“Did you deliver it?”

“...I did.”

“Well done.”

“Young Master Yeon.”

“Go ahead.”

“You know Mo Yonggun crossed the line. But do we really have to go this far?”

“Is there some other problem?”

“There is. Definitely. You know that too, don’t you?”

“Even if there is, I’m going through with it.”

“Young Master Yeon!”

“It’s an order from the operational team leader. I won’t tolerate dissent.”

“...!”

“I’m sorry. For throwing my authority around like this.”

“Ah, damn it. You did this last time too. You keep pulling out your finishing move.”

“.......”

“Then at least let me hear why. Of course that bastard did something seriously wrong, but we still have to bring this mission to a successful end, don’t we? Do we really need to push it this far just to strike him in the back—”

“Hu Gae.”

“Go ahead.”

“Mo Yonggun was always that kind of man. I knew it too. And I hate to brag, but I’m not someone who gets stabbed in the back by an opponent I’ve already figured out.”

“I know.”

“And yet he still landed a big one on me. Do you know why?”

“...?”

“Because Mo Yonggun has always seen me as his biggest obstacle in the future. So his attacks were always aimed at me.”

“...That’s true.”

“But this time it wasn’t like that. He put the obstacle aside for later and moved violently for his own purpose alone.”

“.......”

“Do you understand now? If he’d aimed at me, that would be one thing. But he was using a chess piece on a go board to clear away the stones.”

“...Meaning that chess piece has to be removed?”

“That’s right.”

“So that’s what you meant when you said he crossed the line.”

“He trusts us. More precisely, he trusts our ability. He may be the commander, but he knows the ones who actually decide whether the mission succeeds or fails are the field operatives.”

“So that’s why he could pull something like that. Because talent had been deployed that could clean up even his mistakes.”

“If it were only this once, fine. But he won’t stop here.”

“In the end, the reason you’re pushing this hard is to turn his attention back toward you?”

“Not just turn it back. I mean to bind it to me completely.”

“.......”

“Even for that one result, the risk is worth taking.”

“Hoo.”

“I’m sorry. Let me apologize again.”

“Why?”

“...?”

“Why are you apologizing, Young Master Yeon? Mo Yonggun is the one who caused this mess.”

“.......”

“I want this mission to succeed. But I’m afraid of allies dying because of it. We completed the mission and died a glorious death? That’s bullshit. A lot is riding on this mission, that’s true, but there is no mission more important than a human life.”

“.......”

“But Mo Yonggun dragged living people into this mission and got them killed. He didn’t even dirty his own hands. I never said it to you before, Young Master Yeon, but that’s the kind of thing only a devil would do.”

“.......”

“Do as you want. Just grant me one request.”

“Go ahead.”

“Don’t become an even more dangerous, more vicious monster just to kill a monster. At this point, that’s all I want.”

“Hu Gae.”

“...?”

“I’m sorry. I’m already turning into a beast more petty and vicious than Mo Yonggun.”

*****

“Oh, you’ve come.”

Yeon Hojeong dropped to one knee.

“I greet the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor.”

“Yes. Come over here.”

Unlike usual, Yangcheon was drinking in the inner quarters beyond the corridor.

Yeon Hojeong walked over without hesitation and sat across from him.

Yangcheon said mischievously,

“I told you to come. I don’t recall telling you to sit.”

“You already took out a cup for me, and now you ask what kind of joke this is?”

“HAHAHA!”

Yangcheon burst into loud laughter.

He truly liked Yeon Hojeong’s bold self-confidence more every time he saw it.

It wasn’t only because of Yeon Hojeong’s ability.

Yangcheon was lonely. He had many subordinates he could trust, and he had earned one of the greatest reputations in the world of martial arts, yet he did not have a single person he could truly speak openly with.

In that sense, Yeon Hojeong was a genuinely refreshing presence. Yeon Hojeong respected him, but he did not fear him.

I’ve obtained a Hidden Dragon among Hidden Dragons. Heh. After wandering the Central Plains for years, is this finally the fruit of all that labor?

Grinning, Yangcheon lifted the bottle.

“Have a drink.”

“Yes.”

The liquor that filled the empty cup shone with a beautiful jade hue.

“The aroma is excellent.”

“It’s called Pine-Wind Liquor.”

“Did you brew it yourself?”

“I don’t know how to brew liquor. It’s just something made in a region I know. It hasn’t become known in the Central Plains yet.”

“It’s an honor.”

“Come, have a drink.”

Yeon Hojeong emptied the cup in one go.

Yangcheon roared with laughter.

“You really are refreshing to watch.”

“How could I leave any behind when it’s liquor poured by my lord?”

Yeon Hojeong picked up the bottle.

“I’ll pour you one as well.”

“Good.”

Several rounds passed between the two of them.

“So. I hear you’ve been extremely busy these last few days?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“No matter how much merit a man accomplished in both letters and arms may have, a new appointment is still a new appointment. If I’m to fulfill my duty, I have to cram everything about Ink Dragon Manor into this tiny head of mine as quickly as possible.”

“Heh heh heh.”

“It’s been a bit tiring, but losing sleep was worth it.”

It was a confident voice.

Yangcheon smiled in satisfaction. From those words alone, it was obvious how thoroughly Yeon Hojeong handled his work.

“Phantom Snake clicked his tongue over it. He said you worked without resting for even a moment.”

“It seems Senior Phantom Snake is a little dramatic.”

“Senior?”

