Favor from Count Alvis

After a couple of seconds, the door was pushed and he was greeted by Mel and a noble behind him, none other than Count Alvis.

Gerard tried to stand up but Count Alvis raised his hand. "Be at ease, there's no need to give me a salute."

"Is that so? Thank you!"

Count Alvis nodded his head.

"Brat, Count Alvis has something to tell you. I'm going to take my leave now."

Then Mel left the room, leaving only Count Alvis and Gerard.

The latter was still in a bit of shock due to his System Menu Interface has been refurbished like with those Players' System Menu Interfaces but those are still far inferior compared to his.

His train of thought halted when Count Alvis start asking him questions.

"Are you feeling okay? If you still felt uncomfortable having people around, I will take my leave as well. We can still talk about this tomorrow."

Gerard quickly clear his and was about to stop the Count from leaving. He already assumed that the Count would reward him so how could he prolong receiving the rewards?

Shameless.

Huh? Gerard was surprised to hear something inside his head. But before he can clarify the Supreme System, the Count threaded forward towards the door when he didn't respond.

"I-I'm sorry, I am just out of it. But if Count Alvis wanted to talk now, there's no problem on my end. Please, take a seat."

Gerard almost sounds pleading with the Count to stay. Nonetheless, the Count took a sit again.

"First, I want to thank you for helping the heroes to defeat the Monster. I didn't realize that you befriended some heroes and the Vice Guild Leader of Sky Heaven. The only sole group in West Town."

That's correct, Sky Heaven is the first core group in West Town. Since the Guild System is not yet taken effect, the NPC still called them Group instead of Guild.

"I-It's nothing. I am a citizen as well of this Town. It is only natural to defeat the enemy who endangers my town."

The Count nodded his head.

Gerard didn't care that much but the Count's expression is still the same as the first time he saw him.

"That's good. Because of your courage, I will give you a reward as well. You'll receive it by tomorrow morning."

Got you! Gerard expected this but he still need to act surprised to please the Count. After all, who's noble won't be pleased if the person he rewarded shows how grateful he or she is to receive the rewards?

"I-I don't know how can I thank the Count for being generous towards me."

"Generous towards you? I am not. I just reward those people who showed effort. Those people, like you, earned it so there's no need to thank me."

"But still…" But he was cut off by the Count.

"If you really want to thank me, then I have a favor to ask of you."

Gerard's face suddenly changes to serious hearing the Count.

"I want you to keep befriending the Sky Heaven Vice Guild Leader, if you can befriend the Guild Leader as well, then that's much better."

Gerard tilted his head, prompting the Count to disclose his full intention. His stoic expression changed to a serious one and Gerard felt the atmosphere become tense inside the room.

"What I'm about to tell you is cannot be leaked or disclosed to anyone, even your closest friend. Because this information can ensure chaos in this Town once more if leaked. The enemy earlier will pale in comparison. So I reiterate not to ever disclose the information." The Count paused and greatly scrutinize Gerard who didn't bat an eyelid when their gazes meet.

Gerard cannot help but assume the information about to be spilled out by Count Alvis is either part of the main storyline or just a side story.

But the way the Count emphasizes the weight of repercussion, it is obvious this will be part of the main storyline.

Is this fate? This was supposed to be triggered by real players out there, not him. Given that he just become a player, halfway through. It still didn't make sense.

So Gerard comforted himself by thinking that all the main storylines in the novels and games had background stories that is flowing behind the back of Players and Readers.

On the other hand, seeing the determination of Payne Blanc to learn this delicate information, prompted him to fully spill the complete details.

"Two Weeks from now, the Edo Kingdom will perish and the first to be destroyed is this Town."

Thud! Bang! Plop! All kinds of onomatopoeia that describe the sound of something dropping reverberate on his head.

Gerard cannot help but closed his eyes.

Why was the schedule of this main event moved forward more than anticipated?!

It is too early for that! The West Town still didn't suffer a Monster Siege, Kurosawa is still in the West Town. The quest for finding the missing amulet is still not commencing. So why?!

He may leave the team early but it doesn't mean he didn't know the complete raw plan of his team when he was still not inflicted by a severe gene disorder. Mostly, West Town is his current residential address in the real world. It is natural for him to give more attention to the story of West Town.

There are lots of things going on that made the Supreme System Serve move the schedule compared to what he knew.

He is not shameless like other protagonists in the novels he reads, but it seems that this sudden occurrence is related to the explanation of the Supreme System that was filtered and having the Supreme System as his System Menu Interface. Making him a culprit. Meaning, this Kingdom, this game is now revolving around him. It made sense since this game is being overseen by Supreme System, and whatever happened inside the game, the Supreme System deem it fit and justified, affecting the flow of the story with the Player's freedom intact.

First when he bumped into Kurosawa, suddenly Count Alvis travel from his estate in the Capital City of the Edo Kingdom to West Town. I won't explain how quickly Count Alvis reached the West Town although supposedly, the Count will take weeks to reach the West Town. It is the magic of virtual games and novels.

