Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 97

When I left Gyeongju, I went to see Jeong Jin-soo.

Jeong Jin-soo had already compiled the information about the situation.

I read the documents about the Nine Dragons Society and took some time to organize my thoughts.

“So, Baek Cheol-soo was in contact with the Elders’ faction.”

“Yes, it wasn’t a business they were heavily invested in. It seems they were just moderately supporting Baek Cheol-soo and observing the situation.”

“If it were significant support, the family would have noticed it immediately.”

The Nine Dragons Society was, in many ways, an inadequate force to be considered a unified entity.

From its inception, the organization was a coalition of various martial arts families and sects. Even in modern times, instead of these organizations uniting, they were constantly dividing while upholding their own traditions.

To such an extent that even if they were organizations under the same banner of the Nine Dragons Society, they wouldn’t hesitate to carry out assassinations and purges if their interests clashed.

As such, the power map of the Nine Dragons Society becomes endlessly complicated if you try to understand it in depth, but broadly speaking, it can be seen as a confrontation between two factions.

The Elders’ faction, consisting of the heads of the five sects and four families, known as the Five Gates (五門) and Four Families (四家) [influential martial arts lineages].

The Nine Dragons Society Lord’s faction, consisting of emerging forces and affiliated groups seeking to maintain the coalition.

The Elders are trying to expand their influence and increase their interests.

The Nine Dragons Society Lord is trying to consolidate power internally and create his own kingdom.

The Elders held the overall power.

The only thing that maintained the balance was the overwhelming martial prowess of the current Nine Dragons Society Lord.

Jeong Jin-soo continued to speak with a dark expression, as if he felt responsible.

“I’m sorry that I seem to be causing trouble for you because of me.”

“It was a problem that would have surfaced eventually if Baek Cheol-soo had ties with the Nine Dragons Society anyway. Rather, it’s a relief that we can sort it out this early.”

I answered, handing back the documents.

When I moved on to the section detailing the power structure, I was impressed.

“It’s written in quite some detail. How did you investigate the power structure to this extent?”

Brief personal information of key figures in the Elders’ and the Lord’s factions.

Although specific interests weren’t listed, even the cooperative relationships between the forces and the power struggles were documented.

The Nine Dragons Society is easier to obtain information on than the Soongmoo Lee family because the organization itself is less cohesive, but still, it wasn’t information that ordinary people could acquire.

“I bought the information. There was an information dealer who I had a connection with when I was handling things in the Nest [a criminal underworld organization].”

“You bought the information?”

I stared at Jeong Jin-soo with wide eyes.

Selling this level of information meant that he was a player in ‘this world’ [the world of martial arts and secret societies].

No matter how talented an ordinary information dealer is, they wouldn’t be able to uncover the internal affairs of the Nine Dragons Society.

And there aren’t many such information dealers.

One organization came to mind.

“Could it be the Black Crow Association?”

“You guessed it right away. Yes, that’s right.”

Black Crow Association.

Its sphere of influence spans all over East Asia, and it was an information dealer recognized for its considerable reliability and information network.

It may not have as much information power as the Yeonggeomdan [a powerful intelligence agency] or the information department of the main family, but among the external forces, there was no place with as much potential as the Black Crow Association.

‘Now I understand. If it’s information from the Black Crow Association, I can trust it.’

I turned to the next page of the document.

And there I found a familiar name.

“Now, this is information about the key figure of the Nine Dragons Society who will be in charge of this matter…”

Yang Seo-dan.

Age 36.

The next head of the Yang family, who is in charge of one of the Four Families.

I let out a hollow laugh.

‘Yang Seo-dan, that idiot, is coming?’

As befits a large force, the Nine Dragons Society had several famous figures, most of whom were known for their cruelty or martial prowess.

However, among them, there was an idiot who was even called the disgrace of the Nine Dragons Society, and that was Yang Seo-dan.

His political skills were quite outstanding, but his abilities in other areas were the worst.

Perhaps he was ruined by tasting the taste of power at a young age, he caused all sorts of controversies and was caught and removed by the Lord’s faction.

‘But why bother with that guy…’

He is by no means suitable as a personnel to be sent out to handle missions.

Then there is only one answer.

‘I see. Are they trying to build up his achievements?’

In other words, this matter may not be seen as very important within the Nine Dragons Society.

If it’s someone else, I’d be worried, but if it’s Yang Seo-dan, I’m relieved for now.

“There’s a story that Yang Seo-dan was talking about going to Korea for a mission at a bar he frequents. Even if you roughly calculate it, it seems that he will illegally enter Korea sometime this week.”

“He’ll probably enter through a dangerous area.”

Jeong Jin-soo put down the documents and asked with a worried expression.

“What should we do? Should I go into hiding for now to buy some time? Considering that we have to be aware of the Soongmoo Lee family’s gaze, they won’t be able to stay in Korea for long either.”

I shook my head at Jeong Jin-soo’s suggestion.

“No, then the Nine Dragons Society will end up sending someone again.”

I thought for a moment and slammed the documents down.

“I have a good idea.”

“What is it?”

Jeong Jin-soo’s eyes lit up.

He was willing to do anything dangerous if it meant he could get through this.

“I can’t do it alone, you have to put in a little effort.”

“If there’s anything I can do, please tell me.”

“Really?”

Lee Cheol smiled slyly.

Jeong Jin-soo felt an inexplicable anxiety for some reason.

