Ruling The World With Mind Control

Now, the month was over.

Kyle sat in the Golden Vanguard Guild’s meeting hall with the others, the air heavier than it had been during any mission briefing.

This wasn’t a small job. This wasn’t escort work or monsters clean-up. This was a campaign.

And the room was already packed.

C-ranks and B-ranks filled the benches. A few armored veterans stood against the walls, quiet and watchful.

A large map was pinned to the front board—Blackroot Mountains marked in dark strokes, with a route traced leading into jagged terrain then to an X mark.

Kyle sat together with his party. His hand rested on his thigh and the other near his belt, where Fear Blade sat hidden.

The mark on the back of his hand felt quiet. Nightmare was inside it, asleep or waiting—Kyle wasn’t sure which.

The doors opened.

A hush rolled through the room without anyone being told when the guildmaster stepped in. Behind him came several officers, carrying scrolls and stamped documents.

And behind them... The Hero’s Party.

Arthur entered, silver armor polished, chin lifted, trying to look calm while his eyes shone with restrained excitement.

Kaia followed with that familiar confident stride, bow over her shoulder, expression half-amused.

Celestia was the last to enter, wearing her transparent white veil. She looked elegant and calm.

They took their seats near the front.

The guildmaster stepped up to the board and placed a hand on the map.

"Listen carefully." His voice carried without effort. "This is not a quest... This is not a hunt... This is a coordinated campaign against a three-hundred-year red dragon."

Some adventurers shifted in their seats, their gazes becoming more focused.

The guildmaster continued in a steady voice. "You will not charge. You will not improvise. You will not play hero."

Kyle’s eyes flicked briefly toward Arthur.

Arthur held his expression... but his jaw tightened.

The guildmaster’s gaze swept the room, choosing his words carefully.

"You will follow assigned roles. The primary assault team will engage the dragon directly. Secondary teams will handle surrounding threats, patrol the perimeter, and intercept anything that tries to flank."

Kyle already knew where this was going. C-ranks weren’t killing dragons. They were the shield behind the shield.

"The primary assault team will consist of," he pointed towards Arthur. "the hero’s party," then he pointed to himself. "and my own party."

`Which means the primary assault team will have five B-rank adventurers and one A-rank adventurer.` Kyle thought to himself.

He glanced at the hero’s party, then at the guildmaster’s—a middle-aged man in a purple robe with an enchanted staff, and a short girl in light armor, utterly calm with a massive axe that looked heavier than her body resting against her chair.

The guildmaster continued. "The secondary assault team will consist of Alara’s party and Stewart’s party."

Kyle’s gaze slid to the other party. Four C-rank adventurers—Stewart sat at the front, with a ratlike face. Leather armor hugged him, and a short dagger rested at his hip.

Beside him was a chunky shieldman in chainmail, and across sat a quiet archer with a compact bow and a watchful stare.

The last one was a robed caster with tired eyes and ink-stained fingers, clutching a wand like he’d rather be anywhere else.

"It will take half a day to reach the Dragon Cave." The guildmaster pointed to the route on the map. "We leave at dawn... Until then, prepare well."

The adventurers in the room nodded their heads. Some were excited, some were hesitant, and some were only interested in the rewards.

Kyle leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing as his thoughts moved.

`So it’s really happening.`

A few days ago, Kyle and the rest of the party were surprised when Alara told them they would be participating in the campaign.

Mira and the other members tried to object because of the danger involved, but Kyle felt the opposite.

`You don’t see dragons every day, do you?` That’s how he was thinking... But in reality, he was just very greedy for the idea of killing a dragon and getting stats points from it. His mouth literally watered at the thought of it.

But when Alara informed them that they would not be facing the dragon directly, the group agreed... and Kyle cursed in his mind.

The adventurers stood ready to leave the room and prepare for dawn.

Across the room, the guildmaster was speaking with the Hero’s party in a low voice—too far for Kyle to catch a single word.

Kyle didn’t care. Instead, his eyes narrowed.

`Now... let me see your stats, Guildmaster.`