Chapter 356
Chapter 356
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 356
Chapter Title: School Trip (2)
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During the day, I led all the students in grueling training while also attending the academy's lectures.
After classes ended, we prepared the groundwork for transporting the entire student body to the southern coast.
Days flew by in a blur, too busy to even catch our breath.
Thanks to that, preparations for the school trip were nearly complete.
Yin Ha-yeon spoke up, taking a moment to air out the room.
"I'd say preparations for departure are about eighty percent done. To make sure we haven't missed anything, let's review together."
The people gathered in the student council room were none other than my closest brothers-in-arms, the so-called 'Monster Dragon Generation' as the world called them.
Since they were all people I could discuss anything with freely, I nodded.
Drag...
Yin Ha-yeon pulled out a map of the Central Plains.
She brought over an armful of documents and began pinning them to both sides of the map.
"Student formations are finalized down to each group's leader and vice-leader, and the divisions are syncing up under Young Master Eon and the dormitory supervisors' rigorous training... passed. Calculations for rations, meals, and carriage fees en route are complete as well."
I directed a question at Yin Ha-yeon.
"Ah, but what about personnel to manage the wagons carrying supplies? That hasn't been decided yet, right?"
"Yes. It's up to the operations committee to decide."
"Hm. If we assign students to it, any issues?"
"None at all. If not, we can hire an escort agency or sect. As you can see from this document, we've budgeted about twenty percent above standard escort fees."
"...Considering Righteous Martial Academy's custom of undercutting standard rates, that's plenty. Understood."
With my curiosity satisfied, I addressed the other brothers.
"We can't afford a single oversight. If anything strikes you as odd while listening, speak up without hesitation, no matter what. Miss Yin, please continue."
"Yes."
Yin Ha-yeon nodded and continued her report.
The brothers occasionally chimed in with questions.
This went on for a while.
"...Finally, our Botamun Sect at the junction of the East and South Seas, and the Haenam Sect guarding the passage to the South Sea—the two sects at the eastern and western extremes of this operation—have both confirmed their cooperation with the Righteous Martial Academy's school trip."
As Yin Ha-yeon shook off the last document in her hand,
Cheon Jang-ho scratched his cheek and spoke up.
"But about Botamun and Haenam confirming cooperation."
"Yes, Brother Cheon."
"They're not just thinking it's a simple student excursion, are they? What if they bail at a crucial moment and cause a mess?"
At Cheon Jang-ho's words, Yin Ha-seong furrowed his brow and retorted.
"Pfft, Botamun has Professor Mo Yong-rin leading, and Haenam has Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong. You think they'd pull that? Unless it's that raccoon-like old fart from Jongnam, the vice chairman of the alliance backbone council."
Eon Yong-myeong added his piece.
"...We should be careful talking about sects. Jang-ho, buddy. Isn't Miss Yin's sect Botamun?"
Namgung Yun and Paeng So-cheon also piped up.
"Right. Be cautious when discussing others' sects. Minor southern coast sects might visit us and get offended by that attitude."
"Sheesh. Cheon Jang-ho, always."
"...No, I was just saying whatever since Yong-un hyung told us to speak freely if anything seemed off. My mouth's always been like this. Anyway, my bad. Sorry, Sister Ha-yeon."
"I'm not bothered at all."
I spoke up to wrap up the situation.
"Jang-ho raised a point worth considering, and Yong-myeong and Gong Yun are right too. Seems like Jang-ho's the only one getting scolded, but watch it yourself, Ha-seong."
"Me?"
"Yeah. You went on about Jongnam's raccoon too. Everyone's got grudges against the vice chairman's grandson, so it slipped out unconsciously. There are Jongnam disciples among the students deploying with us this time."
"Pfft, got it. No chicks around, just us, so it's fine. I don't act like that outside."
"You could've just said 'Yes, understood,' but your tongue's always wagging. A leaky bucket inside won't hold water outside? Ha. Makes me wonder if I can really trust you."
