Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 499

After the meeting, Bonggong and the elders left the conference room.

Jeagal Mun-Ho, who had been keeping his place, watched Gong Gong Daesa, who was the last to rise.

Gong Gong Daesa nodded silently and left the conference room. It seemed he meant to discuss the details later.

“Hoo.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho sighed, tidied the table, and left the conference room.

It was then.

“It seems the discussion went well.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho turned his head to the side.

There, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, were Yeon Ho-Jeong, and Moyong Gun, who had been too busy managing the punishment hall to attend the meeting.

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes deepened.

“The two of you?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly.

“It’s three people. Master Moyong and I started it, and Gong Gong Daesa finished it.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho, who had been quietly watching the two, asked as if throwing a question.

“How?”

Moyong Gun spoke calmly.

“Jin-In Yong Hwa was once someone who shared the same goals as this person. Regarding the internal strife within the Hwasan Sect, there are few who know it as well as I do.”

“So that’s why? To help with this Yong Hwa Jin-In matter, you brought in Yong Seon Jin-In, who was in conflict with Yong Hwa Jin-In, and gave him strength?”

That’s right.

Now that Yong Hwa Jin-In was dead, the backlash from the Hwasan Sect would be extreme. Regardless of what kind of person Yong Hwa Jin-In was, he was the sect leader of the Hwasan Sect.

However, there were many in the Hwasan Sect who did not think Yong Hwa Jin-In was fit to be the sect leader. To be precise, there were people who disliked and hated him.

Yong Seon Jin-In was one of those people. He was someone who thought that the Hwasan Sect’s reputation was falling to the ground due to Yong Hwa Jin-In’s materialistic nature.

And in reality, that was the case. The Hwasan Sect was still a prestigious clan in the Central Plains, but it was gradually losing its noble reputation of the past.

For that reason, another faction within Hwasan was secretly trying to impeach Yong Hwa Jin-In. The leader of that faction was Yong Seon Jin-In.

And Yong Seon Jin-In accepted Yeon Ho-Jeong and Moyong Gun’s proposal very readily.

“Yong Seon Jin-In is a realistic person. In that aspect, he is similar to Yong Hwa Jin-In. However, Yong Hwa Jin-In was only focused on accumulating wealth with his personality. Yong Seon Jin-In is different. He is someone who has a dream of restoring the glorious Hwasan of the past through realistic measures.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“Furthermore, he is someone who also has the ambition to achieve great merit in this war. He also has the ambition to become the sect leader and reform Hwasan.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes sharpened.

“So, are you planning to make Yong Seon Jin-In the sect leader?”

“That is beyond our capabilities.”

Moyong Gun shrugged his shoulders.

“Deciding the leader within a sect is something that cannot be interfered with by outsiders. However, if Gong Gong Daesa and I vouch for Yong Seon Jin-In’s character and abilities, I believe he has a higher chance of becoming the sect leader than anyone else.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho, who had been silently watching the two, sighed.

“You should have at least given me a heads-up.”

“Given you a heads-up? Would you have allowed this to proceed given your military nature?”

“Given Master Moyong’s personality, you would have pushed it through no matter how much I opposed it. And…”

Jeagal Mun-Ho glanced at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“If Vice-Leader Yeon also agrees, then even more so.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue.

“I am sorry for carrying out this matter without consulting you. But…”

“I know. Now is not the time for us to fight amongst ourselves, but a time when we must combine our strength to overcome this difficult situation. I understand your intentions.”

“Thank you.”

“However, this method is not acceptable. I also chose an excessively aggressive method to catch the spy, but to think of changing the leader of a sect? This is truly crossing the line.”

Moyong Gun smiled coldly.

“Didn’t the military advisor say? We are at war.”

“…”

“Anything can happen during war. Moreover, it is helping the military advisor’s dream of uniting the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance]. But to say that we have crossed the line with this matter is an overly optimistic view of the situation, isn’t it?”

“Master Moyong.”

“Shouldn’t you be grateful?”

“…What do you mean?”

“You were the one who said that you would make the Murim Alliance function properly until a suitable person is found for the vacant alliance leader position. Then you should be grateful, so why are you criticizing us with so many complaints?”

Moyong Gun frowned.

“Surely you didn’t think that you could be forgiven by apologizing to Hwasan? Did you think that someone would step in and save you?”

“…”

“Or is your pride hurt because this happened without your knowledge?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s face hardened.

“You are being harsh.”

“Look at the situation clearly!”

Moyong Gun’s voice was filled with strength.

“For those who harbor ambition, abandonment is essential. If the world were so easy that you could achieve what you want while taking care of all the proprieties, then war wouldn’t have broken out. Do you understand?”

“…”

“If you have a dream, a goal that you want to achieve, don’t worry about what others think. Even if your pride is hurt, just keep walking forward. It’s not enough to spit on the faces of the fools who point fingers while prioritizing morality and ethics. Why are you so caught up in a plausible illusion, talking nonsense about crossing the line?”

“…”

“If you want to play the role of a chivalrous hero, then step down from that position. If you truly want to achieve your desired goal, then throw away that restrictive shroud of obsession that only sounds sweet but has no substance as soon as possible.”

Moyong Gun left after saying those words. He was very angry at Jeagal Mun-Ho’s lukewarm attitude.

Jeagal Mun-Ho asked Yeon Ho-Jeong.

“Is that what you think too?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“I am not crazy enough to fully agree with Master Moyong’s ruthless words. That man has lived like that, and that’s why he can say such things without hesitation.”

