Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 398

Sama Hyeon’s gaze deepened.

Yeon Ho-jeong, with a hint of regret, said,

“My apologies. I’m not an ‘Eumsin’ [Shadow Lord] right now. If we eliminate the current ‘Eumsin’ together, then you can become the next ‘Eumsin’.”

“You speak of dangerous things so casually.”

“I don’t think that’s something you should say, considering you were the first to reach out to eliminate your master.”

From their very first meeting, the conversation was sharp. At least, that’s how Sama Hyeon felt.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong felt differently.

‘So, it was you.’

Sama Hyeon, dressed in an antique white robe, looked every bit the young master, quite unlike the person known as a genius assassin.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong knew well how many sharp blades were hidden beneath that handsome exterior.

‘The former ‘Eumsin’s’ chief disciple? Then that means you killed Yayuljeok and rose to the new position of ‘Eumsin’ back then.’

Yeon Ho-jeong’s expression shifted, a flicker of something akin to respect in his eyes.

‘He’s definitely a remarkable figure.’

Trampling on the weak is an easy task, regardless of whether it is morally reprehensible.

However, suppressing the strong and seizing a new throne is an arduous task.

Sama Hyeon was the one who accomplished that. Back in the days of the Black Emperor, when Yeon Ho-jeong lived.

‘Perhaps he also sought external help back then, just like now. But the important thing is that he ultimately succeeded in the rebellion and became a death god who seized the underworld of the Central Plains as the new ‘Eumsin’.’

Although Yeon Ho-jeong didn’t admit it, he had a rather favorable view of Sama Hyeon.

Perhaps it was because Sama Hyeon had ultimately eliminated the spies of the Saeum Church [a shadowy organization]. To Yeon Ho-jeong, the Saeum Church was a group that needed to be destroyed by any means.

Thud.

Yeon Ho-jeong placed the Gwangryong Axe [a large, ornate axe] down.

“By the way, you seem quite bold. Usually, it’s customary to attend such meetings without weapons, yet you don’t seem to be imposing any restrictions.”

“I’m not one to fuss over trivial matters.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“Don’t take this the wrong way. The more urgent the situation, the more thoroughly you must act. I don’t know what kind of relationship we’ll have in the future, but you should pay attention to these things.”

His voice was quite weighty. Anyone could tell that he was speaking sincerely.

Sama Hyeon neither accepted nor ignored Yeon Ho-jeong’s sincerity.

“Let’s get to the main point quickly, as we don’t have much time.”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“Although this is a meeting with a clear purpose, let’s not rush too much. We might miss a lot.”

Sama Hyeon felt strangely tired.

“You can do as you please. I’ll take care of my own haste.”

“Well, let’s do that.”

Soon, the two sat down with a table between them.

“Since we don’t have much time, I want to get straight to the point. But before that, there’s one thing I need to address.”

“Speak.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes deepened.

“This Guangdong province is controlled by thousands of assassins. It’s hard to believe that such a vast area is controlled by just a few thousand, but under them, countless underworld figures are operating in a network throughout Guangdong…”

“I believe it.”

“……”

“That’s why the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] sent us to resolve it.”

“If you believe it, then it’ll be faster to talk. That means there’s a very high chance that our assassins have been watching your every move.”

“I suppose so.”

“In fact, the main assassin group knew exactly when the Murim Alliance’s Yugun unit [a special task force] entered Guangdong and where they were headed.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes flashed.

“Until the Beggars’ Union got involved.”

“They are capable people.”

“I know the Beggars’ Union’s information network is outstanding. Nevertheless, I must ask. Did you not get caught by the current ‘Eumsin’ on your way here?”

Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.

“I have no way of knowing that. I just trust the Beggars’ Union informants who are helping us.”

“…Indeed, we should hurry.”

Sama Hyeon spoke directly.

“I know you’ve come to eliminate the current ‘Eumsin’.”

“It seems so.”

“What I know, the ‘Eumsin’ also knows. That is, the ‘Eumsin’ has made full preparations against the Yugun unit’s attack. He has built an unbreakable fortress.”

“So?”

“I am the current ‘Eumsin’s’ chief disciple. He and I share everything. The path to his residence and twenty-six secret passages are all in my head.”

“……”

“I will help you. Let’s catch the ‘Eumsin’ together.”

Yeon Ho-jeong was silent for a moment.

Sama Hyeon continued.

“I know you must be flustered by a sudden contact from someone claiming to be the chief disciple. You might be wondering if this is a trap, and even if it isn’t, you might think that I’m the kind of person who would stab you in the back.”

“……”

“I cannot prove my sincerity to you in any way.”

“That’s the problem.”

“……”

“Even if the situation was urgent, you should have wracked your brain to persuade me. Even a temporary alliance requires a certain level of trust. Otherwise, our cooperation will be nothing but a fleeting bubble.”

Sama Hyeon nodded.

“Your point is valid. But the deed is already done. I believe it’s better to strive to make the choice we’ve already made a success, rather than regretting the past.”

“That’s your situation.”

“It wouldn’t be a bad proposal for you either. A moment ago, you said to me that if we kill the current ‘Eumsin’, I would become the next ‘Eumsin’.”

“I did.”

“I have no interest in building a power base. I have an information network and comrades, but that’s just the minimum framework needed for assassination activities.”

It was a strange statement.

An assassin calling his colleagues comrades. Regardless of the immorality of assassination itself, it was proof that Sama Hyeon was not a demon who engaged in indiscriminate killings.

That’s why it was even more of a problem, Yeon Ho-jeong thought.

