Chapter 657: Conference (3)
I wanted the meeting to proceed smoothly in a comfortable atmosphere, but I didn’t expect it to proceed as smoothly as it did.
No, even the expression ‘smoothly’ wasn’t enough.
‘From now on, all people should report to the Continental Protection and Management Committee whenever they go to the bathroom.’
Wouldn’t a unanimous vote be pa.s.sed even if they put forward such an agenda?
It might’ve been a little exaggerated, but everyone was completely united. Everyone running with one mind was extremely satisfying…
‘Sh*t…’
“I declare a unanimous vote.”
‘I think this is too much.’
“I declare a unanimous vote.”
‘Shouldn’t at least one person be against this?’
“Oh, the agenda is… A vote of abstention…”
‘Yeah, that’s it. Abstain.’
“I-I pressed the wrong one. I’m sorry… It’s a Yes! Yes! My answer is yes.”
‘No, why would you say that?’
“Oh, then… I would like to declare that it has been pa.s.sed unanimously again.”
‘I should try to pick a fight. They’re not really going to say anything.’
“Yes, for this matter as well… I declare a unanimous vote.”
The atmosphere grew more and more quaint. Lee Jihye, who enjoyed the applause in the beginning, was also disconcerted.
She insisted on a somewhat coercive move, but she didn’t expect it to go that smoothly.
Wouldn’t they understand that it wasn’t a happy situation? It had reached a point where I wasn’t at all worried about the side effects it would cause.
In fact, there was no denying that they were doing themselves a favor. Why didn’t they know that it was convenient to tap and press like that?
There was no need for other worries to push them down and make it impossible for them to shoot back up.
However, what I’d learned and seen so far kept putting on brakes. No one would’ve been able to disagree that such a method would inevitably end badly.
‘Am I worrying too much?’
Considering that everyone there had connections and could’ve already been called the world’s strongest, I felt that the bad ending would’ve been avoided, but wasn’t that an unrealistic way of thinking?
We couldn’t ignore the public’s view that would inevitably follow. Humans were social animals, and I was one of them.
We weren’t wary of the dictator Lee Kiyoung for no reason.
The t.i.tle ‘Chairman of the Continental Protection and Management Committee’ didn’t go well with Lee Kiyoung, who was surrounded by the light. Most of all, it was worrisome that different variables could occur.
I didn’t say anything to fear right at that moment, but that was not how I felt inside. I seemed to keep thinking about the worst, but how could I not be anxious?
With only 36 days left, if there was anything that each group’s leaders kept in secret…
‘Maybe it’ll collapse in an instant…’
There might’ve been human beings who were on the side of angels.
Of course, it was hard to understand from my perspective why people would abandon humanity, but there would always be trashy individuals who took care of their own interests regardless of the situation.
In fact, I remembered that there were forces on their side in the first round. I would never say that my view was wrong.
‘Doom Hyunsung. Sh*t.’
I didn’t know what method he used, but the fact that Kim Hyunsung created that situation was embarra.s.sing.
“Why are you going out so fast, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d?”
I could see why Cho Hyejin said that back then. She had even raised her hand to hit me.
Although she didn’t touch me at the end of the day, her eyes seemed to be really determined to hit me.
I still couldn’t forget that cold look.
Since he had become corrupted, he might’ve not known that he had decided to live life on his own terms or not pay attention to the public’s gaze or political things, but it couldn’t be denied that Kim Hyunsung had been freed.
‘Yeah. Sh*t, I’m sure that you wanted to live your own life.’
That was all the more so when thinking of it as being swept around for more than decades due to political problems.
It must’ve been political problems that made him suffer as much as the masked trash.
Hyunsung wanted to live as he wished, and he didn’t have to listen to people he didn’t like, and it must’ve been annoying to laugh at his friends’ silly jokes.
Since he had realized that living like that was a stupid thing to do, he might’ve thought of turning into a high school student and messing everything up.
He judged that there was no problem in the situation where his black energy was overflowing and causing quite a disturbance in the room’s atmosphere.
Of course, regardless of his reason…
‘That’s too much.’
That was undeniable. There was no need to pa.s.s the agenda in that way. Even if only three votes approved it, it was still approved.
I was hooked on the idea that once the people who were usually calm had studied hard, it would be like falling into an endless path of derailment.
Although it wasn’t an appropriate example, Hyunsung decided to bet his life because he felt like he was in a scam marriage. He was sincere and innocent most of the time, but he showed a bad tendency when he was drunk.
In his case, he was drunk on the power of darkness.
Just in case, I looked at people who could say ‘no’ when everyone said ‘yes,’ but there was no such person who’d do that.
[Generating a common-grade forced quest.]
[Explain your thoughts to the man chosen by the G.o.ddess. He currently needs your advice. (0/1)]
[Delivering a common-grade forced quest to Bastian. You have not registered any quest-clear rewards. The subject will not be compensated.]
“…”
‘What are you doing, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d? Hurry up and say something.’
However, he was still looking away. Although he ignored the quest, he looked like he was so full of energy that he couldn’t even speak properly.
[Generating a common-grade forced quest.]
