This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 612

Anyway, something blew up, and now that it has, someone has to step in to sort things out.

If we were going to cover up the situation and move on, that would have been a necessity.

The problem was… there wasn’t anyone ready to step up.

This was because those from the Expedition Team felt no reason to intervene in the first place, while those from the Exploration Team were too busy keeping an eye on the Expedition Team due to a blunder committed by one of their own.

Neither side was willing to take the initiative, so what could be done?

Even Yoonseo, who straddled both sides, had no choice but to step up.

Thus, Yoonseo willingly took the lead, but despite her initiative, there was little she could actually do.

It was already long proven that she had the skill to participate in the Expedition Team, yet due to her lack of experience, she found herself in this predicament.

Therefore, Yoonseo decided to enlist the help of others.

“Then… shall we hold a meeting?”

An urgent meeting convened under Miss Almighty’s authority had a significant impact.

Of course, even by declaring that such a meeting had begun, no one readily volunteered to speak up.

It was hardly surprising.

Among those participating in the meeting, most of the Expedition members harbored discontent towards the Exploration Team’s attitude.

What if a Hero reacted that way?

While they would certainly be annoyed, some level of understanding could have arisen.

Given the situation, it was indeed understandable for words to become harsh.

But who openly expressed their discontent earlier?

It wasn’t a Hero.

They were just a dropout who hadn’t even passed the qualification exam.

Yet, that individual had the audacity to voice their grievances just because their company got selected for the Exploration Team.

In reality, they probably wouldn’t even have been able to look anyone in the eye if they had met in person…

These thoughts occupied the minds of those on the Expedition Team at that moment, which is precisely why everyone opted to keep their mouths shut, their expressions clearly showing their dissatisfaction.

Even if it was criticized as unnecessary power struggles, what could be done?

No one knew how much longer they would have to stay here, and it wasn’t wise to enter the fray on the losing side right from the start.

Thus, everyone fell into a sort of ‘disciplinary mode’ as if they had all agreed beforehand…

As a result, it left Yoonseo, who had awkwardly set this situation up while indirectly seeking help from a rather uneasy opponent, feeling extremely uncomfortable, especially given that she was working with the representatives of the Exploration Team in this meeting.

Once again, the urgency bared by an impatient individual led to an explosion that left them sweating like crazy as they pondered how to sort out the chaos with those who were so tight-lipped it felt like they had reached a collective agreement to silence themselves.

Frankly, it was a bit daunting to be the first to speak up.

First of all, the atmosphere was terribly tense, and even if it went as planned, that was the best-case scenario; there was always a chance it could spiral out of control and get even messier.

The representatives from the Exploration Team kept glancing over at Yoonseo, which reflected their expectations.

No matter how chaotic things were, as they used to risk their lives together in this Heogye not too long ago, Yoonseo had comparatively less pressure than others from the Expedition Team.

Of course, since Yoonseo was officially part of the Expedition Team, there was no way she was going to throw in with the Exploration Team just because they had spent some time together… but she also believed that when both teams found themselves on equal footing, they wouldn’t unconditionally side with the Expedition Team either.

Furthermore, from their perspective, it was undeniably frustrating.

Wasn’t it just a little unfair? They had been worn out to the bone dealing with the invading Another Ones, and now they were suddenly bombarded with aggressive questions? Of course, they would react sensitively.

So it wasn’t entirely one side’s fault in their eyes, yet those high and mighty folks would think otherwise.

The reason they had shot a desperate glance at Yoonseo was precisely that.

They thought she might at least be someone who would understand.

Or at least, they expected her to pretend to listen.

Thus, they directed their earnest gazes towards her, and surprisingly, this tactic proved quite effective.

After all, Yoonseo was the type who genuinely cared, even if she occasionally snapped at times.

Though she could be a bit prickly verbally, she was quite considerate.

And seeing as these weren’t complete strangers but people she had worked with closely for about a month…

‘Ugh… really…’

That concern made it impossible for her to remain seated any longer.

“Ahem, so… did the Another Ones suddenly launch an attack?”

After clearing her throat a couple of times, she directed her question towards the representatives from the Exploration Team.

As I mentioned before, the situation had already unfolded.

So, it was necessary to clearly identify how such an incident occurred to prevent similar situations from repeating in the future.

Fortunately, it seemed the question was understood by the other side.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Their response was so obedient it felt like there was no dissent at all.

This made her job relatively easier.

“Hmmm…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Something just feels off about this.”

“What do you mean?”

Feigning to ponder deeply, Yoonseo noticed their curiosity peaked despite them knowing she was putting on an act.

While they had previously sported faces full of dissatisfaction, curious glances began to land on her.

“As you might have already guessed, before joining the Expedition Team, I was active as a member of the Exploration Team created by the Korean Hero Association.”

“And?”

“So I have a decent understanding of the Another Ones’ operational methods.”

“Hmmm…”

It felt like the eyes looking at Yoonseo collectively said, “Say more.”

Thus, Yoonseo continued without any hesitation.

“When the Exploration Team first set foot in this Heogye, the Another Ones attacked relentlessly. But then…”

“But then?”

“They suddenly stopped attacking one day.”

When did that particular timing occur, she wondered with her gaze, prompting those she spoke to to fall into thought.

About three minutes later, one of them finally voiced a nearly correct answer.

“Was it after the Forward Base was completed?”

“Exactly.”

“Hmmm…”

“If that’s the case, why did they suddenly give up on the attacks?”

“Because it’s obvious—when you cover the walls with turrets like this…”

Only a fool wouldn’t realize it’s pointless to charge in.

That was precisely the answer Yoonseo had been waiting for, and as soon as it was spoken, she nodded.

“That’s right. People tend to think of the Another Ones as simple-minded monsters with no learning ability, but it has already been proven that intelligence exists among them, isn’t that right?”

“…True. Even the relatively common Bruiser type can manage some basic command.”

“Exactly. If even a Bruiser type can do that, just think how much more capable the higher-tier entities are! And in this Heogye…”

“Their leader is here, right? The one called Queen, if I’m not mistaken.”

At this point, Yoonseo felt it was necessary to borrow the name of someone authoritative.

And so—

“Correct. And according to my master, who has fought directly against that Queen entity… her learning capabilities far exceed not only those of the Another Ones but also those of humans.”

She casually brought up Chaerim’s name, a name that, except for a few present, clearly represented the upper echelon.