Chapter 83: An Unexpected Proposal (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 83: An Unexpected Proposal (3)
—Pwahahahaha! Seriously, this is like asking a cat to guard the fish!
The Lesser Conversation Sword laughed so hard it seemed his belly might burst.
I, too, found the situation bizarrely hilarious.
Considering my reputation as the Lesser Sword Immortal, it was only natural for such a proposal to come my way. But what would they do if they discovered my true identity?
—It would be absolute chaos.
Most likely.
It was a proposal they could only make because they were ignorant of the truth.
However, the fact that an agenda to create the previously non-existent position of Vice Alliance Leader had passed suggested that a significant number of Elders were dissatisfied with the current centralized power structure.
Is it rotting from the inside?
First Sword of Wuhan, Baek Hyang-muk.
He was the protagonist who led the Orthodox Faction to victory in the Great Orthodox-Evil War. Even before my regression, he had firmly held his position. To think things would turn out like this.
They prepared thoroughly.
Even with a justification, impeaching the greatest hero of the Orthodox Faction isn't something that can be done with short-term preparation. They must have spent a long time conducting preliminary operations and swaying the Elders.
Once again, I felt the greatness of Zhuge Won-myeong. Perhaps it was because of him that the Golden Eye organization couldn't move recklessly.
—Do you feel like you killed him for nothing?
Not really.
If Chief Strategist Zhuge Won-myeong were still alive, my identity might have already been exposed by now. He might have even tried to crush the Blood Cult in advance.
However, the chaos accelerated by his death isn't just advantageous for the Golden Eye organization. It means our Cult also has an opening to exploit this situation.
—Surely you aren't going to accept this offer?
It’s not a bad proposal. If I jump into this fray and get elected as Vice Alliance Leader, I can naturally penetrate the inner core of the Martial Alliance.
However, there are a few things that bother me.
—Like what?
I can't view this simply.
If the current Chief Strategist, Bang Deok-hyeon, is indeed a subordinate of the Jonju as Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon claims, then at first glance, his goal seems to be seizing control of the Martial Alliance.
—Isn't it more than just 'seeming'? If they even get the position of Alliance Leader, won't the Martial Alliance be in their hands?
That would certainly be the case if Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon were one of their people.
—What do you mean? If Bang Deok-hyeon, who's from the Golden Eye or whatever, recommended him for Alliance Leader, doesn't that make him one of theirs?
I can't be sure of that.
—Why?
Bang Deok-hyeon holds the position of Chief Strategist. For someone with high tactical and strategic intelligence, there are parts of this plan that seem a bit sloppy for someone trying to install his own man as Alliance Leader.
—Sloppy?
Well, maybe not that far, but there are gaps. For instance, if it were me, after impeaching the Alliance Leader—no, the former Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk—I would have detained him or stripped him of all authority and voice. But from what I've heard, Baek Hyang-muk was allowed to recommend Taoist Master Zhongxian, the Taiji Sword Emperor, as his successor. Knowing there's a candidate who is the closest to becoming the next Alliance Leader, he just let that happen?
—Now that you mention it, that is strange.
Since Baek Hyang-muk secretly learned the Blood Cult's martial arts, they could have blocked his candidate's speech simply by raising strong suspicions related to the Blood Cult and using the friendship between the Taiji Sword Emperor and the former Alliance Leader as leverage. And that's not all.
—There's more?
The relationship between Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon and Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun. These two are rivals known to everyone in the martial world. Looking at Jin-gyun's reaction, their emotional relationship might not be great either. And yet, they asked him to support Jeong Cheon?
—Oh. Right. They would have expected him to refuse.
He is the former-former Chief Strategist and the current Chief Strategist of the Martial Alliance. One cannot ignore the emotional aspect of human affairs. The fact that he made the proposal without considering that at all makes me think it was extremely intentional.
—Ah! Then he might have been baiting him.
Exactly. Just as you said, it seems the stage was set from the beginning so that Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun would step forward. He provoked him by nominating Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon as the Alliance Leader. Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon thinks he's deceiving them and striking a blow by having Jin-gyun become another candidate, but they likely predicted and induced this. In the end, they designed a three-way battle from the start.
—If your prediction is right, then Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon might be getting used too.
The probability of that cannot be ignored. If Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun runs for Alliance Leader, Jeong Cheon will also move actively to secure his own support base. A two-way battle would already split the Alliance's power in half, but a three-way battle will cause even more chaos.
—Then, rather than the goal being to take over the Martial Alliance...
