Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 227

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“Director, what are you doing? Get inside quickly. My father is waiting.”

Vincent reluctantly nodded at Beom-seok and entered the room. He approached Vice Chairman Lewis, who was looking out the window in the living room, and greeted him.

“Vice Chairman Lewis, I’ve brought Beom-seok.”

“Is that so? Good. Everyone, sit over here.”

Lewis led them to a nearby reception sofa and sat comfortably, leaning back in the seat of honor. Beom-seok, seeing Vincent sit on the right sofa without hesitation, sat in front of him. Sheila cautiously observed her father’s expression and then snuggled close to his side.

Lewis, with a pleased expression, looked at Beom-seok and offered words of praise.

“You. I’ve known it for a while, but you’re no ordinary person. To defeat 13 of Valbar’s fighters…”

“It was nothing. It’s just the result of exploiting their weaknesses.”

“No. It’s not just that. Even so, it’s not easy to take down that many alone.”

“I wasn’t alone. There were three of us.”

At his modesty, Lewis wore a faint smile.

“That’s right. There were three of you. Still, you did a good job.”

“Thank you. But is this what you called me here to say?”

“No. It’s not just that. Actually, there’s something I urgently want to hear from you, so I called you here.”

Beom-seok, having guessed the reason, immediately confessed.

“Ah! The match-fixing issue was a misunderstanding on my part, so please don’t worry about it too much.”

“Huhu. It’s an interesting topic, but the reason I asked to see you separately is something else.”

“Is that so? What’s the reason?”

“I heard you have connections with the Black Society, is that correct?”

He looked at Lewis with a strange gaze. Most people knew about his relationship with the Black Society, but he didn’t understand why he was mentioning it in this setting.

“Yes, I do. But why are you asking that?”

“There’s something I’m curious about. I heard that the Black Society is entering the combat sports world and is closely cooperating with Vice Chairman Cooper’s line. Is that true?”

At those words, Beom-seok wore an awkward expression. It seemed to be about the infighting within the Federal Combat Sports Association. They were divided into seven major factions, engaging in alliances, breakups, cooperation, and opposition, and were involved in various power struggles.

Although it was uncomfortable, Beom-seok immediately opened his mouth. If used well, he could isolate the Black Society from the combat sports world.

“Yes, of course. The Black Society is relying on Vice Chairman Cooper’s line as a stepping stone to enter the combat sports world.”

“Is, is that so?”

Vice Chairman Lewis bit his lip with an uncomfortable expression. Although the Black Society had only recently entered the combat sports world, they were armed with considerable organizational power and funds. If they were to support their rival, Vice Chairman Cooper’s faction, it could negatively impact them and other competing factions.

Seeing this, Beom-seok smiled slyly and said,

“But it’s only temporary. Vice Chairman Cooper will be stabbed in the back in a few years.”

“Wh, what does that mean? Are you saying the Black Society will soon break up with Vice Chairman Cooper?”

“Yes. Vice Chairman Cooper is just a tool for them. The Black Society is already preparing to enter the combat sports world in earnest and is desperately trying to establish a presence within the Federal Combat Sports Association.”

Lewis’s eyes widened.

“But I heard the Black Society is only based in the Avend region and its surroundings?”

“Yes. That was the plan at first. But after confirming the substantial income from professional combat teams, their eyes widened. Even now, but probably soon, a considerable amount of funds will be invested in professional teams affiliated with the Black Society.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. It won’t be wrong since it’s what Chairman Lucas, who spearheaded the Black Society’s entry into the combat sports world, said.”

Lewis, resting his chin on his hand, stared at him intently.

“Really? Then what kind of moves do you think they will make in the future?”

“Well, I have some guesses, but I’m not sure.”

“It’s okay. Tell me anyway. It’s just for reference.”

“Yes. Then I’ll tell you. The Black Society are people who believe they are the best to the core. So, they used to ignore the Youth Business Association, and now they are fiercely fighting with the economic organization that is the foundation of it. If these people enter the combat sports world, there is only one goal. It is to overthrow Chairman Ibrahim’s faction and rise to the top.”

“Overthrow Chairman Ibrahim, the head of the current combat sports world? Do you think they will really do that?”

