Chapter 244: The First Commission
Chapter 244: The First Commission
The next day, at breakfast, I couldn’t bring myself to look Ko Yeonju or Jung Hayeon in the eye. There was no clear reason for it. I’d certainly hinted at the possibility before, and in the Hall Plain, it wasn’t something to be condemned. Nevertheless, every time I saw their bright smiles directed at me, I felt a sharp pang in a corner of my heart.
After a breakfast that felt like sitting on pins and needles, I immediately held a meeting to inform the clan members of our future plans.
The morning was spent in meetings, and the afternoon was dedicated to inspecting our equipment.
Three elixirs, a Pegasus’s egg, the Twilight Medium (Rare Class), the Evil-Banishing Bow, the Legend of Hoplon, three Chaos Mimics, Vivian’s Potion Pouch, and so on. I didn’t bother including the pouches of gold coins and jewels. Even without my intervention, they were already neatly sorted into their own sizable bags. The sight of them brought a smile to my face.
“Hnngh. Hnngh.”
Ahn Sol grunted as she organized the equipment according to my instructions, then straightened her back, which had been bent at a right angle. Beads of sweat dotted her face. Soon, my little lucky charm turned to me, presented her hands, and said, “Ta-da!” Cradled between her palms was a yellowish egg, about twice the size of an ostrich egg. It was the Pegasus’s egg.
“Orabeoni! Do you know what’s inside this?”
“A chick.”
“A chick…? So it’s a giant chicken egg?”
“Yep. We’ll ask Ko Yeonju to cook it for us when we have a party later. Let’s make some delicious fried eggs. So just leave it there for now.”
“Eh…?”
Perhaps she had been expecting something grand. With a shocked expression, Ahn Sol hugged the egg tightly and shook her head. Just as I was about to wrap up the equipment check with that bit of nonsense, my eyes fell on the Twilight Medium class and the Evil-Banishing Bow.
Madam Lim—no, Lim Hanna, was it?
Madam Lim Hanna, the manager of Monica’s famous Love House. A Year 3 User with considerable skill, she was a perfect fit for my plan to make Mercenary a small, elite clan. Her Alignment—Order, Conviction—was also quite favorable.
Come to think of it, we could use an archer User about now.
The image of Lim Hanna’s gentle smile came to mind. After a moment of thought, I turned and left the room where the equipment was stored. I needed to check if a messenger had been sent to Istantel Low Clan, and I also had a few questions for Ko Yeonju about Lim Hanna. As I stepped into the hallway, I felt Ahn Sol’s presence pattering along behind me.
Ko Yeonju wasn’t on the fourth floor. After a quick look inside her room, I headed straight for the stairs. I descended the cleanly polished steps, which spiraled down between floors, and soon arrived in the lobby.
There weren’t many people on the first floor. While we were an exception thanks to Ko Yeonju, I knew the Love House was originally a pub primarily for women—the flowers of the night. They must have been busy dealing with men outside from last night until dawn, so they were probably all sound asleep now.
The lobby was quiet, but thankfully, I found the person I was looking for. Ko Yeonju was sitting at a table with Hayeon and Lim Hanna, chatting cheerfully. They were having such a good time that peals of laughter occasionally erupted.
“Oh, Soohyun? When did you get here?”
“Are you finished organizing the equipment?”
“Mercenary Lord. Hello.”
As I approached the table, Ko Yeonju, Jung Hayeon, and Lim Hanna spoke in turn. I gave a slight nod to Lim Hanna and sat in the chair Ko Yeonju pulled out for me. When Ahn Sol, who had followed me, stood there blankly, Lim Hanna immediately stood up. Ahn Sol grinned and took the seat Lim Hanna had vacated.
“Mercenary Lord, would you like something to drink?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Unni. This one. I want this one.”
“This? Ah. Sol, just wait a moment. I’ll go get it for you, okay?”
“Okay!”
Lim Hanna gently pinched Ahn Sol’s soft cheek as if she couldn’t be any cuter. Watching her turn and walk away with light steps, I felt a little surprised. Ahn Sol tended to be very shy around strangers, yet far from showing any rejection, she was calling her “Unni” and acting friendly.
Is it because their Alignments are similar…? She seems fairly perceptive, too. But why has Han Soyoung left a User like this alone? There’s no way she hasn’t noticed her.
