Chapter 83: An Unexpected Proposal (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 83: An Unexpected Proposal (2)
"It hasn't been officially announced yet, but the current Alliance Leader, Baek Hyang-muk, the First Sword of Wuhan, has been impeached by the Elder Council."
'!!!!'
For a moment, I felt as if I’d been struck in the head with a hammer.
It was a massive incident, news I hadn't expected at all.
'The Alliance Leader was impeached?'
This was even bigger news than Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun suddenly asking for my help to become the leader.
-Why are you so surprised?
The Lesser Conversation Sword asked, sounding curious.
How could I not be? Even before my regression, an event of this magnitude had never occurred.
-This didn't happen before?
No. The position of the head of the Martial Alliance—the man who practically ruled the current martial world—being forcibly overturned by the Elder Council was something that simply didn't exist in the previous timeline.
I knew that my actions would continue to change future events, but I hadn't expected the ripples to grow this large.
'...Is it because of Zhuge Won-myeong?'
The Chief Strategist of the Martial Alliance. The giant who led the alliance and brought victory in the Great Orthodox-Evil War. It seemed his absence had a significant impact. Since I didn't know the full details of the situation, I needed to hear more from Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun.
"I don't even know what to say..."
I didn't bother hiding my shock. Seeing this, Jin-gyun took a deep breath and spoke to me.
"As a promising rising star of the Orthodox Faction, this must be quite a shock to you."
"I never dreamed such a thing would happen."
"That’s only natural. This is classified as top-secret information even within the Martial Alliance."
'Top-secret?'
Then how did Jin-gyun know such a vital secret? Until now, he had always walked an independent path, separate from the Martial Alliance. He wasn't in a position to know information that would cause a massive upheaval the moment it was revealed to the public.
-Is it really that big of a deal?
Of course. The head of the organization that holds hegemony over the current martial world has changed. It’s no different from the entire political landscape of the martial world shifting. This will eventually affect our Cult as well.
'They impeached one of the Martial Alliance's greatest powers. Depending on what happens to that power...'
It could lead to the weakening of the Martial Alliance.
Ah! Wait a minute.
Jin-gyun said he intended to become the Alliance Leader. Furthermore, he knew this unannounced information in advance. Does that mean he intends to replace Baek Hyang-muk?
-You deduce so much from such a small bit of information.
The Lesser Conversation Sword seemed impressed.
I spent years as a spy; this much is basic.
Jin-gyun continued speaking.
"It won't be made public for the time being because of the potential fallout. It will be announced as a fait accompli once the next leader is decided."
As expected, he knew too much detail—things only the core members of the Martial Alliance should know.
"I have always disliked being bound to anything, so I made the refinement of my martial arts my life's work. However, great power brings great responsibility."
Those are good words, but I feel like I've heard them somewhere before. Regardless, Jin-gyun spoke to me with a serious expression.
"If Brother Baek steps down, the Blood Cult and countless other members of the Evil Faction will rise up like a plague."
"......"
Calling us a plague right to my face. I couldn't even show my annoyance. Unaware that I was the Blood Demon, Jin-gyun clicked his tongue and continued.
"If that happens, the martial world will be plunged into war once again."
"......I see."
"Brother Baek's sense of responsibility and the weight he carried as the Alliance Leader were that immense. That is why I have decided to sacrifice my final years for the sake of the martial world."
Sacrifice for the martial world, huh? Hearing the resolve in his voice, he sounded sincere. However, I couldn't tell if it was truly genuine. In a way, it wasn't an exaggeration to say the position of the Alliance Leader was equivalent to being the King of a nation.
-You don't seem to trust him.
To begin with, the Ardent King Hegemon isn't a man associated with self-sacrifice. While his passion for martial arts is well-known, it's hard to believe a man who didn't even participate in the Great Orthodox-Evil War is now talking about sacrifice. It would be more believable if he simply admitted to wanting a taste of power in his old age.
