Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 211

“I greet the Deputy Chief.”

“You’ve arrived.”

Yang Cheon asked, watching Heuk Yang bow deeply.

“I heard the story. You wiped out the Guicheol Sword Clan?”

“That is correct. However…”

“I also heard you missed their successor and a few stragglers.”

Heuk Yang lowered his head.

“I have no excuse.”

The corners of Yang Cheon’s mouth curved upward.

‘He’s definitely a decent one.’

He had received a report on why Heuk Yang had missed the Guicheol Sword Clan’s successor.

From the start, it was unavoidable. On the day Heuk Yang and his subordinates attacked the Sword Clan, the successor was undergoing secluded training in the mountains.

That was something even the traitor within the Sword Clan didn’t know. In such a case, it was the traitor who should be dealt with, not Heuk Yang.

In other words, even though he could have made excuses, Heuk Yang simply bowed his head with an apology.

His nature wasn’t bad. If Heuk Yang hadn’t been loyal to the cult, he would have been a great asset. Perhaps he might have even placed him as his right-hand man alongside Baek Seo.

“Currently, a pursuit team has been formed to chase after the successor.”

“I heard the Guicheol Sword Clan’s successor is quite skilled in martial arts.”

It wasn’t easy for a master like Yang Cheon to know the level of a young, up-and-coming martial artist. It was a clear indication of how much information and knowledge he had acquired to unite the Black Path [a term for the underworld or the dark side of the martial arts world].

“According to the pursuit team’s report, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he has achieved a level of mastery.”

“Oh?”

If a target was missed, it was common to downplay the target’s abilities in the report. It was to reassure the higher-ups.

In that regard, Heuk Yang was truly an extraordinary person. It was never easy to report the facts as they were, coldly and objectively.

The corners of Yang Cheon’s mouth curved into a smile once more.

“Can you catch him?”

Heuk Yang answered immediately.

“I can catch him.”

The answer came right away.

Because the objective report had come first, his confident answer alone was enough to inspire trust.

Yang Cheon nodded.

“The Guicheol Sword Clan was a faction that was known as the best sword clan in the Black Path. It would have been good if things had ended at once, but I know that it wasn’t an easy situation.”

“I am sorry.”

“What was the successor’s name again?”

“It is Gang Ryang.”

“Right, Gang Ryang. I heard that he is as bold in nature as he is in martial arts. He could become an unexpected variable, so make sure to catch him.”

“I will follow the Deputy Chief’s orders.”

Normally, when a conversation reached this point, it was normal to be dismissed.

However, Yang Cheon remained silent, and thanks to that, Heuk Yang had no choice but to remain in that position. He couldn’t leave when he hadn’t been told to.

After a brief silence.

“Heuk Yang.”

“Yes, Deputy Chief.”

“Do you remember? When you came to me with numerous treasures from beyond the borders, not long after I founded the Mukryong Unit [a special unit within the Black Path]?”

Heuk Yang’s eyes gleamed.

“I remember.”

“It was truly astonishing. I had heard you would provide assistance, but I never imagined you would provide such funds and talent.”

“……”

“Do you know? Among the countless riches and information you brought back then, there was also advice on the organizational structure of the Mukryong Unit.”

“……I did not know that.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

A cold aura flickered in Yang Cheon’s eyes. It was a very cold and venomous gaze that Heuk Yang, who was bowing his head, could not see.

“Continue to work hard in the future.”

“Of course.”

“You may leave now.”

“Yes.”

Heuk Yang bowed once and left the Mukryong Hall.

A chilling smile formed on Yang Cheon’s lips.

“To take the world, it is difficult to defeat those who use cunning tactics, even if their appearance is somewhat unpleasant.”

Yang Cheon liked talented people who crossed the line, but that also meant that he himself could not easily cross the line.

Because it wasn’t his area of expertise, and because he had reservations, he desired such talents even more.

However, Yang Cheon was only now realizing that fact.

‘It’s a world where it’s hard to get anything properly without getting my hands dirty.’

Sa-eum, Heuk Yang, treasures.

The intense malice hidden behind those gifts.

“Jeong.”

Yang Cheon smiled.

“If you too are a poisoned dagger sent by some organization, you can’t imagine what I’ll do then.”

* * *

“Huh.”

Moyong Gun clicked his tongue.

“That reckless method worked?”

“Yes, it did.”

Moyong Gun, having heard the story from Yeon Ho-Jeong, couldn’t help but be impressed.

‘He really just moved simply and got right in.’

The new Black Path Alliance led by the Tyrant Yang Cheon.

If asked what method to use to infiltrate it, it would be difficult to come up with an effective method right away.

However, Moyong Gun was different. He liked to think outside the box, and he believed that as long as he could somehow infiltrate the enemy’s heart and hide his affiliation with the Martial Alliance [a term for the righteous martial arts world], it would be enough.

It was a simple but effective move. The problem was the difficulty.

Sending a spy without knowing the location of the enemy’s base, how many masters were stationed there, or how strict the security was, could lead to a reckless move.

However, if given enough time, a safe way to send a spy would emerge. Moyong Gun had no doubt about that.

That was when Yeon Ho-Jeong stepped forward.

And the result was as it was now.

“He attracted the enemy’s interest, made his presence known, and then immediately paved a way to the upper echelons…”

It was simple. So simple that it was almost absurd.

But that simple move worked so well.

“You always surprise me.”

“Anyone can do it if they set their mind to it. It’s just a matter of whether you decide to or not.”

