Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 204

‘They succeeded!’

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

Jeagal Mun-Ho showed a rare sign of excitement.

‘Yang Cheon responded to the practical team’s request. We received word that they’re on the move, so they should have already entered their territory by now.’

‘It’s starting for real now.’

Moyong Gun’s expression turned serious.

‘This is the real deal. If anything goes wrong, the entire practical team could die on the spot.’

‘Of course, that could happen.’

Moyong Gun glanced at Jeagal Mun-Ho. For some reason, he didn’t seem too worried.

‘Aren’t you worried?’

‘Worrying won’t save someone who’s going to die, nor will it kill someone who’s going to live. Now is the time to be relieved that a potentially reckless situation has progressed more smoothly than expected.’

Moyong Gun chuckled.

‘I suppose you’re right.’

He certainly thought that Jeagal Mun-Ho was someone of note.

His beloved daughter was in the practical team. Yet, he was showing such a delighted expression.

Whether it was genuine or an act, he was clearly an extraordinary individual.

‘Still, we should be worried. The Thirteen Seats of Seongcheon [a group of highly skilled martial artists] are not human.’

‘That’s true.’

‘With their level of martial arts, they could tell what martial arts someone has mastered just by looking at them once, as well as the characteristics of those martial arts, and even their purpose.’

Jeagal Mun-Ho, who had been visibly excited, gradually calmed down.

‘I can’t comprehend that level yet, but I’ve heard it’s true.’

Moyong Gun felt the same way.

They had broken through the wall of martial arts and reached the realm of transcendence, and after countless training and enlightenment, they had reached their current level.

However, no matter how high they had climbed, the path of martial arts was endless. Neither Moyong Gun nor Jeagal Mun-Ho could comprehend even a fraction of the realm of Seongcheon.

At least, not yet.

‘I don’t know about others, but there are two who are the most dangerous.’

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes sparkled.

‘Hu Gae, and the eldest daughter of the Tang family head.’

‘You see it exactly. Furthermore, if I had to pick one, Hu Gae is at greater risk of being exposed.’

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s face showed confusion. He had a different opinion on that point.

‘Why do you think so? I believe that Tang Sang-A is more dangerous.’

‘The Tang family’s martial arts are not well known to the world. The names of their martial arts are famous, so everyone knows them, but there are hardly any survivors among those who have actually seen the Tang family’s martial arts, especially among the black forces [underground martial arts groups].’

That was true.

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

‘On the other hand, the Beggar Clan’s ways are spread throughout the Central Plains. The martial arts of ordinary members with few knots [referring to the level of martial arts mastery] are insignificant, but those insignificant martial arts have accumulated to create the current Beggar Clan martial arts.’

‘That’s right.’

‘The martial arts that ordinary members have mastered and the martial arts that Hu Gae has mastered are worlds apart. However, if it’s the eyes of the Fighting King, he will be able to read the core of the martial arts hidden within that extreme difference.’

Jeagal Mun-Ho nodded.

‘That makes sense.’

Moyong Gun’s face showed interest.

‘Judging by the strategist’s reaction, it seems you’re not too concerned about such issues.’

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled.

‘I’ve already prepared for that part.’

‘Oh ho.’

‘Even someone like me can read the flow of energy and guess the opponent’s martial arts style. How much more so for the Fighting King?’

‘So you’ve taken some measures.’

‘There are many mysterious artifacts in the world. And my family is very interested in those artifacts steeped in mystery and legend.’

‘That’s unexpected. The Jeagal family, which pursues intellect and the blossoming of wisdom, has paid attention to such incomprehensible artifacts?’

Jeagal Mun-Ho smiled bitterly.

‘It’s because of the curiosity of my family’s scholars, who must dig into anything they don’t understand until they do.’

Moyong Gun chuckled.

‘But I’m a little disappointed. If you had such an item, you should have mentioned it to me, the commander of this operation, shouldn’t you?’

Jeagal Mun-Ho lowered his head.

‘I apologize for that.’

He didn’t give any other reason, just apologized.

Moyong Gun was inwardly surprised by Jeagal Mun-Ho’s reaction.

‘He’s quite confident. He wouldn’t do that on purpose.’

Jeagal Mun-Ho was a man who clearly distinguished between public and private matters. He wouldn’t have withheld information because he didn’t trust the other person. That was not the kind of person he was.

Moyong Gun, who had become curious for no reason, prodded him once more.

‘Perhaps, you don’t trust me?’

Jeagal Mun-Ho shook his head.

‘Moyong Clan Head is certainly not someone to trust personally. But now that I’ve entrusted everything to the Clan Head, I have no intention of letting personal feelings interfere with the mission.’

‘Hmm.’

‘As the Clan Head said, my inadequate daughter is in the practical team. For my daughter’s safety, I intend to do everything I can to help.’

His voice was sincere.

Moyong Gun, who had been quietly looking at Jeagal Mun-Ho, smiled.

‘Whether you have such an item or not, it wouldn’t have changed the operation much. However, I hope this doesn’t happen again in the future.’

‘I will keep that in mind. I apologize once again.’

That was enough.

Moyong Gun smiled and got up from his seat.

‘Well then, I’ll be back in a bit.’

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s face showed confusion.

‘Where are you going?’

‘Ah, I didn’t mention that, did I?’

‘……?’

Moyong Gun looked out the window with his hands behind his back.

‘When was it… yes, it was right before the practical team set out. At that time, Commander Yeon said this to me.’

