novelBow Down to the Champ! Part II
| ← Ch.100 | Ch.102 → |
Translator: HunterW
Editor: RED
Cairo, Egypt. Myth Guild Headquarters...
"What? Who called?" asked Shin, dumbfounded.
"Toh, from Macau, ma'am."
"Why would he call?"
"He didn't go into detail, but he did say he wanted us to mediate."
"Mediate? Is he talking about Lee Jiwon?"
"I would assume so, ma'am, " Ebonene replied."I would advise you to accept the call. They've been pretty hush-hush about what's been going on, but enough rumors have been circulating. We might as well hear him out."
"Very well. Put him through." Soon, Toh's face came on the large monitor.
"Hello. I've only ever heard rumors about you, and it is an honor to finally meet you. My name is Toh and this is my partner, Wanhu. We are the co-masters of the San Tuan Guild."
"It's nice to meet you, too. My name is Shin and this is my vice-master, Ebonene. May I ask your reason for calling us?" The Myth Guild never really had anything to do with the San Tuan Guild before... that is, until Lee Jiwon came around. It would make sense that the San Tuan Guild knew about the relationship between the Myth Guild and Lee Jiwon.
"Of course. I'll get straight to the point. We, the San Tuan Guild, have gotten off the wrong foot with Lee Jiwon."
"The wrong foot?"
"Yes. This battle seems to have been started over a small misunderstanding. Don't you think it's a waste of lives to continue this battle? We all stand to lose everything the longer this battle goes on."
"A small misunderstanding..." Shin, Ebonene and the Myth Guild's officers had already heard from Lee Jiwon about how this battle really started. And yet, Toh was standing there, shamelessly lying to them. Shin almost laughed when Toh said that both sides were the victims. A three year-old could see who the real victim was here."Why are you telling us this? Can't you just tell Lee Jiwon yourselves?"
"Yes, we can. However, we wish to meet with him secretly."
"Secretly?"
"Yes. It's embarrassing to say, but we lost the battle. We completely surrender to Lee Jiwon's guerilla warfare."
Shin locked eyes with her officers, who could think of nothing to say and just looked back at here, eyes wide open. He actually did it!
"However, we cannot afford to lose face over this. We can't publicly announce our loss. I'm sure a large guild such as you understand what I mean."
"That's... true."
"That is why we would like to announce a ceasefire instead. We would like to announce to the rest of the world that this battle was started over a misunderstanding and that both sides have agreed to a ceasefire to prevent more loss. Of course, we will provide Lee Jiwon a Rank 8 item called Lush Greenery of the Great Forest if he accepts our surrender under those conditions."
"..." Shin was shocked once more. Yes, Lee Jiwon was the clear winner here, and wasn't a victim like Toh was saying, but as a fellow guild master, Shin understood why Toh would say that. Protecting the guild's reputation was more important than physical goods.
"We currently don't have another way to contact Lee Jiwon. If we try to seek him out or try to compromise with him openly, then we risk being discovered by something else. That is why we come to you, so that you can contact him for us instead.
"We ask you to at least contact Lee Jiwon for now. It's not good for either of us to keep this battle up any longer, " Wanhu said.
"Okay, I understand. I'll pass on the message to Lee Jiwon."
"We'll send over a Comm Link that is connected to us. If he agrees, then please give him the Comm Link so that he can contact us directly."
"I will."
After a few more words, the call came to an end.
"All that boasting actually came true." Shin recalled what Lee Jiwon had told her a month ago, that he was so confident in his abilities that he could deal with it on his own. She was still shocked.
"He's even going to receive a Rank 8 item for his troubles, " muttered Ebonene.
"A Rank 8 item in a month... he really knows how to make the best out of everything." Shin found another reason to be amazed at this man's ability.
—
"Will this work?" The pitiful expression Wanhu had during the video call was gone and was replaced by a cold one.
"It's our best option. If this doesn't work, we have no choice but to give up on Lee Jiwon completely. If we keep this up, we stand to lose everything. Qing."
"Yes sir."
"If Lee Jiwon sets foot here, will the trap work?"
"Yes, sir! I designed the trap to hold at least three hundred people at once."
"Good. Wang Choong."
"Yes sir."
"How many have learned Bind now?"
"Two hundred fifty of our members know the skill now, sir."
"Good." Toh nodded. He looked around at the members gathered in the room before speaking."This plan requires us to use the Myth Guild. If we succeed in capturing Lee Jiwon, we will be able to withstand the Myth Guild's attacks in the future. However, if we fail, we will have both Lee Jiwon and the Myth Guild to deal with. In other words, we cannot afford to fail!"
"Yes, sir!"
"But there's a weakness to this plan. The Flytrap can only hold up to three hundred people. If Lee Jiwon shows up with more, then it's over. We can't make a bigger one, " Wanhu said in a quiet voice.
"I know, but we need the Flytrap in order to capture a strong Unrivaled deva like Lee Jiwon." Toh turned back to the gathered members."The outcome of this plan depends on whether or not we can capture Lee Jiwon with the Flytrap. If he really does come to the prearranged location with more than three hundred reinforcements, then it's our loss. We will have to do what we promised the Myth Guild. But if he comes with less than three hundred, then we must spring the Flytrap, no matter what! We can deal with the Myth Guild after."
