42 - 48

Chapter 42. Trade and Alliance (1)

Editor:

Translator: Leyy

Kang Chul In went back to Earth through the warp gate as soon as he recovered.

"Please be swift. I, Lucia, will wait for my lord."

Lucia saw him out.

Laputa's most trusted advisers were too busy executing Kang Chul-In's "Special orders". They had to accomplish all of their given orders before he came back.

"It's going to be around 2 weeks."

"That is too long."

"My hands are tied. I have business back home."

"I am afraid that I might wither to death while waiting for you my lord."

"..."

"Please remember that I am waiting for you and hurry back."

Lucia looked like as if she was in such despair; she looked like a puppy who lost its master.

'I really don't understand why she acts like this recently.'

Kang Chul In could not get used to Lucia's change after the hunt. He also thought that he was not like her.

Think about it.

167cm, cup size well kver size D, a skinny waist, broad pelvis, and nice thighs. Lucia was a merciless glamor who easily out-ranked other females.

And her face?

She had sharp eyes as well as glasses, making her a 'cool beauty', which reminded people of a strict professional woman. There wasn't a woman who's cute puppy form couldn't go as well as she is now.

"…Well, I will have to come back once the business is over. I did order some things to be done, so I won't be gone long."

"You should do so."

"I will."

He stood at the warp gate with a huge sack on his back.

There were all sorts of items and trading good samples between the Earth and Pangea. His plan was to proceed a trading business after consulting with Old Man Kwon on the items in the bag. Money? He would be able to buy a private jet after a year.

"Please take care of the land."

"Do not worry, my lord."

Then, he went through the warp gate to head to Earth.

As soon as he arrived, Kang Chul-In went to the parking lot and opened the hood of a Mustang and loaded his cargo. The cargo, which included gold and other things, easily exceeded 100kg.

"The meat."

Realizing that there was something missing, he pulled out a neatly wrapped sack of meat.

It was the meat of peacock dragon.

Needless to say, it was not an ordinary cut of meat.

The meat he brought with him was the equivalent of neck chain of a cow and there was only 3kg of it in the gigantic body of a peacock dragon, so it was a very rare meat.

'I do have to fulfill the duty of a son.'

He was to bring the meat to his mother.

A peacock dragon's meat had a special effect.

Anti-aging, increase of immune system, the increase of strength, fuel energy, etc. The meat's worth was more than a common restorative. No, the meat of peacock dragon could be the best restorative there is.

It was different from the unverified health food where it was impossible to know the benefits other than the gossips around it. The effect took place after a couple of pieces of the meat. This was the real deal.

'And for Old Man Kwon.'

He also had the meat for Old Man Kwon.

It wasn't as good as the neck chain, but it was a good cut.

Old Man Kwon was going to be his business partner, so it was better in many ways for him to restore his youth.

After placing the meat separately, Kang Chul-in drove the Mustang to Bucheon. He was going to present the meat to his mother before anything.

Vroom-!!

The 2020 Ford Mustang Coupe 5.0L GT made a huge sound before taking off.

'It is time to get a new car. I will have to move too.'

As the fund grew, he started to think of moving and getting a new car. It was nonsense for a lord to live in a small studio of 33 m2.

And the Mustang… It was a great car, but it wasn't a car for a lord. He wasn't going to sell it but was going to keep it as a collection. One of his previous hobbies were collecting cars.

While heading to Bucheon, he turned on the radio.

As always, he watched newspapers, TV and listened to the radio to ease the gap between the two places, just after he comes back.

- Now, foreign affair news. The young heir of the Rothschild family, Alex Rothschild, has announced that he is

a dimension traveler. It is reported that Mr. Alex Rothschild has shown the ability to use psychic powers in front of many of the Hollywood's celebrities.

The very first news on the radio was that of a very unpleasant one. Kang Chul In frowned.

He changed the channel. It was better to listen to a cheesy radio station that to listen to the news of the Rothschilds.

- The government announced to postpone the restriction against animals and plants brought from the other world.

He didn't actually change the channel to a music station.

- The High-level adventurer Mr. Lee Sang Deuk subdued a trio of gangsters who became adventurers. Mr. Lee Sang Deuk usually…

The world was changing.

'The market will grow.'

Kang Chul In thought of the near future.

Thanks to the growing trade between the Earth and Pangea, the Republic of Korea entered into a record-breaking economic boom. Needless to say, that the man who made that possible was Kang Chul In. The world was calm before the storm, and the fire was in its smallest state, yet.

Kang Chul In turned on his iPhone as he got closer to Bucheon. He wanted to call his mother as well as see the missed call he had.

Missed call: Mother (7)

Missed call: Park Doo-sik(3)

Missed call: Old Man Kwon (1)

7 missed calls from mother, 3 from Park Doo Sik and 1 from Old Man Kwon. It was not bad considering he was out of Earth for a month. But… There was one who left him hundreds of calls.

Missed call: Assistant Manager Lee Chae-Rin (287)

Lee Chae-Rin, the lord with the abundance skill.

He checked the time stamp.

"...?"

The last call was from 30 minutes ago. She must have called him over a week like this.

He turned on the mobile messenger application to see why she was trying to reach him.

Lee Chae Rin: Mr. Chul In. I have decided to live like a lord!

Lee Chae Rin: Are you busy?

Lee Chae Rin: Are you still in Pangea?

Lee Chae Rin: Let's meet when you come back! I haven't forgotten about that talk last time. I hope we can keep a good relationship as partners.

…(omit)…

The messages from a week ago looked fine. But the content of the message started to become a bit worrisome.

Lee Chae-rin: Mr. Chul-in… Your phone is still off. Would you please call me back when you come back?

Lee Chae-rin: I can't reach you today too…

Lee Chae-rin: Mr. Chul-in…

Lee Chae-rin: Are you going to be out for long?

Lee Chae-rin: Help me… Mr. Chul-in, please help me… If you see this message, please call me as soon as possible…

He could feel the desperation from the messages. He couldn't know the scale of the trouble that she was in, which made her this desperate. It was clear that something had happened.

Just then.

He was receiving a phone call and the screen showed the name 'Assistant Manager Lee Chae-rin'. The call came as soon as he turned on the phone.

"This is Kang Chul In speaking."

He answered.

-.. Mr. Chul-in?

Lee Chae-rin's voice was trembling over the phone.

"Yes, it's me."

- I've been waiting… for you…

"…..?"

- Can we meet? Where are you? I'll be there.

She sounded desperate. A person on top of the edge of a mountain will sound like that.

"I can't at the moment."

But Kang Chul In refused her request.

It was time to serve his mother some good food. No matter how bad others need his time, that couldn't come before his family.

"I'm on my way home. Let me call you back tonight. I don't have any batteries left too.."

- I'm in Bucheon!

"...?"

- I thought you would go to meet your parents when you come back… I'm in a hotel in Bucheon. I remembered that your mother works in Bucheon local market so…

"..."

She was very desperate after all. So desperate enough for her to pack up and wait nearby.

- Please give me a call when you are done.

"..."

- Please meet me. I… I need you, Mr. Chul In…

Her attitude made him wonder why.

"It is not that difficult to meet you."

Kang Chul In remembered what he said to her when they met before.

"But I will only help you when you really want to live like a lord."

"Really?"

"I won't spoon-feed you, but yes."

He had even said this.

"I will end it here. Think about it and if you think you are ready to live as a lord, then call me. Then I will think and treat you like one."

"Ok…"

It is said that a man must keep one's word.

Kang Chul In promised Lee Chae Rin that he would help her once she made up her mind to live as one. And She wanted to live as one.

Now, Lee Chae Rin was begging him to meet her. Because he gave his word, he felt obliged to grant her request.

Even so, there was a possibility that she might become spoiled if he helped her without any hesitation. No wonder people say that if a favor continues, the recipient thinks that it is their right. He had to be picky about it in the beginning.

'Fine, I will meet you.'

Kang Chul In decided to meet Lee Chae Rin. A thought crossed his mind. He thought of a 'reasonable reason to grant her wish' so he thought this will be an ideal deal for both of them. He also needed her as she did of him.

But before that…

"Ms. Chae Rin."

He said.

"Didn't you told me that you were going to live a life of a lord?"

He had to make sure of the things that bothered him.

- I did… yes.

"Then you will have to fix your attitude first. A lord is never servile, nor they beg of other's favors. Even if they want something from another, they will have to mask their real intentions and make the opponent to do it for them. That is the foundation of being a lord. Your actions only remind me of the Assistant Manager Lee Chae-Rin, not a lord."

- ...

Kang Chul In's words made her speechless.

"I wouldn't even meet you in other circumstances. A na?ve lord is nothing but a prey for other stronger lords. Like how the lions never talk to the deer."

- ...

"This is the last chance. If you show the same attitude as today in the future… Then that will be the end of our relationship. If you want to talk to me as one lord to another, you have to show it to me with your attitude."

- I'm sorry.. no. I will. I will keep in mind what you have told me, Mr. Chul In.

Her voice recovered slightly from before. She seems to realize the position of a lord from Kang Chul In's advice.

"Let's meet now."

Finally, Kang Chul In told the very words that Lee Chae Rin wanted to hear the most.

- Re…Really?

"But, before that."

- ...

"There is one condition."

- Anything. Anything is conditions will be heard if I can meet you, Mr. Kang Chul In."

"Are you good at roasting meat?"

- Meat?

Because of this unexpected question, one could hear Lee Chae-rin's startled voice.

Chapter 43. Trade and Alliance (2)

Editor:

Translator: Leyy

Kang Chul-In had no intention of meeting Lee Chae-rin for free.

If she wanted to meet him this bad then, there must be a reason or she wanted to depend on him so badly.

If Lee Chae-rin was a commoner, it wasn't a problem, but she was a lord, which made him act colder against her. That is why he had to set a term on this meeting, even if that was a minor thing. And that term was… roasting meat.

