Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 42

Gang-Yoon’s eyes flashed with anger.

A third-rate thug? This was clearly an insult directed at him.

“Are you talking about me?” he demanded.

“Where did you learn your manners?” Yeon Ho-Jeong retorted, his voice sharp.

“Pardon?” Gang-Yoon asked, taken aback.

“I am the eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon family. Surely you knew that, being a unit leader? Or did you forget? You’re not already senile, are you?” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were laced with sarcasm.

Gang-Yoon, who had been quietly observing Yeon Ho-Jeong, bowed respectfully, though his face was still flushed with anger.

“I was flustered and committed a discourtesy. Flying Eagle Unit Leader Gang-Yoon greets the eldest son,” he said, trying to regain his composure.

“Is that all?” Yeon Ho-Jeong pressed, his eyes narrowed.

“Yes?” Gang-Yoon responded, confused by the continued hostility.

“Do you think being flustered excuses killing someone?” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s tone was accusatory.

Gang-Yoon’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “Your words are excessive,” he said, his voice tight.

“Are you talking back?” Yeon Ho-Jeong challenged, his gaze unwavering.

“How is this talking back? It is not at all,” Gang-Yoon replied, trying to maintain a semblance of calm.

“If it’s not talking back, what’s with that look? Is it defiance?” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice was rising.

“Eldest son,” Gang-Yoon said, trying to de-escalate the situation.

“What?” Yeon Ho-Jeong snapped.

“I am neither talking back nor defying you, eldest son. So, let’s stop here,” Gang-Yoon stated firmly.

“Stop here?” Yeon Ho-Jeong repeated, his tone incredulous.

“Yes,” Gang-Yoon confirmed.

“You’re not asking, you’re ordering? This won’t do, Unit Leader Gang,” Yeon Ho-Jeong said, his voice dangerously low.

Gang-Yoon’s expression grew increasingly distorted. “Even if you are the eldest son, don’t you think you’re going too far?” he asked, his patience wearing thin.

“You’re even arguing back. Do your seniors know you’re like this?” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were like a whip.

“Eldest son!” Gang-Yoon’s voice involuntarily grew louder, his frustration boiling over.

Yeon Ho-Jeong picked at his ear, feigning boredom. “No greeting, talking back is commonplace, arguing back at every turn, and now even daring to give orders?” he listed, his voice dripping with disdain.

“……!” Gang-Yoon was speechless, his face contorted with anger.

“At this rate, you wouldn’t have a leg to stand on even if you were kicked out of the main family, would you?” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were a direct hit.

Gang-Yoon’s eyes twitched. “Why are you doing this? I have never intended to be rude to you, eldest son,” he said, trying to salvage the situation.

“Not reflecting on yourself, are you?” Yeon Ho-Jeong scoffed.

“Of course, it was my fault for not greeting you. However, I believe your words were also excessive,” Gang-Yoon countered, his voice tight.

“The assessment of being a third-rate thug?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his eyes glinting.

“Yes,” Gang-Yoon confirmed.

“Then, does Unit Leader Gang think his actions are different from those of a thug?” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s question was a challenge.

Gang-Yoon’s eyes became bloodshot. “A thug? That is an unbearable statement,” he said, his voice trembling with rage.

“Really? You think my words were harsh?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his tone deceptively calm.

“Yes,” Gang-Yoon replied, his fists clenched.

“Then what about those kids?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, gesturing towards the training ground.

“Yes?” Gang-Yoon responded, confused by the sudden shift in focus.

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed his chin at Yoo Ji-Ha. Yoo Ji-Ha’s body was drenched in sweat. It seemed he had already been through a round of harsh training. Dirt was smeared all over his uniform.

Yoo Ji-Ha was not the only one. The entire Flying Eagle Third Unit was in the same state, their faces pale with exhaustion.

“What did they do so wrong that they’re being trained without meals or rest? And even made to wield ironwood swords [heavy wooden swords used for training],” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his voice laced with disapproval.

“They disobeyed my orders as their unit leader. It is insubordination and a violation of discipline. As their unit leader, it is my duty to punish them accordingly…” Gang-Yoon explained, his voice defensive.

