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“Kim Tae Yong, the third son of the Dragon King of the East Sea, greets Earth’s administrator.”

“P-please don’t!”

A bow? Stunned by the first bow he’s ever received, Jiho quickly grabbed Tae Yong and pulled him up. While Tae Yong remained unaffected, Jiho brushed a bunch of dust off of Tae Yong’s clothes for him as the room was originally used as storage.

“I am simply exhibiting the respect that befits Administrator-nim.”

“There is no need, how can I accept a bow from someone so old….”

Jiho’s never liked excessive formalities, and he’s even more uncomfortable when it comes from someone over 100 years old. But Tae Yong’s eyelashes twitched as if he was offended by the word “old.”

“I am not old. I am rather youthful for a dragon.”

“Ah, then you are young I see.”

“I am not young.”

Tae Yong firmly cut Jiho off. 

What does he want him to do….

But Tae Yong’s upset reaction to being called young is a clear sign that he’s young. No wonder Hojin calls Tae Yong “Young Master.”

After the uncomfortable greeting, Jiho took a seat with Hojin. 

Jiho didn’t know Hojin would be joining them, but thinking about it, it’d be stranger if he didn’t. It’d be nice if Jiho had someone on his side. Not that he has anyone he can tell and bring anyways.

Acting as if he doesn’t feel any pressure, Jiho started. 

“So why did you call me here?”

“I was told that Shin Jiho-nim called me here.”

That’s true. But didn’t Mireu Guild have a reason to approach him? That’s why Jiho thought Tae Yong would spill everything like Yang Hojin did, but Tae Yong only stared at Jiho with pure, sincere eyes like someone with no other motives. 

“Please let me know if there is anything you need. I will be happy to help you.”

“No, I don’t….”

Jiho clicked his tongue at Tae Yong’s honest expression. He finds it harder to speak frankly to Tae Yong, who, despite being older than Jiho, still has a naive air around him unlike Hojin, a literal thousand-year-old, wily fox.

Although Jiho originally came to strike a deal… he decided to confess his true feelings.

“It’s not that I need help per se… I’m here because I’m curious. About what Mireu wants from me. After all, I don’t know anything about Mireu.”

“Hm, I understand.”

Though Tae Yong looked slightly conflicted, he nodded his head in agreement. 

“In order to explain that, I must first give the background of Mireu Guild.”

Kim Tae Yong poured a cup of tea and hesitated.

“Mireu is a guild formed by the union of various species and magic organizations around the world. This world has many more species than what Jiho-nim is aware of. Same with magic organizations. Their history begins in the B.C.. Beings with special abilities have never been… united like this before. That is because each group has vastly different goals and motivations. Then the fissures broke out, so we hastily established a guild in response, however…. Because there are so many of us, there are quite a few clashing opinions.”

“Sounds like a mess.”

Jiho sipped his tea with this summary. Tae Yong awkwardly coughed. 

“Though I am embarrassed to admit it, it is true. Groups act on their interests while individuals push their own ideas…. Additionally, although I am old by human standards, I am considered a youth among the immortals. The elders have no faith in me….”

Basically what he means is that Mireu’s Guildmaster isn’t a high position but rather one that’s pushed around from all sides. As a guildmaster who was once pushed around by his own guildmembers, Jiho almost felt sympathy.

“Why is Hunter Kim Tae Yong the guildmaster? If Hunter Kim Tae Yong is youn… no, I mean youthful, wouldn’t it be better for an older, more experienced person to be the guildmaster?”

“That is true. However, all of the elders who can lead the guild… lead incredibly busy personal lives….”

Tae Yong tried to give an excuse, but his desperation only made the situation clearer.

“It was pushed onto you.”

It’s obvious. 

Human or not, it seems like it’s a timeless practice to push annoying tasks onto easy people. Seeing Tae Yong unable to refute, Hojin smiled. 

“While there is that, Young Master is also the most upright and responsible of all of the young ones that this could’ve been pushed onto.”

