Chapter 219
Chapter 219
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: Dragonfly Hunt 2 (4)
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‘The mercenary uncle said it.’
Ignoring the beehive rolling around right in front of you is terribly rude to the bees who worked so hard gathering the honey.
So you have to suck it up bit by bit, nice and slow, before someone else comes along and claims it.
‘Your teachings were spot on once again, Uncle.’
For now, it was still just a hunch.
She had no idea when she’d pinpoint the exact location of the Wonju Society’s warehouse with concrete evidence in hand.
But Yuri had made up her mind.
She would raid that warehouse.
‘If they’re willing to hand over a special elixir like that… there’s got to be at least a few more where that came from.’
Just imagining what might be stockpiled in there—what precious treasures.
Her mouth watered at the thought.
Yuri turned a satisfied smile toward Goetz.
‘Planting a spy was the right call.’
Even if the intel was fragmentary, being able to eavesdrop on internal matters like this was a massive advantage.
Goetz gave her a puzzled look for a moment under her pleased gaze.
He brushed it off without much thought and continued.
“And about what you said—skipping the Wonju Society events and just handling Kwonta surveillance… I floated it, and they took it without a fuss. No, they actually seemed happy about it.”
Yuri’s real goal had never been to throw herself into the Wonju Society’s activities.
She just needed to poke around discreetly and uncover the location of their secret warehouse.
She had zero interest in wasting time on their schedule.
And the Wonju Society probably felt the same way.
‘They’d rather their hired mercenary stick to the job than go stirring up trouble.’
Not a bad deal for Yuri.
‘Until I find out where that secret warehouse is… I’ll play it safe.’
With that plan in mind, Yuri fixed Goetz with a steady gaze.
‘Goetz is on my side for now, but he used to belong to the Wonju Society. Can’t trust him completely.’
Who knew?
He might flip the moment he learned she planned to rob their secret warehouse—or at least try to muscle in for a cut.
He looked a bit more stable now, sure, but he’d been a real loose cannon before.
Yuri didn’t trust him.
Goetz caught her look and tilted his head.
“Why the stare?”
“Nothing. So, when do I get that special elixir?”
“If I head back now and report the negotiations went well, the chairman will probably send someone with it.”
“Perfect.”
Yuri flashed a brief smile and extended her hand.
“Here’s to a good partnership. Accomplice.”
“…Accomplice. Hate to admit it, but you’re not wrong.”
Goetz clasped her hand and smiled back.
The two of them grinning at each other made for a surprisingly heartwarming sight.
Of course, one of them was hiding something far more sinister beneath the warmth.
***
Goetz left, pretending he’d just dropped by to report on the negotiations, but Yuri didn’t get a moment’s rest.
Another visitor had shown up.
“…Now this is a guest I didn’t see coming.”
It was none other than Fritz Sing.
She’d half-expected someone from the Bluebird side after the Wonju Society’s visit.
But Fritz, on the cusp of graduation? That she hadn’t anticipated.
Fritz stood before her with a stern, serious expression.
“Yuri Holland, consider this a warning.”
“What kind of warning?”
“If you ever make my little sister shed a tear… blood will pour from your eyes…”
What nonsense was this?
But Fritz’s warning didn’t get to finish.
“Daaaamn yoooouuu!”
A white-haired woman charging from the distance, kicking up a cloud of dust.
She leaped a full two meters and slammed both feet into Fritz’s side.
Boom-!
“Gaaack!”
Fritz went flying with a sound like a drum bursting.
Yulia then straightened up where her brother had stood, steadying her ragged breaths as if nothing had happened.
“……”
Yuri stared at the chaotic siblings, her expression utterly dumbfounded.
Noticing her look, Yulia gave an awkward smile.
“D-Don’t worry about it. That lunatic was just spouting nonsense.”
“……”
When Yuri’s face didn’t soften, Yulia hurriedly changed the subject.
“I… I heard! The Wonju Society stopped by! You’re not already joining them, right?”
“I am.”
“……?”
Yulia blinked, wondering if she’d misheard, then exploded.
“What?! Why?! You haven’t even heard our offer yet!”
Even with Yulia’s slightly angry tone, Yuri remained utterly unfazed.
