The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 75

Upon hearing Kane’s story, Raul fell into deep thought. His expression remained unchanged, forcing Kane to merely gauge his reactions. However, inside, Raul was rejoicing.

‘What luck! It really pays to be well-known.’

He had been feeling stifled without a proper source of information. Although he had the use of his family’s intelligence network, it fell woefully short of what Raul desired.

He had been planning to establish his own intelligence organization soon, but he hadn’t expected such an excellent candidate to come to him so easily.

[Name]: Kane (Age 38)

[Level]: 83

[Occupation]: Rogue (High-Level Expert)

[Affiliation]: Leader of the Intelligence Guild ‘Wings of Freedom’

[Talents]: Information Gathering, Disguise, Close Combat

[Title]: The Faceless

[Stats]: Potential (S Rank)

[Strength 75]

[Agility 81]

[Stamina 73]

[Intelligence 77]

[Spirit 71]

[Magic 72]

[Perception 80]

[Unique Traits]:

Chameleon (S-), Stealthy Spy (A+), Single Combat Expert (A)

Indeed, his stats are fitting for someone who built one of the top three intelligence guilds in his previous life.

‘Is that even his real appearance?’

With brown hair and an overly ordinary appearance, his features were so vague, it felt like one wouldn’t be able to recognize him upon a subsequent meeting.

Even in his previous life, while rumors abounded, no one had actually confirmed his existence. Naturally, Raul intended to accept Kane’s request to rescue his subordinates.

Especially since Raul had become incompatible with the Imperial Hounds, and now that he knew where their hideout was, he couldn’t just ignore it.

But Raul wasn’t one to act on justice alone. Since he had been asked for a favor, shouldn’t he gain something from Kane?

“I understand your feelings, Mr. Kane. However, you must know that I cannot move on trust alone,” Raul commented.

The hideout Kane mentioned was definitely owned by a noble family. It meant that Raul couldn’t simply mobilize his forces without good reason.

“Please trust me. I stake my life on it!”

“I’m not sure how much your life is worth, but without evidence or certainty, I can’t attack another noble house. And even if what you’re saying is true, why should I sacrifice my men for someone I just met today?”

Raul’s firm words made Kane bite his lip.

‘I was too naive.’

He had thought a young noble brimming with a sense of justice at hearing rumors would eagerly jump into action. Despite his youthful appearance, Raul seemed far more thoughtful.

But Kane couldn’t give up here. With determination, he spoke again.

“Please help me. If you save them, I will serve you for the rest of my life, young master Raul. They are also capable individuals. If we can rescue them, they will be a great asset to you!”

He banged his head on the floor again and again. Raul hurriedly stopped Kane and let out a low sigh.

“Phew, I simply can’t ignore the heart of Mr. Kane, who thinks of his subordinates. Shall we talk more about it in detail?”

A faint smile appeared on Raul’s lips. That day, Raul accepted Kane, a competent informant, as his subordinate.

* * *

Ding.

Connect Year 521, June 28th, midnight.

A notice popped up in front of Raul’s eyes.

[Notice]

has been completed. Rewards have been given based on the Gate Clear Ranking.

-Unfortunately, the clear rate of the Gate is excessively low. The accumulated dimensional energy begins to overflow.

-Pre-scenario Route A has been confirmed.

-A new main quest [First Gate Outbreak] will proceed.

-A new limited-time event [Triple Double Bonus] begins. During the event period, experience, proficiency, and item drop rate are doubled.

-The open beta service schedule has been confirmed. Approximately 6 months later, on Connect Year 522, January 1st, you will meet new players along with a new large-scale update.

After checking the lengthy notice, a system message followed.

-Congratulations. You have ranked 1st in individual and guild rankings in the limited-time quest [Gate Rush!]. A special reward has been given.

-A new main quest will start in 24 hours.

“That’s a relief. I thought it was starting immediately…”

Raul turned his gaze away from the D-Grade Gate emitting an ominous aura. Just in case, he also withdrew all the troops deployed at the Gate.

Fortunately, being given a day’s time allowed for a bit more preparation. Of course, this didn’t mean there was a sure way to completely prevent the looming disaster.

[Main Quest: First Gate Outbreak]

Grade: ???

Objective: Defend against the Gate Wave.

Additional Objective: Destroy the stabilized Gate (Dungeon)

Deadline: Before the open beta service (Connect Year 521, December 31st)

Description: Dimensional energy overflows, causing monster waves from the Gate. Hunt as many monsters as you can to protect the Connect world.

Notes: Stabilized Gates (Dungeons) periodically generate monster waves. To prevent wave occurrences, continuously cleanse the Gates.

Rewards: Distributed based on ranking. Separate rewards for individuals and guilds are prepared.

As feared, the next quest was the Gate Outbreak.

When monster waves occur through the Gate Outbreak, the grade of the Gate and the accumulated stacks determine the invading monster horde.

Gates without accumulated stacks will see monsters appearing within the grade of the Gate, but with up to 2 stacks, not only do monsters outside the grade appear, but the number of monster hordes also increases with the stacks.

