Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: There's a Reason for Everything!
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There's a reason for everything!
“...Ahem.”
The Black Woman returned after another ten minutes had passed.
Even after taking her seat, she didn't open her mouth right away.
She just fiddled with the Go stones, killing time for no particular reason.
As if to say, 'Talk about something else.'
But the Smiling Man only curved his lips into a smile.
As if replying, 'No chance. You'll have to bring it up yourself.'
“...Damn guy.”
She called him "Boss" every time, but he still climbed all over her.
The Black Woman let out a small sigh and continued.
“Truth is... that...”
“Please speak, Boss.”
“I did buy some stock in that place called Omega Coffee because I liked their coffee...”
“You did buy some?”
The Smiling Man tilted his head with a smile.
At his reaction, the Black Woman inexplicably felt apologetic and averted her gaze.
“Thing is... I didn't buy much.”
“Boss?”
“No! Isn't that right? I liked the coffee, but I couldn't just go there and praise them. So I bought a bit of their stock as a substitute.”
“Oh...”
It seemed better to hear the details from the secretary than the Boss.
He glanced at the Bob-cut Secretary beside him, and she nodded as if confirming it was true.
“From what I know, the shares the Boss purchased weren't that many. At the time, it amounted to about 100 million won in value.”
Hmm. Boss. You just said you didn't buy much, but is this right?
One cup of coffee catches your fancy, and you spend 100 million on it?
Wasn't it you, Boss, who told us we were short on funds and to cut back?
As the Smiling Man stared at her, the Black Woman hurriedly added.
“Don't get the wrong idea! That was my personal money!”
“I see.”
“It's true!”
“I see.”
It's fine. Either way, it turned out to be a good choice in the end.
Just in case, he'd prepared beforehand before starting this venture.
“Truth is, I bought up a significant share of Huiwoon and Omega Coffee myself.”
“You bastard, don't tell me...?”
“Did you think I'd start something like this without any plan? There's a reason for everything.”
And with that, he put a flashy period at the end.
“Earlier you said it was for my sake. Now it's something else. What exactly is it?”
“I hoped it would help bolster the Clan's operating funds a bit more.”
“...Ah?”
They made a lot through illegal channels, but the laundering costs were no joke.
On top of that, to avoid excessive scrutiny, they needed income from legitimate paths like this.
“No need to worry. I've taken care of everything so the Financial Supervisory Service or National Tax Service won't catch a whiff of anything suspicious.”
“You... You're really impossible to figure out.”
“I'll take that as a compliment! Hahaha!”
The Black Woman shook her head and fiddled with the Go stone.
Then she carefully reviewed everything and returned to the original topic.
“What do you plan to do?”
“Naturally, all the funds will go to you, Boss! No need to worry!”
“You idiot! That's not what I'm talking about right now!”
“Then what?”
“You... The Union keeps dragging your name through the mud, and it really doesn't bother you at all?”
She didn't show it, but just listening from the side made her blood boil.
The Union's antics were childish yet sharp enough.
They were subtly scratching at his pride. Making it unbearable.
If he didn't respond, it was practically admitting their level.
An old man beats a cripple. A super-cripple whose name was stolen by that cripple.
For the Smiling Man, who easily killed an S-Rank, there was no greater mockery.
And the Union wasn't even coming out directly to make it public debate.
They disguised themselves as some random video creators spreading it around.
'Even I, who isn't involved, am this pissed. How could he not be?'
He smiled on the outside, but who knew what he felt inside.
Even if he killed the Sword Saint, she'd understand.
The problem was the Sword Saint's location.
“The Jin Family will be tough.”
“...”
“The Sword Saint may be in his twilight years, but his sword is as sharp as ever. And the Jin Family has plenty of capable guys below his level but still useful. Getting past them to stand before the Sword Saint is the first hurdle.”
“Hmm.”
“Above all, the scary thing about the Jin Family is that it itself is a sword formation. If you're only after the Sword Saint, maybe, but inside the Jin Family, you could end up being hunted instead.”
She had no intention of acknowledging heroes, but the Sword Saint was different.
Unless it was a surprise attack, a complete victory like with the Holy Knight was impossible.
The Sword Saint rarely went out, so they'd have to go to the Jin Family.
In that case, even giving him the highest marks, it'd be mutual destruction at best.
“Excuse me for a sec.”
“...? What are you doing?”
“I'll be right back.”
“Where to? Wait. Hold on! Where are you going?!”
Was he really heading to the Jin Family? Had his pride really been wounded that much?
