The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 356

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Yeo Joo Saves the World
Part 2, Episode 177

“Our guild master’s usage fee is expensive, Association Director.”
“Usage fee?”
Ji Jung Hwi, the Association Director, raised one eyebrow and asked back.
I’d been ready to bite his head off if he asked ‘what kind of usage fee’, but fortunately, he wasn’t quite that shameless.
“It seems like you want something else. Go ahead and tell me.”
“Let’s step over there for a moment.”
I led Ji Jung Hwi to the most secluded corner I could find.
After confirming there were no people around, I spoke.
“It’s Muwoon. You’ve noticed something strange, haven’t you?”
“…I have eyes too, so of course I have.”
“Please investigate the cheating.”
“It might not be easy to catch them red-handed.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, does it?”
The Association Director had the authority to investigate Awakeners and Association Staff.
Of course, it wasn’t absolute power that transcended judicial authority, but in any case, he could dig around far more easily than I could.
When I just stared at him without saying anything, Ji Jung Hwi finally surrendered first.
“Fine, I’ll look into it. And?”
This time, when I raised one eyebrow meaningfully, the Association Director spoke as if it were obvious.
“The cheating that happened in the Guild Cup is naturally my responsibility, so you must want something else, right?”
“…You really are quick on the uptake.”
“Your thoughts are transparent.”
He seemed to know me a little too well.
I was about to state my conditions with a slightly uneasy feeling—the favorability keyword ‘pushover’ bothered me too—when it happened.
“In exchange for using our guild master as the Awakeners Association mascot…”
“Association Director.”
Baek Yi Ryung, the secretary, approached quickly and informed him.
“Muwoon Guild has come to see you.”
“Muwoon?”
“They say they wish to speak with the Justice Guild.”
Muwoon suddenly came looking for us?

* * *

Since the re-scan was already complete anyway, I called Kang Han and waited together in the Association Chairman’s Office.
This was because I had requested that Ji Jung Hwi, the Association Director, be present as a witness.
Whatever was said, we would need someone to bear witness.
“The Muwoon Guild hunters have arrived.”
Baek Yi Ryung entered the Association Chairman’s Office with two men.
Their faces seemed oddly familiar.
Both appeared to be in their mid-to-late twenties, and above all, they were tall.
One had sharp features while the other wore a smiling expression, but their basic facial structure was similar enough to prove they were blood relatives.
I activated the “Know Thyself” skill to confirm the information of the two men.

Shin Tae Muk S
Steel Silence (S)
Mind Break (S)
Shadow Crush (A)
Nightmare (A)
Status Abnormality – Darkness Addiction 33%

Shin Tae Jung S
Blood Compressor (S)
Command (S)
Deep Signal (S)
Status Abnormality – Darkness Addiction 40%

