Chapter 514

Chapter 514

"What exactly is the strategy you've instructed for those members of the Gambler's Club? And which of the two White Nights have you chosen to target, and how do you plan to defeat them?"

Lucas asked cautiously.

"We have one week left until the next defense battle. Shouldn't you start giving us instructions too? What exactly is the plan?"

I smiled slyly.

Now that preparations were more or less complete, I was indeed planning to share the strategy for the upcoming defense battle with all my subordinates.

But first, I gave Lucas a hint.

"Okay, I'll tell you first, Lucas... it's a 'party'."

Lucas blinked his innocent, large-dog-like eyes.

"...Excuse me?"

"A party, Lucas, a party. The strategy to confront White Night. It's literally a party."

Lucas's face showed he couldn't grasp what I was saying.

I chuckled with glee and uttered the name of the operation.

"Operation Surprise Party! In this defense battle, instead of fighting, we're going to throw a surprise party!"

"...So, you mean..."

Lucas, desperately trying to interpret my words, asked cautiously.

"Are you using the term 'surprise party' as a metaphor for a surprise attack on the monster legion...?"

"No? We're actually going to throw a real party."

"...?"

Lucas's expression turned to one of disbelief, and then he shuddered.

Right. He's finally realizing it.

That I've always navigated this war like a madman!

***

Zone 8. The Mage Tower.

As I entered, Soya - the White Night from the cyber world who appeared on the magic panel - cringed immediately.

"What do you want this time?! There are no more dungeons in the area that can be cleared!"

"Hey, don't be so harsh. Someone might think I've only ever asked you for unreasonable favors."

I might have worked her to the bone (figuratively, since she doesn't have any), but to dislike me so much at first sight aren't we still in a cooperative relationship?

I comfortably sat on the sofa in front of the monitor and gestured with my chin.

"Soya... Ahem! White Night."

I corrected myself quickly after using the Crossroad's name and grinned.

"Let's work on a task together, you and me."

"We've already done plenty... What is it this time?"

"I've devised a plan to kill the other version of you. It's a strategy to trap and eliminate her. Everything else needed for this operation is ready, but there's just one thing missing."

Soya frowned.

"And that's me?"

"Yes."

Crossing my legs, I grinned mischievously.

"Hey, White Night."

"What."

"Pretend to be dead."

"...What?"

The face of the skeleton in the screen looked perplexed.

"Pretend to be dead?"

"Yeah. It's to deceive the other you. And not just a simple act, but a very convincing performance would be even better."

"How convincing are we talking?"

I explained to Soya how convincingly she needed to pretend to be dead. Her face then hardened with dismay.

"Stop talking nonsense. I've cooperated with all your insane requests so far, but this is just too much!"

"Why? To deceive the enemy, you have to deceive your allies first. Let's do some serious method acting, shall we?"

"Stop kidding, Ash! There's a limit to what I can tolerate-"

"Hey, we've worked hard to kill the other version of you, right? Then let's finish it properly."

I began to smoothly persuade her, starting my real pitch.

"To completely and cleanly eliminate the other you, everyone in our front, including myself, has been working tirelessly. It's all been for you! But now, are you saying you're going to stop here because this last effort is too bothersome?"

"It's because our interests aligned that..."

"No, hey! Frankly, we could have sided with the other you. She has a lot to offer! But we chose to be on your side, to keep faith with you. Faith!"

I pounded the table as I argued vehemently.

"And now you're going to break that faith with me?! Were we just a shallow relationship to you? I'm disappointed. Then maybe I should switch sides now..."

"Wait, wait! Hold on! Alright, I get it, I get it!"

"To grant your wish! I've taken care of the other you!"

"...?!"

Hurrying outside to see for herself, it was indeed true.

Boom, Boom Boom...

In the distance, the mage tower was engulfed in flames, collapsing.

The mage tower, boasting the strongest defenses in all of Zone 8 and even the Lake Kingdom dungeons, was now completely in ruins.

"Then the vibrations earlier...?"

"Exactly. It was me! The aftermath of blowing up that mage tower!"

Ash shrugged nonchalantly, bragging about his feat. He then briefly explained how he deceived the owner of the mage tower, bypassed the firewalls, planted bombs inside, disabled the magical defenses, and collapsed the central pillar.

Black Night stared in awe at the crumbling mage tower.

With such damage to the tower, the other self that had uploaded her consciousness into its mechanical system couldn't possibly have survived.

"I've blown it to smithereens, but just to be sure. You can thoroughly search and burn the remains."

"I shall do so."

With the external defense system of the mage tower now compromised, it was sufficient for Black Night to finish off her other self, should she still be alive.

Having fulfilled one of her life's goals, Black Night's face betrayed emotion akin to being moved. Ash, smugly confident, shrugged his shoulders.

"I told you, I'm a man of my word."

"Ash..."

"I couldn't tell you before because I had to conduct the operation in secrecy, but how about it? Do you trust me now?"

Black Night nodded vigorously.

"I'm sorry for doubting you."

"You suspected me, huh?"

"Honestly, who wouldn't? Look back at what you've done..."

"Well, I admit, I might have been unreliable. But in the end, I did it, right?"

Chuckling, Ash extended his hand.

"So, we're allies now, right?"

"Of course, Ash."

Black Night reached out and firmly grasped Ash's hand.

The hands of a human and a Jiangshi clasped each other and shook firmly.

"The Lich Legion and I will be your allies, cooperating until the day we defeat the Demon King."

"That's really reassuring. So, you're not going to attack us on the invasion day, right?"

"Of course not. There's no reason to turn our blades on our allies."

Grinning.

Ash's lips curved into a long smile.

"Then instead of an invasion, how about dropping by for a visit?"

"...What?"

For a moment, Black Night blinked, not understanding Ash's words. Ash grinned and pulled something out of his pocket.

"Here, take this."

"What is this...?"

"An invitation!"

Grinning innocently like a child inviting someone to a birthday party, Ash handed over a luxurious invitation.

"The next defense battle is actually on the exact day of my second year anniversary in this city!"

"Uh... So?"

"Additionally, there's going to be a party to welcome our new allies in the alliance. Won't you grace us with your presence?"

Black Night's mouth fell open slightly.

She was stunned, unable to process this turn of events that defied all norms.

"Wait, hold on a second, Ash. You seem to have forgotten, but I am a monster."

"Huh?"

Ash looked puzzled, his innocent eyes twinkling.

"So?"

"You're inviting me, a monster, into your city? Are you in your right mind?"

"What does being a monster matter? We're allies now, aren't we? Standing shoulder to shoulder, together we'll defeat the Demon King and save the world, fellow members of the World Guardian Front!"

Ash, with an incomparably pure and radiant smile, pushed the invitation forward again.

"So, come on! Don't be shy, come and join us!"

"..."

Black Night's hand, sweating profusely, ended up holding Ash's invitation.

Ash's lips, shining bright white, curled up in a mischievous grin that no one else could see.

"Let's be real friends, White Night!"Discover new chapters at novelhall.com