Chapter 492: The Exchange (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 492: The Exchange (1)
The Vatican.
A landlocked country surrounded by Rome, the capital of Italy.
The smallest nation on Earth.
But it would be no exaggeration to say its influence on the world is second to none.
That’s because it is the headquarters of the globally influential ‘Vatican Orthodox Church.’
A nation ruled directly by the Pope, the head of a religion with hundreds of millions of followers.
Doesn’t the mere description give you a sense of its power?
In any case, let’s set aside the talk of national power for now.
Here in the Vatican, a grand banquet is held twice a year.
It’s a gathering to honor those who have made the largest donations of the year, individuals who have greatly contributed to world peace, and others who have had a positive impact on the Vatican Orthodox Church and, by extension, the world.
“…At least, that’s their official line.”
The reality is a little different.
Think about it.
The people who made the largest donations this year are some of the wealthiest individuals in the world.
Those who contributed greatly to world peace are influential politicians or Hunters.
In other words, every single person gathered at this banquet is a global heavyweight with immense influence.
To put it more bluntly, it’s a place for the world’s top 0.1%—no, 0.0001%—to get acquainted and build connections with their peers.
Sometimes, a network of contacts can wield more power than any tangible asset.
This power multiplies exponentially when the individuals within that network are exceptionally capable.
“You’d have to call it a world of its own.”
It’s an opportunity to encounter countless stars, the kind you might see once in a lifetime, if at all.
For this reason, while the Vatican Orthodox Church hosts it under the name ‘Gratitude Banquet,’ people often call it by another name.
A banquet of stars, woven together by the countless luminaries who gather.
The Star Cluster Assembly.
Every big shot from every country dreams of being there.
They hope to leverage the power of others to become not just a national figure, but a global one.
But only a tiny fraction actually achieve that dream and ascend.
The vast majority fail to pass through the eye of the needle, growing frustrated before eventually stalling in place.
Only two people from the Republic of Korea have ever set foot in the Star Cluster Assembly.
Those two were none other than Son Si-woo and Han Ju-hee.
That’s right.
It was me.
There was a time when I traveled the world, conquering A-rank and S-rank dungeons.
I must have cleared more than I realized, because an invitation flew my way, citing my contributions to world peace.
“It was a huge deal.”
The fact that I was the first Korean to be invited to the Star Cluster Assembly generated a massive amount of buzz.
After I returned, everyone I met asked the same questions thousands of times: ‘What was the Star Cluster Assembly like?’ ‘Who did you meet there?’
That’s the kind of place it is.
A venue of opportunity where global powerhouses gather to gain even more strength, and where aspiring figures come to amass the power they lack to become one of them.
There’s only one reason I’ve suddenly launched into this grand explanation of such a magnificent event.
“So… Gulp!”
“Our guild… officially received an invitation to that place?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Twilight.
The guild I created had received an invitation.
Well, to be more precise, it was more for Kim Do-jin and the kids.
“Hmm… that’s strange.”
While everyone else was in shock, only Ju-yeon spoke up, her tone puzzled.
“Do-jin, I can see why you’d be invited since you participated in the Cerberus raid, but… why us?”
As expected.
Her experience allows her to get straight to the point.
The reason the guild members were invited along was because of something I’d said in the past.
The Saintess had said it.
She wanted to see the members of the Twilight guild, who would function as the Korean branch of the Guardians, for herself.
What could I do?
Our investor wanted to see the budding future talents.
I answered the bewildered guild members with a smirk.
“Our boss wants to see you.”
When she says jump, you jump.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
One week before the Star Cluster Assembly.
The private jet that would fly us to Italy landed at Incheon International Airport.
The guild members and I grabbed our pre-packed luggage, headed to the airport, and boarded the plane.
And everyone was in awe.
“Whoa… this is insane.”
“This is the quality of a Vatican private jet…?”
“In-credible!”
The interior was twice as spacious as the private jet I’d ridden on thanks to Han Ju-hee.
Luxurious seats were arranged with ample space between them.
But that wasn’t the only surprising thing.
“This… how many layers of defensive magic circles are there?”
“I-I don’t know. It looks like at least t-ten layers.”
So many magic circles protected the jet, inside and out, that even A-rank mages on the cusp of S-rank couldn’t see through them all.
