Chapter 498: Emergency Meeting (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 498: Emergency Meeting (5)
Jo Dal-su returned to his seat.
Seeing his dazed expression, the other assemblymen, including Myeong Seong-ho, immediately began to pepper him with questions.
"How did it go?"
"Did the Mage in White agree to help?"
The inquiries poured in relentlessly.
He wanted to tell them the truth. He wanted to confess that he had tried to persuade the Mage in White, only to discover a man completely unlike the champion of justice they all revered. But he couldn't. The Mage in White had warned him. If his true nature was ever exposed, Jo Dal-su would pay the ultimate price.
'That was no empty threat. Even as a member of the Central Government, I wouldn't be able to handle the Mage in White.'
South Korea's only S-Rank Hunter.
The Pioneer who ushered in the era of Hunters.
Even the Central Government couldn't afford to treat the Mage in White lightly.
Their relationship was mutually dependent. If forced to choose, the Central Government would undoubtedly side with the Mage in White. It was simple logic. The Great Disaster was just around the corner. With no one knowing what kind of monsters would soon overrun South Korea, they couldn't possibly afford to alienate an S-Rank Hunter and the leader of Baek-il. Even if such a choice were put on a scale, the weight of the Mage in White would completely crush Geumcheon-gu.
It was devastating.
Goosebumps erupted across his skin.
To think that all this time, he had believed the Mage in White was the absolute embodiment of justice, only to realize it was nothing but an elaborate facade.
'The fact that he hid his true colors for the past twenty years proves just how meticulous and black-hearted he really is. The political arena I live in is full of people like him. The moment you cross the line they draw, you face an unbridled malice that spares no means. This is a losing game. I cannot make an enemy of the Mage in White just to deal with Roman Dmitry.'
His judgment was swift.
Jo Dal-su was a politician down to his bones.
The only reason an ordinary person—not even an Awakened Hunter—could secure a seat as a Geumcheon-gu assemblyman was his keen ability to read the flow of a situation and make ruthless, split-second decisions. The Mage in White was untouchable. Knowing this full well, the Mage had unhesitatingly ripped off his mask the moment they were alone.
Jo Dal-su finally broke the silence.
"...It seems obtaining the help of the Mage in White is out of the question. In fact, his argument does make some sense. While the rebellion of Roman Dmitry and the Incheon Government is undeniable, it is also true that they will be a vital force against the Great Disaster when it strikes. As the old saying goes, 'use barbarians to control barbarians.' We should utilize Incheon's strength to our advantage. Once the storm of the Great Disaster passes, Incheon will be left facing a devastating reality anyway."
He was taking a step back.
No, he had been forced back a step.
For Jo Dal-su, there was no other choice.
Thus, the emergency assembly meeting concluded with a reluctant decision: they would merely keep an eye on Incheon for the time being.
* * *
That evening.
Park Min-woo gathered the mages of Baek-il.
With the key leadership figures assembled, he dropped a bombshell.
"From now on, Baek-il will actively support the Incheon Government and seek a cooperative relationship with them."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Incheon? But they're currently buried in controversy."
The leadership immediately protested.
Recently, the Incheon Government's public reputation had hit rock bottom. They had openly opposed the Central Government, and widespread rumors suggested Incheon would be completely abandoned during the Great Disaster. Yet, of all the factions out there, Baek-il was seeking an alliance with them. If this choice caused a rift with the Central Government, Baek-il would inevitably face severe difficulties when the Great Disaster struck.
One of the leaders spoke up, his tone urgent.
"Guild Leader. Why are you trying to establish a cooperative relationship with the Incheon Government? They are an irrational group. Despite being citizens of South Korea, they have stepped outside the boundaries of the Central Government and declared their allegiance to Roman Dmitry—a man whose true identity remains entirely unknown. This is a clear rebellion! The massacre of Red Moon is another prime example; they are a direct threat to South Korea's safety. Baek-il is a group that acts in the name of justice. We prioritize the protection of South Korea above all else. Cooperating with a rogue faction like Incheon is completely incomprehensible."
Baek-il.
These people had been drawn together by Park Min-woo's overwhelming sense of justice. Though they would gladly lay down their lives at his command, what mattered most to them was the righteous justification behind their actions.
It was an expected reaction.
But he couldn't tell them the truth. Knowing his meticulously crafted public image, Park Min-woo needed to provide an answer that perfectly aligned with it.
Park Min-woo spoke, his voice steady and resolute.
