After a round of drinks had gone around and everyone had quenched their thirst, I began my explanation. There were two key characteristics of the clan I was about to establish: an elite few and an operational structure based on the traits of free mercenaries and commission-based work. While the concept of an elite few required no further explanation, Go Yeon-Joo and Ha-Yeong showed a deep interest in the idea of free mercenaries.
The players listening to me now were not naive individuals unfamiliar with the ways of the world. That was why I felt the need to provide a more detailed explanation of how adopting the status of a free mercenary could be advantageous in the future.
I calmly organized my thoughts on the events that would soon unfold:
Partial success in the plan to eradicate the vagrants. However, complete annihilation failed, and some vagrants managed to escape.
The Golden Lion Clan and its allied clans suffered a defeat in their Iron Mountain expedition, leading to a decrease in military strength.
As a result, control over the northern continent, including the major city of Babara, weakened.
The Golden Lion Clan issued a summons, but some cities, excluding allied clans, declared independence.
Seizing this opportunity, the vagrants began to rise in power.
Some players from the Western Continent joined the conflict, leading to the occupation of western cities and the major city of Babara.
Ultimately, the Golden Lion Clan was destroyed, and its allied clans either disbanded or fled.
Up to this point, these were the actual events that had unfolded in the first life. After Babara was occupied, several major city representative clans attempted to reclaim it. However, they were ultimately defeated by the combined forces of the Western Continent players and the vagrants.
It was only then that the other clans realized the severity of the situation. They formed a united army, and in the end, they succeeded in retaking Babara.
I explained this entire sequence of events to everyone. Of course, I didn't reveal everything. My main focus was on emphasizing the high likelihood of failure in the Iron Mountain expedition, the rise of the vagrants, and the consequences these events would bring.
At my words, my companions and Go Yeon-Joo let out deep sighs. The initial excitement had completely disappeared, and a heavy silence pressed down on the room, lingering around the table where we sat.
These players had some understanding of Hall Plain's affairs, but my words contained too many uncertainties for them to accept at face value. Even I acknowledged that. My explanation made sense in theory, but some of the key events that had to occur inevitably raised the question: "Will things really unfold that way?"
However, the fact that Go Yeon-Joo was present was a stroke of luck—though not something I had planned.
She was a five-year veteran player, one of the Top 10, known as the Shadow Queen, and possessed a secret class. She was also called a walking information broker, making her evaluation of my plan crucial. If she deemed it plausible, my words carried weight; if she dismissed it, then it might as well be mere fantasy.
Meanwhile, Shin Sang-Yong tilted his head with a puzzled expression. The scale of the conversation was so vast that he was struggling to grasp it. He was, at his core, an academic type, and discussions like these weren't really his forte.
Ha-Yeong's expression was also ambiguous. She understood my words but seemed reluctant to fully accept them. However, since it was me presenting the argument, she chose to remain silent rather than dismiss it outright.
I had already anticipated their reactions. Originally, I hadn't planned to reveal this much, but with Go Yeon-Joo present, I decided to share a little more about the future events to come.
Turning my gaze toward her, I studied her expression. The moment I saw the seriousness on her face, I couldn't help but smile inwardly.
Go Yeon-Joo frowned slightly, clicking her tongue before reaching for the bottle of liquor in front of her. Without hesitation, she lifted it, parting her delicate lips just enough to take the bottle's mouth between them.
And before anyone could stop her, she tilted the bottle upside down.
"Gulp, gulp."
Shin Sang-Yong stared at her, looking utterly appalled as she downed an entire bottle in one go. Streams of liquid escaped the corners of her mouth, tracing a glistening path down her throat before soaking into the fabric covering her chest.
Once the bottle was emptied, she placed it back on the table with a soft thud. Finally, as if her parched throat had been somewhat relieved, she let out a long, sweet sigh.
After a brief chuckle, she looked at me and spoke.
"Seriously… I only came in here to kill some time and listen to a random story, but this? This is a damn thunderbolt out of nowhere… Player Kim Su-Hyeon."
"Hmm."
At her call, I gave a small nod. She let out a sigh, her expression showing clear exhaustion, and then spoke.
"You scare me."
Her first words were 'You scare me.' There were many ways to interpret that, but at the very least, it meant she wasn't dismissing my words as nonsense.
