Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 216

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 216

Lee Myung-jung stared blankly at the screen, now completely black.

Just moments ago, the face of the Gu Ryong Chae Ju [Leader of the Nine Dragons Assembly, a powerful martial arts clan] had been visible on that screen.

Looking at the black screen faintly reflecting his own face, Lee Myung-jung let out a hollow laugh.

Knock, knock.

“Are you alright, young master?”

A brief moment passed, and the Blue Sword Leader entered as the door opened.

“I’m fine. Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

“You just finished a conversation with someone of Gu Ryong Chae Ju’s stature. It’s only natural to be exhausted.”

Lee Myung-jung gave a subtle smile at the Blue Sword Leader’s words.

“Mental exhaustion…….”

Lee Myung-jung chuckled.

“It’s a bit different, but yes, I am a little tired.”

“It’s understandable to be taken aback. No matter how Gu Ryong Chae responded, it would have been problematic, wouldn’t it?”

“The most likely scenario was no response at all.”

In truth, no matter what reaction Gu Ryong Chae showed, it was bound to be disadvantageous for Lee Chul.

If Gu Ryong Chae sided with Lee Chul, they could push back, questioning how anyone could trust it.

If they sided with the Council of Elders, they could say Lee Chul was in the wrong.

So, when Lee Myung-jung first heard that Lee Chul had voluntarily entered the Tribunal [a governing body or court], he thought it was a bad move.

He considered Gu Ryong Chae avoiding a response altogether as the best-case scenario…….

‘For the Gu Ryong Chae Ju to appear in person.’

A figure whose words couldn’t be doubted had emerged.

And the stories that came out were quite something.

At that moment, the Blue Sword Leader spoke to Lee Myung-jung, who was lost in thought.

“What is your schedule after this? Shall we reconvene the elders? Or should we have the secretary, who was dismissed, return?”

Lee Myung-jung pondered for a moment, then rose from his seat.

“No, I should go see my youngest brother.”

“It’s already late at night. Visiting hours are until 4 PM.”

“I’m the acting head of the family right now. I can exercise that much privilege, surely.”

Now that Lee Myung-jung’s face seemed more relaxed, the Blue Sword Leader smiled lightly.

“Yes, then I will contact the Tribunal in advance.”

“I’ll go alone, so you can rest. You worked hard protecting me in New York.”

“Then I shall do so.”

The Blue Sword Leader left the office.

Lee Myung-jung straightened his attire and was about to leave the office when he suddenly turned his head to look at the black screen where the Gu Ryong Chae Ju had just appeared.

* * *

-That brat was alive?

As soon as he received the call, the Gu Ryong Chae Ju blurted out those words.

There wasn’t even a simple greeting.

Even though the Gu Ryong Chae and the Soong Moo Yi Ga [a prominent martial arts family] had a delicate relationship, Lee Myung-jung, who was trying to show at least minimal courtesy due to the difference in status, was left feeling awkward.

-How strange. I clearly killed him. Should I have severed his head? He survived even after I implanted the Penetrating Mirror?

Lee Myung-jung couldn’t believe his ears.

Before Lee Myung-jung could even respond, the Gu Ryong Chae Ju relentlessly spewed out shocking words.

At first, he felt anger.

However, to secure the advantage, for his youngest brother, Lee Myung-jung swallowed his anger and continued the questioning.

Did the Gu Ryong Chae, under the instigation of the Council of Elders of the main family, try to kill Lee Chul?

Much was at stake in the Gu Ryong Chae Ju’s answer.

The Gu Ryong Chae’s position, political interests, and diplomatic losses…….

Therefore, he thought the Gu Ryong Chae Ju would evade the question and subtly offer a deal.

Lee Myung-jung prepared for negotiations, thinking of several possible scenarios.

However, contrary to Lee Myung-jung’s expectations, the Gu Ryong Chae Ju answered very simply.

-That’s right. The Council of Elders of your family requested the assassination.

-And I killed him.

There was no political rhetoric or diplomatic jargon exchanged.

Lee Myung-jung was rather taken aback by this.

‘Does that person even understand what he’s saying right now?’

