Chapter 449: Our Hyunsung (1) |
The expedition could basically be considered over, but this didn’t mean that we would be throwing away our last chance. Our mood had soured, but we couldn’t let our last chance go to waste.
We were hoping that a Legendary-ranked item would appear for our last reward. Sadly, the last reward was a rare-ranked item. Overall, the expedition results were poor.
The expedition was basically a huge loss. They spent the majority of their funds on this expedition, but they ended up with two rare-ranked items and a manuscript edition of a book.
Obviously, the atmosphere turned grim. Of course, I didn’t expect that this would happen. I would also have to figure out whether the Friendship Clan was just unlucky or if the Rift Museum was just that cruel.
Still, this was a huge reality check for the Friendship Clan.
‘From a businessman’s point of view, this is a huge profit…’
I couldn’t look at the stragglers walking in defeat. Even if they put all their heads together to resolve this, it wouldn’t be enough.
The trivial argument from earlier also created a cold war between them.
‘The value of the Friendship Coin will plummet...’
The three female members wore strange looks, and it seemed like they had already made up their minds. They definitely remembered the saying about how one should always cut their losses before it was too late.
They were definitely looking for the right time to leave the clan.
The innocent Lee Chul-Woo didn’t seem like he was aware of their intentions, but it was pretty obvious. Even a blind person would be able to see that the Friendship Clan wouldn’t last long.
‘This clan is over.’
I was sure that the clan would completely dissolve in a week.
Actually, it could even fall apart right now.
“...”
“...”
‘I should leave as soon as possible, too.’
I felt kind of responsible, but the thought disappeared when I shook my head. After all, I was sure that my job here was done.
There were small accidents and fights during the expedition, but I was sure that I had contributed at least seventy percent to the firepower we used to defeat those named monsters.
“Um… What are we going to do now, oppas?” Gook Minji asked.
“I’m not sure. Let’s go back to our rooms and think about it. We have enough funds to stay here for a few more days. I think it would be better if we get rid of the items here. We can come back here after getting a loan or after we’ve found another way. We lost a lot of money, but… we can’t just give up at this point,” Lee Chul-Woo replied.
‘Please don’t take out a loan…’
“I think there’s something fishy here. Why does a museum have a book like that in the first place…” Gook Minji questioned.
“You heard the manager, right? The museum contains items worthy of being collected all over the continent. It’s a bestselling novel, so they probably thought it was worthy of being distributed as part of the rewards…”
”Honestly, I don’t understand it either, but I’m sure it’ll be worth selling. I’m not sure how much money the collectors would pay for it, but we should sell it to whoever is willing to pay the highest price. Shit,” replied Lee Chul-Wo.
“It’s going to be difficult.” Gook Minji pointed out.
‘It’ll be difficult to put it up for auction.’
If there were people who wanted it desperately, then they could sell the manuscript at an exorbitant price, but that was just wishful thinking.
I was sure that the money they would earn from selling that book wouldn’t be enough to cover their losses, especially after the auction fee.
‘I’ll cover the auction fee.’
“I can do it,” I offered.
“What?”
“I have some connections with the auction house. If you leave it to me, I’ll sell it and give you the money. You should also write a contract regarding the distribution since the fees are for every transaction, and they are pretty expensive…”
”Anyway, I’m sure they’ll understand as long as I explain the situation,” I explained.
“No, it’s fine. I don’t think there’s a need to write a separate contract. If you have connections, I think that’s the best thing to do. By the way, Miss Ki-Yeon, what… are you planning on doing now?” Lee Chul-Woo asked.
‘What are you talking about? Of course, I’m going to do my own thing.’
It was time to leave the clan.
“I’m not sure…” I started.
“We should go and eat first. The expedition was a failure, but there are a few things that I would like to discuss with you,” Lee Chul-Woo added.
‘I really hope you’re not trying to recruit me, man. How could you think about having someone like me in your clan? Don’t you feel guilty about doing that?’
When I was about to decline, Gook Minji’s group spoke up first.
“Oppa, we also have something we’d like to tell you.”
“What is it?” Lee Chul-Woo asked.
“I’m really sorry to tell you this, but… this is the end for us,” one of the girls replied.
“What? What are you talking about?” he asked.
“We’ve actually been thinking about it for quite a while now, and I think this is the right time for us to tell you this…”
”We don’t have any other reason for leaving. It’s just that… we don’t exactly have a contract period, and I think this is a good time to go our separate ways,” she answered.
“Isn’t it too sudden?” Kim Tae-Geon asked.
Kim Tae-Geon was surprised. It couldn’t be helped because he was the sub clan master. He was trying his best to remain calm, but he was obviously struggling to do that. The clan was trying its best to survive, but three out of the six members suddenly decided to leave the clan. It would be strange if he could still remain calm.
Honestly, I couldn’t criticize those girls for making such a decision. The clan master and the sub clan master made mistake by neglecting them for a cunning fox, who would only be in their party temporarily.
Still, this was something that every clan had to experience, and the Friendship Clan was no exception.
“You don’t need to pay us since you guys are in a difficult position financially. However, we’ll take one of the rare-ranked items. That’s okay, right?” she asked.
