The Hero Returns Chapter 204

Chapter 204: Chapter 204

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In a small cafe in front of the Awakeners Authority, Bak Yun-gyu was waiting for Su-hyeun, who just arrived.

“Oh, Hello. Mr. Su-hyeun.”

“Please, sit down. Don’t get up for . That’s too much.”

Su-hyeun stopped Bak Yun-gyu, who was about to stand up and salute. He stopped in the middle of standing but didn’t sit back down until Su-hyeun sat down.

Su-hyeun knew Bak Yun-gyu’s personality. So, he sighed a little and hurriedly sat in the chair. The cafe was filled with a soft coffee sll and gentle music. It was a place where Su-hyeun ca whenever he visited the Authority.

“You really like these kinds of places,” Bak Yun-gyu said.

“Yea? Do you think it doesn’t suit ?”

“There’s a saying that a hero likes to drink, and I thought you would, too.”

Su-hyeun smiled at Bak Yun-gyu’s words. Soon, the waitress brought coffee for him. He breathed the scent of coffee.

“I don’t like alcohol much. I didn’t drink it well before I beca an awakener.”

Su-hyeun lifted his coffee cup. He liked coffee, but he couldn’t enjoy it often. So, whenever he had to et soone, he insisted on eting in a cafe. He wanted to drink a cup of coffee, at least during the eting.

“Is that so?”

“My face turned red after just one drink. Well. After I beca an awakener, no matter how many tis I drink, it just tastes like bitter water.”

“It seems like everyone feels different about the taste of alcohol. So drink because of the mood, so drink for the flavor, so drink to be drunk.”

“Well, coffee is the sa. So people don’t like it because of the bitter flavor. But I like it, though.”

“I like sothing sweet like this smoothie, though I’ve been glugging it,” Bak Yun-gyu said, shaking a plastic cup that was almost empty.

Su-hyeun took a sip of coffee and moved on to the main subject. “So, Geneva wanted to see ?”

“Yes. He’s probably on his way by now.”

“He’s late.”

“He’s probably never waited for anyone before. You know about Geneva’s position these days,” Bak Yun-gyu said.

Su-hyeun put his cup down on the table and asked, “Do you think my position is different?”

“...”

Bak Yun-gyu read Su-hyeun’s face, not saying anything. He had been dealing with people for a long ti and had good sense, too. So, he could tell Su-hyeun’s feelings were a little hurt.

Geneva was the one who wanted to see him, but now he was late. He was treating Su-hyeun like a subordinate or sothing. Moreover, Su-hyeun’s words weren’t wrong. In a comparison of value between Su-hyeun and Geneva, Su-hyeun wasn’t at all below Geneva. Perhaps, in terms of value, Su-hyeun would be far above.

Bak Yun-gyu, who was only here as an interdiary, beca agonized. They talked about this and that for about 30 minutes, and finally, soone entered the cafe. There were two western n: a middle-aged man who seed to be in his late forties, and a young, tall, muscular man.

“I’m late. A sudden appointnt with the director ca up.”

The middle-aged man was Arican with a hooked nose, thick brows, sharp, point eyes. He had a wide body and thick forearms. He was Geneva.

“Nice to et you, Su-hyeun. I heard you are fluent in English. Would you mind if I just speak English, then?”

“You are quite late,” Su-hyeun said Geneva, looking at him as he sat down.

Su-hyeun’s words were sharp, with no greeting for Geneva. Geneva burst into laughter without a hint of embarrassnt, as if he knew it was going to happen.

“Ha-ha. I’m so sorry. As I said before, the appointnt with the director was booked all of a—”

“And I was pushed back. And you were apparently too busy to call.”

At Su-hyeun’s words, Geneva still stayed calm. He sat across from Su-hyeun, whom Park Yoon-gyu gave way, without losing his smile at his mouth.

“Oh, I guess I’ve upset you. That’s why I prepared this.”

Geneva made an eye gesture and the attendant who followed him brought out a long wooden box and handed it to Su-hyeun.

“This is a sword I made. I don’t know if you ever heard of it, but it’s one of my top hundred masterpieces. So, please take it. I hope it can soothe your pride.”

“Geneva’s top hundred masterpieces?” Bak Yun-gyu, who was listening to their conversation next to them, opened his eyes wide.

They were the best items that Geneva had ever made and were known for being very rare and priceless items.

“I made this sword recently. It’s been a while since I made a rarity like this. Oh, don’t feel too sorry to accept it. I’m just giving it to you as an apology, and I don’t have any other aning. Ha-ha.”

Geneva laughed broadly and pushed the sword to Su-hyeun once more. Su-hyeun looked at the sword in the box.

>

Su-hyeun understood sowhat the reason why Geneva had been late. It probably was true that he had a sudden urgent eting in the middle. Su-hyeun had no idea how important the eting was, to delay the eting with himself, but he could guess Geneva had hidden intentions.

