Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 179

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 179

Several years had passed since the large-scale terrorist incident that shocked the world, the ‘Crimson Christmas.’

The world, as always, changed rapidly, and countless amazing events and stories poured out, only to be quickly consumed.

The biggest change was, of course, the shift in the Theocracy’s external strategy.

After the Theocracy incident, the Theocracy began to actively intervene in many affairs of the world.

There were often talks about whether they had lost their identity as a religious nation, but nevertheless, the Theocracy stubbornly adhered to its changed strategy.

Besides that, many things happened.

In the world of Hunters [individuals with superhuman abilities], there were many stories circulating about a young oriental man who recently went around subjugating dangerous zones, dungeons, and gates in various regions.

Most Hunters would try to make themselves known through the media or other means after completing a subjugation to gain fame, but this young man never showed such behavior.

However, due to his characteristics of having black weapons, black hair, and even black clothes, people were calling him by the alias Black Emperor.

In the business world, so many things happen, but if I had to pick one, it would be a certain corporation.

That is L.I. Corporation.

They succeeded in several aggressive investments and emerged as the hottest fund on Wall Street, and they continued their success by consecutively succeeding in the pharmaceutical business, Hunter-related business, and new materials business under their umbrella.

In particular, there were even rumors that they had kidnapped aliens due to their investment methods and technology that seemed to have seen the future.

Moreover, it was a mysterious company where rumors were circulating that Jeong Jin-soo, the CEO who was idolized among young people around the world, was actually a figurehead.

Lastly, the information world.

In the so-called ‘underworld,’ the Black Crow Association, which had recently nested in Russia, was emerging.

Although its power was still somewhat weak in the Western world, it was known to have information power equivalent to national institutions or large forces, mainly in the Eastern world.

There are several names for the act of collecting information, but broadly speaking, there are two main categories.

HUMINT (Human Intelligence), which gathers information through human methods.

TECHINT (Technical Intelligence), which collects information using the latest information and communication technology (ICT), i.e., the Internet.

The Black Crow Association showed strong capabilities in both of these areas.

So much so that there was a saying, ‘If you don’t know something in Asia, look for the Black Crow.’

In the meantime, there was a story that circulated among the public.

It was said that these three entities, which had been on people’s lips in each world for the past few years, were actually the work of one person.

It was a ridiculous story.

Wasn’t it an absurd story?

A Hunter whose power was estimated to be around 3rd class, though his name was unknown.

A company that was rapidly rising as a global corporation and making a name for itself.

And an information organization with global information power as well.

That those three things were caused by one person?

It couldn’t be anything but nonsense.

* * *

“……That’s what they’re saying, President Jeong. What do you think?”

A girl folded one of the magazines being distributed by a B-class media outlet and smiled.

She was a girl with platinum blonde hair that looked like it was made of sunlight.

She had the skin and eye color typical of Slavs, the features typical of Orientals, and a lively smile on her somehow mysterious face.

Who would think that she was the head of the organization that was recently gaining the most fame in the information industry?

She was none other than Anastasia, the head of the Black Crow Association.

“Actually, there are aspects that haven’t been revealed. His connections with the higher-ups of the Theocracy, his connections with the Mystics, his relationship with the British aristocratic family… If you revealed everything else he’s done in the past few years, wouldn’t he be the very embodiment of a mastermind?”

The man sitting in front of her was none other than Jeong Jin-soo.

“That’s true. He said he was going to take care of everything he had to do before finishing his Warrior’s Pilgrimage [a personal journey undertaken for self-improvement and mastery], and he’s causing so many incidents……”

“Thank you for always cleaning up after him.”

“President Jeong, you’ve worked harder than I have.”

“No, I mostly solved it with money.”

Jeong Jin-soo chuckled as he looked at the silhouette of ‘Mysterious X’ drawn in the magazine.

Seeing that, Anastasia said with a playful expression.

“By the way, Black Emperor… I wonder what kind of reaction he’ll show when he hears that alias. What do you think, President Jeong?”

“I think he’ll probably try to blow up the magazine company.”

“Why? I think it’s cool.”

