Time flew like an arrow.
Had I been too obsessed with the city’s restoration work all this time? To exaggerate just a little, it felt like I blinked once, and suddenly three months had passed. The guaranteed period designated by the Central Management Organization officially ended yesterday.
Maybe that’s why the city was unusually noisy this morning. I heard that the warp gates, activated since early dawn, hadn’t shut down even once—they were still running nonstop. That just showed how much users were interested in Atlanta.
Anyway, now that the guarantee period was over, the mercenary clan needed to evolve. Of course, the city had changed a lot over the past three months, but we weren’t planning to stop there.
No, perhaps this was truly just the beginning.
So after breakfast, I called some clan members down to the first-floor conference hall—to prepare for the new winds and changes about to blow through.
“Su-hyun’s right. It’s about time our clan members start looking in a different direction,” came a sultry, languid voice that echoed softly through the quiet room.
I sat on the slightly elevated throne-like chair that overlooked the entire hall and slowly scanned the faces around me.
“Except for a few, it’d be best if most of us step back from the city restoration work. The essential buildings—the castle, the plaza, the temple—are nearly complete anyway.”
Standing, Ko Yeon-ju spoke, while Nam Da-eun, Seon Yu-woon, and Cha So-rim sat lined up beside her. Across from them sat Jeong Ha-yeon, Shin Jae-ryong, Im Han-na, and An Hyun.
The long, glossy table gleamed like a white limousine stretched out before me. Eight clan members flanked me in two neat rows.
A crimson carpet embroidered with golden thread ran neatly from the entrance to the far end of the room. Beyond that, sturdy white pillars rose from floor to soaring ceiling.
Above, a crystal chandelier cast a soft glow, and large crimson banners bearing the clan’s emblem adorned the marble walls. The whole scene radiated opulence, like a medieval royal council chamber brought to life.
No, that was exactly the concept we’d rebuilt it on. Who could have imagined that the dusty, neglected space from three months ago would transform into something so magnificent?
“Hmm. And now, we should start reserving some space for our subordinate clans, right? For bustling commercial districts and residential areas where users can settle… Su-hyun?”
Maybe she noticed I’d drifted off for a moment. Hearing my name, I quickly refocused.
“Yes. The subordinate clans.”
I acknowledged her words, and Ko Yeon-ju smiled faintly, narrowing her eyes gracefully. From across the table came a soft chuckle, then Jeong Ha-yeon spoke.
“Anyway, you’ll need to meet with the subordinate clans soon. There are details to discuss—territory allocation, taxes, and so on.”
“We already settled the territory division last time. And as for taxes, I don’t think we need a separate discussion. We’ll apply the same 30% rate as the Northern Continent.”
“Even so, it’s better to hold an official meeting. They’ll feel more secure knowing the procedures are formalized. Plus, the subordinate clans have worked hard all this time. It’s only right to acknowledge that and maintain good relations. It never hurts to keep things amicable.”
“Hmm… understood. I’ll arrange a meeting soon.”
Jeong Ha-yeon nodded with satisfaction and picked up her quill to jot down notes. The others sat quietly, especially Cha So-rim and Seon Yu-woon, who remained perfectly still throughout the meeting. I wondered how they managed not to get stiff.
“Oh, Su-hyun? By the way, a messenger arrived this morning.”
Ko Yeon-ju suddenly stood again, as if she’d just remembered something.
She didn’t speak immediately but stared at Jeong Ha-yeon for a moment before slowly walking toward my throne. Then I heard Jeong Ha-yeon quietly muttering an incantation.
“It’s a messenger from the Central Management Organization.”
A low hum filled the air.
As Ko Yeon-ju ascended the steps to my seat, a block field activated around us. It seemed the message contained sensitive information that shouldn’t be overheard.
“Central Management Organization… Lee Hyo-eul?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. So is there anything secret to discuss? Probably just issues about the central city or relocating major buildings, right?”
