"Of course...! I was sure of it when I saw the name. I was certain it had to be you."
The Fourth King nodded.
At that moment.
"The owner of the Abyss Labyrinth is Orzulic?"
"Huh. How long has it been since you became Orzulic...?"
"Then the rumors will disappear."
"Those who coveted the position of Orzulic won't dare to make a sound."
"Is he stronger than the White King?"
It felt like I was on display.
This place was the entrance to Kramdel.
A place where countless monsters came and went.
I was already conspicuous, and the words I spoke were making the misunderstanding about me grow larger.
"Was that what you were curious about, caw?"
The Fourth King shook his head.
"Not exactly, but... more importantly, I sense a different and ominous aura from you. Could this aura be... the Four Fiends 'Baal'?"
The options of the Baal Helmet are continuously applied unless another helmet is worn.
Still, it was an exception. I didn't expect him to notice.
Since I've come this far, there's no need to hide it.
"You're right, caw."
The Fourth King spoke with a tone of genuine surprise.
"Huh. You've even acquired the power of the Four Fiends Baal? Then the increase in your crows must be due to Baal's power, I see."
Caw! Caw!
The numerous corpse crows flying above my head.
But they were not ordinary corpse crows.
They were enhanced by the Baal Helmet and ultimately reinforced.
As a result, the higher-level corpse crows began to mimic the skills I used.
When I used 'Summon Higher-Level Corpse Crows (Lv2)', the 11 summoned higher-level corpse crows used 'Summon Ordinary Corpse Crows (Lv10)'.
As a result, 110 corpse crows were flying in the sky without any additional consumption of mana.
This was the power of ultimate reinforcement, I thought.
"Four Fiends Baal?"
"The Four Fiends from the legend?"
"Wow!"
The commotion around me grew even louder.
It seemed that the Four Fiends were also a legend to the monsters.
Just like the Sword Saint of the Salvation Kingdom, the Four Fiends were a legend and a myth to them.
In any case.
I got a rough idea.
Why the Fourth King was waiting for me.
"Fourth King, caw. I don't have the body of Sword Saint Riley now, caw."
Judging from how he mentioned 'Sword Saint Riley' from the start, he was definitely waiting to ask if I had Riley's body.
He couldn't bring himself to ask directly, so he beat around the bush.
Sure enough.
The Fourth King's shoulders slightly relaxed.
"Hmm, is that so?"
"It's just not now, caw. If I search the labyrinth, I might find it, caw."
The labyrinth is still not fully explored.
Just like how relics continue to be discovered in the ancient city, I also needed to spend time examining the labyrinth.
The Fourth King spoke with a voice tinged with a bit of hope.
"Does that mean...?"
"I'll tell you on the way, caw."
"Good idea! Since it's an emergency call, we shouldn't waste any more time."
I was excited.
It seemed he was very interested in Riley's body.
Could he have challenged the labyrinth to obtain Riley's body?
Well, it turned out to be a good thing.
I could get help from the Fourth King using Riley's body as an excuse.
Of course, if I find it, I'll give it to him without hesitation.
It wouldn't hurt to owe him a favor.
"By the way, do you know why the emergency call was made, caw?"
We talked while walking.
It wouldn't hurt to know in advance.
The Fourth King stroked his chin.
"I don't know the details. Only that there are two items on the agenda. One of them is probably about your city."
"I didn't expect the White King to be interested in the labyrinth, caw."
"It's not for the reason you think. Just... hmm..."
"..."
"Hmm, no. It's a story that doesn't concern you."
"Then I'm even more curious, caw."
"Hmm. Now that you're Orzulic, you should know."
The Fourth King, who had been pondering, continued.
"A few years ago, we were defeated by a human, which was embarrassing. At that time, the White King also lost one of his fangs."
Suddenly, the story of Wilhelm began.
No one other than Wilhelm defeated the Four Orzulics and took the White King's fang.
As I listened intently, the Fourth King shrugged.
