“Fighting King Yangcheon.”

“Yes.”

Silence settled over the meeting hall.

Abbess Bokho carefully opened her mouth.

“I have heard that his disciples have stepped into the world. It is certainly a situation that demands caution, but as far as I know, while so many disciples have been moving, the Fighting King has not shown himself even once.”

Je Gal Munho nodded.

“That was true. However, recently, we received intelligence that Yangcheon is gathering the Dark Path and seizing control of a region’s commerce at a frightening speed.”

“Hah!”

“I wanted to tell you beforehand regarding this matter, but it was information that arrived so abruptly that additional verification was necessary. I ask for your understanding that I am informing you late.”

Daoist Yonghwa spoke with an uncomfortable expression.

“No matter how abrupt it was, it is information connected to the Immortal Sovereign Kings. I believe you should have told us in advance.”

It could have sounded like nitpicking, but Daoist Yonghwa’s argument was reasonable.

Information was power. And the information power of the Alliance of the Martial World, where the strength of the Orthodox Path was gathered, was among the greatest under heaven.

The people handling that power at the front line were Je Gal Munho and Ga Deoksang. If nothing else, failing to speak immediately about a critical matter could set a bad precedent.

Of course, Daoist Yonghwa wasn’t talking about precedent. He was worried Je Gal Munho might monopolize that overwhelming power called information.

Abbot Gonggong raised a hand.

“Strategist Je Gal is the chief responsible head of the Alliance’s strategist division, chosen unanimously by all of us. It can certainly be seen as wrong that he did not inform us immediately, but I do not believe he would have done so without reason.”

Daoist Yonghwa cleared his throat. With the Abbot of Shaolin stepping in to defend him, he could not say much more.

Je Gal Munho smiled.

“Thank you for understanding.”

“But Daoist Yonghwa’s words also have merit. Aside from re-verifying the information, I think there must have been another reason as well.”

“That is correct.”

Je Gal Munho’s eyes changed.

“When the Demon-Sweeping & Evil-Smiting Field Forces went out to annihilate the Gray Wolf Band, there was a certain group that secretly approached the Alliance’s Intelligence Division.”

In an instant, the atmosphere in the meeting hall turned icy.

Abbot Gonggong asked.

“Approached the Intelligence Division, meaning...?”

“It means there were those who tried to cleverly throw our Orthodox Path information network, spread across the martial world, into disorder.”

“...!”

“Their movements were so covert it was vicious. If it hadn’t been for Advisor Ga Deoksang, we would not have noticed anything suspicious.”

“To throw the Orthodox Path information network into disorder? Then what problem would that cause, precisely?”

“With a single piece of information, they can make us misidentify a lie as truth, or dress truth up as a lie.”

The councilors’ faces hardened as they recognized the severity.

Je Gal Munho pointed to the tangled blue lines running across the map spread on the round table. The complicated lines crossing the entire Central Plains represented the flow of intelligence into the Alliance of the Martial World.

“Among these countless blue lines, even if just one line turns red, confusion erupts. The more complex the structure, the more a small problem can produce a fatal result. Information networks are the same.”

“Hm.”

Deung Cheongyo, the leader of the Kongtong Sect, spoke.

“The Alliance of the Martial World has not even been founded for a year. But the Orthodox Path’s information network is the crystal of sturdiness built up over hundreds of years. Even if it is complex, are you saying a single simple error can produce such a fatal outcome?”

Je Gal Munho shook his head.

“Of course, our information network is complex and firmly built. We are thoroughly prepared for enemy infiltration, and we also have substitute networks that can compensate if one network is destroyed.”

“But?”

“Seventy-two.”

“...Pardon? What do you mean?”

“The number of false intelligence networks that the unknown group infiltrated and used to cause confusion inside our network was seventy-two.”

Deung Cheongyo’s eyes wavered.

He was an outsider to intelligence, but he wasn’t so ignorant as to miss the weight of that number.

“In other words, the unknown enemy intended from the start to shake the Alliance’s Intelligence Division to its foundations. If we had not discovered it at the right time, not only would an astronomical amount of money have been required to rebuild a new network, an enormous amount of manpower would have been consumed as well.”

“......”

“And in the meantime, the unknown group that touched our network would have planted spies who would never be discovered.”

Je Gal Munho let out a sigh.

“If it’s been looted once, why wouldn’t it be looted twice? Attempts like that would have kept happening, and from that point on, an endless, vicious intelligence war would have broken out.”

The atmosphere, already sunk cold, turned even colder.

A man from the Namgung Clan frowned.

“Don’t tell me that unknown group was the Dark Path.”

“That’s right. More precisely, it was the Intelligence Division moving under Fighting King Yangcheon.”

“That’s impossible. How could a band of incompetent Dark Path trash carry out an attack that sophisticated...?”

“So that’s how you think.”

“What do you mean?”

Je Gal Munho looked around the councilors.

“Since ancient times, the Dark Path has always been beneath the Orthodox Path. Sometimes an unprecedented genius unifies the Dark Path and brings great disaster to the Central Plains, but evil is only ever temporary. In other words, the Orthodox Path has always stood above the Dark Path.”

“That is exactly what I’m saying. I don’t believe those Dark Path bastards could have that kind of ability—”

“Yet the Dark Path never vanished. Not even now, in this very moment. Where do you think their stubborn vitality, like weeds, comes from?”

Abbot Gonggong closed his eyes.

“Information. It is information.”

“That is correct.”

