Chapter 936. Gen (15)
“You... bastard,” the man said.
‘Everyone, look over here.’
“...”
“Haa...” I moaned.
“You bastard! Just now, you!” the man shouted.
“Ahhh...” I groaned.
“S-Stop!” the older man yelled.
‘He almost hit me.’
The impatient one immediately raised his hand, and he seemed to be thinking that I saw them as walking bags of money because he was trembling in anger.
Right now, I definitely looked like...
‘A con artist. I definitely looked like a con artist right now.’
I looked like someone crossing the line and to squeeze as much money as I could from these people. I appeared careless, but I knew what I was doing. They were in their pre-training period, and causing trouble would put them at a disadvantage.
They knew that better than anyone else.
However, I knew that the soft-hearted Kim Hyun-Sung wouldn't bully or pressure them in any way.
‘He's not even Doom Hyun-Sung right now, so he's really kind right now. He’s so innocent...’
If they had met Jin Cheong before, they definitely had an idea as to what things were like here, as Jin Cheong was really sensitive when it came to incidents and the news that the many different media outlets were churning out.
I didn’t know exactly what the Republic branch was like, but I believe there was some order around here.
The fact that they were being cautious around a beggar meant that they were painfully aware of the fact that one mistake could end their career. Of course, that could be just an exaggeration, and they could be given just a few warnings.
Unfortunately, they were in a city famous for its black market.
‘Although I have no idea why they are here when they're supposed to enjoy their break.’
They weren’t here to do charity work.
It was possible that they came here without knowing anything, but it was all a matter of perspective.
'I’m sure Hyun-Sung would love it if the new guild members caused trouble here of all places.'
Kim Hyun-Sung was nice to them, but he was the type who knew how to separate his public life from his private life.
As I expected, the older man looked around.
More and more people were gathering around us, and the sight made him bite his lips.
‘That’s right. You guys messed with the wrong person.’
“...”
‘The scariest person out there is someone who has nothing to lose.'
“Hyung, this bastard...”
“You bastard. Do you have any idea what you’re doing right now?” the older man questioned after casting a soundproofing spell around us. He immediately got angry and unleashed his man to threaten me, but it wasn’t enough to make me kneel.
‘Of course I know, idiot.’
“You psychotic bastard. We’re—”
“I know,” I interrupted them.
“What?”
“You’re members of the Blue Guild. The new members of the Republic branch, right?” I asked.
“...”
“Whether I know that or not isn’t important. I want you to be aware of the fact that you guys are in a bad situation right now. How dare you persecute the weak of society as a group? You even tried to hit me, so I’m sure things are going to get worse,” I told them.
“What the hell are you talking about...” the man asked.
“The public sides with the weak,” I said.
The man looked around, and the people around were looking at him.
He simply glanced at them, but I could tell that he knew what was going on.
The short-tempered man had made a mistake by raising his hand at me. Violence was a bad idea, and one ought to smoothen out the situation by talking it out first before resorting to any violence.
“Looks like you’re caught in an unfair situation... You can just explain it,” I said.
All he had to do was open a people's court. He could say that it wasn't his fault and that it was my fault. He could also say that I was trying to scam them by harming myself before them.
He could also shout and blame me to obtain everyone's support, but I was sure that something like that wouldn't happen.
After all, there were witnesses to our altercation earlier, and I had prepared a counterargument as well.
'If you’re going to open an illogical people's court, then I welcome it.'
“You can also report me,” I suggested.
'I’m the one that’s causing the problem, after all.'
“I’m going to hire a state-funded lawyer,” I told them.
I obviously had no time for that, but I needed to show some guts.
‘They’re at a bigger disadvantage than me.’
The trial would be long, and it’d be a long fight.
If they were an official guild member, the lawyers of the guild would defend them, but the Republic branch of the Blue Guild was being operated by Kim Hyun-Sung all by himself, so it was impossible.
Honestly, taking such a trivial incident to court was an absurd thing. The process would be extremely lengthy, and the media would obviously charge in to cover the unprecedented drama.
I was sure the press would publish articles with titles along the lines of...
'New guild members of the Blue Guild’s Republic Branch caught up in violence, or the leaders of society stepping on those underprivileged.'
'They could also ask...
“Why they're even in this city...” I mumbled.
Even if they somehow won, the people would always think of them as violent people, but if they ended up losing...
“If you’re so confident, go ahead. I have nothing to lose. You guys are the ones who have a lot to lose,” I said.
“Crazy bastard,” the man cursed.
“That’s exactly right. You guys messed with the wrong crazy bastard. If you don’t plan on taking this to court... how about we go back to the point... and show me mercy?” I suggested.
I lowered my head and wiped away my tears. One of the guild members behind them frowned as if they were watching a crazy bastard, and they were right.
Unfortunately, they had yet to realize that their actions and words were in conflict.
“Hyung... are you really...”
Between someone who stood to lose everything and someone who stood to lose nothing, the former obviously had a massive advantage over the latter.
“Don’t you dare show your face in front of me again, you bastard,” the older man warned.