“That’s true. But there are one, no, two other matters.”
Ko Yeon-ju nodded slowly.
“First, it seems there’s a problem with the Northern Continent’s Guardian.”
“…….”
I couldn’t help but let out a short groan.
“Has their identity been exposed?”
“I don’t know. I tried to ask more, but apparently, that information isn’t disclosed to me.”
“And the other matter?”
“Same situation. Anyway, they said they’ll visit us soon and asked you to make time. They said they trust no one but you, Su-hyun…”
I clicked my tongue involuntarily. I had a bad feeling about this.
I didn’t know what the other issue was yet, but hearing there was trouble with the Guardian was definitely not something to take lightly.
The role of a Guardian—guiding their continent in the right direction—is crucial. Just look at Lee Hyo-eul. After being revived from death in the first cycle, he’s been doing fairly well in the second. Of course, I’ve had my share of involvement too.
‘Anyway… was the name Maeng Ah-ra?’
I recalled the current Guardian’s name and tapped the block field, which then deactivated. What caught my eye next was a rather amusing sight: Im Han-na covering her mouth, giggling, while Nam Da-eun shot her a cold, disdainful glare. In front of them, An Hyun was making silly faces, trying to make the two laugh.
Ko Yeon-ju clicked her tongue disapprovingly as she descended the steps, and I quietly watched An Hyun.
An Hyun wasn’t a fool. Sensing my gaze, he stiffened his expression and, like a robot, reluctantly turned his head to meet my eyes.
“An Hyun.”
“Yes!”
He shouted loudly and jumped to his feet. I hadn’t even told him to stand.
I pressed my forehead and spoke.
“Have you ever stopped to think why I dragged you all the way into this meeting and made you sit here?”
“Y-yes? Uh…”
He stammered, scratching his head. Watching him, I sighed deeply.
‘Is it really okay to groom this guy as a senior officer…?’
An Hyun was truly disappointing. Just a little—really just a tiny bit—lacking. If only he could fill those visible gaps, I’d trust him with a task. But for now, there’s still some unease. If he’d even thought once about why I gathered these eight specifically, he might have been a bit more serious. Maybe I should’ve brought Kim Han-byul instead.
I gestured lightly, and An Hyun sheepishly sat back down.
“Well then…”
Just as I thought we’d covered everything and was about to end the meeting—
“Oppa!”
Suddenly, a voice called out, and someone burst through the entrance, arms wide open, running full tilt. It was none other than An Sol.
She came barreling in, beaming brightly.
“The Northern Continent folks have arrived!”
That was welcome news.
The mercenary clan had reunited. Most of the members who had stayed behind on the Northern Continent had liquidated nearly all their assets and finally moved to Atlanta. Honestly, I thought they’d be late, but Jo Seung-woo cheekily apologized, saying the warp gate had been busier than expected.
After wrapping up the meeting I’d planned to end anyway, I headed straight up to the eighth floor—my office and living quarters.
Carrying Mar, who kept glancing around curiously, I climbed the stairs and entered the eighth floor. Passing through the neatly polished corridor, I opened the door to my office, revealing a lavish interior of impressive scale.
“Wow!”
Mar gasped in awe.
The entire floor was covered with a plush red carpet, and the walls and ceiling were adorned with dazzling decorations that shimmered with soft, beautiful light. The room was huge—probably over 3,300 square feet.
“Daddy, daddy! Is this your room?”
Mar’s pointed ears twitched excitedly as she looked around, almost entranced. Do fairies move their ears like that when they’re happy?
I nodded and gently set her down. With a thrilled expression, she ran over to a set of layered, sheer curtains and pulled them aside. Then, she flopped onto a massive bed across the room—big enough for several people—and giggled as she rubbed her face into the soft mattress. She seemed genuinely delighted.
“Wow. So this is the Clan Lord’s room?”
