Chapter 107

Chapter 107

“News has arrived.”

“News?”

Murim Alliance guest hall.

The Sado Alliance Leader, who had been quietly tilting his teacup, turned his gaze at the sudden voice and looked at Daesageom , who was staring directly at him from across the table.

“If it’s about Magyo , which is thousands upon thousands of ri away, the Murim Alliance would have known before us, who are far removed from the main alliance, so it can’t be that. And if it’s about the Murim Alliance’s affairs, we wouldn’t be sitting here so quietly either. What news have you brought, Daesageom?”

“……It seems Uicheonmun Sect Master Baek Riyun  has begun maneuvering behind the scenes. Several groups within the Murim Alliance have submitted petitions to cancel Seonwoo Gang’s  return.”

“Petitions to cancel the return.”

Contrary to Daesageom’s deliberately serious expression, the Sado Alliance Leader showed a relaxed face and let out a pfft of laughter. The image of Baek Riyun flashing through his mind.

—Things won’t go as you think.

The Sado Alliance Leader smiled faintly, recalling Baek Riyun’s bold words. It was truly a pleasant memory for him.

The day the Sado Alliance Leader demanded Seonwoo Gang’s return.

Before being taken into custody himself, Baek Riyun had sent him that message. That he wouldn’t let things go as the Alliance Leader wished.

In fact, Baek Riyun had used treating Seonwoo Gang as an excuse to send him to the Uiyakdang , and went to Noeok  in his place, buying a bit of time. This too would be nothing more than a ploy to use that secured time to buy even more time.

But that’s as far as it goes. As long as various circumstances are forcing the outcome, it would be impossible for Baek Riyun to do anything.

Having organized his thoughts, the Sado Alliance Leader leisurely spoke.

“What do you think, Daesageom?”

“……What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? I’m talking about Seonwoo Gang. Can the Murim Alliance refuse to return him?”

“It’s impossible.”

“Hmm. Why?”

“Because there’s no justification.”

Daesageom let out a deep sigh and continued.

“Seonwoo Gang…… Once it was revealed that he belongs to the Sado Alliance, the Murim Alliance faced two choices.”

“Two choices?”

“The first is to return Seonwoo Gang to the Sado Alliance due to the Alliance Leader’s ‘minor request.’ In fact, this would be the least troublesome for the Murim Alliance. If they can’t obtain the talent anyway, it’s advantageous to have some use for him.”

“I see. And the second?”

“Not returning Seonwoo Gang.”

“Oh?”

The Sado Alliance Leader let out a low exclamation and shrugged his shoulders.

“Earlier you said the Murim Alliance has no choice but to return Seonwoo Gang, but now you’re saying not returning him is also an option.”

“Both are true. Because the only way the Murim Alliance can refuse to return him is if they decide to execute Seonwoo Gang.”

“Execute him?”

“Don’t test me. Don’t you already know?”

While the laws of the martial world can be interpreted this way or that, the Murim Alliance does have clear regulations. Otherwise, they couldn’t control such a massive organization.

“As far as I know, according to the Murim Alliance’s regulations, spies are to be purged immediately upon discovery. Same as the Sado Alliance. Once Seonwoo Gang was revealed as a spy, if his custody is transferred to the Murim Alliance, they’ll have no choice but to decide on his execution.”

“Aren’t there many cases where they aren’t purged?”

“Of course. They could use the spy as a double agent, or use them to leak false information.”

Daesageom paused briefly, took a sip of tea, and continued.

“That’s only for underground operations. Using exposed spies as double agents or to leak false information is the same as unofficially reusing them. If the spy’s identity has been officially exposed like this……”

“In the end, it becomes a binary choice. Either execution or return.”

“Correct.”

Daesageom nodded and this time asked his own question.

“May I ask something?”

“By all means.”

“You must know that getting Seonwoo Gang back would be useless. His sword intent  has already left the Demonic Path .”

“That’s right.”

“What are you thinking? This brings no benefit to the Sado Alliance.”

“From the perspective of reducing the Orthodox Path’s  strength, isn’t it not a bad thing?”

At the Sado Alliance Leader’s shrug, Daesageom frowned. The Alliance Leader’s words felt contradictory.

“How ridiculous. It was the Alliance Leader who said that discussing black and white in this era is meaningless.”

“I certainly did say that.”

“Has that changed now?”