“If you pay me enough, I’ll disappear quietly. Don’t be cheap like earlier, and give me a good amount. Be generous. Hehe,” I told him.
The older man took out his pouch. It seemed that he had earned a ton of money, as he was spending it like it was nothing.
“Are you seriously—”
“Quiet,” the older man interrupted his party member.
He helped me up quietly. He seemed worried about what the people thought about them because he pretended to be worried about me while handing over a hefty gold pouch to me.
‘They’re still rookies.’
I had no idea that he'd compromise so easily. I thought they were actually going to open a people's court. What was making them act so cautious?
'Is Commander Jin that scary? He must be far stricter than I thought.'
“Go away,” the older man said.
“Thank you, sir,” I said.
“This is the last time I’m forgiving you. Don’t appear in front of me again. If you do, I’ll do whatever it takes to—”
“Yeah, yeah. Have a good day,” I interrupted him.
“...”
“Before I leave, the short-tempered man over there should learn to manage his temper. This is sincere advice from me,” I told them.
Even if I were to appear before them, I was sure they wouldn't be able to do anything to me, as it wouldn't be that easy for them to take advantage of their authority as guild members of the Blue Guild.
They wouldn't be able to do anything other than tell the guild master or consult the guild staffers about it. Actually, I was sure they didn’t even have enough staffers in the Republic Branch.
I was sure they were simply given those seals before being told to take a break.
'I'm curious about whether those idiots are up to something, but I can check that later because we’re going out tonight. Right, Mr. Gen?'
“...”
“...”
“Welcome back, Mr. Gen. You really came back early today,” I greeted.
“I told you that I would,” Gen said.
“I-I just feel bad. I didn’t think you’d come back this early... so I didn’t prepare any food... H-How about we go out and eat?” I suggested.
“...” “If you’re uncomfortable about doing that—”
“I think it’s fine to do that once in a while,” Gen answered.
“I’ll lead you to the restaurant. I already made the reservations. Do you know what day it is today?” I asked.
“What?”
‘I don’t know either, man. So don’t make that kind of face.’
“Yes... of course I know,” Gen said.
‘Another white lie.’
“Today... is a very special day for me,” I told him.
He didn’t bother asking me. He seemed to have decided that it was better to stay quiet rather than become a jerk with a bad memory.
I was sure he was thinking hard about it, but he couldn't possibly find an answer, as this day was just an ordinary day for me. He seemed to be feeling guilty, but all he could do was play along with the Saint of Light, who was having a ton of fun.
“I agree, Mr. Lee Ki-Young,” Gen said.
“I honestly thought you'd forgotten, so... I’m happy that you still remember it,” I said.
“O-Of course... How could I forget it?” Gen stuttered.
So what was so special about today?
‘This guy is actually lying to me. He's talented at lying.’
I used my telescope to search for my targets and found them at a restaurant.
I entered the same restaurant with Gen and sat in a corner of the restaurant.
“It’s a nice place,” Gen commented.
“I told you. I really wanted to show my appreciation, Mr. Gen,” I told him.
“I should be the one thanking you,” Gen said.
I looked around and saw the idiots sitting at a table far from us.
When the short-tempered man got up to go to the bathroom...
“Do you mind if I head to the bathroom?” I asked.
“Go ahead,” Gen replied.
I followed the short-tempered man into the bathroom.
“Huh?”
I just had to collide with him as he was walking out of the bathroom, and it'd be mission success.
He tried to avoid me, but I was confident of my Agility, so I managed to bump into him.
I fell to the ground.
It seemed that I had bumped into him harder than I was supposed to because the noise echoed throughout the entire restaurant.
Hot-tempered number one frowned and glared at me. He looked like he was struck by deja vu, and he couldn't believe that something as ridiculous as this was happening to him again.
He couldn’t see my face, but he instantly saw through my identity upon seeing my smile.
I didn’t think that this was enough to provoke him, but he quickly proved me wrong.
“AAAAAH!” I yelled.
“You crazy beggar!” the hot-tempered man shouted.
“Ack! Ahh!” I screamed.
“Do you have any idea who I am?! Who we are?!” the hot-tempered questioned.
“Ahhhhhh!” I yelled.
‘Damn, that hurts.’
“You begging bastard! If you want to be crazy, go and be crazy with someone else. Ptooey! You bastard! Did you think we were joking when we said that we wouldn't forgive you again—”
“Ack!” I screamed, interrupting him.
The hot-tempered man was shouting in fury while I was screaming in pain. I was screaming because I was actually surprised by his outburst.
Meanwhile, Gen was preparing to have a nice time with me to celebrate this random day.
‘Why isn’t he coming here?’
“Ahh! Ack!” I screamed again.
‘The Saint of Light is dying, man.’
“M-Mr. Gen...” I mumbled.
Boom!
I saw the hot-tempered man falling to the ground.
“What the hell are you doing, you piece of trash?” Gen questioned.
‘He knows how to curse as well?’
“I asked you what you were doing to him, you bastard,” Gen repeated.