The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

“Oh, really?”

“Absolutely. A priest I know personally tipped me off.”

“Hahaha, now I understand why Count Raul has been so adamant about the gates. We can’t just sit back and watch. Assemble the troops!”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

The powerful factions within the various kingdoms, who had been lying low since the civil war, began to mobilize.

The reason? Rumors that had started somewhere and spread like wildfire.

There’s an incredible treasure hidden inside the newly emerging mutated gates.

The gate guardians are concealing divine powers.

A tremendous power that could determine the dominance of Connect is sleeping inside the gates. While the specific details varied, the core message remained the same.

Something was hidden inside the mutated gates. And the First county’s recent activities lent credence to the rumors.

“The First Knight Order, which had been focused on developing the Forbidden Zones, is suddenly searching for gates?”

“Count Raul even put a bounty on it. There must be something there, right?”

“We can’t let these outsiders take this chance.”

The rumors expanded uncontrollably, and not just the noble families but also mercenary groups and adventurers began to hunt for new gates.

Raul, upon hearing the news, was rather pleased with the current situation.

“Whoever is behind this is doing a great job. If everyone steps up willingly like this, it’s only good for us.”

Raul and his territory’s senior officials were immensely busy. They had welcomed over two hundred million new residents all at once.

Settling them without dissatisfaction and developing the frontier areas according to plan required a tremendous amount of effort.

They also had to guard the borders against the Empire, the orc tribes, and other potential threats, while continuing their training in preparation for the upcoming scenario.

Raul had no complaints, regardless of the motives or methods behind it. Of course, this didn’t mean he had completely abandoned the gate matter.

Despite having been preempted by the Order’s hero party not long ago, Raul hurried to deal with the next mutated gate himself.

‘It wasn’t as impressive as I thought. It looked like an unfinished dungeon.’

That was Raul’s impression upon examining the gate. Though the scenario’s warnings had put him on edge, the actual monsters and gate guardian were below his expectations.

In terms of rank, it was between an A-rank and an S-Grade gate in the Forbidden Zones. That didn’t mean the gates were easy. The appearing monsters were, of course, demonic creatures from the Demon World.

The gate guardians were low-ranking demons.

‘But they didn’t feel as dangerous as the scenario warned.’

It felt more like a reconnaissance force, or a probe. Thus, Raul concluded that there was no need for him to personally rush to clear each gate.

Heroes like Noel seemed formidable, and the skilled individuals from various kingdoms had begun to move. Though some reckless individuals might suffer for their audacity.

‘Responsibility lies with them.’

Excessive greed leads to ruin. If they were drawn by the rumors of treasures in the gates, they must also bear the risks of failure. Moreover, the rumors weren’t entirely false.

The mutated gates did drop valuable items from the Demon World, unlike regular gates.

“Anyway, I hope everyone puts in their best effort.”

Raul smiled, mentally thanking whoever had spread the rumors.

*

“What about Captain Spencer and his team?”

“They’re returning safely after completing the raid.”

“That’s a relief.”

Despite his words, President Hartley Miles of the Union Government didn’t look particularly relieved.

‘Damn it, where did the information leak from?’

The various rumors sweeping through the public recently. These rumors were causing President Miles significant discomfort. The final scenario to select the Mediator.

Naturally, the leadership of the Union Government was aware of its existence. While the number of players selected as candidates was small, not all of them were from the Purple Guild or its allied guilds.

There were candidates among the government players, one of whom had reached the final round.

Spencer Miles.

Always among the top ten in overall rankings, excluding Purple Guild members.

Yet, no one knew his true identity. Because he never did personal broadcasts or any public activities. His real identity was a former special forces operative of the U. S. military, a human weapon.

A disability had forced his retirement after an operational injury, but with government support, he became a trainer. That’s when he discovered Connect.

In Connect, his earthly disabilities were no issue, and he began a second life. With unseen backing from the U. S. government, Spencer Miles had grown into one of Connect’s top-ranking players.

‘We wanted to quietly boost his achievements through the gates.’

However, somewhere along the line, information had leaked, leading the entire continent to commence a frantic search for gates. Thus, their plans had gone awry.

While the Union Government might have been greedy, they were far from incompetent. They had meticulously prepared multiple strategies to establish their dominance in Connect, with the ‘Spencer Project’ being a central element.

Upon the start of Connect’s official service and examining the list of Purple Guild players, they were certain this was an opportunity.

‘This is our chance!’

Among the top ten Purple Guild members, excluding Louis Blake, all chose Earth (Raul had already deleted Bae Dohyun’s fake account).

In their view, Spencer was stronger than Louis. In all the rankings measured so far, Spencer had never fallen behind Louis. Thus, no one opposed the idea of making Spencer the winner of the final scenario.

‘Taking the leadership of Connect away from the First Knight Order was the best way to go.’