"The Third Orzulic Gonggi said the fang is in the Abyss Labyrinth. We all dismissed it as nonsense, but it might be related."
"I see, caw."
"Aren't you curious? About the human who defeated all of us?"
"Not really, caw."
"... Indeed, you are not ordinary."
There was no need for me to be curious about my own story.
The Fourth King was surprised anew by my attitude.
However, it was unexpected that the White King was still looking for his fang.
'The White King's fang is still in the Golden Rule Shop.'
It can be bought for a thousand time fragments.
I don't know if investing that much value would yield something from the White King, but if he's desperately looking for it, it wouldn't hurt to consider it.
While chatting, we arrived at the White King's Hall.
*
The air was suffocating.
I stood in the same spot with all the Orzulics.
The Great Earth Dragon, the Fourth King, Gonggi, and Medusa.
All of them were monsters known as the apex!
'Still intense.'
I'm tense, but not intimidated.
As the Fourth King reacted, they must know that I have become the owner of the labyrinth.
Their gazes towards me have definitely changed.
From looking at me as if I were just some nobody, they now look at me as if I have something substantial.
"Everyone is here."
The White King appeared.
Still wearing the White Tiger mask.
"You must be curious about the reason for the emergency call of all Orzulics. Let's get to the point."
The White King made eye contact with each of the Orzulics.
Finally, he looked at me.
With an unreadable expression, he said,
"The first reason is the Abyss Labyrinth. Orzulic Randolph, have you truly become the owner of the labyrinth?"
Under everyone's gaze, I nodded.
"Yes, caw."
"Taking the labyrinth before the Fourth King, impressive."
"What business do you have in the labyrinth, caw?"
"Indeed. I plan to proclaim the Orzulic's Labyrinth City in the name of the White King. I want to connect Kramdel with the warp and make an official declaration."
"..."
"..."
"Your Majesty. An official declaration? You've never done that except for Kramdel, right?"
While everyone was surprised, the Great Earth Dragon spoke.
The only city the White King officially proclaimed was Kramdel.
That's why no one dared to touch Kramdel, which leads to the north.
The White King sighed at the giant dragon's question.
"The second reason for gathering you all is the unusual movement of the Southern Black King."
"The Black King...?"
"Is he trying to leave the south?"
The Black King.
If the White King is the absolute ruler of the north, the Black King is the absolute ruler of the south.
When Gonggi and the Great Earth Dragon asked in shock, the White King confirmed.
"The guy is moving aggressively, expanding his influence confidently. I have a bad feeling about it."
The White King's 'intuition' is 100% accurate.
If his intuition is bad, it means something ominous is actually happening.
"If by any chance he targets me, he will attack the Orzulics first. And since this is the land of the Salvation Kingdom, the Arhon Empire will also have their eyes on the labyrinth. If I make an official statement in my name, neither of them will easily touch the Orzulics or the labyrinth."
... I only planned to connect the warp.
An official proclamation by the White King. I didn't expect this at all.
If it's possible, the labyrinth will truly become a safe zone.
While crazy, fearless individuals will always exist, at least major forces won't be able to launch a full-scale invasion.
A definite deterrent.
Nothing could be more reassuring.
For a moment, the White King's shadow felt as warm as a mother's embrace.
"The final reason for the emergency call is to select someone among you to uncover the Black King's intentions."
There were supposed to be two items on the agenda?
In other words, to infiltrate the south.
Someone to secretly uncover the Black King's intentions in his territory.
It would be an extremely dangerous adventure.
"Is there anyone who volunteers?"
The White King scanned the Orzulics.
But it's not something anyone can easily volunteer for.
The Black King is different from the White King and the Four Orzulics.
He is not at all gentle.
A madman who brutally kills anything he doesn't like. That's the Black King.
Eventually, the White King's gaze stopped on me.
... And his eyes didn't move.
'Wait a minute.'
Could he be silently pressuring me to go?
