Useless Chatter
"Greetings, Administrator Dam," Im Gun-hyeon said, offering a polite nod.
Since Im Gun-hyeon and Dam Gogeum did not share a direct lord-vassal relationship, there was no need for deep bows or formal prostrations. Dam Gogeum acknowledged the greeting with a curt nod of his own, his sharp eyes sweeping over the surroundings as he exuded an invisible, suffocating pressure.
"Where is Im Bukjin?"
Im Gun-hyeon replied with a composed expression. "Today is the day of the team battle, the most critical event of the Unmong City Academic & Martial Arts Competition. Im Bukjin is among the top ten students of this tournament; he is currently in the middle of his match."
Dam Gogeum’s eyes narrowed into thin slits. A cold, blue light flickered within his gaze as he spoke. "According to the case files I have reviewed, Im Bukjin is under grave suspicion of having ties to the Heavenly Evil Gods of the Void Realm. How is it that such an individual was granted the qualification to participate in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition?"
The eyelids of the Unmong City officials and the representatives from the Lee clan began to twitch. It was clear that Dam Gogeum had not come to Unmong City with good intentions. His hostile attitude laid everything bare. Some of the more faint-hearted local officials were already beginning to tremble.
Im Gun-hyeon spoke up. "Those are merely minor allegations without any corroborating evidence. Furthermore, he has already presented proof to establish his innocence, and because of that—"
"Proof, you say?" Dam Gogeum cut him off sharply. "What kind of proof? Don't tell me it's that footage from the Dragon Spirit Stone mentioned in the previous report?"
Im Gun-hyeon’s brow furrowed slightly. "It is exactly that."
Dam Gogeum let out a cold, mocking sneer. "How can a Dragon Spirit Stone be considered evidence? The methods of the Demon Worshippers are inscrutable and elusive. It would be child's play for them to fabricate the contents of such a stone. I have heard what was recorded on it, but it explains nothing clearly. To allow a man suspected of being a cultist of the Void Realm to participate in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition—a traditional imperial event—is a joke beyond compare."
Suddenly, a massive wave of intimidation erupted from his body.
Thud!
Unable to withstand the sheer weight of his aura, several Unmong City officials collapsed to the ground, their bodies shaking uncontrollably. Im Gun-hyeon, however, remained serene, a faint smile playing on his lips as he spoke.
"The Administrator's prestige is indeed formidable. However, the decision to allow Im Bukjin to compete was mine, as the City Lord. Should any issues arise, I shall be the one to take full responsibility."
Dam Gogeum stared deeply into Im Gun-hyeon’s eyes. He realized that the man standing before him was quite different from the City Lords of other provinces. The influence the Im lineage held within the empire far exceeded the status of a mere provincial governor.
"Is the team battle currently underway?" Dam Gogeum asked, abruptly changing the subject.
Im Gun-hyeon nodded. "It is."
Dam Gogeum suddenly burst into a short laugh. "Excellent. I was just hoping to see for myself what the geniuses of Unmong City are made of. Sang-eon, take the investigation team and begin searching for clues. Whether it be evidence or witnesses, conduct a thorough investigation and have a report ready for me by the time the competition concludes."
A man dressed in the uniform of a High Inspector from the Bureau of Investigation, Oh Sang-eon, stepped forward. "By your command!"
Oh Sang-eon was an expert of the Bureau, exuding an aura as sharp as a well-honed blade. Taking twenty elite officers with him, he set off to begin the investigation in cooperation with the local Unmong City police.
Im Gun-hyeon did not interfere with the process at all. Instead, he took the lead, guiding Dam Gogeum and the four other high-ranking investigators toward the VIP viewing area. There, they resumed watching the team battle through the massive Crystal Screens.
Without a hint of hesitation, Dam Gogeum took the seat of honor where Im Gun-hyeon had originally been sitting. The other investigators seated themselves two by two on either side of him. The Unmong City officials, having lost their seats, moved awkwardly to other chairs, looking like a disgraced honor guard for the newcomers.
Despite the blatant disrespect, Im Gun-hyeon showed no sign of anger. He simply chose another chair nearby and sat down quietly. However, this shift in the power dynamic did not go unnoticed. A thin smile spread across the face of Baek Hae-geum, who was sitting in the VIP lounge. Im Jin-nam, standing by his side, was also secretly delighted.
Right then, the third match of the team battle reached a fever pitch. The ten Crystal Screens displayed the various warships currently engaged in combat. Bukjin was still standing atop the mast, his gaze fixed on the distance as he drew his bowstring. The string of the Iron Wall Bow vibrated with immense power.
A Four Dragon Arrow tore through the air, striking Jwa-gu Musang. The boy, who had been attempting to board Bukjin’s ship, was blasted backward. He crashed onto the deck of his own vessel and coughed up a mouthful of blood. The single arrow had delivered such a shock that he was unable to stand back up.
