Chapter 117: Monopolizing Fortunes
Chapter 117: Monopolizing Fortunes
Do Tong-dal nodded at Namgung Seol-rin's question.
"That's right. Later, if I get the chance, I might be able to bring out weapons or elixirs too."
"What exactly is in the Imperial Palace Secret Archive?"
"If the Third Prince becomes emperor, wouldn't you be able to see it yourself?"
Won Dae-yeon pointed at the long box sitting at the edge of the table.
"So what's that?"
"The ingredient for cooking the Northern Unorthodox Alliance Leader."
* * *
The Unorthodox Alliance, the coalition of unorthodox factions north of the river, surpassed the Nine Great Sects at least in scale.
The Northern Unorthodox Alliance's headquarters was situated halfway up Bongju Mountain, away from the city.
A main road ran from the city all the way to the Northern Unorthodox Alliance, so getting there posed no difficulty.
The Northern Unorthodox Alliance's headquarters was the largest building Do Tong-dal had ever seen, second only to the Forbidden City.
"Looks like they made a lot of money doing bad things."
Namgung Seol-rin picked up on Do Tong-dal's remark.
"That doesn't sound like something a thug should say."
"Is a Namgung Clan person taking the Northern Unorthodox Alliance's side?"
"I'm just saying the pot shouldn't call the kettle black."
Do Tong-dal shot Namgung Seol-rin a glare.
"Then why did the pot insist on tagging along and picking a fight?"
"Because I'm bored."
Namgung Seol-rin, Jang Yu-seom, and Won Dae-yeon were, quite literally, idle thugs.
Protector was a position with nothing to do when the Red Tiger Society faced no crisis. So all they did every day was spar, but they couldn't spar all day long.
"Honestly, I think it's a good thing you brought us work."
"It's a life-or-death job."
"Dying in a fight is better than dying of boredom."
While they talked, they arrived at the Northern Unorthodox Alliance. Two guards stood before a gate so massive that four carriages could pass through side by side.
"Halt!"
They had barely stopped a few jang short of the gate, yet the guard shouted louder than necessary.
"Dismount and state your business!"
The overbearing attitude rubbed them the wrong way, but they dismounted without protest.
"We've come to see the Alliance Leader."
At Do Tong-dal's words, the guard frowned and looked Do Tong-dal and Namgung Seol-rin up and down.
"Who are you, and where do you come from?"
The sneering question carried the implication: "Do brats like you really think you dare meet the Alliance Leader?"
"If I say I'm Do Tong-dal from Hangzhou, you'll know."
"Your business?"
"I'll say it when I meet him."
"Ha! Do you think our Alliance Leader is some restaurant owner you can meet whenever and wherever you please? What's your status?"
"Underworld thug."
"What?"
"Underworld thug."
The guard, who had been wearing a dumbfounded expression, suddenly shouted.
"A mere thug wants to meet the Alliance Leader! You've gone completely mad!"
His outburst made it seem as though he might draw the sword at his waist at any moment. Namgung Seol-rin, offended, stepped forward.
"I'll give you one ke. Tell the Alliance Leader that Do Tong-dal is here."
"You young brats are unbelievable. And who are you?"
"I'm Namgung— no, I'm a thug from the Hangzhou Red Tiger Society."
"A woman? Good grief, there's no end to the madness. Leave while I'm still asking nicely."
"I said I'd give you one ke."
"You lot really think the Northern Unorthodox Alliance is a joke! I won't give you even one ke!"
They were clearly being looked down on. The fist thrown at Do Tong-dal's face showed no trace of martial technique.
Do Tong-dal deflected the punch with his palm, then slapped the guard across the cheek. Crack! The guard staggered back from the impact and landed hard on his rear.
"I said go get the old Alliance Leader."
"You bastard's got a death wish!"
The other guard rushed at him, but he too took a slap to the cheek and collapsed.
Pheee—!
The first guard who had been hit blew the whistle hanging around his neck with all his might. The shrill sound rang out, and before they could take a few breaths, warriors poured out from inside the Northern Unorthodox Alliance.
"What's going on!"
The middle-aged man who burst out first shouted. With his sharp eyes and half of his left ear missing, the middle-aged man immediately fixed his gaze on Do Tong-dal and Namgung Seol-rin.
"Hall Master! Those people came here and are causing trouble!"
