“To be honest, I’d be pissed off too.”
Under the moonlit night, Park Da-yeon tapped a stack of files on the desk, neatly arranging them as she muttered. She shook her head, and her braided pigtails swayed, brushing lightly against her shoulders.
“Anyway, the city’s authority lies with them, and the market effect created by the nightlife is huge. But because of us, it’s been delayed for weeks… I’d be pretty annoyed if I were them.”
“Hmm.”
Yun Hye-rim, sitting beside her, let out a resigned hum. She was staring seriously at the files, but in reality, they were mostly filled with blanks. Glancing over, Park Da-yeon let out a dry laugh, her expression saying how ridiculous it all was.
“Hmm? What kind of ‘hmm’ is that? You don’t even really know what’s going on.”
“Eh? No, this time I do. We messed up. We should apologize quickly.”
“Pfft. Strictly speaking, it’s Sanha’s clan causing the fuss, not us. And this isn’t something an apology can fix.”
“W-well, Sanha’s clan’s mistakes are our responsibility too.”
“Wow, that’s some serious stretching.”
“…Yeah, screw you! I don’t know! Just shut up already!”
Yun Hye-rim suddenly shouted, throwing the files down irritably. But Park Da-yeon caught them with ease, smirking.
“If you don’t know, just say you don’t. That way, I can pretend to scold you while actually taking a jab at So-young.”
“You’re such a bad girl. After Ko Yeon-ju, you’re the one I hate the most!”
The sound of teeth grinding slipped out. Park Da-yeon wanted to tease her more, but decided to stop before she really got hit.
“Hey, sis. But you know the situation isn’t great, right? We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
She lowered her voice, but the response was lukewarm. Han So-young just nodded while signing the files, saying nothing. Park Da-yeon cautiously asked,
“Do you have any good ideas?”
“No.”
A surprisingly blunt answer, considering the gravity of the situation.
“Heh. Sis—no, Clan Lord—right now, we’re not the ones holding the knife. It’s the mercenaries.”
“That’s right.”
“That’s right? Are we just going to quietly let them take over? We still have some grounds to protest, don’t we? At least we should try to appeal.”
“……”
The quill in Han So-young’s hand suddenly stopped mid-air. She finally looked up and fixed her gaze on Park Da-yeon.
“Da-yeon.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t get worked up already. It’s not that big a deal.”
“Then give me some assurance that this isn’t just baseless confidence. I hate being treated like a pushover.”
“Baseless confidence?”
“Oh, it means having confidence without any real reason.”
Yun Hye-rim, who had been quietly watching, jumped in like a comic relief. Han So-young twirled her quill a couple of times, then sighed as if she understood.
“I admit it’s a tricky situation. But the mercenary lord isn’t someone who can be easily pushed around.”
“Pushed around?”
“Exactly. The moment you protest, it’ll be the worst move possible. It won’t be an indirect clash anymore—it’ll become a direct confrontation. Don’t you realize the knife the mercenaries hold could be turned on us?”
“But…”
“Whether it’s allowing the nightlife, checks and balances, sowing discord, or weakening factions, no matter which way we go, we’re bound to step on landmines. But if we have to step on one, better to be the last one. Just minimize the damage.”
“……!”
Something was left unsaid, but Park Da-yeon’s sharp mind caught on immediately. She frowned in surprise, understanding but clearly displeased. She smacked her lips as if to say, ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ She glanced at Yun Hye-rim, who was happily fiddling with her hands, and shook her head in disbelief.
“Now that I think about it… yeah. But still, I’m worried. What if the mercenaries…”
“Well, I doubt they’d risk messing up their relationship with us just to take a few Sanha clans. Though, they might already be making moves.”
“Ugh. So we just wait and see?”
“Yeah. For now, staying put is the best option.”
Han So-young’s voice was filled with a strange confidence.
“There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll handle this incident myself. I was planning to visit them soon anyway.”
She reaffirmed her resolve and returned her gaze to the files. Park Da-yeon fell into thought for a while, then shrugged as if resigned. Suddenly, she gave a small smile.
“Sis, you seem a little too confident. You’re not thinking anything weird, are you?”
“Weird?”
“Like… offering your body to get this resolved smoothly?”
“…Offering my body?”
“Sex. …Ah, just kidding, just kidding.”
Yun Hye-rim burst out laughing at the sudden joke. Park Da-yeon hurriedly stood up.
“I’ll set up a meeting with the mercenary clan!” she called out, then dashed away. Yun Hye-rim kept laughing, tapping the desk, but soon stopped abruptly. A sharp glare aimed at her from the door caught her attention.