“Of course, that’s true. But there’s one more thing.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

“It’s also a method that one couldn’t easily attempt without knowing much about the Black Path.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes sparkled.

“When did it start? When you turned your eyes to the Black Path.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Are you playing dumb? Looking at the reports sent to the Alliance and the series of events I’ve just heard, it seems like you know the Black Path very well.”

“People live the same way everywhere. Rather, Huga [a character’s name] will know more about the Black Path than I do.”

“There’s a clear difference between knowing and experiencing.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“Don’t waste your energy on unnecessary suspicion. I’ve just looked into the essence of people, I don’t know anything particularly well about the Black Path.”

The corners of Moyong Gun’s mouth curved upward.

“Is that so?”

This time, even Moyong Gun found it difficult to read Yeon Ho-Jeong’s true intentions. As Yeon Ho-Jeong said, Ga Deuk-Sang would know more about the Black Path, and given Yeon Ho-Jeong’s abilities, this infiltration wasn’t that strange.

The problem was.

‘I understand it in my head, but I can’t just let it go.’

There was definitely something. This guy had proceeded with the plan with a certainty based on something he hadn’t told him.

And that was probably something that even the field team didn’t know.

“Just one more question.”

“I didn’t come here to be interrogated.”

“Let’s say that’s true about the Black Path.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes emitted a threatening light.

“Do you, by any chance, also know about Yang Cheon?”

“Is there any martial artist who doesn’t know Yang Cheon?”

“You know what I mean.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“That’s also unnecessary suspicion. I know my worth. It’s obvious that the newly formed Black Path Alliance will suffer from a lack of talent. It’s natural for them to be wary but also interested when someone like me comes along.”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“I never said it was suspicion, did I?”

“Are you trying to hide the obvious?”

“Hahaha.”

Moyong Gun, who finally burst into laughter, nodded his head and said.

“Good. It seems like we’ve talked enough about the past, so let’s discuss the future now.”

“What information does the higher-up want?”

“Hmm? Don’t you already know? You wouldn’t have come all the way here without knowing that, would you?”

“Yang Cheon’s intentions, whether he has any helpers, the actual power of the Mukryong Unit, and so on, everything must be investigated.”

“Yes, you know it well.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes gleamed.

“Is that really all?”

Moyong Gun shrugged his shoulders.

“If we can get other information besides that, that would be good too.”

“Hmm.”

“As you said, the Alliance wants all information about Yang Cheon. Of course, I do too. If there’s anything else we need to look into more closely, I’ll tell you then.”

“I understand.”

“So, what are you planning to do from now on?”

“What else? I have to become his confidant.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

“I expected you to choose that path.”

“I thought you would.”

“Won’t it be dangerous?”

A serious look appeared on Moyong Gun’s face.

“Whatever the reason, you are still a commander of the Myeolsa Unit [a special unit within the Martial Alliance] of the Martial Alliance. Being a spy is not your main job.”

“I know.”

“Yang Cheon isn’t a fool either, he won’t make the mistake of immediately making a newcomer his confidant. He’ll keep observing you and give you tasks one by one.”

“That’s probably right.”

“In other words, it will take at least a year or two for you to become Yang Cheon’s true confidant.”

Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed.

“That’s absolutely impossible. Even though I’m your political rival, that’s not okay.”

A plan to send a political enemy to be killed by an external force?

It wasn’t a bad method. However, if it was someone like Yang Cheon, it was a different story.

Moreover, Yang Cheon was uniting the Black Path. The enemy of the White Path was the Black Path, and the Black Path was also eager to surpass the White Path. In such a situation, sending a member of the White Path to be killed by the enemy? That was a matter of pride.

Going one step further.

‘This guy is someone who might do anything in a crisis.’

It was unlikely, but what if Yeon Ho-Jeong decided to take control of the Black Path?

‘If that happens, it will be a huge headache.’

Was it an overreach? Absolutely not.

The Yeon Ho-Jeong that Moyong Gun had seen was a guy with no limits. Whether it was his nature or because he was young, if this guy set his mind to it, he would become a monster who would run wild without any restraint.

He couldn’t let such a guy die in the enemy’s camp. If he was to die, he had to die within the White Path martial world.

That was Moyong Gun’s thought.

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded his head.

“I don’t have any intention of rotting under him for years either. Of course not. I’m not trying to swallow the Black Path, and it’s absurd to rot for years just to get some information.”

Moyong Gun flinched involuntarily at the words about swallowing the Black Path.

“Then what are you going to do?”

“I said confidant, but it’s more like a partnership.”

“A partnership?”

“That’s right.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“I don’t intend to reveal our hand just because we want something, but I think we need to accept some sacrifices to get what we want as quickly as possible.”

“I agree with that.”

“So, I’m thinking of manipulating things based on our information.”

Moyong Gun’s face hardened.

“Are you saying you’re going to leak the Alliance’s information?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shrugged his shoulders.

“If the commander gives permission, I might, but I don’t really intend to.”

“Then?”

“I want fabricated information.”

“Fabricated?”

Moyong Gun, who had been quietly looking at him, said in a heavy voice.

“Let’s hear it first.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong told him his plan.

And when he finished speaking, Moyong Gun couldn’t help but nod his head.

“Will it work?”

“We have to make it work. Whether this works or not depends on your capabilities as the commander, not just my efforts.”

“……”

“Can you do it?”

Moyong Gun smiled coldly.

“Interesting. Let’s try it.”