The shock on the faces of the others lasted longer than I had anticipated.
Naturally, I expected this reaction. Kim Hyunsung, who had been silent until now, was suddenly displaying his leadership skills, proving that being a leader wasn't solely about having high stats.
However, it could also be just that. At this moment, Kim Hyunsung was showcasing a flurry of skills that far exceeded his current stats.
As I observed Kim Hyunsung and then looked at Choi Young-ki and the rest, I could discern their thoughts.
"He's a monster," they seemed to think. "What a genius..."
Their thoughts were written all over their faces.
However, it wasn't just Kim Hyunsung who was capturing all the attention.
Jung Hayan and I were also drawing our fair share of notice due to the impressive display of magic power we were exhibiting.
The truth was, my alchemy heavily relied on Jung Hayan's magical capacity to cast spells as powerful as hers. However, these people were unaware of my secret, thinking that I was performing exceptionally on my own.
Combined with Park Deokgu's unwavering defensive skills, Kim Ye-ri's pinpoint accuracy, and Sun Hee-young's clear and effective spellcasting, we appeared to be the perfect team.
This expedition had suddenly become enjoyable. Knowing Kim Hyunsung's secret—that he was a time traveler—likely meant he had extensive knowledge of dungeons. Having him lead our party was a tremendous asset.
"It feels different," I thought. Indeed, we felt more confident now, functioning almost instinctively as a team. Even Jung Yura's expression displayed a confused hostility as she silently watched us.
"Hmm," I thought, "she's planning to position herself as the necessary villain to improve the expedition's results. She wants to show that constantly pushing us in a tough manner is the key to our success."
However, I had already thwarted her plans. Our team had demonstrated that we didn't require much prodding to function perfectly. In the end, Yura succeeded only in undermining her influence over the group. The thought of her failed scheme brought a smile to my face.
"Next!"
We continued to defeat one monster after another with seamless teamwork, and soon, we reached the point where all our adversaries lay defeated, either slashed or obliterated. An unusual silence descended upon the group.
Glancing back at our comrades, we found them staring at Kim Hyunsung with skeptical expressions, finding it difficult to believe what had just transpired. Choi Young-ki was the first to speak.
"Ah, it looks like we've witnessed a true genius."
"That might be an exaggeration. I was just trying to emulate you."
"Haha, I don't think so. You went beyond imitation; you did even better. I honestly didn't expect this level of talent from you, or from Kee Miyoung and the others, for that matter."
"Then..."
"Your party has improved significantly since entering the dungeon. I won't deny that when the Blue Guild paid such a high price for you, I thought it was excessive. But seeing you all in action, I think their pricing was justified. It won't be long before the Blue Guild regains its glory through all of you."
"I feel embarrassed to hear that now."
"Hahaha. If it does happen later, don't say I didn't tell you!"
I appreciated Choi Young-ki's easygoing nature and made a mental note to lend him a hand in the future if the opportunity arose. Even Park Deokgu and Kim Ye-ri, who had initially faced criticism, were now receiving positive attention due to their flawless execution of their roles.
Meanwhile, I searched through the monsters' corpses in the hope of finding something useful, but to no avail. I turned to survey the scene once more. In this pleasant atmosphere, only Jung Yura seemed out of place.
"So, what will her next move be?" I wondered. It appeared she had two options: continue with her initial 'villainous for everyone's betterment' attitude or attempt to establish good relationships with everyone.
Of course, if she chose the former, certain conditions would need to be met. She would need to be bold enough to admit her earlier statements, yet retain just the right amount of humility to convey that she believed it was the best course of action. This might seem simple, but for someone in Jung Yura's position, it was far from easy.
This was a challenge faced by entrepreneurs and politicians who prioritized self-interest while pretending to serve the greater good. People like her didn't understand the value of integrity and would gladly sacrifice it to escape dire situations.
The choice was hers now. Would she prove to be a first-class or second-class individual? Would she show some intelligence for once, or stubbornly adhere to ineffective tactics?
"Come on, Jung Yura. Show yourself."
She wore a complex expression.
"Are you first-class or second-class?"
When her expression hardened with determination, I had my answer. She was sticking to being second-class.
"Ah, still clinging to those tactics, I see."
Was she going to pick a fight even though she knew she wouldn't win?
"Watching all of you was amazing, but I have to say, it really threw me off."
"What do you mean?"
"If you changed the plan suddenly, wouldn't it have been wise to inform us beforehand? What if your new plan had thrown us off balance and disrupted our formation unintentionally? It would have been detrimental to everyone."
"Jung Yura, now..."
"Am I wrong? We got thrown off because of Mr. Hyunsung. I know some of you agree with me."
"I admit it was a bit surprising, but Kim Hyunsung's sudden move actually helped us defeat the monsters more efficiently. I'm starting to wonder how rigorous the training in the Blue Guild really is."
