Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 208

“This is the amount collected this time.”

“Hmm.”

Gok Myeong, who was reviewing the documents, nodded.

“It’s increased again.”

“At the foundation of every great undertaking lies funding. An undertaking without secured funds is like shouting powerless justice.”

“You speak truly.”

“I will increase the collection amount by five *pun* [a unit of currency] each time. Progressively, but when we do increase it, we must do so decisively so that the higher-ups will take notice.”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

His reaction was somewhat lukewarm. The scribe smiled.

“You seem quite frustrated.”

Gok Myeong clicked his tongue.

“Allowing sufficient time is as important as funding. However, I can’t help but feel impatient.”

The scribe bowed his head.

“As I mentioned before, power easily gained leaves no regret when lost. The Mukryong Clan is different from other black-market alliances that have sprung up and disappeared like mushrooms. To establish ourselves as the core of the clan, consistency is essential.”

“I know that. But what can I do about feeling impatient?”

“Please trust me and be patient a little longer. Countless petty individuals have fallen due to a lack of patience. I believe that Clan Leader is worthy of leaving his name in the history of the black market.”

Gok Myeong cleared his throat.

He knew it was a ploy to elevate him. But when he felt this surge of emotion, his subordinate’s encouragement was quite a source of strength.

“Well, being impatient won’t change the outcome. I have no choice but to trust and wait.”

The scribe smiled.

“That is indeed the right thing to say.”

The Cheonan Fortress was a fairly well-known information faction in the black market.

However, its fame was proof that its abilities were at a mediocre level. The truly skilled information groups in the black market were not known to the public.

However, the reason Cheonan Fortress was famous was not just its information gathering.

It was also its funding. Besides information, Cheonan Fortress had secured considerable financial power through illegal businesses.

And that meant that Cheonan Fortress’s martial prowess was also considerable. There were many in the black market who sought to steal funds.

“But this much we must pay attention to.”

Murderous intent flickered in Gok Myeong’s eyes.

“It’s okay if we’re not first. But we must not fall behind those who are inferior to us.”

The scribe bowed his head.

“If there is a faction that joins the Mukryong Clan before us, I will secretly destroy that faction.”

“Good.”

Gok Myeong smiled.

He was a trustworthy subordinate.

In fact, this subordinate had not been with him for long. Perhaps only about half a year. But he had made him his right-hand man before even a month had passed.

Because he was intelligent. This fellow possessed a grace and wisdom that his other subordinates did not.

And his unconventional treatment quickly paid off.

“You’ve worked hard today. I’ll head out first.”

“You’ve done well.”

“Ah, and.”

Gok Myeong’s eyes, looking north from the top of the ten-story building, became unusually serious.

“This fortress is an information organization. We must not forget why we are located at the northernmost part of Honam Province [a region in Korea].”

Guarding the north.

Collecting funds to send to the Mukryong Clan was important, but as an information organization, guarding the north was also important. This was not to curry favor with the Mukryong Clan, but rather an order from the Mukryong Clan itself.

“If you see anyone suspicious, attach the ants to them. Never let them go.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Good.”

Even after hearing the answer, Gok Myeong looked out the window for a long time before turning around.

‘Hoo, I feel like getting drunk today. It’s been a while since I had a good drink…’

Suddenly, Gok Myeong’s eyes widened.

‘……!!’

The hair on his entire body stood on end.

His mouth began to dry, and his back became clammy. He couldn’t even take out the iron claws hidden in his sleeves.

It was compulsion.

His body reacted just by looking at the opponent. The moment he fully recognized the opponent, even the smallest hair on his beard stiffened.

“Hmm.”

A voice suddenly rang out.

The scribe was also startled and turned his head.

‘Gasp!’

On the top floor of the ten-story building where the two men were standing.

In a corner of the space where no unauthorized person could enter, a middle-aged man was sitting on a table, looking over the documents that Gok Myeong had just been examining.

He had a classic appearance.

His attire was perfect. The clothes he wore were quite extravagant. They were almost worthy of being called royal garments.

On his waist, he wore a jet-black longsword that contrasted with his flamboyant attire. The long, thick sword gave a strong impression rather than a sharp one.

‘Wh, who?!’

The scribe looked at Gok Myeong with trembling eyes.

His face turned pale in an instant.

‘An opponent that Clan Leader Gok cannot defeat!’

Gok Myeong’s face was filled with extreme tension and confusion. If he were an opponent he could handle, he would have already drawn his iron claws and slashed at him.

‘Who is he?’

Who was it that had entered this place, evading the senses of a master like Gok Myeong?

“Impressive.”

The middle-aged man’s voice was truly pleasant to hear.

A low, deep voice. The smile that seemed to be a habit made the listener feel comfortable.

Of course, the two men’s impressions were different.

“Is this the amount of profit that you, a mere information faction with a bit of a name, make each month? Haha, it makes me realize how much we underestimated you.”

The man sighed as he looked at the ceiling.

“That’s why the saying ‘armchair theory’ exists. I thought you were the kind of guys who would be crushed to death if stepped on, but it turns out you’re not just common bugs, but poisonous ones?”

Poisonous bugs.

It was a truly irritating expression. But neither Gok Myeong nor the scribe could easily open their mouths.

The middle-aged man, who had lowered his gaze again, carelessly threw the documents he was holding.

Thud!

The two men flinched involuntarily. The sound of the bundle of documents falling on the table was particularly imposing.

