The Final Boss Has Returned 177

Chapter 177

“I’ll be back.”

Shin Ha-yeon smiled after hearing those words.

It was because she felt relieved for some reason.

Shin Ha-yeon closed her eyes.

She couldn’t even remember the last time her heart was this shaken.

Even when she ousted her siblings and father and took control of the group, or when all sorts of useless rumors circulated among the upper class because of it, she hadn’t felt any particular emotions.

However, the moment Drakan told her that they had to break up, at least superficially, Shin Ha-yeon felt her heart shake uncontrollably.

As Drakan said, Shin Ha-yeon knew better than anyone that this was the right way.

Rationally, it was right to follow Drakan’s words.

But Shin Ha-yeon couldn’t.

It was because she didn’t want to break up with him.

‘It seems I loved Drakan-nim much more than I thought.’

Shin Ha-yeon smiled as she thought so.

Like Drakan, Shin Ha-yeon had never dreamed that she would be so swayed by such things as approval.

But unlike Drakan, Shin Ha-yeon immediately accepted and complied with her feelings.

And above all, the moment Shin Ha-yeon confirmed that Drakan felt the same way as her, she felt a smile naturally form on her lips.

Drakan.

His tone when he said ‘superficial breakup’ was unusually shaky, and his expression was filled with hesitation.

So Shin Ha-yeon was okay.

“Okay. You promise, right?”

Shin Ha-yeon said as she opened her eyes.

Drakan nodded at her words.

“Yes. I promise.”

Shin Ha-yeon’s smile deepened as she heard Drakan’s promise once again.

“But a verbal promise isn’t enough to put my mind at ease.”

Drakan’s expression hardened slightly at Shin Ha-yeon’s words.

She looked at his expression and said with an amused smile.

“So, to be sure, it would be best to write an engagement agreement.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Drakan was a little flustered by Shin Ha-yeon’s words.

Even Drakan, who had nerves of steel, couldn’t help but be flustered by the word ‘engagement.’

Shin Ha-yeon smiled at Drakan’s flustered expression.

It was because he looked a little cute when he was flustered.

“Why, do you dislike it?”

“It’s not that, but… It’s just that it’s so sudden that I’m a bit flustered.”

Drakan honestly expressed his feelings.

Marriage.

Drakan himself had no idea that something he thought he would never be involved with, something he considered someone else’s business, would suddenly appear before his eyes.

Shin Ha-yeon approached Drakan and linked arms with him, whispering in a sweet voice.

“Isn’t the strongest alliance a marriage alliance? There is no more definite proof of trust than a marriage alliance.”

Marriage alliance.

Drakan smiled when he heard those words.

As she said, there was no more definite proof of trust than marriage.

“…Of course, personally, I think I need a way to keep Drakan-nim by my side.”

Shin Ha-yeon finished speaking and laughed softly as if embarrassed.

Drakan fell into thought after hearing her words.

He hadn’t thought he would go as far as marriage with Shin Ha-yeon.

Realistically, the social status gap between Shin Ha-yeon and himself was too wide.

Needless to say, chaebols usually marry people of similar social status and prestige.

And the marriage of people who were chaebols wasn’t something that could be decided simply on a whim.

At that level, marriage was also a kind of political act, a strategy.

There was a reason why the term ‘arranged marriage’ existed.

Thinking that far, Drakan slowly asked Shin Ha-yeon.

“Is that so? But why do you want to get engaged to me?”

Why him of all people?

Honestly, although it was an ‘alliance,’ the gap in social status between Drakan and Shin Ha-yeon was enormous.

The difference between Drakan, who was just a gamer, albeit a top-ranked one, and Shin Ha-yeon, who was from the Jeil Group, one of Korea’s leading chaebols, could be seen as the difference between a human and an ant, or even more.

That’s why Drakan asked.

Why him?

Shin Ha-yeon smiled and answered Drakan’s question.

“Because I love you. And…”

“And?”

“You’ll win in the end anyway, right, Drakan-nim?”

Shin Ha-yeon continued, smiling.

“The owner of Miracle Entertainment, the number one company in Korea in terms of market capitalization, is more than enough to be my marriage partner. In fact, it’s at a level where I should be the one bowing down. So, this marriage alliance is actually a good deal for me.”

Drakan smiled at her following words.

“Yes. You’re right, Shin Ha-yeon.”

The management rights of Miracle Entertainment.

If he obtained that reward given to the final victor, as Shin Ha-yeon said, he would be a more than sufficient partner for her.

And as Shin Ha-yeon said, Drakan was confident that he would definitely win this game.

“So… will you make the engagement vow?”

Shin Ha-yeon’s voice reached Drakan’s ears.

It was a trembling voice, unlike her usual self.

Drakan took Shin Ha-yeon’s hand first and said.

“Of course.”

There was no need to think about it.

He didn’t think marriage was essential, but if he had to get married, it was obvious that Shin Ha-yeon was much better than a stranger.

And above all, Shin Ha-yeon’s cooperation was essential to completely succeed in the grand plan of rebellion.