“…”

“However, there are definitely points to consider in Master Moyong’s words.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho sighed again.

“To be honest, like Master Moyong said, I might have been thinking vaguely that I would somehow be okay.”

“Military Advisor, you are also human. Anyone can get tired.”

“Yes, there are correct parts in Master Moyong’s words. Perhaps he wanted to awaken my mind, which was taking the situation too lightly.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“That’s an excessive interpretation. That man is not that kind of person.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho shook his head.

“Whatever it is, I have realized anew. That I am tired, and that I have not seen the situation as urgently as you or Master Moyong.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong did not say no. It was not because that was the case, but because he felt that no matter what he said, he would not be able to comfort Jeagal Mun-Ho.

“However, even so, this kind of thing must end with this one time. No matter how serious the situation is, we must not try to change the leaders of other sects as we please.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong lowered his head.

“I will be careful.”

He did not say that he would not do it. He wouldn’t do it unless it was absolutely necessary, but it meant that he would not limit the methods if the situation was urgent.

Jeagal Mun-Ho could understand that. But he did not criticize Yeon Ho-Jeong.

The individuality of the world is as diverse as the number of people who exist. Yeon Ho-Jeong and he were bound to have different values.

“Shall we go to my residence for a while?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

In front of the military advisor’s residence, surprisingly, Gong Gong Daesa and Yeon-Wi were there.

Jeagal Mun-Ho asked in surprise.

“Why are the two of you here…?”

Gong Gong Daesa smiled and said.

“I would like to discuss various things for the future of the Murim Alliance, and isn’t the military advisor the one who knows the alliance best? So, I came to find you.”

Yeon-Wi shrugged his shoulders.

“I agree.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho could tell. That Gong Gong Daesa had come to comfort him.

‘This is something.’

It seemed that he had unnecessarily worried people. He felt somewhat embarrassed.

Jeagal Mun-Ho, who had been quietly looking at Gong Gong Daesa, said as if throwing a question.

“You were uncharacteristically harsh, Daesa.”

He was talking about Yong Seon Jin-In.

Gong Gong Daesa nodded.

“I know.”

“Master Moyong and Vice-Leader Yeon can do that, but you shouldn’t have, Daesa.”

“I have no face to show the military advisor.”

There were no lengthy excuses. Gong Gong Daesa apologized plainly.

Jeagal Mun-Ho felt a smile forming.

“How does it feel to be scolded by a junior?”

“I feel good. The reason is that I am happy that the spirit of chivalry is still alive in your heart, even while doing the difficult work of a military advisor.”

“You flatter me.”

“However, this humble monk does not think that this matter crossed the line. It was a drastic matter, but still.”

“If that’s what you think, then I have nothing to say.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho opened the door to his office.

“Please come inside.”

Soon after, the four people sat around the table.

Gong Gong Daesa spoke first.

“There is something I couldn’t ask because the atmosphere in the conference room was heavy.”

“Please speak.”

“The spy was Pung Byeok-Ja, and the contact was the Clothing Group, right? Then who was the manager?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong said.

“Master Moyong said that it was the Deputy Head of the Punishment Hall.”

“The Deputy Head of the Punishment Hall…”

Jeagal Mun-Ho opened his mouth.

“There is something I need to tell you about that as well.”

“Hmm?”

“Many people died in the explosion of the Punishment Hall. There are many people whose bodies could not even be recovered intact. However…”

“…?”

“A body presumed to be that of Seok Bang-Heon, the Deputy Head of the Punishment Hall, was found inside the prison.”

Gong Gong Daesa’s eyes widened. Yeon-Wi also looked surprised.

“Then who on earth…?”

“If he is really Deputy Head Seok Bang-Heon, it means that the manager has mastered a bizarre martial art that can change a person’s face on the spot.”

If it was a human skin mask, Tang Gwan would have noticed it immediately. That is, the manager did not wear a mask that looked exactly like Seok Bang-Heon, but actually transformed his face.

“It’s a similar type to Bone Transformation Skill, but it’s a martial art that is so precise that it can’t even be compared to it. To be able to change into the same face as the opponent, and in such a short time, is an amazing feat.”

“Hoo.”

“Also, the body of the Deung Cheon-Gyo [Ascending Heaven Sect] sect leader was not found. In other words, it can be seen that Sect Leader Deung has been acting as the manager all along.”

Gong Gong Daesa’s eyes trembled.

The sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects, and not just one but two, were spies of the enemy.

“This can’t be…”

“I don’t know how to convey this fact to the Gungdong Sect. Cheongseong is Cheongseong, but the Taoists of the Gungdong Sect are generally known for their strong pride and fiery temperaments. They might even criticize or withdraw from the Murim Alliance, saying that we are lying.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“We can just say that the Deung Cheon-Gyo sect leader was switched out.”

“Hmm?”

“If the manager has mastered a martial art that allows him to copy and transform into the face of the opponent, there is no reason why he couldn’t copy the face of the Deung Cheon-Gyo sect leader. We can just inform them that he was also a victim of that.”

“…Hoo.”

Yeon-Wi sighed.

“Are you suggesting we lie?”

“Yes.”

He answered so confidently that there was nothing to say.

Yeon Ho-Jeong also sighed.

“Actually, that’s not what’s important right now. The real important issue is that we may have to endure a time of patience for the time being.”

“A time of patience?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Jeagal Mun-Ho.

Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.

“For the time being, we may have to operate the Murim Alliance in a… semi-closed form.”

“…!!”