“That’s fine with me, but I mean, hold on. How about we talk it out? Leaving just like this won’t be good for you guys, either. How about we decide on a proper plan of action and think about it?” asked Lee Chul-Woo.
“It’s fine. I understand how you guys feel, but I don’t think we fit well with the Friendship Clan, and I became sure of it in today’s hunt. The overall atmosphere of the clan has also changed. Anyway, all I can say is that I’m really sorry,” she answered.
“Unnis, please don’t do this. It’s so sudden…” Gook Minji begged.
“Minji, think about it. Do you really deserve to stay in this clan? Anyway, we’ll be heading out first. If we ever meet again, let’s at least greet each other, oppas. We’re also willing to go hunting with you from time to time. Stay in touch, Minji, and we’ll also contact you, Ki-Yeon unni,” they said.
The girls quickly and coldly abandoned the clan. Before anyone could say anything, the former members of the Friendship Clan heaved sighs of relief. I felt awkward because I had to drive a stake into the heart of the Friendship Clan as well.
Kim Tae-Geon and Lee Chul-Woo looked as if they had lost everything. Unfortunately, Light Ki-Yeon wasn’t nice enough to consider their situation. I had to cut them off fast, and my pride was actually hurt because those rookies had beaten me to the chase.
“I’m sorry, but I also have my own business to handle,” I told them.
“Excuse me?” Lee Chul-Woo asked.
“The… expedition was fun, Mr. Chul-Woo, Mr. Tae-Geon. We had a bit of a misunderstanding, but it was still fun, Miss Minji,” I said.
“Why…”
“I don’t think I can fit in with this clan, and I don’t really like the idea of being affiliated with a group, so I’m sorry…” I added.
“Miss Ki-Yeon, let’s discuss this,” Lee Chul-Woo suggested.
‘Please don’t get clingy, man…’
“No, thank you,” I told him.
“Miss Ki-Yeon, please don’t…”
‘What the hell, man? We had nothing going on, so stop questioning me.’
“Miss Ki-Yeon, I’d like to formally apologize if you found the expedition uncomfortable. Please think about it again,” Lee Chul-Woo requested.
“...”
“Please consider it again for my sake,” he added.
‘What does that have to do with me, Chul-Woo?’
“I didn’t want to tell you like this, but I’d like you to join the next expedition and grow the clan with us. I understand that we’re lacking a lot, but please think of it in a positive way,” Lee Chul-Woo continued.
“It’s kind of unfortunate. I want to be with you guys as well, but… I really do have other plans,” I told him.
“How about we return to the inn and eat first? We received a lot of help from you, and I’d like to thank you for it,” Lee Chul-Woo suggested.
I was sure that the moment I did that, there was no way I would be able to leave them by then. They would definitely do their best to make me stay.
If the Friendship Clan managed to recruit Light Ki-Yeon, in addition to making up for their losses, they would profit greatly as well. They had already witnessed my might, so I could understand why Lee Chul-Woo was doing this.
“Y-Yeah, unni… let’s go together. I’m sorry.”
Even Gook Minji started saying strange things.
I started coughing because they were like thieves trying to recruit a talented woman for free, even though she belonged to a large guild.
“Miss Ki-Yeon,” Lee Chul-Woo called out.
‘Stop it, man.’
He even grabbed my hand, and he looked really serious as he stared at me.
“Did… I do something wrong?” he asked.
“No, it’s nothing like that,” I replied.
“I-I’m not sure if it’s just me, but in the d-dungeon, I thought you and I shared the same feelings…” he commented.
‘What kind of feelings?’
Men like him were a dime a dozen out there. I treated him nicely just once, but he misunderstood that I was expressing my feelings for him.
The ignorant man was blushing, but his actions and words wouldn’t be enough to shake Light Ki-Yeon’s impregnable heart. Actually, my mood soured because of what he was trying to do, and I felt a shiver down my spine when I saw how serious he looked.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Mr. Chul-Woo. I don’t like this. Could you let go of me, please?” I requested.
“Miss Ki-Yeon,” he called out again.
“Let go of her hand, Chul-Woo,” said Kim Tae-Geon.
The large-framed man even joined the fray. We were in the middle of the city, so the sudden war about love attracted a lot of attention.
Kim Tae-Geon stood between Lee Chul-Woo and me, and the way he grabbed my hand as if he were a knight in shining armor saving a princess in distress made the entire situation look embarrassing for Lee Chul-Woo.
I was also starting to get nervous about the attention we were getting.
“Could you two let go of me, please?” I asked.
“Miss Ki-Yeon, please think about it again… I’d like to speak to you privately,” Lee Chul-Woo requested.
I was about to take a more drastic measure when I heard a familiar voice.
“Please let her go.”
I looked toward where the voice had come from and saw a face more handsome than these two uglies.
There was a sword at his waist, and even though he was clad in simple armor, the badge on his chest told us the rank of the figure who suddenly appeared. I felt bad for comparing his appearance to these two uglies because I had basically insulted him.
‘What’s with him? Why does he look so handsome?’
The owner of the voice was Kim Hyun-Sung, the Guild Master of the Blue Guild and our lovely regressor.
“This is the last time I’m going to say it—let her go,” Kim Hyun-Sung warned.
Comments 4