Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 298

“For someone who uses their mind, witnessing an unforeseen situation is both a moment of crushing defeat and a moment of great joy, as it presents another opportunity for learning…”

Jeagal Mun-Ho looked at the two men with a bewildered expression.

“I never imagined that the two of you would come to my residence together.”

Indeed, Yeon-Wi and Tang Gwan were sitting before Jeagal Mun-Ho.

Yeon-Wi, the head of the Byeoksan Yeon Family.

Tang Gwan, the head of the Sacheon Tang Family.

There were very few people who maintained personal relationships with these two giants.

Not only were their positions high, but they were also notorious for having personalities that were difficult to approach. Tang Gwan was a given, and Yeon-Wi was also rumored to be one of the most taciturn people in the world. For these two to knock on the strategist’s door together was enough to surprise even the Seongcheon Thirteen Seats [a group of influential figures in the Martial Alliance].

“I apologize if we surprised you.”

“No, it’s just unexpected.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho looked at Tang Gwan with a strange gaze.

It seemed that Yeon-Wi had dragged Tang Gwan along, but given Tang Gwan’s personality, he wouldn’t have followed so obediently. That made it even more peculiar.

Sensing Jeagal Mun-Ho’s gaze, Tang Gwan snorted and looked at Yeon-Wi.

“What do you want?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m asking why you brought me here.”

“I suppose we can talk about that now.”

“What?”

Yeon-Wi looked at Jeagal Mun-Ho and said,

“Did you hear it from my eldest son?”

“Hear what?”

Yeon-Wi explained the whole situation.

Jeagal Mun-Ho was startled and looked at Tang Gwan.

“Are you saying you’re running for the position of Alliance Leader?”

“Hmph!”

Tang Gwan crossed his arms and turned his head away.

Yeon-Wi calmly said,

“The Tang Family Head has also agreed.”

“Huh!”

With that one word, Jeagal Mun-Ho could tell that Tang Gwan had changed a lot from before.

‘Indeed, it is said that it is not logic but human affection that changes people.’

He also knew what had happened to Tang Gwan in the meantime.

The conflict with Moyong Gun, the reconciliation with his daughter, and all the other significant events had reached his ears. It was inevitable, as Tang Gwan was a person who could jump in any direction, so he was always under close watch.

However, he never expected him to change this much. Jeagal Mun-Ho looked at Tang Gwan with a curious gaze.

Tang Gwan’s expression immediately turned unpleasant.

“If you’re going to keep looking at me like that, I’m leaving.”

“Ah, no. I apologize for making the Family Head uncomfortable. I will apologize.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho bowed deeply, offering a polite apology.

A sneer appeared on Tang Gwan’s face.

“Your waist is quite flexible. It seems you’re ready to bow to anyone depending on the situation.”

He was openly mocking him.

One would expect him to be upset, but Jeagal Mun-Ho instead burst into laughter.

“Isn’t it said that the more flexible the joints of a politician, the better? It is my creed to approach allies with the lowest posture and to present enemies with a blade sharper than any dagger.”

“That’s quite a creed you have there.”

Although he said that, Tang Gwan also understood Jeagal Mun-Ho. Without that level of flexibility, it would be difficult to control the massive monster that was the Martial Alliance.

At that moment, Yeon-Wi interjected.

“Anyway, I believe you understand the situation.”

“Of course.”

“I would like to call my eldest son as well, but I thought it was more important to inform the strategist of the current situation first, so I brought him along.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

“You did well. It’s better to know this kind of information as soon as possible.”

The corners of Tang Gwan’s mouth lifted.

“Now that I think about it, even if it’s politics, this seems a bit much.”

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t it the strategist’s virtue to handle things fairly? To make moves in advance just because they’re from the same faction, isn’t that no different from what that bastard Moyong Gun does?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho shook his head.

“You misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand?”

“The two candidates who said they would run came to me. I am merely in charge of the administrative processing of the documents related to the candidates.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes lit up.

“You’re saying two people have already been here?”

“That’s right. The reason the Yeon Family Head brought the Tang Family Head to me is to put his name on the list of candidates.”

“But, if I don’t do my part, you’ll give me a push from behind.”

“That is also correct.”

“I can’t say you’re a clean politician.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes deepened.

“What kind of person do you think I am, Family Head?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If you find it difficult to answer, I’ll tell you directly. I am a person who exists to protect the Martial Alliance.”

“……”

“If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t, but now that I know that there is a disaster like Moyong Gun, I have no choice but to move, even if it means getting my hands dirty. It’s one thing if someone who is not suitable for the position of Alliance Leader runs, but I can’t help but worry about the candidacy of a dangerous person like Moyong Gun.”

“……”

“And one more thing.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled again.

“We are not the same faction. We have never even formed a faction in the first place.”

“What?”

“It was just an intention to make Moyong Gun, the Moyong Family Head, think that way. In reality, the Yeon Family Head and I have never collaborated to shake the direction of the Alliance.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes deepened.

“To my ears, it sounds like mere wordplay.”

“You may certainly think so. The important thing is that I at least have a line between when to step forward and when to step back.”

A line (線)…….

Since coming to the Martial Alliance, he had heard a lot about lines. Moyong Gun had said it, and so had the Yeon Family’s damned eldest son.

Jeagal Mun-Ho clapped his hands.

“In any case, now that the Tang Family Head has said he will run, this Alliance Leader election will be quite fierce. I will put your name on the list first.”

