Chapter 158 : Chapter 158

Chapter 158: A Gentleman’s Revenge Is Not Too Late Even After Ten Years (1)

Inside ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the office of Team Leader of the Government Villain Response Team 1, located in Seoul.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍dissatisfied voice of the Team Leader echoed through the room.

"Damn ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it! The October Grand Festival, which even villains enjoy, starts tomorrow, and yet here I am, stuck doing this."

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Team Leader's anger was quite understandable. Even the guildmasters of giant guilds would set aside their work to play during the October Grand Festival, which was known as the biggest event of the year.

Therefore, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was only natural for him to feel wronged, considering he was working so much in the office that mushrooms might sprout on his body.

If there was one consolation, it was that the Team Leader was not the only one in that position.

"Team Leader, could you please be quiet? I am already annoyed enough to die as it is."

"You, you punk! Do you find your Team Leader a joke now?!"

"Oh, then go ahead and fire me! If you just fire me, I will go out and play right now!"

"Ha! That will never happen. I would rather die than see you lot lounging around comfortably."

"In my opinion, Team Leader, you would have been more suited to be a villain rather than part of the Villain Response Team!"

The members of Team 1 were huddled together in the Team Leader's office, handling their tasks. Naturally, a venomous aura lingered in the eyes of all the team members. They, like the Team Leader, had to work even with the October Grand Festival approaching. It was likely for that reason that such a conversation took place, despite them being adults with an average age of thirty.

It was while the Team Leader and the team members were all grumbling yet diligently continuing their work.

"By the way, I do not see Executor Shin Yu-hwan?"

A member of Team 1, who was looking through documents, asked the question. At that, the Team Leader squinted and asked back snidely.

"You talk back to me like that, but what? 'Executor'?? Why don't you just serve that fellow Yu-hwan as your Team Leader instead?"

"Unlike you, Team Leader, the Executor has charisma."

"What, you punk? That guy has charisma??"

Just as they were bickering once again. Did they not say that even a tiger appears when mentioned?

"Haha! I do indeed have superior charisma compared to the Team Leader."

Shin Yu-hwan entered the Team Leader's office with a sly laugh. The Team Leader sighed at the sound of that laughter, but he did not engage in a pointless argument as he had with his team members. He knew that even though Shin Yu-hwan had not been at his seat, he was the one who was the busiest.

"You are here."

"Yes. By the way, Team Leader, it seems your hair has thinned even more?"

"Be quiet. So, how did the matter you went for turn out?"

The task that Shin Yu-hwan had to go out for. That was precisely about the Baek family. Shin Yu-hwan had traveled to investigate new information that had come in.

"There was a harvest."

"To what extent?"

"To the extent that our long wait can finally be fulfilled."

"...Is that true?"

The Team Leader's voice instantly became heavy. It could not be helped. The Team Leader knew exactly what the long wait Shin Yu-hwan mentioned referred to.

"Yes. It was quite credible evidence."

"How much is it?"

"It is evidence that a portion of the Baek family has been in contact with villains... The list of traded items and everything else are all written down, so it seems certain at this point."

"Is that so."

"However, there is one slightly unusual point."

"An unusual point?"

At the Team Leader's question, Shin Yu-hwan answered in a calm voice.

"There was an additional note suggesting that it would be best to attack the Baek family's main house on the day of the October Grand Festival."

"What? Why?"

"Well. The reason was not written down, so I do not know that part."

At Shin Yu-hwan's words, the Team Leader furrowed his brow and sank into thought. The method of communicating with the internal collaborator within the Baek family was through a specific location. He had obtained the evidence through encrypted materials attached there...

'This is the first time they have requested something in this manner.'

Every time before, only elements that could help catch evidence were attached, but this was the first time they had asked for something. Therefore, the Team Leader had no choice but to worry. This could possibly be a trap that had been meticulously prepared for years.

As if reading the Team Leader's concern, Shin Yu-hwan spoke toward the Team Leader, who was nursing a headache.

"Thinking deeply about it will not change anything, will it? We just have to trust our intuition and choose between the two options."

"...That is true. It is not like we have always moved only by trusting information."