Lee Myung-jung momentarily doubted the Gu Ryong Chae Ju’s intentions.

At first, he wondered if he was deliberately coming on strong to create confusion.

However, as the conversation continued, Lee Myung-jung realized that the Gu Ryong Chae Ju had no such intentions.

-The reason for telling you? Is such a thing necessary? I simply felt like it.

His reaction was always like this.

He seemed indifferent to the responsibilities that came with his words and regarded conflicts or interests between organizations as meaningless.

It wasn’t a feeling of selfishness or irresponsibility.

Rather.

‘He’s detached.’

He was free from such constraints.

Even the direction of the Gu Ryong Chae, a massive power, held no meaning for him.

And Lee Myung-jung saw one person overlapping with that image of the Gu Ryong Chae Ju.

His father.

Lee Tae-shin, the head of the Soong Moo Yi Ga.

Do those who reach the realm of transcendence all break free from such common things?

Or do they enter that realm because they are free from them?

They choose what is important only by their own standards and act accordingly.

The Gu Ryong Chae Ju continued.

-If I had to give a reason…… hmm, yes. I could say it’s because I was curious since someone I thought was dead came back to life.

-Indeed, the Soong Moo Yi Ga makes it impossible not to acknowledge them. For a young man in his prime to return alive from that Iron Fortress.

The Gu Ryong Chae Ju wore a self-deprecating smile but didn’t seem to care.

Then, his eyes gleaming, he continued.

-I have something to tell him. Would you mind passing it on?

With the message received, the meeting ended.

He had clearly obtained what he wanted easily, but it was a tiring meeting in many ways.

It was then.

“Young master!”

Before he knew it, Lee Myung-jung realized he had arrived at the entrance of the Tribunal.

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

Lee Myung-jung looked up at the Tribunal and organized his thoughts.

Now, it was time to meet his youngest brother.

* * *

Inside the Tribunal building, there were detention facilities for those who had violated the rules.

The place Lee Myung-jung was heading to was that detention facility.

“We have received word, Acting Head of the Family.”

It was a gloomy building in many ways.

Inside this building, major criminals awaiting the Tribunal’s judgment were mainly detained.

It was different from the place where Lee Kyung-hwa had been detained a few years ago.

That place was more for isolation than detention, while this place was closer to a proper prison.

“Then bring my youngest brother to me.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Lee Myung-jung headed to the visitation room to wait for Lee Chul.

And after a while, Lee Chul entered the visitation room under the escort of the Tribunal officers.

“Have you come, eldest brother?”

Lee Chul even wore a relaxed smile as he greeted Lee Myung-jung.

Seeing that, Lee Myung-jung felt a peculiar emotion.

‘They’re treating him with utmost respect.’

It wasn’t Lee Chul, but the Tribunal officers who brought Lee Chul, that gave him that impression.

The Tribunal officers weren’t dragging or escorting Lee Chul, but rather following him politely as if they were guarding him.

Moreover, although Lee Chul had been disarmed, including Eun-han, he was wearing ordinary clothes, not a prisoner’s uniform, and wasn’t bound.

‘He even saluted.’

The Tribunal officers stepped aside, even bowing to Lee Chul as they left.

In fact, Lee Chul should be someone who harmed their organization, but…… they truly respected Lee Chul.

Lee Myung-jung organized his thoughts and looked at his youngest brother.

“Sorry for being late.”

“I’m the one who should be sorry. I caused quite a stir, making my already busy eldest brother even busier.”

“You rascal, with your flattery.”

The eldest brother chuckled at my words before falling silent.

And silence descended.

“I don’t know where to start.”

In the silence, the eldest brother sighed deeply.

“First of all…….”

“Please don’t apologize.”

At my sudden words, the eldest brother frowned slightly.

“……In the end, it was something that happened because of me. It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t left my post.”

“It was something that would have happened eventually, and it was my business.”

“But it wasn’t something that should have happened that way. I could have stopped it.”

“I’m not a child, eldest brother.”

At my words, the eldest brother’s eyes widened slightly, as if surprised.

“I appreciate your concern for me, eldest brother, but if you apologize for this…… it would be like insulting me.”

