In the moderator room, just next to the dev room the Head Chief and the crew are in, the moderator show the Head Chief a strange situation.
"We were just checking over the starting status of all the new players for today, when we've caught upon this."
[Name: Roadside Rose
Race: Origin (Human)
Level: 1
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Class: Jobless
Title: [Mastery of a thousand race], [Starter Weapon Master], [Master of Movement], [Master of Accuracy], [Master of all element], [Master of Form], [Brutality], [Ferocity], [Tranquility], [Angel's Healing Paw], [Mark of the Absolute Dragon]
Parameter:
HP: 100/100
MP: 100/100
STR: 100 * 120% = 120
AGL: (0+100)*125% = 125
END: 0*120% = 0
DEX: (0+200)*130% = 260
INT: 0*120% = 0
Unallocated stat:0
Affinity:
Light: 150%
Dark: 150%
Water: 150%
Fire: 150%
Wind: 150%
Earth: 150%
Plant: 150%
...
Skill and ability:
Blade Beyond Blade EX, All Shape And Size EX, All Walk Of Life EX, All Along With Nature EX, Jack of All Trade B (Fake), Evolution Tree EX (Fake), Weapon Mastery S, Elemental Master S, Advance Status Change EX, God’s Fear EX, Ferocity of Calamity EX, Healing Paw EX
]
[Name: Marigold
Race: Origin
Level: 1
Age: 13
Gender: Female
Class: Jobless
Title: [Mastery of a thousand race], [Starter Weapon Master], [Master of Movement], [Master of Accuracy], [Master of all element] , [Master of Form], [Brutality], [Ferocity], [Tranquility], [Angel's Healer], [Mark of the Absolute Dragon]
Parameter:
HP: 100/100
MP: 100/100
STR: 100 * 120% = 120
AGL: (0+100)*125% = 125
END: 0*120% = 0
DEX: (0+200)*130% = 260
INT: 0*120% = 0
Unallocated stat:0
Affinity:
Light: 150%
Dark: 150%
Water: 150%
Fire: 150%
Wind: 150%
Earth: 150%
Plant: 150%
...
Skill and ability:
Unparalleled Fist EX, All Shape And Size EX, All Walk Of Life EX, All Along With Nature EX, Jack of All Trade B (Fake), Evolution Tree EX (Fake), Weapon Mastery S, Elemental Master S, Advance Status Change EX, God’s Fear EX, Ferocity of Calamity EX
]
[Name: JustADragon
Race: Origin (Baby Dragon)
Level: 1
Age: 3
Gender: Female
Class: Jobless
Title: [Mastery of a thousand race], [Starter Weapon Master], [Master of Form], [Master of Accuracy], [Master of all element], [Master of Movement], [Brutality], [Ferocity], [Tranquility], [Angel's Healer]
Parameter:
HP: 100/100
MP: 100/100
STR: 100 * 120% = 120
AGL: (0+100)*125% = 125
END: 0*120% = 0
DEX: (0+200)*130% = 260
INT: 0*120% = 0
Unallocated stat:0
Affinity:
Light: 150%
Dark: 150%
Water: 150%
Fire: 150%
Wind: 150%
Earth: 150%
Plant: 150%
...
Skill and ability:
Absolute Dragon EX, All Shape And Size EX, All Walk Of Life EX, All Along With Nature EX, Dragon Force B (Fake), Dragon Bloodline B (Fake), Weapon Mastery S, Elemental Master S, Advance Status Change EX, God’s Fear EX, Ferocity of Calamity EX
]
"Two players, along with their pet, have logged in at around 8:00 AM. They stayed there for approximately 9-10 hours before they finished their character creation stage. What happened is this."
"(Crap, it's so obviously them)...So? Not like it's unusual for players nowadays to gain this kind of status, given how long they have been here. We already have the statistical model to prove that this isn't something abnormal to worth wasting our time." (Head Chief)
Keeping a stern voice with a slight hint of annoyance, the Head Chief chastised the moderator, in hope that they could ignore all this.
Seemingly not noticing his desperation, however, the moderator who noticed this replied to him back like he is supposed to.