Bang! In the end, Yun Hye-rim slammed the door hard as she left, grumbling, “You always pick on me!”
“Sigh…”
Han So-young buried her face in her hands and let out a long sigh.
Early the next morning, after finishing breakfast, I left the castle immediately. I had planned to see Suna, but Gehenna’s firm refusal—“You can’t see her until your duties are done”—stopped me. I couldn’t argue with a woman recovering from childbirth, so I had no choice but to leave with tears in my eyes.
When I arrived at the Shin Koran Union’s Merchant Guild, Seo Ji-hwan was visibly surprised. We had agreed to meet, but it was supposed to be him coming to me, not the other way around. I quickly explained that I wanted to see the nightlife district, and he was delighted, welcoming me warmly.
“I’m truly honored. I never dreamed the mercenary lord would come personally, let alone show such enthusiasm. Honestly, the indefinite delay of the nightlife district had me down lately, but now I feel like I’ve gained a thousand troops.”
No, I just want to finish this quickly and see Suna…
“Please, have a seat. Would you like some food? Or tea? Or perhaps a woman…?”
“No, let’s get straight to the point.”
I declined firmly, and Seo Ji-hwan straightened up, his eyes shining brightly, which made me uncomfortable.
“I’ve heard the situation roughly. The problem is with the old Koran Union, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. The old Koran Union was disbanded, and many scattered. It seems quite a few users joined under Istanbul Low.”
Even though he was one of the parties involved, Seo Ji-hwan’s expression didn’t change. He spoke as if it was no big deal.
“They probably didn’t form a major faction, so how are they moving 40% of the forces?”
“Apparently, they did a good job stirring things up. They want to check the nightlife district we’re building. Of course, the nightlife district was always an open secret, but now that it’s come to light, things have gotten messy.”
Seo Ji-hwan sighed. Though he spoke diplomatically, I understood his meaning. The nightlife district isn’t a market you can just decide to create on a whim. It’s extremely difficult. Since it’s a market where dark ‘desires’ are traded, visitors’ needs are complex and wide-ranging, and sourcing the goods is a challenge. Plus, the market inherently includes many side effects that go against its original purpose, so if you don’t do it right, it’s better not to touch it at all.
In other words, it requires real skill—and that’s the problem. Since Atlanta will be the main stage going forward, the nightlife districts in the old northern continent will naturally disappear. At this point, Seo Ji-hwan, having turned his back on Koran, is said to be forming a new market in southern Atlanta. And his ability has already been proven. It’s no wonder other cities and merchant clans look at him with suspicion. If he secures the nightlife district in Atlanta first, their own positions will shrink.
After thinking this through, I spoke quietly.
“I don’t want to blow this incident out of proportion. I’d prefer to resolve it peacefully if possible.”
“Of course. Istanbul Low, after all. I understand.”
“Then let me ask you something.”
“Go ahead. Ask anything.”
“Does the current Shin Koran Union have any ties with the clan that announced its affiliation under Istanbul Low… or, to put it bluntly, with members of the old Koran Union?”
“Not none. We’ve made quite a few deals related to the nightlife district recently. But I swear, there’s no conspiracy to undermine Istanbul Low’s power.”
I tried to gauge his reaction, but Seo Ji-hwan answered straightforwardly, as if it wasn’t even worth considering. I felt a bit deflated. Since Istanbul Low suspects they might be colluding, this was the most important question.
If that’s the case, the story becomes simpler.
“I can understand Istanbul Low’s position. Of course, if you don’t like the temple, the monk can leave. They’re the clan that set the principle of not allowing the nightlife district from the start, so they must have known what they were getting into. But suddenly, nearly 40% of the clans want to leave—that would make anyone furious and suspicious.”
“……”
“So, I really made up my mind and went to meet them in person. I even said this: ‘Right now, because of you guys, my situation’s become difficult! So don’t quit. We’ll divide the territory and do business together! You pay 33% of your profits to the Missionary Clan, give us 17%, and keep the remaining 50% for yourselves!’”
“And?”
“They flat-out refused! On the surface, they acted like there wasn’t much profit to be made, but seriously—do you think we’re digging dirt to make a living? We offered to let them have a slice of a market we painstakingly built, and they just wouldn’t hear it! Not even a little bit! It’s not like they’re spoiled brats throwing a tantrum! Ugh, unbelievable!”
“Hmm.”
Seoji-hwan was so worked up that he was practically spitting as he pounded his chest. But inside, I couldn’t help but smile. What he’d just said was actually a pretty reasonable offer. If they’d accepted it, things could’ve been resolved smoothly.
