When Yeon Hojeong stepped out of Ink Dragon Hall, White Rat was waiting in front of him.

“.......”

The two of them stared at each other with cold eyes.

White Rat spoke first.

“Your position?”

“Director of the Intelligence Division.”

“In three days?”

“That’s right.”

“Your quarters?”

“I haven’t been told.”

White Rat watched Yeon Hojeong for a moment, then shook his head.

“Your appointment is in three days, so you’re not my superior yet.”

The Twelve Zodiac Gods under Yangcheon occupied a fairly unique place inside Ink Dragon Manor.

They didn’t lead formal regular units, and they didn’t take on clerical posts inside the Manor. They were simply Yangcheon’s men—and at the same time, commanders who each led an independent force of their own.

It was clear they were part of the leadership. But it was ambiguous to pin down an exact hierarchy. They were people who obeyed only Yangcheon’s orders.

But the Intelligence Division would be the core organization of Ink Dragon Manor once the reorganization began. And Yeon Hojeong was about to become the head of the most powerful real-working organization in Ink Dragon Manor, so naturally his rank would be higher than the Twelve Zodiac Gods, who were “in name only.”

“I’ll guide you to the quarters you’ll be using. Take a look around, and if you have any requests, tell me.”

“Understood.”

The two of them walked along the broad underground avenue.

THOOM. THOOM. THOOM.

Ink Dragon Manor was still noisy. Noisy—but not to the point that the sound grated on the ears.

Yeon Hojeong asked,

“A mechanism formation?”

White Rat didn’t answer.

It seemed he wasn’t the type to trade words unless it was something he absolutely had to say. Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue and followed behind him.

Either way, this mission is finally starting to wrap up.

The Director of the Intelligence Division oversaw every piece of information inside Ink Dragon Manor. Now all he had to do was use the position to steal every critical detail, then escape. That was the end.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes turned colder.

Mo Yonggun.

Not long ago, he had received a secret letter—delivered quietly by one of Mo Yonggun’s unseen subordinates.

It said this:

I revealed myself personally. By now, Yangcheon will have noticed as well. But Ink Dragon Manor will never touch me. So create an appropriate reason and come to capture me. After you fake being killed by my hand, you can return to the Alliance of the Martial World.

It was an operation bold to the point of absurdity.

Maybe Mo Yonggun had planned the ending from the moment he took command of this operation. He was the kind of man capable of that.

But there’s a problem with this plan.

Before he realized it, Yeon Hojeong frowned.

It means telling the other side that the Alliance of the Martial World has noticed Ink Dragon Manor exists.

Yeon Hojeong was the Director of the Intelligence Division of Ink Dragon Manor. If they said they “just killed” a Director of the Intelligence Division, no one would believe it.

In other words, the moment Yeon Hojeong’s death was staged, Ink Dragon Manor would inevitably go on alert as well. Since Mo Yonggun belonged to the Alliance of the Martial World, they would naturally assume the Alliance of the Martial World had identified Ink Dragon Manor’s existence—and move accordingly.

You can’t not know that.

Ink Dragon Manor was, outwardly, an organization that did not exist in the world.

Sure, it had shown itself in places across Hunan—but that was only something a force on the level of the Alliance of the Martial World could notice. The world still didn’t know Ink Dragon Manor existed.

Meaning, the moment Ink Dragon Manor realized the Alliance of the Martial World had noticed them, Ink Dragon Manor would vanish into someplace even deeper.

You’re saying you don’t care if it goes that far?

That could be. In truth, Yeon Hojeong didn’t care much about that part either.

As long as one condition was met.

If the quality and quantity of the information I pull out is enough, then it’s fine.

The Alliance of the Martial World hadn’t been established for long, either. If Ink Dragon Manor hid deeper, the Alliance of the Martial World would also buy time to build up strength.

Given the same span of time, the Alliance of the Martial World would build a more solid system than Ink Dragon Manor, which had Yangcheon as its head. Naturally, the gathered strength would also grow larger.

