Chapter 475: Driving A Wedge (6) |
Park Deok-Gu had absorbed the rumor as if he were a sponge, but it took some time for the rumor to spread. It was slow, like what Lee Ji-Hye had intended, but it was true that the rumor was spreading.
Of course, I had no choice but to stop Park Deok-Gu from talking because if someone were to intervene, then the issue could become even more complicated.
The rumor spread from the bottom to the top. The rumor with an unknown source started from either the training hall or the dorms, and the rumor soon reached the ears of the executive-level adventurers. Naturally, people started investigating it even further, especially those who couldn’t believe the rumor.
I was sure that it would take at least a few days for Kim Hyun-Sung to hear the rumor because he wasn’t really the type to gather information.
‘Seriously, what’s up with Park Deok-Gu?’
It took quite a while before the rumors started spreading among the public, so I was once again stupefied when I recalled how Park Deok-Gu quickly heard the rumor. I seriously thought that he was making the Blue Guild’s intelligence department work for him, so I got worried that he would start collecting even the useless rumors, but…
‘It’s strange, but he has a good eye for a decently credible rumor…’
I felt like he could do the work of two people on his own.
Anyway, everything was going smoothly, and there was even no need for me to check to know that the scums were celebrating in the joint training hall because dozens of guests visited my office every day.
“I think it’d be great if you could visit us after the joint training. There was a bit of conflict between the Magic Kingdom and the Democratic Country, but it’s all in the past now. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Magic Kingdom is a utopia for those with magic-related jobs because we have a well-established support system. I’m sure you’ll be surprised once you’ve seen it yourself.”
“The President of the Republic personally wrote the message, Father Lee Ki-Young. The letter is sealed, so I can’t tell you anything about it, but he asked me to tell you that if there’s anything you need, he’ll do his best to provide it. And… this is his personal gift to you. It’s an heirloom treasure of the Republic…”
“The North is kind of cold, but… the scenery is great. I’ll get straight to the point. If you’re thinking about moving, please consider the North. You can write whatever you want in the contract.”
‘The effect is bigger than I thought...’
I hadn’t officially announced my departure from the Blue Guild, but many influential figures were already starting to recruit me. I even met people from the large guilds whose identities had been covered in a veil of secrecy until now.
Of course, I also received offers from many nations, and I was interested in their offers as well. Naturally, I told them that I wasn’t interested in their offers, but most of them looked like they didn’t believe what I said at all.
For them, my departure had already been decided.
I knew I was worth a lot, and I was really popular, but I couldn’t have expected that I would have this much clout.
The President of the Republic, the Federal Leaders Alliance—even the Imperial Family of the Union of Kingdoms used the marriage card and urged me to become their son-in-law.
‘It seems that Light Ki-Young’s status is pretty high up there.’
It wasn’t really strange considering the sacrifice that I had made for the continent so far, but the realization made me feel great regardless.
‘I’m sure it’s also because the rumor is extremely effective.’
I was sure that the rumor was extremely effective.
Of course, I also made sure that my actions were faithful to the rumor. These days, I had been spending less time at the portable guild house aside from when I had to meet Jung Ha-Yan or prepare for the training.
I didn’t bother looking for Kim Hyun-Sung, so the rumor about the impending breakup between Kim Hyun-Sung, the Guild Master of the Blue Guild, and Lee Ki-Young, the Honorary Cardinal of the Sacred Democratic Country, started spreading like wildfire.
At this point, I was sure that Kim Hyun-Sung had to have already realized that something was off.
The majority of the guild members remained silent, but the atmosphere of the guild wasn’t that great these days. I hadn’t been seeing Kim Ye-Ri and Lee Chang-Ryeol lately, but considering that they were assassins, they were probably…
‘They’re probably on the move to gather information…’
I was sure of it, but…
‘They’re too slow…’
I could understand their slow reaction this time because I had always been the one managing the guild’s intelligence department, so they were bound to slow down without my input. However, I still felt disappointed because they were too slow.
Anyway, the ongoing situation was definitely making Kim Hyun-Sung noticeably anxious, and the news I would receive about him at the end of the day had long become a type of enjoyment that I had been looking forward to hearing about lately.
I was being petty because I wanted him to suffer as much as me all this while, and it was really fun because it made me feel like I had the higher ground over him.
Of course, it didn’t take him long to come to find me, but he definitely got concerned when he saw me acting ambiguously.
“Mr. Ki-Young,” Kim Hyun-Sung called out.
“Yes?” I replied.
“Can I come in?” he asked.
“Yes, come in, Mr. Hyun-Sung,” I answered.
“Excuse me.”
‘It’s definitely effective.’
He had definitely run all the way here, and I couldn’t help but feel that he had been reflecting on himself lately. Of course, I knew what was wrong with him.
After all, it hadn’t been that long since he had confessed to Bitcherella that he had been staying away from me because he was suffering from PTSD. He had also confessed to Bitcherella that he was the problem rather than me.
However, the issue was that he hadn’t really talked about that with me, so right now, he was currently in a confusing situation where he had to figure out why I was trying to stay away from him, just like the dilemma I had to agonize over prior to Bitcherella’s appearance.
He had apologized to me by giving me gifts, but we were still distant compared to when we were really close back then. Of course, we were still close on the surface, but I was sure that he could feel a strange distance between us.
There was an apropos saying to describe this situation—one should treat people well while one could still do it.
‘Yep, that definitely fits the current situation.’
The decision still hadn’t been made, but I was sure that Kim Hyun-Sung could feel that the saying was really appropriate in his current situation. Before Bitcherella appeared, I was desperate, but now, it was Kim Hyun-Sung’s time to feel desperate.
“I was actually finishing up the tasks that I’ve been putting off. I feel like it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other since we’re really busy recently,” I said.
“Yes, we’re really busy… Are you going out today as well?” he asked.
“I think so. There are still some people whom I haven’t met just yet. Sir Gellahan said that he wanted to introduce me to other people. It’s honestly kind of tiring, but… it’s my chance to create meaningful connections. Speaking of Sir Gellahan…” I paused.
“Yes?”
“He seemed like a very influential figure. He has many connections and is involved in many types of businesses, so I think he’ll be helpful,” I continued.
“I see…” he muttered.
He looked sad for some reason.
‘I wonder how much he knows…’
I was kind of curious.
‘He’s definitely aware of the rumor that is making the rounds right now.’
It shouldn’t be that hard to deduce what was going on. I would be really disappointed in him if he still hadn’t caught on to the reason why many influential figures were suddenly visiting my office in droves
‘Are you aware that there’s a third party involved?’
At this point, I was sure that Kim Ye-Ri and Lee Chang-Ryeol probably already knew, and it was probably the reason why Kim Hyun-Sung came here… He had a feeling, but he had no concrete evidence.
However, the timing was just right when I thought about how fast he was at completing his work. Of course, I couldn’t completely exclude the possibility that the intelligence department was slower than usual because I wasn’t there, but Kim Ye-Ri and Lee Chang-Ryeol weren’t that incompetent.
I looked at Kim Hyun-Sung and saw that he looked like an anxious puppy.
He wasn’t really good at talking, so I was sure that he was thinking about how he should start asking questions.
I was sure that he was agonizing about how he should go about asking me if I were really leaving the Blue Guild, what I had heard from Gellahan, why I was avoiding him these days, and if I was disappointed in the guild and him.
Of course, I was sure that he also wanted to know if I knew about the third party that was trying to destroy the Blue Guild.
“Mr. Ki-Young,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.
“Yes?”
“You see…” he paused.
“Yes?”
“Recently…” he paused again.
“Yes.”
“So…”
“Yes…”
‘Shit, this is really frustrating.’
I couldn’t help but think that perhaps I should start the conversation.
I was about to say something, but Kim Hyun-Sung started talking.
“I heard a strange rumor.”
“I see. What kind of rumor is it?” I asked.
“Did… the Blue Guild or I do something to… disappoint you?” he asked.
‘So, he’s asking about this first.’
I couldn’t help but feel that it had taken him a great deal of courage to ask me that question. From the look on his face, it was clear that he was still hesitating if it was too early to ask about Kylie Yale, Gellahan, or Jamila.
‘I’m sure he’s aware, but he doesn’t have concrete evidence.’
If he had concrete evidence, then I was sure that he would have approached me a bit aggressively, but he had come here as a good-natured Kim Hyun-Sung.
People were currently driving a wedge between us, but I could have never imagined that he would start our conversation by asking me that question first before anything else.
My heart broke when I saw him looking like a puppy that had been abandoned by its owner. I knew that I shouldn’t feel this way, but I was starting to feel bad for him.
“It’s nothing. It’s not really a big problem, anyway. I’m very thankful to the guild and to you. The only reason I was able to get this far is all because of you, Mr. Hyun-Sung. If you hadn’t saved me that day in the tutorial dungeon, then I’m sure that I wouldn’t be here right now,” I replied.
‘Nice answer.’
My words made it seem like I was saying farewell, and Kim Hyun-Sung’s face quickly became dyed with anxiety.
“I-It’s nothing. I should be the one who should thank you, Mr. Ki-Young… It’s actually embarrassing to hear that from you,” he said.
“Anyway, many other things had happened as well. You recommended the alchemist job to me, and… I’m very thankful that you took me in despite my incompetence. Thank you for trusting me until the very end,” I added.
‘Look at your face, Hyun-Sung…’
I didn’t really give him a proper answer, but I continued talking as if I were really going to move to a different guild and was now bidding goodbye.
I was sure that Kim Hyun-Sung was feeling a sense of foreboding right now, and he started talking in a way that made it obvious that he was desperate.
“I-I heard you’re preparing to join another guild. I also know that many guild masters have visited you recently.”
“Ah…”
“...”
“I see…” he muttered.
“You don’t have to concern yourself over it, but…” I trailed off.
“Ah… so, they’re baseless rumors. I was getting a bit—”
“No, actually…” I interrupted.
“Sorry?” he asked.
“I can’t say that it’s a completely baseless rumor. Of course, I can’t give you a definite answer just yet, but it’s true that I’ve been thinking about it recently…” I replied.
“What?”
“I’m seriously thinking over their offers,” I added.
“What?”
‘What’s with that look?’
Kim Hyun-Sung looked like the world was collapsing right in front of him.
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