Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

Chapter 78

078 Crisis Meeting

The government must withdraw the enforcement order!

Withdraw! Withdraw!

A wicked law that kills Awakener! We oppose it!

We oppose! We oppose!

In front of the Liberal Clan headquarters in Sejong City, now turned into a sacred place for the Awakener, many people gathered, passionately chanting slogans in front of the firmly closed shutters.

Among them were both Awakener and non-Awakener, but their unified slogan was only one, the cancellation of the New Enforcement Order announced by the government. Watching the scene through the CCTV attached to the outer wall of the building, Myung-jun muttered quietly as if talking to himself.

Everythings fine, but why here in front of our clan?

Responding to Myung-juns question, Arin, who was swaying next to him, said,

This place is symbolic for the Awakener active in South Korea. Besides, it also signifies the liberal clans involvement.

Why are you here?

Soo-jeong unnie allowed me. Why? Is it not allowed for me to come?

What about clan activities? Arent you busy being a promising core member?

Im under disciplinary restraint because of what happened in Manaus City. I cant participate in any operations for two weeks.

The reason for Arins disciplinary action was simple, she requested help from the Liberal Clan without the Clan Masters permission. It was a decision by the clans upper echelon to ensure the clarity of the command structure, but to Myung-jun, who disagreed with the decision, it seemed like an unnecessary fuss.

I dont understand. In the end, Orlans himself requested support, didnt he? The result was the same at that point. Why punish you for requesting it first?

Arbitrary judgement, and thats a rookie bringing another clan into an operation without proper consultation. Originally, Mr. Orlans opposed this discipline. I was the one who accepted it.

You did?

I needed time to organize my thoughts.

So why organize them here?

Because I got permission?

Permission doesnt mean you were invited. It means you voluntarily asked the senior if you could come. So why are you here, drinking in the temporarily closed clan headquarters during this sensitive time?

Well, this seems to be the most exciting hotspot in the current situation. Those people must be demonstrating it here, knowing that, right?

Watching Arin speak naturally, Myung-jun shook his head and said,

Well, if the senior allowed it, I wont oppose it. But, is the senior allowing this even during the competition time?

As Myung-jun asked this question, Soo-jeong entered the conference room as the door opened. Listening to the conversation between Myung-jun and Arin through auditory sharing, she responded with a bright smile to Myung-juns question.

Yeah, I think itll be okay.

But todays meeting will also discuss the last times meeting about the newly opened abilities

At that time, Arin will also avoid her seat. Right?

As Soo-jeong said that, winking at Arin, Arin nodded and said,

Yes. Unnie.

Lets think of it as a kind of preliminary tour for the scout proposal.

Nodding, Myung-jun sat in the central seat of the conference room. As he did, the members of the Liberal Clan, who had been watching the demonstration crowd, started to take their seats at the tables one by one.

Once everyone was seated, Arin, sitting farthest from Myung-jun, began scanning the members seated at the tables.

These are the strongest Awakener forces in existence members of the Liberal Clan

The first person to catch her eye was Cha Myung-jun, the Clan Master of the Liberal Clan, who was known as the Master of the Turret and acclaimed as the strongest Awakener in the world.

Next to him was Soo-jeong, also known as the Goddess of Knowledge or Mad Science Princess, and on his right sat Ho-chang, known from the Brazil operation as the Unbreakable Shield.

Then the person sitting on the left must be Byung-tae.

While not on the same level as Myung-jun or Ho-chang, Byung-tae, also known as the Hell Driver, was a well-known figure in the Awakener industry.

Other members, regardless of whether they joined any clan at the moment, were individuals who could confidently hold a mid-level position. Among them, the person who caught Arins attention the most was a boy, Ito Kei, the youngest Awakener member and one of the worlds top Seekers, known as Mastiff.

However, Arin couldnt help but see the boy more as a cute dog than a Mastiff.

