This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 417

We also have ears, you know.

To say something that doesn’t really provide any benefit by openly revealing it?

That must mean the contents of the conversation from the meeting have leaked over there.

Given the situation, I thought they had at least thoroughly enforced internal security… Who could it be?

In the midst of it all, did someone fall for that proposal over there and spill all the details discussed in the meeting?

The first face that came to mind was, of course, that of a junior who has been adorably climbing the ranks in recent years… But honestly, I didn’t think they would do something like this.

No matter how I thought about it, that seemed to be the case.

That must be because the human being known as Chae-rim that I’ve seen all this time seemed capable of such things.

And if that’s the case?

It means the details of the meeting leaked not from that side, but from somewhere else…

“Hmm.”

If I think about it, it’s not that strange.

It’s hard to see it as odd that a traitor, knowing internal security was enforced, popped up with that proposal from over there… The Association is currently facing an unprecedented crisis it has never encountered since its founding.

Considering that point, of course, some people would waver.

They must have picked up on that and poked right at it.

Thus, what’s important now is… the reason they openly revealed that fact, isn’t it?

To think about it, there was no real reason for them to disclose that.

From their standpoint, there was no need to do that because anyone who participated in that day’s meeting would be considered a seasoned veteran.

It would be more efficient for someone of that caliber to keep their existence hidden and use it at an opportune time.

It was definitely something that seemed obvious, yet the very act of unveiling it suggests… they want something from our side.

The problem is what exactly that might be.

What could they possibly be demanding that they go to such lengths to sprinkle bait everywhere?

“If you’re revealing this fact so insistently… it seems you have something you desire from me.”

I couldn’t help but ask, driven by curiosity.

And it seems I was right, as expected.

“What is it that you want?”

As soon as I asked, a faint smile appeared on their face.

A smile that seemed characteristic of someone who had lost something precious.

And the smile hanging on their face… looked eerily similar to one I had seen in the mirror once.

Thus, I understood.

They wouldn’t stop until they got what they wanted or brought themselves to ruin.

There was no other way.

It had to be that way… since I had once been like that too.

And just as expected, with a crazed smile plastered on her face, the woman looked at me silently and uttered…

“It’s originally a plan that was in progress at the Association level. That… let’s resume it.”

It was a concept of a plan fitting for the smile she wore—a plan full of madness.

A plan that was originally slated to be executed by the headquarters in the third quarter of this year, but was indefinitely postponed due to the continuous attacks from the Another Ones.

Using artificial portal generation technology developed by the headquarters, it would directly strike the realm known as Heogye, where the Another Ones reside… a plan that could be considered reckless.

That had to be what she was referring to.

The issue is… even if I had her by the collar and demanded something like that, it would be impossible to comply.

It wouldn’t be feasible at all; it would practically be a suicide mission to carry out a plan of such magnitude under these circumstances even if the Association were in perfect condition.

No matter how much I thought about it, that was clear.

Even if we prepared thoroughly, there was no guarantee of success in such a plan, and proceeding with it under the current conditions of insufficient manpower and resources was utterly nonsensical.

That was my constant thought, yet it seemed the woman sitting across from me had a different view.

“Of course, I know this. Pushing such a plan through under these circumstances would be nothing short of madness.”

Even knowing that, why would she bring it up?

Was she really going insane due to this situation?

As I pondered, I thought…

“But that’s a conversation for when things are proceeding according to the original plan, isn’t it?”

With a smile that had deepened since earlier, she continued.

“What I mean is… the circumstances have changed compared to then, haven’t they? So the plan must change to accommodate that.”

She wants to change the plan, huh?

What exactly does she mean by that?

“There’s no need for the personnel sent into Heogye to be large in number.”

“…”

“Sometimes a small elite force can be much more effective.”

That was a point I couldn’t easily deny.

As she said, there are times when deploying an elite group is more efficient than flooding a large number of personnel.

Nonetheless, the reason the headquarters insisted on a large force was simply one: ignorance.

They had no idea how vast Heogye was, nor what the environment and situation were like; thus, they planned to fill that gap with numbers.

But altering that to a small elite group…

Would that really be effective?

Honestly, I found it hard to predict.

Because, as I mentioned before, the situation in Heogye, the main battlefield, was far too uncertain.

Perhaps, as they said, deploying a smaller elite group might be more effective than mobilizing large numbers.

Or it may not be.

What mattered was… that wasn’t the main issue.

The real issue was… what could we possibly gain from going that far?

“If that… those personnel yield meaningful results…”

Meaningful results, huh?

“Then we can show those exhausted people, who’ve been worn out by the continuous attacks, that the Association is still intact.”

At that moment, I realized something.

That statement was mere sophistry.

Only discussing the sweet benefits that could be gained from success while omitting the costs we would have to bear in case of failure—what can we even call it other than sophistry?

Thus, that statement was undoubtedly nothing of value, an example of sophistry, but… the reason why my heart kept wavering despite knowing this… was surely due to the difficulty of the situation.

“…Gathering personnel won’t be easy.”

“Well… I see it differently.”

With their words, it seemed they had some method in mind.

But it certainly wouldn’t be easy.

“The Association Chairman just needs to grant permission. From recruiting the personnel to preparing the necessary supplies for the operation, we’ll handle everything.”

“…Hmm.”

“Above all… once personnel are deployed in such a manner, won’t we be able to secure various samples?”

“…”

“And maybe some of those secured samples could hold clues to solving the phenomenon of Monsterization.”

Now that I think about it, the research team had mentioned something along those lines.

Everything was good, but since there was no information on the peculiar entities that triggered the Monsterization, it felt like we were blindly heading into unknown territory.

They even added a remark that if any samples related to those peculiar entities were discovered, they must be secured at all costs, but if we could indeed send personnel into Heogye as they mentioned and secure samples…

Perhaps we could actually discover something valuable.

Was it because such thoughts filled my mind?

“First… I understand what you want to say. It resonates with me.”

“What does that mean…?”

“It’s a delicate matter, so I can’t give you a definitive answer right away… but I will give it serious thought.”

Even though I knew it wouldn’t do me any good to leave room for negotiation, I could only respond that way in the end.