It was a somewhat harsh tone, but it was sincere.

Did he understand the meaning of my words?

The eldest brother pondered my words and nodded.

“……Alright. I won’t apologize.”

I smiled and changed the subject.

“But I am curious. How did you suddenly get called away to the meeting?”

The eldest brother had attended the World Peace and Security Council’s countermeasures meeting held in the United States.

The meeting was attended by the standing directors of each country that made up the council and representatives of major powers, and naturally, Lee Myung-jung also attended as the acting head of the Soong Moo Yi Ga.

“It was because I didn’t heed your warning and wasn’t vigilant.”

A sudden answer.

And that answer alone was enough.

“……Was it Lee Goon-sung?”

The eldest brother had attended the meeting somewhat hastily.

Since this industry has that kind of aspect, there was nothing awkward about it in itself.

However, with the direct line away on missions, an event occurred where even the acting head of the family had no choice but to leave the family ‘coincidentally’.

“It’s not certain. I can only guess.”

“If that’s the case, then it must be Lee Goon-sung’s doing.”

Then why?

The answer comes easily.

Whether I live or die, it’s because it gives him an excuse to undermine the eldest brother.

“I had made preparations in my own way before I left, but I never expected the Council of Elders to move.”

“Still, those preparations were helpful.”

It was thanks to the eldest brother’s help that only that much force gathered.

“If I hadn’t made those preparations, I wouldn’t have been able to hold back.”

Lee Myung-jung’s eyes widened at those words.

Did he mean that he had held back in that situation?

‘I heard that none of the warriors, except for the Black Sword Unit, had lost their lives.’

If he hadn’t been able to hold back, what would have happened?

Lee Myung-jung decided not to think about it.

“Anyway, why did you act this way?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about why you voluntarily surrendered. You didn’t have to do this.”

“I was simply following the rules. And, as always, there was no reason to avoid it.”

“The rules…… huh.”

Lee Myung-jung pondered those words.

And Lee Myung-jung recalled the words Lee Chul had said to the half-collapsed warriors at the last moment.

-I will become the head of the family.

-In a way that is more like the Soong Moo Yi Ga than anyone else, and in my own way, I will rise to that position.

A declaration of becoming the head of the family.

Lee Chul was the first among the direct line aiming for the head of the family to declare it so confidently.

After that, Lee Chul confidently disarmed himself and ‘ordered’ the Tribunal officers to bind and escort him.

Contrary to the expectations of those around him that it was just a political performance, he even diligently cooperated with the investigation.

‘I see. This child…….’

Lee Chul had always shown unconventional behavior, but he never stepped outside the rules.

Even when moving within the rules, he always won.

It was the same this time.

Lee Myung-jung met his youngest brother’s eyes.

“I want to ask you something.”

“Yes, eldest brother.”

“Why did you cut down the Council of Elders?”

It was a sudden question.

I smiled at those words.

“Why do you ask that all of a sudden?”

“There’s a certain story going around in the family.”

The story that Lee Chul, harboring resentment for being oppressed as a bastard, had used excessive force against the Council of Elders.

Arguments that disciplinary action should be taken for ignoring procedures and regulations and cutting down the Council of Elders.

“So, why did you cut him down?”

I stared silently at the eldest brother.

And smiled.

“I think you know, eldest brother.”

“What makes you think I know by looking at you?”

“Your expression. You’re subtly bad at acting, eldest brother.”

“What? Hahaha!”

The eldest brother burst into laughter.

I waited until the eldest brother stopped laughing and then continued.

“Of course, the Council of Elders was dirty and tried to block my path many times…… so I was planning to cut him down someday.”

But.

Whatever his twisted beliefs, whatever the means or methods, I never denied it.

However, as an enemy, I also accepted the path of the Council of Elders as one way.

Whether twisted or righteous, it was also the struggle of one man, Lee Chul-joong, the Council of Elders.

“But the reason I cut him down this time…… is because he crossed the line.”

The Council of Elders had brought in foreign powers.

He even deceived me about the contents of the mission and put me and the family’s forces in danger.

A line.

There is a line that should never be crossed anywhere.