“Yes. That’s a natural process. Isn’t the Black Society’s main enemy, the economic organization, connected to Chairman Ibrahim’s faction? If they overthrow them and seize control of the combat sports world, they can not only gain considerable financial benefits but also inflict a major blow on the economic organization. I would find it stranger if the Black Society didn’t act that way.”

After listening, Lewis looked at Beom-seok with an absurd expression. He had heard that Beom-seok had a very deep friendship with the Black Society. He couldn’t understand why he was giving him this much information, a third party. The information Beom-seok gave him was very sensitive.

“But is it okay for you to tell me this information? Depending on the situation, it could cause great harm to the Black Society.”

“It’s nothing to do with me.”

“Why? You and the Black Society should have a pretty deep friendship, right?”

Beom-seok scoffed and replied,

“Huhu. A deep friendship? I thought so too until recently, but it wasn’t. In fact, the biggest reason I’m here, even neglecting the league matches, is because the Black Society stabbed me in the back.”

Beom-seok explained in detail the events that had occurred between the Black Society and himself. He told them everything, from how he fought alone against the economic organization’s offensive to prevent the collapse of their organization, to how they ungratefully forgot his favor and attacked his close friend Gloria when things got better.

Vice Chairman Lewis tilted his head, not believing the story.

“Surely that can’t be true? To betray you, who fought alone against the economic organization in the combat sports world for them, in that way, I can’t understand it at all.”

“The Black Society are originally the kind of people who swallow if it’s sweet, spit it out if it’s bitter, and even stab you in the back. If you find it hard to believe, please go and ask Chairman Wilkins directly. He was the first to inform me of the Black Society’s betrayal.”

If his friend Wilkins said so, there was a very high probability that it was true. He sometimes hid the truth with silence when necessary, but he wasn’t the kind of shameless person who would lie for his own sake.

Lewis crossed his arms and wore a serious expression. He was concerned about the Black Society’s entry into the combat sports world in the future. Even though the Professional Combat Sports Association was divided into several factions and fought each other, they were at least keeping the minimum level of etiquette. He didn’t want to accept outsiders who would drop their colleagues, with whom they had joined hands, off a cliff just because they didn’t want to lose a little, as members of the eighth faction. Factions often opposed and fought each other, but they also frequently joined hands and jointly responded to certain matters.

He looked at Beom-seok with a meaningful gaze.

“Hmm. Beom-seok, if you were in my position and didn’t like the Black Society, how would you act?”

“Well, I would leave them alone for now and wait for the right time. After all, in a capitalist society, you can’t stop the Black Society from entering the combat sports world, can you?”

“That’s probably true. So?”

“And the moment the Black Society betrays Vice Chairman Cooper’s faction, I would unite with Chairman Ibrahim’s faction and show them the bitter taste of the established order.”

At those words, Lewis nodded silently. The Black Society was at odds with the economic organization, so they would definitely antagonize Chairman Ibrahim. Also, Vice Chairman Cooper, who was betrayed, would be furious, so they would also maintain a bad relationship. If he joined in, the Black Society would be in great trouble as they would be attacked by the combined forces of the three major factions of the combat sports world.

However, there was one unreasonable condition that had to be met in Beom-seok’s scenario.

“But, will the Black Society really cut ties with Vice Chairman Cooper’s faction? No matter how strong their funds and connections are, they won’t be able to deal with both Vice Chairman Cooper and Chairman Ibrahim in this combat sports world.”

“However, Vice Chairman Cooper’s faction will not tolerate the Black Society becoming a new faction, so there will be many conflicts. Then the Black Society will have to choose one of the two. Either cancel the plan altogether and remain a stranger to the combat sports world forever, or join hands with Vice Chairman Lewis and respond together. As someone who has experienced the Black Society so far, I think the latter is very likely….”

Lewis wore a meaningful smile. Beom-seok’s words meant to pretend to extend a hand and then withdraw it again the moment they broke up with Vice Chairman Cooper’s faction. Then the situation that would follow was too obvious. The Black Society would have to withstand the attacks of all the existing factions alone.

“In the end, it’s up to me,” he said.