And the Alliance of the Martial World has to put forward an Alliance Leader, too...

In that instant, Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.

Alliance Leader?

A single terrifying thought smashed through Yeon Hojeong’s mind.

Without meaning to, he brushed his lips with his fingers.

The trade caravan... the commander who infiltrated enemy territory... Hunan... Mo Yong...

One assumption shattered apart at speed, then sketched out a huge map.

Mo Yonggun wants this mission to succeed. That’s why he’s even stepping in personally—so we return safely. It’s effective if it’s effective, but was that really the best way?

The incidents that had unfolded, Ink Dragon Manor’s movements, Mo Yonggun’s schemes, and the presence of those unknown experts who had replaced the trade caravan—everything linked together like a single organism and began to spit out a few conclusions.

Not enough information. But looking at the situation?

Mo Yonggun’s position. Mo Yonggun’s ambition. The things Mo Yonggun had done.

A sharp killing intent settled into Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.

...Mo Yonggun is the kind of man who will do anything to become Alliance Leader. And the Alliance Leader selection is next year.

“Next year” was practically right in front of them—less than three months away. Once the year turned and winter’s bite eased, the leadership would definitely bring up the Alliance Leader selection.

You.

A faint tremor ran through the corner of Yeon Hojeong’s eye.

Don’t tell me this was groundwork?

Then White Rat spoke.

“Calm yourself.”

“......?”

“I know this is a time when passions run high, but we have no intention of provoking a dispute with you.”

It seemed he had read Yeon Hojeong’s killing intent.

His senses were incredibly sharp. Yeon Hojeong hadn’t openly released killing intent—only his gaze had changed. Yet White Rat had caught that subtle shift.

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“If that’s how it is, it’s easier for me.”

White Rat stayed silent for a moment, then spoke as if he’d made up his mind.

“I’ve served the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor for more than ten years.”

“.......”

“Over all that time, there has never been a single talent the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor wanted this badly.”

That meant Yangcheon liked Yeon Hojeong that much.

“There is one ruler and many subjects. When there is a subject who receives the ruler’s favor, it’s only natural for that to invite the jealousy of the others.”

“I know.”

“There are many dangerous people in the main headquarters. But at the very least, the Twelve Zodiac Gods have no intention of creating a rift with you. We serve the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor. We are not trying to draw closer to the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor.”

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“Ideally said. At least you.”

“It isn’t just me.”

“That monkey was different.”

“Fire Ape?”

“That’s right.”

“On that point, I have nothing to say.”

It was a clean admission.

White Rat spoke in a voice that had sunk even lower.

“I spoke to Fire Ape separately, so don’t worry too much.”

“I’m not worried. Fire Ape isn’t someone frightening enough for me to waste worry on.”

“.......”

“I don’t intend to start trouble with you, either.”

“Then that’s fortunate.”

After those words, White Rat closed his mouth again.

He’s difficult.

White Rat’s martial arts were extraordinary.

Yeon Hojeong didn’t know how strong White Rat was in real combat. That kind of thing, you didn’t know until you fought.

But judging purely by the perfectly woven flow of White Rat’s Qi, White Rat’s attainment in martial arts was likely a step above Yeon Hojeong’s, even now.

That was truly remarkable. To step into a grandmaster-class realm with the martial arts of the Dark Path, you needed something beyond mere effort.

And on top of that, that restrained mindset.

Yangcheon is very interested in me. But at least in terms of trust, I can’t compete with this person.

It was only natural. Just the fact that Yangcheon treated a talent he’d only met recently this generously was already extremely exceptional.

“We’re here.”

Before Yeon Hojeong realized it, they had arrived at a cave chamber about three hundred paces away from Ink Dragon Hall.

“The entrance to the leadership’s quarters operates by mechanism, like Ink Dragon Hall.”

White Rat turned a round stone that protruded from the right side of the stone door—three times to the right, then two times to the left.

KUUUURRRRMMMM.