Yes.

Kang Chul-In had no talent in cooking meat or in preparing a nice meal.

How was he supposed to respect his parents if he was not good at these things? He had to use whatever was available, and that was Lee Chae-rin.

"Son."

Park Sun-ja called Kang Chul-In in the most subtle way.

"Where did you meet her?"

"We used to work together."

"Did you notice that she's so bubbly and pretty? I guess she would be a perfect fit for my son's bride, don't you think? Oh my… I would like to have her as a daughter-in-law this instant."

Park Sun-ja's eyes were locked on Lee Chae-rin who was washing the vegetables at the sink.

"It's not like that."

Kang Chul-In shook his head.

"You may know her as a close friend. We are not involved romantically in any way."

"But still. I hope you try, ok?"

"..."

He did not answer.

'At least there won't be any mention of blind dates anymore.'

He felt relief.

'Funny, how this tedious problem can be a burden.'

Kang Chul-In could not believe the difference between the lord Kang Chul-in, and the Kang Chul-in in front of his mother.

He had no intention whatsoever to tell her about his status and position as Lord.

He was a bad son to her in the past.

He was so into money and power that he was neglecting his one and only blood family in this world. A son who could only send his mother thousands of dollars but never show up for 10 years. He had to feel guilty on his actions.

"Mother, it is ready. Please sit here."

The dinner was set and Lee Chae-rin led Park Sun-ja to the table with an amiable attitude.

"I told you to just sit here, you shouldn't have done anything!"

"No. Mr. Chul In's mother is my mother too, so how could I just simply accept the dinner table? Don't think about it and sit here."

"Oh~ you adorable one."

"Please, sit here~"

The two women were having such a nice time. Kang Chul-In was the only one who could not get used to this atmosphere. What would Lucia think if his merciless strong lord was in this situation…

'But… It is not a bad deal.'

Even if he could not be used to the scene, he was satisfied by the deal he made with Lee Chae-rin, as he looked at his smiling mother.

He set his term to meet his mother, set a dinner table and cook the meat for her instead of him. Also, he asked her to hint as if they were seeing each other.

If was also a big lie to his mother, but it was a reasonable choice.

After losing her husband Kang-Han in the early stages of marriage, Park Sun-ja wanted nothing more than having Kang Chul-in start his own family.

Maybe it was an obvious thing.

For the Kang family, there wasn't a lot of cousins and the ones who were there were trouble. They caused stress and act worse than a neighbor. That is why Park Sun-jan wanted to have a daughter-in-law and a grandchild.

The thing is, Kang Chul-In didn't want to date someone, nor go on blind dates. That was why his mother was so keen on this subject.

So, the only option that he could think of was, to put Lee Chae-rin before him, giving his mother false hope and escape the deadly marriage pressure. He had used Lee Chae-rin is a shield against this deadly pressure.

At least she wouldn't mention it for another few months then.

How knew? He might actually have a girlfriend by then.

"What kind of meat is it?"

Tasking the well-cooked peacock dragon meat, Park Sun-ja was surprised.

"Son, where did you get this? Is it something I've never tasted before?"

Of course, it was a meat of a dragon, so she would never have tasted before.

"It's bear meat."

He gave an excuse.

"I went to Japan and the owner there gave me bear meat… It's supposed to be a special type of meat so, I brought it for you.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"This is delicious… but why aren't you eating?"

"I don't like it… There are some people who like it and not. If it's ok, please have some more."

"But still… You should try some."

"I'm ok."

It was a meat for Park Sun-ja so, he wouldn't eat a piece. Lee Chae-rin also did not touch the meet.

"Phew!"

Park Sun-ja sighed after finishing the meal.

"Why is it so hot in here?

She was flapping her hands as if the meat was working.

"Ms. Chae-rin, please stay with my son. I feel like I'm burning, so I want to go outside. I guess that bear meat really worked. Why do I feel so good?"

She should be.

Eating a peacock dragon's meat is like the neck chain of a cow. So, she wouldn't be able to feel sick for a good 1, 2 years.

"I'll be back, my son. Spend a little time with this young lady, will you? Have a good time! Ok~??"

She hurried off after leaving some hint in her words. She must have liked Lee Chae-rin so much.

'I should get her a good artifact.'

Kang Chul-In saw the back of his mother and thought of items that could protect her, that was at least over the Unique level. If he got her something like a ring or an earring, 2, 3 of them will be able to protect her from any harm.

Lee Chae-rin was struggling to start a conversation.

"Let's talk, shall we?"

Kang Chul-In started.

"No, let's talk. Lord Lee Chae-rin."

She startled a bit to the change of the tone of his voice, but she realized that he was addressing her as a lord, so she accepted it.

"Ok, lord Kang Chul-In."

She nodded.

The two talked on the roof of Kang Chul-In's house. This was to prepare from when Park Sun-ja coming in without a warning.

"Help me."

She spoke bluntly.

"Help with what?"

He answered in short.

"Anything."

"Anything?"

"I am under attack."

"Already… Well, that could happen."

He realized that her land was located in the same Pandemonium region. Kang Chul-In held his face with great stress.

'Crazy Bastards.'

While the lords of the mainland were all concentrating on the inside, the lords of the outskirts of Pandemonium region was starting a war already. This could only be explained by the sanity of their leaders.

'As I thought. The reason why I don't know Lee Chae-rin.'

Now he knew why she could not show up during the Lord Union meeting.

She already lost.

The longest she could survive was probably until right before the first Lord Union meeting on 25th December 2012. She would be stripped off of her title before then… Or worst, be killed by the other lords.

"So."

He continued.

"How am I supposed to help you?"

"That is…"

She hesitated.

After listening to him over the phone, it was clear that she was trying to express herself as a lord.

"If you are trying to act like a lord at this point, it is too late. Just tell me. This will not be done in a day."

Kang Chul-In smirked. She already begged to him. There was no dignity to be protected.

"Send… Send me the supporting army. You are a lord too. If you send me the troops…"

"I decline."

He cut the conversation sharp, declining Lee Chae-rin's request.

"If what you want is a supporting troop, then there is nothing to be discussed further. It is a waste of time."

"Why? You said you'll help!"

"I can give you personal advises of help. But sending troops is a different matter."

It was.

Simple help and sending an army was completely different in scale.

A War is not a joke.

Asking for a troop was not to be said even as a joke. Even if Kang Chul-In wanted to help her, he had to put things straight.

"Lord Lee Chae-rin."

He looked at her straight into her eyes. Clear to the point.

"Think about it. The meaning of asking for troops."

"..."

"Is there a reason why my people have to spill their blood to protect you and your land? Of course, they will die for you if I give the right orders. But where is the meaning in that? Have you ever thought about the blood my people will have to spill because of your request?"

"..."

His cold answer made her freeze. She didn't expect him to decline the request like this.

"Mr. Chul-In."

But she didn't give up.

"I'm not asking without a price."

This showed how desperate she was.

"Let's make a deal."

She finally showed her side of the card.

"Deal?"

"I will pay for the troops you send me."

"What kind of payment?"

"I have a lot of money. A lot."

"Then why don't you buy troops with your own money?"

"That.. is not that easy. To be honest, even if I have the money, I can't win this war."

There must be a reason for this.

Otherwise, the equation of [Money = troops] should have worked. Like the politician and father of the Latin language, Cicero said 'A War's never-ending engine is the infinite fund.'

"So, you will give me money if I send the troops?"

"Yes, please."

"Fearless, you are."

"...?"

"There is almost no interaction between the lords and you are here asking me to welcome my troops to your land. I don't know why you would say that in this kind of situation."

"What… do you mean?"

"A bloodless victory, and betrayal."

"…!"

"It's only going to take about 30 minutes to get to the headquarters. Then your head will be paraded on top of the castle wall and I will take your land as a whole. No aftermath. Nobody is looking over you and me, so there is no need to make a valid reason for it, don't you think?"

"How can you be so cruel…!"

"Don't act na?ve. A lord's enemy is a Lord. You can always be betrayed by the one that you believed the most. That is a lord."

His words were harsh but right. What would you do about it? That was the life of a lord.

"Are… you going to do so? Will you pretend to help me and march in with your soldiers, cutting my head off? Taking everything that I have?"

Her voice trembled. How she sobbed while saying these words was so pitiful that most of the men would become soft.

"If necessary, yes."

But Kang Chul-In was not one of those men.

"...!"

"But… I would look over this if that person is the one who helped a clueless newbie."

He thought of the old days with Lee Chae-rin.

There was one woman who looked after Kang Chul-In, while he was working for a human garbage, psychotic bastard boss. It was over 10 years ago, but thinking about it, he at least had some good impression of Lee Chae-rin.

"So… Will you send the troops?"

She asked as if she was hanging from a cliff.

"Of course not."

He still had no intention of sending the troops. He had his own problems.

Laputa's army was only about 100 men. He had no treasury to back him up to buy units or expand the land.

What if he landed the troops and other lords attacked?

Thanks to the dragon-safe buff, there might not be another dragon, but what if another kind of monster attacked?

"Then… That will not happen. I understand now. How you feel."

"Understand what?"

"Aren't you saying that you will not send me troops? I need those troops. If you can't send me them, then I have no business with you anymore. Huh… It is my fault. I tried to lean on you. I'm sorry, to show such a disappointing side of me…"

Her tears dropped as she spoke those words. The tears looked frozen after being swept by the cold winter night's breeze.

"Too fast. It is too soon."

He spoke.

"What.. do you mean?"

"Don't you think that there is a way, even if I did not send you those troops?"

"...!"

Lee Chae-rin eyes lit up, as a ray of hope shined on her..

Chapter 44. Deal and Alliance (3)

Editor:

Translator: Leyy

"I'd like to hear more of the story."

He needed to know what situation Lee Chae-Rin was in. Only then would he either decide to make a deal or help.

"Shall we go somewhere else?"

"That would be good."

