Chapter 435: Anger.
Chapter 435: Anger.
Sujeong regained consciousness to the gentle light of a glass chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Lying there in a daze, she soon looked down with a start. Come to think of it, she vaguely remembered hearing someone say, “The client? Then it shouldn’t be a problem for her to attend the meeting. Let her in.” Now, she found herself occupying a seat in the corner of the meeting room.
The room was vast. A quick count revealed enough seats for about a hundred people. Although only a little over half were filled, it didn’t matter. The sheer presence of the seated Users was equivalent to that of hundreds, making Sujeong’s chest feel tight.
Suddenly, Sujeong recalled a conversation she’d had with a colleague long ago.
The Mercenary Clan? Don’t even dream of it. They say the weakest User there would be considered a core member in any other clan. You really think they’d accept Users like us? I heard their admission test is no joke, either….
At the time, she had laughed it off, thinking it was an exaggeration. But now, facing the members of the Mercenary Clan in person, Sujeong was realizing that every word had been true.
The meeting room was so quiet she could hear the breathing of the User next to her. For a while, she fiddled with the gold trim on the corner of the table before cautiously raising her eyes to look at the Users across from her.
Some sat with their mouths shut, others wore expressions of displeasure, and still others remained silent with tense faces. They were all different, yet their gazes were all fixed on one person.
Sujeong slowly followed their line of sight. At the very head of the table, in the seat of honor, sat a man with his eyes gently closed.
The Mercenary Clan Lord.
Sujeong repeated the man’s title in her mind. He was called by many names—one of the Ten Strong, Sword Specialist — but the most common titles were ‘Mercenary Clan Lord’ or simply ‘Mercenary Lord.’
It wasn’t a particularly unique title, but the man didn’t really need one. More than any grand moniker, the simple fact that he stood at the pinnacle of the Mercenary Clan explained everything.
Sujeong stared at the man for a long time before suddenly squinting as a bright light hit her eyes. There was no white wall behind him. There was only a wide pane of glass, through which the midday sun poured in.
Finally, the man’s eyes, which had seemed endlessly closed, began to slowly open. Sujeong instinctively turned her gaze back to the corner of the table, afraid of getting the same shiver that had run down her spine when their eyes met in the first-floor lobby.
And in that instant.
“We will now begin the meeting.”
That same low, cold voice flowed calmly into her ears.
*
I announced the start of the meeting.
To be honest, when I first heard the news, I considered heading straight for the Sleeping Dragon Mountains. But I changed my mind and chose to come to the Mercenary Clan House first. As the saying goes, more haste, less speed. I intended to at least grasp the basic situation before leaving. Above all, I had to take Baek Hangyul with me, making this an unavoidable choice.
“I’m not sure where I should begin….”
Jung Hayeon, who was sitting on the left side of the room, slowly rose to her feet. She took something out from her clothes and held it out to me with both hands. Seeing the document folded in half, it appeared to be a contract.
“It would be best for you to look at the commission contract first.”
Just as I thought. I took the contract and unfolded it. When I checked the bottom, I saw the distinct emblem of a crossed sword and shield. It was the symbol that represented the Mercenary Clan, signifying the authority of the Clan Lord. This meant that Jung Hayeon had ultimately given her approval.
I let out a quiet breath and stared at Jung Hayeon.
“User Jung Hayeon. The Mercenary Clan’s emblem is stamped on this contract.”
“…Yes.”
That was all she said. Jung Hayeon answered meekly and then quietly closed her eyes.
I spoke again.
“I was told over the communication channel that you hadn’t approved it.”
“Yes. I was against accepting the commission. But in the end, I approved it and even added User Baek Hangyul. Of course, there was also User Ahn Hyun’s request to accompany them…. This incident is entirely my fault.”
Her tone was sorrowful. Although I was sure Jung Hayeon had her own unfair circumstances, she admitted her fault. She looked ready to accept any punishment.
I bit my lip. Jung Hayeon, who had opened her eyes again, was looking at me with her clear gaze. Her attitude of not making excuses was good. But even though I knew it was impossible, I had hoped she had an unavoidable reason for giving her permission. That was how much I had trusted her.
A frustrating tightness welled up in my chest, and I couldn’t help but sigh. I looked down at the contract again, deciding to first understand its exact contents.
