Free Web NovelChapter 307: Chapter 307: The Challenge Match to Form a Faction
Chapter 307: The Challenge Match to Form a Faction
A little later, inside a certain dojo in Tokyo.
"After joining Ashikaga Martial Arts Society, if certain dangerous events occur in the real world, such as an invasion by Players from another world, you must provide assistance. In return, we will sponsor each of you with 500,000 yen per month. If you feel you are being targeted by other Players in the real world, we will also help deal with the matter and protect your safety. In addition, we provide training grounds and facilities for your future development as Players."
"We operate on an internal contribution point system. By submitting equipment or items you no longer need, helping Players who require special care clear Dungeons, providing information about the Game, and other similar actions, you can earn contribution points. These points can be exchanged for equipment or items, used to team up with powerful Players to enter Dungeons, directly exchanged for cash, or used to apply for priority access to certain special training facilities."
"That is the general outline. Oh, right. There is one more thing."
Miwa Ashikaga paused there. Her gaze swept across the dozen or so Players before her, and she spoke slowly.
"If internal confidential information is leaked, we will kill you. Understood?"
After everyone nodded, one Player suddenly raised his hand and asked curiously,
"Um... we heard you have a very powerful Player here. Is that true?"
Miwa Ashikaga seemed to have expected these Players, who had come for the interview, to ask such a question.
After all, during Sunday’s incident, official organizations like the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department had already realized that she was cooperating with one, or rather, several powerful Players. That was why Tokyo had suffered no innocent civilian casualties during the invasion by Players from another world.
The dozen or so Players present had also received the news through various channels. After learning that Miwa Ashikaga was recruiting Players to form a faction, they had come here today.
"It is true. Do you want to meet him?"
"If possible..."
Before that Player could finish speaking, an inexplicable, overwhelming fear suddenly surged through the hearts of the dozen or so Players present.
"Thump, thump, thump... Rustle..."
As the sound of footsteps drew closer, the Players could not help turning their gazes toward the source.
A mysterious figure wearing a long black trench coat and a dark gray mask slowly stepped into the dojo.
The moment they saw Asagiri, the fear in the hearts of every Player became even stronger. Their limbs even felt cold and numb.
They immediately realized one thing.
This Player before them was very strong.
He was only walking in slowly, but even so, the aura radiating from him gave them, as Players, an instinctive sense of danger.
"Yo."
Among the dozen or so Players, Asagiri saw four familiar faces and raised his hand in greeting.
Only when he spoke did the chilling aura enveloping the area finally disappear.
"A good bird chooses the right tree to perch on, and a good minister chooses the right lord to serve. I’m very pleased that you made the correct choice."
Hearing Asagiri’s words, the man still wearing a white suit could not help laughing and shaking his head.
"It’s been a while, and you’re still as unconventional as ever. But now I’m relieved. It really is you."
"Don’t talk in such a sappy tone. It sounds like you chased your husband across a thousand miles."
Asagiri replied with a hint of disdain, then looked at the other Players present and smiled.
"Alright. Regarding the conditions Ms. Ashikaga mentioned earlier, do you have any other questions?"
"Um..."
A female Player cautiously raised her hand, like a student asking a teacher a question in class.
After all, from her perspective, although Asagiri’s tone was kind, even somewhat casual and abstract, the pressure he had released the moment he stepped through the door had left a deep impression on her.
"A monthly sponsorship of 500,000 yen... isn’t that a bit too little?"
"It isn’t a lot, but..."
Asagiri looked at the Players present and spoke slowly.
"As long as you provide valuable resources such as equipment, items, or information, you can receive additional sponsorship. The real world protection we provide does not come with any extra conditions. I believe that is already a sufficiently fair transaction."
After hearing Asagiri’s explanation, the Players present roughly understood.
Although some wealthy individuals were willing to offer sky high prices to hire Players, in return, those Players would need to act as bodyguards.
Miwa Ashikaga did not have that many requirements.
They only needed to exert effort during special incidents. Moreover, she would guarantee the Players’ safety in the real world.
With that in mind, a smaller sponsorship amount was not a major issue.
"Excuse me, you just mentioned that you would protect us in the real world. What specific method will you use? Will someone provide close protection?"
"Then you’re really overthinking it."
Asagiri shook his head, his tone flat.