"We could go to my hotel room. It is a good place to chat in private."

"Let's go."

The two moved to the Hotel Koryo in Bucheon, where Lee Chae-Rin was staying. Rooftop wasn't a suitable place to conduct a discussion between a Lord and a queen.

Lee Chae-Rin's room was the presidential suite. She was said to have a lot of money, and certainly, the room was fit for a queen with wealth.

"Would you like a drink?"

Perhaps, due to being emotionally tormented, as soon as Lee Chae-Rin entered the room, she took a bottle of Hennessy PARDIS.

"Not a fan of cognac."

After replying that way, Kang Chul-In called room service.

"Single Malt, the most expensive one."

Kang Chul-In preferred whiskey.

"First, let me share the mini-map. It will make our discussion easier."

"Can the mini-map be shared, too?"

"Of course. Did your assistant not inform you that?"

"There are so many things that I don't know….."

"Use this time as a learning opportunity."

Kang Chul-In turned on the [mini-map], which was the lower menu in the map menu.

"This is my mini-map. Centering my territory, it marks the miniaturized terrain features of all the places that I have surveyed. My location is at the west end of the Pandemonium region, which is a remote region of the frontier."

Kang Chul-In explained.

"Your mini-map."

"Yes."

Lee Chae-Rin turned on the mini-map.

"Share mini-map."

As both recited the command, their mini-maps overlapped with each other and the location information was shared.

"This thing also works…."

"Quiet."

Kang Chul-In cut off Lee Chae-Rin's exclaiming appreciation.

"I'll take a look."

While Lee Chae-Rin took a sip of the cognac, Kang Chul-In's eyes swiftly scanned the shared map.

'It's close to me. The area is about 50km away from the south east end of the Dark Forest… This green dot is Lee Chae-Rin's territory. To both sides… red dots, they are other Lord's territories. It's unfavorably sandwiched in between, not good, but… there is no need for a territorial war yet. Why is that, why?'

Every conflict has a reason, there could be smoke from a chimney even if there wasn't a fire, but there is no war without reason.

'With Lee Chae-Rin's economic might, there was no reason for her to be in such a dire state of mind just because a Lord was launching an attack. It's more accurate to assume that she is being hit by both Lords from the two sides… How did both sides come to attack her… Wait.'

While he was thinking, something significant came into Kang Chul-In's eyes.

"This."

"Yes?"

"Is it because of this mine?"

"…..!"

Lee Chae-Rin was flabbergasted. Just by scanning a simple mini-map once, he had accurately analyzed the situation that she was in, so she was obviously surprised by that.

"H-How did you…"

However, Lee Chae-Rin could not continue. It was because, right at that time, Kang Chul-In moved away as the room service came to the door.

'Who is he… It is strange that a person has changed, but how someone become like this…'

Fixing her eyes on the back of Kang Chul-In, Lee Chae-Rin was filled with odd, mixed emotions.

This was only appropriate.

If someone, who didn't talk much, but very kind to others, had at one moment become a cold hearted emperor, anyone would consider it strange.

"As you were saying, do continue."

Kang Chul-In poured whiskey into the glass filled with ice.

"After drinking a sip."

"Ok."

Facing each other, the man and the woman held their respective whiskey and cognac in their glasses.

"My conclusion is this."

Quickly emptying his glass and putting the mini-map on the table, Kang Chul-In pointed his finger to Lee Chae-Rin's territory, in the shared mini-map.

"Next to the territory, this mountain. Although I'm not sure what kind of mountain this is, but I'm sure that this is a mine, where precious resources are being mined."

"That's right."

"And these two bastards."

Kang Chul-In's fingers touched the other two Lords' territories at the northwest and east of Lee Chae-Rin's region.

"The two of them formed an alliance and are going after your mine."

"Is that… all visible to you?"

Lee Chae-Rin was in awe.

Anyone could have simply guessed that she was under the attack of the two allied Lords, but a random person would not be able to pinpoint the reason behind it as accurately as was done.

"Your response and mini-map. With those two things, it isn't that hard to demonstrate this level of insight."

"Huuuu… it is a very difficult idea to me."

"It's an obvious situation."

"…..?"

"It is easy to have a discerning perspective, after having lived a tough life to just survive. You're just not used to it yet, it's not that you are foolish."

"I-I see…."

"Anyhow."

Kang Chul-In stopped at that point to take another sip of whiskey, before continuing.

"What I honestly feel is that… it doesn't make any sense."

"…..!"

"No matter what the two's special abilities and their troop combinations are like, it isn't too difficult for someone with the ability of 'wealth' like you to defend against three Lords at once."

"Uh, how could you say something that makes no sense at all…!"

"Why doesn't it make sense? Just by purchasing some military and having them placed at the enemy camp would have prevented the situation from getting this difficult. Even by simply leading the battles to a war of attrition, the winner in the end will be you with your wealth, not those two bastards."

In the past, Kang Chul-In had a teeth gnashing experience against the Gulveig Alliance's great economic power and the enormous output of that economic power. He knew the ridiculous power of wealth better than anyone else.

"Then there can be two conclusions in the end. First, the condition is not

ripe for a war of attrition, or the enemy Lords have some special powers… if not that…"

Kang Chul-In fiercely stared at Lee Chae-Rin.

"The mine has been lost and in order to reclaim it, siege warfare is being carried out. It is being carried out against a foe with a far superior position, thus reclaiming he mine is impossible, no matter however many military units are sacrificed."

"To think that you've even guessed that…"

Lee Chae-Rin acknowledged immediately.

"If you have already lost the mine, you could cut it off cleanly, give it up and by focusing on protecting your palace, you can sustain for a while. Why are you obsessed with the mine? Is the mine more important than your own life?"

"At this rate, your life is at their mercy. Either lose your head, or lose the title of a queen. There is no doubt you'll be ruined. Lee Chae-Rin, give up the mine."

Kang Chul-In spoke of the predetermined outcome.

If he does not interfere, Lee Chae-Rin's life will pass as he has just predicted.

Perhaps… The Lee Chae-Rin, of previous life, did not give up that mine. Therefore, she couldn't have attended the first Lords' meetings.

"It is wise to give up at this juncture. With wealth, even without that mine, there would be no issue with running a territory."

Kang Chul-In advised.

"I… I… too… want to do that."

Unexpectedly, a strange response came from Lee Chae-Rin.

"That mine, I don't need it either. If they want it, I can always hand it over to them."

"…..?"

It was hard to understand why she was struggling so much for such a mine, unnecessary mine, a mine that can be given away.

"Your words and actions do not synch up. Why do you obsessively spending military for something that can just be given up?"

"It's not my will."

"…..!"

At that moment, an expression of astonishment appeared in Kang Chul-In's eyes.

'What is this ridiculous…'

Not by her will?

It did not make any sense. It wasn't even laughable.

The full authority over a territory certainly belongs to the Lord. It is a sacred and inviolable domain that no one else can intrude upon. Who would dare meddle with the Lord's authority?

It was not comprehensible.

It was more so to Kang Chul-In, who had strong pride in belonging to the class of Lord.

Who would dare?

Kang Chul-In was certain that he would either behead or even to take it a step further, hand down a punishment of physical dismemberment (by tying the guilty to horses for drawing and quartering, or being broken on the wheel) to those who would dare to intrude on his authority.

"I need an explanation."

Kang Chul-In urged Lee Chae-Rin.

"It does not make sense at all."

Then Lee Chae-Rin poured another glass of cognac and drank it roughly, before speaking.

"It is the will of my subordinates and the citizens of the territory."

"…..?"

"The name of the mountain is Nidavellir, besides the tombs of the dwarfs that make up the 60% of the territory's population, it is a gold mine at the same time and precious stones are mined there as well. If I were to live as the queen…, I must reclaim that area."

The significances of the mine with respect to monetary and symbolic values were enormous beyond his thought.

"…Is that so."

Kang Chul-In could finally understand the situation that Lee Chae-Rin was in.

It was a mutiny, in which the Lord was being dragged by the dwarven residents of the territory.

The details of the story were too long to hear. Furthermore, more accurate assessment could be made after a personal visit, rather than getting the story from Lee Chae-Rin. Thus, putting off the discussion of the whole story to a later time in Pangaea, for now, a decision was made to informally negotiate the terms of the deal.

"It is not a problem that can be resolved with simple assistance. It is an issue to be dealt with from one Lord to another Lord."

Any issues that must be discussed must be dealt first before proceeding.

"I understand. It's not an easy problem."

Lee Chae-Rin nodded her head.

"I, too, consider this dealing with Kang Chul-In, the Lord, rather than Kang Chul-In that I know."

"The discussion should be easier since you understand that."

"Of course."

"There will follow a formal contract, but the basic outline is this. I help you to overcome the difficulty that you are in and in return, you will make payments to me. That is the terms of the contract."

"Agreed."

Kang Chul-In shook his head.

"Making deals with me is costly."

"I'm already at the edge of a cliff. If I can overcome my situation, I am prepared to offer you anything that you want."

Having determined to live as a Lord, Lee Chae-Rin strongly stated her own volition to overcome this difficulty at any cost.

"Then."

Downing the whiskey, Kang Chul-In spoke.

"The work will begin after 1 week. Within a month, I will eliminate the two bastards, reclaim Nidavellir and return stability of the territory back to you. In return, my condition is a 30% payment of all the goods mined from the mine for the next 5 years."

It was certainly expensive.

Nidavellir Mountain was not only a gold mine, but also the place where the warp stones, which is the substance needed for the warp gate from Pangaea to Earth, are mined.

A 30% share for the next 5 years from an enormously valuable mine would come to billions."

'That would be the required minimum.'

However, Kang Chul-In certainly did not think this requirement was excessive.

It went beyond just assisting Lee Chae-Rin to overcome her difficulties; it would save her life as well.

Furthermore, by helping her, as the loss of his time would be massive as well, he needed to recover it.

