Demotion
Hall Plain
In the southern part of the northern continent lies the small city of Koran, home to the Southern Free Alliance.
An alliance, by definition, is a union formed when two or more entities come together to create a single organization. The reasons for forming such alliances are as varied as the alliances themselves. Sometimes, weaker nations band together to stand against a stronger power, or they might join forces for mutual benefit.
In the world of Hall Plain, alliances form for similar reasons. A prime example is the Southern Free Alliance, based in the small city of Koran.
There’s a saying in Hall Plain: “Users gather to form clans, and clans gather to form cities.”
Koran is no exception, though there’s a slight twist. Instead of “a clan gathers,” it’s “clans gather.”
Koran is a union city managed by eight clans: Su, Artemis, Nambol, Serengeti, Baekhwa, the Merchant Guild, Garisani, and the Moss Clan.
Initially, the alliance was just a coalition of mid-sized clans, not particularly strong on their own. But after taking control of Koran, they gradually expanded their influence. Now, each clan has grown into a formidable force within the alliance.
The secret to the Southern Free Alliance’s success lies in the balanced division of roles among the clans and the healthy checks and balances they maintain.
This division of roles, or specialization, is key. Su, Artemis, Nambol, and Serengeti are pure combat clans. Baekhwa and the Merchant Guild focus on commerce, while Garisani and the Moss Clan handle intelligence.
In short, by balancing military strength, financial resources, and intelligence, they created a structure that allowed them to thrive and grow into a major alliance.
At first glance, the history of the Southern Free Alliance seems like a success story of mid-sized clans coming together, competing in good faith, and growing into a powerful alliance.
But reality is rarely so idyllic. Rumors circulate across the northern continent that beneath the alliance’s seemingly stable exterior, fierce internal strife rages, far from the image of friendly competition.
Take, for instance, the disappearance of Kim Yong-man two years ago. Officially, he vanished during an expedition, but whispers suggest he was secretly eliminated by those within the alliance seeking change.
The alliance vehemently denies these rumors, but the simultaneous disappearance of Kim Yong-man and his close associates raises suspicions that are hard to dismiss.
Of course, only those involved know the truth.
In a building in the small city of Koran, or rather, in the alliance’s meeting room, a solemn atmosphere prevailed.
The room was dimly lit, though not completely dark. Beautiful ornaments encircled the table, and small crystals embedded in the gaps emitted a soft glow.
Sixteen people were present. Eight sat around the round table, spaced apart, while the other eight stood motionless beside their chairs.
After a long silence, a man spoke up, his voice breaking the stillness.
“Well… it seems like everyone’s here. Shall we get started?”
The man glanced around the room, his tone light.
The others, including a man smoking a cigarette and a woman with her eyes closed, turned their attention to him.
He appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties, with a friendly face, a scruffy beard, and a slight paunch—an ordinary man you might see anywhere.
But those who knew him understood he was far from ordinary.
His name was Seo Ji-hwan, the clan lord of the Merchant Guild within the alliance, a powerful figure controlling the flow of money in Koran. He was one of the few remaining leaders from the days of Kim Yong-man.
With a slight smile, Seo Ji-hwan nodded and picked up a document in front of him.
“Let’s see… Barbara, the central management has contacted us. They plan to replace the temporary clans managing Halo, Dorothy, and Beth with a clan that will directly represent the city by the end of this month. And… damn, this is long.”
As he skimmed the document, a frown creased his forehead. He tossed it onto the table and looked around.
“We’ve already discussed this in the first meeting, so everyone should be aware of the situation. How about we skip the details and go straight to the vote?”
“Hmm. Since you suggest it, let’s do that.”
The man who responded was Park Tae-jin, the clan lord of Su, a central clan in the alliance. He had taken over after Kim Yong-man’s disappearance and was known for his secret class, the Gladiator of the Sun. He also had a minor connection to the Mercenary Clan, having once competed for the affections of a woman known as Monica’s Flower, only to be rejected.
Despite such stories, Park Tae-jin was a powerful figure within the alliance, his influence second only to a few. Initially overshadowed by Kim Yong-man and his associates, he had risen to prominence after their disappearance, securing his position as the leader of Su.
After handing his cigarette to a man standing beside him, Park Tae-jin looked across the table and spoke calmly.
“So, Shin-hyuk, what do you think? Should we start now?”
The mention of Shin-hyuk’s name drew the attention of a man tapping the table. He looked up, meeting Park Tae-jin’s gaze with a soft smile.
Shin-hyuk was the clan lord of Nambol, another key player in the alliance and a potential rival to Park Tae-jin. Though his personality was somewhat devious and hedonistic, his skills and resourcefulness earned him respect.
