Chapter 79
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Stop! [Halt!] (4)
Four Thousand Four, murderer.
Hanbi, Jaja, and Fox were at a loss for words.
They understood why Vanguard was furious.
They didn't know the exact details, but they could guess the gist of it. They had a vague idea of what had been going on lately and what Four Thousand Four had been up to.
That guy... was he really a murderer?
A sense of betrayal surged up suddenly.
How could he do such a thing? They already had headaches carrying out their missions, and in the midst of that, he'd found time to indulge in killing... It didn't make any sense.
They had momentarily forgotten that Four Thousand Four was the Murder Ghost of the Nineteen Hells' Death Row.
Four Thousand Four was exceptional. His martial arts weren't particularly unique, but his infiltration and approach techniques, quick judgment, reckless boldness, and killer's instinct for timing strikes were unmatched.
Four Thousand Four had quickly distinguished himself after joining not long ago.
That was why... they'd accepted him as a comrade.
Someone they could rely on, lean on, and confide their innermost thoughts to.
Even Vanguard had acknowledged that and made him deputy commander.
Following Vanguard's orders was fine, but Four Thousand Four's own plans for attacks were far better. He'd proven it in the fight against the Merchant Bandits.
And yet, such a man had been going around murdering people.
Slipping away unnoticed while everyone else was oblivious, satisfying his murderous urges, and returning.
This mad bastard!
"There's no way. There must be some story behind it!"
Fox believed in Four Thousand Four. But along with that belief came the rising thought that it would soon shatter into pieces.
Four Thousand Four was a murder ghost from the Nineteen Hells. It was more than enough for him to do that.
Hanbi and Jaja exchanged weak words.
"We've pulled so many out of the Nineteen Hells... but he's the first one who couldn't shake off his old habits."
"Did he even have a chance to show his habits? Everyone else died before that."
"Does a guy like that even know the meaning of fear?"
"Do we know it?"
"What, have you grown fond of Four Thousand Four or something? Why are you talking like you're on his side?"
"It's not about his side... Look at Four Thousand Four. Does that look like a murderer to you? He's so calm. Cold. Not a hint of regret. Is that really what a murderer looks like?"
"What we do know for sure is that he killed. Common folk who don't know martial arts... over twenty of them at that."
They had no words even if they had ten mouths, and no lives even if they had ten to spare.
All they could do was watch.
"If you die like this, the squad clause breaks. It's a death without giving your all. You okay with that?"
"Murder supersedes the squad clause. I'm fine."
Four Thousand Four was too calm.
Martial artists often said they weren't attached to life, and right now, Four Thousand Four was the perfect example. He was fine dying right then and there. No, he seemed to want to die right now.
It felt off to just kill him like this. But the squad leader's orders were absolute. To save the Seventeen Killers Squad, they had to kill Four Thousand Four. Otherwise, the entire squad would be executed.
"Go in peace."
"Thank you."
Shweeeek!
Vanguard swung his sword down. In that instant,
Shing! Claaang!
A dagger flew from somewhere. It struck dead center on the flat of the descending blade.
Shweeeek! Spurt!
The sword missed Four Thousand Four and veered off.
"Who are you!"
Vanguard whipped around to the left, shouting.
Of course, he was on full alert. It was just a throwing dagger that had hit his blade, but the impact made his sword hand go numb. A master had thrown it.
A stranger stood where Vanguard looked.
He'd thought it might be Merchant Bandit, but it was someone he'd never seen.
"Who are you!"
Vanguard shouted again.
"Not sure if you've heard of me. I am Zhuge Myeong."
"What brings you here?"
Vanguard spoke without lowering his guard.
"I came to warn you since you broke the promise."
Zhuge Myeong had only revealed himself and made no further moves. It made clear he had no intention of attacking Vanguard.
"Promise? Warning?"
"Our pursuit is under surveillance. You must have known."
"I did."
"The list of pursuers includes every assassin under your command. I believe you haven't forgotten that."
"Does that mean I can't deal with my own subordinates as I please?"
"Exactly."
"What if I do deal with them?"
"It would break the promise. Then we... would attack you."
"Hahaha! Attack if you want."
"Tsk!"
Zhuge Myeong clicked his tongue and shook his head. Then continued.
"Who said anything about attacking directly?"
"...?"
"We have information on a few kill squads. They're watching you just like you are... Ah! Of course, the Heavenly Annihilation Division doesn't know this. You're the only one whose kill squad has a tail."
"What are you getting at?"
"We'll attack those squads. Thanks to the info you gave us."
"What!"
"We won't attack you. The Heavenly Annihilation Division will clean you up instead. Then... heh heh heh! What happens to the squad clause hanging over you? The one you'd stake your lives to protect."
"Heh heh heh! Ridiculous. There's no way the other squads would be exposed. Only direct subordinates know about them."
"Ah! Don't test it."
Zhuge Myeong laughed.
"Once this starts... there's no stopping midway. So if you don't plan to abandon the squad clause, don't test it lightly. We know about the other squads. You can believe that."