Kang Chul-In's one month was on a different scale than other Lords. Since he had reincarnated, one month time would allow him unimaginable profits. As he was using such precious time in helping Lee Chae-Rin, he needed to be paid at least that much.

As a matter of fact, 30% amount was very fair. Even if 80% requirement was called, Lee Chae-Rin would have accepted it under these circumstances.

Kang Chul-In was very considerate for not stabbing her on her back based on the intel. The debt he had in the past, he was determined to pay it back in this way.

"Agreed."

Lee Chae-Rin readily accepted Kang Chul-In's proposal. In addition, she took a step further.

"I have one more condition to add."

"Speak."

"Be my ally for the next 10 years. Although I have money, I do not have the ability to utilize them. Perhaps, my capability is specialized in domestic management."

That was true.

As Kang Chul-In was weak in domestic management although he was a peerless general, so demonstrating strong domestic management abilities, it was unavoidable for Lee Chae-Rin to have shortcomings in military skills.

"If you agree to become my ally, I will add 10% and give you 40% for the next 10 years, not 5 years. Such terms, isn't it something that would benefit the both of us?"

It was a rather forthcoming proposal, but also very logical and shrewd one as well.

"It's not bad."

A small subtle smile came to Kang Chul-In's lips.

"At least, you know how to deal like a Lord."

"Is…that so?"

Lee Chae-Rin spoke and suddenly thought that Kang Chul-In's cold-hearted posture may not be 100% sincere.

'Perhaps… is he attempting to teach me?'

It appeared that was so after a careful deliberation. All words that Kang Chul-In spoke would become her food and nutrition.

The words that were spoken before the subject of the mine came up,

'Do not thoughtlessly request for reinforcements, do not readily trust other Lords, reinforcements are not the only solution', etc… looking back, they were the words that led her to open her immature eyes and make prudent decisions.

It was a lesson in the harsh form of 'hear and learn according to your own ability', but Lee Chae-Rin came to understand the meaning behind those words.

Further, when she demonstrated audaciousness, a subtle smile appeared around Kang Chul-In's mouth as well?

'I see… Chul-In… you have not forgotten me. Thank you, Chul-In.'

Her hardened heart has melted like snow.

Lee Chae-Rin felt appreciative towards Kang Chul-In, but did not show it. It was because she knew that Kang Chul-In's lesson has not ended. At least until this deal was completed.

"Chul-In."

Lee Chae-Rin extended her hand out.

"From now on, we are allies. I am glad to form an alliance with you Kang Chul-in, the Lord."

"I, too."

Kang Chul-In grabbed Lee Chae-Rin's hand.

"I'd like to show a sign of gratitude."

"…..?"

"Trade."

Lee Chae-Rin recited a command.

"Gold coin, give, 2000 gold, Kang Chul-In, the Lord."

Then, 2000 gold coins were transferred from Lee Chae-Rin's inventory to Kang Chul-In's inventory. Nearly 800 million won worth of gold coins were transferred without anything in return. Although looking a bit immature, Lee Chae-Rin also held the capacity for decisive action, worthy of a Lord.

"Consider it a down payment. For the strength of our alliance."

Lee Chae-Rin smiled widely.

"I will accept in gratitude, I shall use it well."

Kang Chul-In also smiled. No one would dislike when someone gives you money, especially when showing such a level of appreciation at that.

"However…,"

Lee Chae-Rin spoke as if she was curious about something.

"What is your plan, how you will help me, Chul-In?"

"I am going straight for the roots."

How was he going to help?

Kang Chul-In was not interested in disclosing how he would help her at this time. He wanted to show it to her in person.

Chapter 45. Businessman Kang Chul-In

Editor:

Translator: Leyy

Lee Chae-rin decided to return to the Pangaea continent first and wait for Kang Chul-in there.

5 days later.

After making an excuse of having a vacation, Kang Chul-in spent lots of time with his mother. After that, he the met old man Kwon before deciding to meet Lee Chae-rin again. It was to discuss the trade going on between Pangaea continent and Earth.

"Soon, my territory's economy will be able to grow."

While heading to Yongsan (a place in Seoul), Kang Chul-in thought of the contract he had made with Lee Chae-rin with his eyes shining.

The contract was wonderful.

It was beneficial to both sides, and even Lee Chae-rin was right when she said they would both be happy with it.

It was good for her as she would gain the protection of Kang Chul-in, and it was good for him as his economic might would increase. It was time for the immense synergy of both economic and military might.

Since he was so broke, he couldn't even use his 'cosmic force' ability. Instead of expanding his territory or buying units, he had to spend his precious money on hunting the Peacock Dragons.

But by being able to solve this request well, he would be able to aim for total domination of the Eastern Plains. Dominating the Pandemonium region. This was Kang Chul-in's number one priority right now.

"Hey, its you! Good thing you came. Kuhahaha."

Old man Kwon was greeting him as if they hadn't met for 30 years.

"You disgust me."

He waved his hands.

"What is a dying old man like you doing."

He hated men who stuck close to him like that.

"It's because I'm so happy and thankful! Because of the ring that you gave me last time, I was able to win the Seniors University Tennis competition.

"… You go to a senior's university?

"Since I regretted how I spent my youth, I've been going since year."

"This shouldn't be the school term though?"

"Kuku! For old and dying people like us, there's no such thing as a school term or a vacation. It's just that we're bored and that we want to go out. It's always like that when you're old."

Although it was a sad and bitter tale, it seemed as if old man Kwon seemed to be happy about going to the university.

"Let's get to business."

Of course, Kang Chul-in didn't really care what old man Kwon did in his leisure time.

"Yeah, I think that we will be able to officially become partners from today."

Old man Kwon's eyes were full of hope and expectations.

The dimension travellers as well as the items from the Pangaea continent were receiving attention from all over the world. He had no choice but to put his hope onto Kang Chul-in.

"Before that…"

Before they discussed terms, Kang Chul-in decided to tell old man Kwon his requests and terms. It was like the basics of cooperation.

"Well, say it quickly. I'm getting dizzy because you aren't saying anything. Are you going to take responsibility if I die because of that?"

"Well, that's your fate, not mine. There are many businessmen out there."

Kang Chul-in responded casually.

"Hmph. Are you really going to pull that on a senior like me?"

"Well, I would be able to do much worse things to a criminal."

"… Okay, name your terms."

Old man Kwon decided to give up.

"I need a house and a car."

"A house and a car?"

"It would be much better if it's a manor, but it's not easy to get those kind of houses in Seoul. And it has to be bigger than 100 square meters. Make it in Seocho (another district in Seoul) if possible. Well, since I won't be living there for long, it doesn't really matter."

"Hmm… That's not very hard. I have spare mansions, I'll lend you those. But why a car? The one that you ride right now, isn't it a Ford Mustang? It's not a bad car. Why, did you get ignored by someone riding a Lamborghini?"

Old man kwon seemed to know some things about cars.

"Ignored? Haha."

Kang Chul-in burst out laughing.

"It's a hobby."

"Collecting cars? Ha. That's a very expensive hobby… you are quite extravagant."

"So, what car do you want then? For example, an Aston Martin?"

"Tell James Bond to ride something like that. Those cars are for gangsters, as well as psychos."

"Wh-What makes you think that? Aston Martin is a perfect fusion of a Sedan and a sportscar. There are no other cars that can express a young gentleman like Aston Martin! Those cars are perfect with suits."

"I just don't really like them."

Kang Chul-in's tastes were quite straightforward. Although he didn't really know why, he just didn't like Aston Martins.

"Well…Since you yourself don't like it, there's no choice. Just tell me what you want."

Old man Kwon said so with a crestfallen expression.

"Jaguar, F type Coupe."

"Hmm… Jaguar F type… You really know how to look at cars. How about the model year?

"Make it a 2013 one if possible. And then color has to be black."

"And of course…"

"5000 cc."

"Of course, if you're a man, you need 5000 cc."

"The house and the car, both within 3 hours. As well as moving my baggage. For the mustang, tell one of your underlings to move it to the new house."

"Sigh… All within 3 hours."

"I don't like rent or lease."

"…."

Kang Chul-in's ridiculous requests made him unable to speak, but he didn't disagree to them nonetheless.

Although it would be tiring, it wasn't impossible. They didn't call Old man Kwon 'The King of the Underworld' for nothing after all. And Kang Chul-in knew this.

"Manager Oh."

"Yes boss."

"Did you hear him? 3 hours."

"I'll start immediately."

Manager oh started

moving with his precise movements and took Kang Chul-in's car and drove off outside.

"Now, are you satisfied?"

"Let's begin then."

Kang Chul-in nodded his head and took out a huge bag and dropped in on the table with a loud BANG.

"I brought a lot of items that can be mass produced and found easily. Today we will discuss what we will use."

"Hmm…It really wasn't a waste of money buying a jaguar for you. Good, let's talk."

"Here."

After holding the bag up, he flipped it upside down, making the contents of the bag all fall down. WIth a sound making one think of a domino, a bunch of items from the Pangaea continent all fell down at once.

"Oh? Are these all items with special abilities?"

"Of course. For example… this is the 'Blinding Ring'.

Kang Chul-in took out a white ring from the bag.

"The 'blinding ring'?"

"It blinds the enemy for 3 seconds perfectly. Although it isn't of much use against monsters, I think it could be effective for self protection."

"How do you use it?"

"Like this."

Is what Kang Chul-in said before putting on his right index finger and pointed at one of old man Kwon's underlings.

'FLASH!'

It seemed as if white sparks flew.

"Arghh…"

The underling of his started to grab his face and roll on the ground in pain.

"MY EYES!"

The only bad thing that the underling did was catch Kang Chul-in's eyes. He became a lab rat because of that. No wonder why they called him a gangster.

"Y-you…"

"There are no side or after effects. Well, isn't it best experiencing something first-hand?"

