Chapter 137 (2/2)
“And how will you create that team? How many members are you thinking of having? What will be the requirements to join? Do you have a recruiting strategy in mind?”
Seol Jihu listened attentively as his complexion slowly paled.
“You probably never thought about the matter in detail. After all, I doubt you told anyone about it until now.”
Ian let out a big sigh.
“The goal of a team is certainly important because it decides the color and personality of a team. But you cannot stop at just thinking about it. You have to say it and put it into action. Only then can you add meat and scent to your team.”
“Right.”
“In Dylan's case, his actions were befitting of the name Carpe Diem. Since it means to enjoy the moment, there was no problem working as a small team of elites. But your goals aren't the same as Carpe Diem's.”
Seol Jihu nodded as he rubbed his face.
“I understand what you're feeling. The bigger your goals are, the bigger burden you must face. Even I am not confident in accomplis.h.i.+ng what you're trying to do.”
Ian chuckled while clicking his tongue.
“Because of the sheer difficulty of your goals, your team must inevitably rise beyond to become an organization. And on your path to becoming a large organization, your diplomatic skills will be tested multiple times.”
“By diplomatic skills, you don't just mean relations.h.i.+ps between groups….”
“Of course. It also includes relations.h.i.+ps between individuals. Frankly speaking, if a stranger suddenly came up and said, 'h.e.l.lo! Let's save Paradise from its peril!', will you answer, 'Sure! Let's do it!'?”
“…No.”
“Exactly. Of course, some people might work for a righteous cause. But most people won't make a move based on righteousness alone. How righteous you are won't matter.”
Ian then added with a bitter tone, “The Haramark Royal Family isn't generous with rewards because they're pushovers.”
“Then what should I do?”
“That's obvious. Money, fame, and….”
Ian paused before breaking out into a grin.
“Wit.”
“Wit?”
“Appeasing a soul with a Ceremony, baiting the Parasites in Arden Valley, coming up with a plan to escape the laboratory… it's wittiness that made these things possible. This ability of yours transcends materialistic things. I think it will become a charm that only you possess.”
“You're exaggerating it.”
“Don't deny it. After all, I'm one of the people who's fallen head over heels for this charm.”
Seol Jihu scratched his cheek, feeling a bit itchy.
“In the future, a lot will change.”
Ian let out a long sigh once again.
“You'll have to change the name, and if needed, you might have to move your base of operations. You might have to reaffirm your alliances, and you might even have to change your teammates completely….”
“Chohong and Hugo, you mean?”
Ian's pen stopped. He glanced up and spoke calmly.
“Those two are members of Carpe Diem, which Dylan made.”
“We don't know if they will agree to follow you.”
“If they don't….”
“Then it's simple.”
Ian spoke clearly.
“Either you will leave the team, or they will.”
Seol Jihu leaned back against the chair and tilted his chin up. He felt dizzy staring at the high ceiling.
“It's pretty difficult, huh.”
Hearing Seol Jihu's groan, Ian smirked.
“So, what. You're going to quit?”
Seol Jihu snickered too. Of course, he didn't forget to say thanks.
“Thank you. You always give me advice worth more than gold.”
“I'm happy you think my nonsense is worth so much. I'm flattered.”
Ian burst out into laughter as he put his pen down. Then, his eyes flickered as he looked at the equipment lying on the table.
“Great, why don't I give one homework for our future leader?”
“This.”
Ian picked up the longsword and the s.h.i.+eld. They were the burial goods Seol Jihu brought from the tomb. As these were equipment from the era of the Empire, they would fetch an astronomical price if sold.
“Excellent. You told me to give this to them….”
Ian expressed his awe before putting the sword and s.h.i.+eld back down.
“But give these to them yourself the next time you see them. Except, you will add conditions.”
“Conditions…. You mean I should trade them?”
