Episode 506. Lucifer (3)

The Iris Guild is France’s representative guild and the world’s best information guild.

No one could take the Iris Guild lightly, which was strong not only in information but also in military power.

The only obstacle was that there were two successors.

Both Irene, the Guild Master’s daughter, and Alice had shown exceptional talent since childhood.

Irene, possessing overwhelming talent and ability, and Alice, who had recently shown explosive growth.

It was said that if the competition between the two sisters intensified, problems could arise within the guild.

However, after Irene gave up her position as successor and Alice officially became the successor, the Iris Guild’s status rose to an unassailable level.

Many even called it the world’s best guild, not just an information guild.

At the same time, it expanded its influence to countries other than France, and the Korean branch was one of them.

Dr. Kang Hyorin, the head of the Korean branch, also held a professorship at the academy, and had built a deep relationship with Victoria Academy over time.

Naturally, negotiations and dealings were easy, which was also why Victoria Academy was Alice’s first experience.

“….”

Alice, dressed in a neat suit, adjusted her attire while looking at the mirror in the elevator.

The corners of her beautiful face reflected in the mirror twitched.

“Heh-hem.”

Alice placed her hand on her face and slowly calmed her nerves.

Today was the first time she was taking on an important role as the successor of the Iris Guild.

It was to negotiate with Victoria Academy regarding the handling of Lucifer, who had entered Korea.

‘I need to be aware that I’m the successor of the Iris Guild.’

She suppressed a smile that formed unconsciously.

The representative of the Iris Guild must act with more dignity.

Being happy just to be out for negotiations would lower her prestige.

The person she had come to meet was Victoria Academy’s representative, Moon Surin.

She knew her face, but they weren’t that close.

‘Her father was a demon, wasn’t he?’

Alice knew Moon Surin’s big secret.

Even if she hadn’t used the information, just knowing it would help in negotiations.

‘She seems to meet Lee Hoyeon often too….’

The fact that she was her rival bothered her, but since it was a public occasion, she could overlook that.

Moon Surin would be the same, surely.

Ting-

The elevator arrived, and as the doors opened, the empty student council room came into view.

It was the time when all the student council members were attending classes.

Alice and Moon Surin represented their respective groups, despite being students.

Alice relaxed her stiff muscles as she saw Moon Surin in the student council president’s office.

Knock knock.

Alice knocked on the student council president’s office door, opened it, and bowed her head slightly.

“Hello. President-nim. I am Alice from the Iris Guild. I’ve come today seeking the academy’s cooperation.”

“Nice to meet you, Alice-yang. I’m Moon Surin, the student council president of Victoria Academy.”

Moon Surin smiled relaxedly and offered her a seat.

Unlike Alice, for whom this was a new experience, Moon Surin was experienced.

Even the casual way she addressed people was maintained with a formal attitude today.

“…Yes. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve come today to receive the academy’s cooperation.”

Alice continued speaking, maintaining her composure.

Lucifer, who attacked Victoria Guild’s investigation team, has entered Korea.

We already sent an official document regarding the danger, but it can’t be emphasized enough.

“You mentioned Lucifer, right? The perpetrator of the dungeon investigation team attacks that occurred worldwide last night.”

Since dungeon rampages were a global issue, major guilds from various countries were investigating.

And last night, there was an incident where the investigation teams of the three largest dungeons were annihilated.

Moon Surin was aware of the incident; it was a large-scale event, yet the perpetrator was presumed to be only one person.

Since they claimed to have information about this perpetrator, meeting with the Iris Guild was natural.

“That’s correct. Today, the Iris Guild tracked his movements. We need Victoria Academy’s support.”

“Hmm…”

Moon Surin re-examined the official document from the Iris Guild.

Although it was lengthy, the gist was a request for Victoria Academy’s power to capture Lucifer.

Moon Surin was aware of Lucifer’s danger, having annihilated three investigation teams in a single night.

The fact that this demon had entered Korea was undeniably dangerous.

However, negotiations should ideally be approached more realistically.

