HPDBC Chapter 182 Staying behind
Chapter 182 Staying behind
"Why on earth am I the one staying behind!?"
The first to protest Justin's decision was Derek.
He stood up, shouting with a frustrated expression that showed he couldn't understand the reasoning.
"This doesn't make any sense! The strongest person in the territory right now is...!"
"That would be me," Justin calmly interrupted.
"Ahem! I misspoke. The second strongest person here is...!"
"That would be Ethan when he uses his Avatar skill."
"Oh, come on! I mean in terms of average combat power!"
"If we're talking about average combat power, then yes, you're the second strongest."
Justin smiled as he said what Derek clearly wanted to hear.
Only then did Derek nod in satisfaction.
"Exactly! When it comes to average combat power, I'm the second in command!"
"Yeah, you're amazing. Truly impressive. As expected from you, Derek."
"Hmm-hmm."
Derek cleared his throat and sat down, looking smug after receiving Justin's praise.
But after a moment, he tilted his head, as if something wasn't adding up.
Thirty seconds later, he suddenly jumped up again, his eyes wide open.
"Wait, no! That's not what this is about!"
"Then what?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn
"Why am I, one of the core members, being left out of the main quest!?"
He couldn't comprehend why someone as important as him would be excluded from such a crucial mission, especially a main quest, which was the most significant of all quests.
It was one thing to be left behind for regular hunts, but to be excluded from the main quest? It was incomprehensible.
"To be honest, even I find this lineup a bit unusual," Zachary chimed in before Justin could respond.
Given that the matter involved him as well, he wore a rather serious expression.
"I understand your reasoning, Lord Justin. You want to leave behind two of the people who demonstrated their strength during the second wave to ensure that no disturbances arise in your absence."
"That's right. The power difference between first and second-job pioneers is considerable. If we only leave first-job pioneers, someone might get bold and try something."
"It's certainly the best strategy for preventing potential trouble. If those two stay behind, not only will there be no conflict, but people will fall in line on their own. But this time, the situation isn't ideal," Zachary said, letting out a deep sigh as his expression turned even more concerned.
"What...?"
Zachary blinked, confused by the sudden question.
Justin smiled warmly as he continued.
"We've taken over 20 territories, and there are only nine hostile territories left around us, right? So how many of those remaining enemies have over 1,000 commoners? How many pioneers from outside have they absorbed? How's their construction of fortresses and cities going?"
"...!"
It was as if Zachary had been struck by a hammer. His eyes widened as the realization hit him.
For a moment, Zachary stood there, speechless, before letting out a long sigh, rubbing his temples as if trying to ease the sudden headache.
It was as though he'd been so focused on other things that he had forgotten the most basic considerations.
"I completely forgot about that. No other territory is as well off as ours, is there? It's because Lord Justin always pulls off the impossible."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means the other territories aren't doing nearly as well."
Despite Zachary's explanation, the other officers still looked confused. It seemed that no one else had understood what Justin and Zachary were getting at.
"Think about it. What was the requirement to participate in this main quest?"
"It's only open to territories with more than 1,000 commoners, right?"
"Exactly. So what do you think the other territories will be doing during the main quest?"
"Well, they'll stay here and... Oh!"
Rachel's eyes widened in realization.
Justin nodded with a smile.
"Exactly. They'll all stay here. Territories with more than 1,000 commoners are required to send people on the main quest, but the enemy territories will remain right where they are."
Up until now, Justin and his team hadn't even considered the nine remaining enemy territories.
The power difference had grown so vast that fighting them had become irrelevant.
But what about the other territories?
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'Of course not.'
The reason Justin had managed to take over 20 territories was due to his overwhelming military strength.
It had been the combined result of his hidden class, Apostle of Eternity, and the explosive level-up from the third wave.
But there was no way the other territories could replicate Justin's methods.
Even Justin himself wouldn't have been able to accomplish this with any other class.