Although old man Kwon was extremely surprised, Kang Chul-in said it off-handedly. After 3 seconds, the underling seemed to regain his sight and felt confused.

"Hmm… It really is effective, but I think it's a bit over the top."

"Well, I think they are better than using Gas Guns for self defense.

"You are right… But the only good thing about this country is copying and taking. Since guns, swords and other weapons are banned here, the government would try their damnedest to take it from us. No matter whether it has any way to kill or not."

Although he sold guns to the Chinese and japanese criminal syndicates, it was something sensibile coming from Old man Kwon.

"Well, there really was some problems that came from that in the past."

Kang Chul-in thought of the things that happened in his past life after Old man Kwon brought the topic of selling up.

It was too early.

He needed more time.

As the spec and power of the dimension travellers rose, the item's ranks would go up and the government's intervention would grow weaker as well.

Now was not the time to take the world by storm.

"Then another one."

He had brought a variety of items. Although some weren't items used for attacking, there probably was something here that could be mass produced.

The conversation grew longer.

"What's this?"

"Hmm… Not this."

"It's too expensive."

"There would be problems if you sold this."

There were many discussions going on.

"What's this? Is this for drinking or for applying on the skin?"

Old man Kwon took out a flask that contained a milkish liquid inside and shook it.

"It seems to look like 'that'. Are you sure this is not a drug?"

Kang Chul-in knew what old man Kwon was thinking.

Old man Kwon probably thought what was inside was something similar to propofol (a drug that you inject in your body to get high). It was fitting of someone that was known as the King of the Underworld.

"Ha. The way you think."

He smirked.

"Some people can only see some things."

"Eh hem. Kuhum."

Old man Kwon started making fake coughs with an embarrassed face.

"This is a liquid extracted from the Talking Tree."

Kang Chul-in explained.

"Talking tree? Extraction?"

"As I said, it's a liquid taken from the Talking Tree."

"What is the Talking Tree?"

"It's literally a tree that talks."

"… Unbelievable."

"It's not that it talks because they have thoughts. Just that they read the brain waves of the nearby humans. After that, they can talk so people decided to call it the Talking Tree."

"Ooh. The pangaea continent truly has many things. Fascinating… What does this liquid do then?"

"You can learn languages."

"What?!"

Old man Kwon's body shaked.

"A-are you serious? Talk about in more detail."

"After you drink this liquid and you think of a language, it's like data about that language coming into your body. If you drink one every day, you would be able to learn one language within a week. If it's something many people speak, like Chinese or English, it would only take around 3-4 days."

"This is it! It's this!"

".....?"

"Let's do it with this!"

"Is this really that good?"

"Of course! Korea is the haven of academy as well as education. Things like TOEIC (english test for international countries) cause people to spend a bunch of money on it. With this, we would be able to earn a bunch of money!"

".....!"

From the talking of Old man Kwon, Kang Chul-in seems to understand something too.

Yes.

South Korea really was the haven of education. It was a country where people went into serious debt and risked the future to let their children get better education. By selling the liquid in a country like this, they would be able to dominate the education market in not just Korea, but other countries to.

"And there are no need to worry about the regulations either. If it's good for their children's education, Korean parents would make their children eat whatever. If the government try to regulate this, they would taste some of their own medicine. Kukuku."

Old man Kwon spoke as if he had already achieved his dream.

"I will create an academy. I will allow the students to drink this liquid and make a curriculum for them!"

"As well as a business for adventurers."

"Yes, that's right! Now I understand what you are truly talking about. This business is truly one that will let the goose lay the gold egg! There are infinite possibilities that can branch out from this! By using this extracted liquid as a signal flare in order to gain the people's trust, it would be easier when selling new items."

"This is just the beginning. Old man, you don't need to try and rush."

"There will be regulations. Although the plan of the academy is great, there will be regulations and rules made against it."

Yes, he was right.

It would be a fight. A tough and long fight.

But that was obvious. Living light itself was like participating in a cruel battlefield.

It was a society of infinite battles.

The second you were out of your mother's womb, it was a competition, a competition against all odds.

Starting from primary school was a fight of grades, until fighting for salary when they were adults, a fight to gain a job after college. Especially Korea in the 2020s was an era where the competition was very ruthless.

In an era like this, they had to wage war in anyway possible.

"I will help you." Kang Chul-in said.

"However, I won't do absolutely everything. This is not my fight, but yours. The one controlling this business will be you, not me."

Kang Chul-in's fight was in the pangaea continent. He had no time waging war against the civilians of earth.

"Your words, I understand them well."

Old man Kwon took his wrinkled fists and gripped them hard.

"Just leave it to me. I will succeed."

"Of course you will. If you fail…"

"You will immediately switch partners."

"You know me well."

"Looking at you, I think of my elder brother of yesteryear, when he had yet to pass."

"...?'

Old man Kwon started talking about the past.

"He was not just a businessman, but an emperor. He had more charisma than anyone, and was absolutely strict in management. I know what you are going to do to me if I fail. But I also know how you will treat me if we succeed."

Talking about it, old man Kwon said.

"Thank you."

"....?"

"From this conversation, I can tell how our future business relationship and business will be like. With this, I truly will be able to leave the underworld and clean up. My dream will finally come true. For letting me escape my fate of being a criminal, thank you."

Kang Chul-in didn't respond. He didn't know much about these kind of conversations after all.

"Eat this meat later."

He handed some of the peacock dragon's meat to old man Kwon.

"What is this? Is it steak? Are you trying to revitalize this old man?"

"It's dragon meat."

"...!"

"It's good for your health. Don't eat things like Ginseng or Viagra, and eat this instead."

"I don't eat Viagra…. Yet…"

Old man Kwon tried to make an excuse, when Kang Chul-in's phone started ringing and saw that there was a message from Park Doo-sik.

"....!"

But the face of Kang Chul-in's face turned stiff when he saw the message.

Chapter 46: Kwak-jung is dead?

Editor:

Translator: Leyy

"Old man, I'll give you the liquid for the Talking Tree within two months. We'll talk in more detail later."

Kang Chul-in stood up.

"W-where are you going?"

"I have something that I need to do."

"Hmm… okay. Well, I'll start getting prepared for that."

"I'm leaving now."

"Wait!"

Old man kwon grabbed Kang Chul-in.

"Let me go, I'm busy."

Kang Chul-in coldly snapped out, and pushed Old man Kwon's arm off of him.

"Your car!"

"Ah…"

"The Jaguar you asked for is still coming here…"

"Give me a car key, anything is fine."

"Then use this."

Since Kang Chul-in was in a hurry, Old man Kwon handed his own car key over to him.

"A porsche?"

"Yep, the best there is."

"… This old guy…"

Startled, Kang Chul-in started mumbling to himself.

"Age doesn't matter. To a man, his car, suit, and watch is key."

"...."

"Well then, you should get going. I will put your new house's location on your phone, so put it there later. I'll also put the Mustang and Jaguar. Also, is this truly enough to show my sincerity for you?"

"It's definitely enough. Thanks, old man. "

Kang Chul-in said something that was truly rare coming from him, he thanked someone.

Old man Kwon was right, a car was really something important to a man. He knew what it meant, lending a car key over to someone else. At least, Kang Chul-in did.

"I'm leaving."

Kang Chul-in hurriedly left Old man Kwon's office.

And… 1 hour later, Old man Kwon felt his strength from his prime coming back, and reminisced of his glorious past.

After eating the meat from the Peacock Dragon, he felt as if he got at least 10 years younger.

"Kukuku, I might even get another child from this. Hahahaha."

Old man Kwon's opinion of Kang Chul-in rose even more.

Startlingly, Old man Kwon's car was a Porsche 911 boxster, and was even a convertible. For a man that was 80 years old, he truly had some good tastes.

'VROOM'

Kang Chul-in immediately started heading towards Park Doo-sik's office.

Although feeling the F6 engine was something someone wouldn't be able to experience often, he had no time to feel the enjoyment.

"Kwak-jung."

Kang Chul-in read the message that Doo-sik left for him. This is what it said:

Park Doo-sik: Big boss, I think I've found him, but something's off. If you read the message, please contact me as soon as possible.

Although he felt anxious when it said something was off, he started off immediately when he heard that they had found a lead.

'BOOM!'

As soon as Kang Chul-in arrived at Doo-sik's office, he broke the door open. It wasn't intentional, but the door broke due to his immense strenght.

"W-what?"

"Get your weapons out!"

"Big boss, big boss!"

Doo-Sik's underlings took out their weapons and got ready to fight.

"...?"

Kang Chul-in was very fascinating to look at right now. He thought that they were overreacting for just a broken door.

"You crazy bastards! Aren't you going to put the weapons away immediately? Huh?"

Doo-sik hurriedly came out and stopped his underlings from doing something stupid.

"Sorry, I'm truly sorry, big boss. They're nervous recently because the situation for us isn't very good right now. Hey, you bastards! What are you doing? Apologize quickly!"

After recognizing that it was Kang Chul-in, some of the gangster's faces turned pale, and did a 90 degree bow.

"I'm sorry, big boss!"

"Please forgive me!"

Although Kang Chul-in face turned stiff because of the gangsters, it wasn't really a problem. He had no time to dwell on this matter.

"I'm truly sorry."

Doo-sik apologized again.

"Something had happened to our people in Incheon, because of a guy called Black Leopard. Ai, he really is like a ghost. We can't catch him."

Sighing, Kang Chul-in stated: "It truly is difficult trying to eat and stay alive now."

Pangaea was in a war, Old man Kwon was in a war, and even these gangsters were fighting a war to feed themselves and keep themselves alive.

"Anyway, what did you mean by you think you've found him?"

Kang Chul-in directly asked.

"Th-The thing is…. Well, I think it's better if you sit down first…"

Doo-sik's forehead was covered in cold sweat. It seemed like he was afraid of getting beaten up again.

"Just say it. Did you manage to find him?"

"The thing is…."

