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[Chapter 164]

[Clan Establishment]

What was it that I saw then?

The cultural festival ended.

A recruitment war broke out.

Industry officials who had only been subtly approaching students while watching the academy's reactions now began to approach in earnest.

Of course, they also made recruitment offers to Eun-ha and his friends.

"It was brief, but I feel like I saw the future for a very short moment..."

But Eun-ha almost ignored their recruitment offers.

Large clans that would offer him recruitment had already done so before the recruitment war broke out.

Above all, his recent interest was focused on the match he had with Kang Hyun-chul.

Did I see the future?

It was like that today too.

On the day he returned home for the weekend.

Even while having lunch near home with Han Seo-hyun, Eun-ha's thoughts were elsewhere.

I think I really did see the future.

It seemed to be less than 5 seconds, but...

That day, he had a mysterious experience while facing Kang Hyun-chul in a crisis situation.

The experience of seeing the future as the existing world and another world split from the viewpoint he was looking at.

It was the effect of the gift.

Though he couldn't understand it intellectually, he instinctively realized it was the effect of the gift.

Was not just an ability that increases physical abilities?

To think it could show the future... Then why couldn't I see the future until now even when activating the gift?

An experience that had never happened before even when activating the gift.

Eun-ha, who experienced the hidden effect of the gift for the first time, had been constantly trying to see the future since that day.

But even when barely activating the gift with Shin Seo-young's help, Eun-ha couldn't see the future.

It seems some conditions need to be met to see the future...

What on earth are those conditions?

This is why dealing with an unknown gift is so difficult.

There's no choice but to verify through trial and error one by one.

So Eun-ha's mind had been elsewhere recently.

And as if she couldn't stand it anymore, Han Seo-hyun opened her mouth─.

"─You called me to meet, but it seems you're not very interested in me. If being with me is so boring, let's just finish eating and part ways."

"...!"

With a sneer.

She glanced at Eun-ha.

Eun-ha who finally came to his senses quickly grabbed Han Seo-hyun's hand on the table.

"Why."

"I was just thinking about what to do after eating. How can being with you be boring?"

"...I'll let it slide even though you're lying."

Eun-ha shook his head vigorously.

Fortunately, he calmed her mood and sighed in relief.

Soon he spoke.

"─I know a cafe, so let's go there and talk. About how to establish the clan."

☆

He decided to establish a clan.

But even after deciding, Eun-ha wasn't able to make any notable preparations.

Though he learned about it in class before, there's so much complicated work to do...

It wasn't a method that could be finished in a day by just forming a party and reporting to a nearby Mana Management Organization branch.

Clan establishment could be done after receiving permission from the Mana Management Organization headquarters.

At this time, the clan founder needed to have their own capital and appropriate people like clan sub-lords, administrators, advisors, etc.

Also, they needed to secure land to build a clan hall in the area that would become their base of operations.

More complicatedly, they needed to get permission in advance from the district office for what purpose they would use the land.

There was so much other work that had to be processed too.

"If you're going to be active from around next March, you should finish everything before this year ends."

"...Don't you just need to submit the things that need to be submitted?"

"Are you not considering the time for those people to process the work?"

"But even so, several months..."

"It takes that long because those people have to process other work while doing your work too, not just your work. Since it's early December now, you should finish everything within a month at least."

"...Can't Sirius Group's power somehow simplify the procedures or time taken for procedures a bit?"

"If I ask father, he could have it processed within 1 month or 2 weeks. But we should finish within a month just in case something happens."

"Ugh..."

Eun-ha who moved to a cafe after lunch showed Seo-hyun the documents needed to establish a clan.

Most were blank.

So it didn't take her long to look at the documents.

"We'll have to start over from the beginning."

"..."

Han Seo-hyun who put down the documents on the table saying words like a death sentence.

Eun-ha made a disgusted expression.

Then she said─.

"─Why are you making that face? I'll do all the work, not you."

"Please do. Thank you so much."

Han Seo-hyun crossed her legs.

She tapped Eun-ha's knee with the toe of her shoe.

Eun-ha finally relaxed his expression.

"But you know."

"Yeah, what?"

"You'll need some capital to establish a clan, so what are you going to do? Let's put that aside... What are you thinking of doing about the land and building needed to build the clan hall?"

"..."

"You haven't thought about it, right?"

"Of course I've thought about it."

A very practical question.

Eun-ha who received her question made a sour expression for a moment.