‘……’

‘He asked if I would go with them. He said that if we joined forces, the chances of success for the mission would be much higher.’

Jeagal Mun-Ho chuckled.

‘His audacity is truly something else.’

It was probably half a joke, half serious.

He probably never thought that Moyong Gun would actually follow. Perhaps it was a warning, a way to prevent him from stirring up trouble in the Martial Alliance while he was away.

‘Even if he’s an enemy, he shouldn’t speak so lightly to someone like Moyong Clan Head. That was a dangerous thing to say, my friend.’

Then, Moyong Gun opened his mouth.

‘But thinking about it,’

‘……?’

‘Commander Yeon’s words weren’t entirely without merit, were they?’

For a moment, surprise flashed across Jeagal Mun-Ho’s face.

‘Are you saying…?’

‘Hahaha, I was feeling stifled anyway. Even if I can’t provide proper help, there’s no harm in having a faster and more reliable command and reporting system, is there?’

‘Are you really planning to go there?’

Moyong Gun smiled.

‘I don’t know what you think of me, but in my youth, I traveled the world and learned a lot.’

‘……!’

‘It wouldn’t be bad to relive my youth and give the practical team a boost by going there myself.’

It wasn’t just ‘not bad.’

Having the commander of the operation working alongside the field agents was a great advantage in many ways. However, due to Moyong Gun’s position and reputation as a member of the Martial Alliance, they couldn’t easily suggest it.

But he was saying he would go himself? Moyong Gun of all people?

‘It’s an ideal situation, but…’

A hint of tension settled in Jeagal Mun-Ho’s eyes, which had been filled with surprise.

‘That’s why it’s even stranger.’

Moyong Gun was never the type to step into the front lines.

He had never intended to do so in the first place. But now, out of the blue, he was changing his mind and saying he would go directly to a place swarming with black forces. How could he not be suspicious?

As if reading Jeagal Mun-Ho’s suspicion, Moyong Gun said in a cheerful voice.

‘Don’t worry too much. Like the strategist, I also intend to do my best for this operation.’

Jeagal Mun-Ho, who had been carefully observing Moyong Gun’s expression, stood up and clasped his hands in a respectful bow.

‘I am grateful for the Clan Head’s decision. Just in case, I will arrange for escorts from the Alliance…’

‘No, that won’t be necessary. Having more people will only attract the attention of the black forces.’

Moyong Gun turned around.

The look in his eyes was truly strange. It was filled with countless emotions such as excitement, anticipation, ambition, desire, and tension.

‘I will depart in half an hour. Please ensure that the departure permit is delivered in advance so there are no issues with leaving the Alliance.’

* * *

‘……Hmm.’

Yang Cheon, who had been sitting in his chair, slowly opened his eyes.

‘Was it a dream?’

It had been a long time since he had a dream.

And that dream, as soon as he woke up, gave him a truly foul feeling.

Twitch!

Yang Cheon unconsciously stroked his chest.

‘It’s still hot.’

A powerful pulsation that was not visible on the skin, but only felt by Yang Cheon.

That power, whose origin was difficult to know, was raging more fiercely than usual today.

A fiery killing intent flickered in Yang Cheon’s eyes.

‘The Evil One.’

The flowery smile of the one who introduced himself as the god of evil.

And, the pure evil and absolute martial arts hidden within that innocent face.

Crack!

His left hand crushed the armrest of the chair.

‘Have I still not escaped?’

The power of the one who called himself the god of evil was still tormenting him.

It could be called an internal injury, but it also couldn’t be called an internal injury. It didn’t interfere with his martial arts or health.

However, the unique, sticky, and unpleasant heat would occasionally throw his mood into the gutter.

‘That unpleasant bastard.’

Yang Cheon, recalling that time, had to admit it. That he was still obsessed with that match.

And that his obsessive mind was the cause of this chest pain that couldn’t be called pain.

‘Where did that guy, no, those guys come from?’

Did they come down from the sky, or did they pop up from the ground?

After coming into the world and having a purpose, Yang Cheon had studied and memorized the history of the Central Plains, as well as the forces and key figures of the outer regions.

Because he couldn’t tolerate even the slightest variable, he put as much effort into accumulating knowledge as he did into perfecting his martial arts. He was confident that his efforts during that time were greater than those of the scholars of the Jeagal family.

Within that knowledge that was accumulated and accumulated.

The moment he reached out to a world that was extremely dangerous, they appeared.

‘……They said they would make me a king?’

Yang Cheon’s face was filled with mockery.

‘What a joke. I became the king of the black forces and took over a region in just a few months, did I need your pathetic power?’

Originally, he had no intention of executing his plan so quickly.

However, the Martial Alliance was suddenly established, and as a result, the black forces were weakened. In the meantime, that sinister religious group also put pressure on them.

He didn’t particularly want to pay attention to them, but the financial support that far exceeded his imagination was enticing enough. Moreover, as they said, the longer it took, the more difficult it would be to unite the black forces.

So, Yang Cheon took the first great step in his decades-long plan to unify the black forces.

No, it would be more accurate to say that he began planting flags on the path he was already walking.

‘Still.’

Yang Cheon smiled.

‘Now I feel like I’m living a little.’

He was a man of great ambition. He was patient enough to endure and study for decades to achieve that great ambition.

The time had come to fulfill that purpose.

His purpose to become the master of the world through the three stages of division, control, and unification of the world.

At that moment, a voice was heard from outside the door.

‘Vice-Chief. The descendants of the Mujong Clan have arrived at the residence.’