The negotiation was satisfactory.
Especially for me.
In my hand, as I left the negotiation room, was a makeshift voucher.
It was proof that when Japan sent the Camellia Sword to the Korea Association later, it could be exchanged.
They said they would send it within a few days.
After the negotiation ended, the other side’s expressions weren’t bad either.
If I had pushed too hard, it wouldn’t have ended that way.
After all, the basic principle of negotiation is to leave some room for breathing.
There’s no need to feud at a national level anyway. Of course, even if we did feud, it wouldn’t matter much.
Still, we firmly covered the core issue.
We asserted that the Cross was absolutely unpassable, but at the same time, we provided information about additional relics of Iano hidden somewhere on the mainland.
Because the detailed settings weren’t included, we couldn’t pinpoint the exact location.
We roughly mentioned somewhere near Hokkaido, but even with that level of hint, they seemed quite satisfied.
I wondered if it was okay to give it away, but the reward over there is poor.
In any case, I can’t go there.
“Mr. Hae-in…!”
From far away, Mr. Kim Gil-kyu called me urgently.
“Yes?”
“We’ve received urgent contact from China. It seems to be regarding Iano’s tomb. They’ve offered a substantial amount of compensation…”
Apparently, they also caught the scent.
Since the contract hasn’t been signed yet, they seem to think it can still be overturned.
“How will you proceed? Since the deal hasn’t been finalized, you can return to the negotiation table—”
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Ah… China… huh.”
I couldn’t stop the laughter that slipped out.
I had no intention of selling it to them from the start.
“Absolutely not.”
After all, the bad feelings aren’t only towards Japan.
The downtown cafe operated by Glory Enterprises always buzzes with people.
Below the vintage chandeliers, elegant classical music flows, but now, all eyes in the middle of the cafe were focused on one spot.
There were Go Hana and Cheon Yeoul, distinguished students of the Realm.
Go Hana sat with her long, smooth legs crossed. Her silver hair shone brilliantly under the lighting. In contrast, Cheon Yeoul had a neatly trimmed short hairstyle and a demure outfit, exuding a serene and saintly presence.
“Sister…! Could you sign this for me…!”
A young fan approached Go Hana, holding out a small piece of paper.
She replied with a bright smile.
“Sure, pass me the paper?”
Her graceful demeanor as she signed for her fans was picturesque in itself. From afar, the two seemed like a perfect pair, their beauty and elegance enough to captivate everyone around them.
But reality was different.
The nearby conversation had a much different tone.
Go Hana swirled her teacup on the table with her fingertips and spoke.
“Did you enjoy it?”
Cheon Yeoul calmly set down her teacup and responded with a smile.
“Yeah, so much.”
Her voice was soft, but there was an indescribable energy in it.
Go Hana lifted the corner of her mouth while holding the teacup.
“Still, I’ll give you credit for this. Though you respect Him, that spiritual medicine—”
Go Hana stopped mid-sentence and looked up, sensing something strange.
Cheon Yeoul still had a sip of tea in her mouth, and her expression hinted at a lingering aftertaste, her slightly flushed face and dreamy eyes.
“What are you doing?”
At Go Hana’s sharp voice, Cheon Yeoul seemed to return to reality.
“Oh.”
Cheon Yeoul smiled gently, tilting her head slightly, and her delicate smile was enough to stimulate Go Hana.
“Sorry, I just can’t stop thinking about that time.”
Go Hana’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
Cheon Yeoul continued, tapping her fingers on the table, as if she didn’t care about Go Hana’s reaction.
“I had to touch every inch of his body to circulate the medicine’s energy… You know how it works.”
“When he leaned into my arms and fell asleep… Do you know how cute he was?”
Go Hana’s smile froze slightly, and her fingers gripped the cup tightly.
Unbothered by her reaction, Cheon Yeoul lifted her cup for another sip and continued teasing.
“I did whatever I wanted to his body, and he didn’t know a thing about the world…”
“Happily.”
Finally, Go Hana set her cup down without taking a sip.
Her voice was low and calm, but she maintained her smile.
“Because there are so many people here.”
Cheon Yeoul tilted her head quizzically.
“Why?”
“Because I almost killed you for real.”
The moment the words were out, the atmosphere froze.
Cheon Yeoul smiled faintly, raising the corner of her mouth.
“Mood setting.”
“Be careful.”
In the midst of this, a young boy fan approached Cheon Yeoul, requesting a signature.
With an affectionate smile, Cheon Yeoul wrote her name on the paper he offered.
The child seemed hesitant, his small hands clasped together and his little feet tapping nervously.
“Child, is there something you want to say?”
Cheon Yeoul gently encouraged the hesitating child.
“Do you really have a relationship with Sir Johan?”
Cheon Yeoul’s expression stiffened at the unexpected question.
Meanwhile, Go Hana covered her mouth and giggled.
“No, absolutely not. Yes, never.”
“Well, when I grow up, I’ll marry you!”
