Chapter 69. Approach (2)
When Jegal Geum returned to his office after finishing his business...
The telephone on his desk was ringing loudly.
"Hmm..."
Wireless communication had been unusable for ten years now.
But wired communication still functioned perfectly well.
Even so...
Only a handful of people would call Jegal Geum directly.
Wondering who it could be...
Jegal Geum picked up the receiver.
"What is it?"
"Have you been well, Jegal Geum?"
A cheerful male voice came from the other side.
"I've been doing well enough."
"What about you, Shin Minyu?"
Shin Minyu.
One of the Eight Guardians, just like Jegal Geum.
A former athlete based in the old Goyang area.
He was an SS-rank Contractor...
Contracted with the S-rank Constellation "Warrior of the Fierce Hound," Cú Chulainn.
"I'm always healthy."
"And things are peaceful around me too."
"Good."
"But I heard you met Won Pilso a few days ago."
"How did you hear about that?"
"Come on."
"I have my methods."
Just as Shin Minyu said...
Jegal Geum had recently met Won Pilso.
Apparently...
Kang Yujin's group had gone directly to meet Won Pilso and negotiate.
As a result...
Won Pilso had given up on attacking the Hwaseong Sect.
He even promised to send supplies in support.
Just how badly did Kang Yujin scare him?
According to rumors...
Even Won Pilso's right-hand man Hwang Cheol had been defeated by Kang Yujin.
Rather than fight someone like that...
Won Pilso had decided making peace was better.
"I hear you've gained a very impressive Contractor as an ally."
"He's just a guest."
"I'm teaching him a little martial arts."
"Ah."
"So you're teaching him martial arts."
"Well..."
"The Hwaseong Sect is the best place for that."
"He's busy training under me."
"So don't start pestering him for no reason."
"Haha."
"Pestering him?"
Shin Minyu laughed.
"Still..."
"I would like to meet him once."
"Could you arrange something?"
"That depends on him."
"If you don't have any particular business..."
"He'll probably say he's not interested."
"Business can always be created."
"Then create some business first."
"Tell me about it afterward, and I'll pass it along."
"Hmm."
"I suppose that can't be helped."
Apparently...
Shin Minyu also had his eye on Kang Yujin.
"Anyway, Jegal Geum."
"What?"
"Do you know anything about Daji?"
"..."
At the name...
Jegal Geum fell silent.
"We still haven't found any sign of where she went."
"Indeed."
Daji...
Who had thrown Asia into chaos during the Scenario two years ago...
Had recently escaped from her seal and disappeared.
The Eight Guardians had only discovered it afterward.
Each of them was now trying to track her...
But nobody had found a clue.
"Jegal Geum."
"Do you truly know nothing?"
"Don't hide anything."
"Share whatever information you have."
"I'd like you to do the same."
"If you know something, tell me."
"Haha."
"If I knew something, would I be asking?"
"Who knows."
If someone located Daji and defeated her...
It would be an enormous achievement.
The Constellations would also grant tremendous rewards.
Naturally...
The Eight Guardians were all trying to find her first.
"Isn't it possible she already left the Capital Region?"
"Historically..."
Jegal Geum answered.
"Daji prefers operating around centers of political power."
"She's probably looking for her next target somewhere in the Capital Region."
Then he added calmly.
"Ha Mina said Daji probably hasn't left the Capital Region either."
Ha Mina.
A female member of the Eight Guardians.
She was based in the Hanam area.
An SS-rank Contractor...
Contracted with the S-rank Constellation "Prophetic Magician," Merlin.
Among the Eight Guardians...
She was the only Contractor who wasn't a physical type or magical attack type.
She was a special ability type.
Her power was something like supernatural intuition or insight.
She could instinctively perceive truths and glimpses of the future...
Things the ordinary human mind couldn't understand.
"Would be nice if she told us where Daji was hiding too."
"You know her ability isn't omnipotent."
"And if she knew exactly where Daji was..."
"She would've captured her herself."
"Or..."
Shin Minyu's tone changed slightly.
"Maybe she knows where Daji is and that's exactly why she hasn't caught her."
"What do you mean?"
"Jegal Geum."
Shin Minyu's voice became calm.