“No, that is not true. I am nothing special….”

“There’s a real good-for-nothing around Young Master’s age. If the guild had been left to that guy, he’d probably be going around using his guildmaster position to seduce women instead of doing any work.”

“Of course I am much better than him.”

Tae Yong said seriously. Seeing how even the humble Tae Yong responded like that, that guy must be a real work of art. 

Jiho casually asked Tae Yong, who relaxed slightly with this conversation.

“Then let me ask again. What does Guildmaster Kim Tae Yong-nim, not Mireu Guild, want from me?”

“I… want to help Jiho-nim of course.”

“And what that means is that there’s people opposed to that in Mireu Guild, right?”

“Yes. A few….”

Tae Yong looked nervous. Hojin whispered loudly as if he wanted Tae Yong to hear. 

“You should tell the truth in these situations, Young Master. It’s difficult to gain trust if you don’t reveal your cards.”

“However….”

“Since it’s difficult for Young Master to say it with his personality, let me. To be honest, you’re a much weaker administrator than what we had hoped for.”

“Hojin-nim! Speak carefully….”

Startled, Tae Yong tried to stop Hojin, but Jiho shook his head.

“It is alright.”

“See, I’m just repeating what others are saying, so don’t take it too seriously. Doesn’t he need to know the truth? And Shin Jiho wants that too.”

“He is right. Please tell me truthfully.”

Tae Yong had no choice but to concede to Jiho’s unyielding attitude. Hojin hesitated for a bit before continuing. 

“There’s a couple of people who believe we need to be more proactive in protecting you.”

Protect. If they were really simply trying to protect him, Tae Yong wouldn’t have hesitated so much. Jiho soon realized the hidden meaning in Hojin’s words. 

“They say protect, but what they mean is they want to lock me up.”

“Exactly. While they’ll treat you extremely well, because you wouldn’t be allowed to leave, it is, in effect, imprisonment. They want to take care of any risks. Although they don’t know what role the Administrator plays, they do know that things will get complicated without one.”

“What about other opinions?”

“Hm, these here are not the majority opinions. That they need a clearer assessment, that we can just leave you under Chungram; there’s even a couple who want to capture you and perform tests….”

“Such extreme opinions are severe minorities.”

Tae Yong cut in, disturbed. Hojin nodded.

“Right, they’re minorities. And the person who first brought up the topic of testing has long since been kicked out of the guild. Yet since there are people outside of Mireu Guild going after you, it’s good to be careful.”

“…Thank you for the warning.”

Hojin shook his head at Jiho’s wary tone.

“I said we kicked him out already. Anyways, because the guild’s internal situation isn’t completely under control yet, it’s a bit dangerous to keep you in our guild and the majority agrees that we should leave you be and simply offer our help.”

“I see….”

So to summarize, there’s a few threats in Mireu Guild, but nothing to be extra cautious about. Since the guildmaster, Kim Tae Yong, is at least on Jiho’s side….

Well, that’s assuming he trusts these two.

Jiho was absorbed in his thoughts when suddenly, his eyes sparkled.

“I understand. However, I do not need any help. Especially from another guild.”

While Tae Yong looked appalled as if he hadn’t expected a rejection, Hojin curved his eyes, chuckling at Jiho’s firm words.

“Ah, so that’s what you want.”

“H-Hojin-nim is a good person. He will definitely be of help by your side….”

“There’s plenty of C-rank healers in the sea. He’s not special enough to risk being betrayed one day.”

“But Hojin-nim is not a simple C-rank hunter.”

“But that’s all I can use, isn’t it?”

Though it seems like Tae Yong won’t take a hint unless he tells it to him straight… Jiho, who has no intention of making a direct request, pushed his face close to Tae Yong’s. 

“Why… should I keep a double-agent C-rank hunter in the guild?”

“That….”