“He is my senior. In a formal setting, that may be another matter, but in age and in the years he has served you, Lord of Ink Dragon Manor, he is above me, so calling him Senior is only proper.”

“Heh, you do understand some things. The more talented a man is, the more easily he grows arrogant, and people like that usually end up facing threats they never expected. But you intended to lower yourself from the very beginning, so before long, the looks turned your way will soften.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“The duty I’ve been entrusted with is too heavy for me to act however my temper pleases. If I’m to become a pillar supporting an organization this large, then my waist and knees need to stay flexible.”

“Kuhahaha!”

Still laughing, Yangcheon refilled Yeon Hojeong’s cup and said,

“Well, in any case, it’s good to hear you’ve been settling in. That said...”

“Please go on.”

“You must have seen and felt many things in the Intelligence Division.”

“I have.”

“What do you think? I’m very curious what kind of organization Ink Dragon Manor looks like from your eyes, and how you think it ought to move forward.”

Yeon Hojeong’s gaze deepened.

You never should have joined hands with the Perverse Lust Cult in the first place.

There were mountains of things he truly wanted to say.

No—he wanted to demand answers. If Yangcheon really meant to seize the world, then he should never have taken the help of some organization whose identity he didn’t even fully know. He wanted to press him and ask whether the title of Fighting King meant nothing to him.

You’ve already come too far.

Yeon Hojeong opened his mouth.

“I’ll say only one thing.”

“Mm?”

“As things stand now, even if you reorganize the organization, it will be difficult to narrow the gap with the Alliance of the Martial World.”

Yangcheon’s eyes flashed.

“Why?”

“The Alliance of the Martial World is, by nature, an alliance. So its strengths and weaknesses are clear. But one of those strengths is so great that any hostile force can’t help but find it burdensome.”

“A strength?”

“Righteous cause.”

“Righteous cause?”

“Whatever may ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) truly be in the hearts of the leadership guiding the Orthodox Path, they move in the name of chivalry and moral duty. In other words, there are many sects willing to hand over money and troops without any personal interest at all, simply for the sake of chivalry and moral duty.”

“...!”

“Funds are as important as military strength. Put simply, they’re using the signboard of chivalry and justice to expand their treasury for free.”

Yangcheon nodded.

“That’s true enough.”

“It is. And more than that, there are far more people who want peace than those who want to conquer the world. The Alliance of the Martial World’s rate of growth will be no less formidable than Ink Dragon Manor’s.”

“.......”

“If the growth rates remain similar, then Ink Dragon Manor will never surpass the Alliance of the Martial World.”

Yangcheon’s face stiffened.

“Then what do you think we should do?”

“There are three methods.”

“Three? Let me hear them.”

“First.”

Yeon Hojeong raised his index finger.

“For a growth rate obvious enough to be seen, you draw in outside organizations.”

“Are you saying there are still organizations left that can be drawn in?”

Yeon Hojeong had to exert all his strength to keep killing intent from entering his voice.

“The Perverse Lust Cult.”

“...!”

“There must be a clear reason they’re supporting Ink Dragon Manor. You did not tell me that part, Lord of Ink Dragon Manor.”

“Mm.”

“Whatever the reason, if you can absorb them, you would be able to stand against the Alliance of the Martial World. Even if you fall short in military strength, if you overwhelm them in funds, you could seize victory without shedding blood.”

Yangcheon shook his head.

“That is impossible.”

“As I expected.”

“It is.”

Yeon Hojeong did not ask why.

“Then there is a second method. Though I do not recommend this one.”

“Let me hear it.”

“The hearts of the people.”

“The hearts of the people?”

“Even porcelain made by the greatest craftsman in the world gathers grime, and no man exists who can be shaken without dust falling.”

Yangcheon frowned.

“You mean we should dig into the dirt behind the Alliance of the Martial World’s leaders?”

“That’s right.”

“It won’t be easy. And even if it’s possible, it would require a tremendous amount of money. More than that, I’m not sure it would even be worth pouring in that much wealth.”

“It would be worth it. But only if we assume we have enough patience. And on top of that, we might have to spend even more money for the sake of the common people south of the Yangtze.”

Yangcheon shook his head.

“I’m not someone who fails to understand the importance of the people’s support. But as you said, that would require too much patience. And while the hearts of the people are something you can’t do without, I wouldn’t call them the decisive factor that determines victory or defeat.”

“They can become decisive if one is patient enough. But as I said before, I don’t recommend it either.”

“I see. Then I oppose it as well.”

“Then only the final method remains.”

Yeon Hojeong’s face turned serious.

Yangcheon felt it instinctively. The words Yeon Hojeong was about to speak now were the method he truly wanted to recommend.

“The final method. What is it?”

“It has not yet been a full year since the Alliance of the Martial World was founded.”

“That’s right.”

“And the position of Alliance Leader is still vacant.”

“It is. From what I’ve heard, they plan to elect the Alliance Leader next year.”

“.......”

“...Don’t tell me?!”

“Yes. Exactly that.”

A cold smile spread across Yeon Hojeong’s face.

“Election interference.”

“...!!”

“You simply put someone in the seat of Alliance Leader who suits our tastes.”

“That is...”

“And remarkably enough, I hear there is currently a strong candidate for the next Alliance Leader here in Hunan.”

Yangcheon’s eyes widened.

Yeon Hojeong lifted his cup.

“What do you think of using Clan Head Mo Yonggun of the Mo Yong Clan?”