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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth
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"Wow, so this is what she's come to…"
On the way back to the operations headquarters after completing the mission.
I let out a mirthless laugh as I looked at my phone.
"Is this real? She was seriously a total psycho, wasn't she?"
Lee Yu-ri must have seen what I did, because her eyes widened, and she showed it to the other party members.
"…Hah, I was going to go find her myself and teach her a lesson, but…"
"Tell me about it. Saying stuff like that to a junior… I was preparing to spam 5,700 characters worth of comments…"
"She's just so utterly ruined that there's nothing left for us to do…"
"Agreed. Recall the shadows."
Kang Do-hee, Im Ga-eul, Sophia, and Ichika all wore subtle expressions. It seemed they had each been itching to deal with her after their respective tasks were done.
However.
Ling Xiao was already ablaze beyond any further intervention.
『Ling Xiao Was Behind the Jiangsu Province Gate Explosion! What About Other Past Gate Explosions!?』
『Ling Xiao's Power Base in Jiangsu Province, Riots Erupt!』
『Ling Xiao's Past Atrocities! She Was Infamous Even Before!』
『[Global Pick!] Ling Xiao's Residence Engulfed in Flames.』
『Chinese Hunter Association: "Ling Xiao to Be Expelled from Hunter Roster and Arrested"』
Not only were her past statements and actions being archived across various online communities, one after another.
Her personal broadcast recordings were filled with a colorful array of insults in various languages.
And the large house where she resided was being enthusiastically torched.
Now, she was treated as a hunter even more despicable than a demon.
The anger within China, in particular, seemed beyond imagination.
'Well, her life's ruined, isn't it…'
As I returned to the operations headquarters with a slightly strange feeling.
"Everyone, you all worked very hard."
Shin Se-hee, with a brighter smile than usual, handed us towels and cold drinks.
'It's probably her, isn't it…?'
Gulp, gulp.
I took the drink and subtly glanced at Shin Se-hee from the corner of my eye.
It would be hard for anyone but Shin Se-hee to completely ruin someone on this scale.
"Let me wipe your sweat."
However, she merely wiped away the sweat with an innocent expression, as if she knew nothing about it.
'Seriously, I should never cross her…'
It was then that I made that firm resolution once again.
"Hahahaha! Welcome!"
His high energy was completely different from when he first saw us.
Richard, the foreigner with pomaded blonde hair combed back, welcomed us with open arms.
*
"You truly worked hard! Everyone from Utopia!!"
Richard, who had moved from the operations headquarters to the reception room, beamed with a wide smile as he congratulated us.
"It was nothing."
"Nothing, you say! You've clearly shown why Korea, why Velvet Academy, and why Utopia are so important this time!"
When I shook my head, expressing light humility, Richard exaggerated wildly, lauding us profusely.
"In any case, with this commission, our American side stands to gain quite a lot. Thank you once again."
When I stared at him with a gaze that said, 'Isn't this treatment a bit too different from before?'
Slightly embarrassed, Richard cleared his throat.
Ahem—
"First, the mission completion fee will be paid as agreed. However, giving you the same amount as other parties wouldn't be fair, so…"
I straightened my posture.
This was the real main point.
Shin Se-hee had taken the lead in the previous negotiation, but for the mission's completion, I had to step forward.
Because I was Utopia's representative.
"For each tribe you cleared today. We will pay an additional 100 million."
"…!?"
100 million per tribe.
And since we cleared about twenty tribes today, that's 2 billion.
As an *additional* payment, no less.
'Is this crazy?'
"And earlier, in the negotiation with Master Cheonhwa, we said we'd give you 10% of the net profit we earned from Utopia's broadcast exposure, but we'll raise that to 15%."
"…!?"
'What is this? Is this right?'
Richard acted submissively, as if he had no intention of negotiating from the start.
And as he furtively glanced at Shin Se-hee, his eyes trembled.
'Ah, so you know?'
They say America is renowned for its intelligence, and it seems they've figured out that Shin Se-hee orchestrated Ling Xiao's downfall.
It would be strange if he *wasn't* intimidated, having seen firsthand what happens when you cross them.
'No, if it's Shin Se-hee, she probably leaked it on purpose.'