"Sir...the content of their skill is truly abnormal, so much so that when we tried to apply the model to predict how likely it is, the chance that a player could reach this kind of status in this short amount of time is 1 in 8 billion. In short, they're literally the first in the world, the like of which the world has never seen before." (Moderator)
"(Fucking hell, it's because they themselves are something the world hasn't seen before...)Well, can you elaborate on what's truly strange about them, that I, the Head Chief himself who personally design this game, can't see? Or are we here just to waste breath?" (Head Chief)
Increasing his often-used gravitas, the Head Chief is trying to intimidate them into giving up the questioning.
Stubbornly, however, the moderator stood his ground, and explain the problem right in his face.
"First, we have to talk about their race of choice: Origin Race. For them to be able to have mastery over 1000 races in this short amount of time is unthinkable." (Moderator)
"But not impossible. We have already seen cases of players that do Origin Race speedrun, and the best record has been around what they accomplish." (Head Chief)
"Yes, but that's for players who have been creating and testing new characters over and over and over again, not complete newcomers. Still, there is also the case where that happens, so I won't dwell on that." (Moderator)
"Then..." (Head Chief)
"Secondly. Look at their skill, specifically [Master of all Element]. It required you to master all elements within the planet on which Isekai Online is based on..." (Moderator)
"So? They just get all of them, what's the problem?" (Head Chief)
"All 100+ elements we put in, including ones you guys put in as a joke? This is why barely anyone get this skill even after 5 years, and yet those guys get it within a single day. For somebody to able to not only get, but master the goddamn element of surprises is a goddamn shock, ironically." (Moderator)
"Third, [Starter Weapon Master]. Requiring them to master all starter weapons, including the strange one..."
"Fourth, [Master of Accuracy]. Need to be accurate within the scale of micrometers..."
"Fifth,[Master of Movement],..."
"Sixth,..."
The moderator drone on and on, as the Head Chief looks on with more and more annoyance, clearly shown by each wrinkle appearing on his face, until he becomes a real-life hyper-realistic artwork. Clearly ignoring all that, the moderator brings out his final point.
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"...And finally, look at their Personality Skill. They're all absurdly strange." (Moderator)
"Hmmmmm? Isn't that the point that the Personality Skill is strange because it's unique to all players, that generate as soon as they finished creating the character? Based on everything from the player's personality, habit, history, and composition, each skill is tailor-made for each player to-" (Head Chief)
"-Allow the players to experience what it's like to have a cheat, I know. Still one of the worst mechanics in this game in terms of balancing, by the way." (Moderator)
"Oh, reallllly????" (Head Chief)
The Head Chief's face now turn into a hyper-realistic devil face from scrunching for too much, as the clipboard he held in his hand began to make uncomfortable warping noise. Still ignoring all that, the moderator continued.
"That complete mistake aside, even accounting for all the broken OP Personality Skill the players managed to obtain..." (Moderator)
"(A complete mistake huh!!??? Remind me where did we find this cocky moderator, Laplace?) (Head Chief)
([He had been employed as the head of the moderator, based on his blunt and honest criticism, and the ability to pinpoint and fix up any and all errors that happen within the game.]) (Laplace)
(Fuck, so we can't immediately kick him out with an industrial metal boot...) (Head Chief)
Talking telepathically with Laplace within his mind, using a top-secret implant that connects him to the overall system of Parallel. Inc itself, he swore viciously, as he keep a poker face listening to him.
"...The Personality Skill those players obtain is strange right out of the title. Take "Absolute Dragon" for example." (Moderator)
"(...Crud, it has to come to that already?) Hm? As the architect of this entire game, I don't see anything strange with that?" (Head Chief)
"...Nothing strange? Nothing unusual?...Really? I doubt you would even be able to architect an anthill if you failed to notice your own work." (Moderator)
(And you failed to take a fucking hint. Why do you have to be that stubborn?) (Head Chief)
"The Dragon race...the Penultimate boss of this game, fitting for the title of the Penultimate Being. Only lose out by the First Race, their existence closer to the very world itself than a living being, and each of them essentially concepts of powerful and mighty force." (Moderator)
"As such, it's very rare for a player to even get the race of Lesser Dragon, much less a full-fledged one, as they need to have a strong and powerful force of personality, capable of warping the world with just their presence. Among all the players we have, only a few get to become Dragon, even fewer manage to conceptualize, and none have reached full conceptualization to become a True Dragon...Much less a mere pet."