With his hands trembling, Doo-sik handed Kang Chul-in some documents.

"What's this?"

"Well… 35 years old right now, the man called Kwak-jung who lives in Seoul…"

Listening to Doo-sik talking with his year, he skimmed through the documents with his eyes. And while reading, his eyes suddenly widened. These documents…

"He died last summer from a car crash."

It was his birth certificate, as well his details of death.

…..!

What kind of bullshi* was this?

Kwak-jung was dead?

Last summer, before Kang Chul-in had even come back with the Soul Backup (reviving)?

No, everything that Doo-sik brought to him was not facts, but utter nonsense. This nonsense truly incurred Kang Chul-in's temper, as he fought to calm himself down.

"No."

He threw away the documents that Doo-sik had handed him earlier.

"N-no?"

"Long story short, this isn't him."

The Kwak-jung that Kang Chul-in knew worked under a Lord that was part of the Gulveig alliance until he died of lung cancer at the age of

38.

But it was currently 2021, and Kwak-jung was only 35. He should still be working as an adventurer. He should be roaming around some dungeons at this point.

"Look again."

Kang Chul-in shook his head.

"T-The thing is…"

"Do you have more things to say?"

"Big boss…"

"Just say it."

"Every policeman, government working. They helped us. Not only Seoul, we searched other areas too."

"Not only that, we looked at criminals with the name of Kwak-jung. There was one living in prison, as well as a maths teacher named Kwak-jung. But there was none that was 35 years old this year, who smokes."

"Go on."

"Yes, boss."

After drinking some coffee, Kang Chul-in signaled with his hands to continue.

"Although I'm not very smart, I'm not too stupid either. I used my brain too. If what big boss said was right, and that there was a Kwak-jung that smoked, we found him."

"Yeah? Continue."

"So we hurried to a non-smoking clinic to find him, and found a dead Kwak-jung."

...!

"The dead Kwak-jung had gotten nicotine patches to stop his addiction. It seemed like he was a serious smoker after looking through his details."

"Still no."

When he said no, it truly was not.

"Although it makes sense why you think it is this Kwak-jung, the Kwak-jung I'm looking for is alive, not dead."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm certain."

"Sigh, I'm sorry then. There was too little information…"

"No, well done. At least you got something."

Listening to Doo-sik's story, he could truly feel that Doo-sik had worked hard in order to locate Kwak-jung, so he consoled him.

"You there."

Kang Chul-in pointed at one of Doo-sik's underlings, and handed a card to him.

"Take out 3000 (equivalent to 30,000 dollars)."

"Th-Thank you!"

"A-are you continuing?"

"Of course."

"If he's not in Seoul or anywhere near Seoul, try looking anywhere in Korea. The price doesn't matter to me. "

"Y-yes sir. I will try calling as much centres as possible."

"I like your attitude. Oh, I have one more piece of information."

"I-information? Wow, that would really be helpful."

"It seems like Kwak-jung has become an adventurer in the Pangaea continent."

…..!

"It looks like the search will become much easier now! Thank you, sir."

Doo-sik's face countenance brightened, it truly would be much easier to find an adventurer. Since there wasn't that much adventurers, he could look through communities and look for them more easily.

Lucia, Old man Kwon, and even Doo-sik now. Kang Chul-in felt like he didn't need to do that much work nowadays, and felt a little bit uncomfortable.

"Big boss, it seems like you need to leave soon. Black Leopard, we don't know when that guy will strike."

"Is that so?"

"Although Black Leopard isn't worth anything to Big Boss, doesn't Big Boss dislike a commotion?"

"Don't you think it'd be better if I was here though?"

"Ahh, what do you mean? How could we ask for Big Boss's help? We aren't that kind of gangsters. Not even close."

Kang Chul-in thought that what Doo-sik said was honorable, and was impressed.

"If you have any thoughts, you can quit this job and do something else. I'll introduce you."

"W-what do you mean?"

"Old man Kwon Hyung-woo. Do you know him?"

"W-WHAT?!"

Which gangster wouldn't know the true boss and holder of power over all of Seoul?

Old man Kwon was truly a giant in the underworld business. Someone like Doo-sik wouldn't have a chance to even see his face one.

"I have a business relationship with that old man. There will be a period in time where he will need some manpower. At that time, I'll introduce you to him. How long are you going to be able to feed yourself fistfighting?"

"T-Thank you sir!"

"No, I'm only doing this because I was impressed by you. Keep up the hard work."

"Thank you, thank you, big boss!"

"I'm leaving now. I'll be back in a month."

"Yes, sir! Have a safe…"

It was at this moment.

When Doo-sik was about to do another 90 degree bow to Kang Chul-in, a man suddenly appeared in the office.

"AH!"

"Black Leopard, you bastard!"

As luck would have it, Black Leopard came in coincidentally at this moment.

"Where the hell do you think you are?" is what one of Doo-sik's underlings said before…

'POW!'

… and he fell to the ground, screaming in pain.

"Oh?"

Looking at this, Kang Chul-in's eyes gleamed with interest. This Black Leopard truly had some skill. Although it was just one punch, Kang Chul-in's eyes were sharp.

"You're Park Doo-sik?"

Black Leopard, who seemed around 30, looked at Doo-sik, smirking and smoking his cigar.

How could he look so annoying, although it was a handsome looking face, anyone looking at him would want to beat him up. He truly was not a normal type of human.

"And who the hell are you?"

Black Leopard looked at Kang Chul-in and said.

"Hey Black Leopard. If you touch him, you might as well prepare your funeral. We should talk amongst ourselves." Doo-sik stated.

"Oh, so this guy's the boss of the gang? I thought that the boss of Isu (area name) was you, Park Doo-sik."

"Shut the hell up, you bastard!"

Doo-sik went back to looking intimidating like a gangster, and ran towards Black Leopard with a sinister expression on his face.

"Hmm, that won't work."

Kang Chul-in predicted the outcome of this battle.

"Argh!!!"

As expected, Doo-sik clutched his face in pain from the punch of Black Leopard.

"B-boss!"

"You want a taste of this too?"

"You crazy bastard!"

Looking at their fallen boss, the gangsters of Isu started piling on Black Leopard, wanting to beat him up.

"Still not enough."

Kang Chul-in predicted that this still wouldn't be enough to defeat him.

Fighting a battle with multiple members in a small area wouldn't benefit the gangsters. Not only that, Black Leopard was not a normal fighter.

Footwork, smoothly flowing martial arts, as well as a kick at a decisive moment. Instead of a gangster, Black Leopard resembled a boxing, judo, kickboxing MMA player.

"You f*cker!"

Finally, one of Doo-sik's underlings took out a knife, no longer able to handle the humiliation.

"Hey, hey."

Even though there was a sharp knife in front of him, Black Leopard didn't lose his calm and confidence.

"Using a weapon?"

Out of Black Leopard's hands came out a blackish mist. Surprisingly, Black Leopard wasn't a normal civilian, but someone who knew how to use mana.

"Hmm, an adventurer."

Kang Chul-in looked at this scene in interest.

"You're so f*cked now."

Using mana, Black Leopard started beat up the gangster who took out the knife. It seemed like his specialty was Muay-Thai (a type of martial art).

POW!

PAPOW!

With some satisfying noises…

"ARGH!!!"

"WH-WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME! ARGHHH!!"

"M-MY ARM!!!"

Like leaves, Doo-sik's underlings fell down. It wasn't even 5 minutes. This was the difference between a civilian and a mana user.

"Huuu…"

Smoke filled the office. Black Leopard didn't even stop smoking in the midst of the fight.

"After fighting the guys at Isu, should I take Gangnam (another area), or hmm… Yeongdeungpo

doesn't seem bad either…" Black Leopard mumbled to himself.

It was as if he thought it was a game of hopscotch, where he could take the territory of opponents for fun.

"Oi."

Walking in front of Kang Chul-in now, Black Leopard started staring at him, and spoke.

"Who the hell are you to stand in front of me so arrogantly?"

With a 'Tshhh', the cigar smeared all over the table that Kang Chul-in was sitting in front of.

"Did you say it was Black Leopard? You're not bad."

Smirking, Kang Chul-in complimented him.

"Black Leopard? Sigh. Who the hell gave me this kind of stupid nickname? I have a proper name that's the letters long too (Korean names are typically 3 letters long. Mine is Cho Young-woo.) Oh wait, it's actually two letters."

Saying this, Black Leopard took out a new cigarette and lit it up.

"Huuu, my name is Kwak-jung, not some cheesy and childish name like 'Black Leopard.'"

Chapter 47: Kwak-jung or not?

Editor:

Translator: Leyy

After hearing that the other man's name was Kwak-jung, Kang Chul-in's face turned stiff, like stone.

"Black Leopard… is Kwak-jung?"

First of all, 3 of the 4 things that confirmed that it was Kwak-jung was already checked by him.

Smoker, adventurer, and name. If the guy in front of him was truly 35 years old, the guy in front of him would truly be the Kwak-jung he was looking for.

To think that the Kwak-jung he had been looking for all this time came to him of his own volition? It felt as if someone had tangled the threads of destiny with him and Kwak-jung.

"No way."

Kang Chul-in first thought of the possibility that this man in front of him was truly the Kwak-jung he was looking for.

First of all, the image of a scholar and soldier truly didn't fit the gangster that stood opposite him.

It was like the opposite of Lee Gong-myung.

Fitting the fact that people called him a genius, Lee Gong-myung was able to get in the prestigious Harvard University with a scholarship, that's how smart he was.

Not only that, but his image.

They say that the water you play in changes the man himself, Lee Gong-myung, who played with Alex Rothschild in Harvard University was the epitome of gentleness, as well as being able to stay calm and cool no matter what the situation was.

But a gangster?

The Kwak-jung that was toe to toe with a genius like Lee Gong-myung was a gangster? With a not-so-funny nickname like 'Black Leopard' too?

'No, it can't be.'

