chapter 99 surprise

Logging into Eldoria: A Changing Battlefield

Ethan stretched his arms, letting out a deep breath as he settled into his gaming chair. His fingers hovered over the interface, eyes locked on the glowing login screen of Eldoria.

[Logging in…]

The familiar dark void surrounded him for a brief moment before the world of Eldoria materialized before his eyes. The air felt crisp, the environment vivid as ever. The bustling streets, the sound of footsteps, the chatter of NPCs, and the determined shouts of players filled the air.

But something was different.

The moment he stepped into the game, his sharp eyes scanned the players around him.

More were Level 2.

Ethan narrowed his eyes. The player base is growing stronger. Just yesterday, most were still fumbling around at Level 1, struggling with simple quests. But now, groups of adventurers moved with more purpose, their equipment slightly better, their weapons sharper.

The weak ones had either given up or adapted.

He watched as a few players discussed strategies near a weaponsmith's stall.

> "We should farm in the wolf den. I heard it gives better XP."

"Nah, the goblin cave is better. Someone said they dropped rare loot there."

"Damn, I need better gear first."

Ethan's gaze shifted further down the street.

Merchants were yelling out deals, offering potions, weapons, and armor to the newly leveled-up crowd. The economy was already shifting. Some players had managed to earn enough to start setting up their own small businesses—reselling loot, crafting basic weapons, or trading materials.

This was the beginning of the power divide.

The smart ones—those who played efficiently—were already taking advantage of others. The clueless players, still treating this like a casual game, were fodder for the market.

Ethan's lips curled into a smirk.

This was exactly what he expected.

As more players leveled up, competition would become fierce. The true power players would start emerging, forming groups, monopolizing grinding spots, and setting up their own trading networks.

And he had no intention of being left behind.

"Time to get to work," he muttered, eyes flashing with determination as he prepared for his next move.

Malthor's Influence: A Sudden Shift in Power

Ethan had barely started moving when he overheard a group of players talking near the town square. Their voices were filled with relief and excitement.

> "Man, things have finally calmed down. Those damn bandits were a nightmare."

"Yeah, I heard Malthor handled it. Ever since then, they've stopped attacking."

"That old man is a lifesaver. If not for him, we'd still be getting robbed every time we left town."

Ethan's steps slowed.

Wait… what?

His mind raced as he processed what he had just heard.

The bandits stopped attacking?

That was impossible. Bandits didn't just stop unless something drastic happened. They were part of the game's dynamic system, constantly raiding players and merchants outside the town's safety zones.

What the hell did that old man do?

Ethan leaned against a wooden

A Sudden Change in the Bandits' Behavior

Ethan leaned against a wooden stall, his eyes narrowing as he processed what he just heard. The players around him were still chatting excitedly, praising Malthor as if he were some benevolent guardian.

> "I was sure I'd lose everything again, but no bandits attacked when I went to the eastern forest!"

"Same! I even saw a few of them just… standing there, talking. It's like they don't care anymore."

"Malthor must have done something. Maybe he threatened them?"

Ethan's brows furrowed. This wasn't normal.

He knew from his previous life that Eldoria's NPCs weren't just mindless AI following static scripts. They had their own motivations, their own desires. Bandits were no exception.

They weren't just enemies designed to drop loot. They acted like real-life outlaws—forming groups, managing hideouts, trading stolen goods, and even negotiating with corrupt nobles or merchants. If they had suddenly stopped attacking, it meant something big had changed.

And the only person capable of such a thing… was Malthor.

That old man told me he was planning something big.

Ethan clenched his fists. He had assumed it was just another one of Malthor's scams—something related to tricking players into giving up their gold. But this? This was on an entirely different level.

"How the hell did he stop them?" he muttered under his breath.

Bandits didn't just stop raiding people for no reason. Either someone had bribed them, threatened them, or given them a better alternative. But Malthor wasn't the kind of man to waste his own money. If anything, he preferred to take money from others.

That meant he must have convinced the bandits to stop… or used them for something even worse.

A Bad Feeling

Ethan quickly navigated his interface and checked the in-game economy. Something was off. The price of iron weapons and stolen goods had suddenly dropped, while alchemy materials had risen in price.

That confirmed it.

The bandits hadn't just stopped—they had shifted priorities.

Instead of robbing players, they were probably working under Malthor's orders now.

Ethan's lips curled into a smirk. That crazy old man actually pulled it off. He turned the bandits into his own private workforce.

Still, that raised another concern—what exactly was he planning?

Ethan had seen Malthor destroy an entire kingdom in his past life, so whatever he was up to now, it was only the beginning.

And if he wanted to stay ahead, he needed to find out what Malthor was planning… before it was too late.

A Tap from the Mastermind

Ethan—or rather, KAELITH—was lost in thought, piecing together the puzzle that was Malthor's grand scheme. His instincts screamed that something big was unfolding, but without more information, all he could do was speculate.

Just then, a firm yet surprisingly light tap landed on his shoulder.

"Deep in thought, are we?"

The voice was familiar, smooth yet laced with amusement. KAELITH turned his head slightly and was met with the sharp, knowing gaze of Malthor.

The old man stood beside him, his ragged cloak barely concealing his thin yet sturdy frame. His piercing eyes gleamed with something between mockery and intrigue, as if he found KAELITH's overthinking amusing.

"Follow me," Malthor said simply.

It wasn't a request.

A Look That Spoke Volumes

For a moment, KAELITH just stared at him.

Malthor wasn't someone who wasted his time on casual conversations. If he had personally come to fetch him, that meant things had escalated.

KAELITH could feel the subtle weight of Malthor's gaze, an invisible pressure that was neither threatening nor kind. It was the gaze of someone who knew more than he was letting on, someone who had already planned five moves ahead while KAELITH was still figuring out the first one.

Malthor's expression was unreadable—an unsettling blend of amusement, curiosity, and something deeper… something that made KAELITH feel like he was being evaluated.

KAELITH let out a breath and finally nodded. "Lead the way."

Malthor chuckled softly, turning without another word.

As KAELITH followed, he had a single thought:

Whatever Malthor was planning, he was about to find out firsthand.