105 – Rebellion Meeting (2)
105.
“So, what do you all think? How should we deal with Roxanne?”
Yudahee scanned the faces of the members and subtly posed the question.
“Kill her? Spare her? Or, well, do you have any other good ideas?”
The story related to Roxanne couldn’t be unilaterally ignored, unlike earlier.
And that’s because Roxanne is a direct threat to the Rebellion members. Regardless of whether they like it or not, they have to take an active stance, as their safety is at stake.
“I personally think it’s better to take the risk and kill her…”
Yudahee wore a subtly expectant expression with a sinister smile.
I was aware that Cynthia was attached to Roxanne, but oddly enough, it only piqued Yudahee’s interest.
Known as the sharpest blade in the church, the executor.
A high-ranking officer and the third executor – just how strong was she?
Did she truly possess the skills befitting her reputation?
‘Ah, I’d really like to face her at least once.’
Of course, even if that were the case, confronting Roxanne’s forces alone would be nothing short of suicidal. Assistance from other members was crucial.
If the others didn’t cooperate, there was no intention to threaten Cynthia and engage in a confrontation. After all, willingly facing Roxanne’s forces alone was akin to an act of suicide.
“I guess we have to endure some danger. But if Roxanne keeps bothering you all, won’t it be troublesome? So, how about considering assassination?”
“Is it really necessary to kill her? Even if we succeed in assassination, I’m a bit concerned about what might happen afterward…”
While Yudahee chuckled, Isabelle, with a slightly furrowed brow, expressed a negative opinion.
Because she was worried about what might unfold after Roxanne’s death.
Currently, Roxanne’s faction boasted a considerable size.
Continuous expansion of influence and the influx of believers had drawn the attention of many people toward Roxanne.
In such a situation, if Roxanne were assassinated, there was a high likelihood that the congregation would package her death as martyrdom.
And then, there would be a dedicated effort to identify the culprit who killed the martyr.
In the midst of a chaotic situation, already one of the saint candidate, Seyura, was assassinated during her escort. Another saint candidate being assassinated?
The media, the church, the government – it was evident that they would go to great lengths to find the culprit.
Moreover, the fanatical followers infatuated with Roxanne were a problem. What would happen if Roxanne were assassinated? Fanatics are not known for moderation. If those individuals decide to get involved, it might become quite troublesome.
“Wouldn’t it be better to either threaten or negotiate? No matter how devoted to rock music, if he threatens the people around him, he will surely…”
“No.”
Yudahee shook her head vigorously.
“If he were the type to compromise with threats and negotiations in the first place, wouldn’t he have given in to Sung Yura long ago?”
Roksanu was not the type to succumb to malice, whether it was for good or bad intentions.
That’s why he had a long history of being harassed by mental cases like Sung Yura.
The path Roksanu had walked clearly proved what kind of person he was.
“Indeed. Ugh… A ruler who does not yield to malice… It’s annoying.”
Isabel frowned, exhaling a sigh.
“So what should we do then? We can’t just leave it be.”
“Is there anything difficult to think about? Kill him? The aftermath might be… a bit troublesome, but it’s still more dangerous to leave Roksanu, who’s targeting us, alone.”
It was a duty they couldn’t just leave Roksanu alone.
If someone who couldn’t be swayed by negotiation, threats, or persuasion, well, was there any other way? Even if it meant taking the risk to kill him.
“Just a moment…”
Suddenly.
“Shouldn’t we first assess the situation…?”
Baek Yurin, who had been casually observing, suddenly raised her voice to oppose.
Yudahee blinked.
“Huh? Why bother?”
“Roksanu… How do you think he… figured out the identities of the new members…?”
Yoo Dahee’s eyebrows twitched and trembled at the meaningful remark.
“Are you trying to say that someone among us leaked the information?”
“Well… everyone has their own thoughts, right?”
“I don’t really want to think that way, but it’s the most rational suspicion.”
It does make sense, as it’s the most realistic to assume that someone within the group found out about the newcomers unless they have knowledge of the future. However, stories involving betrayal are quite sensitive, so I didn’t plan on bringing it up so blatantly.
Especially when there was already a lack of trust among the members. If we speak like this, we’ll only deepen the mutual distrust.
“Huh? Does this mean I’m being suspected again? Are you suspecting me like Alex?”
“Well…”
The most suspicious figure among those who have knowledge of the newcomers is, of course, Kim Seohan. He awkwardly pointed at himself with his finger.
“Hey, that’s too much. We’re fellow Union classmates, right?”
“…”
“Or maybe there’s something you’re unhappy about with me?”
“I just wanted to point out that it might not necessarily be you, but that the information could be exposed. Well… I expected everyone to think that way, so I didn’t bring it up.”
Bae Yurin rolled her emotionless white pupils and stared plainly at Yoo Dahee’s face.
The ashen pupils filled Yoo Dahee’s face.
“Right now… even if we plan to assassinate Roxanne, she might get wind of it… In that case, we might end up falling into a trap instead… How about we observe the situation for now and strengthen our foundation?”
