Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 416: Ruler of the Great Sea on the 29th Floor (4)

Yoshio, who had belatedly come to his senses, asked abruptly.

“Are you saying that the Veteran Corporation will take on all the risks… and distribute the rewards fairly?”

“Yes. I’m just too kind-hearted to watch others suffer.”

“…Ha! And you expect us to believe that? After the scam you pulled using our holy relic?”

Was it because of the bitter memories from the masquerade?

Yoshio’s reaction was nothing short of icy.

Well, considering that they had sent Chun Yoosung, furious and livid, to confront a man who had been thrilled to retrieve the Celestial Sword… it was no wonder he still felt like he had been sucker-punched.

“I only brought it up with good intentions… but if you can’t trust me, then let’s just forget the whole thing.”

“Wait a moment! Master Yoshio, what kind of rude remarks are those to someone offering us such a favorable proposal?”

“Exactly! Player Kang Jinhyuk is willing to make sacrifices for everyone’s sake.”

“If you end up upsetting him, hmm? Will your guild take the lead instead?”

Angry voices erupted from all directions.

“No, I just meant we should be cautious, just in case…”

Yoshio stammered, trying desperately to explain himself.

“Haah… It’s fine.”

Jinhyuk let out a sigh, his face carrying the weight of the world’s troubles.

“It’s all… my fault. Don’t blame Yoshio; throw stones at me instead. I’ll take it until everyone feels better.”

His voice, tinged with bitterness and self-deprecation, sounded like the lament of someone betrayed for their goodwill.

“No, Player Kang Jinhyuk has done nothing wrong!”

“The Samurai Guild owes an apology. An apology!”

In an instant, the mood reversed.

Yoshio, who had rashly spoken out, suddenly became the villain.

And Jinhyuk, who had masterfully played the victim, became a tragic hero.

“…I-I’m sorry. I misspoke,” Yoshio apologized through gritted teeth, bowing his head.

Perfect.

With this, the opposition had been adequately silenced.

Now, all that was left was to ensure no lingering embers reignited.

“I’ll also make sure that nothing untoward happens by providing a solid guarantee.”

Jinhyuk took out a notarized certificate purchased from the coin exchange.

Wooong!

A golden parchment imbued with binding magic unfolded.

[The Veteran Corporation’s ships will take the lead. If everyone safely reaches the pirate island and clears out the pirate crew, all resulting rewards will be distributed according to the number of participating guilds.]

[Penalty for non-compliance: 10 million coins.]

“Ohhh…”

“There was no need to go this far, but… ahem! You truly are considerate.”

“Understood. We’ll trust Player Kang Jinhyuk and the Veteran Corporation and adjust our plans accordingly.”

Even the faintest suspicions dissipated completely.

The scattered guilds united as one.

—

“Your knack for deceit hasn’t changed. Don’t tell me charming people is your main ability?” Chun Yoosung said after the meeting ended.

“Is that any way to talk to someone who’s been working hard? A con artist, really?”

“I’m just calling it as I see it. More importantly, are you sure about this? About us taking the lead?”

Chun Yoosung’s voice grew heavier.

One of the two conditions for conquering the 29th floor, the “Pirate Island.”

It was home to the most powerful pirate faction on this floor.

They commanded hundreds of ships, a fleet so formidable even the remnants of the Maritime Principality’s navy didn’t dare challenge them.

Moreover, the strait leading to the island was surrounded by treacherous reefs and rough currents, making the island a natural fortress. Approaching it required significant sacrifices and risk.

But.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan,” Jinhyuk said, flashing his usual smile.

“Please, just don’t drag us into anything crazy. I’m begging you.”

“Hey, no need to worry so much. Don’t you trust me?”

“I’d sooner trust Goguma with a mana crystal than trust you.”

“That’s crossing the line.”

Jinhyuk frowned.

But Chun Yoosung wasn’t entirely wrong.

Jinhyuk was indeed planning something outrageous.

And to pull it off, there were a few things he needed to prepare in advance.

‘Now that all the top rankers are gathered here, it’s the perfect time to meet those two as well.’

He had overheard their names mentioned briefly earlier.

“First, let’s deal with Teresa. I heard she’s staying at an abandoned church.”

“Got it.”

Alice, engrossed in shopping, and Lee Tae-min and Yoo Yeonhwa, who were repairing the ship, stayed behind.

Jinhyuk and Chun Yoosung headed straight for the outskirts of Theta Island.

The sight of wrecked ships and drunkards greeted them.

The farther they walked toward the island’s edge, the more desolate the scenery became.

It was hard to tell whether they were inside a dungeon or out in the real world—if not for the lack of monsters.

Then, they came across a rusty cross.

“The resting place of the martyr.”

True to its name, this was one of the holy sites where angels could manifest.

For some reason, Teresa had been staying in this area ever since arriving on the 29th floor.

Creak!

The old door opened to reveal a dimly lit interior.

And there, in the center of the room…

A knight clad in pure white armor was praying.

Accompanied by several paladins.

“Who are they…?” Chun Yoosung frowned.

The emblem on their armor looked familiar.

“The Holy Cross Order?”

Jinhyuk recognized the guild’s trademark immediately.

