Ch 199
The ability to persuade the other party by guessing or exploiting their weakness with only a piece of information.
Leeha, who sat across the table, wasn’t the clumsy musketeer he used to be.
Seeing Leeha skillfully negotiate with three Hwahong members, Ram Hwayeon, Ram Hwajeong, and Jacheong, in front of him, the corner of Ram Hwayeon’s lips twitched.
One of the ‘main’ reasons why Hwahong wanted Leeha in the first place was because of his close relationship with Shin Nara. And using their relationship with Shin Nara and Leeha as a stepping stone to establishing a connection with Fibiel’s Royal Family!
Jacheong knew about it but kept quiet.
Now, as Leeha had said, this situation was what Hwahong was looking forward to.
“You don’t need to know Nara. Don’t think of playing hard to get, Ram Hwayeon-ssi. In or Out. Just decide that.”
“Hmmm, as Leeha said, there’s definitely an advantage for Hwahong. But there are things to consider.”
Of course, it wasn’t Ram Hwayeon’s style to immediately bite the bait. Ram Hwayeon deliberately frowned and held her chin.
Even if both parties want to negotiate, they need to pretend in order to draw out a lot of things. It would have been possible if Ram Hwayeon was the only one present.
“In. Let’s go together, oppa.”
If it wasn’t for Ram Hwajeong.
“Huh? Hwajeong-ah?!”
“It’s what we wanted to do, unni.”
“Y-you! If you say that while negotiating-!”
You can’t show all the cards you have!
Ram Hwayeon was stunned, but Ram Hwajeong did not want to have that kind of conversation with Leeha. The blue-haired girl jumped off the chair and ran towards Leeha.
“Invite me, oppa.”
“Heuheu, it’s what Hwahong ‘wanted to do’?”
Looking at Leeha’s bright smile, Ram Hwayeon slapped her forehead. After all, there was no longer room for negotiation. It would have been only a one-sided request.
“Anyway, I would be grateful if you could help me with ‘what I wanted to do’. Ah, the meeting will be tomorrow at 6am, so don’t be late.”
[Uninvited guests] Number of participants(8/10)
Three members of Hwahong, Ram Hwayeon, Ram Hwajeong, and Jacheong, joined the quest. While promising not only themselves but also scrolls and potions.
“What is this fog……”
“I think this is part of the quest”
When Kijeong complained, Tale answered.
“Is it to make it easier to sneak in?”
“Hmm. A lot has changed in Middle Earth’s weather since phase 2.”
Unlike usual, there was a thick fog near Fibiel Palace.
It was early in the morning and the sun had not yet risen. Most importantly, such a fog would be advantageous to those who illegally break into the royal palace.
“By the way, it’s going to be six soon, doesn’t it seem like we’re the only ones here? Did Leeha-hyung get all the people?”
Kijeong looked around, but in front of the main gate of the Royal Palace, there was nothing except the NPC guards.
“I am also concerned. There are still 9 people in the quest window……. I don’t think
he was able to get the last one-”
“You don’t have to worry about that. He said that they couldn’t meet, so he persuaded them through whisper.”
“Ah! S-Shin Nara-nim!”
After cutting off Tale’s words, Shin Nara walked out of the front door. Although they had already heard of it from Leeha, her emaciated appearance was still surprising for Tale and Kijeong.
“Byeolcho’s Master K and Tale, right?”
“Yes!”
Kijeong replied nonchalantly.
“Thank you so much… for coming.”
“Don’t mention it. It is an honor to be with a true martial artist like Shin Nara-nim.”
Tale, a kendo practitioner, looked at the Olympic gold medalist in fencing with shining eyes. If it wasn’t for the quest, he might have asked her for a match.
“I heard you became a guild master, but I wasn’t able to congratulate you.”
“Hey, what do you mean by congratulate? It wasn’t like I did anything particularly good.”
Kijeong waved his hands at Shin Nara’s greetings. These two were definitely chosen by Leeha. Their tone and action made Shin Nara feel reassured.
“It’s here, right Jacheong?”
“I told you, this is the front gate, so it’s definitely here-”
“That’s right. There are three people in front.”
Three silhouettes of different sizes glimmered in the mist. Kijeong opened his eyes and responded.
“Oh, they must be the others, who are they?”
“I somewhat know.”
“You know? Who?”
“If it’s Ha Leeha-kun……. probably……”
Step, step, the sound of footsteps became louder and louder. As they grasped each other’s silhouettes, some of their muscles twitched.
“Byeolcho?!”
“Hwahong!?”
Ram Hwayeon and Kijeong opened their eyes and looked at each other. Dale Castle’s war had come to an end, and it was no longer hostile.
However, they could still be called rivals!
“Surely! Are you the people Ha Leeha talked about?”
“T-That’s what I wanted to say! Why did Leeha-hyung get Hwahong?”
Ram Hwayeon and Kijeong turned to each other, but the others from Byeolcho and Hwahong nodded as if they actually knew.
“It was predictable.”
“It’s because oppa’s contacts are limited.”
Tale and Ram Hwajeong exchanged words.
