Chapter 56
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Complexity of Relationships
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Han Minguk arrived at the clan house with his team members and immediately checked the schedule board.
The Rose Shield clan's first string had a dungeon raid planned for today. The second and third strings appeared to have the day off. That explained why the training grounds were fairly quiet. Only about four or five people were doing individual training.
"Spread out nice and wide, everyone. Oh, and don't line up in a straight row. If you do, two of you will end up flying through the sky from Kellim's greatsword uppercut. It'll hurt like hell when you crash at the edge of the battlefield."
"Hyun-ah! You're training separately. The key to the Kellim raid is the tank's ability to hold aggro. You have to be able to dodge or block attacks like sweeping swings to the front and sides or that greatsword uppercut, no exceptions."
"Then I'll start with some hologram training for now."
Just as Minguk was giving instructions to his team and about to begin simulation training for tackling the Swamp Guardian - Kellim, someone cautiously entered the training grounds. It was a clan staff member.
Spotting Minguk, the staffer hurried over with quick steps that seemed urgent.
"Raid Leader Han Minguk, sir. Could you spare a moment? We have a visitor for you..."
"A visitor?"
Minguk frowned at the staffer's sudden request. Interrupting team training was one thing, but he wasn't expecting anyone. He asked if it might be a reporter, but that wasn't it.
"Um, well..."
The staffer hesitated, shrinking under Minguk's unamused expression, before speaking carefully. If Raid Leader Han Minguk refused to meet the visitor, the clan office would be in chaos. Worse, that troublemaker might barge in here herself.
That would spell trouble for them. With a nearly tearful face, the staffer spoke again.
"It's someone high up from headquarters."
"Headquarters? Rose Group? Why would someone like that want to see me?"
Minguk could guess the reason easily enough, even as he asked. His face was all over TV these days. Still, showing up unannounced felt a bit rude.
"We don't know the details either... But the visitor is from the group's..."
Minguk let out a low groan as he listened to the staffer's pained explanation. They'd been tiptoeing around mentioning the name from headquarters, but it turned out to be none other than the Rose Group's heir.
The former clan leader of Rose Shield, no less. It was only natural they'd be nervous.
'Jo Suyeong, was it?'
The third-generation heir to Rose Group. Former leader of Rose Shield clan. Minguk had seen her name and reputation online.
Jo Suyeong, you bitch! Invest in the squad already! How does it make sense that Korea's top ranker clan first string can't even clear 【A-4】?!
Comparing Jo Suyeong and Gryphon's Jo Hyejin, who's better?
Still, Suyeong unnie hasn't sold the kids off to Southeast Asia.
Jo Suyeong just doesn't care or she's incompetent. Jo Hyejin is a real bitch. But there's talk Jo Suyeong embezzled clan funds too.
Jo Suyeong's pros as clan leader: Doesn't meddle in operations. Cons: Doesn't meddle at all. Zero interest or support.
Fans of Rose Shield weren't kind to Jo Suyeong. She showed no interest in clan operations. And after she took over as leader, support from Rose Group had dwindled, leaving Captain Oh Hyun-jung struggling.
To fans, Jo Suyeong was the clan leader they wanted to kill.
"...Hoo."
Honestly, Minguk had no desire to meet her. But he figured he should. They had a reason for coming, and the staffer's expression said it all. If he didn't step up, they'd be the ones suffering.
Plus, Captain Oh Hyun-jung wasn't at the clan house today, so the office staff were getting tossed around by headquarters' people.
"Then the training..."
"I just need to block Kellim's attacks, right? Timing it with hologram drills alone will take all my time anyway."
"We'll handle rotation practice ourselves. We've done similar training at Hero Academy, so we know the basics."
Minguk gave a thumbs-up to his self-sufficient teammates, who sounded like responsible kids. Training hadn't really started, so no sweat—he didn't need to wash up.
"Hoo. A guest out of nowhere."
"Sorry. Visits from headquarters are really rare for us..."
After parting with his team, Minguk headed straight to the second floor. The reception room for external guests was there. Being from headquarters, they'd been shown to the most luxurious one.
Knock knock knock.
He gave three polite knocks and opened the door. Three women inside, mid-conversation, fell silent and turned to him. The short-haired woman in a suit looked like a secretary, and the one behind her like a bodyguard.
And then...
Meeting Rose Shield's former clan leader Jo Suyeong for the first time, her vibe was... meh. She gave off a delinquent thug impression that didn't fit a chaebol heir. Like a gum-chewing bad girl from the streets?