Hm?
As I calmly read through the document, my eyes stopped at clause two. It stated the main objective of the commission: not the complete conquest of the Sleeping Dragon Mountains, but to gather information related to its entrance.
The entrance….
I fell into thought. A faint doubt began to stir in my once-stifled chest.
Having experienced the first playthrough, I knew a fair amount about the Sleeping Dragon Mountains. I had even participated in an exploration of its interior myself.
The mountain range itself was difficult, but to be precise, its difficulty increased the deeper one went. Based on my experience, the fact that Ahn Hyun and Baek Hangyul had been defeated was something that made me question the situation.
Ahn Hyun was the User who had grown the most in the Mercenary Clan over the past two years, and Baek Hangyul possessed defensive abilities that no one could match.
Jung Hayeon had approved the mission in the end and added Baek Hangyul at Ahn Hyun’s request. She likely did so to increase Ahn Hyun’s chances of survival in case something unexpected happened.
So, the ‘Aura Spearman’ and ‘Aegis’ were defeated at the mere entrance?
No. I could guarantee that, considering their Player Status and experience, they were not weak enough to be defeated at the entrance.
Of course, that was only on the condition that they were limited to the ‘entrance.’ I couldn’t rule out the possibility that they had gone deeper, so I moved on to my next question.
The other question was the commission fee.
I had felt something was off when I saw Kim Sujeong’s Player Status in the first-floor lobby. Although she was a Year 2 User, her stats weren’t high enough to challenge the Sleeping Dragon Mountains. The second clause I just read partially resolved that question, but my doubts remained.
The Mercenary Clan’s commission fees were extremely high. It was by no means a level that a common caravan, the kind you could see anywhere, could afford. And yet, just looking at Kim Sujeong’s shabby equipment and clothes, she didn’t look like she had much money.
If they had gone by themselves, I might have understood it as them being blinded by the prospect of a fortune. But they had paid this exorbitant fee to explore just the entrance, not even for a full conquest.
For what, exactly?
I didn’t know. I had a vague feeling, but it was like seeing a faint outline rather than a clear picture.
I wanted to think more, but I snapped out of my thoughts. I didn’t have time to weigh this and that. The more time I wasted, the lower Ahn Hyun and Baek Hangyul’s chances of survival became. Now that I had a grasp of the situation, it was time to go put out the fire in front of me. Internal affairs could be dealt with later.
A general summons for the Mercenary Clan. The countless eyes of the clan members, all focused solely on me.
Receiving their gazes, I quietly opened my mouth.
“The situation is urgent, so I’ll keep this brief.”
I looked directly at Jung Hayeon.
“User Jung Hayeon. I trust you’ve finished preparations for departure. Go outside now and bring Hangyul. I’m about to announce the members who will join the rescue team. Wait at the main gate; I’ll be out shortly.”
Jung Hayeon calmly bowed her head. Then, she quickly turned and left the meeting room.
The intelligent Jung Hayeon would have understood what I just said: the fact that she was excluded from the team and that she was leaving the room. And that I had shown her a sliver of consideration. Her refusal to make any excuses meant that she had already come to terms with it in her own mind.
Next, I began the promised announcement of the team members. I had already thought about who would participate on my way here, so there was no need to hesitate.
“I will announce the lineup based on the formation. The vanguard will be myself, User Cha Sorim, Nam Daeun, and Heo Junyoung. Archers will be User Seon Yuun and Lim Hanna. Mages will be User Kim Hanbyul and Vivian. Priests will be User Ahn Sol and Shin Jaeryong. And for support combat, User Ko Yeonju and Woo Jungmin. The eleven people I just named, leave the room immediately and finish your personal preparations. Please assemble at the main gate as quickly as possible.”
As if they too recognized the urgency of the situation, the eleven clan members stood up simultaneously as soon as I finished speaking and headed for the door.
It was then.
“Wait! Clan Lord-nim!”
Just as I was about to dismiss the meeting, a sharp voice stopped me. I turned my head toward the sound and saw Yoojung looking at me with a restless expression.
“I… I want to join, too.”
“…You too?”
“I’ve been with Ahn Hyun since the Rite of Passage. I’ve spent a long time with Hangyul, too. I hate the idea of just waiting here.”
