Chapter 483: The Downfall Of The Coran Union.
Chapter 483: The Downfall Of The Coran Union.
Two years ago, back when the Golden Lion Clan reigned over the Northern Continent, an incident occurred.
When it was confirmed that the combined forces of the Western Continent and the Vagabonds were approaching, the Northern Continent was thrown into turmoil. The western cities, which would be the first to face the allied army, were in an even greater panic.
Ultimately, this led to a mass exodus, with users living in the western cities fleeing to other territories. Sometimes, it wasn't just individual users or caravans, but entire clans that relocated.
Why did this happen?
On the surface, there were many reasons, such as the Golden Lion's lukewarm response and the ineptitude of the western representative clans. But the biggest reason lay behind the scenes. To be more precise, it was due to the actions of the eastern and southern territories.
The southeast, which had always been on bad terms with the Golden Lion, saw this as an opportunity. They extended offers disguised as helping hands—in other words, they started scouting. Many clans, feeling insecure in the west, accepted these offers and chose to move. They weren't just temporarily evacuating; they were choosing to switch their allegiance entirely.
And now, two years later.
Although the situation was quite different, something similar was happening again. The central, eastern, western, and northern territories—even factions within the south itself—had begun to move against Coran.
The subordinate clans of the Coran Union grew anxious as the incident spiraled out of control, and clans from other cities did not miss this chance. They rushed to make secret offers, either to individual users or to entire clans. A significant and ever-growing number of subordinate clans accepted these proposals. In other words, the situation was still unfolding.
Then, finally, an event occurred that would create a massive ripple effect.
—This is Gu Hyeon-gyu, Lord of the Moss Clan. As of this moment, the Moss Clan declares its withdrawal from the Southern Free Alliance. We will issue a clarification on the current situation and formally apologize to the Mercenary Clan…
One of the eight clans that formed the core of the Coran Union had made a swift move. Judging that they could no longer handle the current crisis, they issued a unilateral statement and, to top it off, declared their withdrawal from the alliance.
This was on a completely different level from a mere subordinate clan leaving. It meant that the Moss Clan, along with all the subordinate clans under its jurisdiction—a full one-eighth of the alliance's total strength—had turned its back on them.
Publicly, Gu Hyeon-gyu offered a deep apology, clarified that they had no involvement, and announced that they would suspend all activities for the time being as a sign of self-reflection. However, any user with half a brain would have realized the truth.
When this crisis eventually subsided, the Moss Clan would move somewhere other than Coran, whether by relocating its city or through a merger.
The Moss Clan's declaration of withdrawal dealt another devastating blow to the already staggering Coran Union.
Now, more than a week after the incident began, the number of departing members, which had just barely started to decline, shot back up. For the users who had been cautiously watching from the sidelines under the banner of "family," the Moss Clan's announcement was the perfect excuse.
The Coran Union was in disarray. They were already struggling to deal with external pressures, but now, instead of receiving help from within, their internal situation was making things even worse. It was like getting slapped when you already wanted to cry.
“Hah. This is killing me.”
Park Taejin groaned and sank deep into his chair. He stared at the ceiling for a moment before quietly closing his eyes. Lately, his head had been aching frequently, and his body felt drained of energy. He wondered if he was about to fall ill.
As he sat there, his mind blank, he suddenly felt the tension in his stiff shoulders ease. Someone had begun to gently massage them. He glanced sideways and saw a young man smiling warmly as their eyes met. Recognizing him as Park Hwanhee, Park Taejin let out a faint smile.
“That feels good. Massage my neck a little more.”
Without a word, Park Hwanhee began to knead his neck.
In truth, Park Taejin was deeply fond of the young man. It wasn't just fondness; he practically considered him his successor.
He was so cheerful and polite that not a single member of the Su Clan disliked him. He was handsome, had a good Player Status, and most importantly, he was capable and resourceful. It wasn't for nothing that people called Park Hwanhee the second-in-command of the Su Clan.
As if aware of Park Taejin's expectations, Park Hwanhee worked even more diligently. Seeing him reminded Park Taejin of his own early days in the Hall Plain, so he always kept Hwanhee by his side and favored him. It reached a point where one clan member jealously joked that they might as well get married.
