Chapter 249: Agreement on the Wolf Strife: Mostly According to Plan

The alliance forged previously between the four clans stipulated: "Three clans provide various conveniences," and "One clan hands over information regarding Unique Monsters."

However, this current Six Clan Alliance was fundamentally different from the previous one.
Because its structure was essentially: "One clan holds the initiative," and "The other clans accepted it, albeit with certain conditions attached."

"A Six Clan... Alliance...!?"

A speechless Liber-getarian. After all, both of the two newly added clans were composed of front-line players.

"Hahaha... Hello, I'm PT Overwerke. I serve as the leader of the clan 'Team 10PM', for what it's worth."

"I'm The Professor. Well, as you already know, I am the clan leader of 'Library'."

"Ah~, our leader is currently, um... doing some kind of warrior training journey thing right now, so I came as a proxy. I'm the sub-leader of 'SF-Zoo', Vet."

"Ah~... Well, I suppose I don't need to roleplay here. I'm Josette, the Leader of the 'Shining Knights of the Holy Shield'. I've come here today because the former PK over there invited me."

Since I'm a hermit entirely ignorant of information regarding other players, I didn't completely grasp exactly how amazing they were, but I at least knew they were all top clans.

"Team 10PM," formed primarily around working adults whose main activities took place past 10 PM. Although most of their members had dead eyes, they possessed an outstanding organizational capability truly befitting cogs in the societal machine.

"Library," prioritizing lore investigation over game progression. Having built connections with various clans and information brokers, they likely amassed an amount of information rivaling the best in ShanFro.

"SF-Zoo." Personally, my impression was that their general player etiquette wasn't the greatest, but because the intentions and playstyles of every single clan member were perfectly unified, they could even lockdown Lycaon if they fell into their specific mold.

The "Saint Fanclub"... otherwise known as the "Shining Knights of the Holy Shield." A clan where every member was clad in uniform equipment, making them an exceptionally unorthodox entity even among player clans as a "clan composed entirely of hardcore roleplayers."

"Nffufufufu... We are planning to forge a new alliance with 'Wolfgang' acting as the leading clan. As for the conditions of this alliance, after much consideration, it looks something like this."

I had a feeling she was plotting something wicked by dragging other clans into this, but to summarize, the conditions for the new alliance looked like this:

• Information possessed by "Wolfgang" will be transmitted to the other clans through "Library", and subsequently made public to everyone.

• Clans that join the alliance led by "Wolfgang" will support the leading clan to the best of their abilities.

• Information regarding Unique Monsters obtained by the disposable pawn of "Wolfgang" can be Purchased ahead of time via an auction format.

• "Wolfgang" is permitted to conceal a certain degree of information regarding Unique Monsters.

• "Wolfgang" is permitted the possibility of clearing Unique Scenario EXs using only members within their clan.

Reading just the text alone, this is terrible.

"W-Wha... This is...!?"

"By the way, all of them cheerfully accepted these conditions, you know?"

"Haaah!?"

I could understand Libebe-libe's surprise. After all, the text almost exclusively favored "Wolfgang."
Under these terms, essentially all they'd be doing is supporting the leading clan as they challenge Unique Monsters, leaving practically zero benefits for any clan other than "Wolfgang."

But this is exactly where Pencilgon's bastardly Skills shine.

If you actually read closely into the contents of this alliance, they are practically meaningless.
First, regarding the transmission of information through "Library." If you think about it, adding an extra step in the middle doesn't change the fact that if "Wolfgang" gets stingy with their information, it won't reach the participating clans anyway. Besides, Library generally makes everything public—except for unconfirmed information—without hiding it.

Next, regarding support for the leading clan. As stated by the phrase "to the best of their abilities," this is free will, not an obligation. These alliance conditions make absolutely zero mention of penalties for "failing to provide support"... Meaning, to put it bluntly, "It's fine even if you don't support us."

I'm incredibly reluctant about this one, but the information obtained by the disposable pawn... namely, me, can be acquired ahead of other clans if you cough up the money. This completely overwrites the first condition, meaning, in other words: "We'll even sell the concealed information if you pay us."

