The Downfall of the Golden Lion
“Hey, oppa.”
”…”
“Oppa? Oppa!”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”
A sharp voice accompanied by someone shaking my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned my head to see Yujeong’s face.
“What were you thinking about? I called you a few times, but you didn’t answer.”
“Nothing much. Why did you call me?”
“Remember when we first entered the hall, and those Golden Lion Clan members showed up?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
As I nodded, she tapped her left chest lightly and continued.
“Didn’t they have a golden lion emblem on their chests? We don’t seem to have anything like that.”
“We did register an emblem, but it doesn’t appear automatically. You have to manually add it to your equipment.”
“Oh, I see. I thought it just appeared on its own. But oppa, is something bothering you? You don’t look too happy.”
“It’s nothing. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
Conrad Douglas’s words from earlier suddenly resurfaced in my mind.
“Yesterday, representatives from the city’s leading clan visited. They were probing about your clan’s formation and other details. I managed to send them off with some vague answers, but they didn’t seem friendly. Be cautious. If you’re planning to leave, it might be best to do so soon.”
I wasn’t entirely sure what Yuhyeon was thinking, but I had no intention of staying in Mule. Glancing at the “Free Mercenary” status in my user information, I pushed aside my thoughts. I was always on the move, driven by the fear of being left behind if I didn’t keep up with the pace.
“User Go Yeonju, User Jeong Hayeon.”
After composing myself, I called out to Jeong Hayeon and Go Yeonju, who quickly approached me.
“Yes, Suhyeon.”
“You called?”
“Yes. Please lead the others back to the inn and prepare to leave Mule. We need to get everything in order.”
“Are we leaving right away?”
I shook my head at Hayeon’s question.
“No, there’s one last thing I need to take care of. But please prepare as quickly as possible. We might leave as early as this evening. Yeonju, how are you planning to handle the inn? Do you need more time?”
“No, I’ve thought about it. I’ll just keep it. We can set up a new base in another city and establish a new network there. So, we just need to pack our things.”
Yeonju’s decision was wise. If a civil war broke out among the northern continent’s users, warp gates connecting hostile cities could be cut off. While she might be thinking purely about information gathering now, having her network, the “Shadows,” would be invaluable in such times. I nodded, trusting Yeonju to handle it well.
“I’ll finish up my last task and return. Once everything is ready, gather everyone in the lobby. I’ll share our plan before we leave Mule.”
“Leave it to us.”
“By your command, my lord.”
Hayeon replied in a clear voice, while Yeonju’s was playful. Watching them walk towards the others, I also set off. My destination was the bustling market district, specifically the “Old Man’s Jewelry Shop.”
As I entered the “Old Man’s Jewelry Shop,” I saw the old man examining a deep blue gemstone. His white hair and wrinkled face were just as I remembered. He glanced at me briefly before speaking in a gruff voice.
“Long time no see.”
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“Hmph. You’ve picked up some fancy words. Here to buy or sell?”
He chuckled, seemingly amused by my formal greeting. I had used an old-fashioned phrase, hoping it would resonate with him, and it seemed to have worked. Smiling faintly, I pulled out a pouch from my pocket. With practiced hands, he took the pouch and carefully emptied its contents onto the counter. As he picked up one of the dozen or so gemstones, I sensed the flow of magic in his eyes.
Watching him appraise each gem, I fell into thought. The reason I came here was because the old man was a rare-class gem appraiser. I wasn’t entirely sure of his abilities, but I figured he might be a good match for Hanbyeol’s class. Initially, I considered recruiting him fully, but I changed my mind. If I were serious about recruiting him, I would have brought Hanbyeol along. However, knowing he wanted a quiet life and wasn’t essential to our plans, I decided against it. Still, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask.
“These are excellent.”
While I was lost in thought, the old man finished his appraisal. He gathered the gems in his hands and spoke with admiration.
“These are far superior to what you brought before. They’re top quality, with a brilliant luster and high magical density. Each one is worth at least two hundred gold. Are you planning to sell them all?”
“No.”
“What?”
He seemed surprised by my response, his eyes widening. His expression quickly hardened, indicating his displeasure. I knew he disliked beating around the bush, so I decided to be straightforward.
“I just founded a clan.”
“You started a clan?”
“Yes, and we’re planning to leave Mule soon.”
“Hmm. I see. So, what’s your point?”
His expression softened slightly, and I sighed in relief before speaking calmly.
“Have you heard about the secret class that recently emerged in the Golden Lion Clan?”
“I’ve heard. They’ve been making quite a fuss about it. I’m curious about the class myself.”
“I’m acquainted with the person in question. They seem likely to use gems, so I thought your expertise could be beneficial. Of course, I can’t guarantee they’ll join our clan. But before leaving Mule, I wanted to ask if you’d be interested.”
“Heh. So, are these gems a down payment?”
“Think of it however you like. Even as a new clan, we can afford to offer gems of this quality.”
I had a strategy in mind. It might seem foolish to try and recruit a potential candidate from the Golden Lion Clan without certainty about Hanbyeol’s recruitment. But showing the gems was a way to demonstrate our capabilities as a fledgling clan.
“I’ll have to decline.”
As expected, the old man rejected my offer outright. I didn’t think he would accept. From his perspective, I was just a stranger making an unexpected recruitment pitch. I would have refused too.
However, his next words caught me off guard.
“But I don’t mind the gesture. It’s not every day an old user like me gets a recruitment offer. You’re an interesting young man.”
