From then on, Joo Sae-yoon ostracized me without hiding it. It was difficult to grasp the exact reason.

Was it because he had a grudge from the Giant White Tiger biting his hand? Did the leader of a team have that small of a mind?

No, it didn’t seem like it was that simple of a reason he was angry at me. Of course, his pride would have taken a hit. However, he himself should know that it was thanks to me that he had survived. There was definitely a reason he was trying to push me away regardless of that.

Also, there was a person I could ask this about right next to me.

Han Joon-suk fell into contemplation and slowly opened his mouth.

“Probably. It’s because he doesn’t want the credit to be stolen.”

“The credit?”

“Joo Sae-yoon section chief is a government official. If he completes this work then his road to a higher management seat would open up. Since An Gyu-bum is here on top of that he would want to look good. That’s why he wants to make this expedition a success. Also, he thinks that he should take the greatest credit in leading the government team to victory.”

“Is it for such a reason that he’s ostracizing us?”

Even so, no matter how one looked at it there was a visible difference in military strength. It was proven through several battles that if the government team fights without me then they inevitably struggle. Is he so blinded for victory to ignore that?

“He probably knows himself that it is unreasonable. However, it is something that must be done from his point of view. Even if this expedition was successful, if that was spread as being thanks to team Delta, no, party leader’s abilities then there would be doubts about his abilities after all. Then of course his ambitions would end there.”

“However, if he fails then it’s not a problem of promotion.”

I felt stuffy. If Han Joon-suk’s words were true then Joo Sae-yoon was putting the lives of thousands of hunters at risk for just him to advance in life.

“There are people whose desire to stand above others is greater than their desire for survival after all. This person called Joo Sae-yoon is probably someone who is included in that category.”

“Then there’s a high chance that I will be left out of the coming operation plans.”

“It’s only a speculation. I am over 90% certain about it thought.”

“I did think that I didn’t like the government bastards but to entrust the lives of thousands to that kind of guy. Is there really not a single one that can think properly?”

“They have been doing well for too long.”

Han Joon-suk continued as he let out a deep sigh.

“Korea’s hunters were at the apex for too long. Nobody was able to keep them in check and because of that they have been drowned in conceit that they are the strongest. It was true in reality too. That’s why, no matter how much the ones that led them do as they please it didn’t become a problem. Those festering problems are exploding now.”

It was so.

The thought that the likes of China should be dealt with simply. That obvious logic had been shaken so Joo Sae-yoon had fallen into panic.

If he put me in on top of that he wouldn’t be able to keep up appearances. The rumor of me using monsters as weapons was already spreading as far as it could and if my role continued to the end, his position as the government team leader would become insignificant.

In the end, if Joo Sae-yoon didn’t end the war without me, his future is dark.

“It will be difficult as it is.”

“What are we going to do.”

“Well, we should do like we usually do. Did we ever do things as others told us to do?”

“I thought you would think like that.”

Han Joon-suk smiled. It was a face that said that he had understood everything I was going to do.

I couldn’t help saying something.

“I always wanted to say this but. Could you not do that thing were you seem like you know everything about what I’m thinking? It really hurts my pride?”

“Oh, did party leader not know?”

“About what?”

“There is probably no one in our party that doesn’t know what party leader is thinking.”

“Do I really show it on my face that much? No, does that mean that Soo-ah is reading my thoughts all the time?”

“That Jang Moon-bok fellow probably knows too.”

“Urg.....”

It was to the point that a new guy could read my thoughts.

A sigh came out involuntarily. It started thinking that I should take care of my expression. I was still the leader of an organization, if I couldn’t keep my poker face then I wouldn’t have any dignity.

“Pft. There’s no need to force yourself to make such a solemn expression. That is part of party leader’s charm after all.”

“.... I don’t feel happy hearing that from a guy though.”

“Then you can just hear it from a girl.”

I barely prevented him from calling Soo-ah. This guy also liked playing around with me too much.

“We will leave now.”

Eum Young-hyeon who heard me had an expression of agony.

“Must you do so?”

“I don’t think it would help much even if I’m here. It would be better not to be here than to see the suffering with my own eyes.”

“I know that section chief Joo is a problem as well. I will try to convince him with General Lee so how about you wait a little longer.”

He was truly thinking that it was a shame to let me leave. However, I shook my head. In the first place, in this organization that had the alternative service team as the main force, Joo Sae-yoon’s opinion was absolute.

It wasn’t weird that Eum Young-hyeon couldn’t defy his words in any way.

Rather than being put at a distance by needlessly interfering it was better to entirely be separate.

“I wasn’t part of the government team in the first place after all. If I made many achievements here then I think it will instead become a problem later.”

“.... I understand.”