“Continuously managing our stacks, the temple and our domain might somehow reduce the damage….”

The domains that had been merely observing will suffer tremendous damage with this wave. There was only so much Raul could do.

He would do his best to minimize the damage, but saving everyone was out of the question. Only one day remained. Raul’s worry deepened on what more he could prepare.

* * *

“Preparations?”

“All troop deployments have been completed. With the cooperation of the capital’s Guard Captain, the makeshift defensive installations have been finished.”

“Most of the citizens around the gate have evacuated to the temple. A few residents refuse to cooperate and remain in their homes.”

“It’s regrettable, but we can’t save everyone. People must bear the responsibility for their choices. Have the troops withdraw from that area.”

It was a cold decision, but Raul commanded firmly.

“What about the kingdom’s central army?”

“The legion commander refused to mobilize troops. They said they cannot move troops privately unless there’s an order from the palace.”

‘Tch.’

Raul clicked his tongue inwardly. But this was expected. He could only hope the situation would erupt and allow for an earlier response.

“We’ve also finished deploying temporarily hired forces with the cooperation of the mercenaries guild, knights guild, and mages’ guild.”

Raul nodded calmly. Getting the guilds’ cooperation was a matter of having enough money, after all.

With this, Raul had completed all the preparations he could do. The First Knight Order’s knights numbered 200, and there were about 2,000 soldiers.

5,000 personnel from the capital’s guard. And including the mercenaries and mercenaries temporarily hired with the guilds’ cooperation, about 5,000 more.

Over 12,000 troops were deployed at strategic points near the gate, following Raul’s orders. Of course, this was far from enough to defend the entire capital.

Raul had no choice but to make a selection, deploying forces primarily around the densely populated civilian areas of the third and fourth outer walls.

‘Let the first outer wall, with its noble residences and part of the central army barracks, fend for themselves.’

The second outer wall, housing the headquarters of the capital’s guard and various guilds, should be somewhat manageable.

Raul’s objective was merely to buy time until the central army’s 50,000 troops and the royal knights could mobilize. Handling the wave with just the First Knight Order’s power was not easy.

‘Based on my past life experience, roughly 1,000 monsters emerge from a single F-Grade gate. By rough calculations…’

Nearly 50,000 monsters would pour out just within Thurium. The problem is that gates also exist outside the walls.

If the capital’s interior isn’t quickly secured, they risked a pincer attack. Of course, the wave would eventually end even without Raul stepping in.

A D-Grade gate at most. Once elite soldiers and knights are properly deployed, the monsters will be dealt with. If you’re a power armor user, even 1,000 regular monsters are manageable foes.

However, what about the cumulative damage sustained over time?

In reality, the population of Thurium nearly reached 1 million, but when visited in a past life, Thurium’s population was only about 500,000. The wave crisis meant that nearly half of the citizens were sacrificed.

‘We can’t just let that happen.’

In any society, population equals national power and strength. For the sake of the future, sacrifices must be minimized.

Raul reviewed his plans once more, waiting for the right moment. Then, shortly after, the D-Grade gate stationed at the center of a square about 100 meters away began tinting with a sinister yellow light.

Wooooong.

The gate in the air finally burst into bright light and swelled to several times its size.

“Kweeek!”

With a sound akin to a pig being slaughtered, a group of hefty wild boars charged out forcefully.

“Armored Boars! Begin crossbow fire!”

What emerged were the Armored Boars (D), with body sizes about 1.5 times larger than that of regular wild boars. Their transformed hides boasted a defensive capability comparable to steel plates.

More importantly, their molars and skulls were as tough as steel, making them a force capable of destroying knights head-on. Hundreds of these terrifying Armored Boars spilled out from the gate, spreading in all directions.

Shwoosh! Thwack!

“Kweeek.”

Bolts made of steel pierced through the chest of an Armored Boar. Despite the impact, the boar tried to continue its charge but could not withstand the successive bolts that brought it down.

“Aim for the legs and torso! The bolts won’t penetrate their heads!”

The soldiers, already knowledgeable in handling them, slowed down the advance of the Armored Boars with appropriate crossbow fire. But fully stopping them was another matter given their momentum and numbers.

Despite the rain of bolts, the Armored Boars pushed through only to be met by a makeshift barricade constructed from stone blocks.

“Stab them!”

At the commander’s order, pikemen extended their spears between the barricades, stabbing at the Armored Boars. However, the finishing blow was not the soldiers’ to deliver.

Members of the First Knight Order, standing atop the 3-meter-high barricade, plunged their mana-infused long spears downward, shattering even the tough skulls of the Armored Boars, effectively cutting their breaths short.

The initial wave was thus repelled without much difficulty. Yet, the real battle was just beginning. With the carcasses of Armored Boars piling up in front of the barricade, the creatures began to use them as steps to leap over.

“Don’t let a single one through!”

Suddenly, knights who had exchanged their lances for two-handed swords drew blades infused with mana, igniting their will to fight.

(To be continued)