I've always been a good judge of character.
A considerable number of subordinate clans had turned their backs on them, and countless clan members had left. But Park Hwanhee was still here. This alone was proof that his judgment hadn't been wrong. Park Taejin smiled softly.
A moment later, Park Hwanhee spoke cautiously.
“You're truly amazing, Hyung-nim. To be able to smile even in a situation like this…”
“Hm? Ah… Of course. If I look defeated, who would trust and follow the alliance? So I have to smile. Pretend I'm not tired when I am, pretend to smile when I want to cry…”
“That's easier said than done. It's hard to actually do it.”
“That's true. But the position I'm in demands it. No matter how hard it gets, I have to find a way through. I can't lose hope, no matter the circumstances. That's why they talk about the power of positivity, right? You should remember that too.”
Was it an unexpected response? Park Hwanhee's eyes widened, and he paused his massage. Park Taejin raised a hand to signal him to stop and let out a long sigh.
Park Hwanhee then spoke with a gentle smile.
“Still, I'm worried. There are many people who are staying only because they trust you, Hyung-nim. But lately, it's obvious how exhausted you are. It looks like you could collapse at any moment.”
“Don't worry. I don't go down that easily.”
“I'm saying this because I'm worried. And no matter how much of a User you are, you're still human at your core. You can't just keep running forever. You need to rest, Hyung-nim.”
“Alright, alright. Jeez, you're nagging me. Anyone would think you're my wife. Hahaha.”
Perhaps cheered by the words of concern, Park Taejin burst into a hearty laugh. He calmly stood up and stretched with all his might.
But it seemed Park Hwanhee still had more to say. He fidgeted with his hands and stared ahead. Just as Park Taejin lowered his arms with a short groan, Hwanhee spoke quietly.
“Hyung-nim. Since we're on the topic, you should really do something to lift your spirits soon.”
“I said I get it. If you're that concerned, you can…”
Park Taejin, who had been nodding, suddenly stopped talking. Park Hwanhee had abruptly handed him a record. Caught off guard, he took it and skimmed through it. For a moment, a strange light flickered in his eyes. He looked up and blinked.
“This is… a record of a ruin?”
“Yes. The Mercenary Lord gave it to me.”
“What? The Mercenary Lord? You… you two know each other?”
“He came in as an instructor during my time at the User Academy. I got to know him a little then. We're not that close.”
Park Hwanhee explained with an awkward smile. Park Taejin tilted his head.
“Really? Well, if that man gave it to you, that's a different story. There's a high chance it's real. But why all of a sudden?”
“Well… he said he's sorry.”
“Hm?”
“He said he didn't expect the situation to get this big. It seems there was some trouble between the Mercenary Clan and the Central Administration as well.”
Park Taejin snorted loudly. He had known it would come to this from the moment the Central Administration got involved. And now, after starting all this, they were saying sorry? Park Taejin clicked his tongue and stared at the record with a displeased expression.
“Anyway, fine, that's great. So. You want to go now?”
“Wouldn't it be nice? Get out of the city, get some fresh air, and relieve some stress by swinging a sword for a change.”
“Hey, kid. How can we go now? Things are already a mess day after day. Imagine if I said I was going on an expedition. All hell would break loose.”
“Of course, we'll have to make an excuse to the public. An excuse everyone can accept.”
Park Taejin looked at him with a puzzled expression. Park Hwanhee glanced around before continuing calmly.
“We already announced that we wouldn't release an official statement right away, but would investigate the truth first, didn't we?”
“We did.”
“This ruin happens to be on the way to the Sleeping Dragon Mountains. So, publicly, we can say we're heading there to investigate the truth, and we can frame the ruin as an accidental discovery.”
“Hwanhee-ah. Even so…”
“Staying cooped up here isn't going to change anything. The ones who want to leave will leave, and the ones who want to criticize will keep criticizing. Instead of just sitting here, wouldn't it be better to pretend we're investigating and take a short trip? We can show that we're taking action, buy some time, and get a change of scenery. Plus, the news of accidentally discovering a ruin will inject some new vitality into our stagnant alliance.”