"Exactly. If we only moved based on information, we probably would not have caught nine-tenths of the villains we have apprehended."

"So, what do you think would be best?"

The reason the Team Leader asked Shin Yu-hwan for his opinion, despite being the Team Leader, was simple. Although it was an unscientific claim, Shin Yu-hwan had better intuition than expected. And in this industry, having good intuition was one of the essential elements. This industry was a place where the schemes of villains ran rampant, making it impossible to survive on skill alone.

At the Team Leader's question, which was filled with such intent, Shin Yu-hwan smirked and replied.

"Did you not tell me to just stay quiet and not act up?"

"That was because you are so damn difficult to deal with, regardless of your intuition."

"Haha, difficult? Well... if I were to give my opinion, it does not seem bad."

"Not bad?"

"Yes."

Shin Yu-hwan nodded at the Team Leader's follow-up and continued speaking.

"First of all, if they are carrying the name of a prestigious family, their strength will be absent during the October Grand Festival."

"That is true. Whatever else happens, a prestigious family cannot be absent from the October Grand Festival."

"Therefore, if we are to strike, it is clearly the opportune time. And..."

"And what else?"

"Because continuing a dragged-out fight is not good. We must settle it all at once."

"Mmm..."

It was true. To continue a dragged-out fight with a prestigious family that had a strong combat force, unlike other organizations? One could end up being devoured instead. Capturing clear evidence and using it as a pretext to bring them down all at once without giving them any room to breathe. That would likely be the important key to deciding the winner of this matter.

"...Then, did the person providing help send such a message because the definitive evidence is inside the main base?"

"That could be the case, or it could not be."

"If it is not, we are all screwed, you punk."

"No one knows until we open it up. Won't we only know after we clash?"

"Sigh..."

Although he let out a sigh, the Team Leader did not express any particular opposition. It was true that, as Shin Yu-hwan said, one would only know after opening it up.

"I suppose it is a relief that evidence has been secured for now."

"Exactly. If we invade and find nothing, we will be able to appeal our legitimacy in a way that serves as a superficial cover-up."

If things were to flow differently than expected, contrary to his intuition, the evidence of interaction with the villains that he currently possessed would certainly be a great help.

'Well... instead, the biggest plan would be ruined.'

Since the Baek family would try to use that as a pretext for negotiation. However, it was still a plan worth trying. It was a fact that bringing down a prestigious family with the current evidence was out of the question, but the story would change if they invaded the main house and caught definitive evidence once again. Therefore, Shin Yu-hwan was betting on a gamble, even though it was a moment he had waited a long time for.

"Then, for now, we will need a place to receive help from."

"A place to receive help?"

"Yes, you brat. You are not going to say some nonsense like invading the Baek family's main house with only the personnel from Team 1, are you?"

"...That is certainly a bit reckless."

If Shin Yu-hwan were going alone, he would not have said such a thing. However, since the Villain Response Team 1 was also moving together this time, he had no choice but to make a cautious judgment.

"Then what are you going to do?"

"I just said it. We will reach out and get support."

"Is there actually a place that can provide that?"

Since Team 1 had been devoted to this matter recently, Team 2 was in charge of all other tasks, so Team 2 was unavailable. For the record, due to a shortage of manpower, teams from Team 3 onward did not exist.

'Even so, to receive support from the outside...'

Who would recklessly extend a hand when they might have to wage war against the Baek family? In Shin Yu-hwan's mind, it was a problem with no apparent answer. However, the Team Leader spoke in a confident voice, as if telling him to just trust him.

"This is a matter for the Team Leader to handle, so you just do your job."

"...If you say so, I understand for now."

"Right. Then let's move past this. Next, did they mention which day of the October Grand Festival it would be?"

"No. They did not mention a specific date separately."

"I see. Is that so..."

The October Grand Festival lasts for five days. That meant they had to decide on a date themselves and move during those five days. After thinking for a moment, the Team Leader shared his opinion.

"I think it would be best to move on the last day if we are going to do it."

"Is there a reason?"

"Because that is likely when the security will be at its thinnest to mark the end. What do you think?"

