(What the hell were you thinking, Master...?)
"So, I thought it would be nice if he could at least go by that name in the game."
"I... I see. Understood. Let's go with that."
Needs must. Hachiman accepted the condition to secure Tsuzuki's recruitment.
[Back to GGO]
"S-Sebas... I'd appreciate it if you could just call me Shana without the 'Lord' or 'Master' bit."
"A butler calling his master by his name alone? Unthinkable. Now that I have been given the opportunity to bear this title, I must behave in a manner befitting a true butler."
"You're really leaning into this, aren't you, Master...?"
"It is 'Sebas,' Shana-sama."
"Right... sorry."
Sebas had acclimated to GGO with frightening speed. Under his tutelage, Shana's allies had learned the essential combat maneuvers they needed. It was only after Shana felt they were ready that he had approached Zaskar about the event.
When Shana had asked if Sebas would participate in the fighting, the response was firm.
"For me to participate would be like an adult intervening in a children's quarrel," Sebas had said. "I shall refrain this time."
"Fair enough. I understand."
"However, Shana-sama. Regarding the name of your temporary Squadron... why not take the name 'Kuro' from your title of Kurou Hougan and change the character? I suggest 'Nine Wolves' (Kyurou)."
"I see. It ties back to Shana-ou, but why 'Nine Wolves' specifically?"
"Currently, your primary circle consists of nine members. Nine Wolves for the nine chosen ones. Don't you think that numerical alignment feels like destiny? It is partly because of this number that I chose to sit this one out."
Shana liked the logic. He registered the Squadron under the name [Kyurou]. In the coming war, that name would become a symbol of terror for his enemies.
"Well, things are proceeding exactly as intended," Sebas noted.
"Yes. We've managed to set the stage," Shana replied.
"You hold this fortress, and you control the mobility. Given the capacity of this base, this power ratio is actually ideal. You know what comes next, don't you?"
"While the enemy is still struggling with transport, we use the distance between the city and this fortress to pick them off one by one. Total defeat in detail."
"And don't forget to keep your informants embedded in the city."
"Right. Intelligence gathering must be meticulous."
Technically, Sebas wasn't a registered member of the Squadron, so he couldn't participate in combat. However, providing tactical advice was perfectly fine. Shana decided to have Sebas stay at the fortress to train any willing members of their allied Squadrons.
Just then, a message came in from Rosaria, who was currently undercover in the city.
"It looks like the enemy is just running around in circles today. No one is heading your way yet."
"That broadcast of us wiping out those tailing jeeps must have worked," Shana mused.
"Also," Rosaria added, "one of our allies just made contact."
"Oh? Which Squadron?"
"The G-Jo-Ren."
"I figured they'd be the first. They're the only ones with the guts to jump ship this early," Shana said. "I need to talk to everyone about the extraction plan. Rosaria, keep the G-Jo-Ren members protected at Mount Kurama for now."
"Understood."
Shana gathered the group in the hall to share the news. Including Shana's core nine, there were 12 from Dyne's group, 6 from Yamikaze's, 10 from Tarako's, and 6 from Eva's. Along with Sebas, the total count stood at 44.
"Listen up. We've identified one of the three remaining Genji Squadrons. It's the G-Jo-Ren."
"Seriously?" someone whispered. "If they join us, then almost every female player left in GGO will be part of the Genji Army."
"Makes sense. They didn't publicly defend Shana before, but they clearly despised the Anti-Shana Coalition."
The G-Jo-Ren (GGO Women's Union) was the all-female community that had been inspired by Shizuka's dance/battle against ZeXceed.
"But we have a slight problem," Shana continued.
"What is it?"
"If we bring them here now, it'll trigger the next Fortress Defense event."
"The what?"
Shana and Philia began explaining the hidden mechanics to those who hadn't been present for the earlier training sessions. There were 44 people currently in the fortress. During the previous event, there had been 22. Shana's group had visited twice for training with roughly 20 people each time. Combined with the enemies they had just killed—about 8—the total "presence count" was nearing 100.
The arrival of the 15 members of the G-Jo-Ren would definitely push the counter over the 100-player threshold, triggering a massive NPC siege.
"Wait, the game actually tracks stuff like that...?"
"Yeah. Originally, I wanted to trigger it tomorrow and use the NPC mobs to sandwich the enemy players. But we need to get the G-Jo-Ren to safety as soon as possible. So, I'm thinking we trigger it tonight. It'll give everyone a chance to grab some loot and rewards before the real war starts tomorrow. What do you think?"
"I'm in. The enemy players won't be organized enough to attack until tomorrow anyway."
"And it'll be easier for the G-Jo-Ren to slip out of the city tonight."
The room was in unanimous agreement. Shana made the call.
"The G-Jo-Ren has 15 members. We'll take three Humvees to pick them up. The drivers will be me, Shizuka, and Sensei (Sebas). Sinon, I want you in my Humvee, ready to provide sniper cover. Everyone else, get ready for NPC combat. There are a thousand of them coming."
As the group scrambled to prepare, the word was sent to Rosaria and the G-Jo-Ren. Moments later, the Black, the White, and the Nyan-go roared out of the fortress, heading back toward the city to collect their newest sisters-in-arms.
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