Chapter 114

“Pay the penalty fee, hand over Yoon Seong to our clan.”

At Riki’s words, Seo Yoo-ju’s face twisted.

“Wha… what did you say?”

“If you want money, I can give you as much as you want. So, I’ll take Yoon Seong with me, how about that?”

I sensed the situation was going to hell and spoke up.

“Wait, that’s…”

The problem was that Seo Yoo-ju cut me off.

“What kind of nonsense is that? Are you joking?! How can you just take someone else’s clan member like that…?”

‘Damn, this is bad. I can’t stop this.’

“Talented people deserve proper treatment. I can give him everything he wants. Money, fame, women, everything a man could desire.”

“…What?”

“What can you offer him? Eternity has lost its former glory. Even though it’s regained some of its light, it’s still not the same. But my clan and I are different. I hold absolute power here in the Eastern Alliance.”

“What…”

“I heard Yoon Seong is just a regular member in Eternity. I plan to make him a sub-clan master immediately.”

Seo Yoo-ju looked stunned after hearing Riki’s words.

It might have been because Riki suddenly went off, but from Seo Yoo-ju’s perspective, it seemed like she was reflecting on what she had done for me.

Seo Yoo-ju looked frustrated and opened her mouth.

“That’s… none of your business. I, no, I can also do everything for Yoon Seong.”

“Hmph, sure you can.”

“What did you say?”

“What did Eternity do while he was being beaten by outlaws, his face stomped on? If it weren’t for me, Yoon Seong would be dead or crippled.”

As soon as they heard about the violence I suffered from the outlaws, Seo Yoo-ju and Wi Ho-yeon’s faces turned pale.

‘Well, they didn’t know about the violence I endured.’

I had already been fully treated. It was a situation they couldn’t have known about.

Seo Yoo-ju was frozen with a pale face, and Wi Ho-yeon’s eyes trembled uncontrollably as she looked at me.

‘This isn’t good.’

I didn’t want our clan members to drown in unnecessary guilt.

“…That’s enough, Riki. I told you before, I can’t join the Kotozuke Clan.”

“Tch…”

As she clicked her tongue, Yoon Yeon approached and spoke to her.

“You haven’t changed, Riki.”

“…Long time no see, bitch. Did you finally crawl back because of your lover?”

“Lover? What are you talking about?”

Riki observed Yoon Yeon’s confused expression and smirked.

“Just kidding, kidding. Anyway, it’s been a damn long time? I heard you left Baronia and started a clan, and it got promoted to one of the top three clans in the Neutral Country?”

“Well… it just happened.”

“Damn, you’re so annoying.”

“…How’s the old man doing?”

“How do you think he’s doing? Damn, this place is a mess. Outlaws are running wild, it’s ridiculous.”

“From what I see, you’re partly responsible for the old man’s wrinkles. I heard you’re into drug dealing now?”

“What’s wrong with drug dealing? This is the Eastern Alliance. They can’t even stop the drug flow, so what’s the problem with making some money off it?”

“Sigh…”

“And I draw the line where I need to. It’s not like I’m selling slaves or something. Drug dealing is nothing here in the Eastern Alliance.”

Well, drugs are already widespread in the Eastern Alliance, and there’s no stopping them.

The indigenous people might not know, but players are so drugged up that they’re rolling around the streets—that’s the reality of the Eastern Alliance.

“…I’m not saying you’ll listen, but just do whatever you want.”

“I was going to anyway.”

“…So, why are you trying to recruit Lee Yun-seong?”

At Yoon Yeon’s question, Riki looked me in the eye and answered.

“…Because I want him.”

“…What?”

“Anyway, it’ll be announced soon, but there were some bastards who led a coup in my clan. Yoon Seong was the one who found them out.”

Everyone was shocked by Riki’s words. She said it so casually, but this wasn’t just any ordinary matter.

“A coup?”

“Yeah. I’ve already executed the leaders and participants, and their families were either executed or sold into slavery.”

Yoon Yeon couldn’t bring herself to say that Riki’s response was too harsh.

She, too, is the leader of a clan. She knows that you can’t leave any room for rebellion.

Especially in a clan involved in the underworld.

“…I see.”

“Anyway, forget about that. Why don’t you stay for a few days before leaving? You probably left your clan duties to your subordinates, right?”

“Sigh… I came here with that in mind. You never let me go once we meet.”

“Kick, good thinking. And we should have a match, right?”

“……”

At Riki’s words, Yoon Yeon’s face turned into one of disgust.

“Or should we just fight now? Huh? I’m itching for it. It’s been so long.”

“…You haven’t changed at all.”

“If people suddenly changed, they’d be dead. It’s a good thing.”

“Anyway, your words flow like water. I don’t want to start a fight right after arriving, let’s do it tomorrow.”

“Whatever. Anyway, everyone can use any room they want, make yourselves comfortable.”

As soon as Riki left, I was dragged away by Seo Yoo-ju.