Just as I was watching Mar with a fond smile, I sensed someone quietly entering. Jo Seung-woo stepped in carefully, one deliberate step at a time.
“Don’t be so formal—just come in and make yourself comfortable.”
“Yes, yes. Wow… This isn’t just a room—it’s practically a whole house.”
Jo Seung-woo shook his head in amazement, clearly at a loss for words. And he wasn’t wrong. This suite had five separate rooms: an office, a bedroom, a bathroom, a study, and a balcony. Honestly, I’d just wanted a single room where I could handle all my daily needs, but it turned out even better than I expected. It stung a bit knowing how much money went into it, though.
“So, which part do you like best?”
“Um… I think that over there,” Jo Seung-woo said calmly, pointing to the right. It was the outdoor balcony, an extension of the office.
“That balcony is incredible. The rooms are fancy but feel a bit cramped, so stepping out there really opens everything up. Mind if I go out for a bit?”
“Of course. Let’s go together.”
I nodded readily, but inside I smiled wryly. Honestly, I hadn’t planned on adding a balcony. It was only because Go Yeon-ju and a few other ladies insisted so strongly that I begrudgingly agreed. Their reasoning was amusing—something about needing to start doing outdoor activities more often.
A cool breeze blew in. The castle had ten floors plus a rooftop, so from the balcony, the entire city stretched out before us.
Jo Seung-woo gazed into the distance, feeling the wind, then lowered his eyes. The long canal running from the main gate to the castle entrance sparkled under the sunlight. Lotus-shaped fountains sprayed water continuously, and on either side, beautifully arranged gardens bloomed in harmony.
The towering white castle in the city center was the epitome of beauty and grandeur. At first, it felt more like a fortress, but after extensive renovations, it now resembled a magnificent palace.
“It’s truly stunning. I feel like I’m standing in front of the Taj Mahal in India.”
“Oh, I thought the same.”
“Wow… How did you manage all this in just three months? This castle alone must have cost a fortune.”
“About ten percent,” I admitted honestly.
Jo Seung-woo suddenly sprang up like a spring and turned to look at me.
“What? Ten percent? You spent that much?”
I glanced away sheepishly.
“Well… the symbolic importance of the city’s central building is significant, after all.”
He tried to change the subject, but when I peeked at him, his expression still screamed disbelief.
“But you received seventy million gold coins, right? You found the castle, and I heard most of the materials were sourced for free. So how did it end up costing ten percent?”
His tone implied he’d never have done the same. “Stop staring at me like that. I trusted the process, but I didn’t expect it to come to this.”
“Well, speeding up the work increased labor costs a lot… and although it’s called a renovation, many parts were practically rebuilt from scratch. Plus, we used top-quality materials almost everywhere.”
“But weren’t the materials free?”
“They were, but my conscience wouldn’t let me take unlimited amounts.”
“Ha, well, asking for endless magic stones would definitely be thievery. Oh dear…”
Jo Seung-woo agreed with a dry voice and pressed his forehead with his fingers. It was probably best to change the subject now.
“I heard you’ve been preparing well.”
“We had plenty of time. As you said, except for the Mercenary Academy and the Monica Clan House, I sold almost all our assets.”
“Almost?”
“Yes. I sold all the equipment you specified at full price, but I thought it better to hold onto the gems for now. Even though demand is high, flooding the market would only drive prices down. Anyway, I managed to secure about fifty-five million gold coins.”
“Hmm, I see. Aside from that, any news from the Northern Continent?”
I congratulated myself internally for steering the conversation away.
Jo Seung-woo looked thoughtful, scratched his chin, and tilted his head.
“Hmm, nothing in particular…”
Honestly, I’d asked without much thought.
“Come to think of it… I heard a rumor.”
But then—
“They say users from other continents have been spotted in Mule.”
The unexpected answer caught me off guard.
“Users from other continents have appeared…?”
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
The new home for the Mercenary Clan was inspired by India’s Taj Mahal.
It’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit someday. :)