The Black Woman panicked and stood up without realizing it.
“Wait. I'll go with you.”
“No, Boss.”
“Don't worry. I'll leave the Sword Saint to you. I'll just clear out the annoyances.”
“That's not it. Really, you can't.”
See? She'd thought he'd held back well all this time, but in the end, he was still a man.
Right. A real man never stays silent when his pride is touched...
“I'm going to the bathroom, Boss.”
“...”
“You were gonna come anyway? Even for villains, that's a bit...”
“...Argh! Tell me that beforehand!”
As the Black Woman snapped, he bolted with an 'Oh!'
Even as he left, she couldn't figure out why he had to laugh 'Hahaha!' again.
Fuming and glaring at his retreating figure, the Black Woman turned her head.
“Follow him.”
“Boss?”
“Just in case. Check on him.”
The Bob-cut Secretary bowed, saying she understood, and left the pavilion.
Considering her true identity, this was definitely a good opportunity.
She could pretend to hold him back while subtly provoking the Smiling Man.
And with the Black Woman not around, it was reassuring.
“Smiling Man.”
“Ow! Man, even going to the bathroom is hard.”
“Do you know? The bathroom is in the opposite direction.”
As expected. He really planned to storm the Jin Family right now.
Catastrophe-Class villain dies, or an annoying hero disappears.
Either way, it was no loss for the Union.
It had to be good for the Bob-cut Secretary, who was here for the Union.
“...You can't go to the Jin Family.”
But her mouth was saying something entirely different.
“I'm on my way to the bathroom, Secretary.”
“Either way, you're thinking of going to the Jin Family.”
The Smiling Man—no, Yushin—burst into inward laughter.
The Jin Family? He'd been slipping in and out for ages.
The Sword Saint? Already good friends.
And the Union? They knew all about those guys.
No problem. The world was always in his palm.
“The Jin Family is a sword formation. The Sword Saint may be old, but...”
“Just because his body's not what it used to be doesn't mean his sword has rusted. I know. I don't know where to put myself with the secretary worrying like this!”
“Then...”
“So.”
The Smiling Man suddenly stepped forward.
She tried to ask why, but her mouth wouldn't move.
And for good reason—the Bob-cut Secretary was already collapsing.
Before she could even notice, the Smiling Man had knocked her out.
'Huh...?'
When did it happen? She hadn't felt a thing!
This isn't right, she thought, as the Smiling Man caught her.
Then he said, 'Tell the Boss I'm sorry,' and vanished.
Originally, he hadn't planned anything like this at all.
But thinking about it, the Union must have told her to egg him on, right?
If he didn't move, her trust rating would drop accordingly.
Heading to the Jin Family, Yushin clicked his tongue inwardly.
Planting a spy might seem like they'd cherish it due to time and money spent.
But in reality, suspicions of defection only grew.
The agent tries hard either way. An unfair situation no matter what.
The Bob-cut Secretary was the same. If the Smiling Man acted, it was a plus for her.
On the flip side, silence would deduct trust points.
'Can't have that. Not yet.'
So, just this once, he'd play along with your wishes.
But absolutely, he wouldn't give you the ending you wanted.
“You've come?”
“Elder. Sorry to be blunt, but can I cause a bit of trouble?”
“A villain saying that is a little scary.”
“Get that hand off first before you speak. You seem to be smiling right now?”
“Busted?”
They'd been holding back to avoid detection by the Jin Family people.
But today, it was okay to show a part of it.
“How far do you plan to go?”
“Until the interferers show up.”
“My disciples?”
“Not them. Interferers sent from elsewhere.”
He knew about the Union's secret forces.
Later, they'd become enemies to both heroes and villains.
Pretty annoying, so wrap up the plan before they swarmed.
“Let's start.”
Right then, a ferocious battle erupted in the center of the Jin Family grounds.
One versus a thousand swords, a thousand branches but a single strike—they clashed.
Family members rushed in surprise, uninvited guests hurried not to miss the chance.
But by the time they arrived, the clash of the two powerhouses was already over.
“Not bad for an old man.”
“Not bad for a villain.”
“I've confirmed your reputation isn't empty. I'll withdraw for today. Hahaha!”
A clichéd line straight out of a comic was essential.
Before the gathered crowd could do anything, the Smiling Man vanished.
And the next day, the Union had to let out an enraged shout.
They'd aimed to either kill the Sword Saint or diminish the Jin Family's influence.
One of the two. But both had backfired completely.