“We’ve received word from Young Master Yeon.”

Ga Deoksang’s eyes gleamed for once.

“Looks like things are getting very interesting.”

A moment later, after hearing his explanation, the group could not hide their admiration.

Pae Yul grumbled.

“That bastard had to have been a nine-tailed fox in his past life.”

Je Gal Ahyeon let out a snort of laughter.

“Jeong must’ve had a real scare too, huh? Who would’ve thought Yangcheon would suddenly collapse like this?”

Tang Sang-a spoke with a serious face.

“What in the world happened? Yangcheon is a once-in-a-generation master who’s treated as being on the same level as my grandfather. For someone like that to lose consciousness and collapse means...”

“Unni, I’m curious about that too, but for now let’s just focus on getting back safely.”

“Ah...”

Tang Sang-a spoke awkwardly.

“It was just so unexpected.”

“Well, that’s true. Come to think of it, depending on Yangcheon’s condition, the whole shape of the world could change.”

“I... honestly, it’s just pure curiosity for me...”

“The people who change the world always move because of small curiosities.”

Pae Yul clicked his tongue.

“That’s enough useless talk.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then when are we supposed to move?”

Ga Deoksang waved a document.

“I think we should move on the day Young Master Yeon meets Mo Yonggun. Looking at the situation, if it’s Mo Yonggun, he’ll probably make contact by the end of today at the latest.”

“Then no matter how late, it will be within three days.”

“You can think of it as two days from now.”

“Good. And them?”

“...They’re waiting.”

“Hmm.”

Ga Deoksang’s expression immediately turned uncomfortable.

And it wasn’t just him. Not only Tang Sang-a, but even Je Gal Ahyeon looked vaguely unsettled.

“Um, Senior.”

“What is it?”

“Is it really okay to leave things like this? To be blunt, what crime did those people commit? In a way, they’re victims.”

“I know.”

“If we were staking their lives on screwing over Mo Yonggun, that would be one thing... but using them like this...”

In an instant, Pae Yul’s eyes turned sharp enough to cut.

“Do not insult them.”

“Pardon?”

“They are not being used. They chose their own end with their own will. A mere beggar like you, let alone me or these young ladies, has no right to belittle that choice.”

“...”

“Even if it weren’t for us, they wouldn’t last a month before dying. They know that too, which is why they willingly joined this plan, isn’t it?”

“...”

“They committed countless wrongs in the past, but at least at the final moment, they repented of the lives they had lived. Count it an honor that we were able to stand beside such people, even for a short while.”

Speaking as if rebuking them, Pae Yul rose from his seat.

“I’ll consider it two days from now. The rest of you should get plenty of rest until then.”

“Understood.”

With that, Pae Yul left the room.

Je Gal Ahyeon smacked her lips softly.

“I think I understand why Jeong brought Senior with him.”

“...”

“To be honest, I thought he was just a martial-arts maniac who loved fighting, but I was wrong.”

Tang Sang-a nodded.

“He seems like someone who reached great understanding before ever teaching anything.”

“That’s right. I guess that’s why people say there’s no knowledge before wisdom. He’s really someone worth learning from.”

Ga Deoksang let out a sigh.

“To be honest, I still don’t really know.”

“Is that so?”

“Seeing this makes it certain. I don’t think I’m the kind of man destined for great things.”

Je Gal Ahyeon smiled.

That’s not true at all.

Yeon Hojeong, who could become colder than anyone depending on the situation. Pae Yul, whose wisdom in life was as outstanding as the countless battles he had fought.

Even with a great deal of experience, there were not many people who could match those two in insight and cool judgment.

But something even harder than that was Ga Deoksang’s good nature.

Ga Deoksang found himself frustrated that he could not keep up with Yeon Hojeong and Pae Yul, but in this brutal world, preserving a kind heart like his was a thousand times harder.

I understand why the Union Lord appointed this man as a Hu Gae.

Anyone who dealt in intelligence was bound to drift away from chivalry and moral principle.

But Ga Deoksang had not.

He looked at people before information, and because he looked at people, even if he might make the wrong judgment, he still tried not to create unhappy people.

Je ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Gal Ahyeon hoped that he would never lose that good heart.

“Young ladies should get some rest as well. The day we return home is not far off.”

*****

“You’re here.”

Yeon Hojeong went straight to White Rat.

“We’ve received contact from Clan Head Mo Yonggun.”

“...”

“If we leave this evening, we should be able to reach the meeting place by the appointed time.”

White Rat silently looked toward Ink Dragon Hall.

Yeon Hojeong patiently waited for his answer.

After a while, White Rat spoke.

“Director of the Intelligence Division.”

“Go ahead.”

“As you know, I cannot leave my post. With the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor still unconscious, I cannot very well leave as well.”

“I know.”

White Rat was one of the Twelve Zodiac Gods, but he stood in a completely different position from the others.

To put it bluntly, even if he acted as the acting Lord of Ink Dragon Manor, no one in the Manor would dare say anything. He was trusted that much.

“To be honest, I would rather cancel the appointment with Clan Head Mo Yonggun entirely. The Lord of Ink Dragon Manor has collapsed, so what use is there in meeting the head of one of the Six Great Clans?”

White Rat’s eyes turned cold.

“That is why I cannot understand your urgency, Director of the Intelligence Division.”

“I understand.”

So he says he understands.

He was not trying to persuade him. He was simply saying that he understood.

White Rat thought that this was exactly the extraordinary thing about him. The new Director of the Intelligence Division was as rough as anyone, but at the same time, he was someone who knew how to fully recognize another person’s position.

White Rat nodded.