“…Yoon Seong, what exactly happened? And you said you were beaten by outlaws…”

“That’s… you don’t need to worry about it. I’ve already been treated, and I’m fine now.”

“How can I not worry! How… how were you beaten? You said your face was stomped on…!”

‘Sigh, damn… I shouldn’t have mentioned that…’

“I’m really fine. It’s in the past, and it wasn’t that serious.”

“But…”

“Sigh… let’s stop talking about this. I’m really fine, and I don’t want you and Ho-yeon to feel bad about it.”





“No need.”

At my words, Wi Ho-yeon, who had been observing from the side, flinched.

‘Anyway…’

“More importantly, how is the clan doing? What about the other clan members…”

“…Actually, the atmosphere in the clan was like a funeral. Yoo Rim and Yoo Hyun were especially close to Yoon Seong, so when they heard he was attacked by outlaws, they took it really hard…”

“Ah…”

I had already been worried about the clan members. Especially the younger ones like Yoo Hyun and Yoo Rim.

“Lee Seo… she was raging about killing all the outlaws, and Hyeon-jin was trying to calm her down…”

I could roughly picture the chaos.

‘It must have been a mess.’

Most of the clan members probably lost their cool. It was obvious that the older members like Ho-won and Lee Jae-hyo had to step in to handle things.

Yoo Ju didn’t mention herself, but I was sure she was the one who lost her composure the most. I was certain of that.

“…You must have had a hard time.”

“…No. Yoon Seong had it much harder.”

“Haha… By the way, Yoo Ju. What do you plan to do now? Are you going back…?”

“…We’ll go back soon. When the Myth Clan Master returns, we’ll take Yoon Seong with us.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, how did you end up coming with the Myth Clan Master?”

“Well, after Ho-yeon came to the clan house, she immediately contacted the Myth Clan. We thought it would be good to get help if we could…”

“Ah, I see. But did the Myth Clan Master come personally to help?”

“…Yes. But Yoon Seong.”

“Yes?”

“What exactly is this ‘Yeon noona’ title?”

I froze instantly.

I was making eye contact with Yoo Ju, but it felt like my body was tied up by a giant snake, unable to move.

‘Damn it… what the hell…!’

“And when did you get so close to Yanagiya Riki?”

“Ah… well…”

“I’m glad Yoon Seong is safe, but… it’s strange. Yoon Yeon, and now Yanagiya Riki too.”

“……”

“Hahaha… Can you tell me what’s going on?”

I felt a strange pressure from Yoo Ju’s words.

“Well, uh… Yeon noona told me to call her that directly…”

Yoo Ju nodded coldly.

“Yes, and?”

“Yanagiya Riki… I helped her, so, uh, she seems grateful. Hahaha… Really, that’s all. We just became friends.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, yes…”

Yoo Ju suddenly leaned in close, her face inches from mine, and spoke.

Her eyes were filled with some dark emotion.

Her gaze was unfocused.

“…If that’s all, then why is she saying she’ll take you to her clan?”

‘Damn it, why are you doing this to me? I just helped her once, I don’t know either.’

“Well… I don’t know either. Maybe it’s just a simple recruitment…”

“How is that a simple recruitment? Offering everything you want isn’t a simple recruitment. It’s practically a blank check.”

Yoo Ju’s expression looked uneasy.

To be precise, she seemed anxious that I might transfer clans.

“…Yoon Seong. Be honest with me. What did you and Yanagiya Riki talk about? Are you… thinking of leaving the clan?”

At Yoo Ju’s words, Wi Ho-yeon gasped and spoke up.

“Y-Yoon Seong. Is it true? Are you thinking of transferring clans…”

“No. Everyone, why are you acting like this? Calm down…”

“I-I knew it… It’s my fault. I failed to protect you…”

‘Damn it, why are you acting like this too?’

I could somewhat understand Yoo Ju’s overreaction since we had a history from the first round, but Wi Ho-yeon acting like this was driving me crazy.

Wi Ho-yeon wasn’t usually like this, but it seemed like this incident had traumatized her.

“Damn it, just trust me. I have no intention of transferring clans. Do you think I’m crazy enough to leave the clan?”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Why would I abandon the clan members and go to another clan?”

“Well… because they’re offering you everything… and…”

“…..”

“Yanagiya Riki is… objectively speaking, a beauty…”

“…What?”

Yoo Ju averted her gaze and continued.

“Well, Yoon Seong, you’re a man after all…”

‘Damn it, what do you take me for? Do I look like someone who can’t resist a pretty woman?’

Honestly, it annoyed me every time they said things like that.

Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever been the type to chase after women, so I don’t understand why they keep misunderstanding me.

“…Yoo Ju. What do you take me for?”

“……”

“Do you think I’m that kind of person? And… just because Yanagiya Riki is beautiful doesn’t mean there’s anything between us. It’s irrelevant.”

“…I understand. I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. Let’s just end this conversation here. I trust you and Ho-yeon, so I hope you can trust me too.”

“…Okay.”

“…Understood, Yoon Seong.”