Anime Crossover: Master is Not Here Today

Moreover, in the chaotic environment of team battles, as long as the player who obtains the treasure intentionally conceals it, others will have no way of knowing who actually has the treasure.

Therefore, in order to avoid the division of the player community caused by this, Fujimaru Ritsuka only set a simple and clear rule: "Money is divided equally among all players, and the person who obtains the item keeps it."

"Finally, there's information about the first-floor boss."

Fujimaru Ritsuka took out a "Argonauts Conquest Guide" from her backpack and said to everyone:

"I don't know if everyone here has noticed, but this morning the strategy guide has been updated again, and information about the first-level BOSS from the closed beta has been added."

These words caused a stir among the players present, who clearly hadn't noticed what was happening.

But instead of immediately having the players go and collect the book, she continued:

"My team and I have confirmed that the boss of the first floor is still the [Kobold Lord] from the closed beta, but its attack pattern may have changed since the closed beta."

"Therefore, while I hope you will carefully review the information in the strategy guide later, please do not rely on it too much."

The players nodded, indicating that they understood.

It was already close to noon, so she announced directly:

"The meeting is adjourned. In two hours, please gather at the exit of [Valtona] leading to the maze area to begin the formal strategy."

"understand!"

As soon as the order to disband was issued, the players swarmed away to the item shop, ready to pick up the latest version of the strategy guide.

At this moment, Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had been acting very poised and confident, finally relaxed, let out a long sigh of relief, and felt somewhat tired.

"Ritsuka, you did a great job, but you did a perfect job!"

Asuna hugged her arm affectionately and congratulated her happily.

She laughed along as well:

"Thanks to you, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to handle it by myself."

Although Asuna didn't say much, the content and schedule of her speech today were finalized last night with Asuna's assistance. All she had to do was deliver her speech according to plan.

"How could that be? You handled that unexpected incident so well. You're not good at public speaking or anything, are you lying to me?"

Asuna teased her.

"Of course not, I just have some experience in handling these kinds of things."

She scratched her head and laughed.

Not to brag, but although she's not good at public speaking, she's quite adept at handling unexpected events.

At that moment, Asuna suddenly remembered something and said:

"Speaking of which, where's Kirito?"

At this time, apart from them, almost all the other players had left the square. Asuna scanned the area and did not find Kirito at all.

So she guessed:

"Could it be that they left with the other players to avoid being exposed?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka was both amused and exasperated after hearing this. Wasn't this being a bit too cautious?

However, it's not that I can't understand the other person's feelings.

She thought for a moment and said:

"Let's send him a message first to check the situation."

Kirito's thoughts were indeed as Asuna had guessed. Therefore, after seeing the group of players leave, he also quietly followed suit and decided that it would be better to maintain his identity as a lone player for the time being.

However, before he had gone far from the square, he was stopped by an unexpected person—

The person in front of me is none other than Diabel, the handsome and successful guy who shone brightly at the meeting.

Kirito was puzzled, wondering why the other person would abandon their teammates and come alone to stop him.

They don't seem to know each other or have any connection, do they?

"Um, what can I do for you?"

"Kirito-kun, may I call you that?"

However, Diabel called out his name accurately the moment he opened his mouth, which made Kirito feel that something was wrong.

How did the other person know his name?

He has no recollection of when he became so famous.

and many more!

If we're talking about fame, he was indeed somewhat well-known in SAO, but—

That was during the closed beta testing phase of SAO!

Sure enough, seeing Kirito's wary gaze, the other party smiled:

"I wasn't deliberately investigating you. I was a closed beta player just like you, but I didn't inherit my game name from the closed beta, and of course, my appearance is quite different."

"However, Kirito-kun, your game name is still the same as it was during the closed beta, and you still seem like a lone player, so it's easy to guess."

No, I've only just resumed my solo player status.

"So, what's the matter?"

After hearing the other party's explanation, Kirito did not completely lower his guard. He knew that he was somewhat famous during the closed beta test, and he was also very clear that it was not a positive kind of fame.

Sure enough, Diabel's expression became slightly more serious this time, and he asked him:

"I'd like to confirm if you're genuinely here to contribute to the BOSS strategy?"

"Or is it simply a matter of taking over LA?"

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 162. Misunderstanding Cleared Up

162.

2023-12-07

LA stands for Last attack.

As mentioned earlier, in SAO, the mechanism for bosses dropping treasures is that the player who lands the final blow on the boss directly receives the treasure.

When SAO was still in closed beta, he was indeed good at calculating the BOSS's remaining HP and using his most powerful sword skills to steal the BOSS's LA reward.

As a solo player, he naturally took all the LA rewards for himself and used them to his advantage, which enabled him to climb to the eighth floor within the two-month closed beta period.

However, precisely because of this, his name is quite infamous among closed beta testers.

This is why he thought of using a pseudonym when he first met Fujimaru Ritsuka and Asuna.

Because if the two of them were closed beta testers, they might regret saving him when they heard the name "Kirito".

If SAO were still a normal game, he wouldn't care about these negative reputations, but in the current situation, it's tantamount to social death.

Back to the point.

Diabel's sharp words made Kirito feel somewhat embarrassed, because what Diabel said about Kirito's act of stealing LA was an undeniable fact.

Of course I came here to beat the game, and I even deserve credit for finding the BOSS room!

Although he wanted to reply loudly and confidently, the thought that he might have taken LA from the other party during the closed beta made him hesitate to speak.

After a moment of silence, he asked in a deep voice:

"What exactly are you trying to say? What's wrong with wanting to take over LA? You're not trying to say you don't have that idea, are you?"

"How could that be? Of course I want the reward from LA too."

To his surprise, Diabel readily agreed.

"Actually, my original plan was for me and my team to find the BOSS room first, then take charge of the BOSS's attack, and finally find a way to capture the BOSS's LA."

"I've even considered how to prevent Kirito from launching another attack to take over LA."

"But no one expected that two genius players, Ritsuka and Asuna, would emerge as newcomers, surpassing us beta testers and being the first to find the BOSS room."

At this point, Diabel couldn't help but smile wryly, saying helplessly:

"In this way, my plan has almost fallen through."

"."

These remarks seem illogical, making it unclear what his plan has to do with taking LA.

However, Kirito felt as if he vaguely understood what the other person was trying to say.

Compared to the LA mechanism currently used in SAO, the other side seems to prefer a contribution-based allocation concept, similar to a mode where the person with the highest overall contribution in battle can choose equipment first.

In SAO, only the player with the highest contribution can obtain LA.

This explains why his plan turned out the way it did, and why it was said that his plan had failed.

According to his own beliefs, the players who are most qualified to receive the LA reward are undoubtedly Fujimaru Ritsuka and Asuna.

He really is a "knight," in every sense of the word.

After realizing this, Kirito gradually calmed down and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

On the other side, Diabel continued:

"You heard what that player named Tooth King said at the meeting just now, right?"

"Although most of the players who came to the meeting were quite rational, as far as I know, there are indeed quite a few players in SAO who share the same ideas as Ya-Wang."

"As an ordinary player, Ritsuka is also the most famous player in SAO. She does not reject closed beta players like us, and even took the initiative to defend us. I am very grateful for her words."

"At the same time, I think this is a very important opportunity—an opportunity to mend the rift between regular players and closed beta testers."

He paused slightly, then looked at Kirito earnestly and said:

"Kirito-kun, if you really want to continue acting in the same way you did during the closed beta, to be honest, there's nothing I can do to stop you."

"But I hope you can think carefully about the current situation and not let Ritsuka down."

"This is why I came to you, and it's the only thing I wanted to say."