Anastasia chuckled as she looked at the phrase ‘BLACK EMPEROR, 黑帝 [Hēi Dì – Black Emperor in Chinese]’ written in large Gothic letters.

Jeong Jin-soo had a slightly subtle expression.

He wondered if he was getting old and couldn’t understand the sensibilities of young people.

No, or maybe it’s because she’s a girl who’s been isolated and traveling around the territories for a long time, so this kind of thing works for her…….

Jeong Jin-soo seriously pondered.

“I was just kidding, President Jeong. What am I supposed to do if you take it so seriously……”

“Ah, I see. I’m sorry. But……”

Jeong Jin-soo’s expression turned slightly cold as he continued to speak.

“This isn’t the work of Lee Gun-sung, the third son of the Soongmoo Lee family, is it? It’s too accurate to be pieced together by a mere B-class media outlet.”

“Well, I’m not sure. He’s been attacking in such bizarre ways for the past few years……”

“This might be a prelude to some kind of attack.”

Anastasia sighed deeply at Jeong Jin-soo’s words.

“Even so, I don’t think Lee Gun-sung would use such a degrading method.”

After the Theocracy incident.

The Black Crow Association and Jeong Jin-soo’s business were often receiving ‘some kind of attack.’

It wasn’t a full-scale attack.

Just common incidents that could be overlooked as one of the inevitable events that occur while doing business.

However, Lee Cheol accurately pointed out several incidents and was convinced that they were attacks by Lee Gun-sung.

So, a list was being created.

A list for something Lee Cheol would attempt in the future.

“By the way, it’s been quite a while since the Theocracy incident.”

Jeong Jin-soo also estimated the time at Anastasia’s words.

Come to think of it, several years had passed.

After the incident at the Theocracy, Lee Cheol said that he would finish what he needed to do before returning to the family, and he was traveling around the world more energetically than ever.

“He’s gathering materials to deal with the Six Nights, dealing with Lee Gun-sung, and even continuing his personal training… Young Master Lee Cheol is really not like a human.”

“I think so too.”

Both of them wore worried expressions.

Lee Cheol was originally someone who moved without rest, but after the Theocracy incident, he was moving even more busily without any days off.

Of course, Lee Cheol himself seemed to have time that he thought was rest, but from the side, it didn’t look like a rest at all.

“But now that he said he’s finishing his Warrior’s Pilgrimage, he’ll take a break for a while after this.”

“It would be fortunate if that were the case.”

“It’s about time for him to come down.”

At Jeong Jin-soo’s words, Anastasia looked out the window.

There, a high mountain stood tall.

No one would not know the name of that mountain, which was so high that it touched the clouds.

It was called the highest mountain in the world, and it was a global sacred mountain and a dangerous zone where monsters lived.

Mount Everest.

For the past half year, Lee Cheol had been conducting his final Warrior’s Pilgrimage training there, and today was the last day of that training.

‘He’ll come out stronger again.’

Anastasia was lost in thought, thinking of Lee Cheol.

Lee Cheol’s martial achievements were already beyond estimation.

It was not enough to compare him with his peers, and it had to be at the world-class level to be compared.

She was curious about how much stronger he would become this time.

‘He also said he was ready.’

Before climbing Mount Everest with the words that it would be his last training, Lee Cheol had left a story in advance.

That he would return to the family when this training was over.

“……?”

And around that time, Anastasia saw a person coming down from the mountain.

It was Lee Cheol.

Now he had finished the final task of his Warrior’s Pilgrimage.

He was returning to Soongmoo Lee family.

* * *

Republic of Korea, Soongmoo Lee family.

Even though it was only the power of a single family, this family, which stood shoulder to shoulder with the world’s great powers, firmly maintained its position no matter what major events occurred in the world.

In the central conference room of the Soongmoo Lee family, the heads of each department and elders were gathered.

“Then let’s start the meeting.”

It was Lee Myung-jeong, not the head of the family, Lee Tae-shin, who was sitting at the head seat.

Recently, Lee Myung-jeong had often been leading the meeting instead of Lee Tae-shin.

