“I would like to suggest that you leave the expedition,” Choi Young-Ki said.
The scene that was in my head was finally completed. I felt like an artist that had drawn a masterpiece.
Jung Yoo-Ra and the other Black Swan Guild party members looked dumbfounded by the situation. It was understandable why they looked that way, especially for Jung Yoo-Ra, she probably felt that this happened out of the blue. I was sure that she hadn’t realized just yet how much work I put into this behind her back.
This was what public opinion was. It may seem quiet at first, but once it caught on fire, it would quickly go out of control. This applied in situations where the victim and assailant were obvious, but it was even more applicable in this situation.
“You’re joking, right?” Jung Yoo-Ra asked.
“...”
Seeing her ask that question as if she couldn’t believe it was a sight to see because it definitely wasn’t a joke. She must have seen Choi Young-Ki’s serious look because I saw her keep her mouth shut.
“This doesn’t make sense,” a member of the Black Swan said.
“No, as the person that’s leading this expedition, it is a reasonable decision,” Choi Young-Ki said.
“Huh…”
“I understand your intentions, Miss Jung Yoo-Ra and I know how much you’ve contributed so far. I also know that you’ve worked harder than anyone else for this expedition group, but I think it’ll be difficult for us to continue like this,” he explained.
“And you suggested that I leave despite knowing that?” she asked.
“I had no other choice because it’ll be difficult to continue this expedition with the current atmosphere. I’m sure not what you think about the Blue Guild, but the attitude that you’re showing is completely absurd,” he answered.
“I said those things for the expedition group and of course, I don’t really have any ill will against the Blue Guild’s party. The actual problem is!” Jung Yoo-Ra yelled.
I was sure that she wanted to say my name, but couldn’t. When I displayed a slight smile towards her, Jung Yoo-Ra gritted her teeth. It was obvious how angry she was just by looking at her.
‘Pffft.’
Her expression was telling me that she was thinking about every curse word that existed in this world, so it was only natural for me to want to provoke her a little more.
I also didn’t forget to say something to Choi Young-Ki.
“I-It’s okay, Mr. Choi Young-Ki. There’s no need to do this.”
“No, Mr. Ki-Young. This will be better for us. A party member that creates conflict will eventually create a bigger problem, no, I’m sure they’ll create a problem,” he said.
“Are you saying that I’m the one that’s creating conflict?” Jung Yoo-Ra asked.
“Yes, and I won’t say how because I’m sure you already know,” he answered.
“That’s…”
“Your actions have been way beyond comprehension and as someone that spent a long time here, I’m sure you understand my decision. Even if you feel that your actions were reasonable, the majority of the members here find it uncomfortable to be with you. I hope you’ll make a decision for the other party members,” Choi Young-Ki explained.
“I can’t believe this… understand?” she mumbled.
It seemed like she still hadn't realized the position she was in yet because she just looked upset.
‘A child like her…’
I felt ridiculous by the fact that she tried to be political. I could say this with confidence, but this woman was incompetent. Excluding her hunting skills and stats, she wasn’t fit to be a leader and it was even more so when I saw how her expression took a strange turn. Her eyes became a little unusual when she looked at me and Choi Young-Ki. She was probably busy trying to find a connection between us and coming up with her own conclusion as to why Choi Young-Ki and I were looking at her that way probably wasn’t going to take long.
It was because we were close to the Mercenary Queen.
“Now I understand, Mr. Choi Young-Ki,” she said.
“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying,” he said.
“I at least trusted you because I heard that you were fair and loyal, but… I guess this was your plan from the beginning, right?” Jung Yoo-Ra asked.
‘Obviously.’
“Did the Mercenary Queen promise you something? To look after her sugar baby? You were thinking about kicking our guild out from the beginning, right? This is seriously ridiculous… you act all innocent and righteous, but you spit out bullshit. This was what you wanted all along? I guess the Mercenary Queen said she’ll treat you well if you make a good impression on this bastard, Lee Ki-Young, huh?” she asked.
“Miss Yoo-Ra, I think you’re being too harsh. Hee-Ra noona… has nothing to do with this,” I told her.
‘She’s really delusional.’
“Shut up, you bastard,” she said.
“Please calm down and be more reasonable,” Choi Young-Ki said.
Seeing her raising hell was a sight to see. It was as if she was driving a broken eight-ton truck into the Blue House at full speed. I was sure that the way I spoke and my expression provoked her to the point that she became this way, but she fell into my plan better than I thought.
“It must be nice to be pampered by the Mercenary Queen with supplies and free items. Dungeon control seems like a joke to you, right? I don’t understand why you even joined the Blue Guild if you were going to act this way. Wouldn’t it be better if you had joined the Red Mercenary Guild?” she asked.
“Miss Yoo-Ra.”
The more she spoke, the worse her image was getting.
Maybe it was because it had been a while since the Mercenary Queen was mentioned, but Jung Ha-Yan looked uncomfortable.
