The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

– Good day, viewers. Welcome to 『Connect Broadcasting Desk』, bringing you the latest from Connect over the past week.

– The broadcast about Connect was airing on a regular channel, not a cable network. People who were chatting about various topics shifted their focus.

– Today’s feature covers the urban battle in the Brennan Republic, specifically the much-discussed battle for Rayson City, involving many players. Our correspondent, Kim**, brings us the details.

– Yes, the siege of Rayson City, which garnered much attention due to the confrontation between the Real Player Association and the Purple Guild, concluded just two days ago. Many experts and community members predicted a sweeping victory for the Real Player Association, but what was the actual outcome?

Footage of the siege of Rayson City played on the screen.

– As you can see, the result was a decisive victory for the Purple Guild. Just five top-ranking members of the Purple Guild nearly massacred the thousand players from the Real Player Association…

The broadcast then showed the outcomes and follow-up information about the battle.

The community was ablaze with various discussions after watching the broadcast.

– Congratulations! Purple Guild’s victory! I always believed in them!

– Honestly, I was a bit worried, but after seeing the footage, I wonder why I ever doubted. You really can’t trust so-called experts.

– Despite the numbers gap, I thought it wouldn’t matter; Rankers are truly on another level.

– I knew this would happen when the no-name association tried to pick a fight with the well-established Purple Guild, haha.

I got chills when Dohyun started riding out alone. Forget those idiots who took him on 1-on-5; when he started beating up knights, it was incredible!

– Where are all those analysts who said players could never beat knights one-on-one?

– Seeing Dohyun gave me hope. It shows that with effort, players can surpass NPCs!

— Nope, still can’t.

— Anyone who has sparred one-on-one with instructors in the Free City without skills knows how absurd it is. The instructors aren’t even knights. If you meet a knight in a territory war, just consider yourself dead.

– Honestly, aren’t Bae Dohyun and Purple Guild Rankers way too strong? It felt like the average player stood no chance against them.

Even after a year and three months since the game started, players still viewed knights as an insurmountable obstacle.

– Of course, melee class players above level 50 could wield a mana blade (sword qi).

– If we can use mana blades and various skills, how are we different from knights?

Many second-job players thought like this until they clashed swords with knights on the battlefield.

Those expensive skills that players cherished. For NPC knights who wield mana blades, those are just variations of sword techniques.

Could a layperson beat a professional athlete if given the same physical capabilities and equipment?

Throw in power armor, and knights, especially power armor users, were unbeatable monsters to players. But Bae Dohyun shattered that belief.

And with scenes of Kim Ilwoo and Meininger bringing enemy knights to their knees during the siege, it was no wonder the community was in an uproar.

***

The siege of Rayson City concluded with a decisive victory for the defenders. The rankers of the Purple Guild, who revealed their true capabilities, were literally overwhelming.

Though Bae Dohyun was a trump card, the exploits of other guild members like Kim Ilwoo and Han Seohyun were also remarkable.

They not only swept away the players from the Real Player Association but also took down the enemy knights. They even finished the battle by themselves.

When the fight on the walls turned favorable, the enemy command tried to flee, abandoning their troops.

Bae Dohyun, who anticipated this, chased them with Ilwoo, using psychokinetic platforms, while Seohyun’s gigantic summoner, the black hawk ‘Muk,’ carried Seohyun and Linda to flank the enemy.

In the end, the enemy leadership was captured alive by the Purple Guild, thus concluding the city battle.

The Tenba family not only defended the Rayson City but also achieved the best possible outcome by annexing the city of the Jereedu family, who had initiated the war.

With the Jereedu family’s leader and high command captured and their forces decimated, they had no choice.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

Bae Dohyun and his party were once again traveling down the official road. Their number had increased to about twenty. Other members of the Purple Guild had joined them.

“Tsk. I expected it, but I can’t believe they escaped so quickly.”

Linda clicked her tongue in disappointment. They had missed catching Kim Ilsang and other senior members of the New Star Guild and the Ripple Association.

They stayed in the rear throughout the battle and teleported away just as defeat loomed and their main forces showed signs of retreat.

Their guild members and association members were still fighting at the walls.

“Let it go. Those small fry are not worth our concern anymore. Killing them once wouldn’t deal a significant blow anyway. In fact, their escape might turn out to be better for us.”

Ilwoo’s words made sense. Had they stayed and fought to the end, taking care of their members, they might have lost their lives but would have retained their trust.

But they chose to escape, which would be fatal for a fledgling association.

Players wouldn’t trust their leaders, and the nobles of Connect who observed the battle wouldn’t see them as more than mercenaries.

“Still, it really irks me. It reminds me of a former boss who dodged responsibility after making us do all the work. Next time, I’ll definitely take his head off.”

Linda’s sharp tone caused Ilwoo to only shrug his shoulders.

“Guild master, who’s our next opponent?”

Meininger asked, and Bae Dohyun replied with a grin.

“Our next opponent in the city battle is…”

***

– Purple Guild. Unstoppable 6-game winning streak in the Brennan Republic civil war!

– King Maker! Witness the terrorizing march of the Purple Guild!

– Brennan Republic civil war. The Gallegos-McGregor alliance gains the upper hand thanks to the Purple Guild’s exploits.

A month after the battle for Rayson City. The activities of the Purple Guild, led by Bae Dohyun, were dazzling.

Though not grand battles, they participated in five city battles for small towns that had voting rights and emerged victorious each time.

Rankers of the Purple Guild, with participants ranging from a minimum of five to twenty depending on the situation, fully showcased their skills.