“As if it would.”

“Then what on earth……”

“Hmm.”

The Sado Alliance Leader let out a brief hum, stroked his chin, and smiled pfft.

“Let me ask one thing. Does Daesageom think that a minor request the Murim Alliance can grant is that important?”

“……Well.”

“It isn’t to me.”

The Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance, though their histories differ, possess roughly equal power.

This means that if the Murim Alliance can do something easily, the Sado Alliance can also do most things just as easily.

“There are certainly things the Murim Alliance can do that we cannot, but those wouldn’t fall under ‘minor requests.’“

“But you see, what if that ‘minor request’ could be exchanged for a different request?”

Realizing something from the Sado Alliance Leader’s words, Daesageom’s eyes widened and his expression hardened. And seeing that, the Sado Alliance Leader smiled slyly.

“Seonwoo Gang hasn’t officially betrayed the Sado Alliance yet. Even if Seonwoo Gang is returned to the main alliance, there’s no reason we must execute him. Then what if, after he’s returned, we let Seonwoo Gang go?”

If that happens, Seonwoo Gang would officially become a martial artist of the neutral zone , belonging to neither the Orthodox Path nor the Demonic Path. His career of having belonged to the Sado Alliance would remain, but it would only be a career.

“I don’t know what Daesageom was thinking, but I have no intention of selling Seonwoo Gang cheap.”

If the Murim Alliance won’t buy Seonwoo Gang at a high price, he’ll simply hand him over to someone who will. And that would take the form of collateral for the future.

“Aren’t you curious how much Uicheonmun Sect Master will pay for Seonwoo Gang’s ransom?”

If he doesn’t accept, that’s that. But from what the Sado Alliance Leader has seen, Uicheonmun Sect Master Baek Riyun isn’t someone who bends his convictions so easily.

The Sado Alliance Leader tilted his head mischievously like a devilish child and glanced out the window with a smile.

As if waiting for someone who would soon arrive.

Murim Alliance Noeok.

Kwang!

“What on earth is Daeju Baek Ri thinking!”

I was sitting cross-legged in meditation when I heard the noise and opened one eye narrowly to look beyond the bars. Somehow Heo Chong had arrived and was looking at me while fuming.

“Is that you, Third Military Advisor?”

“Of course it’s me, who else would it be!”

Tang tang!

Heo Chong, who had been pounding on the bars while fuming, let out a deep sigh as if drained and shook his head.

“Tell me honestly. Did Daeju Baek Ri receive a bribe from the Sado Alliance to kill me?”

“Haha. You’re saying something dangerous. What do you mean so suddenly?”

“Do you really not know? Because of what the Daeju and the Daeju’s associates have done, I’m on the verge of death from overwork right now. Look at these petitions!!!”

Heo Chong shouted and showed me the petitions that had come to him, fluttering them around. The petitions were piled quite high.

“Changcheon Corps  and Muryeon Hall , I can understand. It’s not like I don’t know what relationship Changcheon Corps has with the Daeju, and Muryeon Hall has close ties with Seonwoo Gang!”

“Mm.”

“But the Baek Ri Family , Paeng Family , and even the Namgung Family  have submitted petitions! How did you move them? Three families of the Five Great Families  have already submitted petitions to cancel the return!”

“Is that so?”

I could understand the Baek Ri Family, but I didn’t expect even the Namgung Family to join in.

Looking at Heo Chong’s beard trembling with anger, I smiled faintly. Yesterday’s events came vividly to mind.

—So…… if I submit a petition, you’ll nullify the bet we made over the Hyeoncheol ?

Two days ago.

I had proposed such conditions to Paeng Geuk , who came to visit me under the guise of a meeting. That I would slightly change the conditions of the bet we made before the Daehangjaen  started, the bet about whether Mujeong Hall  or Muryeon Hall would win.

—Are you trying to buy me, buy the Paeng Family’s pride with money?!

Exchanging over five geun of Hyeoncheol and the name of the Paeng Family for submitting a petition. Paeng Geuk, who usually had an upright and fair character, was deeply angered by my proposal. 

—Refuse if you want.

—That’s not worth enough. I’ll persuade as many of the other Five Great Families as I can.

Naturally, the deal was concluded. Because.

Hyeoncheol is expensive.

“……Phew.”