"Sir, Lee Jiwon has been moving on his own all this time. Chances are low that he would come with a group of more than three hundred."
The San Tuan Guild had spent an unbelievable amount of golden rings building the Flytrap. If it didn't work, the San Tuan Guild would cease to exist from the loss of profits alone.
"Good. We've done everything we can now. We just need to wait for him to contact us now. Be ready to move out at anytime."
—
I was resting at an abandoned building on the outskirts of Macau when I received a message.
[You have received a call from the Myth Guild. Pick up?]
"The Myth Guild?" I had called them occasionally with reports and picked up every time they called, but I had just talked to them yesterday. Something was up. I quickly picked up.
"This is Jiwon."
"Hello, Mr. Lee. It's Shin."
"Yes, hello. We just talked yesterday; is something the matter?"
"Well, the thing is...the San Tuan Guild contacted us."
"Excuse me?" I asked in confusion."The San Tuan Guild?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"They want to..." Shin and Naika explained everything about the call they received.
"A Rank 8 item?" That part stuck out the most.
"Yes. They agreed to hand over a Rank 8 item if you accepted their surrender under those terms. Are you okay with that?"
"Yeah, I am! I'm more than okay with that, " I replied instantly. I just had to say that it was a fair fight. I had nothing to lose.
-If they're that willing, I might as well. It's not like I need to show everyone my skills right now. I can do that later. -
I still couldn't fully believe that I could have a Rank 8 item by just saying a few words. The Rank 8 item probably was more worth than what the San Tuan Guild had lost until now.
-This isn't a trap, is it?-
Toh and Wanhu were known to others for having an exceptional sense for business and as the charismatic rulers of Macau, but I knew who they really were. I knew how scummy they really were.
"We believe that it wouldn't hurt to accept their offer."
"Even though they're this willing to give up a Rank 8 item for a few words?"
"Sometimes a guild's name is worth much more than that."
I suddenly recalled who gave me the Bracelet of Eternal Fire; Shin and the Myth Guild gave it to me. To the Myth Guild, giving up the Bracelet just to defeat the Blood Prince was obvious. Toh and Wanhu were probably in a similar situation.
"I understand. I'll head over to the Myth Guild as soon as possible." I was tired of doing this for a month now, as well. I couldn't even invest in myself the whole time, either. Whether or not Toh and Wanhu had an ulterior motive, there was a Rank 8 item on the line.
I took out a Warp Scroll and ripped it.
—
I went up to the Myth Guild's command room. I quickly greeted Shin and the other officers and contacted the San Tuan Guild using the Comm Link they sent.
"This is the San Tuan Guild. Who's calling?"
"This is Lee Jiwon."
"Wha...! One...one moment, please!" The person on the other line sounded surprised.
Ten minutes later, someone else picked up."Is this Lee Jiwon?"
"Yeah, it is. It's been awhile, Toh."
"Hmph, indeed it has, Lee Jiwon."
"I heard from the Myth Guild. Is that what you really want?"
"That's right. We surrender to you. Your abilities are more than we can handle. However, we can't just give up. Our names have too much weight."
"Is that why you want me to say that the battle was tough on both of us?"
"It is. We'll even hand over a Rank 8 item for your troubles. That's a proper reward for the victor, don't you think?"
"Hmm..." The offer sounded more attractive hearing it in person.
"As you know, this offer must remain a secret."
"But the Myth Guild already knows."
"There was no way around it. We couldn't exactly reach out to you on our own. There are too many eyes watching us. Besides, I trust the Myth Guild to be honorable on your behalf."
"Well..."
"Anyway, that's our situation. Let's end this now. I just wish we don't continue as enemies if we can't continue as comrades."
For some reason, I began to think the same. It seemed to be a dumb idea to reject him.
"Fine. Where do we go from here?"
"We have arranged a place in Macau where many people will watch. It should be the perfect place where we can smile and shake hands for everyone to see."
"Is that it?"
"That's it. We want to get this battle over with as soon as possible. We want to return Macau to its former glory. I can't say that we don't want to exact revenge on you, but we do know that's impossible."
"Fine. I accept your offer."
We continued to talk for another half hour. We decided to meet in one week at Macau Tower, the prearranged place.
"It seems all your work this past month hasn't been for nothing."
"Mmm...it's not what I expected, but it would seem so, " I said to Ebonene, smiling.
"But, are you thinking of going on your own again?"
"Excuse me?"
"I mean to Macau Tower next week."
"Yes, that's what I'm thinking."
"I would advise you go with the Myth Guild this time."
"It'll be..." I then remembered that I was dealing with some real scummy people. I hadn't been wary of Toh during the entire thirty minutes we spent talking. The Rank 8 item distracted me too much.
-Ha...to think I believed him when I should have remained suspicious of him...-
"I would be forever thankful if you would."
"Very well. Then I would say...three hundred members should go." Ebonene said to Shin.
"Make it so."
—
With Shin's permission, three hundred elite members were prepared to leave for Macau with Lee Jiwon in one week. However, one of them would end up having to stay behind as the member was 0. 1% away from leveling up. Two hundred ninety-nine would leave with Lee Jiwon instead.
| ← Ch. 100 | Ch. 102 → |