BXBX NOVEL Chapter 102: Acting Outside the Instance
At this moment, Kean, the young master of the Lannisters, was inside one of these opulent residences, listening to the reports from his subordinates.
"According to the intelligence we\'ve gathered, Jeremy has already entered the instance. We can only seize the divine artifact from his hands once he exits,"
A middle-aged man with a grave expression read tensely from the notebook in his hand.
Kean was seated on a nearby sofa, seemingly more engrossed in savoring the high-end wine from the cabinet than in the man\'s report.
It wasn\'t until the middle-aged man finished speaking that Kean finally directed his gaze toward him.
"Is that all?" Kean inquired.
"That\'s all..." the man replied nervously.
Kean slowly placed his wine glass back on the cabinet and rose from the sofa, gradually approaching the middle-aged man.
"Is this the paltry, irrelevant information you managed to gather after all this time?" Kean\'s voice dripped with contempt.
The middle-aged man was so tense he could barely speak. He took a couple of deep breaths before responding.
"Young Master, you should be aware of Jeremy\'s situation. Not only is he incredibly powerful, but he has also garnered support from numerous other factions."
"Excuses! These are all just excuses!"
Kean had now closed the gap, standing mere steps away, his face twisted with fury.
"Even if Jeremy has backing from other factions, do you mean to say that the Lannisters\' power is insufficient? Have I not provided you with ample resources? Useless scum like you should not continue to exist in this world after the apocalypse game\'s arrival!"
Kean, having said this much, turned his gaze sharply towards the two bodyguards stationed at the door.
"Drag him out and throw him into the instance we\'ve prepared on the outskirts," he commanded.
"Yes, Young Master!" they responded in unison.
The Lannisters, a family with deep-rooted influence, had seized control over numerous instance entrances following the apocalypse game\'s arrival.
The instance Kean referred to was notoriously challenging, and its difficulty was escalating as more players ventured into it.
Upon hearing that Kean intended to throw him into the instance, the middle-aged man dropped to his knees, crying out in desperation.
"Young Master, I truly have exerted all my efforts! Please, grant me one more chance! I will do everything in my power to gather intelligence on Jeremy!" he pleaded loudly.
Kean remained utterly indifferent to the man\'s desperate entreaties.
The two bodyguards proceeded to drag the middle-aged man out of the room.
In the opulent room, a silence settled over the space as Kean took a deep breath and murmured softly.
"What a bunch of worthless incompetents. It appears I will have to devise a solution outside the instance."
Kean immediately activated his walkie-talkie. "Have Butler Farmer come in," he ordered.
Having said this, Kean reclined back into the sofa. Within seconds, a knock echoed from outside the room.
"Come in!" he called out.
With Kean\'s permission, Farmer slowly pushed open the door to Kean\'s room. He did not immediately step inside but tentatively inquired.
"Young Master, did you summon me?"
"Don\'t linger at the door, come in and speak." Kean responded.
These words from Kean stirred a complex mix of emotions within Farmer.
As Kean\'s butler and one of the Lannisters\' several stewards, Farmer was well-acquainted with the family\'s temperament.
Whenever Kean invited someone into his room for a discussion, it typically signified that the situation was dire.
Steeling himself with a deep breath, Farmer entered the room and shut the door behind him.
"You\'re aware of Jeremy, aren\'t you?" Kean asked.
"Of course, Young Master! I harbor an irreconcilable enmity towards him. The fact that he dared to steal your divine artifact is utterly unforgivable!"
Farmer hurriedly declared his loyalty.
Kean smiled approvingly, indicating his satisfaction with Farmer\'s response.
"It\'s good that you understand."
"So, Young Master, are you asking me to deal with Jeremy?" Farmer inquired.
"At the moment, dealing with him directly is unfeasible. He\'s already entered an instance. We can only settle the score once he emerges," Kean explained.
"Then, what do you intend, Young Master?" Farmer probed.
Kean did not immediately answer. Instead, he casually tossed a stack of documents at Farmer\'s feet. "Since we can\'t deal with Jeremy for now, let\'s target his friends in the real world."
Farmer picked up the documents and quickly skimmed through them.
"These individuals don\'t seem particularly strong. While I\'d like to go after them directly, I must focus on enhancing my own abilities."
