Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 197

A few days after Father left the family estate, a chilling tension hung in the air at the Soongmoo Lee family compound.

To an outside observer, it might have seemed unusually quiet, especially considering the declared competition for the head of the family.

But that silence was like the calm before a storm.

‘They must be testing the waters,’ I thought.

Once a catalyst was introduced, the real competition would begin in earnest.

Until now, a delicate balance had existed between the brothers, a line maintained by Father’s presence and the family rules.

But now, Father had departed on an indefinite journey, and the announcement of a new head of the family had shattered that line.

As Father had predicted, this would be a competition without regard for ethics or methods.

‘In my past life, it was divided into five factions.’

I retraced the events of my past life.

The competition for the head of the family had devolved into a struggle between five distinct factions.

First, the most powerful force, and the one everyone feared, was, of course…

‘My first brother. It won’t be much different from my past life.’

At this point, he was the clear frontrunner for the position of head of the Soongmoo Lee family.

Everyone could anticipate Lee Myung-jung’s approach to the competition.

He would uphold tradition, eliminate stagnation, and strictly exclude those who violated the established boundaries, all in accordance with the Lee family’s values.

He would protect what needed protection and purge the accumulated corruption.

This approach was viable because the eldest brother commanded the strongest support base within the family, making it a truly orthodox strategy.

‘Secondly, there would be my second sister’s force. My second sister is…’

My second sister, who had been patiently waiting, would soon reveal her true intentions.

The path my second sister was taking was that of a tyrant.

Her sole objective was to seize the family’s throne.

She cared little about the consequences, so she would likely resort to radical measures.

‘Thirdly, the force of my third brother.’

Third brother, Lee Gun-sung.

He was an unpredictable opponent, but I could anticipate his actions.

Lee Gun-sung would employ any means necessary.

He would enlist outside forces or even sell off the family’s assets.

He was a man who would calmly exploit any available resource.

‘Next would be the alliance of the fourth, fifth twins, and sixth, and the neutral forces, right?’

The fourth through sixth siblings, weaker than the top three contenders, had formed an alliance in my past life.

The seventh and eighth brothers had remained neutral.

That was the composition of the five forces.

But this life would be different.

Because I was present.

‘I have no intention of getting involved in petty factional fights or political maneuvering.’

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, I had no intention of participating in that kind of power play.

I didn’t intend to embrace everything I could, like my first brother.

I didn’t intend to recklessly push forward without considering the future, like my second sister.

I didn’t even intend to bring in outside forces, like my third brother.

Perhaps my approach was a combination of all three.

‘It’s about time for someone to make a move, whichever side it is.’

I stopped walking, turned around, and headed back to my mansion.

At the entrance, I found a man wearing a Moo-bok [martial arts uniform] dyed completely black.

Only one military unit in the Soongmoo Lee family wore such jet-black uniforms.

“I greet the youngest master.”

The head of the family’s direct secret military unit, Younggeomdan [Shadow Sword Unit].

He bowed his head respectfully.

The fact that they, who operated only in the shadows of the head of the family, had come to visit me directly meant…

“An order has been issued to the youngest master.”

An order issued in the name of the family, one that no direct descendant who had completed military service could ever refuse.

I smiled as I looked at the Younggeomdan member.

‘It’s finally starting.’

I received the order that the Younggeomdan member handed me, and my eyes lit up.

* * *

[Mission Order]

Subject: 9th Master Lee Cheol

Contents:

1. Explore the unexplored area Ba-1.

2. Details will be explained at the Council of Elders.

3. Depart by 09:00 the next day.

* * *

Inside the Soongmoo Lee family estate, the fourth and fifth twins were walking and talking to each other on their way to the Council of Elders.

“To have to go on a mission to an unexplored area. Isn’t that too dangerous?”

“Besides, to give it to us today and tell us to go tomorrow. What kind of order is given so urgently?”

“Haa, this is difficult. Really.”

The fourth and fifth siblings, having received the mission order, were chattering noisily as they walked towards the Council of Elders.

In fact, the mission order wasn’t something that could be easily influenced or dismissed.

Because it was mandatory, it was issued after consultation with the administrative department, the Council of Elders, the head of the family, or the head of the family’s representative.

They were aware of this fact.

The reason they were grumbling was simply because these mandatory missions were usually incredibly difficult.

“Hey, be quiet. Stop whining.”

Meanwhile, Lee Seol-ah, the sixth direct descendant, who was walking next to them, frowned.

Lee Seol-ah had also received the mission order.

“What is this rude bitch saying? Hehe!”

“That’s right! You got beaten by the youngest and lowered your eyes? Do you think we’re easy?”

The fourth, Lee Hyun-jae, laughed, and the fifth, Lee Hyun-chan, agreed.

“These fucking bastards are real… Do you want to die?”

“Can you do it?”

“Why, aren’t we scary? Hehehe! You were so scared that you couldn’t even look at us.”

In response to the twins’ sarcastic remarks, a blue light flickered in Lee Seol-ah’s eyes.

“I was scared of a mere illegitimate child? That bastard ambushed me… Ha! Never mind.”

Just before reaching the Council of Elders, Lee Seol-ah was grinding her teeth.

“I see.”

Lee Seol-ah was startled and quickly turned her head at the voice from behind.

“Y, you…!”

“You’re having an interesting conversation, Sixth sister.”

Standing there was none other than Lee Cheol, the subject of their conversation.

Lee Seol-ah’s complexion turned pale.

“O, oh. Y, youngest, hi?”

“I didn’t say anything? She suddenly went on a rampage.”

Lee Hyun-jae and Lee Hyun-chan waved their hands, trying to slip away.

“Yes, I know because I heard everything. You were having an interesting conversation. I was right behind you, but you didn’t even notice.”