-Would he really show that openly?
True. The society of the Orthodox Faction values justification above all else. For now, I should at least play along with his words.
"Haa... I didn't know you possessed such a sense of duty, Senior."
I let out a sigh of admiration.
"Is there any pride in living as I pleased and only trying to contribute to the martial world in my old age?"
"Still, such a decision couldn't have been easy."
"Hearing you say that makes my resolve feel worthwhile. Indeed."
'.......'
It was quite surprising to see this side of him. I thought he was a solitary martial artist walking his own path, but after talking to him, it seemed he could easily survive the politics of the Martial Alliance.
"However, this is not something I can achieve through my strength alone."
"What do you mean...?"
Jin-gyun turned his chair toward me and performed a fist-and-palm salute.
"Please, help me. I am asking this of you."
"Ah......"
This was incredibly awkward. He was pushing his main point before I even knew the full circumstances. I returned the salute politely and replied.
"Please, take back those words. What power do I have to help you, Senior?"
"You don't know your own strength."
"Pardon?"
"As a rising star, you were already the envy of the youth. Now, after the Yangtze River incident, you are emerging as a new hero of the Orthodox martial world."
Being praised so openly was embarrassing. I didn't know if it was to that extent, but my reputation had certainly grown. Jin-gyun spoke with a smile.
"If someone like you supports me, it will have a greater effect than the backing of a few insignificant elders."
"You overestimate me."
Seeing how he kept building me up, it seemed he was determined to get a firm answer right here. Unless I fully understood the situation, giving him a definitive answer would only hinder my own movements.
"It is not an overestimation. If you help me, it will be like gaining ten thousand horses and a thousand soldiers."
"Please, take back your words, Senior."
"Take them back? What do you mean by that?"
"I am severely lacking."
"Hmph......"
When I gave an answer that was close to a refusal despite his excessive flattery, Jin-gyun looked at me with a somewhat displeased face before turning his head toward the middle-aged man sitting next to him.
Who was that man, that even the great Ardent King Hegemon would care about his opinion?
-Is he a master?
No. The energy I sensed from him was only at the Peak Realm. That didn't mean he was weak, but he wasn't someone to be particularly wary of.
Then, the middle-aged man let out a deep breath and spoke.
"I wanted to hear your thoughts first, but it seems I must speak before that."
'!?'
The voice coming from his mouth. I had definitely heard it before.
"Strategist Sama?"
The face was different, but it was definitely the voice of Sama Jung-hyeon, the Second Strategist of the Martial Alliance. At my words, the middle-aged man smiled slightly, then grabbed the skin near his ear and carefully peeled it away.
It was a human skin mask.
"Young Hero So. It has been a long time. I suppose I should call you 'Great Hero' now."
I thought he had returned to the Martial Alliance after the incident at the Military Governor's Office, but here he was, appearing with a human skin mask. My gaze shifted from Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon to Jin-gyun.
So, he was the one who told him the secret.
"Strategist. It is good to see you again."
I greeted him first. It hadn't been that long, but his face looked very haggard. His face was covered in small scars, and deep shadows hung under his eyes, as if he had suffered greatly in that short time.
"How is it that you have come all this way wearing a human skin mask...?"
Before I could even finish, Sama Jung-hyeon shook his head and spoke.
"Young Hero So. The Martial Alliance is facing its worst crisis yet."
"Pardon?"
What on earth did that mean?
"I almost lost my life as well. If it weren't for the help of Great Hero Jin here, I would be wandering the underworld by now."
"What exactly are you talking about?"
"Since we parted ways, I haven't been able to return to the Martial Alliance."
He hadn't come from the Martial Alliance? I couldn't understand what had happened to make him speak with such a grave voice.
"Why haven't you returned?"
To my puzzled question, Sama Jung-hyeon caught his breath and said, "After you left, a certain doubt arose in my mind."
