Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Assassins 1
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Iron Blood Gang.
A man in his late thirties sat in the seat of honor, listening to reports from his subordinates. His hair reached down to his waist, and his skin was smoother than that of most women, without a single blemish.
His appearance was quite distinctive. His eyes were so narrow that his pupils were barely visible, while his lips were as thick as a frog's.
If one were to describe the Iron Blood Gang's "smiling blade"—a man who hid a knife behind his smile—it would be this very person, Deputy Leader Yoo Ja-eon.
While outsiders all feared the Iron Blood Gang Leader Gwan Min-gang, those within the Iron Blood Gang truly dreaded Yoo Ja-eon the most.
The executives continued their reports to Yoo Ja-eon.
"Mak So-gwang, who had been coming and going from the North Heaven Alliance's West Light Branch, is dead."
The reporting executive glanced at Yoo Ja-eon's expression for a moment. There was no change in it.
The report continued.
"Ban Go-yeong, who was returning after pursuing Mak So-gwang's killer, was killed by a North Heaven Alliance warrior named Baek Moo-jin in a place called Dae Myeong Village."
The executive paused again and cautiously watched Yoo Ja-eon.
Yoo Ja-eon's slit-like eyes turned toward the executive.
"How did Ban Go-yeong die?"
"They say he was sliced from the shoulder to the navel. It looks like he was killed in a single strike."
"Got it. Next..."
"Yes."
At the prompt to continue with the next report, another executive picked up.
"Negotiations with the Nine Heavens Alliance have broken down. They didn't specify why, but we've looked into it separately, and it seems they're in a dispute with some shadowy force we haven't identified."
"Shadowy force?"
"Yes."
"Find out exactly what that shadowy force is before the next report."
"Understood."
"Is that all?"
The executives tensed at Yoo Ja-eon's question. He continued.
"The North Heaven Alliance is preparing to strike us."
"That's correct."
"Then why isn't anyone here mentioning any countermeasures?"
The executives couldn't get used to Yoo Ja-eon's tone. It felt like conversing with a spiteful woman. And since he was their superior, it irritated them even more.
One executive responded to the question.
"We've actually been considering a strategy, so I'll present it here. First off, there's been an incident at the North Heaven Alliance's East Heaven Branch."
"What kind of incident?"
"A supervisory inspector dispatched by the North Heaven Alliance clashed with the East Heaven Branch, resulting in the death of the branch chief and dozens of branch members killed or injured."
"And?"
"How about dispatching an appropriate force to surround the East Heaven Branch and wait? We could hide a large force nearby in ambush. Once we crush their reinforcements, we advance straight to the North Heaven Alliance headquarters. Alternatively, we could lure a large force to the East Heaven Branch and then strike the North Heaven Alliance headquarters with our full gang."
"Not great."
"........."
A vein bulged on the forehead of the reporting executive.
'That damn bastard, this isn't a game of wordplay...'
Yoo Ja-eon, noticing the vein on the executive's forehead, said,
"Executive Jeok, you should work on your expression management before those bulging veins get cut off."
The man called Executive Jeok bowed his head.
"My apologies."
Yoo Ja-eon smiled as he continued.
"I'll run that strategy by the Leader. Anyway... separately."
"Yes."
"That Baek what? The one who killed Ban Go-yeong."
"Ah, Baek Moo-jin."
Yoo Ja-eon looked at the executives and said,
"Who’s going to kill him?"
"We were planning to send a Rain Guest."
"Rain Guest? Does a Rain Guest have the skill to kill Ban Go-yeong in one strike?"
"Not exactly, but that Baek fellow is more than enough..."
Yoo Ja-eon sneered at his subordinate's words.
"If the Rain Guest gets killed too, will you take responsibility?"
When the executive couldn't respond, Yoo Ja-eon issued a new order.
"Five thousand nyang... no, Ban Go-yeong might feel slighted. I'll set aside ten thousand nyang separately. Inquire with the Assassin Gate about the cost."
"Deputy Leader, why bother with the expensive Assassin Gate..."
Ignoring his subordinate, Yoo Ja-eon continued.
"The terms are simple. I want to see Baek Moo-jin's face, so put his head on my desk. Not just kill him—cut off his head and bring it. If you can bring him alive, that's fine too. Tell them I'll pay extra for that. Understood?"
"Understood."
"When placing the commission, pass a message to the Assassin Gate Leader. Say we should have a drink soon."
"Will do."
The Assassin Gate was a group of mercenaries formed by those who chased only money, famous for taking commissions regardless of faction.
