Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 477

“Everyone’s here.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s face, as he looked around at the Bonggong [Leaders of the Nine Great Sects and Six Great Families], was as calm as ever.

“Thank you for gathering despite your busy schedules. This is a rather serious matter, and I apologize for insisting that no one be absent.”

Deung Cheon-Gyo spoke bluntly.

“Enough with the formalities, just tell us why you called all these busy people here.”

“Deung Bonggong.”

At Gong Gong Dae Sa’s low voice, Deung Cheon-Gyo clicked his tongue and turned his head. Even he couldn’t ignore the look from the Shaolin Abbot.

Gong Gong Dae Sa gestured to Jeagal Mun-Ho with his eyes.

Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.

“As Deung Bonggong said, I won’t drag this out. I’ll get straight to the point.”

His voice dropped.

The difference between his usual demeanor and his serious one was truly vast. All eyes of the Bonggong turned to Jeagal Mun-Ho.

Jeagal Mun-Ho looked around the room once before speaking.

“As Deung Bonggong mentioned before, we all now know that there are people called the Three Sects from beyond the borders, that their power is immense, and that they are aiming for the Central Plains.”

The already heavy atmosphere grew even heavier.

“I.”

The Bonggong of the Nine Great Sects, and the Bonggong of the Six Great Families.

Looking each of them in the eye, Jeagal Mun-Ho continued.

“I am certain that there is a spy among the Bonggong.”

Bang!

Yong Hwa Jin-In of Mount Hua slammed the table.

“What nonsense are you spouting!”

Yong Hwa Jin-In was not the only one. Several Bonggong’s faces flushed red, and even those who weren’t as extreme looked uncomfortable.

“Are you really suggesting that there is an enemy spy here?”

“I told you before. I didn’t reveal the existence of the Three Sects because there might be enemy spies.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.

“I am certain. I don’t know if it’s one person or more, but there is definitely a spy here.”

“That’s absurd!”

Yong Hwa Jin-In’s voice was louder than ever.

“I didn’t get angry at the Abbot and the Military Advisor before because I could understand their situation! Especially you, Military Advisor! You kept silent about the Mukryong Unit [Secret military unit] without our knowledge! Even then, you made the ridiculous excuse that there might be a spy!”

“That’s right.”

“Everyone here is highly respected in the Jianghu [Martial world]! They are not the kind of people who would be spies for some foreign scum!”

“If you remember the past, you should also remember what I said then.”

As if he had fully expected this reaction, Jeagal Mun-Ho spoke calmly.

“The Military Advisor is someone who doesn’t fully trust even the greatest hero in the world. Even if the Martial Alliance Leader is chosen, he won’t completely trust him. That’s who the Military Advisor is.”

“Even so!”

“I fully understand your reaction, Bonggong. If I were in a different position, I would also be uncomfortable and angry in this situation.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes turned cold.

“But let me ask you this. Do you think I would joke around with the highly respected Bonggong of the Jianghu?”

“……!!”

“Even if what I’m saying is true, if I fail to catch the spy, I will bear the full brunt of the backlash. If things go wrong, I could be removed from my position as Military Advisor, or even be imprisoned.”

He was putting his own neck on the line. That was the meaning behind Jeagal Mun-Ho’s words.

No matter how angry they were, they couldn’t lash out in the face of Jeagal Mun-Ho’s unwavering stance. Yong Hwa Jin-In had no choice but to calm his ragged breathing.

Jeagal Mun-Ho continued.

“Calm down and think about it. Even if you don’t believe it, try to imagine it. What if there really is a spy among the Bonggong, and even this conversation is being relayed to the enemy?”

“……!!”

The heavy atmosphere turned icy cold.

What if there really was a spy among the Bonggong? What if that spy had been sending all the major issues discussed at the Bonggong meetings to the Three Sects?

There could be nothing more terrifying. It would mean that they had been unknowingly passing on the Martial Alliance’s top-secret information to the enemy.

What would that mean?

“We have been losing. And we’ve been losing completely.”

“…….”

“Now that we know we’ve been losing, we need to change the situation.”

Deung Cheon-Gyo said, as if throwing a stone.

“Do you truly believe that?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I’ll ask again. Does the Military Advisor truly believe that there is a spy among our Bonggong who is working for those Three Sects?”

“Yes, I do.”

The corners of Deung Cheon-Gyo’s lips curled up.

“How interesting. Then, we can’t rule out the possibility that the Military Advisor himself is one of those spies, can we?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

“Even if the Bonggong think so, I have nothing to say.”

“You should have a lot to say. If the Military Advisor is a spy, then we’ve been completely played.”

At that moment, Peng Mu-Gang spoke.

“Deung Bonggong.”

Peng Mu-Gang, who had rarely spoken more than ten words in the meetings, had opened his mouth. Everyone’s attention focused on him.

“Isn’t this a serious situation? I ask you to refrain from disrupting the atmosphere.”

“What did you say?”

“We are discussing the enemy’s spy. In a situation where the Military Advisor is certain of the spy’s existence, we should all pool our wisdom and find him as soon as possible. We shouldn’t be causing unnecessary conflict.”

Deung Cheon-Gyo’s face twisted.

“Are you done talking?”

“I’m not done, so listen more. If there really is a spy, we must drive out the enemy’s spy through unity and focus, not through fighting. I know you’re angry, but I hope you can look at the situation more calmly.”