“Planning to hear it now.”
“……?”
“What’s the Bluebird Society’s offer?”
At Yuri’s question, Yulia reined in her excitement and laid out her prepared terms.
“I’ll give you unlimited access to the Hyun family’s intelligence network.”
“The Hyun family’s intel network? You mean Bluebird?”
“No, wrong. I mean the Hyun family’s network—not Bluebird.”
Yuri’s eyes gleamed as Yulia shook her head lightly.
“So… not just Bluebird, but even after heading out into society, I’d still get to use the Hyun family’s intel network?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s… a pretty bold proposal.”
The Hyun family’s intelligence network, no less.
She might not grasp its full scope or value.
But Yuri knew full well this was an opportunity money couldn’t buy.
Seeing Yuri’s eyes sparkle, Yulia broke into a triumphant smile.
“Of course, the level of info you can access will be restricted. But even so, you’d get free use of the world’s top intelligence network. You get what that means, right?”
“Isn’t the Cradle the world’s best intel network?”
“The Cradle has the most raw volume, sure. But when it comes to sorting, filtering, and pinpointing what you need? That’s where the Hyun family excels.”
“Sounds like a tie for first.”
“Think of it that way. Grab this chance, and you get lifetime free access to the world’s top intel network. Starting now!”
“Hmm……”
As Yuri rubbed her chin, Yulia pressed on.
“And that’s not all.”
“There’s more?”
“If you join Bluebird, I’ll give you the monthly item manifests from all our affiliated shops.”
“…You can do that?”
“It’s tricky, but not impossible.”
“Huh?”
“So, what’ll it be? Join Bluebird or not?”
Yuri chuckled at Yulia’s confident gaze and nodded.
“Sounds good. I’ll join Bluebird too!”
“Good call—wait!”
Yulia’s joyful smile froze as the meaning of Yuri’s words sank in.
“Wait… you’re saying you’ll join both the Wonju Society and our Bluebird?”
“Yep.”
Yuri nodded casually, then asked right back as if it were no big deal.
“Why? Can’t I?”
“Are you… messing with me?”
“What mess? I’m dead serious.”
“You said you’d join whichever side made the better offer!”
“When did I say that?”
“You clearly told us to come loaded with both hands full……”
“Right, I did. And I meant come with both hands heavy.”
“The heavier the better, you said!”
“Yep.”
“…So you meant you’d pick the side that came heavier?”
“You idiot?”
“Idiot?”
“If that’s what I meant, I would’ve said straight up: ‘Whichever side brings the heavier load, that’s the one I join.’”
Yuri grinned as she said it.
Yulia deflated at the sight.
‘This guy… he planned this from the start!’
Yuri had never intended to pick just one organization.
And Yulia’s guess was spot on.
Yuri had always planned to dip into both.
‘Why choose just one? Pick both and slurp up both pots of honey.’
No point agonizing over it—grabbing both was faster and smarter.
And though it was a bit brazen, Yuri laid her cards on the table for Yulia.
‘Bluebird’s gonna find out I’m in both soon enough anyway.’
It wouldn’t take them long.
So Yuri’s strategy was simple.
‘Times like this, you gotta double down on the audacity.’
Yuri threw her shoulders back proudly.
“There’s no rule saying I have to pick just one organization, right?”
“…Even so.”
“And I’m only telling you the truth because you’re Yulia sunbae. The Wonju Society still has no idea I’m joining both.”
Yulia’s eyes narrowed in surprise.
“You… don’t tell me……?”
Her instincts kicked in.
There had to be a reason Yuri was bringing this up now.
And she was right.
Yuri grinned.
“I’d like to be publicly known as joining only the Wonju Society. Even if I join Bluebird.”
“You want to stay a secret member in Bluebird?”
“Yeah. If you’ll allow it.”
“…Why go to such lengths?”
“Who knows? Use that sharp brain of yours and figure it out. Here’s a hint… it won’t be bad for Bluebird either.”
If she could pull off raiding the Wonju Society’s warehouse, wouldn’t that weaken their influence?
That’d be good news for Bluebird, their rivals.
