Uta guided Baekta, Sanghui, and Yongcheon into the inner chamber, and as soon as the dishes were placed.

Slurp!

Chew, chew.

Kwad-deuk, kwak-kwak.

...Have you guys been starving for a few days?

As if they weren't former vagrants and current beggars, they ate so greedily.

He didn't know how many times the food had been replaced already.

"Ahem, good!"

A future leader, acting so undignified...

"Family Head, aren't you eating?"

Never mind the gluttonous Yongcheon punk.

"Yongcheon, this! This! It's really delicious!"

Even Sanghui repeatedly exclaims in admiration, holding meat in both hands and stuffing it into her mouth.

The way she empties it in an instant...

Why are you like that too?

Is that why you're called Twin Flash?

Because you eat food with both hands like a flash of lightning?

Hey, kids. You're here as distinguished guests.

Don't you know what that means? At least use some utensils.

Although Cheonyeong shakes his head, he doesn't blame them.

Because he had heard that they had been starving.

While they were captured by the Black Scorpion Clan...

"Huh? Why isn't Danya the blacksmith eating?"

"Pardon?"

"No, everyone else is eating like they're possessed..."

"I'm a light eater, so this is enough for me. Family Head."

Danya shows his plate, which had a little of a few dishes, and smiles.

How noble and dignified he looks.

Keu, as expected, I picked a good great blacksmith.

Doesn't he know the virtues of longevity so well?

As they say, eating lightly is the basis of longevity.

There's nothing to criticize.

Yes, let's live a long, long time and make many good weapons.

Cheonyeong, who was already full of favor after confirming the power of the weapon he had made in a real battle, fills his cup and offers it.

"Then shall we have a light drink?"

"A-a drink?"

Danya stares at the cup Cheonyeong offered.

Stares~ intently.

Something feels off...

At that moment, the words people used to describe Danya came to Cheonyeong's mind.

-Ah, that drunkard who lives in Jeolgol?

-And his personality is so eccentric...

Yes, this punk was... a drunkard. The one who made and sold farm tools to earn money for alcohol even while in hiding.

Cheonyeong, who had realized his mistake, quickly tries to withdraw the cup.

Teok!

Danya's hand snatches the cup like a peerless Golden Capture Hand.

"Hah, I shouldn't be doing this... it's a cautious occasion, and since I'm being treated as a distinguished guest, I thought I shouldn't drink, so I was holding back."

Danya looks at the cup in his hand greedily and his Adam's apple bobs.

Is that... drool... flowing from the corner of his mouth?

"Ah, was that so? Then... not drinking is also..."

"Heh heh, no. How can I refuse when the Family Head offers it to me as a vassal?"

"..."

"Then, without regard for my dignity!"

"Ah, w-wait a minute..."

Although he tried to stop him urgently, not knowing what might happen, the cup was already empty.

"Keu-eu."

Danya, who had frowned deeply, lets out a groan.

His body... why is it trembling?

Teok!

It seems one cup was difficult.

As if a blocked waterway had burst, Danya fills the cup and empties it at the same time.

He groans, his body trembles, and he fills the cup again.

"Keu-hat-hat-hat! This wine tastes! Amazing!"

"..."

Now he's not just drinking from a bowl, he's started chugging from the bottle.

One bottle, two bottles...

This man is worse than Chunil.

I shouldn't have offered.

Bba-deuk, bba-deuk.

Chew, chew.

Gulp, gulp.

The sound of talking disappeared, and it was filled with the sound of eating. As if they were competing to see who could eat more.

Of course, Danya was still eating lightly.

Only the bottle was stuck to his mouth.

"Hah, there are no normal punks. There are no normal punks."

Cheonyeong shakes his head with a deep sigh.

Just as the intense meal was about to end and everyone was full.

Wajangchang!

Danya, who had been chugging wine like crazy, collapses to the floor.

Instead of being in pain, he was lying sprawled out with a pleasant smile on his face.

How many empty bottles are there?

Cheonyeong clicks his tongue, looking at the empty bottles rolling around where Danya had been.

He drank really fast.

But.

Fumble, fumble.

"..."

Even while drunk, Danya fumbles on the floor and brings a bottle to his mouth.

