Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 43

The Three Kings’ Disciple (44)

043

‘Nice to meet you.’

A low voice echoed through the hall.

‘Blood Demon.’

With that one word, everyone’s mouths clamped shut.

There was no demonstration, nor any of the aura that martial artists usually exuded.

Yet, not a single person doubted the truth of his words.

‘…….’

Some simply groaned.

They didn’t know what to say.

Rarely, such humans are born.

In some ways, they could be called geniuses.

‘Those born with dignity.’

If that appearance wasn’t due to the Silver World martial artists’ ‘Reversal of Aging’ [a technique to reverse the aging process], then perhaps he was someone born with that dignity.

A person whose face required courage to look at, and whose voice made one bow their head involuntarily.

In the past, when such people were born, the world was shaken.

They would become unparalleled emperors, or rebels who would take up swords to seize the throne.

The same is true in modern times.

Such people always rise to a position where they command many.

But in the modern world where kingdoms have disappeared, an emperor cannot be born.

‘But if it’s now…’

A world that has been turned upside down once again.

The invasion of another world.

What if it’s a world where the original inhabitants are despised and stripped of their rights and qualifications?

No, what if it’s a world where tangible power called force has become the foundation?

Gulp.

An emperor could be born.

‘Maybe they already have been.’

It was unbelievable, but the young man sitting in the upper seat seemed to be just that.

‘So. You all have shown loyalty to the Blood Cult, haven’t you?’

At Lee Ro-woon’s words, the people’s expressions finally relaxed a little.

They seemed to think that Lee Ro-woon had come to praise them for their hard work.

‘It’s a dog-like act. Is being poisoned, brainwashed, and forced to do something considered loyalty?’

‘Cough, cough.’

Kang Eun-ha coughed at Lee Ro-woon’s words.

‘That’s slavery.’

‘…….’

Some almost nodded in agreement, his voice was so honest and straightforward.

‘I don’t need slaves.’

At Lee Ro-woon’s words, the martial artists moved.

Tap, tap, tap.

Things were placed on the table.

‘What is this…?’

‘An antidote.’

‘……!’

Lee Ro-woon continued.

‘I know that your loyalty is due to the Blood Poison. This is an antidote that kills that Blood Poison.’

Again, the people fell silent.

‘Is this a test?’

Or was he going to kill them because they were no longer needed?

Numerous questions swirled in their minds.

‘What I want is…’

The corners of the Blood Demon’s lips quirked up playfully.

‘Business.’

‘……!’

Lee Ro-woon looked at the people in the hall.

They were, in a literal sense, no different from slaves.

Loyalty?

That was a value held by the Silver World martial artists.

Those who are loyal to their respective worlds, feel affection, and throw away their lives for a sense of belonging.

But the people of the modern world, no, the inhabitants of Earth, are different.

‘If you want, you don’t have to be involved with the cult anymore. Of course, your memories of the cult will have to be erased or sealed…’

He grinned.

‘Isn’t that better than dying?’

The value that the inhabitants of Earth hold.

Giving them that is the best way to control them.

* * *

‘B-Business, you say…?’

‘It’s exactly as it sounds.’

Not loyalty, but business.

‘It’s just that your investments become real investments, not tributes.’

And that would truly be for the benefit of the Blood Cult.

‘Loyalty through poison, its usability is low.’

The Blood Poison was a secret poison passed down in the Blood Cult, a deadly poison that would kill you if you didn’t continuously take a diluted antidote within a set period.

Loyalty forced by family or oneself being poisoned.

In the past, Silver World had many difficulties because they couldn’t detoxify this Blood Poison.

‘But times have changed.’

The Blood Poison hasn’t been revealed yet, but is it impossible to detoxify it?

Of course, it might not be easy, but is it impossible even with Earth’s science and Einheart’s magic?

That’s why the Blood Cult couldn’t indiscriminately proselytize to the people of the outer world, Earth.