From Botamun in Jeolgang Province to Haenam in the Yanggwang region below.
The area we had to cover spanned four provinces.
With divisions split across the four dorms, experienced mid-level officers were essential, so even my brothers had to split up.
Ha-seong was pre-assigned as mid-level for the Jeolgang sector.
"Heh heh. I'll make sure it doesn't leak outside. Trust me."
"...What am I gonna do with this guy."
As I worried,
Jeon Gal-seolji grabbed a bowl of red ink and a brush.
She approached the map where Yin Ha-yeon stood and began marking red dots.
Pok.
"Anyway, administrative prep seems done as Miss Ha-yeon said. What's left is deciding each division's endpoint. We've got twenty suspect sites internally flagged."
Pok. Pok.
"We'll narrow it down using the remaining days. After compiling Murim Alliance intel from Wuchang's naval base, we'll keep trimming along the southern coast route... but it's still pitch black?"
At Jeon Gal-seolji's words, Dang Ok-gi asked me,
"Cheol-i. Any word from Dokgo Cheol? You said last time you'd leak our school trip to the Blood Sect, right, Eon Yong-un?"
"I leaked it, but no word yet."
Then my master chimed in.
- ...Isn't this just giving them info for nothing? Handing key intel to the Blood Sect without gain would be like carrying firewood into fire yourself.
'No. Would hiding the whole academy going on a school trip really stay hidden?'
- So you're saying it's bound to spread anyway?
'Yes. Spreading it fast builds trust toward Dokgo Cheol within the Blood Sect.'
- But did you need to reveal we're heading out to purge them? We're holding this meeting without freshmen, so you could've brushed him off by saying he wasn't included.
No. It had to be revealed.
The Blood Demon couldn't ignore Manin Blood.
'While we're tormenting the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, how could they pass up fishing Manin Blood for free?'
After exchanging a few words with my master,
I sensed footsteps approaching the student council room, and Dokgo Cheol knocked.
Knock knock-
"President. Seniors. It's Cheol."
"Come in."
Speak of the devil.
Dokgo Cheol approached my desk and handed over a report.
"Checked the leather pouch inventory as assigned."
The report he handed had deliberate errors.
Below it, a note requesting a private word.
I immediately spoke up.
"...These numbers match? Different from what I checked yesterday. Did you verify personally?"
"Ah, just compared the admin and warehouse lists."
"This needs hands-on checks. Thought you were reliable, but no. Gotta see you work. Come with me."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I shot the others a look that good news had arrived and stepped out.
Reaching a secluded spot, I asked Dokgo Cheol,
"What's up?"
"Contact from above."
I kept my expression neutral.
"Yeah? What'd they say?"
"Various orders, but first, good news coming soon."
"Hm. The Yanggwang clash ended like a win for us since Heavenly Demon Divine Cult didn't push back hard... Their founding declaration's nearing, so they'll dismantle point orgs then? Looks like they're planning a big role for you."
"As expected of the president. You see right through it without details."
That would bring the day closer to reaching the Blood Demon.
I let a smirk slip and spoke again.
"Big merit alerting them to Song Gil-jun targeting the Blood Lord."
"All thanks to you, President."
"Spread faster through your channels. Anyway, 'various'? What's else?"
"Ah, first, can we acquire the academy's elixirs or spirit pills?"
"Spirit pills, huh."
That meant,
As expected, the Blood Demon was desperate for recovery tonics.
Proof the Blood Sect's desires aligned with the Demonic Cult's moves.
'Indeed, the Blood Demon can't ignore Manin Blood.'
Especially now, separated from Heavenly Demon Divine Cult sooner than in the original.
With confirmation, no hesitation left.
"If they're asking for scholar student spirit pills, they can't sit idle on the school trip and Manin Blood, right?"
"Yes. That came up too. But there's a matter needing discussion, so... I started with the simple part. Apologies."