"Why you...! How dare you disrespect Maria's companion-Mhhmhhh..." (Carana)
"Hm? What's going on with the young lady over there?" (Moderator)
"It's nothing...keep up with your explanation." (Head Chief)
"?Fine then..." (Moderator)
Once again, ignoring the scene of Carana getting restrained by all the developer into a tatami roll, and the head chief barely containing his bloodlust, the moderator continue.
"For the Dragon, whose's existence is the manifestation of their own will, titles are not only important denotation to their place and position in the world, but also literally an extension of their soul, and how they dominate themselves over reality and each other. It's simple to think that the higher the title, the stronger the Dragon, like how a Lesser Dragon would be inherently weaker than Elder Dragon, but there are certain nuances and detail about the title itself that would make one title higher than another in one place, but not another, and..." (Moderator)
"Save me the stuff I already know, and get to the point." (Head Chief)
"Oh? And I was assuming you're not." (Moderator)
(The nerve...!!) (Head Chief)
"Anyway, no matter how you slice it, it's clear that bearing the title of Absolute, the pet somehow not only manages to become a True Dragon in all but race...It also somehow manages to stand at the very top of the Dragon race itself, the very-no, Absolute pinnacle of all Dragon...the one whose's will all Dragon must bow down and respect, and consequently all aspect of existence itself must obey." (Moderator)
"Hm? Isn't that assumption a bit far-fetch?" (Head Chief)
"...The very system that governs the game itself somehow deems only that title is fitting for that little lizard. If that was actually true, I'm afraid what I'm speculating is an understatement." (Moderator)
"...If that was actually true, huh." (Head Chief)
Hearing that loaded statement, the Head Chief suddenly becomes calm, and even the menacing aura he screeched out become still.
Instead, he becomes terrifyingly silent, enough that the whole surrounding felt a chill at their back.
"If that was actually true, indeed. As such, I have to make my report straight to you, in lieu of this problem."(Moderator)
"Hooo?? And what is this problem, are we talking about here?" (Head Chief)
"Well, as I said before, it's the fact that the two of them..." (Moderator)
"Cut the crap. What's the actual problem you're trying to insinuate here?" The Head Chief said, with a tone cold enough to freeze the room.
Standing with heedless defiance, the moderator look up at him while adjusting his glasses.
"...If you said so. I was trying to say if perhaps those two unlawfully hacked into the database to change their parameter so that it's advantageous to them." (Moderator)
"...Did I say to cut the crap? Our security is practically impenetrable, and not even the best supercomputer in the world right now can even touch the first flint of our firewall..." (Head Chief)
"And yet, last month, two unknown individuals managed to entirely up-end our entire planned event, going past your so-called "impenetrable" security." (Moderator)
"Ugh... (Well duh, who the fuck can anticipate literal isekai protagonists invading a game world!? Why wouldn't they just go for our normal outside world first...)" (Head Chief)
"Not to mention, they then immediately disappeared without a trace so thoroughly, that not even your so-called "greatest system in the world" can find out." (Moderator)
"(Thanks to the ever-so-helpful Privacy Clause...)" (Head Chief)
"And now, after a month or so, we still didn't even find out who they are, not to mention where they come from, and who are they affiliated with...Forgive me to think that foul plays are afoot." (Moderator)
Once again pushing his glasses up dramatically, he made his statements with a sharp glint, enough to make a dramatic sign pop up behind him.
“I admit, our security is practically untouchable. It definitely can’t be hacked in from the outside.” (Moderator)
“However, who to say that it can't be infiltrated, and tamper with, from within? After all, there are too many cases of people in this company gleefully abusing their access to the company’s development resource, which has been making countless trouble to the tired Moderator member.”
With each insinuation, he dug deep into Head Chief, making him unable to open his mouth, even when his gaze insinuate that he was going to conk his head in with his tablet.