“Hmm…”
Park Taejin slowly stroked his chin. At first, he thought it was a ridiculous idea, but the more he listened, the more tempting it sounded. He was lost in thought for a long while before finally placing the record on his desk and nodding.
“Alright. I'll think about it. For now, let's see how things unfold. If there's no sign of improvement, doing as you say might be for the best.”
It wasn't a definite yes, but it was as good as a semi-approval. Seemingly satisfied, Park Hwanhee smiled faintly and nodded.
“Yes, sir. I'll start making preparations slowly, then.”
*
The visitation room was unnaturally cold. The moment the two were left alone, Shin Hyuk's body began to tremble noticeably. Kim Soohyun's eyes were frigid as he watched him. His jet-black pupils emanated a subtle killing intent, and the air around them had grown heavy and still.
Shin Hyuk cautiously darted his eyes around. Trying his best to remain calm, he spoke in a trembling voice.
“W-Well… What brings the Mercenary Lord here? Since I won't confess, have you come to reenact the infamous Baek Seoyeon incident?”
His voice was dripping with sarcasm. But instead of getting angry, Kim Soohyun let out a dry laugh. He tapped his fingers on the table and retorted.
“I wouldn't be against it. Though, Baek Seoyeon held out for quite a while. I'm looking forward to seeing how long you'll last. You're the lord of a clan, after all. You should be able to endure for at least three or four days, don't you think? Hahaha.”
“D-Don't think you can scare me…”
“Speaking of which, there's a saying. A guilty conscience needs no accuser. And saying that with such a trembling voice isn't very convincing.”
“Who's—!”
Shin Hyuk, about to shout, was forced to stop. Kim Soohyun, who had been taunting him with a mocking voice, had reached into his coat and pulled something out.
A sudden, baseless sense of despair washed over him. It's here, Shin Hyuk thought, worried about what would happen if Soohyun really went through with it. But then, he felt a sense of confusion as he saw the orb Kim Soohyun placed on the other side of the partition. The small, fist-sized blue orb was none other than the Crystal of Truth.
“This is… the Crystal of Truth?”
“Oh. So you know what it is. Hoho… Ah.”
“…Of course I know. But why are you bringing this out all of a sudden?”
“Ahem. I'm quite the gentleman, you see. I don't like to start with coercion. Let's just say I'm giving you a chance.”
His voice was a soft, low murmur, as if he were gently coaxing him. But it held an undeniable sharpness. Shin Hyuk's Adam's apple bobbed. His throat was parched, and for a long moment, he could only stare blankly at the Crystal of Truth.
“Kim Soohyun… What do you want from me?”
“What do I want? The truth. Every truth you know. If you're so confident, place your hand on it. And prove it.”
“Keuk…! I-I've heard the situation! This should be enough! How far are you planning to take this! You… you heartless bastard!”
“My, what a long tongue you have. Shut your mouth and just put your hand on it while I'm asking nicely. Your acting like this is no different from admitting your guilt.”
“I refuse—”
“Go on. Refuse.”
Shin Hyuk shot up from his seat and shouted. Or rather, he tried to.
But Kim Soohyun cut him off immediately, leaving him frozen with his mouth agape, the words caught in his throat.
With a placid expression, Kim Soohyun took out a cigarette. He lit it slowly and spoke nonchalantly.
“Let me tell you in advance, whether you place your hand on the Crystal of Truth or not, the result will be the same. I've already been granted the authority to interrogate you by the Central Administration. All I have to do is take custody of you, and it's over. In fact, I'd prefer it if you kept denying it. I wouldn't have to waste my breath asking questions, I could save the Crystal of Truth, and most importantly, there's no method more certain than mental contamination… And let me tell you one more thing.”
Kim Soohyun paused for a moment, then his eyes widened as he continued.
“I promise you, right here and now. The moment you refuse, you will never know a day of peace until the day you die. Whatever you can imagine, I plan to show you something far beyond it. You can really look forward to that.”
The moment he finished speaking, Shin Hyuk's pupils visibly trembled. His lips quivered uncontrollably. When he saw the corners of Soohyun's mouth curve into a smooth arc, a chill ran down his entire body.
Shin Hyuk couldn't say a word. No, he was unable to. He sensed that Kim Soohyun's words were not a bluff and that he had no choice in the matter.