After all, for someone of her caliber—a Top 10 player—to be here instead of eagerly joining the expedition, it was likely she wasn't too thrilled about it either. Encouraged by that thought, I calmly asked,
"In what way?"
"The fact that a zeroth-year player could predict all of this is astonishing. I didn't even foresee some of these events. No, more than that… What's really frightening is that you're planning to take advantage of it. So, you're not an ability-focused player but a strategist? Or maybe… both?"
A slight flush crept onto Go Yeon-Joo's face as she shook her head, then leaned back into her chair. Seeing this, Ha-Yeong hesitated before cautiously speaking up.
"Player Go Yeon-Joo… how do you evaluate Su-Hyeon's words?"
At that, Go Yeon-Joo turned her half-lidded gaze toward me, then answered in a tired voice.
"I don't know… No, it's ambiguous. To be honest, everything he mentioned that can be objectively verified is correct. There are indeed many clans dissatisfied with the Golden Lion Clan, and if their expedition fails, plenty of them will be celebrating.
Yeah, if the Golden Lion Clan's control weakens, it's entirely possible that other clans with hidden ambitions will start making moves.
But…"
She acknowledged part of what I had said.
A Top 10 player—no less than the Shadow Queen herself, known for her exceptional intelligence-gathering skills—had given some credibility to my claims. Ha-Yeong and Shin Sang-Yong widened their eyes in surprise at her assessment. But Go Yeon-Joo wasn't finished speaking yet.
"The part about the vagrants… That's something we can't judge just yet. For player Kim Su-Hyeon's words to hold, for your future clan to truly have power, the vagrants would need to move with absolute precision. But do you really think that's possible?"
"It's almost guaranteed."
"From what I know, the vagrants are indeed gathering in large numbers this time. But regardless of how things play out, if we talk about victory and defeat, it will be a 100% win for the existing players. It's a complete annihilation plan, meaning they'll wipe the vagrants out to the last man. And yet you're saying they'll flee to the Western Continent, rally the players there, and return to invade?"
At her words, I couldn't help but grin.
To put it simply, the Vagrant Annihilation Plan ends with the first phase.
Yes, the players win decisively in the first battle, but instead of finishing the job, they turn their attention to preparing for the expedition.
Of course, they suffer heavy casualties as well. One of the Golden Lion Clan's allied factions—the SSUN Clan, representing the western city of Halo—takes a particularly devastating blow.
This means that the remaining vagrants, already grouped together, are forced to cross over to the Western Continent. There, they receive support, regroup, and launch a counterattack through the western route.
After taking a brief moment to organize my thoughts, I finally spoke.
"They're already too preoccupied with the Iron Mountain expedition. Do you really think they'll go out of their way to completely wipe out the fleeing vagrants?
Besides, these guys aren't the type to be caught so easily. If there's one thing they excel at, it's survival."
"…Alright. Then what about support from the Western Continent? I know what kind of people they are, but would they really risk crossing an entire continent for this?"
"With Halo as the battleground, their only escape route is to the Western Continent. Crawling back into the Northern Continent would be suicide. Sure, crossing over isn't easy, but I don't think the vagrants will just run away quietly. If anything, they'll be obsessed with revenge and will find a way to open a path between the continents—or at least secure one route.
It's not like there haven't been crossings before. And if enough Northern Continent vagrants sacrifice themselves to establish a stable route, some of those Western Continent players might start thinking, 'This could actually work.'"
"Hmmm…."
Go Yeon-Joo nodded slowly, as if finding my reasoning plausible. Then she absentmindedly tapped her lips.
Without hesitation, I reached out and placed a cigarette between them. Of course, since I was already at it, I lit one for myself as well.
Flick. Inhale. Exhale.
She took a deep drag, exhaled a thin stream of smoke, then spoke again.
"So, the key to your argument—the entire movement of the vagrants—hinges on the early conclusion of the Vagrant Annihilation Plan. Given their nature… Heh. A player who even factors in the behavioral traits of vagrants? You're getting scarier by the second.
But you do have a point. If things play out that way, the Northern Continent will fall into chaos, and a clan with a free mercenary structure will have its operational range dramatically expanded.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of player you'll grow into.
That said, I have a few more questions."
