NOVEL SIMPLE 78. Kaito Great Plans.
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"What just happen?"
"We just got a new task?"
"Does it mean our main task just becomes harder?!"
...
The moment everyone read the detail of the new conditional task, all the reactions were pretty much on the same page. Confusion and Lbewildered about the situation-- which also happen to Kaito.
"Calm down everyone! I will ask the system what is happening!" Kaito yelled, telling every member around to stay composed. After that, he ask the system in his head, which to Kaito's surprise the system quickly answered without asking for any points.
'System, Take any points from me but Answer me, why have we suddenly got a new task?'
*DING*
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[No points are required to answer this question from the Owner]
[The system found that the chat group attempted to cheat the way to completing the task, thus a changed need to be made since the group task is not categorized as [Hard] anymore.]
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'But it's become way harder now!'
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[It's a punishment for trying to cheat. It's free to reject the newly assigned task, but the reward for the special group tasks is also adjusted accordingly.]
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...
Having done asking the system in his head, Kaito hang his head in confusion-- knowing the system was right. Indeed, there is a such thought the moment Kaito was able to recruit Kayaba into the chat group, but he didn't expect the system would count it as cheating!
After that, Kaito told the information he got from the system about the new task, and their reaction was also pretty much the same as Kaito did.
...
"Well... This is a very unexpected development." Crocodile commented at first.
"According to the system, it's a punishment," Aika added.
"Should we accept it? But points got halved... We are going to lose 50000 points..." Mikoto followed.
...
"Final boss..." Kaito frowned thinking about the newly assigned task. At first sight, Kaito know that he should reject this impossible task, there is no way they would be able to deal with the final boss on their current strength on the 75th floor. On other hand, a points reward getting halved is unacceptable for him, especially after spending 2 years in this world.
Unless...
"Kayaba-san, how strong the final boss is after getting replaced? Can you check the boss statistic using your administrator privilege?" Kaito asked.
"Let me check it." Kayaba nodded.
"Wait, Kaito! You are going to accept it?!" Lisbeth stood up and yelled again. She thought Kaito would definitely reject the task, but she didn't expect Kaito planned to accept it!
"I mean, what else? The loss would be too great anyway if we refuse the task."
"Why do you care so much about points?! This task is clearly impossible!" Lisbeth retaliates. Unlike other members, she didn't know the importance of the points as no one could use them in this world. For her, the lives of her friends and people in this world are much more important than mere points.
"Nothing impossible unless it got confirmed." Kaito shook his head, refusing to give up yet didn't explain furthermore, "Anyway, Kayaba-san?"
"I just checked the final boss information with my administrator privilege and it seems the final boss stats have been lowered by half, although I can't change it at all. The chat group system is really amazing..." Kayaba explained.
"So, it's doable or not?"
"By its stats, the boss itself is only twice as strong as the former 75th boss while it also still retains all of its moves. Although I am sure you all know the boss on this floor is stronger than other floor bosses by default." Kayaba answered.
"...So, it's surely doable but I am sure it would be dangerous. Thankfully, you already announce that raid invitation, Kaito. With tons of players participating in the raid, it should be possible to defeat the boss." Kayaba said with an appreciating tone.
...!!
"B-But, that would get people killed!" (Mikoto)
"Indeed, Owner! Sacrificing innocent people are a bit too much!" (Nanoha)
"I am not reconciled with your decision, Kaito." (Aika)
"Kaito, I don't like your idea at all" (Saitama)
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"Kaito, you heard from everyone. Please do not accept the task and just free everyone from this world!" Lisbeth stood up, and once again yelled at him again.
"So you also do not agree to take it?" Kaito calmly answered, "I am sure you are not, especially considering you Lisbeth, as one of the players come from this world."
"Then, you shouldn't take this task!"
"I won't give up..." Kaito shook his head and answered seriously, "The points are important to change our own future"
"Like Misaka Mikoto wanted to change the fate of her sisters, Itachi who wanted to change the fate of his brother, Crocodile who have some ambitions-- everyone inside the chat group does want points for a better chance to accomplish their goal."
"I also have my own goal. Call me greedy but I would rather die trying than not even take the chance on this task. Don't worry, I have a way to make sure there would be a minimal sacrifice"
"..."
Hearing Kaito's persuasion, once again every chat group member become silent, aware he was partially right. In the first place, that's why they were participating in the task and giving up without trying after 2 years... no one here wanted to do it.
Now, they were given 2 choices whether to comply or not, and all of them actually choose to believe Kaito, because, in these 2 years, Kaito's plan messed up only once, which is a recent scandal 75th floor (and it not proven a true mess up either). This show that Kaito actually a very capable planner and leader, at least in their eyes-- thus everyone has a tacit understanding to listen to Kaito's plan first before making their decision.
