The Count’s Youngest Son Is A Player - Chapter 304

Episode 304

“The navigation clearly says it’s around here, but there’s nothing there?”

The driver stopped the car and looked around with a puzzled expression.

The cars following also stopped one after another.

Hundreds of vehicles lined up in the barren wasteland below the foot of the mountain.

As Ilwoo opened the door and got out, Purple Guild members appeared one by one from the cars next to them.

“how is it? “Do you feel something?”

A slightly light-hearted brown-haired man asked with a humorous expression.

His name is Xavier Adele.

7th place in overall ranking of Connect.

He was the best wizard player in the Purple Guild and Connect.

“To be honest, I have no idea just by looking at it. “What about you guys?”

When Ilwoo shrugged his shoulders and asked, the other guild members also shook their heads.

“If even Ilwoo doesn’t notice, it’s definitely a success. Then let’s see.”

He put gloves on his hands, took out a small stick, and drew a pattern in the air.

Ugh.

A small magic circle appeared, spun in place, and flew toward the front.

Paaaat!

“wow.”

“I’m serious?”

The magic circle gradually grew in size until it reached 5m in diameter and created a large hole in the air.

And what was visible beyond that was the castle wall.

A colorless castle wall 15m high.

If the material wasn’t concrete, you might have mistakenly thought this was Connect rather than Earth.

“Let’s all go in.”

Xavier took the lead with a grin.

And as hundreds of buses passed through the large gate, the hole that had formed in the air completely collapsed.

Soon, only an unknown hill remained there, showing a beautiful landscape.

* * *

“How about a new shelter?”

“I can’t say it’s perfect, but it’s really the best.”

Raoul’s office.

Only Raoul and Ilwoo were talking in front of the car.

“Actually, I never thought I would use it like this.”

a few days ago.

First Company’s branches not only in Korea but also around the world moved their homes.

Previously, headquarters and branches acquired or leased buildings in cities around the world.

However, from the beginning, Raoul planned to build a complex just for First Company Co., Ltd. in a secluded place, not in the city.

Since the work itself was related to investment, management, and internet anyway, there was no need to be located in the city center.

Therefore, they have been building residential and commercial complexes equipped with various conveniences and facilities just for employees.

However, when Il-woo and other guild members were able to demonstrate their abilities in real life, the purpose changed slightly.

‘I was trying to create a safe place for the awakened people to stay in case they are ostracized.’

Thanks to this, not only its own power generation facilities, but also a reservoir, food production facilities, and a basic goods production complex were built within the complex.

Moreover, after the gate appeared, the fence surrounding the complex was completely changed into a castle wall.

It seemed like my belly button was bigger than my stomach.

But now it seems almost like a foresight.

“What about magic circles and barriers?”

“Actually, it’s a bit surprising. I never thought I could actually recreate that in real life. “I think about you all the time, but you’re so amazing.”

Ilwoo looked at Raoul with admiring eyes.

Those who saw the magic circle materialized just thought, ‘Oh, the ability was manifested, and the magic circle also works?’ You might think it was just that, but Ilwoo, who knew the process, could only admire it.

Since Ilwoo first told him that he had awakened his abilities, Raoul has been preparing and testing many things.

We supported other guild members to check and train them to see if they could demonstrate their abilities in real life.

Various magic and magic circle barriers were recreated through magic players.

And although it has not been announced yet, the production of dedicated equipment that can be used with mana was also on track to some extent.

‘The important thing is that it hasn’t been long since we started seeing results.’

There was almost no significant result until the gate wave exploded and mana exploded.

Many people said that it was useless because it was just a waste of research funds.

But now that I look back, it all really helped me a lot.

If research had been started or attempted after the incident had occurred, no one knew how long it would have taken to produce results.

“How are the employees reacting? In fact, I think there was a lot of backlash because the family was semi-forcibly relocated.”

“What are you talking about. Everyone is busy praising the Chairman! “I really wish you were there.”

Raoul created shelters in most countries where First Company has branches.

The number is dozens.

It took 5 years to complete it.

No one will know how much money was invested.

‘But I don’t regret it at all.’

In fact, it started as an investment to win the hearts of rankers who signed a contract with Connect Management Co., Ltd.

Raoul has no reason to go to Earth anyway, so why bother building his own complex?

Moreover, there was no shortage of money due to Connect’s gold sales and Connect Investment Co., Ltd., which called it investment.

What further explanation is needed since the Link Cafe, which roughly records the global economic trends for the next 10 years, even has a genius hacker label that can easily obtain most of the information.

Anyway, the preparations paid off.

Now, Raoul’s people on Earth (First Company employees, Purple Guild affiliated guild members, and their families) have migrated to a safe home.

A shelter that combines various production facilities to ensure basic survival, as well as the elements of a magic circle and barrier.

That place would guarantee the minimum level of safety not only from the Gate Wave but also from threats from other external forces.

‘It would be great if a few more elements were added.’

“Are the mana stones and cores being secured smoothly?”

“I don’t know about anything else, but I’m really paying attention to that part. “The guild members are also fully cooperating.”

Of course, mana stones and core stones were also dropped at the Earth Gate.

And they were essential resources to keep up with the changing world.

“As you may have heard from Xavier, you must not yield that much to anyone. Because it is absolutely necessary for ‘it’ to be completed soon.”

“I know. “Anyway, right now, there’s no one other than us that can utilize it properly.”

Since the gate began to appear, there was something absolutely necessary.

The current connection played the biggest role in restoring stability.

That was the ‘gate creation prevention barrier stone’.

The biggest reason why humanity is currently suffering tremendous damage is because the gate was created in the middle of the city.