On my way from the studio to the Association Chairman’s Office, I looked into the hunters belonging to the Muwoon Guild.
There was no way Shin Se Hee would have come looking for me on her own.
With just a few searches, I was able to grasp the complex situation surrounding the Muwoon Guild.
Shin Tae Muk and Shin Tae Jung were brothers born in Busan—S-rank hunters who had been registered with the Shin Family, the main house of the Muwoon Guild, several years ago.
‘Right now, they’re competing with Shin Se Hee for the position of next guild master.’
Shin Tae Muk, the older of the two, greeted the Association Director first and spoke.
“So you’re here as well, Association Director.”
“Since these are the two guilds that faced each other in the quarterfinals, I thought it would be good to have a mediator present. If it’s inconvenient, I can step aside.”
“Not at all. We’d actually be grateful for your presence.”
Despite his sharp features, Shin Tae Muk presented himself with the polished courtesy of a seasoned businessman, offering business cards to both me and Kang Han as he greeted us.
“It’s our first time meeting. I’m Shin Tae Muk of the Muwoon Guild.”
“I’m Shin Tae Jung.”
After exchanging pleasantries in what appeared to be a cordial atmosphere, a cup of tea was placed in front of each of us.
“We apologize for visiting so suddenly.”
“What brings you here?”
At Kang Han’s question, the brothers’ expressions grew troubled, and Shin Tae Muk bowed his head once more.
“First, we want to thank you for rescuing our Muwoon Guild hunters even after the match ended. Thanks to you, they’re all expected to recover without serious aftereffects. And…”
Why was he dragging this out so much?
I was inwardly irritated when Shin Tae Jung stepped forward this time.
“Through our own investigation, it has come to light that Shin Se Hee, our sub-guild master, committed fraud during the Guild Cup quarterfinals.”
…Well, well.
The Association Director and I exchanged a quiet glance.
“We apologize on behalf of the Muwoon Guild. We are truly sorry.”
I had suspected this to some degree, but Kang Han had not.
Because he lived so righteously himself, he naturally assumed others would do the same.
Yet Kang Han calmly asked them in return.
“Could you explain exactly what kind of fraud Sub-guild Master Shin Se Hee committed?”
“She obtained advance information about the Sanjeong-dong Gate where the match would take place. Apparently, she bribed one of the Association staff members.”
At the mention of an Association staff member’s involvement, Ji Jung Hwi’s face hardened visibly.
“Do you know the name of that staff member?”
“Yes, Association Director. We’ve compiled the information we’ve gathered here.”
While Ji Jung Hwi reviewed the documents, the Muwoon brothers spoke to me and Kang Han.
“We sincerely apologize once again. The Muwoon Guild will take full responsibility.”
“But the match is already over—how can you take responsibility?”
I tried to ask as dryly as possible.
Even if the Muwoon Guild had won in the quarterfinals, would these two have exposed the fraud and apologized?
The Shin brothers answered without hesitation, as if they’d anticipated my question.
“We will publicly disclose the Muwoon Guild’s fraudulent conduct without concealment, and we’ve prepared financial compensation, however modest, for the Justice Guild.”
“You mean you’re going to announce that Sub-guild Master Shin Se Hee purchased dungeon information in advance?”
“Yes, in fact, a press release has likely already been issued.”
I hurriedly pulled out my phone.
As expected, the news section of the portal sites was already plastered with Muwoon Guild’s apologies.
I checked the topmost article and its comments, running my tongue along the inside of my cheek.
It was good that they issued a public apology, but they released it to the media before Justice Guild.
It was a transparent display of what Muwoon Guild truly valued.
I handed my phone to Kang Han so he could read the news as well, then glanced at the Shin brothers.
‘They’re trying to completely eliminate Shin Se Hee from the succession race.’
It irritated me.
In the timeline I knew, Shin Se Hee was supposed to become Muwoon’s successor without any incident.
But now she was being swept away by a rolling stone?
“You mentioned compensation. What amount did you have in mind?”
I asked without dancing around the subject.
“Ah, well….”
Shin Tae Jung seemed momentarily flustered by my directness before stating the figure.
It was no small amount.
Enough to completely repair the Outdoor Training Ground that Kang Han had destroyed and upgrade the facilities extensively with plenty left over.
But I shook my head.
“It’s fortunate we won thanks to Justice Guild’s hunters working hard, but considering this was cheating that could have changed the quarterfinal results, the compensation you mentioned is rather meager for such a transgression. Since we can’t haggle over numbers here, I’ll submit Justice Guild’s requested amount in writing.”
So they were apologizing profusely and taking full responsibility?
I felt bitter that Justice Guild had been dragged into Muwoon Guild’s internal politics.
And for wounded feelings, financial compensation was always the most effective remedy.
“Understood. We’re grateful that you’ll accept our apology through compensation.”
The atmosphere suggested the meeting was winding down.
I asked the two Muwoon hunters who were about to stand up.
“If you obtained the information beforehand, that’s why you recruited Bae Do Yoon as well, isn’t it?”
“…That’s correct. We received a confession from Shin Se Hee that she heard repeated information about night coming and judged that a light-attribute magic user’s skills were necessary.”
“Just as I thought. Understood. In that case, this should be straightforward. Instead of increasing the compensation, transfer Bae Do Yoon to Justice Guild.”
“Are you asking us to add Bae Do Yoon to the compensation we’ve already offered?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“But that requires Bae Do Yoon’s own consent….”
“Since he’s been continuously requesting a transfer to Justice Guild, it shouldn’t be an issue. I’ll ask Bae Do Yoon directly, and if he refuses, we won’t push the matter.”
Muwoon is a martial arts-focused guild.
Bae Do Yoon was nothing more than a puzzle piece that never fit there from the start.
“…Understood.”
After a brief silence, Shin Tae Muk nodded and left the Association Chairman’s Office.
I waited until the two of them had gone far enough before speaking to Ji Jung Hwi.
“I’m afraid I’ll need to take up some of your time, Association Director.”

* * *

While Baek Yi Ryung adjusted the Association Director’s schedule, I sat on the sofa with Kang Han and waited.
In the meantime, the entire online sphere was consumed with talk of Muwoon Guild.
Before long, discussions about Justice Guild and Kang Han’s new skill had been pushed to the background.
What infuriated me most was that favorable public opinion about Muwoon’s Shin brothers had begun to take shape.
“Anyone watching would think Muwoon won in the quarterfinals.”
It was obvious that even if Kang Han revealed his new skill window, it wouldn’t generate any significant momentum.
I tapped my toes and conjured a round lollipop.
I had to admit that Shin Tae Muk and Shin Tae Jung had used their heads quite well.
But that didn’t mean I could let them steal the spotlight like this.
Public attention belongs to Justice Guild, at least until the semifinals.
‘The best way to bury an issue is with another issue.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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