Upon reflection, it seemed words were insufficient; actions were necessary.
A long silence stretched between us. The once playful demeanor of Lee Hyo-eul had vanished, replaced by a somber expression ever since reviewing the footage.
After what felt like an eternity, Lee Hyo-eul narrowed her eyes and finally spoke.
“Do we really have to go this far? Is bloodshed the only way to satisfy you?”
“Didn’t you learn that if you get caught scheming, you’ll end up bleeding?”
“Kim Soo-hyun!”
“Ha, calm down, oh mighty protector of the Northern Continent… or should I say, not anymore.”
I waved my hand a few times to signal for calm, then clasped my hands together and leaned forward slightly. Continuing in that position, I spoke.
“Listen, User Lee Hyo-eul.”
“What?”
“Do you know what we went through in the Dragon’s Sleeping Mountain Range? What we had to endure?”
“That’s….”
“The Mercenaries completed the conquest of the Dragon’s Sleeping Mountain Range. Do you think that’s the end of it? Do you think it was just a matter of strolling through some ruins, taking down a few monsters, and calling it a day?”
”…….”
Lee Hyo-eul fell silent, seemingly at a loss for words. It was understandable; she might not know the details, but the notorious reputation of the Dragon’s Sleeping Mountain Range was well-known.
“Was it really that difficult?”
“Difficult doesn’t even begin to cover it. We faced relentless waves of monsters, barely escaping death multiple times. And that’s not all. You know about the Shield of God, right? Han-gyeol nearly lost his soul, barely managing to reclaim his body. He’s still recovering, and the priest says there’s a high chance of lasting trauma, possibly even mental illness.”
“Mental illness?”
“Yes.”
Secret classes and rare classes are considered valuable resources due to their rarity. You must have heard of them at least once. I nodded and continued.
“And there’s more. In some areas, the field effects nearly wiped out our rescue team. We barely managed to save Ahn Hyun, who was practically a mummy, on the brink of death. If it weren’t for Ahn Sol, he would have died right there.”
”…….”
“We overcame all these hurdles to return to the city. So don’t tell me to just let it slide. When I first saw this footage, I barely managed to suppress the urge to kill them all and came here instead.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but….”
Just as Lee Hyo-eul cautiously tried to continue, I couldn’t hold back my rising frustration and snapped.
“You understand, but, but, but! You don’t understand a thing! If you get it, stop saying that!”
“Whoa! Hey! Get a grip on reality! Do you think the Koran Alliance is that easy to deal with? Why did you even come here if you weren’t going to listen to me?”
“Should I just leave then? If you want, I can rally the entire Crafting Alliance and take on the Alliance and its clans. I bet there are plenty of clans in the East willing to join if we lead the charge.”
“You really…!”
Lee Hyo-eul looked at me, then closed her mouth again. Her heavy breathing suggested she was trying to calm herself. I, too, took a moment to steady my own racing heart, pulling out a cigarette as a means to relax. As the sound of her breathing filled the room, I quietly lit the cigarette.
After some time passed, I flicked the half-burned cigarette and spoke.
“You’re right. I didn’t come here to talk; I came to inform.”
“Inform?”
“Yes, inform. As I said, the Mercenaries will see this through to the end. But we’re targeting the Alliance, not the subordinate clans. I’m giving you one last chance.”
“One last chance?”
Whether out of disbelief or confusion, Lee Hyo-eul kept repeating my words like a parrot. Regardless, I nodded after finishing my cigarette.
“Yes. While I call it an announcement, it’s also a choice. Once I finish what I have in mind, I’ll be satisfied and step back. I’m open to reasonable mediation. But if there’s no mediation, I’ll take it as a sign that you don’t care.”
“Ha~.”
When our eyes met in the middle, Lee Hyo-eul let out a deep sigh, as if resigned. She slumped into her chair, speaking in a dazed voice.
“This is really troublesome….”
“Troublesome?”
“The Iron Mountain Range. The Northern Continent is preparing to tackle it soon. We failed last time, so we must succeed this time, even if it takes all our strength.”
“And what does that have to do with this?”
Lee Hyo-eul lowered her gaze and spoke softly.
“How can it not? The Koran Alliance is a crucial force based on user information. If you destroy the Alliance, who will fill that gap? Who will step up?”
Only then did I manage a small smile. Initially, I couldn’t understand Lee Hyo-eul’s reaction. She seemed overly supportive of the Alliance, despite no longer being its protector.