"A doubt?"
"The strategy we meticulously planned to suppress the Blood Demon was exposed far too easily."
Ah... he was talking about that time. I had found that strange as well. The trap the Martial Alliance set to eliminate me was used against them by the Golden Eye organization. This would have been impossible without an internal information leak. I was certain there was a spy within the Martial Alliance.
'I thought the other strategists were lacking compared to Strategist Zhuge, but I guess that's not the case.'
Seeing as he had noticed this to some extent. Though he likely didn't know the true identity of the enemies. Sama Jung-hyeon continued.
"So, just in case, I sent a double to transport the body of the Fake Blood Demon to the Martial Alliance."
The result was obvious. The body must have disappeared along the way. Although they didn't openly interfere with the Martial Alliance's business, Flash Thunder Sword Jagyun, who played the Fake Blood Demon, was one of their high-ranking members. He even had recovery abilities through their procedures. They wouldn't leave behind any clues that could expose their existence.
"However, the body disappeared along the way."
Just as expected.
"So, what did you do?"
"I tried to return to the Martial Alliance, but because I was certain that someone suspicious inside was communicating with the enemy, I couldn't go back."
"Suspicious?"
"There is something called the Secret Direct Letter exchanged between the Alliance Leader and the strategists."
Ah, I had heard of that. Even when I was a spy before my regression, the Cult had issued orders to secure the direct correspondence between the strategists and the leader at all costs.
"But that letter was not from the Alliance Leader. It was a forgery, imitating his handwriting."
"Then...?"
"There is a spy in the main headquarters of the Alliance—at its very heart."
I had expected this to some degree, so I wasn't that surprised. Hadn't they tried to swallow the Peerless Fortress whole by planting spies in its center, just as they had with our Cult? I was certain there were spies among the leadership. But I had to act surprised.
"How could such a thing happen!"
"I never dreamed such a cancerous presence would exist in the heart of our Alliance either."
"Have you identified who it is?"
"I am ninety percent certain it is him. He retired before the Secret Direct Letter system was established and then recently returned."
He retired and then returned? Who was he talking about? I was about to ask directly, but Sama Jung-hyeon continued.
"So, to avoid his eyes, I went to seek help from Taoist Master Manjong."
Taoist Master Manjong was the leader of the Quanzhen Sect and the Sixth Elder of the Martial Alliance. During the trial at the Military Governor's Office, he had lost most of his disciples to the Fake Blood Demon's attack and had returned to the Quanzhen Sect to tend to their remains.
-I can already see where this is going without even hearing it.
I agree with you, Lesser Conversation Sword. Not only Sama Jung-hyeon, but I too was caught up in the Fake Blood Demon incident and was attacked by them on the Yangtze River. Why would it be any different for Taoist Master Manjong?
"......However, Taoist Master Manjong was also attacked on the way."
"You mean he was attacked while you were with him?"
"Yes. Fortunately, I was able to escape because Taoist Master Manjong bought me time."
"That is a relief. Ah! By any chance, do you remember the appearance of the attackers?"
I assumed they had covered their faces, but I asked just in case. But then, an unexpected answer came.
"I am ashamed to say I didn't see them because I was busy fleeing into a secret room. However, as I was escaping, I heard the last words Taoist Master Manjong spoke."
"What did he say?"
"He seemed to be fighting the enemy while leaving the words, 'That eye.'"
'Eye?'
As soon as he said 'eye,' only one thing came to mind.
'Golden Eye!'
It might not be, but the fact that his last words were about an eye bothered me. Did the Jonju move personally? If so, it would have been difficult to escape his grasp.
"I wanted to stay and fight with my life on the line, but thinking that the truth might be buried if I died too, I escaped through a waterway inside the secret room."
'Ah......'
So there was a waterway in the secret room. He was truly lucky. Otherwise, it would have been miraculous to escape if the Jonju had moved personally. He probably didn't even know how he survived.