Yeon-Wi nodded.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“There is nothing else. Due to the nature of the Martial Alliance, it is difficult to specify restrictions such as setting a limit on election funds. However, I will limit the number of sponsors to two.”

“Sponsors.”

“Sponsors are nothing more than that.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes sparkled.

“The moment the election begins, none of the candidates can leave the inner castle of the Martial Alliance. In other words, the formation of public opinion about the candidates must all be done by the sponsors.”

“I see.”

“In other words, they are the people who will act as the candidates’ hands and feet. Naturally, the more influence a person has in the martial world, the more advantageous it will be for the candidate.”

Yeon-Wi nodded.

“I understand what you mean.”

It was a fight without clear limits. At first glance, it seemed like they were restricting the candidates from leaving the inner castle, but that didn’t mean they were preventing them from sending letters or leading the political situation.

Furthermore, although the number of sponsors was limited to two, there was no way to prevent those who had ties with those sponsors from helping.

In other words, it was a fight where they would mobilize everything they could while maintaining the formalities.

Jeagal Mun-Ho asked Tang Gwan.

“Then, I will ask. Who will you choose as your sponsors, Tang Family Head?”

Tang Gwan frowned.

“I only just found out that I was on my way to register as a candidate. I haven’t had time to think about that.”

“Then I will give you time. As of today, I will put your name on the list of candidates, so please let me know who you have chosen as your sponsors by noon tomorrow.”

Tang Gwan shook his head.

“Is there really a need to go that far? Just give me half a quarter of an hour.”

“Understood.”

Tang Gwan looked at Yeon-Wi.

Yeon-Wi smiled.

“This person has many shortcomings.”

“I don’t expect to become the real Alliance Leader anyway, and I don’t intend to.”

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to choose someone more capable than this person?”

“It would be difficult to find someone more capable than you, and there wouldn’t be anyone among them who is close to me.”

“Haha.”

That was not wrong. Yeon-Wi nodded.

“Alright. Then I will take on one of the two sponsors.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

“Understood. Now, please tell me the last person.”

Yeon-Wi looked at Tang Gwan.

Tang Gwan, who had been lost in thought for a moment, nodded.

“I’ve decided.”

“Who is it?”

“The Western Region Divine Woman.”

“……!!”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s expression hardened. Yeon-Wi also looked surprised.

“Tang Family Head.”

“There is no objection. The last sponsor will be the Western Region Divine Woman.”

Yeon-Wi asked.

“Have you perhaps already met the Western Region Divine Woman?”

Tang Gwan said curtly.

“Weren’t we supposed to see her together? I haven’t even seen a single strand of hair from that skilled doctor.”

“Ha, then why did you choose the Western Region Divine Woman as your sponsor? No, aside from that, what if the Divine Woman refuses…”

“Let’s go meet her as soon as this meeting is over, so she can’t refuse.”

“Huh!”

Jeagal Mun-Ho opened his mouth.

“If things haven’t been properly discussed yet, I will wait until noon tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

“But, may I ask you one thing?”

“What is it?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho asked cautiously.

“Is there a reason why you chose the Western Region Divine Woman? Of course, she is not yet a sponsor since she has not agreed.”

Tang Gwan chuckled.

“Didn’t you say that the most important thing for an election candidate is public opinion?”

“Of course, that is correct.”

“In the current world, how many doctors are as loved as the Western Region Divine Woman, except for that crazy doctor’s union called the Medical Association?”

“……!”

“In terms of chivalrous reputation, the Western Region Divine Woman’s name is comparable to or even greater than the heads of the Nine Great Sects [major martial arts factions].”

“What the Tang Family Head says is correct, but the Western Region Divine Woman’s reputation is much better known among the common people than in the martial world. I would understand if it was someone like Tongcheon Shin [a renowned martial artist]…”

“That’s enough. I’ll take care of that, so just keep that in mind.”

“……Haha, I thought the Family Head would choose Yeon Gun-Jang [Yeon Ho-Jeong’s title] as the last person.”

Tang Gwan snorted.

“I don’t want to give that impudent brat the qualification of a sponsor. Besides, his father is already my sponsor, so how could he not help me?”

That was true.

After all, it was Yeon Ho-Jeong who told Tang Gwan to run for the Alliance Leader election. He would push him in any way he could, even if he wasn’t officially designated as a sponsor.

“And from what I see, giving that guy more responsibility will only add more restrictions to his actions. He’s more dangerous when he’s not tied down by anything.”

Tang Gwan smiled coldly.

“Since I’ve pushed the Tang Family Head of the world to be a candidate, let him run around until his feet are sore.”

Considering that he had calculated that far in such a short time, Tang Gwan was definitely not ordinary.

“Now, let’s go.”

Yeon-Wi, who was flustered, stood up awkwardly.

“Are you leaving already?”

Tang Gwan frowned.

“Didn’t you say that Yeon Ho-Jeong was planning to make me the center of power in the Martial Alliance?”

“……”

“There’s no need to stop him from helping me as he pleases. But I lead my own life. There is nothing more shameful than being dragged around by someone else.”

Tang Gwan turned his body.

“Lead the way to the Western Region Divine Woman. Let’s finish this today.”

The sight of Tang Gwan leaving the room with his hands behind his back was truly fearless.

Yeon-Wi and Jeagal Mun-Ho made eye contact.

Their eyes were filled with a strange light.

“……He’s a truly interesting person.”