Seoul, the Land of Anomalies.

“Hey, brother?”

Nam Taemin greeted Nam Cheolmin like he was somehow become green tea.

If I pretend again, I pretend.

It was obvious that he was suffering.

“What is it, a bunch of reporters again?”

“Well, they always do.”

“Just ignore them like I did.”

“I was going to, but ……. ”

He hands over the business cards of VBC’s Yoon Jongjin and Hyun Yongseok.

“Still, how curious must everyone have been? And I thought that if I was going to show it, it would be better to show it properly. So that there would be no unnecessary misunderstandings. So even though I was tired, I pushed myself a little too hard.”

“Whose business card is that? Oh, VBC?”

Nam Taemin’s face, which had been showing a disapproving look, instantly brightened. If it was VBC, it was acknowledged. Compared to broadcasting stations that are crazy about viewer ratings and pour out trash articles, VBC was a saint.

Nam Taemin shook his head.

“Hmm, very neutral media. They don’t have a complete grasp of our commander-in-chief’s true value, but they do have some understanding.”

“They said to expect it?”

“Expect? Expect what?”

Grrr.

Nam Taemin’s curiosity got the better of him, and he nudged Nam Cheolmin in a way that didn’t seem appropriate for his size. Nam Cheolmin answered after hanging his clothes on a hanger.

“I heard it will properly show the first step of the Holy War Alliance?”

“The first step of the Holy War Alliance……?”

Nam Taemin’s hand went to his chin.

After all, he’d made a significant contribution to this battle.

At first, he thought it was a special feature on him.

Taemin laughed softly.

“So my first impression was correct. I’m a little disappointed that it wasn’t my feature, but it means that the VBC was right to recognize that we’ve only just begun to share the burden of the Commander-in-Chief.”

Of course, technically

“Well, The commander-in-chief gave me permission to share, but anyway!”

“Don’t you think you lost too much strength from the first step?”

“That’s why I’ll diligently follow behind Mr. Hoyeol, brother.”

As if to prove his point.

The two men didn’t even take a break to rest before getting right down to business. The first thing they checked was the system window of the Arcana Continent Biography that was being applied to Seoul, the Land of Anomalies.

[Great Alliance – Gaon Building]

“Judging by the fact that there is no change in stability, it looks like there were no people targeting empty houses when we were away. Well, what kind of fool would do something like that?”

Nam Cheolmin nodded, but glanced at the next message.

“Rather than that, I think we should start planning for ‘King of Seoul’ soon”

“Really? How ready are you?”

“Yep. I’ve got a rough idea of the Seoul power structure.”

Nam Taemin checked the materials he had organized.

“There’s a lot of them, isn’t there?”

“What, is it?”

“After the Magic Tower was summoned to Seoul, there were many guilds that had set up base camps nearby. But this is way beyond the number of guilds. Hundreds of thousands …… Nearly a million?!”

Nam Cheolmin nodded.

“It’s an unavoidable phenomenon that occurred when Seoul became Arcanaized. First of all, the number of players living in Seoul became plus-alpha.”

To put it simply

Nam Taemin said, hitting his knee.

“Even the players’ bedrooms have become territory, right?”

“You said it really easily? Anyway, it’s not wrong.”

“Then you’re saying that in order for Hoyeol to become the King of Seoul and liberate the [Authority] function, he’ll have to unite these numerous forces, right?”

Nam Cheolmin nodded.

“Leonie asked, right? Is that even necessary?”

Anyone would ask, not just Leonie.

Is there any need to rule?

Even if you don’t unlock the [Authority] function.

Doesn’t Hoyeol already have more than enough power?

“No, that’s because you don’t understand the power of authority.”

Although he had never activated the power function properly.

Nam Cheolmin knew.

He’d seen it from the sidelines.

“Mr. Hoyeol has already activated the Authority feature in the Kingdom of Yusra, which means he’s on par with King Hakuna. He just hasn’t used it for personal purposes.”

Nam Cheolmin could have sworn.

“If Mr. Hoyeol activates the power of Seoul, it will not fall to any enemy, not even the Ten Thrones. I can be sure of that now.”

Confident.

To put it bluntly.

He hadn’t been sure before.

“Perhaps, I unconsciously postponed the King of Seoul’s plan.”

Hoyeol

It was precisely because he didn’t trust Hoyeol from what he’d witnessed on Jeju Island, but the Raid on The Great Yokai of the Valley of Blood, the Cruel God Killer Eight-headed Viper made him realize. Hoyeol’s sincerity.

Nam Taemin chuckled.

“Brother, have you finally gained faith? I’m disappointed.”

“You make it sound like you don’t.”

“Me? I’ve never wavered in the past…….”

“Really? Then who is it? He came up to me and said with a serious face that he smelled something different about Mr. Hoyeol. He looks like a golden retriever who hasn’t been fed…….”

“Ack! What are you saying? I can’t hear you!”

The tantrum was brief.

Nam Cheolmin flipped the page.

Because one particularly unusual name caught Cheolmin eye.

“Wait, Taemin.”

Nam Cheolmin’s voice became serious, and Nam Taemin’s face became serious as well. It had to be. There were people who shouldn’t be in the Seoul power sphere.

“Oak Auction.”

The Shadow Mercenaries and the underworld of the Arcana Continent.

Why had they set foot in Seoul, the land of the anomalies?

The brothers’ faces were chilled.

“I suppose we’ll have to settle this on our terms, won’t we, big brother?”

*

Ulrich smiled in satisfaction.

“Good.”

Still, wouldn’t this be enough?

“I hope Grandfell-nim will be pleased.”

The Oak Auction has not forgotten its promise to Claudi.

Within the myriad of clinking glass bottles.

He stared at the throbbing liquid.

Blood, red and thick.

….