The elites of Garam Guild had finished raiding the unexplored Gate that had appeared in Asan, returned, and were reorganizing before disbanding.
“I mean, they say even a broken clock is right twice a day, but who would have thought there really would be a core in the sole of its foot?”
“Exactly. It was a magic beast that appeared for the first time, so how did he know that and say it?”
“Do they teach that at Cradle?”
“You fool. Even if they really did teach it, do you think Hyeon-su would know? He does not even attend classes properly.”
The raid team was discussing Jeong Hyeon-su, who had accurately pointed out the weakness of the new A-Rank magic beast that had suddenly appeared inside the Gate.
“It is true that damage was minimized thanks to him.”
“Come on, Senior, it is not as if you trusted him when you stabbed it, did you?”
“That is true. Since there happened to be a core exactly where he said, I just shot it with my last arrow.”
“And when it burst, the thing got stunned helplessly.”
And so the Gate boss raid had ended very easily.
Thanks to that, they had shortened the time, succeeded in clearing an A-Rank Gate without taking any losses, and set a record. Public opinion of Garam Guild would rise.
Just as they were deep in conversation, something happened.
BANG!
Something crashed down as if a meteor had fallen from the sky.
Hssssss.
A muscular man, his entire body emitting a smoke-like aura, stood there.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Chae Gwang-seop.”
Chae Gwang-seop was a name that referred to an executive of Songgwang Guild. The emblem of Songgwang Guild was also pinned to the chest of the suit he was wearing.
“Even if you are an executive of Songgwang, this is difficult to overlook. This is Garam’s restricted area.”
“Difficult? You dare touch Songgwang first and call this difficult?”
“Touch you?”
“Small fry, step aside! I must see your guild master!”
Chae Gwang-seop tried to force his way upstairs, and Garam’s raid team naturally blocked his path.
“You will not move?”
“Would you move, if you were in our place?”
“Mind the time and place. Unless you want to regret it even after death.”
“No matter how great Songgwang’s influence may be, those words have crossed a line.”
“You people crossed the line first!”
“What do you mean, we crossed the line?”
At the solemn voice that seemed to press down on Chae Gwang-seop’s shouting, everyone’s gaze shifted.
“Guild Master!”
“That is enough. Everyone, stand down.”
At the appearance of Garam’s guild master, Jeong Cheol, Chae Gwang-seop snorted.
“You have finally appeared.”
“Finally?”
“You must immediately drag that son of yours, the one who caused trouble, to Songgwang.”
“Trouble?”
“If not, then the guild master should provide a proper explanation.”
At the aggressive tone of Chae Gwang-seop, an executive of Songgwang Guild that had recently begun repeatedly encroaching on Garam’s territory, Jeong Cheol stared steadily at him.
“What are you talking about?”
“Did I not already say it? Seung-jin, the heir of Songgwang, was harmed by your eldest son!”
He had broken every limb of the Songgwang Guild heir, who handled fist-and-kicking arts, and shattered his ribs as well.
However, such external injuries could be healed with Songgwang’s power.
The most decisive problem was the psychological aftereffects.
“What sort of lowly trick did he use to make the boy’s mind collapse completely? He has fallen into a Heart Demon. A Heart Demon!”
“A lowly method?”
“Are you asking because you truly do not know? If it was not some filthy trick, how could that wastrel of Garam have done that to Seung-jin?”
Chae Seung-jin was one of the most promising talents even in Cradle.
Unlike Chae Seung-jin, who was expected to lead South Korea’s future, the public opinion of Garam’s Jeong Hyeon-su was that he was an incompetent cur born from a tiger, always causing trouble.
“Do you truly believe your eldest son could defeat Seung-jin in a head-on battle?”
If Jeong Cheol had known nothing, he would not have been able to deny it.
However, just before the raid, Jeong Cheol had confirmed his son’s rise in the realm of Illusory Heaven True Energy.
“He could do so sufficiently.”
That was why his answer came out, and Chae Gwang-seop snorted at it.
“Ha. So this is how you intend to act?”
“At the very least, while my son’s conduct currently leaves no room for defense, in terms of ability, I believe he would not fall behind the child of anyone from the Ten Great Guilds.”
