragon, what do you think?"

Ding-!

[An ongoing sub-quest has been detected.]

[You will be given choices to progress.]

Return to Ifrit's Guild.

Enter the fortress.

Without any further explanation, the choices were presented. Both options made sense, but only one could be chosen.

With a tap, Hanbit selected option 2.

Thud-

With that, his viewpoint shifted to the front of the door. His hand was already reaching out to push the massive ice door.

Creak-

The door slid open with a cold touch.

The interior was revealed in an instant.

Swoosh-

The scene before him changed as darkness enveloped him again.

"Wow, crazy."

"Is this the fortress?"

"It's this big...?"

The players exclaimed in awe at the sight beyond the open door.

The oppressive aura of the massive ice cliff that surrounded the exterior. It was an atmosphere befitting the name of the Snow Drake's fortress.

-Wow, this is insane;

-This map is full of the developer's soul.

-Even if two people made this, they wouldn't know...

-It's so moving.

-Is this real life?

"Damn it, the debuff is terrible."

The divisional manager, who was following behind, frowned.

It was because of the message that had appeared as soon as they entered.

[Field Effect: Enhanced Freeze Debuff applied.]

[Attack speed and movement speed reduced by 50%.]

[Cold resistance reduced by 100.]

The debuff was more severe than the White Wyvern's battleground. With the added cold resistance reduction, it was even more difficult.

'It's the same here.'

Hanbit remained calm despite reading the message. It was something he had experienced many times when defeating the Snow Drake in the past. And with the message explaining it, it was incredibly helpful.

"So where is it? Where's the heirloom?" Lee Hojung asked in a small voice, coming closer.

Hanbit turned his gaze to Gorik, who was standing beside him.

"You can see the location of the heirloom now, right?"

"...Yes. Let's check it right away."

Gorik carefully stroked the token.

At that moment.

Pop-!

A silver light burst from the iron plate in his hand.

"It's over there."

The light stretched straight towards the center of the fortress. The light became stronger as they got closer to the heirloom.

"Did you see that? Just follow that."

"Hey! Why didn't you tell me privately? Everyone can see it!" Lee Hojung shouted in surprise.

The light from Gorik's token and himself was visible to all the players who were also monitoring the stream.

"We found the location, right?"

"Let's move. Whoever gets there first wins."

"Let's go around the back."

The players quickly discussed and spread out throughout the fortress.

"Damn it..."

The divisional manager reached out to the retreating players and frowned.

Then, he turned to his staff.

"Move quickly!"

[Translator - Jjescus ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]