The Time-Limited Leader Makes the Raid a Success - Chapter 429



Only Noblemtl

Episode 429

#429. I owe more… … .

Creak, creak!

“You run well, you run well.”

Squeak, squeak!

“Even though it creaks a little.”

Despite his discontented voice, Mr. Joe’s expression was calm. This was thanks to the scenery outside the car window.

The road from Marco Polo Airport to the main island of Venice was paved with a driving course that boasted the beautiful scenery of the lagoon.

A lagoon is a lake isolated from the sea by a sandy beach.

The lagoon of Venice covered a vast area, almost half of Gyeonggi-do.

Anyone who saw the sunset reflected on a lake that looked like the sea could not help but be mesmerized by the sight.

The landscape, which had been ruined by two major monster wars, was renovated to be more convenient and beautiful than before, and the tourism industry was also booming.

“I liked this kind of thing?”

Kang Moo-hyuk, who was sitting next to Mr. Joe, turned his head as he heard Mr. Joe’s monologue. He looked at him as if he had been dissatisfied just a moment ago. Mr. Joe, whose feet were numb, responded as if he was making an excuse.

“Why? It’s so romantic. Driving along the European coast in an antique car. There aren’t many places in the world these days where you can enjoy this kind of leisure.”

“That’s right. This was the center of the Kingdom of Naga during the Great War, so there were many famous battles in the Hunters’ corps. That’s because so much blood was shed. There are quite a few raid tactics that can be referenced there. It’s not easy to comfortably explore such a historical site.”

Mr. Cho’s face crumpled at Kang Mu-hyeok’s answer.

“Oh my, really! Chief Kang. Are you so clueless, so uncouth? How can you be so impressed by such a beautiful sight?”

“It’s not like it’s my first time seeing the beach. I recently visited Busan and was sick of seeing the beach. My hotel room was on the Haeundae side.”

“Are Busan and Venice the same?”

“Isn’t it the same sea?”

“Yes. It’s the same sea. It’s the sea, yes. But it’s different. This is Europe. It’s much prettier.”

“Does that mean the Busan sea isn’t pretty?”

“So that’s… … .”

“I’m asking because I don’t quite understand the aesthetic perspective.”

Kang Moo-hyuk asked the question innocently, but Mr. Cho couldn’t answer easily. It was because of the eyes looking at her.

Hyun Jeong-geon, who was sitting in the third row, was leaning back on his seat and looking forward, and Thomas, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced behind him. Even Johanna, who was driving, was looking at the back seat through the rearview mirror.

I felt pressured to answer well, as if I were sitting on the witness stand.

‘It’s a trap. I’ve fallen into a trap. Is Chief Kang trying to turn my reputation into that of a traitor?’

In particular, the gaze of Hyun Jeong-geon at the back was sharp.

From the first time they met in Sinuiju, he didn’t like Mr. Joe very much, whether it was because he buttoned it up wrong or because he was just that kind of person. No, he felt hostility towards him.

‘This guy could spread strange rumors in the guild.’

Mr. Joe said things like, “Europe is better than Korea,” and “The Korean sea is not even a sea compared to Venice.”

‘If that happens, hyenas like Goeuljina and Nosongrin will rush in to tear us apart.’

Even Mr. Joe couldn’t deal with the worst three siblings in this guild – Go Eul-ji, Noh Song-rin, and Hyeon Jeong-geon.

Since I could answer rashly, there was only one way left.

“Me, am I the only trash?!”

Get angry all of a sudden and pretend not to know.

Mr. Joe kept his mouth shut as if he was crying and stared out the window.

When Hyun Jeong-geon smiled and tapped her shoulder, she immediately put on her Bluetooth earphones and turned on some music.

While Mr. Joe was blocking out the outside noise with music, Johanna opened her mouth.

“The lagoon is not the same as it used to be. The only pretty part is the northern part of the main island. The southern part has lost much of its old scenery due to new development.”

This was information that Kang Mu-hyuk was also familiar with.

Venice, which had been almost submerged in the sea due to rising sea levels and the aftermath of the Monster Wars, quickly regained its former appearance as the winds of reconstruction blew after the founding of the Gloria Guild.

With the added benefits of tourism and the security of one of Europe’s most prestigious tier guilds, the population grew so rapidly that existing settlements could no longer support it.

In response, the Gloria Guild worked with the local government to build a new city on the site of the former lagoon.

The plan was to secure land through a reclamation project similar to Saemangeum in Korea, but leave the main island and the lagoon in the north as tourist resources.

The plan was a great success thanks to the long hours of work put into it.

Venice, which had a population of only 50,000 before the Great War, has now become a large city with a population of over 1.5 million, making it a representative example of urban reconstruction.

“The headquarters of the Gloria Guild is located right in that city.”

Johanna stuck out her chin and pointed forward.

As the group turned their gaze, a city lined with high-rise buildings appeared beyond the seascape.

“That is the rebuilt city of ‘Nuava Venezia’.”

* * *

Venice Nouava was a perfectly planned city.

Because the land acquired through the reclamation project was so large, the roads were also wide, making the word rush hour meaningless.

“Does it look a bit empty? That’s because the city was built with an expected population of 5 million. The population is growing quickly, so it won’t take long for it to be completely filled.”

The road was so leisurely that even beginner drivers could drive with confidence, and despite being in the city center, it gave off a leisurely impression similar to a tourist destination.

