1. Suhyun Kim: 542/600~

[Strength 96(+2)] [Endurance 92] [Agility 98] [Stamina 72] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)]

(12 ability points remaining.)

2. Soyoung Han: 528/600~

[Strength 78] [Endurance 84] [Agility 94(+2)] [Stamina 86] [Magic 98(+2)] [Luck 88]

(No ability points remaining.)

Her abilities did not disappoint. While I knew some of them, seeing them confirmed was impressive. She was already at a level that could be considered among the top ten, though she hadn’t reached that status yet.

This meant she was biding her time, much like I had in the past. If she needed to make a move, she would likely elevate her reputation through someone like Ye-rim Yeon, the Princess of Execution.

Soyoung Han was bold when necessary but fundamentally meticulous and cautious. Though I couldn’t fully grasp her intentions, she undoubtedly had her own plans.

After reviewing her information, I felt a sense of clarity. It was as if I had found a thread to untangle a knotted mess. I hadn’t returned to seek her affection; I had a purpose to fulfill. With that in mind, I began to notice my surroundings more clearly.

Soyoung Han, who had been silent, spoke again.

“Mercenary Lord, may I have a word with you?”

“Of course.”

“Great. Let’s get straight to the point. I read the promotional material, and it says the Mercenary Clan is a free mercenary clan. Why did you choose that structure?”

“I considered the meaning of a free mercenary and found it more advantageous than the traditional clan structure. It’s a personal judgment, of course.”

I deliberately kept my explanation vague. I could have detailed why I chose this structure, but I needed to consider my position. I was no longer a subordinate but a leader of my own clan.

As I mentioned, I intended to redefine my relationship with Soyoung Han. I needed to act accordingly, laying the groundwork for mutual communication rather than a one-sided connection.

Soyoung Han seemed to understand the implication of my words, nodding slightly.

“True, each user values different things. It’s not my place to judge. But as a free mercenary, you’ll miss out on many benefits. Doesn’t that concern you?”

“Of course, it’s a loss. But if I can’t have both, I must choose one and let go of the other.”

“Yes, but there are ways to have both.”

“What do you mean?”

I felt a surge of interest. In a fleeting moment, I noticed Soyoung Han glance at the closed door. It seemed she wanted to propose something before other clans responded to the summons.

“What I’m suggesting is that even as a free mercenary clan, you can receive similar benefits to traditional users.”

“How so?”

“It’s simple. The representative clan managing the city can directly provide those conveniences.”

”…”

“For your information, I lead the representative clan of Monica, the southern city.”

Soyoung Han spoke quietly, and I couldn’t help but smile wryly. It was clear she was inviting us to Monica.

In the past, I would have eagerly accepted, but now I hesitated. She hadn’t made a direct offer. She seemed to want us in Monica first, then let us settle in. She had quickly assessed our clan’s nature.

Her offer was tempting for small clans. Simply entering the city and receiving support from the representative clan was appealing.

I decided to play hard to get.

As I’ve said, the Mercenary Clan values freedom above all. If we went to Monica as things stood, we might end up tied to her city. I was the only one eager for this.

I couldn’t be the only one eager. She needed to be eager too, so we could establish a balanced, mutual relationship. I wanted us to stand as equals, side by side.

I tilted my head slightly, feigning reluctance, and spoke slowly to her expectant gaze.

“Well, I plan to hear the Golden Lion Clan’s summons first. I’ll adjust my plans afterward.”

“You mentioned adjusting, so you had a plan?”

“Yes, that is…”

Despite my hesitation, Soyoung Han showed no sign of displeasure. She simply continued with a curious tone. Just as I was about to answer, the door opened softly, and I instinctively fell silent.

As I turned my head, I saw a group of users pouring into the room, and for a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of Seong Yu-bin’s flustered face behind them. I stared blankly at the sudden influx of users.

The moment other users entered the meeting room, Han So-young and I stopped talking, as if on cue. It wasn’t just one or two people; nearly ten users entered all at once. Considering that each clan typically brings in two to four members, it seemed like two or three clans had gathered together. While such a gathering wasn’t entirely unexpected, given the importance of the summons, it was hard to simply accept their behavior.

Soon, more users began to trickle in, following the initial group. As the once-empty meeting room filled with users, a tense atmosphere began to build, reminiscent of an operating room before surgery. Despite this, some users exchanged brief greetings and cast glances at me and Go Yeon-ju, but that was the extent of it. Given the significance of the meeting, with representatives from major clans present, everyone seemed on edge.

I discreetly observed the newcomers. Among them were faces I recognized and others whose names I had heard but never met. Interestingly, the users who entered together were members of the eastern representative clans. By examining the symbols on their gear, I could identify them as members of the Goryeo, Dalbam, and Han clans.

The door opened again, and this time, someone with a crescent moon emblem on their right shoulder entered. They were from the Crescent Moon Clan, an ally of the Golden Lion Clan. They, too, looked startled upon seeing the non-participating clans occupying the right side of the table. The number of non-participating clans far outnumbered those who had responded to the summons.

As time passed, more users arrived, and the once-empty tables were now packed. The growing number of whispers merged into a low hum of noise. One thing was clear: the divide between participating and non-participating clans was stark. Some didn’t even acknowledge each other, which made me chuckle inwardly.

Then it happened.

“What’s with all the noise?”

A raspy voice cut through the room, filled with a magical resonance that ensured everyone heard it clearly. The user who spoke soon appeared, and the chatter ceased immediately.

The woman, slightly plump with a pale face, had a golden lion emblem gleaming on her right chest. She strode confidently to the head of the table, followed by Park Hyun-woo and Seong Yu-bin, who quietly stood behind her.

The representative of the Golden Lion Clan, who would preside over the meeting, had finally arrived.

---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=

(For today, I’ll skip the reader comments. I’ll combine them with the next chapter. Thank you for your understanding.)

Ah, I’m sorry, everyone. I had reserve training today, which ran late, and I’m completely exhausted. I went in thinking it would be easy, only to be blindsided. I never imagined I’d be hiking with full gear. It was a two-hour round trip, and by the time I got home, I was wiped out. I was so envious of those who got to leave early.

I think I dozed off about five times while writing this chapter. I even considered taking a day off, but remembering all the advice from readers yesterday, I pushed through. ㅜ.ㅠ Have a good night, everyone! I’m off to bed. Zzz.

PS. Charisma is a unique ability, but there are exceptions. If it arises from an innate rather than an acquired factor, it doesn’t consume a potential ability slot.