Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 497

“Clan Leader Yeon!”Yeon Wi’s eyes gleamed.”I am Bipal [Secret Eight] of the Intelligence Unit!””What’s the situation?”Bipal delivered the current situation in a short and clear manner.After hearing the report, Yeon Wi clasped his hands towards Ascetic Seung-Hyeon.”I have been rude. I apologize.”Ascetic Seung-Hyeon sighed.He had felt something was off since Yeon Ho-Jeong had visited before. That mysterious unease was now completely resolved with the intelligence unit member’s report.”You were mistaken for a spy.””That is correct.””Pung Byeok-Ja was a spy?””It seems so.””Hmph.”Ascetic Seung-Hyeon closed his eyes.”Truly…”There was nothing to say. He had been skeptical even after hearing that there was a spy among the elders. But Pung Byeok-Ja, the leader of a Nine Sect, not even a Six Clan, was a spy.Yeon Wi spoke.”Let us go to the Military Affairs Department together. We must protect the military in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.”Ascetic Seung-Hyeon opened his eyes and stared intently at Yeon Wi.”Can you trust me? I could also be a spy, couldn’t I?””If there was even a slight chance that Clan Leader was a spy, the intelligence unit member would not have revealed himself in the first place.”His words were filled with absolute trust in Jeagal Mun-Ho.Ascetic Seung-Hyeon nodded.”Let’s go. Let’s go and protect the military.””Thank you. And I am sorry.”Whoosh!The two of them flew towards the Military Affairs Department.* * *The ‘one’ who had become Seok Bang-Heon, the Deputy Head of the Punishment Hall, thought.’They are really… not easy opponents.’It wasn’t just that they weren’t easy. No organization of the Three Sects could operate their disciples so swiftly, anticipating several steps ahead like this.’Have I already been discovered?’That couldn’t be.The spy, Pung Byeok-Ja’s senses were quite remarkable. Although his lack of experience was a flaw, in fact, even that level of ability could be considered among the best in the world as a spy.And he was the manager who oversaw such a spy.The most basic virtue of a manager was to not be inferior to the spy’s abilities. Furthermore, they needed absolute loyalty and should not waver in the face of death.Pung Byeok-Ja didn’t want to die, but he was different. From the moment he was dispatched here, he had always lived thinking he was walking through hell.Now, he didn’t care about his life. The only thing he feared was failing to accomplish his mission.For him, the current situation was truly unfavorable.’The Tang Clan Leader, huh.’The person standing with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky at the entrance of the prison, was none other than Tang Gwan, the Tang Clan Leader.His posture seemed almost detached. It was as if he had no thoughts, or perhaps he was just bored.’Could it be a coincidence?’He shook his head.’There’s no way it’s a coincidence.’Tang Gwan was a big shot. Not only Tang Gwan, but all the Twelve Elders and the elders of the Martial Alliance were big shots that were difficult to touch easily.For such a big shot to be guarding the prison at this time?’I’ve been read.’His eyes gleamed.’It’s Jeagal Mun-Ho. Truly amazing.’Having a lot of knowledge doesn’t make one a good strategist. What’s important is how one uses that knowledge, how much one can apply it.Furthermore, intuition that cannot be explained by logic was needed. Sometimes, there were moments when such intuition transcended logic.Just like Jeagal Mun-Ho now.’Whether it’s a certainty or a simple precaution, his brain and intuition to think this far are amazing.’It was a shame.’If only our sect had such a strategist.’If that were the case, they wouldn’t have to wait for the right time like now. While controlling the ferocity of the Blood-Mad God, they could have aimed for the world as much as the other two sects.And he, a mere variant, wouldn’t have needed to run wild like this.’The problem is’His eyes sank.’Can I really deceive Tang Gwan’s eyes and infiltrate the prison?’Or, kill Tang Gwan.’Killing him would be difficult for now.’The Blood Demon Mask was an amazing martial art that could instantly transform one into the same appearance as their opponent.However, one had to give up many things for that one ability. One of them was the manipulation of internal energy.It was possible to use it to the extent of deploying movement techniques, but beyond that was difficult. Even in his current state, he could subdue most experts in an instant, but it wouldn’t work against an expert like Tang Gwan.’Then I have to sneak in.’Stealth techniques were also included in movement techniques. And his stealth was difficult to see through unless one was an expert of the Saintly Heaven [a high level of martial arts].The problem was the structure of the prison.’I can’t enter except through the entrance.’It was a plan that didn’t consider the aftermath anyway. Once the matter in the prison was finished, everything would be complete if he died.He could just break down the prison door and enter, but with a big shot like Tang Gwan guarding the front, there was no greater obstacle.’It seems I can’t even die as I please.’He took a small step back.That’s when it happened.”I don’t recommend running away.”Even he couldn’t help but be shocked at this moment.Tang Gwan spoke in a calm tone.”Your stealth is amazing. If I hadn’t deployed the Heavenly Net of Poison, I wouldn’t have known you were passing right next to me.”The Heavenly Net of Poison.It was one of the best secret arts of the Sichuan Tang Clan. Usually, it was standard for three or more poison masters to deploy it, but at Tang Gwan’s level, he could deploy this death formation alone for half a day.”I’ll tell you in advance, the moment you step out of this area, you’ll be poisoned. You’ll experience pain that makes you wish you were dead. But you can’t die as you please. Not unless I allow it.”It was a chilling statement.At least for him, the manager, there was no more effective threat than this. For him, who had accepted death, being unable to die and becoming incapacitated was a terrible humiliation.”Come out now.”After a while.He walked out of his hiding place.Tang Gwan nodded.”You made a good choice. You wouldn’t want to die without even a word, would you?”Tang Gwan turned his gaze to the manager.In that instant, his eyes gleamed.”I’ve seen you before.””