Then he rolled his eyes.

"I have money I've saved up until now too."

"How much?"

Eun-ha had been saving money with mana stones he had gradually collected.

It wasn't a large amount.

But there was no problem using it as initial capital for the clan.

In the first place, you just needed to have over 1 million won as initial capital.

The problem was the money needed to build the clan hall.

"...So I was thinking of asking father to lend me some."

"You ungrateful child."

"..."

Father has quite a lot of money.

Eun-ha awkwardly told her about receiving help from his father.

Then she stabbed a dagger into his chest.

"Is there any need to establish a clan with your money or your father's money? You can get a loan from a bank, or receive sponsorship from a business group, right?"

"I thought about that too..."

Han Seo-hyun's point was correct.

Eun-ha groaned and leaned back in his chair.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought about what she said.

But─.

"─If we do that, we'll be handing over a leash to the side lending money."

"You don't have to think of it that way. If it's just lending without buying shares, or if you receive sponsorship with conditions set in advance, isn't that solving the issue?"

"But you never know. They might not interfere at first, but they could interfere later. And I'm uncomfortable with the idea of creating my clan with other people's money."

A clan he can do as he wishes.

Eun-ha was determined to create a clan that wouldn't be interfered with by anyone or anything.

So the thought of creating a clan while in debt made him uneasy somewhere.

Han Seo-hyun nodded as if understanding his feelings.

"Still, people usually don't use all their own money to do business."

"I know that too..."

"And it's not just about creating a clan. You'll need to pay attention to marketing the clan too, and make contracts with companies to buy potions cheaply, and find an exclusive workshop to make devices or artifacts, right?"

"..."

Han Seo-hyun pointed out specifically.

Eun-ha felt dazed listening to what she was saying.

Creating a clan wasn't the work, the work was after creating the clan.

"The administrator will handle that well..."

"How much will I be able to do when the clan doesn't have much money?"

"Ugh... Then what should I do? Should I ask dad for more money? Or should I steal from Do-jun?"

"What's the use of having a lot of money? Are you going to buy potions or devices or artifacts at full price? You need to induce buying them cheaply. It would be even better to provide welfare benefits for clan members if possible."

"So what should I do..."

"So I think it would be better to receive a group's sponsorship if establishing a clan."

"Receiving a group's sponsorship..."

Eun-ha fell into thought.

It wasn't a bad proposal.

If he received sponsorship from a business group, the range of choices the clan could make would increase even without building up achievements.

The problem was─.

─Those bastards will try to put on a leash using money as an excuse at any opportunity.

He could end up becoming a dog of the sponsoring group if he made a mistake.

Of course, the group and clan could move towards a symbiotic relationship.

If both sides made concessions.

But Eun-ha had no intention of making concessions.

It was then.

"Unfortunately, it will be difficult to receive sponsorship from groups within the top 10 in business. They each have clans they fully sponsor so it could catch the Fairy government's eye, and even if you receive it, you won't get equal treatment to existing clans."

"That's true. Most groups already have exclusive clans..."

"But strangely─."

As if it was really strange just then.

No, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Han Seo-hyun raised the corners of her mouth.

She opened her mouth.

"─By coincidence, Sirius Group can be said to be in a state of not having a clan they fully sponsor yet."

"..."

"There used to be Changhae Clan, but as you know, Changhae Clan was disbanded after the Uijeongbu recapture battle."

Han Seo-hyun cuts the cake with her fork.

She put cake in the mouth of Eun-ha who was lost in thought as if hit on the head with a hammer.

Eun-ha was deep in thought while eating the cake she gave him.

As Han Seo-hyun said, Sirius Group currently didn't have an exclusive clan.

This was because an S-rank clan that didn't receive sponsorship from other groups to replace Changhae Clan had been continuously absent in the eyes of Sirius Group, the 2nd ranked business group.

"Not having an exclusive clan has been a chronic problem for Sirius Group until now. So father has even thought about creating a clan at the group level like KK or Donghae Group."

"..."

"But the results weren't very good, so in the end they were pursuing a strategy of increasing quantity over quality by sponsoring A-rank clans."

"..."

"But for Sirius to rise to 1st place in business, an exclusive clan is absolutely necessary. Of course, an S-rank clan that won't be inferior to other groups."

Well, how lucky, he thought.

Eun-ha thought as he looked at Han Seo-hyun smiling at him.

How can it be so exquisitely.

