Chapter 359
Chapter 359
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 359
Chapter Title: The Spies Within the Alliance
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Early in the morning, the grand assembly hall.
Was it because it was the day after the armistice declaration?
Unlike before, this assembly saw even the left and right protectors in attendance, drawing the largest crowd yet.
The Sword Pavilion, which hadn't shown so much as a glimpse during the war with the Evil-Black Alliance.
The Iron Blood Squad Leader, who had never once attended such meetings.
One of the three great sealed lords, nearly in seclusion—heavenly Fire Lord.
Excluding these three who never participated in external affairs, everyone else was present.
And since those gathered had expected the three wouldn't show anyway, they paid no heed to the empty seats and chatted in small groups.
"Finally, an armistice."
"So many sacrifices."
"We overcame a great hurdle."
The topics of conversation were, of course, entirely about the armistice.
Yet even as they discussed the same subject, their expressions varied greatly.
Most wore bright faces thanks to the armistice, but sects like the Emei Sect or the Divine Dragon Squad Leader, which had suffered devastating losses, had wrinkles etched deep on their noses that showed no sign of smoothing.
And within the hall sat one man who belonged to neither camp, harboring entirely different thoughts and emotions.
The Beggars' Sect Leader, Yong Ju-gae.
'An armistice is good, but something feels off.'
Yong Ju-gae was glad for the truce with the Evil-Black Alliance, yet his suspicions had only deepened.
He had pondered it deeply ever since the proposal arrived, but it still didn't sit right.
When war was declared, the Alliance Leader and Strategist had been dead set on total victory.
Yet for all that, it had ended a bit too easily.
'They accepted it too smoothly.'
No matter that the Evil-Black Alliance had bowed first, it contradicted their fervor at the declaration of war.
As Yong Ju-gae's brows furrowed slightly amid his deepening thoughts—
"Everyone's gathered."
A low voice spread through the hall, and all mouths snapped shut.
Gazes converged on one spot simultaneously.
The speaker.
Murim Alliance Leader Ju Cheon-geuk.
"I've called today's assembly to convey a most important matter."
His words brooked no hesitation.
No flowery rhetoric. No pleasantries about the journey here.
Straight to the point.
Everyone held their breath at his direct manner.
Most had come expecting a celebration of the armistice, but the Leader's expression and tone made clear this was no light occasion.
As silence descended—
Swish—
Suddenly, the Alliance Leader rummaged in his sleeve and drew forth a brilliantly gleaming golden plaque.
Gasps echoed from various corners in that instant.
For the plaque Ju Cheon-geuk produced was the Heavenly Treasure Plaque—a sacred relic symbolizing the Murim Alliance Leader's authority and power since time immemorial.
'Why bring out the Heavenly Treasure Plaque?'
'The Leader unveiling the Heavenly Treasure Plaque...'
Silent shock swelled, and tension like damp cotton settled heavily over the assembly hall.
Since Ju Cheon-geuk had ascended to Alliance Leader, the plaque had appeared only twice.
When he took the position.
When he delegated authority to Strategist Zhuge Gong to declare war on the Evil-Black Alliance.
Each a pivotal moment.
And now, right after the armistice, for the Leader to produce it again—those assembled could only panic.
The Alliance Leader set the Heavenly Treasure Plaque down.
With a soft 'tak', it rested neatly before him.
The elegant character for "Alliance (盟)" at its center caught the light and gleamed.
As the radiant gold flickered quietly in the hush, the Leader's tightly pressed lips parted slowly.
"Along with the armistice, we will undertake a sweeping reform of the Murim Alliance's structure, authority, and more."
"...!"
A few bolted upright at his level words.
Faces twisted in bewilderment and shock.
Without a moment to process, they objected at once.
"Sweeping reform? What do you mean!"
"Sudden changes? That's absurd!"
The Alliance Leader heard their loud protests with an impassive face.
For a brief moment.
"The discussion isn't over."
His heavy voice pierced like thorns.
Those on their feet flinched, then sank back into their seats with uneasy expressions.
Gazing at the now-quiet hall, the Leader turned his head aside.
"Strategist."
Zhuge Gong, seated beside him and listening silently, rose at the call.
He stepped to the Leader's side and spoke.
"It is true that the Evil-Black Alliance yielded first for the armistice, but the reality is our Alliance suffered catastrophic losses in this war."
His voice rang out calmly.
Like cold water dousing the rising clamor from the Leader's words—a measured tone.
"The Divine Dragon Squad can no longer fulfill its prior duties. As for the Cooperation Guard Squad and Faction Destruction Squad members..."
Zhuge Gong detailed the Alliance's damages without falter or pause.
And as his account dragged on—
"... ."
Brows furrowed deeply across the hall, fists clenched tight.
'The damage is this severe.'
'Was it that bad?'
The toll exceeded expectations.
Money, at least, was no issue.
The Evil-Black Alliance's truce request included reparations, more than offsetting costs in negotiations. And now, the Heavenly Merchant Consortium would partner with the Murim Alliance.
The problem was manpower.
Deaths and injuries from the Evil-Black Alliance war alone neared thirty percent of the total Alliance personnel.
They required a minimum year—perhaps more—of recuperation. A commensurate loss in strength during that time.
"...and so, we have concluded that reform is essential."
Zhuge Gong wrapped up.
The hall fell deathly still.
The gravity held everyone back from speaking first.
"Amitabha. I grasp the damages are not insignificant, but must we truly reform?"
