1. Name: Woo Seol-hee (5th Year)

2. Class: Victoria Elite Mercenary (Rare, Master)

3. Nation: Barbara

4. Clan: Artemis (Clan Rank: A Minus)

5. True Name & Nationality: Flower Blooming on Death • South Korea

6. Gender: Female (28)

7. Height & Weight: 171.3cm • 58.4kg

8. Disposition: Sharp • Obscene

[Strength 92] [Endurance 84] [Agility 86] [Stamina 81] [Magic 85] [Luck 73]

Aside from her rare class, nothing particularly stood out. Her disposition was intriguing, but considering my own clan members, it wasn’t all that unusual. When I first encountered the “obscene” trait, it was quite a shock, but now it seemed almost normal.

I interlocked my fingers and studied Woo Seol-hee. According to the information brought by Go Yeon-ju, Woo Seol-hee was aligned with Shin Hyuk’s faction. And Shin Hyuk was the despicable mastermind behind the recent incident.

Surely, she hadn’t come to capture me. So, what was the real reason for her visit? It was only polite to ask.

“So, what brings you here today? I’m quite curious, as we haven’t had much interaction with the alliance until now.”

“Ah, well, we haven’t had much to do with the Mercenary Clan, have we? But that could change, couldn’t it? After all, we’re both southern clans. Haha.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. I could imagine Shin Hyuk’s frustration boiling over by now.

Sending the Mercenary Clan to the Dragon’s Sleeping Ridge was a bold move. But not only did we all return safely, we also conquered the ridge and rescued other users besides the client.

In short, the plan backfired spectacularly, weakening Shin Hyuk’s position within the alliance and jeopardizing his future prospects.

But all was not lost. Shin Hyuk needed a way to make the Mercenary Clan abandon Halo and turn the situation around, even if it meant taking a hit. That way, he could still have something to say when the time came.

I decided to listen to what Woo Seol-hee had to say.

“Hmm. I’m quite curious to hear what you have in mind.”

“Well, since you prefer directness, I’ll get straight to the point. I hope you’ll forgive any perceived rudeness. The reason I’m here is because of the Dragon’s Sleeping Ridge. Our alliance has been very interested in it for some time. We were gathering information and planning a large-scale expedition.”

“The Dragon’s Sleeping Ridge, you say. I see. But as you know, the area has already been conquered, and it wasn’t claimed by anyone.”

“I know. It would be a lie to say we’re not disappointed, but there’s no point dwelling on it now. What Artemis, or rather the alliance, wants to discuss is the results you obtained from the ridge.”

“Results, you say. Are you suggesting we share our findings with the alliance?”

“Oh, come now. We wouldn’t be so shameless. We do have some dignity, you know.”

I felt my face harden for a moment, but Woo Seol-hee’s quick follow-up eased the tension. Despite maintaining a composed expression since her arrival, the results were a different matter entirely. They were untouchable, a right that no one could infringe upon. Smiling through such a request would be akin to admitting to being a fool, and I had no intention of doing that.

Woo Seol-hee, still smiling, quickly continued.

“I’ve heard from the rescued users that you collected the equipment of the deceased, including those from our alliance. What we want are those items, or rather, their keepsakes.”

“Keepsakes?”

“Yes, keepsakes. Our alliance is like a warm family. We consider each clan member as family, not just users. Many have formed actual families. We want to retrieve their keepsakes to comfort those who lost loved ones. Of course, we’ll compensate you fairly.”

“Oh, I see. I wasn’t aware of such circumstances.”

It wasn’t an unreasonable request. Some users do keep mementos of their acquaintances, and they offered compensation. There was no issue with the procedure or justification.

From the Mercenary Clan’s perspective, it wasn’t a bad deal either. Better than leaving them to gather dust in storage.

But this wasn’t the alliance’s true intention. As part of understanding their real motive, I decided to broach a sensitive topic.

“What do you think, Mercenary Lord? It doesn’t seem like a bad proposal for either side.”

“I understand your intention. It seems like a reasonable suggestion. However, from our perspective, it’s a bit complicated.”

“Complicated? Is there a problem with what I proposed?”

“No, there’s no problem with following protocol. But as they say, it’s not what you say, but how you say it. There have been numerous baseless accusations against the Mercenary Clan. I’m concerned about what might be said this time. Perhaps it’s better to do nothing.”

I narrowed my eyes and watched her closely. Woo Seol-hee fell silent. My words were a deliberate jab, an aggressive move. But if she knew that most of those accusations came from Koran, and that Koran was managed by the alliance, she would understand my point.

After a moment of silence, Woo Seol-hee spoke in a low voice.

“It seems there’s a significant misunderstanding, Mercenary Lord. You’re referring to the records from Koran that criticize the Mercenary Clan. It’s true, but I want to assure you that it’s not the alliance’s intention.”

A misunderstanding, she said. It was unexpected that she didn’t deny it. Curious about her explanation, I listened intently.

“I understand your frustration, and I sincerely apologize. But it’s something beyond our control. Koran’s policy is to guarantee maximum freedom. Many users are drawn to that freedom. If we suppress such articles, it would violate our longstanding policy. And it’s not just Koran that publishes such records, is it?”

“Hmm. That’s true, but…”

Her explanation was laughable, but I feigned a slight concession. Sensing an opportunity, Woo Seol-hee’s eyes sparkled.

“Wait a moment, Mercenary Lord. How about this? Let’s think bigger. Why not let us handle all the results you obtained?”

“All of them?”

“Of course, we have our limits, so the price must be reasonable. But if you agree, we’ll return all the equipment to their acquaintances for free. Publicly, we’ll announce that the Mercenary Clan generously donated them at the alliance’s request. Think of it as a kind of proxy.”

