Chapter 471: Driving a Wedge (2)
Usually, such a case would be expressed by using clever means. It was similar to what people did when scamming a fool.
I still couldn’t accurately determine if those bastards were really worried about me, or if they had something else in mind, but I obviously thought it was likely the latter.
Even though they were the people who gathered to prevent the crisis that would come on the continent, all the people gathered there were basically strangers. Anyone knew that just because we were getting along at that moment didn’t mean that we’d end up in a good relationship until the very end, even more so when I thought about the groups that were keeping each other in check.
In Blue’s case, this was already a given.
The strongest in name and reality, with dozens of businesses and superior combat power, made the fact that there were only a small number of people meaningless. Blue was exerting enormous influence in various areas.
This wasn’t only limited to Lindel.
Since such a small guild was influencing the entire continent, it was only natural that many guilds had decided to reduce our influence a little.
They might be busy buttering me up in front of me, but it was not strange for them to have different thoughts behind my back. There would be some whose income in the potion business had been cut and some that had their illegal business wholly blocked.
‘This bastard and the other one.’
I felt it was expected for people to try to keep us in check, but I didn’t think they would be from those who were trying to get benefits from me.
That was probably planned before the joint training, the investigation into the Blue Guild must’ve been conducted internally, and they must’ve taken measures to keep the Blue Guild in check.
They must’ve judged that the influence could be greatly reduced if they could break the relationship between Kim Hyunsung and Lee Kiyoung… and they must’ve decided that it wouldn’t be bad to try it out.
‘It’s not a bad method.’
I would’ve come up with a similar method.
Externally, the Blue’s power structure was extremely deformed.
Kim Hyunsung had given me an unimaginable authority as a Vice Guild Master. Based on that authority, I wielded great influence everywhere.
It was unclear who had authority over the party, and even externally, the human status as Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung was higher. Since there were two very influential figures within the same Guild, people would naturally think that this would be a big source of conflict.
If the news about Kim Hyunsung and I being torn apart spread across the continent, I could assure that more than one truck of powerful people would create a party.
‘For the last five days…’
I was going to be furtively used in their plans. As I gently leaned back and looked back at the people looking at me, I began to feel sad.
‘I thought we were friends… Mean bastards.’
Even Jamilla, who was sticking to me like Jung Hayan…
‘What a bad bitch.’
Of course, it was still too early to have doubts. In fact, the people from the deep-rooted evil festival and I had a good time together.
‘Yes. I shouldn’t be suspicious of people so easily.’
I wanted to test the waters. I wanted to make sure if I was really being used. At this, I quietly opened my mouth.
“Hahaha… It’s not like that. Our Guild Master isn’t such a person. If he wanted to get rid of me, he would already have done it.”
“Hmm…”
“Honorary Cardinal… I’m really sorry to say this, but a person is bound to change. The Blue Guild isn’t the same as the past. There must’ve been a time when the members acted passionately, but now you’re not that kind of guild anymore, are you? It’s also the guild that the entire continent pays attention to every time you move… At first, he may have thought that you should be on the same boat, but he may be worried about the growing power of the Honorary Cardinal.”
‘Our Hyunsung is not that kind of guy, you bastards. ‘
“Gerhan is right, Honorary Cardinal. I’m not saying that the Blue Guild Master is such a person, but that you must be prepared if anything happens.”
“Ugh…”
‘They’re acting like hyenas.’
“There’s nothing bad about being careful, right? Haha… If you prepare insurance, you’ll feel more comfortable. It will be helpful enough to brace yourself rather than to take any action. I’m telling you this because we have a lot of similar things going on in our kingdom.”
“Yes. Maybe there are a lot more cases if we look at the whole continent. No one just stands still looking at the increasing influence of non-Guild Masters within the group. He may be smiling externally, but he’s probably worrying about the Honorary Cardinal.”
“The symbolism of being chosen by the Goddess Benignore… The ability to use the power of light at will… In fact, isn’t the Honorary Cardinal more famous in the Lindel and the State?”
“Everyone in the continent knows that you two trust each other a lot, but…”
“…”
“…”
“Why are you guys doing that? Our Honorary Cardinal is uncomfortable… Should we really talk about that on such a good occasion?”
It was Jamilla that eventually responded when the silence descended upon us.
She pretended to intervene and sent glances to all of them, including Gerhan. Their exchange of gazes lasted only for an instant that I wouldn’t have noticed if it wasn’t for the Mind’s Eyes.