"No need. What orders?"
"First, locations funding Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Manin Blood research. Use to build trust, they said."
"...Where?"
"On land: Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong, Bangseong Port in Guangxi, Xiamen in Fujian, Wenzhou in Zhejiang—four spots. At sea, Black Market called Dongsi in the Silver River Archipelago."
Considering Blood Sect's split from Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, pure intel.
But not all of it.
'If we raid these, they'll hold back 'real' ones fearing we might, dispatching their own elites.'
Still, major gain.
'Combining with our intel narrows exact spots.'
I wanted to cheer, but Dokgo Cheol had more.
I reined in emotions and asked,
"That's the intel you got. Haven't heard the discussion part yet?"
"After that, include our sect's dispatched missionaries in the school trip group somehow."
"Somehow? If possible?"
"Yes. Lucky I swore loyalty to you. Otherwise, it'd be push at risk of exposure... You said they're giving me a big role, but still treating me like a discard."
"That's 'cause true Blood Path ain't straight yet. Why'd we make True Blood Squad then?"
"Yes!"
"Anyway, shows how vital this is to them."
Instinct kicked in.
Leverage this offer right, contact another Blood Demon org.
I grinned and said,
"Thought it was something big needing discussion. No big deal."
"Really? But including our clan in the trip personnel..."
"Nah. Was planning True Blood Squad inclusion anyway if needed."
"You were?"
"Yeah. Need escorts for student supplies and baggage. Dokgo Clan fits. Others'll understand post-sect wipeout."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Combining Dokgo Cheol's intel with ours, we finalized division endpoints and wrapped prep.
Outwardly masked as student excursion,
Our journey began with Chancellor Kyung Hye's address.
"Obsessed with books makes bookworms, swords alone make sword ghosts. This school trip to see famed sights, landscapes, and common lives aims for all participants to hone themselves."
Finishing, the Chancellor descended and approached me at the procession's head.
Her expression so resolute, I sent light transmission.
[Chancellor, without Emei ordination, you'd be a wandering performer shaking the world. Ageless grace too... Outsiders'd think it's a real trip. Quite the actor.]
[Some student's fault, always making excuses to cover. Became habit.]
She smiled faintly,
but
"Have a safe trip."
Her eyes boiled quietly.
"Yes."
I bowed reverently.
Then led all students with escort professors onward.
Destination: Wuchang naval base.
Here, Yangtze eastbound and Dongting Lake southbound divisions split.
"Grand Marshal!"
"Welcome, Righteous Martial Academy students. Jeon Gal-hye."
After Grand Marshal greeted with others,
She pulled me aside for questions.
"What's this Blood Sect intel? Details?"
We'd shared Blood Sect matters long ago.
I relayed Dokgo Cheol's plainly.
"...Got their suspected dens' locations. Expect contact around endpoints."
Jeon Gal-hye narrowed eyes.
"Hm. Not all intel though, right?"
"Yes. Classic 'muddy waters, catch fish' ploy."
"Right. Profit in chaos. Spot on. Real Yong-un, should've kidnapped you to our Grand Marshal office clueless... Too big now."
"Height same as first meeting?"
"......"
Pausing mid-talk, biting lip,
She transmitted.
[Yong-un.]
[Sudden transmission? No one's around?]
[Just in case. Extra caution.]
[What so serious?]
[Truth: Song Gil-jun, Rogue Horse Army, here in Wuchang base.]
[? Isn't he jailed at Alliance?]
[Ruse. Base built with Alliance Lord's heavy influence, our Jeon Gal power, Southern Merchant King's funds—better than free-for-all Alliance.]
[Hm. Why tell me suddenly?]
[No loss trying. Probe him for dens? Our interrogations yielded zilch. You might differ?]
At Grand Marshal's words, master spoke then.
- Yong-un's pro at grilling and squeezing people.
'?'
- Deny it? Try.
True enough.
"I'm kinda specialist at that."