Geneva had been late without any notice and gave a present to Su-hyeun. Many people, including Park Yoon-gyu, knew how valuable Geneva’s top hundred masterpieces were.

And, if Su-hyeun used Geneva’s item, it would cause another sensation. A sword used by the world’s best awakener. Geneva was both a blacksmith and a businessman. He hadn’t co to flatter Su-hyeun and sing his praises. If he had, he wouldn’t have made Su-hyeun wait like this.

Bak Yun-gyu thought.

He had heard about Geneva’s reputation as a sly fox, and he looked like one. Now that he had actually t him in person and saw how he used his brain, Bak Yun-gyu could tell why people had talked about him like that. He shook his head. If Geneva insisted like that, there was nothing he could say.

“An apology...,” Su-hyeun muttered.

But Su-hyeun didn’t seem to feel better about it. Su-hyeun just stared at the wooden box that held the sword. At his behavior, Geneva’s smile began to shrink. It looked like he hadn’t expected such a reaction.

“Is there sothing wrong?” Geneva asked.

“Well. I just don’t want to accept an apology that didn’t co from your heart. Also, I don’t need this thing.”Unlike Geneva, Su-hyeun smiled broadly. “I just need your sincere apology. Just take it back, please.”

At Su-hyeun’s words, Geneva’s smile disappeared entirely. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Su-hyeun raised his coffee cup again. “Although you don’t look that sincere.”

“...Well. I am sorry about that. I thought you would really love it.”

“I already have an excellent sword. I don’t need a new one,” Su-hyeun said, tapping the sword that he had put on his knees. It was Kim Dae-ho’s work, nad Balmung.

Geneva changed his facial expression. He realized the sword of the world’s best awakener would be different from others sohow.

“May I see your sword?”

“Sure.”

Su-hyeun held out Balmung with the scabbard. Geneva drew the sword.

Schwing—

The sword ca out with a clear sound. Geneva looked at the sword and admired it. “It’s really a good sword.”

“You can tell just by looking at it?”

“It looks like it has middle or higher than middle-grade Ether stones in it. I can sense a slight flow of magic. I guess it has so sort of magical device.”

The flow of magic ant Blamung’s principal cutting force. Surely, he was the world’s most famous blacksmith. He quickly recognized Balmung’s value. Of course, not all of his answers were correct.

Those two were Balmung’s core tals. Of course, it was almost impossible to see it at a glance and guess that. It would be the sa for Kim Dae-ho, not just Geneva.

Su-hyeun acknowledged Geneva’s ability. But that was about it.

He had obviously made many great masterpieces. Su-hyeun could admit that. Geneva’s best masterpiece, the Armor of Hades, was considered to be the strongest armor in the world right now. But swords were a different story. There was no reason to even look at it. Moreover, the sword he brought was for a purpose.

“Are you doing all this because of this shabby sword? I an, it’s certainly a good one. I guess you found this in the tower—”

Not surprisingly, Geneva, who didn’t notice the real value of Balmung, still hadn’t given up his pride in his sword. What Geneva was saying just went in one of Su-hyeun’s ears and out the other. As Geneva kept talking, Su-hyeun beca a little annoyed, although he was in the position to accept the gift.

Su-hyeun knew this gift wasn’t because Geneva felt sorry or anything. So, he didn’t want to accept the present. Moreover, if he received this gift right at the mont, Geneva would surely spread it through the dia. And then, Kim Dae-ho would know about it as well.

Su-hyeun thought that far and sighed slightly. Geneva was still talking. Su-hyeun raised his hand to stop him.

“Anyway, just tell why you wanted to see . Since you showed up pretty late, I don’t have much ti left for another appointnt.”

“Do you have another appointnt right after this?”

“Yes. I have to leave soon.”

Su-hyeun didn’t intend to talk long with Geneva in the first place. Geneva was upset about that and tried to argue, but had nothing to say. He was the one who was a half-hour late, and it was true that ti ran out because of that.

“I’m sorry, but could you give us a minute?” Geneva asked Bak Yun-gyu.

Bak Yun-gyu read the situation and got up. Anyway, his role was only to connect the two people. And since the two had t, and they would talk about so secret things, there was no reason for Bak Yun-gyu to stay.

“Then, I’ll see you next ti.” Bak Yun-gyu bowed his head slightly to Su-hyeun and left the cafe.

Now, there was only Geneva, his attendant, and Su-hyeun. Su-hyeun waited for Geneva to speak.

“I’ll tell you straight away, you don’t seem to like to mince words, and you don’t have ti.”

It was the first thing Geneva had said all day that Su-hyeun liked to hear.

When Su-hyeun nodded, Geneva put his hands on the table and said, “Would you like to do business with ?”