Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

“How, how outrageous! Are you trying to insult Cardinal Tusculani with such an investigation!”

“Sit down, Borgia.”

“Hmph!”

A well-behaved dog.

Kijung shot a mocking gaze towards Borgia and then looked back at Tusculani.

Tusculani cleared his throat before speaking.

“So, you’re the one who will stabilize the situation. For the future of the Aesone, even if it means rejuvenation… If you dare to be a bit more ambitious, I see you rising from the Exorcism Cardinal to the Pope.”

“Me?”

“Of course! But for that to happen…”

“So, in this papal election, cardinal Tusculani must be elected?”

“Indeed, a clever friend is always aware of what needs to be done.”

“And the next… Maybe you, Borgia, will be the one. Am I the next in line to become Pope? You shouldn’t just assume that so easily.”

Kijung asked with a twinkle in his eye. Tusculani adjusted his posture with a self-assured smile.

“Do you know how many years I’ve served as the chairman of 09? No, since the day I received the priest’s garment, I’ve never strayed from the center of the Pope’s office.”

“Impressive.”

“I am a perfect inner circle… Even if I momentarily lose to a dog like Romero in this election, it wouldn’t be my defeat. Well then! There are various ways to bring down a Pope. I won’t falter, Master Kay.”

Hoorooro.

Tusculani made a clinking sound as he raised his glass. When he finally set down the glass, he spoke earnestly.

“Come under my wing. I will generously support everything you have. Tell me what you desire.”

Kijung looked into Tusculani’s eyes. There was no hesitation in his gaze.

‘Indeed, truly remarkable NPC… Even in such a desperate situation resembling a cornered mouse, to still hold such confidence…’

If Kijung wasn’t a Holy Knight and an Exorcism Cardinal, there was a thought that he might have been swayed by Tusculani’s provocations if he wasn’t someone who actually employed Cheka and sought help.

“I’m sorry, but it can’t be done like that.”

“You can vote for Romero right away if you want. But I’m talking about the future. Think carefully. Don’t you have family?”

“What??”

Kijung, who was about to get up from his seat, had to pause for a moment at Tusculani’s remark.

“Byulcho… That’s it. The one you are leading, your family.”

“Yes. It’s the guild I hold as the Master.”

“Even if Romero becomes the Pope and significant events unfold in the New Continent… wouldn’t it be better for them to move smoothly with my support? Isn’t that right?”

“That place is a battlefield. Having someone who can heal is helpful to us.”

“Haha, I’ve heard a bit about your behavior and character, but I don’t know much about this aspect yet.”

As Kijung spoke with determination, Tusculani smiled knowingly, taking a sip of his drink before speaking.

It was only when Kijung’s body tensed up that he spoke.

“Even if I don’t actively push you, I don’t have to pull your strings… Wouldn’t it be easier for you and your family to live in the New Continent if I don’t interfere?”

It was at that moment Kijung’s pupils dilated.

Kijung had underestimated Tusculani, the Chairman of 09, from the beginning. The reason why the mafia-like Cheka kept digging deeper and deeper into him!

…”

Are you threatening me?”

Tusculani wasn’t trying to “buy” Kijung from the start.

“If you put it that way, I’d be disappointed. I just said I would give you everything you want. I’m only saying that working together for the Papacy is the best way for us.”

No, perhaps this was the real “purchase” he hadn’t realized.

Tusculani’s subtle use of carrot and stick, along with his influence, to intimidate had reached an exceedingly high level for Kijung’s simple nature to handle. Kijung’s body was trembling. Tusculani sadly observed this and let out a mocking laugh.

“Find Romero’s weakness. No, you don’t even need to have a weakness. Just tell them before tomorrow’s vote that Romero is behind the recent series of noisy scandals at the Ezwen Papacy, whether it’s true or not, that alone will be enough-“

“Hoo—uhhh…?

In its own way, it was a setting that was close to the top tier. With Judgment 41, which held a considerably high position, Kijung’s actions could be analyzed as that of a ‘scaredy-cat.’

But it was also because Midell Earth couldn’t accurately analyze the user Master Kay’s behavior yet.

Kijung met Tusculani’s eyes.

“Embarrassing as it is for me to say this, am I not somewhat famous for being kind?”

“… Indeed. The spirit that takes after [Unnamed Paladin]… Your selflessness to the extent of becoming a [Holy Knight]… Your exemplary actions and character that have spread widely enough to earn you the nickname [Exorcism Cardinal]. Isn’t that what made it in an instant?”

“Hehe, that’s right. Because of that, people often make mistaken assumptions.”

“Mistaken assumptions?”

As Tusculani and Borgia chuckled, Kijung crossed his legs. Sitting on the chair with a haughty posture, Kijung placed his right hand on the handle of his sword.

Borgia flinched and tried to call the guards, but Tusculani stopped him.

Watching the flustered expressions of those present, Kijung chuckled for a moment before continuing, “The reason I carry out good deeds is simply because it reminds me of the difficult times I went through. But watching me do good deeds… especially when people above me, like you, think of me as ‘compliant.’

It’s quite irritating.”

Kijung tapped his leg.