Kang Chul-in shook his head.

Out of the population of 51 million, there would surely be other Kwak-jung's that were of age 35.

They had only looked around Seoul. There was a chance that he had moved to Seoul in 2020 too.

"Kwak-jung, huh. How old are you this year?

Kang Chul-in asked just in case.

"Huh, so disrespectful."

Black Leopard gave Kang Chul-in the stink eye.

"Even if you look at me like this, I'm still in my mid thirties, you know. Don't talk to your elders so disrespectfully."

Kang Chul-in was only at his late twenties. In Black Leopard's opinion, of course he was older than Kang Chul-in. It was truly like that too.

"But… you're whatever years old, but you're sitting there talking to me. Doesn't make sense to me. Even though you're definitely under me."

'Black Leopard' Kwak-jung tilted his head.

"Just tell me your age."

Kang Chul-in gave him a grin in response.

And stood up from Doo-sik's chair.

"...!"

And Kang Chul-in started looking down on Kwak-jung. Kang Chul-in was 184cm, and Black Leopard's height was only in the mid 170's. Of course he was looking down on him.

"Huuuu…"

Smoke covered up Kang Chul-in's face.

"Listen here, arrogant pri…"

But as he was talking….

BAM!

Kang Chul-in flipped the table over, and ran towards Kwak-jung.

C-CRACK!

The heavy desk were bashed into smithereens, and the rubble filled up the whole office.

"Kuh…"

'Black Leopard' Kwak-jung was nearly crushed by the impact, and he grabbed his wrist and screamed in pain.

Impaled by wooden shrapnel, Kwak-jung's wrist was bleeding profusely.

"Black Leopard, was it?"

Kang Chul-in took a step forward.

...!

Suddenly, Kwak-jung's face whitened and paled in fear.

'W-who the hell is this guy?'

From head to toe, his whole body was trembling in fear. Even though he wasn't nervous raiding Park Doo-sik's office by himself, he truly was afraid now. It was like he had met a terrifying wild beast.

"Tell. Me. Your. Age."

"Who the hell are you to look down on me!"

Kwak-jung aimed a lowkick at Kang Chul-in's face.

"…..!"

But he struck thin air.

"That quickly?!"

'Black Leopard' Kwak-jung was startled. He had never seen someone dodge his lowkick with such fast, precise movements.

"I guess you just won't listen, huh." muttered Kang Chul-in, as he closed the distance between them.

"....!"

Kwak-jung hurriedly put his guard up, and tried to put distance between him and Kang-Chul in. However…

POW

The second Kwak-jung raised his guard, Kang Chul-in's right hand came in and grabbed Kwak-jung's shoulders.

'Uh oh, I'm falling.'

Was what Kwak-jung thought, as his body unintentionally fell down, drawing a smooth arc.

BOOM

"KUH…"

Kwak-jung's lips were bloodied, as he coughed blood out of his mouth.

"Cough, cough! Cough."

Trying to breathe after the damage to his lungs, Kwak-jung seemed unable to speak properly.

"Speak."

Kang Chul-in stopped on Kwak-jung's throat and spoke imposingly.

"How old are you?"

It was as if he was threatening that he would actually kill Kwak-jung.

"You crazy bastard. Why do you care about how old I am so much?"

Kwak-jung was frustrated. Who would beat up someone to such a state just because they didn't say their age? This was the first time he met someone as peculiar as this.

"As if I would get beaten like this!"

Kwak-jung still didn't give up.

"HA, try to stand up to this." saying this, Kwak-jung pulled up his mana.

The effect of mana was more than just increasing your muscle strength, or increasing your energy output. You could beat someone that you normally couldn't just by using mana. It could reverse

almost any kind of situation.

'Pshh, PSHHHH'

As soon as mana started flowing in his hands, Kwak-jung aimed his left hand towards Kang Chul-in's ankles.

But Kang Chul-in's feet moved quickly. And….

"KUHUK…"

With his ridiculous grip strength, he once again grabbed Kwak-jung's collar.

"Dont."

Kang Chul-in grabbed Kwak-jung and held him up, like a rag doll.

"Test."

And threw Kwak-jung to the ground violently.

Although Kwak-jung screamed…

"My."

Kang Chul-in, who was already pissed off, continued to beat him up.

"Patience."

POW!

One more time…

PAPOW!

Once again…

KAPOW!

And one last time…

"AGHHHHHHHH!!!"

Kwak-jung, who was lying flat on the ground right now, screamed in intense agony.

Mana?

When you fought, you had to choose your opponents wisely. Although his puny mana tricks would work on people like Doo-sik, it definitely wouldn't work on him.

"I ask you one last time."

Kang Chul-in stared at him with a cold light in his eyes.

If he didn't answer hear?

Kwak-jung or not, he wouldn't forgive the monkey that put smoke in front of his face.

"KUK… W-WHY… D-DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MY… HUK!"

Kwak-jung realized. Staring at Kang Chul-in right now, there was no hesitation in his eyes. Kang Chul-in would truly kill him if he didn't tell him his age.

"It's… Thirty… Five."

Kwak-jung finally relented.

"Thirty five, huh. What region of the Pangaea continent do you work?"

"I…"

Kwak-jung opened his mouth.

"East… part of the continent…. Lamacos… Cough."

With a big cough, he spat out blood.

"Uh, uh?!"

Kwak-jung finally couldn't keep his consciousness, and fell to the ground, and fainted.

But Kang Chul-in didn't care about that.

"Kwak-jung, smoker, 35 years old, adventurer."

Everything that he knew about the past Kwak-jung fell perfectly with the man fainted in front of him, and he was agitated because of that.

"… East continent, the lord of Lamacos. Quattro's strategist, Kwak-jung… God f*cking dammit."

As the thought ended, Kang Chul-in headed towards Kwak-jung in a flash.

"Doo-sik." Kang Chul-in called.

"Kuh, yes big boss?"

"You did well."

"....?"

"That bastard is probably the Kwak-jung I was looking for. No, there's a very high chance that he is."

"...!"

Although Doo-sik was very surprised, Kang Chul-in seemed like he didn't care, and called Old man Kwon.

"Yeah, what's the matter? This meat, it's insane! My strength… kukuku."

"I have a request."

"Huh?"

"I beat up a person. I want to treat him quietly, is there a method?"

"Sigh… it hasn't even been that long since you've left, but you already beat some poor guy up? You have a one of a kind personality. But treat him? For that, why don't you just give him one of your potions? I think that would be more effective for those kind of bruises."

"It's not just bruises. I need a precise check up on him, to check whether he has lung cancer or not."

"Lung cancer?"

On the other side of the call, Old man Kwon was surprised. After beating someone up, Kang Chul-in was going to make the other person do a full body check? What the hell was he even saying?

"I need a hospital where he can get treated and checked up. He needs to be locked up, enough so that he wouldn't be able to move a muscle for a month."

If this was the Kwak-jung that Kang Chul-in was looking for, he should be at the beginning stages of the cancer, or the 1st stage of it. But he wanted concrete evidence.

"Hmm… There is a hospital which I have some connections for. Since it's a big hospital, we can have him seperated in a VIP room."

"He's an adventurer."

"WHAT! Well, it seems like locking him up won't be easy then."

"I would lock him up myself if I had time, but I have no time to stick with you guys. I have another promise that I made."

The promise he referred to was naturally with Lee Chae-rin.

The deal he had made was undoubtedly huge. Kang Chul-in had no plans to relinquish either Kwak-jung or that deal.

"10 special forces guards, no. Twenty of them, along with titanium locks to bind him up. Is this enough?"

"For the guards, arm them all with pistols. It doesn't matter if they shoot an arm or leg of him if he resists."

"Got it. Send me your location. I'll send some men immediately."

After ending the call with Old man Kwon, he stared at the fainted Kwak-jung in front of him.

"Did I go overboard?"

"But to think that this guy would be Kwak-jung…"

"Yeah, there's no way he is, right?"

He had one straw of hope left, which was whether the Kwak-jung lying in front of him had cancer or not.

Before that, the 'Black Leopard' in front of him was not Kwak-jung, but someone that had a chance to be Kwak-jung.

To think that someone equal to Lee Gong-myung would be like this. No kind of soldier or reputable general was like…

'Not possible, right?' Kang Chul-in thought.

Soon after, a few famous figures in history flashed past his mind.

'Han-xin.'

Han-xin was a great general, of the Han Dynasty, one of the few that could truly be called the greatest. From a young age, he was an orphan, and had to beg for food, and even faced the humiliation of being beaten up by gangsters.

Compared to him, Kwak-jung wasn't much worse.

'Liu-Bei.'

Another great in history, Liu-Bei was the main character in the whole 3 warring states period, and was also the first emperor of Shu-Han. But there was a period in time when he had to beg for food too.

Yes.

People changed.

Kang Chul-in himself was a poor young man looking for any type of job, looking to earn money in any way possible. Although Kwak-jung was a gangster, there was a chance that he was the Kwak-jung he was looking for.

'Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough.'

At least he had found someone that he suspected was Kwak-jung.

"Doo-sik."

"Yes, Boss."

"Old man Kwon's underlings are coming. Hand Black Leopard over to them. The rest will be up to them."

".....!"

Although Doo-sik was startled when he heard that Old man Kwon's underlings were coming, he soon regained his calm.

"Yes, Boss!"

"Continue what I first told you to. The one in front of me might not be the one I'm looking for."

"Hmm… Can I continue after resting a few days?"

"....?"

"That's fine. I'll see you in a month then."

Kang Chul-in started to move.

"Are you leaving?"

"I have something I need to do."

The deal with Chae-rin was urgent. He had to move to the Pangaea continent immediately in order to meet the time.

———————————————————————————————————————

'Mr. Chul-in, are you coming soon?'

At the date of the promised day, Lee Chae-rin waited urgently for Kang Chul-in to come.