“If they disobeyed orders and violated discipline, you should have just executed them on the spot, why give them such a messy punishment?” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were a shocking declaration.

It was a terrifying statement. The faces of all the Flying Eagle Third Unit members turned pale. They never imagined that such a thing would lead to talk of immediate execution.

Gang-Yoon was just as bewildered by the sudden bombshell. “Immediate execution? That is an excessive measure!” he exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“It seems better than what Unit Leader Gang is trying to do? If you’re going to kill them, just cut their necks with one stroke, why torture them?” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s words were cold and unforgiving.

“How can you call it torture? This is a just punishment!” Gang-Yoon protested, his voice rising in indignation.

“Punishment?” Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. The look was so fierce that even Gang-Yoon, known for his guts, felt a chill run down his spine.

“You, you’re Yoo Ji-Ha, right?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his gaze fixed on the young trainee.

He never expected the eldest son to remember his name. Yoo Ji-Ha was startled and raised his head. “Y-Yes!” he stammered.

“Come forward,” Yeon Ho-Jeong commanded.

Yoo Ji-Ha took a step forward. Among the Flying Eagle Third Unit, he seemed to have been through the worst, with many small cuts on his face and hands.

“Why are you guys getting scolded by your unit leader?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his voice calm but firm.

“Yes?” Yoo Ji-Ha responded, confused by the question.

“……” He glanced at Gang-Yoon, unsure of how to answer.

“Ah! Th-That is…” Yoo Ji-Ha stammered, his eyes darting towards Gang-Yoon.

Gang-Yoon opened his mouth, his voice sharp. “Excuse me, eldest son, I am the unit leader. And the unit leader has full authority over the rewards and punishments of his unit members. Even if you are the eldest son, this can be seen as overstepping your authority,” he said, his tone challenging.

“So, you’re telling me to shut up?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his voice dangerously low.

“Eldest son!” Gang-Yoon exclaimed, his face flushed with anger.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice turned cold. “If you interrupt me one more time while I’m speaking, I will summon you to the Law Enforcement Pavilion [the internal disciplinary body of the family],” he threatened.

Gang-Yoon’s eyes wavered. The Law Enforcement Pavilion was an organization that oversaw the family’s laws and internal investigations. In special cases, it was an organization that could make judgments directly on behalf of the family head.

Because of the nature of their work, the family’s martial artists feared the Law Enforcement Pavilion the most. The moment they violated family law or committed corruption such as bribery, they would be dragged to the Law Enforcement Pavilion and severely punished.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was saying he would summon the unit leader to such an organization. Gang-Yoon’s breathing became ragged. But he couldn’t dare to step forward.

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke to Yoo Ji-Ha. “You too. If you don’t answer my questions immediately, you will go to the Law Enforcement Pavilion with your unit leader,” he warned.

Yoo Ji-Ha’s posture immediately straightened. “I-I will correct myself! Yesterday evening, I was being punished for doing personal training for an hour during bedtime! I’m sorry!” he blurted out, his voice trembling.

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned. “You’re being punished for doing personal training?” he asked, his tone incredulous.

“Y-Yes!” Yoo Ji-Ha confirmed.

“Is it a crime for a martial family’s member to reduce their sleep to train?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his eyes narrowed.

“That is…” Yoo Ji-Ha hesitated, unsure of how to answer.

“Don’t tell me, did you negatively affect the unit training with excessive training?” Yeon Ho-Jeong pressed, his gaze sharp.

Yoo Ji-Ha couldn’t answer. It was entirely up to the unit leader to judge that. However, Yeon Ho-Jeong noticed from Yoo Ji-Ha’s expression that he had performed well in the unit training.

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned his gaze to Gang-Yoon. “Why is this a crime?” he demanded.

Gang-Yoon opened his mouth, his voice tight. “I have given orders to the unit members. They eat at a set time and sleep at a set time. Such control is essential for a hundred unit members to move as one,” he explained, his tone defensive.

“Control?” Yeon Ho-Jeong repeated, his voice laced with skepticism.

