Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 302

302. Code Zero (7)

“iced coffee… … .”

The dwarf engineer, who was holding his head and fidgeting, sat down and lamented.

“I should have quit when I thought the data was strangely heavy compared to the functionality. Or maybe I should have analyzed it more properly then… … .”

Stop being blinded by milestones!

Seongjin asked, looking blankly at Dexter, who was completely panicked.

“But what does it have to do with us that the Ice Heart is a former item?”

“Are you saying that now?! “We have made all the items that are causing shortages around the world unusable!”

Why is that? Isn’t it a game anyway?

What Seongjin was worried about was something else.

‘Besides me and the silent villains, there are more people who can extract items from the Pangea Chronicle to reality!’

What that fact meant was obvious.

In Pangea Chronicle, there may be other Guest ID users they don’t know about. Or, someone directly involved in creating the game may have used some kind of method.

-Have you ever thought carefully about why there is a limit on the number of people entering the themed dungeon, and why the number of guest ID users has never exceeded three?

Assuming that Justitia’s words are true, the possibility leans towards the latter. The problem is that whoever it was, it has a deep connection to the demon who attacked Sigismund.

While Seongjin was deep in thought, Dexter jumped up from his seat and shouted.

“Do you not understand this situation? Let alone the crisis in operating the game, think about the losses we have suffered right now! “By playing a prank that doesn’t work out, you’re destroying something that can’t even be valued in money!”

Considering the worldwide popularity that Pangea Chronicle is currently enjoying, it is impossible to know how much the price of the Ice Heart will skyrocket in cash. Maybe it will reach astronomical numbers.

Because there are more people in this world who are more serious about games than you think.

“hmm.”

Seongjin crossed his arms and thought for a moment.

A refrigerator for the salmon business and a Sisley teddy bear. And a heart of ice that might sell for a huge price.

“What the hell is the problem? I think I went to the right place and got my money’s worth, right? “If necessary, I would have paid money to make them.”

“Aaaah!”

Dexter, who had been stamping his feet in frustration, eventually began tapping on the keyboard with a determined look on his face.

“It won’t work!” I should at least contact an engineer I used to know! I’m sure the phone number is here somewhere… … .”

“oh.”

Well, it’s rather strange that you can’t make phone calls when the Internet is available.

-Dexter! Where have you been hiding for the past few years and are you finally contacting me now? No, rather, do you know what time it is?

After continuing a loud conversation with someone for a while, Dexter hung up the phone with a very despondent look on his face.

“It’s ruined. They say that unless at least one person completes a job change, the Ice Heart will no longer appear.”

“why? “Can’t the game company just arbitrarily increase the drop rate?”

In response to Seongjin’s innocent question, Dexter shook his head.

“It’s not that simple. Because Pangea Chronicle is an independent dimension that functions alone. Things that have many variables to consider, such as the amount of currency or monster item drop rates, are completely left up to the system by the game company.”

The same goes for the first and second job changes. The system is said to have carefully reviewed the game’s floating population and job change achievement rates and increased the number of job change items within an appropriate range.

Preventing oversupply is probably the most important factor in extending the lifespan of a game.

“For items released on the server for the first time, it is important to have an indicator to understand the ‘initial consumption speed.’ “Maybe the Ice Heart is stuck there right now.”

The initial consumption rate plays a critical role in helping the system determine the demand for an item. So, if no previous cases appear, it may be concluded that there is no demand for ice hearts at all.

“In other words, unless someone consumes the previous item in the future, new items may be difficult to drop.”

“hmm… … .”

Seongjin thought, remembering the ice heart he had been fortunate enough to have secretly saved.

‘So then what I have now could be the one and only heart of ice?’

In this situation, even if you change jobs safely, you will receive everyone’s attention. If I were to hand it over to Owen, I might have to be a little careful.

“Anyway, what on earth is your mother doing? Did they really not know that important items were leaking out? If things continue like this, we won’t be able to avoid criticism that the game operation is a mess… … .”

To Dexter, who was muttering worriedly, Seongjin said something.