It wasn’t that Lee Tae-shin had recognized Lee Myung-jeong as his successor.

It was just that Lee Tae-shin had recently entered closed-door training, and he had ‘temporarily’ entrusted the vacant seat to Lee Myung-jeong as before.

“……Therefore, the government has issued a policy regarding the subjugation of the northern undeveloped area, and there has been a request for support for this.”

“Follow the instructions of Father… No, the head of the family, regarding that, and have each warrior squad continue their training.”

At the morning meeting held every Monday, Lee Myung-jeong was now showing the demeanor of a leader without any shortcomings.

Lee Myung-jeong’s instructions were always neat, accurate, and without unnecessary details.

“In addition, let’s clarify our position regarding the Black Crow Association. The main house……”

At that time, a warrior who suddenly opened the door of the conference room and entered carefully whispered something to Lee Myung-jeong.

Lee Myung-jeong’s eyes widened.

“What’s wrong?”

“He’s coming back.”

“Yes? Who are you talking about?”

Lee Myung-jeong burst into laughter.

The corners of Lee Myung-jeong’s mouth, who had not had a chance to smile recently due to the heavy workload as the acting head of the family, were full of smiles.

“The youngest is finishing his Warrior’s Pilgrimage and returning to the family.”

* * *

The entrance of the Soongmoo Lee family.

I looked up at the huge three-gate, like the gate of a palace, once, and slowly moved my steps.

Now, the last gateway to decorate the end of the Warrior’s Pilgrimage remained.

Passing through the family’s gate, to the inside.

I feel the gazes of the family members turning to me every time I move my steps.

No one spoke to me.

What kind of emotion is in that gaze?

Is it contempt, disregard, and annoyance towards the bastard?

It wasn’t.

It was surprise and anticipation.

The return of the youngest bastard who caused a big incident and ran away from the family.

It was anticipation for what he would be like now.

I moved my steps further inside.

There was a final proof that the direct line who finished the Warrior’s Pilgrimage had to pass.

I headed to the central training hall.

‘Always, so many things happened here.’

It was also where I had my first Iron Thread Ceremony [a coming-of-age ritual].

Also, the sparring with my sixth sister, which began to change the perception of me before I left for the Warrior’s Pilgrimage.

Everything happened here.

Now it’s time to prove the Warrior’s Pilgrimage.

I passed through the entrance and entered inside.

Numerous warriors were lined up in the 넓은 [wide] open space.

The gazes of those numerous warriors were fixed on me, who had passed through the tunnel-like passage.

I silently looked at the center of the training hall.

There, my first brother in formal attire and my brothers were in place.

“From now on, according to tradition, we will begin the proof of Lee Cheol’s Warrior’s Pilgrimage, a direct line of the Soongmoo Lee family!”

My first brother shouted loudly, and the final proof began.

Swish!

The warrior at the very front drew his sword.

The Warrior’s Pilgrimage is just a test.

And the purpose of that test is only one thing: to become stronger than oneself before the Warrior’s Pilgrimage.

Now it’s time to prove that.

I waved my hand at the warrior who was wielding his sword at me, without even drawing my sword.

Kwaaaang!

One blow.

The warrior’s sword burst like a balloon, scattering pieces of metal in all directions.

I turned my back on the warrior who was pushed back by the shock and walked forward again.

A warrior of a higher level than before blocked my way.

Someone who seemed to be the leader of the lower warrior squad.

Paang!

A blow that extends out.

The sword could not be wielded and burst again.

One more step.

One more step again.

The level of the warriors blocking the way increases.

But I kept going like that without drawing a weapon.

‘How on earth is that bastard so……!’

‘I can’t believe it! The leaders of the warrior squads can’t even draw their weapons!’

‘At least 3rd class……? How is that possible at an age when he just became an adult?’

Everyone, including the elders, felt shock.

I felt their astonished gazes and reached the center.

“Lee Cheol, the youngest of the Soongmoo Lee family.”

Only the direct lines are standing in the center.

I looked at my brothers and said.

“I have now finished my Warrior’s Pilgrimage and returned.”