Chapter 1025: Cleanup (8)

“I don’t know how… but why…” Squiat asked.

“I don’t really like it when the mood is serious. Playing chess while talking will make it a little easier for us to talk… You also won’t have to worry about formalities…” I replied.

“…”

“I think it’s best to talk in a more comfortable setting. It’s not good for us to treat our conversation as an extension of the meeting,”

“I see. I appreciate it,” Squiat said.

The same words would have a different meaning depending on the interpretation.

It would be better for him if we were to talk to each other while playing chess instead of talking about the clean-up proceedings of the expedition. He’d attract less attention from the press and the members of the Blue Guild.

‘An unofficial meeting is a lot better.’

We wouldn’t need to record this in the meeting log, and I was sure that was what he wanted, so this was actually good for him.

‘Many people noticed us, though.’

The meeting was over, but the meeting room was rowdy because some people were trying to get some profit from the Federation.

Some people also noticed Squiat walking over toward me. Some of them felt uncomfortable at the sight and frowned, but they didn’t really stop him.

It was all because they could just invite themselves if it seemed like we were going to have a tea party. Unfortunately, I asked Squiat whether he could play chess or not, which meant that they would have no reason to join our conversation.

They knew I was being considerate of Squiat, and it would be rude of them to try to join our conversation despite that.

I felt like they had become more hostile to the fish, as they were worried about the possibility of Squiat stabbing me in the back.

“Thank you for your hard work, everyone,” I said.

“Would it be okay if I visit you privately next time, Father Lee Ki-Young?” the bearded man asked.

“Of course. You’re welcome to visit me anytime. Let’s have tea and enjoy each other’s company. Ah! I think it’s better if I invite you to the tea party that’s going to be held soon,” I suggested.

“Hahaha, really? An invitation to your tea party… I’m already looking forward to it. It will be a family honor,” replied the bearded man.

“Maybe I should’ve invited you sooner,” I commented.

“Hahahaha, I’m just glad that you even considered inviting me. I’m sure my daughter will be very happy. She’s actually going to debut soon…” mentioned the bearded man.

“Debuting at such a trivial tea party…” I said.

“It’s not a trivial tea party if it’s your tea party! I can already imagine the smiles on my children’s faces,” said the bearded man.

“Hahaha.”

Naturally, I talked to those who were leaving and bid goodbye to them.

“Thank you very much for today,” I said.

“I should be the one thanking you, Father Lee Ki-Young. You have no idea how touched I was… by your warm heart and the fact that you’re prioritizing the continent.” �

I didn’t really mean those things.

“Ah, Commander!” I yelled.

“Father Lee Ki-Young,” Jin Cheong said.

“Are you heading back to the Republic?” I asked.

“That’s right,” Jin Cheong replied.

“Why don’t you stay a little longer…” I suggested.

“I have tasks I need to take care of… I apologize,” Jin Cheong said.

“I can’t believe you’re returning so soon…” I said.

“I will make time someday and visit the Blue Guild,” Jin Cheong said.

“You promised,” I said.

“Of course.”

I pretended like I was close to Jin Cheong, and the meeting finally ended.

After a while, we started heading out.

Squiat stared at me quietly all this while.

“Well then…” I said.

“Yes, Father Lee Ki-Young?”

“I think it’s best if we head to my room,” I suggested.

“Yes, sir,” Squiat replied.

I also didn’t forget to notify the guild staffers.

“I have a guest, so please make sure that no one will disturb us.”

“Yes, sir.”

I was ready to talk. Of course, I didn’t forget to show him my ordinary life as the sub guild master and the honorary cardinal. I showed him my life as an ordinary human rather than as the honorary cardinal ordering the guild staffers around.

I took out a chessboard and talked casually to him. I also served him some tea and snacks. It was a familiar routine.

The room was clean with luxurious and antique furniture and items, but I seemed out of place in all of this. Pouring my own tea was something commoners would do, and it looked as if I weren’t greedy or materialistic.

It was like the Blue Guild had provided all these to help me maintain my dignity rather than saying that I wanted all these.

“What kind of tea do you like?” I asked.

“I don’t… really enjoy… drinking tea…” Squiat answered.

‘You’re hopeless.’

“Then I’ll recommend one to you,” I said.

“I’d appreciate that,” Squiat said.

A chessboard was placed on the large table.

The tea and our snacks were sitting on the side table.

I quietly moved a piece, and he nodded before moving his chess piece. We weren’t playing with the intention of winning. Playing chess wasn’t important to him… He had come here to tell me what he wanted, so I was sure he was thinking hard right now.

“First of all…” Squiat said.

“Yes?”

“On behalf of the Federation… I would like to thank you for doing everything that you can for us,” Squiat continued.

‘That’s right. Start off by thanking me first, but it’s kind of strange, isn’t it? You’re not the representative of the Federation, after all.’

“It’s nothing. I should be the one thanking you, Mr. Squiat. I know that the small cities of the Federation are struggling, but I never really managed to confirm. Many people were uncomfortable because your words did not really fit the topic of the meeting. but I understand why you decided to do that,” I said.

“Thank you for—”

“So… can you tell me why you requested a private meeting?” I asked, interrupting him.

