Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 139

“This is absurd. Leaving the alliance already?”

Moyong Gun frowned.

“How can we leave the alliance when we haven’t even selected the warriors to form the unit? Surely, you’re not thinking of sending the unit commander alone?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho spoke calmly.

“Unit Commander Yeon Ho-Jeong has already selected all the warriors.”

“……?!”

“Although the number is small, we judged that it would be best to send him to the Jianghu [the martial world] as soon as possible, given the Unit Commander’s deep understanding of military strategy and his exceptional martial arts skills. Of course, this was also at the request of the Unit Commander himself.”

At that moment, Namgoong In spoke.

“Even so, this is too harsh.”

“Harsh? How so?”

“An independent unit, one of only two in the Martial Alliance, has been created. Even if it’s a free unit, sending them off without a commander’s inauguration or a troop parade is clearly a mistake.”

He spoke in a gentle voice, but his words were full of criticism.

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

“Does the Namgoong Clan Head think this alliance is a military organization?”

“It’s not a military organization, but there are procedures for everything. If they’ve already left, they should be called back, and if they haven’t left yet, they should be held until formal permission is granted.”

“I understand your point, but those are just formalities.”

Namgoong In’s eyes twitched slightly.

“Formalities?”

“Unit Commander Yeon said he wanted to leave as soon as possible to weaken the forces of the Black Path groups that are rampant in various places and to stabilize the lives of the people. Surely, the Namgoong Clan Head doesn’t think that etiquette is more important than the rise of the Black Path?”

Namgoong In’s eyes turned cold.

It was an unexpected and aggressive response. The tone was refined, but the content was full of aggressive intent.

‘So, that’s how you’re going to play it.’

Moyong Gun opened his mouth.

“What the Jeagal Clan Head said is…”

“Please correct that. I am the military advisor of the Martial Alliance.”

The atmosphere inside the Museong Hall instantly turned cold.

“Also, the people gathered here are the leaders who are leading the White Path of this era. This is a public setting, so please be mindful of your titles.”

Moyong Gun gave a faint smile.

“I apologize. I am not yet familiar with the titles, so I made a mistake.”

“I understand.”

“Let me reiterate. There is an error in what Military Advisor Jeagal said.”

“I will listen carefully.”

“The rumors about the establishment of the Martial Alliance are spreading like wildfire. However, just because those rumors are spreading doesn’t mean that the Black Path will rise without preparation. I wonder if Military Advisor Jeagal is being too sensitive.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right. Furthermore, even if Black Path groups are springing up like mushrooms right now, it’s difficult to check each and every location. It’s absurd to think that Unit Commander Yeon’s unit alone can suppress the Black Path groups in various places.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

At that moment, Moyong Gun realized his mistake.

‘Was he waiting for me to say that?’

Jeagal Mun-Ho shouted towards the entrance of the Museong Hall.

“Ga Deuk-Sang, come into the main hall.”

Thump.

The door opened, and Ga Deuk-Sang entered. In his hand, he held a large, rolled-up piece of paper.

“Ga Deuk-Sang, a junior from the Beggar Clan, greets the elders of the Martial Alliance.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho said.

“Will you give me the map?”

“Here it is.”

A detailed map of the Central Plains was spread out on the huge table.

In various places on the map, the names of the Black Path groups were written in red.

Surprisingly, there were over a hundred of them. From famous Black Path groups to small-scale groups, they were all meticulously marked.

“As the elders know, the world is vast. The red marks are only the places that are large in scale or pose a critical threat to public safety, and the groups that have the potential to grow significantly in the future.”

“Hmm.”

“This is the minimum. If you were to identify them all, it would be impossible to count. However…”

Jeagal Mun-Ho looked at Ga Deuk-Sang.

Ga Deuk-Sang smiled and continued.

“If the unit travels all over the Central Plains and annihilates all the places marked here, the Black Path martial world will enter the worst dark age in history.”

From the beginning, the Black Path is an existence that cannot be eradicated. In a way, they were much more deeply ingrained in the lives of the common people than the White Path martial world.

Those who are famous for their skills are Black Path, the gigolos of the brothels are Black Path, and those who suck the blood of the common people with usury are also Black Path.

Since such vicious people are collectively called the Black Path, it is impossible to eliminate the Black Path unless everyone in the world dies.

Then, in the end, there is only one way to suppress the Black Path.

That is to mercilessly crush the famous groups and experts of the Black Path. If they raise their heads again, go and crush them again, and if they are hiding, drag them out and annihilate them.

“The elders here are giants of the martial world with more Jianghu experience than anyone else. You must know that eradicating the Black Path groups on the map is by no means an easy task.”

Of course, it was not an easy task.

This was a task that required military strategy before martial arts, and before military strategy, the unity of the unit was important.

Moyong Gun said.

“I’ve been wanting to ask since earlier, but where did you recruit the warriors belonging to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s unit?”

Then, some of the heads of the Nine Great Sects coughed repeatedly.

Moyong Gun’s eyes widened.

“Surely, you didn’t recruit them from the Nine Great Sects?”

Pung Byeok-Ja, the head of the Cheongseong Sect, opened his mouth.

