00843 The First Step Toward Return, Eight. ————————————————– ———————-=
My brother’s words pinpointed exactly what the ‘user’ wanted. Should we say that we know very well what the other person wants and how to do it?
Going one step further, my brother showed this not just with words but with direct actions. Hamill came down from the podium, insisting that he was only the Mercenary’s representative, and saying that he could come to the Clan House right now as long as he was properly prepared. In this way, the official announcement of the Hamill Clan was successfully completed amidst great cheers.
And so, after barely making it through the excited crowd, they returned to the castle.
“so.”
I sat down in the office chair and decided to ask what I was curious about.
“Isn’t it time to tell me your plan clearly? “They matched the rhythm so well.”
My brother, who had been stretching all the time, buried himself on the sofa and smiled. He smiled brightly once and slowly shook his head.
“This cannot be considered a plan. just… . Should I say it’s some kind of show? Anyway, that’s just part of it.”
After saying that, my brother put his hand in his arms and started rummaging around. He himself said it was a ‘show’ and that it was only part of the story. I stared at my brother.
I felt it once during the Steel Mountains, but my brother’s strength lies in his slowness. While Han So-young is the type to proceed quickly with decisive judgment and bold actions, her older brother is characterized by making detailed plans in advance and moving forward slowly, picking things up one by one. In other words, it can be understood as meaning that it has just begun.
“First of all, this.”
After a while, my brother placed two thick envelopes on the desk. When I opened one, I saw a pile of old records.
“At that time, there were three libraries in the secret library, right?”
“huh.”
“I brought it from the central study where you asked me to leave it. I swear I didn’t even read the records, I just took them all out, mixed them up and divided them into thirds. “It was exactly right.”
“It’s okay to have what you want.”
He smiled and took two envelopes. Hamill will have already taken his share, and the one left for us is Istantel Row.
“and… . Next is this.”
My brother looked at me for a moment and placed an additional envelope larger than before. The thump sounded like it was twice as thick as the envelope I had just seen.
“What is this?”
“I brought an entire study.”
“I think so. “Why are you giving this to me?”
“Because you have to share this.”
My brother spoke in a low voice. It’s hard to share by yourself, so I’m not saying you should do the same. When I gestured with my chin to tell him to continue speaking, my brother rested his chin on his clasped hands.
“Do you like Twenty Questions?”
“I hate it so much.”
“Haha, but tell me this. Starting tomorrow, our Hamill will be very busy. “It will probably be crowded with users who come to receive records, right?”
“of course.”
“Once the visitors are broadly grouped together, we view them as a set of users. So what if we divide this group into units?”
“unit? In terms of units, there are large clans, medium clans, small clans, caravans, individuals… . “Like this?”
“good. So, here’s a question. Aside from mid-sized clans and above, do you think small clans and below really have the capabilities to receive a record?”
“… … .”
At that moment, I was deep in thought. There was a bone in my brother’s question just now. In fact, this was the only part I didn’t understand while listening to the official announcement earlier.
My brother said, ‘I will share equally without discrimination.’ The slogan received great cheers. It certainly looks good on the outside, but if you think about it carefully, it means taking a lot of damage. For example, would an expeditionary force smaller than a small clan have the capacity to undertake an expedition such as the ‘Tomb of the Barbarian King’, which even our Mercenaries barely conquered?
“hmm. It certainly seems like difficult cases will arise… .”
“yes. Of course, I know the value of each of these records. So even now, our clan members are working hard to transcribe, and we have also composed things that are close and seem easy. In any case, I plan to avoid just throwing it away as much as possible.”
“Pilsa. That’s so hard… . what? “You mean you touched it?”
“Things to share.”
When I asked in surprise, my brother answered in the affirmative. He suddenly felt confused in his head. If they had targeted mid-sized clans or higher, they would have at least understood why. However, the fact that he inserted records that were close and seemed as easy as possible… .
“brother?”
“that’s right. “I plan to distribute it mainly to small clans and smaller groups, not medium-sized clans or larger.”
shit. Although he was prepared, his brother seemed to have planned things more complicatedly than he could have imagined. First, let’s sum it up calmly.
“Why did you do that?”
“lets think. There are no infinite records. And if you divide this and that, in the end, the forces that can be seen as vested interests have no choice but to take it all. I don’t know, but it won’t sound good, right? “It’s like giving it away and getting criticized for it.”
“Then why not announce it like that in the first place? And even if you do as you say, what about the backlash from mid-sized clans and above?”
“It’s your job to appease that.”
The moment I asked the question, my brother said as if he had been waiting and placed his hand on the thick envelope he had taken out earlier.
“Of course, I won’t refuse outright. “In an appropriately euphemistic way, you are subtly mentioning the Mercenary Clan.”
“So you handed this over to me? “You want me to give it to you when you come?”
“That’s okay, or you can go find it yourself.”
“brother. I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. Why are you making things so difficult? “You just have to share it and it’s over.”
My brother didn’t say anything for a moment. He remained silent and calmly nodded his head.
“okay. It’s easy to just spray it on randomly without thinking about it. But that’s it. “I’m not making it this complicated just because I like it.”
“Well, I didn’t mean it that way… .”
“Suhyun. “I plan to mention you as much as possible while doing this job.”
“… … ?”
What does this mean again? I tilted my head.