‘I guess she’s telling them not to be too obvious.’
I could only sigh in response.
‘So, all of them were in cahoots with each other. These bastards.’
Certainly, they seemed too impatient in my eyes. It felt like they didn’t have the talent for it as they rushed like hyenas whenever they saw a small chance. If I were them, I would have acted more carefully.
After taking one month as a preliminary work period, not five days, I would have created the same situation after leaking a few bad rumors. Those bastards must’ve also had such a situation in mind, but it looked like they couldn’t control themselves while looking at the delicious bait. When I thought about the flow of the conversation, it was understandable that they tried.
‘Whew. There is no one to trust in the world except for Hyunsung.’
I felt betrayed. It was as if the enjoyable times of the last five days had been completely blown away. That was when I realized that I shouldn’t get attached to such greedy, deep-rooted evil guys.
‘Why do you bastards need to do that? Is it because of the potion business? Or is Lindel overwhelming because it seemed too big? Is it because we extended even to the arms business? Or did the free trade agreement seem unfair?’
It wasn’t really one or two that bothered me.
“It looks like Gerhan has drunk too much. Now, forget about this quickly and get another drink, Honorary Cardinal. The others probably didn’t mean anything bad. Everyone must have said that for caution’s sake since they were worried about the Honorary Cardinal, so don’t be too concerned.”
“Oh my… I’m really sorry. Honorary Cardinal. I think I shouldn’t have said that…”
“I’m sorry as well. I shouldn’t have said those so easily…”
“Loosen up, Honorary Cardinal, for my sake, yeah?”
“Ahem… I’m not like this because of you guys. I had a different thought for a moment…”
“Good to know. If we made you feel uncomfortable, I would like to apologize again, Honorary Cardinal.”
“Hahaha… it’s fine. Didn’t all of you say that because you are worried about me? Rather, it’s right for me to say thank you. Actually, I didn’t think about this aspect… it seems premature to take it too seriously, but it would be okay to consider it at least once.”
“I am really grateful that you think so.”
“If your worries deepen, you can always talk to me, Honorary Cardinal.”
“Yes, if that time comes, I will definitely talk to you, Jamilla.”
“Shall we say cheers, then?”
‘They have such good chemistry. These bastards.’
If Gerhan and the deep-rooted evils were attacking swiftly, then Jamilla next to me was taking it slow.
I didn’t know if they’d known each other from prior to that situation or if they had hurriedly formed a party for a collective objective, but I wanted to praise their good synchronization. If Jamilla and I became closer, it would be easier to drive a wedge between Kim Hyunsung and me.
It was indeed hard to find methods that were more effective than bedside proceedings.
‘I’m done with you, bitch.’
I had no intention of doing that from the beginning, but I had to become even firmer.
In fact, the situation itself was fun. It was unimaginable that someone would try to scam me even while I was in the State.
It was even more unimaginable for the ones to be doing it were the people who knew the kind of human being Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung was.
‘Did I look like a pushover?’
They might feel like that without information. Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung’s external image was an image of a saint who sacrificed and burned his body for the continent.
That was what everyone felt except for the Blue’s media, the people of the State, and a small handful of people.
“In fact…”
“Yes?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
As I tested them by looking like I was about to say something, the faces of the deep-rooted evil with their excited faces were spectacular to see.
“Is there anything that’s bothering you?”
“Rather than being bothered… I just thought that my relationship with the Guild Master seems to have been estranged recently…”
‘How many of you are there? Who else is going to be involved?’
“It’s hard to tell, but… you can speak comfortably. This will only stay between the Honorary Cardinal and us.”
They wouldn’t be sticking just to me, after all.
I had no choice but to wonder who the humans that were leeching off of Kim Hyunsung were. Just because they scammed one, that didn’t mean that the wedge was complete.
This was just a guess, but maybe it was the woman who spoke to Kim Hyunsung when we first arrived.
‘Kylie Yale?’
Even after the first time, I still saw her with Kim Hyunsung on several occasions.
‘I’m almost certain.’
* * *
“Are you alone today, Blue Guild Master?”
“Ah… Kylie.”
“You must be tired of working.”
“I’m used to it. By the way, why did you come again today…”
“I don’t think you have eaten yet, so I’m thinking about having a meal together. You eat late in the evening, right? If you do not mind… Can we eat together at the restaurant in Blue? If you don’t want to, I’ll just go back…”
“No. I had something to tell you too… you can come. Let’s go right now. I will guide you.”
“Thank you, Blue Guild Master.”
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