[Benignore’s chosen believer needs help. He requires a wise and religious advisor. Please lead him towards the right path. (0/1)]
[Delivering a common-grade forced quest to Bedriro. You have not registered any quest-clear rewards. The subject will not be compensated.]
Since he had already given up, I aimed at a priest instead.
They might’ve thought that their voices were coming directly from their G.o.ds, and they might say something.
Bedriro, a devout believer of Lauren, was having more than enough divine power to be called a saint. I stared at him with a slightly antic.i.p.ating look, but he also tried not to make eye contact with me.
He had no spirit for someone who had claimed that he’s giving himself to G.o.d.
All of them were the same. I sent quests on some others just in case, but I couldn’t find anyone that would speak up.
I didn’t know why all of them were worried that they might spark a fire. Even the aristocrats who bravely listened fought against the 27th Corps incident reacted like that.
The red stain on the floor was also bothering me.
‘No, it can’t be this crazy. I guess it’s just a stain, a stain.’
“I declare that this agenda has also been pa.s.sed unanimously.”
Clap clap clap clap clap.
Wouldn’t we have talked a little more constructively in the absence of Kim Hyunsung?
It was just when the break time was coming.
After announcing that I would rest for a while, I quickly headed to the tangent spot. In a situation where the purpose from the beginning was slightly different, a laugh popped up.
Who knew that the secret contact, originally made in antic.i.p.ation of a situation where the meeting wouldn’t work out, would be used in that way?
As soon as I moved, I could see Lee Jihye following me from my side. She must’ve also had some people she was supposed to meet.
“I’m really fl.u.s.tered.”
“I know.”
“I thought I had everything under control… But honestly, I didn’t expect this to happen.”
“The same goes for me. I don’t know if this will turn out okay.”
“Well, it’s not a bad situation because it’s going the way we want it to. It’s not a good situation, but… If you ask me how I felt about it, I think it’s still beneficial for us. You’ve got your first set of operations, haven’t you? I’ve solved many headache-inducing problems, put them right where they belong, and I’ll soon take care of the major areas. This is the end of my misery and the beginning of my happiness.”
“I feel the same way, but… I’m not comfortable because the situation’s going crazy.”
“I’m worried about you. It’s good to always think of the worst first, but… It won’t be a problem this time. He always does this when he gets out of the situation he expects. You know he’s a real control freak, right? Your Guild Master is strong, too. I think it’s a rough st.i.tch applied on the wound. There are still a lot of parts that haven’t been properly sewn, but now you just have to focus on those.”
“It’ll rot.”
“That’s why we’re on our way to the disinfectant.”
“…”
“…”
“You’re right about that. See you in a little bit, Noona.”
It seemed like she was going to meet some Republicans based on how she took the side road.
Our meetings would also arrange the cast itself. When I moved with my fingers touching my thighs, a small terrace came into view.
‘He hasn’t arrived yet.’
I thought he would already be waiting for me. Still, soon enough, I saw someone quietly coming in. He had dark eyebrows, a thin beard from his cheek to his chin, and pa.s.sionate eyes that matched his face.
“Long time no see, Daniel.”
“Yes, long time no see… Lee Kiyoung, Chairman of the committee.”
“How have you been? I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you often. I should have called you earlier… I also apologize for meeting you in this way.”
“No, I’m the one… who should apologize. I should have said h.e.l.lo… But I couldn’t… I’m so sorry.”
“The situation’s complicated. Instead of just saying sorry to each other… I think we’d better move on to something more constructive. I don’t have much time left… It’s sudden, but I’d like to get to the point of our meeting, but…”
“…”
“Maybe I’m too…”
“No, I don’t know anything, and I don’t know.”
“What?”
“You… I thought you were right. So, I just voted ‘yes.’ You can rest a.s.sured that there is no other intention. Isn’t this a continental crisis? Causing unnecessary disturbances should be avoided as much as possible, especially now when everyone should gather together and unify our strengths. That’s all I care about. I had to do that.”
“…”
“I… I mean, I’ve been arguing against your opinion until now that you’re… But I want you to know that it’s just because I didn’t think it would go the right way. It won’t ever happen again. I never… I never meant to antagonize you.”
“…”
‘What’s wrong with you, man?’
“I think you’re a little overwhelmed… You don’t look well…”
“No, I’m fine, sir. Hahahaha. I’m fine. I must have been a little nervous to think that I was facing the respected chairman.”
“…”
“I want you to tell the Blue Guild Master that this is my stance on the matter.”
“…”
“Well, let’s go to the meeting. All my comrades are with me, so you don’t have to worry about the rest of the agenda. Hahaha. The continent… We have to protect the continent.”
There was no need for other words anymore.
The meeting, which I thought would take more than three days, was about to end in less than half a day.
That made me feel even more suspicious of the entire affair. Looking at the back of those trying to leave the conference room in a hurry while standing on the stage, I couldn’t do anything but sigh.
Didn’t it look like a bunch of trainees struggling to escape from the chemical room?
It was then that Kim Hyunsung, who came to the side, spoke to me.
“I’m glad you look healthy, Kiyoung. Have you eaten?”
“…”
“I’m glad the meeting ended well.”
‘Hey, sh*t, you’re just trying to avoid talking about what just happened.’