Jeong Cheol had reached 7-Star in Illusory Heaven True Energy at fifteen. However, one should not look only at the age at which it was achieved.
Because this was a change in a boy who, until only half a year ago, had been struggling at 1-Star.
He did not know what had happened, but at the very least, it was not illegal.
Because Illusory Heaven True Energy, and beyond that, the Five Kings’ Martial Arts, were not martial studies so simple that such cheap shortcuts would work.
“Are you telling me to believe that? Everyone in the world knows what kind of person Garam’s heir is.”
“Even I, his parent, do not know everything about my child, so how can you be so certain?”
“What did you say?”
“And.”
An explosive aura began to surge from Jeong Cheol’s body.
Tyrant Heaven Energy, the most domineering power of the Five Kings’ Martial Arts, which Jeong Hyeon-su had requested the previous night, unfolded from Jeong Cheol.
“Can you bear it?”
“What…?”
“I am asking whether you can bear the consequences of acting so high-handedly toward me, the leader of one of the Ten Great Guilds, when you are merely an executive.”
The pressure radiating from Jeong Cheol was beyond imagination.
Chae Gwang-seop, who had been rendered speechless for a moment by a tyrannical power no less imposing than that of Songgwang’s master, soon tried to correct his disgrace.
“It seems the guild master still does not understand.”
Chae Gwang-seop wore a meaningful smile.
“Songgwang came here to offer Garam an opportunity, but if you treat me like this, that is rather disappointing.”
“…….”
“Evidence is spreading that Jeong Hyeon-su illegally distributed artifacts and also touched Manajia.”
There was no change in Jeong Cheol’s expression.
Seeing Jeong Cheol show no emotion whatsoever, Chae Gwang-seop merely thought he was bluffing.
“But if the guild master acts like this, then even we, Songgwang, will not be able to help you.”
That was when it happened.
“That is all nonsense.”
Jeong Hyeon-su appeared inside Garam Guild’s restricted area.
Of course, he was being brought in with both arms restrained by the guards who had noticed his unauthorized outing and pursued him.
“…Nonsense?”
“I understand that you just fed the story to the media and came here full of confidence, but even so, should you really behave so outrageously in someone else’s house? How crude.”
At Jeong Hyeon-su’s words, Chae Gwang-seop’s expression twisted.
“Jeong Hyeon-su.”
“How can I endure it when he is talking nonsense?”
“Have you forgotten that even if the other party acts like a beast, you should at least behave like a person?”
“It has been a long time, so I remember it only now. I will keep it in mind.”
“An executive of Songgwang says you illegally distributed artifacts and also touched Manajia. Is that true?”
“Not at all.”
Chae Gwang-seop wore a sneer.
However, Jeong Cheol’s gaze remained fixed on Jeong Hyeon-su.
“Is it true that you harmed Chae Seung-jin, the eldest son of Songgwang?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you do it?”
“He tried to threaten Hyeon-a with false accusations that did not even hold together.”
“And?”
“I told him to stop, but when he tried to suppress me with force, I did the same to him.”
Jeong Cheol’s gaze reached Jeong Hyeon-a, who had followed after him as well.
“What Jeong Hyeon-su… said is true, Father. That bastard Chae Seung-jin threatened me while talking about illegal artifacts and Manajia.”
“That is what she says.”
“In the end, you are making a bad move.”
Chae Gwang-seop’s gaze turned toward the outdoor billboard on the rooftop across from them.
It showed a news broadcast with an anchor seated on the screen, and Jeong Hyeon-a’s eyes wavered.
“That is……”
It was the video Chae Seung-jin had made when he threatened Jeong Hyeon-a, saying it was only a taste.
[Breaking news. We have received a report that the heir of one of South Korea’s Ten Great Guilds has been involved in the distribution of illegal artifacts and Manajia.]
The video continued.
A young man carrying a bag with something inside walked down a dark alley.
From behind, it was clearly Jeong Hyeon-su.
[A young man walks into the darkness. Then he encounters someone. During that encounter, a man attacks the young man carrying the bag.]
The reporter’s commentary continued.
“Now, even if we want to help, we cannot.”
[It is said that a civilian personally stepped forward after receiving a report about an illegal transaction. Surprisingly, the bag taken from the young man contained artifacts and a suspicious unidentified powder.]
