Season 3: Chapter 216. Fake Journey (3)
The think tank team gathered with a single laptop in the center and waited silently. Finally, someone appeared on the black screen.
Ding.
[Cookie]
It was a video call from Cookie.
“Hey. Is everyone doing well?”
When Hui-Chul smiled wearily, Water Dumpling burst into tears.
Chi-Seung, also sounding troubled, asked, “Are you alright?”
“Thanks to you guys winning, I’m feeling better. The doctor said I should be able to join by the semifinals.”
The faces of the entire think tank brightened.
“And... Ms. Choi Sa-Rang. Thank you. I watched the match.”
“... Yes.”
Sa-Rang, who sat at the end, bowed her head.
“And I’m sorry. I didn’t expect something to happen so soon.”
“It's hard to predict these things. We’ll try to manage until the quarterfinals.”
“Thank you for understanding. Alright, let’s take a look together.”
Hui-Chul played the video of the Japan match.
[Round of 16]
[England vs. Japan]
It was the match between Japan and England.
“The styles are a bit different, but this will definitely be helpful since England is also an archer civilization.”
Everyone nodded. This was indeed a stroke of luck for Joseon.
Japan wouldn’t have much to gain from watching Joseon’s matches against Persia or the Vikings.
“In terms of strategy, we definitely have the upper hand. Japan doesn’t know which of our commanders will participate yet.”
Hui-Chul had kept his hospitalization a secret, so even his teammates couldn’t visit him. He didn’t mind that because this tournament was more important to him.
“They don’t even know I’m hospitalized. They might think I’ll still be the one going out.”
Chi-Seung nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. We spread the word that Choi Sa-Rang participated as a test and insisted strongly on playing three games again.”
“Well done. They’ll likely assume I’ll be participating.”
The two commanders of Joseon had very different styles. Their strategic concepts and winning methods varied greatly. It wouldn’t be easy to counter both.
“Alright, the match has started. The first game was a direct line from six o’clock to twelve o’clock. We might get a map like this once since it’s best-of-five.”
From the quarterfinals onward, teams would play a best-of-five match.
“Both England and Japan are very strong in the second era, so pay close attention to this game.”
Hui-Chul paused as everyone focused on the match.
Both England and Japan prepared to rush with longbowmen and ronins respectively in the second era. England mixed in some spearmen, but Japan maximized efficiency with just ronins.
“Wow, that’s extreme.”
“Probably because their opponent is England?”
“We need to watch their tactics.”
“England can’t lose if they just defend, right? The long bow’s range is...”
Logically, longbowmen possessed enough range to handle ronin in the second era. Defending against ronins with spearmen wouldn’t be a problem either, but England didn’t choose to defend.
They advanced with spearmen at the front.
“This makes sense since they can’t see the enemy.”
“Yeah. They need to expand because of resources.”
Teams usually had to advance in Civil Empire, except in rare cases.
Resources like hunting grounds, farmland, and others were all based on land. Only those with extremely efficient resource management and strong late-game capabilities like Persia could defend from within.
England had to advance with its peak in the second era.
“Alright, this is important. England now knows through scouting that their opponents are all ronins, yet they continue to advance.”
England seemed more confident after knowing that Japan’s forces were all ronins.
“They think they can win?”
“This is the most dangerous moment. When both sides think they’ll win.”
“Exactly.”
In poker, one would lose the most money when they thought they had the strongest hand. However, the opponent had an even stronger hand.
This was exactly the situation between England and Japan. Both thought they would win.
“Normally, longbowmen should suppress ronins easily when gathered like this. But...”
Arrows rained down on the ronins with few hitting. Most attacks had been deflected or dodged.
“The ronins are using their agility traits very well.”
“They’re masters.”
Cookie nodded.
“Yes, but they can’t advance. Agility traits don’t increase movement speed.”
They didn’t get hit much, but could only slowly advance toward the longbowmen.
Then—
“Oh? Some units are circling back to the base!”
Around ten ronins ran toward the base.
The few longbowmen there couldn’t hold them off, leading to a significant loss of workers. However, the real danger wasn’t there.
“Look at the earlier battlefield.”
“... Huh?”
Swoosh!
Slash!
Suddenly, ronins appeared everywhere and slaughtered the longbowmen. It happened in the blink of an eye.
“What... what just happened?”
“If they turn back, they’re dead.”
Sa-Rang muttered with a frown, “The hidden ronins will jump in if they try to defend the base and make a mistake while kiting.”
The replay showed that she was right.
“Exactly. The ronins strike when they split their forces. But if they preemptively split their troops...”
“They’d just ignore the base and overwhelm the main force. It’s checkmate.”
England had fallen into a complete trap. The ronins circling the base would strike from behind if they split their forces to defend. If they didn’t, the ronins would kill the workers.
Losing workers was highly inefficient, so the longbowmen would likely try to return to the base. That allowed the hidden ronins to dive in and wreak havoc.
“The commander is skilled. The ronin aces are also very capable...”
Sa-Rang acknowledged them and murmured, “Yes... They’re good.”
Chi-Seung also admitted it. Japan seemed much better than Elepher. The power ranking was completely off.
“No wonder they beat the Ottomans to take first place.”