…””Weren’t you the Deputy Head of the Punishment Hall? I remember your surname was Seok.”One of the elders who managed the Punishment Hall and the prison was Moyong Gun. And Tang Gwan, in the past when he was on the same side as Moyong Gun, had seen the Head and Deputy Head of the Punishment Hall.The manager, who had become Seok Bang-Heon, said.”You are amazing. Did you know I would come here?””Someone told me to come here. They said you might target this place.””It’s Military Advisor Jeagal.””Well, that’s none of my business. I think you’re more amazing. Have you been living as the Deputy Head of the Punishment Hall since the Martial Alliance was founded? Or have you been living under the name Seok Bang-Heon even before that?”Tang Gwan, who didn’t know about the Blood Demon Mask, could only think that way.And the manager had no intention of telling him about it.Looking at him staring silently, Tang Gwan continued.”Looking at your eyes, I can tell that persuasion or threats won’t work. You’ve been thoroughly trained. You’re the type who doesn’t care about life or anything for the sake of your mission.””…””Still, I should try. Join our alliance now. I’ll spare your life and make good use of your value as a human being.”It was a proposal that was worse than not making one at all.The manager remained silent. There was no change in his expression or his eyes.Tang Gwan nodded.”Loyalty is admirable. But I don’t see your attitude as loyalty. Even a dog doesn’t follow its master without a reward, but your loyalty seems like a worthless faith that receives treatment worse than a dog.””…Loyalty that expects a reward is not true loyalty.””Is that so?””I don’t want to discuss loyalty with you. However, I will also make a proposal.””That’s refreshing. A captured fish making a proposal, it’s a truly unfamiliar situation.””If you kill me, you will also die.””Hoh, at least you’ve piqued my interest. Go on. I’ll listen.””I’m not a fool. And our sect is not a fool either. There’s no way we wouldn’t have taken any measures on a man heading to his death, right?””Hmm.””Seeing you here, it seems you know who the spy is.””Pung Byeok-Ja? …That bastard.”It was certain.The manager thought that the Martial Alliance was truly not easy. He had already stolen a lot of information, so that alone was enough.However, he wanted his death to benefit the sect even a little more.The essential mission was successful. But it seemed difficult to do more than that.If so, he should at least kill a few big shots who could become a major headache for the Blood Mad in the future.”The Exploding Blood Art is dormant within my body. The moment my life is cut short or my meridians suffer a major blow, an area of about ten yards in radius will be devastated.””That’s not good.”The Exploding Blood Art was a self-destructing demonic art. It was a forbidden art in the current martial world, closer to a legendary martial art that was only known by name.Of course, that was just talk, and some martial arts organizations implanted similar demonic arts in their members.However, if the Exploding Blood Art that the manager spoke of was the real Exploding Blood Art, then the problem would become very serious.”Choose. Will you die? Or will you let me enter the prison quietly?””…””Either way, I will die. The only difference is whether you die with me or not.””I thought I had your life in my hands, but in reality, it’s the opposite?””It doesn’t matter. I have no intention of talking any further. If you don’t choose before I count to three, I will self-destruct here.”The distance between the two was only five yards. And that distance was well within the radius of the Exploding Blood Art.Tang Gwan’s eyes gleamed.Even while being forced to choose, he did not waver.”Rumor has it that the most ideal way to reduce the power of the Exploding Blood Art is to destroy either the Qi Sea Point or the Life Gate Point before the self-destructor dies, killing the transformation of true energy before the explosion.””Would you like to try?””Shall I?””I’ll self-destruct if you even move a finger?””You underestimate me and my clan too much.””Even a Saintly Heaven expert at this distance…””To utter such words even after being caught in the Heavenly Net of Poison, you are truly foolish.”The manager’s eyes deepened.What is it? What makes him so confident?Thud!In an instant, the manager looked down at his chest.A long sword that had pierced his Life Gate Point from behind was sticking out of his chest.Tang Gwan clicked his tongue as if he was pathetic.”That’s why those who don’t know poison are a problem. Didn’t you even notice when your senses became dull?””…!!”The manager, with wide eyes, looked ahead.Before him, Tang Gwan and Moyong Gun were standing. The one who had flown like a ray of light and destroyed his Life Gate Point was none other than Moyong Gun.Zzzzzzz! Zzzzzzz!The manager’s skin gradually turned crimson, then repeatedly turned blue.The manager grinned.”You will all die.””You’re wrong.”A clear voice was heard from the air.Whoosh! Bang!Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had landed in front of Tang Gwan and Moyong Gun, raised his Black Tortoise energy to its extreme.The strongest defensive martial art of the Four Divine Beasts, the Twelve Walls of the Northern Sky, created an absolute invincible barrier, raising a black water energy.An invincible barrier that even cannons could not penetrate, it was not a martial art that could be pierced by a chaotic Exploding Blood Art.Behind the translucent black water, Tang Gwan smiled coldly.”You’ve worked hard. Farewell.”The manager closed his eyes.In an instant, a brilliant light, like the sun, exploded from his body.Kwaaaaaang!