Chapter 43 - Announcement of Results

The unit leaders began to fill the seats of the meeting room one by one.

Their expressions were all different.

The intensity of the smile on each person’s face would reflect their recent dungeon raid performance.

The one with the brightest smile was the Manwol Unit leader, Gong Seok-ho.

That smug expression looked like he was about to pick a fight with me at any moment.

“The Chamryongdan leader is here as well?”

“It’s a unit leaders’ meeting.”

“Ah! I was wondering if you might be absent. I heard you didn’t participate in the recent dungeon raids.”

As expected, my prediction was not wrong.

It seemed I looked like a pushover even though I was the Family Head’s son.

Or perhaps it was because he had firmly aligned himself with my first brother, Seo Ji-hoon.

“The Manwol Unit leader seems to be very interested in me?”

“It’s not that, but it’s just so unusual for a unit leader to be absent from an important dungeon raid.”

His tone sounded quite cheerful.

As if he were trying to provoke me.

“Oh! I forgot that the Chamryongdan leader goes to the Spring of Elixir every day. That must be why you were absent. Hahahaha!”

“Yes.”

I answered briefly and turned my gaze away.

Conversing with a type like Gong Seok-ho was quite a tiring affair.

By the way, ever since I entered the meeting room, Seo Ji-won had been looking at me with an uncomfortable expression.

He was worried that Chamryongdan would be humiliated today.

I feel it every time, but he has a talent for worrying about useless things.

A moment later, the Family Head was the last to enter the meeting room, and the unit leaders’ meeting began.

“As you all know, the agenda for today’s meeting is to select one sword unit to participate in the Ujangsan Burning Dungeon. The monster appraisers are currently going around each unit’s freezer storage conducting their evaluations, so the results should be out soon.”

“I heard it’s already been three hours since the appraisers started their evaluation, it’s taking longer than expected. Is there any particular reason for this?”

The one who raised the question was the Moonlight Unit leader, Im Moon-shik.

“I do not know the reason yet. However, when it takes this long, it often means the appraisal value of the monsters is high, so as the Family Head, I find myself getting my hopes up.”

Everyone nodded at the Family Head’s words.

They all had expressions that suggested they thought it was because of their own sword unit.

Delusion is free, after all.

A short while later, three monster appraisers entered the meeting room.

One of them was introduced by my father and began to speak.

“I am Oh Kyung-joon, the one in charge of this appraisal. First, I would like to ask for your understanding regarding the prolonged appraisal time. A large quantity of more expensive monsters than expected were brought in, so it took a little more time.”

“It seems there were good results. Continue.”

“Yes. As for the appraisal values, I will state them based on the most valuable monster for each sword unit, as per the rule set by the Family Head. First is the Manwol Unit.”

Gong Seok-ho waited for the appraiser’s announcement with a relaxed smile.

“The appraisal value of the Twin Head Orc hunted by the Manwol Unit has been determined to be 1.75 billion won.”

Instantly, deep gasps were heard from all over the meeting room.

I knew it was quite rare for a single entity to record such an appraisal value.

In fact, the absolute majority of the monster pyramid consisted of low-grade species that were only worth a few million won.

For a monster’s carcass price to go over a billion won like this, it had to be a high-tier or rare species.

In the case of the Twin Head Orc, it was the latter, and they were lucky considering the hunting difficulty.

This was the reason why Gong Seok-ho had been wearing a relaxed expression all along.

“Next, the appraisal value of the Giant Spider hunted by the Sinseongdan is…”

Even as the announcements continued, no sword unit surpassed the Manwol Unit’s amount.

They were all at similar levels.

“406 million won!”

“725 million won!”

“690 million won!”

This appraisal value was by no means a small number, but because such a high amount had come out in the first announcement, the tension relatively dropped afterwards.

The Moonlight Unit recorded 1.3 billion, a quite high amount, but it was not enough to beat the Manwol Unit’s Twin Head Orc.

As the results were announced, the smile on Gong Seok-ho’s lips grew wider.

“Lastly, it is the Chamryongdan.”

The posture of the unit leaders, who had been listening intently, had already relaxed.

The atmosphere was one where everyone was taking the Manwol Unit’s victory as a foregone conclusion.

However, Oh Kyung-joon, the chief appraiser for this evaluation, opened with a peculiar statement and continued his announcement.

“The reason our appraisal was delayed was actually because of the Chamryongdan.”

This single phrase instantly changed the atmosphere in the meeting room.

“What on earth is the reason? Was the price difference with other sword units so large that you had to make adjustments?”

As expected, everything Gong Seok-ho said was odious.

“It is true that there was a large price difference with other sword units, but the appraisal was not delayed for that reason. It was because we appraisers needed time to discuss among ourselves how to evaluate it.”

“So what was the reason, that’s what I’m asking.”

“One of the monsters in Chamryongdan’s freezer storage was a species that has never been discovered before.”

“What did you say?!”

“Are you saying that the Chamryongdan hunted a rare species?”

The unit leaders, who had been relaxing, all straightened their postures again.

This was the same for my father.

Only I calmly crossed my arms and waited for the next line.