Hui-Chul replayed the scene.
“Now, focus on these five hidden ronin.”
They had the hardest mission and were probably the most trusted ronins in Japan.
“...”
Chi-Seung swallowed dryly.
Just a few ronins caused chaos in a formation with over thirty soldiers. Even with spearmen present, they cut through as if they didn’t exist.
‘The cruel blade trait...’
Japan’s sword faction had an increased strike radius of twenty percent. A forty-five degree swing grew to about fifty-three degrees.
This was useful for deflecting arrows and attacking. Just a slight swing and they could quickly follow with another attack, making it feel incredibly fast to the opponent.
These five ronin utilized this trait and gave off the impression of being ten attackers.
“We need to be prepared for this. It won’t be easy.”
There was a saying that archery belonged to Joseon, swords to Japan, and spears to China.
The Japanese boasted a formidable sword lineage with ronins in the second era to samurai in the third. Non-armored units would struggle to counter the samurai’s slashing trait.
“We need to train. By the way, have you decided on the training location?”
***
The next day arrived.
Ding.
[Fake National Team LIVE: Fake Journey]
A live stream began on Almond’s YouTube channel.
— ???
— Oh?
— What’s this?
— A vlog?
— Oh oh
— YouTube live??
The YouTube showed the Fake National Team. The sponsor, Monster, suggested livestreaming their outing.
[A tour and feast sponsored by Monster]
The description mentioned Monster.
— Wow, they’re having a feast haha
— Makes sense haha
— They made it to the quarterfinals, of course!
— What’s a fake journey? haha
— Monster! Awesome
— Great sponsor haha
The camera showed the hotel lobby. After a while, players appeared one by one with small bags.
— ?? Players?
— Wow, can’t even recognize them haha
— Oh...
The always punctual Carrot appeared first.
“Wow. Carrot in casual fashion~” Latte praised her from behind.
She wore a dress, coat, boots, and full makeup.
“Ha. When did you ever wear a school uniform?”
“Just saying... Would you say that if it was Almond?”
— Haha
— Latte knows her well
— Haha
Carrot mumbled, “They told us to look like tourists, so I dressed like this.”
— Haha Koreans always dress up as tourists
— Strategic Carrot haha
— Great analysis
— But why look like this??
“Exactly right! Ms. Carrot!”
Clap clap clap.
Ju-Hyeok appeared while clapping. He was the one who told the team to look like tourists.
— ??
— Oh?
— Ju-Hyeok???
— Ju-Hyeok??
— Damn, Almond will rely on him again
— Ju-Hyeok is here haha
Viewers felt surprised and pleased to see a familiar face.
“Great. You can change into comfortable clothes once you’re inside.”
Ju-Hyeok praised everyone’s outfits.
— But why dress like this?
— What’s the plan?
— Where are they going??
Seeing many questions in the chat, the writer asked Ju-Hyeok for a brief interview.
“Oh. The reason we’re doing this...”
Ju-Hyeok explained that it would be hard to book capsule rooms if they looked like the national team, so they pretended to be tourists.
— Wow
— That’s tricky
— Fake journey haha
— Damn
— Sneaky
“Don’t be too mad. It’s just a precaution... huh?”
At that moment, Ju-Hyeok felt impressed by one person’s outfit.
It was Pang.
“Passion! Passion!”
— ???
— Who is that?
— A mountaineer?
— Haha
Pang wore a bright hiking outfit and a padded jacket that looked bulletproof. The colors would make Picasso blush. He even wore sunglasses, earning applause from the lobby.
— Why applaud? haha
— Passion!!!
— Real Korean tourist haha
— That’s a scary look haha
Other hotel guests would think an event was starting.
“Great, Mr. Pang. You look like a middle-aged hiker.”
— Haha
— Compliment
— How would you know, young man!?
— Haha
— Pang’s expression haha
Ju-Hyeok continued checking everyone’s outfits.
Do-Joon wore a stiff brown coat, a checkered scarf, and a short beanie. Barum chose an oversized padded jacket with cute sneakers. She stood almost as tall as Do-Joon without heels.
“The bread and coffee duo looks great.”
Ju-Hyeok kept praising them to boost morale. He only scolded one person.
“You look like a player.”
Sang-Hyeon wore jeans and a black long coat.
— Nice haha
— Jeans for the win haha
— Face card haha
— Korean drama vibes
Sang-Hyeon replied to Ju-Hyeok’s scolding, “But I don’t look like a gamer, right?”
“... True.”
He looked more like an athlete. Ju-Hyeok accepted that and advised him to cover his face.
“Wear a mask. You’re a wanted man.”
— Korean Luffy haha
— How many berries?
— WANTED
— Interview leads to bounty haha
— Haha
“Okay.”
Everyone boarded the bus to Kobe.
Pang raised his hand to the camera before boarding and shouted, “Passion! Passion!”
— Haha
— Not cosplay?
— Saw this on a mountain...
“Korean Hiking Club! Fighting! Fake Journey! Fake National Team Fighting!”
— Haha
— I don’t think he’s pretending...
— Fake journey haha
— Fake tourists... real fakes...
The Fake National Team, or rather, the fake tourists began their fake journey broadcast.