“W-what?!”

The group stared at Yeon Hojeong in shock.

Yeon Hojeong was calm. A reaction like this was exactly what he had expected.

Ga Deoksang frowned.

“The heir of Ghost-Iron Sword Gate... So that monkey had it right back then?”

“That’s right.”

“No, but why?”

Yeon Hojeong wet his throat with alcohol. For some reason, the liquor was going down especially well today.

“Because he’s a promising talent.”

“But he’s from the Dark Path.”

“There are plenty of decent people in the Dark Path too.”

“Well... sure, I guess.”

Ga Deoksang asked in a dubious voice,

“If he’s the heir of Ghost-Iron Sword Gate, then his thirst for revenge against Fighting King Yangcheon and Ink Dragon Manor must be monstrous.”

“It is.”

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to use that young man to draw Ink Dragon Manor’s attention?”

“I didn’t particularly plan to, but now that you mention it, that doesn’t sound bad either. If he agrees, I’ll consider it.”

“Tch, that’s not really what I meant. Either way, looking at you now, it seems you seriously mean to recruit him as an ally.”

“To be exact, I was thinking of making him my person—not one of our group.”

“Your subordinate?”

“My friend.”

Ga Deoksang let out a hollow laugh.

“I think this every now and then, but I really can’t figure you out. No matter how decent the person is, to go out of your way for some Dark Path junior...”

“Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.”

“Forget it. It’s not like I don’t know your personality. But there’s something important.”

“Go ahead.”

“Let’s say we return with him. Is he really someone we can trust? Is it really alright to bring him into the Alliance of the Martial World?”

Yeon Hojeong answered in a calm tone.

“Ghost-Iron Sword Gate is one of the few great prestigious sects in the Dark Path. It may be the Dark Path, but for generations it was called a sect of heroes, one that knew decorum and law. That’s why it had many enemies even within the Dark Path.”

“I know that. What I mean is, even if we’re fine with it, that man Kang Ryang himself might not be. And if he harbors even the slightest different intention, the consequences will grow too large.”

“He may be clumsy to a ridiculous degree, but he’s someone who knows right from wrong.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way. I trust your judgment, Young Master Yeon—but people can change at any time.”

Normally, Ga Deoksang wouldn’t have said something like this. That was how much of a bomb Kang Ryang was to the group.

Everyone here had probably wanted to say the same thing. Ga Deoksang was only speaking for them.

Yeon Hojeong spoke evenly.

“Trust me.”

Pae Yul let out a short snort without meaning to.

Ga Deoksang smacked his lips.

“What’s with you, Senior?”

“He’s using his finishing move.”

“Huh?”

“It means there’s nothing we can do. If he says trust him, then we trust him. It’s not like that bastard is some idiot like you.”

It was as simple and clean an answer as it got.

Ga Deoksang scowled.

“I’m not an idiot.”

“You picking a fight?”

“I’m not picking a fight. I’m just saying. You’re looking down on people way too much.”

“If you don’t like it, we can have a round any time. I don’t acknowledge anyone who hasn’t proven his martial arts.”

“Yeah, no thanks.”

Ga Deoksang shivered like the very thought disgusted him.

Pae Yul asked Yeon Hojeong,

“Is he useful?”

“He is.”

“With a blade?”

“He’s inexperienced, but if we’re speaking purely in terms of potential for growth, he’ll match Tang Sang-a or one of the soldiers.”

“Oh?”

Satisfaction spread across Pae Yul’s face.

“I’d like to cross blades with him someday.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“You’ll be satisfied.”

“Good. Then I’m in favor.”

Tang Sang-a carefully opened her mouth.

“If we take him back to the Alliance, are you only thinking of keeping him with the group? Or are you thinking of recruiting him into the Evil-Smiting Corps?”

“I haven’t thought that far yet. But clumsy or not, he’s still the heir of the Dark Path’s First Sword Gate, so it’s not like his skill is low. If a force like that suddenly appears, sooner or later people’s attention will gather.”

“Then recruiting him really does sound better.”

“I think so too.”

Tang Sang-a fell into thought for a moment, then nodded.

