The third summit was convened to decide the allocation of four outer cities surrounding Atlanta’s inner city. Given that these were massive prizes—entire cities—multiple clans had their interests deeply entangled in the matter.
No one could say when it would end. It might wrap up sooner than expected, or drag on longer. But thanks to the previous two summits, the issue had been narrowed down to a single point.
One thing was certain: this third summit would bring some resolution to the situation around Atlanta. The question boiled down to whether the Mercenary clan would give up, or the Eastern faction would.
“Hyung, we’ve arrived.”
It took about thirty minutes to reach the summit venue.
The users gathered nearby could be divided into two groups: those directly participating in the talks, and those merely watching from the sidelines. Naturally, aside from those assisting with the proceedings, only clan leaders or those of equivalent rank were qualified to take part directly.
“Clan Lord, best of luck.”
“See you later.”
After receiving Shin Jaeryong’s encouragement, I briskly made my way toward the plaza. Someone must have noticed, because from somewhere came a shout: “The Mercenary Lord has arrived!” The murmur of voices grew louder as I slowly ascended the steps.
My city’s plaza had a somewhat unique layout. A circular stage stood at the center, surrounded by tiered steps that formed a kind of open-air amphitheater when viewed from afar.
Normally, this place would be worn and dirty, but thanks to the previous summits, some effort had been made to clean it up. It wasn’t pristine, but it wasn’t unpleasant either—more like a charmingly weathered, old-world atmosphere.
When I reached the top of the steps and stopped, the heart of the summit came into view. On the stage stood the commanders who had led each expedition, along with their respective clan leaders. From the Eastern expedition, which had lost Jo Seongho, Seong Hyunmin, Seonyul, and Kim Deokpil were present. Faces I hadn’t seen in a while.
About a hundred people were gathered on the stage, but the room was surprisingly quiet. Some looked at me with disbelief, others closed their eyes and muttered under their breath. Receiving a mix of welcome and disappointment, I moved forward slowly.
“You really came.”
Park Dayeon, standing beside Han Soyoung at the head seat, greeted me with a bright smile. She seemed to have been appointed as one of the summit’s coordinators. I thought to myself how far she’d come, and nodded lightly.
“I heard the rumors yesterday. Before we begin, let me sincerely congratulate the Mercenary Lord on your safe return.”
As she spoke with a cheerful smile, she nudged someone nearby. The handsome young man sitting next to Han Soyoung looked startled and confused. But when Park Dayeon shot him a sharp look, he reluctantly got to his feet.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll sit over here.”
I declined politely, understanding the implication. Fortunately, my older brother had made room for me on the left side of the stage. Besides, I was curious to see their reaction.
“Oh… is that so?”
Park Dayeon smiled reluctantly. Some users seemed indifferent, but others looked surprised that I had refused the seat beside Han Soyoung. I could understand their reaction. If the seat had been left empty, it would be one thing, but to have someone else sitting there despite the rumors… well, it wasn’t exactly a pleasant feeling.
“Su-hyun, welcome. You’re a bit late.”
Though he still looked a little worn out, my brother greeted me looking much cleaner than before.
“You arrived earlier than expected.”
“Right? Haha!”
As I sat beside him, he suddenly laughed loudly as if to be heard by everyone, then straightened his neck and glanced toward the head seat. Han Soyoung remained expressionless. Even when I first appeared, she had only exchanged a glance with me—no other reaction.
Han Soyoung then looked around and gave a slight nod.
“Alright, then. I hereby declare the third summit officially open!”
For a moment, I was startled, thinking Han Soyoung had spoken. But the tiny voice belonged to Park Dayeon. Han Soyoung’s nod must have been some kind of signal.
Park Dayeon took a slightly nervous breath and slowly turned to face me.
“Ah, Mercenary Lord, have you heard about the discussions from the second summit? If you’d like, I can give you a brief summary.”
It was good she offered, but her voice trembled so much I could almost guess what was on her mind. I smiled inwardly and shook my head calmly.
“No, that won’t be necessary. I’ve already heard enough to follow the proceedings.”
“Oh! I see.”
Park Dayeon’s expression brightened, relieved she didn’t have to bring up an awkward topic.
She cleared her throat and continued.
“Alright. I’m not one to beat around the bush, so I’ll ask directly. Does the Mercenary clan want the authority to govern a city as a reward for your achievements in this campaign?”
“That goes without saying.”
I answered clearly.
At that, the entire venue stirred.
“Well then…”
Park Dayeon’s voice trailed off subtly as she glanced toward the Eastern faction’s side. I fell into deep thought.
There were four cities left. The Southern faction had already secured one, effectively owning it. That left three cities to be contested by the East, West, North, and the Mercenaries.
The East had singled out the Mercenaries as their main rival. It made sense—they’d rather face a single clan than two allied regions. And since the Mercenaries had participated under the Southern faction’s banner, there were bound to be some tensions.
I shifted my jaw thoughtfully. Today, I intended to speak my mind.
After a moment, a man stood and requested the floor. No surprise—he was from the East.
