Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad-Chapter 129

“This afternoon. The Lord and the Guild Master are going to meet.”

“Oh! That’s great.”

Choi Hyun-seok brightened at Bell’s words.

“Honestly, I was just testing the waters, but it actually worked.”

Although he had aimed for this, he hadn’t really expected their meeting to actually happen.

In terms of probability, it was about 50-50.

It was just something that would be nice if it worked, and no big deal if it didn’t.

“It would be troublesome to handle them separately, and variables could arise. It’s best to handle them in one place if possible.”

The ultimate goal was to deal with both the mercenary Guild Master and the Lord.

The surest way to do this was to handle them both in one place.

If handled separately, the survivor might become vigilant.

And if either of them managed to escape, it would make things complicated in many ways.

“Now, this next part is also important…”

Choi Hyun-seok stroked his chin with a peculiar smile.

Rachel, who was beside him, tilted her head.

“Why? What else is left?”

“Of course. Since things have come to this, shouldn’t we seek more fun… No, more safety?”

“Safety?”

“Yes. We need to recruit an actor.”

Everyone’s attention focused on the mention of recruiting an actor.

They looked curious about what this pseudo-hero was planning to do next.

“Let me explain the current situation.”

Choi Hyun-seok drew a circle with his pen and wrote ‘Lord’ inside it.

“This circle is the Lord. These two branches below are his subordinates.”

Below the Lord, he wrote ‘Criminal Organization’ and ‘Guards’ on two separate branches.

“And I’m taking down the criminal organization that’s the Lord’s source of funding.”

Choi Hyun-seok marked an X on the branch labeled a criminal organization.

“The angry Lord wants to catch me using his soldiers, but he absolutely can’t. Why? Because those guys weren’t on the Lord’s side to begin with.”

Next to the criminal organization, ‘Guards’ referred to the regular troops including the castle guards.

On top of that, he wrote the name of the Knight Commander Holkman.

“From what I can see, Holkman holds the actual military power in the castle. How could they catch me when Holkman is hiding me?”

“That’s right.”

“Now, in this situation, what options does the Lord have?”

This time, Choi Hyun-seok drew a triangle a bit away.

He wrote ‘mercenary guild’ there.

“The mercenary guild, the largest military force in Kiton. This is the only option.”

“Hmm, so that’s why they agreed to meet?”

“Yes. But there’s something else that’s important.”

Choi Hyun-seok drew a line from the triangle labeled mercenary guild.

That line connected to the criminal organization that had been marked with an X.

“Let’s look at the mercenary guild’s perspective. How do you think they’re viewing the current situation?”

“The criminal organization suddenly collapsed… And the Lord is asking for help?”

“No, before that.”

Choi Hyun-seok wrote ‘Money’ between the mercenary guild and the criminal organization.

“This criminal organization was also providing money to the mercenary guild.”

“That’s right.”

“And the mercenary guild doesn’t know about my existence. From their perspective, their source of funding suddenly got cut off.”

“Aha! That makes sense.”

“Then from the mercenary guild’s perspective, who is the most suspicious person right now?”

“Um… The Lord?”

“Correct!”

Choi Hyun-seok nodded and continued speaking.

“That’s why I deliberately only dealt with the mercenaries, leaving the soldiers alive.”

Besides this, Choi Hyun-seok had laid various traps to subtly provoke conflict between the Lord and the Guild Master.

Those things must have come together to create the current situation.

“Hero! You’re so smart!”

“This much is basic.”

“As expected, when it comes to scheming, no one can match a hero’s intellect!”

Choi Hyun-seok looked at Rachel with narrowed eyes.

“That’s a compliment, right?”

“Of course!”

“Ahem! Anyway, this worked out well.”

Choi Hyun-seok drew a new line between the Lord and the mercenary guild.

“Actually, there were so many variables that this could have gone differently. Honestly, it was a ‘whatever happens, happens’ situation, but fortunately, it seems to have succeeded.”

“So. What did you mean earlier about recruiting an actor?”

“Ah, I didn’t explain that part.”

Choi Hyun-seok grinned as if he’d thought of something interesting.

“Now! We’ve planted seeds of suspicion in the mercenary guild.”

“Yes.”

“The next step is to pour oil on those sparks.”

“Using that actor?”

