Chapter 96 (1/2)

Matap (1)

On the day the aurora overcast the sky, the Korean Government made their official statements.

The summary was as follows.

– The current phenomenon is intended by the Government, and the public does not have to be anxious about it. The Government apologizes for not having disclosed it in advance, but it was a matter of national security, and they took the initiative of executing it before the announcement.

– [Aurora of stability] is an item acquired by a guild that has close cooperative ties with the Government, and the Government was aware of the effect through [Analysis] beforehand.

– The proposed idea of using all of the supply of the guild’s item in South Korean territory was first offered by the guild to the Government.

– The Government inquired about the method of acquiring this item, but the guild refused to disclose it.

The Government didn’t reveal the guild that first offered the proposal, but people already had a guild in mind.

The Internet went wild.

– Obviously, it’s the Celestial Dragon, LMAO. What’s the use of anonymity?

– I mean, why does everyone conclude that it was Seo Jin-Wook from the Celestial Dragons? There’s also Destructional Blade and Grand Croix. Gate Keepers, too.

↳ Seo Jin-Wook was the one that received the SS-Rank at the fastest rate, stopped the A-Class break with only three people, and have scouted the SSS-Rank hunter who, even the British Government, failed to lure. Don’t you see the lines connecting here?

↳ The common element is that it’s an achievement that no one has ever done before.

↳ Grand Croix has recently gone to smithereens, and it’s beyond the capabilities of other guilds for them to have done it.

↳ Yep, I agree.

Seo Jin-Wook’s accomplishments had been so impressive that everyone seemed to be convinced that the event at that time was done by him.

Of course, there were doubtful voices among them.

– But why are they keeping their identity anonymous? I don’t understand. It’s an achievement worthy of being praised by sweet words and filling the Celestial Dragon’s office with medals.

↳ This is also a theory… But there is a story that Seo Jin-Wook refused.

While numerous deductions were happening like that, other countries’ governments were contacting the South Korean Government.

A fierce espionage and information war was happening in the private sectors.

Seo Jin-Wook was being requested for meetings from many foreign guilds, but he refused all of them through excuses.

But then…

“Guild Master, this is a request for an interview with the British Matap Guild. Just like the rest, should we…”

“Yes, make an appointment. Even if that’s going to be today.”

“Send a reply of decline while being polite with adequate reasons…. Wait, what?”

Seo Jin-Wook repeated was he told his secretary, who opened his eyes wide because of the unexpected answer.

“Make an appointment. I don’t have any plans today anyway, so I’m free anytime.”

Secretary Kim nodded in surprise.

*

The interview, which was undisclosed to the media, took place just past noon.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Arthur Clifford.”

The silver-haired man extended his hand with a smile.

His appearance seemed like he’s only in his early 20s, but he was actually an old man over 70 years of age.

He Awakened at the age of 50 and fully rejuvenated according to his Mana’s activation rate.

It was Arthur Clifford, the head of the Matap Guild.

“It’s a pleasure. I’m Seo Jin-Wook.”

We lightly shook hands and sat down.

Arthur kept his eyes fixed on me with a relaxed smile.

I held back my anger that rose by seeing his face.

‘The amount of trouble I’ve had in my past life because of him…!’

Arthur, who had no idea how I felt, spoke in a tone that manifested his years of living.

If someone looked at him without seeing his tainted soul, he seemed like a perfectly composed gentleman.

“Thank you for responding to this sudden request. It’s an honor to meet the source of the issue which got everyone talking around the world these days.”

Naturally, he laid down compliments for me. He was saying that he was surprised as well by my achievements.

However, as I listened silently without any change in facial expressions, he soon cleared his throat and moved on to the main subject.

“I’m sure you can guess why I’ve paid you a visit today, but a few days ago….”

I cut him off.

“That’s not me.”

I had to pretend initially.

“I know why you came here to talk. That aurora… it wasn’t me. If you’re here for that, please go back.”

“Hahaha.”

His lips drew a curve.

Arthur didn’t even pretend to listen to me.

“I know what you’re worried about. You must be afraid of the drafts. In the onset that you reveal it, the guilds aiming for the item worldwide will boldly rush in. Isn’t the current situation already like this, even only with a sloppy rumor?”