And as for the fourth and fifth conditions... No, let's just do the reveal.
These two conditions... or rather, every single condition I just listed is a bluff set up purely to deceive "Black Wolf," or strictly speaking, Liriribebe. The other clans won't suffer a single scratch.

Why? Because this alliance was formed for reasons almost entirely unrelated to Unique Monsters.

"I have a 'Don't chase those who leave' mentality, so if you're saying you don't want to join this new alliance, I won't force you, but...?"

Libebeberi responded to Pencilgon's beaming smile by grinding his teeth. To begin with, despite having the top leader sitting right next to him, what's up with that attitude of acting as if his own judgment is the consensus of the entire clan?

"Speaking personally, I believe we should participate."

"Haaah!? What are you saying, Leader!? Under these conditions, there isn't a single benefit for us!"

That's true. That's exactly what would happen if you entrusted Everything related to Unique Monsters to "Wolfgang." But to begin with, "Wolfgang" never said they'd reject a cooperative framework.
Or rather, the maliciousness of Pencilgon really shows in how you have to read another layer deeper after reading the conditions. What is this, a modern Japanese language exam? There are questions that ask you to "Consider the author's feelings," but isn't that stepping into the realm of psychology rather than linguistics?

Psyger-100, who had been silently watching Liberiberi without saying a word, let out a single sigh, perhaps having concluded that she wouldn't get the desired answer. And then... actually, quite surprisingly, considering representatives from other clans were present, she voiced the third agenda.

"............Haa. Do you mind waiting a while before we give our answer regarding the alliance?"

"I don't mind."

"Then lastly... regarding the matter of my foolish sister, or rather, Psyger-0, wishing to transfer to 'Wolfgang'."

"........."

"........."

Many players in the room fell silent, their gazes fixed intently on the involved party, Rei-san.

Truth be told, I have no idea whether Pencilgon intended to accept Rei-san or not; I don't know her true intentions.
I knew she was planning to trap Black Wolf, but regarding Rei-san's treatment, she kept giving vague answers. Thinking back on it now, perhaps she had already discussed it behind the scenes with Psyger-100, but I'm hearing the conclusion for the first time right here as well.

"...Well, I guess. A friend of a friend is basically a stranger, right? Well then, a player who threw me into the slammer is definitely one step above a stranger."

"I see... Then 'Black Wolf' will permit Psyger-0's withdrawal from the clan at the exact moment she finishes paying the total sum of the funds the clan spent raising her, plus the cost of the Magic Scrolls she consumed."

Incredibly casually—no, considering it's just leaving an in-game group, maybe making a big deal out of it would be exaggerating—but several degrees more casually than I had expected, Pencilgon approved accepting Rei-san, and Psyger-100 approved Rei-san's departure.

Lyrics was making a face that looked like he desperately wanted to object, but even a clan leader has no right to bind a player's actions, so he couldn't say anything... I suppose that's how it is.

"Shouldn't we save this footage in the dictionary as a prime example of 'things going off without a hitch'?"

"Isn't it more like a prime example of a 'farce'?"

While replying to the words Kyou-timate muttered quietly, I directed a gaze laden with an indescribable emotion toward Repaint.
After all, going beyond mockery, he's being danced around so hard by the Bastard (Pencilgon) that I'm actually starting to feel sorry for him... Wouldn't it be healthier for his mental hygiene to just snap and get angry instead of forcibly trying to maintain that powerhouse act?

I was told beforehand that the sub-leader of "Black Wolf" had absolutely zero resistance to taunts, but isn't this a bit too lacking in resistance?
If this was actually a fake persona designed to deceive us all, I'd give him a standing ovation for having a sawdust mentality... in the sense that it burns really well.

"Now then..."

I shot a quick glance at OiKatzo.
It seems the turn for the Cannot-Trigger-Uniques-Himself Bastard, who had remained entirely silent up until now, was finally approaching. We just poured a massive amount of gasoline onto the sawdust that ignites instantly.

All that's left is to detonate it at maximum scale.

Author's Afterword
I kind of want to make Liberios-kun a little smarter, but you actually see this exact type of person in online games on rare occasions, so I'm debating whether to just leave him as is...