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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Little Prince of the Ossuary
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"How about I put it this way? I can't even trust my own people."
"Are you saying you lack the ability yourself, sir? That doesn't seem to be the case."
"Enough with the excessive praise. The 「Winter Alliance」 was only just formed. It's only today that the original members acknowledged me. And we're planning to take in even more new people—how can I guarantee none of them will go rogue?"
"...."
"You said the 「Triad」's code is strict, right? As far as I know, it includes something like this: 'Those who regret or lament after initiation shall atone with death.'...Looks like a lot of people will be dying. And there must be cases where it's abused to establish hierarchy in the organization."
The conversation wasn't flowing as she'd hoped, and Ai Ling's composure was starting to crack. The smile she'd been wearing had faded considerably.
"Punishing those who break the code harshly is the leader's duty. You'll have to do it too, Mr. Han. One punishment for a hundred deterrents is the foundation of organizational discipline."
"There might be unavoidable sacrifices for the greater good. But killing someone just for complaining... That's not my way. I don't mind if they're untrustworthy for now. As long as they don't become enemies, I'll lead them as best I can. Trust will grow from there. Real trust in the community, not fake trust born from rough killings and intimidation."
"Fake? Are you insulting our society right now?"
「Survival Instinct」 reacted. A red warning in augmented reality. Threat level: low. Not about to attack with a knife right now. It meant vague murderous intent that might solidify someday. Makes sense. No matter how pretty her face, she's still a woman from a criminal organization.
The warning color faded. Proof she was reining herself in. She still planned to persuade him, it seemed.
"America has no interest in saving refugees. If they truly saw us as human, we wouldn't even need this conversation. This camp would have security, order, and hope."
She took a breath and continued.
"Are you proud of the fame and status you've gained? You're nothing but livestock, sir. Just a good breed. How long can you rely on the rancher's protection with that alone? Once they find a better breed, you'll be discarded."
She was damn good at threats. Winter listened quietly.
"In this era, numbers are power, and unity is survival. Join the strongest organization. People who'll remember your help forever in tough times are waiting. If you don't help, they'll remember that forever too. We can be plenty ruthless to those who aren't us."
She demanded.
"Now, give me your answer."
The pressure was immense. Her presence was strong, but the anger from her guards listening to the exchange was even fiercer. They glared at the boy murderously. Their gazes were like blades. 「Combat Sense」, 「Survival Instinct」, 「Insight」 linked. Threat assessment. Each was highly skilled. Winter, armed with a gun, had no need to fear.
The boy said quietly.
"Honestly, I prefer alliance over subordination."
"Such a half-hearted union won't benefit either side. We'd lose control of the 「Black Society」, and you wouldn't gain the power of the major factions. Besides, alliances are between equals. What we need isn't the 「Winter Alliance」 full of elderly, women, children, and orphans—it's just you, sir. We're not on the same level."
"What if I work hard enough to make up for that?"
"You're not humble. One person's ability has limits."
"Is that so? Then leave."
Winter ended the conversation. Without lingering. Ai Ling looked like she'd been slapped hard.
"W-what...?"
"You were extremely rude. To sum up your words: 'Submit first. Depending on how you perform, we'll treat you like family.' And you expect me to believe that promise with no real collateral? I said I couldn't trust it, so you switched to threats. That if we Koreans stay as we are, we'll end up crushed."
"I was just stating reality!"
"Then that makes it even worse. It means you're unconsciously looking down on us."
The beauty bit her lip. She looked upset. The murderous intent from the burly men around her spiked sharply. They seemed ready to draw knives any second, but subsided at Ai Ling's raised hand. The tent's original owners were extremely uneasy.
Amid it all, two people stood out. Park Jinseok and Lee Yura.
Jinseok had quietly gathered people around him. All reliable fighters.
Yura was trembling but had slipped a bottle under her butt. Excellent resolve.
"One more thing."
Winter held up one finger and spoke.
"I have the ability. I'll make sure there's no chance of being abandoned by the ranchers. As long as I'm around, no one will dare look down on the 「Winter Alliance」. If you think that's arrogant, surpass me first. Or kill me."
Who could surpass a player stacked with every Talent Advantage available?
"You're overflowing with confidence."
"I was just stating reality."
Exactly what Ai Ling had said earlier. She was speechless, clenching her fists on her lap and sighing. She sighed again after a pause, and a few more times. Her body twitched like she might storm out any second, but she stayed seated.
Finally, words from her trembling lips.
"You'll need a lot of outside help. Information, perhaps...."
Pathetic. Within expectations.
"Thanks to you coming all this way, that worry's gone. The other 「Black Society」 families must know about your visit, right? Won't they trade some info as payback for me not cooperating with the 「Triad」?"
"Ugh...."
She clamped her mouth shut again. For a boringly long time. But to the watchers, it was suffocating silence. He considered smiling at them but held back. It'd boost his allies' awe, but provoke her too much.
"Then, my final offer."
Ai Ling's voice trembled.
"If you need collateral to guarantee the promise, how about me?"