“If you’re that worried, you can just contact me.”

“… huh?”

“Call your mother now. “Is it possible?”

“what? No, that’s true, but… … .”

He was startled, but immediately shook his head sullenly.

“Is it really necessary? You’re not anyone else, you’re my mother. “I’m sure you can handle it on your own without me.”

Well, guess what?

There are people in this world who, regardless of their abilities, receive great comfort just by saying that they will not be left alone.

However, since Dexter looked very distraught with his head down, Seongjin did not offer him any further advice.

“By the way, I also got a clue about using other game sources from a colleague. “This is also a crucial reason why the company cannot directly control the item drop rate.”

After a while, Dexter regained his energy and opened his mouth.

“I didn’t go into detail because it was confidential, but it seems that during the game’s development, the higher-ups suddenly and ignorantly urged us to hasten the release.”

Thanks to this, game directors and engineers were able to create games in a hurry using all available sources.

However, as I crammed in as much sauce as I could get my hands on, the finished Pangea Chronicle ended up looking like a giant pot of spaghetti.

“The cord is so twisted? “It is said that the development team has already passed the stage where they need to take action, and that the system is somehow resolving its own errors.”

Dexter, who was scratching his bushy beard, paused for a moment before continuing.

“At least in my opinion, as someone who was somewhat involved in engine development, there is only one technical way to solve this situation.”

“what is that?”

“It is an expedient way to grant ‘Code Zero’ authority to the system control AI.”

Code zero? What is that again?

To Seongjin, who still didn’t understand, Dexter added with a serious face.

“The most mysterious code in the Homunculus Engine. “It is the authority called ‘God’s domain.’”

* * *

Numbering zero.

A strange code called ‘Code Zero’ among engineers.

Perhaps only Oracle, who first designed the Homunculus Engine, truly understands the exact identity of Code Zero.

In any case, Dexter recalled, Ionian engineers handled the code with great care.

Beings that humans can never control, or mysterious things beyond the scope of perception. Engineers used to assign zero codes with unique IDs only to these items.

“The game system and GM’s numbering are unique. Numbering Zero is the strongest code that surpasses its authority. In other words, ‘Code Zero’ can also be called ‘God’s code.’”

God’s code.

The resonance of that word was not simple.

“It’s clear. In order to run so many randomly twisted codes without any problems, you need powerful authority that surpasses the authority of everything else. If not, Pangea Chronicles would have been recorded as the most buggy game in the world by now.”

No, what are all the bugs? It wouldn’t have worked properly from the beginning.

Leaving behind Dexter, who was hesitating, Seongjin slowly rubbed his chin and thought.

-Even I, the administrator of the world, cannot avoid the conditions that have already been established.

Justitia said so.

That means that the goddess herself is the system that manages the Pangea Chronicle.

-It is another Justitia born in great chaos. Zara has become the law of this world in itself.

He also said that the unpleasant drowned body was born in chaos and became the law of this world just like himself.

This is what made all of this possible.

‘God’s code.’

Seongjin made up his mind right away.

“I’ll have to ask my father about this first.”

“… what?”

Then Dexter asked with a dumbfounded look on his face.

“Who is your father and why do you ask such questions?”

“What is it?”

My father is a man who knows nothing in the world. He is truly the representative of God!

When Seongjin proudly responded, Dexter stared at him with the eyes of a crazy fanatic who could not be saved.

what? why? what?

”… No, just. Because it’s fascinating. “Is a father someone you can rely on that much?”

“Teach me everything and give me strength. “Aren’t all parents like that?”

Then Dexter made a sour face.

“well? I grew up in a single-mother household. And although my mother was a great person, she didn’t always give me an easy answer when I asked her something.”

Dexter’s mother, Matilda, would ask him this every time he asked him something.

Dexter. Have you done the best research you can before asking me a question? Have you first guessed the context in which the question arose and checked the assumptions you made? Have you looked for enough information in books and on the Internet?

“… “It was a very rigorous education.”