As I silently stared at Lim Hanna, I heard hushed voices whispering beside me. I turned my head to see Ko Yeonju and Jung Hayeon with their faces close together, sharing secrets. But there was no way I wouldn’t hear them.
“He’s definitely showing interest.”
“Right? She’s a dear friend, but honestly, even from a woman’s perspective, she’s got a pretty face and a great body. She’s so graceful, too…”
“Sigh… This is why I said we should have found lodging somewhere else. We have enough competition as it is…”
“It’s fine. I can vouch for her skills. And we happen to need an archer User right now. Soohyun will be pleased. Besides, I trust Soohyun…”
I stared at them, dumbfounded. Sensing my gaze, the two immediately pulled their faces apart. Then, they played innocent and started looking in different directions.
“……”
To be honest, it stung a little. Moreover, I’d been feeling a sliver of guilt ever since I heard about the rock-paper-scissors game last night, so I decided to put aside my questions about Lim Hanna for the time being. No, I felt I had to.
Come to think of it, I’ve changed a lot. Or has only my outward appearance changed…?
A bitter feeling arose as I experienced an unfamiliar emotion I’d never felt during the first playthrough. In any case, it was fine to soften up, but I couldn’t afford to lose my original edge. After making a mental note to borrow Horrence’s Magic Stone from Vivian later, I cleared my throat once or twice to get their attention.
“Ahem. Ko Yeonju, what happened with the matter I asked you about last night?”
“Ah, I sent the messenger. But a reply just came back.”
“A reply?”
“Yes. They said there’s no need for you to go to them, that they’ll come here directly.”
“I see. Thank you for your hard… What?”
I asked again, thinking I’d misheard, but Ko Yeonju just shrugged. From her reaction, it seemed I hadn’t misheard after all. A long sigh escaped my lips. Han Soyoung. She was usually so cool-headed and capable, so why did she lose all sense of proportion when her greed for talent was triggered?
I grumbled internally and asked Ko Yeonju.
“When did she say she would be coming?”
“It wasn’t specified. But I think she’ll be here soon…”
“Tsk. I understand. I’d better get going now.”
“What? But she said she was coming… Ah. I see. Would you like someone to accompany you?”
Ko Yeonju, with her quick mind, seemed to have understood me right away. I shook my head at her question about an attendant.
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll go alone.”
“Still, it would be better if you took me…”
No. I refuse. Taking the Shadow Queen along could lead to disaster with one wrong move; she was one of the people I needed to avoid the most. I’d sooner take Hayeon instead. I had no desire to converse with Han Soyoung in a room filled with killing intent. I replied firmly, “I refuse,” and immediately stood up.
“Ah, Mercenary Lord…”
Coincidentally, Lim Hanna appeared, walking over with two cups on a tray, having just finished making the drinks. It seemed she had made one for me too, even though I’d said I was fine. I was about to ignore it and leave, but not wanting to make a bad impression, I stopped just as I was about to head out.
“Something came up, so I have to step out for a bit. I’m sure Sol can drink both.”
“Ah, haha. I’m sure she can. Have a safe trip.”
“Then, I’ll be off.”
The moment I opened the door to the exit and started down the stairs, I faintly heard Ahn Sol’s voice, “I’m not a pig…”
*
The power of 98 Agility was immense. With just a slight push, I could move faster than someone riding a bicycle.
It was the right call to run instead of walking at a leisurely pace. I was able to spot Han Soyoung just as she was leaving the main gate of the Istantel Low Clan House with an attendant.
Entering the Istantel Low Clan’s grounds after so long felt nostalgic. It wasn’t exactly the same as when I was here, but the scenery was close enough to my memories. They probably had over two hundred clan members by now, but I could only sense twenty or thirty people inside.
It was a small number for a representative clan, but it was also proof of each individual’s exceptional ability. Aside from the internal maintenance staff, most of them were likely running around busy, day and night.
“So, Mercenary Lord, you’re saying you wish to purchase the clan house for its proper price.”
“That’s correct. I appreciate your offer, but considering our clan’s nature, it seems to be the right thing to do.”
“Why is that?”
“Because Mercenary is a new clan.”
Hearing my answer, Han Soyoung seemed to fall into deep thought. For a moment, I saw the face of Park Dayeon, sitting next to her and across from me, for the first time in a very long time. My first instinct was to run to her, happy to see her again. But the sight of her puffing out her cheeks at me made me hesitate.