The door opened, and a fairly bright, spacious set of quarters came into view.

The walls were stone on all sides, but it was decorated extremely well. There was a massive table and a study, and farther in, there was an attached room that was also quite large.

“Look around.”

Yeon Hojeong swept his gaze through the quarters.

His eyes were extremely cautious. He wouldn’t be using it long, but there could still be hidden spaces meant for surveillance.

“.......”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.

There it is.

Just as expected. In the center of the study ceiling—where luminous pearls were embedded in a circle—he sensed a minute flow of air.

It wasn’t a structure made simply to circulate air. He had only glanced around briefly so White Rat wouldn’t notice, but the thickness of the hidden space above the ceiling was substantial.

If it weren’t for Azure Dragon Qi and Black Tortoise Qi, even I would’ve walked right past it.

He had once investigated this place in its entirety, but back then there hadn’t been any hidden space like that. It seemed Ink Dragon Manor had built it after settling here.

And there wasn’t just one.

Three in total. None in the bedroom—one in the middle of the workroom ceiling, and two in the corners.

Without meaning to, Yeon Hojeong let out a small snort of laughter.

If they have time for this kind of cheap trick, they’d be better off paying more attention to the outside.

A moment later, Yeon Hojeong came back out.

“I’ve seen enough.”

“Any requests?”

“None. I’ll fill things in little by little later.”

“Very well.”

White Rat took out a black token from his robe. It was an iron token with no pattern carved into it—yet made from a material that felt anything but ordinary.

“It’s called an Ink Dragon Token. It’s used when going in and out of the main headquarters. Only someone with rank above a certain level, or someone personally permitted by the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor, can possess it.”

“Thank you.”

White Rat turned away.

“Rest comfortably for three days. On the morning the reorganization begins, you’ll need to be here.”

“Understood.”

With that, White Rat vanished like a ghost.

Yeon Hojeong leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms.

“Three days.”

It was short, if it was short. Long, if it was long.

Yeon Hojeong looked up at the ceiling.

Thanks to the luminous pearls it was bright, but perhaps because it was a cave, the air felt strangely stifling.

Come if you’re going to come?

He recalled the last part of the letter.

If you have anything you’re curious about, come find me. Of course, Ink Dragon Manor will attach someone to you as well. I trust you can handle that much on your own.

Yeon Hojeong smiled coldly.

Can you handle it? If you meet me as I am now, it won’t do you any good either.

*****

A look of surprise rose on Mo Yonggun’s face.

“Hmm?!”

“Who?”

“It’s Pae Yul. Part of this operational team—Azure Mountain Sect’s youngest elder—”

“I know that. But you’re telling me the bastard didn’t come in person and sent Pae Yul instead?”

“Yes.”

“Ha.”

The corners of Mo Yonggun’s mouth lifted.

“Looks like he’s very angry.”

Well. That made sense.

Whether it was Yeon Hojeong or Mo Yonggun, neither was the type to let anger interfere with a mission. And neither was the type to stir up pointless conflict—so if it felt unbearable, he wouldn’t plan to face him at all.

But he’d sent Pae Yul as a substitute.

Is there some scheme behind this?

Mo Yonggun nodded.

“Let him in.”

“Yes.”

A short while later, the door opened and Pae Yul entered.

Mo Yonggun greeted him with a smile.

“Is this the first time we’ve met like this?”

“It is.”

“Sit.”

Pae Yul sat down without a word.

Mo «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Yonggun asked bluntly,

“So. Did you come running errands for the operational team leader?”

It could have sounded deeply insulting. No matter how much Yeon Hojeong was the operational team leader, Pae Yul was an elder of Azure Mountain Sect—far Yeon Hojeong’s senior.

But not even a trace of displeasure appeared on Pae Yul’s face.

“If you want to call it an errand, it’s an errand. But before that, I have something I want to ask personally.”

“Mm? Another problem besides that?”

Pae Yul smiled coldly.

“Meng Yi. Do you know him?”