Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 192

Baek Cheong briefly left her seat.

She had left temporarily for reporting procedures and preparations before departing for the mission.

“………”

The remaining ones.

They were holding their breaths, caught in a strange tension.

A mission where the probability of death was higher than survival.

“I guess you all know that we can’t reveal our names, right?”

At that moment, someone spoke.

It was a sturdy young man who could easily be called handsome.

The bulging sunspot on his temple indicated that he was a great internal energy master [a martial artist who has cultivated their inner energy], and his firm stance made it difficult to find any openings.

A master far beyond his age.

However, what caught the most attention was the huge spear he carried on his back.

“It’s also impossible to reveal our sects.”

As the man said.

Before the mission progressed to a certain point, the members of the special task force were not even allowed to reveal their names or sects.

A task that required them to risk their lives.

But the bigger problem was.

‘Capture.’

It was the possibility of someone among them being taken prisoner.

A mission to secretly strike the opposing forces that had signed a truce.

If someone was captured and revealed their identity, the mission of the special task force itself would likely be negated, and even if they were lucky enough to return alive.

‘The Council won’t accept us.’

Therefore, the members of the special task force were strictly forbidden from revealing their names or sects to each other.

Nod.

Everyone nodded, keeping their words to themselves at the man’s words.

A strange atmosphere.

The handsome man with the spear had already taken control of the atmosphere.

“Besides, most of the people here are wearing human skin masks.”

What was he trying to say?

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

Finally, at someone’s words, unable to hold back, the handsome man with the spear smirked.

“Is this your first time on such a mission? Or are you inexperienced in battle?”

“What…”

Someone flared up at the dismissive remark.

However, he also felt the strange atmosphere and shut his mouth.

Some had faces filled with curiosity, like the one who had asked the question, but most of them.

“……”

It seemed they had already figured out what this man was trying to say.

“Sending such idiots on such an important mission. I don’t know what sect you’re from, but you’re terrible.”

“How dare you insult our sect!”

Clang!

In the end, someone who couldn’t hold back drew his sword.

“That’s it.”

Swish.

In an instant, the handsome man with the spear disappeared as if his form had scattered.

Thud.

It happened in an instant.

The tip of the handsome man’s spear.

Thud.

Stopped, reaching the throat of the one who had drawn his sword.

“……”

The one who had boldly drawn his sword couldn’t hide his shocked face and froze like a statue.

He hadn’t seen how he moved.

‘When did he…’

Also, he hadn’t seen anything about when he drew his spear and when he thrust it.

What that meant was.

Gulp.

The opponent was a far superior master than himself.

Also.

“You’re already dead once.”

It meant that he was as good as dead just now.

“I lost.”

At the declaration of the man who had drawn his sword, the handsome man’s lips curled up again.

Swish.

The handsome man, moving as naturally as if dancing, stood with his spear on his back again.

The series of events was as natural as flowing water.

“What I want to say is.”

As if satisfied with having shamed him once, the handsome man spoke.

“In other words, we need to establish a hierarchy.”

***

The atmosphere turned icy cold.

In a situation where they couldn’t even reveal their names, their faces were covered with human skin masks, and their sects couldn’t even be identified.

But there was one thing that was clear to them.

‘Martial artists.’

That they were martial artists.

Swish.

The ones who moved.

“That’s right.”

Someone said, clashing their gauntlets.

“What need is there for names, faces, or sects for martial artists?”

Clang!

Sparks flew as the gauntlets collided.

“Skill is everything.”

One by one, the others were also taking out their weapons.

Moreover, there was another reason why they needed to establish a hierarchy.

A special task force mission with a difficulty level that required them to risk their lives.

Most of them knew that they would either not avoid death or be captured, tortured, and eventually die.

But among them, there were those who needed to return.

And the Council.

‘Heroes.’

They would make them heroes.

What was needed to survive.

It was also a perfect hierarchy.

“The leader didn’t appoint team leaders, did she?”

Baek Cheong had left without appointing team leaders.

What did that mean?

“It means we should decide the team leaders among ourselves.”

In the end, it was to give the members time to spend among themselves.

It also meant that the members should decide the team leaders among themselves.

The team leader who would lead the team would have many responsibilities, but with the leader’s permission, they could move the team members as they wished and even decide to retreat if necessary.

And one more thing.

‘If they return alive.’

The one who takes on the role of team leader will become a definite hero.

The grace made of silver and yuan [currency], and the justification.

But above that, there was the basic human desire.

‘Fame.’

Merit and honor.

Now that the battlefield had disappeared due to the truce with Einherjar, it was an opportunity for martial artists to raise their names and rise to the top.

“But I propose a rule.”

The handsome man who had first brandished his spear, he once again took out his spear.

Thud!

He dropped it straight to the floor.

“Still, we have to go through thick and thin together, so it’s a bit too much to start killing each other already, right?”

Nod, nod.

Those who agreed with his words nodded.

“Moreover, we’re not supposed to reveal our sects, and if we use our main weapons, our sects might naturally be revealed.”

The members of the special task force were in the form of players, but their weapons were different.

They were similar to what players used, but things like spears, swords, and gauntlets were given to them as the most suitable for using their martial arts.

For a martial artist, martial arts were like a part of their body.

Even if they didn’t use the martial arts of their sect, the form would remain and be revealed.

