Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 226

Baek Seo stood before Yeon Ho-Jeong as he emerged from the Mukryong Hall.

“……”

The two men locked eyes, their gazes cold.

Baek Seo spoke first.

“Your position?”

“Head of the Intelligence Department.”

“In three days?”

“That’s correct.”

“Your residence?”

“I haven’t been informed yet.”

Baek Seo, who had been studying Yeon Ho-Jeong, shook his head.

“Since your appointment is in three days, you’re not my superior yet.”

The Twelve Earthly Branches under Yang Cheon held a unique position within the Mukryong Unit.

They didn’t directly command regular troops or hold typical office jobs. They were, first and foremost, Yang Cheon’s direct subordinates, but they also led their own independent units.

They were clearly part of the leadership, yet their exact hierarchy was ambiguous. They answered only to Yang Cheon.

However, the Intelligence Department was a core organization of the Mukryong Unit, slated for reorganization. As Yeon Ho-Jeong was to become the head of the most powerful organization within the Mukryong Unit, he naturally outranked the Twelve Earthly Branches, who were leaders in name only.

“I’ll guide you to your future residence. Take a look around, and if you have any requests, let me know.”

“Understood.”

Thus, the two walked along the wide underground avenue.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The Mukryong Unit was still bustling. It was noisy, but the sound wasn’t grating.

Yeon Ho-Jeong asked,

“Is that a mechanical device?”

Baek Seo didn’t answer.

He didn’t seem inclined to engage in conversation unless absolutely necessary. Yeon Ho-Jeong clicked his tongue and followed behind him.

‘Anyway, this mission is slowly coming to an end.’

The head of the Intelligence Department oversaw all information within the Mukryong Unit. Now, all he had to do was use his position to steal all the important information and escape.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes turned cold.

‘Moyong Gun.’

Not long ago, he had received a secret letter from Moyong Gun’s hidden subordinate.

The letter contained the following:

I have revealed myself. By now, Yang Cheon must have noticed. However, the Mukryong Unit will never touch me. So, you should create a suitable reason to come and capture me. After faking my death at your hands, you can return to the Alliance.

It was an incredibly bold plan.

Perhaps Moyong Gun had planned everything from the moment he became the commander of this operation to the end of the mission. He was a man of that caliber.

‘But there’s a problem with this plan.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned, almost imperceptibly.

‘It means letting the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] know that they’ve discovered the existence of the Mukryong Unit.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong was the head of the Intelligence Department of the Mukryong Unit. If he were simply killed, no one would believe it.

In other words, as soon as Yeon Ho-Jeong’s death was staged, the Mukryong Unit would definitely be put on high alert. Since Moyong Gun was a member of the Murim Alliance, it meant they would naturally assume that the Murim Alliance had discovered the existence of the Mukryong Unit and act accordingly.

‘You must know that.’

The Mukryong Unit was an organization that, outwardly, did not exist in the world.

Of course, they had appeared in various places in Hunan, but that was only possible because the Murim Alliance had enough power to notice them. The world still didn’t know about the existence of the Mukryong Unit.

In other words, the moment the Mukryong Unit realized that the Murim Alliance had discovered their existence, they would hide even deeper.

‘Is that not a problem?’

That was possible. In fact, Yeon Ho-Jeong wasn’t too concerned about that part either.

Provided that one condition was met.

‘It’s okay if the quality and quantity of information I extract is sufficient.’

The Murim Alliance hadn’t been established for long either. If the Mukryong Unit hid deeper, the Murim Alliance would also have time to build up its strength.

Given the same amount of time, the Murim Alliance would establish a more solid system than the Mukryong Unit, which had Yang Cheon as its leader. Naturally, the combined power would also become stronger.

‘Since the Murim Alliance will have to put forward a leader anyway……’

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘A leader?’

A terrifying thought suddenly shook Yeon Ho-Jeong’s mind.

He unconsciously touched his lips.

‘The advance team… the commander who infiltrated the enemy camp… Hunan… Moyong……’

A single hypothesis quickly broke down and drew a large map.

‘Moyong Gun wants this mission to succeed. That’s why he even went so far as to step forward himself for our safe return. It’s a sure method if it’s certain, but was that really the best option?’

The events that had occurred so far, the movements of the Mukryong Unit, Moyong Gun’s schemes, and the existence of unknown experts who replaced the advance team were all organically connected, and they began to produce several results.

‘I don’t have enough information. But looking at the situation?’

Moyong Gun’s position, his ambition, the things he had done.

Sharp murderous intent filled Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

‘……Moyong Gun is a man who would do anything to become the leader. And the leader selection is next year.’

It was said to be next year, but there were less than three months left. Once the year passed and the winter cold subsided, the leadership would surely bring up the topic of selecting a leader.

‘You.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes twitched slightly.

‘Could it have been groundwork?’

At that moment, Baek Seo opened his mouth.

“Calm yourself.”

“……?”

“I know it’s a time of excessive passion, but we have no intention of starting a conflict with you.”

It seemed he had read Yeon Ho-Jeong’s murderous intent.

He was a possessor of very sensitive senses. He hadn’t openly revealed his killing intent, only his gaze had changed, but he had noticed that subtle change.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“It would be easier for me if you did.”

After a moment of silence, Baek Seo opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“I have served the Vice-Chief for over ten years.”

“……”

“In all that time serving the Vice-Chief, there has never been a talent he wanted to acquire as much as you.”