“Haha. I heard great things about you from someone who recommended this place. I thought it was worth a try.”
“Thanks for the offer. But that secret class is neither here nor there for me. It’s just a personal curiosity, not the reason I declined. I won’t go into details, but I just want to spend my remaining days quietly here. I’m past the age of wandering around.”
“I understand. I’m sorry for making such an unreasonable request.”
The old man sighed deeply and began returning the gems to the pouch. Just as I reached out to take it back, his voice stopped me.
“But if you do manage to recruit that user, feel free to drop by. I won’t turn you away. Even if you don’t recruit them, you’re welcome anytime.”
There was a hint of loneliness in his voice. I bowed my head, took the pouch, and carefully tucked it away.
“Starting a clan must keep you busy. Take care. I hope we meet again.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to survive and visit again.”
With that, we exchanged polite farewells, and I left the “Old Man’s Jewelry Shop” with a lighter heart. It was time to return to the inn.
Back at the inn, the clan members were diligently packing. They seemed excited about leaving Mule, their anticipation palpable. I, too, entered my office to sort and store the equipment. There were quite a few gold coins, gems, and gear, but they fit neatly into three chaos mimics, which I then placed in a magic backpack, significantly reducing the bulk.
With everything packed and organized, the sun was already setting.
At Goh Yeon-ju’s suggestion, we wrapped up our meal quickly. It was our last meal at the mule, so everyone had high expectations, but with most of the ingredients already used up, it wasn’t as lavish as before. Still, since Goh Yeon-ju was a talented cook, everyone enjoyed the meal with satisfied expressions.
I wanted to head straight to the warp gate, but as the clan leader, I couldn’t just drag everyone around without a plan. It was my duty to at least give a basic explanation of our future plans. So, after the meal, I gathered everyone for tea and began to speak.
“Let me briefly explain our future plans.”
Unlike when we first arrived at the mule, our group had grown significantly. Ahn Hyun, Ahn Sol, Lee Yoo-jung, Vivian, Jung Ha-yeon, Shin Sang-yong, Goh Yeon-ju, and myself. They were no longer just companions; they were clan members under my leadership. With their attentive gazes on me, I continued calmly.
“Today, we officially established our clan. Fortunately, we’ve started off on the right foot. But this is just the beginning.”
I paused to take a sip of tea, letting its sharp aroma fill my mouth.
“Our clan, Mercenary, is a free mercenary-type clan. While we will act independently at times, we plan to grow by taking on and completing requests. However, with our current reputation, it’s difficult to operate solely on such requests. Therefore, we need two things: a clan house to serve as our base and a way to boost our reputation. While recruiting new members is also on the agenda, let’s set that aside for now.”
“With plenty of money, getting a clan house shouldn’t be an issue. But what are your thoughts on boosting our reputation?” Goh Yeon-ju asked.
I nodded and replied, “We’re aiming for promotional effects. With our current strength, I believe we’ll attract attention from users. As interest grows, more opportunities will naturally come our way. However, we won’t become a subsidiary of another clan. We need to ride the wave of attention and rise on our own.”
Most likely, we’ll receive many merger offers. The key is to act according to our own will, not being pushed around by others’ needs. To do that, we need enough strength to not be underestimated.
“So, the question is how we plan to ride that wave. I’ve already devised a plan. Soon, the Golden…”
Bang!
“I was going to say, after the Golden Lion Clan completes their expedition to the Iron Mountains, we’ll make our move,” but I stopped mid-sentence at the sudden noise. Everyone turned their heads towards the entrance, startled. There stood Yoo Hyun-ah, breathing heavily.
Two more users appeared behind her: Cha Seung-hyun, known as
For a moment, Yoo Hyun-ah and I locked eyes. There was a strange intensity in her gaze. She slowly approached us and began to speak.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Hmm. I see some of you have already finished your exams. I’m envious. I haven’t even started yet. ㅜ.ㅠ I really should be studying, but I can’t seem to stop writing. Anyway, I’ll do my best to keep going. I appreciate all your support. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
천겁혈신천무존: Congratulations on being first! It’s been a while since you got first place. Haha. I hope you enjoy this chapter too. (But if you’re a doll, wouldn’t you be pretty? ㄷㄷ)
쏘주처럼: Ah, I made a mistake. It’s been corrected. Thank you. (__)
랜슬럿 듀 락: Hmm. I see. The average appearance is quite high. I wasn’t aware of that. @[email protected]
뉴마더: NO. Ahn Sol is destined to become a priest of light in the future. Of course, the future can change, but she did obtain a secret class in the first round.
테크노: Right? I think so too. When I was young, I went to volunteer, and I found myself drawn to someone who was quietly working hard alone. :D
고장난선풍기: Giant Strongman ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. Naming it that would be too strange. “I’m Kim Soo-hyun, the clan leader of Giant Strongman.” ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
사람인생: 1. Ouch. 2. Ouch again. 3. Hmm? 4. Sigh…. 5. Oh. 6. I, I prefer being slim. 7. Yes. 8. Right. 9. Hmm. I think so.(?) 10. …….
유운처럼: Ahn Sol Ver. Wow! Wow! Thank you so much. Hehe. Yujin is very grateful to you, Yoo Un-cheoreom. Wow. Wow. If I offended you, I’m sorry. (__)
레필:
hohokoya1: Haha. I’m sorry. I have exams next week, so I’m busy preparing. ㅜ.ㅠ Once the exams are over, I’ll try to write more frequently!
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