“Now, now, calm down.”
“That’s what I’m saying…! Ah, sorry, sorry. I just got so heated…”
“Ha ha. It’s okay. I understand. I’d be angry too.”
“Heh, heh heh… Thank you.”
Seoji-hwan gave an awkward smile. I returned it with a smile of my own and leaned back comfortably in my chair.
“Merchant Guild Lord, here’s what I propose. I have a good idea.”
“A good idea?”
Seoji-hwan blinked in surprise.
Ever since Soona was born, the Missionary Clan had been swept up in a whirlwind of restlessness. The phrase sounded a bit odd, but considering Soona’s nature, it wasn’t hard to understand.
Her twilight-colored eyes, rosy cheeks, chubby baby fat on her round face, and delicate little nose… She was absolutely adorable. But the problem was her behavior. She never cried or fussed. She just sat there all day with a solemn expression, so much so that you’d wonder if her soul belonged to an old person.
On top of that, she was incredibly picky. Most of all, she hated being touched by men. If a man tried to touch her even slightly, she’d scream and growl. It wasn’t just a little dislike—it was full-on rejection. There was even a bet going around about whether Kim Soohyun’s touch would be accepted or not.
Of course, that didn’t mean women could handle her however they wanted. Strangely enough, to care for Soona, you had to become a devoted handmaiden. Take Im Hanna, who was currently holding Soona—her posture was nothing short of a spectacle. Her arms bent at about 45 degrees, supporting Soona’s back gently, her hands cradling the baby’s head with utmost care. And her long legs were crossed and resting on Im Hanna’s chest. There was no master more demanding than this little one.
“Hmph, hmph~.”
Despite the awkward and uncomfortable position, Im Hanna hummed happily. She wasn’t the type to fuss over a baby, but Soona was undeniably as lovable as Mar. If Mar was a gentle puppy, Soona was a feisty kitten. Wherever they went, envious eyes followed them, and Im Hanna secretly enjoyed that feeling—like being chosen for something special.
“Our queen~ Where would you like to go next~?”
“……”
Im Hanna asked gently, but Soona said nothing. Well, it was a bit much to expect a baby to talk. Still, she seemed to understand, nodding and gesturing to the left. That cheeky little attitude made Im Hanna want to pinch her cheeks, but she held back—after all, An Sol, the first maid chosen this morning, had been fired immediately for poking Soona’s cheek once.
“Hmm?”
Just as they were about to cross the lobby, Im Hanna paused. There was some commotion—not loud, but noticeable. Several maids were bustling about. Im Hanna quietly called one over.
“Sorry to bother you when you’re busy. Is something wrong?”
“Oh, a guest has arrived.”
“A guest?”
“Yes. It’s Lord Istantel, the Clan Lord.”
Im Hanna tilted her head.
“Is he…? The Clan Lord isn’t here right now.”
“That’s true, but they had an appointment last night. He came a bit early.”
“So he might be here before the scheduled time…”
“For now, I’ll guide him to the office on the fourth floor and contact the others immediately.”
Thinking it was nothing serious, Im Hanna smiled kindly. The maid glanced briefly at Soona before hurrying off somewhere.
A little later, as Im Hanna resumed humming and walking,
“Ah…”
Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. The bright smile on her face faded slowly.
“The fourth floor…? The office…?”
Maybe sensing something was wrong, Im Hanna quickly looked back.
But the maid was nowhere to be seen.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Miss Gehenna: Who else is getting more love than me right now?
(Whispers and murmurs.)
Miss Gehenna: Aren’t you coming out soon? It’s you!
Miss Jeong Hayeon: Ah, no… ㅠ
Miss Gehenna: If it’s not you, then who is it? Hurry up and come out!
(Crash!)
Miss Han Soyoung: Hey, you alley cat!
Miss Gehenna: !
Miss Han Soyoung: You think you’re so loved?
Miss Gehenna: W-what’s wrong with this alley cat?
Miss Han Soyoung: …Come up to the rooftop.
Miss Soona: Waaah!
Miss Han Soyoung: Aww, so cute! (Hug!)
Miss Soona: (Startled!) Uh, waaah?!
Miss Gehenna: …Leave her alone.
Miss Han Soyoung: C’mon, come out! You horny alley cat!
(A little later.)
(Walking side by side down the hallway.)
Miss Gehenna: (Glancing sideways) Hey. Stop embarrassing yourself and just finish this quickly.
(Sound effects) Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom-boom-boom-boom-boom! Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom! Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
Now, starting Miss Gehenna’s final part.