“Unity? Focus? Who is breaking that right now! We’ve turned a blind eye to the things the Military Advisor has been secretly doing behind our backs! No matter how unavoidable the situation was, it was a clear overstep of authority!”

Pung Byeok-Ja subtly interjected.

“Deung Bonggong. Calm down for now. This won’t solve anything.”

Bok Ho of Emei also nodded.

“I agree. It seems like now is the time to put our heads together, not fight amongst ourselves.”

Deung Cheon-Gyo’s face contorted.

“Is this what you all are going to do?! If so, why are we even holding the Bonggong meeting! If the Military Advisor is going to do everything by himself, what’s the point of this meeting!”

He turned his eyes to Gong Gong Dae Sa.

“Abbot, you should say something too! Yes, you said before that you were watching over the Military Advisor’s actions from behind!”

Gong Gong Dae Sa looked at Deung Cheon-Gyo without a word.

Flames erupted from Deung Cheon-Gyo’s eyes.

“You said you would take responsibility, so speak like someone who is responsible! Do you really think this situation makes any sense?!”

At that moment, Seung Hyeon Jin-In spoke.

“It’s only natural.”

It was an unexpected remark. Everyone, starting with Deung Cheon-Gyo, looked at Seung Hyeon Jin-In.

Seung Hyeon Jin-In looked at Jeagal Mun-Ho and said,

“This kind of reaction is only natural. It’s not unreasonable for Deung Bonggong to be so angry. Isn’t that right?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.

“That’s correct.”

“Also, although it’s extreme, what Deung Bonggong is saying isn’t entirely wrong. Of course, the Military Advisor’s abilities and character are outstanding, and there’s no doubt about the Abbot’s Buddhist heart. However, if we look back at the past, it’s clear that the two of you have crossed the line.”

“I am sorry.”

“The Martial Alliance is a huge organization. It’s inevitable that we have many enemies. However, it’s not good for things to proceed like this every time a crisis arises. It’s unavoidable since the position of Alliance Leader is still vacant, but such secretive and radical actions make many people feel bewildered.”

“I am aware of that.”

“There will be moments when it’s unavoidable. However, I hope you will be careful in handling such matters in the future. Deung Bonggong and the Military Advisor, aren’t you all people walking the same path?”

There was power in Seung Hyeon Jin-In’s words.

A calm and unwavering voice. He even said that not only Jeagal Mun-Ho but also Gong Gong Dae Sa were at fault.

That was a clear fact. He was stating the facts as they were, using a way of speaking that acknowledged the situation without making the atmosphere too heated. The atmosphere, which had been like a raging volcano, gradually cooled down.

Thud!

Deung Cheon-Gyo crossed his arms and sat down. With the atmosphere like this, he couldn’t stay angry forever.

Peng Mu-Gang said,

“I was also frustrated, so my words were somewhat aggressive. I apologize.”

Seung Hyeon Jin-In smiled.

“No one is unaware of the Peng family’s magnanimous nature. Peng Bonggong also stepped forward for everyone’s sake, didn’t he? There’s no need for you to apologize.”

“I’m just embarrassed.”

As the atmosphere calmed down, Jeagal Mun-Ho spoke again.

“I expected this kind of situation to some extent, but experiencing it firsthand is more unsettling than I thought. I apologize once again for taking unilateral actions as the Military Advisor.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho bowed his head.

He seemed to be offering a sincere apology, at least on the surface, though no one knew what he was truly thinking. Deung Cheon-Gyo snorted and turned his head away.

“However.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho straightened his back, his face returning to its expressionless state.

“There is a matter that I decided on my own before the meeting. I ask that the Bonggong understand this last part.”

Yong Hwa Jin-In’s cheek twitched.

“What is it now?”

“By now, rumors should be spreading throughout the north of the Yangtze River. In about three days, the entire Central Plains will be in an uproar over one rumor.”

“Rumor?”

“A rumor that an unknown force is eyeing the Central Plains, and that this force may have planted a spy in the Martial Alliance.”

“……!!”

Horror dawned on the faces of the Bonggong.

Deung Cheon-Gyo shouted in disbelief.

“Are you crazy?!”

It was something that would warrant such a reaction.

This was a huge mess. The way the Bonggong looked at Jeagal Mun-Ho immediately turned hostile.

“I was going to give you one more chance, but to cause such a huge incident without any consultation… !”

“Isn’t it better than a war breaking out?”

Deung Cheon-Gyo’s eyes wavered.

It wasn’t just him. Most of the Bonggong were shocked and looked at Jeagal Mun-Ho.

“If we catch the spy, there’s a very small chance that we could suffer a devastating attack. But we can’t just not catch the spy, can we?”

“…….”

“It’s absurd to engage in an all-out war with an enemy that surpasses the Martial Alliance’s power when we’re not properly prepared. We can’t all die because of one rat.”

“…….”

“Since we’re on the topic, I’d like to say a word to that rat.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

That terribly cold smile was enough to make even Deung Cheon-Gyo, who had a unique temper, feel a chill down his spine.

“Don’t act recklessly.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s tone was languid.

“Even if you ignite the hearts of the people of the Central Plains who have learned about the unknown terror of the Three Sects, you will only gain a glory that is full of wounds. Stay where you are, just like you have been. I will create the battlefield here.”

“…….”

“I’ll be coming to catch you soon, so quietly prepare your ropes. If you confess, I will do my best to persuade the Bonggong to spare your life.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho bowed his head.

“That’s all. Thank you for your hard work in the meeting.”