Similarly, their poison could be detoxified by someone.

‘In other words, they can only be used as tributes or disposable pawns.’

The moment they take the Blood Poison, their fate is decided.

That’s not what Lee Ro-woon wanted.

Rather, he wanted them to become people who would risk their lives to protect Baran and the Blood Cult.

That would mean their value lies with the Blood Cult.

If they learned Blood Qi [a type of internal energy], it would be an easy problem to solve, but they are not inhabitants of Silver World, so they cannot learn martial arts.

‘Maybe later it will be different.’

But that’s how it is now.

While Lee Ro-woon was thinking, their minds were spinning as if they were about to explode.

‘Blood Demon… you’re different from what I expected.’

A middle-aged man said in a heavy voice.

‘Ahn Jong-hyuk.’

The gate where he had met Kang Eun-ha before.

That man was the father of Ahn Min-hong who was there.

The father of the guy who almost died for grabbing a hand he shouldn’t have grabbed out of bravado.

‘Did you think I was some horned monster? There are monsters like that if you go to the gate.’

‘I thought you might be.’

Ahn Jong-hyuk said, calming his nerves.

‘But there’s a problem with what the Blood Demon said.’

‘Problem?’

As soon as Lee Ro-woon’s voice dropped, the cold gazes of the martial artists and Kang Eun-ha turned to Ahn Jong-hyuk.

‘Lower your eyes. I’m talking.’

‘I apologize.’

‘Tell me. What’s the problem?’

Ahn Jong-hyuk barely held onto his chilling heart and spoke.

‘Does the Blood Demon want us to be more active?’

‘That’s right.’

‘You plan to raise us into a proper guild.’

When Lee Ro-woon didn’t answer, Ahn Jong-hyuk nodded.

‘That’s the problem.’

‘…….’

‘Because I understand a little of the picture the Blood Demon is drawing, if it is established, it will naturally attract a lot of attention. That is…’

‘Who is behind Baran? That’s what you mean.’

Ahn Jong-hyuk nodded.

‘I heard that the Blood Cult is an enemy of Silver World, which is called Murim [a term for the martial arts world], according to my shallow knowledge.’

The gazes towards Ahn Jong-hyuk became sharper.

It wasn’t from Kang Eun-ha or the martial artists.

‘Why are you doing this?’

People like Ahn Jong-hyuk.

They were afraid that the Blood Demon might get angry and kill everyone in this place.

‘Investment is not just about making a profit. You also have to consider the losses and weigh their value.’

Ahn Jong-hyuk said without flinching.

‘If Silver World, or the Assembly, finds out, everyone will die. Does the Blood Demon have a way to stop them?’

The words that came out were unstoppable.

‘Can you surpass the power of Silver World, or at least Mount Hua?’

A chilling atmosphere.

Ahn Jong-hyuk’s words were not over yet.

‘Silver World. Can the Blood Cult handle them?’

This was better.

There would be those who could still live if they turned their backs on the Blood Cult.

If they completely abandoned them, they could join the Assembly and somehow survive, even if only one or two.

But what if it was the opposite?

‘If Silver World finds out, everyone will die.’

All of them.

Literally all of them.

So it was better now.

Even if there was financial pressure, it was better to pay the tribute by pooling their resources.

‘Ahn Jong-hyuk. Right?’

‘It is an honor that you know my name.’

‘You’re a nouveau riche.’

‘……!’

Lee Ro-woon was smiling.

‘That’s why you only handle small change.’

‘You can insult me as much as you want. But I’m just pursuing safety.’

‘Is there safety in the world?’

‘That…’

‘Does the word safety even fit in the land of Korea?’

The rule of Silver World.

‘No matter what you do, the reality is that you’ll die if they decide to. Danger, you say.’

The smile disappeared.

‘What’s the difference?’

‘…….’

‘Is there any difference between dying by joining the Blood Cult, or being massacred when their minds change? Isn’t a death with a reason better?’

