Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Fabrication, Incitement, and Sophistry
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The foundation of a strategist is fabrication, incitement, and sophistry.
"Eh?"
An involuntary retort slipped out.
That single short word made the heavy air inside the Alliance Lord's Hall sink even deeper. Zhuge Jin's eyes turned toward me. There wasn't the slightest hint of agitation in them. Like a machine simply relaying compiled information, he continued in a flat voice.
"According to the Vermilion Bird Squad's intelligence, he was ambushed and killed by a band of ronin while returning from the Secret Cave."
A ronin ambush? That seasoned peak expert taken down by mere ronin?
I couldn't believe it. I asked once more.
"Are you certain?"
"Didn't I say as much?"
Zhuge Jin's voice remained utterly dry.
"The body was discovered, confirmed by someone who knew his face. His signature twin swords were found discarded not far from the site. No doubt about it."
His resolute answer left no room for further questions. My mind grew tangled.
So that's how it is. Dead, huh.
I recalled his final appearance when we'd crossed paths in the Secret Cave. An unorthodox warrior, yet he possessed a conviction sharper than any orthodox figure. He had his own code.
And he'd lost his life to ronin scum like that? Or perhaps betrayed by the ronin under his command.
Either way, it didn't matter. The outcome was his death.
Hm. A little regrettable. He was someone I rather liked. In this martial world brimming with hypocrisy and deceit, he was one of the rare few you could call the 'real deal.' The fact that such a man had vanished so pointlessly left a bitter taste.
While I drifted in thought for a moment, Zhuge Jin returned to the main topic. As if trying to dispel the hall's oppressive atmosphere, he cleared his throat.
"Back to the matter at hand. The Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance has been formed, and it naturally includes the intent to check our Murim Alliance. They've become a single massive force."
His gaze swept in turn over Azure Dragon Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi and White Tiger Squad Leader Kang Cheol.
"Be especially vigilant against any agitators who might infiltrate us. Their blades won't always be drawn. At times with sweet words, at others with self-righteous provocations, they'll try to shake our foundations from within."
Zhuge Jin pressed on.
"Of course, the Vermilion Bird Squad will monitor their movements day and night, rooting out any internal vermin. But that alone isn't enough. Each squad must take special care to prevent unrest among your own members."
At his explanation, Byeok Cheonwi nodded while barely concealing his displeasure, and Kang Cheol merely listened in silence.
"The reason I didn't summon the Alliance's other elders today lies here."
Strength entered Zhuge Jin's voice.
"The various sects of the Central Plains have one foot in our Murim Alliance, their representatives holding seats here. But before they are members of the Murim Alliance, they belong to their sects. Fully trusting their loyalty is difficult."
He slowly turned his head toward the Alliance Lord seated at the head seat.
"The Alliance Lord... trusts and relies more on those present here—the squad members who have upheld the Murim Alliance with their blood and sweat—than on them."
As Zhuge Jin finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to the Alliance Lord. The figure, who had sat utterly still until then, finally parted his lips in a flat tone.
"Indeed."
A single short word.
What was this, some kind of two-man crosstalk routine?
"And... there's one more matter to convey."
Lightening the hall's mood once again, Zhuge Jin tossed out a new topic.
"The Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance is hosting an 'Orthodox-Unorthodox Festival' to celebrate their formation."
"What? A festival?"
Byeok Cheonwi shot back in disbelief.
"Yes. They've sent invitations to nearly every sect and clan in the Central Plains. Our Murim Alliance received one as well, naturally. The ostensible reason is to reaffirm their resolve against the Demonic Cult and proclaim the dawn of a new era of harmony between orthodox and unorthodox."
Byeok Cheonwi let out an incredulous scoff.
"Those scum who banded together just to keep us in check dare invite us? We should crash their banquet and flip their tables!"
"Squad Leader Byeok. Calm yourself."
Zhuge Jin reined him in steadily.
"Their intentions are transparent, but we must respond to the invitation. If we send no delegation, the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance will seize on it to manufacture public opinion—claiming the 'Murim Alliance opposes orthodox-unorthodox harmony' or 'is uncooperative in the Demonic Cult subjugation.' It would only lend strength to their fledgling alliance."
In the end, we had no choice but to go. Even knowing full well it was a tiger's den.
Zhuge Jin glanced once more at the Alliance Lord in the head seat, who sat with eyes closed in wordless approval.
"Therefore, the Murim Alliance will dispatch a delegation to their festival."
His gaze slowly scanned the hall. His eyes passed over Byeok Cheonwi's anger-flushed face, through Kang Cheol's weighty silence, lingered briefly on Zhuge Seo's green hair as she kept her head bowed, and finally settled on all of us.