“Yes. That’s right. The Black Society’s settlement in the combat sports world depends on the Vice Chairman’s choice.”

“Hmm. Then when do you think they will reach out to me?”

“Probably after one of their owned teams advances to the World League.”

“Why is that?”

“To establish a force in the combat sports world, you must have at least one World League team. When they join hands with the Vice Chairman, they want an alliance between forces, not to go under the shade like with Vice Chairman Cooper’s faction. If that’s what they were thinking, there’s no reason to be at odds with Vice Chairman Cooper.”

Indeed, if those who didn’t even have a World League team claimed to be a force, other forces wouldn’t even give them a snort. As Beom-seok said, if the Black Society was trying to become a force, the time they would approach him would likely be after they owned a World League team.

Lewis looked at Beom-seok with interest. It was amazing that someone who was only a young member of society had the ability to see through the essence of the situation like this.

“Hmm. What are you going to do in the future?”

“I’m going to gradually build up my strength.”

“Build up strength? Is that as easy as it sounds?”

“It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible either. It just takes some time.”

A sense of confidence was overflowing from his unwavering answer. Lewis, who thought that young people should be like this, stared at him. He was currently only the chairman of a professional combat team that was struggling in the Wide League, but considering his deep thoughts and drive, he was thought to be someone who would one day make a big splash in this combat sports world.

‘It seems that the next generation of the combat sports world will be reorganized around that kid.’

The current combat sports world is divided into numerous factions, but it did not continue in this state forever. The heads of the factions do not live forever, and when they die or retire due to old age, a new wave was bound to stand at the center of the combat sports world again. Lewis also knew very well that his faction would one day disappear into the annals of history, as he had repeatedly seen numerous factions disappear and unite in his youth.

Of course, if Sheila, who is currently playing in the World League, inherited his faction after retirement and followed his will, it would last a little longer, but after seeing her behavior so far, he was not very reliable. Her terrible personality was fine because he was like that in the past, but her naivety in being completely immersed in men who were obviously thought of as playboys, giving them her liver and gallbladder, was a weakness that should be excluded as the head of the organization. However, if he gave it to other children, they were building walls in the combat sports world, so they were not even qualified.

‘Tsk tsk. Pathetic. If you’re going to catch someone, you should catch a man like that. The only reason you want to meet him is to ask him to teach you how to deal with Amelie… According to rumors, he’s a guy who also feels affection for human women, so he’s perfect.’

Currently, Sheila was hanging out with a guy named Jilrian, who was not very good. Of course, they may be dating because they like each other, but after looking into it, it was not at all. It was because the huge annual salary she earned while playing in the World League was going straight into the guy’s mouth. He wanted to scold her to come to her senses, but he gave up because he knew that her stubborn head would not understand. He was worried that their relationship would be damaged and their father-daughter relationship would be severed. And as far as he had seen so far, Sheila’s relationships with men did not last long. It was because the men she dated scraped up enough money to satisfy them and then left on their own. Indeed, she could buy a bunch of pretty and obedient elves and live a life of leisure, so she no longer wanted to spend the night with human women.

He said to Sheila as if scolding her.

“Okay! My story is over. Now take care of your business!”

“Hahaha. Yes, Father.”

She jumped up from her seat and grabbed Beom-seok’s arm.

“Come on, follow me. I have a lot to ask you.”

“What request?”

“Teach me how to deal with Amelie. I fought her in the 7th round of the league, and I couldn’t even swing my sword once. I heard that you’re the only one who has drawn with her in a one-on-one match.”

He, who was being dragged towards the door, looked at Sheila with a annoyed expression. The reason he was able to face Emilie was due to his unique senses and the experience he had accumulated through many battles. No matter how much she was a World League-class combatant, it was impossible to learn in a short period of time. However, when he tried to coldly refuse, he was concerned about the fact that she was Vice Chairman Lewis’s lovely daughter. He didn’t know when he would receive help from him in the future, so it was better to score points on this occasion.

In the end, he had to follow Sheila and play the role of an unexpected swordsmanship teacher.

============================ Work Afterword ============================

Everyone have a nice day. I’ll see you again tomorrow.