Hmm, it makes sense.
It does make sense, but still.
“Hmm.”
Yudahee gently scratched his chin.
He looked at Baek Yurin with a hint of curiosity.
It was somewhat unexpected.
To think that Baek Yurin would assert her opinion to this extent.
If it were the usual Baek Yurin, she would have ended it with a bored yawn and a dismissive gesture, rather than expressing her opposition like she did today.
But today’s Baek Yurin was subtly assertive.
Is she trying to prevent the leakage of internal information?
Well, unlike the other members, Baek Yurin would be in quite a predicament if her true identity were exposed.
Because Baek Yurin was a direct descendant of the Baek family.
Well… from the start, it seemed like Baek Yurin didn’t really care whether her involvement with a criminal organization like Rebellion was revealed or not.
Does she have no particular attachment to her family?
“I agree with attacking Roxanne, but I think it’s more important to first expose how Roxanne discovered the identities of the new members.”
Alex, who had been standing with his arms crossed, also subtly supported Baek Yurin’s opinion.
“Because, just like Baek Yurin said, there might actually be someone leaking information.”
Honestly, Alex was suspicious of Kim Seohan.
So, I wanted to question that guy a little more.
“Or maybe… Roxanne might have found out on her own. The probability seems low, but it’s still possible.”
“Hmm.”
That’s how the members of Rebellion expressed their opinions.
Some suggested assassinating Roxanne, others advised observing the situation for now, some proposed identifying the traitor, while others recommended trying intimidation. Various opinions were exchanged.
After much discussion among the members,
in the end, they decided to postpone Roxanne’s assassination.
Because uncovering a potential traitor within was considered a higher priority.
If there was no traitor, they needed to figure out how Roxanne had identified the identities of the new recruits.
“Sigh, things have needlessly complicated, hasn’t it? Doesn’t our organization seem like a mess?”
After the meeting,
most members left the office.
Inside the now-empty office, Yoo Dahee sat on a chair and called Baek Yurin aside for a private conversation.
“A traitor… I don’t want to entertain such suspicions.”
“Yoo Dahee.”
“Yeah?”
“Why did you leave me alone?”
“Oh, there’s no need to be so guarded. It’s not because of suspicion; I have something to give you. Here, take it.”
Yoo Dahee handed her a book.
It was a martial arts manual that resembled something from a Chinese martial arts novel.
“It’s a sword technique stolen from the master of the homeland sword. Unlike what’s recorded in the martial arts manual, it has been interpreted and restructured in a modern style.”
“….”
“How about this? Wouldn’t this help you break through your current state? It’s like a vision guide, in a way.”
“Hmm.”
Baek Yurin swiftly scanned the martial arts manual with an intrigued expression.
After casually flipping through the pages for a moment, Baek Yurin blinked her eyes slowly.
Drawing the sword hanging at her waist, she swung it a few times in the air before revealing a subtle expression.
Though her usual demeanor was close to expressionless, there was a subtle hint of complexity.
“…Well, thanks.”
“You don’t seem particularly thankful. Wasn’t it helpful?”
“Honestly, it doesn’t seem like it’ll be of much help.”
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“Really? Oh well, that was quite hard to come by.”
Yudahee, feeling a bit awkward, had recruited Baek Yurin into Rebellion as a reward for helping her break through her current state or finding Vitrante, but it seemed she couldn’t offer much assistance.
Oh, speaking of which, Jinhyuk, was it? Was Vitrante the right one?
Suddenly curious.
“Baek Yurin, you mentioned facing Jinhyuk in the ranking match last time, right?”
“Why do you suddenly ask?”
“How was he in the end? Did you find the Vitrante you were looking for?”
“…”
Baek Yurin slowly exhaled a deep sigh and sealed her lips.
Then, she raised her head, locking eyes with Yudahee.
It was a gaze mixed with various emotions.
“…No.”
“What? It wasn’t? I heard you blocked several attacks during the ranking battle…”
“It seems like… it was someone else.”
“Well, that’s surprising. A regular trainee who can leave a mark on my hand and block all your attacks. Anyway, why does Union have so many talented people…?”
Yudahee grumbled with a sullen expression.
“I mean, our side was completely defeated by Roxanne. Ugh, thinking about it again annoys me.”
“Yudahee, are you done talking?”
“For now…”
“Then I’m leaving.”
“Tsk, no manners. Fine, go, go.”
Bae Yurin turned without hesitation.
Yudahee glanced briefly at Bae Yurin’s retreating figure.
Soon, Bae Yurin disappeared into the distance. Yudahee let out a deep sigh. Leaning back in the chair, she muttered to herself.
“A traitor… I wonder how it will turn out.”
Is there really a traitor?
If so, who could it be?
How can I find out?
Yudahee was feeling quite tangled in many ways.
***
“…There was something…”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
I sat silently in the chair, listening to everything about the meeting with the members of Rebellion from Baek Yurin.