But it wasn’t about taking sides; it was about the Iron Mountain Range. If it weren’t for that, she might not have opposed me so strongly.
Feeling slightly appeased, I spoke in a soothing tone.
“Let’s look at this positively. If the Northern Continent is going all out on the Iron Mountain Range, wouldn’t it be better to support me? I doubt the South or East will just follow along. If anything, there might be discord.”
”…….”
“Don’t worry. As long as you do what I ask, it will end with the Mercenaries and the Alliance. And honestly, if I show this crystal to the Goryeo Clan, how do you think they’ll react? They’ll jump at the chance. It’s a win-win.”
“Your words….”
Her voice was still grumpy, but she didn’t argue further. I figured she understood enough, so I slowly stood up. Having settled things with the central management, there was nothing left to do but wait.
After a moment, I walked over to Lee Hyo-eul, tapping the crystal on the desk.
“I’m leaving this here. In about three days? Set it off then. Not right away.”
I needed that time to put my plans into action.
Lee Hyo-eul didn’t respond. She just shrugged her shoulders, nodding slowly as if drained of energy. Satisfied with her reaction, I turned and headed for the door.
That’s when it happened.
“Kim Soo-hyun.”
Just as I reached the door and was about to open it, a low voice called from behind. I turned halfway to look at Lee Hyo-eul.
She stared at me for a moment, then spoke with a weary expression.
“You really are a bastard.”
“And you’re no less of a bitch.”
I replied with a grin, then opened the door and stepped into the hallway. As the door closed behind me, I fell into quiet contemplation.
With this, I had secured my justification. Although I had recorded footage, as Lee Hyo-eul pointed out, the Koran Alliance wouldn’t just sit idly by.
But with the central management involved, the situation changed. As the most influential institution in the Northern Continent, users would trust their word over any media play by the Alliance.
Now, only one task remained.
Creating the right circumstances.
While the Alliance was clearly at fault, the Mercenaries weren’t in a particularly favorable position either. The reason was simple. Lee Hyo-eul’s clan was currently the most successful, and with success came envy and jealousy from countless factions. We were fortunate to have some power; otherwise, we would have faced all sorts of pressure.
Even with the central management as a shield, it wasn’t enough. We needed a situation that favored us more. The Mercenaries had to be seen as the victims, and the Alliance as the villains.
And after holding back for so long, when it became clear that the Mercenaries had tried everything to resolve things peacefully, they would finally explode. If events unfolded this way, everything would fall into place smoothly.
I organized my thoughts and looked up. I had descended all the stairs and was now facing the first floor.
“Are you done with your visit?”
“Yes. It was a productive time.”
“Confirming the exit of the Mercenary Lord. Thank you.”
“Then.”
After completing the exit procedure, I stepped outside to a vast, clear blue sky. I paused to admire the cloudless expanse before striding towards the entrance. Finding a secluded spot, I pulled out a round orb from my pocket. It was a communication crystal.
As soon as I infused it with magic, a faint noise accompanied the appearance of Jo Seung-woo’s face on the surface. He must have been waiting since I left in the morning.
(I’ve been waiting, Clan Lord.)
“Yes. I just finished the conversation. I’ve got what I wanted, so now it’s time to act.”
(Congratulations, Clan Lord.)
“Congratulations? We’re not even close to done. We’re just getting started with the real contact. Anyway, is everything ready?”
Cho Seung-woo paused, lost in thought, then shook his head slightly.
(We’re currently tracking down the resident you mentioned, Helena Lu Ayens. Ah, but we’ve already got a lead, so they should be brought in by tonight. The Shadow Queen will handle it.)
“Really? If Go Yeon-ju says so, it must be true. What about Park Tae-jin?”
(Just need to send a messenger. I’ll arrange a meeting for tomorrow and handle it myself.)
“And what about users Im Han-na and Seon Yu-un?”
(Already spoken to them. They’re ready whenever we are.)
“I see… And lastly, what about him?”
(Him? Ah, yes. I’ve already taken care of it. I’ve passed on the information you provided. You should be able to meet him with the Shadow Queen by dawn.)
“Good. Understood. I’ll spend some time here and move to Koran by night. I’ve heard the nightlife there is quite something, and I’m looking forward to it.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the smooth, confident responses. Cho Seung-woo, who was also grinning, suddenly spoke with a twinkle in his eye.
(This feels like some kind of 007 operation. Haha. Clan Lord, do we have a code name for this mission?)
“Oh, it seems you’re getting the hang of things. You’re even making jokes now.”