“I’m in favor too. Honestly, it’s kind of ridiculous for me to say yes or no anyway. The only thing I’m worried about is this mission, but... you’ll handle that yourself, Commander, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’m fine with it.”

Now only one person remained.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Je Gal Ahyeon.

She had been calmly sipping tea, but when all eyes landed on her, she blinked in apparent surprise.

“Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Ga Deoksang cleared his throat.

“Are you in favor?”

“If I say I’m against it, is that idiot really going to stop bringing him?”

Yeon Hojeong firmly shook his head.

“He’s someone I want to make my person, but I’m not going to drag him along if it means causing trouble for the people around me.”

“But you’ll bring him eventually.”

“Yeah. Eventually.”

“See? Then what’s the point of opposing it now? If you’ve already made up your mind to bring him, then do it properly.”

“Are you really okay with that?”

Je Gal Ahyeon gave a short snort.

“Does that sound okay by any reasonable standard? Before I trust you, that man is still the heir of a prestigious Dark Path sect. No matter how good he is, the road he’s walked is different. Of course it won’t be entirely fine. There’ll be friction—whether it’s a lot or a little.”

“There will.”

“The you I know doesn’t trust someone blindly just because he’s Orthodox Path, and doesn’t cast someone aside carelessly just because he’s Dark Path. In the end, you look at the person. But people are unpredictable. So if you’re going to bring him along, take responsibility for it properly.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, shut up.”

Ga Deoksang smacked his lips.

“Well, that got settled faster than I expected. Then again, Young Master Yeon is the operational team leader. Maybe later it’d be different, but right now it’d be ridiculous to nitpick every single thing you do.”

“It’s not something I should handle arbitrarily just because I’m the operational team leader. That’s why I called everyone.”

“Hmph. What a joke. Then you should’ve told us earlier.”

“I have no excuse.”

“Forget it. You’ve been busy enough already.”

He stood up.

“Let’s break it up. We’ll be heading into Ink Dragon Manor soon, and I want to get as much rest as I can while I still can.” 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

“Go ahead.”

One by one, the group got up from their seats.

But Yeon Hojeong and Je Gal Ahyeon did not rise. The two of them looked at each other with a heaviness in their eyes.

A moment later—

“Sorry.”

“You know that much, do you?”

“Yeah.”

Je Gal Ahyeon snorted.

“If you keep living like that, one day you’re going to get a knife in the back.”

“My spine gets cold sometimes too.”

“I’m not joking.”

“I know.”

She let out a sigh and raked a hand harshly through her hair.

“Bringing him here, I noticed something. The kid turned out alright.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Dark Path-born or whatever—coming this far stuck together with someone he’d never even seen before, he was really careful. He keeps his boundaries clearly, and he even knows how to be considerate. There’s a simple side to him.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Yeah. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

Je Gal Ahyeon looked at him for a long moment, then tossed out a question.

“You say that like you know him well.”

“I know enough.”

“You can’t have met him before.”

Yeon Hojeong only smiled. He didn’t have anything else to say.

Je Gal Ahyeon shook her head.

“I’ll be honest. I don’t think he’ll cause any major problems. Same with you. But trouble might still erupt from somewhere we don’t expect.”

“Mo Yonggun.”

“Right.”

Je Gal Ahyeon’s face darkened.

“He came here as the commander of a mission dangerous enough to overturn the power structure of the Central Plains’ martial world, and he’s still finding room to line his own pockets. Forget ambition or greed—you can’t help but acknowledge his ability.”

“That’s true.”

“The more chilling part is that he’s watching you constantly, waiting for a chance.”

“And I’m watching him too.”

“Right. The two of you are targeting each other. But the moment you go back with the heir of Ghost-Iron Sword Gate at your side, Mo Yonggun will try to tear into you somehow.”

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

“He won’t.”

“Why?”

“Because he’ll know there’s nothing to gain by provoking me any further.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure. I didn’t send Senior Pae Yul for no reason.”

The reason he had gone so far as to send Pae Yul—and even reveal Meng Yi’s existence—was to declare war on Mo Yonggun and, at the same time, warn him not to move carelessly.