But Yulia couldn’t read Yuri’s plan at all. She just frowned, lost in thought.
“A situation that benefits us……”
The info gap was too wide.
What was Yuri’s real reason for joining the Wonju Society?
Even Yulia couldn’t hazard a guess.
As her pondering dragged on, Yuri tossed out the next question quick.
“So… deal? Or no deal? Am I joining Bluebird or not?”
Under Yuri’s chattering prodding, Yulia finally answered with a hint of irritation.
“…Fine. Let’s do it.”
She didn’t get the intent, but her gut was telling her to trust Yuri this time too.
Just like that day she’d bet on the 1% chance and chosen Baekgun.
‘Keep hanging around this guy, and I end up following instinct over reason……’
Not exactly ideal for someone of Hyun blood, but it didn’t feel bad either.
As Yulia wore a complicated expression, Yuri extended her hand.
“Excellent choice. Here’s to a great partnership.”
“You too.”
The two shook hands lightly.
Yuri followed up with a question.
“Oh, right—why are you trying to recruit me anyway? And with offers this generous.”
“It is generous. Not many outsiders get Hyun family intel access. The reason we’re offering this much……”
Yulia trailed off there and gave Yuri a subtle smile.
“…is because you’ve got that kind of potential and value.”
“Huh?”
“The Sing family has been supporting talented students as scholarship recipients for ages.”
“Wait… you say ‘free’ but then later expect them to work for the Sing family?”
“No, we never bring up debts or demand repayment. No pressure.”
“What, so you’re philanthropists?”
“Not quite… there’s calculation behind it. We don’t force them, but we plant a little sense of debt in their hearts. A tiny one. But we believe someday it’ll pay off for the Sing family.”
“So I’d be one of those scholarship kids?”
“Exactly. A top-tier special scholarship recipient.”
“But is it okay to spell all this out for me? The heart debt stuff, voluntary help, all that?”
“If I didn’t make a point of it… you’d pretend you never owed us a thing and eat it up clean, wouldn’t you?”
“……”
Yuri’s eyes wavered—she’d been nailed.
Yulia’s smile deepened as she caught it.
“That’s why I’ll remind you often. So you don’t forget you got help from us.”
Yuri smirked back at her smile.
“Huh. Turns out it’s a pretty cheap strategy.”
“Cheap?”
“If you can tie down my future with terms like that… the Sing family doesn’t lose. Hell, it’s a profit.”
“…You really are quick on the uptake.”
That was exactly why Yulia—and Fritz—had wanted to pull Yuri into Bluebird.
Both siblings had pegged a 99% chance Yuri would reach master artisan level.
And the youngest ever, at that.
So they were dangling an unprecedented offer, one they’d never extended to any other scholarship student, just to forge ties with her.
‘Sure, it seems generous now. But if Yuri really becomes the youngest master… this choice becomes our best investment ever.’
With that in mind, Yulia beamed and waved lightly.
“Here’s to… a fruitful partnership.”
And right as the words left her mouth, a voice croaked out.
“N-No, better than a fruitful partnership……”
The owner of the dying rasp was none other than Fritz, who’d rolled back over.
Blood trickled from his mouth as he crawled forward, hand outstretched toward Yuri and Yulia.
“A sticky partnership is best! And nothing makes ties stickier… than marriage!”
A eerie glint flashed in Fritz’s eyes.
“Once you graduate the Cradle, we’ll hold the wedding right away, Yuri Holland! Take my sister now! I trust you with her!”
Yuri was left speechless by the sight of him clawing at the dirt and bellowing.
She turned toward the Demon King’s Castle and said to Yulia.
“When you go, take that trash with you.”
“Yeah… will do.”
Leaving Yulia to bow her head in embarrassment, Yuri headed into the castle.
And so Yuri succeeded in bringing Yulia to her side.
From there, everything proceeded smoothly. After submitting her application to the Wonju Society, she soon had the special elixir in hand.
Rumors began to swirl that she’d joined the Wonju Society—not Bluebird.
Then, on the last day of December, amid howling icy winds and a blizzard.
“Yuri! The 50th Cohort’s assembling!”
The summons went out to every member of the 50th Cohort.
For the dragonfly hunt.