Moreover, they were not the only ones who wanted to keep the First Knight Order in check. Unseen allies had shared information and provided support for the gate raids.

But the sudden spread of strange rumors had thrown everything into disarray.

‘We wanted to score as many points as possible before the main scenario started.’

However, they were unaware. Spencer’s true competitor wasn’t Louis Blake; it was Count Raul. Had they known, their decisions might have been different. And that wasn’t their only problem.

In about two weeks, the protection period promised by the First Knight Order would end.

“Is there no change in their stance?”

“Unfortunately, no. They are still set on withdrawing their forces once the period ends.”

“We have no choice. Focus on strengthening our negotiations with the kingdoms.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

In the six months they had spent in Connect, it became evident. The First Knight Order’s power was far greater than they had anticipated. They now understood why a simple county led the charge in developing the Forbidden Zones.

‘But even that power has significantly diminished.’

The power of undying players. A power the kingdoms didn’t have, which only the First Knight Order possessed, was now gone. While some original players remained, it was uncertain if those who had lost their resurrection abilities would be as effective as before.

The announcement to withdraw forces at the end of the period likely reflected the First Knight Order’s concerns. In any case, from the Union Government’s perspective, it was a minor setback at best.

Numerous kingdoms and mercenary groups were lined up to provide military support, provided the right price was paid. Moreover, the Union Government’s own player forces were formidable enough that they expected no problems in defending their territory even after the First Knight Order’s departure.

However, whether they could maintain that outlook after facing the Empire directly was another matter.

*

The period announced by the Connect system expired. As the 『Settlement』 scenario concluded, official statements from various kingdoms followed.

Three territories were recognized as formal factions:

The ‘First Autonomous Territory’ under the First county.

The ‘Earth Union Government’ occupying the southern Elemental Jungle.

The ‘Pioneer Association’ situated in the middle of the Elemental Jungle.

Various other smaller independent factions were not recognized. Among the three recognized factions, the Pioneer Association, which had strained relations with the kingdoms, successfully opened its borders after relentless lobbying and negotiations.

Of course, Raul’s influence played a significant role in this decision.

‘I’d like to trouble them more, but with the major scenario looming, I can’t let emotions get in the way.’

While Raul didn’t expect them to hold back the Empire, isolating the Pioneer Association could have driven them to openly ally with the Empire.

As for the Earth Union Government, they began their independent operations as soon as the First Knight Order’s support ended.

The border regions previously guarded by the First Knight Order were now manned by mercenaries and troops dispatched by the Marcus Kingdom.

Naturally, the Union Government’s own military formed the backbone. Households that had no homes or jobs were required to enlist one member in exchange for government-provided food, clothing, and shelter.

While conscription wasn’t without complaints, it was an inevitable choice to defend against monsters outside the protective barriers and external invasions.

The fastest to settle without any significant issues was, unsurprisingly, the First Autonomous Territory. Until the autonomous council was established, all policies were led by the leadership of the First Knight Order.

The systematic and rational policies were well-received by the immigrants, who adapted without much complaint. Already existing infrastructure meant the immigrants experienced minimal inconvenience.

Most importantly, the mandatory education tailored to immigrants, which aimed to increase their levels and find suitable jobs for them, was remarkably successful.

With the Connect system supporting various non-combat classes, the impact was substantial. In just six months, people had sufficiently adapted to their new way of life in Connect.

In the meeting room of Calix Castle. Not only the senior officials of the countdom but also representatives from the Purple Guild and the First Autonomous Territory gathered for a meeting.

“The next scenario provided by the Connect system clearly foretells war. Therefore, we intend to transition to a wartime posture immediately.”

Bernard, still the highest-ranking officer responsible for the territory’s administration, led the meeting from the podium. Including representatives from the Purple Guild and the immigrants was essential due to the forthcoming scenario.

Notice

…….

The 『Settlement』 scenario has concluded.

From now on, players will live according to the laws of Connect, just like its existing residents.

Players who have chosen Connect as their homeland have received a new task.

A colossal threat endangering the survival of Connect’s residents has surfaced.

Players must join forces with existing residents to protect the world of Connect from the impending crisis.

『Final Scenario: Master of Connect』 has begun.

This scenario has no time limit.

Until the final scenario ends, players can use all features of the Connect system. Protect your new homeland to prove you are the true masters of Connect.

This notice had a different feel from previous ones. The realization that the second scenario following the official service was the final scenario came as a shock.

Players, though initially taken aback, soon accepted it. Connect was not merely a game but another world in which they lived. Each player’s life within this world was its own new scenario.

Even without the Connect system providing directions, players now had to navigate their paths. To do so, they had to overcome a massive final hurdle.

That day, the players unanimously pledged their unwavering support to the First county.

Thus, a player support army based on the First Autonomous Territory was officially organized.

(To be continued)