Tae Yong was extremely flustered by how close they were. They were so close that they could see into each other’s pupils. Jiho whispered as if he was threatening Tae Yong, who had stiffened. 

“If a C-rank hunter from Chungram Guild was mixed into Mireu, would you keep them?”

“H-how unfair of a comparison….” 

Tae Yong protested as if he had been truly hurt. Hey, what’s wrong with Chungram?

“I trust Chungram more. Not only is it my older sister’s guild, but it’s also my friend’s.”

Instead of looking wronged like Tae Yong, Hojin smiled and whispered. As if he had noticed what Jiho was aiming for.

“Excessive greed breeds poison.”

“I’m not looking for anything excessive.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

It seems that the uptight guildmaster still hasn’t grasped Jiho’s intentions. In the end, Hojin explained in Jiho’s place.

“So what Guildmaster-nim is saying is that he wishes to add another A-rank hunter besides Lim Seung Joo to promote No Name, right?”

Exactly.

“High-raked hunters” typically refer to hunters A-rank or stronger. There’s currently three high-ranked hunters in No Name. The guildmaster Shin Jiho, the vice-guildmaster Lim Seung Joo, and the new recruit Jeong Ga Eun. And technically, if you exclude Jeon Ga Eun who contractually doesn’t participate in dungeon raids, there’s only two high-ranked hunters who can be used.

But with Yang Hojin?

As with Lim Seung Joo, Yang Hojin is someone Jiho can tie down to No Name. Since there’s a reason Hojin can’t leave Jiho.

Naturally, Jiho isn’t looking for much.

“An A-rank combat hunter. That’s all I need.”

Jiho does wonder if this is too excessive of a demand too. Yet Tae Yong, who kept blinking as if he didn’t understand, nodded as soon as he finished digesting everything.

“I understand. Then we will proceed like that. Is that alright, Hojin-nim?”

“…I would’ve gone back and forth a bit more, but you agreed so readily.”

Hojin frowned at Tae Yong’s lack of hesitation. Even though Hojin might’ve added a few more conditions and made adjustments, since Tae Yong already agreed, it’s too late to turn back.

“I believe that we must show our loyalty as we deceived him first.”

“Fine, I like that side of Young Master.”

Yang Hojin sighed, nodding his head. It seems that despite his slight dissatisfaction, Hojin deemed that this contract isn’t a particular loss to him as he agreed easily with no further objection. 

“Great. Then Hunter Yang Hojin. Go to the association and take a re-assessment first thing tomorrow morning.”

“You’re in a rush, I see.”

How could he not be in a rush? It’s a situation where No Name is going to gain a rare A-rank hunter. And since Hojin is actually an S-rank, he’ll be a lot more useful in reality. Jiho wants to reveal this golden opportunity as soon as possible.

“Fine. Since I agreed, let’s do that.”

“And I will raise your contract price by 200% once your rank increases.”

“…What a thief.”

Hojin, who agreed to everything easily, pulled a face for the first time. While it could seem radical, it’s only natural that the difference in treatment between A-rank hunters and the many C-rank healers is like the difference between heaven and earth. This is no ordinary loss for Hojin.

Normally, Jiho would’ve treated him better, but… no matter the reason, Jiho doesn’t need to treat someone who tricked him with so much respect. Isn’t this generous enough? And if Hojin’s lived 1000 years, he should have enough money. 

And above all, Jiho holds the upper hand in this exchange. 

“Ah, and please use the items you already have.”

Jiho would prefer it if Hojin used items he already has as it won’t cost Hojin anything and the guild doesn’t have enough money to buy him new items. Shouldn’t he have one or two useful treasures since he’s lived so long?

“Sure, use me. Just use me….”

Hojin sighed as if he had given up. Seeing this expression, Jiho felt the most satisfied he’s been in this moment.

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LaZ Bird Corner

Tae Yong is too innocent for this XD.

Also, in case you’re wondering, Hojin is what Jiho’s using well at a low price XD.

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