“I am the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor’s closest man. Whether he seizes the world in his hand or walks the wilderness alone, all I need to do is follow behind him. But you are not.”

“...”

“You are a part needed to fulfill the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor’s dream. And each part has its own use. Just like me.”

“...”

“I will protect the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor. You do what the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor wants done.”

Yeon Hojeong cupped his fist.

“Thank you for understanding.”

White Rat turned his body.

“The physician?”

“Ghost-Fate Divine Physician has answered the call. At the latest, he’ll arrive within five days.”

“That’s faster than I expected. A relief.”

White Rat looked up at the ceiling.

Even Yeon Hojeong could not easily guess what he was thinking.

“I will attach Yin, Chen, Snake, Shen, and Dog of the Twelve Zodiac Gods to you.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.

Among the Twelve Zodiac Gods, he was assigning Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Monkey, and Dog.

It was not merely five masters accompanying him. Counting the organizations under their command, no fewer than three hundred more experts would be going with them.

“With that level of force, even if Clan Head Mo Yonggun has laid a trap, escaping alive should not be a problem.”

“It’s enough.”

White Rat turned away.

“I won’t issue a separate departure order. Once you are ready, leave whenever you wish.”

“Understood.”

“Director of the Intelligence Division.” 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

“Go ahead.”

“I wish you martial fortune.”

Yeon Hojeong, who had been gazing silently at White Rat, pulled three neatly folded documents from his chest.

“Take these.”

“What are they?”

“Detailed information on the traitor in the headquarters.”

“...?!”

In an instant, White Rat’s face hardened like stone.

“Did you just say traitor?”

“I did.”

“...Who is it?”

Yeon Hojeong raised his index finger to his lips.

“If you read this, you’ll understand in detail. After the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor ended up in this state, the board was already chaotic enough as it was. I didn’t want to add pointless confusion, so I put it off until now.”

“...!”

“I summoned the man to my quarters and questioned him, and he revealed his true colors. Unavoidably, a fight broke out, but I managed to subdue him somehow.”

Surprise appeared in White Rat’s eyes.

“You subdued him?”

“That’s right.”

Yeon Hojeong lowered his voice further.

“I approached him rather naturally and lured him to my quarters. The reason I’m only telling you this now is partly because the Manor is in chaos, but also because I do not believe the possibility of another traitor is zero.”

“...Hmm.”

“It may even be that the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor’s collapse itself was part of the traitors’ scheme.”

Tssssss.

Intense Killing Intent burst from White Rat’s body.

“How dare they...!”

Even knowing it was only a possibility, he could not control his Killing Intent. When it came to anything involving Yangcheon, it was hard for him to stay calm.

“I’ll prepare at once and depart within one shichen.”

“...”

“After we leave, go straight to my quarters. I’ve got the traitor locked up there.”

“...Understood.”

“I’ll say it once more. It would be best to move quickly. If there is another rat in the water, that person will try to trace the traitor’s final movements, and after that, try to flee this place.”

“I see.”

“So the moment we leave the Manor, forbid all entry and exit throughout Ink Dragon Manor. Then go to my quarters and seize the traitor. After that... I trust Senior will handle the rest well enough.”

White Rat cupped his fist.

“You have suffered much where I could not see it. Thank you.”

Yeon Hojeong returned the salute.

“It was only what had to be done.”

“There is one thing I’m curious about.”

“Go ahead.”

“How did you know he was a traitor?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Because he was too far removed among the Twelve Zodiac Gods.”

“...One of the Twelve Zodiac Gods!”

“A first-rate spy tries not to stand out in any aspect—personality, position, or place. But a top-class spy is bound to make conspicuous moves, seize a conspicuous position, and linger in a conspicuous place.”

Yeon Hojeong gave a bitter smile.

“Though, calling him a spy is a bit much. He’s just a traitor.”

He turned around.

“Please take good care of the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor.”

White Rat nodded with a heavy expression.

“I have no doubt you will complete the matter and return.”

With his back turned, Yeon Hojeong smiled bitterly.

Sorry, but we won’t be seeing each other again.

*****

SHRAAAAK!

“Ghk!”

As the sudden bucket of water crashed over him, Black Sheep felt his mind snap awake.

“Huff! Huff! Ugh!”

The moment he regained consciousness, horrible pain surged up from all over his body.

Because of his broken ribs and collarbone, he could not move his upper body. His right arm, with torn cartilage and shattered joints, had no sensation at all.

Heavy pain rose from his thigh and abdomen as well. Every last one of them was a place where the Director of the Intelligence Division had struck him.

Jeong!

Black Sheep ground his teeth so hard they creaked.

“That rat bastard dared to ambush me...!”

That was when it happened.

“You mean me?”

Black Sheep felt as if his heart had dropped.

“You shouldn’t look down on a rat bastard too much. There are fierce rat bastards in this world too.”

Black Sheep barely forced his stiff neck to move and lifted his head.

Standing before him was White Rat, wearing a far more savage expression than ever before.

“Traitor Black Sheep.”

“...!!”

“You look quite miserable. I already thought that Director of the Intelligence Division was no ordinary man of valor, but I didn’t expect his hands to be this vicious.”

White Rat bent down.

“But you know this too, don’t you? In the headquarters, there are plenty of torture experts who would consider the Director of the Intelligence Division’s handiwork less than a child’s punches.”

“...Gulp.”

“Well, I think the mood has been properly set by now.”

White Rat smiled coldly.

“If you obediently answer what I ask, it will be quite painful, but I’ll at least kill you. But if not...”

“...!!”

“I’ll make it so that you can neither die nor live. Understood?”