As expected, in the end PoH effortlessly claimed the LA from Cescale.
After receiving the LA reward, PoH immediately equipped it, even deliberately showing it off in front of everyone.
It was a one-handed sword with an unusually wide blade, though by appearance it probably still counted as a short sword.
The thick spine and rectangular shape made it look very much like a Cleaver… Perhaps it really was just a cleaver.
With that strange short sword in hand, PoH once again revealed a smile—unlike his earlier false grin, this time it carried a trace of genuine pride.
After sheathing the weapon, he gave everyone a most gentlemanly bow, spoke a single line, then turned and left.
No one present actually understood what PoH meant, yet they were still momentarily dazed until his figure disappeared from sight.
Xilocart closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, wearing the expression of someone who had just survived a disaster.
Then he cast a glance at Akimi, gathered his subordinates, and headed back to base.
He didn't mention the wager again—after all, compared to the present situation, it now seemed like nothing more than child's play.
Meanwhile, Akimi stood in silence, staring in the direction PoH had gone—if he wasn't mistaken, that strangely-shaped weapon was the cursed blade "Friend-Slaying Cleaver", a demonic sword that permanently raised its wielder's stats through killing.
(According to the original setting, PoH was supposed to obtain this weapon much later in the game.)
Which meant that from now on, PoH might go on a rampage, hunting players outright instead of relying on inefficient methods like MPK or APK.
"…This is getting more and more troublesome."
Akimi muttered bitterly to himself.
Asuna, who had just shaken off the paralysis effect, walked up beside him.
While sliding her Radiant Silver back into its sheath, she tilted her head and asked:
"What's wrong? What's with that expression?"
"…Nothing, I just can't stop thinking about that weapon."
Akimi shook his head.
He didn't say much more—worrying about it now wouldn't solve anything.
They had no way of tracking PoH, so all they could do was take things one step at a time.
Thinking back to PoH's expression when he obtained the weapon, Asuna also furrowed her brows, but she quickly tried to comfort Akimi:
"There's no need to worry too much. This is only the 39th floor. It shouldn't be possible for a completely uncounterable item to drop here."
"…True." Akimi forced a more relaxed expression—but in his heart he thought: Looks like I need to start keeping an eye on PoH's movements… preferably take him out before that Friend-Slaying Cleaver grows stronger.
Just then, Kirito walked over while checking through the boss drops.
"Nothing good dropped… Well, I guess that's expected since it wasn't LA. —Anyway, about that wager between DDA and us, I guess it's void now? PoH snatched the boss, after all."
Akimi shrugged helplessly and said:
"Who knows? If Xilocart is dead set on going against us, he could pull the same stunt when we tackle the 40th floor boss. Still, the fact that he tacitly went along with PoH this time will probably deal a pretty heavy blow to his reputation."
At some point, Argo had slipped in beside them, looking indignant as she said:
"Xilocart really has no sense of honor. To think he'd actually hop aboard PoH's pirate ship."
As she complained, Argo swung a fist in the air to emphasize her anger.
But Asuna shook her head and countered:
"I think most of Xilocart's hostility toward us so far has probably been PoH's schemes at work. Xilocart is just a pawn—he's only carrying out PoH's plans."
"Hmph." Argo pouted, folding her arms with a snort.
"Even if it is PoH's idea, Xilocart is still infuriating."
The topic fell silent for a while.
"…Whatever. I'll head out first—can't let all this annoyance distract me from work. But as for DDA, there's no way I'm sharing any info about the 40th floor with them."
A few minutes later, Argo pulled her hood back up, casually bid farewell to Akimi and the others, threw a mocking remark in DDA's direction, then turned with deliberate flair and left.
Not long after Argo's departure, the Knights of the Blood Oath and Fuurinkazan also set off.
Now, in the vast palace, only Akimi, Asuna, and Kirito remained.
"I'll get going too… I'm worried PoH might have some sort of backup plan waiting for the Black Cats. Later."
Kirito spoke while glancing at his message panel.
Out of the corner of his eye, Akimi caught who Kirito was messaging—or rather, he didn't need to check.
Anyone could guess it was his little girlfriend.
Even though Kirito had already asked Sachie and the others about their current safety and gotten reassurance, he still seemed uneasy—clearly showing how worry can cloud judgment when it comes to those you care about.
"Go on."
"See you."
Akimi and Asuna didn't say much more.
They still needed to head over to ALF and explain the situation to Thinker.
-------------
In the blink of an eye, it was already August 15.
In Jeilreum, the main town on the 40th floor—a gloomy city designed in the style of a prison—the streets were now filled with oddly out-of-place decorations of moons and rabbits.
There wasn't really any special reason for this.
Two days earlier, the long-inactive announcement system had suddenly broadcast a new event notice—an event called "Mid-Autumn Festival in the Prison."
The announcement stated that on August 15, a Mid-Autumn Festival event would be held in the prison city of Jeilreum.
Players could collect event items within Jeilreum and the labyrinth area to exchange for valuable rewards.
Among them was one special item, limited to a single copy—first come, first served.
A very short event notice.
But it was enough to stir players' curiosity and competitive spirit.
As a result, over the past two days, many solo players and those who had been lingering on the lower floors had flocked to the 40th floor.
Akimi was completely speechless about this—low-level players, large in number, with little combat experience… wasn't that the perfect match for PoH's current needs?
Was this basically setting things up for PoH to go on a killing spree?
What kind of twisted joke was this?
---------------
Exclusive access : Complete novel on paetron
Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz