“That looks good.”
“I didn’t know that you had such strong minds to think about the betterment of the guild, haha.”
The old geezer Lee Seolho remarked, but no one laughed with him.
“…”
“It’s only normal,” I muttered.
‘As I said, he’s deranged…’
I didn’t know just what old men like Lee Seolho had contributed to the Blue Guild in the past. Seeing how Lee Sang-hee showed respect for old men like him made me think that they had a deep connection with the absent Guild Master, but I suppose knowing didn’t matter.
It already felt unsettling to know that the intention of my party and his plans matched.
“We’ve already gained our third jobs, so that would definitely help,” I remarked.
“Ah, you’re all really amazing… Worth the money…” Seolho commented.
“Isn’t it all thanks to the guild’s support? Hahahaha…” he added.
Hwang Jeong-yeon gazed at Lee Seolho with suspicion. It was only natural for her to do so. The man was never known for being an optimist, so his sudden pleasant disposition naturally warranted some scrutiny from the others who knew how he truly was.
“Though there are others who willingly went to participate, there’re still others that insist on staying to guard the guild. Don’t you ever think about participating before pushing someone else to do it?”
I knew the remark was made for everyone too scared to join. It wasn’t just Lee Seolho’s expression who crumbled out of embarrassment upon hearing this. The others who were present also showed the same expression.
“W-Well…”
“It will be hard for us to stand in the front lines…”
“I don’t think we can provide the needed power…”
“Doesn’t everyone here play a different role to keep the guild running? We’re non-combatants in the first place. Even Seolho Lee is retired. It will be difficult for us to gain the momentum needed to stand in the front lines.”
“I don’t know about that. To me, it looks like you’re avoiding responsibility.”
“You talk too much.”
“I don’t think I’m wrong. Just be honest and say that you don’t want to go.”
“Huh… Isn’t that being a little too harsh?!”
“I think you know who among us here is being selfish right now.”
Emotions clashed with each other. It was natural for Hwang Jeong-yeon to make this assumption. Anyone else would’ve done the same. However, we wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
They were undoubtedly part of the non-combatant forces. It wouldn’t make sense to bring them along with us. They would probably prove to be a hindrance.
“You really are all so shameless…”
It might be a delusion, but I could almost see Lee Seolho and the others wishing for our immediate deaths in the upcoming expedition. It would be the perfect opportunity to take control.
If all combatants were unable to return alive in the hero-level dungeon, they would infringe on a new system, based on the influence that the Blue Guild had cultivated, with Lee Seolho in the center.
The world was changing, so there was no way an old geezer like him could bring the Blue Guild back to its former glory. Rather, it would make perfect sense for them to sell the guild.
‘Of course, it’ll all come down to money-making.’
Although there would be no combatants left within the guild, the wealth, infrastructures, and Guild House has value.
I had also thought Kim Hyunsung was considering this, so why wouldn’t they think of the same thing? What I couldn’t understand was why Lee Seolho seemed like the mastermind of their group.
‘Does he have some sort of backing system?’
I was almost sure of it. Old people do not take risks. Gambling was more for younger people who wished to live a stable life.
I could almost wager that the only reason these old men were able to hold positions within the Guild was from taking advantage of countless other people’s sacrifices.
If not, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that they were responsible for the rotting of the guild.
When the atmosphere seemed to rise in intensity, Lee Seolho spoke again.
“Please stop it. Other people will also feel frustrated with what you are doing. Jeong-yeon also seems unusually excited today.”
“Master, but…”
“You cannot take administrative officers to a dungeon. The same goes for Lee Seolho. Considering that you are already retired and not in good shape recently, going with you is not a reasonable option. Of course, I know how Jeong-yeon feels. I feel the same way, too. Honestly, I am not happy with what you are both doing right now.”
“Ah…”
“That…”
“Hmm.”
“I couldn’t help it…”
“It wasn’t like this before… It feels embarrassing to show such unprofessionalism in front of Kiyoung and Hyunsung. The Blue Guild I imagined is not like this. Of course, your actions are reasonable. Indeed, you cannot leave the dungeon with the non-combatant army. I also know that your physical condition is not the same as before. Nevertheless… I am really disappointed to see how you are all choosing to express your frustrations. No, in fact, I am most disappointed with my incompetence.”
I knew regret welled up in both opposing parties’ faces upon hearing this. The guilt would not go away unless they volunteered to join. Apart from this, I could also feel Lee Sang-hee’s disappointment. She must have felt like she was abandoning Hyunsung and me from attaining a proper guild experience.
Lee Sang-hee slowly began to look in our direction. I knew what she wanted to say even before she even spoke up.
“Hyunsung and Kiyoung.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes?”
“I really am sorry to take back my previous statement. Would you mind… going on this expedition with us?”
Lee Sang-hee’s voice trembled, and she had resorted to bowing her head. Tears had even begun to pile up in her eyes.
‘This situation definitely does call for a change of mind.’
If this happened a month ago, she would never have allowed us to come along with them.
‘That’s why.’
Anyway, it seemed that we still had a chance of surviving, even with just 60 plus stats and a third job. I knew Lee Sang-hee had taken this into account, which was why she changed her mind.
I understood the urgency. This was the worst situation the Blue Guild has ever experienced, and we’d need all the manpower we could get, even if we were collectively lacking. We didn’t even know if anyone from the missing parties would still be alive once we got there.
I could understand why she was willing to take every opportunity she could get.
Kim Hyunsung’s answer to Lee Sang-hee’s heartfelt request was obvious.
“Of course.”
I had to smile at his response.
“Thank you,” Sang-hee remarked.
“We have to do what we have to do,” Hyunsung added.
Lee Sang-hee nodded and spoke again.
“Then, I shall prepare for the dispatching of the rescue team. We will immediately leave for the expedition.”
“Yes, that’s noted.”
“So, it stands. The second and seventh units shall go with me. Please get ready as soon as possible. We will leave in as early as half an hour.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“For those who shall remain in the guild, please meet with the other guilds, including the Red Mercenaries. Please send a backup to the expedition as soon as contact has been made.”
“Of course.”
“Seolho…”
Lee Sang-hee called out and shifted her attention to Lee Seolho.
“Yes, Lee Sang-hee?” Seolho asked.
“I hope you don’t disappoint me. And… I’ll choose to believe in you,” Sang-hee remarked.
The old geezer was quick to respond in a seemingly sincere tone.
“I will repay your faith, Lee Sang-hee. As soon as we get in touch with other guilds, reinforcements will come your way.
“Thank you.”
At this, Lee Sang-hee ran out, not wanting to delay any further. Hwang Jeong-Yeon followed suit, and even the administrative members moved with a sense of urgency. Kim Hyunsung and I did the same.
After coming down to the first floor, I witnessed the rest of our party members already assembled. Seeing as Sun Hee-young had taken the initiative to be in charge, it seemed that preparations for the expedition didn’t need to be taken care of anymore.
This was the perfect timing for my skills, as I had done more than just prepare for the expedition.
‘What a pity…’
Lee Sang-hee was a good person. However, she was not an ideal leader. To put it simply, I found her way of thinking foolish.
Faith was, of course, a good tool when dealing with great people, for example, like Deok-gun or Baek-Yi.
Lee Sang-hee may have the same feelings for Lee Seolho and his idiotic underlings. However, it didn’t necessarily mean that Seolho would pay tribute to the faith she had given him.
I did not know the source of Lee Sang-hee’s deep faith, but I could take a guess - she had faith in those she had been with for a long time. And she held the belief that even if the guild were in danger of being ruined, they would stay together until the end.
It didn’t matter if I was right or wrong. That kind of belief usually gets shattered by betrayal. In my opinion, these old geezers weren’t different from the poor people that had hurt Sun Hee-young. Their only difference was the fact that they were lucky enough to score a position. They also knew how to step on others to work their way up.
I couldn’t blame them for choosing to use their abilities. However, it just meant they were good at nothing else other than this trickery.
‘Faith is…’
It was an emotion that persisted as long as both parties knew they could still benefit from each other. In the old men’s eyes, they probably couldn’t see any benefits that would come from helping Lee Sang-hee out.
“We shall depart in thirty minutes…”
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing, Hayan.”
“Do you want me to get anything else for you, Oppa?”
“Ah, Hayan. I actually do. Can you get me something?”
“Yeah?”
“I have to run errands right now… I don’t have much time.”
“Sure. Just tell me what you need.”
Kim Ye-ri, who was already looking in my direction with a suspicious expression, began to approach me right after Jung Hayan ran off.
‘Huh. She notices things fast.’
“Can you also run some errands for me?”
She simply nodded her head in response.
“It’ll be of great help to Hyunsung.”
“Okay.”
“Can you give a letter to someone named Lee Ji-hye from the Black Swan Guild?”
“Lee Ji-hye?”
“Yes, Lee Ji-hye. If it’s possible, it’d be better if no one sees you do it. Please don’t try to read it halfway through, either.”
Only
“But…”
“If you say I sent you, they will welcome you. You need to go as soon as possible.”
“Okay…”
She disappeared in an instant. My thoughts were in turmoil at this point. I didn’t even know if I was doing the right thing. However, I knew I was correct to some extent.
Why? One may ask.
Because I knew nothing good would come from putting faith into what I knew were my enemies.
“It’s the perfect timing for some exposure…”
I knew it was necessary to start removing the rotten executives from the guild.