Just when Sirius Group has no exclusive clan.

"I think the clan you create will be able to be promoted to S-rank. No, I'm certain of it."

"..."

"I'm saying this because I'm a person of Sirius Group, but don't you think you and Sirius Group could form a perfect partner relationship?"

Receiving Sirius Group's sponsorship.

Eun-ha agreed with Han Seo-hyun's proposal.

If receiving sponsorship from a business group, where is there a better business group than Sirius Group?

But the problem still remained.

"It's good to receive Sirius Group's sponsorship. But your father and sister could end up interfering, right?"

"You're worrying about something that won't happen. Do you think the group will interfere when your father is there?"

"Won't your group interfere even if Sirius Group's shares make up a considerable portion of my clan's shares?"

"It's not impossible. Alright, then let's do this."

If he received Sirius Group's sponsorship, about half of the clan's shares could go to the group.

If that happened, the authority Eun-ha held in his hands would only be half.

When he brought that up.

She took out a pen and paper from her handbag as if she had expected this.

"The reason you're worried is ultimately because the clan's share structure will be divided between you and Sirius. So from your position, even if it's good now, you can't help but feel wary of Sirius Group as a potential threat to your position someday."

"You're right. I don't think I can feel at ease while receiving sponsorship."

"It would be tiring for you to have to pay attention to internal enemies while dealing with external enemies."

Eun-ha stared intently at the paper where Han Seo-hyun had drawn a circle.

Half had his name written, half had Sirius Group's name written.

Then she drew one more circle below.

"Then how about expanding the game bigger and bringing in other groups?"

"What?"

"Make them keep each other in check, eliminating opportunities to interfere with you. So they engage in psychological warfare among themselves without you having to tiredly pay attention."

"Is it still an exclusive clan if receiving sponsorship from other groups too?"

"Groups that already have exclusive clans can't have more exclusive clans, but that doesn't mean they can't sponsor at all. And it's just a matter of Sirius Group having more shares than other groups for it to be an exclusive clan."

"Hmm..."

"There are two benefits you can gain from bringing in other groups. One is that you can receive benefits from companies related to the sponsoring groups. And the other is─."

She divided the circle into small pieces.

She wrote Noh Eun-ha on one piece and wrote 40% next to it.

Then she wrote Sirius and 30% on another piece.

Next, she wrote Alice, Luminous, and Yeongwon on three pieces and wrote 10% next to each.

"─Other groups can keep Sirius Group in check. Sirius Group probably thinks you'll definitely receive their sponsorship, and thinks they have the upper hand."

"Hmm..."

"So bring in other groups and show that we don't particularly need Sirius Group's sponsorship. Does the person in debt necessarily have to be in the weaker position? In a way, isn't this no different from them investing in the clan you'll create?"

"...That's true."

"And it's an investment with guaranteed high returns. Rather, it's a situation where Sirius Group should be begging to let them buy shares by giving you money."

"Hmm..."

"When it's just you and Sirius Group, it might degenerate into a simple debtor-creditor relationship, but from the moment you bring in other groups, it becomes an investment relationship."

It was difficult talk.

Eun-ha could only nod, swept up in Han Seo-hyun's eloquence.

But still─.

─This noona is using the expression 'we' for the clan I'll create, not Sirius Group.

Does that mean she has awareness as an administrator, not a person of Sirius Group?

Eun-ha liked how Han Seo-hyun seemed to have attachment to the clan he would create.

So he couldn't be suspicious.

Eventually, after hearing all her explanation, he pointed at the circle with his finger.

"But you know."

"Tell me."

"It's good to split the shares like this. But what if the other groups unite and side with Sirius? Won't I end up facing 60% of the shares with four mouths instead?"

"Good question."

"...What is it?"

"Why?"

"No, somehow the feeling..."

"I don't know what it is, but it's your imagination."

"It doesn't seem like imagination..."

"It's imagination."

As if he had fallen for it.

Han Seo-hyun smiled.

At that moment, Eun-ha felt like he had fallen for her seeing her smile.

No, he felt déjà vu.

What is this? It feels like something similar happened before...

It's somehow strange.

Eun-ha made an uneasy face.

But she answered him without minding.

"It's very simple."

Han Seo-hyun said next─.

"─You marry me."

"...!!"

Han Seo-hyun giggled.

Noh Eun-ha was dumbfounded.

☆

"─Though I won't succeed my father, that doesn't mean I don't have shares in Sirius Group."