Elementary school student? Middle school student? I dont know his age, but he looks really cute

At that moment, Kei, sensing Arins gaze on him, asked Soo-jeong.

Who is that noona?

Seo Arin. Shes a Seeker like you, though the classes are different.

Oh! Seeker!

Since the common term for calling the person in charge of the exploration team in gate conquests was Seeker, as Soo-jeong said, Kei and Arin could be considered the same Seeker. However, if you go into specific class distinctions, their types were completely opposite.

Arin, a Pathfinder class, used her overwhelming drone control skills to scout enemy locations, assess their strength, and modify party strategies. On the other hand, Kei was a Tracer class, using his overwhelming sense of smell acquired through Awakening to track not only the present but also events from the past in a particular location.

Especially as a world-class Tracer, Kei boasted the extraordinary ability to discern events that happened several months ago just by smelling the scent of the target.

Sniff, sniff. Hm I can smell the scent of unique plants in the Amazon region, the smell of explosives from the leaders turret, and even the scent of Shadow Hawk. Did you participate in the Brazil operation?

What?! That was a few days ago, and Ive taken several showers since then. Can you really tell that just by the smell?

Thats my ability. If I set my mind to it, I can list every meal youve eaten for a month

Then, Soo-jeong intervened and stopped Keis words.

Kei. Ive said it before, reading someones past without permission

Invasion of privacy right Im sorry. I guess I got a bit excited when I saw a new face.

Finding Keis sulking expression cute, Arin spoke.

Impressive

Suddenly, another member sitting nearby raised his foot on the table, drawing everyones attention. The man, who seemed to exude a free-spirited temperament, looked at Kei with a displeased expression.

Could you fix that habit of sniffing? If its too hard, wear a nose plug.

Even if I wear a nose plug, I will still smell it? Oh well. How many were there yesterday? Sniff, sniff Four? If I keep doing this, will I really get stabbed in the back someday? A womans grudge is frightening, you know?

Its okay. As long as the opponent isnt an Awakener, even if I get stabbed, I wont get hurt.

The man, speaking casually with his feet on the table, reassuredly said.

Arin already knew his identity.

The man who used to come to the 1st-floor shopping area multiple times a day, openly flirting with her before she received the drone as a gift from Myung-jun, was none other than him. At that time, Arin, who had no interest in gate conquests, didnt know the mans identity as he flirted with her openly in public while she was still a minor in school uniform. However, as an Awakener now, she was well aware of who he was.

Blaze Spear Edward Taylor.

Sven, who is famous for his ice axe in Arins clan, was the man who sang that he wanted to compete against him at least once. Arin thought that Taylor was the opposite type compared to Sven. While Sven had no interest in getting stronger or anything other than gate conquests, Taylor seemed more interested in having fun and socializing.

And as if to prove her thoughts, Taylor, looking genuinely like an elementary school student, was engaged in a heated argument with Kei.

Hey, you brat. I told you not to disclose information you got from smelling?! What if that pretty lady over there misunderstands?!

If you dont like it, then stop acting like a playboy! Whats with that! You dont even think about the staff who suffer because of the calls you make looking for your beloved every day! If you went on a date, at least meet her three times!

No, what can I do if the resonance of the soul doesnt come! What? Do you think its easy to meet your destined partner like the boss over there? Even if you meet four people a day, its only 1,460 people a year! Considering the days we cant date due to gate conquests, its barely 500 people in a year! What? Meeting slowly, how are you supposed to find your soulmate among 3.5 billion people!

Ugh. Just wait. Someday, a stronger Awakener than you, who hasnt sent you an After-service yet, will appear and give you a sharp lesson.

Are you reading the future through smells now? Okay. How can you discuss life with a kid like you? Youll understand when you grow up.

Okay. I dont want to fight with my brother over this all the time. Instead, like last time, if you say lets do gate conquest, but intentionally fill the rest of the party with female members who have no gate conquest experience, I wont party with you again!

Hey, but back then, I did everything alone!

