Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 422

424

“Still, there aren’t many *spicy* hidden camera shots.”

– It’s not that I lack skill, Master, it’s just that’s how it is. You might not know, Master, but taking hidden camera shots isn’t that easy. And since it’s winter, everyone’s wearing sweats, so I had to give up on most panty shots.

In that instant, Beomseok’s hand brushed against Aron’s hologram.

“Is that something to be proud of! Stop talking nonsense and search for the video! Look for anything where Jade or Prisika are talking, or anything with the word ‘recruitment.’ Also, immediately alert me if there are words like ‘contract’ or ‘master’ and so on.”

– Yes. Just a moment. I’ll find it for sure.

Soon, several screens appeared before Beomseok. Aron, boasting a fast processing speed, had already filtered out the video material he wanted. He stared intently at the videos in turn, checking the content.

– But isn’t Jade coming? Shouldn’t we continue negotiations?

– That’s right. She went out on business, but she’s quite late.

Beomseok focused his gaze on a hologram video where the conversation was coming from. There, a man in his early 20s, a man in his 40s, and an elf with green hair were gathered around a table, discussing something.

It was an interesting sight, so Beomseok pulled the screen closer and continued to watch.

– Then what should we do?

– Well, let’s continue the negotiations as is. I also have the authority to negotiate, so I can make some adjustments.

As their conversation progressed, the figures on the screen gradually zoomed in. It seemed a miniature bird camera had successfully infiltrated and was attempting to approach.

As the face of the person in the screen gradually expanded, the lens suddenly focused on the floor. Beomseok frowned, curious about the identity of the other party.

Instead of showing the person, only the view under the table appeared, and soon a teddy bear panty, presumably belonging to the green-haired elf, began to appear in a shaded form.

At this, Beomseok made a deep nasal sound and glared at Aron.

“Aron, you son of a…!”

– Th, that’s all for Master’s sake…….

“What do you mean for my sake! When did I ever say to show me hidden camera footage!”

– You never did, but you’re watching it now…….

“Hey! I’m not trying to watch hidden camera videos! I’m trying to figure out what those guys are up to!”

Aron shut his mouth tightly. He had a lot to say, but it was better for his well-being to keep his head down right now. If Beomseok used this as an excuse to go wild and reformat him again, he would have to give up on seeing the sun tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Beomseok, with a disappointed expression, shook his head.

‘Ah. Of all things, the other side’s trade representative and the elf only show their backs. If I could see their faces, I’d know who they are right away.’

He continued to watch the video, examining the content. He could figure out the identity of the other party with the conversation alone. In fact, there weren’t many elf gladiators worth targeting in Ancient Warriors [a fictional team/organization in the story’s world].

– Please think about it for a moment. This child is a gladiator ranked in the top 10 in the world. To try to take such a gladiator for only 4.2 billion Krang [fictional currency] is absurd. Please be a little more considerate.

– But that money is already a lot. In fact, if you look closely, her current performance has many problems.

She ranked 4th in the world at home, but only 31st on the road, right? In other words, if she transfers to another team other than her current team, she will be reduced to just another gladiator. And as far as I know, when I looked into her market value based on her road performance, it was only around 3 billion Krang. Considering this, the 4.2 billion Krang we offered is generous.

In that moment, Beomseok’s expression stiffened. If it was a gladiator ranked in the top 10, 4th at home, and 31st on the road, there was only one possibility. He turned up the volume of the video and focused his gaze.

– But aren’t our team and Ancient Warriors in the same faction? So you could be a little more considerate, couldn’t you?

– That’s why we’re being 1.2 billion Krang more considerate, aren’t we? I don’t understand what more you want from me.

Watching the continuing conversation, Beomseok was certain who the elf gladiator being traded was. She wasn’t the elf gladiator who was a big issue in this recruitment market, but Beomseok was paying a lot of attention.

Then the screen rapidly switched, and soon the sound of flapping and a blue sky began to appear. Beomseok, unable to understand the reason, yelled at Aron.

“Aron, why is the screen like this!”

– Th, that’s because Master suddenly came out, so I couldn’t keep filming. I’m sorry…….

Although somewhat disappointed, Beomseok didn’t dwell on it much. He could roughly grasp the situation with the information he had so far.

He rested his chin on his hand and began to ponder.

‘It’s definitely Tiela. There’s no other gladiator whose home and road performance differs so much. Besides, she has green hair and is said to be maintaining a top 10 ranking, so it’s even harder to say it’s not her.’

Tiela was a gladiator who performed well at home, taking advantage of the forest terrain. She was especially good at using a bow, and in this respect, she possessed the best skills in the world. However, she had a tendency to struggle in battles in other terrains, so she wasn’t performing well on the road. Still, she ranked 31st on the road, so it couldn’t be said that she was falling behind by much, but there was no denying that she wasn’t showing the skills befitting her reputation.

‘But Tiela’s market value is 4.2 billion Krang? That’s pretty good.’

She became an S3-class gladiator at the age of 17, but the world didn’t pay attention to her. The record was two years ahead of the currently highly regarded Irolita, which was very surprising, but the problem was that all of it was achieved through the advantage of her home.

However, those who had detailed information knew of her greatness.

In terms of archery and swordsmanship, she was as good as any S-class gladiator, but her extreme terrain preference was causing poor performance on the road. If she could only correct her habit of preferring forest terrain, she could break away from her current performance and rise again as an S-class gladiator.

‘Besides, she’s terrible in the water.’

One of the reasons why she didn’t perform well on the road was that she showed a very weak side in underwater battles. In the early days of gladiators, she almost drowned during a match.

