Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 814

“……!”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s statement dragged the already heavy atmosphere of the conference hall down to the floor.

“I….”

Just as Hoback was about to speak, Yeon Ho-jeong addressed the hunchbacked young man, Dan Ri-ho.

“How is it? Is the report ready?”

“Yes, Sub-Chief.”

Dan Ri-ho answered, bowing his head respectfully.

His appearance was enough to send chills down the spines of the successors.

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

“Good. Is everyone else the same?”

All those standing behind the successors bowed their heads.

*Gulp.*

The sound of someone swallowing was as loud as thunder.

“I’d like to sit back and receive the report, but first, we need to clean up. There are too many people here who shouldn’t exist in this new era.”

“W-wait a minute!”

Startled, Lee Ja-gon hurriedly spoke.

“What are you talking about? A report? These guys are successors?”

“You seem to have heard me well, so why? Or, have you not grasped the situation yet?”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned cold.

“Why do you carry around that head that has no insight, no sense, and knows neither passion nor sin? Well, it’s not like I didn’t know that.”

“……!!”

“Don’t worry. You won’t have to worry about it anymore. I’ll take it off nicely for you.”

Lee Ja-gon’s face turned extremely pale.

“What does that mean?”

The owner of the heavy voice was Jo Pil-hak.

His eyes, burning fiercely, showed no emotion other than anger. He felt no fear or terror at Yeon Ho-jeong’s appearance or his words. He was simply filled with endless vengeance.

“Are you saying you’re going to kill us and make those hangers-on behind us the successors of the organization?”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“Is that even a question?!”

“Ah, I guess I misspoke.”

The expression on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face disappeared.

“They’re not successors, but people who will become the owners. Of course, that’s something to be decided after confirming whether they have the ability and character for it.”

The successors’ mouths fell open.

Yeon Ho-jeong put his hands behind his back.

“Of course, not everyone will die. Two out of nine will live. Naturally, the other seven will die here.”

“……!!”

*Hwaaaak!*

A terrifying killing intent erupted from Jo Pil-hak’s body.

In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes blazed.

*Flash!*

“*Cough!*”

Jo Pil-hak staggered on the spot and fell on his backside.

His eyes, filled with killing intent, were met with a gaze that generated lethal power. The eyes are the gateway to the heart, and the Vermillion Bird’s fire that had instantly ignited transformed into killing intent, striking Jo Pil-hak’s eyes.

*Drip, drip, drip.*

Blood flowed from Jo Pil-hak’s eyes. He wasn’t blinded, but his blood vessels had burst, and his mind was shaken.

“Not bad.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s indifferent gaze as he looked down at the struggling Jo Pil-hak was terrifying.

“Your life, which was wicked and despicable, is more filthy and disgusting than your father’s, but at least you trained enough as a successor of the Green Forest [a martial arts sect]. The Chief must have cherished you.”

It was remarkable that he had regained his senses after briefly losing them. Without considerable training, one would have been paralyzed upon facing Yeon Ho-jeong’s killing intent.

“I was going to deal with you anyway. I was just too busy, so it was delayed. You almost ended your life a few days ago, so consider that you had a bit of fun.”

“Ugh! You, you bastard! I will definitely kill you!”

“If you’re wronged, come back as a ghost. If you come, I’ll kill you again.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s fist cut through the air.

*Kwaddeudeuk!*

The fist wind, shot out with a whirlwind, pierced through Jo Pil-hak’s sternum, shattering his ribs, lungs, heart, spine, and head.

“……!!”

The successors’ bodies trembled.

They had seen quite a few corpses. They had even created more than half of those corpses themselves. To become the master of the Black Path [a term for the underworld or criminal organizations], one had to be accustomed to killing.

However, even with their many experiences of killing and death, this was the first time they had witnessed such a gruesome murder.

“Byeok Je-mun.”

“Yes, Sub-Chief.”

Byeok Je-mun, the young master of the Wolyeong Clan, bowed his head.

“Han Jong-rim.”

“Yes, yes!”

“You two, stand next to me. You will not die.”

“……?!”

Surprise, relief, and bewilderment appeared on the two men’s faces in turn.

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“Personally, I commend you two. Despite being born into the Black Path and having cruel leaders as parents, you have never committed any significant evil deeds. Rather, you secretly helped those around you or tried to stop your parents’ evil actions.”

“……!”

“But you don’t have the ability to lead a clan. So, work with the new successors to create a new world. Of course, if any unnecessary noise arises in the process, I will visit again.”

Yeon Ho-jeong pointed with his chin to his side.

“Come here.”

Byeok Je-mun and Han Jong-rim hesitated before approaching his side.

At that moment, Hwa-ryeon spoke.

“It’s not good.”

“Hmm?”

“Treating us like this will not be good for you either, Sub-Chief.”

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

“Why do you think so?”

“Before I answer, let me ask you one thing. What happened to my father?”

“I think you all have already guessed, so is there really a need for an answer?”

“……!”

“Everyone is dead except for the Wolyeong Clan leader.”

Gasps of shock escaped from various places.

“You know they deserved to die… or maybe not. You grew up under such people, so you must have learned similar things.”

Yeon Ho-jeong said, looking at Byeok Je-mun and Han Jong-rim.

“Considering that, you two are even more remarkable. It would have been better if you had pushed yourselves more, but everyone is in a different situation. It’s enough that you didn’t go astray.”

