That Proposal, I Will Accept (2)
"……Who are you?"
"The reward's not enough? Do you even know how much 300,000 gold is?"
Park Sia and Kang Ha-rin scowled at Yeong-sik's sudden appearance, firing off their words.
Yeong-sik stepped forward calmly, his voice steady as he continued.
"I know 300,000 gold is a massive sum. But for Leviathan Guild to offer it so readily means that dungeon's value exceeds it, right?"
Park Sia clamped her mouth shut at his words. She fixed him with a sharp gaze and pressed on.
"Yes, that's correct. It's a different kind of 'value' from what you might be imagining, but one that's worth far more than 300,000 gold. Still, from Salvatore Guild's perspective right now, 300,000 gold shouldn't feel insufficient, should it?"
"That's just your opinion as Leviathan's guild master. What we need isn't money."
"Oh? So you're here to negotiate?"
"Yes. Exactly."
Park Sia watched Yeong-sik continue seamlessly, unflinching against the leader of a massive guild like Leviathan, her eyes sparkling with interest. She turned to Tiriya.
"But what position does this gentleman hold in your guild?"
"Well……our guild doesn't have formal ranks."
"Then when did he join? I've never seen anyone like him among Salvatore's old executives."
Park Sia had assumed, from how casually he'd inserted himself into a conversation between guild masters, that he was an original member who'd been with Salvatore from the start.
"Mr. Yeong-sik joined a few months ago. He's a newbie."
"What?"
Park Sia and Kang Ha-rin gaped in shock. Even Cheon Tae-hwang, listening quietly from behind them, stared at Yeong-sik with wide eyes.
"……Were you in another guild before?"
"No. I joined Salvatore right after being summoned here."
Yeong-sik answered Park Sia's question directly.
He glanced briefly at Cheon Tae-hwang before adding,
"He's from the same summoning batch as me."
"What? You're a 61st-wave rookie trying to negotiate with Sia unnie?"
"……Salvatore must have really fallen. Letting a 61st-wave summoner butt into a guild master's conversation."
Hearing Yeong-sik was from the 61st wave, Kang Ha-rin and Park Sia shot Tiriya disbelieving looks.
Tiriya and the rest of Salvatore weren't the only ones wearing complicated expressions.
"Hmm. Now that you mention it……"
"Mr. Yeong-sik is a bit special."
The Salvatore members exchanged awkward smiles. They'd subconsciously treated Yeong-sik as on par with the guild master, but from an outsider's view, it was incomprehensible.
"I'd appreciate it if you stopped meddling in our guild's affairs. Mr. Yeong-sik is someone I trust, and if he's saying it, then I'd like to propose a negotiation as well."
Tiriya spoke up in Yeong-sik's defense. Park Sia frowned.
'Is he playing the strategist?'
That was the only thought that came to mind.
"……Well, if Salvatore's guild master insists, what choice do I have? So, what does Salvatore want?"
"Protection and support for Salvatore Guild. For exactly one year. If you fully shield us from external forces for that time, we'll pledge a commensurate reward."
"……Protection? From Elnot Kingdom? With Hendrick dead, isn't that a non-issue?"
Park Sia furrowed her brow. Hendrick, king of Elnot, had been the one to dismantle Salvatore. With him killed in Ruan's rebellion, they shouldn't need protection anymore.
Even with Hendrick gone, the kingdom's bounty on them wouldn't vanish overnight. Officially, Hendrick had accused them of plotting treason against the royal family—a lie everyone knew was just an excuse to seize their guild. But legally, Salvatore was still a band of criminals.
The kingdom, plunged into chaos by civil war, lacked the resources to hunt them down anyway. And if Ruan took the throne, the charges would likely evaporate.
"No, it's still a major problem."
"……Why?"
Park Sia eyed Yeong-sik skeptically. He replied flatly, as if it were nothing.
"Because we killed King Hendrick."
"Wha—"
"W-Wait, Mr. Yeong-sik?!"