She was even afraid of bathtubs and only took showers, so it could be said that her phobia was great. Thanks to this, the opposing team launched underwater battles when Tiela was selected for the starting lineup, and she usually only attacked the opposing team with a bow if there was a lake or stream in the road terrain.

‘Prisika’s recruitment fell through, so should I buy her?’

It was a pretty good attempt. Since a forest terrain was soon to be completed in the God Knights’ home colosseum, Tiela would be a great help. But he soon wore a troubled expression.

Unfortunately, the Lima City Colosseum also had a long stream flowing through the center. If the opposing team waged an underwater battle at home, the God Knights would have to play the game with a decline in the combat power of one of their core forces.

Beomseok, who was wearing a disappointed expression, suddenly shouted with a shocked face.

“Damn it! That’s not the problem right now! Why is Tiela being traded for cash right now!”

His body began to tremble. He had heard from Julian that Tiela was being traded to Ancient Warriors in an exchange for Levia. He had believed it because it was such an obvious story, but after eavesdropping on the conversation, it was completely different. The reason was currently unknown, but Beomseok couldn’t understand it at all.

‘Wh, why is Tiela being traded for cash? Aren’t those Forest Elves idiots!’

Whatever the situation, he could realize that there was a current he didn’t know about in this transfer market. That is, Forest Elves had to sell Tiela for cash even while giving up on their performance. And another fact that must be recognized is that God Knights may be alone in this transfer market.

There was no way he wouldn’t be suspicious since the information given by Julian, who had agreed to join hands, was wrong in important parts. Moreover, the four teams involved in this transfer market, namely Ancient Warriors, Forest Elves, Devil Spirits, and Dark Hyenas, were all members of the Ibrahim faction.

Beomseok bit his teeth and clenched his fists.

“Damn it! They were all traitors! Jade, who tried to trick me, Vincent, and even Julian, all conspired to deceive me!”

It wasn’t certain yet, but looking at the way things were going, he had a rough idea. He didn’t know when it started, but information about his moves was exchanged among them, and it seemed that an atmosphere was formed to keep God Knights in check.

And the reason why Jade caused the Prisika incident was also completely revealed. There was no way the fact that Tiela was being traded for cash would not be known to the media, so he was focused on Prisika to prevent him from interfering.

‘Maybe the person who led it was Director Vincent.’

The person who currently sees God Knights with the most concern was Director Vincent. The team’s promising players are not currently showing much prominence, but the director was certain that these children would one day grow into world-class gladiators.

In order to continue the glory of Chaplin Whisper [likely a famous figure or event in the story’s world] for a long time, God Knights had no choice but to be the number one target for eradication.

He was likely to have played a leading role and tried to completely exclude God Knights from this deal.

‘And Jade responded to this and tried to lure me with Prisika as bait. To recruit her, I have to keep holding recruitment funds. Then, they would drag out the time until there was not much time left in the transfer period, and then cancel the deal under the pretext of the director’s intentions to trick me. And Julian would have tried to figure out my intentions while exchanging information as if he was joining hands with me.’

Beomseok wanted to run after everyone and grab them by the collar right away, but he couldn’t do anything because there was no evidence. If they pretended not to know and ignored him, it would only reveal his intentions to the enemy and would not be beneficial at all. He thought it would be an effective strategy to give Julian the wrong information and stab the opposing alliance in the back.

He immediately looked at Aron and ordered.

“Aron! We have to leave right now!”

– Really? I think it would be better for Master to meet the Forest Elves people who will be coming out.

Beomseok thought the same way. But to meet them, he had to meet them secretly, but there were paparazzi everywhere around him right now. Currently, the top priority was to shake them off.

“I know that too. First, we have to get rid of the paparazzi.”

– Then what should we do?

Beomseok scanned the surroundings and focused his gaze on the nearby sports park. It was sparsely populated because it was not yet rush hour, and there were shady forests here and there, making it suitable for hiding.

“Once I give the signal, move as quickly as possible to the forest in that sports park.”

– Yes. And then?

“Then I’ll jump right down. After that, move straight to Lima City.”

– Ah. You mean after Master gets out, I should lure the paparazzi.

“Yes. That’s right.”

– Then when should we start?

Beomseok immediately shouted.

“Right now!”

At the same time as those words, Aron urgently floated his body into the air and immediately moved to the top of the forest in the sports park with maximum output. The paparazzi were now starting their engines and trying to chase after this sudden unexpected behavior. But it was already too late.

None of the paparazzi saw the scene of Beomseok jumping out through the pre-opened door. They only moved to the scene belatedly and chased after Aron’s receding tail.

Beomseok, walking through the snowy forest, smiled when the paparazzi disappeared. But he soon composed himself, covered his face tightly with a hat and scarf, and began to move quickly. If the Forest Elves people went back in the meantime, it would be a disaster. God Knights was recently receiving a lot of attention from the media, so it was very difficult for Beomseok to move around.

If he accidentally brought reporters or paparazzi to Forest Elves in the future, unexpected gossip could occur again. He had to complete some work now that he was free.

‘Those guys who tried to trick me this time. I’ll shake their pockets very hard.’

Beomseok, wearing an expression full of resentment, ran hard and arrived at the Ancient Warriors parking lot again. Judging from the empty cars and sparse people, it seemed that all the paparazzi had disappeared. Still, you never know. He covered his face even more and took out the camera from his coat pocket.

He was trying to disguise himself as a paparazzi who had failed to chase him.

He sat on the bench in the parking lot entrance and waited comfortably for Tiela and the Forest Elves trade representative.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

There will be a Korea-Japan soccer broadcast today. Ah. 3:45 AM. In the end, it means I have to stay up all night again. ㅠㅠ.

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