Gasps of shock erupted from the spectators. However, they soon noticed something peculiar. Before firing the Four Dragon Arrow, Bukjin had snapped off the arrowhead. Because of this, Jwa-gu Musang had avoided being impaled; he had merely suffered internal injuries from the massive blunt force impact. Bukjin had shown mercy.
Bukjin’s archery was terrifying. The audience was left in awe of his lethal precision. A cold light flickered in Dam Gogeum’s narrowed eyes.
"Hmph," Dam Gogeum snorted. "Is that boy Im Bukjin?"
"He is," Im Gun-hyeon replied.
"Ho... Our North Sea Empire was founded on the way of the sword. We revere swordsmanship as the highest virtue. So why is this Im Bukjin using archery—the favored tool of the Aurora Empire—instead of defeating his enemies with a blade?"
Dam Gogeum’s tone was laced with rebuke. Im Gun-hyeon countered calmly, "Perhaps it is because his opponent’s skill was not great enough to warrant the use of his sword."
Im Gun-hyeon’s words were, in a way, incredibly biting. He was famous for his good nature. Since his appointment as the City Lord of Unmong City, he had governed with the kindness and patience of a Buddha. He was the type of man who would simply laugh and move on, even if someone offended him.
But today, for some reason, seeing Dam Gogeum’s blatant malice toward Bukjin made him feel deeply uncomfortable—and he chose to express that discomfort without filter. Dam Gogeum was no fool. The North Sea Empire consisted of nine provinces. A man holding the position of First Administrator of a province could not be an idiot.
Since his arrival, Dam Gogeum had been picking fights over everything related to Bukjin. He was making no effort to hide his ill intent. When a man in such a high position acts like a fool, there is usually only one reason: he is doing it on purpose. In fact, Dam Gogeum was sending a very simple and clear signal in the most blunt way possible.
'No one can protect Im Bukjin.'
And to whom was this signal being sent? To the one who had protected Bukjin and released him the night before. Im Gun-hyeon understood the meaning behind Dam Gogeum’s words and actions perfectly. It was even possible that this behavior reflected the will of someone even higher up than the Administrator. Yet, facing Dam Gogeum, he felt a surge of defiance. He wanted to resist the signal being sent.
Im Gun-hyeon... wanted to protect Bukjin. He didn't quite know why, but he felt compelled to do so. Deep down, he had never liked men like Dam Gogeum. He knew that Dam Gogeum came from a fallen noble family of the previous regime. He was a man who had climbed the ranks through fierce factional infighting, using every trick and connection available to him. Im Gun-hyeon didn't deny the man's political talent, but he despised his type.
Still, Dam Gogeum’s point wasn't entirely baseless. The North Sea Empire was built on the sword, while the Aurora Empire was built on the bow. If one wanted to be pedantic, Bukjin’s choice of weapon could be seen as a slight. But for the First Administrator of a province to make such a childish complaint was absurd.
There was one more thing that felt strange to Im Gun-hyeon. The leader of this investigation team wasn't from the Bureau of Investigation, but from the Bureau of Civil Affairs. It was like using a butcher's cleaver to trim a fingernail.
"Is that so? Is Im Bukjin’s swordsmanship truly that remarkable?" Dam Gogeum said dismissively. "I heard he is the son of the criminal Im Geun-nam. Surely he hasn't inherited that man's Military Path Slaughter Sword, has he?"
"No," Im Gun-hyeon replied shortly.
He clearly had no desire to continue the conversation. However, Dam Gogeum acted as if he hadn't noticed Im Gun-hyeon’s coldness. He maintained a calm smile, glancing sideways at the City Lord. "The Ryuchae Jewelry Merchant? What a strange name. What is the origin of such a title?"
Im Gun-hyeon ignored him, acting as if he hadn't heard a word. He was too tired to even respond. He was certain now that Dam Gogeum was using these petty remarks to exert silent pressure. He was trying to corner Im Gun-hyeon into making a choice, forcing the Unmong City officials to speak up about recent events.
"It is the name of a jewelry merchant within the city. Im Bukjin has a penchant for advertising..." Sim Ji-jeol, the Chief of Civil Affairs for Unmong City, hurriedly explained. Seeing that the City Lord refused to answer, he felt he had no choice but to step in.
"He does such things?" Dam Gogeum’s face finally showed open anger. "He plays such pranks during the Academic & Martial Arts Competition, one of the three most glorious events of the empire? How vulgar and shallow. To think such a student is allowed to participate... Ho, my eyes are truly being opened now that I've come to your Unmong City."
Cold sweat trickled down Sim Ji-jeol’s forehead, but he couldn't find the words to respond. It was then that Im Gun-hyeon, sitting beside him, let out a sharp, cold snort.
The dozen or so officials nearby felt their minds go blank. This was so vastly different from the gentle, mild-mannered Im Gun-hyeon they knew. 'Why has he suddenly become so aggressive?' they wondered. Calling a provincial heavyweight's words 'useless chatter' was more than just a rebuff—it was a direct, public insult.