"I barely managed to escape and sought out Great Hero Jin, who was the closest to me."
Sama Jung-hyeon had certainly gone through as much as I had in the meantime. His haggard and anxious face was understandable.
"Is that why you've disguised yourself with a human skin mask?"
"Yes. I had no choice, as they are still targeting me. In the current situation, I don't even know who is an ally and who is an enemy."
I understood his feelings. When you feel surrounded by enemies, it's only natural to be cautious. Sama Jung-hyeon looked at me and said, "However, there was one person I judged to be a certain ally."
"Who is that?"
"It is you. Didn't you go through the same thing as us back then?"
"Ah......."
"After hearing that you were attacked by an unidentified group on the Yangtze River, I knew that you were also caught up in this matter."
So that's why he readily revealed his identity to me. But a question arose here. I felt I had to ask it directly.
"Strategist. I apologize, but may I ask one thing?"
"Speak."
"Based on the hardships you've endured, you are hiding and unable to return because of a spy within the Martial Alliance."
"......That is correct."
"I thought the Senior here was trying to run as a candidate for the new Alliance Leader after hearing about the incidents within the Alliance from you. However, in the current situation, I would think it's difficult for even the Senior to know internal secrets."
At my point, a strange light flickered in Sama Jung-hyeon's eyes. He stared at me intently and said, "As I noticed last time, you are quite clever, matching your martial talent."
"......I apologize. It is a matter I must be cautious about as well."
"You are right. Since I am currently missing, I cannot access classified information."
"Then how do you know what happened inside the Martial Alliance?"
This time, it was Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun who answered my question.
"The current Chief Strategist informed me of this fact."
"The current Chief Strategist?"
Had a new successor been appointed after Strategist Zhuge died? Come to think of it, I did feel a different kind of strategy when I saw the trap set at the Military Governor's Office. Sama Jung-hyeon spoke while grinding his teeth.
"He is the one who served as the previous Chief Strategist before Strategist Zhuge. He took up the post again at the Alliance Leader's invitation."
But why did he speak with such hostility? Judging by the way he ground his teeth, they seemed to be in an adversarial relationship. That question was soon answered.
"This man, Bang Deok-hyeon, is undoubtedly the one communicating with the enemy."
"Pardon?"
The man who was the Chief Strategist before the previous one and is the current Chief Strategist is a spy? Does he mean he's certain that man is one of the Jonju's people?
"......Are you certain?"
"Didn't I tell you? There are verification methods within the Secret Direct Letter that only the Alliance Leader and I know, but they were missing. To begin with, that letter system was created by Strategist Zhuge after Bang Deok-hyeon retired."
He had his reasons for being certain. If Sama Jung-hyeon's words were true, this was an incredibly serious matter. It meant the Chief Strategist, who could be considered the second-in-command of the Martial Alliance, was a spy. It was truly the worst-case scenario.
"But why did this Bang Deok-hyeon inform Senior Jin about the secrets of the Alliance?"
At that, Jin-gyun snorted and said, "He didn't just inform me; he asked for my help."
"Pardon?"
"He said that since the Alliance Leader has been impeached, they will be electing a new one."
"Ah...... so he recommended you as the candidate for the Alliance Leader."
At those words, Jin-gyun shook his head slightly with a disinterested face. If he didn't recommend him as the leader, then why did he tell him? While I was wondering, Sama Jung-hyeon answered.
"He recommended Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon as the Alliance Leader."
Ha! No wonder Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun was reacting this way. Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon was one of the Eight Great Masters and was known as Jin-gyun's arch-rival. This was because, among the Eight Great Masters, he and Jin-gyun had both reached the pinnacle of the saber. Who was the number one in the saber between the two was a constant topic of conversation among martial artists.
-He's literally his arch-rival.
That was true, but a hierarchy had been established. Currently, Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon was considered the number one in the saber.
