Chapter 132

Chapter 132. Busy, yet not busy. (3)

However, unlike other mid-sized and small clans that are collapsing helplessly due to internal divisions…

—

**Title:** Breaking News) Loki Clan Resumes Normal Operations

**Author:** ㅇㅇ

**Content:** [Loki Clan sends a global message: “If you want to fight over factions, get lost.”]

Seems like the Clan Leader and other members are teaming up to crush those who are foolishly engaging in faction fights.

And considering that Loki Clan, which usually doesn’t even touch clan members, let alone post announcements, is sending such a message, it looks like there are quite a few people causing chaos with factions lately.

**Comments:**

– [???]

– [Why do these guys only turn into sane people at times like this?]

– [Pursuing free gameplay (not really)]

– [Usually free-spirited, but in times of crisis, they become more oppressive than anyone else. Kinda like Menhera vibes;;]

– [Bro, you good?]

—

Led by Betelgeuse, a former man and now a high school girl(?), the Loki Clan has suppressed faction fights early on by eliminating those who joined not for trolling but for faction wars and cozying up.

—

**Title:** Justice Clan Announcement Just Dropped!

**Author:** ㅇㅇ

**Content:** [Message: Faction fights are meaningless.]

Looks like they’re cracking down on factions here too.

They’re not going full harpoon like Loki, but it seems like those who cross the line are being expelled from the clan.

**Comments:**

– [Wow]

– [Looks like they’re managing to hold on here too.]

– [Wait, but what happens to the expelled members? Do they just leave and go somewhere else?]

– [Probably?]

– [For those who leave voluntarily, it’s whatever, but for those expelled due to faction issues, they seem to handle it in their own way.] (Author)

– [Hmm, interesting;;]

—

The Justice Clan of Arcadia, standing at the opposite end of Loki Clan, also seems unwilling to let factions run wild.

Of course, both clans are massive, ranking within the top five in terms of size, and unlike other clans centered around a single faction, they’ve accepted all factions and neutral users from the start.

The Clan Leader, executives, and members alike are determined not to be swayed by “ridiculous” faction fights.

And even excluding these two major clans…

—

**Title:** Stop Talking and Duel Me

**Author:** Raksha

**Content:** [GIF of a half-naked weirdo trolling 5 cruisers with a single patrol ship.]

Yep.

Next.

**Comments:**

– [Declare the start of the duel, Isono!]

– [Duel start!!!]

– [What the hell is this guy doing?]

– [He’s saying if you want to claim the clan for a specific faction, beat him in a duel. He’s on a 30-win streak, this oil bastard.]

– [LMAO]

– [What the hell did he do with that patrol ship?]

– [Forget the patrol ship, why is this disgusting face only wearing underwear and spouting nonsense?]

– [Ahhh, flying underwear!]

—

Like Raksha’s “Rattenwater,” which is physically crushing all faction rebels through duels, clans led by or affiliated with top-ranked players are relatively free from the current faction issues.

However, excluding these top-tier clans, small clans where the Clan Leader’s control is smooth, and the large clans capable of crushing faction fights with sheer size, the state of mid-sized and small-to-medium clans, which form the “middle layer” of the clan system, is utterly disastrous.

—

**Title:** The Faction Controversy Seems Crazy Right Now

**Author:** ㅇㅇ

**Content:** [Clan Ranking Comparison Chart 1], [Clan Ranking Comparison Chart 2]

As you can see from the charts, most of the mid-tier clans that formed the backbone of the clan system are getting completely wrecked.

Even the surviving clans, unless they’ve completely avoided faction issues, have mostly been torn apart and then reborn as patchwork golems by the survivors banding together.

**Comments:**

– [What?]

– [Wow, they’re getting wrecked that badly?]

– [Yeah, he’s right…]

Hmm, apparently, because of the faction wars this time, there are so many damn runts causing trouble that we’re merging with another clan, yeah.

– [Hey, you too?]

– [Seriously, for real.]

—————————————-

It was no exaggeration to call it the era of the clan’s mass extinction.

Users secretly started to wonder if this was perhaps a surprise event by the admins.

Of course, regardless of what others were going through.

Icarus, who had half-lost interest in community stuff, except for accidentally clicking on the gallery tab.

At most, they only checked the wiki tab or deleted reported content.

“Ah, finally, it’s all built!”

“Wow!”

Completely ignoring how the situation was unfolding.

They were fully immersed in their own tasks.

==========

After what felt like an incredibly long monologue and a third-person narrative, two long weeks passed.

“Finally!”

—————————————-

<<<Fleet Long-Distance Teleport System Construction Complete>>>

—————————————-

With the message popping up right in front of my eyes.

I was looking at the massive ‘gate’ installed into the base through the hologram.

At that scale, it definitely felt like it was worth 191,500 minerals.

But that sense of awe was short-lived.

“Icarus, I heard the construction of the facility you desired is finally complete.”

‘How did they notice and come so quickly?’

When Oxianor, who might have wanted this facility built even more than I did, appeared.

I managed my expression, nodded, and replied.

“Hmm, once we finalize the ship preparations, we can handle your request right away.”

“Oooh.”

However, contrary to my bold statement, Jessica next to me was shaking her head.

“Commander, if we send over 100 ships along with Partia, Pashtira, and Belial… who will handle the base defense?”

“Hmm.”

“To be precise, there’s no one to defend the resource zones and other areas.”

Regardless of their high ranks.

The fact that someone needs to fill the gap when others leave.

In our current base situation, aside from Ignis and Partia, there’s literally no one.

At best, Gryanarr can command to some extent.

But Gryanarr’s command skills are objectively worse than Belial’s, I’m sure of it.

And Pashtira’s ultra-long-range beam artillery is unmatched by anyone in our base.

I nodded at Jessica’s point and had to take a moment to ponder.

But that was short-lived.

As Marian suddenly appeared amidst the three of us brooding in the command center.

“What’s going on that the three of you are so deeply engrossed in such an interesting dilemma?”

Her expression clearly showed, ‘I’m super curious now.’

Both Jessica and I realized the key to solving our problem was right beside us.

We exchanged glances, nodded, and then approached Marian to explain the situation.

Finally…

“We really need someone to defend the base and the zones, but if we proceed like this, it’ll be tough to fend off invasions from other commanders or factions…”

“Really?! If Oppaya is in danger, I can’t just stand by!”

As soon as I nailed it with my words, the desired reaction came out.

Jessica and I quietly high-fived behind Marian’s back, careful not to make a sound.