Choosing Sides !

"That looks good," Kim Kiyoung remarked, casting his eyes over the plans laid out on the table before him.

"I didn't know that you had such strong minds to think about the betterment of the guild, haha," the old geezer Lee Seolho quipped, but no one joined him in laughter.

I fell silent for a moment, contemplating the situation.

"It's only normal," I muttered.

'As I said, he's deranged…' I thought, observing the strange behavior of Lee Seolho and the lack of response from the others.

"We've already gained our third jobs, so that would definitely help," I continued, trying to steer the conversation back on track.

"Ah, you're all really amazing… Worth the money…" Seolho commented.

"Isn't it all thanks to the guild's support? Hahahaha…" he added.

Hwang Jeong-yeon gazed at Lee Seolho with suspicion. It was only natural for her to do so, considering his usual pessimistic demeanor.

"Though there are others who willingly went to participate, there're still others that insist on staying to guard the guild. Don't you ever think about participating before pushing someone else to do it?" she asked, her words directed at those too afraid to join the expedition.

I knew the remark was made for everyone present who hesitated to volunteer. The embarrassment was palpable among those in the room.

"Well…"

"It will be hard for us to stand in the front lines…"

"I don't think we can provide the needed power…"

"Doesn't everyone here play a different role to keep the guild running? We're non-combatants in the first place. Even Seolho Lee is retired. It will be difficult for us to gain the momentum needed to stand in the front lines."

"I don't know about that. To me, it looks like you're avoiding responsibility."

"You talk too much."

"I don't think I'm wrong. Just be honest and say that you don't want to go."

"Huh… Isn't that being a little too harsh?!"

"I think you know who among us here is being selfish right now."

Emotions clashed in the room, and Hwang Jeong-yeon's assumptions were met with mixed reactions. 

The tension was evident, but I understood the complexity of the situation.

"They really are all so shameless…" I mumbled under my breath.

As the discussion continued, I couldn't shake the feeling that Lee Seolho and the others might secretly wish for their failure in the upcoming expedition. It would be an opportunity for them to seize control.

If all combatants perished in the hero-level dungeon, they could exploit the influence the Blue Guild had cultivated to their advantage. 

The world was changing, and an old geezer like Lee Seolho wouldn't be able to bring the guild back to its former glory. 

Selling the guild made more sense.

'Of course, it's all about money-making,' I thought.

But what puzzled me was why Lee Seolho seemed to be the mastermind of this group.

'Does he have some sort of backing system?' I wondered.

I was almost certain of it. Old people didn't typically take such risks. 

Gambling was usually for the younger generation. I suspected that these old men had reached their positions by taking advantage of others' sacrifices.

Regardless, they were responsible for the guild's decay.

When the atmosphere grew more intense, Lee Seolho spoke again, calling for a halt to the argument.

"Please stop it. Other people will also feel frustrated with what you are doing. Jeong-yeon also seems unusually excited today."

"Master, but…"

"You cannot take administrative officers to a dungeon. Considering that you are already retired and not in good shape recently, going with you is not a reasonable option. Of course, I know how Jeong-yeon feels. I feel the same way, too. Honestly, I am not happy with what you are both doing right now."

"Ah…"

"That…"

"Hmm."

"I couldn't help it…"

"It wasn't like this before… It feels embarrassing to show such unprofessionalism in front of Kee and Hyunsung. The Blue Guild I imagined is not like this. Of course, your actions are reasonable. Indeed, you cannot leave the dungeon with the non-combatant army. I also know that your physical condition is not the same as before. Nevertheless… I am really disappointed to see how you are all choosing to express your frustrations. No, in fact, I am most disappointed with my incompetence."

I could see regret in the faces of both opposing parties. The guilt wouldn't dissipate unless they volunteered for the expedition. Lee Sang-hee's disappointment was evident as well.

Lee Sang-hee turned her attention to Kee and Hyunsung. 

"Hyunsung and Kee."

"Yeah?"

"Yes?"

"I really am sorry to take back my previous statement. Would you mind… going on this expedition with us?"

Lee Sang-hee's voice trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes.

'This situation definitely does call for a change of mind,' I thought.

I understood the urgency. It was the worst situation the Blue Guild had ever faced, and they needed all the manpower they could get.

Kim Hyunsung's response was immediate. "Of course."

I couldn't help but smile at my friend's answer.

"Thank you," Sang-hee said.

"We have to do what we have to do," Hyunsung added.

Lee Sang-hee nodded and continued, "Then, I shall prepare for the dispatching of the rescue team. We will immediately leave for the expedition."

"Yes, that's noted."

"So, it stands. The second and seventh units shall go with me. Please get ready as soon as possible. We will leave in as early as half an hour."

"Yes, ma'am."

"For those who shall remain in the guild, please meet with the other guilds, including the Red Mercenaries. Please send a backup to the expedition as soon as contact has been made."

"Of course."

"Seolho…"

Lee Sang-hee called out to Lee Seolho.

"Yes, Lee Sang-hee?" Seolho replied.

"I hope you don't disappoint me. And… I'll choose to believe in you," Sang-hee remarked.

Seolho responded in a seemingly sincere tone, "I will repay your faith, Lee Sang-hee. As soon as we get in touch with other guilds, reinforcements will come your way."

"Thank you."

With that, Lee Sang-hee left in a hurry, followed by Hwang Jeong-Yeon and the administrative members. Me and Hyunsung did the same.

As they descended to the first floor, they found the rest of their party members already assembled. Sun Hee-young had taken charge of the preparations for the expedition.

'What a pity…' I thought.

Lee Sang-hee was a good person, but she might not be the ideal leader. 

I believed that faith was a good tool when dealing with great people like Deok-gun or Baek-Yi. 

However, I doubted whether Lee Sang-hee's faith in Lee Seolho and his subordinates would be repaid.

Faith could be shattered by betrayal, and I suspected that these old geezers were no different from the people who had hurt Sun Hee-young. 

The only distinction was that they had secured positions of power and knew how to exploit others.

I couldn't blame them for using their abilities, but it had led to the guild's decline.

'Faith is…' I pondered. 'It persists as long as both parties benefit from it. In the eyes of these old men, they see no benefit in helping Lee Sang-hee.'

"It's the perfect timing for some exposure…" I muttered.

I knew it was necessary to start removing the corrupt executives from the guild.