The Final Boss Has Returned Chapter 98
Drakan stared straight at Berda and spoke slowly.
“I fully understand what you’re suspecting, but the reason I need the Twilight Stone isn’t something so trivial.”
“Then what is the reason?”
“For all the users playing Arde World Saga Second, and for the newbies who will start playing Arde World Saga Second in the future.”
At the answer that spilled from Drakan’s mouth, Berda’s face stiffened for a moment.
‘For the users?’
For the users, he says!
What kind of answer beyond all expectations was this!
An answer completely outside of Berda’s expectations—who had at best been expecting replies like “because I need it for my quest,” or “because it’s a material needed for an item I plan to craft”—an answer so befitting of Yujin that a faint crack formed in her expressionless poker face.
‘What on earth is that human talking about?’
Drakan, of all people, bringing up the interests of users!
The sight of Drakan—a selfish, cunning villain who knew nothing but his own gain—talking about users was so absurd that it looked almost like a black comedy.
Berda reverted her cracked poker face back to an expressionless one and looked at Drakan.
Right.
This could be sophistry.
It was surely a smokescreen operation by Drakan to hide his true objective and deceive her.
Thinking so, Berda steeled her mind and threw a question at Drakan.
“What do the Twilight Stone and the users have to do with each other?”
Upon hearing that question, Drakan smiled a brilliantly bright smile.
‘She took the bait.’
It was because he had realized, through the glimpse of her expressionless mask breaking just a moment ago, that Berda had fallen into his trap.
But that alone was not enough.
‘She probably still thinks she holds the knife right about now.’
Berda!
She would obviously still think she held the initiative in this negotiation.
That was why she was asking him what users and the Twilight Stone had to do with each other.
And now, it was time to shatter the illusion that Berda held the initiative in this negotiation.
Thinking so, Drakan met Berda’s gaze head-on with an attitude still overflowing with composure and answered.
“It has a great deal to do with them. Because the Twilight Stone is needed for the Vampire race unlock quest.”
A short sentence.
But Berda could read Drakan’s intentions contained in that single sentence exactly as they were.
‘He’s putting the new race unlock and, through it, the hearts of the users onto the scales of negotiation!’
A new race!
By nature, there were few gamers who disliked new content itself.
Users would be glad just to hear that new content was being added to a game.
Of course, existing games had often degraded their content to an extent that it was embarrassing to call it new content—tacking on tedious daily quests disguised as “homework” or monetization tactics through random boxes under the banner of content updates—but Arde World Saga Second was different.
Arde World Saga was another perfect world managed by the supercomputer “Miracle” equipped with a super-intelligent AI, and therefore needed neither patches nor bug fixes.
In such an Arde World Saga Second, new content took the form of users “unlocking” hidden pieces that had yet to be discovered through quests or events.
Just as Drakan had unlocked the new class of Black Magician through a quest.
Anyway, since it was in such a format, unlike other games that packaged monetization tactics and called them new content, Arde World Saga’s users always welcomed the addition of new content.
And now, another new piece of content was on the verge of being unlocked.
Drakan!
If they followed his words, he had said that the Twilight Stone was absolutely necessary to unlock the Vampire race, a new playable race.
But if Berda—no, if the Lightwing side—scuttled the negotiations or demanded an exorbitant price in such a situation?
The moment they framed it as, “We contacted the Lightwing Guild, who holds the key item needed to unlock the new race, but were unfairly rejected by them,” or “They ripped us off by raising the price far above market value,” cracks would form in the concrete of public opinion that the Lightwing Guild had built up until now.
Originally, people were more sensitive to a good person committing a minor wrong than to a bad person committing bad deeds, and if public opinion was manipulated by framing it in this way, the Lightwing Guild would undoubtedly suffer a blow.
The hearts of the users!
Because that was precisely the foundation supporting the Lightwing Guild’s hegemony.
‘Drakan, you’ve taken public opinion hostage.’
Berda lowered her hands under the desk.
Because both hands had started trembling.
Berda’s gaze shifted to Sin Hayeon, who was sitting beside Drakan with a shy smile.
It was the first time she had seen such an expression on Sin Hayeon, who had always been as expressionless as herself, but that wasn’t what was important now.
The worst-case scenario she had imagined.
It was because Sin Hayeon possessed the power to perfectly turn media play through framing and public opinion manipulation into reality.
Before the wealth and power held by the head of Jeil Group—the dominator of the conglomerate and ranked fourth in the Korean business world—even the almighty Lightwing Entertainment could do little.
Of course, if they fought Sin Hayeon as the Lightwing “Guild” within Arde World, they could easily handle her, but media play and public opinion manipulation were things that happened in the real world!
Before the formidable power of a conglomerate that held everything from broadcast networks to major daily newspapers, internet communities, and SNS in its grasp, Lightwing Entertainment was no different from a firefly beside the sun.
Berda’s vision grew hazy.
It was because she had taken another blow from Drakan, following the last time.
Though she had thought it was checkmate, at this very moment where her opponent had made a brilliant move to escape and launch a counterattack, there was nothing Berda could do but accept the negotiation.
It was truly a dead end.
“I’ve heard you’re smart, so I don’t think any further explanation is necessary.”
“What do you want?”
Drakan smiled as he received Berda’s trembling gaze upon him.
The thrill of having screwed her over once again, following the war with the North, welled up in his chest and made his heart pound.
The sight of his enemy—who had driven him onto a deep-sea fishing vessel—falling into a trap and seething with rage was truly exhilarating.
With his heart pounding in exhilaration, Drakan looked at Berda and spoke.
“I believe I said this from the start—I didn’t come all the way here to negotiate with you. I came to meet Yujin.”
