00476 Upon reflection, it seems words are insufficient, and actions must speak louder.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
As I turned to leave, I caught sight of Jo Seung-woo, a faint smile playing on his lips. Initially, I thought he might be more nervous than expected, but after a few days, he seemed to have settled in quite well. In truth, even now, compared to when Ha-yeon was around, the absence didn’t feel all that significant. While Jo Seung-woo’s own abilities played a part, it was a reminder that humans are creatures of adaptation.
“Haha, Clan Lord, it’s been so hard to catch a glimpse of you these days.”
He even managed to crack a joke. Or was it not a joke?
Indeed, I’ve been darting around quite a bit lately. But what can I do? It’s not like I’m out gallivanting for fun; there’s work to be done.
“The clan members’ grumbles are starting to sound like a chorus. They seem eager to see some results soon. Hahaha.”
“Hmm, what to do? It looks like I won’t have much free time until this is all over. If they’re that impatient, tell them to go ahead and open it themselves.”
“Oh, come on. How could we do that without our Clan Lord?”
“Then they’ll just have to wait a bit longer. Anyway, I’ll contact you through the crystal ball when it’s all wrapped up.”
Jo Seung-woo nodded with a smile still on his face. After a brief exchange, I turned and headed out the entrance on the first floor.
The sky was a clear blue, not a cloud in sight.
The hired hands, who had been chatting in small groups in the garden, scattered the moment they saw me. They busied themselves trimming the grass or changing the pond water, diligently tending to the garden.
I walked through them without a word. After all, my relationship with the hired hands was strictly contractual, and I had no desire to micromanage their brief moments of leisure. If things got out of hand, other clan members would handle it.
With that thought, I stepped out the front gate and onto the street, making my way briskly toward the warp gate.
Today, my destination was the grand city of Barbara, specifically the Central Administrative Organization, a representative institution of the Northern Continent established two years ago. While the representative clans managed the city, the Central Administrative Organization was a massive coalition managing the Northern Continent.
Though it launched with grand intentions, the reality was somewhat, if not entirely, laughable.
After the war and recovery efforts, the most pressing issue was Barbara. With the fall of the Golden Lion, debates raged over who would claim the now-vacant city. I watched the situation closely.
It was similar during the first cycle. The struggle over Barbara’s ownership was a precursor to a period of strife. Thus, it was crucial to prepare for how the situation would unfold.
However, the outcome was unexpectedly different from the first cycle. While they failed to reach a consensus, they eventually settled on an odd agreement.
In short, Barbara became a jointly managed city. With the Inn of Beginnings and the User Academy, the focus was on helping newcomers adapt and operate, and in preparation for any future conflicts, renowned clans of the Northern Continent would manage it together. The rationale was sound, at least on paper.
What I found amusing was the distribution of clans within the Central Administrative Organization. Half of the members were from Eastern clans, with the rest evenly split among the Western, Southern, and Northern clans. This meant the Eastern clans wielded the most influence over Barbara.
I once thought:
The future has changed. Yet, it remains unchanged.
Though a personal belief, I felt this principle applied to the situation at hand.
Initially, it seemed like things would pass without much fuss. But as time went on and stability returned, the South began to openly express dissatisfaction with the East’s actions. They couldn’t accept being treated the same as the West or North, despite having fought alongside the East from the start.
The East, however, had its own arguments. They suffered the most during the war and contributed the most. They structured the organization accordingly and weren’t even fully claiming Barbara, so what was the issue? Thus, a rift formed between the two sides.
Fortunately, the East had managed affairs fairly and avoided major incidents, preventing a full-blown conflict. Nonetheless, relations between the East and South were strained, though not overtly so.
“Where to?”
Lost in thought, I found myself at the warp gate.
“Barbara, please.”
“That’ll be 2 gold.”
I paid the smiling attendant and stepped in front of the warp gate. As the portal activated, I didn’t hesitate to step through.
Upon arriving in Barbara, I made my way to the former Golden Lion Clan House, now home to the Central Administrative Organization. As a representative institution of the Northern Continent, it wasn’t a place just anyone could enter, but I was an exception. My reputation preceded me, and I had an appointment. After a simple identity check, I was allowed inside.
However, as I opened the door and entered the room, I was momentarily taken aback by the person waiting for me.
“Welcome, Mercenary Lord.”
Despite her intellectual and mature appearance, her voice was sharp and childlike.
“Is this your first time here? Hehe.”
”…You.”
The woman waving at me from a plush sofa was none other than Lee Hyo-eul. I was stunned. I never expected to find her in this building, in this room.
Lee Hyo-eul was the Guardian of the Northern Continent, someone whose identity had to remain hidden. If she were in a low-profile position like at the User Academy, it might be understandable. But this room was on the top floor of a significant institution. It was strange for someone with no established reputation to be here.
Wait a minute. Does this mean…
“Did you quit? Being a Guardian?”
“That’s right! I knew you’d figure it out right away! Hahaha!”
Lee Hyo-eul stood from the sofa, raising her arms in triumph and laughing heartily. I watched her quietly before speaking.
“It’s not something to laugh about. Anyone aware of the situation might realize you’re the Guardian, like during the Matron incident.”
Her laughter ceased, and she sank back into her seat, gracefully lifting a teacup with a soft smile. I clicked my tongue. I knew she was emotionally volatile, but she seemed a bit unhinged.