Lee Ro-woon said.

‘Your child was about to die in the gate, but the Divine Maiden saved him. Where is the world safe?’

He couldn’t answer.

‘Then, wouldn’t it be less unfair to be under our protection and live together?’

A heavy atmosphere settled.

‘If you want to make a lot of money, just look at the gains. If there’s danger, you should only think about reducing that danger. Tsk.’

It was such a truism that he couldn’t think of anything to refute.

‘And Silver World…’

A smile spread across his lips again.

‘That place is originally mine. It’s my rightful inheritance.’

Ahn Jong-hyuk was so surprised that he stared at Lee Ro-woon’s face.

Lee Ro-woon’s eyes.

‘That’s impossible…’

There should have been madness in them.

It should have felt like a child’s tantrum or a madman’s cry.

‘Think about it.’

But those eyes, so calm, seemed to be speaking an unchanging truth.

After a while.

‘I will join you.’

Ahn Jong-hyuk was the first to answer.

* * *

-I will not take the antidote.

That was what Ahn Jong-hyuk, who had decided to board the ship called the Blood Cult, had said.

He asked everyone to withdraw the antidote.

And that was the condition.

Pfft.

Unless they were going to leave the ship.

‘You should only think about reducing the danger.’

Ahn Jong-hyuk had presented a way to reduce the danger.

He made it so that everyone couldn’t get off the ship so that the ship he was on wouldn’t sink.

If there were still those who wanted the antidote, Ahn Jong-hyuk would have been the first to step forward and drive them away.

This time, unlike when he was Wang Yeo, he didn’t make contact beforehand.

He had expected this flow, but.

‘Ahn Jong-hyuk, huh.’

Lee Ro-woon was planning to abandon Baran if necessary.

It wasn’t a very delicious fruit, and there was no reason to take the risk to pick it.

But he saw a pretty good fruit.

Ahn Jong-hyuk, and Choi Yu-ran.

‘How is it? Do you like it?’

At Lee Ro-woon’s words, Kang Cheol-woo nodded.

‘I will do my best.’

They were also bodies controlled by the Blood Poison.

Their new home was decided to be Baran.

It was judged that it would be better to join an existing guild than to create a new one.

‘My expectations are high.’

‘I will keep that in mind.’

Moreover, those who had joined with Kang Cheol-woo were people who had been running fairly large guilds in the Incheon and Ganghwa Island areas.

It would help Baran’s growth, not hinder it.

‘Anyone can become the guild leader of Baran.’

Kang Cheol-woo was not someone who didn’t know what that meant.

The preparations were complete.

Baby birds that would eat like crazy and grow in size if they were given food.

‘How did that go?’

At Lee Ro-woon’s words, a doll appeared from the shadows.

‘It will be delivered in a week as you said.’

Black City King, Ha Se-min.

He was shaking his head with a tired face.

‘Even if you’re expanding the board, aren’t you expanding it too much?’

‘Isn’t the Black City King’s courage too small?’

‘If it’s Black City, he can handle it.’

Ha Se-min said.

‘Although the Blood Cult is growing rapidly, I don’t think it’s possible to handle all of this yet.’

‘Is that what your superiors think too?’

‘Cough.’

Ha Se-min didn’t even deny it anymore.

‘Don’t try to test me for no reason. You also think the Blood Cult can handle it, right?’

Ha Se-min shook his head and said.

‘They can handle it. But what I’m talking about is after that.’

Seoul where they were, a large building visible in the distance.

On top of it, a clear Chinese character was emblazoned.

[Mount Hua 華山]

Looking at it, Lee Ro-woon said.

‘Didn’t you hear?’

A calm and languid voice.

Ha Se-min had clearly heard it.

‘I said Silver World is mine.’

Then Ha Se-min said, looking at his ringing cell phone.

‘It has begun.’

In the East Sea, Haenam and Docheon finally clashed.