"Ha Mina's supernatural ability recently advanced another level, didn't it?"
"Doesn't it seem strange that she still can't figure out Daji's whereabouts?"
"She did determine Daji was in the Capital Region."
"Maybe she knows the exact location..."
"And is lying."
"Are you saying Ha Mina released Daji?"
"Doesn't it sound plausible?"
Only the Eight Guardians on Earth had known the location of Daji's seal.
Then...
It was possible one of them had released her.
Shin Minyu was naming Ha Mina as the culprit.
"Why would Ha Mina do something like that?"
"Then which of the Eight Guardians did it?"
"Why must it be one of us?"
"The information could have leaked."
"Then we need to find whoever leaked it."
"..."
"Jegal Geum."
Shin Minyu's voice was filled with certainty.
"Someone betrayed us."
"They're probably trying to use Daji to destroy the balance among the Eight Guardians..."
"And seize control of the Capital Region."
"..."
"Daji has enough power for that."
"We all suffered during the Scenario two years ago."
In truth...
Each of Daji's individual avatars had been manageable for the Eight Guardians.
But if all of them merged into one complete body...
That would become extremely troublesome.
If one of the Eight Guardians had allied with Daji to seize supremacy...
Even the others working together might have difficulty stopping them.
"Either way..."
Shin Minyu said.
"I'm suspicious of everyone."
"Ha Mina included."
"Does that include me?"
"Of course."
"You realize that means people can suspect you too."
"Naturally."
"..."
Jegal Geum silently sighed.
"If I learn anything..."
"I'll share as much as I can."
"Thank you."
"I'll do the same."
Jegal Geum didn't know how much he could trust Shin Minyu's words.
He ended the call with a heavy feeling.
"This is exhausting..."
After clashing with his Constellation...
And experiencing the rebellion of Han Sewon, whom he had thought of as a disciple...
Jegal Geum realized just how tired he had become.
Until recently...
He had rarely thought about his age.
But now...
There were more and more moments when he felt old.
"Perhaps it's time to step down from the Eight Guardians..."
Because he had re-contracted with a B-rank Constellation...
His combat ability had also fallen.
Perhaps he no longer had enough strength to stand alongside the other Eight Guardians.
"I need a successor..."
Jegal Geum sank into his chair with a sigh.
And the image of a young man...
Passed through his mind.
"So your plan to swallow the Hwaseong Sect was ruined because of that Contractor named Kang Yujin."
Hearing the cold voice through the receiver...
Won Pilso frowned.
"Lee Hyeonje."
"Are you mocking me?"
"Of course not."
Lee Hyeonje.
A man who controlled the old northern Seoul area.
He could be considered the leader of the Eight Guardians.
An SS-rank Contractor...
Contracted with the S-rank Constellation "Grand Preceptor of the Golden Whip," Wen Zhong.
His strength rivaled Cheon Sangwoon's.
"I told you before..."
"I wouldn't care if you defeated Jegal Geum."
"Then you should've supported me."
"Or at least pressured Cheon Sangwoon."
"That wouldn't have been fair."
"Again with your damn fairness?"
Won Pilso frowned.
"Fairness."
That was one of the values Lee Hyeonje considered most important.
"If you defeated Jegal Geum in a direct confrontation..."
"I would've recognized the result."
"But you failed."
"I didn't even fight Jegal Geum."
"I got beaten by Kang Yujin."
"Same thing."
"In the current situation..."
"Kang Yujin is part of Jegal Geum's military strength."
"Good grief..."
"Either way..."
Lee Hyeonje continued.
"You'd better remain quiet for a while."
"At least until the Scenario begins."
"I was already planning to."
Hwang Cheol was still recovering.
Won Pilso had no choice but to stay quiet for a while.
"The other Eight Guardians probably won't make any major moves either."
"Really?"
"I already spoke with Choi Cheolmin."
"He said he'll watch the situation for now."
Choi Cheolmin.
One of the Eight Guardians based in Uijeongbu.
An SS-rank Contractor...
Contracted with the S-rank Constellation "Hero King of Monstrous Strength," Beowulf.
"Yoon Miho hasn't moved lately either."
"So she's probably thinking the same."