And now, when the Supreme System refurbished his System Menu Interface made him a certified NPC that has the same path as Players. He learned that the West Town is on the brink of destruction.

Meanwhile, seeing Payne Blanc become suddenly occupied by his own thought when he heard the delicate information, prompted Count Alvis to cough which made Payne wake up from being occupied.

"I am sorry, I was just lost in thought when I heard this…this unexpected information."

"It is okay, I understand."

"May I know how sure the Count is?"

The Count deeply sighs and meets Gerard's gaze.

"I won't say how I was able to learn this information but I can tell you that this information is authentic. This town will be attacked from the South, East, West, and North. Unable for the citizen to flee from getting killed."

Fuck! Gerard cannot help but curse inwardly.

West Town is surrounded by forest from its cardinal location. Even the main gate where the main road was built faces the dense forest, the home of wild animals and monsters.

Who's sane that would order an all-out attack on the shabby Town from all sides? He imagined that it would take an entire army of a nation to cover the West Town from all sides while sweeping up the dense forest clean of monsters.

Obviously, Gerard knows the culprit behind this attack but then again, the team might change the story drastically.

If you want to destroy the Edo Kingdom, go attack the Capital City first! Why would someone attack this shabby Town?!

Gerard immediately clears his head and asks the Count a question.

"Does the Count know who is the culprit behind the attack?"

The Count shake his head softly and stood up and thread forward to the window.

"I am not sure but there are lots of variables in determining the culprit. But there are two possible culprits behind this attack."

Gerard waited patiently.

"The Ylem Empire or the current King of Edo Kingdom."

It seems like Gerard felt Heaven drop on him when he heard the two possible culprits.

One of the two gives Gerard a clear theory of his own.

If it's the King of the Edo Kingdom, he surely discovered Kurosawa is hiding in this Town. But to prompt him to issue an all-out attack, no, to issue an all-out massacre that would lead to the destruction of his own Kingdom as well is unpredictable.

What Gerard knew is that there was a beef between Kurosawa and the current King of the Edo Kingdom. But he didn't know the exact reason for their conflict because when he read the manual of raw plans, the reason is tagged as pending confirmation of the screenwriter team. Then he was kicked out of the team due to his illness.

Next is the Ylem Empire. This nation is riddled with mystery, from how a small nation become an empire, compromising five kingdoms. The home of Mages NPC. And now ten thousand players are living there, doubling their strength.

If he remembered correctly, this small nation was called Ylem State at first. But when they start expanding their land by conquering their neighbor's villages and towns that were not part of any nation, they got it big leading them to become a nation. But their conquest to expand their land didn't stop there. They start conquering other nations, and they declared war on multiple countries at the same time.

Many thought the Ylem Empire will fall due to their recklessness but they were shocked when they successfully conquered the four nations, making them called Ylem Empire.

Even Gerard didn't know the reason behind their strength, there are lots of variables, witchcraft, or demon manipulation. They might be the home of Mages, but they still should have shortcomings. And how they solved it, Gerard didn't know as well.

And now after a decade of prosperity and peace in the Ylem Empire, they are now eyeing their closes neighbor, the Edo Kingdom.

Gerard didn't like it but if behind their strength is demon manipulation not the power of Mages, then it is obvious that the current King of the Edo Kingdom is beguiled. But his theory has no proof and no basis.

Gerard's attention was caught again by the Count when it turn around to face him.

"That is why I asked you a favor to continue befriending the Sky Heaven. They may be not a large group but Lina, their Guild Leader is extraordinary. If they stay here, we might have a chance."

What the Count said is true. Even with Sky Heaven's small number, they are a core group, compromising of trained elites that are experienced in dungeon raids where most monsters are exceedingly strong compared to the monster located outside the dungeon.

If the attack commences, the Count can issue a quest to all players living in West Town to defend the town. Even Sky Heaven will participate as well. Aside from rewards they will receive from the Count, their System Menu Interface will reward them as well.

So he doubted the Players will turn tail. After all, is this what every player wants? A blood-boiling battle?

But the next flavor of the Count made Gerard surprised making him stuttered.

"And my favor will extend to you. Do you want to be the Town Chief of West Town?"

"W-what….?"

"If you become the new Town Chief of West Town, there's a high possibility that Sky Heaven won't leave the Town. Of course, you will immediately receive the first three months' salary as a Town Chief aside from the rewards I mentioned earlier once you agreed. What's your say?"

"I-I think…I might refuse?"

He might refuse but his questionable tone didn't convince the Count.

"It is okay, think of it carefully first. But I want your answer tomorrow night so we can still prepare to defend this town. I'll be leaving now."

The Count leaves Gerard alone in the room astounded.

After five minutes, Gerard was able to cope with the situation.

"Surely, a lot has happened today. 2 days inside the game after its official launch. Darn it! I'll decide about it tomorrow."

Gerard then cover his whole body from head to toe with a blanket and tried to sleep.

His mind is seriously exhausted from all the commotion today.