Chapter 396: Plotting a Scheme
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 396: Plotting a Scheme
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
Lee Jae-won let out a primal scream.
"That fucking bitch! That goddamn cunt! That worthless cum-dumpster!"
He hurled curse after curse, his voice cracking with rage.
The humiliation he had suffered at the hands of Kang Ha-yoon during the meeting had sent his blood boiling.
"That fucking piece of work! Who does she think she is?! How dare she defy me?! A bitch like her wouldn't even be able to move if I just kept my cock buried in her pussy! Fucking hell!"
Crash! Shatter! Thud! Thud!
Lee Jae-won vented his fury by smashing every piece of furniture in the room.
He was beyond livid.
It was all because of the insulting remarks Kang Ha-yoon had made in the conference room that morning.
It was supposed to be the moment where everyone, moved by his passionate speech, would shower him with praise and direct their anger where he wanted it.
But at that exact moment, she had spat out those dog-like words and insulted him.
How could he not be furious?
He was so angry he felt like he might actually pass out.
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
Crash!
Snap!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
His rage intensifying, Lee Jae-won swung his arms even more wildly, reducing the room's decor to splinters in an instant.
How much time had passed?
"Huff... huff... huff... huff..."
Lee Jae-won panted heavily.
He had spent so much energy vomiting out his anger without a moment's rest that he was gasping for air.
Thud.
Finally calming down slightly, Lee Jae-won slumped into a seat.
"How do I deal with that fucking bitch?"
He began to plot.
He needed to figure out what to do with Kang Ha-yoon.
She was the one who had requested a reinvestigation into the Blue Water Sword Hero murder case, claiming the initial investigation was unfair because it was heavily tainted by the Alliance Leader's personal opinions.
'Fucking hell.'
Lee Jae-won scowled deeply.
He knew she was upright to a fault, but he never imagined she would bare her teeth at her own husband.
'Is she rebelling because I haven't fucked her lately?'
Lee Jae-won wondered if her defiance stemmed from being left alone in her room for so long.
'Should I just give her a good dicking?'
But he immediately shook his head.
He didn't feel like sticking it in a woman with such hideously large breasts.
What kind of tits were bigger than a human head?
He wanted nothing to do with a monster like that.
'What do I do?'
Lee Jae-won fell into deep thought.
He had already accepted the request for a reinvestigation. He had even gone as far as giving her full authority over it.
If he left her to her own devices now, it would be impossible to manipulate the case to his liking.
'What if I get caught?'
In the worst-case scenario, the fact that he was the one who killed the Blue Water Sword Hero could be exposed.
He was stuck. He needed a way to completely remove her from the case.
'Should I just kill her?'
Shake, shake.
Lee Jae-won shook his head again.
As much of an eyesore as she was, she was still technically the wife he had once loved. How could he kill his own wife with his own hands?
'Then demotion is the best way.'
That left only one option: demotion.
If he sent her away to some remote post, he could cut her out of the picture entirely.
'But on what grounds?'
The problem was that he had nothing on her.
She lived a life of frugality and moderation. There was no way a woman like her would take a bribe, and she certainly wouldn't frame someone or commit an injustice out of a lust for power.
'Fucking stiff-necked bitch.'
Lee Jae-won's face contorted.
Kang Ha-yoon was annoying enough as it was, but the fact that he couldn't even demote her at will made his irritation soar.
It was while he was lost in this deep contemplation that—
Knock, knock.
The sound of someone rapping on the door echoed in his ears.
"Who is it?" Lee Jae-won barked grumpily.
"It is Paeng Ga-ryeon, the Law Enforcement Hall Master."
A familiar voice came through the door.
Hearing it, Lee Jae-won looked around the room.
It was a disaster. Furniture was smashed, and not a single corner of the walls or ceiling was intact. It was no state to receive a guest.
"I am busy right now. Come back later."
Lee Jae-won spoke in a calm tone.
"I have urgent news regarding the Phoenix Hall Master."
"......Hmm?"
Lee Jae-won's expression shifted.
His interest was piqued. Paeng Ga-ryeon, who had been at odds with Kang Ha-yoon in the conference room, had something to say about her.
"Wait for me in the office at the Clan Head's Hall. I will be there shortly."
"Understood, Alliance Leader."
Step, step.
He heard the sound of Paeng Ga-ryeon's footsteps receding. She seemed to be heading toward the office.
After sending her away, Lee Jae-won waited exactly fifteen minutes before heading to the office himself—but not before ordering his servants to clean up his quarters.
*
Creeak.
Lee Jae-won opened the office door and stepped inside.
He saw Paeng Ga-ryeon sitting at the table.
"I apologize for the wait."
"Not at all. I should be the one apologizing for calling you out when you must be so busy."
"It is fine. How can a loving wife apologize for wanting to see her husband?"
Lee Jae-won gave a reply steeped in false humility.
Paeng Ga-ryeon seemed pleased with his answer, as a bright smile spread across her face.
Thud.
Lee Jae-won glanced at her briefly before taking a seat across from her.
"So, what is it you have to say about the Phoenix Hall Master?"
He got straight to the point. He wasn't the type to enjoy wasting time with idle chatter.
"Alliance Leader."
Paeng Ga-ryeon looked at him with a serious gaze.
"Speak."
"Don't you find the Phoenix Hall Master... bothersome?"
Her eyes glittered as she spoke.
"......What do you mean by that?"
Lee Jae-won feigned ignorance.
"I mean, isn't it irritating how she challenges you at every turn?"
"............"
Lee Jae-won remained silent. He wasn't sure how to respond.
If he told the truth here, the image he had built—of a fair, just leader who loved his wife—would be completely shattered.
