I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 57
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 57. Dark Clouds Over the Empire
While Nidst was swept up in belated reforms, the capital of the Fallum Empire—Stellabein, the heart of the realm—was experiencing something disturbingly similar.
Though here, it was less a transformation and more a purge.
The office of the branch director at the Adventurer Guild’s Imperial Central Branch.
A silver-haired man seated in the director’s chair spoke with an air of profound disinterest.
“The Nidst branch of the Adventurer Guild has begun to move, and yet it takes days for word to reach my ears? How disappointing.”
The man wore a vest dyed in shades of violet.
Upon the vest hung an iron lion pendant—the very symbol of the empire—gleaming with weighty luster.
Making no effort to conceal his status as bearer of the empire’s most noble bloodline, he displayed his royal heritage with brazen pride.
The Guild Master of the Imperial Central Branch struggled to maintain his dignity before such authority as he replied.
“My apologies, Your Highness. Internal discipline required my immediate attention, leaving no opportunity to contact you.”
“So you’ve purged all those disloyal to the empire?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
The Guild Master spoke thus while gauging the man’s expression.
He found his own position deeply unsatisfying, yet there was nothing to be done about it.
This silver-haired youth, who bore the appearance of a young nobleman, was the Second Prince of the empire—and should he so wish, every Adventurer Guild within the realm would be swept away in an instant.
“Hmm… well, good. Since you’ve performed admirably thus far, I shall place my trust in you.”
The Second Prince, despite being the very architect of the conflict between guild members, spoke with the magnanimity of one bestowing tremendous favor.
“So then, what of the situation in the Nidst branch? Is it worthy of attention?”
The Guild Master hesitated briefly before answering.
“I believe caution is warranted, Your Highness. There have been reports that The Tower’s condition has become… unusual of late.”
“I’ve heard. Monsters were leaking out, were they not?”
“Yes. Though the situation was contained swiftly, rumors abound that similar incidents may occur repeatedly.”
The Second Prince, lost in thought as he rubbed his chin between thumb and forefinger, posed another question.
“If that’s the case, their internal affairs must be quite chaotic… Could we not obtain more information about the Thousand-Year Palace through the communication device?”
“That would be difficult, Your Highness. As you know, the communication device leaves a record of its usage…”
The Second Prince responded with evident displeasure.
“Tsk. Why must the relics of antiquity be fashioned with such inconvenience?”
“Indeed, Your Highness.”
The Guild Master laughed nervously, offering agreement he did not feel.
The communication device possessed by the Adventurer Guild was one of the ancient artifacts the first Guild Master had retrieved from a dungeon.
By channeling magical power, conversation was possible across any distance, and it served to bind the scattered Adventurer Guild together as though it were a unified organization.
Why, one might ask, had the empire or the Magic Tower never seized such a tremendous artifact?
Because the communication device could only be used by adventurers belonging solely to the Adventurer Guild.
According to legend, the first Guild Master had requested the Thousand-Year Palace to place a seal upon it—though whether this was truth or myth remained unknown.
What mattered was that this seal had driven the Fallum Imperial Court to pour vast resources into supporting the Adventurer Guild.
To control the guild was to gain access to real-time intelligence from every corner of the realm through the communication device.
I could surrender the guild along with the device, but I would not do so cheaply.
The Guild Master, thinking thus, carefully broached the subject.
“There is, in fact, a way to obtain information about the Thousand-Year Palace in Nidst.”
“How exactly?”
“We place our people in the branch. It would be difficult to infiltrate the staff, but if we send a top-tier adventurer party, they won’t be able to ignore us.”
“Are there people willing to go?”
The Adventurer Guild Master answered not with words, but with a look that asked if the Prince didn’t already know the method better than anyone.
“Tsk. These fools, all of them….”
The Second Prince clicked his tongue in displeasure and spoke.
“Fine. I’ll provide whatever funds are necessary, so proceed with the plan.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
The Second Prince’s blue eyes gleamed as he glared at the Adventurer Guild Master.
“You’ll need to bring back tangible results commensurate with the support you receive. Remember that.”
These fools had already lost to the Lord of Nidst—and now he expected results just from throwing money at them?
‘Not only does he inherit the Emperor’s appearance, but his greed as well.’
The Adventurer Guild Master cursed inwardly while bowing respectfully.
“Yes, Your Highness. I will ensure you are not disappointed.”
“You’re certain the Thousand-Year Sage won’t catch wind of this? We must be cautious of even the slimmest possibility.”
“Have no concerns. The Lord of Nidst regards adventurers as mere insects scurrying about her tower. She won’t even notice what we’re doing.”
“Indeed, her arrogance knows no bounds.”
The Second Prince chuckled and continued.
“It’s truly a shame I won’t get to see the look of shock on her face when those ‘insects’ bite back.”
“Your prediction was exactly right, my Lord. The capital is also sending a top-tier adventurer party.”
Malorik let out a hollow laugh and asked.
“I didn’t even anticipate that… But how do you know more about the Adventurer Guild than I do?”
‘Of course I know well. The Fallum Empire always sends assassins through the Adventurer Guild whenever they turn hostile.’
I’ll chalk it up to the dignity of a stagnant pool of knowledge.
But I couldn’t say that outright, so I merely offered a meaningful smile.
“…Yes, yes. My incompetence is showing.”
The Adventurer Guild Master conveniently misunderstood once again.
I waved my hand dismissively.
“If you understand, then go and do your work diligently.”
“I was planning to report and leave anyway.”
The Adventurer Guild Master grumbled as he left his seat.
I leaned back in my increasingly plush chair and fixed my gaze forward.
It meant I had begun watching Vlad and Nashu Shumel again, who were already in their seventh sparring match in the Training Grounds.
“Surrender?”
“Ugh, ughhhh… I surrender!”
This match’s victor was Vlad.
He had caught Nashu Shumel’s desperate push for a reversal, turned it against him, and threw him down before pinning him with a joint lock.
Unable to match him in raw strength, Nashu Shumel had responded by using shadow-stepping to exist half in shadow form—a quite elegant technique.
Released, Nashu Shumel groaned in pain.
“I could have… won the next one….”
Vlad looked down at her with a sullen expression and retorted.
“That’s why I told you to use your head.”
“I-I’m not stupid, I…!”
“I didn’t say you were stupid, stupid.”
“You just did, you did!”
Whether they had a good relationship or a bad one was anyone’s guess. As I internally clicked my tongue—or perhaps didn’t—the two of them bickered back and forth before finally reaching a conclusion.
“This time, with weapons?”
“Y-yes, with weapons!”
The fact that they were going to fight again showed they were clearly well-matched, regardless of appearances.
I reviewed their sparring session and updated several assessment notes.
Then I sank back into my chair.
It had been a week since I’d visited The Tower after that gold farming session.
I wanted to level up and do more gold farming, but I held back.
The city repairs could be overlooked, but the Golden Fleece Trading Company and Adventurer Guild matters required my direct attention.
Leaving things to others with the assumption they’d handle it meant risking a backstab later, and cleanup would be far too troublesome.
So I spent my spare time like this, running various tests with the kids.
‘At least I’ve discovered some interesting things because of it.’
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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