Second World

Hearing David, the tournament runner-up who represented Prince Therribus, said something like that, carried a weight that many could not ignore. The representatives of the average guilds started murmuring between themselves.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, Earmouth who was still massaging his pained cheek, uttered, "Everyone! Perhaps Prince Therribus was slightly unfriendly with players. However, the ones who serve him receive proper treatments. Look at our guild for example. When prince Therribus becomes king and he for sure will! The players who have supported him will be accepted into his court. While those who don't will face the consequences. Just from seeing the number of troops between the two princes, we can already know the winner for sure. Prince Therribus brings one hundred thousand troops of army, while Prince Alonzo is cowering with only ten thousand. How do you expect he can win? The smart ones will choose the winning sides. I believe everyone here is a smart person, aren't you?"

"The palace is preparing a reinforcement army to go help the prince. The army will depart tomorrow," Jack said. "If everyone here is willing to join the reinforcement army, who is the winner and who is the loser is not yet determined!"

"Reinforcement army? And how many troops do they prepare?" Earmouth said with a snicker. "Let me guess, not more than thirty thousand?"

Jack frowned. How did Earmouth get the number of troops the palace could muster. Jack thought of the answer as soon as the question surfaced. The place was still full of the crown prince's supporters. It would be easy for Therribus to gain this information. The prince must have relayed this information to Earmouth to use as an argument tool.

"Thirty thousand? Haha. Might as well don't come at all!" Queen Magenta said with a laugh.

"That's right. My friends! If you join Prince Alonzo's side. You will surely get crushed badly," Manager Steelhand added. "Are Amulet of Rebirth cheap? I believe most everyone here had used that amulet from time to time. It is getting exponentially expensive with every use. Do you truly willing to squander it? Not to mention fighting on the losing side will net you no reward. Are you willing to take the risk of fighting for the side that is sure to lose? Risking your amulet of rebirth, your reward, and the wrath of the crown prince once he becomes king? Be smart, my friends! Make the right choice!"

Jack saw Scarface among the Death Associate players, the bald guy was strangely silent. Jack found it weird. Usually, it would be him who was the spokesperson for the guild.

"Smart? How about doing something right?!" Bowler yelled. "We are fighting for Prince Alonzo for our freedom, for the good of all players. You fight for Therribus only for your own gains. To secure your own well-being while the rest of the other players face the prince's discrimination. All for your selfish needs!"

"What's wrong with being selfish?" Earmouth countered. "We all fight for dominance in this new world. If you are smart, then join us! Be the winner!"

"Join you and let you backstab us later?" Another voice was heard, a female voice. Everyone turned around and saw Red Death approach. Jack had also messaged her and told her that he was coming to the Guilds Association to check things out. It appeared she decided to come as well after receiving the message.

"You!" Earmouth uttered.

"Yes, me! You backstabber c*nt!" Red Death scolded. "Why do you betray Rhemos?! He had been good to our guild. Is this how you repay the favor? By selling him to his enemy?"

"That's right! Red Death has also seen the act where Prince Therribus ambushed Prince Rhemos. And guess who was there atTherribus' side? Him!" Jack was not about to let go of the chance. Red Death didn't exactly see what Jack claimed she saw, it was his Dragon Eye that did, but he thought a tiny lie should be okay. "He and his guild who has been supporting the second prince all this time, only to betray him when the opportunity arises. And look what they do to the person who is against it, they expelled her!"

Jack pointed to Red Death. Everyone used Inspect and was shocked to see that she no longer carried Death Associates' guild tag. Jack saw Scarface's complicated expression when he saw Red Death.

"Now, wait a minute. She was expelled because–" Earmouth tried to explain but he was cut short by another voice.

"You should be the one who should wait for a minute!" Prideful Josh came out from the crowd. "I have been trying to contact you people, but my messages have been ignored. I've joined the coalition because of the quest you three offered."

