Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 983

“How is it?”

“It’s good.”

“Haha, that’s a relief.”

Gong Gong Daesa smiled.

“I do tend to drink a lot of tea, but I have a simple palate that finds even boiled weeds tasty, so I don’t really know how to brew good tea.”

“For someone who says that, the aroma is quite wonderful.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to see a friend, so I learned directly from the military advisor.”

“I thought it tasted similar to the military advisor’s tea. It’s not a skill one can learn just by watching a few times; you’re amazing.”

“Haha, such flattery will only make this already lacking monk even more arrogant.”

“Isn’t the world too beautiful to live so cautiously that you take even honest words as arrogance?”

“Is that so?”

“It is.”

Moyong Gun, having set down his teacup, looked around the Alliance Leader’s residence.

It was spacious and grand, but there were no other decorations.

Gong Gong Daesa’s frugality seemed evident just by looking at the residence. However, Moyong Gun didn’t just feel frugality from the residence.

A sense of generosity that it could be vacated at any time.

The strong impression was that he, as the first Alliance Leader, was only paving the way, leaving much empty for the true Alliance Leader.

“You haven’t changed.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re still so simple. Even though you’re the Alliance Leader of the greatest martial arts alliance, isn’t it too desolate?”

Gong Gong Daesa burst into a hearty laugh.

“Isn’t life just about wearing enough to cover your body and eating enough to satisfy your hunger?”

“That’s a hard statement to agree with.”

“Hahaha.”

“Even so, the Alliance Leader should be different. The Alliance Leader’s position is a public one. Isn’t this place too bare to be called the Alliance Leader’s residence?”

Moyong Gun, who openly called it bare, and Gong Gong Daesa, who didn’t seem offended at all, were remarkable people in many ways.

“Since I’m such a lacking person, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold this position for long.”

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“Then please step down quickly and pass it on to me.”

He was someone who could easily bring up sensitive topics.

Gong Gong Daesa laughed heartily.

“The current Moyong Clan Head would be much better than this humble monk.”

“Was it different before?”

“Before, you were worse than a ten-year-old child who had never swung a sword.”

It was quite a spicy remark.

Their conversation was like that. It seemed comfortable and friendly, yet they would occasionally throw out strong and sharp words that would surprise anyone listening.

However, the two of them seemed extremely accustomed to such conversations. Even though it was their first time having such stimulating conversations, they were not hurt by each other’s words at all.

At this point, their sharp words had to be seen as genuine feelings wrapped in a sharp package.

They understood each other through those sharply packaged words and, at the same time, conveyed their sincere feelings without shame.

Moyong Gun finished his tea and said,

“I never thought the day would come when I’d have such a conversation with you, Daesa.”

“This humble monk feels the same.”

“This conversation is quite interesting, but if it goes on too long, those waiting to meet us will be in agony. So, let’s get to the main point.”

“This humble monk is always ready.”

“Before that, take a look at this.”

Moyong Gun took out several neatly folded documents from his chest and handed them to Gong Gong Daesa.

Gong Gong Daesa’s eyes immediately flashed as he unfolded and read the documents.

Moyong Gun smiled.

“I didn’t know you could make such an expression, Daesa.”

“That’s why this meeting is burdensome. It feels like it’s sending this monk, who’s already strayed from Buddhism, into the abyss.”

“Thanks to you, the members of the alliance are at ease, so you’re worth being in that position even if you do nothing.”

It wasn’t an empty compliment. Moyong Gun was saying those words sincerely.

Gong Gong Daesa sighed.

“First of all, you’ve worked hard.”

“Yes. I have.”

Moyong Gun habitually reached for his teacup, then put it back down. It was already empty.

Gong Gong Daesa stared at the documents silently for a while.

How much time had passed?

“So, most of the members of the spy detection unit are from the Mukryong Unit [a special forces unit].”

“That’s correct.”

Moyong Gun looked at Gong Gong Daesa with a puzzled expression.

“Didn’t you already receive a report?”

Before Yeon Ho-jeong’s departure, Moyong Gun had personally visited Yang Cheon and asked for troops.

At that time, he also talked about the spy issue within the martial arts alliance, suggesting that they should attach capable individuals to the spy detection experts and quickly train them.

Yang Cheon had allowed it, and Moyong Gun had immediately started the work.

Two months later.

In just two months, the fifty or so unit members had become quite knowledgeable spy detectors.

This was partly due to the instructor’s excellent abilities, but also because the talents of the individuals Yang Cheon had carefully selected were exceptional.

The unit members sent to the instructor were all information agents skilled in assassination. They were not just simple killers but those who handled information, with quick minds, sharp insights, and the ability to hide themselves well.

Naturally, they learned quickly. They weren’t quite masters, but they showed enough proficiency to be deployed immediately without any problems.

Moyong Gun sent Gong Gong Daesa everything, including the progress, the tendencies of each unit member, their age, gender, and habits. It was possible because Yang Cheon had approved it.

But now, he was asking again if they were from the Mukryong Unit, which was puzzling.

“Of course, this humble monk knows. I just wanted to confirm it one more time.”

There was nothing to confirm. Gong Gong Daesa wasn’t stupid enough to ask again about something he already knew.

Moyong Gun’s eyes deepened.

“Something’s wrong.”

“It’s not exactly a problem, but… yes, you could say it’s a problem.”

“What is the problem?”

“As Moyong Clan Head knows.”

Gong Gong Daesa said, looking around the Alliance Leader’s residence.

