Louis entered the waiting room.
It was completely empty.
A calm white void, as if the system deliberately removed any hint or decoration from this place.
He didn't care.
From the moment he stepped inside,
[Game of Thrones World: A dark political world set across two main continents: Westeros and Essos. Great noble families fight for power and the Iron Throne in the Seven Kingdoms. This world is full of conspiracies, betrayals, shifting alliances, and bloody wars, more than clear notions of good and evil. Power is taken by force, and the law is weak against influence. Magic exists but is rare and mysterious, appearing more with dragons and the threat of the world's greatest enemy. This world doesn't reward heroism but tests who can survive, manipulate, and sacrifice everything for power or survival.]
Louis skipped the long introduction the system gave about the Game of Thrones world.
He looked directly at the mission explanation board.
[Mission Type: Solo mission.]
[Mission Introduction: At the start of this world, King Robert Baratheon of the Seven Kingdoms will die in a controversial way. Many forces will emerge from the shadows to claim the throne for different reasons.]
[You must choose your identity in this world from these characters:
Viserys III Targaryen / Daenerys Targaryen / Jon Snow / Joffrey Baratheon / Tommen Baratheon / Stannis Baratheon / Renly Baratheon / Robb Stark / Balon Greyjoy]
[These characters have the power and influence to claim the throne, but the difficulty level varies for each one.]
[Main Mission 1: Become King.]
[Main Mission 2: Defeat or help defeat the greatest enemy in this world.]
[Main Mission 3: Hold onto the throne until your time in this world ends.]
[Note 1: Your success in this world depends heavily on choosing the right identity.]
[Note 2: Due to the nature of this stage, which depends on choice and luck, you will lose your memory of the main mission after returning to the real world.]
[Good luck.]
Louis read each line slowly.
Then he smiled.
"As I expected…"
This was not a test of strength.
Nor a test of technical skill.
It was a test of choice.
And that alone explained why Robert said earlier that all players who entered this world before him returned unable to remember the main mission. The system itself prevents any later knowledge exploitation.
Luck… and Choice.
Yet...
All three main missions were open from the start.
This meant the system, unknowingly, gave players room to make long-term plans instead of rushing blindly. A clear weakness.
As for ratings...
There had been one precedent. Only one player in the past managed to get an SS rank in this world.
But for Louis?
He wasn't thinking about SS.
He was thinking about a flawless rating.
He opened the skills and items menu.
As expected, all destructive or overpowered skills were gone. No explosions, no superpowers, no absolute control.
Even the teleportation skill, he relied on it in previous stages, was missing.
He didn't frown.
He calmly studied the new list, searching for anything that could help him complete his plans.
[Skill: "Poison Resistance" – Passive skill.
Allows you to resist all types of poison in this world, no matter their type.]
His eyes sparkled.
[Item: "Soul Pact"
By agreeing to certain conditions, both parties sign the pact with their blood. After this, neither will consider betraying the other.]
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Perfect…"
In a world where thrones are won through poisoned daggers, cups, and whispers in the dark... this was not just a skill and an item.
It was a life guarantee.
He confirmed his choices without hesitation.
Then he moved to the last menu:
the identities list.
He looked at the names one by one.
All of them had a chance.
But not all of them had the moment of coronation.
He needed a character who was meant to actually rule, even for a short time, to complete the first mission smoothly.
When his eyes stopped on a certain name...
He sighed.
A real disgust filled his chest.
Arrogance, stupidity, cruelty…
A character he hated even conceptually.
But...
"For the desired outcome… this is the best choice."
He clicked the name.
Darkness.
Then...
Light.
He suddenly regained consciousness.
He found himself in a luxurious royal room, red velvet walls, towering stone columns reflecting a medieval style. A faint scent of incense, heavy curtains swaying slowly.
He jumped out of bed quickly.
Ran to the mirror.
And... He froze.
What he saw was not strange… but disturbing.
A thin young boy, golden blonde hair neatly styled like a king, sharp green eyes showing arrogance and cruelty. Handsome... regal handsome, but his features screamed pride, impulsiveness, and foolishness.
"…Joffrey."
Yes.
Louis had chosen to be Joffrey Baratheon.
The next crowned king after Robert.
The heir fully backed by House Lannister... one of the strongest family's politically and militarily in this world.
It wasn't a choice.
It was cold calculation.
While still examining his face, there was a knock on the door.
"Who's there?"
"Your Highness, the Queen calls you to her room."
Louis thought for a moment, "…Cersei."
He guessed the reason before moving, "Okay, I'm coming."
Minutes later,
Louis found himself standing in front of her.
But the scene was not what he expected.
Cersei Lannister, the royal serpent, looked pitiful. Tears streaming, face broken, as if she had lost everything most precious.
From her mouth, Louis learned the truth:
Robert Baratheon had died, and Ned Stark had betrayed them.
She spoke while crying… and at the same time inciting him.
Playing the role of the grieving widow and the mother pushing her son for revenge.
Louis... or rather Joffrey, couldn't speak for a moment.
Not from emotion… but disgust.
But… as planned.
To avoid changing the main plot, Louis went along with all of Cersei's wishes.
In the blink of an eye… he found himself sitting on the Iron Throne, with nobles bowing to him.
And just like that, Louis became king of the Seven Kingdoms without lifting a finger.
[Congratulations to player L.K, Main Mission 1 completed.]
*** ***
Without anyone knowing, in different waiting rooms, Johan Albert and the five others who had joined Louis in the Solo Leveling world mission last week found themselves facing the same type of stage that the system had chosen for Louis.
A solo mission in the same world.
Unlike the other five, who started the mission without thinking and randomly chose their characters, Johan thought carefully, just like Louis.
The sudden appearance of a solo main mission after the disruption in the Solo Leveling world mission... either it was truly a random choice by the system, or there was a bigger reason behind it.