Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons

"This is impossible," one player exclaimed, clutching his head as if the revelation had physically struck him. "How did all the monsters die? Doesn't that mean there's something—or someone—capable of wiping us all out?"

Nearby, another player muttered, their voice trembling with disbelief. "If a player did this, they just took all the contribution points. That means we're left with nothing, even though we survived the event."

The realization spread like wildfire, sparking anger and confusion among the crowd. Players whispered frantically to each other, their voices laced with frustration.

"This isn't fair!" a healer exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "We fought so hard in the first wave, and now we're going to get nothing? How does that make sense?"
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"It's like we don't matter," another muttered bitterly, their fists clenched. "Someone else does all the killing, and we're left to pick up the scraps. What's the point of even trying?"

The atmosphere turned tense, the earlier relief of surviving the event overshadowed by the growing resentment.

Some players glared at each other, their paranoia flaring, while others simply stood there, stunned and defeated.

Adam's face darkened as he took in the scene. He raised his hand, his voice cutting through the restless crowd like a blade. "Everyone, calm down!" he barked. "We'll figure this out."

The players quieted slightly, but uneasy glances and hushed murmurs continued to ripple through the group. Suspicion lingered in their eyes, and their frustration simmered just beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, Arthur stood at the edge of the crowd, his posture relaxed and his arms crossed. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched the chaos unfold. "Not bad," he muttered to himself, his tone amused. "They're playing right into my hands."

A few players near him turned, their attention caught by Borak and Hank standing at his side. Whispers began to spread as recognition dawned on some of them.

"Wait a second," one player said, his voice low. "Fateless is able to fight without needing to be there, his summons can do it for him. Does that mean he was involved?"

"No way," another replied, shaking their head. "He was here alongside his summons, the whole time during the second wave. I saw him with my own eyes. Besides, he also has a restriction on his summoning ability. His summons can't stay summoned if they are too far from him."

The other players nodded in agreement. They all had a good relationship with Fateless, so they removed him from their suspicions.

Arthur raised his hands in a calming gesture, his expression neutral. "Let's not jump to conclusions," he said, his voice cutting through the whispers. "Whoever—or whatever—did this clearly intended to help the village. The event is cleared, and the rewards are coming. Isn't that what matters?"

The murmur's tone changed, some players nodding reluctantly as others remained sceptical.

Adam's gaze swept over the crowd, his sharp eyes scanning for signs of dissent. When his gaze landed on Arthur, his expression hardened.

'Something's off,' he thought. 'You're too calm for someone caught in this mess. Fateles...was it you?'

Arthur met Adam's gaze, his smirk widening ever so slightly. Without a word, he turned back to the crowd, his presence radiating an aura of confidence and control.

"Lieutenant Adam is right," Arthur said, addressing the crowd once more. "We'll figure out what happened. But for now, let's focus on what we've gained—a clear victory and valuable rewards. Use this time to prepare for whatever comes next. The most important thing is that we've survived."

Looking at Arthur's back, which was turned toward him, Adam's frown deepened. His gaze was sharp and calculating as if trying to piece together a puzzle that refused to fit neatly into place.

'What are you hiding?' Adam thought, his jaw tightening. 'Your summons were with you, yet your contribution points are far beyond anyone else's. Something isn't adding up.'

Looking at Arthur's back, which was turned to him, Adam frowned before he said, "Don't worry about finding the identity of the person. If it was a player who took all the contribution points, it should be very easy to get their identity. But I need everyone to cooperate."

Arthur turned around, raising an eyebrow. His expression was curious, but his mind was already running the possible way that Adam could use to find out his identity.

"Lieutenant Adam, you have a way?"

Adam nodded firmly, his team standing resolutely behind him. "Yes. It's very simple. In the same way, there's a leaderboard for levels, there should also be a leaderboard for contribution if I'm not wrong. All we need to do is show our names when the system asks if we want to share them. If someone chooses to hide their name while everyone else reveals theirs... well, it's clear they're hiding something."

A ripple of murmurs passed through the crowd.

"That's right!" one player said, excitement in their tone. "Lieutenant is so smart. I thought we were robbed in daylight, but it seems there's really a chance to find out who did this."

"Yeah," another agreed. "If there's a leaderboard, it'll all come to light. No one can hide from it."

Arthur's expression remained calm and collected, but internally, a flicker of nervousness rippled through him. 'Shit. He might be right. If the leaderboard shows up, it could really throw me under the bus.'

He quickly schooled his thoughts, dismissing the worry with a mental shrug.

'Whatever,' he decided. 'Let them find out. What are they going to do about it anyway? I'll be leaving this village soon. Once we're free to move between locations, I'll be long gone. By then, who knows when—or if—we'll cross paths again.'

His smirk twitched at the corner of his lips, but he suppressed it before it showed.

The crowd was buzzing now, their whispers and murmurs growing louder as they discussed the plan.

Adam's eyes flicked back to Arthur every so often, studying him, as if waiting for the faintest crack in his façade.

Arthur noticed but didn't react, keeping his demeanour casual and even a touch amused. He clasped his hands behind his back, his voice light as he spoke. "Well, it's a solid plan, Lieutenant. A very logical approach. Let's see if the leaderboard works that way. If it does, we'll have our answer soon enough."

The players around him nodded in agreement, some casting curious glances his way.

Arthur's summons—Hank perched on his shoulder and Borak at his side—were enough to remind them of his strength and influence, making it clear no one wanted to voice any suspicions directly.

Adam stepped forward. "Alright," he said, addressing the group. "As we said, we'll all proceed with transparency."

Arthur tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Of course! Transparency is key, after all," he said, his tone smooth. "I'm sure everyone will do their part."

[Contributions of all players have been calculated.]

[The amount of contribution each player has accumulated will only be visible to them, to ensure their safety inside the village.]

A wave of confusion rippled through the players. Murmurs grew louder, frustration bubbling up as realization dawned.

"What the—? I thought there was going to be a leaderboard?" one player exclaimed, slapping their thigh in irritation.

"Damn it!" another cursed, running a hand through their hair. "I think it's because this is on a smaller scale. The real leaderboard is global, across all players and villages. They probably consider it safer that way."

The crowd's frustration began to simmer, and a few players muttered complaints under their breath.

Adam's expression, however, remained calm, almost unnervingly so, as though he had anticipated this outcome. His sharp gaze didn't waver from Arthur, watching him like a hawk. He studied every detail—Arthur's casual stance, the faint smirk tugging at his lips, and the unflinching ease with which he met the tense atmosphere around them.

Arthur's demeanor didn't falter. His arms crossed lazily over his chest, and he raised a brow, addressing the muttering players. "Well, it seems the system values everyone's safety more than a public ranking. A smart move, if you think about it."

Some players turned to him, confusion flickering in their expressions. "What do you mean?" one asked.

Arthur shrugged. "Think about it. If someone were to rank at the top and that information was broadcasted, they'd be a prime target for… let's say, less honourable players. It's not uncommon in games for others to gang up on top players out of jealousy or greed. This way, everyone's contribution is their own business. No extra targets on anyone's back."

A few players nodded hesitantly, seemingly mollified by his explanation.

Adam's eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts racing as he scrutinized Arthur's response.

Arthur caught Adam's look and tilted his head slightly, offering a faint smile as if to say

Problem?

The tension hung thick in the air. The players, while subdued for the moment, still glanced at each other warily, the unspoken question lingering in their minds.

Who got the most contribution points? Who got the best rewards?