Chapter 618: I Hereby Order His Permanent Expulsion
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 618: I Hereby Order His Permanent Expulsion
"But Alliance Leader!"
Lee Dae-gon raised his voice, a look of grievance crossing his face.
"Is that not exactly why we need him? Because he is the World's Greatest Martial Artist!"
"We have no means of coercing him. He is a man who does not cling to honor, does not revere chivalry, and possesses no sect, no family, and no lover. How could we possibly force such a man?"
Lee Jae-won continued, his expression grave.
"From what I can see, it seems the Hwalbindang Master intended to use this incident as an excuse to put him in your debt... Am I correct?"
"..."
At Lee Jae-won’s words, the Hwalbindang Master fell silent.
It was a silent affirmation.
"I am telling you it is useless. He is a man whose nature is to spring back the harder he is pressed. Even if you try to constrain such a man with laws, if he deems it unreasonable, there will undoubtedly be a massive backlash. In the worst-case scenario, we could turn him into a total enemy."
Lee Jae-won continued in a calm, low voice.
"So, let us end it here. I will take your opinion into account and punish him, but only to an extent that he can find acceptable."
"..."
Hearing this, Lee Dae-gon shut his mouth.
It was because he had been convinced.
He was finally accepting the facts he had tried so hard to deny—the fact that they could do nothing against Jang Sun-woo with their own power.
"Palbok Hall Master."
When Lee Dae-gon remained silent, Lee Jae-won slowly turned his head to look at Heo Sam-gwan.
"Please, speak," Heo Sam-gwan asked, bowing his head slightly.
"I also fully understand your opinion that we should not offend him. If we were to make even a single mistake with a man of such transcendental martial power, the Cheonmu Alliance might find itself with another enemy besides the Demonic Cult. However, as the Alliance Leader, I cannot allow a clear wrongdoing to be glossed over and forgotten."
Lee Jae-won looked at Heo Sam-gwan with a steady gaze.
"I believe that law only exerts its power when it is equal and fair to all people. If we give someone a pass because we are afraid, or because they are terrifying, or because we don't want to bother them, then who would bother to follow the Alliance Law? This is something I cannot tolerate, neither as the Alliance Leader nor as a member of this alliance."
Lee Jae-won spoke with a heavy expression.
"..."
And hearing those words, Heo Sam-gwan fell silent.
He felt that the Alliance Leader’s words were not wrong.
"What is the founding philosophy of the Cheonmu Alliance? Is it not an organization for the realization of justice that reveres and practices chivalry? If we let this incident slide, I believe it would go against the very chivalry and justice that are our founding principles."
"..."
"Therefore, I intend to hand down the most lawful punishment to him. A moderate punishment at a level that everyone can accept. So, I would like you to stop here. I believe we must not set a bad precedent."
"...I am in agreement."
After hearing Lee Jae-won’s words, Heo Sam-gwan eventually nodded in acceptance.
He felt that Lee Jae-won’s logic was entirely sound.
"Then it is settled."
Lee Jae-won nodded with a satisfied expression.
Then, he slowly turned his gaze to scan the assembled crowd.
"Does anyone else have a differing opinion?" he asked.
He was asking if there were any other views.
"..."
Despite Lee Jae-won’s question, only silence hung over the meeting hall.
"Very well, then I shall make the decision."
Seeing the room grow quiet, Lee Jae-won continued with a determined expression.
"I have no intention of simply overlooking this incident! It is because a man who is supposed to be a pillar of the Orthodox Faction allowed himself to be swayed by the emotion of rage and created numerous victims! I am told the victims are currently suffering from post-traumatic shock and have yet to leave their sickbeds! How could I overlook such an event? He deserves to be punished according to the Alliance Law. However, we must not forget the fact that he is also a victim who became a perpetrator!"
Lee Jae-won’s calm eyes sparkled as he continued.