“Of course, this doesn’t mean that my mother’s education policy is necessarily bad. Her home education must have had a big influence on my growth into a recognized engineer. But I still think like this sometimes.”

And Dexter raised his head and stared at the machines in the workshop with slightly faint eyes.

“Was I so unreliable that I worried that I would keep finding the easy way out?”

“… … .”

“Couldn’t you have just given me an answer, at least once, as if giving me a reward?”

Seongjin looked at the sullen face of the dwarf engineer.

An emotion he has never experienced and therefore cannot properly understand. There is no way words of comfort can come out hastily.

Before he even realized it, a clumsy suggestion came out of Seongjin’s mouth.

“Dexter. Would you like to come visit Delcross? “At least my father would try to give you some kind of easy answer to your question.”

Then Dexter looked back at Seongjin with an absurd expression on his face.

“what? “What do I have to ask a Delcrossian?”

“Well, guess what? “If you find out who my father is, you’ll think differently, right?”

And Seongjin carefully revealed the secret in his ear.

-Actually, my father is the Oracle of Kornsheim. He is the one and only person who can create milestones that you dream of meeting.

“… … ?”

At first, the dwarf engineer did not readily understand what was being said.

But after a while, astonishment slowly spread from Dexter’s face as he realized the meaning.

* * *

Quang!

When the door suddenly opened and Prince Mores came out, Haven, who had been dozing off, suddenly got up from his seat.

“… Lowering?”

What is happening all of a sudden in the wee hours of the morning?

But before he could properly ask-

“Uh, Lord Haven. Are you on duty tonight? Good luck then.”

Prince Mores didn’t even pay attention to what he said and quickly ran down the hallway.

“Um, my name?”

Haven, who was standing dumbfounded, only realized the situation after the prince’s presence had completely disappeared and became pale.

“Lowering!? “Where are you going alone this early in the morning, leaving your escort behind?”

No, isn’t he now someone who freely uses Auror concealment? You may have to consider yourself lucky that you went out to visit.

Haven, who became impatient, hurriedly ran to Lord Masain’s room. He was a nobleman who lived with the prince most of the time to protect him and even had his own room in Jinju Palace.

“Lord Masaine! Lord Masaine!”

When Haven knocks on the door, the door is immediately opened with greetings.

As a senior knight about to become a Dekaron Knight, he seemed to have noticed the approaching presence of Haven even from afar.

“What’s going on, Lord Haven?”

“Lord Masaine! You, you have disappeared! “He suddenly opened the door and ran somewhere, but he was moving so fast that I couldn’t even ask him where he was!”

“… … .”

Lord Masain’s face hardens.

However, he was well aware of the prince’s skills, so fortunately he did not criticize Haven excessively for his mistakes.

“Where were you headed?”

“I’m not sure because he disappeared so quickly, but he’s probably heading towards the northeast… … .”

Then, a faint light of relief appeared in the eyes of the driver who was assessing the direction.

“Then you probably went to the main palace. Don’t worry too much. “If he was heading to a really dangerous place, he would definitely have sneaked out without being noticed by you.”

yes? Is that how it works?

While Haven was dumbfounded, Sir Masaine soon calmly began to arm himself.

“Good job. “I will take you to the training hall, so you can report to your superiors and change shifts on time.”

Crash.

Lastly, Sir Masain, wearing the soft golden Mysra, took a long stride and disappeared right before Haven’s eyes.

“her… … .”

At his unexpected reaction, Haven stood there for a moment and gaped.

‘That guy has changed a lot too. When I first came here, I think I acted carelessly when it came to the prince. I mean, people have suddenly become that calm.’

Anyway, I thought it would be a big surprise, but it’s a good thing. Haven felt relieved and headed to the knight’s quarters.

But his peace did not last long. After all, the head of security that day was Sir Maria, who was known for being strict.

“You idiot! So now you’re telling me you left your guard over to Sir Martha and just came back?! You bastard, won’t you come to your senses? huh!?”

‘… Well then. There’s no way I can just get over it.’

Haven, who suddenly received a cheer at the dorm, sighed as if the ground was sinking.

fantasy,