Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

“Yes. We’ve set up everything around the places he often frequents, but there hasn’t been any special activity. Considering that the musket academy NPC in Puyvael’s capital city is still there, he’s probably not moving with them.”

“The key NPCs related to the Bluebeard seem to be their creators… but since they’re not moving, does that mean there’s no search operation? I thought there would be orders from the Pope as soon as the reinforcement pact was signed…”

She was truly representative of the user information guild.

The idea of reading the flow of the entire quest related to subduing the Demon King’s army through Browlis’s movements was not something anyone could come up with.

“They should have moved sooner. The attack on Leeha’s City Gaza was likely due to the lack of time right after the reinforcement pact was signed. Why is the Pope’s side so quiet? And where the heck is Leeha?”

A strange sense of anxiety, almost like being caught but not quite, swept through Chiyo’s whole body.

“I’ll go meet Faust and come back. Which was it again, the hiding place?”

“Number 27, near the Land of Death.”

“Got it. Sasuke, for the time being, focus on finding Leeha. Pay close attention to whether there’s a large-scale search operation happening in Minis or Puyvael. Especially, make sure to check if any official communications are sent in the Pope’s name.”

“Understood, Okasa.”

The back-and-forth between them, each trying to decipher the other’s strategy and catch up, continued.

But this time, Leeha was one step ahead.

Her experience from the national war, facing “individuals outside the half-battle” who dealt with information, and her experience battling them, made her more prepared than ever.

Browlis not moving and Leeha’s movements being untraceable for Chiyo and Sasuke were only natural.

All of it was already part of Leeha’s plan.

* * *

Squish…

A person with a mask tightly covering their face stretched their head out towards the entrance of the Pope’s information room.

They quickly glanced around, surveying their surroundings, and then hurriedly ran towards the door of the information room. Although there was no real need to go to such lengths, their actions were quite serious.

“Hurry, hurry, get inside!”

“For heaven’s sake, what in the world is going on? If it wasn’t the Chief’s order, I’d have slashed your face—”

“Shh! Be quiet and get in quickly!”

“You said the Vatican was safe, why go to such lengths? You said everything was already arranged—”

“I never said I was safe. It’s just that it’s a bit better than usual! And there’s no harm in being cautious, right?!”

Of course, the person behind the mask was Leeha.

Rugger and Kid were grumbling, and a few people were mumbling as they followed behind them.

“Why are you so relaxed? Go in quickly!”

“This is the central command center for spreading lines. We can’t make a commotion here.”

“Oh, that kind of calm talk isn’t suitable right now. Baileyphus, you should hurry—”

“Mana detection is already done, so don’t worry. There’s no one around. Do you think there’s someone who can escape my mana detection and eavesdrop on our conversation?”

An impatient Leeha snapped at the others, but Alexander and Baileyphus continued to walk at a leisurely pace.

Behind them, another person drew their sword with a swish, but Leeha quickly pointed at them, indicating they should put it away.

“Hurry means go inside, not targeting Alexander from behind, Jiwon Lee. Put your sword away, quickly.”

“Hehe, I was just playing around, hyung. If I help with this, you’ll really let go of the dragons and let us have a break, right? Come on, treasure~”

“Sigh… alright, alright. You keep saying that over and over. Just get in quickly.”

Rugger and Kid went in, followed by Alexander and Baileyphus.

However, one person was still left outside, when they thought everyone had gone in. They suddenly realized someone was still out there.

Somehow, they were holding onto Leeha’s sleeve from behind. The girl’s blue hair would be noticeable anywhere in the Vatican.

“Uh, yeah? Come on, let’s go in. And the hat! You said you’d wear a hat when we’re walking around for a while, remember?”

“It’s uncomfortable.”

When Leeha placed the hat over her head and covered her with it, Ramhwa Jeong stuck her lips out.

However, the feeling of Leeha’s hand touching her hair didn’t seem bad, and she accepted the touch straightforwardly. If someone else had tried to forcefully put a hat on Ramhwa Jeong, they might have frozen everything but his nostrils.

“Alright, that’s enough. Let’s go inside together.”

Normally, Ramhwa Jeong was a tough opponent for Leeha, but there was no room for that right now.

After Ramhwa Jeong, Leeha, and everyone else had entered the Pope’s information room, the door was quickly closed.

Whoooom───!

From the opening of the door to everyone entering and the door being closed again took about three minutes.

“Cough cough…. Wasn’t this supposed to be done secretly?”

“I-I apologize, Your Holiness.”

It was only natural for the Pope to cough and be annoyed by the noisy crowd and their even more cumbersome passage through the door.

Leeha scolded her own team for not maintaining proper composure in front of the Pope.

With a proud yet natural expression, Leeha raised her window, and even Blaughgloon let out a pleased sound at her bright smile.

