I Got Reincarnated Into a Game I Was a Top-Ranker in and I Became the Leader of a Villain Group That Will Destroy This Shitty Country - 25

Chapter 25: Strategy Meeting

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After returning to the slum, thanks to Chloe’s volunteering to guide us back, the three of us were able to meet again. Of course, we didn’t meet in a bustling tavern with many eye witnesses. We met in a small room in an inn. 

“What were you planning?! Gebels is one of the big shots in the empire, you know?! I mean, maybe you can somehow hide from him, but Nia will definitely get caught by him…!”

“Yeah. I think he knew already. His eyes suddenly opened wide when he saw Nia after all.”

Slit-eyed characters like him only opened their eyes on two occasions. When they were surprised or when they saw something amusing. In Gebels’ case, it was probably the latter. 

“So does that mean you actually let Gebels know about you on purpose?”

“Well, you know… We’re Shadow, you know? Anyway, there are already some rumors floating about us so I don’t think he’s going to overlook us anyway.”

“…So? You meant you’re going to confront Gebels head-on?”

“No, you’re wrong. Just defeating him won’t change anything.”

“Change…?”

Chloe’s eyes widened. After all, Kai didn’t say anything about defeating Gebels part. It seemed Kai was confident he could defeat Gebels. 

Good grief, just what is going on here…

Chloe thought to herself, but for now, she decided to listen to Kai first. 

“Where do you think he learned his black magic?”

“Huh? Well, I guess he has a talent for black magic…?”

“No. Just having a talent for black magic isn’t enough to be able to use such extreme mental manipulation skills. You saw it too, right? He made those spiders eat their own bodies.”

“…….”

Indeed. Chloe knew what Kai was implying. Most magic came with a price. However, black magic came with an especially hefty price. Even someone like Chloe, who wasn’t well-versed in magic, knew about this fact. Black magic was the closest thing to demon power. Mind manipulation, body modification, curses… Most of black magic skills were dangerous, almost taboo even. Of course, the hefty price associated with black magic was also sinister by nature. Like human lives or the magic circuits within human bodies. Given how Gebels could use powerful mental manipulation skills that could even manipulate monsters and other magic that could reflect attacks as they were… It was obvious to see that Gebels was exceptionally good at black magic.

In other words….

“…Don’t tell me…”

“…….”

“Gebels is connected to the Schwitz Detention Camp?”

As soon as Chloe mentioned the detention camp, Nia, who was sitting next to Kai, narrowed her eyes. Kai moistened his lips with his tongue before he nodded slowly. 

“Maybe. I don’t think there are that many places in the empire that can give him so many materials that conveniently.”

“….So, does that mean…  My friend was also…”

“Huh? Ah…”

Right. Chloe hadn’t told us yet. But, he actually harbored a deep desire for revenge for her best friend. She wanted to kill the person in charge of the detention camp and exposed the ugly truth of the empire to its citizens. That was Chloe’s goal in the game. 

“You had a friend from that camp?”

“Hm? Ye-Yeah… There was a girl who used to sleep in the bed next to mine in the detention camp.”

“…I see.”

Chloe didn’t elaborate. I already knew that her friend had died. Chloe’s best friend, Number 3278. She swelled up and exploded to death right in front of Chloe. Number 3278 popped up like a balloon and exploded into pieces, literally. Thanks to that incident, Chloe couldn’t sleep properly for a month. Even now, she still had nightmares about her friend’s death. This was Chloe’s origin story.

“….You’re not going to ask anything? Well, I guess you already know about it, huh? Since you can see the future and all.”

“I can’t see the future and well, about your friend… I do know about that though.”

“…..”

“Chloe.”

Seeing the cloud hovering on Chloe’s face, Kai squeezed Chloe’s hand. This time, Nia also didn’t say anything. She just looked down, donning a somber expression on her face. 

“I don’t know anything about your best friend, whatever that comes out of my mouth right now will just sound like cheap sympathy.”

“….”

“But, I can at least help you get your revenge.”

Upon hearing the word ‘help get your revenge’, Chloe’s eyes widened in shock. The eyes that had been filled with deep sorrow just a moment ago were now ablaze, regaining its strength they once held. A strength to accomplish her best friend’s revenge. 

“Do you want to know the truth?”

“Huh?”

“Answer me, Chloe. Do you want to know the truth? Just so you know, the truth can be quite… Cruel.”

“….”

A brief pause ensued between them. With an expression that seemed to say,”can’t get any worse than this”, Chloe nodded. Her face was filled with a resolute determination. After all, now that Gebels had entered the scene, they were bound to confront him sooner or later.

Kai didn’t expect he would confront Gebels this early, but there was no other choice. All for the sake of saving his beloved character’s life.

And…

“Well then, I will show you. Though, you will probably get to see it soon anyway.”

…to bring down this shitty country that has been doing nothing but nefarious things. 

I nodded and then proceeded to tell Chloe all the carefully crafted thoughts I had compiled in my mind. Everything from the events that would unfold, Gebels’ action and what we should do… All of it. Gebels was much sharper than Kaltz. That was how he was able to rise up in position and being known as the right-hand man of the crown prince. However… Gebels could never defeat me.

“Are you sure? Isn’t it a bit dangerous?”

“No, we’ll be fine. Nia and I are quite strong after all.”

“I see. I will step out of the party for a while and keep an eye on you guys then.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

I knew all the scenarios in this world. Gebels’ attack patterns, skills, weaknesses, I knew them all. I had defeated Gebels more than a hundred times. Sure, he might try to devise some good strategy to defeat us, but I shall turn everything about you against you and exploit it to the fullest. 

“Nia, will you stay by my side?”

“Yes. My place is by Kai’s side after all.”

“…Thank you, Nia.”

And so, within three days of our meeting, a certain incident happened in the slums. Armed imperial soldiers and monsters from Gray Clyden attacked the slums at the same time. 

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