“I don’t know about the other sects, but in the case of Cheongseong, we left it to the discretion of our disciples.”

“Discretion? What do you mean by that?”

“They are precious disciples of our sect. However, they are currently lost and wandering. I believe that for such disciples, going to the Jianghu as an independent unit can be a different kind of stimulation.”

“Hmm.”

Moyong Gun looked around.

“Are the other sect leaders for similar reasons?”

Everyone was silent. There was nothing to say, and it seemed like it would only make the conversation longer if they spoke.

Pung Byeok-Ja spoke again.

“However, I know that the number is extremely small.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.

“That’s right. It’s less than fifty.”

Moyong Gun frowned.

“Even if it’s less than fifty, each of them is a young expert who has been taught the unique skills of the Nine Great Sects. At the same time, they are people who have never been united before. To go out into the Jianghu with such people without proper training is absurd.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho tilted his head.

“I can’t just let that statement pass.”

“What do you mean?”

“Wasn’t it you, Elder Moyong, who advocated for the creation of an independent unit, and who said that the unit commander should have the power of life and death over his troops?”

“……!!”

“How they train, how they operate the unit, it’s all up to the unit commander. That’s why the unit commander has a deep responsibility. Isn’t that right?”

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

‘I’ve been hit hard.’

He never imagined that Yeon Ho-Jeong would leave the alliance so quickly.

He was waiting for the two independent units to hold their inauguration ceremony in front of everyone.

Naturally, the unit led by Yeon Ho-Jeong would be far more crude than the unit led by Moyong Woo. And that would have a huge impact on the morale of the unit.

‘I was trying to suppress them from the start, but they’ve already left? Ha!’

He’s truly a guy whose ability to think on his feet is admirable. I waited for the match, but he overturned the board and went to another gambling house.

Jeagal Mun-Ho continued.

“Furthermore, I would like to say that even if there are disciples of the Nine Great Sects in the unit who have not received permission from their elders, it is impossible to take them back without the permission of the unit commander.”

The eyes of Yong Hwa, the head of the Hwasan Sect, immediately sharpened.

“That’s absurd. How can we sit idly by when our sect’s disciples are in an unproven unit without permission? That’s absolutely unacceptable.”

“Then, we should remove this clause from the Alliance Law.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho said in a cold voice.

“The Alliance Law is strict, and no member of the Martial Alliance is free from the law. Even the Alliance Leader can be punished by the law after the protection period based on the Alliance Leader’s special law ends.”

“……!!”

“If you don’t intend to give the unit commanders that much authority, then I will also resign from my position as military advisor.”

Yong Hwa was flustered.

“W-Why are you saying such things?”

“The power of the White Path has been gathered again in the Martial Alliance, which has been vacant for a long time. The elders gathered here are the representatives of each sect.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho looked around at the elders.

His eyes, which were full of wisdom, shone with a stricter light than ever before.

“When you agreed to the establishment of the Martial Alliance, I believe that all of you here were prepared to abide by the strictness of the Alliance Law.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho was overwhelming the crowd with his words.

Moyong Gun clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘I’ve been completely outmaneuvered.’

He didn’t know if Jeagal Mun-Ho had some kind of relationship with Yeon Ho-Jeong.

However, due to Yeon Ho-Jeong’s unusual behavior, Jeagal Mun-Ho gained the justification to control the elders. And Jeagal Mun-Ho did not miss that wonderful opportunity.

Now, no one would be able to ignore Jeagal Mun-Ho’s words. Even Moyong Gun, who had deduced the situation.

“Um, I’m sorry to interrupt, but…”

Ga Deuk-Sang scratched his head. White dandruff fell in a flurry.

“Since all the elders are gathered here, would it be okay to share some fresh information that just came in?”

Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.

“Please speak freely, Junior Ga.”

“Thank you.”

Ga Deuk-Sang took a low breath.

“Since we’re talking about the Black Path, there are some Black Path figures that the Alliance cannot ignore who have emerged into the world.”

“Who are they?”

“They are the disciples of the Fighting King.”

“……!!”

“And some of them… are closer than you think.”

* * *

A space filled with darkness.

There, two pairs of blazing demon eyes appeared.

“Did you say Martial Alliance?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“…So, the righteous bastards have created a Martial Alliance?”

“Yes.”

“Could it be that they’ve noticed our movements?”

“We are keeping all possibilities open, but it is highly likely that they don’t know.”

“If they don’t know about us, then why was the Martial Alliance created at this time?”

“We have not yet found out the detailed reasons. However, the destruction of the Nine Great Clans is the consensus for the starting point of the righteous martial alliance.”

“I see.”

“No special movements have been detected in their actions yet. Although caution is needed, it doesn’t seem necessary to delay our plans because of the White Path Martial Alliance.”

“I had no intention of delaying. However, we must be careful enough. We must become the fog, not the evil. We will maintain our current system until we reach at least 70% occupancy.”

“Understood.”

“Fortunately, ‘he’ has opened his eyes, so it seems that we will be more than ten years ahead of the original plan.”

“Has he finally opened his eyes?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

“It’s good news, but don’t get too excited. Let’s proceed step by step as we have been doing.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“…It will be a long battle. A very tedious and long battle.”