Her light blonde hair suited her cute face well. But the long dangling piercings in her ears screamed cheap, clashing with the chaebol image. Not that he'd met many chaebols—maybe it was prejudice.
'Wonder if she has them elsewhere?'
The thought flashed, but he shoved it aside. Not the time or place.
"Han Minguk."
Unsure how to greet her, he just stated his name lightly.
"Jo Suyeong. No need for intros, right?"
"Yeah, I've heard of you."
Rose Group's third-gen heir. Rose Shield's former leader. That said it all. Must be nice being a rich chaebol—her voice was stunning, like a singer's.
"Good. Sit over there. And you, get some tea. What kind?"
"I'm not picky, anything's fine."
"I'll bring the best tea stocked in the clan house."
No sooner had Minguk answered than the presumed secretary headed to the pantry. As he sat and was about to ask her business, he held back.
Diving straight into business upon meeting was rude. Now that they were here, he wanted to leave a good impression.
This was Rose Shield's former clan leader. Play it right, and goodies might flow—Revival Stones or pricey items. In the quiet that followed, Suyeong spoke first. Her golden eyes—circle lenses?—sparkled as she watched him.
"How's clan life?"
"It's only been a month since I joined, but it's good."
He almost mentioned the lack of support but stopped. That was for Captain Oh Hyun-jung to say. And it might get her in trouble if he did.
"I've heard plenty on the news—enough to make my ears burn. Our clan's rising star, they say?"
"I'm still lacking. Probably because clearing a 【B-6】 dungeon made such a splash."
"Not an easy feat, is it?"
The secretary brought tea midway, and Minguk sipped the hot green tea while answering Suyeong's questions.
Was she just curious after seeing him on TV? Chaebol whimsy? Her questions were mundane: clan life, family, personal trivia. Nothing secret, so he answered freely. Family talk made him stutter a bit—recalling the original owner's memories.
Occasionally, he caught Suyeong staring oddly, like a predator eyeing prey. No reason to be scared, so he just smiled it off.
"So, how many in your cartel?"
"Cartel?"
Minguk's eyes widened at the sudden question. Cartel meant his harem, right...?
Suyeong's speech had shortened casually. But the shock of the question overshadowed any annoyance. Her chaebol status naturally pulled him along.
'Can you just ask that outright?'
It felt weird. But in this world's amazing culture, maybe it was normal. With that thought, Minguk answered slowly.
"Four."
"Wow. With that face? Hmm... Surprisingly few. I like that. Anyway, this might take a while—want to grab a meal?"
"A meal?"
Minguk looked troubled. That wouldn't work. He had prior plans.
Talking with a chaebol third-gen was novel, but that was it. No need to cancel plans to extend it. This was polite enough.
Besides, he had to go home tonight. He'd promised to spend the night with Sojeong and Hyun-ah. Among the women in his cartel, Sojeong—with her daughter—had the least time with him. Perfect timing.
Luckily, a clan hero friendly with Sojeong was taking her daughter on a 2-night, 3-day family trip, feeling sorry for the kid being alone. So tonight, he'd be working his hips sore from dinner on.
"Busted, huh?"
Suyeong pouted. She'd thought he'd fall easily, but male heroes were male heroes, after all?
She crossed her legs slowly, recalling Han Minguk's face as he left. An overwhelming handsome look that even tested her experience with countless men.
Far more appealing than any male hero she'd failed to seduce. Especially his confident demeanor before a top-tier woman like her—something other men or heroes lacked.
"Figured out what his prior engagement is?"
Suyeong snapped her fingers, and the secretary, listening via in-ear, hurried over.
"He met teammate Oh Hyun-ah and Kim Sojeong in front of the clan house earlier. Since they're moving together, it's likely with them."
"Destination?"
"They're in Kim Sojeong's car. Probably heading to one of their homes. We confirmed her daughter left for a 2-night, 3-day trip today."
"Hmm."
A date with two female heroes... Definitely not innocent. Imagining Han Minguk turning beastly in bed excited her. But not her turn yet.
"Find out everything Raid Leader Han Minguk needs. Money, items, whatever."
"Understood."
With that, Suyeong stood. She'd achieved her goal visiting the clan house. She hated coming here, thick with her mother's traces.
But meeting a good guy made today not so bad. And her mother's loyal dog, the captain, wasn't around. Perfect.