I[1] felt very angry at the thought that I was being played by that scumbag.
Looking back at the situation, they were right. During that time, I was overly furious. I didn’t understand the situation properly and didn’t think about the atmosphere of the expedition group. While the scumbag was building the public’s opinion about him, I didn’t do anything I wanted to protect my pride.
I couldn’t come back to my senses because the way he spoke messed with my temper and the way he licked his lips made me feel like it was piercing into my heart. I was relieved that I managed to hold back my urge of stabbing the dagger that I was holding into his neck. Just thinking about it made it seem like blood was going to spill from my clenched fist and arguably, I’ve never seen or heard anyone like him in this continent.
‘Disgusting bastard.’
Based on the amount of mana I felt from him and his job, Lee Ki-Young was definitely a type of person that was labeled as weak on this continent. He was the type of person that would beg while wandering around the slums and someone that would spend all his earnings for the day to survive. He would also have to snoop around because he couldn’t find a party that would take him in.
It was ridiculous how that piece of trash who wouldn’t dare say a word to me would just run wild like that all because of his background. I’ve never seen someone with a thicker face than him.
He constantly apologized, but the expression on his face was telling me a totally different story. I was sure that the party members that went on the expedition with me had remembered his face. It felt like he was showing his contempt towards me by ignoring and provoking me. When I recalled that look on his face again, I started getting angry without realizing it.
“Damn it…”
I was cooling off my anger while lying down when I heard a voice from outside.
“Yoo-Ra unnie.”
“How is it?” I asked.
“I-It’s the same. There hasn’t been any other news…” she answered.
“Ha…”
“They said that it’s still too early to formally protest,” she said.
“It doesn’t make sense that they’re still trying to figure out the situation when so much time has passed,” I expressed my doubt.
“B-But…”
“Since when did our guild start caring about what others think? I’m sure there’s some sort of connection between the Red Mercenary Guild and the Blue Guild. Turning them upside down won’t even be enough so what exactly does a guild do for its members? Large guild, my ass! They’re nothing more than the Red Mercenary Guild’s sidekick,” I said with contempt.
“They said to stay quiet and refrain from acting rashly because they thought it would only be best to make a move after finding out exactly what happened. They can’t help but be worried about Cha Hee-Ra,” the girl explained.
“What about Cha Hee-Ra?” I asked.
“It seemed like the guild’s executives met with the Red Mercenary Guild for a meeting,” she answered.
“What more do they need to know about? Isn’t what we wrote in the report exactly what happened?” I got agitated.
“T-That’s true, but…”
“Also, what’s the point of finding more about the situation with the bastards that started the problem? It’s obvious that the Black Swan Guild is being cautious of the Red Mercenary Guild, but do they even realize the fact that we’re starting to look like morons to the rest of Lindel? What do you think the other large guilds will think about us? And it’s not like they’re lowering their heads at that prostitute Cha Hee-Ra, right? They’re just being controlled by that fox! Shit. Lee Ki-Young, that bastard!” I ranted.
“What can you do? There are rumors that he’s Cha Hee-Ra’s lover… I don’t know the details, but I heard their relationship existed since they were still on Earth. That's how close they are! Even Cha Hee-Ra went as far as sacrificing her reputation for him and we also have a symbiotic relationship with the Red Mercenary Guild… I-I don’t think there’s much we can do in this situation. It’s not like I don’t understand how you’re feeling, but…” she said.
“What?”
“I think it’s best to watch the situation a bit. I’m sure the chance for us to take revenge will come,” she suggested.
“Yeah, it has to come,” I said.
“Yes.”
“I’m not planning on putting an end by simply returning what I received. I’m going to make him experience a painful death until he cries and begs for his life. He probably thinks that Cha Hee-Ra is going to protect him for a long time, but let’s see how long that trust lasts…” I said.
“Y-You’re right,” she stuttered.
“A lot of accidents happen during expeditions, right?” I asked.
“Yes, b-but right now…” she hesitated.
“I already know. It’s just… it’s hard to endure it,” I answered.
“I-I’m sure you’ll be able to do what you want with him after seeing the items that have arrived. I don’t think they’re completely looking down on us. I think you can consider it as them wanting to resolve the problems that occurred in the dungeon,” she explained.
“Oh yeah?” I asked.
“Yes. There are a lot of rare-ranked weapons and they gave us a lot more materials than I thought. After looking at the distributed item list, I think we received a lot more than the Blue Guild…” she answered.
“Of course, hahaha! Even if they’re from the Red Mercenary Guild, they should still be wary of us,” I said.
“I think they were at least trying to be sincere. H-How about we go out and eat instead of staying here? I think it’s best to freshen yourself…” the girl suggested.
“Okay,” I responded.
“I heard that a nice restaurant has recently opened up. Let’s go there, unnie,” she said.
I started walking as if I was being forced to go.
Honestly, I was starting to think that I needed to get some fresh air anyway. If I stayed in my room, I would just keep on thinking about that bastard’s sly face. I knew that even if I got mad, I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. But my chance would definitely come.
Even if the Blue Guild and the Red Mercenary Guild had a strategic alliance, they wouldn’t be dumb enough to directly abandon the Black Swan Guild since we were labeled as a large guild. In short, maintaining this status quo would be the best course of action.
For some reason, I started to feel better. If what Park Eun-Hye told me earlier was true, then the Red Mercenary Guild was at least being sincere, so I was sure that my previous thoughts were right.