“I’ve only heard about it, but Venice is truly an amazing… city.”

“The city center is full of high-rise buildings, but as you go out to the outskirts, the height of the buildings decreases. The seaside area is especially developed as a tourist destination. If you go to the main island of Venice, you will see restored old buildings and streets. Of course, it has also been modernized a lot, so it feels quite different from the old days you see in videos.”

The place Johanna took her group was the outskirts of the city where the tourist attraction was located.

We drove along the road lined with hotels and various amenities along the coast for a while and got off at the accommodations the group had reserved.

The accommodation was a resort, with a two-story house inside past the private beach. It was a fairly expensive accommodation, but I rented it for security and protection reasons for this event.

“Okay, get some rest today and I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

“Huh? Johanna isn’t with you?”

Mr. Joe, who was unloading Johanna’s luggage, asked. Johanna smiled and said as she put her trunk bag back in.

“I have a house here. It’s been empty for too long, so I need to go and clean it.”

“Don’t do that, hire people. Why would a hunter who has a lot of money and cars do that?”

“I don’t really like other people messing with my house. And I have to report my reinstatement to the guild. I have to bring my armor coat with me.”

Johanna smiled, closed the trunk door, and opened the driver’s seat. Just before she got into the car, Kang Mu-hyuk came over and whispered.

“Johanna Hunter, thank you for telling me about the Gloria Guild on the plane. I think it will be very helpful for the negotiations. Is there any sensitive information you have provided that I should not touch?”

“What? I was just talking about the company. It’s no different from gossiping about people. It’s not that sensitive information. More than anything, it’s about saving people, right? Our guild is good in every way, but it’s a bit… In Korean terms, it’s like a bunch of old farts. I can’t get an answer by attacking it with my bare hands. I don’t have much information, but if you’re the leader, you can use anything.”

“Yes. That was very good information. I will definitely repay this debt.”

“Don’t think of it as debt. After all, we’ve been through a lot together in LA. And in Seoul too. At this point, we’re just comrades.”

“Then, as a comrade, I will help you whenever you have difficulties.”

“The public announcement will come later. The work isn’t finished yet, right? After I arrange for a negotiation with the guild. I’ll listen to the praise after the work is done well.”

“Yes. I will praise you a lot then.”

“Okay, I’ll be going now.”

Johanna nodded, got into the car, and left the resort.

She checked Kang Mu-hyeok as he turned around in the rearview mirror and smiled.

‘I owe more… … .’

What would have happened to me now if Kang Moo-hyuk hadn’t dragged me around in LA?

If you hadn’t tried to persuade me to join Iron Will, where would I be now?

‘I guess I’m still wandering.’

But now I don’t wander anymore.

The fear had gone away. No, it still remained in my heart, but I was confident that I wouldn’t freeze like before. Because I realized that fighting with fear in my arms was what it meant to be a hunter.

Kang Mu-hyuk didn’t give you this realization, but did your fate change because of your contact with him?

Johanna stepped rhythmically on the accelerator with her feet thumping excitedly.

The car, which had been rattling, moved smoothly as if it knew its owner’s mood.

‘I’ll definitely repay your favor, Captain.’

* * *

The resort bellboy carried Kang Mu-hyeok and his group’s luggage.

The manager personally guided me and the oriental tourists who had paid a lot of money.

A cart operated within the resort carried the group.

Mr. Joe shouted excitedly as the cart raced along the beautifully landscaped road.

“I guess I’m getting compensated for my hard work raiding the Baekho Guild here.”

Matters related to the Baekho Guild were something that Iron Will had to keep strictly confidential, but Kang Mu-hyuk did not particularly try to stop her.

Because I knew that even though Mr. Joe seemed so easygoing on the outside, he wasn’t a hunter who talked without thinking.

She was watching the surroundings as a spy with a habit ingrained in her body. Kang Moo-hyuk, who was sensitive to mana, could see the waves spreading out in concentric circles around Mr. Cho.

From my experience so far, it was a type of sensing skill.

‘You can trust me. I’m not the type of person who would listen to you even if you told me. You’ve had a hard time, and now that you’ve been dragged in all of a sudden, you need to relax for a bit so that you can do your job well.’

Kang Moo-hyuk knew how to handle Mister Cho. She had a similar side to Go Eul-ji. He had to use the carrot and stick well.

Of course, unlike the Goryeo region, which was more sensitive to the whip, the carrot (money) ratio had to be higher, but since the cost-effectiveness was excellent, it couldn’t be said that giving out carrots was such a bad choice.

This time, I was so immersed in the travel mood that I felt like my money was secured, so I let Mr. Joe enjoy his freedom.

Thomas, who was riding in the same cart at that time, spoke for the first time after arriving in Venice.

“Sir, we are under surveillance.”

“Surveillance? Even though Mr. Joe is here?”

“The distance is far.”

“To what extent?”

“Like the hotel rooftop you see over there?”

Thomas looked over and saw a tall hotel. It was a uniquely tall building, unlike any other hotel.

It was a height that afforded a clear view not only of the resort but also of the tourist district of Nouava Venezia.

“That’s far. You must be a hunter with long-range scope skills.”

“Maybe?”

“Will Gloria be guilded?”

“Most likely. What should we do?”

Thomas asked with shining eyes.