Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 498

“…According to the Medical Ascetic’s report, there will be no further casualties.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho’s voice was very calm.

However, those who heard his words knew that he was deeply distressed, suppressing his pent-up resentment with superhuman patience.

“This concludes the secondary casualty statistics, and next, I will report on the damage to the alliance’s property.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho reported in detail the location of the explosion, the cost of repairs, and the estimated duration.

Suppressing his rising anger and calmly investigating and reporting like this was something beyond ordinary mental fortitude. It was a testament to Jeagal Mun-Ho’s exceptional character in many ways.

“That concludes the report on the damages.”

Gong Gong Daesa, who had been closing his eyes, opened his mouth.

“You said the spy was Pung Byeok-Ja?”

“That is correct.”

The atmosphere inside the conference room became even heavier.

Usually, only the Bonggong [high-ranking officials] were allowed to enter, but now it was different. Not only the elders of the other established factions but also the representatives of the minor sects had come to listen to Jeagal Mun-Ho’s report.

“Pung Byeok-Ja… Pung Byeok-Ja…”

Gong Gong Daesa sighed.

“How could this be? He wasn’t without his eccentricities, but that was also a rare human touch. As the head of the Cheongseong Sect, he had the right character and was a skilled man. I never imagined that Pung Byeok-Ja would be a spy.”

The assembly kept their mouths shut and remained silent.

In particular, Bok Ho’s expression was truly miserable. Hadn’t she been close friends with Pung Byeok-Ja for a long time? She had never, not even for a moment, suspected that he was a spy for the Three Teachings [a rival faction].

Jeagal Mun-Ho spoke.

“I will speak about that. I am saying this to allay any anxiety that the Bonggong and elders may have, so please criticize my coldness after the meeting is over.”

“…”

“According to the investigation, it can be considered that there are no more spies. Pung Byeok-Ja was the only spy among us, but there were managers and contacts who managed him.”

There was no need to use the word ‘cold’ in an official setting.

Nevertheless, Jeagal Mun-Ho used such a word to soothe the minds of the leadership, because it was such a shocking event for everyone.

“And one more thing. I deliberately excluded it from the list of victims, but I think those of you here should know.”

“…”

“As you might have guessed… Jin-In Yong Hwa could not avoid the explosion.”

Sighs flowed from here and there.

It was such a huge explosion that the entire building of the Hyungdang [a training hall] was shattered. Moreover, Jin-In Yong Hwa’s inner energy was sealed. No matter how much the energy of Zi Xia [a type of internal energy] flowed through his body, he could not have survived that explosion.

Jeagal Mun-Ho lowered his head.

“It was to catch the spy, but it is clear that it was a somewhat drastic measure. There may be no one in the world who deserves to die without a reason, but Jin-In Yong Hwa was someone who should never have died like that.”

“…”

“It is all my fault. Please rebuke this incompetent strategist.”

The assembly closed their mouths again.

That’s right. In a way, Jin-In Yong Hwa died because of Jeagal Mun-Ho and Yeon Ho-Jeong. If they hadn’t pushed the situation to the extreme with such drastic actions, Jin-In Yong Hwa would not have died.

However, to use this as an excuse to criticize Jeagal Mun-Ho, the danger posed by the Three Teachings and the spy was too great.

He could be disciplined for the problems in the process of finding the spy. However, it was excessive to hold him solely responsible for this and make him step down or imprison him.

Seung-Hyeon Jin-In opened his mouth.

“Strategist.”

“Yes, Jin-In.”

“The strategist suspected three of the Bonggong. Me, Bok Ho, and Pung Byeok-Ja.”

“That is correct.”

“I think I have been practicing diligently, but I feel very bad just for being suspected of being a spy.”

“I understand.”

He understands, but he doesn’t say he’s sorry, because he didn’t think that was something to apologize for.

And surprisingly, his attitude pleased Seung-Hyeon Jin-In.

“Why did we gather here? It may sound grand, but in the end, we gathered for the peace and tranquility of the world, didn’t we?”

“…”

“To achieve that goal, how can we insist on only clean methods? As long as we don’t cross the line, sometimes drastic methods are necessary.”

Namgoong In, who had been quiet, opened his mouth.

“I agree, but this incident with Jin-In Yong Hwa seems to have gone beyond the level of drastic.”

Several sect leaders nodded.

Regardless of what Namgoong In was thinking, it was a problem that could be sufficiently accepted. After all, they were not people who were used to this kind of unilateral action.

Seung-Hyeon Jin-In nodded.

“That’s right. This incident clearly crossed the line.”

“If not a disciplinary action, at least a restriction of authority…”

“If it weren’t wartime, I think we could think that way.”

“…?!”

Everyone looked at Seung-Hyeon Jin-In with puzzled eyes.

Seung-Hyeon Jin-In sighed.

“To be honest, even when the strategist said there was a spy among us, and when he suggested sending Yeon Ho-Jeong Daesu [a title of respect] to the Mukryong Unit [a special military unit], I couldn’t fully accept the strategist’s words. To confess, it is also true that I thought he was an overly worried person.”

“…”

“But after experiencing this incident, my thoughts have changed.”

Seung-Hyeon Jin-In looked around the assembly.

“This is war.”

Some people swallowed hard.

It was a statement from the head of the Wudang Sect, which is called the Taishan Bukdu [a prestigious martial arts sect] along with Shaolin. Its weight was enormous.

