Chapter 702: Mask (6)

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The Tiger Clan’s treasures are things that shouldn’t be handed over so easily.

Not only is a treasure a valuable item but the power that it possesses cannot be dealt with easily by the Tiger Clan, though a single treasure can’t overpower the mythical Hwang Jiho.

The Silver Hero was even worried about Uma taking possession of the treasure.

In other words, handing over the treasure like this is like giving me a tiger’s leash.

It was all the more difficult to accept given that he’s giving me both.

“The grace to the benefactor is too great to express only in words. Take it. If you don’t, I’m thinking of letting these die out.”

Hwang Jiho didn’t back down even though I refused.

What nonsense is he saying?

I looked at the two treasures on the table with a heavy heart.

The incense burner was cleansed when I visited the underworld, but the jewel that the tiger couple kept still seemed to have a problem.

‘I should take and purify it before this bastard throws it away somewhere.’

Fortunately, the couple’s hearts have calmed somewhat thanks to the revenge that they took on the bear, and the corruption isn’t as severe as expected since they were in a space that is separated from this land.

In addition, the corruption was gradually disappearing thanks to the couple and Ahn Dain’s reunion.

Still, there remains some contamination, and it will be best to keep it away from the Tiger Clan until it is completely purified.

“I’ll keep it for now.”

“Yeah, keep holding onto it. This will further solidify your position as the benefactor. Hahahaha!”

Hwang Jiho said the word “continue” emphatically.

I couldn’t argue in front of the tiger family on such a good day, so I decided to leave him alone.

“It’s late at night, but you must have a lot to talk about. I’ll let you stay in an annex.”

“Thank you so much, Hwangho-nim! I still have a lot that I want to hear.”

“But staying up too late won’t be good for our child’s health, so we should go to bed early.”

“Hahahaha! Ahn Dain is one of Eungwang High’s pride. She has enough physical strength to stay up all night talking.”

Hwang Jiho didn’t try to hide his identity, perhaps a sign that he intended to immediately accept Ahn Dain as a member of the family.

He naturally revealed that he was the mythical Yellow Tiger and that he was the same person as Hwang Myeongho.

Ahn Dain took the information from the tigers’ conversation and looked surprised for a while, but she soon nodded and accepted it.

Since she chose to be the couple’s child, she must want to understand everything about the Tiger Clan.

“Let’s return to the mansion. Where do you want to go, Jo Euishin? Of course, you should come with us. Are you in your right mind now, Kim Shinrok? I’ll help you if you find it hard to walk.”

I wanted to attend the late-night party at the Jiikhoe Hall, but I’m caught.

Kim Shinrok failed to escape too.

Hwang Jiho seemed to want to help decide with Ahn Dain’s future course of action.

To help the title heroine stay with her family at least a little more peacefully, I will also have to squeeze my wisdom.

‘I feel like I’m being stopped by Hwang Jiho, but I need to do something for Ahn Dain…’

While I was thinking, we arrived at the mansion.

The couple and Ahn Dain were immersed in their own world on the way, and it wasn’t until we arrived did Hwang Jiho talked to them again.

“There are descendants to introduce at the main house. The children are also going to attend Eungwang High. It’s late, so I’ll introduce you some other time.

He wants to let Ahn Dain in the main house!

The couple, who knew what this meant, had their eyes wide open too.

After laughing without saying anything more, Hwang Jiho told them where they would stay.

Then, Hwang Jiho, Kim Shinrok, and I came to the annex where Eunho stayed.

“Welcome, I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Is what Baekho said true? That Dain is…”

Eunho and Jeokho greeted us when we entered, the two having heard from Baekho what happened.

Jeokho looked very confused, but Eunho was relatively calm.

“I took it as a possibility when I heard Euishin hyung’s question. That man and Ahn Dain’s face were very similar in my memory.”

Eunho must’ve thought about it when I asked him through the device.

Eunho nodded and listened while Hwang Jiho narrated what happened at the Silver Hall.

When Kim Shinrok’s condition didn’t look so good, Jeokho quickly made him take a seat and served him a mountain of dried persimmon drinks and food.

“I see. Then we’ll have to settle Ahn Dain into the Tiger Clan.”

“I intend to. We’ve gathered information that we can, but there’s no good news. Because of Ahn Dain’s current family register, it would be better to separate her family members as soon as possible.”

Hwang Jiho conducted an investigation in that short time.

He knew about the paternity tests and how her parents fled abroad.

“I could guess what kind of relationship she had with her family from the entrance ceremony.”

“The entrance ceremony?”

“Parents usually come to the entrance ceremony when their child is chosen to lead the freshmen oath. If they can’t come, they’ll usually send another relative. In consideration of this, the school gives the best seats to those parents or relatives…”

Joo Soohyuk’s parents came, but not Ahn Dain’s.