"As I mentioned earlier, the Alliance Lord places his trust in the Murim Alliance's squad members above all in times like these."
His voice resonated softly through the Alliance Lord's Hall.
"Who will go?"
The first to shatter the silence was White Tiger Squad Leader Kang Cheol, his heavy voice rumbling. Sitting as steadfast as a boulder, he curtly refused.
"I'm not going. To be frank, it doesn't sit right with me at all."
There was no room for compromise in his words. His entire demeanor screamed rejection. The neighboring Byeok Cheonwi said nothing, but he was the same—lips pressed tight, arms crossed, furrowed brow making his mood plain. He had no intention of going.
That left only Squad Leader Zhuge Seo among the squad leaders. As eyes naturally turned her way, she hunched her shoulders and bowed her head even lower.
"I, uh... well..."
She stammered, unable to refuse outright or commit, merely fumbling for words. Watching her distress, Zhuge Jin interjected with a gentle tone.
"Truth be told, I believe it would be preferable for a vice squad leader to go rather than a squad leader in person."
His gaze swept over the vice squad leaders seated behind Byeok Cheonwi and Kang Cheol.
"My apologies to the vice squad leaders... but we wish to send a delegation while conveying that the Murim Alliance doesn't hold them in high regard—in other words, that we look down on them."
So why was he looking at me while saying it?
Zhuge Jin's gaze locked squarely on me.
"Ideally... someone concealing their strength, or whose abilities remain unknown outside. Say, someone newly appointed."
I subtly shifted my eyes aside.
"Ah. In that case, Vice Squad Leader Moo is the perfect fit."
Damn it all.
He'd named me outright. Refusing now would mean openly defying the Alliance Lord and the Strategist. Swallowing a curse under my breath, I reluctantly lifted my head.
"...Will you be providing escorts?"
I had to secure at least that minimum safeguard. No way was I plunging bare-handed into their lair. At my question, Zhuge Jin nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Of course. No need to worry on that front."
I glanced sidelong at the Alliance Lord in the head seat. He remained utterly still, eyes closed. An expert of the Alliance Lord's caliber... might even handle the Black Elder.
But Zhuge Jin's next words mercilessly crushed that hope.
"The Alliance Lord is an exceedingly busy man."
As expected. Well then, at least one of the squad leaders...
Fat chance. Even before my gaze reached them, Kang Cheol and Byeok Cheonwi were radiating an aura of absolute refusal. A disguise as escorts would be ideal, but I couldn't drag them along by force.
Then, one person entered my view.
Ah, Zhuge Seo was here.
The Vermilion Bird Squad Leader, still head bowed, merely fidgeting with her fingers. She had potential. Given her habit of holing up in the library, her face was virtually unknown outside.
I steeled my resolve and spoke.
"In that case, may I go with Squad Leader Zhuge?"
At my suggestion, everyone in the Alliance Lord's Hall turned to me in surprise. Zhuge Jin, in particular, wore an intrigued expression, murmuring a soft "Hoo..."
"Seo-ah, you mean?"
He called his daughter's name affectionately, staring straight at me.
"Well... she's always shut away in the library, so her face isn't known—no issue there. But you... do you have some interest in my daughter?"
Zhuge Seo jumped in shock, shooting me a quick glance before her face flushed beet red. She bowed her head again, emitting a bizarre noise.
"Uh... uhee...!"
Ignoring her odd squeak as best I could, I offered an excuse to Zhuge Jin.
"Nothing like that. I just thought, as a squad leader-level expert, she'd make an excellent escort."
"Is that right?"
Zhuge Jin alternated looks between Zhuge Seo and me with that same intrigued glint before nodding.
"Well, if you're set on taking her, just let me know later. I was planning to assign the Black Tortoise Squad as your escort... but since you insist on Seo-ah, we'll forgo them."
"Pardon?"
I blurted out in absurdity.
"Please assign the Black Tortoise Squad as well. Strength in numbers, no?"
Zhuge Jin chuckled indulgently with a "Heh heh." But his eyes held no mirth.
"It ought to be fine time for you two. Best without any interlopers. I'll kindly make the arrangements."
"No, what on earth? Fine time? This is a mission. The Black Tortoise Squad comes along."
"Truthfully, to most effectively convey our disdain, the smaller the delegation, the better."
The Strategist was spinning sophistry.
"So skipping the Black Tortoise Squad is for the best. It's the path of righteousness."
He even dragged out the "righteousness" card. Pushing further was pointless. This old fox had intended from the start to send me alone—or with the bare minimum. Mentioning Zhuge Seo had only played into his scheme.
At least he was willing to send his daughter along. Not total abandonment.
In the end, I had no choice but to lower my head.
"...Understood."
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