Chapter 456 Spying [Part 1]
Villain Ch 456. Spying [Part 1]
Larissa's curiosity continued to gnaw at her, and she couldn't help but pout, even though she understood Allen's disinterest. It wasn't just about Sophia's fame; it was about the rapid rise of a priestess in a world where DPS or tank players usually hogged the limelight. Priestesses, by nature, remained behind the scenes, working tirelessly to support their teammates without getting the spotlight. In contrast, even creator-type players, such as alchemists or blacksmiths, had more exposure due to their creations bearing their name tags. The more their items circulated, the more renowned they became.
"Then I'll eavesdrop on Sophia," Larissa suggested, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You will be eavesdropping on Elio, after all."
Allen grinned, finding her proposal rather tempting. "Deal," he agreed, unable to resist the chance to quench Larissa's curiosity. After all, they had a reputation as the villains of the game to uphold, and gathering information about potential threats was part of their responsibility.
He activated his hiding skill, blending seamlessly into the surroundings as he approached Elio and the guild leaders. They sat huddled together, engaged in a serious conversation, and remained unaware of his presence. He could easily eavesdrop without drawing any attention.
Meanwhile, Larissa chose a different approach. She casually strolled toward the crowd surrounding Sophia, who still seemed to bask in the admiration of her fans even though the fireworks event had concluded. Larissa skillfully blended in with the eager players, taking on the persona of a curious onlooker. Then she pretended to peruse the offerings of an NPC vendor selling tropical fruits nearby, she kept a close eye on Sophia and the players surrounding her.
The leaders of the five prominent guilds, Ironclad Legion, Sanctuary, Order of Valiance, Celestial Vanguard, and Phoenix Reborn, discussed the montages recently released by the game company. The montages highlighted the previous war and had stirred quite a commotion among players, igniting various speculations and theories. n(.O//v)/e-(l--b/-1(-n
Red_King, leader of the Celestial Vanguard, voiced his skepticism about the strategy. He didn't mince words as he expressed his concerns. "If the devil emperor can disguise himself, that means he can become anything and anyone. I don't think that strategy is suitable," his disapproval rang out loud and clear.
Justice Bringer, leader of Phoenix Reborn, wasn't one to back down easily. He challenged Red_King, seeking alternative solutions. "Do you have a better strategy?" His gaze shifted to Red_King, waiting for a response.
Red_King, still firm in his stance, turned his attention back to Justice Bringer. "I don't have one," he admitted begrudgingly, frustration evident in his voice.
Justice Bringer couldn't resist a taunt, ready to mock his counterpart. "Then shut your mouth," he retorted, but before he could revel in his victory, Red_King interjected once more.
"My point is," Red_King continued, unwilling to yield, "most likely, the emperor will not use the same tactics again. Even if he did, he probably wouldn't disguise himself as a slime. So, making a patrol team to kill all the slimes and low-level monsters is not a good strategy," he concluded, his annoyance still apparent.
"I agree with Red_King," Elio chimed in, voicing his agreement with Red_King's perspective. The attention of the group shifted towards him as he began to explain his thoughts. "To be honest," Elio started, "I was surprised. He was able to take advantage of that small gap to infiltrate. He has turned our attacks to his advantage." He paused, the frustration evident in his voice. When the records were released earlier that morning, he had been genuinely shocked. He hadn't expected it at all, considering he had personally witnessed those slimes infiltrating. Several of them even slipped under his Battle Bear, and that lapse in vigilance still irked him.
Justice Bringer, seemingly impatient with the discussion, scoffed and crossed his arms. Leaning back in his chair, he shot an annoyed glance at his fellow leaders. "How long are we going to keep talking about that and keep mentioning our stupidity?" he interjected, his frustration evident. "We need a solution, guys!"
Arcana, the leader of the Ironclad Legion, finally decided to speak up. "What if... What the emperor wants is to wait for us to open the gate?" he proposed, his voice thoughtful.
This unexpected perspective immediately grabbed the attention of the others, even pulling Justice Bringer out of his foul mood. Leaning his body toward Arcana, Justice.Bringer opened his arms, gesturing for Arcana to elaborate. "Tell us what you think," he requested, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.
"So... in the last event, the villains attacked us from the front. But none of them can penetrate it all. The gate is very sturdy and any damage, no matter how strong the blow, only counts as one damage per hit. From the start the emperor knew that they would have difficulty breaking through. At least, he wouldn't be able to do it in time. That's why he decided to sneak in," Arcana continued to share his analysis, shedding light on a potential strategy employed by the Devil Emperor. His words resonated with the gathered leaders, who remained silent as they processed this new perspective. It did indeed make sense and seemed like a plausible scenario.
Elio couldn't help but express his frustration. "So the idea of putting the tanks in the city was a bad idea after all," he grumbled, the realization stinging his pride.
Arcana nodded in agreement. "Yes, we made an error in our strategy. But now, we need to adjust our approach and reverse the positions," he suggested, his gaze shifting to Elio. The group seemed to be rallying around this new plan, ready to make changes to counter the Devil Emperor's tactics.
Elio quickly grasped Arcana's meaning, and his expression shifted to one of deep contemplation. "You mean..." he began, trailing off as he processed the proposal.
Arcana wasted no time in explaining further. "Yes, in the next event, the tanks will take the front line—outside the gate and city wall," he stated plainly, leaving little room for ambiguity.
'Oh... what a blunt idea,' Allen thought. He couldn't help but smirk inwardly at Arcana's approach. It was indeed a clever idea, but one that might not sit well with everyone, especially the tanks. The unfairness of such a strategy was evident.
Observing this conversation closely, Allen found it fascinating to analyze each leader's leadership style. This insight would prove valuable in his preparations and might offer ideas he could use in the future.