Chapter 1242. Blue Guild’s Youth Center (11)

“How dare that scum... do something so ridiculous...” Commander Jin mumbled.

‘I think he’s really angry...’

I couldn’t help but think that it would be better not to run into him. No matter how I looked at him, he looked one step away from losing his mind, and the fact that he still came all the way here, even though he had already sent an official letter, made it clear to me that he was truly furious.

Ji-Hye noona was right; he showed up at the worst possible time, as he had nothing to gain from this. He cared so much about his image that I figured he’d wait until he had resolved his problems before showing his face, but it seemed like he couldn’t hold it in.

'You don’t reason with madmen. That’s a basic survival instinct.'

I slowly back away, trying to slide out of his range.

Thud!

Someone grabbed my shoulder.

‘Damn it.’

Just moments ago, Commander Jin was in front of me, but now, he was nowhere in sight. I looked behind me and saw him standing there with a frown.

“You scum...” Commander Jin said.

“...”

“Lee Ki-Young...” Commander Jin mumbled.

“Hello, Commander. It’s been a while,” I greeted.

“Lee Ki-Young, you bastard!” Commander Jin shouted.

“Whoa! Why are you holding me by the collar? Wait, wait, just calm down and let’s talk this out—” I said.

I was lifted off the ground and was carried away just like that.

I struggled as much as I could, but he didn’t stop. He opened the door and walked into the room. It seemed like he still had enough sanity left not to cause a scene in the hallway because he closed the door behind us.

“Let’s just calm down a little and—”

“Don’t make me laugh! You scum! What are you up to this time? What the hell have you been doing? My son? My son?

You’re

my son?! I can’t believe you said something so ridiculous like that!” Commander Jin yelled.

“I have a reason! I swear, I really do!” I shouted.

“Don’t be ridiculous! You’re just a cowardly rat! Do you have any idea how much trouble I had to deal with last time because of your pathetic stunt?

"The disgusting rumor that I bought a servant on the black market still hasn’t died down, and now you’re telling me I have a son? How am I supposed to explain the sudden appearance of a so-called illegitimate child?” Commander Jin complained.

“Why are you getting so worked up? That’s not like you. Seriously, we should handle this like rational adults and just talk it out...” I suggested.

Being dangled like this in midair with my small body was becoming seriously uncomfortable. Commander Jin was also waving his hand around, making me swing along with his hand. It was actually making me feel dizzy.

‘This jerk isn’t going to hit me, right?’

“Return to your original form now! Right now!” Commander Jin demanded.

‘Why? So you can hit me?’

Whether it was because he had a rule against laying a hand on children, or simply because he couldn’t stand the sight of me like this, but having clearly lost his temper, he kept telling me to turn back.

“I can’t,” I told him.

“Stop being ridiculous,” Commander Jin commented.

“No, I really can’t. I have to stay in this form for two years...” I told him.

“What?”

“There was a moment in Rohen when my soul had to be separated briefly from me. Right now, it’s still in the process of merging with me. It’s a long story if I explain everything, but basically, I’m stuck in this form for one or two years. I want to go back as well... but I can’t...” I explained.

“What did you say?” Commander Jin asked.

‘Damn it, this is why I didn’t want to tell him.’

A faint sneer flickered across his face, which emanated fury. The tension in his expression eased. It was like he was trying his best to smile.

“

Pfft... hahahaha!

You have to live like that for two years?” Commander Jin asked.

“...”

“Separating your soul... that idea is as foolish as you. So it'll take two years for you to merge with your soul again? Depending on the case, it could take even longer. And the two years is just your estimate, isn't it?

"So that despicable face of yours has always been part of you since you were young. What a truly miserable sight. It suits you perfectly,” Commander Jin said.

‘Strictly speaking, it’s mixed with your face, damn it.’

“I mean, that’s true, but—”

“Wait, that’s not important right now. Hurry up and answer my—”

“I really have a reason for doing that," I said, interrupting him as well. "The concept is already fixed, so I can't just change it. There's an issue inside the academy... and I need a suitable identity.