Six players and two dragons—Ancient and Hatchling class, so it was safe to say it was effectively one dragon—stood before the Pope in their respective positions.

“Hmm…”

As the Pope surveyed their faces, his expression twitched oddly, which was perhaps an expected reaction.

* * *

“While having an Ancient Dragon with us is akin to having an army, if it’s not too impolite to ask, what are your thoughts, Dragon?”

The Pope, who had been scratching his chin, tilted his head and smiled.

Leeha wasn’t particularly surprised by this.

It was only natural for the Pope, who was the leader of the country and the representative of the temples spread across the continent, and often referred to as the spokesperson for the gods, to recognize dragons.

“It’s possible.”

The reply of Baileyphus, the “middle-aged human” in golden armor, was brief and resolute.

Leeha wasn’t surprised by the question; her reaction was practically a foregone conclusion.

The intellectual level of the two NPCs was high enough that they didn’t need to ask the meaning behind the question.

“I, too, am aware that the Eighth Lord Bahamut is present. Perhaps he’s offering some assistance—”

“That’s not the case. If Lord meant to move recklessly, this continent would be severed.”

As Baileyphus firmly shook his head, the surroundings stirred. Only Alexander and Leeha understood Baileyphus’s intentions.

‘I heard that if the leader of the Metal Dragon moves, the Colored Dragons won’t remain still either. Well, it’s a pity for me.’

Ironically, Bahamut, who was the “King” and thus couldn’t move recklessly, was the key. Though excommunicated, after Kuzgunak’s death, relations between the Colored and Metal factions had deteriorated even further. Naturally, Bahamut, who sought to uphold order, righteousness, and justice, needed to establish a focal point at some point.

This was why Leeha hadn’t been able to persuade Bahamut to move, no matter how hard she tried.

“Brother, who’s Bahamut? A lord? A Dragon Lord? How can we defeat that? How can we even approach that?”

“Shh, quiet! If you blurt that out in front of Alexander and Baileyphus, you’ll end up dead from a single strike!”

“Why do you always have to act like you know something the rest of us don’t, you damn brat. A Dragon Lord? Does that mean I’ll become the strongest if I defeat him?”

“Luge, just be quiet. Don’t pour oil on a burning house.”

Leeha wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and stopped the two fighters from arguing.

Baileyphus probably couldn’t hear them, but at least in this moment, Leeha hadn’t killed Leeha and Luge.

“Hmm… In that case, do you truly believe that this team alone is enough?”

Everyone could now understand how the Pope felt about the team Leeha had gathered. The Pope was skeptical.

In fact, some of the people gathered were equally uncertain.

Some had faced Bluebeard directly, and others had been busy dealing with the nobles around them.

No matter what approach they took, the Demon Army was not an easy opponent.

Could they really defeat Bluebeard, who was undoubtedly the strongest monster in the Middle Earth Phase 2 update, with just a “raid” or “party hunt” approach?

The question on everyone’s minds was answered by the Gold Dragon with a single word.

“Of course. Because we have Leeha.”

“Lord Baileyphus…”

Baileyphus turned to face the assembled humans and Leeha.

“The strategy for Kuzgunak’s assassination was impressive, to say the least. I believe in Leeha’s power, who has become part of Metal after becoming a member of Lord’s faction.”

And the words of the Ancient Dragon were nothing short of a guarantee.

“Understood. Then I will ask everyone gathered here for your assistance.”

Shaaaaa―!

A hologram window appeared before the players’ eyes.

[Subjugation of the Demon Army]

Explanation: “I, Pope Gaius IV, as the delegate of Ahullu bestowed upon this land, hereby appoint you as the Demon Army Subjugation Team. However, in accordance with the request of Leeha, the originator of the operation, official searches and large-scale support from Eswen Commonwealth and other nations are not possible. You must subjugate all the Demon Armies within this continent with only your power and my modest assistance. Please bear in mind that this operation involves more than just your lives; it carries a greater weight…. May the blessings of Ahullu be with you.”

Pope Gaius IV had made his decision. He put his faith in the hero of the Second Inma War and the plan supported by the Ancient Gold Dragon.

Only one task remained. To slay all the Demon Armies on this continent.

Content: Death of all Demon Armies and their vanguard forces on the current continent

Reward: ?

Pre-reward: Janate’s Key

Failure conditions: Resurrection of any Demon Lord’s Fragment outside of Bluebeard, death of all Subjugation Team members

In case of failure: Achievement – “Beginning of Ruin,” Common Reputation of the continent -10,000

Intimacy with Eswen Commonwealth and Ahullu Sect -50%

Will you accept?

“Please eliminate all the Demon Armies on this continent.”

The Pope walked steadily, producing something from his bosom.

The only difference between the quest window of the others and that of Leeha and the Pope was what the Pope produced: a winged key.