“First, I personally respect the Mercenary Lord’s opinion. The Mercenary clan played a pivotal role in the conquest of the Steel Mountains, and no one can dispute your achievements.”
At first, I wondered why he was being so conciliatory. But then he emphasized the phrase “simple achievements.” I crossed my arms and stared back.
“However, no matter how great the achievements, when it comes to something as significant as governing a city, I don’t think it’s right to decide solely based on merit. Being the representative clan of a city requires a certain level of capability. …So, I dare to ask the Mercenary Lord here today.”
He stopped scanning the room and fixed his gaze on me.
“Assuming you were entrusted with a city, what is your long-term vision for developing it? I’d like to hear your plans.”
Long-term vision? I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I don’t have one. Not yet.”
I smiled wryly and shook my head.
“…Excuse me?”
He looked taken aback.
“I’ve only been back for three days. All I’ve done so far is hear about the current situation. And you expect me to have a long-term vision already?”
“Oh, no…”
He stammered, clearly unprepared for my answer. His face was a mix of amusement and disbelief.
I continued.
“Also, you’re mistaken about the meaning of ‘vision.’ It refers to a foreseeable future. That doesn’t apply here. The urgent task is to make this ruined city livable for users. Long-term visions come after you solve immediate problems.”
“But that’s exactly what’s needed—”
“Of course, it’s necessary. A long-term vision. If you really want to hear it, come find me once things settle down. We can have a cup of tea, and I’ll tell you all about it.”
A light chuckle rippled through the room. The man’s face flushed red as he muttered something and bit his lip. Yeah, no comeback there. Better just sit down.
“I don’t think that way.”
At that moment, a woman sitting just to the man’s left stood up. She glanced toward the head seat, requested the floor, then turned back to face me.
“The most urgent issue is rebuilding this city. That’s true. And yes, you can develop a long-term vision while doing so. But let’s go back to basics. Which clan truly has the capability to govern a city? That question cannot be ignored.”
“Are you saying the Mercenaries aren’t qualified?”
“Not that extreme. I never said that. Ah! I do acknowledge that the Mercenaries are an outstanding clan in combat. But a city isn’t a battlefield. It’s where users live. Administrative duties are crucial, and in that regard, you might be lacking.”
Her words hung in the air.
“A weakness, you say? That’s interesting. I’d like to hear more about that.”
The woman smiled slyly, as if she’d been waiting for this.
“Well, for starters, there’s the lack of experience—or rather, the complete absence of it. From what I understand, the Mercenary Clan mainly operates as hired soldiers. Also, they’re not originally from the Northern Continent; they’re free agents. But above all, the biggest concern is their small numbers. In a city that could house thousands, having a clan of barely fifty represent the entire city is… well…”
She deliberately trailed off, shrugging her shoulders.
“So, you’re saying that to be the representative clan, you need to have a large membership?”
“From a conventional standpoint, yes.”
“I find that hard to agree with. Having more members doesn’t automatically make a clan better.”
“I said ‘from a general perspective.’ Aside from special cases, have you ever seen a representative clan with so few members? What I mean is, the clan managing a city should be the absolute best—flawless in every aspect, even if not outstanding in any single field.”
She was blatantly taking a shot at the Mercenary Clan.
“I agree that the top clan should be the representative one. But let me ask you something.”
I smirked.
“Among those large clans, is there any that ranks higher than our Mercenary Clan?”
For a moment, a flicker of unease crossed her eyes.
“W-well…”
“Just so you know, the rank displayed in user info is the most objective indicator of a clan’s standing. It’s a system that rises purely based on achievements. I’m sure you’re not an idiot and understand that. So, is there such a clan or not?”
Her Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.
“W-well, what I mean is… the number of members… it’s essential for handling administrative tasks required to manage a city… and that… plays a significant role…”
She seemed reluctant to back down, stumbling over her words but determined to keep going. She kept repeating the same point like a parrot, prompting me to let out a short sigh.
“You keep going on about numbers. We’ll just say that we plan to expand our ranks soon.”
I slowly stood up and glanced around at the users staring blankly at the stage.
“I have a question for everyone gathered here today.”
They looked stunned, clearly not expecting me to speak.
“After this meeting, if our Mercenary Clan starts recruiting new members, would anyone be interested in joining? If so, please raise your hand.”
At first, no one moved. Then one by one, hands began to rise. Soon, countless hands were raised from all directions—easily numbering in the thousands.
After scanning the crowd, I turned my gaze back to the woman.
“Hmm. Quite a lot.”
“…”
She looked at the raised hands, her face draining of color, lips pressed tightly shut.
“In a few hours, our Mercenary Clan will be the largest clan in terms of membership. Feeling a bit more reassured now?”
She said nothing, only glaring at the ground before suddenly biting her lower lip and sinking back into her seat.
I rested my face on one hand and nodded toward the Eastern Speaker, who had already stepped back, signaling for the next challenger.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
My head’s pounding today, so I think I’ll turn in early. ;_;