‘They’re showing an unusual obsession with a single demon.’

It was different from the Iris Guild’s attitude until now.

The skill of the representative wasn’t the issue.

It’s just one demon.

Furthermore, it appeared not in their home country, France, but in Korea.

It was awkward for the Iris Guild to take the lead and demand cooperation.

Moon Surin had a hunch.

The matter of capturing the demon named Lucifer was that important to the Iris Guild.

‘Should I probe a little?’

The most crucial aspect of negotiation is knowing how desperate the other party is.

Having realized that, Moon Surin gained the upper hand.

“What about cooperation from other organizations?”

“…Unfortunately, we haven’t received a definitive answer yet.”

Humans are selfish.

Even hearing about a murder in the next town doesn’t feel very real.

Until it affects them personally, they can’t grasp the actual level of danger.

No one knows that Lucifer is the successor of the Demon King from the Underworld.

To Moon Surin, Lucifer is merely a powerful demon.

“I see… Actually, until the Hunter Association makes a move, it’s a bit burdensome for the Academy to act first.”

“…President-nim. Lucifer is different from other demons. Perhaps Korea itself might disappear from the map.”

“You said the same thing about Patricia who appeared a year ago, and Octavia half a year ago.”

As the representative of Victoria Academy, Moon Surin had to consider various factors.

What would happen if the Academy mobilized its forces, and the subsequent response.

Minor disputes over interests and the media’s reactions.

Her opponent was Alice, who seemed inexperienced in such situations.

‘Her eye is twitching.’

Moon Surin brought the coffee to her lips, scanning Alice from head to toe.

It was evident that she was flustered even with the slightest pressure.

Considering her relationship with the Iris Guild, she would eventually agree, but she intended to get something substantial in return.

‘…What should I do? What am I supposed to do in this situation?’

Alice clasped her hands on her knees and fell silent.

She felt as if Moon Surin, sitting before her, was as imposing as a mountain.

Just as Moon Surin had perceived, Alice was flustered.

She had thought the negotiation wouldn’t be difficult, given the very amicable relationship between the Iris Guild and Victoria Academy, but that was a grave miscalculation.

‘Should I use what Unnie told me?’

Of course, the Iris Guild hadn’t failed to anticipate this.

Asking for the help of an entire organization wasn’t a trivial matter.

Irene had roughly predicted Victoria Academy’s response and suggested yielding some of the Iris Guild’s privileges.

If they yielded the privileges they had prepared, Moon Surin would likely back down smoothly.

It was an unspoken ‘adult’s deal’.

However, Alice didn’t like that.

‘Is this the attitude she’s giving me, even though I came here myself?’

To be honest, she had assumed the negotiation would be a guaranteed success from the moment she stepped up as the negotiator.

She possessed the information that Moon Surin’s father was a demon.

A top-secret piece of information she hadn’t revealed to anyone until now.

It should have been a tremendous burden for Moon Surin, yet she was conducting the negotiation with ease.

But resorting to using a weakness for something like this felt like an insult to her pride.

She wanted to succeed in her first negotiation through her own abilities.

‘A way to conclude this as smoothly as possible….’

Without yielding the Iris Guild’s privileges and without using Moon Surin’s weakness.

Wasn’t there a way to negotiate that would create a positive image for both sides?

What could she say to persuade Moon Surin?

Ah….

Suddenly, Alice’s mind cleared.

‘Why didn’t I think of this?’

After a brief moment of thought, Alice quickly came up with a solution.

Everyone could understand the danger posed by Lucifer, who annihilated the Iris Guild’s investigation team in an instant, without needing words.

However, Alice had realized Lucifer’s danger before the attack even occurred.

As soon as Irene, who had met Lucifer directly, recounted the incident, she recognized the severity.

For some reason, Lucifer attacked Irene’s acquaintance while calling out Lee Hoyeon’s name.

Lucifer was targeting Lee Hoyeon.

‘Maybe this will sway her.’

Alice cautiously opened her mouth, looking at Moon Surin’s composed expression.

“It has something to do with Lee Hoyeon…”

“What?”