“Yes. Such training has been going on for years. No one has ever violated that military discipline. Until yesterday,” Gang-Yoon stated, his expression hardening.

Gang-Yoon’s expression was not good. He wondered if he really had to explain this in front of the unit members.

Yeon Ho-Jeong turned to Yoo Ji-Ha. “Your unit leader says that?” he asked, his gaze fixed on the young trainee.

“……” Yoo Ji-Ha remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

“Your unit leader may be a jerk, but what he just said seems reasonable,” Yeon Ho-Jeong said, his tone surprisingly neutral.

“But…” Yoo Ji-Ha began, his voice hesitant.

“But?” Yeon Ho-Jeong prompted, his eyes narrowed.

Yoo Ji-Ha bit his lip. Even he must have felt wronged. No matter how important military discipline was, how could it be a crime for a guest to read a book and a martial artist to train their martial arts?

Was it because of his sense of injustice? Yoo Ji-Ha spoke in a suppressed voice. “I joined the Flying Eagle Unit last year,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“And?” Yeon Ho-Jeong prompted, his gaze unwavering.

“I worked hard to get into the Flying Eagle Unit. But for the past year, personal training has been strictly prohibited. Only unit training was allowed,” Yoo Ji-Ha explained, his voice filled with frustration.

“So?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his tone neutral.

“I came to the unit, so I have to act according to the unit’s rules. That’s natural. But I wanted to be more than that. However, over the past year, my skills, and the skills of the other unit members, have not improved even a little,” Yoo Ji-Ha confessed, his voice filled with disappointment.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes deepened. “But the Flying Eagle Unit’s overall strength must have improved. Since everyone is united as one,” he said, his tone thoughtful.

“That’s right,” Yoo Ji-Ha confirmed, his voice barely audible.

“How old are you?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his gaze fixed on the young trainee.

“Eighteen,” Yoo Ji-Ha replied.

“Eighteen is old enough to know everything, isn’t it? You are a member of the Flying Eagle Unit. If you joined the Flying Eagle Unit, you need to act according to the Flying Eagle Unit’s rules. That’s what we call responsibility,” Yeon Ho-Jeong stated, his voice firm.

“……” Yoo Ji-Ha remained silent, his head bowed.

“I understand your frustration. But an organization has its own rules. Since you chose to join this organization, you must bear its responsibilities,” Yeon Ho-Jeong explained, his tone surprisingly understanding.

“That’s why I was going to quit,” Yoo Ji-Ha blurted out, his voice filled with a sense of injustice.

“What?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

Yoo Ji-Ha said as if he was wronged. “In the end, I haven’t adapted to the organization. So, I requested to leave the unit through the proper procedures. But it wasn’t accepted,” he explained, his voice filled with frustration.

“You requested through the proper procedures? But why couldn’t you quit?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his tone incredulous.

Yoo Ji-Ha said as if he was venting his frustration. “Once a Flying Eagle, always a Flying Eagle, they said. They said the only way to leave the Flying Eagle Unit is to die,” he revealed, his voice filled with despair.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes turned cold. Now he understood why Yoo Ji-Ha tried to make time for himself. It was clearly a violation of discipline to disobey the unit leader’s orders, but for Yoo Ji-Ha, who wanted to become stronger, there was no other way.

Gang-Yoon hurriedly interjected. “That’s nonsense! That’s just a statement for the unit’s sense of community, it’s not actually true!” he exclaimed, his voice sharp.

“But that’s how it turned out,” Yoo Ji-Ha countered, his voice filled with bitterness.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s voice grew colder as time passed. “You say it’s not actually true, but why couldn’t this friend leave? He said he followed the proper procedures, didn’t he?” he asked, his gaze fixed on Gang-Yoon.

“The procedures also require some flexibility. At the time, there was a power announcement for the family’s units. In that situation, a unit member leaving could be a big problem,” Gang-Yoon explained, his voice defensive.

“It was a natural measure?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his tone laced with skepticism.

“Yes,” Gang-Yoon confirmed, his voice firm.

“That flexibility in the procedure is, for example, for the sake of the Flying Eagle Unit, right?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his eyes narrowed.

