Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: The Ruthless Heir
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Amid his radiant smile laced with flattery, Hyeok Mulin instinctively sensed the truth.
The reason he had come to the Namman Wild Beast Palace this time.
The very Little Palace Lord standing before him—the one who, in his previous life, had committed the ultimate filial impiety by murdering his father and usurping the throne.
'Even though it happened in the outer reaches, it was such a massive incident that it spread across the world.'
He was the Little Palace Lord.
The one destined to ascend to the throne after the Palace Lord.
Yet he hadn't waited for the natural transfer of power from his father.
He had killed his own father with his own hands and seated himself upon the throne.
"I am Suma Geon, the Little Palace Lord of this palace."
"I am the Heavenly Demon, Hyeok Mulin."
"It may have been a somewhat rude request, but I thank you for graciously agreeing to this private audience. I am once again in awe of the boundless magnanimity of the Cult Leader."
It was like his tongue was oiled.
He spat out his words in a swift, unhesitating voice, without a moment's pause.
"But who is this...?"
At that moment, Suma Geon glanced sideways at Man Ho standing beside him and asked.
Hyeok Mulin replied flatly.
"My Right Protector."
He gave a simple answer, without revealing his name or title.
Who could have anticipated that not only would the Cult Leader himself come as part of the delegation, but also the patriarch of one of the Seven Great Demon Clans as the Right Protector?
Man Ho was like a hidden trump card that Hyeok Mulin had deliberately kept concealed.
"Right Protector..."
Unlike the gaze he fixed on Hyeok Mulin, Suma Geon eyed Man Ho with cold, piercing eyes.
It was clear he wanted a private meeting with Hyeok Mulin, viewing Man Ho as an unwelcome thorn in his side.
Hyeok Mulin spoke to him.
"You seem uncomfortable. In that case, let's just exchange greetings and end the audience here."
"Ah, no!"
As Hyeok Mulin moved to cancel the meeting entirely, Suma Geon hurriedly offered excuses.
"The Right Protector possesses such a robust physique that it could withstand even a blow from our palace warriors. I was simply momentarily entranced and in admiration."
"Hm. You have an eye for talent."
"...?"
Man Ho nodded naturally as he spoke, drawing Suma Geon's gaze toward him.
Even in the presence of the Cult Leader and Little Palace Lord, the Right Protector asserted himself boldly, prompting a puzzled expression. But soon enough, he had to refocus on Hyeok Mulin.
"What is the reason you sought me out?"
"When the Cult Leader of the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, who commands the world, graces our palace with his presence, is it not only natural for the Little Palace Lord to pay his respects? I am simply grateful for the opportunity."
Suma Geon spoke smoothly, without a hitch.
Hyeok Mulin, his face gilded yet still impassive, asked him.
"Yet I have a question. As Little Palace Lord, you could have officially requested an audience with me. Why come sneaking in under the cover of night?"
At Hyeok Mulin's words, Suma Geon opened his mouth in a somber tone.
"Sigh... I would have preferred to do just that, but..."
He swept a hand over his face and spoke with bitter sentiment.
"The Palace Lord would never have allowed it. He dislikes even the idea of me making contact with you."
Ho.
He reveals even that much.
"What is the reason? Aren't you the next Palace Lord to lead Namman?"
"Next Palace Lord. That's how it looks from the outside. But the position of Little Palace Lord is nothing grand. It's a shallow seat that could change with a single word from the Palace Lord."
Suma Geon stared straight at Hyeok Mulin.
"Cult Leader. Allow me to speak frankly."
Then, with a serious expression, he slowly parted his lips.
"Our palace is currently in chaos due to the Palace Lord's reckless actions."
Suma Geon swiftly closed the distance in their conversation with Hyeok Mulin.
It had been only a short time since Hyeok Mulin arrived here, but the reason he brought up such a grave matter was simple.
He hadn't yet had a proper conversation with the Palace Lord, so he wanted to explain Namman's situation and win him over to his side first.
"The Palace Lord's reckless actions."
"Yes."
Suma Geon nodded with a hardened face and continued.
"The Palace Lord's ideology in ruling this vast Namman boils down to one thing."
Suma Geon raised his index finger.
"Domination."
The current Palace Lord had proven his overwhelming martial prowess and ascended to the throne.
And the moment he took that seat, he reinforced the power structure of the Namman Wild Beast Palace.
"The Palace Lord's power is maintained by ruling the warriors through force and dominating the fierce beasts through fear. Because of this, healthy discussions are impossible, and relations with the Central Plains have only worsened further."
That much was true, according to his words.
From what he had learned before coming here, even among the outer martial world, the Namman Wild Beast Palace was particularly isolationist, to the point of near-total severance from the outside.
"But I am different. Ruling subordinates through force does not yield true obedience, and isolation from the outside is no different from a slow death. Thus, I raised questions and clashed with the Palace Lord over the fundamental structure of the Namman Wild Beast Palace."
He paused, recalling the past, then nodded and continued.
"And then, a variable arose."
Suma Geon looked at Hyeok Mulin.