Je Gal Munho pointed to the information web of the southern Central Plains, south of the Yangtze.

Red lines and white threads were interwoven like a spiderweb. Its complexity was more than double that of the Alliance.

“The survival method of the powerless. That is information. They are outmatched in force, so they can only survive by reading the air. That is how the Dark Path has survived until now.”

“......”

“I will say it plainly. In information power, we are clearly one step below the Dark Path.”

Among the Orthodox Path martial artists living in this era, almost none paid the Dark Path much mind.

It could not be helped. The Dark Path had been weak.

To put it bluntly, the fight didn’t even form. They were certainly dangerous, but if one set their mind to crushing them, it was not impossible.

A natural result, then, that interest in them dwindled.

“And now they are gathering under an absolute powerhouse named Yangcheon.”

Someone swallowed.

Tension fell heavily over Je Gal Munho’s face.

“Before even considering the strength of their faction, a man who would not be lacking even if he were discussed as number one in the Central Plains has now come to wield the greatest information power in the martial world. Their existence will become a vicious threat in the days ahead.”

A brief silence followed.

He had said a lot, but in the end, it was this.

The Orthodox Path hadn’t refrained from eliminating the Dark Path. They hadn’t been able to.

Because the Dark Path had eyes that could slip out of danger at any time.

And the monster called Yangcheon had stolen those eyes.

“Just hearing this, I can tell it’s a grave situation.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Daoist Seunghyeon.

With a somewhat dark expression, Daoist Seunghyeon spoke.

“Now tell us. Why did Strategist not inform us immediately about this intelligence and this problem?”

“......You have already guessed.”

“I hope it is not for that reason.”

“It is exactly as you guessed.”

Je Gal Munho’s eyes turned cold in an instant.

“Because I was suspecting the leadership of the Alliance.”

The reaction was violent.

“W-What?!”

“What kind of nonsense is that!”

“Are you saying there is a spy among us!”

Abbot Gonggong raised a hand again.

The heated atmosphere faltered.

“This monk does not wish to crack our trust with provocative words. However, now I must say something.”

“......?”

“When you councilors react like this, how could Strategist not be cautious about opening his mouth?”

The councilors who had been shouting coughed awkwardly.

Abbot Gonggong sighed.

“Strategist Je Gal’s statement can certainly become a controversy. But for now, let us listen. We should listen and try to understand. If we still believe it is a problem, it will not be too late to raise our voices then.”

It was right a hundred times over.

Je Gal Munho spoke.

“Thank you. And since the topic has come up, I will add this. The position of strategist cannot give ten parts of trust even to the greatest chivalrous hero under heaven. The moment you believe someone completely, you can expose a gap to the enemy.”

“......”

“You may think it is baseless suspicion, but from now on, I will not fully trust the councilors here—nor even the Alliance Leader who will be elected in the future.”

Je Gal Munho bowed his head.

“I ask for your understanding on that point.”

The councilors coughed repeatedly.

If Abbot Gonggong hadn’t intervened, someone would have blurted out something like, The person who should be suspected most is you.

It was a statement that would obviously only stir up pointless suspicion. With a few words, Abbot Gonggong prevented an unnecessary fight from breaking out.

Je Gal Munho continued.

“Be that as it may, there were no suspicious signs. Not among the councilors here, and not among any of the Alliance’s leadership—no one was in contact with the enemy. According to the results of the investigation so far.”

“......”

“From the moment we realized what the enemy was aiming for, Advisor Ga Deoksang responded at once. The enemy withdrew, and at least for the time being, they will not be able to target us.”

Je Gal Munho’s gaze flashed.

“Which is why I believe now is the right time.”

Daoist Seunghyeon asked, puzzled.

“The right time?”

“Fighting King Yangcheon. I mean it is the right time to investigate him thoroughly.”

“Hm.”

A man from the Namgung Clan asked cautiously.

“Will it be all right? I have heard Yangcheon is vicious and savage beyond measure. He is also quick to read intent, so I think the moment we attempt an investigation, there is a high chance he will burrow even deeper into hiding.”

Je Gal Munho smiled.

“Namgung Clan Lord’s words are correct. That is why I struggled with it. We cannot simply sit still, but he is far too dangerous a figure to touch rashly—and if we make one wrong move, we may commit the foolishness of striking the grass and startling the snake.”

“I think the same.”

“Therefore, we need the best.”

“The best?”

“Yes.”

Je Gal Munho looked at Mo Yonggun.

Mo Yonggun, who had been listening with his eyes closed until now, slowly opened them.

“A specialist who can skillfully carry out agent infiltration, intelligence disruption, and when necessary, even the assassination of key figures. And along with such a specialist, we need a commander with the authority to display flexible stratagems.”

The man from the Namgung Clan tilted his head.

“I won’t ask whether it truly has to go that far. Then—have you already chosen someone fit to bear that important mission?”

“Yes.”

Je Gal Munho called out toward the door of the meeting hall.

“Come in.”

CLACK! CREEEEAK.

The door opened, and a young man appeared.

The councilors’ eyes widened the moment they saw him.

“A man with powerful martial arts and a keen eye—and if necessary, the boldness and quick-witted adaptability to use any trick at all.”

Je Gal Munho looked at the young man and smiled.

“The Left Palm of the operational team I have chosen.”

The young man, Yeon # Nоvеlight # Hojeong, bowed his head.

“I greet the councilors. I am Yeon Hojeong, Commander of the Evil-Smiting Corps.”