‘There’s nothing more dangerous than an assassin with a conviction.’

The Sama Hyeon he met during the Black Emperor era and the current Sama Hyeon were the same person, yet different.

Their names and natures were the same, but their abilities and positions were different. And people can change in unimaginable ways depending on their abilities and positions.

That was why Yeon Ho-jeong had to be cautious. If he made assumptions based on someone he had met in the past, he would make a fatal error.

“So, if you kill the current ‘Eumsin’ and you rise to the position of the new ‘Eumsin’, you will hide back in the shadows again?”

“That’s right. And that was the original tradition of the ‘Eumsin’ that has been passed down for generations. My master is the one who broke that tradition and turned the assassins into his private army.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.

He thought that an assassin with a conviction was more dangerous than an assassin who engaged in indiscriminate killings, but in reality, it was no different for martial artists.

No, in some ways, martial artists were far more dangerous than assassins. At least assassins moved on request, but martial artists had vague practical norms.

That’s why the righteous sects of the White Path [a term for the orthodox martial arts world] were created. To live based on clear rules and norms. To avoid harming the world even a little.

In the end, martial artists and assassins were all the same. The only difference was what values they lived for and what future they dreamed of.

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been quietly watching Sama Hyeon, asked as if throwing a question.

“There’s something I want to ask. Ah, I dare to ask for your understanding even if it sounds somewhat rude.”

“Speak.”

“Do you like the job of an assassin?”

“……?”

Sama Hyeon frowned.

“If you’re thinking of discussing the moral condemnation of my profession at this meeting…”

“If that was my intention, you wouldn’t have survived. I would have picked up my axe before you could even speak.”

“……”

“Don’t overinterpret my question. I’m genuinely asking.”

“I don’t know.”

“…You don’t know?”

“That’s right. I’ve never really thought about that part.”

His heart seemed to be in a hurry, but his voice was sincere. At least, that’s how Yeon Ho-jeong felt.

So, he asked this.

“Then, if a new opportunity in life came to you, would you be willing to throw away the position of ‘Eumsin’?”

“I can’t understand what your question means at all.”

“Just take it as it is.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes turned cold.

“Is the answer to that question so important that it will affect this cooperation?”

“It’s not. However, if the cooperation is successful, it could affect the direction afterward.”

“Whether you know it or not, I didn’t arrange this meeting to be questioned. I have no intention of being taught by you, nor do I want to discuss my future with you.”

Sama Hyeon clasped his hands together.

“The reason I arranged this meeting is one thing. To discuss whether you will join hands with me to eliminate the ‘Eumsin’ or not.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“That’s right. If I offended you with a pointless question, I apologize.”

It was a rare apology from Yeon Ho-jeong.

However, even after receiving the apology, Sama Hyeon felt somewhat down.

‘What is it?’

Sama Hyeon looked into Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes.

Clear and deep eyes. His eyes were so good that it was hard to believe he was the owner of an axe that reeked of such terrible blood.

‘…He’s not trying to test me. Nor is he looking down on me.’

Although he was not even twenty years old, Sama Hyeon’s assassination experience was among the top ten of all assassins in the Central Plains.

He had been trained that hard and had been constantly engaged in assassination activities. Thanks to that, he was skilled at reading people’s emotions.

‘He’s strangely relaxed. As if he has something to rely on.’

Sama Hyeon, who had been staring at Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes, shook his head.

“Now I want to hear your answer. Will you join us?”

“Let’s think about it.”

“There’s no time to think.”

“Then, take action first. When we’ve made a decision, we’ll follow you then.”

Sama Hyeon’s eyes turned cold again.

“You’re going to use us as shields?”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“It’s ten thousand times better to carefully observe whether the other party is at a disadvantage than to proceed with a dangerous task with an untrustworthy ally.”

“I’m disappointed…”

“To be clear, as I said at the beginning, you have not made any preparations to give us trust. That’s your fault, and therefore, we have no intention of stepping into unnecessary danger.”

“……”

“If you wanted to make a deal, you should have made at least the minimum preparations for that deal to be successful.”

Yeon Ho-jeong got up from his seat.

It was an amazing response. He got up and turned his back before Sama Hyeon, acting as if he had no regrets.

Whoong.

Yeon Ho-jeong, with the Gwangryong Axe on his shoulder, said to Sama Hyeon.

“We will proceed with our work as we have been doing. You should also move as you originally planned.”

Sama Hyeon said in a subdued voice.

“If you interfere with our work, I will not hesitate to attack you. I hope you know that.”

“……”

“The talk is over. You may leave.”

“……”

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“…Let me ask you one thing.”

Sama Hyeon, who was about to answer yes, felt a sudden chill. Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes, looking down at him, were filled with a savage pressure unlike before.

“You arranged this meeting secretly from the ‘Eumsin’, right?”

“That’s a pointless question. Of course…”

“Then, how do you explain this beastly smell coming from all directions?”

“What?”

It was then.

Phew-woooong! Thud!

Outside, the sharp sound of an arrow and a gruesome tearing sound were heard.

Soon, Muk Bi’s urgent voice was also heard.

“Young Master Yeon!”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s face immediately turned grim.

“You came with a tail.”

“……!”

Sama Hyeon jumped up.

At that moment, Muk Bi’s voice was heard again.

“There are many! Be careful! They’re coming soon!”

Kwaang!

The ceiling of the building collapsed, and dozens of assassins rushed in.

Yeon Ho-jeong gritted his teeth.

“If you handle things like this again, you’re dead!”

Booooooom!

The Gwangryong Axe tore through the air.