(Sorry. If I offended you, I won’t do it again.)
”…Pfft.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at Cho Seung-woo’s sudden serious demeanor. If that was a joke, it was a successful one—it was a bit funny.
I stifled my laughter for a moment, then let out a thin sigh and looked up at the sky for no particular reason.
“Hmm… a code name, huh…”
Then, a thought suddenly crossed my mind, and I looked back down at the crystal ball, smiling slyly as I continued.
“Jester’s Game. Yes, let’s call it Jester’s Game.”
In the southern town of Koran, the Nambeol Clan was bustling with activity.
“Please wait your turn!”
“You need to provide proof, like a User Academy certificate or clan registration! We won’t issue equipment for free to users who aren’t even acquaintances!”
The Nambeol Clan was in the midst of a busy period. On one side, equipment was piled high like a mountain, with users bustling around. On the other, users were either returning equipment or pretending to be acquaintances to get equipment for free.
And in another corner, a man and a woman quietly observed the scene. They were Shin Hyuk, the Clan Lord of Nambeol, and Woo Seol-hee, the Clan Lord of Artemis.
Shin Hyuk’s face was expressionless, though a closer look revealed a shadow of doubt in his eyes. His brow was slightly furrowed, and his eyes were filled with suspicion. He seemed deeply dissatisfied.
After watching the scene for a while, Shin Hyuk spoke in a low voice.
”…Something’s off.”
“Hmm? What’s off, honey?”
Woo Seol-hee asked, linking her arm with his. But when Shin Hyuk, slightly irritated, pulled his arm away, she clicked her tongue and asked again.
“What’s off? Everything’s going well, isn’t it? The mercenaries announced what we agreed on, handed over the equipment, and officially gave up on Halo. All that’s left is for Park Tae-jin to handle the meeting in three days, right?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then what’s off? Everything’s going smoothly.”
“That’s what’s off. For a crisis that came out of nowhere, things are going too well. It’s all too smooth… It’s definitely suspicious.”
Indeed, Shin Hyuk felt an inexplicable sense of unease about the situation. It was a result of his cautious nature, which had played a significant role in elevating him to the position of second-in-command within the alliance—a kind of intuition.
This intuition had never failed him before. When things don’t go well, it’s a problem, but when they go too well, it’s suspicious.
In fact, he had found it strange from the moment Woo Seol-hee explained the details. They brought up Halo before he even mentioned it? And they addressed the exact issues that were bothering him?
If they had just talked and not followed through, it would have been one thing. But Kim Soo-hyun kept his promise. It was as if he had a clear understanding of his situation within the alliance. This only heightened Shin Hyuk’s suspicions.
“Hyuk, don’t overthink it. If you’re really worried, should we send some people to keep an eye on things?”
“Absolutely not. With Go Yeon-ju back, it would be pointless. We might end up being tracked instead.”
“Wow, is she really that impressive? I’ve heard she’s called the Shadow Prostitute or the Queen of Prostitutes…”
“Woo Seol-hee, keep your mouth shut. Many users have met their end for saying things like that in front of her.”
“Fine. But what do we do? The situation’s already in motion. We can’t back out now.”
“I said keep quiet. I’m thinking.”
Woo Seol-hee fell silent, sensing the seriousness in his tone.
Shin Hyuk closed his eyes, slowly stroking his chin as he pondered. His mind was a whirlwind of complex thoughts. Being the type to double-check everything before proceeding, he couldn’t attend the meeting without confirming something concrete.
After a long while, Shin Hyuk’s eyes snapped open. At the same time, his tightly closed lips parted slightly.
“That guy. We need to keep an eye on him.”
“Who do you mean?”
“You know, the one the mercenaries planted.”
“Oh… Park Hwan-hee?”
As Woo Seol-hee nodded in understanding, a brief flicker of interest crossed Shin Hyuk’s eyes.
Finally, Shin Hyuk nodded, speaking in a cold voice.
“Yes. If we can’t monitor Kim Soo-hyun, we’ll monitor him. There’s no other way. This is our best option. So, report his every move to me. No, start immediately!”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Shin Hyuk is quite perceptive in his own way.
But as the saying goes,
No matter how high you jump, you’re still in the Buddha’s palm.
:D.
PS. I realized I haven’t posted information on users Kim Yoo-hyun and Yeon Hye-rim. I’ll update any changes and include one in the next chapter’s note. Personally, I hope to include Yeon Hye-rim when she appears later. Haha.