What Money Can’t Buy (1)
A few days had passed since the day I spoke with Cho Hyejin. I started to get serious about my work, and although I tried to get around by myself, it was Song Jungwook of Little Rock that proved to be a harder worker than me.
He started promoting my potions to other guilds and clans as if he had pledged his loyalty to me, and before I could even make a move, he brought the signed contracts to me.
It seemed like he wanted to get close to Marlin Young-ae and other nobles by visiting Yeongju Tower, but he was free to use his spare time the way he wanted, anyway.
Rather, there was one time when he introduced me to the lower aristocracy with a feeling that he wanted me to take advantage of his connections, so he must feel that we were even now.
Seeing him transforming into a loyal person was certainly disconcerting. Of course, that wasn’t the only reason Song Jungwook continued to visit Yeongju Tower.
‘Marlin Young-ae.’
He moved as if he had a deadline. The fact that he wanted to use Yeong-ae was a matter that I already noticed before, but since he was being obvious about it, I couldn’t help but laugh.
‘Do your best.’
Certainly, if Song Jungwook connected with Marlin Young-ae, there will be a lot to gain from his perspective. He could become an aristocrat, buy some land, and thus be freer about taxes. I didn’t really know if he loved her or not, but the closer he could get to Marlin Young-ae, the closer he could become a part of the big-time capitalists that I had mentioned before.
I didn’t have to say anything because it wasn’t really something that would go against me, but I could tell that his intentions weren’t good. Though Song Jungwook wanted to be close to me, he didn’t want Little Rock to be under Blue’s influence. On the outside, he planned to pretend to swear allegiance to me, and on the inside, he planned to somehow move around to reverse the situation. He was definitely a leaf with two sides.
‘What a dishonorable guy.’
I had no intention of taking care of him, either.
All one had to do was wait for the moment to cut the line while not compromising too much. Of course, I planned to take everything I could before that. It was not only Song Jungwook who had been busy.
My other party members had also been busy. As I continuously went out for work every other day, I saw Kim Hyunsung busy evolving both Park Deokgu and Kim Ye-ri. Perhaps one of the other things Hyunsung had to do was persuade people by bringing the monster wave signs.
“Then I will be going out today too, Kiyoung-ssi.”
“Okay. Hyunsung and Deokgu, be careful.”
“Oh, I already told you that you don’t have to worry. Anyway, it’s okay because we’ll just wander outside and do some investigating.”
“If so, I won’t worry. Hee-young-ssi, please also be careful.”
“Yes. Do not worry.”
“Hayan too.”
“Yes… Sniff!”
“Stop crying.”
This time I didn’t have to take any measures, Kim Hyunsung would take care of this, and I trusted him. It was quite a pleasure to have a colleague you could rely on.
Based on what would happen in the future, Kim Hyunsung would collect information step by step and officially announce that information within Castle Rock.
Unlike the previous timeline, Castle Rock, which entered into a state of war, would prevent the attack from monster waves or named monsters, and our regressor may stand up as the hero who saved Castle Rock.
I didn’t know if it would go as planned, but I knew it was my job to make it happen. I was also busy in many ways, but I could handle that much.
“Wait a minute, Kiyoung-ssi.”
“Yes, Hyunsung-ssi?”
“That…Did something happen between you and Hyejin?”
“What?”
“It seems like you’re not getting along well recently…”
“Ah, it was just a little dispute over work. You don’t have to worry about it.”
“I see.”
“I think I know what Hyunsung-ssi is worried about, but that will not happen.”
“Ah. Yes… That… I just want for you to get along…”
“Yes. I want to be close to Hyejin as well. Since Hyejin-ssi is not going on the expedition this time, I will approach her carefully. Haha.”
“Haha. That’s fortunate. Since you said so, I’m relieved. Then I’ll be going.”
“Okay. Be careful today as well…”
“Okay.”
‘I guess he’s worried.’
Of course, I was also worried. Since the last incident, Cho Hyejin had been a little cold to me.
However, the conversation window had not been cut off at all.
This silent Cold War proved to be more terrifying than petty arguments.
As I waved goodbye at the party members, I could see them waving back at me as well.
Time had passed since we arrived at Castle Rock. It seemed that I got some outline of the things I had to solve.
‘The first thing I need to do is to prevent a crisis that is about to come to the city.’
In fact, it was the main purpose of this expedition. It was also the goal of our lovely regressor, and the reason as to why our party came to Castle Rock.
Additionally, we needed to announce the danger and establish our guild’s position in Castle Rock. Right now, Kim Hyunsung was working on this, so there was nothing for me to do, but I must thoroughly prepare for all kinds of possible situations.
‘The second thing is about Song Jungwook of Little Rock.’
I had to think about whether to keep him and continue, or to cut him off in the proper line.