Since four of the Eight Great Masters are involved, internal strife is inevitable one way or another. Their goal isn't conquest, but weakening the power of the Martial Alliance.
What on earth is their objective?
It's hard to gauge the Jonju's true purpose. Is it not conquest, but simply wanting the martial world to fall into chaos?
Just then, Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon spoke to me.
"Young Hero So, please lend your strength to Great Hero Jin."
I stared at him blankly.
Does he really not know?
If he has the brains to hold the position of a strategist, he should have questioned Bang Deok-hyeon's proposal. Yet, the fact that he's falling for the ploy means one of two things: he's in such a desperate state without allies that he has to pull in Jin-gyun despite the risks, or he's hiding information from me.
—Do you think it's the latter?
Whether it's the former or the latter, his goal is clear: making Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun the Alliance Leader.
Then, Jin-gyun spoke to me.
"You've heard the whole situation, so please make a decision now. If you help, we can prevent the Martial Alliance from being shaken by the Blood Cult or some mysterious organization."
He must have been frustrated by my silence, as I looked like I was deep in thought. Well, I had organized things in my head to some extent. Before that, should I ask one thing?
"Senior, your reputation is already so high, but I am not even a member of the Martial Alliance. Would I really be easily elected as Vice Alliance Leader?"
They urged me to become the Vice Alliance Leader, but they didn't have the authority to decide that. It would proceed according to the procedures set by the Martial Alliance. Unlike the Blood Cult, martial prowess isn't the only criterion in the Martial Alliance. Unless a person's martial prowess, reputation, experience, seniority, and leadership abilities are all established, it wouldn't even be easy to register as a candidate.
"Furthermore, I am only in my early twenties."
The most disadvantageous factor was seniority. In the Martial Alliance, those in their twenties or thirties usually only reach the rank of Hall Master at most. One must be over forty to qualify as a Great Alliance Leader—who leads more than five halls—or an Elder. No matter how capable one is, the Martial Alliance values experience and seniority in its positions.
"I'm not sure if I have such qualifications."
At this, Sama Jung-hyeon smiled and said, "That would be true if this were a peaceful era like a few years ago. But with the Blood Cult rising again and the Alliance in chaos, do you think they'll care about seniority?"
"Then?"
"If the Alliance Leader's role is to lead the Alliance, the Vice Alliance Leader will be more like a symbolic figure. And who could be more suitable for that than you?"
He spoke fluently, to the point where it was obvious he was trying his best to reel me in.
"You will undoubtedly be able to become the Vice Alliance Leader. So, for the sake of the Alliance's peace, please help Great Hero Jin."
Second Strategist Sama Jung-hyeon performed a fist-and-palm salute once more. Since he went this far, I had to state my intention.
"Sigh... I suppose there's no helping it."
"Have you decided!"
Sama Jung-hyeon's face brightened. Perhaps feeling better, Jin-gyun also spoke to me in a much more cheerful voice.
"Hearing that you'll help is like gaining ten thousand troops. I look forward to working with..."
"Ah... it's not like that."
"What?"
At this, I politely performed a fist-and-palm salute to the two of them and said, "I will review it as positively as possible."
"!?"
At those words, the faces of Jin-gyun and Sama Jung-hyeon stiffened instantly.
*
Two shijin later.
My companions and I had moved about 10 li northeast from the port village of Honghu County.
"You really said that?"
When I told her about the conversation I had with Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun, Sama Yeong burst into a fit of laughter. Even without seeing it, she must have pictured their reactions. It was exactly as she imagined.
However, it didn't last long. Although they looked bewildered or disappointed the moment they heard the answer, they soon asked me to make a decision by the time we met again. It was likely because they knew they had more to lose by pushing me after such an ambiguous answer.
—You really played hard to get.
Because they're the ones in a hurry.
If I had rashly agreed to help right away, I would have been tied down, which would interfere with my future schedule. The first thing to do right now is to head to the Tomb of King Ping. Since the election of the Alliance Leader and the matter of the Vice Alliance Leader will proceed once each candidate arrives at the Martial Alliance anyway, there was no need to rush.
Song Jwa-baek muttered as if he found it absurd.
"Of all things, now it's a proposal for Vice Alliance Leader..."
He seemed somewhat envious that I received such an offer. He had an expression that said, I guess things just work out for some people.
"Hmph."
On the other hand, Ghost-Slaying Fist Demon Jang Mun-ryang clicked his tongue at the situation, knowing my true identity. If things went well, the Cult Leader of the Blood Cult might end up becoming the Vice Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance. Even I found the situation ridiculous.
