The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 226
These cockroaches.
All those promoted during Ji Cheon-Myeong’s tenure shared one thing in common: absolute loyalty to Ji Cheon-Myeong. These individuals showed no regard for the Association, its mission, or the people.
Jang Baek-San inwardly sneered.
Trash like you think that you can become the president of the Association?
It was like a marathon with no end in sight.
The vote for president of the Association had been at a stalemate for several days already. Each time the votes were recast, the ten branch managers would continue to vote only for themselves.
“Senior Jang.” The Gangdong branch manager, who reeked of cigarettes, turned to Jang Baek-San for help. “You might not be a candidate, but don’t you have the right to vote? Help me just this once. If I become the president of the Association, you will definitely be greatly rewarded...”
“Shut up.”
Jang Baek-San flatly refused.
“I would sooner kill you than let you be the face of the Association.”
“Tsk. You’ve a horrible temper. Don’t you know it only takes a few words to make lifelong enemies? You should develop some social skills. If you keep creating grudges like this, how do you expect to deal with it in your later years?”
“I won’t listen to someone who collects grudges just by existing.”
The Gangdong branch manager’s face flashed with rage before his smile returned. “Good. You really know how to make enemies. You’ll surely be finished the moment the next president of the Association is appointed.”
Ji Cheon-Myeong had served as the president of the Association for several terms and solidified his power. However, public opinion also required upkeep and tending in order to continue to hold the favor of the public. And the result after examining public sentiment was Jang Baek-San, a person with both skills and popularity.
In essence, he was he people’s champion.
In the first place, Jang Baek-San was a person who was absolutely loyal to the organization.
He often annoyed Ji Cheon-Myeong, but he was too helpful to be discarded. His instantment had been the perfect supplement for Ji Cheon-Myeong’s reputation.
Now, of course, Jang Baek-San was nothing more than an eyesore. With him around, no matter who else became president, Jang Baek-San would be there to curb it.
Damn. I’m not Ji Cheon-Myeong. How do I control that guy after I become president?
Jang Baek-San needs to be dealt with sooner or later...
The branch managers all harbored resentment for Jang Baek-San. And from the disdainful look in Jang Baek-San’s eyes and his constant insults, the feeling was mutual.
“Hah.”
Eventually, Jang Baek-San let out a sigh. The last few days had left him feeling too frustrated. All the candidates who’d emerged as potential presidents for the Association were worthless.
Ji Cheon-Myeong at least had the skills to be the president. If a flatterer who doesn’t meet the qualifications to be a branch manager ends up being the president, I really don’t see a future for us.
Without a strong backbone, whoever became the next president would inevitably be bought off by China and Japan, at which point, the Korean Players Association would lose its function.
Jang Baek-San rested his face in his hands.
Had I known that Ji Cheon-Myeong was such a vile character, I could’ve planned ahead of time for his replacement. But as things are now, there’s nothing I can do...
In the end, it is my fault for not being good enough.
Doubts began to creep into Jang Baek-San’s mind. Had everything he’d done for the Association merely benefited Ji Cheon-Myeong? Could it be that he’d also contributed to the Association's downfall? Jang Baek-San trembled with anxiety as he lamented his circumstances.
How could I have admired the Bow Saint all my life but not learned anything from him?
The Bow Saint was a flawless man, and Jang Baek-San had always aspired to be just like him. But how could he when he couldn’t even see the corruption around him until it was too late?
He was overcome with a sense of despair and muttered, “I wish I could just drop a bomb and be done with this rotten cesspool.”
Jang Baek-San’s wish was a sincere one, though it naturally didn’t come true. Even if gods existed, they wouldn’t waste their time on a human’s prayers.
What the hell has this idiot been muttering? thought the Gangdong branch manager. Regardless, after being humiliated by Jang Baek-San, he’d finally made up his mind. The Gangdong branch manager cleared his throat and said, “Pay attention, everyone! Look at this!”
The group turned their attention to the Gangdong branch manager just as he took out an old scabbard. It was a shabby thing, clearly marked by time. However, everyone gathered was at least A-class; they knew well that when it came to items, the older it looked, the more valuable it was likely to be.
And sure enough, upon closer look—
“That thing!”
“It’s the Association’s president...!”
The scabbard taken out by the manager of the Gangdong branch was something Ji Cheon-Myeong had often used. When delving into gates, he had often summoned that very same scabbard to block critical blows from high-level monsters. Not to mention, he had summoned it again just a few days ago, when he was confronting his thunder tribulation.
Clearly, the scabbard had some special function they weren’t aware of.
“Why are the president’s belongings in your hands?” one branch manager finally said, but he wasn’t alone in his question: greed smoldered in each of their eyes.
That was good. It was the reaction that the Gangdong branch manager had wanted. Smiling, he said, “It isn’t just this. I’ve recovered many other items from Ji Cheon-Myeong’s body.”
“Selfish! Greedy! What right do you have?”
“Calm down—would I have revealed this to you if I were planning to take it all for myself?”
“......”
“I just happened to be close by and decided to protect the president’s belongings temporarily.”