"The victims of this incident set up camp in front of his residence and shouted late into the night for three days and nights, causing him continuous distress. This goes beyond mere rudeness; it is utterly lawless behavior, and Jang Sun-woo’s anger is something we can sufficiently take into account. Furthermore, at the time, the Cheonmu Alliance remained silent and feigned ignorance even though they knew those people were provoking him. Regarding this matter, the Cheonmu Alliance itself cannot evade responsibility."
Lee Jae-won’s powerful voice began to echo through the hall.
"Therefore, taking into account the faults of both the victims and the Alliance, I hereby order his permanent expulsion. He shall never again set foot in the Cheonmu Alliance, nor shall he be involved in any of its affairs. Furthermore, he may not seek help from the Cheonmu Alliance, and the Cheonmu Alliance shall not concern itself with him!"
Lee Jae-won spoke as if making a proclamation, looking around at the seated leadership.
"We have no objections!"
"We have no objections!"
As soon as Lee Jae-won’s declaration ended, the leadership replied in unison.
They had agreed.
Agreed with Lee Jae-won’s judgment.
Smirk.
And hearing their response, a deep smile spread across Lee Jae-won’s lips.
It was because he felt everything was going according to plan.
*
"Phew... Phew."
Tang Jin-seol blew on her steaming teacup.
Then, after catching the aroma of the tea, she began to sip it slowly.
Gulp.
Every time the warm tea slid down her throat, she felt a sense of comfort.
'It's quite high-quality.'
She thought to herself.
The tea leaves were of the highest grade. From the scent to the taste, nothing was lacking.
Slurp.
She savored the tea once more.
This time, she intended to focus entirely on the flavor.
Step, step.
Just then, the sound of light footsteps reached her ears.
Clack.
Hearing the sound, Tang Jin-seol set her teacup down.
Then, she slowly raised her head and looked toward the door.
As if she had been waiting for something.
Bang!
Not long after, the door swung open, and a man appeared.
A middle-aged man with a very familiar face, dressed in white robes.
It was her husband and the Cheonmu Alliance Leader, Lee Jae-won.
"You've arrived?"
As he entered the room, Tang Jin-seol slowly rose from her seat to greet him.
"That's enough, stay seated."
As she stood, Lee Jae-won waved his hand, urging her to sit back down.
Stomp, stomp.
Thud.
He walked over with long strides and sat down directly across from her.
"Could I have a cup of tea?"
Lee Jae-won spoke while looking at Tang Jin-seol.
His face was full of color and excitement.
Trickle.
"It seems things went well?" Tang Jin-seol asked as she immediately poured tea into a cup for him.
"Went well? It didn't just go well! It was perfect!"
Lee Jae-won looked at her with a face full of excitement.
"Madam Tang! You are a genius! Truly, you must be a genius! How could you know exactly how those bastards would react?"
Lee Jae-won asked, looking at her with a face full of wonder.
Even though he had experienced it firsthand, he could hardly believe it.
Everything had happened exactly as she said.
The arguments of Palbok Hall Master Heo Sam-gwan...
The arguments of Hwalbindang Master Lee Dae-gon...
Even their reactions had all been exactly as she predicted.
How could he not be amazed?
How could he not be astonished?
She was like a prophet.
A prophet who knew everything.
"It was obvious."
Tang Jin-seol spoke with an indifferent expression.
From her perspective, the leadership was far too predictable.
They were so transparent it was almost pathetic.
Transparent enough that their every move could be predicted.
Therefore, she wasn't particularly moved by Lee Jae-won’s admiration.
To her, it was only natural.
"...You are truly an incredible woman... Madam Tang."
Lee Jae-won praised her, looking impressed.
"I'm glad I could be of help."
At Lee Jae-won’s repeated praise, Tang Jin-seol replied with an alluring smile.
"By the way, has the decision to expel Jang Sun-woo been finalized?"
"It has. Everyone agreed when I did as you said. You really are amazing."
Lee Jae-won continued with an impressed look.
He couldn't help but be amazed.
Lee Jae-won had spouted the words exactly as she had recited them to him, without missing a single syllable.
And those words had worked on the entire leadership.
How could he not be in awe?
