A different world game? A different world game!

In the restaurant.

The two continued their conversation.

Alfred had no reason to avoid Raymond's question.

This isn't in his nature, and he genuinely wants to express his thoughts.

"These benefits, like an invisible net, have bound countless lords, merchants, artisans, and even commoners like myself firmly and willingly to their war chariots."

"We rely on their network to transport goods; their extravagantly large shipping containers can carry more than ten times the amount of goods we can."

“We use their gifts to increase production, we depend on their warriors for our lives to fight threats, and our soldiers and people draw strength from their system…”

"Lord Raymond, aren't your caravans also greatly benefiting from the conveniences brought by the Night's Watch?"

This is no secret at all.

Even though Raymond is currently neutral, many nobles in the kingdom are already dissatisfied with him.

Although he did not openly become a defector, his actions undoubtedly showed that he stood with the Night's Watch.

Raymond's family was originally a business tycoon in the kingdom, and the existence of the Night Watchmen Merchant Guild caused varying degrees of damage to the businesses of many countries.

If a merchant guild's specialty overlaps with that of the Night's Watch, then the Night's Watch's resources will completely destroy it.

The Raymond family, which supplies various raw materials, has forged a deep partnership with the Night's Watch and, with the Night's Watch's modest assistance, has grown into a much larger business.

Therefore, Raymond is naturally on the side of the Night's Watch, unless he gives up his current business scale, which is simply impossible.

"It was this deep-rooted bond, this core interest concerning survival and development, that caused the Kingdom and other powers to miss the best, and only, opportunity to contain the Night's Watch."

"It was that precious and brief respite after the evil god was banished and before the Void Vanguard's large-scale invasion."

"Back then, the Night's Watch was strong, but its power was not yet as great as it is today."

Alfred sighed heavily.

During that period, it could be said that the whole world was in a state of disarray and in need of rebuilding.

This was also the period when the Night's Watch rose to fame and became the world's elite.

At that time, the Night's Watch had just experienced an unprecedented and massive war on the continent of Lebia.

And they won.

However, half of Lebia was also completely destroyed.

During that period, the Night's Watch had to quiet down and develop; it was a time when they were at their last gasp.

That was the only chance to stop the Night's Watch.

Because back then, the Night's Watch would never openly break ties with other national powers.

During that period, the Night's Watch continuously cultivated good relations with various countries, inviting them to attend and witness the ceremonies.

It's both a gesture of goodwill and a form of deterrence.

In addition, everyone was dealing with the various problems left over after the crisis of the evil god subsided, so it became the quietest period in the world.

Although it was the only chance, the hope was actually slim.

Looking back in hindsight, it might have been a good opportunity, but if you were in that situation, no one would have actually done it, and there were almost no conditions for it.

This is practically a meaningless statement.

However, Raymond did not interrupt, since this was indeed the reality.

"The complex and intertwined interests and stubborn internal constraints have made it impossible for the various kingdoms to truly unite and form an effective force."

"We are busy with pointless infighting, while the Night's Watch are single-mindedly focused on development, planting their roots even deeper into every inch of the world."

"Now?"

Alfred's voice carried a hint of cold realism.

"The Void Vanguard has arrived. They are more ferocious and unpredictable than the minions of evil gods. When disaster strikes, when towns face imminent destruction, who is always the first to appear on the most critical front lines?"

"Whose warriors can sweep away the threat with the least cost and the highest efficiency?"
"It's the Night's Watch! Lord Raymond, you saw it today too, where is Captain Carroll's 'Silver Lion'? And where are the legendary warriors of the Night's Watch?"
"Their dynamism, their fearless spirit of sacrifice, and their combat efficiency compel all onlookers, even those who harbor resentment, to feel awe and even secretly rejoice at their presence."

Essentially, the real reason that Alfred completely sided with the Night's Watch was this battle.

The battles he personally experienced and participated in.

This is completely different from the sources we learned about before, which were only through information, observation, or small-scale battles.

The feeling was so obvious.

In this world, power is ultimately what matters.

But before the power of the Night's Watch, everything else is powerless.

Not to mention they also have a god.

Alfred leaned forward slightly, his eyes piercingly bright, almost piercing through Count Raymond's seemingly shrewd exterior.

"It is this absolutely irreplaceable strength and responsibility shown in the face of life and death that has led more and more people like me, who had wavered or even had doubts, to finally choose to defect without hesitation and stand on the side of the Night's Watch."

"Because the reality is harsh: the Night's Watch's leadership of the world is an undeniable and inevitable trend."

"We stand at a crossroads in history, Lord Raymond. There are only two paths forward: either, under the guidance of the Night's Watch, we must gather the strength of the entire world to fight for that slim, faint glimmer of hope against the Void's apocalypse."

"Either... we'll be completely annihilated. If we're lucky, after we die, we might become one of those purple monsters and continue to destroy other people's worlds."

He made his conclusion firmly and decisively.

"And if, and I mean if, we can actually survive this apocalyptic catastrophe under the banner of the Night's Watch..."

"So, who else but the Night's Watch could lead us out of this desperate situation, into a new era, and reshape the world?"

"They will become the undisputed sole leaders of this world, and they will write the new order and the new rules."

"This is not a prophecy; it is the coldest and most ruthless deduction based on power, efficiency, popular will, and reality."

Alfred's words struck the silent dining room like a hammer blow. The flickering firelight from the fireplace danced in his deep eyes, creating a somber atmosphere.

The Count Raymond's usual shrewd smile had vanished, replaced by a deep, thoughtful expression.

He slowly picked up his wine glass, but didn't drink it; instead, he stared intently at the deep red liquid inside.