“But, after all, even if it is the case, we still have no clue as to who they're or where they came from since apparently, their security is even higher than we are (not that it counts for much). As such, there is only one way to solve this." (Moderator)
“Hoh? And what it is?” (Head Chief)
“We need to check into their full databases.” (Moderator)
Hearing that, the entire room goes silent.
Having a player's full database means having information on everything the company has collected on them.
From where they live and who they are, to what's their hobby and personality, to even their anatomy, blood type, constitution, their genes and composition and history, and even their potential future, based on the internal calculation of Laplace.
Safe to say, it's completely illegal in general, for a private institute to have that much information on their customer, for many obvious reasons. But...
‘We need a complete and in-depth picture of our players so that we can create the absolute best experience for them, as well as being able to craft the most intricate, the most realistic, and the most fantastic world for all.'
‘After all, this is another world tailored to their tale. The world needs to know them so that they can know the world.'
The electrified word of the Founder of Parallel Inc., capture the heart of the countless 2 billion players who play this game.
And as such, thanks to popular sentiment, political maneuvers, and countless backroom deals, Parallel Inc became the first company to have this much access to the playerbase's information this willingly.
Of course, it’s on one very simple, yet very important condition.
That condition is the Privacy Clause, one of the most tight-knitted, and one of the most customer-friendly contracts the company made toward its player.
So long as the company only use this information for the game itself, and so long that the information cannot be leaked outside of the company itself, allowing it to be used for malicious motive, the company can freely have access to the full database of all of it player, and freely feed it into Laplace, so that Laplace in term can better monitor and making adjustment of the world of Modon.
Aside from that, the company also makes another rule in regard to that Privacy Clause: Aside from the trusted core member of the company, no one else should have any sort of access to the full databases, unless they have been given permission by those very same core members. If anyone should violate it, not only will they be instantly kicked out of the company and forced to pay compensation in the millions, they can potentially be put to trial, and suffer an even harsher penalty, due to the importance of privacy the company has placed upon themselves.
As such, it’s almost unthinkable, for a high-ranking employee of the company to dare even think about asking this kind of bombshell information, let alone even said it bravely and clearly.
Even more so, when it’s against a core member of the company itself.
“...Alix Finder, do you know what the Privacy Clause is?” (Head Chief)
With a cold tone, the Head Chief directly addresses him by name, while asking about the very subject.
It's the hint that his employment and status as a human being is at stake. To prepare to ask for this is to prepare to face harsh consequences.
“Yes, I fully know...but as the Head Moderator of Isekai Online, I have been found to be within the position where I can do nothing else.” (Moderator)
In return, he put determination into his word, and glare back at the Head Chief twofold. Matching up his deadly gaze with his stalwart stubbornness, the two heads of their own department perform the battle of will with silents, as the entire peanut gallery (staff) watches on in anticipation.
“No, I will not allow it."
The Head Chief makes his first move, a clear rebuttal.
“If you know how important the Privacy Clause is, then you know how disastrous it would be if the information gets leaked out to the non-essential employee. I, in my good heart, can't just allow you to sacrifice your career within our company like such..." (Head Chief)
“Oh? Even if I receive permission from the players themselves?” (Moderator)
“!!?” (Head Chief)
As the Head Chief continue waxing lyrical about his position while also underlying it with a threat, the Head Moderator made a sudden sucker punch.
Privacy Clause has one obvious loophole: the players themselves.