The situation wasn't good. They had spent thousands of their forces to take back Nidavellir, and when they thought their forces weren't enough, their opponents used guerilla tactics in order to ambush some of their men, and were still near them.

If things continued like this, her territory would surely be decimated. If she couldn't manage to deal with these guerilla tactics in a few days, they would have to go all out against them immediately. At least they wouldn't be starved or die of slow, torturous attacks.

It was at that moment.

"Your highness?"

A dwarf that looked tough came before Chae-rin.

You could tell his attitude from the way he spoke; he had no respect for their lord. It was obvious that he didn't really care about their lord.

"Tell me, secretary Sledge."

That's right.

The one treating the lord, Lee Chae-rin disrespectfully was none other than her own secretary.

"There's someone that says he wants to meet you."

"...!"

Lee Chae-rin abruptly stood up from her throne.

Chapter 48: Lee Chae-rin's fury

Editor:

Translator: Leyy

"Then let him in please, secretary Sledge."

Chae-rin had been waiting for Kang Chul-in the whole time, and wanted to meet him badly.

"So you've come."

For her, who was getting attacked by an alliance of two other lords, she was delighted to see that Kang Chul-in had come.

However… there was someone who made the happiness go away…

"Milord, why are you letting an unidentified person come into our territory?"

It was secretary Sledge.

"I'll meet him first, and decide whether he is fit to see you or not. So please wait here."

Even though he was the secretary of Chae-rin, he had no respect for her.

The reason was complicated.

First of all, the dwarves were sexist, and believe that males were greater and more important than females. They had strong and prideful personalities, and would never allow a female ruler to order them around.

So the fact that Chae-rin had chosen this territory was a disaster.

Second, Lee Chae-rin had almost no charisma at all.

Third, to the dwarves, Nidavellir was a sacred place, and even though their Lord opposed trying to take it back, they didn't listen to her.

All the dwarves thought about was taking it back.

In conclusion, all of these factors lead to the dwarves ridiculing and mistreating their own Lord, and had caused a disaster.

'H-how dare you….' thought Chae-rin, as she felt rage boiling inside her.

From the beginning of the great summoning, she was confused, and now all of her pent up feelings felt like they were going to erupt and explode, like a volcano.

Not only that, after hearing from Kang Chul-in the life and ways of a Lord, she felt humiliated and disgusted by the actions that her own secretary, Sledge was taking.

'Calm down, me.' thought Chae-rin, as she fought the urge to punch her secretary in the face.

Right now, secretary Sledge was on the verge on rebelling against her for the territory of Dorado. If she raged right now and managed to irk Sledge, no-one could tell whether he would truly fight back against her.

"Secretary sledge." Closing her eyes, Chae-rin spoke.

"Please speak." Sledge retorted in a disrespectful manner.

"The one that's here right now is someone I know from my hometown. He's not someone to be suspicious of, so you can let him in.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes."

"And how can I trust what milord is saying?"

"...!"

At that moment, Lee Chae-rin felt that all the blood in her body was rushing backwards, and felt that her head was about to explode from anger.

Chae-rin was originally a nice, kind individual, and if she was this mad at Sledge, you could tell that his attitude towards her was absolutely terrible.

"Huuu…" she exhaled loudly.

"Secretary."

"Yes?"

"Do I not have the right to even meet my friends?"

"Of course not. But because milord is uncooperative in taking back Nidavellir, who knows whether you'll bring in an outside force to fight and kill us."

It was as if he thought of her as not their Lord, but an enemy.

"Do you know how to count to 1, but not to 2(It's a korean idiom to express idiocy)?" She tried to be as patient as possible, and not pull out a knife and just stab him in the head.

"Sigh… Are you trying to educate me or something?"

"I'm not trying to educate you or anything. Excuse me, secretary, without me, you can't use or access the shop for the lords. Will you be able to take back Nidavellir then?"

".....!"

"If you don't let him in, I won't supply us with soldiers anymore."

This was the final, trump card that Lee Chae-rin could play.

Although they were disrespectful to her, she was still a lord, and owned the rights to the territory, with her Soul Core.

The golden necklace she was wearing right now was the Soul Core for the territory. Even the secretary couldn't take it away from her.

"Hahaha, using underhanded methods now, are we?" Sledge laughed as if she was saying something ridiculous.

"Milord, if you do that, I have another method."

"Well, if you aren't going to use that method right now, let the man in.

Before I take the Soul Core and head back home."

"Hur hur…"

She was able to win in this discussion. But… Sledge's final words before departing made her heart clench.

"Yes, yes. I will listen to our 'great' leaders orders. After all, what can you even do with one person? Haha, we'll let him in any time of the day."

".....!"

Just one person. This phrase made her heart clench. When he said that he had no thoughts of bringing reinforcements, he had truly come alone.

'Mr. Chul-in, what are you thinking of?'

After making the deal with her, she truly had no idea what he would do by himself. She just wanted to meet him as soon as possible.

Then… someone stepped into the hall.

"I missed you."

There was a man with chains on his belt standing there, smiling at her. It wasn't Kang Chul-in.

"...….!"

As the man saw her eyes widening, he hurriedly sent her some inconspicuous signals. It was then that Chae-rin realized that this was a man, Podolski, was someone that Kang Chul-in had sent.

"Ah, Chae-rin to think that we would meet in somewhere that isn't our hometown. How lovely. Since we didn't meet in a long time, will you allow me a kiss?"

"A kiss?!"

"Haha, I see you're still embarrassed and shy as ever."

Podolski gave her a happy smile and walked towards her in long strides. Then… he kissed her on both of her cheeks.

This was the 'Social Kiss', one that many did in western areas.

Podolski told Lee Chae-rin without moving his lips, a truly hard skill to master.

She was very surprised.

After telling her Kang Chul-in's words rapidly, he put both his arms on her shoulders and spoke while laughing.

"Hahaha. As always, you smell very nice. I can't stop myself from wanting to kiss you, what should I do?"

And as he said that, he leaned in again to kiss her cheeks, and spoke.

With that, Lee Chae-rin finally felt relief.

———————————————————————————————————————

About 8 hours ago.

"Hmm… Adventurers?"

Near the Dorado territory were 30 adventurers doing a sort of customs check.

"Yes, sir."

The man who spoke was 190cm, and had a huge beard, with a bald head. He looked imposingly at the surveyors with his massive, muscular body. This was none other than Billy, who had joined in the hunt for the Peacock Dragon in 'Team Slayers.'

"How did you get here?"

The dwarven surveyor looked at them with an uncomfortable expression.

"I saw the recruitment poster. It seems like the Lord here wants to recruit adventurers to fight for her in the battle?"

"Oh, so you're mercenaries then?"

"I guess."

"Then it's two gold per day, and you'll have to stay in an area that's marked for you guys. Is that clear?"

"Why just that place? I also want to take a look at the Lord who hired us."

"That's not going to work." shouted the dwarf.

"Our lord has no plans on meeting with you guys. If you want to work here, then follow the rules. If not, then GET OUT!"

After receiving the slightly harsh treatment from him, the adventurers felt a bit uncomfortable, but didn't say anything.

"There's no reason to be so mad over that." said Billy to the adv, scratching his bald head.

"Well, I guess not. The only thing that really matters to us is the money. Fine, we'll stay in that area then."

"Good." That dwarf surveyor nodded his head, and after warning them multiple more times, he let them in.

"Oi you guys. Come over here."

A dwarf warrior beckoned them over, and lead them to an isolated area. It was a very small place, with limited space.

"Leader."

The one sitting next to Billy whispered to Kang Chul-in.

"This, is really weird. This is completely different from your area, leader. Those dwarven bastards are so unfriendly, and the way they look at us makes me uncomfortable. Doesn't this mean that Miss. Chae-rin's authority over here is very poor?"

Billy's insight was spot-on.

"You're right."

"This won't be easy then."

"Then we'll make it work."

"Of course, what can't we do with leader here?"

The way that Billy looked at Kang Chul-in was full of trust and admiration. After the hunt for the Peacock Dragon last time, Billy had truly been entranced by how strong Kang Chul-in was.

"Okay, you guys be quiet for now. Let me think."

"Yes, sir."

Billy signaled the others to be quiet, and everyone turned silent.

Dorado itself was brilliant. But the situation couldn't be worse. The tension in the air could be felt.

And even though they were mercenaries, the way they were treated was almost unacceptable.

Although they took money for it, the role of a mercenary was to fight against the enemy. But the fact that the dwarves made sure that they couldn't meet with the person that had hired them was ridiculous.

'They're afraid that she would regain authority by allying with the adventurers against them. How utterly ridiculous.

Kang Chul-in now felt that all this wasn't really Chae-rin's fault, but everyone's collective responsibility.

From the beginning, it was unlucky that there was a female ruler with the dwarves. And for a naive, nice person like Chae-rin, it was obvious that she wouldn't have fought back and intimidate the dwarves.

Of course, if it was him, he would have long beaten up these disrespectful dwarves and shown them their place. But for someone like Chae-rin, this was obviously impossible. He could now see why she asked for his help.

'If I had come here with the army of my territory, they would have disrespected her even more. Wow, it really was a good idea bringing these group of adventurers here instead,' he thought.

A leader that tried to bring in an outer force or power normally didn't last very long. Their endings were very tragic.

Even just for her image, they needed to dodge the nuance of bringing another army here. The fact that he wanted to save the army of Laputa and her situation fell together perfectly.

Not only that, the deal with her stated that he was to help her get out of this situation, and not create a leadership ruled by an outer force.

'Right now, the cleansing of the inner forces are more important. We need authority.'

As expected of an experienced veteran, Kang Chul-in could see what he needed to do first.

He needed to calm the unrest in their forces, before they could even think about fighting the other forces.

There was no way that the war would go well if there was an internal dispute.

Kang Chul-in slowly waited for the night to come, where he could finally converse with Chae-rin.

He could almost smell the stench of blood on his two short swords on his belt.

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