“Since it’s a first discovery, it must be classified as a rare species for now. However, we concluded that this monster’s true value is not simply in its rarity. The fact that it has a structure that allows it to fly despite not being an avian monster is a subject of research in itself, and the amount of mana contained in its heart was also at a considerable level…”

“So what is the final appraisal amount! Please reveal that first!”

Gong Seok-ho’s expression had already hardened.

In his hurried tone, the previous leisureliness could not be found.

“To give you the conclusion, the appraisal value of the monster hunted by Chamryongdan is 150 billion.”

“What did you say?”

“Did you say 150 billion??”

“What kind of nonsense is that!!”

Gong Seok-ho and several other unit leaders cried out with expressions of disbelief.

Even amidst this reaction, Oh Kyung-joon calmly continued to speak.

“In fact, 150 billion is the minimum value we set. It was the unanimous opinion of our appraisers that the value of this monster will only increase as research progresses.”

The people in the meeting room all had dumbfounded expressions.

But even the appraisal value of 150 billion was not completely to my satisfaction.

After today, a monster called Ralas would not appear again for a while. No, perhaps it might never appear again.

Amidst the confusion, the only one who regained his composure was the Family Head, my father.

He wore a strange expression and asked me.

“The Chamryongdan leader will have to explain this matter. Where on earth did you catch what?”

“Yes. I will tell you everything.”

I stood up from my seat and smiled at everyone.

From now on, it was time for deception.

***

“Unit Leader Seo Ji-han’s mana trace has been confirmed.”

Since everyone said they couldn’t believe it, we first had a time for verification.

Their suspicion was understandable to some extent.

Because no one here saw me catch Ralas.

In the end, after the meeting, all the unit leaders moved together to Chamryongdan’s freezer storage and were observing several procedures.

“Are you sure the mana trace matches?”

“It matches with a probability of 99.97%.”

Fortunately, Earth had a very convenient technology.

By comparing the mana trace engraved on the monster with my mana to prove that I hunted it, it was all over.

With the explanation of 99.97%, no one raised any more objections.

“So, you’re saying you, Ji-han, went to the Abyss and hunted this monster alone?”

“Yes. Father.”

“In which region did you perform the quest to find such a monster!”

“I will tell you that separately when it’s just the two of us, Father.”

At my answer, the unit leaders cried out in frustration, but there was no reason for me to reveal everything. I had no obligation to do so either.

“It’s surprising that you had an Abyss Rune, but the fact that you completed the quest and returned so quickly is even more surprising.”

“Our Chamryongdan’s strategy was two-track. I would quickly clear the Abyss, while the rest of the members would clear dungeons. Now I can finally reveal the reason for my absence in the dungeon raid. Unit Leader Gong Seok-ho, has your curiosity been satisfied?”

I looked at him and gave a bitter smile.

“……So that’s how it was.”

Gong Seok-ho’s rotten expression and reluctant tone were very much to my liking.

Seo Ji-won, finding this situation amusing, added another word.

“The talent for backstabbing people is so novel, just like my dear brother. That’s enough, so stop bullying the Manwol Unit leader, will you?”

At Seo Ji-won’s words, Gong Seok-ho’s expression became even more embarrassed.

Of course, it was a deliberately intended comment.

“Anyway, it seems you, Ji-han, will be participating in the Ujangsan Burning Dungeon with me.”

“Yeah, let’s get along.”

“I hope you come properly prepared before the joint operation. If you don’t want to hold our unit back.”

I had no intention of holding him back, but I was thinking of backstabbing him a little.

Since Seo Ji-won was the only one who hadn't gotten a taste of it yet.

***

The rumors spread quickly.

I wanted to reveal it to the Chamryongdan members as a surprise, but it seemed everyone already knew about yesterday’s results.

If anything, it seemed only Choi Ho-joong was a little slow on the news.

“Young Mas, no, Unit Leader! What on earth is going on? Our Chamryongdan is participating in the Burning Dungeon?”

“Why? You don’t like it?”

“Of course not! But Unit Leader, why didn’t you say anything and went on the Abyss quest alone!”

“If I had told you, your mind would have been elsewhere the whole time you were raiding the dungeon.”

Choi Ho-joong would have been more than capable of that.

This guy’s specialty was worrying about me.

“I also have something to say.”

The one who raised her hand was Baek Ji-ah.

“Speak.”

“I also think it would have been better if you had told us in advance, Unit Leader.”

“Why?”

“Honestly, although no one is saying it, many of the members probably misunderstood and were disappointed in you, Unit Leader. Because you were not with us during the important dungeon raid. In fact, I was also puzzled. The first impression you showed us was very strong…”

“To summarize, you, Baek Ji-ah, were also disappointed in me.”

“Of course, not anymore!”

Baek Ji-ah’s face was flushed red.

“From now on, do not question any of my words or actions.”

“Yes!”

“And there is one announcement. Since our Chamryongdan has had good news right after its launch, we will have a get-together today. Of course, if you don’t want to or have circumstances, you can skip it, so I hope you don’t feel pressured.”

If everyone skipped, I could just have a light dinner with Choi Ho-joong.

I doubt this guy would skip too.

“I’m attending!”

“I’m attending too.”

“Definitely attending!”

“I’m attending even if I have circumstances!”

In the end, everyone attended.

Choi Ho-joong had said that a family-like atmosphere was a definite no, and we shouldn’t have get-togethers either. It seems this guy was wrong.