Chapter 475: Driving A Wedge (6)

Unlike Park Deokgu, who absorbed rumors by floating in the air like a sponge, it took time for the rumors from Lee Jihye to settle.

It was slow as she had intended, but it gradually started to spread throughout.

Of course, blocking Park Deokgu’s mouth was a necessity, not an option. If other impurities intervened, the problem would get complicated.

Rumors of unknown origin were passed by mouth at the training grounds and dorms. Shortly afterward, they began to enter the ears of executive adventurers.

Naturally, even those who dismissed it as a simple tabloid went into investigation.

I was sure it wouldn’t take a few days to reach Kim Hyunsung’s ears, who wasn’t all that sensitive to information or tabloid.

‘What is Park Deokgu, really?’

After hearing those rumors settling with my eyes, I couldn’t help but wonder about Park Deokgu’s ability again. He only took a few hours to gather the information that needed days to be gained and connected.

I seriously considered getting him to work in the intelligence department in Blue.

‘He strangely has good guts …’

He seemed to be able to work as much as two people did. Regardless, everything was running smoothly.

As for me, I was able to find out that the deep-rooted evil group at the joint training ground had a toast without me having to go there. There were dozens of guests in and out of my office every day.

Of course, the reason why was obvious.

“It would be nice to come here once this training is over. Although there was something between the Magic Kingdom and the State, isn’t it all in the past? The support system is so well established that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it’s been both a blessing for professions based on magic. If you see it for yourself, you will surely be surprised.”

“The President of the Republic sent a letter in person, Honorary Cardinal. The details are sealed. Hence, I couldn’t check it myself, but if you tell him what you want, he told me to say that he would listen to it as actively as possible. And this… he said it was a personal gift. It’s apparently a treasure that has long been handed down to the Republic…”

“The northern area is a little cold, but… it still has its own beauty. I will tell you this in advance. If you are thinking about a transfer, please keep the North in mind. You can write the terms of the contract as you wish.”

These were only some of the words that came out of people’s mouths.

‘It has a greater ripple effect than I thought…’

It wouldn’t be too much to feel that way.

Even though I hadn’t directly announced my official position on the transfer issue, numerous powerful people lit up at the opportunity.

Since the large guilds, that I only had heard the name of, made country-level proposals, the proposals that came with them all proved to be surprising.

Although I secretly said that I wasn’t thinking of transferring yet, most people seemed to believe otherwise. I felt like they thought that the transfer had already been confirmed.

I thought my value would be fine and popular, but I honestly didn’t expect it to be that much.

The President of the Republic, the Union of Commonwealth Leaders, and even the United Kingdom’s royal family were pushing their best cards at me so I’d become their son-of-law.

‘Light Kiyoung’s status is surely big.’

It was convincing, but it was undeniable that I felt good when I recalled the past of having sacrificed myself for the continent.

‘I guess the rumor is well established.’

The information was that clear.

My behavior itself would have given believability to the information.

Lately, I had been reducing my time in the guildhall altogether except for seeing Jung Hayan or preparing for training. I hadn’t even met Kim Hyunsung.

It was also unexplained how the discord between the Blue Guild Master Kim Hyunsung and Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung had spread out in all directions, almost as if it had wings.

At that point, he also realized something strange.

Most of the guild members were covering it up, but the guild’s atmosphere seemed to be in a bad spot recently. Those in assassin positions like Kim Ye-ri and Kim Chang-ryul couldn’t even be seen in the guild house, so maybe…

‘They must be prying for information.’

He had only begun to move in earnest.

‘Too slow…’

I was almost in charge of the information department management of the Blue Guild, so it’s understandable, but it was such a shame that he was too slow.

Regardless, since the situation was like that, I heard the news that Kim Hyunsung was noticeably nervous. It was a little pleasurable to hear news about him after the day’s work.

I wanted him to suffer as much as I had been struggling, and it was something that I wanted to enjoy. It was a chance to preoccupy the strong position in the relationship with him after such a long time.

Of course, it didn’t take long for him to come to me.

The problem was that I was taking a slightly ambiguous attitude there.

“Kiyoung.”

“Yes.”

“Can I come in?”

“Oh. Come in, Hyunsung.”

“Then… excuse me for a moment.”

“Yes.”

‘It’s definitely working.’

Seeing him coming agitated, I felt like he was reflecting on himself.

It was understandable.

He had gotten better recently since he was more at ease, but he suffered from an unknown PTSD and distanced himself from me until then. He confessed to Bitch-erella that he was the problem, but he never talked to me directly about it.