I stared at my sixth sister.

“So, what were you trying to say, Sixth sister?”

“……”

Lee Seol-ah couldn’t say anything and lowered her head.

I snorted and turned my head.

“Don’t do this here and go in.”

“Oh! Okay!”

“Okay, youngest.”

I turned my back on the fourth and fifth siblings and walked inside.

Lee Seol-ah stopped for a moment, looking at them, and trembled.

‘Wh, why am I…’

I had vowed to beat that guy down when I met him again, but when I stood in front of him, the chilling threat from that time lingered in my ears, and I couldn’t control my trembling body.

‘Still, I’ll be assigned a separate mission. I can’t believe… I’m going with the twins…’

Lee Seol-ah closed her eyes tightly and slowly entered the conference room.

* * *

In the conference room, the eldest brother, acting as the head of the family, the heads of each department of the administrative department, and the direct descendants and elders were in attendance.

“This meeting is to discuss the details of this year’s mandatory mission order. We will skip other procedures and go straight to the main point.”

The eldest brother, acting as the head of the family, presided over the meeting.

The start was an order to the Council of Elders.

“The Council of Elders can report on the future direction of the tomb of the 2nd ancestor and each interest that the ninth Lee Cheol has brought. In addition, some secret organizations have been confirmed to be stirring, so follow-up measures must be taken.”

The mission order wasn’t only given to the direct descendants.

Orders were given to each department and administrative department under the Council of Elders.

In fact, since this order was decided through consultation with each department, the content that the eldest brother actually issued was merely a procedure to officially convey what had already been agreed upon.

Following that, the eldest brother turned his gaze to the direct descendants.

The eldest brother first gave instructions to the second sister.

“The first mission is to acquire the ownership of the first-class ancient ruins in Australia that the Eiffel Magic Tower is currently aiming for. The person in charge is the second Lee Jin-yoon. We allow the support of Younggeomdan 2nd Division, the military unit, and the main family. It is judged that a considerable amount of magical relics are buried there, so go and get the ownership.”

“It’s annoying…”

“This is a place where the executives of the family are gathered. Show some respect.”

“Yes, yes.”

The eldest brother proceeded with the meeting with charisma befitting the head of the family’s representative.

“Next…”

In addition, an order was issued to the third brother, and then the eldest brother’s gaze turned to the twins, the sixth sister, and me.

“This is the last mission. An undiscovered terrain has appeared in the northern unexplored area. The government called it the Ba-1 area. There is intelligence that some organizations surrounding the unexplored area are moving. The fourth, fifth, sixth, and ninth will go there to conduct an exploration.”

I took a long breath at the eldest brother’s instructions.

Ba-1 area.

It was a well-known area to me.

It was the place where I died in my past life.

‘Was the Ba-1 area already discovered at this point in time?’

I looked around.

My third brother didn’t have any particular reaction. It was hard to read his expression.

The same was true of the other elders.

The heads of the main military units also had indifferent expressions.

But…

‘Council of Elders, Mrs. Baek.’

There was a strange reaction from those two.

I lit up my eyes and nodded.

‘Did they finally move?’

I looked at the coordinates of the Ba-1 area and smiled strangely.

‘I was trying to time my departure, but I didn’t know I would be going like this. It’s rather welcome.’

The name Ba-1 area was only for administrative purposes.

Through various data and investigations that I had recently obtained, I learned what this place was called in ancient times.

A place known to be inhabited by ten thousand ghosts.

That was the Ba-1 area.

“I have a question!”

“Speak.”

“Even if we bring troops, we’re not organizing a regular subjugation force or an army, but you’re telling us, just the four of us, to go to an unexplored area where exploration hasn’t even been conducted yet?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s suicide.”

The fourth and fifth protested firmly.

Unexplored area.

There is a reason why it has not been developed even in modern times when human power has reached its peak.

That place is a land of death.

It is a place where dangers lurk that cannot be compared to dangerous areas, various dungeons, or gates.

Certainly, it was an unreasonable mission instruction to have only four direct descendants who had never matched up with each other, rather than organizing a large-scale subjugation force or army there.

“Don’t worry. The current risk level of the Ba-1 area is only level 3. For some reason, monsters above level 3 are not approaching. Also, this mission is an exploration, not a subjugation or development, so it will be enough.”

“Still…!”

“I know it’s dangerous. That’s why we’ve assigned four direct descendants. Will you refuse the order? If so, this mission will have to be passed on to another direct descendant.”

At the eldest brother’s words, the fourth and fifth shut their mouths.

Passing on the mission.

That in itself is a disgraceful thing.

It’s like admitting your shortcomings.

“What do the sixth and ninth think?”

“I, I am…”

Lee Seol-ah was shocked by the fact that she was assigned to the same mission as Lee Cheol, but she didn’t have the confidence to refuse in this place.

I ignored Lee Seol-ah, who was hesitating and looking at me, and immediately opened my mouth.

“I’m fine with it. If others refuse, I will carry out the mission alone.”

It was welcome news to me.

From the beginning, I would be able to drop the fourth and fifth twins and monopolize the interests and achievements of the related mission.

“No! I’m okay too!”

The fourth and fifth were startled and shouted at my words.

“Okay. Then I will process it as if you have received the mission.”

I shook my head and raised my hand to speak.

“I have a question before that.”

“What is it?”

“Are we simply exploring and investigating, or is there another purpose? Please share the details of the mission.”

The eldest brother, who had a solemn expression, smiled faintly for a very brief moment and continued to speak.

“I was just about to share it now. The mission form is outwardly an exploration of the Ba-1 area for future development. But there is a separate practical mission goal.”

The eldest brother gestured to one side.

Then, a lower-ranking elder in the conference room operated the device and displayed the data on the screen.