-Eh?
Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon was a peerless master ranked among the top five of the Twelve Superhumans. On the other hand, Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun was not included in that list, so who could argue? Jin-gyun spoke in a displeased voice.
"How could I help a fellow recommended by someone suspected of being a spy?"
I glanced at Jin-gyun. Now I understood the motivation he hadn't mentioned. Not only was his lifelong rival, Jeong Cheon, recommended as the leader, but he was also asked to help him—it would be stranger if he wasn't furious.
-Aha! That makes sense.
Of course, if Chief Strategist Bang Deok-hyeon was indeed a spy as he said, there was no reason to help him. In fact, he had to be stopped at all costs. Regardless, Jin-gyun had plenty of justification for wanting to become the leader himself.
"Then will you be competing for the leadership against Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon?"
To my question, Sama Jung-hyeon replied, "Bang Deok-hyeon still doesn't know that Great Hero Jin intends to apply as a candidate for the leadership."
"He doesn't know? Then..."
"Correct. He believes Great Hero Jin will support the candidate he recommended."
Not bad. He didn't hold the title of strategist for nothing. Deceiving the enemy to strike where they are vulnerable could yield effective results.
"That is a good move. Then Bang Deok-hyeon must be certain that Great Hero Jeong Cheon will become the leader."
".......That is not the case."
"If not... is there another candidate?"
"Yes. The impeached Alliance Leader, Baek Hyang-muk, also recommended a candidate."
"Ah...... could it be?"
"Just as you suspect. He recommended Taoist Master Zhongxian, the Taiji Sword Emperor of the Wudang Sect."
That was the logical progression. Excluding Baek Hyang-muk, Taoist Master Zhongxian was the one who had supported the Martial Alliance for a long time. If a new leader was being discussed, he couldn't be left out. But it was strange. If they wanted to stop the spy's plan, wouldn't it be more effective to support Taoist Master Zhongxian? Why push Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun, who, like Jeong Cheon, had no ties to the Martial Alliance? Was he planning to play an insider role?
I asked cautiously, "If Alliance Leader Baek was impeached due to Bang Deok-hyeon's plot, wouldn't it be better to support Taoist Master Zhongxian, whom he recommended?"
At that question, Sama Jung-hyeon spoke in a grave voice.
"Alliance Leader Baek can no longer be trusted either."
"......Why is that?"
"His own guard unit exposed the corruption that Alliance Leader Baek had learned the martial arts of the Blood Cult."
'!!!'
Ah....... I had forgotten. I had seen it through the Heavenly Secret from the broken swords in the incense burner. The swords Baek Hyang-muk was trying to forge were meant to withstand the Blood Heaven Great Achievement Art. I had wondered why he had learned that art, but if it had been exposed, impeachment was an inevitable consequence.
Sama Jung-hyeon let out a sigh and said, "Alliance Leader Baek might be connected to the Blood Cult, and Chief Strategist Bang Deok-hyeon might be related to unidentified enemies. How can we trust either of them?"
Now I finally understood clearly why he was supporting Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun. In an instant, the Martial Alliance had been swept into a massive whirlpool.
Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon rose from his seat and offered me a fist-and-palm salute.
“With things as they are, you are the only one who can help Great Hero Jin.”
This was a difficult position to be in. He was essentially asking me to involve myself in the Martial Alliance’s internal power struggle.
I was struggling to find a response since he had presented so many justifications, but then Sama Jung-hyeon spoke again, his voice heavy with implication.
“As it happens, the Martial Alliance is planning to establish the position of Deputy Alliance Leader to decentralize the absolute power currently held by the Alliance Leader.”
“Deputy Alliance Leader?”
Wait, surely he doesn’t mean…
“I want you, an idol to the younger generation, to become the Deputy Alliance Leader and support Great Hero Jin.”
‘!!!’
…Good grief.
Did he have any idea what he was actually suggesting?