Double-digit rankers tore through local city knights as if they were nothing, demonstrating their overpowering strength.

Even mid-to-low-tier rankers, while not overwhelming knights, proved that they could at least stand toe-to-toe with them.

In the Brennan Republic, the Purple Guild began to be referred to not just as mercenaries, but as a knight order.

Naturally, their value and treatment rose, and the Purple Guild’s branch in the Brennan Republic was bustling with emissaries from various noble families.

The First Player Association also began their full activities. Right after the siege of Rayson City, the association unveiled their recommended group quest.

Purple Association Recommends New Quest!

– Once again, all experts’ predictions missed the mark! The association kept its promise.

– Purple Association. Negotiations completed with all factions in the four kingdoms equally. The choice is left to the guilds and players!

After the association’s announcement.

Many experts predicted that the Purple Association would offer quests biased towards certain factions. They thought the quests would be centered around factions similar or friendly to the First Knight Order’s alignment.

Those who disliked the Purple Association were vocal, claiming the association would manipulate players to suit their agendas.

However, the association’s actions were completely different. The association negotiated with all factions vying for the throne. And all factions unanimously accepted the Purple Association’s proposals.

To them, the association was no different from a mercenary guild.

Just as mercenary guilds do not enter exclusive contracts with specific kingdoms or factions, the Purple Guild kept its doors open to all.

And as promised to the players, significant rewards and treatment were guaranteed. The factions that observed the battle of Rayson City recognized the players’ abilities and potential.

Naturally, the players were thrilled.

Although participating in the association’s quests required meeting various conditions, the rewards were on a different scale compared to what individuals or guilds could typically earn.

Of course, not everyone welcomed this situation.

– Ripple Association. Claims “Purple Association is deceiving players. Offering choices is merely a facade!” and criticizes the Purple Association.

Some experts evaluated the Purple Association’s quests as mere window-dressing.

– Players following the Purple Guild’s choices. Is this true freedom of choice?

– Some major media outlets began to criticize the Purple Association collectively.

The reason was the Purple Guild. Regardless of the association’s quests, the Purple Guild began their activities in specific factions in each country.

Their 100 guild members were divided into units of ten to twenty and participated in territorial battles across different countries.

The result: victories in 18 out of 19 battlefields.

The one loss was in a minor battlefield where regular knight orders appeared, escalating the war, resulting in an unresolved territorial battle.

This naturally birthed the perception that following the Purple Guild guarantees victory.

Initially, many participated on the opposing side of the Purple Guild, but a month later, no one stood against them.

This was why opponents of the association and some media began to criticize it. However, the players’ reactions were quite different.

– Why are there articles criticizing the association? Shouldn’t they be praising it instead?

– You’re right. Thanks to the association, quest rewards have been great. Is there still anyone playing alone and missing out on these association quests?

– Criticizing the association isn’t entirely wrong. Honestly, everyone is just following the Purple Guild, right? It’s almost like we don’t have real choices.

– Got you, spy! Real Player Association agent, get lost~

– There are still people who think the Purple Association and the Purple Guild are the same. The association and guild are separate entities. The Purple Guild isn’t a puppet of the association.

– The person above is right. If I were Kim Ilwoo, I would have skewed all the quests to favor the guild. Allowing the other side to choose shows great generosity. It’s practically a declaration that the association won’t draw the guild into its affairs.

– Those Purple Guild bullies. They let you choose the opposing side and then crush you. They’re no different from thugs!

– What are you talking about, you moron? Of course, you clash with opponents in a war. If you’re upset, then fight and win.

– There are always people asking for more no matter what they’re given. Being allowed to choose your side under great conditions should be enough. Turning against the Purple Guild was your ‘choice’, you idiot.

Raul and Kim Ilwoo’s strategy was working effectively. Instead of stripping or forcing players of their choices, they let the benefits of certain choices be self-evident.

This resulted in the association gaining a reputation for fairness, with players naturally moving in the desired direction.

“Of course, all of this was possible because of the power behind it.”

Without the presence of the overwhelming force that the Purple Guild represented, these tactics wouldn’t have been possible.

This precise outcome was what Raul had invested over a year into. The gap between members of the Purple Guild and ordinary rankers was wider than anyone could imagine.

Mastery of skills.

Bae Dohyun shared the expertise that had raised him to the pinnacle in his previous life with the Purple Guild members.

Also, the best experts, whom ordinary players rarely even saw, personally taught them swordsmanship and weapon skills.

They were equipped with top-tier gear made from materials processed from dungeon loot, and provided with high-end information and quests that ordinary people couldn’t access.

The members of the Purple Guild were already becoming as formidable as the First Knight Order.

“But now. It’s time to see some reaction….”

The Delamian-Boyd alliance must have understood the reason for the shifts in power battles.

Wouldn’t they want to get rid of the thorn in their side, the Purple Guild, at any cost?

And the moment they reveal their claws.

“I will end this futile power struggle.”

Bae Dohyun’s eyes turned cold.

(To be continued)

TL’s Corner:

I just had this realization after seeing the characters for Purple and Real Player Association.

Purple Guild(퍼플 길드) is the shortened form of First Player Guild.

And Ripple Association(리플 협) is the shortened form of Real Player Association

퍼스트 – First

플레이어 – Player

퍼스트 플레이어 – First Player

퍼 – Po

플 -Peul

퍼플 – Popeul -> Purple

리얼 – Real

플레이어 -> Player

리 – Ri

플 – Peul

리플 – Ripeul -> Ripple

리얼 플레이어 협회 -> Real Player Association