Although not one of the top eight guilds, it was a rising guild backed by Rome and the Vatican.

It was said to be composed entirely of paladins who had completed their second-class advancement…

…and seeing them in person was even more impressive.

“We are in the middle of a service,” said one of the paladins, stepping forward to block their path.

“We don’t intend to interrupt. We’d just like to have a brief conversation once the prayer is over.”

“That will be difficult. We have matters to attend to after the service.”

“Are you saying we can’t even greet an old companion?”

“If you interact with her, Teresa’s faith might stray into dangerous territory.”

The atmosphere instantly grew colder.

It figured. From the moment they first arrived, the paladins’ gazes had been anything but friendly.

“Seems like they’re treating me as a complete heretic.”

“A heretic would be lucky. If anything, you’re closer to a demon.”

“Hey!”

How could Chun Yoosung side with them at a time like this? His reputation was bad enough as it was.

“I understand your guild’s position. Sometimes, there are people better left apart.”

“As expected, the Sword Saint understands my thoughts.”

“No one understands better than I do.”

The two seemed oddly in sync, and it was infuriating to the point of absurdity.

Jinhyuk called out to Teresa, who stood among the paladins.

“Teresa, do you share their opinion?”

“….”

For the first time, Teresa, who had remained silent, turned her head.

Her silky golden hair flowed over her shoulders.

But her gaze was different than usual.

Her eyes, vacant and unfocused, seemed filled with resignation and despair.

…Something was wrong.

The answer came from one of the paladins.

“Lady Teresa has been summoned by ‘Eden,’ the great power from the upper echelon of the Holy Kingdom. Recently, the archangel Uriel manifested in person.”

“…Uriel, you say?”

“It is a glorious event. Our Holy Cross Order has accepted the angels’ selection and decided to follow their will.”

The source of the paladins’ power was divine energy.

And these individuals had been devout followers of God even before the Tower appeared.

‘The emergence of the Tower of Trials was seen as a miracle by them.’

Thus, their allegiance and beliefs naturally gravitated toward Eden.

“I’m sorry…” Teresa murmured, her voice on the verge of breaking.

Damn it. Of all people, the other side had made their move first instead of Gabriel.

“…Unlike Gabriel, Uriel isn’t the kind of angel you think. Their foundation isn’t love or forgiveness; they see us only as tools to achieve their objectives.”

“Silence!”

“How dare you spout such blasphemy in this sacred place?”

Roars erupted from the paladins.

“Your serpent-like tongue knows no bounds. If you intend to deceive Lady Teresa with your nonsense again, you are gravely mistaken. I… no, we will not stand idly by.”

Shing!

A paladin drew their sword.

Chun Yoosung instinctively reached for his weapon.

And that only worsened the situation.

Clang!

Shing!

All the paladins in the chapel unsheathed their weapons, their blades radiating a soft glow as divine energy surged forth.

“…Stop. Yoosung, and you as well.”

Jinhyuk intervened, stopping both sides.

If a fight broke out here, Teresa would end up in trouble.

This decision wasn’t just about personal beliefs but also involved the Rosenberg family and the European government’s interests.

‘If we pushed too hard, we’d end up in a situation we couldn’t reverse.’

Of course, ignoring everything and wiping them out was an option, but…

For now, that wasn’t the plan.

The Holy Cross Order and the Zion Guild still had their roles to play in this expedition.

“You’re aware that we leave for Pirate Island tomorrow night, correct?”

“We won’t let personal matters interfere with our mission.”

The paladin shrugged.

“Our top priority is to clear this floor safely and buy humanity more time.”

“That’s all I needed to hear. Let’s go.”

“Are you sure? Is it really okay to leave Teresa like this?”

Chun Yoosung fiddled with the hilt of his sword, clearly displeased.

If Jinhyuk gave the signal, he looked ready to act at any moment.

“It’s fine. No need to stir up trouble before we even begin.”

—

The next day, Jinhyuk spent the daylight hours combing through the island, meeting rankers, and preparing the necessary supplies.

With help from Oh Ji-won and Maria of the Zion Guild, he managed to gather valuable intel about the island.

‘That should about do it.’

Stretching to loosen his stiff joints, Jinhyuk noted how time had flown in the midst of the chaos.

Finally, as midnight approached…

Rumble!

The many ships docked at the shore raised their anchors.

The massive expedition to conquer the 29th floor was finally setting sail.

At the forefront was the Veteran Corporation’s flagship, the White Pearl.

[Lee Tae-min summons Lv13 “Air-to-Surface Hellfire – Mark 5.”]

The 8-star warship gifted by Berial was surrounded by Tae-min’s drones, which acted as escorts.

Unarmed reconnaissance drones, optimized for wide-area surveillance, perfectly dominated the surrounding seas.

“Now, I’ll give a quick briefing. Everyone, familiarize yourselves with your roles.”

In the cabin, Jinhyuk gathered the crew.

A massive map lay across the table, detailing the key strongholds of the Pain Pirates, the largest pirate group on the 29th floor.

“You’ve already acquired this? It’s incredibly detailed… hmm?”

Chun Yoosung expressed admiration but soon noticed something odd.

On the path leading to the island…

“This… could it be? You…”

A devilish trap was lying in wait.