"I understand. My decision must seem incredibly sudden to you all. However, I firmly believe the negative perception of Incheon is actually a direct result of the Central Government's dictatorial policies. What exactly did the Incheon Government do wrong? Nothing. The Red Moon incident was clearly an act of self-defense, but the Central Government deliberately manufactured a negative narrative while trying to forcibly recruit Roman Dmitry, an S-Rank Hunter. Keep in mind, public opinion does not always reflect the truth.
"What we must focus on is the fact that Incheon has been completely ostracized within our own country simply because they refused to bow to the Central Government. There are South Korean citizens there—innocent people whom we must protect. Let me ask you: is it right to abandon them? Just because the Central Government holds the power, is it right to blindly follow their lead and shun Incheon? I have simply decided not to follow the crowd. In the coming Great Disaster, I will stand on the side of the weak."
It was pure sophistry.
Park Min-woo had spun a highly plausible justification, making it sound as if every move he made was for the sake of absolute justice.
And those words worked.
The leaders of Baek-il couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
Had they known of Alexander's existence, things would have been vastly different. But in their eyes, Park Min-woo was simply the flawless 'Mage in White.' His twenty years of past actions lent unshakeable credibility to his words.
At his noble declaration to stand on the side of the weak, the eyes of the leaders who had been fiercely protesting just moments ago began to well with tears.
"...I am sorry. My thinking was far too shallow."
"As always, we will follow you, Guild Leader. Baek-il—and I—will gladly lay down our lives for justice."
The atmosphere had ripened perfectly.
They were united as one.
Sensing that the stage was fully set, Park Min-woo called upon a specific person.
"Jang Yun-tae."
"Yes, sir."
"From this moment on, you will go to Incheon as the official representative of Baek-il. I need you to secretly convey my intentions to Roman Dmitry."
Out of so many capable subordinates, there was a distinct reason he chose Jang Yun-tae.
While over ninety percent of Baek-il consisted of ignorant fools blindly shouting about justice, Jang Yun-tae was different. He was someone who had sworn loyalty purely out of pragmatism after recognizing Park Min-woo's overwhelming power. He was a selfish man, driven entirely by self-interest. Because of this, he was exceptionally quick-witted, excellent at calculating practical benefits, and knew how to adapt to situations immediately. That was exactly why Park Min-woo deliberately put him forward as his representative.
Of course, it would have been best for him to go in person.
But there was a secret he could never confess to anyone: Park Min-woo severely lacked the confidence to face Roman Dmitry face-to-face.
...That guy is a bit too scary, after all.
It was a truth known to no one but himself.
Ignorant to his leader's inner turmoil, Jang Yun-tae shouted, "Understood! I will make sure to convey your intentions clearly, Guild Leader."
He chuckled inwardly.
A proposal where the great Mage in White was generously reaching out first? This would be an incredibly easy, effortless mission.
* * *
"...Excuse me?"
Jang Yun-tae stared blankly, an utterly dumbfounded expression plastered across his face.
Having arrived in Incheon the very next day, he had smoothly conveyed Baek-il's desire for a cooperative relationship, exactly as he had prepared. He hadn't even entertained the faintest possibility of rejection.
Wasn't it obvious?
There was absolutely no way Incheon would dare reject Baek-il.
And yet.
"Are you saying you refuse to accept Baek-il's proposal right now?"
"That is correct."
Roman Dmitry was perfectly calm. Even though the prestigious name of Baek-il had been brought to the table, he showed no particular emotion—neither hostility nor goodwill.
Jang Yun-tae reacted as if he couldn't comprehend the words he was hearing.
"No, are you truly serious? This is Baek-il we are talking about. Excluding the Central Government, Baek-il is universally evaluated as the greatest independent faction in South Korea. For such a group to reach out first, and you reject it? What on earth are you thinking? If you judge this logically—if you care about Incheon's safety at all—there is absolutely no reason to reject this proposal."
"If things were as logical as you claim, that would be true," Roman replied. "The problem is that Baek-il's proposal is not logical at all."
Baek-il's proposal.
It was undeniably attractive. While it would be the 'right' move to accept them for the sake of Incheon's safety, Roman Dmitry possessed very clear boundaries.
"Incheon's public reputation is currently negative. Since the Central Government deliberately led the effort to paint us in that light, no one wants to be associated with us. Yet, in the midst of all this, Baek-il reached out. What is the reason?"
"Why, of course, it's for the sake of justice..."
