Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Shadow Merchant's Oath
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Thud. Thud.
Hyeok Mulin slowly approached Cho Sahyeon.
As the young man's figure drew nearer, her face drained of color, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind.
Hyeok Mulin stopped about a zhang away from her and plopped down on the opposite side.
"You don't need to be so tense. I didn't call you here to punish you."
Strictly speaking, hiding one's identity within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult could be considered a crime.
But Hyeok Mulin had no intention of making an issue of it.
"……!"
At those words, Cho Sahyeon's trembling eased for a moment, almost miraculously.
She had heard plenty of tales about infusing words with inner energy to intimidate, but to actually bring calm instead?
She couldn't even begin to gauge what level of mastery one needed for such a feat.
Whew.
Cho Sahyeon took a deep breath to steady her mind.
Right, no need to be scared.
Even a cornered tiger can survive if it keeps its wits, as the saying goes.
Besides, from their actions and words, it didn't seem like they'd brought her here for punishment.
If anything, they wanted to recruit her, so there was no need to grovel.
Once she'd sorted her thoughts and her complexion returned to normal, she spoke in a dry voice.
"How did you know I'm the mistress of Amhyang?"
She had severed every link that could connect her to Amhyang.
Even an immortal wouldn't be able to track her down, or so she'd thought.
"I am the Heavenly Demon."
Hyeok Mulin looked down at her with half-lidded eyes.
"If you wanted to fool my eyes, you should never have set foot in the New Frontier."
All information in this land lay within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's grasp—or so he bluffed, making Cho Sahyeon flinch.
But in truth, it was a lie.
Neither the Demon Scripture Pavilion under Sima Geuk's oversight, nor anyone in the Secret Intelligence Division handling information there, had even noticed her existence.
I wouldn't have noticed either if not for the knowledge from my past life.
But she had no way to verify it now, so she'd have to accept it.
Her cover had been blown, after all—she had no choice but to buy it.
"...You want to recruit me?"
"Yes. The position of chief for the new Heavenly Demon direct intelligence organization is vacant, and I've deemed you the most suitable candidate, so I've reached out."
"Why? With the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's resources, you could bring in far better talents than me."
Her question was valid.
Amhyang had some notoriety in the underworld, but as a lone information broker, its limits were clear.
In the broader scope of the Central Plains and New Frontier, it wasn't particularly renowned in the trade.
Yet the cult leader himself was bypassing other heavyweights to meet and recruit her personally? No matter how highly she valued herself, she didn't see herself as worth that treatment.
"The reason..."
When Hyeok Mulin first heard the Secret Affairs Hall's chief position was open, two main reasons had made him think of her immediately.
First was her meticulous erasure of traces.
In his past life, Hyeok Mulin had uncovered the identities of every information organization head in the world.
But Amhyang's leader alone—he could never pin down, no matter what.
Gender, age, location—everything remained a complete mystery.
I wouldn't have known either. If she hadn't died, that is.
Amhyang's secrets were only exposed decades from now, after her death.
Until then, she had perfectly shielded her trail from everyone.
Secrecy—never letting anyone tail you—is one of the most vital functions for an information network.
On that front alone, she deserved near-perfect marks.
And the second reason...
It was her unique talent.
Most brokers went through long, convoluted processes to verify information's truth.
But she had an uncanny instinct for discerning truth from falsehood based on context, slashing that time dramatically.
And her accuracy? Ninety-nine out of a hundred. Her hit rate was unnaturally high, earning unwavering client trust.
Well, that's a long explanation, but simply put...
"I smelled it on you."
"M-my smell?"
Stunned by the out-of-left-field answer, Cho Sahyeon lifted her sleeve and sniffed it tentatively.
"No, I don't smell anything..."
As she tilted her head, Hyeok Mulin smirked faintly.
"The scent of ambition wafted from you."
She looked like she'd heard a lame joke and started to retort with distaste.
"What kind of nonsense is th—"
But Hyeok Mulin cut in sharply.
"Are you content with your current lot?"
Her mouth snapped shut at the piercing question.
She bit her lower lip softly but couldn't answer yes.
"Of course not."
Her goal wasn't some minor fame in the underworld—it reached far higher.
Even in his past life, she'd died without achieving it.
"I'll help you reach that dream. Spread your wings here."
"How do you know my purpose to speak so casually...?"
"I'll put all the world's information in the palm of your hand."
Cho Sahyeon gasped sharply.
Her grand dream, her ideal.
To be the first in history to master all information from the Central Plains, New Frontier, and beyond the borderlands.