"It’s meaningless for ordinary people to protect you, and it’s unrealistic for Players to protect you. After all, if it were you, would you be willing to become another Player’s personal bodyguard?"
"So we provide two methods of protection. First, if you know you are being targeted by someone, tell us, and we will handle it. The other..."
Asagiri paused slightly, then whispered,
"If you are killed, we will find the killer and any organization behind them, then kill all the enemies."
"As long as everyone realizes this, no one will dare to attack you lightly in the real world. This is what is known as deterrence."
Seeing the Players present looking somewhat skeptical, Asagiri slowly walked to the center of the venue and smiled.
"Of course, anyone can say things like this. To make you believe we have the ability to do it, I can give you an opportunity to challenge me."
Hearing this, the Players exchanged glances. Finally, a medium sized male Player stepped forward.
"Then I’ll..."
"Are you kidding?"
Before the other party could finish, Asagiri interrupted him in a flat tone, saying something that made all the Players present, except the four members of the White Suit Team, frown slightly.
"One on one? That would only bore me. I’m talking about all of you. Whoever wants to challenge me, come at me together."
After hearing Asagiri’s words, every Player present except the four members of the White Suit Team had the same thought.
He really was going all out with the arrogance.
The people here were not the absolute top Players at this stage, but they could still be considered among the better ones.
Excluding the four members of the White Suit Team, there were twelve Players present.
And he wanted to take on all twelve at once?
What a joke.
Even if he were an entire tier stronger, that should still be impossible.
"Hmph. Since he said so, let’s go together."
Most Players who survived to the third stage were extremely confident.
Faced with Asagiri’s arrogant declaration, they felt unconvinced and immediately took two steps forward.
Unlike the twelve Players who moved forward, the four members of the White Suit Team began to retreat. They backed up until their backs were against the metal wall, clearly having no intention of participating in the so called challenge.
They were not stupid.
They had come here specifically to join. Why would they take a beating for no reason?
Of course, in the eyes of the other Players, it was because the four members of the White Suit Team knew Asagiri that they were not challenging him with the others. freewebnσvel.cѳm
In their hearts, they had already labeled those four as cowardly, and possibly shills.
"Then..."
Asagiri reached out and caught the phantom tarot card floating down from the air.
Looking at the twelve Players lined up before him, he clenched his fingers, crushed the tarot card, and spoke softly.
"Let’s begin."
"Persona, Mira."
The moment Mira appeared with a katana in hand, the twelve Players also prepared to attack.
But just then, the aura that caused intense trembling and fear suddenly erupted from Asagiri again.
The five Players who had just taken out melee weapons such as long blades and swords felt their bodies stiffen and go numb.
Forget attacking. They could not even move their feet.
"Don’t you choose to strengthen your mental strength at all after clearing a Dungeon? Too naive."
Seeing the performance of those five Players, Asagiri shook his head.
"Even if your own abilities don’t consume mental strength, but..."
"Bang!"
Midway through his sentence, an Assassin class Player thought Asagiri had not noticed him and used a skill similar to instant acceleration to close in.
However, just as he arrived and was about to attack, Asagiri struck him in the chest with one palm, sending him flying backward into the wall.
"Without mental resistance, you can only be slaughtered when facing mental attacks. Don’t you understand such a simple principle?"
The passive effect of Asagiri’s special class, Unrestrained Tyrant, was that once he entered combat, he continuously exerted mental pressure over the surrounding area.
Players with weaker mental strength, like those five, would directly fall into a state where they could not move and lost the will to fight under that pressure.
Meanwhile, Mira had already assumed a standard Iaijutsu stance.
Her right hand rested on the hilt of the katana in its sheath, ready to unleash a slash at the Player before her, who was wielding a Western greatsword with both hands.
"Naive. Too slow!"
The male Player holding the greatsword showed disdain in his eyes.
He judged that his greatsword would fall before the opponent could draw her katana.
Although this was a spar and there was no need to kill, in his judgment, victory was already his.
"Too slow."
Just as the male Player thought that, a flash of light suddenly crossed his vision.
Immediately after, he felt something cold against his neck.
Mira held the sharp katana lightly against his throat with one hand, while using her other hand to push up her glasses. Her tone was full of chuunibyou flair.
"Such slow movements. I have seen through you completely!"
.....
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