This bastard really wants me to refuse. No, he doesn't care what happens. The methods may differ, but the conclusion is the same.
With that thought, Shin Hyuk met the cold gaze rising from below and instinctively slumped back into his seat.
Silence flowed for a while.
But Kim Soohyun, seemingly tired of the endless silence, flicked his cigarette and spoke.
“Further conversation would be a waste of time. Shin Hyuk? This is your last chance. Place your hand on the Crystal of Truth within three seconds. If you don't, I'll consider it a refusal and take you into my custody. One.”
“W-Wait! Kim Soohyun, wait! No, Mercenary Lord!”
“Two.”
“I'll do it! I'll do it! But before that, just one thing, please, just answer one question!”
Shin Hyuk pleaded, looking utterly pathetic, and quickly placed his hand on the crystal. Kim Soohyun, who was about to count to three, fell silent. He then smacked his lips, looking quite disappointed that Shin Hyuk had ultimately placed his hand on the crystal. Seeing that reaction, Shin Hyuk felt a cold sweat trickle down his back.
“Hm. A request, you say. Well, they say you should even grant a dead man's wish. Go on. What are you curious about?”
“Just tell me who did it. The user who recorded the meeting and gave it to you. Just tell me who it was. Since it's all over anyway, I at least want to know who did it.”
“Hm? Ahh… Hmm. Well. I was personally asked to keep it a secret.”
“It doesn't matter now that it's all over! Who was it? Park Taejin? Or Baek Du-san? Or was it Park Hwanhee?”
Kim Soohyun's expression was inscrutable. He wore a faint, ambiguous smile, as if debating whether to tell him or not. But the moment the name Park Hwanhee was mentioned, his smooth brow furrowed slightly.
“Park Hwanhee? Who's that… Ah. Aah! Right. Come to think of it, I met him at the User Academy. But why his name all of a sudden… Was Park Hwanhee in the Coran Union? Anyway, it wasn't him.”
This time, it was Shin Hyuk's face that contorted. Although it was almost a mumble, Soohyun's tone implied he barely knew who Park Hwanhee was. For Shin Hyuk, who had recently heard that Park Hwanhee had met the Mercenary Lord, this reaction was incomprehensible.
“What… what do you mean? Are you saying you don't know Park Hwanhee?”
“No, no. I just didn't remember him for a moment, but I know who he is. We met at the User Academy when I was an instructor and he was a rookie. We got slightly acquainted then. I also helped him out a bit after the war two years ago. There was someone in my clan who was in the same class as him… Anyway, we lost contact after that. I had no idea he was in the Coran Union. But why do you ask?”
Shin Hyuk could only stare blankly at Kim Soohyun, who was now questioning him with a look of genuine curiosity. He fell into thought for a moment. The story was similar to what he knew, but the part about losing contact was news to him.
Wait. Come to think of it… Park Hwanhee isn't a spy. Then what on earth happened?
The Crystal of Truth had already proven that Park Hwanhee was not a spy.
And Park Hwanhee had said he met the Mercenary Lord back then.
But now, the Mercenary Lord was saying he had almost forgotten about Park Hwanhee.
A wave of dizziness washed over him. Shin Hyuk clutched his throbbing head, then shook it violently and shouted.
“How long are you going to toy with me before you're satisfied! Didn't you meet Park Hwanhee in Coran just a few days ago!”
“Hm? Toy with you? This is the truth…”
“Stop playing dumb! I know everything! In the Night Street, at the brothel! Didn't you have a secret meeting with Park Hwanhee! And…”
“Whoa, hold on, hold on. What nonsense is this? I haven't seen Park Hwanhee since then. And I've never even been to a brothel. Are you confusing me with someone else?”
Shin Hyuk's eyes widened like saucers.
“Don't lie! No, wait… No? That can't be right. What… what is this? What the hell is going on!”
“…My, my. I don't understand.”
Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, Shin Hyuk stammered hesitantly. He then began to scream like a madman.
The sound echoed deafeningly in the enclosed space, and Kim Soohyun frowned slightly. With an expression that said, I have no idea why you're acting like this, he reached out, pushed Shin Hyuk's hand aside, and placed his own on the crystal. A moment later, a bright light emanated from the Crystal of Truth, and a small flame flickered to life within it.