Even mighty networks like the Open Pavilion and Hao Clan had abandoned that monumental task.
Yet she still harbored it in her heart.
"How did you know?! I've never told a soul...!"
Her eyes held not just shock, but outright terror.
"Does it matter how I know? What matters is that I have the power to make it happen."
Hyeok Mulin gestured toward the door, mentioning Sima Jin who waited outside.
"The one who brought you is our Deputy Military Strategist, the once-in-a-generation genius Sima Jin. He's handled the groundwork for Secret Affairs Hall, and all preparations for operation are complete."
"Sima Jin...!"
It was a name Cho Sahyeon knew well—one she'd been watching closely lately.
A fallen dragon whose wings had been clipped was rising again at the Heavenly Demon's side.
"But that doesn't make you his subordinate. Secret Affairs Hall will operate independently as a direct Heavenly Demon intelligence arm, answering to no one but me."
Hyeok Mulin explained its autonomy, vast funding, ready personnel, and the ease of accessing info Amhyang never could, backed by the Heavenly Demon himself.
"So just come aboard. I've reserved the top spot for you."
As Hyeok Mulin finished, he gazed at her intently.
For once, Cho Sahyeon met his eyes without flinching.
"...I'm not a cult member."
"You can start believing now. No one is born a cultist."
She fell silent at his words.
After a brief stillness, she slowly parted her lips.
"Do you even know why I built Amhyang alone?"
"No."
Hyeok Mulin answered without hesitation.
He hadn't delved that deeply into her personal history in his past life.
"Good. For a moment there, I wondered if you were an immortal."
His reply oddly relieved her, and she smiled faintly.
But her face hardened again as she continued.
"I don't trust people. The only things I trust are words etched in solid information."
Hoh.
So that's her story.
She must have her own past that shattered her faith in others.
"That's why I've run the brokerage alone all this time, without a single subordinate."
In other words, she trusted neither underlings nor superiors.
"……."
Cho Sahyeon glanced sidelong at Hyeok Mulin wordlessly.
Her look said: If I join you, don't expect loyalty or faith—are you sure?
Hyeok Mulin chuckled at her faintly plaintive gaze.
Amusing.
Like a rain-soaked kitten hissing to keep its distance.
And ironically, her warning bred trust.
A true backstabber wouldn't warn at all.
Besides, with her deep-seated distrust of humanity...
"It's fine."
People change.
And Hyeok Mulin was confident he could guide that change.
Sima Jin had, and Ji Wolhon had too.
He's... accepting this?
Even after she'd laid it bare, she hadn't expected approval.
This was the head of the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Yet he accepted her blunt declaration of distrust?
It clashed utterly with her plans—her eyes shook wildly.
Then, watching her, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"If you want to go, then go."
"...?"
"I won't force you. If the offer doesn't sit right, leave and run Amhyang as before."
"Really?"
"Yes. I promise not to interfere with Amhyang even if you refuse and walk away."
As her face brightened, he added,
"But this will be my first and last offer to you."
No second chance.
Opportunity or path to ruin?
Facing the crossroads of her life, she swallowed hard.
"Will you take my hand?"
She squeezed her eyes shut at his question.
Memories of running Amhyang flashed through her mind.
It was her creation from start to finish, so she felt attached, truly.
But handling everything solo had clear limits.
Deep down, she'd already sensed it unconsciously.
Her dream was unattainable.
But this man was different.
He claimed to believe in her—and her dream.
And vowed to help make it real.
"...Whew."
After a deep exhale and long deliberation, Cho Sahyeon slowly rose.
Right there, she bowed deeply toward Hyeok Mulin.
"Cho Sahyeon, mistress of Amhyang. Though lowly, from this day, I swear to be the Cult Leader's ears."
"……!"
A thrill surged through Hyeok Mulin at her words.
He clenched his extended hand into a fist and curved his lips slightly.
"I accept."
"Thank you for your wise decision."
She straightened, a soft smile on her face.
"Then shall we get to work?"
"...Yes?"
"It'll be my first order as Secret Affairs Hall Chief."
Flustered, she waved her hands.
She'd only just pledged—nothing was set up yet. What thunderbolt was this?
"W-wait a minute! I need time to wrap up Amhyang and learn the Hall's structure...!"
"Yagul Clan."
Her words cut off abruptly at Hyeok Mulin's murmur.
It wasn't a light name.
"Compile a full report on the Yagul Clan."
The Divine Demon Blood Death Squad and Secret Affairs Hall were now active.
At last,
it was time to shatter the Seven Great Demon Clans' balance.