"Your arrival at our palace, Cult Leader."
The Namman Wild Beast Palace was now like a volcano on the verge of eruption. It was into this very situation that Hyeok Mulin had stepped.
Suma Geon bowed his head earnestly toward him and made his plea.
"Cult Leader. Please take my hand as the Little Palace Lord and help normalize the Namman Wild Beast Palace. In return, I promise that our palace will form a solid alliance with your Divine Cult and engage in active exchanges."
Suma Geon's proposal was clear.
Join hands with him and help him seize the Palace Lord's seat.
In exchange, he would bring immense benefits to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult afterward.
To reveal the internal affairs of the Namman Wild Beast Palace in such detail after only half a shichen of facing each other.
Hyeok Mulin posed a question to his proposal.
"What if I were to divulge this to others?"
Suma Geon replied with a resolute expression.
"It's fine. I've said all this fully aware of that risk. Please understand that you are someone I absolutely cannot afford to let slip away."
In truth, it didn't matter to him.
Even if Hyeok Mulin shared the contents of their conversation, the open rivalry between the Palace Lord and Little Palace Lord within the palace was already well-known, so nothing would really change.
Suma Geon, who hadn't revealed quite that level of internal detail, gazed intently at Hyeok Mulin with determined eyes.
A moment later, Hyeok Mulin slowly spoke.
"I'll consider your story."
Suma Geon brightened and smiled broadly.
"Thank you! Please take your time and let me know later!"
He hadn't rejected it outright.
For him, that alone was more than satisfactory.
"Then, as night grows late, I'll take my leave."
"Please return safely through the dark night."
Suma Geon bowed deeply at the waist and didn't straighten up until Hyeok Mulin and Man Ho had left the room and the palace.
And once their presence had completely vanished.
Exhale―
As he straightened his back, exhaling the breath he'd been holding, the look in his eyes was starkly different from moments before.
His gaze, sharp enough to slice like a blade, turned toward the spot where Hyeok Mulin had departed.
And shortly after, a raspy voice came from behind the wall.
"You've met the Heavenly Demon after all. What do you plan to do?"
"Didn't you hear? I intend to use him to eliminate the Palace Lord."
Flutter.
A bat flew in near Suma Geon, who had opened his mouth irritably.
He extended one finger, and the bat perched on it.
"Even without the Heavenly Demon joining us, our forces are sufficient."
The voice from behind the wall carried a note of displeasure.
Suma Geon responded immediately.
"There's no need to shed unnecessary blood. Moreover, we can't just leave a variable like the Heavenly Demon unchecked, can we?"
"But the Cult Leader hasn't committed to our grand plan yet. If he changes his mind..."
"Then there's no helping it."
Suma Geon gripped the bat now in his hand tightly.
And squeezed with force.
Squish!
The bat burst under the pressure.
Crimson blood splattered in all directions, staining his face.
Yet he didn't so much as blink, calmly parting his lips.
"Anyone who stands in the way of the throne will die."
Suma Geon's ruthless voice echoed through the room.
"Even if it's the Heavenly Demon."
There are no exceptions.
The next day.
Hyeok Mulin proposed a private audience with the Palace Lord.
And that request was accepted immediately.
He had anticipated waiting a few days due to prior commitments, but Suritae set aside all other schedules to meet Hyeok Mulin.
Thus, after a simple breakfast, Hyeok Mulin headed to the designated meeting hall.
The building was circular at the base but tapered to a sharp point toward the roof.
And just as he was about to enter through the entrance.
Clank.
The Namman Wild Beast Palace warriors blocked Hyeok Mulin's path.
"Only the Heavenly Demon is permitted entry. No one else may pass."
Man Ho, blocked right in front of them, stared them down.
As they exchanged cold glares, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"Wait here a moment."
Unlike yesterday's private meeting, this was an official occasion, so he couldn't insist on the Right Protector's accompaniment.
Moreover, sensing the presences inside, the Palace Lord was already there alone.
Man Ho, who had been glaring at the warriors, soon stepped back.
"I'll be waiting."
Hyeok Mulin nodded and turned forward again.
Opening the door and entering the meeting hall, Hyeok Mulin spotted the circular table and the Palace Lord.
But Suritae wasn't seated in a chair.
For some reason, he stood with his hands behind his back, facing away, waiting for Hyeok Mulin.
"You've come."
"Good to see you again."
Suritae turned to Hyeok Mulin and spoke.
"Did you sleep well in our palace?"
"The bedding wasn't bad."
"That's a relief. It's been decades since an outsider visited our palace, so I worried it might not suit you."
Suritae nodded.
Then, slowly stroking his chin, he said.
"But in the meantime, you've already met the Little Palace Lord."
It had been only a few shichen since Hyeok Mulin met Suma Geon.
Yet he saw through the clandestine contact as if it were nothing.
"So, are you joining hands with that brat too."
Suritae slowly turned his head toward Hyeok Mulin and smiled.
His face was clearly smiling, but within those beastly eyes danced a twisted madness.
"To aim for my neck?"