“It would be better to prohibit martial arts and weapons.”

“That’s not a bad suggestion.”

One by one, the agreements were being made.

“Then wouldn’t those who use fists have an advantage?”

The moment a man with a large greatsword spoke sullenly.

Whoosh!

The handsome man with the spear moved again.

This time it was different.

The man with the sword seemed to quickly turn his body to take a defensive stance.

Thwack!

The handsome man, as if he had already calculated that, moved and struck the man with the sword on the back of his neck.

Thud.

The man collapsed like a scarecrow.

The handsome man had struck a pressure point and knocked him unconscious.

“It’s useless even if you use weapons, it’s just a lack of your own skill. What do you all think?”

“That’s right.”

“Okay, then it seems like the details are all settled.”

Swish, swish, swish.

Nearly thirty people moved at once.

A deeper smile formed on the handsome man’s lips.

“Yes, that’s how it should be.”

More than ten out of thirty were all looking at the handsome man.

Having not only overwhelmed and controlled the atmosphere so far but also shown his outstanding skills.

Naturally, everyone realized that he was the biggest competitor.

“Let’s see.”

The man raised one hand.

He beckoned with his open palm and said.

“Come at me.”

Whoosh!

* * *

Just a few hours ago, the place where the special task force members had gathered and created a heavy atmosphere.

“Ugh.”

“Huff, huff.”

The place was now a scene of chaos.

The majority of the members were already sprawled on the floor.

Fortunately, since they hadn’t used weapons or martial arts, the extent of the injuries wasn’t severe, but there were quite a few who had suffered broken arms or other injuries.

Among them, there were still those who were standing.

Swish, swish.

Six martial artists.

“Total of thirty people.”

In the center, the handsome man was still standing.

“There will probably be three team leaders?”

He was speaking, scanning his surroundings without a single breath out of place.

“Then we can keep going until three are left.”

There were still six people standing.

A situation where three more had to fall for it to end.

The handsome man’s breathing wasn’t even disturbed.

“Hoo.”

But most of the others were clearly exhausted.

However, among them, there were those whose breathing wasn’t disturbed.

‘Hoo.’

There were two more.

‘One seems to be from Jongnam [a famous martial arts sect].’

And the other one…

“……”

The handsome man’s gaze narrowed.

His eyes were fixed on the man standing straight.

He didn’t remember that man well.

He had clearly tried his best not to miss anyone’s movements.

What the handsome man wanted was not only to become a team leader through the establishment of a hierarchy.

‘One is Wudang [another famous martial arts sect], and the other is…’

In any case, it was to grasp their identities and skills.

Whether they used martial arts or not, to the eyes of a master, even the slightest movement ingrained in the body was clearly visible.

But he didn’t know about that man.

In the end.

Smirk.

The handsome man smiled and turned his body.

“Even while we’re fighting so hard, it seems like someone is trying to take advantage of the situation?”

He had to check that man.

“I’m going to target that man. What about the rest of you?”

“Indeed…”

At the handsome man’s words, the others seemed to have recognized the situation.

Swish.

One by one, they turned their bodies and raised their fists towards the man who seemed the most unscathed.

“Okay, let’s see. How he was able to endure until this moment without any presence.”

Everything was flowing according to the handsome man’s words and thoughts.

His skillful way of speaking, and the skills that supported it.

The moment such a handsome man was about to move.

“What…!”

He stepped back in panic.

Bang!

The spot where he had just been was showered with fist strikes.

The ground was torn up by the fist strikes filled with internal energy.

“I thought you were thinking the same thing as me?”

“You don’t look tired either.”

Four surrounded the handsome man.

The man standing alone.

Smirk.

Everyone was of one mind.

“Besides, that man didn’t show anything, but you showed a lot, didn’t you?”

What was known was less frightening than the unknown.

“Everyone seems to have decided that it’s better to finish you off and then deal with him.”

“Yes. That’s how it should be.”

The handsome man smiled.

“It has to be this much to be fun.”

Swish.

The handsome man moved again.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

But now, the remaining ones were not just average people.

They were keeping up with the handsome man’s speed.

Bang! Bang!

They moved, following his movements.

But.

“Too late.”

Thwack!

The handsome man increased his speed even more and struck another person on the back of the neck, knocking them down.

Three were left, and one.

A strange standoff was taking place when.

“Stop.”

At the voice that had intruded, the martial artists stood like statues and turned their heads.

“While I was away for a moment, you were having some fun, weren’t you?”

Baek Cheong.

She had reappeared.

With a frustrated face, she strode forward.

“Did we do something wrong?”

The handsome man asked.

“No.”

Baek Cheong replied.

“There are four left, that’s enough. There are three team leaders. And one will be the deputy commander.”

“………”

“And.”

Baek Cheong stood in front of the handsome man.

Thwack!

Her kick directly hit the handsome man’s shin.

“Ugh!”

“You’re too arrogant.”

Baek Cheong said, looking down at the collapsed handsome man.

“But it seems your skills are certain, so you’re number 2. The deputy commander.”

“Th, thank you.”

The handsome man, who had controlled the atmosphere, number 2, smiled even as his face contorted in pain.

But at that moment, number 2 could see.

Swish.

Baek Cheong seemed to be looking at someone’s face.