The boy confidently declared, puffing his shoulders as if he had prepared this statement.
Cheon Yeoul chuckled, amusingly, and lightly patted the boy on the head.
“Though I appreciate that, it’s not possible.”
The boy’s face fell instantly, his expression turning sad.
“I already belong to someone else, sorry?”
In the middle of the city stood a towering medieval-style building.
Its unsuitable appearance paradoxically blended naturally into the cityscape.
‘Arcadia Church.’
I had arrived at the church’s cathedral.
Since I had my vacation already lined up, I decided to sell all the Cross relics today in one go.
“The matter can remain confidential, but it can also be made public.”
The Guild had asked me if I wanted the press to disclose the success of this dungeon run.
I had chosen the option to keep it private at first.
But…
“Will it stay like that?”
There are quite a few people within the Guild who sell information secretly as a side business.
Thanks to them, it will be revealed sooner or later anyway.
As I organized my thoughts in my mind, I entered the church. The interior was clean and modern, unlike the exterior.
I approached the priest who was reviewing documents at the counter.
“Father.”
“Yes~ How can I assist you?”
The priest greeted me with a kind smile.
“I’m here to sell an artifact.”
“An arti…fact?”
Her expression stiffened slightly in surprise before she rummaged through the documents and asked.
“May I have your name, please?”
“My name is Jung Hae-in.”
The moment I said my name, distant clatter was heard.
A priest rushed out in a hurry.
“Oh dear, please warn me next time!”
“…Do I know someone here?”
“Haha, is that so?”
The priest scratched their head and smiled sheepishly.
“I’ll take you to the meeting room. This way, please.”
The priest bowed politely and began guiding me.
“Actually, Lady Cheon Yeoul gave us strict instructions. She said we should treat Mr. Jung Hae-in with great respect.”
“So… if you could kindly speak to her…”
I nodded, understanding.
It seemed like Cheon Yeoul was already firmly taking control within the church, judging by her efforts to make a good impression.
The factions within the Arcadia Church are divided into two main groups.
One that supports the Hero, Johan. The other that supports the Saint, Cheon Yeoul.
Johan’s supporters are attached to tradition and past glories — old-school traditionalists centered around the Hero.
In this regard, Cheon Yeoul’s recent behavior of strengthening her influence is a well-played move.
The meeting room inside the church was even more luxurious.
“Would you please wait here for a moment? Someone who will handle the deal will arrive shortly.”
After the priest exited, a neatly dressed middle-aged man entered shortly after.
He calmly bowed to me.
“Are you Jung Hae-in? It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Bishop Luke, in charge of the trade for the Arcadia Church.”
His demeanor was calm and dignified.
In response, I took the Cross out of my bag and showed it.
“I’m here to sell this.”
As the Cross in my hand was revealed, Bishop Luke’s expression changed subtly.
His face, reflecting both surprise and reverence, hinted that he already had a sense of the item’s worth.
He carefully observed the Cross, steadying his breath, and asked quietly.
“In my limited understanding, I sense an extraordinary holiness here. Do you happen to know the name?”
“It’s a relic of the shaman Iano.”
“Ah… I guessed as much.”
I nodded and handed him the Cross.
Bishop Luke accepted it with a tense expression and spoke.
“Even just letting us purchase it from you is an honor. However…”
His voice dropped lower.
“Mr. Jung Hae-in certainly deserves fair compensation… But given how significant this item is…”
Ah, I got it now.
He was suggesting that because this was a major item, beyond my ability to set the price, they would need time to discuss.
I wasn’t particularly concerned about the money anyway. After all, I’d intended to just give it away.
“Please just give me a contract form for now. You can let me know the price later.”
At my response, Bishop Luke seemed a bit taken aback and hastily pulled out a blank contract and a pen from his robe.
He handed it over, and I quickly filled out the form.
“Done. Here you go.”
“As long as you stick to this condition, you can reach out whenever you’ve decided the price.”
This was a contract guaranteed by the seal of the god Arcadia worships, and it must be followed.
Bishop Luke’s eyes widened as he read the contract I had written.
He carefully reviewed it for some time, then nodded his head.
“Agreed. That this condition is all we need… Thank you for your generous understanding.”
Cheon Yeoul was confident that the church would certainly give her the Cross, but she didn’t know about this.
I felt it would be more beneficial to her if I set clear conditions.
The content of the contract was simple.
‘The Cross of Iano must be exclusively used for candidates of the ‘Saint’.’
Bishop Luke reviewed it once more, then quietly smiled.
“Someone who would reject this condition… doesn’t exist within the church.”
He carefully folded the contract and slipped it into his robes.
“Unless, of course, they’re one of the heathens.”
And the Bishop Luke standing before me is known for being a staunch supporter of the ‘Pro-Saint’ faction within the Arcadia Church.
He bowed deeply to me and said,
“The holiness embodied in this relic will certainly find its way into the hands of the worthy.”
He would certainly fulfill my expectations perfectly.