In addition, Richard added, as if he had no ulterior motives.
"This is purely out of goodwill. Consider it a gesture of our sincerity to maintain a good relationship with Utopia in the future. Would you be willing to accept commissions from the US occasionally going forward?"
"Ah, yes. Of course."
"Excellent."
He nodded, seemingly satisfied.
Just when I thought the conversation was wrapping up, Richard handed out personal business cards to each party member.
American Hunter Association, Operations Officer.
—Richard Parkers.
"Hmm, and though it might be inappropriate to say this… if you haven't decided on your path after graduation, please do give this number a call…"
"No, I'm alright."
I rejected Richard's offer with a sharp, decisive tone.
'Are you crazy? Surely, no one here thinks American naturalization is a good idea, right?'
I subtly gauged my party members' reactions.
Because if you keep neglecting one of your party members and hit rock bottom, they sometimes accept America's offer.
Then, eventually, the character disappears from your roster.
'I paid money to recruit them, so that's seriously messed up.'
At any rate, none of the party members looked particularly tempted.
As I cleanly refused.
"Yes, I understand."
Richard also backed off, as if he had just been making a casual remark.
"Still, if you ever change your mind, please contact us. We will always have the best treatment prepared for you. It's never a bad thing to expand your options."
Well, it seems he hasn't completely given up, though.
* * *
Clank— Clank—
Just as we finished the negotiation and were about to return to the academy,
The rattling sound of chains could be heard from afar.
'That's… Ling Xiao, isn't it?'
The ones holding her by both arms appeared to be Chinese Public Security Hunters.
Ling Xiao's appearance as she was dragged away by them was utterly pathetic.
It looked as if she had been dragged directly from the mission and interrogated; her face was streaked with grime, and her eyes were dull and haggard.
It was then, as they passed by.
Snap—!
Ling Xiao, who was being dragged along, suddenly snapped her head up, her eyes wide and bloodshot.
"Ling Xiao! What do you think you're doing!"
The Chinese Public Security Hunters urgently tried to restrain her, but she broke free first.
Thwack—!
"Agh!"
Kang Do-hee shot out like a bullet, kicked her leg, and tripped her.
Thudding—!
"How dare you!"
Firmly—!
Lee Yu-ri, her face hardened, climbed onto Ling Xiao's body, twisted her arms behind her, and restrained her.
Gnashing—
Lying prone on the ground, Ling Xiao gnashed her teeth and looked up at me with eyes burning with hatred.
"You bastard! Was it you!? Was it you, I said!!!"
She burst out with curses, screaming.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"You, you made me like this!!!!!"
I tilted my head, listening to her words.
"That was you, wasn't it?"
"…What did you say?"
"No, it just sounds strange. Did I intentionally cause a gate explosion? Or did I intentionally neglect the monsters' massacre of residents? Or did I, perhaps, show up late like a hero and deceive people?"
Ling Xiao's eyes widened.
"All of that was your doing. I have no idea why you're coming at me about it."
"Shut up… Shut up, shut up! Shuuuut uuuup, you! You think I don't know that this was all your doing—"
"No. It's all your just deserts."
She tried to snap something else, but I cut her off.
"Well, I suppose you could say that your past deeds resurfaced because your feud with me made you famous."
Ling Xiao bit her lip tightly and trembled.
"But that's strange. Didn't you want to become famous from the start? That's why you picked a fight with me, too. But did you really not think that if you gained such fame, your shady past would eventually come out?"
At that moment, the Chinese Public Security Hunter, who had been observing, approached and restrained her again.
"Ling Xiao, if you act out one more time, we will execute you on the spot."
"To the Utopia party members. We apologize. This is our oversight."
"Ah, it's fine. Take her away."
"Thank you."
And so, Ling Xiao was dragged away again by the Chinese Public Security Hunters.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaah—!!!!!"
Her terrible shriek echoed.
"Heh—"
And suddenly, from behind me, a burst of laughter.
"Hehehehehe…"
Behind me, Shin Se-hee was demurely covering her mouth, letting out quiet laughter.
I turned my head, pretending not to see.
'Seriously, I really need to treat her well…'
It was already the third time I'd made that promise to myself today.