Han Seo-hyun's shocking solution.

She soon told her thoughts to the dumbfounded Eun-ha.

To summarize, it was simple.

If Sirius Group tries to interfere with the clan he will create.

Then Han Seo-hyun said she would shake up Sirius Group with her own group shares.

Even if it's a very small share, she said it could surely exert enough influence to annoy Sirius Group.

She added.

"So you're saying we should get married?"

"If I'm a person of Sirius Group, you won't be able to trust what I say, right? So if we become a married couple, you'll be able to trust me. Furthermore, if we become a married couple, it means you become a person of Sirius Group and can interfere in Sirius's management."

"Even so... How can you suggest marriage?"

"Marriage is a more certain contract and transaction than any other contract. You're marrying me to get what you want, and I'm proposing marriage because I want something from you too, that's all."

"What you want? What is it?"

A persuasive story.

Nevertheless, he couldn't readily agree to her proposal.

Because it seemed like Han Seo-hyun was proceeding with business using her body as collateral.

Then Han Seo-hyun said─.

"─As I said before, I want to live freely. But as long as I'm a person of Sirius Group, there's a limit to the freedom given to me."

"So you'll escape restrictions by marrying me? What kind of nonsense is that? Isn't marriage a constraint?"

"Marriage is another constraint. But don't you like me?"

"..."

"If you don't like me. Then can't we accept marriage purely as a business arrangement? Then would it be a constraint? We won't harm each other, and we can live the lives we want, right?"

"Even so..."

"It's just an extension of our engagement. Why are you thinking of it so burdensome?"

How is this an extension of engagement?

Eun-ha was dumbfounded.

But what she was saying wasn't unreasonable.

It was an attractive deal.

Even so─.

─Even though I said I didn't like this noona when we got engaged, isn't she taking me too lightly?

What if I develop feelings, no, that's not it...

Isn't she taking marriage too lightly?

It was a crucible of confusion.

Eun-ha couldn't help but sigh seeing her show such a triumphant attitude.

"You're not hesitating because you're thinking of someone else, are you?"

"...It's not that..."

Eun-ha couldn't say confidently.

He spoke in a small voice.

She smiled slightly.

"Then isn't it settled? You have no grounds to refuse, right?"

"That's true but... Ah, how should I say this? What if by chance you..."

"You don't need to think that by chance I might fall in love with someone."

"Ugh..."

"Or are you worried about when you fall in love with someone? By then we'll already be married so you can't marry that person."

"..."

"If you're thinking about that, don't worry. I absolutely won't give you a divorce because I don't want to go back to Sirius Group, but I won't care if you make a harem or whatever as long as it doesn't cause problems for my reputation."

"Geez..."

It's like prepared lines.

Hearing Han Seo-hyun's words.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue.

What is this? What on earth is this?

Why do I feel like I'm getting more and more entangled?

Han Seo-hyun is proposing marriage so confidently.

Eun-ha lost his composure in this unexpected situation.

In a way, she was the first to make him like this.

This is really annoying.

I don't think I've ever been this annoyed even by the twins' pranks...

So confident.

And overflowing with self-assurance.

Listening to her words, Eun-ha somehow felt like he should do it.

Then Eun-ha noticed.

She's embarrassed right now too?

Now that I look closely, she's not looking straight into my eyes.

It wasn't noticeable unless looking carefully.

But her gaze was directed near me, not at me.

She's pretending to be confident on the outside, but her eyes were clearly shaking.

"Why are you hesitating so much? You're so indecisive for someone who faced even a Twelve Zodiac. Can you properly lead a clan like that?"

"..."

She's pretending not to be.

But her voice seems to be trembling too.

No, it is trembling.

Eun-ha was certain.

Sometimes, this noona is really dangerous.

She shows me these kinds of faces while not showing them to others.

She really plays with people.

Eun-ha discovered her change, and the corners of his mouth rose without realizing.

Strangely, he felt like his hesitation was disappearing.

Moreover, he felt truly pathetic for showing such an indecisive appearance.

Eun-ha decided to respond to Han Seo-hyun's provocation that wasn't a provocation.

"─Alright, fine. Let's do it, let's get married."

"...You thought well, really."

If you're going to pretend it's nothing.

I'll do the same.

Pretending to be reluctant and having no choice.

And as if it's purely a transaction.

Half willingly, half unwillingly.

Eun-ha fell into Han Seo-hyun's trap.