However, if you secure only the gate barrier stone, you can at least protect the basic base.

The problem is that creating a gate barrier stone requires a huge number of mana stones and core stones.

Also, the mana stones required to maintain the barrier stone were quite large, so they had to be prepared in advance.

“Keep in mind. “Until the barrier stone is completed, we must not admit ordinary people into the shelter.”

“…I guess so. I know. “The fact that we can’t save everyone.”

Until the gate wave stabilizes, the priority for gate creation is in densely populated areas.

Knowing that fact, governments in each country have also hastily come up with population distribution policies, but there is no answer.

Maybe it’s the US or China, which have large land masses.

In Korea, there was insufficient land and facilities to disperse people.

Besides, who would easily follow suit if they were told to abandon their home and job and move?

In the end, it meant that there was no other way than to evacuate people after the gate was created.

“master! New gates have appeared on Earth!”

An urgent report was sent through guild communication.

“damn. “I’ll just leave now!”

“be careful. Never overdo it. “You know that the Gate incident needs to be dealt with in the long term, right?”

“okay. “I’ll ask for rear support.”

“okay.”

Ilwoo logged out.

“Whoa.”

Raoul sighed slightly and headed to the situation room.

* * *

The third gate wave swept the Earth.

And humanity had no choice but to give up more territory to monsters.

Many people who lost their homes were placed in temporary camps without even proper facilities.

Food was changed to a rationing system, and even then it was only rationed to the bare minimum.

After losing the city, various systems of humanity began to paralyze.

The speed of relocation of various facilities could not keep up with the speed of gate erosion.

Computer and communication networks were cut off in many places, and maritime trade routes were blocked as ports were lost.

As large cities collapsed, citizens of small and medium-sized cities also trembled with fear, as they might become the next targets.

Still, the good news among the misfortunes was that no gates higher than B grade appeared.

As the number of awakened people increased and countermeasures against monsters were prepared, the casualties themselves decreased significantly.

But can that really be said to be a good thing?

Governments in each country, responsible for their citizens with limited resources, were gradually reaching their limits.

There are now only about 40 days left until the end of the Connect Open Beta service.

“Please sell at least a little bit of gold.”

“I have been told that I will accept the conditions presented by the Chairman.”

“…The U.S. government also sent someone.”

In less than a month, the situation has completely changed.

The posture that seemed stiff was no longer there even after wiping my eyes.

Raoul looked at the demands of each country’s government and the various assets and compensation they were willing to hand over.

‘They said they would hand over the government-owned land for free. How come you already got the consent of the National Assembly?’

‘Government bonds, public enterprise shares, cash assets… I honestly don’t need these things.’

‘Connect will compulsorily dispatch a certain number of players? What is this? ‘At least get consent before speaking.’

There were promises to hand over Earth’s assets, but there were also quite a few offers, such as long-term repayment of gold through taxes by transferring it to Connect, or providing players.

Regardless of whether it would turn out the way they wanted, one thing was certain.

Governments around the world have already given up half of the Earth.

‘Otherwise there would be no way I would have handed these over so easily.’

Raoul’s eyes lit up as he looked at some documents.

And a few days later.

Various military supplies, including tanks and helicopters, were delivered to each shelter of the First Company.

* * *

“…Are you not planning on changing your mind?”

“…Sorry. “One lifetime may not be enough to repay the kindness you have shown me so far… but I still cannot abandon the Earth.”

Raoul looked into Ilwoo’s eyes.

‘You’ve already made up your mind.’

Ilwoo’s eyes were shining with a more resolute will than ever before.

“Is it okay if I ask why? “Honestly, you don’t have family on Earth and there’s no one to stop you.”

When Raoul asked with regret, Ilwoo scratched his head slightly and moved his finger to show a screen.

-Thank you, Uncle Ilwoo. Thanks to you, my mother and I survived.

-Thanks to Ilwoo organizing the gate, I was able to retrieve my parents’ precious belongings.

-I heard that you don’t fight for a large price. It’s not a big deal, but eat it and cheer up.

-Thanks to Ilwoo…

Various SNS and e-mails were filled with photos of people sending thanks and gifts.

“Actually, I thought about it a bit. Like you said, before I accessed Connect, I was really just a worthless orphan. There was a time when I thought I had no choice but to live just because I was alive. “I don’t really have any good memories there.”

Ilwoo closed his eyes for a moment and recalled the past.

In fact, he didn’t stand out from the beginning when he joined Connect.

It all started after I met Raoul at the First Academy.

“But things changed when I met you. Without even realizing it, I had gained great power and was put in charge of many people. “It made me think a lot.”

I was always curious.

Why did such luck come to me?

Am I really the right person for this position?

“And now I think I’ve found the answer. This power that was fortunately given to me. “This should never be used for me.”

Ilwoo put his hand on Raoul’s shoulder.

“I’m really grateful so far. I was also worried that this choice might be betraying you. But on the other hand, I wanted to believe that you would understand. “Because you, who I have been watching for so long, were struggling to protect everyone around you, just like me now.”

“….”

Raoul felt something agitated and clenched his fists without realizing it.

“I think it’s my turn now. “You can get by without me, but the people who will be left behind on Earth need me.”

Raoul raised his fist to his chest and gave a knightly salute.

“…I wish you good luck. “I hope we can meet again someday.”

Ilwoo also said, putting his fist to his chest.

“I’m sorry. And thank you.”

The two looked at each other for a while with slightly bloodshot eyes and congratulated each other for their future.

That’s how their relationship was resolved in Connect.

(Continued in the next part)