Lying down... he drinks... well.

It's not even surprising anymore.

But was it because of that commotion? Or was it because he was finally full and had some leisure?

"Hey, Cheonyeong."

"..."

Baekta approaches Cheonyeong and starts talking.

His expression is quite serious.

He should at least wipe the grease glistening on his mouth.

"The problem with the Black Scorpion Clan seems to have been resolved well."

I know.

So the grease... huh?

You don't look serious at all!

"Since it has come to this, how about asking Uta?"

"Ask? What?"

"You punk! Don't tell me you've forgotten our mission?"

"Our... mission?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Yeah!"

Baekta looks around to make sure no one is listening and whispers in a low voice.

"I mean, the reason why the Five Poisons Gate moved its branch forward."

"..."

"Isn't it a good opportunity?"

"What is?"

"Think about it. Uta even broke the law of the Black Scorpion Clan to save his master."

"So?"

"So? He seems to think of you, no, the Inner Hall Master, as a benefactor. We can't miss such a good opportunity."

Cheonyeong's eyes narrow at Baekta's words.

So why is that a good opportunity?

"Just ask him casually, as if you're just letting it slip."

"Ask?"

"Yeah, if you ask, he might answer. I think you can talk to him, saying it's a reward for saving the young chief."

"..."

"If he's reluctant to answer, it must mean he has some other intention. If he has no intention, he'll easily tell you. Don't you think?"

Whether he does or not.

Finding out the intention of the Five Poisons Gate in moving its branch forward to the border of Sicheon was Baekta's mission from the Beggars' Sect in the first place, not his own.

And what?

A reward for saving him? Why would he use that for such a useless question?

What I want is only money.

The price of a life.

"I don't want to."

"Huh?"

Baekta wears a bewildered expression as Cheonyeong cuts him off.

"I said I don't want to."

"D-don't want to? What do you mean? Don't you know how important that is?"

"It's important to you. Not to me."

"What?"

"What does it have to do with me whether the Five Poisons Gate moves its branch forward or not?"

"Well... because the Tang family is also a member of the Cheongcheon Alliance?"

"A member of the Cheongcheon Alliance?"

"Of course!"

"No, we're not."

"Huh?"

"I've told you several times. The Tang Family's estate is just the Tang Family's estate. Neither Orthodox nor Unorthodox."

Baekta, who had been thinking for a moment at Cheonyeong's firm words, smiles warmly and says.

He had to persuade him somehow. How could he miss such a good opportunity?

His mission could end right away.

"Haha, you punk. You're saying that because you don't know."

"I don't know?"

"Yeah! Of course."

"..."

"You say you're not, but the public opinion in the Central Plains is already like that."

"What public opinion."

"I mean, how you established the Tang Family's estate."

"..."

"The Yin Hand Chamber, the Yin Hand Chamber that belonged to the Unorthodox Faction. You established the Tang Family's estate in Ganyang, antagonizing the Unorthodox Faction by destroying the Yin Hand Chamber. Not only that? You're showing all kinds of goodwill to the people of Ganyang. And crucially! You're already on close terms with our Beggars' Sect."

"Close... terms?"

"Of course! And just wait until this matter is resolved. I'll definitely report your and the Tang Family's estate's contributions to the alliance. The name of the Tang Family's estate will be engraved in the Cheongcheon Alliance."

"Hmm."

"Most importantly, you and I are close friends, aren't we? Don't you think?"

"Keuk."

"...?"

Baekta wears a puzzled expression as Cheonyeong suddenly bursts out laughing.

"Myeongseon."

"Huh?"

"So, what you're saying now is... you're going to ride on your friend's back?"

"Huh?"

"That's what you're saying."

"No, how can that mean..."

"And Myeongseon."

"..."

"I don't know what you mean by 'friend'. But, the meaning of 'friend' that I think of is different."

Baekta's face hardens at Cheonyeong's calm words.

"A friend is someone who helps a friend in difficulty, not someone who uses them for profit. At least that's how I am."

"Cheonyeong, I mean..."