Mo Yonggun would understand. He would realize that he could not keep provoking his opponent. This was no longer a matter of crossing a line or not—it was a matter of whether blood would be spilled.

“Besides, I’m the Director of the Intelligence Division of Ink Dragon Manor now. I already declared war, so he’s definitely preparing to strike back. If my guess is right, Mo Yonggun is probably locking down the intelligence arm of the clan like a fortress right now.”

“He’s tense?”

“He’ll pretend otherwise, but he definitely is.”

Je Gal Ahyeon smiled bitterly.

“Seriously. I’m a blood relative of the Je Gal Clan, and I still had no idea how the board was moving.”

“That’s because you never stepped into it on purpose. That’s only natural.”

She stood up from her seat.

“I should get some rest too. It was exhausting, checking every little thing around us on the way back.”

“You worked hard.”

“If you know that, buy me a good drink later.”

“Any time.”

“Jeong.”

“Yeah.”

Je Gal Ahyeon’s eyes flickered.

“We’re on the same side, right?”

Yeon Hojeong snorted softly.

“You’re the first friend I ever had in my life.”

“...Hehe.”

“There was a little force involved.”

“Shut up.”

“...Thus, I appoint Jeong of the Martial Ancestor Sect as the head of the Intelligence Division of the main headquarters.”

The atmosphere was extremely solemn.

Countless leaders of Ink Dragon Manor were watching. It was impossible not to feel the pressure.

Yeon Hojeong dropped to one knee.

“I swear before heaven and earth that I will do my utmost in the duty entrusted to me.”

Yangcheon smiled with satisfaction.

“Rise.”

Yeon Hojeong stood and looked up at Yangcheon.

Yangcheon looked around at those gathered and spoke.

“The Manor is unsettled, so I kept this appointment ceremony brief, but in truth, the Intelligence Division of the main headquarters, once reorganized, will hold a position on an entirely different level from before.”

A tremendous authority flowed from his deeply settled voice.

“Jeong of the Martial Ancestor Sect possesses exceptional wisdom, and his martial arts are second to none. Though he is a talent accomplished in both letters and arms, he also had the caution to step forward and say he would build merit in order to prevent disorder within our ranks.”

“.......”

“As one who falls behind none of you in talent, ability, or accomplishment, I trust none of you will disrupt the Manor’s discipline with pointless conflict.”

It was tremendous favor.

No matter that it was the appointment ceremony for the Director of the Intelligence Division—there had been no need for Yangcheon to add such an explanation on his behalf.

But Yangcheon had done exactly that, and the effect was enormous.

Most of the leadership gathered here made up their minds never to touch Yeon Hojeong. Regardless of his ability, if he was someone the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor favored this openly, then one wrong move could cost them their heads.

Of course, not every one of them thought so.

“That concludes the appointment ceremony of the Director of the Intelligence Division.”

All of the leadership dropped to their knees at once and bowed their heads.

Now we’re in the final stage.

The Director of the Intelligence Division was the one who oversaw every piece of information within Ink Dragon Manor.

It was a position from which he could see not only the Manor’s military strength and finances, but also exactly how far the Manor’s information network had spread. That meant he would be able to obtain a huge amount of information in a short time.

I need to get to work immediately.

Then Yangcheon spoke.

“The Director of the Intelligence Division stays. Everyone else, leave the hall.”

The leaders filed out of Ink Dragon Hall.

Yeon Hojeong looked at Yangcheon with puzzled eyes.

“Director of the Intelligence Division.”

“Yes, Lord of Ink Dragon Manor.”

“In truth, I considered telling you three days ago, but I decided against it. You weren’t officially the Director of the Intelligence Division yet.”

“.......”

“But now that the appointment ceremony is done, I think I can tell you. You would have learned later anyway, but I didn’t want to cause needless confusion.”

“Please tell me.”

Yangcheon’s face turned serious.

“There is a certain force that aids the main headquarters.”

“...?!”

“And they are not in the Central Plains, but beyond the frontier.”

“...Who are they?”

“It’s an organization called the Perverse Lust Cult. Have you ever heard of it?”

In that instant, Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed sharply.