Park Sia's face twisted in horror. She wasn't the only one stunned by the bombshell. Kang Ha-rin, Cheon Tae-hwang, Tiriya, and the other Salvatore members all stared at him in disbelief.
"It'll come out anyway once Ruan becomes king."
"E-Even so……" Tiriya gazed at Yeong-sik in bewilderment, unable to fathom what calculations were running through his head.
"So, what do you think?"
"……Give me a moment to think."
Park Sia clutched her forehead as if her head ached from the shocking revelation, staring at Yeong-sik like he was an enigma.
'What the hell is he thinking?'
Claiming Salvatore killed the king was no small matter. Spouting it without even consulting the guild master? It was either the height of idiocy or the move of a schemer seeing several steps ahead.
'Protect Salvatore for one year……'
The condition itself wasn't unusual. Leviathan wielded unmatched influence in Elnot, and plenty of guilds enjoyed their patronage through alliances. Adding a tiny group of just over ten—Salvatore—wouldn't change much.
'But.'
Park Sia's eyes sharpened.
Considering Salvatore's position, it was far from trivial. Leviathan had power rivaling nations, but they had no intention of clashing with one. If they exhausted themselves fighting and monsters struck like before, the guild—not just the kingdom—could face annihilation.
If Salvatore truly killed Hendrick, protecting them meant embracing a ticking time bomb.
Conflict etched across Park Sia's face. Logically, there was no reason to accept such a risky deal. Sheltering outright traitors? Only a madman would.
'But……'
Her gaze shifted to Tiriya—or rather, the stunning pendant around her neck.
'I need that angelic power.'
Leviathan had high hopes for the dungeon they'd discovered—not for S-rank items, hidden classes, or vast wealth. Something far more essential.
'What to do……'
Park Sia's expression twisted in turmoil. Even as guild master of one of the East's three great powers, commanding a hidden water class at level 105, this was no easy choice.
"You're getting a bit cocky, aren't you?"
Kang Ha-rin's irritated voice cut through her thoughts, drawing all eyes.
She barreled on, unfazed.
"Not even a guild master, just a 61st-wave rookie summoner. What makes you think you can act so high and mighty?"
"I have our guild master's approval. Did you get yours before speaking, Ms. Ha-rin?"
"What did you say? You little……" Kang Ha-rin grimaced, hand drifting to the longsword on her back.
"Ha-rin."
Park Sia's cold voice halted her. Kang Ha-rin shot her a frustrated glare.
"Mr. Yeong-sik, was it? To be honest, it's not an easy proposal to accept."
"No need to overthink it. We'll lay low for that year. And we don't need the 300,000 gold you mentioned earlier. What we need now is time."
"Hmm."
Park Sia swallowed hard, pondering his words. Saving 300,000 gold was tempting—even for Leviathan, it wasn't pocket change.
"? Ah!"
Suddenly, Kang Ha-rin, who'd been glaring daggers at Yeong-sik from behind Park Sia, lit up as if struck by inspiration.
"How about this?"
She stepped forward with a sly grin, drawing eyes once more.
Staring at Yeong-sik, she proposed,
"You said you're a 61st-wave summoner, right? We've got one in our guild too—the same wave. How about this: you beat Tae-hwang, we accept your proposal. You lose, we stick to our original terms. Sound fair?"
Kang Ha-rin glanced between Yeong-sik and Cheon Tae-hwang.
"Sigh. Ha-rin, what now?"
Park Sia sighed, head throbbing at the abrupt idea.
"You know no other 61st-wave summoner has ever beaten Tae-hwang."
"That's why we give it a shot! Come on? Scared? Heh, our Tae-hwang does look pretty strong!"
Kang Ha-rin yanked a flustered Cheon Tae-hwang's shoulder, hurling cheap taunts at Yeong-sik.
Yeong-sik fixed his deep, sunken gaze on Cheon Tae-hwang.
"Ha. Sorry about that. Ignore Ha-rin's words. I'll talk to her later……"
"I accept."
"? Pardon?"
Park Sia blinked in confusion at Yeong-sik.
He continued evenly.
"That proposal. I accept."