Giving a Little, Getting a Lot
“Su-hyeon, what’s so funny?”
I glanced over at Go Yeon-ju, who was looking at me with a puzzled expression. Her eyes, however, held a glimmer of understanding. She was quick to catch on, as always. She probably had an inkling of why I was laughing and what was going through my mind.
Trying to suppress my laughter, I turned off the video that was still playing.
“Isn’t it hilarious? These so-called leaders of a clan, the ones who are supposed to be guiding a massive alliance…”
“Why? Do you think they’re being petty?”
“No, it’s not that. Whatever they do, as long as it benefits them, who would complain? But they’re just so stupid. Especially that Shin-hyuk guy—he’s the biggest fool of them all. Ha ha ha.”
“Hmm…”
I had initially thought there might be more to it, given the people involved, but now it seemed there was no need for such complicated thinking. I just needed to see things as they were.
Pushing aside all other thoughts, I focused solely on the alliance’s perspective.
This whole incident was orchestrated by Shin-hyuk, the clan lord of the Nambeol Clan. The actual execution was carried out by Song Hee-seon, a member of the Baekhwa Clan. It’s clear there’s some connection between the two.
Shin-hyuk’s motives for this incident likely boil down to three things: a personal vendetta (at least from the alliance’s perspective), damaging the reputation of the Mercenaries, and using the situation to strengthen his own position.
In short, with the temporary representative clans of the western cities stepping down soon, he seemed to be trying to bolster his influence in the selection of the new city leaders.
That’s really all there is to it.
Just then, as I was about to continue my train of thought, I snapped back to reality and looked up. Go Yeon-ju was watching me with an intrigued gaze, as if she were studying me. Realizing I might have let something slip, I spoke up quietly.
“Um, User Go Yeon-ju, aside from this crystal ball, do you have any more information about the Southern Free Alliance?”
Yeon-ju didn’t say anything, but she tapped her head lightly in response.
“I watched the video carefully, but it raised a few questions.”
“What kind of questions?”
“From what I know, the Koran Alliance is supposed to be like a family. Each clan has its role, and they pursue mutual growth through friendly competition. But some of the users in the video seemed like they couldn’t stand each other.”
“Oh, that’s simple. After Kim Yong-man, who once led the alliance, passed away, that family-like atmosphere disappeared.”
I raised an eyebrow at her words.
“It sounds like you’re implying Kim Yong-man was murdered, not just killed in an accident during an expedition.”
“Nope, it was definitely murder.”
Yeon-ju smiled slyly, and I felt a lump in my throat. This was something I hadn’t known even in my first run-through.
”…So, the internal situation in the alliance isn’t good, then.”
“Not just not good—it’s a complete mess. For example, while it seems like city management rotates monthly, in reality, they’re dividing the spoils among themselves in a competitive manner.”
“Dividing sides and competing, huh.”
“The profits from the cities go straight to the representative clans. Anyway, from the video you watched, there are two users you should particularly remember: Park Tae-jin and Shin-hyuk. They both rose to power after Kim Yong-man and his close associates died. Officially, Park Tae-jin succeeded Kim Yong-man and is considered the de facto leader of the alliance. Shin-hyuk is seen as the second-in-command, threatening Park Tae-jin’s position.”
“Park Tae-jin and Shin-hyuk… Got it. What about the other clans?”
“The clans supporting Park Tae-jin are Baekdusan of Serengeti. Those backing Shin-hyuk are Usulhee of Artemis. The other four clans are quietly maintaining neutrality, centered around Seo Ji-hwan of the Merchant Guild.”
Yeon-ju provided information smoothly, without hesitation. Her tone and demeanor were like a tutor instructing a student, which made me smile inwardly and feel relieved.
Some of the information Yeon-ju shared was new to me, but some I already knew. Comparing it to my first run-through, I could roughly guess the situation.
Still, I asked detailed questions because Yeon-ju was quick to catch on.
The Southern Free Alliance appeared problem-free externally, and this information hadn’t yet spread across the continent. If I had made a slip based on my first run-through, Yeon-ju would have been suspicious.
Even if it wouldn’t have been a big deal, I was being as cautious as possible.