Clap!

As the conversation was getting more childish, Soo-jeong clapped her hands with a small gesture. The two who had been making loud noises until a moment ago suddenly became quiet as if they had never argued. Soo-jeong looked at them and spoke with a mischievous tone.

The guest is here, and youre going to act like this today? Or maybe you want to experience a pain.ful.scene?

Were sorry!

Sorry!

Watching the world-renowned strong awakeners bow down at Soo-jeongs words, Arin began to wonder if the real powerhouse in this clan might be Soo-jeong. Seeing Arin looking slightly frightened, Soo-jeong reassured her with a gentle smile.

Arin, just to make sure theres no misunderstanding, Taylor may be a playboy, but hes not a flirt. He spends most of his waking hours hitting on women, but in the end, he falls asleep alone in his room every night.

Arin couldnt believe it.

While there might not be many women who wanted to date a playboy, Taylors appearance was too handsome to be rejected every day. Taylor, a blond young man with a refined appearance like a nobleman from England, stood at a tall 190 cm, had a well-built body, and was literally a catch style of man.

The fact that Taylor, despite numerous attempts, went to sleep alone every night was objectively unreasonable. Arin had no choice but to ask Taylor about it.

Are you lying?

No, no. Maybe if its just a difference before the date, but most of them like it until the date. They just break up after the date and dont contact each other again.

Why bother approaching and repeating the first date if youre going to break up? Why?

Because the resonance of the soul doesnt come. Since coming to Korea, Ive been looking for a soul mate

Oh, okay.

By the way, Taylor believes that he can definitely recognize his soul mate on the first date

Arin, having heard Soo-jeongs additional explanation, spoke with a bitter smile.

I hope for good results.

Huh?! Then how about a date with me

Not happening.

Darn it.

Then, Soo-jeong looked at Taylor, who expressed disappointment, and said to Arin.

By the way, let me tell you, Taylor once asked me out on a date.

Is he really stupid?!

Arin couldnt help but admire Taylors passion for asking out the lover of the worlds strongest human. It was practically like risking his life to ask for a date. Arin cautiously glanced at Myung-jun and asked Soo-jeong.

So, what did you say?

I said if he could beat Myung-jun in a fight, Id go on a date with him. Thats the main reason Taylor is still in the Liberal Clan. Even if you look around the whole world, theres no clan that can get stronger faster than here.

Have you actually fought him?

Hearing Arins question, Taylor raised both hands and said.

So far, 38 fights, 38 losses. The best record is 48 seconds. Ive never exceeded a minute. Our leader is a real monster.

Oh, have you seen such a handsome monster?

When Arin heard Soo-jeong talking while embracing Myung-juns head, she could sense a momentary feeling of envy passing over Taylors face.

Maybe this wind is the recoil created by unrequited love.

At that moment, Myung-jun adjusted his posture and spoke to the clan members.

The story is getting off track. Lets have a separate talk about our recent situations, and for now, lets have the meeting.

Yes, leader!

Seeing every member putting on a serious expression without missing anyone at Myung-juns words, Arin was inwardly impressed. It was a world with a completely different atmosphere compared to the Awakener clan she knew.

Although the Servihum Clan she belonged to was led by a powerful individual named Orlans, the atmosphere during the Servihum Clans meetings was not like this. As a gathering of individuals with the explosive potential of human beings, the Awakener clan was always unpredictable.

Moreover, since each individual had different expectations from the clan, Orlans couldnt completely control the clan despite his outstanding skills. The moment he failed to narrow down differences in opinions, anyone could leave the Servihum Clan and join a competing clan at any time.

However, what Arin saw in the Liberal Clan was fundamentally different. Each clan member seemed ready to throw their lives at the leaders command. It was an overwhelming level of absolute trust, considering the Liberal Clan had only been established for about a year.

Now, silently opening his mouth, Myung-jun began discussing the agenda for todays meeting.

And it turns out the government messed up in the end.

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