“I know, I know. That’s why I’m here.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s simple. Without the Guardian role, I’m no longer valuable. But I’m not entirely useless. As you said, incidents like the Matron’s could happen again, so they need someone like me as a shield… Oh, and don’t call me stupid. It was part of the resignation terms.”
“Stup… Hmm. I figured as much. I’ve always said, don’t trust the angels.”
“Oh, whatever. I’m just glad to be done with it. Anyway, enough small talk. What brings the illustrious Mercenary Lord here today?”
“Hmm. I’m not that illustrious. In fact, there was a major incident recently.”
Lee Hyo-eul waved her hand dismissively and gestured to the sofa opposite her. Taking it as a cue to get to the point, I sat down.
Lee Hyo-eul spoke.
“A major incident recently… Oh, the Dragon’s Sleeping Mountain? Ohoho.”
“Yes.”
“You handled that neatly, didn’t you? Completed the commission, conquered the challenge, rescued the users, and brought back plenty of rewards, right? Oh, tea?”
“No, thank you.”
“Ok. Oh, speaking of rewards, you were impressive. I read the report recently. You decided to return the deceased users’ equipment for free, in collaboration with the Koran Union. Do you know how surprised I was? Someone like you, who epitomizes self-interest…”
“Enough, enough!”
She must have been thrilled to quit being a Guardian. Listening to her chatter made my head spin. It felt like having a chirping baby bird in front of me. As I gazed at her, she stuck out her tongue slightly, looking sheepish.
I rubbed my forehead for a moment before retrieving a crystal ball from my pocket. Tossing it to her, Lee Hyo-eul caught it with a playful “Yap” and examined it curiously.
“This is… a recording crystal? No, it seems a bit different.”
“No, it’s a recording crystal.”
“Oh, is this for me to watch?”
“By all means.”
I crossed my legs and replied calmly. Lee Hyo-eul immediately placed her fingertips on the surface. As she infused it with magic, a clear light emanated from the crystal, and the recording began to play. I watched her face with interest.
“Hmm… Looks like everyone’s here. Shall we get started?”
“Right. You’re sharp as ever. So, you all knew, huh? That’s right. I was the one behind the Mercenary incident.”
As the video played, Lee Hyo-eul’s expression shifted. The face that had been brimming with joy moments ago turned somber and serious, reminiscent of his days as a guardian. Sensing it was finally time for a real conversation, I clasped my hands and rested them on my knee.
After what felt like an eternity, the light from the crystal ball dimmed. Lee Hyo-eul lifted his head and let out a deep sigh.
“Phew.”
“So, what did you think? I’m curious about your thoughts.”
”…I take back what I said earlier. About you being impressive.”
“Hmm?”
“These guys are crazy, but you’re something else. Was this all for revenge?”
“Haha. Revenge? Hardly. That’s not the point right now, is it? If you’ve committed a crime, you should face the consequences.”
Lee Hyo-eul stared at me, bewildered by my nonchalance. He seemed taken aback by my dismissal of the situation.
His reaction wasn’t exactly what I hoped for, but Lee Hyo-eul was perceptive. He had grasped my intentions from just one video. However, as I mentioned, this wasn’t about revenge. It was merely an appetizer. My visit here today was just one step toward the main course.
“Damn it. I thought things were quiet… and now this… Damn it…”
Lee Hyo-eul muttered to himself for a while. Then, looking at me with a voice almost pleading, he asked, “Mercenary Lord, can’t we just let this go?”
“Why should I?”
“Well… nothing good will come of this for either of us. Fighting is never a good thing.”
“True, fighting is bad. But I don’t back down from a fight that’s brought to me.”
Lee Hyo-eul seemed resigned, covering his face with his hands. His voice, slightly muffled, reached me.
“Mercenary Lord, I get that you’re angry, but even if you expose this, it won’t have the impact you think. Sure, the Union’s image will take a hit, and there’ll be backlash. Those involved won’t escape punishment. But that’s about it.”
“Why do you think that?”
“The Koran Union is formidable. It’s not just one or two clans; it’s a massive alliance of eight major clans. Including their subsidiary clans, they’re a force to be reckoned with. One reason the East doesn’t mess with the South is because of the Koran Union, not the Blue Wolves. Do you understand?”
“Ah, I see. But you don’t need to worry about that.”
”…What do you mean?”
“I’m not stopping at just tarnishing the Union’s image or making them face criticism.”
This was the moment I’d been waiting to reveal.
And then it happened.
Thud!
Lee Hyo-eul’s hands fell from his face, hitting the desk with a loud thud. His eyes, wide with disbelief, met mine. It seemed he finally understood my intentions.
“You… you can’t mean…”
“Yes.”
I confirmed quietly, speaking in a low voice.
“I, or rather the Mercenaries, intend to see this through to the end.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Ah, my apologies. My brother’s graduation is next Monday, and since my father will be busy, we decided to have dinner together tonight. It took longer than expected, and I got home quite late. Haha.
By the way, you readers are something else. I tried to lower the stakes by dedicating a chapter to Han So-young yesterday, but you ended up liking it even more. ㅜ.ㅠ It seems I misjudged your tastes. Sigh… Maybe next time I’ll have Han So-young picking her nose and farting. Haha. (Just kidding.)