Sama Yeong said with a playful smile, "In any case, it means we have to go back into the Martial Alliance?"
"I suppose so."
"You'll get to see your younger sister again too."
"Probably."
She might be horrified if she finds out I'm running for Vice Alliance Leader.
"I'll definitely be recognized this time."
Sama Yeong was more interested in other things. It seemed her goal was to be recognized as a sister-in-law by Yeong-yeong. Back then, she hadn't dropped her male disguise, so I was curious about Yeong-yeong's reaction when she saw Sama Yeong's real face. Now, she was traveling openly as a woman.
"She's a thoughtful child, so once you get close... Hmm?"
I looked toward a certain direction. It was to the southwest.
"What's wrong?"
"Someone is coming this way."
They were approaching rapidly, clearly heading straight for us. Soon, the sound of horse hooves was heard, and the figure of a man in a bamboo hat riding a horse appeared in the distance.
"Is it an enemy?"
He was alone for that to be the case. However, he was a master whose martial prowess had reached the peak of the Supreme Peak Realm. For what purpose was he coming?
The man in the bamboo hat arrived nearby, dismounted, and approached us. He had a saber at his waist, but seeing as he didn't draw it, he didn't seem to have any hostile intent.
Approaching us, the man performed a fist-and-palm salute and asked, "Are you perhaps the Great Hero Lesser Sword Immortal and his party?"
I returned the salute and replied, "That is correct."
At my words, he let out a sigh of relief. Then, he took off his bamboo hat. He was a middle-aged man with a strong impression and a scar near his eye.
"I am Ga Mun-rak, the Vice Leader of the Escort Unit serving Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk."
The Alliance Leader's Escort Unit?
No wonder he possessed considerable martial prowess. Sama Yeong and the rest of the party looked at him with questioning eyes. It was understandable, as a man serving Baek Hyang-muk—who they knew had been impeached—had come looking for us.
Then, Vice Leader Ga Mun-rak suddenly knelt on one knee on the ground. He spoke to me in an earnest voice.
"I apologize for speaking like this as soon as I meet you, Great Hero Lesser Sword Immortal, but I do not know what kind of proposal you received from Great Hero Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun. However, I beg of you to please help the Alliance Leader."
...Ah.
I wondered why he had come in such a hurry. Their information network was truly admirable. Or perhaps they had been constantly monitoring Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun's movements. How should I respond to this?
"I'm not sure what you're talking about..."
"I know you had a private conversation with Great Hero Jin-gyun."
"......"
Apparently, while it wasn't an urgent matter for me, it was for those within the Martial Alliance. To think they followed me and said this only two shijin after I received that offer from Jin-gyun.
Vice Leader Ga Mun-rak continued.
"I don't know what you heard from Great Hero Jin, but the Alliance Leader has been falsely accused."
To call it a false accusation when there's clear evidence... I also know that former Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk practiced the Blood Heaven Great Achievement Art.
"This is quite awkward."
"It seems you have indeed heard something."
"It's not so much that, but I don't know why everyone is coming to find me like this. Who am I to..."
"How can you say that? The divine authority you displayed at the Yangtze River has already spread to the Martial Alliance."
That was fast. So everyone in the Martial Alliance already knows. In any case, that man seems convinced that I will get involved in the Martial Alliance's internal conflict.
Then, Ga Mun-rak sent me a message via Sound Transmission, not out loud.
[I believe you have likely heard, but a new Alliance Leader will be elected soon. If the Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect does not become the Alliance Leader, we cannot clear the Alliance Leader's name.]
[Phew... what is it you want me to do?]
Judging by his tone, he'll likely ask for my support, just like Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun. Fine. Let's at least hear what the Alliance Leader's side has to say.
Ga Mun-rak caught his breath and sent another Sound Transmission.
[I would like you to step forward and support Taoist Master Zhongxian.]
It was exactly as expected. When I didn't say anything, Ga Mun-rak hurriedly sent another message.
[I will be honest with you. I don't know what kind of proposal you heard from Great Hero Jin-gyun—no, from Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon's side—but our side can promise you a position that will satisfy you.]
[A position?]
[If Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon becomes the Alliance Leader, Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun will likely try to take the newly established Vice Alliance Leader position.]
[And?]
[But where would those outsiders have a foundation? The leadership supporting Taoist Master Zhongxian, including Alliance Leader Baek Hyang-muk, intends to nominate the Lesser Sword Immortal as the Vice Alliance Leader.]
...Did they all plan this together?
Every single one of them is shoving the Vice Alliance Leader position in my face.