“T-thank you.”

The two answered without realizing it.

Yeon Ho-jeong turned his gaze to Hwa-ryeon.

Hwa-ryeon’s face was even darker. However, although she was shocked by her father’s death, she didn’t seem to be grieving much.

“Did that answer your question?”

“Yes.”

“Then, why do you think it’s a loss for me?”

Hwa-ryeon spoke as calmly as possible.

“As the next master of the Dark Dragon Faction, you will rule the Black Path.”

“Well, maybe.”

“……At that time, you will definitely need our strength. No matter how strong a person is, they cannot govern without people to act as their arms and legs.”

“That’s true.”

“We may be somewhat lacking in ability, but we know the internal affairs of each organization better than anyone else. I even know the location of my dead father’s secret vault.”

“Oh, that’s a bit tempting.”

“Yes. Not just me, but all of them will be similar. In other words, if you gain our strength and support, you will be able to seize control of the Black Path more quickly and surely.”

“Don’t worry about that. I can do well enough without your strength and support.”

Hwa-ryeon’s eyebrows twitched.

“The nine forces are not just the main forces. There are countless organizations linked to us. Many of them have contracts with individual successors. If we die here, you will suffer astronomical losses.”

“Isn’t money something that comes and goes anyway?”

“……What?”

“And you seem to be under a great delusion. Do you think they’ll leave the Black Path just because your individual contracts are broken? They can just contract with me again, right?”

“Sub-Chief!”

“And decisively, is that even a contract? Isn’t it a relationship forced upon them?”

“……!”

“Rather, wouldn’t they be grateful if you died? You were the ones taking advantage of them.”

Hwa-ryeon tried to remain as calm as possible.

“Even if that’s not the only reason…”

“Why are you so attached to life?”

“What did you say?”

“Is it because you’re worried about the children, not even ten years old, that you’ve locked up in your secret place?”

In an instant, Hwa-ryeon’s face turned pale.

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“It’s understandable to desire someone younger than yourself. But isn’t the age difference too much? And it’s not just one or two, but more than ten, right?”

“……!!”

“What did you do with those pretty-looking boys?”

“I-it’s a slander!”

“Slander? Then, is it also slander that you killed and buried them when they started growing mustaches and their voices deepened?”

Hwa-ryeon, quickly regaining his composure, replied in a cold tone.

“I don’t know where you heard such rumors, but please don’t insult me any further. I would never do such a thing…”

“Why do you keep denying it? Are you ashamed?”

“Because it’s not true!”

“You’re going to die anyway.”

“……!!”

The composure he had regained instantly crumbled.

Looking at Hwa-ryeon’s face, which had turned even whiter than before, Yeon Ho-jeong spoke with a cold expression.

“Yes, you know it’s shameful. That’s why you’re denying it.”

“……”

“You should have lived a life where you didn’t need to deny it in the first place. If you had at least the courage to admit it cleanly and die, the end of your filthy life might have been a little less dirty.”

“I, I…”

“In my view of the Black Path, there is no place for people like you. You are not the Black Path, but simply evil and filth.”

Yeon Ho-jeong coldly waved his hand.

Sensing danger, Hwa-ryeon tried to take out a hidden weapon from his chest, but his response was too late.

*Puh-uh-uhng!*

The fist wind of the Whirlwind Lion Fist shattered Hwa-ryeon’s head.

*Thud!*

Hwa-ryeon’s headless body fell to the floor and twitched.

Yeon Ho-jeong lightly raised his chin.

“Again? Anyone else have anything to say?”

“……”

“No more? No last words either? Well, it would just hurt my ears to hear them.”

The playfulness on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face was replaced with disdain.

“Since there are no last words, I’ll say one thing.”

“……”

“Even if they’re scum, your parents are still your parents. Shouldn’t you at least show the courage to rush at the blade, even if you can’t stop it?”

“……!”

“You’re not dying as members of the Black Path. You’re just being incinerated as trash. Know that as you die.”

*Srrrrt.*

The killing intent that had been emanating from Yeon Ho-jeong’s body vanished as if it had been washed away.

“However, since you didn’t act presumptuously, I’ll give you one chance.”

“……?!”

“This person here.”

Yeon Ho-jeong pointed at Pae-yul.

Pae-yul widened his eyes and silently pointed at himself with his index finger.

Yeon Ho-jeong said, looking at the successors.

“This conference hall is so sturdy that even a supreme master would need at least half a day to break it if they tried. It’s spacious enough for a good fight, right?”

“……?!”

“If even one of you can leave a scratch on this man’s body, I’ll let him live. I won’t hold him accountable even if he kills. Rather, I’ll welcome him as a member of the Black Path.”

Pae-yul involuntarily cursed.

“What are you doing, you crazy bastard?”

“We need to see results.”

“Huh?!”

“Senior, you should be careful too. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if you were defeated by such morons and tarnished the great reputation of Jeomchang [a martial arts school]?”

“……This crazy bastard.”

Yeon Ho-jeong led the others out of the conference hall.

The door closed again, leaving only the successors, Pae-yul, and Yeon Ho-jeong inside.

Yeon Ho-jeong, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, nodded.

“Let’s begin, Senior.”

“Your turn after this is over.”

“Just don’t get cut by those youngsters’ blades.”

“Damn it.”

*Chaaaang!*

Pae-yul drew his short spear and sword.

At the same time, the successors screamed and rushed at him.