Chapter 322: Nothingness
Chapter 322: Nothingness
I didn't answer right away. Instead, I watched Vivian quietly. She was radiating confidence, certain she would succeed.
Come to think of it, Vivian had never once disappointed me. Wasn't she the one who'd helped alleviate some of my chronic stamina issues?
I fiddled with the fruit of Yggdrasil, then spoke with a sense of satisfaction.
“Not bad, Vivian. You’re finally learning how to say things that pique my interest.”
“Huh? Pique? What’s that?”
“It means you’ve caught my attention. But tell me… is it really necessary to use sixteen vials on Baek Seoyeon alone? You said eight were enough for the Elf Queen.”
“Ah. In a way, this potion can be seen as a double-edged sword. It’s a one-in-a-million chance, but if Baek Seoyeon drinks this and still resists, it could become incredibly difficult to affect her with any other method. Remember what I said about resistance?”
“I see. One more question, then. Are there any other ways to influence a person’s mind besides potions? You mentioned there were two methods before. For example, like with Mavolo back then…”
I trailed off, glancing sideways at Ordo, and Vivian burst out laughing.
“Ahaha! I know what you’re thinking, Kim Soohyun. I’m sorry, but directly manipulating a mind is impossible with my current skills. No, that’s a process even the so-called Grand Mage Mavolo failed at.”
“Is that so? That’s a bit disappointing.”
“Still, it’s not like there are no other options. If I use the power sleeping within this staff, I think I could imitate some of the interesting things listed here. Anyway, there are plenty of methods. I’m just the one making the suggestions. The choice is yours, Kim Soohyun.”
Right. In the end, the choice was mine. I suddenly felt it was a good thing I’d spoken to Vivian. I wasn’t sure if it was the contract’s influence or just her personality, but she seemed genuinely intent on utterly destroying Baek Seoyeon’s mind.
In any case, Vivian’s words were still just in the planning stage. We’d have to decide on the specifics once we actually put things into motion.
Having made up my mind, I decided to end our discussion and start the meeting.
“Alright. I’ve decided. I approve your plan.”
“Good, good. An excellent choice.”
“I’m planning to build a prison in the underground training ground soon. I’ll grant you permission to access it freely. And if you need anything, be it manpower or materials, just tell me. I’ll support you without holding back.”
“Hmph. It seems Kim Soohyun is finally starting to recognize my true worth.”
Vivian crossed her arms and nodded with a smug look on her face. Suppressing a sudden sadistic urge, I continued calmly.
“Yes, yes. I’m delegating all authority on this matter to you, so do a good job.”
“Don’t you worry. Have I ever disappointed you once?”
Never. In my opinion, Vivian was the most suitable person for the job of handling the Vagabonds.
I nodded once or twice and stood up. At that, Vivian, who had been basking in her confidence, widened her eyes and spoke.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yeah. I think it’s time to start the meeting. You don’t have to come. I won’t bother you for the time being, so just focus on your work.”
“Ah…”
“What is it?”
In that moment, Vivian’s arrogant expression from just a second ago crumbled. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but she soon stood up with a sullen look on her face.
What’s with her all of a sudden?
“Vivian?”
“Fine… I will…”
Vivian answered in a listless voice as she began gathering her things.
I tilted my head, wondering if I’d misspoken, but I couldn’t think of anything.
Just as I opened the door to head to the conference room, a faint voice drifted to my ear.
“Idiot. You’re allowed to touch me…”
…….
What on earth was Vivian trying to say?
*
“That concludes the meeting.”
I organized the notes I had taken and announced the meeting was over. It hadn't been much of a meeting, really. Now that the most important issue—the Vagabonds—had been dealt with, the remaining matters weren't particularly difficult.
“I know you’re all still tired, but the situation around us is chaotic. I believe Mercenary needs to prepare thoroughly to match these circumstances.”
Everyone except Vivian and Shin Jaeryong was currently seated in the third-floor conference room. I watched the clan members nod one by one before turning my gaze to Ahn Hyun and Jung Hayeon.
“You two have tasks I’ve assigned you personally. I want you both to think them over and report back to me by the end of the day with any specific adjustments you need.”
“Yes, Clan Lord. But what kind of specific adjustments should I report?”
“Ahn Hyun, your task was the equipment audit, right? You can’t do that alone. You’ll need an Goods Appraisal scroll, and you’ll need people to help. That’s the kind of thing I mean.”
“Aha.”
Ahn Hyun nodded in understanding. He then shot a sly look at Ko Yeonju, but quickly flinched and looked away as if he’d seen something.
“You are all dismissed. Everyone may leave. Old man, if you could just…”
Just as I was about to say, “Please stay behind,” I paused. Baek Hangyul, sitting at the far end of the table, had raised his hand. It was highly unusual for him to publicly request to speak, so I quickly gestured for him to stand.
“User Baek Hangyul. Is there something you wish to say?”
“C-Clan Lord. I-I’m sorry.”
Baek Hangyul stood up, trembling, and immediately started apologizing. His face was deathly pale, too much so to be simple nervousness. Now that I thought about it, I had found it a bit strange how he’d been on pins and needles throughout the entire meeting.
“Speak. What in the world is going on?”
“I… I should have told you yesterday… I didn’t know, I forgot… I was just so happy to see you, hyung, that I…”
“Baek Hangyul. Calm down. Take a deep breath.”
