MMORPG: I was BUGGED-Chapter 304: Victory’s Veil: The Coalition’s Secrets"

"Nothing?" Fury questioned incredulously.

"We’ve entered into a blood contract that guarantees his safety after this expedition in exchange for assisting us with Xavour," Ragnarok Reaper explained.

Doom Harbinger and Fighting Bunny remained silent on the sidelines. They were well aware of the times when X, or Lord Schrodinger, had come to their aid during moments when they thought it was truly over for them.

Everyone seemed to be on the same page except for Fury, who remained nonchalant about the whole situation, leaving the entire matter for Fighting Bunny to handle.

Lord Schrodinger held the key to maximizing the relationship level with Poppy, a crucial piece of information they needed if they were planning to attempt the Castle of Doom again.

Though unspoken, Ragnarok Reaper, Doom Harbinger, and Fighting Bunny all recognized the significance of aligning Lord Schrodinger with their guild.

His mysterious class and skill in potion-making, surpassing even Maya from Shadowblade, renowned as the greatest alchemist player, fueled their resolve to win him over to their cause.

There was a possibility that Lord Schrodinger might change his name after this expedition, but they weren’t overly concerned because they now knew his real-life identity.

"So, he’s just going to walk away unscathed after slipping through our fingers?" Fury exclaimed. "If others find out about this, we might become a laughing stock in the media."

Fighting Bunny shot her a sidelong glance. "Why are you so adamant about punishing him?"

"So others wouldn’t think of attempting the same thing again," Fury asserted.

Fighting Bunny felt an overwhelming urge to slap her; maybe it would knock some sense into Fury. Punishing Lord Schrodinger wasn’t aligned with their goal –– they wanted him on their side, not against them.

It seemed she would need to have a lengthy discussion with Fury and their vice leader about this matter. Dealing with those two could be quite a headache.

Fighting Bunny could already felt the frustration. It wasn’t even her guild, and she wasn’t in a leadership position, but she found herself taking on both roles due to the irresponsibility of the two women in their guild.

"I really need to ask for a pay increase," Fighting Bunny muttered to herself.

Suddenly, a notification tone rang through the guild hall, cutting through the ambient noise like a sharp blade. Every pair of eyes fixated on their screens, awaiting the confirmation of their downfall.

But what materialized on their displays was the complete opposite of what they anticipated.

The guild hall fell into stunned silence as members struggled to process the unexpected turn of events.

The notification on Doom Harbinger’s screen seemed surreal, as if he were caught in a hallucination.

The words "VICTORY" emblazoned in bold letters, accompanied by a cascade of rewards and EXP gains for successfully clearing the Castle of Doom, contradicted the prevailing atmosphere of gloom.

Doom Harbinger’s spectacles slipped down his nose as he blinked in disbelief.

Fury’s ears twitched, registering the surprising turn of fate.

The guild members collectively shifted from a state of foreboding dread to sheer bewilderment.

The guild chat erupted with a flurry of messages, each member expressing their astonishment and seeking clarification.

Ragnarok Reaper recovered from his initial shock, and took a moment to compose himself before addressing the guild.

"Is this some kind of glitch?" he questioned, his voice resonating through the hall.

The guild members exchanged uncertain glances, still trying to reconcile the unexpected victory with the betrayal they had just been informed about.

It was Fury who broke the silence with a loud roar.

"Who cares about that?! WE WON! We’ve cleared one of the most challenging dungeons in the game! WE’VE WON!"

The stunned players finally comprehended that they had won, for whatever reasons, and jubilation erupted.

The euphoric cheers and booms of their voices reverberate from the gaming world to the real world.

However, amid the celebration, the leaders weren’t merely rejoicing; they were consumed by a burning curiosity.

Doom Harbinger, Ragnarok Reaper, and Fighting Bunny, though thrilled by the victory, harbored an intense desire to unravel the mystery behind Lord Schrodinger and Grey Smoke’s triumph over Eclipse, one of the top players globally.

How had the duo managed to defeat not only Eclipse but also conquer the formidable final boss with just the two of them?

In that pivotal moment, their focus shifted.

The elation of victory was overshadowed by an urgent need to reach Lord Schrodinger and Grey Smoke swiftly.

The leaders understood that answers to their burning questions lay with these two players, and they were determined to unravel the secrets behind their extraordinary success and at the same time, recruit them to their guilds at all costs.

As the news of the triumphant of the coalition army, composed of Brotherhood Legion, Doombringers, Shadowblades, and Phoenix Rising, conquering one of the seven wonders of Guildbane reached the ears of gamers worldwide, pandemonium ensued.

The collective jubilation and awe echoed through the gaming community, with players expressing their burning desires to join the victorious alliance.

Simultaneously, a surge of curiosity gripped the community, as players clamored to understand the intricacies of this unprecedented accomplishment.

The media, hungry for answers, pressed the guilds for information.

However, the guilds, in a calculated move, announced their intention to hold a press conference.

This press gathering aimed not only to address the media’s questions but also to ensure that everyone would be satisfied with their lies.

Yet, behind the scenes, the inner workings of guilds and corporations were more intricate than met the eye.

In reality, Doombringers, Brotherhood Legion, Phoenix Rising, and Shadowblades were engaged in a clandestine meeting.

Here, they deliberated on the decision not to disclose Eclipse’s betrayal as a collective act. They asserted that Eclipse had acted independently, emphasizing that they had already expelled him from the guild.

In a spirit of cooperation, they decided to return all the gil and items that Shadowblades had acquired during the expedition.

Moreover, a hushed agreement was reached to compensate each guild with ten million dollars to ensure their silence on the matter.

The guild leaders, recognizing the futility of blaming Shadowblade as a whole for the actions of a single individual, concurred with the decision.

Eclipse’s expulsion and the substantial compensation offered outweighed the alternative of exposing Shadowblade to public scrutiny, where the guilds stood to gain nothing.

Thus, as the world celebrated the conquest of Guildbane’s wonder, behind closed doors, a carefully orchestrated agreement unfolded, shielding the coalition from the aftermath of Eclipse’s betrayal and securing the alliance’s united front in the gaming realm.