The guard who had blown the whistle quickly tattled.
"Quite a crowd pouring out."
As Namgung Seol-rin said, over two hundred warriors swarmed the main gate in an instant.
Yet the fact that they were orderly rather than chaotic showed how well the Northern Unorthodox Alliance trained its warriors on a regular basis.
"Who are you people, daring to come to the Northern Unorthodox Alliance's headquarters and cause trouble!"
Do Tong-dal spoke.
"First, get your facts straight. They attacked, and we merely defended ourselves."
The middle-aged man's gaze turned to the guard who had blown the whistle.
"What happened?"
"They insisted on meeting the Alliance Leader out of nowhere, so I told them they couldn't."
"Who are they?"
"They say they're Underworld thugs from Hangzhou."
The middle-aged man's brow furrowed.
"Thugs?"
"Yes. How dare lowly thugs request an audience with the Alliance Leader?"
The middle-aged man asked Do Tong-dal.
"Is what he says true?"
"If it is, will you go get the old Alliance Leader?"
"This bastard dares to refer to the Alliance Leader that way at the Northern Unorthodox Alliance's headquarters! You truly must want to die!"
Do Tong-dal, who had been watching the furious middle-aged man, turned around and said to Namgung Seol-rin.
"Let's go."
"Just leave?"
"If he doesn't meet me, the only one who loses is the old Alliance Leader."
The middle-aged man shouted at Do Tong-dal's back.
"Stop right there, you bastard! Did you think the Northern Unorthodox Alliance was a place you could come and go as you please!"
"You'll regret it if you try to stop me and fight."
"Why, you—!"
At the middle-aged man's gesture, the warriors surged forward and surrounded the two of them. Killing intent rose from them as they gripped their weapon hilts, ready to draw at any moment.
Namgung Seol-rin whispered to Do Tong-dal.
"Is it okay to fight here?"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"If someone ends up dead, it'll be a mess, won't it?"
Even if Hwangmi Dal held goodwill toward Do Tong-dal, killing a warrior of the Northern Unorthodox Alliance would inevitably turn that goodwill into hostility.
"It's not like we could win anyway, right?"
"If it were only the ones we can see, maybe, but inside there are probably twenty times this many."
Do Tong-dal's judgment was quick. He raised both hands high and shouted.
"I surrender!"
"Hey, you don't need to be that pathetic about it......"
"We're getting captured anyway, so what's the point of saving face? Hurry up and raise your hands too."
"Tch!"
When Namgung Seol-rin raised her hands, two warriors approached. Then they punched them in the solar plexus.
"Ugh!"
Do Tong-dal clutched his stomach and collapsed, but Namgung Seol-rin, who had already braced herself, was perfectly fine. The warrior who had punched Namgung Seol-rin made a "Huh?" face.
"Are you actually hurt? With that martial art and that Internal Energy?"
Do Tong-dal, who had been grimacing, let out a sigh.
"Just pretend it hurts. That way you'll take at least one less hit."
"You have no pride."
"I'm practical."
A fist suddenly flew in and struck Do Tong-dal in the face. Since it was a part of the face he couldn't protect with Internal Energy, it hurt quite a bit.
Do Tong-dal glared at the warrior who had hit him.
"You, the one with the mole on your cheek. I'll remember you."
"Crazy bastard!"
The warrior raised his hand again, but a sharp shout rang out.
"Stop!"
Everyone's gaze gathered on Ha Su-ran, the veiled woman emerging from the gate.
"Everyone, stand down!"
"Strategist Ha......"
"I said stand down this instant!"
The warriors, including the middle-aged man, hastily backed away. They had never once seen Ha Su-ran that angry.
She came to Do Tong-dal and bowed.
"Do Tong-dal, I apologize. I should have informed my subordinates in advance."
"It's my fault for showing up without notice."
"I should have anticipated that you would come without notice. You suffered humiliation because of my dullness, and I don't know how to make amends."
Do Tong-dal's gaze fixed on the warrior with the mole on his cheek. The warrior flinched under his stare, then quietly lowered his head.
"I will severely discipline the warriors of the Alliance who made this mistake......"
Do Tong-dal waved his hand, cutting off Ha Su-ran's words.
"It's fine. What's the point of punishing low-ranking warriors? If I'm going to collect a debt, I should collect it from the old Alliance Leader. I intend to collect handsomely."