“W-What are you trying to do?!”
“Clean out your ears and listen carefully. I have not met a user named Park Hwanhee in the last two years. I have not contacted Park Hwanhee by any means. I have not recently been to the brothel you speak of, nor did I meet Park Hwanhee at a brothel.”
“…Heok?!”
“Well? I suppose that proves my words are true, doesn't it?”
Shin Hyuk reflexively checked the Crystal of Truth. The moment he confirmed the color of the flame remained unchanged, he let out a strange groan. At the same time, he felt a dull impact on the left side of his head. His body had suddenly lost all strength, causing him to slump to one side.
“Hey! Shin Hyuk? Hey!”
“W-Wait! Sh-Shut up!”
“What did you say?”
“Please! Just for a moment! I mean! Sh-No! Please, please!”
He was babbling, not even knowing what he was saying. But Shin Hyuk scrambled back up, reached his hand through the round opening, and snatched the Crystal of Truth. He started spouting nonsense, and he saw the flame change color before returning to its original hue over and over again. In other words, it was genuine, not a fake.
“What… is this…”
The color drained from Shin Hyuk's face in an instant. His mind went blank. At this moment, he couldn't think of anything at all.
Only one question remained, piercing his entire body like a needle: How on earth did this happen?
Screech!
“Clan Lord. Just a moment…”
It was then. He heard someone enter, the sound of Kim Soohyun getting up, and then Soohyun saying he'd be back in a bit and that Shin Hyuk should cool his head in the meantime.
But Shin Hyuk had no capacity to care. The discrepancy between his two memories and the two truths revealed by the crystal was relentlessly battering his mind.
Soon, he heard the sound of the door closing with a thud. Left alone, Shin Hyuk took a deep breath in and exhaled forcefully. After repeating this erratic breathing more than ten times, he managed to regain a tenuous grip on his sanity.
Shin Hyuk hadn't directly witnessed Park Hwanhee meeting the Mercenary Lord. He had just assumed it happened, and Park Hwanhee had admitted to it. But now, the Mercenary Lord was saying he had never met Park Hwanhee.
Shin Hyuk clutched the Crystal of Truth so tightly it felt like it would shatter. He squeezed his eyes shut and desperately tried to organize his thoughts.
Slowly, the events of that day began to replay in his mind.
'…Y-Yes, I met him. I admit that.'
The moment he recalled that first memory, Shin Hyuk bit his lip hard. This was before Park Hwanhee had used the Crystal of Truth. In other words, he had lied.
But why? Why would he lie?
Pushing aside the rising questions, Shin Hyuk struggled to remain calm. He continued to replay his memories under the assumption that Park Hwanhee had not met the Mercenary Lord. From this point on, the Crystal of Truth had been in use.
'I, User Park Hwanhee… I… I spoke with him.'
Right. He definitely spoke with someone. But there was no subject—it didn't specify who he spoke with.
'No! I did not reveal Hyung-nim’s plan at the brothel! Not today, and not ever before have I revealed the plan to the Mercenary Lord! I've been framed!'
He didn't reveal Shin Hyuk's plan. But depending on the situation, he might not have needed to. If the other party already knew about Shin Hyuk's plan, there would have been no need to say anything.
Moreover, since the condition was limited to "the plan," he could have talked about anything else. The important thing was that it was with someone other than the Mercenary Lord.
Wait. An opponent who knew my plan…? Could it be someone who attended the meeting back then…?
And finally.
'Hyung-nim! I am not a spy for the Mercenary Clan. I have never once received orders to be a spy for the Mercenary Clan. Furthermore, I have never revealed the plan to the Mercenary Lord; I was simply doing him a favor!'
This was the most crucial part. Park Hwanhee was not a spy for the alliance. Then why did he lie about meeting the Mercenary Lord?
And the part about "doing him a favor" was also ambiguous. The words didn't connect smoothly. At the time, he had proceeded with the conversation assuming Hwanhee had met the Mercenary Lord, but looking back now, he never specified who he met or whose favor he was doing. This, too, lacked a subject.