“That’s right.”

Choi Hyun-seok opened the safe.

Inside were hundreds of gold coins piled up.

“We have plenty of ammunition.”

Then he looked at Bell.

“We have a well-connected scout.”

Finally, he pointed to himself.

“And we have me, the master of negotiations, so preparations are practically complete.”

“Ooh!”

“Shall we get moving then? It’ll be busy since time is tight.”

“This sounds fun!”

At Rachel’s words, Choi Hyun-seok rubbed his hands together with an evil smile.

“You can look forward to it. It’s going to be incredibly fun!”

Malicious ideas were endlessly springing forth in his mind.

***

“This son of a!”

Knight Commander Holkman cursed and struck the table.

Crack!

The table made of thick wood cracked, and the documents on top were scattered everywhere.

‘That bastard dares to try to use me!?’

This morning.

After getting cursed out by the Lord, Holkman immediately went to find Choi Hyun-seok.

“I told you to kill the Lord, so what have you been doing instead!?”

“I’ll do it soon, why are you being like this?”

Even when Holkman pressed him, Choi Hyun-seok maintained a relaxed attitude throughout.

“At this rate, I’ll have no choice but to get rid of you. Think carefully.”

“Oh? Then you won’t be safe either. You see, I have quite a loose tongue.”

“Hah! Do you have any evidence that I plotted treason? You’re just a criminal running your mouth without proof. I’m the Commander of the Knights. Who do you think the Lord will believe?”

At that moment, Choi Hyun-seok snapped his fingers.

Simultaneously, voices began to play in the air.

“We must cut off the Lord’s neck! Do you plan to stay here forever?”

“I’ll get the knights out of the mansion, so you just need to go into the empty house and take the Lord’s life!”

It was clearly Holkman’s voice.

Besides this, Choi Hyun-seok had much more evidence.

“We’re already in the same boat, so don’t get any unnecessary thoughts.”

Looking at Choi Hyun-seok’s vile smile, Holkman thought.

Should I kill them all right here?

“…”

But he soon gave up the idea.

He knew well that their abilities were extraordinary.

There was no need to risk danger when he only needed to endure a little longer.

“We need to handle this quickly.”

“We’ll definitely take care of it today, so don’t worry.”

After meeting Choi Hyun-seok.

When Holkman returned to his office fuming, another piece of bad news was waiting for him.

“The Lord is meeting with the Guild Master!?”

“Yes. It’s in an hour.”

“Tch! Prepare the soldiers.”

They said an escort is needed because the Lord and the mercenary Guild Master must meet.

“A mercenary guild at a time like this! Well, they’re certainly experts at doing unnecessary things.”

It’s rare for the Lord and mercenary Guild Master to meet.

It’s because of external attention.

Since the mercenary guild is such a large military force, every move they make is bound to be sensitively received.

Political issues from higher-ups are involved as well, of course.

Anyway, for various reasons, it’s best if the Lord and the mercenary Guild Master don’t meet.

But if they must meet, they do so secretly.

Just like now.

“Select escort personnel from the knights, and have soldiers restrict access to the area.”

“Understood.”

“I should get moving too.”

Due to matters of face and the sensitive timing, thorough protection was essential.

Holkman, the Knights Commander and the territory’s greatest military power, also had to move to protect the Lord.

“Move quietly.”

Shortly after.

The Lord and knights, disguised in civilian clothes, left the castle.

Their destination was a high-class tavern not far from the Lord’s mansion.

Originally, they planned to invite the Guild Master to the mansion, but due to his adamant refusal, this location was reluctantly chosen.

“It’s been a while, Guild Master Moldbe.”

“Greetings, Lord.”

Lord Peros and Guild Master Moldbe met in a tense atmosphere.

Each was accompanied by about fifteen guards, but the mercenary guild’s side had particularly fierce looks in their eyes.

Holkman carefully observed the mercenary side.

‘They look even more unpleasant than usual today.’

Knights and mercenaries were never on good terms to begin with.

But to show such open hostility at such an important meeting.

It was incomprehensible behavior, even for the uncouth mercenaries.

Meanwhile, the conversation between the Lord and Guild Master continued.

“As the Guild Master knows, the city’s atmosphere has been ominous these past few days.”

“Indeed.”