"No. It is because you handled it so well, Alliance Leader. Why are you praising me?"
Tang Jin-seol spoke with a soft smile.
"No, what do you mean by that?"
Lee Jae-won asked back, looking confused.
She was the one who had set the entire stage, so why was she praising him for doing well?
"Words only exert their true power when spoken by someone with the influence to back them up. If it hadn't been for you, Alliance Leader, what value would my words have had?"
Tang Jin-seol’s snake-like, wicked eyes sparkled as she spoke.
"...Hmm... Certainly... It might have been because I, the Alliance Leader, spoke them that they carried such persuasive weight."
Hearing this, Lee Jae-won nodded in agreement.
Listening to her, he began to feel that he was indeed the one who had controlled the entire board.
"Of course. Without you, I would be nothing more than a mere woman."
"Hahahaha... You truly know how to make a man feel good."
Lee Jae-won burst into a hearty laugh.
His self-esteem soared just by listening to her words.
"By the way, wife, there is something I am curious about."
After laughing for a while, Lee Jae-won suddenly turned serious and asked her.
"Please, speak."
At his words, Tang Jin-seol spoke with her beautiful smile still in place.
"Will Jang Sun-woo leave quietly?"
Lee Jae-won asked with a questioning look.
Though he had confidently boasted before the leadership that the man would leave, he was inwardly full of doubt.
The doubt of whether he would actually leave just because he was told to.
"He will leave."
Tang Jin-seol answered with a face full of certainty.
"How can you be so sure?"
Lee Jae-won asked, looking puzzled.
"Do you know the interesting thing Jang Sun-woo said at the site of the protest?"
Tang Jin-seol spoke with a playful expression.
"Something interesting?"
"That individual freedom must be guaranteed. On the premise that one does not cause harm to others."
"He... said such a thing?"
Lee Jae-won asked back, looking surprised.
"Yes, that is exactly what I heard from someone who participated in the protest."
Tang Jin-seol nodded in affirmation.
"What does that have to do with him leaving?"
Lee Jae-won asked, still not understanding.
"His ideology is one that values the individual above all else. He believes that as long as one does not harm others, one can enjoy as much individual freedom as they wish. Conversely, it can be translated to mean that if one causes harm to others, that freedom must be restricted."
Tang Jin-seol continued, still looking amused.
'What kind of nonsense is this?'
And Lee Jae-won was dazed, unable to understand her words.
He felt as if he had suddenly been transported back twenty years to an ethics class, learning about "Confucius says, Mencius says."
"Could you... explain it a bit more simply?"
Lee Jae-won asked her, his face flushing slightly.
It wounded his pride, but he felt he couldn't just let this pass.
"The reason he can act as he pleases is simple. It's because he has never caused harm to others. But conversely, if he has caused harm to someone, that becomes a reason for him to be constrained. We are making a legitimate demand based on that reason. We are telling him to leave because we cannot allow the act of harming someone at will without following the Alliance Law."
Tang Jin-seol began to explain step-by-step so that Lee Jae-won could understand.
By her standards, she explained it simply enough for even a young child to grasp.
"......And he'll just leave quietly because of that?"
"He'll have no choice but to leave. Isn't the Alliance Law a single value that all members have promised to uphold? If he ignores that value, he loses the very basis upon which his own freedom is guaranteed."
"......I see."
Lee Jae-won nodded as if he understood.
Of course, there was no way he actually understood.
However, his pride wouldn't allow him to admit he didn't know a second time.
So, he decided to just move on.
While pretending to know.
'The conclusion is that the bastard will leave, right? I just need to know the conclusion. What more do I need...'
Lee Jae-won rationalized to himself and put on a serious expression.
"What do you plan to do once he leaves?" Lee Jae-won asked, looking at Tang Jin-seol.
"For the time being, I plan to just watch him."
"Watch him?"
"Yes. Since my brother isn't here anyway, there's no way to deal with him. I plan to watch him for now and wait for an opportunity."
Tang Jin-seol spoke, her snake-like, wicked eyes glinting.
"An opportunity to kill him completely."