Round Table Conference

Round Table Conference is the 9th episode of the Log Horizon anime. It covers The Knights of Camelot chapter 4, and a beginning portion of chapter 5.

Cold Open
There are many different guilds with many different goals. The attendance for this conference at the Guild Center features the major guilds of Akiba:
 * Combat Guilds
 * D.D.D led by Krusty
 * Black Sword Knights led by Isaac
 * Honesty led by Eins
 * West Wind Brigade led by Soujiro Seta
 * Silver Sword led by William


 * Production Guilds
 * Marine Organization led by Michitaka
 * Shopping District 8 led by Calasin
 * The Roderick Firm led by Roderick
 * Grandale led by Woodstock W
 * Radio Market led by Akaneya


 * Support Guilds
 * Crescent Moon Alliance led by Marielle
 * Log Horizon led by Shiroe



Beginning the Conference
Some of the guilds anticipate that this meeting would be a continuation of the failed conference Marielle assembled. Shiroe refutes this notion, announcing that he seeks negotiations only to improve the city's living state, prompting the disinterest and departure of William and consequently Silver Sword's withdrawal from the council.

Elsewhere, the Hamelin captives prepare to escape as Touya relays the plan to everyone else: escape out the door of the guild hall.

Krusty questions Shiroe's selection of guests at the conference. Shiroe replies that the strongest combat and production guilds represent different parts of the city, while Grandale, Radio Market, and Crescent Moon Alliance act as proxies for the voices of the city's silent majority. Shiroe represents Log Horizon as conductor of this meeting and author of the proposals, which was the only way he could have a representation among the guilds. Isaac then asks about how the conference would keep the peace, and the basis of Shiroe's thesis that the city is unsafe.

Problems with Akiba
Shiroe discusses the EXP Pot racketeering, arguing that the lack of established laws allows such practices. He brings up his visit to Susukino, its oppressive oligarchy running rampant to the simple compliance of the Royal Guard mechanics. Krusty asks of a guild's fate should they refuse the laws, to which Shiroe proposes harsh sanctioning, banishment if needed. Eins, along with Isaac and Krusty, dispute that a guild could possess enough power to actually wage war in defiance. Shiroe then plays his trump card and reveals that he bought the Guild Center using the five million gold he obtained from the production guilds, and blackmails the guilds to gain absolute control of the conference.

Henrietta and Nyanta expose that the Guild Center is where players must go to register guilds and access their bank. It is dangerous to carry around valuables, and the Akiba bank is the only one in the area, as the other banks are situated in Minami, Susukino and Nakasu, which are dozen of kilometers away from Akiba (the neighbouring city of Shibuya lacking a Guild Center due to its special status). Since Shiroe owns the bank zone, he can effectively freeze the bank assets of any player by restricting their access.

Michitaka announces that the three main Production guilds were the sole investor of the purchase. Flashing back to an earlier day, the production guild leaders are informed of the simple secret of Real Food Preparation, to their dismay. Shiroe states that people have historically paid ludicrous amounts for knowledge they simply did not possess.

Escaping from Hamelin
Meanwhile, as the captives manage to escape the Hamelin Hall, Minori and Touya are intercepted by Shredder. They manage to escape by leaving the Hamelin guild hall and entering the Guild Building, where they are being welcomed by Shouryuu. Hamelin members are unable to leave their guild hall, being blacklisted by Shiroe who was informed of the membership from Akatsuki's investigation. Just after Shouryuu leaves to help Hien, however, Shredder manages to enter the Guild Building too, since his name hadn't been blacklisted yet, and he takes Touya hostage. Akatsuki comes to their rescue, forcing Shredder to release Touya with her signature kick. Even while being threatened by the angered Summoner, she nonchalantly sends his name to Shiroe, who puts him on the blacklist. Shredder is kicked out of the building, where he is subsequently captured by Naotsugu and some other Adventurers.

Conclusion
Soujiro gets apprehensive over the threat of blackmail, but Shiroe insists that the guilds here have an obligation to keep the peace. He states that he first wants to create an environment free from abusive power, then establish laws binding all who come to Akiba.

He receives a call from Akatsuki reporting the success of the rescue mission, which makes him crack a smile. Isaac becomes furious at Shiroe's break in composure, but agrees to the alliance provided that he can negotiate the details.

Trivia

 * Shiroe deduced that Hamelin's guild hall is combat-enabled to keep the captives in line, allowing them to fight their way out.
 * Shredder postulates that simple physical abuse by hand didn't register as combat to the Royal Guard. Naotsugu overhears this, and uses the technique to apprehend him.