Everyone in Garam Guild, including Jeong Cheol and Jeong Hyeon-a, stared blankly at the screen.
Had Jeong Hyeon-su deceived them all?
However, the person in question stood calmly with his hands clasped behind his back, offering no explanation whatsoever.
[The examination results showed that the artifacts were unregistered, while the powder was revealed to be Manajia, a highly addictive drug that causes hallucinations and awakening effects in awakened ones with mana.]
Chae Gwang-seop’s eyes seemed full of delight. At the same time, he looked over Jeong Cheol with a mocking smile.
That was when it happened.
— Hey, is this really going to be all right?
— What are you talking about, bastard?
— I am asking whether it is all right to do this.
— Of course it is all right, you bastard. Do you know how rock-bottom Jeong Hyeon-su’s reputation is? If people hear that bastard was using drugs, do you think they will say there is no way?
The screen changed, and another face appeared.
It was Chae Seung-jin and his group sitting in Cradle’s hideout.
— If this job goes well, your guilds will become part of Songgwang’s family too, you bastard. Do you think Songgwang will eat all the interests left after Garam blows up?
— I-Is that so?
— Handle it properly. I will be the one to push that idiot Jeong Hyeon-su into hiding this and only carrying it. If we just drag that bitch Ji Min-jeong into it, that bastard Jeong Hyeon-su would even lick a necromancer’s asshole.
At that instant, Jeong Hyeon-su’s teeth clenched.
It was because the disgrace of that one-sided love, which was no better than a dark chapter in his past, had been exposed.
“You……”
But that lasted only a moment.
Jeong Hyeon-a, who had been about to say something, focused once more on the video that followed.
One of Chae Seung-jin’s subordinates appeared, using a disguise artifact, and met with Jeong Hyeon-su.
Then he attacked Jeong Hyeon-su and checked the contents inside.
The video continued to show them running tests, proving that the artifacts were illegal, and confirming the Manajia before it ended.
— Now Garam is mine. If I take that bitch Jeong Hyeon-a in when Garam falls apart, her expression will be worth seeing, huh?
— Jeong Hyeon-su, that stupid bastard. He probably still thinks we are his friends, does he not?
Chae Gwang-seop felt an intense killing intent directed at him.
“Hic!”
It was because every hunter of Garam was glaring at him, emitting killing intent without restraint.
“…Did you say you came to save Garam?”
“H-How did this……”
Jeong Cheol’s indifferent tone struck Chae Gwang-seop.
“Before saving this guild, Songgwang will have to properly explain what happened in order to save itself. Otherwise, I will personally declare a guild war.”
Chae Gwang-seop’s mind went blank.
If the contents of the video were true, then the person who appeared there was Chae Seung-jin no matter how one looked at it.
And if the circumstances showing that he had tried to use Jeong Hyeon-su to plot against Garam had been revealed, then the one with fire at its feet was Songgwang.
‘Chae Seung-jin, that stupid bastard!’
The thing he had carried out with such confidence had ended up like this.
How pathetic did he have to be to leave a video like that somewhere and proceed with his scheme?
“…I misunderstood.”
Unlike his imposing attitude from a moment earlier, Chae Gwang-seop quickly changed his stance.
“You misunderstood?”
“Because it concerned my nephew, I lost my head.”
“Are you saying it has nothing to do with Songgwang? After bringing up Songgwang yourself a moment ago?”
“Ever since he was young, his hasty temper has ruined more than one thing. I ask that the guild master please not connect this matter to Songgwang.”
Chae Gwang-seop’s judgment was swift.
No matter how short-tempered he was, he was not an executive of one of the Ten Great Guilds for nothing.
“The guild will soon make an official response as well.”
The moment he grasped reality, he apologized and claimed that the matter was unrelated to Songgwang and that he alone would take responsibility. Unless Garam intended to wage an all-out war, they could not respond too violently.
[The World publicly announces the direct arrest of Edward Farrington, the culprit behind the theft of a treasured artifact from the British royal family. It remains “silent” on whether the sacred relic has been recovered.]
Jeong Hyeon-su merely glanced for a moment at another breaking report that appeared while the two men were talking.