“This is given to you by the Mercantile Clan. So be thankful. … I don’t mean this simple and stupid thing. Somehow, for whatever reason. “Every situation that arises in the future will be linked to Mercenary.”
After saying that, the older brother gently turned around. Looking in the direction of the terrace, he walks slowly and continues talking.
“I think that to become a king, you must meet at least three conditions. “The first is force, the second is justification, and the third is public sentiment.”
“king?”
King. This is a very unexpected statement. However, his older brother looked more serious than ever.
“Just be honest. Of course, there are users who like it, but anyway, the view on the Mercenary Clan is not always kind, do you admit that?”
Yes, that is true. Although it was greatly alleviated by the activities of the Steel Mountains, deep-rooted prejudices that had been rooted since the days of the Northern Continent still persisted. It’s just not apparent on the outside.
“But what if, in your name, I give full support to groups below a small clan? “Wouldn’t it be quite helpful in changing the perception of the Mercantile Clan?”
“okay. good. Let’s say that’s possible. “Then what else?”
“listen. War with the Western Continent, conquering the Steel Mountains, etc… . “The major events that have occurred in the Hall Plain so far have been carried out with the participation of at least mid-sized clans and led by large clans, right?”
“however?”
“however? No. When fighting demons in the future, the power of that group is essential and indispensable. “If you’re not going to fight alone, wouldn’t it be a good idea to use this opportunity?”
“… therefore. “Are you asking me to meet that group in person and build friendships?”
“yes. Because users naturally pursue profits. “Due to the current nature of the Hall Plane, it may not be possible to take control, but at least we can support you when needed.”
“under.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Because I finally realized what my brother wanted to do. To put it simply, he said that he would win the public’s support, so he told me to create a justification.
This is not to deny that users pursue profits. But my brother was wrong about this.
“well. “I think you’re thinking too easily.”
“huh?”
You can tell just by looking at the official announcement earlier. Even if it was just given for free, wouldn’t there still be voices of doubt?
This is especially true for large clans. They are very sensitive to profit and loss calculations, but on the other hand, they have nothing to regret. Just giving me a few records really made me think, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t know what to do with you since you’re taking care of me like this. Thank you very much. I will remain loyal to Mercantile from now on.’ Would they react like this?
no. Unless you’re an idiot, you won’t do that. never. This can be said with certainty.
When I told him what I was thinking, my brother grinned. I thought he had hit on a blind spot, but his reaction was unexpectedly calm. As if he knew how to talk like that.
“Is there a way?”
“what?”
“What if there was a way to definitely get support the way I said? Mercenary Road.”
“W-what suddenly… .”
Why does the term Mercenary Road sound so unfamiliar? My brother wasn’t looking at me anymore. He stands at the entrance, looking across the terrace with calm eyes. For some reason, it felt like he didn’t want to make eye contact with me.
“Suhyeon.”
After staring outside for a while, he suddenly called to me in a lower voice.
“now… . “You know that there are no guardians in the Northern Continent, right?”
“That’s it… .”
Of course, this is a known fact. After Maeng Ara was killed by a vagabond last time, the Northern Continent is currently… ?
Wait, wait. Why are you talking about this all of a sudden?
“no way… .”
“okay.”
My brother slowly shook his head.
“You can become the protector of the northern continent.”
Such shocking words were spoken so calmly.
For a moment, my vision was spinning. I touched my forehead without realizing it. He tried to somehow understand what his brother was saying, but he kept feeling dazed.
no. If you think about it calmly, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. You can see this just by looking at the current head of the central management organization.
As far as users who know, ‘Guardians’ are basically treated as beings. Most of the major trends in the Hole Plain passed through the hands of the former guardians, ‘leading the Northern Continent in the right direction.’ Since there is a purpose, it also fits the cause. In fact, there are quite a few clans that have benefited from Lee Hyo-eul.
okay. I can’t think of a better alternative.
but.
“… … .”
It’s something I’ve never thought about.
“Look at me… . Become the guardian of the northern continent… ?”
“Hmm.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m serious.”
Suddenly the wind blew. The wind that penetrated into the room gently swept every corner. Amidst the fluttering hair, a pair of calm eyes finally looked back at me.
“why?”
For a moment, the thought of being stupid crossed my mind, but it was a reflexive remark.
“Why… .”
Suddenly, my brother let out a sigh.
And I’m really sorry,
“If we don’t do this… .”
I opened my mouth with an expression that made me feel like there was nothing I could do and that this was the only way I could think of.
“Because it seems like the meaning of skipping the Spring and Autumn Warring States period will be lost.”
—————————= Review of the work ——————– ——-=
Ah, this episode is finally almost over. Actually, I had a lot of worries because there were so many things to cover in-depth, but I’m really glad that I made it this far. (patronizingly)
Anyway, the episode ‘Eight’ will probably end in the next episode, or the next episode altogether, and at the same time, the story of the North Continent will also come to a close for a while. And from episode ‘Seven’ to episode ‘Five’, the story of the devil + the southern continent will mainly take place.
In fact, I have a lot of concerns about Episodes 7 to 5 because the frequency of the main character’s appearance is extremely low, but I decided to focus on important events and develop them quickly.
First, I’ll finish episode 8 first, and then I’ll tell you more about it when I start episode 7.
Have a nice day, all readers. 🙂
fantasy,
