Chapter 614


    Matans Shooter 614


    What the- Why all of a sudden-


    At that moment, as Leehas index finger twitched, a user from the Virtue Knights sheathed their sword.


    Okay. I give up.


    Huh?


    Fighting here wont benefit either of us, dont you think? It doesnt seem like youre going to back down anyway. And were well aware of how frightening the Pope can be.


    The user from the Virtue Knights turned their back without any hesitation.


    Leeha and his party were the ones taken aback by this prompt deration of retreat.


    Y-youre just leaving like that?


    What else? Stay here and have a go at it?


    The user didnt even bother to look back as they walked away, merely gesturing lightly towards the caravans with a hand.


    Well leave the carriages! Take what you need from them, paleos! Well talk another time when its quieter.


    The figure waved lightly, a cloak embroidered with a horned horse fluttering.


    Rushing, Leeha shouted towards the knight user.


    Wait a minute! Who are you? Whats your deal?


    The retreating users steps halted. Turning around with a smirk, they then burst into a hollowugh.


    Ha! I forgot to introduce myself. Im Lark en Ciel. My friends just call me Lark; feel free to do the same.


    Ive heard that name somewhere-


    Oh, right, right. Today might be a retreat, but being in pursuit of achievements doesnt always mean building camaraderie, you know? If you do not ept our generosity, theres only one other option we can take.


    Lark turned away again, followed closely by the entire Virtue Knights.


    Knight of the Rainbow, Lark? Was he that famous?


    Among outsiders, especially those in closebat roles, hes almost top tier.


    Is he better than you, Kijung?


    Comparing me with him? Who else in Middle Earth would catch up to my tanking? Especially now!


    Kijung responded to Leehas question by proudly nging his shield. The sound pealed more confidence than before, now that the enhancement wasplete.


    Of course, other members like Bobae, Shin Nara, Tale had no clue why Kijung was striking his shield. Even as guildmates, Kijung didnt boast around that his shield was enhanced.


    Therefore, Leeha couldnt help but wear a more serious expression upon seeing Kijungs response.


    Holding an incredible shield, freshly enhanced, and gripping a legendary sword provided by Leeha himself, Kijungs confidence solely lied with tanking.


    Tanking without defeat meansgging far behind in damage, firepower Is that scumbag really that strong?


    Bobae reinforced the implicit meaning behind Kijungs modest statement.


    In a 1:1 fight, even Kijung couldnt be sure. After all, the Virtue Knights are on par with the Sacred Knights of Fibiel, and hesmanding a hundred knights. Thats a lot more authority than Nara has, right? And judging by his actions, he seems to be inmand of the entire expedition of knights to the new continent.


    Phew I also have administrative authority within Sacred, but not the kind ofmand authority he has, Shin Nara sighed in response to Bobaesment.


    Leeha was still somewhat amazed at the distribution of masters everywhere.


    Even after making a name for himself through various ys and wars, there were still so many users he didnt know.


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    Considering the cumtive number of subscribers, that was to be expected.


    With that bandit-like face, calling him Knight of the Rainbow? Should leave out the Rainbow and just call him Knight of Thugs, or better yet, Thug Knight from the looks of it.


    Leeha grumbled in jest. Lightughter mixed in from the surroundings. Even Youngblood, who had been solemn all along, cracked a smile.


    The knights of Virtue and Lark didnt touch the relief goods they had ced between them, judging that it was entirely within their character to reappear someday and demandpensation, proiming, We never gave this away for free. Pay up.


    But apart from the intimacy achievement, is there anything else? What are those guys trying to do?


    Uh, Ive never heard of anything else.


    Could it be the achievement for discovering new ces?


    Ignoring their goodwill, there was only one option left.


    What was this one option?


    Kijung, Leeha, and Bobae tried to recall Larksst remark but couldnte up with a suitable answer. The same was true for Tale and other NPCs from the Sacred Knights. It was only to be expected.


    They were unaware of another achievement that could be achieved based on the yers ying style, distinct from skill level, game proficiency, or whether ones level was high or low.


    Shin Nara looked anxious.


    Ive heard of it once before.


    What? What have you heard?


    Has anyone here cleared a quest involving a bandit gang?


    Shin Nara looked around nervously with an anxious expression.


    Leeha, too, had once received a quest to snipe a bandit leader called Angel. There was no way other yers wouldnt have encountered something simr.


    Those bandits anyway, theyre ssified as NPCs.


    Its a fine distinction. They seem closer to monsters. Maybe because theyre human, theyre ssified as NPCs.


    Kijung tilted his head in confusion, but even Shin Nara didnt know that much. However, it was clear from Leehas widening eyes that he realized what Shin Nara was hinting at.


    No way. Youre not suggesting


    I dont know. But if its not the intimacy achievement, the only other method I can think of.


    Shin Nara shook her head anxiously, making Bobae look shocked.


