Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 102

The Three Kings’ Disciple (103)

102

The president of the Player Association.

No matter what anyone said, he was a powerful figure sitting at the highest position.

Perhaps in the past, but now, the power of the Player Association president was arguably greater than that of the president.

The president, who holds the military command.

The association president, who can mobilize players.

Who could wield more power?

‘The problem is….’

Ro-woon thought, looking at the old man in front of him.

‘These guys are all idiots.’

Jeon Gyeong-il, the president of the South Korean Player Association.

He was a powerful figure sitting at the highest position, but his power did not exist for the sake of the players.

From the beginning.

‘The position of the association president requires the approval of the council.’

Would such people work for the players?

No.

They work for the council, for money.

“The discord between Mount Hua and the Galaxy. It’s your doing, isn’t it?”

Ro-woon had come to meet such an association president.

He had met him several times in the past.

‘Are you Ro-woon?’

A condescending gaze with an authoritative attitude.

‘Please….’

He clearly remembered the words he had said to Ro-woon.

‘Don’t be too conspicuous. You need to live a long life, don’t you?’

His words were filled with mockery.

But now.

Smirk.

Who is laughing?

“I understand you want to look good to Mount Hua. But it’s best to do it moderately.”

Ro-woon was not the guild leader of the Galaxy.

He had only come to the association as a messenger.

“It’s best for you to live a long life, isn’t it? Though it seems like you’ve already been hanging on for a long time.”

Jeon Gyeong-il could only twitch his beard in anger at Ro-woon, unable to even give a proper answer.

He knew it too.

Even though Ro-woon, who came as a messenger, was not the guild leader, he had the position and power to represent the Galaxy.

‘A special guild member.’

Ro-woon was the protagonist of the rampant rumors in the world.

That was why Jeon Gyeong-il couldn’t even make excuses to a mere guild member of the Galaxy.

“Keep this in mind. Galaxy and Mount Hua. If you try to walk a tightrope between them, your head might get cut off.”

Ro-woon stood up.

This was something he didn’t necessarily have to come for.

In other words.

Pfft.

It was a petty revenge.

***

Despite Ro-woon’s warning, the flood of news did not stop.

All the media were focusing on Mount Hua’s movements, saying they were waiting for Mount Hua’s return, which had been delayed due to their activities on the battlefield.

Especially, the stories that an S-class gate would be a suitable achievement for their return.

Not all of this was Jeon Gyeong-il’s doing.

‘Jeon Gyeong-il is just the one who started it.’

Others also knew.

About who the ruler of this Republic of Korea was.

-Mount Hua.

That name was cast over the entire Republic of Korea.

Phile had said that it was also known in Einheart.

Instead of the name Republic of Korea.

‘The country of Mount Hua.’

The country where Mount Hua was located.

That was the reality.

“Public opinion has shifted.”

Kang Eun-ha said with a haggard look.

“At this rate… Mount Hua will take the gate raid rights.”

One gate raid right.

No matter how high the S-rank or above, it was not of great importance.

The profits already gained from the gates throughout Gyeonggi Province were considerable, and even if Mount Hua raided the gates in Gyeonggi Province, the Galaxy’s losses would not be significant.

“At this rate….”

But there was a problem.

“They’ll gain justification.”

Kang Eun-ha’s face was stiff.

“If Mount Hua takes the raid rights, it will be evaluated that the Galaxy does not have a firm grip on Gyeonggi Province. There will also be distrust in their abilities.”

The start could be small.

“The rising name of the Galaxy will be broken, and the name of Mount Hua will rise again.”

“They’ll take all the reputation the Galaxy has built up.”

That’s how the world is.

“The Black Market is helping, but it’s not easy.”

The Black Market was not just an organization that held money.

Money and information.

And an organization that could do anything with it.

Even so, it was difficult.

“They already have justification.”

The situation was not flowing favorably for the Galaxy.

“Justification….”

“There’s already a precedent where a force outside the Galaxy raided a gate in Gyeonggi Province.”

“You’re talking about Jongnam.”

The incident where Jongnam had suddenly come and demanded to raid a gate.

It was said that they had cooperated with Baran, a guild under the Galaxy, but everyone knew that the main force of the raid was Jongnam.

“Should we give it to them?”

What would happen if they handed over the raid rights to Mount Hua?

“If we’re going to lose it anyway, wouldn’t it be better to give it in the form of a concession?”

At Ro-woon’s words, Kang Eun-ha shook her head.

“It’s the same result. It’ll be worse. The anti-demon faction is supporting the Galaxy, which is backed by the Black Market, but if we are pushed back by Mount Hua, we’ll lose our competitiveness.”

Even so, her expression remained unchanged.

Only then did everyone who attended the meeting realize.

“So.”

Ro-woon had no intention of giving the raid rights to Mount Hua, nor was he going to give them an answer.

‘Try it.’

He had revived the collapsing Blood King’s Castle and given them a chance.

He had saved them from numerous crises and helped the Galaxy grow into a massive force.

No matter what anyone said, it was Ro-woon who had done it.

So, Ro-woon was hoping.

“……….”

He couldn’t do everything for them forever.

He wanted them to find the answer themselves.

And Kang Eun-ha clenched her fist tightly.

“I’ll find an answer.”

There was no immediate answer.

“I’ll find a way to shake up this situation, no matter what it takes.”

At Kang Eun-ha’s voice, filled with firm determination.

“Alright.”

Only then did a faint smile appear on Ro-woon’s lips.

***

“Stand by.”

At Ro-woon’s command, the Blood Sword Unit bowed their heads and hid themselves.

The only one left beside him was Jeong Chi-soo.

“…….”