Josh pointed to Scarface, Manager Steelhand, and Queen magenta. "Even having to swear using that Shackle of Vows so I cannot say what this quest is. However, that quest has suddenly failed last night. Rendering all our efforts all this time a waste! What are you going to say about that?!"

"Yeah! I want to ask that as well!" Fat Gregory, Health Holder, as well as others from the coalition, came out.

"You are bound, but I am not," Red Death said. "Let me tell everyone here then. The quest is to support Prince Rhemos to ascend the throne."

"So, you throw away a quest that we have worked so hard on all this time? Then change allegiance to someone else without even asking our opinions?" Prideful Josh asked.

"There you have it, folks! These people betray their benefactor, even betray their own coalition!" Jack uttered. He guessed the coalition had officially disbanded by the looks of it. "Are you willing to follow these groups of snakes?"

The murmurs from the crowds were becoming stronger. Some even started throwing insults at the three founding members of the coalition. Manager Steelhand and Earmouth tried to say something but their voices were drowned by the crowds. Everyone was now clamoring that they would join Prince Alonzo's camp.

Earmouth, Manager Steelhand, Queen Magenta looked at each other. They figured this was the best they could do under the situation. They were just about to leave when Queen Magenta was stopped by Selena, who said, "The Wicked Witches are joining prince Alonzo's side."

"What? Who makes that decision? Wicked Witches will join Prince Therribus' side!" Queen Magenta uttered.

"It is leader Nova's order. You can take it up to her if you want, but the decision is final. I'm going to register the quest. I'm only telling you out of courtesy," Selena said then she walked away. Queen Magenta watched her back before storming out, fuming.

"So, what truly happens to the quest?" Prideful Josh asked Red Death after Earmouth, Manager Steelhand, and Queen Magenta left.

Red Death told him the story. Fat Gregory and the others listened as well. She informed them about how she received a message about an assassination attempt on Prince Rhemos and was on her way to warn the prince, but was instead stopped by her guildmates. She managed to arrive at Prince Rhemos' camp but she was too late.

"I'm sorry, I only found out about the ploy after notification about the quest failing," Scarface, who was still there, said. He was looking at Red Death with a complicated stare. "I also only found out about their attempt on you later as well," he added. "They are all planned by White and Yellow."

"You did send us messages to go help Prince Rhemos last night," Josh said, confirming Scarface's words. "But we don't have any force nearby."

"So, are you okay with White Death's decision in supporting Prince Therribus?" Red Death asked.

"He is the leader of the guild…," Scarface replied.

"He is not the leader of the guild!" Red Death uttered.

"… It might be so, but until madam Black returned. He is the next in power. I'm a guild member, I have to follow his decision."

"Then we will meet on the battlefield."

Scarface nodded, then said, "Blue is quite concerned about you after finding out you are expelled." He then turned to Jack, "He blames you for Red's situation. You should be careful."

"Aren't you suppose to give him that advice, instead?" Jack returned.

Scarface chuckled, before sighing. "I'm really not sure whose side I'm leaning on… This has become too complicated."

"You can always quit your guild and join us," Jack offered.

Scarface chuckled again. "Tempting. But no, I have too much investment in the guild… Well, I'll see you all on the battlefield then."

"Try to avoid me and you might live," Jack said.

This time, Scarface laughed, "I will try to do that."

After Scarface left, Prideful Josh asked Jack, "So, do you think we can win this war?"

"If this is a war between only players, I will have no doubt, but there are many powerful natives in Therribus' army."

Prideful Josh nodded. Jack was indeed powerful amongst players. He could charge in all by himself. With the others providing support, they should be able to win even if the opponent greatly outnumbered them. But against natives with high levels and also high HP, this was an entirely different setup.

"We can only do our best," Jack said. "Everyone go register your guild. We will depart with the army tomorrow morning."

"Can't we just teleport to Theneward?" Fat Gregory asked.

"You can do that, but don't engage the enemies before we arrived," Jack answered. "Still, I advise you to join the marching army. This way, we can get used to each other and learn to work together before we clash with the enemy."