“I-It’s just…”
He was rambling. As the clan members’ gazes fell upon him, Baek Hangyul seemed to grow even more flustered. Unable to make sense of his words, I just tapped my fingers on the innocent table and waited for him to continue. After about the tenth tap, he finally spoke again.
“Actually, when the clan members left the city to search for you… Istantel Low Clan provided some help.”
“Mm. Yes. User Jung Hayeon made the request, and they sent people to protect the clan house in case anything happened.”
I had already heard about it from Jung Hayeon. I needed to express my gratitude for that as well, so I was already planning to visit Istantel Low Clan soon.
“Yes… But about a week before you returned, I received a message from Hayeon noona through the crystal ball. She said she’d heard you were alive…”
“And?”
“So, I was so happy that I told the person who came to protect us. They happened to mention they knew you well, Clan Lord… But then, they came back the next day and… well…”
“Baek Hangyul. Stop stuttering. Stop beating around the bush. Just get to the point and tell me what the problem is.”
In the end, I couldn’t overcome my rising irritation and my voice came out sharp. I knew this was his personality. Still, after talking with Vivian, who understood me in an instant, listening to Baek Hangyul was incredibly frustrating.
Baek Hangyul seemed to sense my mood and flinched before continuing.
“Istantel Low Clan had a message for you, Clan Lord. They said that when you returned, you were to bring the Vagabonds and come straight to the Istantel Low Clan House. I was supposed to tell you yesterday, but I completely forgot… I’m so sorry.”
The first emotion that came to mind upon hearing his words was curiosity. If they sent the message a week ago, we would have still been on our way back. I couldn’t understand how Istantel Low Clan knew we had captured the Vagabonds.
“So they told you this before we even got back. How did Istantel Low Clan know about that?”
“Hangyul probably told them. When I let him know I’d met with you, Clan Lord, I explained the situation as well.”
“User Jung Hayeon?”
“Yes. Hangyul wanted to know the details…”
The answer came from Jung Hayeon. I bit my lip gently.
“Baek Hangyul. So when you told them, the person guarding the house said that? Word for word?”
“Yes… They said, ‘Tell your Clan Lord to bring the Vagabonds and come to our clan house.’ That’s exactly what they said. Oh! And they also said they’re planning a Call to Arms soon, and that you should attend that too…”
“A Call to Arms? Who in the world said that?”
“Someone called… the Princess of Execution.”
Only then could I roughly grasp the situation.
Right. Han Soyoung wasn’t the type to make such a mistake, nor would she speak like that. But Yeon Hyerim? Given her personality, it was highly likely she’d blurted it out without thinking of the consequences.
I sighed inwardly and looked around.
The members who didn’t know the situation just looked on blankly, their eyes darting around, but the veteran clan members all wore displeased expressions. Even the good-natured Shin Sangyong was showing a hint of displeasure.
I’d have to find out the details, but Mercenary had maintained a good relationship with Istantel Low Clan until now. It wouldn’t be good for the clan members to develop animosity toward them because of Yeon Hyerim’s unintentional slip of the tongue. I was pondering how to smooth over the situation.
Knock, knock.
“Apologies for interrupting the meeting. Something urgent has come up, may I enter for a moment?”
Just then, an unfamiliar voice sounded, and the door began to open slowly. The person who entered was an employee wearing a maid uniform and a garter belt. She seemed startled by the chilly atmosphere in the room and flinched, before speaking cautiously.
“A User has just arrived at the clan house. They say they have a request and have asked to see the Clan Lord.”
*
“Hm-hm. Hm-hm-hm.”
The Istantel Low Clan House.
Park Dayeon was sitting at a table in the lounge, humming a tune as she diligently wrote something. She occasionally squirmed in her seat as she worked, then set her quill pen down with a sharp thud. She held the document up high and looked at it.
“Alright. This is perfect. Huhu.”
“Perfect? What’s so perfect about it?”
Snatch!
“H-Huh?”
Just then, a scoffing sound came from behind Park Dayeon, and someone instantly snatched the document from her hands. Park Dayeon reflexively flailed her arm to grab it back, but the other person held it high in the air.
After stretching on her tiptoes as high as she could, Park Dayeon finally accepted that she couldn’t reach it. She let out a huff and pouted. Then, she glared fiercely at Yeon Hyerim, who was now standing before her.
“What is it? When did you get here?”
“Just now. But what’s this? There’s nothing special here. You were squirming so much I thought it was a love letter. ‘To the esteemed Mercenary Lord.’ I got my hopes up after seeing that.”
“A love letter? Don’t be ridiculous. It’s an invitation to the upcoming Call to Arms. Give it back.”
“So I see. But there’s no need to send this.”
Yeon Hyerim tossed the document aside and shrugged.
As Park Dayeon started walking toward where the paper had landed, she turned her head slightly and asked.
“Why not? Soyoung unni ordered this herself. Did she issue a cancellation?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I already told Mercenary about it a while ago.”
Finally sensing that something was wrong, Park Dayeon blinked with a puzzled expression.
“Ah. Remember when I went to the Mercenary Clan House to see the unicorn? That kid, the Aegis or whatever, told me the news about the Mercenary Lord. So I told him then. I said to tell Kim Soohyun that when he gets back, he should bring the Vagabonds over and also attend the Call to Arms. That’s the message I had him pass on.”
“What… What did you say…?”
“Which means there’s no need to send that long-winded document you wrote. Hoho. I did a good job, right?”
Yeon Hyerim said proudly, a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips.
And in that instant, Park Dayeon’s eyebrows twitched violently, and her mouth flew open.
“You moron!”