As Farmer perused the documents, Kean continued speaking slowly.
"I must elevate my strength to a level surpassing Jeremy\'s before he emerges from the instance. So, you understand what needs to be done, don\'t you?"
Farmer had by now finished reviewing the documents.
He nodded emphatically, a cold determination in his voice. "Young Master, I understand perfectly! Rest assured, I will definitely avenge you!"
Kean was visibly pleased with Farmer\'s response.
He nodded, his tone somewhat languid. "Very well then. Get moving immediately!"
"Yes, Young Master! I will mobilize our most capable men to accompany me. You can expect good news from me soon!"
Farmer swiftly exited Kean\'s room.
The moment he was out, he immediately took out his phone and dialed one of his subordinates.
"It\'s me. Gather all the strongest individuals we can muster at the quickest possible speed," he commanded.
"Butler Farmer, are you certain about assembling all the strong individuals? Some are still engaged in instances, and others are coordinating with other factions within the Lannisters."
"Are you daft? We don\'t need to gather those of the highest caliber! Just summon some of the top-tier guards from our Lannisters\' security detail!" Farmer retorted, a hint of irritation in his voice.
His dissatisfaction with his subordinate was palpable, but there was little he could do.
Despite being Kean\'s butler, Farmer\'s influence within the Lannisters was limited.
Replacing these subordinates was beyond his power, and even Kean couldn\'t accomplish such a feat.
After issuing his orders, Farmer hopped into a car and headed to one of the Lannisters\' secret bases. During the ride, he meticulously reviewed the documents Kean had provided once more.
"The upcoming operation appears to be relatively straightforward. Jeremy and his friends don\'t seem to pose much of a threat. As long as I bring along some of our more capable bodyguards, success is virtually guaranteed," Farmer mused, his earlier tension now significantly alleviated.
With his confidence restored, Farmer began to meticulously plan the operation, understanding that thorough preparation and assembling the right team would be pivotal to their success.
Initially, Farmer had feared that Kean\'s task would be another arduous challenge.
To his relief, this mission appeared to be quite manageable.
By the time Farmer arrived at the secret base, his subordinates had already selected the members for the operation.
"Butler Farmer, what do you think of these individuals?"
Farmer\'s subordinate eagerly opened the car door for him.
Without acknowledging the subordinate, Farmer stepped out and directly inspected the bodyguards that had been selected.
He was quite satisfied with their capabilities but needed to assert his authority as their superior. Thus, he deliberately pointed out a few less capable guards.
"Though this mission isn\'t particularly difficult, it is extremely important! The Young Master has entrusted me with this task, and I must see it through. These individuals you selected just aren\'t strong enough," Farmer criticized.
Faced with Farmer\'s rebuke, the subordinate could only nod submissively.
"Alright, even though your performance wasn\'t perfect, I can see that you\'ve tried your best. You won\'t be needed for the upcoming operation, stay here and continue your duties."
Farmer dismissed him.
From Farmer\'s perspective, this mission was straightforward and offered a prime opportunity to earn Kean\'s favor.
He certainly didn\'t intend to share this chance for easy credit with anyone else.
After sending the subordinate away, Farmer addressed the bodyguards directly and bluntly.
"This mission is quite simple. We just need to deal with Jeremy\'s friends. Their strength is not formidable, and your skills are more than sufficient for this task."
At this juncture, Farmer deliberately paused.
Reaching into his pocket, he produced a pouch brimming with energy crystals.
"This bag contains fourth-tier energy crystals. Upon successful completion of the mission, each of you will receive one as a reward."
The bodyguards erupted in astonishment.
Although they were among the top-tier guards within the Lannisters, they were still just guards, not elite players.
A fourth-tier energy crystal was a valuable reward, and they were eager to start immediately.
"Butler Farmer, since this is an urgent task from the Young Master, we shouldn\'t waste any more time! Let\'s get going!"
The other bodyguards echoed the sentiment, urging Farmer to move out quickly.
Farmer was pleased with their enthusiasm.
"Your eagerness is commendable. Since everyone agrees we should depart swiftly, let\'s set off at once!" Farmer commanded.
With that, Farmer led the group of bodyguards toward Moonlight City, ready to execute their mission.