“What? Why would the alliance want to act as a proxy?”

“In truth, this is partly to make amends for any past grievances, and we also want to improve our image and relationship with the Mercenaries. If you agree, it could redefine our relationship and significantly reduce negative records in the city. What do you think? It could be a win-win for both of us.”

“Oh… I see. That sounds like a great idea.”

At that moment, I barely managed to swallow the curses rising in my throat and forced myself to speak.

Oh, really? It’s quite amusing. Just a moment ago, you were all about freedom, and now you’re saying you’ll handle it yourselves?

I didn’t say it outright, but the implication was clear. Part of me wanted to grab her by the hair and slam her head into the table, or quietly watch her face change as I twisted the truth.

But I couldn’t do that. Our greatest weapon right now is that the enemy is unaware of the current situation. I couldn’t throw away the script I’d agonized over for three days and nights for a moment of catharsis. Yes, I had to hold back.

I pretended to be lost in thought for a moment, repeating the name Han So-young in my mind. If it had been Istantel Rowe saying this, I would have gladly accepted. But it was the Alliance, so it was different.

After a brief pause, I smiled brightly and extended my hand. Woo Seol-hee returned the gesture with a charming smile.

“With such a generous offer, I have no reason to refuse. Alright.”

“So, if we shake on it, the deal is sealed?”

I nodded, and Woo Seol-hee laughed pleasantly as she took my hand.

Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she spoke up.

“Oh, by the way, would it be alright if we made an announcement on our side? This plan actually came from Shin Hyuk, the Clan Lord of Nambeol, not the entire Alliance. I’d like to include his name as well.”

“I don’t see a problem with that. However, the Mercenaries are planning an official announcement soon, so it might not be necessary.”

“What? An official announcement?”

“Yes. We have things to discuss about the Sleeping Dragon Mountains, among other matters. We can include the details of this deal then.”

Woo Seol-hee looked at me with a thoughtful gaze, nodding slowly before speaking in a casual tone.

“Among other things… Oh, come to think of it, the Western City will soon be vacant. There’s talk of the Mercenaries becoming the representative clan. Should I congratulate you in advance? Haha…”

Finally, Woo Seol-hee took the bait.

This was the moment I’d been waiting for, so I calmed myself and spoke. Now it begins.

“Excuse me? Congratulations?”

“Oh, is that not the case?”

“Well, there seems to be a misunderstanding. The Mercenaries have no interest in the Western City. In fact, we don’t plan to participate in the selection process at all.”

“Why not?”

“Managing the magical city of Magia is already challenging enough. We can’t handle another city. There’s a saying about excess being as bad as a deficiency. We’ll clarify this in our official announcement, along with today’s discussion. Of course, there will be some embellishments. So, should I say that today’s conversation was between Shin Hyuk, you, and me, rather than the entire Alliance?”

“Yes, yes! Please do that. Oh, I mean, yes, that would be wonderful.”

Woo Seol-hee looked momentarily dazed before nodding vigorously. She quickly stood up, fidgeting with her hands, eager to leave and share the news.

I could understand. Her world had turned into a nightmare with my return, and now she saw a lifeline.

“Leaving already?”

“Yes! I want to share this good news as soon as possible, and I have a lot to prepare for. Haha.”

“Well, at least have a meal before you go.”

“I appreciate the thought. Haha, haha! I’ll be going now, as I’m quite busy. No need to see me out.”

Woo Seol-hee exchanged quick farewells with me and practically flew out the door.

Listening to her hurried footsteps fade away, I surveyed the empty reception room and chuckled softly.

It was amusing to see Woo Seol-hee running off so eagerly, unaware that the lifeline she clung to might be rotten.

After Woo Seol-hee left, I returned to my office. Despite the time that had passed, Jo Seung-woo was still standing there.

“So, did you watch the videos?”

“Yes, I watched both.”

As I settled into my chair, I noticed his tense expression.

But he didn’t seem angry. Even though I’d just met with an Alliance user, he didn’t say a word about it. He simply observed me, more interested in what I had to say than in expressing any grievances.

This was precisely why I chose Jo Seung-woo.

Recalling his disposition, I spoke in a relaxed tone.

“You must be curious why I chose you, User Jo Seung-woo, to replace User Jung Ha-yeon as a clan member.”

”…Yes.”

“User Jo Seung-woo, I’m not the type to sit back and take things quietly. I believe in the saying ‘an eye for an eye.’ Do you understand what I mean?”

“I think I do. Yes, you’re absolutely right.”

Though many words were left unsaid, Jo Seung-woo likely understood. It meant that partnering with Ha-yeon for future endeavors would be challenging, and I was asking if he could take on what she couldn’t.

“But you know, I’ve had a slight change of heart.”

“A change of heart?”

“I initially planned to give as good as I got. But seeing how things are, I think I’ll need to take a lot more to feel satisfied.”

“I see. So, what would you like me to do?”

And Jo Seung-woo agreed to do whatever was necessary.

I spun my chair around, looking out at the sunlight streaming through the window. Slowly, I took out a cigarette and spoke quietly.

“We’re going to be very busy for a while. I have many places to visit and groundwork to lay. But for now, User Jo Seung-woo, please prepare a venue for an official announcement at Monica’s Square tomorrow.”

“An official announcement, you say?”

I nodded calmly. After taking a drag from my cigarette, I spoke softly.

“Yes. That will mark the true beginning of our revenge.”

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

Today is Kim Yuna’s competition. I’ve been eagerly anticipating it and hope she achieves great results.

This part was challenging to balance. There are so many scenes I want to include, which makes it a bit tricky. Haha.