Her parents must’ve left the country even before the opening ceremony oath.

There was a ferocious energy among the tigers who heard it.

My mood also plummeted.

“The power of parental authority is strong in Korea. The heavy duties and rights between parents and children are intertwined, so cutting them off completely will be the top priority.”

“They might harm Ahn Dain. We better keep our guard up.”

I agree with that.

Until quite recently, disciplinary rights under the pretext of protection and education were legally recognized, allowing parents to inflict physical punishment on their children.

For many years, parents had legal grounds for violence disguised as “disciplining” their children.

At present, that rule has been removed and corporal punishment has been banned under civil law, but many children are still unable to escape from harsh abuse.

‘They couldn’t put their hands on Ahn Dain because they’re afraid of her, but we don’t know what they’d do if faced with an extreme situation. There’s a possibility that Ahn Dain would get hurt…’

In addition, children have a “duty” to support.

The obligation isn’t as heavy as, say, tax payment, but Ahn Dain is a public figure.

It would be troublesome if the parents demanded support or extort money from her later on.

It happened in PMH, and it happened this Christmas.

While listening, Jeokho suggested something.

“How about putting Ahn Dain as those two’s biological daughter on the register? It won’t be impossible.”

Is that possible?

Jeokho’s suggestion sounded futile, but it was a very attractive one.

“It will be possible if we succeed in large-scale information manipulation. Until now, we should get in touch with the companies that conducted the paternity tests and the obstetrics and gynecology department where Ahn Dain was born. After that, with the government’s cooperation, we can file a paternity confirmation lawsuit and put Ahn Dain’s name on the family register.”

It seemed quite tricky, but with the wealth, strength, and personal connections of the Tiger Clan, it didn’t sound impossible.

I wanted to push back, but I tried to keep my cool.

It seemed quite dangerous to intervene in the litigation process, even for genetic testing institutions and hospitals.

‘If they do this, the Tiger Clan will owe too much to the government and judiciary.’

With the Tiger Clan, I think they could live with that debt without worry.

But this wasn’t the time.

I spoke up, in consideration of the future of the government.

“The conflict between the government’s otherworld division and the Players’ Association is intensifying right now. If you earn a debt from the government here, the Tiger Clan might have to rule in their favor in exchange.”

“I see. It would be a big scandal if it was revealed that the legal system was manipulated.”

Hwang Jiho and Eunho nodded.

Hwang Jiho is likely to back down as he knows how well the otherworld division pressured the association to nationalise the satellite.

“It’s a shame, but I’m afraid we’ll have to be content with her being an adoptive daughter.”

“Indeed. Ah, those people need a new identity.”

At the mention of new identities, Hwang Jiho looked lost in thought.

He smiled soon as if his thoughts had been sorted out quickly.

“It would be nice to punish them for hiding the treasure and let them work in Eungwang High.”

The couple will have more time with Ahn Dain if they work at Eungwang High.

Hwang Jiho says it’s a punishment, but I don’t think the couple would feel like it is.

I wanted the couple to be happy so I didn’t say anything.

“What kind of people are Dain’s parents under the register? I can guess, but I’d like to hear more.”

“It would be best to hear the conception dream that Jo Euishin talked about.”

Hwang Jiho passed the mic to me and I had no choice but to talk about it.

When the story reached the point where the couple stole the flower, Jeokho was deeply angry.

While the tigers were heated up, I was lost in thought holding the tea that Eunho gave me.

‘I wonder if I had a conception dream.’

I was busy and couldn’t talk much with my parents, but they seemed to have avoided talking about dreams knowing that I didn’t experience it.

We talk about “dreams” in the sense of aspirations, not the experience when sleeping.

Dreams are an important clue in this world, so I have to break the habit of thinking shallowly.

My thoughts then flowed to Ahn Dain’s hidden quest.

‘What happened to Hwang Jiho after Ahn Dain’s hidden quest?’

No matter how much Gye Bastard wandered the map, Hwang Jiho wasn’t seen again.

Even in my memory, I don’t remember seeing Hwang Jiho.

It wasn’t easy to imagine what would’ve happened to Hwang Jiho in PMH, who retrieved the Tiger Clan’s treasure from the corrupted couple in PMH.

Then, Eunho spoke to me.

“Ah, right. It’s late at night, but the present I chose has arrived, Euishin hyung.”

“I heard there was a package that arrived. That must be it.”

“Yes, I thought he’d be busy, but he prepared something quickly in consideration of the situation here.”

The word “gift” gave me an ominous feeling.

Eunho lifted a shopping bag from below the table.

I felt a chill go down my spine when I saw the deer horn-shaped logo on the bag.

With a gentle smile, Eunho talked again.

“Hyangrok-nim sent some new medicine. It would warm up your body that went cold from the underworld.”

I felt the tea in my mouth taste endlessly bitter.

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