Chapter 648 - IRO Operations (11): Predictably Irrational
Players were raising a toast in front of the Ancient Ruins, south of the Demon Kingdom, their celebratory images projected onto a massive air display.
Their chatter about the monsters and demons they'd defeated and the spoils they'd acquired seemed endless.
"It finished a little earlier than planned, but this World Quest was a huge success, wasn't it?"
"Indeed. Although these are preliminary figures, 90% of the new players who joined after the Demon Kingdom update responded that they 'had fun'."
Misha P sighed in relief at GM Choco's report.
While this World Quest ultimately concluded a week early, it was reasonable considering its start was also moved up by a week.
…Excluding the various problems that arose on Sabana Island.
"Dividing the contribution rankings into categories was the right call, I suppose?"
"Yes. It made it clearer what kind of contribution was made to the World Quest."
"Even so, Shou-kun is still topping two categories…"
The two of them sighed deeply.
The categories were actually split precisely because, left unchecked, Shou would undoubtedly take first place again. It was a desperate measure to give other players—new players, if possible—a chance.
"If he had defeated the demons back then, I believe he would've topped the Capture & Extermination Division and the Problem Solving Division as well."
"Exactly."
The demon leader in Sabana Island's Control Room was a mid-boss class.
If all the remaining demons, including that one, had been defeated and Sabana Island liberated, his contribution points for Capture & Extermination and Problem Solving would have been astronomical…
"Diving in directly at that location would have been tricky, but with his Stealth skill, he could have tailed them, then picked them off one by one while Lupi-chan distracted them…"
Hearing that, Misha P couldn't help but hum a tune from 'The Professional Assassins' series.
"That 'Professional Assassins' series, it's really something, isn't it?"
After humming the phrase all the way through,
"Now, let's talk about tomorrow."
"Yes…"
GM Choco pulled out a tablet and sent a file for tomorrow.
Its title was 'Regarding the Application of the Nation-Building System Renovation Patch,' and the work was scheduled for tomorrow evening, to be applied without a maintenance break.
"Hmm, okay. It'll be done by the explanation live stream, right?"
"The deployment itself will finish quickly. Good luck with making the slides for the explanation live stream."
"It-it's fine! I've already made the first page!"
Ignoring that answer, GM Choco sent another file.
Misha P read through the contents of the file, deep in thought.
"Hmm, it looks like the first half of the next World Quest, 'Rebirth City,' will start around late October?"
"That's right. Starting around then, and with both halves combined, it should finish before Christmas."
"I see, I see."
The first half was estimated to run until mid-November, and the second half until before Christmas.
"If the first half's progress is slow, it might spill into the New Year holidays, and I'd really hate that…"
"Do you have plans to return home?"
"No, I don't. But you know, for about the first three days of the New Year, I just want to relax under a kotatsu, watching the ekiden."
While showing some understanding for her words, GM Choco projected a pie chart onto the air display.
"And this is a graph showing the current Magic Stone holders in circulation."
"Oh, I see."
Among the color-coded segments, the largest belonged to the Demon Kingdom, at approximately 16%.
Followed by the Marsis Republic at 14%, Wolkelst Kingdom at 12%, Grania Empire at 10%, and Paltheim Principality at 8%. Combined, these nations held about 60%.
The remaining 40% represented the combined holdings of the Citron Kingdom and individual players.
"How much did Anshia deliver to the Demon Kingdom?"
"Just under 5%. That should be enough to restart the Necropolis's sub-control room."
"Even with the reduction from recrystallization?"
"Yes, one can definitely be made."
"Oh, you did well."
Saying that, Misha P took a sip of coffee.
Next, GM Choco operated the tablet, and the remaining 40% of the displayed pie chart was magnified.
"…Huh?"
"Surprising, isn't it…"
Daytron held 7%, Anshia 2%, and Shou also held 2%.
It was surprising that Anshia, who delivered to the Demon Kingdom, still held 2%, but even more astonishing was Daytron's holdings, which rivaled that of a Principality itself…
"When did he collect all that!?"
"I tracked the database logs, and it was roughly after Shou-kun talked about the Light Spirit Stone on his live stream. He's been continuously buying tiny Magic Stones ever since."
"Alone?"
"No, he's had help from his companions partway through."
Of course, some of those were turned into Magic Crystal Stones and even sold as Spirit Stones.
The profits led to the purchase of the [Nameless Goddess Statue], which in turn generated even more profit…
"Is that guy a psychic?"
"Well, I suppose he sees a world that common folk can't understand."
GM Choco added a supplement, giving a vague reply.
For example, the Magic Stones held by Daytron and Anshia were all tiny, and recrystallization would naturally be essential to restart the Necropolis's sub-control room.
"And this is another headache… Anshia announced she aims to restart the sub-control room."
"Nngh!?"
Misha P nearly spat out her coffee and quickly pressed a hand to her mouth.
"Well, isn't that good news? The preliminary stage for the next 'Rebirth City' has subtly begun, so this way, the schedule shouldn't fall behind."
"Wha—Why now…?"
"It's a request from the Demon Kingdom. Princess Nemea took a liking to Anshia and wants her to continue. From the Demon Kingdom's perspective, they need to look ahead and maximize the benefits of having opened their borders."
Hearing that, Misha P's expression became rather complicated.
"But what about the recrystallization? They're not planning to ask Shou-kun, are they?"
"No. They were recruiting people who could do it, or those who looked like they could learn."
Hearing that, Misha P breathed a sigh of relief.
However, the phase to unlock all functions of the Necropolis in the first half of 'Rebirth City' had undeniably begun.
"As expected, the Magic Stone recrystallization was an early leak, wasn't it…"
"That can't be helped. So, what about the recrystallization device itself?"
"Hmm…"
Originally, the method of Magic Stone recrystallization via magic was supposed to be revealed by discovering and analyzing the Magic Stone Recrystallization Device in the next 'Rebirth City' World Quest.
However, Shou, who had also acquired the Magic Analysis skill, impulsively bypassed that entire process.
"Sigh… What's the progress like in the Necropolis Dungeon? Which do you think will happen first: finding the recrystallization device, or someone learning how to do it?"
"It's a fine line. Well, if 'Shou-kun did it overnight,' then it won't matter, will it!"
"Right!?"
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