This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 552

At that very moment, Dogun and Chae-rim were discussing the world’s number one ranking, and coincidentally, there were those bustling around searching for her.

Perhaps it was because a world-renowned university was nearby.

Despite being quite spacious, the park was teeming with people.

Among the sea of people were unmistakably the zombie-like grad students who looked as if they had come out for a stroll, and oblivious to the fact that they might be seeing their own futures, they were busy laughing and chattering with their friends.

The gentle climate typical of the Southern U.S. added to this, filling the park with the cheerful energy radiating from the young crowd.

However, a group of women in black suits entered the park just as everyone was busy laughing and having fun.

Because of the unique aura of this suddenly appearing group, even the grad students preparing to return to their labs after a lunch break, as well as the undergraduates distractedly discussing the movie they watched last night, began to direct their gazes toward them.

Regardless of their presence, the suited group kept on walking.

Perhaps the people working for the nearby company had come out for a group stroll during their lunch break.

Some of those witnessing this group thought that and decided to let it slide, but most of them thought otherwise.

“How could that be?”

This was understandable since this area was primarily a college town, and any nearby companies were likely just startups barely emerging from a garage or renting small offices to mimic a company.

Plus, one common feature of these startups was their casual environment.

But those women clearly looked nothing like they belonged to that notion of “freedom.”

Considering that even the professors affiliated with the university typically dressed casually unless for a special event… they must be outsiders.

So, what purpose could bring them here?

Many were curious, but their purpose had been predetermined from the beginning.

The fact that their steps toward the park’s fountain had never wavered since their entry served as proof.

And they moved forward without pause.

In the direction they were headed stood a fountain, prominently placed in the park’s center.

Surrounding the fountain were quite a number of benches, which likely attracted those weary from wandering or those who enjoyed watching the birds gathering to quench their thirst with the flowing water.

Today was no different.

Was it planned from the start?

Among the benches arranged seemingly to gaze at the fountain, a woman settled into what could only be called a prime spot, laptop in hand, with a bag full of well-chopped bread pieces for those eating nearby.

Meanwhile, the woman was busy scattering the pieces she took from the bag, never once glancing at the laptop resting on her lap.

Ironically, despite her actions, the number of birds that landed around her to munch on the bread pieces was few.

Perhaps the weather was a bit chillier than usual, prompting the birds to hide somewhere to avoid the cold.

Most who casually caught sight of the woman thought that and moved on, but the reality was different.

Contrary to appearances, the number of birds around her nibbling on the scattered bread was by no means small.

They were all scattered, seemingly sensing an unseen threat from the woman, thus avoiding her within a certain radius, which only made it look like fewer in numbers.

If you’re going to act like that, at least don’t bother eating the breadcrumbs.

The birds’ behavior of refusing to share the scattered bread while asserting their own territory might have frustrated the woman, but she never lost her smile, moving her hands busily instead.

Thanks to this, it was indeed the birds of the park that took the hit.

As the serene atmosphere that was hard to come by enveloped the area around the fountain… those who had intended to come here finally reached its vicinity.

And perhaps sensing the intimidation exuded by the suited ones, the birds pecking at the crumbs on the ground seemed to hesitate for a moment, switching their gazes between the remaining crumbs and the approaching humans.

After a brief moment of contemplation, the birds spread their wings and took off into the air.

The scene of birds rising collectively, as if on cue, was a breathtaking spectacle.

A passerby nearby couldn’t help but exclaim ‘Oh’ in admiration.

Despite this, the woman who had been enjoying observing the birds frowned for the first time, showing her discontent with the situation.

And as if reacting to the change in her expression, the suited group walking hurriedly with their clicking heels began to quicken their pace.

At last, they successfully reached the woman, and the first thing they did was bow politely towards her.

It was as if mafia members were showing respect to their boss, their demeanor serious to the extreme.

However, what lay beneath wasn’t fear or reverence but an abundance of admiration and longing.

It might have startled anyone to be suddenly surrounded by a group dressed in intimidating black suits, but the woman who found herself in the middle of them appeared completely unconcerned.

Instead of showing even slight nervousness, she wore the same smile she had while observing the birds, turning to the group that approached her and asking, “Do you have business with me?”

Being surrounded by people in formal attire, one would expect her to show even a hint of awareness about it, yet she focused solely on their purpose for approaching her, which seemed quite peculiar.

Thanks to that, an unusual atmosphere began to flow around them… and the oddity was enhanced by the striking change in the demeanor of the surrounding people.

Just a moment ago, they were intensely glancing at the woman and her entourage, but now they seemed to have forgotten all about it.

Perhaps that’s why.

They gave a clear sense that only the space around the woman had been isolated from the rest of the park.

Some of those who had come to find her felt a strange shiver at realizing how things had come to be this way.

And it was no different for the woman leading the suited group… but rather because of that, she felt an unshakeable sense of assurance.

If the woman before her were an ‘enemy,’ the sheer level of fear would be enough to stop her heart. But this was all only applicable if the woman was an ‘enemy’—she wasn’t, she was an ‘ally.’

And when it came to allies, there was no more reassuring presence than the woman sitting in front of her, wearing what appeared to be an innocent smile.

After all, she was the one who had single-handedly knocked out the representatives from various nations who had come to express their grievances against the ‘rankings’ announced directly by the Association.

“I need your help.”

Perhaps because she had witnessed that very scene with her own eyes.

“…Miss Almighty.”

The voice of the woman calling her was imbued with an unwavering faith that seemed unshakeable, no matter what was given in exchange.