I'll protect you, so go and come back in exchange for the official proclamation?
No, no.
Perhaps he wants me to clash with the Black King.
Everything we've talked about so far might just be bait for this final move.
'... Is he suggesting I give it a try?'
Forget the mother's embrace.
So, I didn't avert my eyes.
I had no intention of being played by the White King's obvious intentions.
Caw! Caw!
The corpse crows began to caw more aggressively.
I slowly raised my hand.
He must know what this gesture means.
"Hmm."
"What are you doing, Orzulic!"
Everyone gasped, and the Great Earth Dragon shouted.
Of course.
This is a threat to destroy his mystery.
Not only that.
"White King. Don't play tricks if you don't want to die, caw."
The True Throne (Revised)
Bluffing.
A tactic of making a strong bet with a weaker hand than the opponent.
A form of intimidation.
It's the same as my current situation.
If even one of the Four Orzulics attacks, I'm dead.
If I bluff without any basis, I'm bound to fail.
But what if the bluff has a basis?
'The situation is much different from when I achieved the Mystery of the Crown.'
The countless words I heard as I passed through the entrance.
Didn't I hear the rumors about me with my own ears?
It's impossible for the Four Orzulics or the White King not to know those rumors.
Moreover,
'The Fourth King has laid the groundwork well.'
He must have seasoned the story about the Abyss Labyrinth and Sword Saint Riley well.
The White King, who even called it 'impressive,' must have talked about it endlessly.
When I surpassed the Mystery of the Crown and sealed the Dead King Ahram, there was no way to predict my actual power.
But through this incident, they must have been able to gauge the level of my power to some extent.
I bet they were quite surprised.
... To have broken through the labyrinth faster than the Fourth King and killed Sword Saint Riley!
'Sword Saint Riley was a being comparable to the Four Fiends.'
The Four Fiends, a legend and a myth to them.
Sword Saint Riley left a significant mark on the Four Fiends.
So, my minimum power must be enough to threaten the Four Fiends.
At least, that's what they must think.
Of course, this isn't the only basis.
'The White King can't have missed what the Fourth King found out.'
The Baal Helmet.
An item containing the power of Baal, one of the Four Fiends.
The White King must have realized by now that I possess it.
'The White King doesn't want internal strife. He's a coward.'
The last basis.
The cowardly nature of the White King, which I had to endure endlessly while playing as Wilhelm!
When the White King has a strong, ominous feeling, he hides.
Even when all the Four Orzulics were captured as hostages, he never came out.
In the end, it was only through the 'deal' of the fang that a dramatic resolution was reached.
Since he mentioned a bad feeling this time, the White King definitely doesn't want internal strife.
Most importantly, he is wary of me destroying his mystery.
If he tries to kill me, he will lose at least one thing.
"Are you really telling me not to play tricks if I don't want to die?"
The White King spoke.
At that moment, everything froze.
Threatening to kill him if he plays tricks.
He made this threat to the White King in the White King's Hall.
It can't be ignored.
It shouldn't be ignored.
This statement clearly crossed the line.
And I expected this reaction from the White King.
No matter how cowardly he is, if he backs down in front of the Four Orzulics who follow him, it would be a disgrace to his name as a king.
'Ugh!'
I expected it, but my mouth was dry.
If I didn't have the Eternal Overlord's Heart, I would be sweating profusely and my heart would be pounding by now.
I might have already fainted.
After all, everything was just a guess.
No one can be 100% sure how the White King will act, except the White King himself.
"I clearly said, caw. The Orzulics and the White King have 'equal status,' caw. I'm not under you, so this 'emergency call' feels very inconvenient to me, caw."
But once I started the bluff, I couldn't stop.
A launched rocket can't stop unless it's shot down.
I clearly stated that the White King and the Orzulics have no special hierarchy.
But in reality, there is a hierarchy.
The White King gathered all the Orzulics with an 'emergency call.'
Only the White King has the authority to make such a call.