The Council of Elders had crossed the line that should have been protected.

“There was no personal animosity?”

I scoffed at the eldest brother’s words.

“Of course there was. How could there not be after being treated like that as a child?”

If I just laughed it off and let it go, I would be no different from a pushover.

“And…… even if that wasn’t the case, he was a person who had to die.”

As far as the Soong Moo Yi Ga was concerned.

The victor is the answer, and the loser is wrong.

If I had lost, I would have acknowledged my defeat and offered my head.

But what about the Council of Elders?

He couldn’t accept defeat.

So he deserved to die.

At that moment, the eldest brother smiled and continued.

“I don’t intend to give up the position of head of the family, but I’m starting to think I want to see the Soong Moo Yi Ga that you will lead.”

I chuckled at those words.

“You seem to be getting soft. Why don’t you give up the head of the family competition right now and join my faction? I’ll give you the position of Council of Elders.”

“……You never give up a word, do you? You impudent brat. Should I send you on a mission?”

The eldest brother smiled and patted me on the shoulder.

* * *

After that, there was some small talk and stories.

It was more like a consultation on future matters than small talk.

In addition, the eldest brother seemed to have guessed the realm I had reached, but he didn’t bother to mention it.

“It’s getting late. I should be going now.”

At the right timing, the eldest brother got up from his seat.

I also got up to see the eldest brother off.

The eldest brother said as he put on his coat.

“You’ll be out in two or three days. Your family members have already been released, so don’t worry and wait.”

“Already?”

In the end, the data was clear, so it was certain that I would win in any fight, but I didn’t expect to be released so soon.

“The Gu Ryong Chae has responded.”

“The Gu Ryong Chae…… hmm, does that have any meaning?”

“You’re sharp. You understand just from that without any explanation?”

“It’s all the same if the Council of Elders’ faction distorts it in any way.”

The eldest brother chuckled and replied.

“Since the identity of the person who responded is who they are, it can’t help but have meaning.”

“…….”

I tilted my head at those words.

After a moment.

……Could it be.

“Is it the Gu Ryong Chae Ju?”

“You, you little rascal, have you even learned divination?”

“So it is the Gu Ryong Chae Ju.”

The Gu Ryong Chae Ju. Could it be that he personally responded to the main family’s request?

Even if only an elder of the Gu Ryong Chae came out, the words would carry weight, but if the Chae Ju came out, the level itself would be completely different.

“What did he ask for?”

“He didn’t ask for anything. He just said he was responding to our request.”

Lee Myung-jung recalled the meeting with the Gu Ryong Chae Ju and sighed briefly again.

“Since your statement was mostly the same, you will soon be released from here. And…… he left a message for you.”

“A message?”

The eldest brother nodded and continued.

-In the end, I didn’t kill you, and you came back to life, and I’m directly taking your side like this, so you owe me a debt. Repay it tenfold someday.

“……He said that and laughed for a long time.”

I felt my eyes twitch at those words.

‘A debt, a debt.’

He said to repay it tenfold.

Good.

Next time, I’ll cut off his head and repay the debt.

“Anyway, the meeting video has been recorded, so everything will be resolved soon.”

“I see. I understand.”

“I’ll have everything sorted out by the time you get out.”

The eldest brother said quietly before opening the door to the visitation room and leaving.

Sorting out.

He must be talking about sorting out the Council of Elders and his faction.

The data I submitted also contained information collected about the elders through the Black Turtle Association.

“Please don’t.”

“You’re not going to tell me to endure it because it’s going to be chaotic, are you?”

“Chaos? Chaos has to come. It’s a perfect opportunity for the Soong Moo Yi Ga to change, so I can’t let it go like this.”

“Then why?”

“It’s my achievement. Don’t think about taking it away, eldest brother. I yielded to you during the Naming Ceremony, so it’s your turn to yield to me this time.”

Lee Myung-jung’s eyes widened.

An old memory came to mind.

The image of Lee Chul as a bold young boy, talking to himself in the middle of the Naming Ceremony.

“Haha! Alright, I understand. I’ll hand this over to you.”

I nodded and saw the eldest brother off.

And two days later.

I was released and came outside.