Winter couldn't help a wry smile, though he knew he shouldn't. Not mockery. Viewer quests were flooding in insanely. Every visible quest started and ended with sex. Unread messages exploded.
Ha. This is...
But to the proposer, unaware of his situation, it was plenty insulting. Before she erupted, Winter apologized first.
"Sorry. That wasn't mockery. But there's something odd."
"What?"
"Why go that far?"
No answer.
"Is control of the 「Black Society」 that crucial? It's all the same ethnicity—just a change in representatives. If another group becomes leader, you can bide your time for later, right?"
Still no answer.
"Or is there a reason you can't bide your time."
"...You're being rude. Stop asking questions you already know the answer to."
Winter nodded at her retort.
"You must have done a lot of unforgivable things. You called them 「Black Society」 brothers."
Enough to worry about retaliation.
"I told you to stop."
"Hey, no need for that face. We Koreans do it too. Blood is thicker than water, yet we're desperate to kill and steal from each other. Probably worse than you Chinese, I bet?"
The boy spoke plainly.
"Someone said it: people want most what others have most of. Easier to steal from others than risk going out... I get it. Same ethnicity is always easiest to scam and betray. You must have gotten your share too—I don't want to ally with someone like that."
I wouldn't take a woman like you even if offered. What greater insult to a woman? Her unfiltered backlash erupted.
"I opposed it."
"You're not denying it, though?"
Once composure cracks, she falls into his traps repeatedly.
Now, venom filled Ai Ling's eyes on Winter. They were a bit wet. Her slender shoulders twitched faintly.
Whatever. Winter remained unshaken. Pleased with what he'd learned. Plus, the stars gained from this boldness satisfied him.
"I'm leaving."
The 「Triad」 executive finally stood. She paused turning away, glaring at the boy.
"You'll regret this."
"Is that just you trying it out, or a declaration of war from the 「Triad」's proxy leader?"
The system was fair. She wasn't incompetent, so she'd have appropriate 「Insight」 and 「Survival Instinct」. They reacted to player emotions and thoughts. And since the boy's combat ability outclassed hers by skill grade, the detected threat level would be extremely high.
Sure enough, her frail body flinched. She'd fully read his intent: kill her now to eliminate future threats and prepare countermeasures against the 「Triad」. She stammered.
"...Just trying it out."
She chose humiliated survival. Then, the tears she'd held back finally fell.
"You're really mean. Did you have to pry so pointlessly?"
Pointless if she could lie. But Winter had no hobby of toying with people. He clarified.
"If it came off that way, my regrets. It was a warning."
"A warning?"
"We gain nothing from fighting, and if it happens, we won't go down easy. In case you get emotional and misreport... I hope not. No ill will—just don't know the future."
"...."
"Don't misunderstand. I still think alliance is good. If you change your mind, come back anytime. I'll wait."
Ai Ling froze like time had stopped.
A very long sigh finally moved her. Her eyes had softened considerably.
"I feel a bit wronged."
"No need. We were both rude, so call it even. Let's wipe the slate clean going forward?"
Hearing this, the beauty's face was a mess. Every emotion flashed. What remained was a wry laugh. No system needed—the boy, good at reading people, knew it was her real face.
A stray thought: cry then laugh, and hair grows on your ass. Just a thought, of course. Saying it would be ultimate rudeness and sexual harassment.
Ai Ling's weak voice.
"You're incredibly eloquent, really."
"Guess so."
Her exasperation grew at the casual agreement.
"How should I react?"
"Laugh. If life's gray, at least laugh."
Only one woman laughed obediently. The five men stayed grim.
"Take care."
"Yes. Stay healthy. As you said, I hope we meet again under better circumstances."
As they saw them off and returned, people swarmed. They'd want details on the parley. Tedious, but better to explain once. Boost his leader image too.
No need.
"Amazing."
"You speak Chinese too?"
"Speaking's still hard, but I can understand. Nothing compared to Little Boss here."
Deputy Minister Min Wan-gi was more talented than expected. He might be currying favor, but his admiration seemed genuine.
"Didn't expect you to be so skilled in negotiations. Fluent rhetoric, pinpointing their weaknesses perfectly. Heart-pounding moments galore. Calming them at the end and sending them off—brilliant. Flipping the mood while keeping control felt like watching a seasoned negotiator. Must be innate talent."
"Too kind."
As the conversation heated, the clueless grew more curious. Something big happened, but what? Their gazes turned pitiful.
Winter asked Min Wan-gi.
"Since you heard, could you explain to everyone for me?"
"Certainly."
Winter's judgment to use him as a mouthpiece was spot-on. He didn't just relay facts—he deliberately hyped the listeners' mood.
Goebbels?
Meanwhile, Jang Yeoncheol approached hesitantly.
"What's up?"
He mumbled.
"I speak Japanese."
"...Pardon?"
"So... I can speak it too."
"...."
As others oohed around Min Wan-gi, an odd silence settled between the boy and Jang Yeoncheol. Realizing too late, Jang's face flushed red.
"Sorry."
"No, no. Looking forward to it."
Apparently not comforting. He slunk away dejected. Who knew he had a clumsy side.
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