After meeting the two at the main gate, I had explained the situation and was guided to the reception room. Unlike before, Park Dayeon was now showing me a bright, smiling face.
Park Dayeon was the User in charge of Istantel Low Clan’s finances. The reason she’d puffed her cheeks at me at first was undoubtedly because she was displeased with Han Soyoung going to see me personally and the process of selling us the clan house. However, when I showed the courtesy of coming to them first and expressed my intention to buy the clan house at its original price, her face immediately brightened.
She’s still terrible at hiding her expressions, I thought, taking a sip of the tea she had personally brewed. As I set the teacup down, Han Soyoung, having finished her thoughts, was staring intently at me.
“First of all, I’m grateful that the Mercenary Clan has come to Monica. That’s why I wanted to offer you a gesture of goodwill. I did mention it at the Call to Arms.”
“Of course, I’m grateful for what you said back then. But we didn’t come to Monica expecting that.”
“Regarding the purchase of the clan house, we can keep it strictly confidential on our end. And even if it were to be revealed, as long as it has Istantel Low Clan’s approval, no one would be able to object.”
“There are no eternal secrets, and the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Moreover, I’m aware that there are many clans under Istantel Low Clan in Monica right now. If you show us, a non-subordinate clan, such unnecessary consideration, there’s a risk that dissatisfaction will quietly fester.”
I felt the faint sensation of Park Dayeon tapping her feet alternately on the floor. As I focused on it, I got the strange feeling that she was excited. An emotion of relief was plain on her face. It seemed she was pleased that I was saying what she wanted to say. I decided to add one more thing.
“As you know, we hold Free Mercenary status, and our clan’s nature is also Free. The standard discount for existing users is 30%, but a 60% discount is… frankly, it feels like a heavy burden.”
“So you’re saying you’re willing to accept it if we give you the customary 30% discount?”
“No.”
“Then how about 29%?”
“……”
Suddenly, the situation felt incredibly absurd. The manager was offering a discount, and the buyer was refusing to take it. I sent a pleading look to Park Dayeon, asking her to rein in this User. But she just gave a weary shrug and let out a cute sigh.
“That’s right, Clan Lord. Of course, I’m also grateful that the Mercenary Clan came to Monica. But they have a different nature from the existing clans, don’t they? Excessive goodwill can be perceived not just as a burden but as greed by the other party.”
“Greed…? It is greed, though.”
“Seriously, Unni… I mean, Clan Lord. Please, get a grip. As the Mercenary Lord said, you have to consider their position too. There’s no reason for us to give them a discount, nor is there any justification for the Mercenary Clan to accept it. If we sell a property worth nearly 90,000 gold for 30,000, what will the other clans think?”
“Reason…? Justification…?”
Han Soyoung tilted her head, her eyes rolling. Park Dayeon stomped her feet, looking like she would die of frustration. And I smiled inwardly as I watched Han Soyoung stare blankly at Park Dayeon.
She’s pouting.
Her face was expressionless, but the corners of her eyes were slightly drooped. It was a habit only I knew, one she sometimes showed when she was sulking.
Han Soyoung stared at Park Dayeon for a while with a steady gaze. Finally, when Dayeon lowered her head with a sullen look, Han Soyoung averted her eyes and turned back to me.
“Reason and justification. You certainly have a point.”
“I’m glad you understand. Still, I appreciate you offering your goodwill.”
“Yes. But you said the Mercenary Clan is a Mercenary Clan, correct?”
“Pardon? Yes.”
A new wave of tension rose within me at Han Soyoung’s question. It wasn’t in her nature to ask about something she already knew twice. To ask like this meant she was plotting something.
“In that case, you’ll be accepting and resolving requests from other Users as well.”
“I suppose… so.”
“Then have you accepted any requests so far?”
“Not yet. We were only just established, and we don’t even have a clan house.”
The moment I said that, a very thin smile appeared on Han Soyoung’s lips. She was so beautiful that even that expression was breathtakingly lovely. But in that instant, I could guess her intentions, and a sense of dread washed over me.
And then, before I could say anything, Han Soyoung’s lips parted quickly.
“That’s perfect. There was something I wanted to ask of the Mercenary Clan. It’s a matter that requires the power of the Shadow Queen. Ah… perhaps the term ‘commission’ would be more accurate than ‘request.’”