Anyway, I had gathered all the necessary information. Now, there was only one thing left to do. I slowly stood up and grabbed one of the crystal balls on the desk. Yeon-ju’s previously languid gaze suddenly focused on me.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Don’t play coy. You know what I mean.”
“Ha ha ha.”
I laughed nonchalantly and tossed the crystal ball in my hand. It rose to head height before falling back into my palm. After repeating this a few times, I spoke quietly.
“What else? It’s time to get to work.”
“What?”
Yeon-ju asked in a puzzled voice. Watching her slightly furrowed brows, I repeated my words with a teasing tone.
“Let’s get to work. Oh, and thanks for all your hard work on this, User Go Yeon-ju.”
”…What?”
A moment later, Yeon-ju’s face went blank.
Time flew by. It had already been three days since Ahn Hyun and Jung Ha-yeon left the Mercenary House.
During that time, Kim Su-hyeon had been incredibly busy, dealing with a mountain of tasks. Although the alliance was a significant issue, it wasn’t the only thing on his plate.
There was a simple way to resolve this incident. All he had to do was release the two crystal balls Yeon-ju had brought to the public. The involved parties would face severe consequences, and the Southern Free Alliance’s reputation would plummet.
But Kim Su-hyeon didn’t do that. Or rather, he had no intention of doing so. His nature wouldn’t allow him to let things slide so easily.
Believing in the saying “give a little, get a lot,” Kim Su-hyeon planned to handle this incident differently. For now, he was sitting back and observing the situation.
While he was focusing on other matters, he didn’t need to micromanage everything. With over fifty members in the Mercenary Clan, there were plenty of capable users.
On the third day, as the morning sun rose in the sky, Jo Seung-woo finally received a summons from Kim Su-hyeon.
After Jung Ha-yeon, who had been in charge of the Mercenary’s internal affairs, left, Jo Seung-woo took over her role.
Receiving his first summons from Kim Su-hyeon, Jo Seung-woo was both nervous and excited. He had been briefed on the workload while Kim Su-hyeon was away in the Sleeping Dragon Mountains, and it was no joke.
Moreover, both Ahn Hyun and Jung Ha-yeon had left Monica. One was a favored clan member, and the other was a vocal leader alongside Go Yeon-ju.
Despite the gravity of their mistake, Kim Su-hyeon’s decision to dismiss them highlighted his character and served as a wake-up call for the clan members. As a result, Jo Seung-woo was on edge but also felt a sense of anticipation.
Each member of the Mercenary Clan was formidable. Without exceptional skills, one couldn’t stand out. Jo Seung-woo wasn’t particularly remarkable by Mercenary standards.
But with Jung Ha-yeon’s departure, an unexpected opportunity arose for Jo Seung-woo.
Yes, this was an opportunity—a significant one. Simply working hard and doing assigned tasks diligently wouldn’t make him stand out. That was what everyone did.
The fact that he was suddenly given the role of managing the Mercenary’s internal affairs meant Kim Su-hyeon expected something from him. With that in mind, Jo Seung-woo resolved to accomplish whatever was needed. Swallowing hard, he focused on Kim Su-hyeon sitting before him.
“The performance report is due today, and the returning members will be redeployed today as well. Good. It seems things are finally settling down. Oh, how’s the client matter?”
“After the Sleeping Dragon Mountains campaign, all articles criticizing our clan have disappeared. The Northern Continent’s reaction to the campaign is half amazement and half curiosity about how we did it. Also, the client, Kim Soo-jung, paid the remaining balance without complaint and expressed a desire to visit us as a gesture of gratitude.”
“I see. If the balance is paid, there’s no need for further contact. Politely decline the visit, and how’s the clan doing these days?”
“Since the clan lord’s return, there’s a clear sense of direction. Everyone is focused on their current tasks, and there’s talk of being especially cautious in future actions after this incident. Oh, and some are asking when the performance will be open to the public.”
Jo Seung-woo’s words were true. Even he felt reassured seeing Kim Su-hyeon in the office.
In the Mercenary Clan, Kim Su-hyeon was that kind of presence. He had never made a wrong decision and succeeded in everything he undertook.
Cho Seung-woo reminded himself that he was merely a stand-in, nothing more. He watched Kim Soo-hyun shake his head.
“Opening up the results… that’s one way to go. But User Cho Seung-woo, there’s something more pressing right now. Something far more important.”