"I was really grateful today. I mean it. But the man who helped the Tang Family's estate today and put the Tang Family's estate in his debt was not Baekta of the Beggars' Sect, but Jang Myeongseon. Was I mistaken?"

"..."

"I know. I know your position can't help but be like that."

"Hmm."

As Cheonyeong gets up from his seat, Baekta remains silent with a contorted face.

"And one more thing. I don't want to make the name of the Tang Family's estate known by using someone else's power."

"..."

"The Tang Family's estate will rise on its own. Because it has the power to do so, and because it will work hard to cultivate that power."

Cheonyeong smiles, pats Baekta's shoulder, and goes outside.

Even with their conversation, Yongcheon and Sanghui were still busy devouring their food, but Baekta no longer had an appetite.

A friend...

Not someone who uses them for profit, but a friend who lends a hand in times of difficulty.

He had only been faithful to his own interests, so he hadn't thought of it.

Baekta seemed to vaguely understand the meaning of Cheonyeong's words.

"Hoo, it seems I made a mistake. That's not what I meant."

Baekta laughs with a self-deprecating expression.

"Why? Did you do something wrong to the Family Head?"

"Huh?"

Yongcheon, who had been chewing on his food, approaches and tilts his head at Baekta's expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Ah, that's..."

Baekta smiles awkwardly and is about to answer.

Peok!

"Keuk! This son of a bitch! Why did you hit me again!"

Sanghui hits Yongcheon in the side with her elbow.

"Aigoo, you fool. When are you going to grow up?"

"What did I do?"

"Hah, forget it. Forget it. Just eat your food."

"What, you punk? Just eat my food! Am I a pig? A glutton?"

"Yeah. Anyone can see that."

"...Ah!"

As Yongcheon, who had agreed in an instant, returns to his seat, Sanghui smiles at Baekta and says.

"Sir Baekta."

"Pardon?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to listen, but I overheard your conversation. Well, your mind must be complicated, right?"

"That's..."

"The Family Head is that kind of person. I still don't know everything about him."

"..."

"He's cunning, so I don't know what's on his mind, but at least he doesn't use his friends."

"..."

"And he's more fragile than you think."

"Fragile?"

"Yes. He's fragile."

Where do you see that? he wanted to ask, but Baekta didn't say anything.

"He seems to only pursue profit, but he's actually not like that. He can't easily turn a blind eye to the pain of the people who have come under his wing."

"Ah..."

"You know, right? The law of the Tang Family's estate that you repay a grudge ten times over."

"..."

"Why do you think that is? He's angry. That someone has harmed his family member."

"I see."

"In fact, it's not well known, but he repays a favor even more. From what I've seen so far."

"Pardon?"

"Even if it was a small help."

Baekta nods silently at Sanghui's calm words.

"I think he's probably gone to ask Uta by now."

"Pardon? What do you mean?"

"They're friends."

"Friends...?"

"Yes. When you said you would help the Tang family, Sir Baekta... no, Jang Myeongseon was a friend who wouldn't turn a blind eye to a friend's difficulty. To our Family Head."

"Ah!"

"He probably would have asked even if you hadn't asked. Even if you hadn't mentioned the Beggars' Sect and the Cheongcheon Alliance."

Baekta nods his head repeatedly with a complicated expression.

"Thank you. My complicated mind feels a little clearer now."

"Don't mention it."

"By the way, Inner Hall Master, no, Miss Sanghui, you know the Family Head well."

"I do. Because we're family. Then I'll go get some air."

Sanghui smiles brightly, gets up, and is about to go outside when she hesitates.

"Oh!"

"...?"

"I still don't think very highly of you, Sir Baekta."

"Ah! Yes..."

Although it was a sharp warning, Baekta strangely found her glaring appearance beautiful.

Her face, her personality, her thoughtfulness.

A woman who hated him, who was not lacking in anything...

"She's pretty, right?"

"..."

"Get a grip. She's not called Twin Flash Asura for nothing. Do you think that girl is an ordinary fire goddess? Her personality is terrible. She hits you while smiling."

Yongcheon, who had approached Baekta, who was staring blankly at Sanghui's back, whispers with a serious expression.

And Baekta thought again.

Why on earth does Sanghui like this dull bear...

(End of Chapter)