“I don’t know. To do that, I’d have to classify you as support combat, but those spots are already filled. I can’t put you in the vanguard, either. Don’t you think it would be more helpful to just wait here?”
“Please. I’ll do whatever you say. I won’t be a burden. I want to help save them, too…. And I don’t want to think about it, but… in the one-in-a-million chance, I want to at least see their final moments.”
“…Their final moments.”
I quietly repeated Lee Yoojung’s words. Her face was filled with desperation. The thought that Ahn Hyun, who had been like a brother to her, might be dead seemed to have made her extremely anxious.
At that moment, my eyes met the client’s. Was her name Kim Sujeong? She had a dazed look on her face, but as soon as our eyes met, she hastily turned her head away.
…I see.
In that instant, a solution flashed through my mind like a beam of light. No, perhaps I should call it a ‘certainty.’
I paused in thought for a moment, then gave a slight nod. Lim Hanna immediately understood my signal and led the client out of the meeting room.
Then, I turned back to Yoojung and said.
“Alright. You can prepare as well.”
As I readily gave my permission, Lee Yoojung’s face brightened. She bowed deeply and then ran out of the meeting room as if she were flying.
A moment later, after confirming that Yoojung was the last to leave, I also stood up. Since our destination was the Sleeping Dragon Mountains, I intended to make my own preparations.
As I walked down the central passage between the long tables, I spoke to one of the clan members still seated.
“User Jo Seungwoo.”
“Yes, Clan Lord.”
“Prepare for a handover of duties.”
“Yes…?”
Seeing Jo Seungwoo’s startled reaction, I immediately added.
“This rescue mission will likely take at least a month, two at most. So, tell User Jung Hayeon that I gave you permission and request a handover of her duties. So that when I return, we can go through the official procedures and you can start work immediately.”
“Me… sir?”
He wasn’t just surprised. His eyes were shining brightly as he asked. I nodded in affirmation.
Hayeon… is too soft. She can’t be ruthless when necessary, so she’s not suited for this kind of work.
I acknowledged Jung Hayeon’s abilities. She was naturally smart, quick-witted, and had excellent situational judgment. And no matter what anyone said, Jung Hayeon had worked hard managing the Mercenary Clan’s internal affairs for the past two years.
But she had one flaw she couldn’t fix.
She was good at following orders, but she would make mistakes at critical moments. Moreover, being unable to prevent a problem even when she knew it was coming meant her abilities were ultimately lacking.
In other words, the position of acting Clan Lord wasn’t one that could be filled by someone who was simply smart. It required the charisma to thoroughly control internal affairs in response to external situations. And if one lacked charisma, they needed the ability to orchestrate their surroundings to create the situation they desired.
Jung Hayeon had failed to achieve either. As a User, she was first-rate, but as a Clan Lord, she was merely second-rate.
I looked at Jo Seungwoo once more.
In a way… he’s a figure like Sung Hyunmin.
In that respect, User Jo Seungwoo was suitable for the latter. Perhaps because he had run a fairly large business in the modern world, the resourcefulness he had shown since joining had left a deep impression on me. Furthermore, the Alignment of ‘Chance’ listed in his Player Status was a rarer trait than one might think.
In any case, this handover wasn’t an impromptu decision. I had just been waiting for the right time. She had done enough until now, so it would be good for Jung Hayeon to rest a little and sort out her thoughts.
Finally reaching the door, I paused for a moment. I stared at the polished door and spoke quietly.
“I’m sure I’ve told you time and time again. To be careful with your actions. To not do anything that could be criticized. I don’t know how many more times I have to say it, but my mouth is starting to hurt.”
I placed my hand on the doorknob. Then, I pushed it open with force.
“The reason I issued a general summons and held this meeting today was because I wanted the clan members to once again be aware of the current situation. Although I’m letting it slide for now because the situation is urgent…”
The door swung wide open, and I took a step into the hallway. Then I spoke.
“I will give you all one last warning. If an incident like this ever happens again, no matter who is involved, they will not escape responsibility.”
And before I fully stepped out.
“Furthermore.”
I tilted my head slightly and finished my words.
“What I just said will be no exception for this current incident.”