“Exactly. Equivalent exchange. You see, giving these away for free would be too much. I don't mind whether you do it for yourself or for others, so give this diplomacy thing a chance.”
“But— No, okay.”
Seol Jihu swallowed the words that were just about to come out of his mouth and obediently nodded his head. To be honest, he was feeling greatly indebted to Teresa, but there had to be a reason Ian gave him this homework.
“Good. Ah, you can go now. I finished going over all the details.”
“Got it.”
Seol Jihu got up from his seat.
“Seol.”
Just as he was about to open the door and leave, Ian added.
“A leader is not someone who is placed in that position by someone else. A leader is someone who wishes to become a leader himself.”
Hearing Ian's affirming tone, Seol Jihu nodded his head. Ian giggled.
“Don't make Maldong worry too much. I'm sure he's steaming right now with restlessness.”
“Got it. Thank you for your kind words.”
Seol Jihu bowed before leaving.
When the sound of the door closing rang out, Ian put his pipe back into his mouth and took up his fountain pen. Puffing out one smoke after the other, he stared at the report fixedly.
As this report could be a matter of life or death for someone, there was nothing wrong with reviewing it multiple times.
『…And thus, just when the catastrophe of the fourth Banquet was about to repeat itself, one youth stepped up.
The protagonist who normalized the trouble-ridden fifth Banquet was Carpe Diem's Seol Jihu (Korea)….』
While reading about the events of Stage 2, Ian smiled.
He grabbed his pen tightly and, without hesitation, scratched out the words 'Carpe Diem'.
Seol Jihu walked while looking down at the ground, his footsteps heavy. He was walking out of the palace's main gate, but he was so deep in thought that he didn't even notice it.
Although he had expected as much, now that he was faced with the problem, he realized how impossibly difficult and complicated it was to become a leader.
Moreover, just as Ian said, the number of things he had to worry about increased, the bigger he set his goals. The weight of it all seemed to crush down on his shoulders.
It was to the point that he began to admire Dylan.
'Money….'
All sorts of thoughts swirled inside his head, but money was at the focus of it all. If he had an astronomical amount of money, he felt like he would have more choices as well.
Then suddenly, he recalled Stage 3.
'I should have brought it.'
And he thought about the Dissonant Wishes the deceased carried with them.
At the very least, they would have been worth a gold coin.
Although he regretted it, the bus had already left.
'It's no time to sit still.'
He couldn't stand around in a daze just because a big event had ended. There were just too many things he needed to take care of.
When he set his resolve, his steps naturally quickened. Soon, he found himself at Carpe Diem's office.
One of Seol Jihu's habits was to first take care of the most difficult and time-consuming things. As soon as he entered his room, he took out his communication crystal and infused his mana into it.
—Oh? It's been a while.
Along with a familiar voice, Kim Hannah appeared on the crystal.
—You're contacting me now after the Banquet ended?
“There was something I had to take care of, so I was a bit late.”
—Hnng, okay. Anyways, I heard you caused another big stir.
“I did. Anyhow, let's talk about the Banquet later.”
—…Huh?
Kim Hannah blinked her smiling eyes.
“I need to ask you for a favor.”
—Favor? You're out of money? I can send you some if you want.
“Sure, but the favor is something else.”
Kim Hannah must have felt that something was off as she straightened her tilted chair and sat up straight.
—What's gotten into you? Being so serious…. I'm not used to this. Anyways, go on. What is it?
“I want you to help me find someone.”
One of Kim Hannah's eyes perked up.
—Who?
“Can you do it?”
—I don't see why I can't. Finding and observing someone are my specialties.
As expected of a woman who became a High Ranker with just the ability of a broker, her businesslike voice was filled with pride.
—I want to ask why….
Kim Hannah muttered hintingly, then asked while she tapped on her desk with her index finger.
—But I'll hear you out first. Who is it?
“There are two people, actually.”
Seol Jihu spoke calmly.
“A brother and sister duo. Their names are….”