“They were waging war, without us knowing. But we, even though we heard that there was a spy, did not prepare for war. We didn’t properly listen to the words of someone who could see the situation clearly, and we were only busy criticizing the use of drastic methods.”

Namgoong In cautiously opened his mouth.

“But Seung-Hyeon Jin-In. The strategist’s unilateral actions should have been done after at least consulting with the Bonggong here…”

“Was there a consultation? To us, who didn’t even believe in the existence of a spy and only thought of the unprecedented enemy of the Three Teachings as a vague problem, would the strategist’s persuasion have worked?”

“That’s not wrong, but it’s a somewhat excessive statement. The people here are not fools. Moreover, the position of strategist is not a position where one commits unilateral actions because persuasion doesn’t work, but a position where one must find a solution by any means.”

“Is it something that he has to agonize over alone to find that solution? Why does the strategist exist? Are we just baby birds who only accept what the strategist has done?”

Namgoong In closed his mouth.

If you were to pick at the words, it would be a debate that could last for three days and nights. But picking at the words itself could look petty. Especially since the other party was Seung-Hyeon Jin-In, who had been suspected of being a spy.

If he went further and undermined the strategist’s prestige, he would only become a fool who couldn’t see the essence.

“Even if the Three Teachings didn’t exist, we must help the strategist. Not just the strategist. We must help each other and lead the Murim Alliance [martial arts alliance] in a better direction. But now, even though there is a clear enemy, we are not helping each other, but dividing into factions and slandering each other. I think there may be some people who have taken their own private gains by using the position of Murim Alliance Bonggong or elder.”

Seung-Hyeon Jin-In had never done that.

However, some people who heard his words blushed. They knew what he really wanted to say, and at the same time, they were criticizing those who had turned a blind eye to the wrong things.

“Don’t think that I am defending the strategist by saying these words. The strategist’s actions are definitely wrong. However, I am saying that the reason why he took these actions is ultimately because of us.”

Seung-Hyeon Jin-In’s voice was sincere and persuasive.

“The death of Jin-In Yong Hwa, and the fault for the countless casualties, is not only with the strategist. It is with all of us.”

“…”

“All of us who did not open our ears properly and did not see properly are carrying the same sin as the strategist. That’s what I think.”

Seung-Hyeon Jin-In looked at Bok Ho and asked.

“Bok Ho.”

“…Speak.”

“Are these words wrong?”

Bok Ho sighed.

“They are not wrong. They are not wrong. Even if I am an old man in the back room, if I had seen the situation properly, I wouldn’t have just sat there until my buttocks were sore, but it seems that even our eyes and ears have become those of an old man.”

She was stunned by the shocking fact that her close friend, the head of Cheongseong, was a spy. Perhaps because it was her who was speaking, the depth of her words was different.

Bok Ho looked at Jeagal Mun-Ho and said.

“Strategist.”

“Speak.”

“I don’t want to discuss the strategist’s methods. Do you know why?”

“…”

“It’s because I have now, only now, fully accepted the fact that we are at war.”

Chills!

Bok Ho’s sorrowful words made everyone who heard them feel goosebumps.

“The enemy is aiming for the Central Plains with all their might. They are trying to take control of the imperial palace, right? They even tried to shake the Mukryong Unit. Moreover, they even made one of the Bonggong, none other than one of us, a spy in the Murim Alliance.”

“…”

“This is war. It is a bleak war that cannot stop until one side is defeated. In such a war, only the strategist and Yeon Daesu knew the seriousness of the situation and acted. In a situation where no one recognized them, they silently did their best in a fierce place without any glory.”

Bok Ho looked around and spoke.

Her eyes were bloodshot.

“I will say it clearly. If you are going to hold the strategist responsible for the death of Jin-In Yong Hwa, then hold me responsible as well. Please expel this incompetent old woman who didn’t even know that her longtime friend was a spy.”

The atmosphere became solemn.

Seung-Hyeon Jin-In’s words had power, but Bok Ho’s words were truly piercing the hearts of the assembly. Everyone knew how close she was with the head of Cheongseong, so they could feel her sincerity even more.

Namgoong In opened his mouth.

“May I say a word?”

“Please do.”

“After listening to Seung-Hyeon Jin-In and Bok Ho, I think I have seen the situation too short-sightedly.”

“There is no need to say that. Namgoong Clan Leader’s words also make sense.”

“Thank you for thinking so, but in any case, the important thing is to prevent the recurrence of such a situation. Also, we cannot pretend not to know what has already happened.”

Namgoong In sighed.

“No matter who takes responsibility, the matter of Jin-In Yong Hwa cannot be overlooked. If the Hwasan Sect [another martial arts sect] were to rise up, even the Murim Alliance would be in a difficult situation.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho spoke.

“I will go to the Hwasan Sect.”

Everyone was surprised and looked at him.

“As Namgoong Clan Leader said, this is not something that can be overlooked. No matter how the process went, there must be someone to take responsibility, and it is right that I, who led this incident, should take that responsibility.”

Jeagal Mun-Ho lowered his head.

“I will clearly take responsibility for the matter of Jin-In Yong Hwa.”

At that time, Gong Gong Daesa spoke.

“I have something to say about that matter.”

“Yes?”

Gong Gong Daesa shouted towards the door of the conference room.

“Let him in.”

After a while, the door opened and a person appeared.

“Greetings to the high-ranking officials of the Murim Alliance.”

A middle-aged Taoist with a sharp impression spoke in a calm tone.

“I am Yong Seon of the Hwasan Sect.”