Eum Young-hyeon let out a sigh as he nodded his head. He also understood the awkwardness of the situation I was put in. My ability was greater than any other person here.

I had the power to penetrate the Chungho Group’s siege on my own, and I even had the intelligence network to predict the enemy’s ambush.

These two things were something necessary for the government team right now. However, in a situation where Joo Sae-yoon didn’t think it was necessary it didn’t become a card that can be used.

If I was deployed at that time then it would already be too late. The war situation would have turned and the damage would have piled up like a mountain. Even if they were to win in that situation I wouldn’t hear anything good. He was a human being that would reprimand me asking why I didn’t join eariler.

I did not want to fight in such a difficult battle.

I said my farewells to Eum Young-hyeon and our team finished our preparations to leave.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes. It seems I’m not very welcome.”

“I’m sorry.”

“There is no need for lieutenant Son to be sorry.”

“Even so. I should have done something.”

“I know well that it would be impossible. That’s why there is no need to take it to heart. Right. I will leave the Milworm as it is so please use it well like before.”

“I won’t even leave the base though.”

“Just in case. Then, goodbye for now.”

I parted with her and we started moving.

There were even people asking where we were going. I was already a well known person here. However, I didn’t reply. There was no need to cut down morale at this point.

“Ah. I just remembered that I had a place I needed to stop by.”

“Where?”

Soo-ah said.

“You know I’m the type of person that can’t stay still while curious about something.”

The place I went to before leaving the base was An Gyu-bum’s tent.

“What is it?”

Jeon Min-jeong held her spear the block my way.

She showed animosity from beginning to end. Wasn’t this overdoing it when we even participated in battle together.

“I came because I had something ask An Gyu-bum.”

“I will pass it on for you.”

“There is nothing good about the outside hearing it though?”

“Say it in a low voice.”

Ah. There was such a method.

I nodded my head and whispered in her ear.

“You guys.....”

“Wha, what are you doing.”

Min-jeong’s face got red as she pushed her spear towards me. I lightly laughed as I felt the cold feeling under my chin.

“You told me to talk in a low voice, are you saying that because you don’t know how many have good ears here?”

“Urg.....”

There was no one here that was normal. They were at least level 3 and if you excluded the executives, there were even level 6. Would there only be one or two among them that had good ears. She also realized that and couldn’t retort.

“Tell him to come in.”

An Gyu-bum’s voice could be heard from inside the tent.

Jeon Min-jeong guided me in as if it couldn’t be helped. An Gyu-bum was waiting for me while sitting on the bed.

He had a good life, to have a bed in a place like this. Where the hell was that from?

“It’s an item.”

An Gyu-bum said. Everybody’s reading my thoughts I see. I should really live while taking care of my expression.

“I bought it in an auction for a high price. It’s an object that becomes small enough to be carried around. Fatigue is relieved after sleeping on this. Jealous right?”

“Not really.”

It seems to be a new item dropped from a Red Hole. It was probably dropped when it was only open for exactly a day.

I searched on the Delta Store and found that the same item was being sold for 10EP.

“How much did you buy it for?”

“10b.”

“Be moderate in your money bullshit.....”

“You dare!”

Jeon Min-jeong held up her spear once more.

I held the spear with one hand.

“Huh?”

There was confusion on her expression. A weapon item had a different level of cutting power compared to normal swords. On top of that, a level 6 equipment. It was at a level where a finger would go flying with a scratch and I had grabbed that with my bare hands.

“Do it moderately yeah? My patience has its limits as well.”

“Shut up.....”

Veins popped up on her arms. Her strength seemed to be pretty good but it was no use against me.

An Gyu-bum frowned.

“Leave it at that. Min-jeong, you relax as well.”

“.... Understood.”

As she relaxed first I also let go of the spear.

An Gyu-bum opened his mouth.

“You have something to say to me?”

“It’s nothing big. I was wondering if there was something you knew more about the Chungho Group.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

His eyebrow twitched. It was a expression that said he was feeling unpleasant.

“You running away from the battle.”

“Do you want to die?”

“If you had run away after being scared of fighting then you wouldn’t even try to come back here in the first place. That said, you ran away because of the difference in numbers? Then it didn’t make sense to cooperate with us in the rescue operation. I don’t think that you’re a scaredy cat to that degree.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Something happened right?”

“.....”

His expression stiffened.

“I think that there was a reason you had to leave the battlefield. Although I don’t know what that reason is.”

“.... No need for you to know.”

“So there is something. I understand that it’s something hard to say. I will ask one more thing. Is it related to the Chungho Group?”

“It’s a personal problem.”

“Then that’s fine.”

I said so and turned around. Thanks to him replying properly I was able to relieve one burden.

I was thinking that the battle would be more difficult if the Chungho Group had something special that we didn’t know about but since it wasn’t like that for now.