“Hmm… there are exactly eighteen.”
“E-Eighteen…!”
“Who in the world could pull off such an insane layering job…”
“The layering is one thing, but the cost to maintain this must be astronomical, right?”
It was an unbelievable feat, both technically and financially.
This told us one thing.
“It shows just how important the Saintess’s safety is.”
That a single life, the Saintess’s, was more important than any astronomical cost.
The guild members, who had been nodding blankly at my words, began to mutter.
“World-class is on a whole other level…”
“Doesn’t even ‘world-class’ fall short of describing the Saintess?”
“Th-Then is she world-world class?”
“……”
What the hell is a ‘world-world class’?
As we stood around, gawking, unable to even sit down, an announcement came from the speakers installed throughout the cabin.
[We will be departing shortly. All passengers, please take your seats and fasten your seatbelts.]
Only then did the guild members tear their eyes away from the facilities and start scrambling to their seats.
But why were they all suddenly flocking around me?
“Where are you gonna sit?”
“Do-jin, do you want to sit with me…?”
“Ahem, hem!”
“……”
The women shot subtle, wary glances at each other, their eyes fixed on me.
Watching them, I had a thought.
Perhaps the time to pay for my past deeds was drawing near.
*
The Vatican, headquarters of the Vatican Orthodox Church, which commanded hundreds of millions of followers.
At the very top of the Apostolic Palace, the heart of it all.
The Saintess stood there, observing the faces of those flocking to the city spread out below.
Most of them were familiar.
They were people who donated sums of money so vast that an ordinary person could never earn it in a lifetime.
Their money helped the needy across the globe, but she always wondered.
‘Is this truly the right thing to do?’
She and everyone else knew.
The money they received was by no means clean.
And they knew that the donations were not mixed with even a shred of goodwill.
They gave a fraction of their wealth, received her blessing, and lived longer, healthier lives.
And during that extended time, they exploited even more people.
In a broader sense, wasn’t she helping them in their wicked deeds?
If she could, she would scold them harshly.
But she couldn’t.
‘Because it’s a fact that their money is helpful.’
The amount of money casually tossed out by those who came to see her far exceeded the donations made out of goodwill by followers around the world.
The Vatican Orthodox Church used that money to save those suffering in every corner of the globe.
That was why she couldn't stop.
She couldn't sever this chain of evil that should have been broken long ago, this act of hers that kept it alive.
The most prominent example was the banquet that people called the Star Cluster Assembly.
This was her assessment of it:
‘A banquet that has lost its original purpose and devolved into a mere social gathering for the upper class.’
It was a painfully accurate description.
The Star Cluster Assembly had long since lost its initial noble purpose.
It had been reduced to a networking channel where the elite could get acquainted and exchange favors to further solidify their positions.
She did not like it.
Yet, she could not abolish it.
The donations sent by influential figures from various countries, all vying to set foot in the Star Cluster Assembly, were also immense.
Furthermore, a portion of the money collected was used for other purposes.
For the ‘Guardians,’ which she had personally founded for the sake of world peace.
It accounted for a significant portion of their operating funds, which were essential for their smooth activities.
“Haaa…”
Her sighs grew deeper with each passing year.
And each time, she would grasp the fraying thread of her will and compose herself.
Even if it is a sin.
‘If staining my own soul can bring peace to the world…’
If she could save just one more person, if those who fought with a noble sense of duty on their shoulders could be rewarded, however modestly, for their spirit.
Then she would carry that sin, in life and in death, and repent for all eternity.
It was as she was making this vow.
“Saintess, Hunter Kim Do-jin and the Twilight guild have arrived.”
Her exclusive lady-in-waiting informed her of Kim Do-jin’s arrival.
A faint smile bloomed on her lips.
Whenever she thought of him, an unknown fear cast a shadow behind her veil.
He, who was both dark and light, always warped the future she envisioned.
So far, it had always led to better outcomes, but that also meant it could lead to worse ones.
That was why she was certain.
Kim Do-jin was the one who would bring a great transformation to this world.
For better or for worse.
Filled with an anticipation she had never felt before, she spoke in a brighter tone.
“Please guide them to the reception room. I will be there shortly.”
Her steps, now much lighter, led her toward the luxurious reception room.