"I just thought that being the son of the Republic's symbol would work pretty well."

“I don’t want to hear your excuses, you idiot. Quit the nonsense and—”

“You really think I want to look like this in the academy? I already told you that there's a reason behind all this. I want to get back to my work as soon as possible. Honestly, with how I look, it’s tough to do public activities in the academy.

"When you look at the continent as a whole, however, it’s not such a big deal. Like the projects Ji-Hye noona and I worked on in Rohen, or the ones you boldly took on. Of course, I need to check those... but I’m really busy here,” I interrupted him again.

“...”

“I don’t really know either. It might not be a big deal, but it won't hurt to be careful. Are you aware, Commander Jin?” I asked.

“About what...” he asked.

“The recent event at the border between the Federation and the Union,” I answered.

“...”

“...”

“You mean those stupid heretics?” Commander Jin asked.

“How do you know about them?” I asked.

“We have those same bastards in the Republic as well. They were trying to perform a human sacrifice using the Six-Pointed Star... It’s not publicly known yet, but it would be a mistake to assume my intelligence only focuses on the Republic,” Commander Jin answered.

‘But why didn’t you know about your son?’

I wanted to ask that. I wanted to keep smirking, but I just couldn’t do that.

“I think they’re targeting this place,” I told him.

“Nonsense. Do those idiots actually think they can get into the heart of the Blue Guild? The same fools can’t even handle the Inquisitors at the Vatican. And now they’re planning terrorist acts in Lindel?

"You have to know when to stop making stuff up. Or wait... could it be that you—

hahaha

!” Commander Jin laughed.

‘Shit.’

“Did becoming young turn your brain younger as well? Are you craving sweets?

Hahaha!

Maybe I should’ve brought you some rainbow cotton candy. No, I should’ve brought a box of chocolates...

haha

,” Commander Jin teased.

‘This jerk.’

“If you need a break, don’t waste your time here... Go to Rift Land... They’ve got rides there that kids can enjoy. Or how about the slides in the Laves Waterpark that Kim Hyun-Sung built? Looks like that idiot knew you’d get younger.

Hahaha...

"

'Don’t let him get to you. Don’t let him go to you.'

“Hyun-Sung isn’t here right now. I can’t really explain it, but he’s not exactly normal right now. Officially, I’m not in the Blue Guild either. It's hard to believe, but it’s true. If you want to look into it, you can do that. I just picked up on the trail myself as well,” I told him.

“...”

“The group might not be as big as I initially thought. It could just end up being a simple terrorist act against the Democratic Country, but as you already know, I’m pretty sensitive when it comes to demon-related issues,” I continued.

“

You

? Yeah, right,” Commander Jin scoffed.

“What happened in Rohen makes it impossible for me not to grow concerned. Whether you want to or not, you'll understand just how much damage losing even two or three commanders can do to the entire continent.

"I still don’t know much about that terrorist group or what they’re after, but one thing I’m sure of is that there’s a mole inside the academy. That’s why I pretended to be your son,” I explained.

“Enough with the nonsense. If you dare run that mouth again—”

“I want to go back to my original form as well. I already have a lot on my plate... so why would I waste my time in the academy? Of course, I can let the guild members handle it, but I have a really bad feeling this time. Try thinking of it not as starting from the bottom up, but from the top down,” I interrupted him once again.

“...”

“Think about it... While I was gone, one of the high-ranking great monarchs could’ve taken advantage of the weakened security system to plant his seed here. Is it really unreasonable to think that it might’ve reached the civilians by now?” I questioned.

Commander Jin was deep in thought.

‘Good thing I didn’t tease him right off the bat.’

Honestly, I was glad that he didn’t start mocking me about the failed project.

One would think that’d be the first thing he’d do the second I showed up, and it was even more reasonable, as I had been lying low at the academy. However, I was sure that my stay in the academy had to have raised questions in his head.

Of course, it was mostly because I didn’t want him to see me in this form.

Given the circumstances, I wouldn’t blame him if he were to think that I had no idea about what was going on with the current project. Even if that wasn’t the case, it was still good for him, as it would give him enough time to clean up his mess.