He continued his explanation by pretending to have a wholesome face.

“And no matter how good a hunter you are, isn’t the Celestial Dragon Guild… Boldly speaking, just a small local guild when looking at an international level?”

Wouldn’t you look at that bastard?

While placing my hands on my chin, I stared at him to provoke him to continue.

“Even if it’s No. 1 in Korea, from an outsider’s perspective, there are a lot of factors that it lacks. Especially if you look at the members…. There are only one SS-Class hunter and two S-Class hunters, right? On the other hand, we are a big guild with more than 20 hunters above the SS-Class.”

One SS-Class and two S-Class, huh.

Although it was a count considering Hibiki, who was recently promoted to S-Class, the important part was missing.

“There’s also one of SSS-Class.”

“Oh, you mean Abrams? He’s such a fickle friend. I’ve experienced it myself a few times.”

Both of them were active in the U.K., so they must have encountered each other.

Arthur continued as if to guarantee.

“Staying in Korea for a while right now would be under the influence of his fickleness. If he loses interest, he’ll leave again.”

I didn’t know. Would it be so?

I silently listened to him with a faint smile.

Like I wanted him to talk more.

Then Arthur let out a quick glance that seemed to say, ‘won’t you look at this bastard?’ and immediately wrapped it up.

Hmph, no matter how hard he tried to taunt me, I wouldn’t be playing his game.

“So what I’d like to say is that… Our Matap guild will be the help behind our Guild Master Seo Jin-Wook and the Celestial Dragon guild.”

I sighed internally.

‘How come you, bastard, isn’t any different from my previous life?’

No, of course, he wouldn’t change since that bastard was the same bastard in front of me.

It’s a waste of time to listen to more, so I asked him a question that time.

“Is the Matap such a great guild?”

“… Haha! Well, I’m baffled to hear you say so.”

An unpleasant feeling lingered around his eyes, who had maintained a gentle attitude and facial expression so far.

To lead the world’s largest guild was a solid pride that drove the human being named Arthur Clifford.

By meddling with it, his true color was revealed.

He is polite and civil on the outside, but taking a look inside, he is ignoring the Celestial Dragon.

“As you know, we have a virtually exclusive distribution of Magic Skill Cards above S-Class.”

There were no other note-worthy guilds in the U.K. besides the Matap.

That was because Matap destroyed or absorbed everyone.

In the process, they received full support from the British Government, and that’s their secret.

As I pretend to act interested, I played as he wanted me to.

“I’ve heard of it. Shepherd 2 dungeon.”

Thanks to the ‘something’ that existed there, the Matap Guild obtained many Magic Skill Cards of rare S-Class or higher Class every year.

Initially, magic was famous for being rare among the skill cards, but the probability of getting an S-Class or higher was wicked.

The probability of random acquisition converged to zero unless they chose the reward by looking into the reward content like I did.

However, there were so many of those cards in the Matap that most magicians had already learned. It reached the point where it created a ‘surplus of S-Class cards .’ Those were sold at a tremendously high price.

Since there was little supply even in the black markets worldwide, it was safe to say that the Matap was selling those products exclusively.

“I heard that they say it’s the source of funds that enabled Matap Guild to grow this much?”

Arthur smiled happily.

He didn’t confirm or deny my words.

But his face was horribly distorted by my words that followed.

“That the Shepherd 2 dungeon, that is so precious from the perspective of the Matap guild, had entered the state of ‘very unstable’…”

After saying that much, I check his expression again.

Indeed, the old snake quickly reverted its distorted face to its original state.

But, the expression that collapsed even for a moment convinced me of one thing.

‘It has already started. Sigh, you stupid bastards blinded by greed.’

The silence that hovered around my office for a moment was quickly broken.

“Haha, it’s a calumny that’s not worth listening to. Our guild closely observes the Gate of Shepherd 2 Dungeon. There’s still no change in the ‘slightly unstable’ state. You can be assured.”

“Oh? That’s not what I heard.”

“My, my… I’m curious about the source of this false rumor.”

His expression that hid his expectation looked at me.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I heard it somewhere, but I forgot.”

I was assured once more of the reason that Arthur Clifford found me.