“Something important?”
Kim Soo-hyun paused, then gestured for Cho Seung-woo to come closer. As Cho took a few steps forward, Kim reached into his coat and pulled out an object. It was a crystal orb, but not just any orb—a recording crystal.
“What do you see here?” Kim asked.
“It looks like a recording crystal.”
“Correct. But it’s not your average crystal orb.”
“Then what is it…?”
“Back when we tackled the magical city of Magia, we acquired something called Mavolo’s Preservation Mana Orb. To cut to the chase, this crystal contains fragments of that orb. It’s a special creation by Vivian, allowing the internal mana flow to be adjusted and maintained indefinitely.”
“Is that even possible?”
As a fellow mage, Cho Seung-woo understood immediately and couldn’t help but be amazed. If what Kim said was true, this crystal was essentially a camouflaged surveillance device.
“Haha, no need to grasp all the details. Would you like to take a look at what’s inside?”
”…Alright.”
Cho Seung-woo blinked a couple of times, then nodded cautiously. He reached out slowly, steadying his mind. Although he had finished several reports that morning, they weren’t particularly significant. They were just the basic tasks expected of someone in his position.
Kim Soo-hyun had said this was important.
In other words, the real work was about to begin. Depending on how he handled what he saw in the crystal, it could determine whether he remained just another user or became someone with a stronger voice.
With that thought, Cho Seung-woo reached for the crystal, trying to calm his trembling heart.
But then, he stopped abruptly. Kim Soo-hyun’s lips had curled into a slight smile, revealing his white teeth.
Cho Seung-woo closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again. Kim was nodding, urging him to go ahead.
Yet Cho had seen it clearly. Kim’s face wasn’t shadowed, but the smile was etched in his memory.
It could have been just a simple smile, but Kim wasn’t one to smile often. And the atmosphere felt different, more distant than usual.
‘Was he always like this?’
Cho Seung-woo tilted his head in confusion. But there was nothing he could do now, so he calmly placed his hand on the crystal.
Just then—
Knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock!
“Brother! Brother! Something’s happened!”
A frantic voice accompanied by urgent knocking came through the door. It was An Sol.
Startled, Cho Seung-woo looked at Kim Soo-hyun, who sighed deeply and shook his head.
“Don’t worry. It’s probably nothing serious. Yes, what is it?”
Kim called out, and the door swung open as An Sol walked in. Her steps were calm, but her eyes blinked rapidly.
“Brother! Um…?”
An Sol started to speak but paused when she saw Cho Seung-woo. She cleared her throat a few times, straightened her neck and back, and put on a serious face. Cho Seung-woo couldn’t help but chuckle. Yes, he was just an attendant here.
“Brother, I mean, as the Clan Lord’s attendant, I have something to report. Ah, it’s important, so User Cho Seung-woo, could you step out for a moment?”
“Stop fooling around… Sigh. Just say it.”
An Sol pouted at Kim’s words but then composed herself and spoke quietly.
“We have visitors. They say they’re from the Southern Free Alliance and wish to see the Clan Lord.”
As soon as An Sol finished speaking, Kim Soo-hyun’s expression changed.
And after a moment of silence, he stood up, muttering to himself.
“It seems it is something serious after all.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
How lonely the days have been without you. As the night stretches on, thoughts of you grow longer. When I miss your fair face, I draw it in my mind, counting the days until we meet again. Ooh~. Ooh ooh ooh~. I heard it through the grapevine~. That you’ve found someone new. Ooh~. Ooh ooh ooh~. I heard it through the grapevine. My heart was so sorrowful, I couldn’t help but cry.
Why do I love this song so much these days? I must be getting older. Trot music is starting to appeal to me more than pop songs.
Ah, thank you for yesterday. Don’t worry about things like military service or stopping the series; everything’s fine. Haha.
Oh, I ended up deleting everything I wrote at the beginning today. The plot got so tangled that I had to start over. I went back to my notes and reorganized everything, which took some time. Otherwise, I could have written more. :)
The plot is quite complex, but I’ll try to make it as easy to understand as possible for you readers. This part of the Shadow War won’t take too long, considering it’s about war. If you consider this the first part, the whole thing should wrap up in about three parts. :D