Moon Surin tilted her head at the name that popped out of Alice’s mouth.

Why was his name, completely unrelated to the negotiation, being brought up?

“We have information that he’s targeting Hoyeon.”

“…Alice-yang. What did you say?”

Upon hearing Lee Hoyeon’s name, Moon Surin’s demeanor changed.

Gaining confidence, Alice spoke assertively.

“Lucifer, the perpetrator of the dungeon investigation team attack, is targeting student Lee Hoyeon.”

“Can you guarantee that there isn’t a single lie in that statement?”

“The Iris Guild’s information is never wrong. For Hoyeon’s sake… I need your help, President-nim. He appeared in Korea today, so we don’t know when he might be attacked.”

“…”

Moon Surin looked straight into Alice’s eyes.

Her clear eyes, filled with pride, and her calm demeanor.

It wasn’t simply a lie to seek cooperation.

‘No wonder they seemed so desperate…’

Only then did the pieces fall into place.

Alice is the successor of the Iris Guild.

If Lucifer is targeting Lee Hoyeon, it makes sense why the Iris Guild is focusing so unusually on the demon named Lucifer.

Alice is one of the women vying for Lee Hoyeon.

“…Sigh. Let’s start by filling out the paperwork.”

“President-nim…”

Alice smiled with delight, while Moon Surin chuckled bitterly.

If she had just mentioned Lee Hoyeon’s situation immediately upon entering, she would have agreed right away.

She had just wasted her energy.

She found her own situation amusing.

The opponent came to negotiate for the man she liked, yet she was trying to exploit that for personal gain.

Even though she hadn’t known that fact, she felt inexplicably sorry towards Lee Hoyeon.

Moon Surin channeled that feeling into anger and directed it elsewhere.

“I will take responsibility for securing the cooperation of the Hunter Association and the Wizard Association. It’s truly lamentable that trash who only care about their own interests when a national enemy appears are breathing the same air as me.”

“…That’s right.”

Instead, she wouldn’t let the scoundrel named Lucifer in Korea off the hook.

How dare he target Lee Hoyeon.

She would never allow it, even if it meant her own demise.

Moon Surin gritted her teeth and continued signing the documents.

‘To become a true professional, one must be able to change their attitude as quickly as flipping a palm.’

Alice, impressed by Moon Surin’s demeanor, began finalizing the details.

Since Moon Surin had agreed to full cooperation, the negotiation ended quickly. Moon Surin, confident she would get approval soon, started making a call on her smartwatch before Alice even left.

“President-nim. This is Moon Surin, student council president of Victoria Academy. Have you confirmed the Iris Guild’s official document? Victoria Academy demands the full cooperation of the Hunter Association. What? You say the danger isn’t certain? Understood. I wonder if the citizens think the same. No. I’m not joking, I’m serious…”

“…”

Moon Surin, who had been pressuring her just moments ago, was intimidating, but it seemed that wasn’t her full strength.

The Moon Surin who usually wore a relaxed smile that pleased those around her seemed like a completely different person from the Moon Surin acting as student council president.

“I’ll be going now…”

“Ah, Alice-yang. It was enjoyable today. Let’s have a cup of tea together sometime, personally.”

“Yes. I hope such an opportunity arises.”

“President-nim. I am serious. To reiterate…”

Alice quietly stood up from her chair and gave a slight bow.

Although the negotiation was successful, it was a day where she learned a lot about maintaining a professional stance.

Her heated tone on the phone at the end was a bit frightening, though.

‘Seeing even the President-nim like this, he must be a truly sinful man.’

Alice left the student council room, shaking her head.

Seeing how Moon Surin changed just by mentioning Lee Hoyeon’s name, it seemed she was quite severely smitten too.

‘…It’s not my place to say, but.’

I guess I’m also quite severely smitten with that scoundrel.

Who would have thought she’d use Lee Hoyeon in a negotiation?

Still, her steps were light with the satisfaction of having accomplished the task.

Unaware that four women were waiting in her living room.

Alice headed home.