“Haha, it’s a strength from my point of view. The two of the highest leveled guild in Fibiel Kingdom are here to help him. Ah, my greeting is late. Hwahong’s guild master, Ram Hwayeon, Ice Wi- no, Ice Princess, Ram Hwajeong, and vice-guild master, Jacheong. Right?”
Shin Nara, who almost blurted the nickname “Ice Witch” without realizing it, hurriedly changed her words. Ram Hwajeong furrowed his brows for a moment, but that was all.
“It’s an honor to be here. I am Hwahong’s Jacheong. If you need any help with Fibiel Kingdom’s domestic situation, feel free to ask. Hwahong is ready to help Shin Nara-nim with all that we have.”
Jacheong showed the power of Hwahong by handing out business card-like notes.
From the very beginning, Hwahong had, to some extent, decided what to say and who would say it.
“Uh, Leeha-hyung, anyway……. Without telling me. And why didn’t he come after getting everyone?”
“There. Someone is coming.” While Kijeong grumbled about having to be with Hwahong, another silhouette approached beyond the fog.
Saak- Saak- with a strange sound.
“Huh? Kikis, I’m late! There are still five more minutes, but you’re already here.”
“W-who-”
“Heek! Monster!”
The female users took two steps back. Even Kijeong was surprised at the horrifying look of the person, no, Lizardia who was smiling with his teeth exposed.
“You came with Ha Leeha-nim’s recommendation, right? I am Biyemi, I will be doing this quest with you.”
Everyone’s brains were fully activated when they heard Biyemi’s name. However, it was a nickname that they had never heard before.
There were only a few famous people among the Lizardia race users, so they were sure. That he was an unknown user who did not belong to either rankers or outsiders.
“Y-you are acquainted with Leeha-hyung?”
Kijeong asked cautiously. Trust and security was vital to this quest. But where did a Lizardia with a nonsensical name come from?
“Kikikis, of course. Byeolcho is busy with nurturing new recruits these days, but if you’re already at that level, taking them to Pachola Jungle will help you level up faster. Sentinel mountains have too many competitors.”
“What?”
“Hwahong are targeting so many cities. I think it would be better to be a little more focused. No matter how you look at it, it would be hard to aim only at places related to dungeons. Ah! I am not trying to interfere with your domestic administration, think of it as my personal opinion. kikikis.”
“What? H-How did you……”
“Shin Nara-ssi must also prepare well. It would be hard for the people gathered here, but if it’s true that Petyr is the culprit, all of [Midnight Circus] will move. Kikis.”
“Biyemi-nim…… you say?” Kijeong, Ram Hwayeon, and Shin Nara all had round eyes.
What was the identity of this lizard that knew the circumstances of the guilds that required security, and even things that are related to the quest?
While everyone was speechless, a sound was heard over the fog. Along with the brisque footsteps, the voice everyone was waiting for spread softly.
“Everyone, don’t be too curious. Biyemi isn’t really an ordinary person. Well, just by looking at his appearance, he’s not human. What have you been up to……?”
Like a guitarist, Leeha who carried an elongated leather case walked over with a smile.
Leeha called Biyemi just in case, but he was pleasantly surprised, he was also satisfied “Kikis, you sound like a weird person, Ha Leeha-nim.”
“Leeha-hyung!” “Ha Leeha, you!” “Oppa.”
“C-call me one at a time! Why are you calling me different names?”
While Leeha was flustered by the call from different people, Shin Nara ran toward him.
“Leeha-ssi!”
Paak-!
And she hugged Leeha. It was like a surprise attack.
“Thank you, thank you so much……. For me……”
Leeha risked his life for her before. And this time, he is doing it again.
Profit and loss calculation aside, Leeha personally called and gathered the experts of the Fibiel Kingdom for a dangerous quest.
“Oh, t-that-”
The woman hugged first?! That alone was disconcerting.
On top of that, he saw Ram Hwayeon and Ram Hwajeong glaring at him and Shin Nara with killing intent, and Kijeong next to them was saying “kiss”! with his mouth pouting….
“How long are you going to be like that? You didn’t call us just to show us that, did you? Besides, who is the last person? No one has come yet.”
“Ohh, r-right! That’s it! It’s time for that person to come!”
As Ram Hwayeon shouted, Leeha carefully got out of Shin Nara’s hug. And he checked the location of the last person.
“Oh? He’s near?”
“……I don’t see anyone.”
“No. He’s obviously here. On the wall?”
Not an approximate location, but an accurate location. As soon as Leeha raised his head, someone jumped off the wall.
Shin Nara’s eyes widened when she saw him.
“K…… Kidd?! Sleeping Kidd!”
“Let’s quickly go inside. I hate annoying things, but I hate procrastination even more.”
Kidd ignored Shin Nara, and walked in first, wearing his broad-rimmed hat. Among the crowd, Biyemi followed.
“Kikis, we won’t have much time to have an operation meeting. Because they are assassination experts. Let’s go, Shin Nara-ssi.”
[Uninvited guests] Number of participants(10/10)
“Okay. Follow me. I will guide you to the Fibiel King’s palace. Kidd! Stop! Follow me!”
(To be continued…)
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