She spoke incredibly fast. Outwardly, she looked composed, but her slightly disorganized speech suggested her mind was working in overdrive.
Honestly, I wasn't calculating any of this—I was just reciting what had already happened in the past. But either way, it seemed she was partially convinced while keeping some reservations.
I silently waited for her next words.
"Do you really think that clan of yours can gain enough renown? Sure, you've achieved extraordinary results for someone with your experience, but joining a newly founded clan will still seem like a risky move for many."
"That's why I said from the start—it's an elite unit. We have no intention of taking in just anyone."
"Arrogant, aren't you?"
"That arrogance changes meaning when backed by real power. One Secret Class, two Rare Classes, and a team of highly skilled—or highly promising—players. Who could afford to ignore such a free and unpredictable force?"
When I mentioned one Secret Class and two Rare Classes, I saw Go Yeon-Joo's eyes flicker.
For a brief moment, her face stiffened, and she fell completely silent.
She didn't speak again until I had finished my cigarette. Then, as if speaking to herself, she muttered, "Secret… Rare Classes…." Before finally opening her mouth again, her expression was somewhat complicated.
"I've heard you out. Can I ask one more question?"
"Ask as many as you want."
"Why are you telling me all of this? Those two—sure, they're your companions, so it makes sense. But I have nothing to do with you."
I didn't answer right away. Instead, I turned my gaze toward Shin Sang-Yong and Ha-Yeong.
They hesitated briefly, understanding the silent cue in my eyes, but eventually, both of them rose from their seats.
Shin Sang-Yong spoke first.
"Leader. I don't know how you'll take this, but… I really like your caravan. And… I don't want to lose my mentor, either. If you're willing, I'd like to stay with you from here on out."
Ha-Yeong followed.
"Su-Hyeon-ssi. I've already told you how I feel before. I can't say I fully grasp everything you've told us tonight, but…
Since I've decided to trust you, I'll continue to do so."
After confirming their willingness to join, I nodded, my expression softening slightly.
"Originally, I wanted to take things a bit slower, but it seems like there's something that needs to be settled first. If I had no intention of accepting you both, I wouldn't have brought up any of this in the first place. That said, I look forward to working with you. And good job today."
"Good job? Every day has been enjoyable for me."
Every day has been enjoyable, huh?
I let out a quiet chuckle at Shin Sang-Yong's easygoing smile before continuing.
"Then, I'll see you both in the morning."
"Yes. We'll take our leave now."
The two gave me a small nod before slowly making their way to the door.
Just as she was about to step out, Ha-Yeong hesitated and cast a wary glance between me and Go Yeon-Joo.
I gave her a reassuring look, but she still mouthed, "Be careful."
Then, with a careful hand, she closed the door behind her.
Now, only Go Yeon-Joo and I remained in the room.
Having silently observed everything, she let a deep, knowing smile spread across her lips before scooting closer to my side.
"Finally, it's just the two of us?"
"Looks like it. But could you stick to one way of speaking? You switch between formal and informal speech with others, but with me, you keep mixing it up. It's confusing."
At my words, Go Yeon-Joo giggled and pressed her body against me with a playful gesture.
"I can't help it. My personality naturally swings back and forth like this. Just accept it as it is. And do you think I act this way with just anyone? Most guys actually love it when I speak formally to them in private like this~."
"What are you even talking about…?"
"Come on, don't you feel a little flattered? A Top 10 ranker is sitting right in front of you, acting all coy, speaking politely…
Doesn't it make you feel good?"
Her expression had softened a bit compared to earlier, but I instinctively felt the need to tread carefully.
So, I gently pushed her back and adjusted my posture.
Go Yeon-Joo pouted slightly at my reaction, then sneaked a glance at the door.
"That feisty young lady from earlier—her eyes were no joke. Even I felt a little emotional just watching her."
"…You're going off-topic. Let's get back to the main point."
If this kept going, I'd end up getting caught up in her pace. So, I made the conscious decision to steer the conversation back on track. At my firm tone, Go Yeon-Joo pouted slightly before letting out a soft sigh.
"Sigh… You're no fun. Fine, I'll ask again. Why did you tell me all of that?"
"That's because…."
I paused for a moment—then let my gaze drift toward her chest.
The dagger was still lodged deep between her cleavage.
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