It was as if they were searching for a safe anchor point for the Plantagenet family's ship in the grand and cruel future depicted by Alfred.

He had thought about all of these issues and considered them.

But he wasn't as resolute as Alfred.

Or rather, not as passionate as the other person.

Perhaps it was his businessman nature at work; although he had considered the future, he was still primarily driven by his own interests.

What can we do about the future of the world, the end of the world, and such?

They are just a chamber of commerce; doing their own job well is enough.

The very existence of the Night's Watch foreshadows the infinite and unpredictable nature of the future.

Who could have imagined that the Night Watch would transform into such a colossal entity capable of single-handedly confronting the world in just twenty years?
His worldview had already been reshaped many years ago.

Although he had not been close to Alfred before, he had spoken with him at various parties and had occasionally heard some gossip about this border nobleman.

Through exchanges among nobles and casual conversations among friends, there were almost no secrets among nobles.

So was Alfred like this before?

Or was Alfred like that last month?

What changed the other person, making them so firmly aligned with the Night's Watch, even more so than he, whose interests were so deeply intertwined with the Night's Watch?

How many people like this are there? And how many people like this are influenced by the Night's Watch?
The mountain wind outside the window seemed to grow even more biting and piercing.

Count Raymond set down his glass, his fingertips tapping lightly on the smooth tabletop, breaking the brief silence created by the crackling of the fireplace.

His businessman's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression that mixed worry and shrewdness.

“Lord Alfred, I understand and respect your trust in and choice of the Night's Watch.”

Raymond's voice was deep and clear, "I am not here to shake your position—in fact, our fundamental interests are aligned in the fight against the Void."

"The Golden Plant family's merchant fleets, mines, and exploration teams also need security, order, and stability."

He paused, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Alfred: "But trust is not the same as blind faith. Especially when the kingdom we inhabit is far more complex than we initially imagined."

I'm here with some...not-so-reassuring information gathered by my family's intelligence network.

The potential consequences they point to are entirely different from, and even more disturbing than, the 'collapse of order' or 'unrest by the common people's complaints in the capital.

Alfred frowned slightly and leaned forward a little, showing his concern: "Oh? I'd like to hear more, Lord Raymond. Your intelligence is always accurate."

This is the behind-the-scenes controller of merchant guilds throughout the kingdom, and not just in this country, but even on this continent.

“Thank you for your trust.” Raymond nodded slightly. “First, it’s about the ‘Adventurers’ House.’ You said it accepts missions, maintains the Night Watch’s structure, and has a relaxed system… those are just the surface. But have you truly understood how it operates? Have you observed in depth everything it brings, and not just the power it provides?”

After a moment's thought, Alfred said frankly, "My focus is more on its military and order-maintaining functions."

"It has indeed efficiently absorbed and managed the civilians who have gained power, avoiding chaos. My second son, Wilson, is leading an adventure team on the continent of Taril, opening up new strongholds and accumulating a lot of merit and experience for the family."

"As for the deeper operations... if I may be frank, I think that's the Night's Watch's internal governance method. As long as the result is beneficial, there's no need to delve into the details."

There were similar organizations to adventurers before, but they were called mercenary groups.

They were mainly used for fighting and maintaining order, dealing with situations where manpower was stretched thin, or as cannon fodder.

They are fundamentally different from modern adventurers, so the Adventurer's House is a relatively new concept to the world.

But compared to the other changes brought about by the Night's Watch, this novelty is completely insignificant.

"The results are beneficial?" Raymond's lips curled into a cold smile. "In the short term, yes. But what about the long term? Lord Alfred, do you know what I'm seeing?"

He didn't need Alfred's reply; he went straight to the core information.

"What I see is density. The density of the adventurers' home. They're like mushrooms in a forest after the rain, no, they're more like a giant, meticulously woven net!"

"They are not only present in major cities, but have also penetrated into every town of any size, and even many large villages!"
"They exist in the form of taverns, inns, and guild headquarters, and their density far exceeds that of the strongholds established by the Night Watchers during their heyday. What does this mean?"

Alfred's expression finally turned serious.

He had not paid particular attention to this "density" issue before.

It's true that adventurers' homes are everywhere, but he hasn't actually quantified the exact number of every corner.

As a business tycoon, Raymond's intelligence network was far more sensitive to "outlets" than he, a border lord, was.

"Does this mean the Night's Watch's tentacles have penetrated deep into the kingdom, no, into the very heart of the world?"

Alfred asked in a deep voice.

“That’s right!” Raymond’s voice carried a hint of coldness. “Moreover, this is only their physical existence. They also possess a seemingly insignificant but actually incredibly powerful weapon—the newspaper.”

"Newspapers?" Alfred nodded. "I know those. They have information on exploration, monster encyclopedias, material prices, and... some stories and commentary."

“I watch almost every episode. It keeps me informed about a lot of external developments, especially the threat from the Void and the Night's Watch’s actions. It’s very helpful in stabilizing public sentiment and spreading information.”

"Very helpful?" Raymond leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Alfred.

"My lord, of course you will find it helpful! Because you hold a high position of power, have a broad vision, and have many information channels, newspapers are a supplement and filter for you."

"But have you ever considered what this newspaper, delivered regularly to the adventurers' home and distributed almost free of charge or sold at a very low price, means to a farmer in a remote village, a young adventurer who has just gained power, or even the literate ordinary guards in your castle?"

Alfred frowned. He seemed to have grasped the key point in Raymond's words, but it was still somewhat vague: "Does it mean they can obtain information from the outside world? Broaden their horizons?"

"It means the only source of information! Or rather, the most authoritative and 'correct' guidance they can access."

Raymond's voice was resolute. (End of Chapter)