Winning Over Garibaldi (2)
Originally, Jeonghyeon had planned to recruit Garibaldi through a familiar, then bring him back to the present world as a fully committed ally.
But that idea went out the window when Garibaldi insisted on returning to the Hunter Association first.
So Jeonghyeon chose the direct approach.
To earn Garibaldi's trust, it might actually be better to come at him head-on like this rather than sneaking around with hidden motives.
"Whoa?! Kim Jeonghyeon! Long time no see!"
"Jeonghyeon! It's Jeonghyeon!"
While Garibaldi was lost in thought, the Wakin sisters waved from afar.
"Ah, Wakin sisters! How've you been?"
The blacksmith sisters rushed over to Jeonghyeon and immediately launched into bragging about their latest achievements.
"Got any mana stones?! We figured something out while testing the mana stone weapons...!"
"We used less mana stone mass, but the quality ones from the fields lately...!"
"And if we combine them just right during forging, we might actually craft exactly what we want!!"
Blah blah blah.
It was all technical jargon that only engineering-minded blacksmiths would get, so Jeonghyeon didn't catch much of it. But they kept chattering away regardless.
Still, he didn't mind.
He was the only one who truly understood and appreciated them, and he'd been away for so long—who could blame them for wanting to show off?
Jeonghyeon just listened with the fond patience of an uncle visiting his cousin's kids after ages apart.
But I need to win over Garibaldi quick...
Of all the timing, they were yapping about mana stone weapons—terms that would rub the Hunter Association the wrong way—by the minute.
Jeonghyeon cut them off smoothly and moved to introductions.
"Sorry, introductions are overdue. This is the older sister, Melani Wakin."
"Weapon blacksmith at your service!"
"And this is the younger sister, Adel Wakin."
"Armor specialist."
"And this is Garibaldi, collectively. Hunter who's gonna help us out big time from here on."
At Jeonghyeon's casual intro, Garibaldi mumbled through a handshake, gripping the sisters' callused, rough hands.
"Why don't you two give him the tour? Hwang Dooman'll show you around."
"Me? Why?!"
Hwang Dooman, who'd been trailing behind Jeonghyeon and Garibaldi like a puppy, whined in protest. Jeonghyeon grinned and poked his side.
"Do me a solid. I gotta talk shop with the blacksmiths."
"Haa... I'm just the errand boy now, huh? Fine."
Hwang Dooman clicked his tongue but took the lead anyway.
"Follow me. I'll show you around. We can badmouth that punk a bit too."
"Ah, much obliged."
With Garibaldi gone, the blacksmith barracks held just the Wakin sisters, Philip, Jeonghu, and Nus.
The original crew, basically.
Meaning we can talk freely.
"How's progress on the mana stone weapons?"
"Just like we said. Give us a bit more, and we'll have some solid prototypes."
Younger sister Adel Wakin eyed the wall stacked high with failures.
The bottom shelves, displayed like a showcase, were mostly unrecognizable lumps. But higher up, they started taking actual weapon shapes.
"Good. Nus, hand over those mana stones you've been hoarding."
"This bastard. Am I your inventory now?"
"What's with everyone today? Fine, I'll grab 'em."
"No, the great familiar Nus has already prepared them for you."
Nus grumbled but had clearly enjoyed the earlier praise—he'd already laid them out.
Whatever tune he danced to, at least he was easy to handle.
"Th-this... these are top-grade!"
"As expected from a pro porter's haul."
Not a pro porter—it's 'cause I gathered them.
Jeonghyeon wanted to say it but held back for now.
More important questions first.
"Any visits from the Hunter Association or other guilds?"
"Tons. Some said 'inspection,' others wanted to scout us."
Inspections meant the Association; scouting screamed Kingdom or Royal Guild.
Royal had been eyeing the Wakins steadily before Kingdom monopolized them.
"And you didn't show or give anything away, right?"
"Never. We're not that sloppy."
Adel proudly hit a button on the table.
Kkiiik!
Gears ground, the wall sealed shut, and a new one slid out—loaded with high-quality gear.
Stuff that'd make the Association drool, but still leagues below mana stone weapons.
"Perfect. That's all I needed."