“What the hell… happened…”
Shin Hyuk muttered in a voice on the verge of tears. He didn't know why Park Hwanhee had lied, nor did he know who he had met back then. No, perhaps the user Park Hwanhee met was the culprit. Or was that wrong? Was it just a disguise?
Screech.
It was then. As various thoughts raced through his mind, he heard the door quietly open.
Shin Hyuk felt the Crystal of Truth he had been gripping so tightly shatter into pieces. But he instinctively stopped thinking and stared at the door. He saw Kim Soohyun, who had said he was stepping out for a moment, re-entering the visitation room.
Shin Hyuk stared intently at him.
Because all the answers lay with that man.
*
When I sat back down in the visitation room, Shin Hyuk's face was a real sight to behold. The initial bravado and the subsequent mad screaming were completely gone. His mouth was shut tight, and he was just staring at me with eyes that burned with a fiery intensity.
I barely managed to suppress a laugh and reached into my coat.
Personally, I'm quite fond of users like Shin Hyuk. He thinks he's smart, but he's not. He thinks he's special, but far from it, he's just a narrow-minded user living in a world of his own making.
As such, he's easy to manipulate. Just toss him a few plausible pieces of bait, and he'll interpret them however he wants and declare it the truth.
In any case.
I had given him enough time to think. Of course, it was also about time for the Crystal of Truth's effect to wear off.
Anyway, since he's the type to overthink things, his mind must be on the verge of exploding from the complexity. If so, all I needed to do now was show him the final piece of bait that would tie everything together.
“Well. Have you cooled your head?”
“…Who was it?”
“…Well, I suppose it doesn't matter if I tell you now.”
“…”
I tilted my head, then spoke in a reluctant tone. I took a recording crystal out from my coat, and Shin Hyuk's piercing gaze landed on it. His look said, Another crystal? I shrugged and continued nonchalantly.
“Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times. Especially for a suspicious bastard like you.”
I rolled the crystal through the round opening at the bottom center of the partition. Shin Hyuk received it with surprising calmness. He quietly placed his hand on it, and soon, a clear light flowed out as a video began to play.
The video started with Jo Seungwoo sweeping his hair back on the right side.
(I see. Thank you very much. And I sincerely apologize for my somewhat rude behavior earlier. To be honest, I was just so angry when I first heard…)
(Ah, no, it's fine. I fully understand the situation. As the Su Lord said earlier, the fault lies entirely with the Lord of Southern Conquest. Besides, you've shown the pride and magnanimity of the Coran Union to this extent… I'm sure our Clan Lord will think this is sufficient. As I said before, we will do our best to ensure no harm comes to the alliance, excluding Southern Conquest.)
The video didn't play for long. Less than a minute later, the light from the crystal faded as Jo Seungwoo swept his hair back on the left side. I studied the face of Shin Hyuk, who was still holding the crystal.
“…”
Unexpectedly, Shin Hyuk's expression showed no major change on the surface.
His eyes were still wide open, and his lips were pressed firmly together.
But that was only for a moment.
Slowly, a change began to appear.
First, his eyebrows rose slightly. His confused eyes sank into a deep abyss. His tightly shut lips were slowly being chewed upon. The hand holding the crystal was trembling so violently that fine cracks had appeared on its surface.
Finally, Shin Hyuk's head, which had been looking down at the crystal, began to lift slowly, very slowly, until his eyes met mine.
And in that instant.
CRACK!
Shin Hyuk's fist slammed into the partition separating us with all his might.
Then, he threw his head back to stare at the ceiling.
“Guuuaaaaaaaargh!”
I could see Shin Hyuk's eyes roll halfway back into his head.
“Heehee! Huhehehe! Heeheeheehahaehahheeheeha!”
And then he burst into laughter like a madman. He laughed with wild abandon, like someone who had completely lost their mind.
After laughing like a lunatic for some time, Shin Hyuk abruptly stopped. Then, his face twisted into a demonic snarl as he screamed someone's name in utter agony.
“Paaark Taaae-jiiiiiiiiiin!”
I watched the unhinged Shin Hyuk with a placid gaze.
And as I secretly smiled in triumph, I thought to myself.
Perhaps the Resident outside…
No, not a Resident.
I wondered if perhaps the tool outside, disguised as a Resident, was laughing along with me.