After breathing heavily through his nose and cooling his anger for a while, Heo Chong finally let out a long sigh and looked directly at me through the bars.

“Daeju Baek Ri.”

“I’m not the Daeju anymore.”

“……I know what Uicheonmun Sect Master is thinking. You plan to oppose the Alliance’s will  with public sentiment .”

“But public sentiment cannot stand above the Alliance regulations. Don’t you know that?”

After a brief pause, Heo Chong continued.

“If you truly care deeply about the junior Seonwoo Gang, you should rather send Seonwoo Gang back. According to the Alliance regulations, spies who are discovered must be executed.”

“Yes.”

“If you know that……”

Let go of your attachment now.

Heo Chong, who trailed off with that implication, quietly fell silent. His expression was calm yet worried, different from his usual passionate demeanor.

At that sincere expression, I smiled bitterly and quietly opened my mouth. And then.

“It’s fine. Because.”

Just as I was about to tell Heo Chong my thoughts.

“Hehe. So Military Advisor Heo was here.”

At the voice coming from above Noeok, from the direction of the descending stairs, Heo Chong’s body stiffened.

“Mu, Murim Alliance Third Military Advisor Heo Chong pays respects to the Alliance Leader!”

“Mm.”

The Murim Alliance Leader, Geomsong  Wi Jihak , received the greeting with a natural gesture and walked toward the bars, patting Heo Chong’s shoulder. Then Wi Jihak spoke in a low voice.

“I’m sorry to interrupt while Munju Baek Ri and the Third Military Advisor are having a conversation, but would it be alright if this old man had a few words with the Sect Master?”

“O, of course.”

“Hehe, it won’t take long. I just have a few things I’d like to ask.”

At Wi Jihak’s glance toward the wall, Heo Chong nodded stiffly and hurriedly stood at attention against the wall. And soon after, Wi Jihak positioned himself facing me.

“I came because I have something to ask.”

“Please ask.”

“If Uicheonmun Sect Master is willing, I’m thinking of saving that child called Seonwoo Gang. What do you think?”

At Wi Jihak’s words, Heo Chong, who was listening from the side, widened his eyes. But Wi Jihak’s story wasn’t finished.

“This old man is the Alliance Leader. And the Alliance Leader has one immunity right that can be granted to another person during their tenure.”

“This old man hasn’t used that immunity right yet.”

The immunity privilege granted to the Murim Alliance Leader.

At Wi Jihak’s words that he would use it on Seonwoo Gang, Heo Chong made an expression of shock as if his eyeballs would pop out. Since he’s the Third Military Advisor, he would know well how precious the immunity privilege is, so it’s not strange.

But there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. I pondered Wi Jihak’s words for a moment and answered slowly.

“What is the price?”

“The price.”

“If you intend to grant immunity to Seonwoo Gang, there would be no need to make such a proposal to me.”

“It’s nothing much. I simply want to place Uicheonmun in my debt.”

“Uicheonmun, not me.”

“I don’t particularly want to quibble over words, but of course.”

Will you accept?

Looking at Wi Jihak stroking his beard with a leisurely laugh, I too quietly smiled. 

“I must decline that proposal. Instead, may I make a light proposal from my side?”

“Mm?”

At my refusal of the proposal and my lips moving in voice transmission , Wi Jihak blinked his eyes.

The next moment.

“……Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

After hearing my words, Wi Jihak was silent for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

“Heuha, hahahahaha!”

“As expected of Changcheon Corps Commander. You’re not in your right mind now or then.”

“I’m not the Corps Commander anymore.”

“That’s right. What a pity.”

Wi Jihak, who deliberately showed a regretful expression while stroking his beard, asked me.

“It’s quite a tempting proposal. Can you do it?”

“It’s sufficient.”

“Then…….”

Wi Jihak, who looked around with a mischievous expression, quietly turned around to leave Noeok. As his back with hands clasped behind him came into view, his voice flowed out.

“Based on the submitted petitions, the Murim Alliance will refuse Seonwoo Gang’s return.”

“One week. One week.”

Wi Jihak casually stated and declared heavily. And at that moment.

“In the name of the Murim Alliance, exactly one week from now, we will hold the execution ceremony for the Sado Alliance spy Seonwoo Gang.”

Seonwoo Gang’s death was confirmed.

“This is the Alliance’s  collective will.”

By none other than the Murim Alliance Leader’s public declaration.