Shin-hyuk replied, “Hmm? Oh, I don’t mind. But shouldn’t I be asking you that, Tae-jin? Are you ready to start?”
“What do you mean?”
Park Tae-jin raised an eyebrow, questioning. Shin-hyuk continued to tap the table, the rhythm quickening as Park Tae-jin’s expression hardened.
When the tapping stopped, Shin-hyuk spoke softly.
“Just curious. You seem confident… did you secure some votes with a little persuasion?”
“What? Hyung, isn’t that a bit much?”
A gruff voice interrupted from beside Park Tae-jin, but he raised a hand to calm the speaker, who snorted in frustration.
The man was Baek Doo-san, a close ally of Park Tae-jin and the clan lord of Serengeti, a renowned combat user.
“Calm down, Doo-san… Shin-hyuk, what are you implying?”
“Come on, let’s not beat around the bush. We all know the situation, right?”
”…Are you referring to the Mercenary incident?”
“Exactly. Dorothy will be handled by the West, and the greedy East will take Beth. But since they got Barbara, they won’t touch Halo. The Blue Wolves aren’t interested, and Istantel Low can’t afford it. So who’s left? Us, the Southern Free Alliance, or the Mercenary Clan?”
Shin-hyuk’s brazen words were met with a steady gaze from Park Tae-jin, who cleared his throat and spoke evenly.
“So, you’re saying it’s only fair for us to take Halo since you dealt with the Mercenaries?”
“That’s right. You’re sharp. And you all knew, didn’t you? You knew about the Mercenary incident, yet said nothing. Doesn’t that mean you turned a blind eye too?”
“I see it differently. I don’t think this incident alone is enough to topple the Mercenaries. Do you really think it’s sufficient? Perhaps we should wait a bit longer.”
“How long? It’s been over two months since the Mercenaries entered the mountains, and there’s been no word of their return. Isn’t that enough? Don’t you all agree?”
As Shin-hyuk glanced around the room, seeking agreement, some nodded in understanding while others avoided his gaze. When his eyes finally landed on Seo Ji-hwan, a deep sigh escaped from him.
“Well, to be honest, Hyuk isn’t entirely wrong. I also thought the Mercenaries had a good chance of taking Halo. Sure, we contributed a bit more to the recovery efforts, but if you look at the records of the war and the stabilization of the northern continent, we’re clearly lagging behind. In that sense, this incident has certainly worked in our favor. If it all just disappeared, that would be ideal… Anyway, a clan that lives off commissions failing a job is bound to see its reputation take a hit. We’ve managed to put a significant dent in the Mercenaries’ image, and some of the articles criticizing them might gain traction… Though, to be fair, the Mercenaries just failed a job, but there are plenty who were envious of their success. That’s why it’s become such a hot topic.”
“Um… Excuse me for interrupting…”
At that moment, as the conversation flowed among the seated members, someone standing among the group finally spoke up.
The speaker was a young man with neat, handsome features and a straight posture. His eyes and mouth held a gentle smile, making him instantly likable to anyone who saw him.
Seo Ji-hwan, having just finished his lengthy explanation, gestured for the young man to speak. The young man bowed politely and began to speak cautiously.
“From what I know, the Mercenary Clan isn’t particularly interested in Halo. They’re collaborating with the Magic Tower Clan to revitalize the magical city of Magia…”
“Ha!”
“Sigh…”
“Tsk.”
But the young man’s words were cut short by simultaneous sounds of derision, sighs, and tongue-clicking.
Momentarily bewildered, the young man tilted his head in confusion, but when even Park Tae-jin gave him a look, he bowed and stepped back.
“Hey, Tae-jin. Is that the young guy you’ve been bringing around lately? He’s quite the innocent one, isn’t he? Sees the world through rose-colored glasses, doesn’t know how things really work. Heh heh.”
“Well… It’s possible he doesn’t know. Anyway, Hwan-hee, keep it down.”
Park Tae-jin quietly cautioned, biting his lip. In contrast, Shin-hyuk wore a relaxed expression.
Shin-hyuk lit a cigarette, and two thin streams of smoke lazily drifted from his prominent nose.
“Alright, let’s cut the small talk and get on with the re-vote. Everyone seems to understand the situation.”
”…”
“Why the sudden silence? Did you all swallow a jar of honey? Or are you really thinking like that upright young man? No, no. Unless you’re daydreaming about that busty woman from the Mercenaries… Just kidding, just kidding. Don’t look at me like that. We can joke around, can’t we? Haha… Sir? Are we proceeding or should I take over?”