Hearing Drakan’s answer, Shin Ha-yeon finally showed a bright smile that revealed her completely relieved feelings.

Drakan looked at her and said.

“Then, from now on, we need to write a script for our fake breakup.”

“I guess I’ll have to show off my acting skills after a long time.”

Shin Ha-yeon replied with a smile to Drakan’s words.

And so, the night passed.

▄ ▄ ▄

The next day, after meeting with Shin Ha-yeon, composing the fake breakup script, and finishing the engagement vow.

I drove to Jeil New Media for work.

I had already summoned all the Over-Rankers belonging to Jeil New Media to the main conference room on my orders.

I parked my car in the parking lot and headed straight to the main conference room on the top floor of the Jeil New Media building.

As I had instructed, all the Over-Rankers, Axe King Paul, Assassination King Layla, and Flame Emperor Ignis, were gathered there.

“Oh, you’re here, Boss?”

“What is the important matter you mentioned?”

“Good morning, Drakan-nim.”

As soon as I opened the door and entered, Axe King Paul, Assassination King Layla, and Flame Emperor Ignis greeted me.

I looked at them and exchanged glances with Flame Emperor Ignis.

Ignis.

Yesterday, Shin Ha-yeon had personally chosen him as a supporting actor for the ‘play’ she had written.

Anyway, since I, the lead actor, had entered the stage, it was time to start the play.

“You all know that the ending reward has been revealed this time, right?”

Ending reward.

As soon as I spoke, a heavy silence fell over the conference room.

And it was none other than Paul who broke the silence.

“Of course. Hey, Boss, are you doubting me? I’m not really interested in that kind of thing. It’s not something I can aim for with my skills anyway. So trust me, Boss!”

“As Paul said. There are only three people who can realistically aim for the ending reward in Ard Saga. Boss, Sword Emperor Argen, and Hero Eugene. It’s a reward that’s impossible for me to aim for with my abilities.”

Layla followed Paul’s words and supplemented the logic.

I nodded as I listened to them.

The gap between EX-Rankers and SSS-Rankers was greater than the difference between heaven and earth.

And above all, the two in front of me had a history of joining forces and attacking me only to be subdued in an instant.

Users who had personally experienced that vast difference in power.

That’s why they were saying these things to me and diligently appealing for my trust.

They must have calculated that it was more profitable to help someone climb the tree from the side and receive crumbs later than to aim for a tree they couldn’t even climb.

As Over-Rankers, they would have that much judgment.

“I also agree with them.”

Seeing Ignis briefly conclude his words, I spoke.

“I understand what you’re saying, but unfortunately, that’s not the important thing I have to say.”

“Then what is it, Boss?”

Paul asked back as soon as I finished speaking.

I pretended to have a serious expression in response to Paul’s question and said.

“I’m planning to become independent from the Jeil Group with you all.”

Independence!

As soon as those words left my mouth, a heavy silence fell over the table.

It was because the statement I had just made was that shocking.

It was Layla who broke the silence that had briefly filled the conference room.

“What is the reason for such a sudden decision, Boss?”

In response to Layla’s question, I slowly laid out the answers I had prepared.

“It’s no longer a rumor or a secret, but a fact that everyone knows, that the owner of Miracle Entertainment will be decided based on the results of Phase 3. So even ordinary users won’t be able to simply dismiss this power struggle as mere entertainment. Because they’ll be witnessing the birth of the power that will determine the future of Ard Saga.”

After starting like that, I explained everything.

The support of large corporations and external forces might seem good right now, but in the long run, it was nothing more than a poisoned chalice that would turn the hearts of users away.

Ultimately, it was the users who made up Ard Saga, and only by capturing their hearts could one win the power struggle and bring about the mandate of heaven in Ard Saga.

If you made ordinary users your enemies, you would never be able to win the upcoming war.

And in this situation, the only one who could easily gain the favor of ordinary users was Eugene, who had consistently refused investments and support from external forces and large corporations since the previous game, advocating for the purity of Ard Saga and the freedom of users.

So if we continued like this, we would definitely lose, and the final victor would undoubtedly be Eugene.

Finally, in order to capture the hearts of ordinary users and, furthermore, to confront and defeat Eugene, we had to sever ties with external forces, namely the Jeil Group, and become independent.

After saying everything, not only Ignis, but also Paul and Layla nodded, agreeing with my words.

There was nothing wrong with what I said.

After the explanation was over, Layla spoke to me after a while.

“You’re right, Boss. Independence is certainly necessary for the distant future rather than the immediate benefits. However, the current power struggle in Ard Saga has gone beyond a simple in-game event. In such a situation, will the Jeil Group let us go?”

Would the Jeil Group let us go?

Her words were only natural.

No one would want to miss the ridiculous opportunity to take over the number one company in Korea in terms of market capitalization just by seeing the ending of a game, and the Jeil Group would be no different. Her point was extremely valid.

I smiled and answered Layla’s words.

“Leave that to me. There’s a way to do everything.”

Everyone’s eyes focused on me.

I received their gazes and quietly took out my cell phone.

Finally, it was time to start the play with the scenario I had written with Shin Ha-yeon yesterday.