“There are countless people in the martial arts alliance. Even the Sword Saint and the Blade Saint seniors joined the alliance as honorary members a few months ago.”

“That’s a great relief.”

“Indeed. It’s a relief. The giants who had been in seclusion have come to lend their strength, which is truly a blessing for the martial world.”

“But what’s the problem? Surely those old men aren’t refusing to acknowledge your authority, Daesa?”

Moyong Gun freely called the two of them old men.

Gong Gong Daesa shook his head.

“There’s no way that would happen. They are elders and honorary members, so they must be treated with respect, but they are still below the Alliance Leader. Isn’t that why they hesitated to join the alliance in the first place?”

Once they joined, they would absolutely obey the Alliance Leader’s orders.

“Then what is the problem?”

“There are many within the alliance who are dissatisfied with the Black Faction.”

Moyong Gun nodded.

“Of course, there would be.”

For the sake of peace, the Black and White Factions had joined hands, but the two groups had lived for hundreds of years considering each other as mortal enemies. Naturally, such public opinion would arise.

Rather, such public opinion was necessary. It would ensure that the leadership would try their best not to make mistakes.

“However, if those people shake the alliance’s power and even cause an internal rebellion, that would be a problem.”

“……”

“Is it that serious?”

Gong Gong Daesa shook his head.

“It’s not that serious, but it seems to be heading in that direction.”

Moyong Gun frowned.

“There’s no way they would have been allowed to act like that without anyone doing anything. What exactly happened?”

“There have been too many incidents to explain everything now. Moyong Clan Head, you know, don’t you? That running such a large organization is never easy.”

It wasn’t an excuse.

The martial arts alliance had grown into such a large organization that it could be called a small nation.

And the people belonging to that organization were all martial artists full of vigor. In other words, they were more skilled at resolving conflicts with swords than with words.

Of course, as it was a righteous faction, such incidents were not frequent, but it was impossible to control everything.

Moreover, the martial arts alliance did not have a structure where the leader held absolute power like the Mukryong Unit. The Alliance Leader’s authority was powerful, but it was originally a format where various organizations gathered to share opinions and proceed with work, so suppressing them with force would only cause a backlash.

It was bound to be a headache in many ways.

“If those people were to move in an organized manner and shake the alliance, we could at least arrest them all and hold them accountable, even if it’s harsh. But they are fueling public opinion while walking a fine line.”

“Why can’t you do that now?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m asking why you can’t arrest them and hold them accountable right now.”

Gong Gong Daesa sighed.

“Their anger isn’t a crime, is it?”

“If that anger is undermining the organization’s strength, then it is a crime.”

“There’s not enough justification.”

“Justification can be created. And we have absolute justification right now.”

A terrifying glint of lightning flashed in Moyong Gun’s eyes.

“We are in a time of war.”

“……”

“Just because nothing has happened yet, just because the sun rose this morning, does that mean we’re not at war? If we keep accommodating those people, the unity of the martial arts alliance, which has somehow been harmonized, will collapse.”

“I think so too.”

He thought so, but the justification of being at war was somewhat ambiguous.

Moyong Gun understood Gong Gong Daesa. He had spoken strongly out of anger, but honestly, even he wouldn’t have tried to suppress them with force.

It was obvious that it would only cause internal division.

Still, he couldn’t help but be angry.

“They’re a bunch of empty-headed fools.”

Clear anger rose on Moyong Gun’s face.

“If they had even a little thought about how the current peace was created, about how many people sacrificed themselves in unseen places, they wouldn’t dare do such ridiculous things.”

Gong Gong Daesa’s eyes trembled slightly.

Moyong Gun had mentioned sacrifice. He was saying that the current peace was maintained thanks to the sacrifices of people who, in some ways, had nothing to do with him.

‘He’s really changed a lot.’

Moyong Gun was originally a smart and sharp person. The problem was that he had only used his insight and intelligence for his own desires.

However, now that he had realized his limitations and turned his eyes to the world, Moyong Gun understood more clearly than anyone how this world had been built.

His personality was the same. But when he let go of his greed and understood what he had been ignoring while watching the world, that alone could change a person so much.

“I understand your thoughts, Daesa. Then, was the military advisor just watching this happen?”

Gong Gong Daesa gave a wry smile.

“The military advisor said that now is actually okay.”

“……?”

“He told me to wait a little longer. It seems like he has a plan, but this humble monk can’t even imagine what that plan is.”

“A plan?”

Moyong Gun’s face, which had been frowning, gradually became serious.

“A plan… he deliberately left it alone? Even knowing how dangerous it could become?”

Gong Gong Daesa subtly asked,

“Does Moyong Clan Head know what the military advisor is thinking?”

“I don’t know. I can’t know unless I talk to him directly.”

“Hmm.”

“You’re the Alliance Leader, Daesa, so if you ask him directly, he’ll tell you everything. Why didn’t you ask and just stay still?”

“Haha, he said he had a plan, so I’m just trusting him. If he was going to tell me, he would have told me already.”

It was hard to tell if he was comfortable or if it was absolute trust.

Moyong Gun chuckled.

“If that fox-like man says he has a plan, he must have some countermeasures.”

“Haha.”

“Anyway, it’s become ambiguous. If those guys are running rampant… then it’s difficult to deploy the spy unit right now…”

It was then.

“Alliance Leader!”

“What is it?”

“The Alliance Leader candidates who went to Shanxi and the two units of Changryong and Daeryong have returned!”

“Oh, is that so?”

“And…”

“Hmm?”

“The sub-leader of the Mukryong Unit has also returned.”