Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 235

“We’ve received word from Young Master Yeon.”

Ga Deuk-Sang’s eyes sparkled for the first time in a while.

“It seems the situation is developing quite interestingly, wouldn’t you say?”

After a brief explanation, the group couldn’t help but be amazed.

Pa Sa-Reuk grumbled.

“That guy, he must have been a nine-tailed fox in his past life [a mythical creature known for cunning and trickery].”

Jeagal Ayeon chuckled.

“Jeong must be sweating a bit too, huh? I bet he never imagined Yang Cheon would collapse so suddenly.”

Tang Sang-A said with a serious face.

“What on earth could have happened? Yang Cheon is a peerless master, considered on par with our grandfather. For such a master to lose consciousness and collapse…”

“Sister, I’m curious about that too, but for now, let’s just focus on our safe return.”

“Ah…”

Tang Sang-A said awkwardly.

“It was just so unexpected.”

“Well, it is. When you think about it, the fate of the world could change depending on Yang Cheon’s condition.”

“I… I’m honestly just curious…”

“The people who change the world are always driven by trivial curiosity.”

Pa Sa-Reuk clicked his tongue.

“Let’s stop with the useless talk.”

“Yes, sir.”

“So, when should we make our move?”

Ga Deuk-Sang waved a document.

“It seems we should move on the day Young Master Yeon and Moyong Gun meet. Judging by the situation, Moyong Gun will likely contact us within today.”

“Then, at the latest, it’ll be within three days.”

“You can think of it as two days from now.”

“Good. And what about them?”

“…They are waiting.”

“Hmm.”

Ga Deuk-Sang’s expression immediately turned uncomfortable.

It wasn’t just him. Tang Sang-A and even Jeagal Ayeon looked somewhat uneasy.

“Um, Senior.”

“What is it?”

“Is it really okay to leave them like this? I mean, what crime have those people committed? In a way, they are the victims.”

“I know.”

“If we were risking our lives to screw over Moyong Gun, then maybe… but using them like this…”

In an instant, Pa Sa-Reuk’s eyes turned sharp as a blade.

“Don’t insult them.”

“Huh?”

“They are not being used; they chose their own end. Neither you, a mere beggar, nor I, nor these girls have the right to belittle their choice.”

“…”

“Even if we didn’t do this, they wouldn’t survive another month. They knew that, and that’s why they willingly joined this plan.”

“…”

“They committed countless mistakes in the past, but at least in their final moments, they repented for their past lives. Be honored that you can be with such people, even for a short time.”

Pa Sa-Reuk, having spoken as if scolding them, got up from his seat.

“Consider it two days from now. You all should rest well until then.”

“Understood.”

With that, Pa Sa-Reuk left the room.

Jeagal Ayeon smacked her lips.

“I think I know why Jeong brought Senior with him.”

“…”

“Honestly, I thought he was just a martial arts fanatic who loved to fight, but I was wrong.”

Tang Sang-A nodded.

“It seems he’s someone who has gained great enlightenment before learning.”

“That’s right. I guess this is why they say knowledge is nothing before wisdom. He’s truly someone to look up to.”

Ga Deuk-Sang sighed.

“To be honest, I still don’t really understand.”

“Is that so?”

“Seeing this, I’m sure I’m not someone who’s destined for greatness.”

Jeagal Ayeon smiled.

‘That’s not true.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who could be colder than anyone depending on the situation. Pa Sa-Reuk, whose wisdom in life was as outstanding as the countless battles he had fought.

Not many people could have such keen insight and make such calm judgments with just ordinary experience.

But what was even more difficult was Ga Deuk-Sang’s kind nature. Ga Deuk-Sang felt frustrated with himself for not being able to keep up with Yeon Ho-Jeong and Pa Sa-Reuk, but in this harsh world, keeping a kind heart like Ga Deuk-Sang’s was a thousand times more difficult.

‘I see why the Dragon Head chose this person as Ga Deuk-Sang.’

Those who handle information are bound to stray from chivalry and righteousness.

But Ga Deuk-Sang did not. He looked at people rather than information, and because he looked at people, he tried not to create unhappy people, even if he might make the wrong judgment.

Jeagal Ayeon hoped that he would not lose his kind heart in the future.

“Ladies, you should rest now. The day we return home is not far away.”

* * *

“You’ve come.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong went straight to Baek Seo.

“We’ve received word from the Moyong Clan Head.”

“…”

“It seems we need to depart this evening to arrive by the appointed time.”

Baek Seo silently stared at the Black Dragon Hall.

Yeon Ho-Jeong patiently waited for his reply.

After a moment, Baek Seo opened his mouth.

“Head of the Intelligence Department.”

“Speak.”

“As you know, I cannot leave my post. With the Vice-Chief still unconscious, I cannot leave my position.”

“I know.”

Baek Seo was one of the Twelve Zodiac Generals, but he was in a completely different position from the others.

In other words, even if he acted as the Vice-Chief’s proxy, no one in the unit would dare to say anything to him. Baek Seo was a person who had earned that much trust.

“If it were up to me, I would cancel the appointment with the Moyong Clan Head and everything else. With the Vice-Chief collapsed, what good is it to meet with the head of a mere Six Great Clans?”

Baek Seo’s eyes turned cold.

“That’s why I cannot understand the urgency of the Head of the Intelligence Department.”

“I understand.”

He says he understands.

He wasn’t trying to persuade him, but simply saying he understood.

Baek Seo thought that this was what made him extraordinary. The new Head of the Intelligence Department was as rough as anyone, but on the other hand, he was someone who could fully recognize the other person’s situation.

