Everyone had the information. They knew where the items were and what the hidden events where. Because of that, the weaker ones gave up competing for those and instead risked their chances at any ‘unknown’ events that happened this time around.
The burned forest was one of those things.
“…”
Yoo Giwon, the leader of the Blue Jerseys. Hwang Kangmin, the leader of Gray T-shirts. Jang Byungil, the leader of Black Short Pants. They were all Three Circles, but they weren’t that friendly towards each other since they were all competitors.
“We have three that have been killed.”
“We have two,” Kangmin answered Giwon.
Byungil added, “Five died on my side.”
A few hours ago, scouting groups comprised of One Circles were found dead. It wasn’t important that they died, but what was important was who was behind the attacks. They quickly ordered to stop all scouting missions and gather at Kangmin’s camp in the north. At first they were suspicious of each other, but after checking the corpses, they realized it wasn’t any of them.
“So, some asshole is trying to attack us all?”
“What good will it do?”
“I don’t know. There are too many bastards who think they are ‘badass’. Maybe one of them thinks it’s their chance to attack us since we’re not in our regions.”
“Hmm.”
Giwon suggested, “Maybe it’s not from outside.”
“So?”
Giwon then pointed southeast. The other two knew where he was talking about. The city and the green lands. That place held the possibility of hiding the reason behind the burning of the forest. But they didn’t have any information yet, and they were not ready to go there.
“So, the bastard from that city came out and killed our boys?” Kangmin said angrily.
“If that’s true, then that’s a shame. I’m not sure if he’s weak or dumb if this is all he can do…”
“Maybe it isn’t over,” Byungil interrupted Kangmin.
“Whoever it is, killed a little bit from all of us. As if they wanted us to react to it.”
“…!”
They then realized something. They did react to the attack. As a result, they stopped all operations and everyone was gathered in the same place.
If the enemy’s purpose was to have everyone gather in the same place…
“HEEEEEK!”
The scream interrupted their thoughts. A one man had been dragged in by other fighters. It was one of Giwon’s men with a blue jersey. Unfortunately, his entire face was crushed, leaving only one eye and a mouth.
“He was coming back from farthest point, so he was running late and… got attacked a few minutes ago, right as he got here.”
“D-d-d-d-divine Tree..”
The man was clearly afraid.
“H-h-he asked… where… the Divine Tree was… a-and I didn’t…”
Before he could finish, the three leaders shouted immediately.
“Divine Tree! Send our men! Find something! Anything!”
Their men ran out, but the three leaders did not move. They all glanced at each other. They knew where since they didn’t have to worry about their men getting wiped out. The only thing left was to decide ‘who’ would take what’s hidden within the Divine Tree and the criminal.
They raised their voices as they readied themselves.
“I think I can get my fourth circle when I’m finished… I’ll remember you two for helping me get there,” Kwangmin said.
“I don’t know how well you can do in a region that’s not yours, and without your men… but you should know that greed can lead to your demise” Byungil replied.
“You guys talk too much. That’s not like you all. We should rather…” Giwon also chimed in.
“You guys fighting? That’s unexpected.”
Dohyuk entered the scene, and the three men turned immediately. A bit further away from them was the blue jersey man who just reported to them. His face had fully recovered. Dohyuk inflicted the damage on himself so that he wasn’t recognizable, but the wound wasn’t too severe and the cheap items he acquired along the way were enough to heal him.
“Who the f*ck are you!”
They became shocked and shouted, but they knew that this man was the culprit. But why was he here facing the three of them?
“Recently, I was terribly and mentally shaken.”
Dohyuk spoke while looking at them.
“…and I decided to accept what I was doing. I am making a compromise.”
Compromise. Instead of moving out of this region, he thought of an idea to make the three strongest ones gather in one place.
“I don’t like the current state of this region. It’s like my front yard, but there are wild animals here.”
Having a compromise meant that he was still on the fence.
“I mean, I have to kill all of you to save lives, but that’s just too tiring.”
Dohyuk was ready to do whatever it took.
“So, I decided to capture one of the wild dogs and put a muzzle on it. I can’t let it come into the house, but at least I can train it to guard the house from outside, right?”
Dohyuuk had to do it.
“I’ll take one volunteer.”
