CH 25

I always knew he wouldn’t give up his earrings.

‘To be honest, it’s strange not to know.’

If he wasn’t greedy, why else would he keep bribing him through the guildmembers?

Only a fool would fail to realize that Geum Myeong-yeol’s interest hadn’t waned.

That’s why he’d come all this way.

“Am I being followed?”

“Han Chasoo-ssi, do you see me as such an idle person? You have a good eye for people. We should hire you for our guild’s talent team.”

There’s no end to the craziness. Seeing Han Cha-soo’s fed up look, Geum Myeong-yeol smiled.

His hand gestured to the exchange’s nameplate.

“You look at me like stalker. I put them on the exchanges, not me. Han Chasoo-ssi, if you show up, they will tell me right away.”

“Hah.”

“What if he eats all the baeksuk I gave him and shares the earrings with someone else? I’m famous for not doing anything to lose money, but if I did, I’ll be made fun of.”

Han Cha-soo was left speechless by this proud and responsible attitude.

He thought he was being followed because he came running to him, and now they’re deploying personnel to every exchange?

‘That’s a pretty big warning.’

In the future, even if I go to another exchange, I won’t be able to find someone to share my earrings with.

He hadn’t intended to, but he couldn’t help but be amused.

Han Cha-soo looked up and down at the smiling Geum Myeong-yeol.

‘He’s certainly got a good head on his shoulders.’

Han Cha-soo’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Geum Myung-gyeol.

‘It was said in the original that he came from a good family.’

Unlike Jung Yiheon, he would have been able to start a guild without much of a base in Korea.

I think I remember that only one of his parents was Korean….

Han Cha-soo was trying to recall Geum Myeong-yeol from a hazy memory.

“Oh, it’ll be bad luck if we keep standing here. Let’s go over there. Let’s go and finish our talk.”

Geum Myeong-yeol grabbed his shoulder and pointed to the other side of the corridor.

It was a small lounge with a panoramic view of the city below.

As soon as we plonked our butts down on the overstuffed couch, Geum Myeong-yeol casually held out a bottle of water.

“Moisten your throat.”

The bottle had a big picture of ginseng on it.

‘It’s good for you.’

He was conscious of my glass body. Han Cha-soo thanked him lightly and popped the cap off.

And immediately regretted it.

“Ugh.”

Isn’t it safe to say that this was an assassination attempt?

Han Cha-soo resisted the urge to throw the entire bottle at Geum Myeong-yeol and put the cap back on.

“It smells bad, but if you drink it, it’ll be fine….”

“Forget it, a drink doesn’t change the story.”

He pushed the bottle in the distance.

“As far as you’re concerned, I didn’t come to the exchange to find a match.”

“Well, that’s…….”

“I’m sure you’ve already figured it, since you’re the one who sends people to the exchanges.”

Geum Myung-yeol rolled his eyes and smiled. He leaned back against the sofa’s backrest and exuded the air of a strong man.

As expected.

Han Cha-soo faced him with a straight face.

“If you don’t mind, I’m not putting the earrings up for auction or trade.”

Technically, he was offering his right to share the earrings, but that was it.

Han Cha-soo continued, his eyes scanning the lounge bar.

“Couple’s items rarely get matched in the first place, so you can put your mind at ease.”

“For my mind to be at peace, I need Han Chasoo-ssi to be in the house.”

“…….”

“My heart is still pounding. Maybe it’s because there’s an exchange nearby.”

Hiss. The look in his eyes as he leaned in and muttered was very dangerous. Han Cha-soo frowned.

‘This is worse than I thought.’

It was understandable that he was looking for a replacement for his earrings. But this was too much. It was as if this was his only option.

‘Wait, isn’t something wrong?’

Han Cha-soo paused in thought with a cautious look on his face.

With a ding dong, he heard the elevator doors slide open.

Han Cha-soo didn’t think much of it, assuming it was someone visiting the exchange.

But the voice that followed startled him.

“Oh, shit.”

Geum Myeong-yeol’s face contorted. Han Cha-soo looked at him in surprise.

“Guild Leader?”

“Han Chasoo-ssi, can you explain to him that I’m only here to have a real conversation this time?”

Geum Myeong-yeol’s gaze was not directed this way. Han Cha-soo was about to turn his head to follow him.

A low voice landed in his ear.

“Han Chasoo-ssi.”

“…….”

“Are you okay?”

A chill ran down my spine. I turned my head reflexively and saw the man’s friendly face.

It was Jung Yiheon.

How the hell did this happen?