"That woman too..."
Yoon Miho.
One of the Eight Guardians based in Namyangju.
An SS-rank Contractor...
Contracted with the A-rank Constellation "Knight of the Wagon," Lancelot.
"Cheon Sangwoon, Shin Minyu, and Ha Mina are probably the same."
"Everyone will stay quiet for a while."
"You never know."
Won Pilso frowned.
"We don't know what's going to happen with Daji."
"..."
The moment Won Pilso mentioned Daji...
Lee Hyeonje fell silent.
Under the orders of his Constellation...
The "Grand Preceptor of the Golden Whip"...
Lee Hyeonje had taken the lead in sealing Daji.
Because of that...
He seemed to feel responsible for her escape.
Or...
That could all be an act.
Perhaps Daji's release...
Was something Lee Hyeonje himself had arranged.
Won Pilso secretly suspected it.
The Grand Preceptor of the Golden Whip...
Wen Zhong was on the same side as Daji in Investiture of the Gods.
That was true.
Constellation Wen Zhong now had a duty to help subjugate Daji on Earth.
But long ago...
Both had belonged to the Shang dynasty.
Maybe...
Without the other Contractors and Constellations knowing...
They had secretly joined hands again and were planning something.
He acts like such a fair and righteous man on the outside...
But maybe he's doing something filthy behind everyone's backs.
Won Pilso kept those suspicions to himself and waited for Lee Hyeonje to continue.
"By the way..."
Lee Hyeonje suddenly changed the subject.
"About Kang Yujin."
"..."
"I'm interested too."
"Can I meet him?"
"Kang Yujin?"
"Yes."
"Shouldn't you ask Jegal Geum about that instead of me?"
"You know I don't get along well with that old man."
"That's because last time you insisted everything had to be fair and refused to give up your chair."
"Could've shown some respect to an old man."
"Anyway."
Lee Hyeonje ignored the comment.
"I need to see Kang Yujin."
"What are you planning?"
"Are you coming all the way down to Suwon?"
"There's no need."
"Then what?"
"In a few days..."
"We have the regular Han River subjugation."
"Ah..."
For the last ten years...
The Han River had become difficult for humans to approach.
It had turned into a habitat for countless aquatic monsters.
Through the efforts of the Eight Guardians...
Some areas had been secured.
The bridges between northern and southern Seoul could be used safely.
But the monsters still had to be regularly culled...
Or their population would grow too much.
"Let's invite Kang Yujin there and see what he can do."
"Wait."
"Then..."
"If word gets out..."
"Other Eight Guardians will probably appear too."
"..."
"Because Kang Yujin is interesting enough to attract them."
Won Pilso swallowed dryly.
This bastard...
If the Eight Guardians gathered in one place right now...
There was no way things would end peacefully.
There was the Daji problem.
The Scenario was about to begin.
Everyone was already tense.
And this was coming from the man who had just told Won Pilso to stay quiet.
What is this bastard really thinking?
Did he sincerely just want to see Kang Yujin?
Or...
Was he using Kang Yujin as bait to gather the Eight Guardians?
Won Pilso couldn't tell at all.
"Clown."
"Yes, Kang Yujin."
Number 49 appeared when called.
Kang Yujin slowly spoke.
"I think I have around eight hundred million Coins right now."
"You've spent a lot recently."
"And you still have that much?"
"You must've received an incredible amount of sponsorship."
"Enough useless comments."
"Understood."
Number 49 bowed his head.
"So it's finally time to upgrade your equipment."
"Your current iron mace and protective suit no longer match your level."
He rubbed his palms together.
"Leave it to me."
"I've already thought of several good weapons."
"I'm sure they'll suit your taste."
"The first one I'd like to recommend is this one for five hundred million..."
"Forget that."
"What?"
"Look at this first."
Kang Yujin cut him off and handed him a piece of paper.
"I want to make something like this."
"Is it possible?"
Number 49 stared at the page.
"What is this filthy scribble?"
"Is it possible or not?"
"Wait a moment."
Confused...
Number 49 examined the paper more carefully.
Then...
He looked up.
"Kang Yujin."
"What?"
"Are you insane?"
"Watch your mouth."