“Um… Hold on. Tae-jin’s point isn’t entirely without merit. Being overly optimistic doesn’t make sense, considering the Mercenaries’ track record. I came here thinking we’d at least reach some agreement today, but this is no different from the last vote. Two votes for the Su Clan, two for the Nambeol Clan, and four abstentions. We’ll end up with the same result. We have some time, so let’s think it over a bit more…”
As Shin-hyuk pressed for action, Seo Ji-hwan fell into thought. He began to speak in a measured tone, but Shin-hyuk’s eyes narrowed before he could finish.
“Enough with the thinking! We delayed the first vote long enough, and now you want to postpone the second one too?”
“Alright, alright! Let’s do it, then! Tae-jin said to go ahead earlier, so…!”
At that moment.
Bang!
As Seo Ji-hwan gestured in agreement, the conference room door burst open, and a man suddenly appeared.
Everyone turned to look, but the man showed no reaction. He hurried over to Shin-hyuk and whispered something in his ear.
Upon hearing the whisper, Shin-hyuk’s face turned pale. His previously relaxed demeanor vanished, replaced by a stunned expression.
After a moment, Shin-hyuk rose slowly, as if drawn by an invisible force. He swallowed hard and tried to speak calmly, though his lips still trembled.
”…I, uh, have to go. Something urgent has come up. We can postpone the vote.”
With that, Shin-hyuk dashed out of the room like the wind, leaving everyone inside staring after him in confusion.
Well, not everyone.
Only one person, the young man standing next to Park Tae-jin, glanced at the door before quietly turning his gaze to the crystal orb on the table.
The orbs emitted a soft glow, illuminating the dim conference room. Among them, two shone slightly brighter than the others.
The young man, seemingly sweating, rubbed his hands together as he stared at the orbs. The polished surface reflected the room’s surroundings.
Meanwhile, in the southern city of Monica, at the Mercenary Clan House.
A woman with blue hair and eyes, Jeong Ha-yeon, cautiously descended the stairs into the quiet lobby.
Numerous members sat scattered around, watching her descent with a sense of solemnity.
Halfway down, Jeong Ha-yeon paused and raised her right hand, holding a communication crystal that glimmered with an icy light.
Suddenly, her lips parted.
“I have an announcement for the clan members.”
”…”
“We just received word from the Sword Queen. All Mercenary Clan members who ventured into the Dragon’s Sleeping Ridge have been confirmed alive. They’ve successfully tackled the ridge, rescued Ahn Hyun and Baek Han-gyeol, and saved all surviving members.”
“Wowwwww!”
The Dragon’s Sleeping Ridge assault.
The rescue of Ahn Hyun and Baek Han-gyeol.
The survival of the client and other survivors.
Upon hearing this, the lobby erupted in cheers. The gathered clan members rose as one, clapping in unison. Soon, the lobby was filled with applause and shouts.
“I knew it!”
“That’s our Clan Lord!”
“He did it! He really did it! The Clan Lord pulled it off!”
“Kim Soo-hyun! Kim Soo-hyun! Kim Soo-hyun! Kim Soo-hyun!”
Watching the almost fanatical joy of the clan members, Jeong Ha-yeon couldn’t help but smile wryly.
But she understood. With Kim Soo-hyun’s prolonged absence, the Mercenaries had been treading carefully, and a series of unfortunate events had cast a shadow over the alliance.
Though Kim Soo-hyun returned and set out for the Dragon’s Sleeping Ridge, many remained skeptical. The ridge’s notorious reputation was daunting.
In a way, the ridge represented both Kim Soo-hyun’s official return and the challenges facing the Mercenaries.
Depending on the outcome, it could either reverse the current mood or deepen the gloom. The ridge was a formidable challenge.
Yet Kim Soo-hyun triumphed. Not only did he resolve the client’s issue, but he also achieved more than expected by rescuing other users.
The clan members’ exuberant cheers were a testament to this success.
With the problem resolved, trust in Kim Soo-hyun deepened, and they welcomed the return of a leader to stabilize the clan. It had been a long time since they had reason to celebrate.
Though tempted to let the celebration continue, Jeong Ha-yeon raised her hand to calm the members. There was one more thing to announce.
The cheers didn’t die down immediately. But a few members, seeing Jeong Ha-yeon’s signal, helped quiet the room, and the noise gradually subsided.
Once the room was silent, Jeong Ha-yeon spoke in a clear voice.
“There’s one more thing. The Clan Lord is currently in Monica…”
But before she could finish.
Bang!
A loud crash echoed through the corridor, shaking the entire lobby.
Following that, the sound of numerous footsteps began to resonate through the hallway.