Denouncing the Traitors
"Ugh... Why don't you two discuss the details privately when you both have time?"
Honestly, the Cheonma had been pissing me off to no end with his buddy-buddy bullshit, jumping in every time something came up just to fuck with me like we were ball-sweat friends. But he was still better than that ass-kissing prick sucking up hard, so I shot the Cheonma—who was smirking at me like always—a pleading look that wasn't quite begging. He met my eyes, chuckled, and nodded.
"If the Vice Military Officer insists, then we'll do it that way. It's not just chit-chat, though—you've got plenty to ask me about besides that..."
Even amid this heavy talk, Dong Chobak seemed thrilled at the prospect of some alone time with the Cheonma, subtly curling one corner of his mouth to flash his teeth.
"Mm...! Indeed we should."
I watched as Dong Chobak bobbed his head vigorously and the mood between him and the Cheonma settled. Seizing the moment, I followed up my accusation against the Namgung family.
"First, as I mentioned, the Namgung family possesses those Thunder Bombs. Second, I'd like to report that the Mudang Sect is rebelling against the imperial court."
"Mudang Sect... You mean the Taoist group on Mudang Mountain?"
"Yes."
"That's a random bunch out of nowhere... Do they have Thunder Bombs too?"
Having just cited Thunder Bombs as evidence of the Namgung treason, Dong Chobak's tone was heating up again, wondering if this Taoist martial group had them too. He looked like the world's shit was boiling his blood, pure frustration etched on his face. Seeing him banter so casually with the Cheonma earlier made me wish he'd just choke on his rage and die, but spotting the teacup trembling in his hand, cracks spiderwebbing across it, I swallowed my schadenfreude and continued.
"No. Even if the Namgung family has Thunder Bombs, gunpowder is explicitly managed by the imperial court, isn't it?"
"True, that's right."
"The issue with the Mudang Sect isn't gunpowder like Thunder Bombs—it's that they're defying an imperial edict..."
BAM!!!
In the blink of an eye, Dong Chobak slammed the table. Mindful of the Cheonma's watchful eye, he didn't use his inner power, so chunks of stone just crumbled off the massive stone desk. But unlike the gunpowder mention, his explosive reaction had everyone at the table raising eyebrows, glaring at him in outrage.
'Defying an imperial edict is as good as it gets for outright rebellion against the monarchy.'
The gunpowder thing was definitely anti-court, but unless it involved special weapons like Thunder Bombs, it could be spun as a minor offense if they had even a loose tie to the court. But defying an imperial edict? What then?
'What else? Heh heh. Pure, 100% treason.'
Power takes effect the moment orders are given and subordinates obey without question. And ignoring an emperor's command, no less? Dong Chobak's fury was perfectly justified from a powerholder's view—enough to make his head explode.
"Hoo...! Hoo..."
The gazes fixed on Dong Chobak as he vented waited for him to calm. With no solid proof yet, he realized he'd overreacted, took deep breaths, and swept a hand over his face to compose himself.
"Hoo... My apologies. I've never heard of anyone defying an imperial... edict in my lifetime. Quite the spectacle I made."
"Perfectly understandable—no need to worry. If such a person were in my cult, I'd rip them limb from limb myself."
As leader of the Cheonma Singyo, built on the law of the jungle, the Cheonma waved off Dong Chobak's rudeness dismissively. Grateful, Dong Chobak bowed his head.
"Now that you're calm, shall we continue?"
"Mm! Yes, I'll hear you out fully this time. Tell me in detail how those bastards defied the edict."
Dong Chobak straightened up, resuming his listener's posture. Inside, he was probably dying to grab me by the collar and shake the shit out of me, but as a pinnacle figure in politics and martial might from the imperial court, his seasoned demeanor shone through. Nodding, I opened my mouth.
"Yes... Since you're curious, I'll get right to it. The Mudang Sect hoards all sorts of seditious books and devours them voraciously—that's what I want to report to you, General."
"Se... ditious books...?"
"Yes. Even as Taoists, they're a martial group, so martial arts texts make up the bulk, but a search would yield meaningful evidence."
"...Like what?"
"Hm... For example, imperial... martial arts. Or techniques banned by the court?"
I playfully mimed shooting arrows as I spoke. Seeing my pose, Dong Chobak frowned in disbelief, tilting his head.
"Are you talking about archery techniques right now?"
"Yes. From what I saw, they have at least a dozen archery manuals."
Dong Chobak squeezed his eyes shut, arms crossed in thought for a moment, then turned to the Cheonma with a grim expression.
"Cheonma, surely your people don't have such texts either?"
"Huhu. Don't you know the doctrine of my Divine Cult?"
"The... law of the strong."
"Exactly. The law of the strong permeates our cult. Do you really think we'd need strategic arts like archery?"
At the Cheonma's relaxed reply—mirroring my own ease—Dong Chobak nodded in relief.
"Good. Even if it's to punish evildoers, if your cult had evidence of defying the edict too, it'd be unmanageable..."
He glanced between me and the Cheonma, sighed, and rose from his seat. Guessing from his personality that he'd storm back to the palace and flip shit immediately, I quickly spoke up.
"The Namgung family—as I said, their patriarch knows, so check with him. For Mudang, activate the secret facility deep in their library pavilion, and a path will appear."
"...You know the details so precisely. Looks like the truth about right and wrong has already come out."
"You'll see it with your own eyes first."
"Mm..."
The tension from the righteous sects trying to frame the Divine Cult had eased, but now Dong Chobak's gaze burned into me.
'Sh, shit. Why's he staring like that? Is this fucker a Gwang-ma type too...?'
From pretty ladies to thick MILFs to seasoned middle-aged women, I'd flash a killer smile and lethal charm if they eyed me like that. But every high-up giving me those shady looks turned out to be a massive cockblock. The second I opened my mouth around big shots, their eyes got weird—I was the innocent one here.
"Cheonma, your son-in-law's given me urgent business. May I take my leave?"
"Hm... A shame."
"Don't be too disappointed. It's just urgent business—finish it and come back, no?"
Though clearly outmatched, Dong Chobak was the next best after the Cheonma, a top martial artist under heaven. The Cheonma gave a wry, regretful smile and nodded.
"No helping it... So the Gold Guards and even the Princess are all heading back?"
As Dong Chobak nodded—convinced our relaxed vibe meant no dirt on us—"G-Grandfather! It, it seems urgent, so let me lead the remaining Gold Guards to find the evidence here!"
Juyeonhui shot up red-faced, yelling at Dong Chobak. Evidence my ass—the righteous sect small fries were already doomed for their lies, limbs flying. At her tantrum-like outburst, Dong Chobak started to frown but caught her sneaking glances at me and let out a groan.
At over twenty and still unmarried—thanks to her tomboyish palace warrior vibe amid the rush for imperial heirs to wed early and spread lineage—Dong Chobak had been quietly worried. Now relieved she was finally interested in men, but realizing it was the Manifest Realm son-in-law of the world's top martial artist, he squeezed his eyes shut.
"E-even if you know the details, as Gold Guards of the court, we must handle things properly, right Grandfather?!"
Stumbling over words in embarrassment yet desperate to look bold for her crush—this was a first for his granddaughter. It must've hit him deep, but seeing the Cheonma trembling with suppressed laughter, Dong Chobak nodded awkwardly, mortified.
"...Fine, do as you like."
"Yes, yes! Grandfather!"