“If it’s what you really want, I’ll just drop everything. Let’s head up together. Your project assessment report is ready, isn't it?” I asked.

“...”

“Is it not ready?” I questioned.

Commander Jin was caught between a rock and a hard place. He either had to admit having a son or show his incompetence to everyone. He had no other choice here.

“You haven't prepared it yet? So why did you come here? Did you happen to... mess up the project?” I asked.

“You make me laugh... There were some errors, but it was within the expected range. The trend is still climbing, so it's none of your concern. After all, you—”

“How can I not be concerned? I’m the CEO, for crying out loud. Is the report ready or not? And even if, for argument’s sake, this is your solo project and you didn’t write a report for me, we’re still working together, so I have a right to know the details,” I interrupted him again.

“That’s...”

"Have you ever seen Ji-Hye noona and me let things slide quietly, especially when it involves our business? We regularly call Benigoa, Belial, Lauren, and even you for performance evaluations, but you seem to be skipping that.

"If you've started on something, I need to be aware of its outcome, whether it’s profitable or not, the performance metrics, and growth prospects. They're all essential pieces of information,” I explained.

I was sure he prepared a report, but the problem was that he was too embarrassed to present it. He wasn't dumb, so there had to be some profit, but the numbers were probably well below what he expected.

It was clear he was worried about getting caught up in hearings and whatnot.

There probably wouldn't be any actual hearings, but those meetings were a battlefield.

To secure funding for the next project, presenting lousy numbers wouldn’t make sense at all. At the very least, it had to be comparable to what Ji-Hye noona and I had shown so far to maintain face.

“With how I am now, should I be the one to go to you first and ask for a meeting? I thought that was the reason why you came here,” I said.

“...”

“I thought you came to do a performance review. Instead, you just grabbed me by the collar and lifted me up. Commander Jin, we’re not mortals anymore. We’re administrators of the continent,” I said.

“Don’t try to dodge this with your ridiculous comments,” Commander Jin said.

“The fate of the continent rests on our hands and heads! Is having a son really the problem? Or is it the rumors about buying a servant on the black market? Is that what you think is damaging your reputation?

"I’m someone who only cares about work. As one of the people maintaining the continent's security, I believed I was making the most rational choice... but if you’re upset, you can become my son as well, Commander Jin. Where else would you do that but at the Republic’s Academy? I don’t care about that kind of stuff,” I scolded him.

“...”

“...”

“I’ll prepare it within a month, so you’d better handle this damn mess within that time. Of course,

pfft

! Even after this, you’ll have to wait over two years for your body to

develop... pfft

!” Commander Jin laughed.

‘This jerk.’

“Is there anything you need for my next visit? Actually, for the meeting next month, I’ll prepare kid-friendly snacks for you. Didn’t you say you liked rainbow cotton candy? I’ll see if there’s something similar in the Republic. I’ll prepare a meal as well, naturally, it’ll be a kids’ meal just for you,” Commander Jin mocked me.

‘He’s being really immature.’

What made it even more infuriating was that it was actually working. He probably knew it, too, which was why he kept acting childishly. Perhaps it was because my body had gotten younger, but I could feel fury rising inside me, and it was getting hard for me to keep a straight face.

He could easily read me, so it was no wonder he was running his mouth nonstop.

‘I never took him for that kind of person.’

When he first arrived, he looked ready to explode. He had a belly full of nerves and frustration, but now that it was time for him to leave, he was smiling like he was genuinely happy.

“It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a meeting like this,” Commander Jin mumbled.

“Get home safe, Father,” I said just as he was about to leave.

“I’m not your damn father, you pathetic idiot... Enough with the revolting nonsense. Just looking at your disgusting face makes me angry,” Commander Jin said.

“...”

“Do me a favor and never say something like that again. It’s making my skin crawl,” Commander Jin added.

The problem was that there were spectators watching the whole thing.

To be precise, they were my guests—Miss Kim Mi-Young, Kim Myung-Won, and Aryl.