His crew had sharp instincts, as expected.
But older sister Melani spoke up hesitantly.
"Um... the Hunter Association asked if we'd work for them."
"Huh? Yeah? You wanna?"
"No, not that... They said they might shut down the Western District branch soon. Too many criminals, unlicensed hunters..."
"Ah."
Pressure, right on cue.
Now Hwang Dooman's freakouts made sense.
Jeonghyeon figured it'd just be some poking around, lectures to hunters. But no—a full cleanup.
Made sense. The Jo family was the Association's dirty secret, a dark shadow.
Hunting dogs without a master get hunted.
Perfect chance to wipe Jo remnants, clear obstacles, fresh start. Their intentions were so transparent it was almost admirable.
"That's why I'm heading to the Association myself."
"B-but... I don't quite get it. What's the plan, sir?"
As Philip said, his plan seemed too advanced for Jeonghu and Philip.
"Nothing big. The Association sees us as thorns in their side, ready to squash us anytime with stationed troops."
"Yes. So?"
"You know the saying 'use the enemy's enemy'?"
"...Yes."
"We'll use those hunters to clear raids. And keep spawning strong monsters nonstop."
"Turn the Association's surveillance on the West against them—make the West stronger instead."
Give troops sent to strike anytime a massive quest.
They'd come under the guise of public safety. But if raid monsters out-threatened Jeonghyeon's humans, they'd dive in naturally.
Western hunters grow; Association spins wheels on raids, never digging deep into Jeonghyeon's side.
Turn their thorn-hunting into his shield.
That was the plan.
"What about Garibaldi?"
"Spoiling it all ruins the fun. He'll be useful."
If he joins us, that is.
Garibaldi was the key.
His revised plan hinged on him completely.
Problem was, Garibaldi's patron Ignirn still didn't like Jeonghyeon much, and Garibaldi was a loyal Association man.
Ironically, Hwang Dooman helped there.
"You're a guest of Mr. Jeonghyeon? Here, have some of this before you go!"
"Or fruit!"
The Western District in Garibaldi's eyes looked like a city on the brink of collapse outwardly, but everyone seemed worry-free.
People bustled with energy; commerce thrived like it was mid-central somewhere.
And above all, they all viewed Jeonghyeon with overwhelming positivity.
Beyond friendly—near-fanatical trust.
"What kind of man is this Jeonghyeon to command such loyalty?"
Garibaldi asked his guide, Hwang Dooman.
Hwang grimaced like he hated admitting it, then relented.
"That guy's annoying as hell with his mouth, but he doesn't lie or deceive folks."
He pointed out people once exploited by the Jo family.
Not all smiled happily, but their eyes gleamed sharp, hopeful.
"When he rescued them from Jo oppression, turned the useful ones into hunters, even dragged me back—his goal never wavered."
"..."
"Human peace. A world free of monster fear. That's what he chased, and it rang true."
Garibaldi's eyes widened as he listened intently.
Words that stirred the romantic in him.
Human peace? Someone actually dreamed that lofty ideal?
"Hate to admit it 'cause his antics piss me off."
Dooman tacked on his gripe, but it barely registered for Garibaldi.
Such a man... really exists?
It matched what Garibaldi craved, spine-tinglingly so.
Most of Jeonghyeon's pro-human mindset came from the Garibaldi he'd met in his past life, after all.
Past life, Garibaldi taught it to him. This life, Jeonghyeon showed it back.
"I'd pegged all Association rebels as greedy opportunists... but he's got some romance to him."
"Romance... yeah. Romantic bastard, alright."
"Tour ends here."
"Not seeing more?"
"Nah. Save it. Now I wanna hear Kim Jeonghyeon's next move."
Garibaldi's eyes blazed red.
Just like Jeonghyeon's—brimming with fire and zeal.
"Oh, back already?"
Jeonghyeon, mid-ordering materials from the Wakins, sensed Garibaldi's shifted attitude instantly.
No one knew him longer.
"Yes. I'd like to hear your plan."
"No need with you here. Let's hit the dungeon straight."
Jeonghyeon offered a handshake.
Philip and Jeonghu behind him—now Garibaldi's training began.