This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 435

It’s not about plotting something outside, but rather targeting the inside.

I definitely hadn’t considered that possibility.

So, could that be the reason why?

It felt really strange.

Thinking about it, it wasn’t much of a leap from one brain to two, yet it felt like efficiency skyrocketed out of nowhere.

Is that why everyone emphasized the importance of brainstorming whenever a meeting took place?

‘Anyway…’

Hearing Dogun say that all you had to do was create a situation where votes would inevitably lean towards one side?

One rather plausible method popped into my head.

So… it would be about finding a way to get the current Association Chairman down from that position.

And following that method?

It could easily explain why that mysterious woman, assumed to possess a talent related to mental abilities, had been scouting around active heroes.

It really felt like everything fit together perfectly, like it had always been one body.

“Your expression suggests you might have something in mind.”

“For now?”

“So, what is it?”

It seems Dogun couldn’t reach that far due to not being quite as well-informed about the Association’s matters as I was.

Well, it seemed to be just a matter of ‘not yet’ reaching it, and time was likely to help with that.

So maybe if a bit more time were given here?

It wouldn’t be long before Dogun reached the same conclusion we did.

I wanted to let things flow naturally, but this time I held myself back.

After all, the situation wasn’t particularly leisurely in terms of time.

I had no solid information on how many had switched sides or when they’d act with those they had recruited, which made it even more pressing.

“Strikes.”

That’s why I spoke the answer straight away instead of providing unnecessary explanations.

“Strikes?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s… quite more moderate than I expected.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Well? It’s certainly better than a mass migration of everyone joining another place…”

Dogun was clearly going for that perspective.

“Well, in general, when thinking of companies or organizations, you might be right, Dogun.”

But that only held true for regular companies or organizations—what about the Association?

It didn’t quite fit that category.

After all, there was no other group as special and unique as the Association.

“Dogun, have you ever heard of heroes affiliated with the Association going on strike?”

“Uh, well… now that you mention it, I’ve never heard of that happening.”

“Right?”

That made sense.

There was really no way it could have happened.

Since the establishment of the Association, heroes had shouted for strikes only once in its long history.

And that one time was regarded as a substantial dark chapter in the Association’s past, creating an atmosphere of hush-hush around it.

So it would only follow that even someone like Dogun, who had undergone various training since joining the Association, wouldn’t have known about it.

“There was exactly one time when heroes collectively rose up since the Association was founded.”

“Why?”

“Well… the treatment was absolutely dreadful.”

To the extent that general people, who viewed heroes as a distinct race from themselves, remarked, “Still, they’re risking their lives to protect us; that’s just unacceptable, isn’t it?”

And at that very moment when heroes collectively revolted, those in positions of power were completely wiped out, resulting in the establishment of the current Association.

Since then, apart from that initial uprising due to sheer frustration, there hadn’t been a single instance of heroes showing collective action again.

Consequently, the public perception that ‘heroes = a profession with such great welfare that they can’t even be dissatisfied’ had been firmly established.

But suddenly, these heroes would rise up collectively, even if not everyone, with some of the more renowned names among them?

What would people think upon witnessing that?

“Ah, they’re getting a bit too spoiled,” some might dismiss it, thinking it doesn’t involve them.

Sure, a few might think along those lines.

But not everyone would.

Some would see that action and think, “Wow, they’re serious enough to give up their treatment to act like this; the situation must be dire.”

“Hearing about it, it does seem like the situation is quite serious.”

“Exactly. The problem is that people aren’t really aware of that fact.”

That was something inevitable.

It was inevitable because the Association had tried to keep that fact secret.

Thanks to that, the things circulating online that had labels like ‘the Association’s circumstances’ were, quite literally, only part of the truth.

And even so, things were already buzzing, with people starting to think, “Something feels off…?”

What kind of situation would evolve then?

“To put it another way, the strike is merely an excuse; what they truly want is for the public’s gaze to be focused on the Association.”

“That’s right. If that happens, then naturally ‘public opinion’ will form.”

If the truth that the Association’s situation was worse than publicly known was revealed, what do you suppose would happen?

It was a scenario anyone could predict.

People would definitely start murmuring about how incompetent the current top brass was.

Honestly, it couldn’t have turned out any other way.

It was bound to happen because even if the mood didn’t swing that way, those who orchestrated this event would steer it in that direction.

There’s a saying that goes something like this.

While it’s hard to create public opinion, it’s easy to guide its direction.

If someone hired some part-timers to subtly influence the mood?

They’d be quick to swarm out, ready to tear into someone.

“Hmmm… what a headache.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“So what do you plan to do?”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

“Well…”

What should I do?

What would be the closest to the best possible option here?

There were times when I thought of personally dragging that lady down from her seat.

After all, to claim the Association Chairman position I desired, I had to remove the person sitting in it.

I’d considered that a few times, but I hadn’t wished for things to turn out this way.

It was true I didn’t like her as a person, but on the other hand, I couldn’t deny that her presence had brought the Association this far.

So even if I were to take her down, I never intended to do it like this…

“Ugh…”

A tough choice on either side.

Which only deepened my contemplation.

“Sister.”

At some moment, Dogun’s hand covered the back of my hand.

His warm hand resting atop mine made me startle and tremble slightly.

“You’re really unsure about what to do, aren’t you?”

And before the weak tremor throughout my body could settle, a voice as warm as the hand enveloping mine flowed into my ear.

That voice poured into my heart and began melting away the heaviness I was feeling just moments ago.

It was a truly remarkable experience.

Those things I thought I had no solution for simply melted away in front of Dogun’s voice.

I doubt even watching snow slowly melt under sunlight would feel this extraordinary.

“This is just based on my experience… but often, when you’re in such situations, going with your heart can be the right answer.”

Speaking of which, going with one’s heart.

Would it truly be okay to do so?

To be honest, I wasn’t certain.

Though I wasn’t sure, I decided to give it a try, following Dogun’s word.

If I went with my heart like Dogun suggested, at the very least, I wouldn’t have regrets.

‘Speaking of which…’

Seeing Dogun’s mature demeanor, so different from other kids his age, made me strangely want to tease him.

Given the atmosphere, it should have been best to hold back… but somehow, it was exceedingly difficult to resist.

So…

“Is that why you did it with Baeksulhwa?”

I decided to give it a try, just like Dogun said.