That meant he liked Yeon Ho-Jeong that much.

“There is only one ruler, and many subjects. If there is a subject who is favored by the ruler, it is natural for the surrounding subjects to be jealous.”

“I know.”

“There are many dangerous people in the headquarters. However, at least the Twelve Earthly Branches have no intention of creating a rift with you. We only serve the Vice-Chief, not trying to get closer to him.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“That’s ideal. At least for you.”

“It’s not just me.”

“That monkey was different.”

“Hwa Won?”

“Yes.”

“I have nothing to say about that.”

It was a clean admission.

Baek Seo said in a calmer voice.

“I’ve already spoken to Hwa Won separately, so don’t worry too much.”

“I’m not worried. He’s not someone I need to be worried about.”

“……”

“I also have no intention of causing conflict with you.”

“That’s a relief then.”

With those words, Baek Seo closed his mouth again.

‘He’s a difficult person.’

Baek Seo’s martial arts were impressive.

He didn’t know how good he was in actual combat. That was something he wouldn’t know until they fought. However, just looking at his perfectly structured qi [life force/energy], his martial arts achievement was at least one level above Yeon Ho-Jeong’s current level.

That was truly remarkable. To reach the level of a master in black arts required something more than just effort.

And that restrained mindset.

‘Yang Cheon is very interested in me. But at least in terms of trust, I can’t compete with this man.’

It was only natural. It was already a very unconventional move to treat a talent they had only met recently so well.

“We’re here.”

Before they knew it, the two had arrived at a cave about three hundred paces away from the Mukryong Hall.

“The entrance to the headquarters’ residence works with a mechanism, just like the Mukryong Hall.”

Baek Seo turned the round stone protruding from the right side of the stone door three times to the right and twice to the left.

Kugugugung.

The door opened, revealing a fairly bright and spacious residence.

It was very well decorated, even though the walls were made of stone. There was a large table and a study, and inside, there was also a large room.

“Take a look around.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked around the residence.

His gaze was quite cautious. He wasn’t actually going to use it for long, but there might be secret spaces for surveillance.

‘…….’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

‘It’s there.’

As expected. In the center of the study ceiling, where the night-shining pearls were embedded in a circle, a subtle flow of air was felt.

It wasn’t just a structure made for air circulation. He had only glanced at it briefly, afraid that Baek Seo might see, but the thickness of the secret space above the ceiling was considerable.

‘Even I would have missed it if it weren’t for the Azure Dragon Qi and Black Tortoise Qi.’

He had investigated this place thoroughly in the past, but there was no such secret space back then. It seemed the Mukryong Unit had created it when they settled here.

And there was more than one such space.

‘There are three in total. None in the room, but one in the center of the office ceiling and two in the corners.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘They should have paid more attention to the outside instead of doing this kind of trickery.’

Soon, Yeon Ho-Jeong came out of the room.

“I’ve seen it all.”

“Do you have any requests?”

“No. I’ll fill it in gradually later.”

“Understood.”

Baek Seo took out a black plaque from his pocket. It was an iron plaque with no markings, but it was made of an extraordinary material.

“It’s called the Mukryong Plaque. It’s a plaque used to travel to and from the headquarters, and only people with a certain rank or those directly authorized by the Vice-Chief can possess it.”

“Thank you.”

Baek Seo turned around.

“Have a comfortable three days. You should be here on the morning of the day the organizational restructuring begins.”

“Understood.”

With those words, Baek Seo disappeared like a ghost.

Yeon Ho-Jeong leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

“Three days.”

It was a short time if it was short, and a long time if it was long.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked up at the ceiling.

It was bright thanks to the night-shining pearls, but the air felt strangely stuffy, perhaps because it was inside a cave.

‘Come if you dare?’

He recalled the last part of the letter.

‘If you have any questions, come and find me. Of course, the Mukryong Unit will also send people. I believe you can handle that much on your own.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled coldly.

‘Can you handle it? If you meet me now, it won’t be good for you either.’

* * *

“Hmm?!”

An unexpected look appeared on Moyong Gun’s face.

“Who?”

“It’s Pae Yul. He’s part of this working group, the youngest elder of the Jeomchang Sect……”

“I know that. But, are you saying that he sent Pae Yul instead of coming himself?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmph.”

Moyong Gun’s lips curled up.

“He seems very angry.”

Well, it was understandable.

Neither Yeon Ho-Jeong nor himself were the type to let anger interfere with their mission. Furthermore, they weren’t the type to create unnecessary conflicts, so if they couldn’t stand it, they wouldn’t even think of meeting face to face.

But he had sent Pae Yul as a proxy.

‘Is there something he’s planning?’

Moyong Gun nodded.

“Let him in.”

“Yes.”

A moment later, Pae Yul opened the door and entered.

Moyong Gun greeted him with a smile.

“Is this the first time we’ve met like this?”

“That’s right.”

“Please, sit here.”

Pae Yul silently sat down.

Moyong Gun asked directly.

“So, did you come on an errand for the head of the working group?”

It was a statement that could sound quite insulting. No matter how much Yeon Ho-Jeong was the head of the working group, Pae Yul was an elder of the Jeomchang Sect and much senior to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

However, there was no sign of displeasure on Pae Yul’s face.

“If it’s an errand, it’s an errand, but before that, there’s something I want to ask you personally.”

“Hmm? Is there another problem besides that?”

Pae Yul smiled coldly.

“Do you know about Mong-ui?”