"......"
"Don't kill Four Thousand Four. Just take him in. It's up to you how you answer the Heavenly Annihilation Division. If you can't come up with an excuse and get questioned, that's on you for being incompetent. But if you kill him, we'll hit the other squads, and you'll die anyway. Again, your incompetence, not our fault."
"Why bother taking him alive?"
"Hahaha!"
Zhuge Myeong burst into wild laughter.
"You don't know? He's a real murderer. Thinking only the Heavenly Annihilation Division knows about his deeds is a mistake. We know too. When, where, who. Times, places, victims' names and statuses. We have it all in detail. To you, he's the worst kind of liability. To us, the best kind of asset. You think we'd throw that away?"
"What!"
"Use that good head of yours. I'm curious what you'll choose."
Zhuge Myeong turned and walked away.
Vanguard couldn't move. He stood dazed, sword hanging limp.
He couldn't kill Four Thousand Four. But he had to.
Two irreconcilable facts lay before him, forcing a choice. But either way, the result was the same. The squad clause would collapse for sure.
This wasn't just about Four Thousand Four anymore. It had become a problem for the entire Seventeen Killers Squad. Even Wild Boar, who said he'd return after training, couldn't escape this mess.
He sheathed his sword, and they all gathered.
They had to choose one of two paths... Which was the better one?
No clever solution came to mind.
Hanbi spoke irritably.
"You bastard! Why do you go around killing people? Can't stand it if you see one?"
"......"
"When did you kill all those people? If you're gonna dump this heavy burden on us, at least answer that much."
"......"
Four Thousand Four remained silent.
He admitted the murders plainly but said nothing about the reasons or methods.
Missions were different. He detailed murders during missions. That's how they learned how he'd assassinated the Merchant Bandits.
Four Thousand Four used poison.
He'd come from the Nineteen Hells with no time to prepare poison... yet he'd used a lethal toxin on the Merchant Bandits, one hard to obtain even with effort.
Where had Four Thousand Four gotten that poison?
Silence on that too.
He only spoke what was necessary and absolutely clammed up on what he didn't want to say.
Why kill commoners? How? How did he pick targets? Random? Men or women?
Everything about his murders was off-limits.
On that, only yes or no: killed or didn't.
"Will you... keep murdering from now on?"
Vanguard asked.
All fell silent. They all looked at Four Thousand Four, expecting "No" from his mouth.
"I think so."
Four Thousand Four gave an astonishing answer.
"Keep murdering? What kind of lunatic are you!"
Hanbi grabbed Four Thousand Four by the collar.
Four Thousand Four didn't resist. He let him grab it and spoke calmly.
"There's a way."
Four Thousand Four looked straight at Hanbi. He was speaking to Hanbi, but to all of them.
"What?"
"Send me back to the Nineteen Hells."
"What!"
"I'll go to the Nineteen Hells on my own. Of course, I'll keep killing until then. It's fate."
"What! You bastard!"
"So if you don't like my killing, chase me. Follow so close I can't think of anything else. I'll do my utmost to escape capture."
"What the hell are you saying, you bastard!"
"I flee, you pursue. As long as this chase continues, it doesn't violate the Heavenly Annihilation Division's orders. It also fits the Zhuge clan's claimed promise."
"Ugh!"
Hanbi groaned.
He understood Four Thousand Four's words. Four Thousand Four would really flee. Vanguard's group had to pursue in earnest. So relentlessly he couldn't afford to look away. Looking away meant murdering commoners.
Four Thousand Four said.
"This chase has to end eventually. We can't pursue forever."
"True."
"That's why I'll return to the Nineteen Hells. Once there... there are people who can kill me. Leave it to them, and we escape the Zhuge promise."
Borrowed knife murder. Entrust his life to the Thunder Prison guards and Warden there.
They could kill Four Thousand Four.
If Four Thousand Four tried to evade, the outcome was uncertain. But since he wanted death, it was decided. He'd die absolutely.
Four Thousand Four really intended to die.
Not because his murders were exposed. He wanted to die himself. Beneath his calm actions and composed demeanor lay profound despair, enough to abandon himself.
"I'm fleeing now. To fool the Heavenly Annihilation Division, I need to take some hard hits. It'll hurt a bit."
"What's the reason you insist on killing even now!"
"I said it's fate."
"So what the hell is this fate... Gah!"
Hanbi couldn't finish.
Four Thousand Four struck. A strike so fast Hanbi couldn't sense it hit his abdomen.
Shweeeek!
Four Thousand Four immediately shot away.
"That bastard! He's fleeing!"
Fox yelled instantly. He shouted with all his might, loud enough for the whole world.
"Not on my watch!"
Shweeeek!
Jaja followed immediately.
"Repentless scum!"
Vanguard roared and launched himself too.
Vanguard and Jaja soon vanished. Four Thousand Four was gone. The three disappeared in an instant.
"You okay?"
Fox asked Hanbi, who clutched his abdomen.
"That bastard... I gotta pay this debt back. It really hurts."
Hanbi said, frowning deeply.