When we started walking, it only took us a moment to exit the guild. The surroundings were noisier than usual, but the scenery of the free city was still the same. Then I suddenly discovered a group of people in the plaza.
“Jeez… do scumbags like them really exist?” someone asked.
“Of course! I can even imagine the situation with my eyes closed…” said another person.
“Tsk.’
The voices that I heard didn’t sound very pleasing and the way people looked at me from time to time wasn’t pleasant either.
One thing the people had in common was that they were all holding a newspaper, which was a rare sight. The press didn’t have a lot of power in Lindel since all they really wrote about were new monsters or news about the Holy Empire. As such, the adventurers within Lindel weren’t really patronizing the media.
The way the people gathered and were reading the newspaper definitely seemed odd, so of course, I became curious. I did feel anxious for some reason, but I couldn’t help but grab the newspaper that the store was selling.
“U-Unnie…”
“This is…”
[Cause a Stir.]
[After the Blue Guild paid a lot of money to recruit Kim Hyun-Sung’s party, they successfully completed their first dungeon expedition. Everyone remembers the four-person party that completed the tutorial dungeon in record time. This party, known as the Kim Hyun-Sung party, left Lindel a few weeks ago with the Devil’s Guild, the Red Mercenary Guild, and the Black Swan Guild as if they were showing their friendship with the other large guilds.
While people voiced concerns and criticism about whether they were getting carried, the Devil’s Guild revealed their dungeon capture log and caused a stir. It was revealed that Miss Jung of the Black Swan Guild participated and excessively abused her power.
When the expedition party that started together ended up arriving in Lindel separately, there were rumors about whether there was a problem within the expedition party, but when that rumor was proven to be true, the other guild members were shocked.
The truth of the rumor started before the party left when Miss Jung (29), created conflict within the party by threatening Mr. Lee of the Blue Guild’s party. When people heard several testimonies about how Miss Jung of the Black Swan Guild severely oppressed the Blue Guild, they couldn't help but frown.
As the person that was directly involved, when Mr. Lee was asked what kind of threats he received, he didn’t say much because he was aware of the perpetrator’s identity. As such, rumors about there being physical pressure involved started to spread.
Experts assumed that the problem was in the distribution of the dungeon items based on the level of contribution, but there has been no information of this yet as of writing.
The Blue Guild and the Black Swan Guild have kept quiet about this, but this case has drawn many people’s attention. After all, the dungeon control with the cooperation of other guilds is a fact that is widely known in the Free City of Lindel.
A problem seemed to have occurred with the item distribution as well as the level of contribution. But everyone knows that issues like this happen because of greed. Even though the oppression of large guilds on mid-sized guilds and small clans has long been a natural part of our lives, it had been a long time since the Free City of Lindel was founded. Isn’t it time for large guilds to be leaders in creating a wholesome dungeon control culture? - Reporter Kim Seong-Kyung of the Lindel Daily Report]
‘What?’
It didn’t stop there.
[Miss Jung's (29) Controversial Remark - Do You Think the Mercenary Queen will Protect You?]
[The remarks that Miss Jung made in the rare-ranked dungeon are starting to get revealed, it’s causing a big stir within Lindel. The comments that Miss Jung made to the alchemist, Mr. Lee, who everyone knows as the Mercenary Queen’s lover, has started to become a problem. Apparently, Miss Jung saw that Mr. Lee’s party was performing well in the dungeon control, but she still called him over to the side and threatened him for some reason. Her comments are now being re-examined.
Not only did she insult him by calling him the Mercenary Queen’s sugar baby, but it was also revealed that she made a comment about whether the Mercenary Queen will be able to protect him.
A large guild pressuring a mid-sized guild. People have voiced their opinions that not only were the comments targeted at Mr. Lee, but she was also being conscious of the Red Mercenary Guild’s Mercenary Queen. Now, everyone has their focus on the direction that the Red Mercenary Guild and the Black Swan Guild are going to take in the future. - Middle East Daily Report]
I kept on seeing annoying titles.
[About the Black Swan and the Red Mercenary Guild’s Relationship - Subtopic: What’s the Blue Guild’s Current Position?]
[Is It Okay for a Large Guild to Continue Their Wickedness Within a Dungeon? - Kim Sung-Kyeong, Dungeon Columnist]
[A Large Guild’s Abuse of Power Behind the Scenes, How Should We Look At Jung Yoo-Ra’s Situation? - Report Kang Yoo-Mi, Lindel Political Desk]
[Miss Jung’s (29) Controversial Past Re-ignited]
[Rumors About Giving it to the Mercenary Queen, Was She Aiming for the Blue Guild or the Red Mercenary Guild? Black Swan’s Incomprehensible Move.]
I couldn’t help but be shocked because it felt like the world had changed in one day.
My hands started shaking and I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Of course, that bastard’s sly face popped into my head once again. I started to hear voices from all over the place.
“Ohh, I think I’ve entered a dungeon with her before… I’m sure all of these are true. It’s because of the Blue Guild that these articles are being written. If it were us, I’m sure we would’ve ended up in the grave,” someone said.
“That bitch. It’s because of people like her that Lindel isn’t progressing,” another said.
“Be quiet. Someone might…”
“Am I wrong?”
“Still…”
“Hey… isn’t that Jung Yoo-Ra?” someone asked.
“Shh, she can hear you.”
‘That… that bastard.’
I finally realized it. I wasn’t the only one that wasn’t done with this yet.
‘That bastard…’
1. The pov switches to Jung Yoo-Ra ☜
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