When Lukas finally arrived at Leo’s hospital room, he imdiately noticed the heavy atmosphere.
“Ah, Master.”
“You’re here.”
Nevertheless, the expressions of the two in the room imdiately changed when they saw him, and they greeted him with bright smiles.
Lukas nodded and turned to Leo.
“Leo, how are you feeling?”
“I’m a lot better now. Sorry for making you worry.”
Leo responded in a calm voice.
Lukas looked him in the eyes for a mont before speaking.
“Are you okay?”
“…yeah.”
“All right.”
Lukas didn’t ask him any more questions and instead turned to look at Min Ha-rin.
“Your mana flow seems much more stable than before. It was that guy I saw earlier, Vincent, who taught you, wasn’t it?”
“Ah, yeah. He’s a great teacher.”
As expected of her Master, he could tell that with a single glance.
Min Ha-rin couldn’t help but smile as she had that thought, but her expression was a bit awkward.
“What’s wrong?”
Min Ha-rin blinked in surprise at the unexpected question before smiling bitterly.
“…how did you know?”
“It’s written all over your face.”
When Min Ha-rin gently lifted a hand to her face, Lukas smiled softly.
“I’m joking.”
“…”
It was a little strange for Lukas to say sothing like that. It was only then when Min Ha-rin noticed that there was sothing strange about Lukas’ attitude.
‘…did sothing happen to you, Master?’
This was a question that she wanted to ask, but Min Ha-rin couldn’t open her mouth.
There were many reasons for this, but the most important reason was that she wasn’t brave enough.
Lukas stood on a level way above her. So she could only imagine how great whatever was bothering her Master had to be. Because of this, a thought pervaded Min Ha-rin’s mind.
What could she do even if she heard it?
“Tell what happened.”
This was said in a much softer tone than usual, discomforting her even more.
Suppressing the strange feeling, Min Ha-rin slowly summarised everything she’d heard from Vincent.
“…”
After hearing what she had to say, Lukas remained silent for a while.
“So what did you say?”
“I told him that I needed ti to think. I wanted to talk to Master first…”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to help.”
After saying that, Min ha-rin turned to look at Leo.
“Because he saved Junior Brother… and because I have this feeling that it’s not the Association President’s ti to die…”
That was an opinion Lukas could agree with.
It was not yet ti for Neil to die. Of course, it could just be because of his biased views, but he felt that humanity still needed a being like Neil Prand.
“Then let’s do it. I happen to have business with the Saint, too.”
“Master too?”
“Right, I’m going to ask him to heal Nina.”
“Ah…”
Min Ha-rin felt a tiny shred of hope.
Nina Rednikova.
She’d been severely injured during the attack by the Asian hunters, especially her eyes, which had been cursed. The diagnosis determined that treatnt would be impossible with the normal thods, but if the rumours of the Saint were true, then it might be possible.
“I can take up to four people to Korea with ! There’s and Master, and Mr. Vincent will probably want to go too. As for the last person…”
Min Ha-rin’s eyes turned to Leo, and Lukas’ followed.
Leo must have felt their gazes. Nevertheless, his expression didn’t change. Instead, he slowly lowered his head.
“I’m sorry.”
“Huh?”
“I…”
There was a deep sense of sha that squeezed out of Leo’s calm face.
“…don’t think I will go with you this ti…”
* * *
Min Ha-rin headed over to et Vincent after her short conversation with Lukas and Leo.
It seed he’d returned to continue the eting, but as soon as she alerted the guard waiting outside the room, he ca out.
When he showed up, Vincent’s face appeared to be much more haggard than when he’d left Leo’s hospital room. It was as if the eting was sapping all of his energy.
“You ca.”
There was a hint of tension that couldn’t be hidden by his tired voice.
Seeing that Min Ha-rin had co to him, it ant that she had made a decision. However, her expression was so calm that he could not predict what choice she had made in the end.
Fortunately, Min Ha-rin didn’t intend to procrastinate with this matter. She imdiately got to the point.
“I’ll accept Mr. Vincent’s request. From now on, I will do my best to save the Association President.”
“Re-, really?”
“Yes. In return, I have a few conditions. I hope Mr. Vincent can accept them.”
Vincent hurriedly schooled his expression.
“I’ll do whatever I can.”
Min Ha-rin nodded before ntioning the condition that she and Lukas had discussed.
“First of all, I’d like North Arica to officially acknowledge the establishnt of Argento Spell.”
“…mm.”
Vincent couldn’t easily respond to this condition, and instead, he made a soft sound. There was a mixture of confusion and embarrassnt on his face.
“Is it hard to agree to?”
“Personally, I would love to agree to it imdiately. I would agree even if you ntioned a more difficult condition than that. However… this is not sothing that I’m able to decide on my own.”
“I see.”
Min Ha-rin nodded as though she’d expected it.
Authorising the establishnt of an organisation was by no ans simple. After all, it would an that the North Arica Headquarters, which was the most powerful force in the world at the mont, recognised the establishnt of Argento Spell. In short, they would be able to carry so of the prestige of North Arica.
This was a necessary process for Lukas to create a global organisation that went beyond the reach of each region and branch.
Of course, Min Ha-rin didn’t understand the entire process and frawork. After all, what she trusted wasn’t the feasibility or validity of the plan but Lukas’ existence. Even if he had decided upon a plan that seed even less plausible, she would still give him her unconditional trust.
In any case, this was a matter of utmost importance. Vincent didn’t have a low position in the North Arica headquarters, but he was not powerful enough to make such decisions on his own.
Vincent clenched and unclenched his fists nervously. He seed concerned that Min Ha-rin would take back what she said if they couldn’t agree.
“There are a few council mbers in the eting hall right now, aren’t there?”
“Right.”
“Then wouldn’t you be able to accept my offer if you persuaded them?”
“…that’s right.”
It was easy to say.
Vincent spoke with a heavy expression.
“It’s not that easy. Fortunately, most of the people in the eting hall had a good relationship with the Association President. It might take so ti, but I’m confident I could convince them to accept your conditions. However…”
Vincent’s voice faded at the end, but Min Ha-rin understood what he was trying to say.
“There are so people who are pleased with the fact that the Association President is injured.”
“Hoo.”
Vincent let out a heavy sigh.
Min Ha-rin couldn’t help but feel surprised. It seed that even in North Arica, which she thought was perfectly united, so were antagonistic towards each other.
The reason was unexpected, but the outco was sothing that Lukas had already anticipated.
“…of course, Argento Spell already has the extraordinary achievent of taking down one of the Five Dukes. It’s not widely known yet, but if they found out about this achievent, they would certainly not oppose you blindly. Even if they have high positions.”
“In other words, it will take ti.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Min Ha-rin nodded at Vincent’s apology.
“That ans my condition will be put on hold for now.”
“Is that alright with you?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you for your consideration. Is there anything else you need?”
“Including myself, only four people will be able to go to Korea. So far, the list is myself, Mr. Vincent, and Master. As for the other person…”
Vincent shook his head before Min Ha-rin could finish talking.
“I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to go with you.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t leave the Association President’s side for now. He cannot be left alone. Soone has to watch over him.”
“…”
Vincent’s expression showed that he ant his words and that there would be no changing his mind.
Was he preparing for a possible assassination attempt?
This would make sense, especially if there were people who wanted Neil dead.
Min Ha-rin’s expression beca a bit troubled.
“…then that ans we’ll have to find two more… Mr. Vincent, would it be possible for you to gather so of the strongest and most reliable hunters in North Arica right now?”
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