Well, almost everyone was convinced to do it-- except Lisbeth.
"But it's just stupid, I was correct, right everyone?!"
"..."
However, everyone looks away from her stare, even Kayaba and Crocodile too. Lisbeth thinks that Kaito completely manages to convince everyone--- even though no matter she saw it, this is a completely suicidal task.
"What..."
At this moment, Lisbeth stares at Kaito with a hateful gaze and seems almost crying, which to be honest made him feel so guilty.
"I just can't understand!"
"I hate you, Kaito!"
...!!
After that, Lisbeth who couldn't stand being here any longer ran towards the door and left the meeting room in tears, very disappointed with Kaito who didn't care about her feelings.
*BAMM*
...!!
"Should you catch her up, Master? Or do you need one of us to do it?" Sakuya suggested.
*Sigh*
"Leave her alone, I need to explain first to you all to make sure this task would have minimal loss and risk." Kaito shook his head, refusing there is a more important matter need to be done rather than comforting Lisbeth.
Though, Kaito decides to meet her immediately only after he explains his new plan to the chat group later-- the plan that actually everyone in the chat group unanimously accepted.
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After the meeting was done less than an hour later, Kaito managed to find Lisbeth in her own Blacksmith on the same floor, in Lindarth.
*Knock* *Knock*
"This place is closed..." Kaito tried to open the door but he can't, however, he was sure Lisbeth is there --- thanks to the administrator that also come with him.
"Do you need to me open the door, Kaito?" Heathcliff asked.
Kaito nodded, "Well, do it."
...
Shortly after, they found Lisbeth currently polishing all her crafted weapons using high-quality cloth-- to which all of them are the best weapon sets in this world. Naturally, with the resource the guild provides to her, Lisbeth manages to maximize her blacksmith skill to become the best blacksmith and produce the greatest equipment that no one else could ever make.
"Hello, Lis." Kaito greet her naturally, which made her surprised.
"What-- how did you break into this place--" Lisbeth noticed Kayaba following behind him and commented, "Of course, there is that evil administrator come along with you."
"Do you still mad at me, Lis?"
"Isn't that obvious? I thought you are a kind person who care a lot about the people in this world but I was wrong!"
"I am sorry..."
"You better sorry, sir. Hmmph! Now, get out because there is no way I would participate in that stupid suicidal raid." Lisbeth answered and then she continue polishing her weapon again.
"Well... I haven't accepted the task, you see. Kayaba-san"
"I don't care. I know whatever you plan, you can't do the task if I am not going to show up on the raid." Lisbeth threatened.
"Well... I come here to explain my plan first. Everyone in the chat group also has agreed with my plan but I will only accept the task if you also agree with me." Kaito explained and then turn to Kayaba beside him, "Please do it."
"Got it."
Although Lisbeth does not seem to care, she is in fact still curious about what kind of plan he would come up with-- which soon made her remind how good Kaito is when it comes to planning a great idea.
*DING*
...!!
"A notification sound... chat group? no, it comes from the SAO system?" Lisbeth then proceeds to open the SAO menu and she saw a message containing a full 4-page paragraph coming from the Administrator of SAO that seems to be accessible every time.
At this moment, every player that is still alive in this world receives the same message that Lisbeth just saw. Obviously, it's causing a wave of sensation that this world has never seen before, mostly positive because the information is about something everyone goal in mind.
"This is.... info about the final boss...?" Lisbeth muttered in disbelief. She didn't expect that Kaito would do this, but at this moment Lisbeth also realize what Kaito want to achieve here.
"Your plan is..."
Kaito nodded confidently and answered, "Yes. My plan is simple, before accepting the task and losing his administrator privilege, Kayaba will send the information of 75th boss has been replaced by the final boss, and then also told every player its stats, move, and attack pattern. In this way, it would reduce players' risk of getting killed by the boss since they knew what they would expect from the final battle, and also raise the morale of the players overall since they know that if the boss were defeated, they would be set free from this game."
"Group 3 would start calling every veteran member for training and strategy specifically against the boss, and we are only going to challenge the boss when everyone is ready and strong enough."
"Also this plan is foolproof from the system side, there would be no change to the task itself since this kind of action seems to have been predicted by the system," Kaito added.
although in truth he pays the system another 10000 points to make sure the system stays true to her words and doesn't change any task detail (like the system forget to add a time limit). In a way, Kaito has learned to bribe the system and now has better understanding about the system existence.
"Now, what is your answer, Lisbeth-san?"
"..."
Unlike during the meeting, Kaito finally manages to convince Lisbeth to agree, although Lisbeth said to challenge the boss only after everyone is truly ready. Getting the 'OK' answer from Lisbeth, Kaito then proceeds to accept the task which makes Kayaba lose his privilege of being an administrator immediately, thanks to the system restrictions.
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