“Of course. The Flying Eagle Unit becoming stronger means the Yeon family’s power increases,” Gang-Yoon stated confidently.

And to such Gang-Yoon, Yeon Ho-Jeong threw a word he had been holding back. “You incompetent fool!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with disdain.

“Wh-What did you say?” Gang-Yoon stammered, his face flushed with anger.

“As you said, the Flying Eagle Unit’s power increasing means the Yeon family’s power increases. Then, in order for the Flying Eagle Unit to become stronger, who needs to become stronger?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his voice sharp.

“……!” Gang-Yoon was speechless, his mind racing.

“Why can’t you answer? I’m not asking for a good evaluation in the family’s power announcement, I’m asking what the minimum requirement is for the Flying Eagle Unit to truly become stronger,” Yeon Ho-Jeong pressed, his gaze unwavering.

“That is…” Gang-Yoon hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

“Is it enough for only you to become stronger?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.

“……” Gang-Yoon remained silent, his face contorted with anger.

“The unit’s power also increases when the unit members become stronger. But you, under the guise of serving the organization, have forcibly detained a unit member who wanted to leave the unit,” Yeon Ho-Jeong accused, his voice filled with disdain.

Gang-Yoon’s face crumpled. “The word ‘detained’ is misleading. It was unavoidable at the time,” he protested, his voice tight.

“Then what about after that? Why is this friend still in the Flying Eagle Unit?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his gaze fixed on Gang-Yoon.

Gang-Yoon couldn’t answer easily. In fact, he had long forgotten about that part. He thought that if he just trained them properly, they would adapt on their own.

That’s how everyone grows up. So, he thought Yoo Ji-Ha’s request was worthless.

“Is that also discipline? Not letting someone leave even though they followed the proper procedures?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.

“……” Gang-Yoon remained silent, his face flushed with anger.

“Answer me,” Yeon Ho-Jeong demanded, his voice sharp.

“No, but it’s all for the Yeon family…” Gang-Yoon stammered, his voice barely audible.

“Ah, is that so? Is it because of your personal judgment that all of this is for the sake of the main family?” Yeon Ho-Jeong asked, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

“So, this is it. You are obsessed with law and discipline, but you argue for flexibility in the areas you think are important, and you are strict only in the areas you don’t think are important,” Yeon Ho-Jeong stated, his voice filled with disdain.

“That’s not true!” Gang-Yoon protested, his voice rising in indignation.

“What’s not true, you incompetent bastard,” Yeon Ho-Jeong scoffed, his eyes narrowed.

Gang-Yoon’s face became fierce. “Even if you are the eldest son, I cannot tolerate any more insults. Moreover, this matter is entirely within the Flying Eagle Unit. Do not interfere any further,” he declared, his voice trembling with rage.

From the beginning, Gang-Yoon did not like Yeon Ho-Jeong. No, he loathed him. The moment he knew that the eldest son of the great Byeoksan Yeon family was a pathetic guy who frequented taverns, he didn’t see Yeon Ho-Jeong as a person.

That was the same even after Yeon Ho-Jeong changed. There was a lot of talk about the eldest son’s changed appearance on the Chang-Eung Unit’s side, but he never believed it.

And that eldest son was interfering in the Flying Eagle Unit’s affairs. Gang-Yoon had endured as much as he could.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s smile faded. “Don’t interfere?” he repeated, his voice dangerously low.

“That’s right,” Gang-Yoon confirmed, his voice firm.

Yeon Ho-Jeong spoke to Yoo Ji-Ha. “You, go and bring the head of the Law Enforcement Pavilion,” he commanded, his voice cold and sharp.

In an instant, the atmosphere of the grand training ground turned cold. Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Gang-Yoon and said, “Since you have been handling the Flying Eagle Unit as you please for the sake of the Yeon family, I will also remove an incompetent fool like you from the unit leader position for the sake of the main family.”

“……!” Gang-Yoon was speechless, his face pale with shock.

“Be prepared to take off your uniform,” Yeon Ho-Jeong concluded, his voice filled with finality.