Chapter 162: Preparations

"So Herold, what now?" I asked over the Telepathy.

Herold immediately responded, "I didn't find anyone. Most non players have practically given up. Well that's to be expected since our growth would've taken them hundreds of years. And players have these bonus EXP gains."

"Well does it really matter?"

"What do you mean?"

"Aren't wars in this world basically between the two strongest people in opposing factions? War here isn't fought with numbers or army strength but simply by generals."

"That is true. But will you be able to build kingdoms by yourself? Hunt food everyday? Build structures, mine, craft and all the other things you need. Sure our battles here are basically up to the the generals themselves but we just don't need them for an army. We just need manpower for building things, crafting and gathering resources."

"I see. I've never thought about that. So, what do we do now?"

"We're going to find some revolutionary non players."

"Didn't you just say that you didn't found any?"

"Yes. But it's not just some normal non players. We will find all rulers."

"What are you trying to do? If we bring back each king one by one to their thrones by invading all the things that players gained there'll be conflict again amongst them. We can't tell all of them to just get along and be happy."

"That will be the case. But we cannot avoid conflict. But if we manage to get their thrones back, not only the king and queens will be on our side, but the people of their kingdom too."

"Do you think that the non players will actually listen to us? Our kind, basically the otherworlders took everything away from them."

"I don't expect all of them to just abide to us. But we just have to prepare if that happens. If we can't rule by peace, we will rule by fear."

"I am not on board with this one."

"Then do you have any other ways? You know that this is the only choice we have. If we gain their trust and loyalty whatever our ways may be, we can practically raid Tartarus with ease. That has been our goal since we met."

"This fight will take too long. If we manage to take all of the kingdoms of the kings and queens. Doesn't this basically mean... We're taking over the world?"

"Yes. But instead of us being monarchs, we will try to unite it by making the non players the rulers as before."

"This is a completely outrageous and insane plan."

"You got better ideas?"

"No. I have no problems about it. Fine. Let's do it."

"Our first target isn't a kingdom. It's a union."

"Alright. Tell me the details."

"We will be killing every single person in the Serpent Union. Their union is basically compromised of strong players and believes in the belief that non players are completely inferior to them."

"Compromised of strong players? So that means that they're a group of players?"

"Yes."

"Wow, I didn't think that players would cooperate in this game."

"I didn't think so too but these unpredictable things happen. Their leader is unknown but I've got some small bits of information on the people working under their leader."

"What is it?"

"Apparently their leader promised peace and prosperity. It's a guy and he said that if he wins the battle royale, he promises to resurrect anyone who is under the Serpent Union back here at Pandir and continue to rule the rest of the world."

"But don't they have to die for that to happen?"

"Yes. But since their leader is extremely powerful, they believe in him. I couldn't get out any more information because there's a curse that they voluntarily put on their bodies."

"Voluntarily!?"

"Yes. They have the serpent curse on them and if they give out information that isn't meant to be given, they're going to die. Immediately."

"Damn..."

"That's the reason why my information for them are incredibly slim."

"That's good enough. We know their purpose and their goals. So what's more?"

"The Serpent union is basically the ones that is controlling hundreds of kingdoms."

"Well that's normal I guess. What's the catch?"

"All those kingdoms are ruled by non players."

"Oh... Hmm... So you're saying they're behind the scenes of multiple schemes in the hundreds of kingdoms they're occupying?"

"Yes."

"Does that include... Itz? I remember the king of Itz saying something about not being the king of that kingdom."

"Well since he's a non player I'm pretty sure he's the one being manipulated behind the scenes."

"I see... Any other information?"

"They consist of around 10,000 players."

"That's a lot and they'll be an incredibly strong force seeing how that's a ten thousand army of players."

"That's why we need to plan everything here carefully. I know one of their bases."

"I see. So, where is it?"

"Hidden in the mountains."

"Do we really need to go now?"

"Not yet. Go make your preparations. Take Zeta with you. He might be able to cleanse the curse that's within them. So that we can extract more information."

"Hmm... nah. Not Zeta. I'll let him have his fun for the time being. I'll just bring Helga with me."

"Helga?"

"Oh. You haven't meet each other yet right. Helga, Neco and Feran. They're new additions. Helga for healing and cleansing debuffs on us. Feran is an enchanter and Neco is our assassin."

"Hmm... I see. Introduce them to me when we meet."

"Yeah. So when's our next meeting?"

"A week from now. At your place at... Izgoy?"

"Yeah. Where the continent of the undead was once where."

"Alright. I'll try to find some of the kings and queens then after we're done with the serpent union, we'll head straight to rescuing their kingdoms."

"Before you go, do you know any hero with the name of Zeraph?"

"No. I never heard of him. He's the one that you fought in that one battle with the lich right?"

"Yeah. When I met him, something in me changed and evolved. My Bloodfallen Armor changed into Devil's Advocate and I got a bunch of skills that boosted me by a lot."

"I have never heard of an event like that... Are you sure that he's a player and not a non player?"

"I'm pretty sure he was a player."

"An event that triggers when two players collide..? I don't understand any of that."

"Well... let's talk about it later. For now that's our plan. I'm cutting our connection off for now."

"Alright."

I cut off my telepathy and went to find Helga. I saw Helga and Feran aimlessly walking as they were talking in the garden.

I called out to them. "Hey!" I raised my hand to let them know that I'm calling at them.

They both ran up to me and Helga was the first one to speak. "Hello! What brings you to us?"

"I wanted to bring Helga for a mission."

"Then I'll prepare everything." Feran was about to run away but I stopped him.

"Well, I was thinking more of just me and Greta."

"Ehhh!? So the both of you leaving the kingdom all alone at night to go into a secret mission!?"

"No, that's not what I me-"

"So you're telling me my beloved sister will go out and run away with a random guy he just met months ago!?"

"Wait what? You might be getting a misunders-"

"No I won't accept this, as Helga's fiance as she said 20 years ago, I will bani-"

"SHUT UP!" Helga then slammed his head with her fist. "I'm sorry about that lord Zieglind."

"Just be casual and as I said, don't call me lord..." I looked at Feran's head dug deep into the ground beneath. I swalled my own saliva and looked at Helga's smiling devilish face. "Aha... ahahaha..."

"So what's this mission you're talking about?"

"Ah, yeah, I almost forgot. We will be infiltrating one of the bases of the Serpent union. Bring all the protective gear you have and ready yourself. I'll be using you to clear the curse that the players inflicted on themselves."

"Well... Are you sure? My spell didn't work on Greta which led to you and Zeta facing off a trial that was incredibly difficult. Can't you just use the Blessing of Zeratria?"

"I never thought about that..." I guess I'll take one droplet of it and use it. "Greta's case was unique. We need to try this to further improve your skills. I'll trust you."

"...I see. Then I'll do my best to live up to your expectations."

"Tomorrow we'll head out to Itz and meet up with the king. Then a week from now we'll be leaving to the base I was talking about."

"I will keep that in mind. Who are the other ones that will join us?"

"From our group? None. It's just you, Herold and me. This'll just be a quick raid."

"I see. I'll prepare now for tomorrow."

"Alright then."