Chapter 361 - IRO Management (4): World Quest Concluded
Displayed on the large air screen was the final battle of the Necropolis World Quest.
The vanguard Chimera Skeletons were defeated, the trickster Viscount-class Demon was defeated, and a saturation attack of projectiles was being unleashed upon the remaining Lich.
And then…
"It's over..."
Misha P mumbled, face down on the desk.
"That was amazing. For a moment, I wondered how it would turn out, but it finished almost exactly on schedule."
"Almost exactly on schedule (but only the schedule, that is)."
Ignoring Misha P's protest, GM Choco checked the ranking results on her tablet. She discreetly averted her eyes from the reality that the first and second place scores differed by two digits. Even if you're first or hundredth, the reward SP is the same anyway…
"After all that, Goddess Statues were properly placed in all the churches, so our strategy wasn't wrong, was it?"
"Except for the unexpected power of one Goddess Sanctuary."
"That's because it was the True Jade Goddess Statue, which was supposed to be displayed much later, you see."
The life-sized Nameless Goddess Statue was originally slated to appear only after the Demon Kingdom update and the subsequent Dragon Capital update. Yet, the one transported from Shou's island became the 'True Jade Goddess Statue' and enveloped the central area of the Necropolis.
As a result of an endgame content item, not even on the management's roadmap, being brought in, the undead rush, which was supposed to be a much tougher challenge, ended in a rather disappointing manner.
"Both the Chimera Skeletons and the Lich were supposed to be much harder…"
"Our estimation was for it to start at 2 PM and finish around 10 PM, right?"
The image was supposed to be repelling the rush by evening, then tackling the last boss at night, but…
"All's well that ends well!"
"Wipe your tears."
"That's mean!"
Such trivial exchanges were commonplace. GM Choco operated her tablet.
"The AI has submitted a PV draft for this World Quest, so please review it."
"Alrighty."
The two watched the instantly playing PV, but…
"This is no good."
"Indeed."
The AI had effectively pieced together high-score scenes, but it showed Shou in the church transforming the life-sized Nameless Goddess Statue into the True Jade Goddess. They wanted to avoid drawing more attention to him, as he was a game singularity, and they didn't want to prematurely reveal an over-spec ancient artifact that was supposed to appear much later.
"Speaking of which, we still haven't heard back from Mion-chan's agency, have we?"
"It was just yesterday, after all."
"Hmm…"
As Misha P pondered, GM Choco played another PV candidate.
"This is the 'No Shou-kun' version. The score for watchability is about half of the previous one."
The expressions of the two as they watched the PV again became utterly blank, like a four-panel foreign comic.
"Subtle of subtle…"
"No, this is normal, I think. Our previous watchability scores have just been too high."
"The island…"
"If we want to raise the score, maybe we could selectively insert some of Shou-kun's island scenes. Choose the inoffensive ones."
At that, Misha P went through the rows of island PV thumbnail fragments. Meanwhile, GM Choco, not feeling rushed, checked other items.
"Is the Demon Kingdom update still on schedule without problems?"
"Yes, as scheduled."
"Understood. Then, the next World Quest is also planned for early autumn, right?"
While a big event at the start of summer vacation was standard for online games, IRO had designated the Demon Kingdom update for this period from the beginning. In addition,
"What's likely to happen to the Necropolis?"
"It's confirmed that the Dragonkin won't open the church or transfer tower for Shou-kun. The Demon Kingdom's policy is to open theirs simultaneously with the update and charge usage fees. This was the determined path once the Demon Kingdom's intervention occurred."
"What about the players?"
"It seems they're having a meeting tonight, but I wonder if they'll manage to consolidate everything within a month?"
"Hmm…"
Originally, the future of the Necropolis was left to the actions of players and NPCs. If they were still in disarray by the time the Demon Kingdom update happened a month later, the Empire planned to dispatch NPC nobles to settle things with a joint governance of Dragonkin, Demonkin, and Humanoids.
The Necropolis would be reborn as an inter-racial exchange city belonging to no single nation.
"What's your prediction, Choco-chan?"
"I think Anshia will appoint a puppet representative."
"That's a reasonable guess. Few players would happily engage in something as troublesome as politics."
Misha P, who had been continuing to check PV candidates while replying, suddenly said,
"Alright! Let's put this one at the beginning!"
"Ah, this one's probably okay, I guess."
"Have them re-edit it with this, and show me when it's done. If there are no problems, release it. You can put out the Demon Kingdom update date too, okay?"
"Yes, yes."
GM Choco compiled the instructions on her tablet and sent them to the responsible AI.
"Now, there's one more important matter."
"What's for dinner?"
"Yes!"