As the meeting ended, Yoo Ja-eon left one final remark.
"Make preparations. I'll discuss the rest with the Leader and let you know."
"Understood."
2.
From the moment the three characters "Baek Moo-jin" became known to the Iron Blood Gang, his life had been rapidly swept into the turbulent world of the martial forest.
For starters, Baek Moo-jin's name was gradually spreading through the North Martial Forest.
Those who had witnessed Baek Moo-jin's martial arts in Dae Myeong Village, people who carried those stories to the Iron Blood Gang, and even the assassins from the Assassin Gate who had taken the Iron Blood Gang's commission—all had to mention the name "Baek Moo-jin" frequently.
After comprehensively assessing the information, the Assassin Gate made an unexpected decision.
'Iron Blood Gang's Ban Go-yeong didn't even put up a fight.'
Even though their assassins were rated as first-rate in the martial world, the Assassin Gate dispatched two assassins to the North Heaven Alliance simultaneously.
Baek Moo-jin had suddenly become the top name on the kill lists of both the Assassin Gate and the Iron Blood Gang.
3.
Late afternoon. Seo Moon-geuk, who was unusually craving alcohol today, was wandering around the North Heaven Alliance searching for Baek Moo-jin. He found him in a corner seat of the Scripture Compilation Hall, accessible to regular alliance members.
Tsking his tongue, Seo Moon-geuk said,
"What are you reading so intently?"
Seo Moon-geuk approached Baek Moo-jin and asked.
"Ah, you're here."
Several books were scattered on Baek Moo-jin's table. Among them, he was reading the Record of Martial Prowess in the Rivers and Lakes.
Record of Martial Prowess in the Rivers and Lakes.
It was a book compiling records of powerhouses and factions by era, as well as accounts of past righteous-demonic great wars. However, being a compilation of records, it lacked much on current events.
Seo Moon-geuk let out an exclamation upon seeing the title.
"Brother Baek, is this your first time seeing the Record of Martial Prowess in the Rivers and Lakes?"
"Yes."
"Congratulations on finally reading this gem."
"Have you read it all, Brother Seo Moon?"
"Of course. There are various editions, and my family even has a thicker one. Stories of past masters who dominated their era are engaging even in that dry style."
"They are. I was lost in it."
But the perceptive Seo Moon-geuk tilted his head, noticing Baek Moo-jin's less-than-pleased expression.
'Hmm...'
Why was Baek Moo-jin reading the Record of Martial Prowess in the Rivers and Lakes here? As the twelfth patriarch of the Snow Mountain Baek Family, he was searching for traces of his family before their fall.
Fortunately, there were some records on ice arts. But most ice art masters were listed as unorthodox faction members or even demonic path experts.
That's when Seo Moon-geuk walked in, as Baek Moo-jin's face darkened from reading that.
Seo Moon-geuk's perceptiveness had reached a remarkable level. Even without knowing the exact situation, he accurately guessed Baek Moo-jin's concerns.
Without showing it, Seo Moon-geuk grinned and said,
"Knowing the past is good, but grasping the current reality is important too. Do you know about the Nine Heavens Alliance, which borders the North Heaven Alliance's Southeast Branch?"
"No."
"Tsk tsk, the situation is too dire. Add the Iron Blood Gang and Sacred Flame Palace to the Nine Heavens Alliance, and that's the old Black Path Alliance. While vying for Black Path Alliance Leader, internal strife broke out among us, and Iron Blood and Sacred Flame left to form the current Nine Heavens Alliance. First time hearing this?"
"Yes. How would I know? I haven't been down from Snow Mountain long."
"That's the problem."
"What is?"
"Don't you pick up these things naturally by drinking with me now and then? It's been days since Dae Myeong Village. How old are you? Gonna live buried in books? Joining the military? Taking an official post? That's the issue with you young folks these days."
As Seo Moon-geuk rattled on with nonsense, Baek Moo-jin, grasping the intent, chuckled and replied,
"So, the conclusion?"
"Let's have a drink."
"Heh heh, let's go."
"Man, it's so hard to get a drink. If you're the little brother, you should say, 'Brother, let's have a drink.' That's normal. Why do I always have to come find you?"
As Seo Moon-geuk nagged, Baek Moo-jin patted his back like one soothing a younger sibling.
"The alliance is chaotic, so I've held back. It's time for a drink. Let's go."
Seo Moon-geuk grinned and fanned himself.
"Today, I'll clearly explain the martial world's situation. You pay for the drinks."
"Of course. No question... Master Seo Moon..."
And so, the two headed to the restaurant street for the first time in a while.
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