Chapter 616 - Side Story: Behind the Remote Island Attack Incident
"That concludes the report."
"I see…"
Anshia let out a deep sigh after hearing her secretary's report.
Among the few successful Uninhabited Island Starts, there's an island named Sabana Island after its player.
This recent attack incident occurred just as they had secured the Transfer Magic Circle connecting to Sabana Island and were about to commence trade…
"It's a shame I couldn't attend the countermeasure meeting."
"It couldn't be helped, my lady. You had other engagements."
While the incident was unfolding, Anshia was in the middle of a job, providing commentary for a world-renowned MOBA game.
It was only after that job finished that she was informed of the situation, and now, having received a brief report, it was past 3 AM.
"What will you do?"
Her secretary, who played the role of a white-haired butler, asked anxiously, but Anshia replied without hesitation.
"Let's relinquish the Transfer Magic Circle that caused the problem. There's zero chance it will generate any profit if I keep it."
"Understood."
She continued further.
"Please propose selling all other Transfer Magic Circles to the Demon Kingdom as well."
"You'll be letting go of all of them?"
"It's clear that I won't profit from any further involvement with Transfer Magic Circles. In that case, it's better to sell them off and cut my losses."
The remaining Transfer Magic Circles were unusable. Uninhabited Island Start had also concluded, and the possibility of new ones opening in the future was low.
Her judgment was that there was no need to hold onto items whose value would only decrease if left untouched.
"Understood. What price should I ask for?"
"Anything above the purchase price will do. If they object, place the liability for this incident on them. It's a problem, isn't it, that their security was only good enough to fall for a simple diversion?"
Considering they had paid a considerable sum to the Demon Kingdom for security personnel, it was necessary for them to take responsibility for this incident.
And one more thing.
"By the way, who was responsible for this matter?"
"It was Simon, who was procuring Magic Stones at the Demon Kingdom's request."
"…That's unusual. I thought he was more cautious."
She skimmed the report handed to her and let out a small sigh.
The end of the report, written by Simon himself, stated that he took responsibility for not being able to restrain his out-of-control subordinate, and that he would accept any disciplinary action.
"Perhaps he was anxious because other departments were performing well. However, I don't believe this remote island attack was planned by that subordinate…"
"Meaning someone put the idea in his head. Well, I can imagine…"
The image that came to Anshia's mind was of a man who never dropped his suspicious smile.
*
Three hours before Anshia received that report.
"…I have a feeling she'd say something like that."
"That's a nasty prediction, isn't it?"
In a room at Revanderi, a famous restaurant in the Necropolis, an impromptu "oshi-katsu" (fandom activities) meeting was underway.
With the Sabana Island Attack Incident seemingly resolved by the Dragonkin's intervention, there was nothing more for them, who primarily focused on production skills, to do.
"…You didn't actually do anything like that, did you?"
"No, no! There's no benefit for anyone if we did something like that!"
Daytron hastily denied it when Librarian Mii asked.
For them, a decrease in interaction with remote islands like Shou's island, and Ramune Island where the Citron Kingdom is located, would only bring disadvantages.
"Will you publicize Anshia's subordinates' involvement?"
"I don't really care about that. …But I am curious about the Demon Kingdom noble who put the idea in their heads."
In response to Prospector Molt's question, Daytron casually dropped a new piece of information.
"Where did you get that information?"
"One of my guildmates heard it from a friend. I thought I'd heard the name Chaos somewhere, and it turns out he's the guy who was running that remote island liberation movement."
"Ah, that. I remember."
"That thread had character names forced on it and went quiet, but apparently, he suddenly got a lot of clout thanks to some request from a Demon Kingdom noble."
Carrier Reaper was explaining to the three-star Master Chef.
His guild, which transported people and goods everywhere, also had an information network spanning the entire mainland.
This time, too, from the moment the declaration of nationhood was made, all members had been gathering information.
"The Demon Kingdom's princess might be involved too?"
"Probably. She seems desperate to get a large Magic Crystal Stone, but is the Necropolis's sub-control room really a place worth being so fixated on?"
"Shou-kun might have some ideas about it?"
"Maybe. But that's only if Shou-kun wants to talk about it."
Everyone nodded at Daytron's emphasis.
While they benefited from information provided by Shou, they knew it wasn't something they should demand.
"Even so, we're likely to have trouble managing Transfer Magic Circles for a while."
"That's the problem, isn't it? Sabana Island will probably remain closed for a while too…"
"In that case, Fairy Honey will be on hold for a while."
"Oh…"
The members all slumped their shoulders, but then,
"It'll be fine. Shou-kun will definitely sort it out. We just need to lay the groundwork for him."
At those words, everyone nodded deeply.
*
Three hours before Daytron and the others began their impromptu "oshi-katsu" meeting.
Immediately after the Chaos Empire's declaration of nationhood…
"Why is it like this~!!"
Misha P shrieked upon receiving GM Choco's report.
Meanwhile, the one who delivered the report said,
"Well, it was a request to procure the largest possible Magic Stone. The Demon Kingdom noble who requested it must have been anxious, as he even lent out the Azure Star Ring."
"No, but why go all the way to a remote island for that? And what's with the declaration of nationhood!?"
GM Choco offered a wry smile, "I'd have to ask him myself about that…"
"And why are demons involved? I don't understand any of this!?"
"Well, even demons would jump on board with someone they think they can trick, right? It seems he wasn't taken seriously by other players…"
Misha P slumped onto the desk as a matter-of-fact answer came back.
GM Choco, used to such reactions, ignored it and began discussing the major issues that had surfaced from this incident.
"So, if we don't tighten up the rules around nation-building, we won't be able to deal with these 'invincible' players, you know?"
"…I dislike silent patches, so please provide the current specifications and proposed changes immediately."
"Understood. And this time?"
Beyond the air display they were both gazing at, was Shou, mounted on Argenta.
"Even so, if it's Shou-kun… Shou-kun will surely manage to do something…"