I thought it was slowly getting to the point where she should keep her mouth shut, but it felt like her unexpected change in attitude shocked everyone. No, everyone but Choi Young-Ki looked shocked. He looked as if he was trying to calm his anger.
“Unnie, p-please stop,” a member of the Black Swan said.
“Unnie, please stop!” another yelled.
“Let go of me, you bitches. I don’t know how great the Red Mercenary Guild is, but do you think my guild is just going to stand by and watch once they find out what happens? It’s obvious that the Blue Guild and the Red Mercenary Guild are trying to oppress us! This is unfair! We need to officially protest!” she yelled.
Boom!
I noticed Jung Yoo-Ra, who was talking about unfairness, closing her mouth and it was probably because of Choi Young-Ki, who was in front of her. He had just punched the wall next to him. The way his face was shaking told us just how angry he was.
Now that I think about it…
‘Something about him being where he was now because of the Mercenary Queen…’
I didn’t really remember, but it was something like that. It was natural for our righteous Mr. Young-Ki to react this way because he respected Hee-Ra noona, yet Jung Yoo-Ra was saying crazy things about her in front of him. She was talking bullshit about how the Mercenary Queen was my pimp and was giving me free items.
I was sure that Jung Yoo-Ra didn’t realize what she had said because she was worked up, but I guess she was smart enough to realize what was going on in the current situation. My legs started shaking without realizing it.
I assumed after seeing his stats, but the murderous look he was giving was causing me to choke up and Kim Hyun-Sung must have discovered my situation because when he extended his hand out, what I felt earlier started to disappear.
“Oh, thank you,” I said.
The way Choi Young-Ki reacted was way beyond the reaction that a person would make when someone talked badly about their leader. Cha Hee-Ra was probably more popular than I thought based on his reaction and I wanted to compliment him for not swinging his sword right away in this situation.
‘I kind of want him…’
If Park Deok-Gu wasn’t here, I would have thought of a way to bring Choi Young-Ki to our party. Despite being this angry, the fact that he was able to control himself was proof that he wasn’t the type to lose his head.
Jung Yoo-Ra was shocked by the murderous look she was getting, which caused her to fall silent. Based on her stats, she had the ability to resist this energy, but apart from that, I was sure that she had realized the mistake she made.
‘That’s great.’
It was like a bomb was about to explode and during all of this, Choi Young-Ki spoke calmly. “Are you done talking?”
“That’s…”
“I would like for you to leave right now,” he said.
“I overreacted and I’m sorry about what happened just now, but…”
“I told you to leave right now! I don’t want to hear anything else from you and as I’ve mentioned earlier, I’ll make sure you get your share,” he said, interrupting her.
“I…!”
Boom!
We heard it again.
“I asked you to leave,” he said.
‘Nice.’
I noticed how pale her face became. Even though all I could do was grin, it felt very gratifying. It was to the point that I felt goosebumps on my back and I was sure that this was more than enough to describe my feeling.
“Please leave the dungeon immediately, Miss Yoo-Ra. The Devil’s Guild doesn’t want to work with you anymore either.”
The party leaders were speaking formally in front of me to be respectful, but the voices I heard behind me were a bit scary.
The way they cursed while screaming reminded me of a modern-day witch hunt. They weren’t throwing rocks at her, but that woman was basically at the stake which meant that the woman had also become a witch. I was sure that she wanted to scream out that she wasn’t a witch, but the public wouldn’t stop throwing rocks at her. Jung Yoo-Ra must have felt really dejected because blood came out from the lips she was biting down on as tears even rolled down from her red eyes. She looked like she was trying her best to hold back her tears, but doing that wasn’t going to solve this.
‘Nice.’
Watching the situation from afar always gave me a sense of release, especially if the situation was created by my own hands.
A few moments later, I noticed Jung Yoo-Ra quietly passing by me and the way she glared at me made it seem like she had a grudge that was beyond my imagination. When I smiled in that short moment, I felt her hit my shoulder as she passed by me and she hit me so hard that my body was pushed back a little.
‘Oh man…’
Of course, I didn’t feel threatened or scared of her. Since I was the type that felt reassured after seeing the end of a problem that I was involved in, I needed to think about what was going to happen after this. The crazy girl could stab my back because of the grudge she had, so I had to be more detailed in my plans.
I had seen many cases where people lost their lives because they said one wrong thing and even though it should only apply in modern society, I assumed it was the same here. As such, it was only natural for this situation to go the way I wanted it to go.
Getting into more arguments with her was no longer a political fight. It was one-sided harassment and in some ways an expensive lesson.
‘For this chapter...’
Out of the two most important things in politics, there was still one left.
“Let’s get going,” Choi Young-Ki said.
“Okay.”
“I’m sorry for making you all uncomfortable,” he said.
“It’s fine. We’re actually…”
It was about the media.
‘I’m sure she thinks it’s over.’
But… I was more ruthless than she thought.
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