Inside the war room were Thaergood and Duchess Isabelle. Duke Alfredo was also there. He took some time out of the quest mission Jack assigned him to attend this meeting.

Aside from the three, some military personnel who weren’t usually in the palace were also there. There were Lord Commander Armstrong, Lord Commander Claudius, Knight Commander Salem, and Lord Marshall Arther Pendrake.

On the player side, Jeanny and John were present. There was also David from the Dogs of War, Manager Steelhand from Corporate United, Silverwing from White Scarfs, Kill Order from Black Cloak, Prideful Josh from Crowd of Sins, Jennifer from Wicked Witches, William Wellington from Saint Edge, Megan Blair from Evil Breakers, Nomodem from Offline Beasts, and surprisingly, Scarface from Death Associates.

A large portion of these players were from guilds that had guild headquarters in Themisphere. The rest also had guild headquarters but in different countries. Jack wondered why John gathered these players here, especially Scarface.

“I thought we would be discussing Liguritudum’s move of invading Palgrost? Why are all these people here?” Jack asked John.

“We are discussing that, but I also take the chance to gather these fine people here because they are the groups that showed serious conviction in opposing World Maker. They have also known the truth about this world and what Master was trying to do.”

“Some other guilds have the same conviction, like Cipher Flight and several guilds from Aurebor and Liguritudum,” Jeanny added. “But those guilds are occupied at the moment. The ones present here are the ones who can join the current operation in Palgrost.”

“Really? Then why are you here?” Jack asked Scarface. “Aren’t your guild supposed to be on the other side?”

Scarface chuckled. “Why don’t you use your Inspect on me?” He asked.

Jack complied. The first thing he noticed was that Scarface’s class was a Wizard, a special class. He thought the guy wanted to show off his special class, but then he noticed the next description. Scarface’s guild’s name was slightly different. His guild was now True Death Associates.

“Hey, you people change your guild’s name?” He asked.

“No, it’s a different guild,” Scarface answered. “Death Associates has divided into two separate guilds. The old guild followed White Death, who is willing to be World Maker’s crony. They are based in Aurebor. The new guild, which I am in, follows our true leader, Black Death. We built our headquarters in Hydrurond.”

“By built, I think you mean stole,” Megan commented. “They beat a guild who had just come out of the protection period after losing almost all the guild army during the war. They also attacked when most of the guild players were in the middle of fighting the final boss of an important guild quest.”

“That was sneaky,” Jack remarked.

“I approve!” John exclaimed.

“What about Red Death? Is she in the old Death Associates or the new Death Associates?” Jack asked.

“She is with us,” Scarface answered.

“Then your guild is on the enemy’s side!” Jack exclaimed. “She tried to kill me with the World Maker’s people during the war in Hydrurond.”

“She succeeded in killing you,” Peniel reminded.

Jack waved Peniel away. “What does she have to say about that?” Jack asked Scarface.

“Oh… No wonder she refused to follow when I asked her to accompany me,” Scarface muttered. “She did ask me to tell you that her Goddess has stopped giving her instruction to aid the World Maker and she was currently free. I don’t truly understand this message, though. I guess it has something to do with the attempted assassination you mentioned?”

“Succeeded assassination,” Peniel corrected, which caused her to get a nudge from Jack.

“Well, she is just one member,” John said. “As for the guild’s action, I have paid close attention. They indeed fought a lot with World Maker and its cronies. They worked closely with Megan here in hindering World Maker’s puppet ruler, Gridhacker, from getting complete control over Hydrurond.”

“We can’t allow someone like Master, or anyone for that matter, to become a God and put us all under his thumb,” Scarface declared. “We are free gamers. We won’t succumb to the bully of a dictatorship!”

“Funny, your guild also likes to bully people,” Jack said.

“That is different. We don’t seek to control. We are anarchists, not dictators. If someone is bullied by us, it’s their fault for being weak.”

“Anarchist, dictator, I think both are bad. Well, whatever, man. If John trusts you, so be it,” Jack said.

“Oh, I don’t trust them. I just see them as additional pawns to use,” John said.

“Do you have to say that in front of us?” Silverwing complained.

“By the way, I notice not all of the guilds in Themisphere that have guild headquarters are here,” Jack said. “Does this mean they are pro-World Maker or simply occupied at the moment?”

“They are neutral,” Jeanny replied. “They will still aid us if the kingdom issues a proper war quest. They will act if there are benefits, but they said they will remain neutral. They don’t care who ends up taking control of this world.”

“Are they not aware their freedom will be gone if Master gets what he wants?” Jack asked. “I can’t believe that fatso, Fat Gregory, doesn’t stand with us. Acting like your best friend when we met, but now chickening out when it is something serious. I’m going to beat his fat ass when I see him again. Never mind them, let’s talk about the important matter.”

“Okay, gather up, everyone,” John walked to the projection device at the center of the room.

“Hey, look! The leaders of the old coalition,” Jack said to Manager Steelhand, Scarface, and Jennifer when the others moved to the center of the room. “It’s interesting. Scarface is the same person from the old coalition but in a different guild. Jennifer is in the same guild but a different person. I can’t say I miss that grandma, Queen Magenta, though. And you are still the same person and same guild as in the old coalition. I say you win, Manager Steelhand!”

“… I’m not aware this is a competition,” Manager Steelhand said while scratching his head.

“I thought we were now discussing the important thing?” Scarface said.

“By the way, I always thought your guild would be the type to be more inclined to help the World Maker,” Jack said to Manager Steelhand. “I mean, with all the benefits they can promise your guild if they conquer this world.”

“Don’t underestimate us, King Storm Wind,” Manager Steelhand said. “We are businessmen. No business ever flourishes under dictatorship. What we need is a capitalist world! For that, we will lend you our hand to make that world a reality!”𝗇𝑜𝐕𝑒𝐿𝗇𝐞xt.𝗰𝒪𝔪

“… I don’t think our goal truly aligned, but I guess I will take any help available,” Jack said.

“Are you people done chitchatting?” John called. “Can we begin the meeting already? It is going to be midnight soon.”

“Sorry, sorry. Let’s begin,” Jack said and came to the projection device.

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