After all, since it was designed for the player's benefit, it's also obvious that there is a clause that allows the player to share their personal information with the company. Of course, there are multiple layers to ensure that they have a proper contract with the player itself, such as…
“Of course, I have also checked the validity of their consents to prove that no one is forcing them, and Laplace has personally confirmed that they have gleefully accepted." (Moderator)
“!! (Is that true!?)” (Head Chief)
([That it is so.]) (Laplace)
“(Fuck!) Hmph, so what, just their consent isn’t enough, you also…” (Head Chief)
“Have to provide them with proper compensation, right? Of course, we have also provided them with the usual packages, as well as providing them with any sort of request that we can provide. Fortunately, only player Marigold wanted to unlock the child and pet safety protection feature for them and JustADragon. "It's so that we can fully feel the world around us!", such an adorable reason…" (Moderator)
“(Fucking hell Maria, you can just pass an aptitude test instead you know!!!) Tsk, so are you making sure that-” (Head Chief)
“Of course, the content of the contract is fully approved by Laplace as well, making sure that there is no legal problem or exploits. Not like we can just mistreat our players in whatever way we want, you know (would be a different story if they do abuse company policy tho…).” (Moderator)
“Guh!!” (Head Chief)
A straight, a gut punch, and finally a swift uppercut. Suffering such a quick and complete counter, the Head Chief almost found himself falling down (from stress).
Rearing himself back together silently, trying to feint standing upright, he once again swore against Laplace.
“(...Again, why do you approve of that, Laplace!!!)” (Head Chief)
“([It's my obligation to serve as the third party needed for all transactions necessary. I see no problem approving the contract, and there is no problem with the contract itself, so I do what I must.])" (Laplace)
“(Yeah, but at this rate, you are going to review the info of the two of them, which we seriously don’t want to! I ain’t get pay enough to handle Isekai Protagonists Diplomancy…)" (Head Chief)
“([From my personal calculation, your monthly salary is 30% sufficient for such tasks...Also, as I said, there is absolutely no problem approving the contract.])” (Laplace)
“(???What the Hell do you mean? Do you mean you have a plan for this?)” (Head Chief)
“(For now, you can allow Alix Finder’s request to retrieve the data. I will explain later.)” (Laplace)
“(Tch...)” (Head Chief)
Oblivious to the two’s internal conversation, the Head Moderator continued saying his speech, sure of his victory.
“So, with this, there is no problem of us Moderator team accessing these individual's information right? Or, is there anything else you aren-" (Moderator)
“Yeah yeah, sure, you can do it.” (Head Chief)
“""??!”""
With great reluctance, the Head Chief flippantly approved the Head Moderator’s request, to the surprise of everybody around. The development team is the most astonished about this, as they all clamor toward him.
“Head Chief, are you sure about this!?”
“Did you finally get sick of all of this and retired!? Please don't leave us behind with all of our projects unfinished, or we literally would die!"
“How dare you try to expose the information of Mar-Ouch!!?" (Carana)
Slamming the head of Carana, who's about to explode in a fit of rage, with the steel tablet, he shouts everyone down.
“Quiet, all of you! My decision is final, unless anyone of the glassheads around here wants to talk to the tablet!" (Head Chief)
As he turns around to face Head Moderator, however, he secretly brings his hand behind his back and communicates to his team using hand signs.
(It’s Laplace’s plan, don’t mess this up.) (Head Chief)
Seeing the message, all of the team behind him keep their mouth shut (except for Carana, who is knocked unconscious with a giant booboo on her head). Meanwhile, the Head Chief continued to talk to the Head Moderator, who was also standing there surprised.
“So, why don't you do your business already? Or perhaps you want to recant it?" (Head Chief)
“...What’s your plan here? No way you would’ve given up that easily.” (Alex)
“What? If Laplace also agrees, then I have no objection to this. I trust their decision more than most of the dunklepop behind me." (Head Chief)
As they all nodded furiously, the Head Moderator get taken aback a bit, before taking himself back.
“Okay...Moderator team, we get permission! Let's start analyzing their footage!" (Alex)
As they’re all clamoring for their seat and taking out their information, the Head Chief began talking with Laplace in his head.
(So, what’s your plan?) (Head Chief)
([Well…]) (Laplace)
After a while, his eyes began to open wide.
(...Well darn, that’s a pretty scummy move you have thought out there.) (Head Chief)
(It’s just in the best interest of the whole company.) (Laplace)
(Ho ho ho, just in the best interest of the company, indeed…) (Head Chief)
As he began to twist himself into a smile, his creepy grin made his entire team shudders in fright.
(Still though, as expected of them...That cocky bastard will be in one heck of a terrific surprise.) (Head Chief)
With a pitying (?) look from him, the Head Chief even makes the Head Moderator sense a chill down his spine.