From the standpoint of Lee Kiyoung, who didn’t know anything, it wasn’t unreasonable to think, ‘Why did Kim Hyunsung suddenly become strangely distant?’

Of course, he expressed his but considering the old days, he still seemed like he was a few feet away from me.

Although he was friendly enough, he would feel a strange sense of distance himself. There was a saying that one should value others when the person was around.

‘That’s right.’

Nothing had been decided yet, but Kim Hyunsung seemed to know that feeling better than anyone else.

Before the Crack Museum, it was me who was in an urgent situation. Kim Hyunsung must be having similar thoughts as I was from that time.

“I’m just about to finish my delayed work. It feels like it’s been a while since we’re both busy.”

“Yes. Since we’re both busy… Are you going out today too?”

“Yes. Probably so. There are people I haven’t even met yet. Gerhan of the Federation said that he would introduce me to other people. Actually, I’m a little tired, but… It’s an opportunity to make good connections. I mean, Gerhan is…”

“Yes…”

“It seemed that the Federation is quite generous. They have a wide network of connections and many related businesses, so I think I can get lots of help from them.”

“I see.”

He had a somewhat gloomy expression.

‘How much did you know?’

I felt a little curious.

‘He’d already noticed that a rumor is going around.’

That was because it was too easy.

I would’ve been disappointed with Kim Hyunsung if he didn’t notice even that much, considering the influential people from all continents constantly entered and exited my office.

‘Did you even notice that there’s been a third party?’

If it were Kim Ye-ri or Kim Chang-ryul, they would have known that by then.

There was a possibility that Kim Hyunsung came to me because of that.

I thought that would be the case when I thought about the speed at which he was doing things.

I couldn’t rule out the possibility that he was a little slower without me, but Ye-ri and Chang-ryul weren’t incompetent in their own ways. As I slowly looked at Kim Hyunsung, I noticed that he had the same expression as a dog wanting to defecate.

He was such a poor conversationalist, so it was likely that he was wondering how to talk first.

Was it true that I was thinking of leaving the Blue?

What did I hear from the man named Gerhan?

Why had I avoided him recently? Did I have any dissatisfaction with the Blue? Did I know anything about the third party trying to tear the Blue apart?

“Kiyoung.”

“Yes.”

“Um…”

“Yes?”

“Recently…”

“Yes?”

“I mean…”

“Yes…?”

‘Fuck. So frustrating.’

Waiting for him felt utterly frustrating. Should I speak first?

As soon as I was about to speak out, Kim Hyunsung opened his mouth.

“I heard a strange rumor…recently.”

“Hmm? What rumor?”

“By any chance… do you have any disappointment with the Blue… or with me?”

‘You’re asking this first, huh.’

It felt like it was difficult for him to open his mouth.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

It seemed that he still thought it was too premature to talk about Kylie Yale, Gerhan, or Jamilla.

‘He has a firm belief, but there is no obvious physical evidence.’

If he had certain information, he would have talked a little more radically. Still, his personality was too nice.

Even if guys were driving a wedge beside him, he didn’t think he would find the primary problem in himself. It was no wonder that my heart frowned upon the dog-like face that looked like he was on the verge of being abandoned.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t do it, I started to soften up.

“No. There is nothing that’s particularly a problem. I am fully grateful to Blue and Hyunsung. In a way, I can say that I was able to come this far only because of Hyunsung. I wouldn’t be here if Hyunsung didn’t save me in the tutorial dungeon that day.”

‘Good line.’

The way I said it seemed like I was preparing myself for a farewell.

Anxiety began to overwhelm his face.

“N-No. I’m just grateful to Kiyoung… if you say it like that, I feel rather embarrassed.”

“There are other things that happened. Thank you for recommending me to be an alchemist. And… thank you so much for reaping me without talent and trusting me to the end.”

‘Look at his face. Hyunsung…’

I hadn’t given any definite answers yet, but I continued to give implications.

Even though he must’ve already felt depressed, he immediately replied in quite an urgent manner.

“I have heard that you are preparing for a transfer. I know you’ve been in and out with several guild masters lately.”

“Oh…”

“…”

“…”

“Yes.”

“It’s not something to be worried about, though.”

“Ah…”

“It was rumored, after all. It’s a bit…”

“No. In fact…”

“Yes?”

“In fact, it’s hard to call it completely a rumor. Of course, there is still a hard part to say that it’s something, but there has indeed been a change in mind recently…”

“What?”

“I am at the stage of serious consideration.”

“What?”

‘Why is he making a face like that?’

He looked as if the sky had collapsed.