“O-Of course.”

“Okay. I apologize in advance.”

“…?”

Jeong Jin-soo didn’t know.

That when Lee Cheol makes that expression, the people of the Soongmoo Lee family who know Lee Cheol well get goosebumps.

* * *

I instructed Jeong Jin-soo to contact the Black Crow Association to find out Yang Seo-dan’s movements.

Jeong Jin-soo tilted his head.

“Do you think his movements will be so easily exposed when it’s a secret mission?”

“He’s probably resting in a hotel suite right now? If it’s the Black Crow Association, finding Chinese people who suddenly came to the hotel with escorts is not a big deal.”

“Yes? You mean a hotel during a mission?”

Jeong Jin-soo frowned and asked back, but I told him to do it.

Because I was sure he would.

And after providing a considerable amount of money as an information fee, we were able to find out Yang Seo-dan’s location.

As expected, Yang Seo-dan was at the hotel.

Jeong Jin-soo said with a little surprise.

“Maybe he’s putting into practice the saying ‘it’s dark under the lamp’ [the best place to hide is in plain sight]. Staying at a hotel during a secret mission. You are really amazing. How did you predict that Yang Seo-dan would act like that?”

“…I heard it from the family.”

I had no choice but to make excuses because I didn’t have a proper answer.

I couldn’t say that I knew that idiot wouldn’t stay in a cheap accommodation.

“Let’s go as you said now. If it’s the Cheonsang Hotel, is it in Jongno?”

Jeong Jin-soo’s eyes trembled a little at my words.

“Are you really going to find him first?”

“This is the best way. You have to say it well as planned.”

“…I understand.”

So we made the first move before Yang Seo-dan’s group could find Jeong Jin-soo.

Jeong Jin-soo swallowed hard.

He had set foot in ‘this world’, but he was an ordinary person with not even a speck of martial power.

But he was now facing a warrior.

And not just any warrior, but warriors from the giant force, the Nine Dragons Society.

“Hmm, I didn’t expect the guy we were looking for to come to us on his own.”

Yang Seo-dan looked at Jeong Jin-soo with a meaningful expression.

“How did you know we were coming?”

Even though Yang Seo-dan was just a small fry, he was a warrior who had learned magic.

And when he received his gaze, Jeong Jin-soo felt his heart sink.

But at the same time.

Jeong Jin-soo was also feeling the presence of Lee Cheol, who was wearing a mask right behind him.

He couldn’t show a bad side in front of the person he served.

Jeong Jin-soo took a deep breath without being heard around him and lit up his eyes.

“I found out through an information dealer. It is an honor to meet Yang Seo-dan of the Great Nine Dragons Society.”

Jeong Jin-soo flattered the other party in standard Chinese.

The accent was somewhat awkward, but it was not difficult to understand.

“You knew me?”

Yang Seo-dan tilted his head as if he was wondering.

His information, who had not been active externally, was not well known to the outside.

“Of course I know you, as you will soon become the head of the Yang family.”

“Well, I guess you have that much intelligence.”

Yang Seo-dan said that and looked at Lee Cheol behind Jeong Jin-soo with a somewhat unpleasant look.

“But… even though you know who I am, you brazenly brought a bodyguard?”

Yang Seo-dan’s eyes flashed dangerously.

Jeong Jin-soo tried to hide his hardening expression and calmly replied.

“I have to have insurance when I meet the warriors of the Nine Dragons Society. As you can see, I am an ordinary person who has not even learned magic.”

“For a merchant from a small country. They say it’s the land of Eastern etiquette, but you’re so arrogant.”

At that moment, Yang Seo-dan felt the annoyance he had been holding back surge up.

‘Even if the Soongmoo Lee family is involved, isn’t it just a force from a remote small country? I should have just told the Soongmoo Lee family to speak out loud without having to move in secret. To send me to bring a guy who was only hanging out with vagrants.’

Yang Seo-dan decided to stop thinking.

Anyway, now that that guy has come directly, I thought this shabby work would be over soon.

“Anyway, it’s good that you came directly. Follow me to the Nine Dragons Society right away. You’ll have to explain this matter there. Well, I’m tired, so I’ll go in now.”

The moment Yang Seo-dan tried to get up from his seat.

Jeong Jin-soo opened his mouth.

“That won’t work.”

“…What did you say now?”

“I’m sorry, but I have no reason to follow you.”

“Ha.”

Yang Seo-dan smiled absurdly and frowned.

“Arrogant! Do you think I came here to negotiate! This is not a recommendation, it’s an order!”

“I didn’t come here to negotiate either. It seems like you’re misunderstanding something, but I came here for a deal.”

“A deal? Do you think you’re qualified to make a deal with me? I’m going to be the next Elder of the Nine Dragons Society!”

Jeong Jin-soo remained calm even as Yang Seo-dan burst into anger.

“I know the reason for this trip to Korea, at least roughly. There’s no reason for the Nine Dragons Society to come looking for me. This story won’t be a bad story for you either, Yang Seo-dan.”

“Shut up. If you’re not coming, I’ll just drag you away.”

Yang Seo-dan sneered as if he was amused.

And he glanced at the escort standing behind him.

“Hey, swordsman.”

“…Yes.”

Jang Han replied with a blank face as usual.

“First of all, kill that guy.”

Yang Seo-dan said, pointing to Lee Cheol with his hand.