"Of course, I'm not saying he hasn't helped us. However, he should have warned us in advance. If he's really so capable, couldn't he have done that from the beginning?"
This woman was truly relentless.
"I initially wanted to see if my party members could adapt, especially Park Deokgu and Kim Ye-ri. Once I was sure we were capable enough, we made the switch. I apologize for not issuing a warning in advance."
"Oh no, I didn't mean to make you apologize, Mr. Hyunsung."
Kim Hyunsung responded politely to Jung Yura's subtle accusations, understanding that she had a point. Kim Hyunsung had indeed moved unexpectedly, taking Jung Yura completely by surprise.
However, the events had unfolded in our favor, thanks to the circumstances that we had carefully orchestrated.
"I think you're being a little too harsh, Miss Yura." I said.
"I don't know if this is because of jealousy or whatever, but praise should be given when it's due, and Kim Hyunsung has displayed praiseworthy talent." I continued….
Additionally, I said:
"I thought we were already past this. It's not Kim Hyunsung who needs to wake up; it's you, Jung Yura."
"What did you just say?" Jun Yura asked.
"I can't speak for others, but it's exhausting to hear you criticize people all the time."
"I was doing it for the sake of the expedition!"
"In what way are you helping? If you genuinely want to contribute, then lead your party efficiently!"
"What..."
It seemed that Choi Young-ki had reached his limit. Looking at Yura's reddened face, I knew her influence had hit an all-time low, reaching zero. Even if her fellow Black Swans tried to defend her now, it would be futile. No one wanted to oppose a Red Mercenary directly.
The intensity of the situation made me want to stoke the flames even further. What better way to defuse the situation and turn it in our favor than to act as the victim one last time?
But first, I needed Kim Hyunsung's approval for this.
It seemed that I didn't even need to get his attention. Kim Hyunsung was already looking in my direction, apparently sensing that I had a new plan.
"May I speak?" my expression asked. "I'm good at this sort of thing, Hyung."
The moment Kim Hyunsung nodded, I began to speak.
"May I say something?"
Several pairs of eyes turned toward me upon hearing my voice.
"Yes, of course."
It would be enjoyable to provoke Jung Yura, at least one last time.
"I'd like to apologize. It seems that Hyunsung's efforts to demonstrate our worth backfired..."
"Oh, no."
"I sincerely apologize to the Black Swans, and particularly to Jung Yura." I ensured my acting was on point. "Actually, we had discussed this in advance. We joined this expedition simply to gain experience, but we understand that our stats might have irritated you. That's why we thought it was prudent to adapt first before revealing our true potential."
"No, Mr. Kee Miyoung."
"No, an apology is necessary. We did our best, but it seems that, as Jung Yura appears unsatisfied with our performance, we fell short. We promise to do even better next time. From our assessment of our teamwork earlier, I believe I know what went wrong. Please give us the chance to improve."
Jung Yura's expression now displayed increasing anxiety. She knew I had the knack for pointing fingers effortlessly, so why did she continue down this path?
After a pause to catch my breath, I continued, making eye contact with every sheepish expression in the group.
"It seems that all we've done is cause trouble for everyone."
"What...?"
"It appears that our party is causing unease within the group."
"Ah..."
"We knew you wouldn't be thrilled about having us on the team, but we didn't anticipate that you would feel uncomfortable. For this, we sincerely apologize."
"No, no..."
"I understand that maintaining a harmonious atmosphere within a group is crucial for a successful expedition, so we did our best to fit in. However, it seems that we've failed at doing that. We apologize for any inconveniences we may have caused."
"No, it's not like that!"
Gradually, embarrassed voices began responding to my words, offering comfort along with sheepish expressions. I wanted to say more, but when I saw Kim Hyunsung's expectant face, I knew it was time to pass the torch to him.
"I believe our Blue Party is mistaken."
I tried my best not to smile. It was astonishing how well Kim Hyunsung could read my mind. In his words, the group's atmosphere shifted even more.
"No, the Blue Guild has done nothing wrong. In fact, it's the opposing side that keeps trying to paint you in a negative light..."
"You're not to blame. Someone else has caused trouble..."
The group I had used as my shield now turned into a spear, attacking the Black Swans. And all of this was possible because we had successfully manipulated Choi Young-ki's thoughts and emotions.
"It's not that you didn't help. In fact, you contributed significantly and helped us defeat the monsters more efficiently. The only issue here," Young-ki's expression darkened, "is with the opposing side."
"Ah, here it comes."
"Jung Yura." Young-ki murmured.
"I'm truly sorry that it has come to this point. However, I believe now is the right time to make something clear." Young-Ki said.
"And what is that?" Yura inquired.
"I think now is the appropriate time to propose changes to this expedition." He continued.
"W-What? What do you mean?" Yura asked in a confused expression.
"I would like to formally suggest that you leave the expedition." Young-ki declared.
'Yes! That Bitch !' I thought ...…..