"That is exactly the problem. If you intend to speak of justice, Incheon does not fit that description. Consider the various issues raised by the Central Government. I massacred Red Moon, and the Commander of the Directly Controlled Unit belonging to the Incheon Government brutally killed his opponent during the Promotion Exam. I am not saying those claims represent the whole truth. We had sufficient justification for our actions. However, those who loudly champion 'justice' do not typically consider the reasons behind a killing.
"Therefore, your proposal is inherently contradictory. Based on the righteous path Baek-il and the Mage in White have walked so far, we are simply not a group that fits your definition of justice."
The Murim.
Back in his past life, among the countless hypocrites in the Righteous Faction, there were only a select few who truly pursued absolute justice.
That was how he knew.
If Baek-il genuinely pursued justice, they would never have sought to secretly cooperate with Incheon.
He firmly drew a line.
There was no reason to accept Baek-il's hand. Contrary to what they arrogantly assumed, Roman Dmitry was not desperate for outside help.
Jang Yun-tae's face flushed a deep, angry red.
He was furious. He understood the logic behind the words, but he absolutely refused to accept the sheer arrogance of the other party's attitude.
"...Are you rejecting Baek-il's generous proposal right now over something as trivial as that? Ha, seriously. Do you even know what happened recently? The Central Government held an emergency meeting to punish Incheon, and our Guild Leader cast a dissenting vote and walked out! He argued that Incheon's people are also citizens of South Korea and must be protected. Do you realize what that means? It means Incheon—and you—are only safe right now thanks to our Guild Leader!
"You seem to have absolutely no idea what kind of existence the Mage in White represents in South Korea. He is a great man, willing to embrace Incheon despite knowing all the negative baggage attached to you. He is a man so righteous that he cannot bear to turn a blind eye to the persecuted minority!"
He violently kicked back his chair and stood up.
The real reason he was so angry?
It had nothing to do with a wounded sense of justice. He simply despised the fact that the immense power he followed was being so casually dismissed.
The negotiation had completely broken down.
There was no longer any reason to stay in this room.
"Do not regret what happened today. Because even if you come crawling back to contact us later, there won't be a second chance."
He turned around and marched toward the exit. Honestly, he expected Roman to call out and stop him.
But until the very moment he opened the door and walked out, not a single sound came from behind him.
* * *
He stepped outside into the cool air.
Irritation violently surged within him.
Baek-il.
The fools who followed the Mage in White were practically a cult. They unconditionally praised Park Min-woo's flawless justice, but Jang Yun-tae was fundamentally different from those zealots.
He coveted power.
He coveted authority.
That was the sole reason he followed the Mage in White. Because of that, he couldn't help but find the arrogant attitude of the powerless Incheon faction highly offensive.
'I am the Guild Leader's official representative. Therefore, instead of debasing myself to persuade Roman Dmitry at all costs, I need to display an attitude befitting my station. There's absolutely no reason for someone of the Mage in White's towering stature to grovel to a place like Incheon. Once the Great Disaster strikes and total crisis is at their doorstep, Incheon will finally realize what a massive mistake they made. They'll be the ones begging to contact us.'
He made a shrewd judgment.
Blindly carrying out orders to the letter was something only brainless fools did. He knew that survival in a massive organization like Baek-il required acting flexibly, adapting to the situation and the opponent.
Shrewdness was Jang Yun-tae's greatest weapon.
That was exactly why he was so confident in his selection as the representative.
'Just what on earth is Roman Dmitry thinking, acting so bold? Tsk, tsk. Because of a foolish, arrogant leader, the innocent people of Incheon are the ones who are going to die.'
He headed straight back to the guild.
On his way, he briefly sent a text message summarizing the outcome. He reported that the negotiation had broken down and promised to explain the situation in full detail as soon as he returned.
And then.
Vrrr.
His phone vibrated.
The caller ID read: Park Min-woo.
Excited at the thought of being praised for his firm handling of the situation, Jang Yun-tae answered the call without a second of hesitation.
Click.
[So, how did it go?]
From the other end of the line, an incredibly chilly voice drifted over.
It was completely different from the Guild Leader's usual warm, righteous tone. Instinctively, Jang Yun-tae knew something was wrong, but he couldn't quite read the true meaning hidden beneath that icy voice.
"Ah, as I mentioned in the text, I broke off the negotiation for now and..."
[I'll give you exactly ten minutes. Get your ass over here right now.]
Click.
The call abruptly disconnected.
Momentarily flustered, Jang Yun-tae lowered the phone and stared at the dark screen with a blank expression.
"...Huh?"
Something was definitely off.
That reaction was far too cold. His finely honed instincts were suddenly screaming at him, warning him that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.