In fact, in this matter, the first thing was to know what Cho Hyejin will do, but for now, it was correct to prepare a paddle that could be used while maintaining the current situation. And…
‘The third one is improving the relationship with Cho Hyejin.’
I needed to create a bond of friendship between her and me. Unlike the first thing, the two other tasks were not to be done as a party, but were supposed to be done personally.
I thought I should at least be able to control Cho Hyejin if I was going to work with her in the future. I needed to let her know I was a friend she could trust.
Of course, it was not easy to get close to her when she kind of already knew about me, but by no means would this be a difficult job. This was because I had already caught some strands.
In that sense, the time when other party members were away was always an opportunity.
It was better to try to get closer by talking to her at least a little. Even if we didn’t become friends, it was important to make her see me in another way by doing something to own her a debt or anything.
While Song Jungwook was working for me, I didn’t stay still.
Looking ahead, I saw Cho Hyejin, who had been seeing off the outgoing party members.
“It seemed that Hyunsung-ssi was worried.”
“…”
“He wondered if you and I had a fight.”
“I don’t want to have conversations other than about business, Vice Guild Master.”
“This is within the boundaries of business matters, Hyejin-ssi. It is very important to promote friendship between guild members.”
“If you’re going to say weird things again…”
“No. It’s not like that. Although we’ve had some misunderstandings with each other, wouldn’t it be better to resolve these misunderstandings in advance?”
Although her reaction was a little cold, she had been like that all the time recently. Perhaps she, too, had a lot on her mind. What I had said in the past struck deep in her heart.
“When I talked about revenging you, it was for you, but it was also related to work. Regardless of personal grudges, if they’re still trying to do something illegal, I’m going to have to be taking measures about this eventually.”
“…”
“If you are not busy, there are places I would like you to come with. Oh, of course, if Hyejin-ssi refuses, I will go there by myself. It’s a pretty dangerous place, but I’ll be able to come back alive somehow. If I’m not lucky enough, I’ll be kidnapped and have an arm or leg cut off. Hyunsung-ssi will be very happy.”
“You are…”
“I am not a bad guy, Hyejin-ssi. This is all work. All the other party members are out and working hard, so shouldn’t we be doing our job too? Ahem. Will you come with me?”
“I don’t think you’re giving me a choice. I’ll go with you.”
“Thank you.”
In a way, I was lucky that Kim Hyunsung had entrusted her with escorting me. In this way, I could spend some more time with her.
“Ah. It is not a place where you can enter with the clothes you are wearing, so you should change your clothes.”
“What?”
“You don’t have to worry, because I prepared everything in advance.”
“Can I ask you about the destination?”
“You will see. It’s not fun if I tell you in advance. We will leave in an hour, so please do hurry.”
“You have already decided this beforehand. You really do as you please.”
“That’s because I have a good initiative. Thank you for the compliment.”
She still didn’t look very happy, but seeing her go inside, it seemed like she was willing to follow my suggestion. On the other hand, I thought it wasn’t bad to go on a date with someone who could be called beautiful.
While she was getting ready, I, too, started getting ready. I changed into clothes prepared beforehand and groomed my hair properly, and then I was finished.
It wasn’t the clothes I had when I was at a party at the royal castle, but I smiled when I saw myself looking quite human.
She soon came out onto the lobby, her face red.
“Do I really have to wear this?”
“Didn’t you already change them? You don’t have to be shy, Hyejin-ssi.”
“B-but… They’re too revealing…”
“You don’t have to worry because it looks beautiful on you.”
My prediction that the blue dress would look good on her was correct.
It felt valid to tell the guide of Yeongju Tower to make her look good. It didn’t matter if she was wearing makeup or not, but the finely tied hair looked really good with the dress. She looked uncomfortable as it showed off one of her legs and her back, but it had a sexy feeling overall.
‘I thought she was a woman who was far from colors…’
She was attractive in her own way.
“Are you going to a party? If you need a partner, you could ask someone else…”
“It’s not just a party, so just trust me. I have a wagon outside. Let’s go?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, I have a question before that.”
“Yes.”
“It’s about Little Rock… Have you ever seen them illegally trading monsters or trading slaves between different species?”
“Yes. I saw them trapped inside a wagon.”
“You’ve never seen how the deal actually works. You probably found out about it by looking at the tax issues or monster trades.”
“How did you know…?”
“There must be a reason that the charges were cleared even with insufficient evidence.”
“…”
“You asked for the destination, right?”
“Yes.”
“We are going to visit that site from now on.”
“What…”
“I’m trying to find out how the illegal activities are happening. That’s what I’m saying.”
I could see Cho Hyejin looking at me with a blank expression as if she was speechless.
There was no need for her to understand now. She only needed to come with me at this point to see.
At this, I handed her one of the two objects I had in my hands.
“Take the mask.”