Even though he asked what he thought, the answer was already decided. It was a correct judgment in Shin Yu-hwan's mind as well.

"I also think it is good."

"Okay, then I will take it as such and move forward."

"Understood. Finally, when are you going to tell me who the support personnel are?"

"Nothing has been decided yet. Still, since there is preparation time, I should have it finalized by the first day of the October Grand Festival."

With that, the conversation between the Team Leader and Shin Yu-hwan ended. They did not say a specific parting word, but were they not companions who had been together for a long time? Even without such things, they knew exactly what they had to do from now on.

"Then I will also move in my own way for now."

After saying that, Shin Yu-hwan left the Team Leader's office and went outside.

"Phew."

A long wait of many years. Finally, the moment of the showdown, the end of which was approaching. Now, all that remained was to prepare for what would happen at the October Grand Festival. He did not know how things would flow, but...

"At least as long as I do not create things to regret, it will work out."

Even if he had to sacrifice everything. Shin Yu-hwan composed his heart and walked away leisurely.

***

"...So, that is how it turned out for now."

Baek Ha-seong appeared in the dormitory today without fail. Since I was already used to it, I explained what had happened without being surprised. Was the main part about obtaining the geographic information of the Baek family's main house through Baek Ha-ryeong? When I shared that information, Baek Ha-seong replied in a dry voice.

"It has changed a lot from ten years ago."

"With such an incident, wouldn't it be strange if it remained the same?"

"That is true. Then, for now, is this information certain?"

"It is information handed over by your younger sister, Baek Ha-seong. If there is anything you are concerned about regarding your sister, please tell me even now."

At my words, Baek Ha-seong shook his head and continued.

"It is not that there is something to be concerned about, but the more certain it is, the better. Although there is no other way even if it is not certain."

"Then there is nothing like you being on bad terms or being enemies, right?"

"That is not the case. My sister in my memory was a pure child through and through. Although she occasionally showed a different side, there was nothing to be concerned about."

Well, that is a relief.

"Then all that remains is to set the action guidelines based on this information."

"You rescue Seora, and the others and I provide a distraction, correct?"

"Yes. That is correct."

It was an operation that could perhaps be a bit dangerous. After all, I, the weakest, would be moving separately. However, there was a reason I had no choice but to set the plan this way.

'Rescuing Han Seora cannot be done by ordinary methods.'

That was no different even if it were Baek Ha-seong. That was why the others were tasked with the distraction while I moved alone.

'And because this is the most certain method.'

Baek Ha-seong expressed concern, asking if he should attach someone as a guard, but that was impossible. No matter how much one utilized the moment when the enemy was most off guard, a numerical inferiority was unavoidable. Therefore, in a situation where each person had to do their job, a guard was simply a luxury.

"By the way, is the date confirmed for this time?"

"Yeah. Because that is the best time. Do you have another plan?"

"No. I was just asking to confirm once more."

I replied that way and glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall. Specifically, at the last day of the five-day October Grand Festival. From what Baek Ha-seong said, it was the timing when the most manpower would be absent to celebrate the end of the festival. If that was true, there would be no better day than that.

"Then I will relay this talk to the two of them for now."

"Right. You remember the location?"

"Meeting at the small mountain located around the Baek family's main house on the day. I remember."

"Good. Then the next time we meet will be on that day. It would not be bad to enjoy the festival happily until then."

With those words, Baek Ha-seong went on his way as usual. Since I was already adapted to this as well, I lay down on the bed in the dormitory alone without much reaction. And at the same time, a complaint burst from my mouth.

"Telling me to enjoy the festival until then, as if that makes any sense."

Was it not the same as telling a soldier going to a battlefield in a few days to leisurely enjoy a holiday? However, I felt I understood the intention behind Baek Ha-seong's words. He likely said it in the sense of telling me not to be too nervous.

"Not that my nerves will be relaxed, though."

But at the same time, I had no intention of making a mistake. Do they not say that a certain level of tension is necessary to carry out a great task perfectly? So.

"Let's just hope nothing happens."

As long as we move as planned, it will end successfully. Yes, only if it goes according to plan.

 I finished that thought and closed my eyes for tomorrow.