“I came to discuss something related to that.”

As they were talking quietly, suddenly the door burst open.

The man who entered was covered in blood and appeared to be a mercenary by his attire.

He shouted.

“The guild is under attack!”

“What?”

“The city guards are attacking us!”

“That’s nonsense…”

At that moment, a flying sword from somewhere pierced a mercenary’s neck.

“You bastards!”

“Beat them all!”

And so began a chaotic fight between mercenaries and knights that would disturb the area for a while.

***

Bran is originally a completely ordinary citizen.

Though he lost his parents to war, he lived an honest life running a shop with his younger sister.

The reason he became a mercenary was because of Lord Peros.

“Nora… Nora…!”

Bran’s younger sister Nora.

She was the one who made the city’s young men flutter with her mature beauty since she was young.

His sister was so kind-hearted that it seemed she wouldn’t hurt even if you put her in your eye.

Such a younger sister suddenly disappeared one day.

No one around had seen her when asked.

Nobody knew where the sister had gone.

After wandering around for a while, Bran finally understood what had happened.

“Have you heard the rumors? They say the Lord is taking advantage of the city’s young women!”

What he had only heard as rumors had happened to his own sister.

It was a whole month later when Bran found his sister Nora.

In a river not far from the city.

A woman doing laundry discovered Nora’s body floating downstream.

“No, Nora…! Nora!!!”

From then on, Bran wandered around like a half-mad person.

He not only worked as a mercenary but didn’t hesitate to get involved in illegal activities.

He did anything that would earn him money.

Dreaming of the day he would get revenge on the Lord.

“What I need you to do is simple.”

A man came to see Bran.

He was a large man with purple hair and exotic features.

“Just wear the clothes I’ve prepared, go to the prepared location, and deliver the prepared lines. That’s it.”

“…”

“How about it? Very easy, right?”

“W-who makes requests like this…”

Bran said with his swollen face.

Choi Hyun-seok scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.

“Well… I wish you had greeted me more nicely. Haha!”

Bran felt wronged.

All he had done was shout ‘Who are you?’

Isn’t that much allowed when someone suddenly breaks into your house?

But this uninvited guest threw punches first, and now he’s asking for a favor.

However, Bran had no choice but to listen to this shameless person’s request.

“Don’t you want revenge on the Lord?”

The fruit seemed too sweet to refuse.

“I’ll give you as much money as you want. Just name it.”

“I don’t need money… Can I really get revenge on the Lord?”

“Of course!”

There was no need to think further.

“Let me say it again, you just need to shout desperately. Like this.”

Choi Hyun-seok stood up and cleared his throat.

“The Lord has betrayed us~! The Lord’s soldiers are attacking our guild~!”

He shouted in an exaggerated tone and turned to Bran with a grin.

“Then everything else will fall into place.”

***

Bran’s eyes went wide.

‘It’s real… A real fight has broken out!’

It was just as that man had said.

All he did was say that the mercenaries were being attacked.

Although it was impossible by common sense, somehow the mercenaries took the situation at face value.

The dagger that flew in from somewhere must have helped things escalate.

“These crazy bastards!”

“Get the Lord to safety!”

“Don’t let them escape! Kill them all here!”

Knights and mercenaries engaged in combat.

The ones Guild Master Moldbe brought were all Gold-rank and Silver-rank mercenaries.

They were forces that wouldn’t lose even to knights.

Crack! Boom-!

The not-so-spacious tavern quickly became destroyed and chaotic.

In the fierce battle, Bran’s eyes were fixed only on Lord Peros.

“I’ll kill him… I’ll kill him…!”

The enemy who killed his younger sister Nora.

Finally, the moment for revenge had come.

Just as Bran drew his sword and was about to move.

“Ah ah, stop right there.”

A large knight appeared in front, blocking his way.

When the knight lifted his visor, a familiar face was revealed.

“You’re…”

“Shh!”

Choi Hyun-seok, disguised as a knight, grinned.

“You want to die a dog’s death after coming this far?”

Choi Hyun-seok lowered his visor again and turned around.

“You should watch carefully how our Lord leaves.”

“…”

“That way, you’ll have something to tell your sister later, won’t you?”

The man’s back looked especially broad.

Behind it, Bran could only nod his head.

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