Drakan delivered the final blow to Berda.
That’s right.
From the very beginning, Drakan had consistently insisted on negotiating with Yujin.
Of course, from the standpoint of Berda—who had been delegated full authority—it was an absurd story, but since Drakan already held the knife in the negotiation with public opinion placed on the scales, his demand had no choice but to be accepted.
Swallowing the rage that boiled up at her situation of having been screwed over once again, Berda spoke.
“I understand. I will call for Yujin. Yuna, please bring Yujin here.”
“Yes, unni.”
At Berda’s words, Cha Yuna, who had been standing beside her, nodded and left through the conference room door, and before long, someone appeared from the opened door.
A man with a visage that anyone would call handsome.
He was none other than Yujin, the leader of the Lightwing Guild.
“Greetings, Drakan.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
The moment he entered, Yujin extended his hand for a handshake toward Drakan, and Drakan smiled, stood up, and accepted Yujin’s handshake.
After exchanging formal greetings, Yujin and Drakan took their seats facing one another.
It was Yujin who spoke first.
“What did you call me for? If it’s regarding the negotiation, I’ve delegated all authority to Berda.”
“I said I wanted to negotiate directly with you. Berda has already agreed to that.”
At Yujin’s words, a smooth and effortless answer spilled from Drakan’s mouth.
“Really?”
“……That is correct.”
To Yujin’s question, Berda answered with her ears flushed red from shame, nodding her head ever so slightly.
To show such a humiliating sight in front of the man she loved!
It was intolerable, but because it was in front of the man she loved, she had to endure this emotion.
Whether Yujin was aware of the anger Berda was swallowing or not, having confirmed the facts, he nodded and spoke.
“If even Berda has agreed, very well. I shall continue the negotiation. How far had you gotten?”
“Up to the part where I said the Twilight Stone was needed for the users of Arde World, and for the newbies who would enter Arde World in the future.”
At the unexpected words that jumped from Drakan’s mouth, Yujin’s pupils widened.
Yujin!
Though he had decided to trust Drakan after the interview incident, that was separate from having expected that Drakan would care for the users to this extent.
“If it’s for the users, I would like to hear the details.”
Yujin’s eyes sparkled brightly.
Yujin—his pushover nature had activated.
Drakan looked at Yujin and smiled, then relayed exactly what he had told Berda just now—that the Twilight Stone was needed for the Vampire unlock quest—and upon hearing this, a smile hovered at the corners of Yujin’s mouth.
“If that is the case, by all means—no, I wouldn’t mind giving it to you free of charge. If it’s for the vitality-filled Arde World and the happiness of the users.”
Watching Yujin’s bright smile, Drakan smiled.
‘Still a pushover, I see.’
A legendary-grade item!
Yujin’s words, saying he wouldn’t accept an astronomical price for what was infamously known as an item that fetched astronomical sums, were words only possible because Yujin was a pushover.
‘But that can’t happen.’
That was why Drakan could not accept it even if Yujin offered the Twilight Stone for free.
Yujin donated the Twilight Stone to him free of charge for the users!
If this story—which was clearly a good deed and a praiseworthy act—spread across the internet, there was a risk of further consolidating Yujin’s already solid bedrock support base.
Of course, even if that happened, public opinion of Drakan himself wouldn’t particularly worsen, and it was obvious that being associated with Yujin would actually improve his own image, but Drakan was originally someone who hated seeing others—especially Yujin—succeed to an unbearable degree.
He was the kind of man who’d roll on the ground green with envy if his own cousin bought land!
That was Drakan’s personality, through and through.
So there was no way Drakan would do something that benefited Yujin just to save a few billion won.
‘No such thing as a free lunch.’
Thinking so, Drakan pretended to put on a serious expression and shook his head.
“I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
Yujin questioned in response to the unexpected answer that had sprung from Drakan’s mouth.
Refusing a free donation!
Yujin was shocked once again at the sight of Drakan—who was second to none when it came to greed—refusing something for free.
Drakan looked at Yujin, who was making a foolish expression, and continued his answer with a resolute expression.
“The Twilight Stone is legitimate loot that your Lightwing Guild obtained through dungeon raiding. It is only logical that it be bought by paying a proper, legitimate price. Therefore, I cannot accept it for free.”
And upon hearing that answer, a smile hung at Yujin’s lips.
“I see.”
It is only logical to purchase by paying a proper price!
Drakan’s words were sound logic, and something Yujin had not thought of.
Loot obtained through legitimate raiding must be traded through a legitimate price.
Having heard Drakan’s words, Yujin nodded.
And he thought.
‘As expected, it was true that Drakan has completely reformed!’
Drakan!
Because once again, following the time when Drakan had knelt, he became convinced that Drakan had indeed turned over a new leaf.
Beyond reflecting on and apologizing for his past evil deeds, he now tried to negotiate even though they were surely in an awkward relationship, and even reminded him of the principle that “loot obtained through legitimate raiding must be traded through a legitimate price”—a principle he had forgotten!
There was sincerity in Drakan’s voice as he spoke.
Of course, it was all a thorough act by Drakan, but the dull-witted Yujin failed to realize that.
Anyway. Yujin thought that the appearance Drakan had shown today might truly be the perfect example of the word “reformation.”
Thinking that Drakan was the perfect counterargument to the negative saying that people never change, Yujin smiled in satisfaction.
He believes in human goodwill!
Recalling his belief that everyone possesses an inherent goodness, Yujin spoke.
“Understood. Let us follow your proposal, Drakan.”
Drakan smiled upon hearing Yujin’s answer.
Watching that scene, Berda felt as if she would burst, her insides charred black with fury, but it was a negotiation where everything had truly unfolded according to Drakan’s plan.