Ro-woon looked ahead with languid eyes.

Sway.

The gate that was swaying in front of him was open.

The S-class gate that had opened in Gyeonggi Province.

‘Is Mount Hua’s desire for it simply because of the achievement?’

He had come to this place to confirm that.

Mount Hua was quite actively coveting this gate.

If that wasn’t the case, the sensational articles that were pouring out now would have stopped instantly.

‘If not….’

What if they had another reason for targeting the gate?

‘The Heavenly Demon Cave.’

To check if there was something special like that.

Ro-woon approached the gate.

He slowly reached out his hand.

Embrace.

As ripples spread on a calm lake, ripples spread on the gate’s door.

The grade of a gate was determined by examining the total amount of magic power the gate possessed.

‘Detection item.’

Something created by the meeting of science and magic.

If a total amount that could not be detected was felt.

‘That’s an S-class gate.’

So, it was impossible to judge above that.

Even high-level detection-type players couldn’t do it, and martial artists who had mastered internal energy couldn’t even grasp the total amount of the gate in the first place.

But Ro-woon could.

Whoosh!

His eyes were dyed a bright gold.

The Emperor’s Ring hidden inside Ro-woon’s top must have been spinning madly.

‘Mana is about drawing power from the outside.’

It was a power that was more affected by the outside than anything else.

When such mana and a vessel that transcends limits meet.

Wriggle.

It was possible to grasp the inside.

The clear flow of mana was inputted into Ro-woon’s mind.

It flowed, moved, and gradually began to take shape.

When the map-like picture became clearer and even revealed the hidden space.

Swoosh.

Ro-woon took his hand off the gate.

As if nothing had happened, Ro-woon’s eyes returned to their original color, and the spinning Emperor’s Ring had also stopped.

“I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

A voice was heard from behind Ro-woon.

The Blood Sword Unit and Jeong Chi-soo, who had reappeared, stood as if to protect Ro-woon.

“So many masters are standing guard to protect one guild member?”

A voice full of laughter.

“It’s obvious who it is.”

The owner of the voice that suddenly appeared was not alone either.

Step, step, step.

They were wrapped in black martial robes, and a clear plum blossom was drawn on their chests.

‘Black Plum.’

And a man standing like their master.

“But….”

He spoke to Ro-woon.

“I think we’ve met before?”

Jeokmaehwa Cheong In-woo.

He was standing there.

* * *

A strange standoff was taking place.

The Blood Sword Unit and Jeong Chi-soo, the Black Plums.

And Ro-woon and Cheong In-woo were looking at each other.

“The esteemed Jeokmaehwa Commander.”

At Ro-woon’s words, the eyes of the Black Plums twitched.

Jeokmaehwa Cheong In-woo.

He was a legendary figure in the Silver Sea [a region or area].

Especially, there was no martial artist in Mount Hua who did not respect him.

“Watch your words. This is Jeokmaehwa, Commander Cheong In-woo….”

“Who doesn’t know that?”

Ro-woon interrupted one of the Black Plums.

“Where do you think you are, interrupting adults’ conversation?”

“Y, you….”

“Enough.”

Cheong In-woo said, looking at the Black Plum who was shouting.

“How far are you going to embarrass me?”

“Commander….”

“Look over there.”

Cheong In-woo pointed at Jeong Chi-soo and the others with his finger.

“They’re silently guarding without saying a word. That’s what a proper martial artist is.”

“T, that’s….”

The Black Plum who had spoken was blushing bright red.

That was because a martial artist of the great Mount Hua was being compared to the Galaxy.

But since the one who made the comparison was Cheong In-woo, he couldn’t even protest.

“We’ve met before?”

Then Ro-woon’s voice was heard.

“Yes. We’ve met before.”

Cheong In-woo replied with a satisfied smile.

“We’ve seen each other, haven’t we?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Are you going to play dumb?”

Cheong In-woo’s telepathic message was heard in Ro-woon’s ear.

-Bar Pier.

A playful voice.

-The manager of the Black Market branch is a special guild member of the Galaxy? I don’t know what came first and what came later.

Cheong In-woo was smiling.

“Why are you all so heated?”

Cheong In-woo said to everyone.

“Didn’t you hear the story before? The Galaxy is a descendant of Jeonjin [a historical figure or group]. If they are descendants of Jeonjin, they are like brothers to our Mount Hua.”

“…….”

“I’d like to have a drink somewhere nice. Do you know any good bars?”

But Cheong In-woo shook his head as if he was bored at Ro-woon’s lack of reaction.

“It seems like today is not the day.”

Cheong In-woo raised his hand and dismissed the Black Plums.

“Since it seems like we’ll be seeing each other often, let’s just say I came to say hello in advance.”

With those words, Cheong In-woo turned his back as if he had no regrets.

Cheong In-woo walked away with the Black Plums.

The corners of his mouth were raised high.

‘A special guild member of the Galaxy.’

He had heard many stories while he was out on the battlefield.

The story of his activities in the war with Hainan.

The story of the collapse of the Iron Sword Alliance.

And that man was at the center of it all.

“His name is….”

Smirk.

“Was it Ro-woon?”

It was a strange connection.

The smile on Cheong In-woo’s face disappeared.

Instead, Cheong In-woo’s eyes were burning as if they were on fire.

“I was nervous….”

The tension he had hidden with a smile.

His languid gaze came to mind.

‘I couldn’t read him.’

He was sure of it.

“A storm is coming.”

He thought the opponent was just interesting, but the old fogeys of Mount Hua would think differently.

A storm would come.

And the center of that storm would be Mount Hua and the Galaxy.

* * *

“I’ve found a way.”

Kang Eun-ha said.