But if he lied, he was worried about what Paeng Ga-ryeon might say next.
"You can be honest with me, Alliance Leader. It's just the two of us, isn't it?"
Paeng Ga-ryeon continued in a suggestive tone, watching him closely.
"You hate her, don't you? Because she challenges your authority at every opportunity and tarnishes your honor."
Her eyes were sparkling.
"......I don't think her behavior is very becoming. I am the Alliance Leader, after all, yet she talks back to me like that in front of so many people."
Lee Jae-won voiced his grievance timidly.
Inside, he wanted to scream every insult imaginable at Kang Ha-yoon, but he wanted to maintain his dignity.
"I am only human, and I believe I can make mistakes. But to expose those mistakes in front of others like that... even with my generous nature, it is difficult to accept."
Lee Jae-won spoke with a bitter expression.
"Oh dear, so you were feeling hurt, Alliance Leader."
Paeng Ga-ryeon looked at him with pity.
"Indeed. I am deeply hurt. How can a woman who is my wife not take her husband's side? If the roles were reversed, I would have stood by her no matter what nonsense she spouted."
"I think you have every right to be upset. I also found the Phoenix Hall Master's attitude to be incredibly rude."
Paeng Ga-ryeon smiled and chimed in.
"Was that any way to treat a husband? She lunged at you as if she were facing an enemy."
"Exactly! I was truly at a loss! How can she be so disrespectful when her duty is to serve her husband!"
With Paeng Ga-ryeon egging him on, Lee Jae-won began to reveal his true feelings.
"She really is a rude woman, isn't she?"
Paeng Ga-ryeon looked satisfied. She had successfully drawn out the reaction she wanted from him.
"Alliance Leader, if you ask me, I think you've been far too kind to her all this time."
Paeng Ga-ryeon's tongue flicked like a snake's.
"Kind to the Phoenix Hall Master?"
Lee Jae-won looked puzzled. He had neglected her more than anything; he certainly hadn't been "kind."
"Yes. Haven't you been letting her rude words and actions slide without restraint? I believe you have been more than gracious to her."
Paeng Ga-ryeon continued calmly.
"I've always felt that she was challenging your authority. Hasn't she always contradicted your words? And quite aggressively, too."
Of course, the reality was different.
Lee Jae-won had never been kind. Kang Ha-yoon only ever spoke of what was legal and right, and rather than challenging his authority, she worked hard to correct his mistakes. There had simply been no grounds for him to rebuke or punish her.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I'm sure the other Hall Masters feel the same way. That she is being unusually defiant toward you."
At his question, Paeng Ga-ryeon nodded firmly.
'Right, I think she has been!'
Listening to her, Lee Jae-won was quickly persuaded. He became convinced that Kang Ha-yoon was defying him on purpose.
"In my opinion, her behavior is a result of your mercy. she has forgotten her place. Even if she is a Hall Master, she is ultimately just your limb. How can a mere limb attack its master like a rabid stray cat?"
"I see."
Lee Jae-won spoke with a heavy expression.
'Kang Ha-yoon, you arrogant bitch... you dare bite your master?'
Inside, his rage toward her was exploding. As Paeng Ga-ryeon said, even the Hall Masters were just limbs appointed to make his work easier. How could a limb attack its owner?
His resentment toward her began to surge.
"I believe she needs an opportunity to realize her place."
"An opportunity?"
Lee Jae-won asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"Yes. A chance to realize what her position is and whose limb she actually is."
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke with a deep smile.
"How do you think we can give her such an opportunity?"
"Naturally, people only realize the value of what they have once they've lost everything. Why not strip her of all her titles?"
"That is impossible. I have no pretext to remove the Phoenix Hall Master."
"Can't we just create a pretext? Isn't that how the world works? Anything can be framed as a crime if you try hard enough."
She spoke in a low, suggestive voice.
"..............."
Lee Jae-won fell silent, looking troubled.
It was a tempting proposal, but he felt it was too risky. Furthermore, he wondered if it was right to conspire with Paeng Ga-ryeon to bring down Kang Ha-yoon.
"Don't worry about the pretext. Finding witnesses and fabricating evidence isn't that difficult."
When Lee Jae-won didn't respond, Paeng Ga-ryeon began to persuade him more earnestly.
"......But I cannot agree to ruining her with fabricated evidence just because she is an eyesore. How can the Cheonmu Alliance, which must be fairer than anyone, commit such an unprincipled act!"
Lee Jae-won voiced his refusal. It was an alluring offer, but he didn't want to go looking for trouble. If the truth ever came out, his reputation would plummet to the abyss.
"Ruining her? It's just giving her a chance to cool her head for a bit. You can reinstate her in about six months, saying it was all a misunderstanding. Of course, after paying her some form of mental compensation."
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke as if there was nothing to worry about.
"Alliance Leader, I believe that if the hierarchy of any organization is shaken, that organization has no future. Please do not think of this as an unprincipled act. Think of it as cutting out a rotten part of the great organization that is the Cheonmu Alliance."
Paeng Ga-ryeon's eyes shone.
"It is time for you to make a decision. If you let the Phoenix Hall Master continue like this, people will start to doubt your authority one by one. Please, make the right decision."
Paeng Ga-ryeon bowed her head slightly.
"............"
Lee Jae-won feigned deep thought.
After a moment, he gave a slight nod.
It was an extreme choice, but he decided that getting Kang Ha-yoon out of his sight was the top priority.
"You have made the right choice."
Seeing this, Paeng Ga-ryeon wore a satisfied smile. She was filled with a sense of triumph, knowing that everything was going according to plan.