Starting his sentence in formal speech but ending it in plain speech, Kijung’s strange choice of address left Tusculani momentarily speechless.

Only after a while did his face start turning red.

“You should watch your manners, Master Kay. How dare you speak to me, as the chairman of 09—”

“What’s with this Chairman 09. Are you in a position higher than me?”

“What?”

Kijung loosened his crossed legs, then bent his upper body and closed the gap between him and Tusculani a bit more.

Even Tusculani, who had served as the head of the 9 Cardinals’ Council and engaged in various bold actions, felt momentarily overwhelmed by Kijung’s momentum.

“Cardinal Tusculani, I don’t know what you’ve been up to, or should I say what setup you’ve been playing around with? This kind of talk even annoys me a bit! Think before you speak. I may be good, but I’m not obedient. Maybe my thoughts are a bit lacking. But I have my own principles of judgment. So let’s just go ahead and pretend I didn’t hear what you said today.”

Kijung spoke slowly while controlling his breathing.

Then he quickly stood up. Even when Borgia couldn’t quite gather his thoughts due to his asymmetric behavior, tuskulrani remained composed.

“You’ll regret it. If Romero doesn’t become the Pope tomorrow, I might just cancel your Cardinal appointment. Even if it can happen, your smooth sailing days are over.”

“Haha, yeah, I’ll regret it. So go ahead, try to make me regret it. If you’re so confident, take away my Cardinal position or whatever. I didn’t come here to see things like that in the first place. Now, where’s the exit?”

As Kijung rose energetically and headed towards the door, tuskulrani had one more thing to say.

“I can’t make you the Pope right now. But I can make one person an instant criminal. Someone very close to you.”

Stop.

Kijung’s hand, about to open the door, froze in midair.

“Uh… Hahaha. On the day Kaztor spread terror, bullets flew in Ezwen. According to the headquarters investigation team, it’s clear that the source of the twisted and scattered bullets was his doing. I believe it was an attempted assassination of the Pope.”

On that day, everyone present at the gathering knows that Leeha aimed to snipe Kaztor.

Leeha is the one who relentlessly pursued Kaztor to inflict fatal wounds.

However, even if the truth is as such, how many would politically acknowledge it?

Foreign figures would not be willing to take sides even to weaken Virelle’s power.

If Eswa demands firmly, there’s a possibility Virelle might have to issue a warrant for Leeha!

Tusculani clearly saw through Leeha and Kijung’s relationship, using it as a weapon.

Ah… Are you done talking?”

“What, what?”

Swish!

Kijung drew his sword and inserted it into its sheath, making a sharp sound.

“I asked if you’re done talking.”

That was Chairman 09’s misjudgment.

Why has Kijung’s reputation and sacrifice spread so widely? Willing to sacrifice his cardinal appointment or not. Holy Knight? Who cares. But the moment you mess with Leeha or Byulcho, that moment?

Step, step, step.

Kijung marched straight towards Tusculani.

“W-What are you doing! If you strike me now-“

With a firm stance, Kijung stood in front of Tusculani, who seemed intent on burying himself in the back of the chair.

“Not.

‘Now’,” Kijung said, looking down at him. It was a tiger-like gaze fixed on a piece of meat. Even Tusculani, who had maintained his composure until now, almost radiated such intense energy that Kijung turned around and headed towards the door without looking back.

As Kijung stormed out as if he were going to kick the door down, none of the guards at Tusculani’s mansion could stop him.

“Hey! If you sincerely intend to try it once… first, you need to calculate how many Paladin battalions are needed to stop me, chairman Tusculani. Hmm, and if Leeha Hyung or all of Byulcho also join in… Well, what will happen then?”

Step by step, Kijung continued walking away.

“It won’t take more than two hours for all of your ‘Inner Circle’ that you boast about, along with your precious Ahlo, to run away. This is a sincere advice, so listen carefully! Then!”

Kijung waved his hand without looking back and left Tusculani’s mansion.

There was a black shadow on the rooftop of that mansion, looking down at Kijung.

“The bait seems untouched.”

“Phew… Right, that’s it! Master Kay wouldn’t do that! You could’ve been in big trouble if you had touched him earlier, Cheka!”

“One must exclude individuals who might become a potential danger. If Master Kay had switched sides to Tusculani’s, Romero’s chances of winning would have dropped to less than half.”

Lark let out a sigh upon receiving Cheka’s message.

Following orders thoroughly is good, but dealing with someone so inflexible…

“He’s not that type of person! I can feel it.”

“Even if you were to fight, do you really think you can defeat Master Kay? If he becomes a complete monster–“

“I will win.”

“What?”

“If that’s the command, even if it’s the ‘Exorcism Cardinal,’ I can win.”

Lark couldn’t say anything more.

Just adding a soft remark, “Even if you can win, it doesn’t mean you’re winning.”

“What?”

“Mutual respect. If you provoke Master Kay, someone else might come out. It will be even harder to deal with them, so it’s better not to provoke them as long as possible. This is sincere advice.”

“… Got it.”

Cheka remained hidden in the dark, watching Holy Knight Kijung navigate through the corridors. And at some point, he was pondering a certain threat he had seen and felt at the secret meeting room of the Papal Office.