    Eh? What is it? Hyung, do you know something?


    Kijung looked at Leehas face for an answer, but Leeha couldnt see him. If Shin Nara was correct, then what the Virtue Knights had to do next was indeed dire.


    Then we must kill-


    No, its different from killing, Leeha voiced his thoughts, but Shin Nara shook her head.


    Strictly speaking, Leeha could only guess roughly; he hadnt fully grasped the concept yet.


    What is it then?


    Theres no need to kill their leader or annihte them all.


    When Leeha had cleared the bandit quest, it was sufficient to confirm the assassination of just Angel.


    So, they wondered if the Virtue Knights had gone to kill a spirit of another paleo tribe


    Fortunately, that wasnt the case.


    All eyes turned to Shin Nara as she spoke.


    To achieveplete and utter submission from the entire NPC group. I once had a quest to arrest an entire guild of yers who had achieved this. Its the pr opposite of the [Intimacy] achievement. Its a system driven not by reputation but by infamy.


    What achievement is that?


    Its the [Subjugation] achievement.


    That exists?


    Its normal you all dont know about it Because to advance to a certain stage, reputation is essential, right? Thats why there wouldnt be such yers in our vicinity.


    Anyway, the fact that gaining entry into the royal pce alone requires such renown says a lot.


    Shin Nara exined, leading some to nod in understanding, while a few others including Leeha seemed to hear this for the first time.


    So, its like a team battle sort of thing, huh?


    An achievement that could be earned by a group of yerspletely overpowering a groupposed of NPCsbe it a specific vige, a knight order, or a band of marauders.


    Naturally, subduing aggressive and harmful NPC groups like marauders would increase not infamy but general renown. However, more often than not, such encounters ended with the entire band of marauders being wiped out, leaving the achievement unattainable.


    Thats why its difficult. Subduing without killing anyone is harder than just killing everyone. Its difficult without a significant gap in strength.


    This meant that in the continent of Lope, there were very few who had obtained the achievement of [Subjugation].


    Those who were strong enough and had umted enough levels and stats to make a significant difference saw no reason to earn an achievement that would only umte infamy instead.


    They would sooner earn achievements rted to increasing affinity by fulfilling the desires of the NPC groups with their capabilities.


    How interesting. ording to Nara-ssi, it means that a user named Lark couldpletely subdue the paleos here.


    Tale said, his eyes sparkling as he quietly followed the conversation.


    Understanding the structure of the subdued achievement, it was impossible not to be curious about the Virtuous Knight Order that hinted at seeking such an achievement.


    Shin Nara nodded, ncing at Youngblood, a simple gesture that Leeha understood as well.


    Theyll probably rely on numbers. Even the Sacred Knight Order could subdue the Red Goat if their numbers matched. The real issue is


    As Leeha turned his head slightly, Kijung, Bobae, and Tale also turned their heads in the same direction.


    Aibex. Whether they can subdue a mystical creature or not.


    Even the weakest mystical creatures possessed strength equal to juvenile-ss dragons.


    An Aibex in this region would undoubtedly be at least of adult ss.


    Given that an ancient-ss being like Bailephus showed interest, its strength was already a matter of public knowledge.


    The highest-ranking among the knight orders is the Capital Defense Knight Order, and quite a few of them have been dispatched here but Can they really subdue a mystical creature with just that number of people? Subduing regr paleos would require at least equal numbers, and subduing a mystical creature would need a forceparable to a dragon raid.


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    Killing was certainly a possibility.


    Leeha himself could think of numerous methods, especially with his Shadow Hitman title.


    Waiting hidden for days, then as soon as a mystical creature appearsstrike between the eyes!


    But for subjugation?


    It seems tough no matter how I think about it. Its notpletely impossible but


    Without borrowing the power of ugrunn or Koma, subduing them all alone by Leeha would be nearly impossible.


    What level of skill does Lark and the Virtuous Knight Order possess to speak so confidently?


    What are they basing their assurance on?


    As everyone was simting their own methods of subduing, Kijung stood up.


    Why worry about it now? Unless youre insane, you wouldnt stir up trouble when youre about to secure the Divine Staff.


    They have already caused trouble, havent they?


    At least not the kind of subjugation Miss Shin mentioned. Their attitude towards obtainingnd was unfortunate, but the ones sent under Miniss orders likely wont cause trouble.


    Their method of exchanging goods fornd was undoubtedly wrong, but there was some logic to Kijungs words.


    They hadnt resorted to physical violence in this ce, after all.


    The Virtuous Knight Order had been the first to retreat before crossing the ultimate line.


    Kijung might not be the type to calcte such oues, but his instinct was worth acknowledging.


    Leeha felt the same way.


    I agree with Kijungs words. Theyre not foolish enough to cause a problem that big right now. The real issue is securing the Divine Staff first.


    However, Leeha was looking a bit further ahead.


    Still, an immediate answer to this problem was elusive.