Han Cha-soo thought as he drank his coffee. This was his third cup, but he couldn’t stop. There was nothing to drink except red ginseng.

No, that’s not the problem.

“I can’t believe that the head of a guild would dare to stage a kidnapping on the exchange.”

“Oh, come on. It’s not a kidnapping, I’m not crazy, they wouldn’t allow me to do that on the exchange, I didn’t do anything!”

“Well, what is it then, ah, a trick, or should I say, a scam?”

I’m just here to buy equipment items.

How could these two be arguing over me?

As I pondered this with a serious face, Geum Myeong-yeol called out to me.

“Huh…! Han Cha-soo, did you hear what he said just now, it’s a trick, a trick.”

“…….”

“Huh? Say something.”

No. The moment I answer here, I’ll be declaring your intention to join the war.

Geum Myeong-yeol’s lips twisted as he turned his head in disbelief. It was a look that said, ‘look at this.’

But before he could say anything, Jung Yiheon struck.

“Then let me ask you honestly, if you’re not here to appease Han Chasoo-ssi, why did you come all the way here?”

Of course there was no other reason. Geum Myeong-yeol was silent, and Han Cha-soo was impressed.

At least he was a guild leader, so it was plausible that he could defend himself.

‘If it weren’t for the fact that I’m possessing a villain, I’d be happy to bury my bones in the Heavenly Spirit Guild.’

If only he’d been possessing Baek-sun instead of Han Cha-soo. He clicked his tongue in bitterness, and Geum Myeong-yeol jumped to his feet.

“Ah, I’m in a hurry, so I’ll have to go.”

“Guild Leader Geum Myeong-yeol.”

“Let’s talk about this later. We have to meet sooner or later, don’t we? What is it, the crystal that dropped at the Jeju Island Gate? The appraisal is about to end.”

Geum Myeong-yeol chuckled, cutting off the conversation. He looked down at his wrist and checked the time.

“Then next time….”

“Have a seat.”

“Huh?”

It was at that moment that Han Cha-soo spoke up. Geum Myeong-yeol looked at him in surprise. Jung Yiheon did the same.

“Han Cha-soo? Why….”

Han Cha-soo’s face was calm when he turned around. But his eyes were hot.

‘Maybe I can get this guy off my back.’

Geum Myeong-yeol’s words earlier had given him a hint.

A hint that could break his obsession with the earring.

“I have something to tell you. Please sit back down.”

It’s your business when you come, but not when you go.

Han Cha-soo’s attitude made the two S-classes panic like never before.

“Han Chasoo-sii, are you okay? You must be physically exhausted.”

“Uh, I’m busy, too. Let’s talk later when it’s convenient.”

“No.”

With a curt refusal, Han Cha-soo pointed to the sofa.

“Have a seat.”

“…….”

“Do we need to talk again later? Let’s end this today.”

Let’s end this meeting today.

Geum Myeong-yeol blinked at the sudden change in attitude. So did Jung Yiheon.

Ignoring the fidgeting beside him, Han Cha-soo called out to Geum Myeong-yeol.

“Guild Leader Geum Myeong-yeol.”

“Eh? Huh? Why?”

“Why did you need to have the Cursed Resonance Earring?”

“That’s because I had….”

Geum Myeong-yeol tried to recite the obvious fact one more time.

That it was the only thing that could replace the broken Earring of Reversal.

But before he could finish, Han Cha-soo cut him off.

“In other words, how do you know that the Earring of Cursed Resonance I have is the Earring of Cursed Resonance the Guild Leader wants?”

“…Huh?”

Geum Myeong-yeol was now not only dumbfounded, but also looking stupid. Meanwhile, Jung Yiheon let out a low sigh.

‘This one still seems to have a brain.’

With Jung Yiheon staring at him with sparkling eyes, Han Cha-soo began to explain.

“Guild Leader Geumyun. Listen carefully.”

“Yes, say it.”

He was like a child listening to a rhyming story.

He sat back in his seat, clasped his hands in his lap, and pricked up his ears.

“Guild Leader, you knew that the earrings came from the Frostgiant Dungeon, but you didn’t know that they would be attached to your ears, did you?”

“Uh…. Right, but what is it?”

Han Cha-soo sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Haven’t you figured it out yet?

He spat out the words one by one, like he was chewing.

“Items dropped in dungeons have randomized stats, even if they’re hidden.”

“Ah.”

“In the same way that you didn’t know the earrings would have attributes, I’m saying that the stats on my earrings might not meet the guild leader’s expectations.”

His golden eyes widened as much as his wide-open mouth.