At that, the various branch managers calmed down. Now that he had their attention, the Gangdong branch manager brought up the main topic. “Friends, I risked my skin to recover these assets. But if you elect me as the next president, you can rest assured that I won’t forget my debts; I’ll fairly distribute the old president’s belongings to everyone who offers me a hand in this matter.
“We just need to make you the candidate?”
“That’s right. If I pass the hearing safely and become the president of the Association, I will naturally reward your efforts. Just like Ji Cheon-Myeong, I intend to be generous to those in my camp.”
“Umm.”
The group hesitated.
They found it distasteful that the Gangdong branch manager was using secretly hoarded items as bait, but it was highly likely that all of Ji Cheon-Myeong’s belongings were great treasures.
After all, Ji Cheon-Myeong had been the president for many years. He was also a peak S-class player with a natural interest in items that could resist thunder tribulation. Each of his artifacts was sure to be rare and wondrous.
More than anything else...
Sigh. If we don’t make a choice now, this will never end...
“Fine. I agree.”
“Me too. I will vote for the head of the Gangdong branch.”
“I have much experience in managing people and politics. Not only can I support you, but I can also help guide you in these areas.”
People started to gather around the Gangdong branch manager. The first and second person to agree came forward slowly, but what followed was a proverbial dog pile. No one wanted to be among the last holdouts, fearing they would be made examples of and lose out on benefits.
I’m sick of this.
Meanwhile, Jang Baek-San felt the urge to spit.
Some flowery promises and a bag of looted items had been all it took for the Gangdong branch manager to win the other branch managers’ support for the presidency.
If that wasn’t short-sighted, then Jang Baek-San didn’t know what was.
Temples throbbing, Jang Baek-San slapped the table and stood up. “What’s the point of nurturing sword demons with trash like you standing on their shoulders?”
Baaaaaaang!
Suddenly, there was a deafening noise as something smashed through the window and smashed the head of the Gangdong branch manager like a watermelon. Jang Baek-San couldn’t tell if he was dreaming or if this was real.
He just expressed his frustration, only for the Gangdong branch manager’s head to be annihilated a moment later.
Did the sword demons hear my words? Are they rebelling?
Jang Baek-San’s heart sank.
“Uh? Uhhhh?”
Meanwhile, the others stood up with dumb expressions. The Gangdong branch manager’s death was surreal to the point of doubt.
This was Seoul, after all, the heart of Korea. Moreover, they were gathered on the top floor of the Association’s headquarters, a main artery for the coming and going of Korea’s most powerful players.
And yet, somehow, they had been attacked?
The branch managers remained incredulous, even as the truth of it sank in.
“D-don’t tell me...” The first one to come to his senses was Jang Baek-San. “Bow Saint?”
A few months ago, a single arrow had destroyed a gate at the Gugang Hotel. There were only a handful of people capable of such a powerful shot. And it was the same now; hardly anyone could, with a single ranged shot, cleanly pierce the layers of protective spells around the Association’s headquarters, killing a high-level player like the Gangdong branch manager before anyone could react.
Who could it have been?
Then and now, only one person came to Jang Baek-San’s mind: his idol, the Bow Saint.
“Ah... The Bow Saint finally couldn’t stand by and watch the Association’s downfall and stepped in...”
Jang Baek-San was moved to tears, looking as if he was prepared and honored to meet death at the hands of his “god.” But a moment later, he suddenly froze.
Behind where the Gangdong branch manager had been standing, what was buried in the picture frame on the wall was not an arrow.
It was a sword.
“A sword?” Someone muttered.
“It’s-it’s a hwando.”
The bodies of the prestigious branch managers all started to tremble.
Embedded between the brows of Ji Cheon-Myeong’s self-portrait was a black hwando. A pale face flashed through their minds, a face that closely resembled the demon of old...
“The K-Kang family?”
The Yaksha’s spawn had come. It had barely been a week since Ji Cheon-Myeong's death, and he was back already, thirsting for more blood.
The Yaksha’s spawn had come. Not even a week had gone by since killing Ji Cheon-Myeong, and he was here for more blood.
"This is unbelievable. It wasn’t the Bow Saint?" Jang Baek-San exclaimed. He was more surprised than anyone else. He couldn’t believe he had confused someone else for the Bow Saint.
Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass broke the tension in the air. The crowd snapped back to reality, and their gazes fixed on a youth who stood with his back to the open sky.
The youth’s hair whipped in the wind, which somehow added to his otherworldly beauty. He looked like an angered child deity.
That youth was none other than Korea’s newest National Treasure candidate, Kang Jae-Hyeok. His appearance alone inspired awe in all who beheld him. And when he spoke, his voice cut through the wind like thunderclaps.
“Those with designs on the Kang family’s relics have forfeited their lives, and may repent as tribute to the ancestor.”
Thump, thump.
Jae-Hyeok strode across the room unimpeded.
The hwando buried in Ji Cheon-Myeong’s portrait began glowing red as he approached.
“Your testimony will be enough.”
Jae-Hyeok glanced at Jang Baek-San with a meaningful look. Then he pulled Iyarugt from the wall—as he did, the old scabbard flew from the Gangdong branch manager’s lifeless hand and fastened itself to Jae-Hyeok’s waist.
[Peak Sword’s Scabbard has been acquired.]
Another part of the founder's legacy had come home.
