MMORPG: I was BUGGED-Chapter 270: Whispers of Deceit

The Castle of Doom, once the chaotic battleground where the echoes of combat resounded, now bore the marks of a hard-fought victory.

The air shimmered with residual energies, and the ethereal dust of the defeated Wormgod lingered in the aftermath.

As the guild leaders gathered to discuss the losses, check inventories, and prepare for the looming challenge on the morrow, a heavy silence settled over the timesquare.

The grandeur of their triumph was juxtaposed against the grim reality of the losses they had suffered, particularly the unexpected demise of Gilbert.

They really could still use the guy.

The air seemed thick with uncertainty, and Xin could sense the weight of collective doubt hanging in the atmosphere.

The guild leaders, normally adorned with the mantle of authority, now wore expressions of contemplation and concern.

Doom Harbinger, Fury, and Ragnarok Reaper meticulously reviewed the inventory, assessing the resources and potions remaining after the intense battle.

The discussions were not just about the fallen comrades but also about the unknown challenges that awaited them if and when they would clear tomorrow’s challenge.

Amidst the deliberations, Xin overheard the murmurs of guild members. Uncertainty dripped from their words like a hesitant melody.

"Are we still going to be okay tomorrow?" questioned one, the uncertainty in their voice could be felt.

Another voice joined in, expressing the prevailing concern, "I heard that the boss tomorrow would be the hardest the guilds have ever faced. Are we going to be alright?"

The anxiety was contagious, spreading through the room like a ripple.

The aftermath of the Wormgod’s defeat left a haunting question in the minds of the players.

"If we were already struggling with the Wormgod before, how far would we be able to go tomorrow?" pondered another voice, a tinge of worry coloring the words.

The acknowledgment that their victory had come at a considerable cost was felt by many.

"If not for the guild leaders, we would have been annihilated," admitted a solo player, their tone reflecting a mix of gratitude and apprehension.

The realization that the guild leaders were the linchpin holding their collective strength together added a layer of vulnerability to the prevailing uncertainty.

Then, a sobering truth was voiced among the members, "There’s also the fact that every day, the levels increase of these bosses, right? Are we really going to be alright?"

"Could we really come out of this unscathed and clear this dungeon?"

The specter of the leveling system was a constant reminder that the challenges were only intensifying and cast a shadow over their goals.

In the midst of the hushed conversations, Xin found himself preoccupied with the repercussions of Hilda’s earlier misstep.

The display of unexpected power had undoubtedly raised eyebrows, and Xin couldn’t shake off the impending investigation that might follow.

He mulled over the potential consequences, realizing that they would inevitably uncover the truth about Hilda’s unconventional abilities.

As Xin observed the leaders deep in discussion, their serious expressions only fueled his unease.

However, when he caught Eclipse whispering urgently to Ragnarok Reaper, Xin’s instincts screamed at him — it was time to make a swift exit.

Not long ago, a guild member approached Eclipse, the leader of Shadowblade, the guild to which Gilbert belonged.

The news delivered cracked Eclipse’s usual stoic demeanor, and when he heard the revelation, his reaction was visceral.

"Is that true?" Eclipse demanded, his usually composed voice revealing a hint of disbelief.

His guildmate nodded solemnly, confirming the unsettling truth.

Eclipse, visibly perturbed, clicked his tongue in contemplation. "Just when we’re about to face an important match tomorrow."

After a moment of reflection, Eclipse frowned. "What are we going to do?"

"Tell no one about this first," Eclipse instructed, his tone urgent. "It might cause unrest among us. I will discuss this with Ragnarok Reaper first."

Eclipse approached Ragnarok Reaper, leaning in to whisper, "I have to talk to you about something in private."

Ragnarok Reaper excused himself from the ongoing discussion and followed Eclipse to a more secluded spot.

"What is it?" he inquired, noticing the furrowed brow on Eclipse’s face. "There’s a problem," he stated.

Eclipse nodded gravely. "About Gilbert."

"Ah, that Tank. You should give him something as a thanks. Because of him, the casualties we suffered from the Wormgod’s hand were fewer than we initially thought."

Eclipse took a deep breath and revealed, "We’ve contacted Gilbert once one of our members logged out. They knew each other, so he called him. But Gilbert he . . . he said that he died almost two days ago in this dimension’s time."

Ragnarok Reaper frowned in disbelief. "Two days ago?"

Eclipse nodded, his expression somber.

"Then . . . who’s that Gilbert before?"

Eclipse shook his head. "We don’t know. And get this, some of those who died before from Fury and Behemoth’s group contacted us and said that they had died and didn’t know how."

"What?"

"Frozen and Broody, and two more, but I just confirmed with their group that they’ve been here with us the whole time they supposedly died," Eclipse informed.

"Why are we knowing this just now?" Ragnarok Reaper questioned.

"The game and real-time are different, and communication isn’t allowed from here. You have to log out first to communicate with players in the outside world. However, even that is limited because we don’t get messages here from the outside world; we have to log out first."

Ragnarok Reaper clicked his tongue, deep in thought. "Could this be an event that we don’t know about? Are our players dying and being replaced by imposters on the battlefield? Could they be NPCs?"

"I don’t know," replied Eclipse. "This didn’t happen before. Something must have triggered it or . . ."

"Or . . . ?" prompted Ragnarok Reaper.

"Or there are unregistered players here who joined our ranks and used some kind of an item to assume those guys’ identities."

"That’s possible. But there’s also the angle that this might be an event, and they’re NPCs."

"So, what are we going to do now? Should we expose this fraud?"

Ragnarok Reaper sighed. "No."

"No?"

"It will only cause unrest. As for now, everyone is on edge, and morale is at an all-time low. If someone infiltrated our ranks under the guild leaders of the top 4 in the world, what would others think?"

Silence hung in the air.

"Besides, it looks like whoever this someone is, they’re strong enough to even contend with a Wormgod."

"So you’re just going to let them get away?"

Ragnarok Reaper shook his head. "No. Let’s perform a background check discreetly, have every team leader gather here . . . we will expose that fraud one way or another, but we will do it in secret."