Shaolin's Venerable Wonjong shattered the quiet.
"Filling shortages with fresh recruits should suffice."
"The Venerable is right."
"Tally the deficits in squads and battalions, then recruit anew."
Voices of agreement followed.
Mostly from sects holding key posts in the current Three Squads Four Battalions.
Then the Alliance Leader spoke.
"It seems you didn't hear me properly. Did I not say this was to convey an important matter?"
A few eyes widened at once.
They grasped his intent.
The Leader's lips curved in a soft smile before he continued.
"This isn't up for decision. It's already decided."
"Absurd!"
"What do you—!"
Backlash erupted immediately.
Qingcheng Sect's Do Yang-heun glared daggers at the Leader, unleashing a torrent of words.
"Is it right for the Alliance Leader to decide such a vital matter alone?"
"Senior Do is correct. Just a notification on something this crucial, without discussion!"
As voices swelled in the hall—
Tak.
The Leader snapped his fingers.
A brief frictional snap, and the Heavenly Treasure Plaque on the table floated lightly to the center before settling with a 'tuk'.
Then came words like a thunderclap.
"If you reject this even under the Heavenly Treasure Plaque, then I lack the qualifications. In that case, I'll resign the Alliance Leader post and depart."
"Hup...!"
The objectors froze solid.
Who could have imagined he'd stake his position on such an agenda?
At once, they realized they'd tumbled into the Leader's trap.
'If the Leader resigns...'
Cold sweat beaded on brows.
His prestige soared boundlessly now.
The victory-like armistice against the Evil-Black Alliance had spread far and wide, elevating him to near-divine status.
'We couldn't dodge the world's judgment.'
The hall chilled like a blizzard's bite.
"Is there a reason for that?"
A calm query cut through.
The Leader met Yong Ju-gae's gaze evenly.
"Because this is the path for the Murim Alliance."
"What?"
As Yong Ju-gae incredulously pressed—
Swish—
The Leader shifted his gaze aside.
"Strategist. Show it to them."
Zhuge Gong drew a paper from his bosom and spread it on the table at once.
"Hm?"
Those peering at it cocked their heads.
Ten names were listed neatly there—each from disparate sects and affiliations.
"Why is my sect's disciple here?"
"Some names I've never even seen."
Murmurs rose as no common thread emerged.
"...This."
Yong Ju-gae's eyes bulged.
A few names matched those he'd long tracked.
"No way you mean..."
As Yong Ju-gae stared in dismay at the Leader, his mouth opened.
"These are the names of spies who infiltrated our Alliance."
"...!"
"What!"
The hall seemed to reel.
"Th-That's impossible!"
Heavenly Center Sword Sect elder Iron Guard Sword blurted desperately. His voice quavered.
The paper bore his sect's prized expert, Piercing Hole Sword.
"This is a frame-up!"
"Iron Guard Sword, senior."
Zhuge Gong replied calmly to the frantic cry.
"Do you recall the last time you met Piercing Hole Sword?"
"Before the war..."
Recalling the encounter, Heavenly Center Sword shuddered suddenly.
Deep thought revealed: he'd left for a mission, then all contact ceased.
Since last autumn.
Lips bitten amid surging dread, he said—
"W-Wait. I'll contact the sect to locate him..."
"Pointless."
The Leader said coldly.
"He's vanished long ago—no one will find him. Isn't that right, Beggars' Sect Leader?"
Yong Ju-gae scowled at the pointed question, then nodded gravely.
"He's already fled."
Iron Guard Sword's jaw dropped at the confirmation.
Piercing Hole Sword was a spy.
"Raised in our sect since childhood... a spy?"
He muttered blankly, soul-shaken.
Some pitied his anguish; others' faces turned to stone.
Jeomchang Sect's Song Baek, Shaolin's Venerable Wonjong—those whose direct or lay disciples were named.
As all gaped numbly at the paper—
"Where are these spies from?"
Benevolent Hero Lord ground his teeth, demanding answers.
He who'd long upheld the Alliance as one of the three great sealed lords.
Spies in the Alliance?
"Evil-Black Alliance? Or the Inferior Heaven Society?"
He named two of the Nine Provinces Three Great Evil Powers, but the Leader shook his head.
"They belong to a group called 'the Society.'"
The Leader hastened to add—
"Unconnected to the Inferior Heaven Society."
"Society?"
As Benevolent Hero Lord knit his brows—
'Revealing this now?'
Yong Ju-gae eyed the Leader gravely.
The Society was a shadow force still unknown to the world.
He was baffled by the sudden disclosure.
And then came words more bewildering still.
"They aim to topple the Nine Provinces Three Great Evil Powers."
"Topple the Nine Provinces Three Great Evil Powers?"
"What nonsense is..."
The assembly recoiled in disbelief.
The Nine Provinces Three Great Evil Powers had endured for ages, their might immense.
To dismantle them? Laughable.
The Leader regarded them evenly.
"Can't dismiss it as mere absurdity."
Gaze shifting to the paper, he added—
"Look. They've already burrowed deep into our Alliance."
All fell silent.
He spoke true.
If these names were spies, they'd pierced the Alliance's core.
"Hence the reform. To uproot them requires an entirely new power structure, does it not?"
No objections this time.
The word "spies" had landed like a bomb, upending their minds.
The Leader eyed the subdued group and spoke lowly.
"I'll assume all understand."
Quiet persisted.
Confirming the shift, the Leader turned leisurely to the Strategist.
"Explain the details."