The middle-aged man’s eyes finally turned to Gok Myeong.

‘Gasp!!’

Gok Myeong stopped breathing for a moment.

Flash! Flash!

The light in the middle-aged man’s eyes as he looked at him was indescribably eerie.

They were clear eyes with distinct black and white. On the surface, they certainly seemed so.

However, the ferocious ambition that resided in those clear eyes exerted a pressure of ten thousand pounds on those who met them.

‘…He’s a monster.’

Gok Myeong’s fingertips trembled.

‘This man is a monster!’

He had not released his inner energy, nor had he drawn his sword to demonstrate his skills.

He could tell just by his gaze. That the opponent was an extremely dangerous type. And that he had accumulated martial arts as much as the ferocity he possessed.

Surprisingly, Gok Myeong saw the shadow of a living myth in the opponent’s eyes.

The shadow of the strongest being who was born a human and ascended to the ranks of a god, more powerful than any master he had ever met.

‘Deputy Clan Leader?!’

That’s right.

The middle-aged man had a shadow similar to that of Yang Cheon, the strongest martial god Gok Myeong had ever seen.

His skill? He couldn’t even guess. The inferior cannot gauge the superior. It was clear that he was an incredibly powerful master, but he didn’t know how strong he was.

However, this much was certain.

‘This guy is as dangerous as the Deputy Clan Leader!’

Yang Cheon, the one and only of the Divine Immortal Kings.

The danger of this unknown middle-aged man was so great that it reminded him of that absolute being.

It wasn’t because of his martial arts. It was because of the ambition the person himself possessed, the unrestrained ferocity that was ready to do anything for that ambition.

The eye of intuition gained from handling countless pieces of information.

That excellent insight was being displayed at this unavoidable moment of danger.

“You are a truly interesting fellow.”

The middle-aged man, Moyong Gun, smiled.

“Your guts are small, but your ideals are high. Up to that point, it’s similar to those of ignorant fools, but you have an eye for people.”

“……!!”

“It’s a shame. If you had lowered your ideals and increased your boldness a bit more, I would have offered you a position under me.”

He could grasp the measure of his opponent at a glance.

It was a much sharper and more accurate insight than Gok Myeong’s. In addition to his innate talent, Moyong Gun’s insight, honed through the chaos of power struggles, was already sufficient to discuss the world.

“But.”

Moyong Gun turned his head to the scribe.

“With such a good eye, why are you raising a rabid dog that is constantly eyeing your master’s flesh?”

Gok Myeong was startled and looked at the scribe.

The scribe’s eyes were shaking as if an earthquake had struck. He was flustered because the opponent had seen through his intentions at a glance.

Moyong Gun’s smile deepened.

“Well, among the various means for dreams and power, there is nothing as easy as using others. And easy paths are not always wrong.”

“……!!”

“I wonder if our head of the practical affairs team will be able to settle down as successfully as you.”

Gok Myeong stammered.

“Wh, what do you want?”

“What I want.”

Moyong Gun tilted his head.

“It’s certainly a shame. You’re asking about my purpose, not my identity? In most cases, it’s not easy to say that. That’s why the environment is important. If you had met me ten years earlier, you would have grown into a pretty decent talent.”

At that moment, the scribe reached for a rope hanging from the ceiling.

Moyong Gun’s eyes flashed.

Whoosh!

The scribe, who had pulled the rope forcefully, was startled. Only a part of the rope that had been cut off was in his hand.

“On the other hand, you are completely useless. You’re smart and greedy, but your face is too awkward. You’re fundamentally untrustworthy.”

In an instant, lightning flickered in Moyong Gun’s eyes.

Fear appeared on the scribe’s face.

“J, just a moment!”

Swoosh.

Without a bang or a roar, not even a cutting sound or a sword sound.

Just naturally.

The scribe’s body was cut into eighteen pieces and collapsed.

Thud.

The floor was instantly stained with blood.

‘Gasp!’

An unstable tremor spread throughout Gok Myeong’s body. He did not see what martial art Moyong Gun used, nor did he even see him draw his weapon.

Clang. Thud!

Moyong Gun, who had sheathed his longsword, which he didn’t know when he had drawn, smiled and asked.

“Did you ask what I wanted?”

“Y, yes!”

“Haha, yes. You should be humble like that. You’re becoming more and more to my liking.”

Moyong Gun, with his hands behind his back, stepped onto the rapidly spreading blood.

Sizzle.

A nauseating stench of blood rose. The terrifying true energy flowing from Moyong Gun’s feet completely evaporated all the blood that had soaked the entire floor.

It was an unbelievable feat of inner energy manipulation. Even those who had mastered *Yanggang* [a powerful martial art] inner energy would find it difficult to evaporate only the liquid in an instant.

“What is your name?”

“…Gok Myeong. My name is Gok Myeong.”

“Alright, Clan Leader Gok.”

A chilling smile appeared on Moyong Gun’s face.

“There is a tiger I would like to tear apart in an instant. He’s not that old, but he’s as cunning as a thousand-year-old fox.”

“Y, yes?”

“I will catch him someday, but this time, I think I need to sharpen my fangs. I’m riding on that tiger’s back.”

“……?!”

“So, I think I’ll need to use this place for a while.”

“Y, you may.”

“And one more thing.”

A terrifying murderous intent swirled over Moyong Gun’s smiling face.