‘I’ve already done enough to address the problems that you mentioned.’

“That’s…” Squiat paused.

‘The poverty and the hardships of the people in the Federation were resolved by giving you guys the license to the dungeon. The equal distribution you mentioned was also resolved with the Legendary item that you got.’

“If there’s something else you need, feel free to tell me,” I said.

This amount of kindness had to be considered a sickness.

‘Even I think that I’m being really stupid.’

There probably wasn’t another person as nice as me.

Legendary items were so valuable that it was hard to convert them to gold.

Of course, there were many such items on the market right now, so their value had dropped significantly, but they were still extremely expensive. The dungeon maintenance project was good for them, but the items given to the Federation…

‘Those items are going to be helpful with their expedition.’

Basically, the issues that had been plaguing them due to the fact that they hadn’t been able to raid a dungeon or hunt monsters had just been resolved earlier.

The Federation would surely grow as quickly as a rolling snowball, but I knew why he wanted this meeting.

‘He wants more.’

I had no idea what he wanted… but he probably wanted to know who I was supporting.

“Come to think of it; you’re from the small city of Ohio…” I mentioned.

“Yes. I’m still lacking, but I manage the small city of Ohio. Of course, the denizens are helping me as well,” Squiat said.

“I see.”

His position wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exactly the best either.

If he wanted to become a part of the Federation’s higher-ups, he could surely become one. However, there was a major city right next to Ohio, so he probably thought that Ohio was too small for him to fulfill his dreams.

If he wanted to be at the center of the Federation’s politics to reform the Federation, then he’d need connections and the help of someone famous.

‘I give you fifty points. It’s not bad, but it’s not good, either.’

He probably felt like the bearded bandit had taken credit for his contribution. The presentation was made by him, but the contribution was split between the central and the major cities around it.

‘Or is it something else?’

‘Do you want to have a Mythic-ranked item all to yourself? Are you really worried about the continent? Do you want to change the continent? Did you really think someone should keep Light Ki-Young in check? Are you here to gamble with me with some grand plan?’

‘Did you request a private meeting with me because you want to carry out the revolution that you have in mind?’

Squiat stared quietly at the chessboard.

He was sweating, and I could see through his thoughts. I was sure he knew how difficult it was for a ruler of a small city to have a private meeting with me.

The lovely and holy honorary cardinal was a foolishly kind man, but despite that, Squiat probably felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff. One word could change everything.

‘There’s no way, right?’

I had thrown multiple hints. A foolishly kind man and a saint who had been living his life for the continent. I had been sacrificing myself to the point that I looked like a fool, but it seemed like he couldn’t find any traces of Light Ki-Young in me.

Squiat had only one choice, and it was explaining exactly what had happened, as I had forgotten some of the events during the expedition.

Squirt wanted to make me feel wary of myself.

He wanted to create a brand-new group that wasn’t part of the Blue Guild, the Mercenary Guild, the Black Swan Guild, the Continental Protection Management Committee, and the Sacred Democratic Country.

He wanted to make me an enemy of myself.

Squiat sounded confident as he said, “It’s about the Mole Saint’s Cozy Sanctuary.”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you know… what happened there?” he asked carefully.

And that was when a shadow appeared behind him…

‘Kim Ye-Ri.’

Squiat probably wanted to tell me about the dark, hidden truth.

‘Those three must’ve been taking turns to watch over me.’

Kim Ye-Ri took out her dagger, and she had a cold look that was unlike a little girl like her. Before Squiat could finish his sentence, a dagger was pressed against his neck, but there weren’t any holes in his neck.

“What are you doing, Kim Ye-Ri?” I asked.

“…” “I asked… what you’re doing,” I repeated.

‘Are you trying to execute him because he broke the contract?’

The fish fell from his chair and clutched his neck. He looked to be in disbelief. If I hadn’t stopped her, his head would have been rolling on the ground by now. The fish was also aware of the fact that he had almost lost his life.

Kim Ye-Ri realized the sad truth once again. Upon seeing my disapproving gaze, her hands trembled, and she ran out while crying.

‘She won’t tell Hyun-Sung if she knows what’s good for her.’

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young…”

Squiat proceeded to blabber on and on about the Monarch of Lust and Eternal Sleep.

Boom!

There was a deafening noise, and someone walked into the room with bloodshot eyes, looking extremely angry. He’d usually smile like a fool, but he looked like a demon right now.

His frown was so deep that it distorted his face in a hideous way. I couldn’t help but question whether I was still staring at the guy I was familiar with. Yes, he was our pig—Park Deok-Gu.

Kim Ye-Ri had decided to call him instead of Kim Hyun-Sung.

“It was you,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“Deok-Gu, wait…” I said.

“You ungrateful bastard… You… you… ungrateful… How… could you do that… to our hyung-nim?! How dare you… How dare you!” Park Deok-Gu shouted.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

“You’re worse than a beast!” Park Deok-Gu added.

‘What’s wrong with you? What’s going on?’

“You… You bastard!” Park Deok-Gu roared.

Park Deok-Gu’s massive fist landed on the fish’s face, and a grotesque cracking noise echoed.