Baek Seo nodded.

“I am the Vice-Chief’s confidant. Whether the Vice-Chief conquers the world or wanders the wilderness alone, I will simply follow him. But you are not the same.”

“…”

“You are a component needed to fulfill the Vice-Chief’s dream. And each component has its own use, just like me.”

“…”

“I will protect the Vice-Chief. You do what the Vice-Chief wants.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong clasped his hands in respect.

“Thank you for understanding.”

Baek Seo turned his body.

“What about the physician?”

“The Ghostly Physician has responded. He will arrive within five days at the latest.”

“That’s faster than I expected. That’s a relief.”

Baek Seo looked up at the ceiling.

Even Yeon Ho-Jeong, the best in the world, couldn’t guess what he was thinking.

“I will assign the Tiger (寅), Dragon (辰), Snake (巳), Monkey (申), and Dog (戌) of the Twelve Zodiac Generals [referring to the Chinese Zodiac].”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

He was saying that he would assign the Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Monkey, and Dog among the Twelve Zodiac Generals.

It wasn’t just five masters following him. If you included the organizations under their command, at least three hundred more masters would follow.

“With that much power, even if the Moyong Clan Head has set a trap, there should be no problem in saving your life.”

“That’s enough.”

Baek Seo turned his body.

“I will not issue a separate departure order. Depart whenever you are ready.”

“Understood.”

“Head of the Intelligence Department.”

“Speak.”

“I wish you good fortune.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had been looking at Baek Seo, took out three neatly folded documents from his chest.

“Take these.”

“What are these?”

“Detailed information about the traitors in the headquarters.”

“…?!”

In an instant, Baek Seo’s face hardened like stone.

“Did you just say traitors?”

“Yes.”

“…Who are they?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong brought his index finger to his lips.

“You will find out in detail when you see this. After the Vice-Chief became like that, I didn’t want to add unnecessary confusion to the already chaotic situation, so I’ve been putting it off until now.”

“…!”

“I called them to my residence and interrogated them, and they revealed their true colors. A fight inevitably broke out, and I managed to subdue them.”

Surprise flickered in Baek Seo’s eyes.

“You subdued them?”

“Yes.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong lowered his voice even more.

“I approached them quite naturally and lured them to my residence. The reason I’m telling you this now is partly because the unit is in chaos, but also because I don’t rule out the possibility of another traitor.”

“…Hmm.”

“Perhaps the fact that the Vice-Chief collapsed like that is also a scheme by the traitors.”

Tsutsutsutsu.

Intense killing intent emanated from Baek Seo’s body.

“How dare these things… !”

Even though he knew it was just a possibility, he couldn’t control his killing intent. He was someone who had a hard time staying calm when it came to matters related to Yang Cheon.

“I will prepare immediately, and we will depart within an hour.”

“…”

“After we depart, go straight to my residence. I’ve locked up the traitors there.”

“…Understood.”

“I’ll say it again. It would be best to move quickly. If there is a mole, they will try to figure out the traitor’s last movements and then try to escape from here.”

“That’s true.”

“So, as soon as we leave the unit, prohibit all entry and exit from the Black Dragon Unit. Then go to my residence and capture the traitors. After that… I believe you will handle it well, Senior.”

Baek Seo clasped his hands in respect.

“You’ve worked hard in a place I don’t know about. Thank you.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong clasped his hands in return.

“It was something I had to do.”

“There’s one thing I’m curious about.”

“Speak.”

“How did you know that person was a traitor?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“Because he was an existence that was too far removed from the Twelve Zodiac Generals.”

“…The Twelve Zodiac Generals!”

“A first-rate spy tries not to stand out in terms of personality, position, or location. But a spy classified as top-tier takes on a noticeable role in a noticeable position and lingers in noticeable places.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

“Well, he’s just a traitor, so it’s a bit much to call him a spy.”

He turned his body.

“Please take good care of the Vice-Chief.”

Baek Seo nodded with a heavy face.

“I have no doubt that you will complete your mission and return.”

Turning his back, Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled bitterly.

I’m sorry, but we will never see each other again.

* * *

Swoosh!

“Cough!”

Heuk Yang felt his mind snap back to reality from the sudden splash of water.

“Hah… Hah! Ugh!”

As soon as he regained his senses, severe pain surged from all over his body.

He couldn’t move his upper body because of his broken ribs and collarbone. His right arm, where the cartilage was torn and the joints were shattered, was completely numb.

Dull pain also rose from his thighs and abdomen. All of them were areas where he had been attacked by the Head of the Intelligence Department.

‘That Jeong!’

Heuk Yang gritted his teeth.

“That rat-like bastard dared to ambush me… !”

It was then.

“Are you talking about me?”

Heuk Yang felt like his heart had dropped.

“You shouldn’t look down on a rat too much. There are fierce rats like me in the world.”

Heuk Yang barely moved his stiff neck and raised his head.

Before his eyes was Baek Seo, wearing a more murderous expression than ever before.

“Traitor Heuk Yang.”

“…!!”

“You look quite miserable. I thought the Head of the Intelligence Department was no ordinary hero, but I didn’t know his methods were this cruel.”

Baek Seo lowered his upper body.

“But you know, right? There are many torture experts in the headquarters who would consider the Head of the Intelligence Department’s methods to be nothing more than a child’s punch.”

“…Gulp.”

“Well, I think the mood is set now.”

Baek Seo smiled coldly.

“If you answer my questions honestly, I will kill you, though it will be quite painful. But if you don’t…”

“…!!”

“I will make you neither dead nor alive. Do you understand?”