Ha Su-ran let out a soft laugh, and her veil fluttered.
"Sis, are you only sorry to that guy? Am I not even in your thoughts?"
At Namgung Seol-rin's words, Ha Su-ran quickly went over and hugged her.
"How could that be? I'm glad to see you, little sister."
Only then did Namgung Seol-rin smile and pat Ha Su-ran on the back.
"But what brings you all the way here?"
"Ask that guy."
Under Ha Su-ran's gaze, Do Tong-dal strolled toward the gate. No one blocked his path now.
"First, let's meet the old Alliance Leader."
"The Alliance Leader will be very pleased to see you."
"As if."
Do Tong-dal's thought was wrong. Hwangmi Dal greeted Do Tong-dal with such a bright smile that one might wonder whether such a cheerful expression could appear on that fierce face.
"Hahaha! What brings the Hangzhou thug to grace us with such a precious visit?"
"I got beaten up the moment I arrived for being a thug, and yet you're smiling so brightly, old man."
"Hm? Who dared lay a hand on you?"
"Why? Are you going to cut off their heads?"
"I was going to promote them. Heh heh heh......"
"Good grief, why is this thing on my back so heavy?"
Do Tong-dal, who had staggered into the reception room, set the long box slung diagonally across his back onto the table.
Do Tong-dal patted his shoulders and said.
"Seeing how you're acting, old man, I brought this for nothing."
"What is it?"
"You don't need to know. I'm taking it back anyway."
Hwangmi Dal sneered at Do Tong-dal.
"Heh heh heh...... Do I look foolish enough to fall for your bait?"
Do Tong-dal put on a deliberately surprised expression.
"Oh? Turns out you're a smart man after all. Then I should use this myself. But my weapon is a blade...... this is a sword......"
Do Tong-dal's gaze turned to Namgung Seol-rin.
"Want me to give it to you?"
In truth, Namgung Seol-rin didn't know what was in the box either. She had asked at least ten times, but Do Tong-dal had only stoked her curiosity with "You'll find out later."
"It's a sword? Is it better than the one I have?"
The sword she used was worthy of being called a famed blade.
"Probably. Want me to show you first?"
"Yeah."
Do Tong-dal opened the lid of the box. And the moment Do Tong-dal drew out the sword, everyone in the room stopped breathing.
The first person to speak was Hwangmi Dal.
"Th-that...... c-could it be the M-M-Makya Sword?"
Namgung Seol-rin stammered just like Hwangmi Dal.
"Is that...... really the M-Makya Sword?"
"It looks similar to the Makya Blade, but I wouldn't know."
Do Tong-dal held the Makya Sword out to Namgung Seol-rin.
"You take a look."
Hwangmi Dal shouted.
"Why should the Namgung brat look at it! I should be the one to appraise it!"
"I can recognize the Makya Sword just fine, you know!"
"What good does it do if you recognize it! I'm the owner of that sword!"
"How is it yours, Alliance Leader! Tong-dal is the owner!"
"My great-great-grandfather possessed it! It left our family's hands by chance, but recovering the Makya Blade and the Makya Sword is our family's greatest long-cherished wish!"
"Are you really claiming ownership for such a ridiculous reason? Why not go all the way back a thousand years?"
"The Makya Sword is mine no matter what! Mine!"
"Don't be ridiculous! Tong-dal! Give me that Makya Sword!"
"Huh?"
"I'll protect it with my life."
Namgung Seol-rin spoke to Hwangmi Dal as if growling.
"If you want this Makya Sword, you'll have to kill me."
Hwangmi Dal didn't back down either.
"If I could have the Makya Sword, I'd turn the world into a sea of blood."
"There is a way for you to have the Makya Sword without killing anyone, old man......"
At Do Tong-dal's muttering, Hwangmi Dal's gaze snapped around.
"What is it! If you tell me to crawl between your legs, I'll do it!"
"Why would you crawl between my legs, old man!"
"It's just a figure of speech. Why don't we stop this and talk over a drink, just the two of us?"
"Tong-dal! Don't fall for that scheming old man's tricks!"
"Scheming? I'm the Northern Unorthodox Alliance Leader!"
"Even an ordinary unorthodox boss is scheming, so how much more scheming must the boss of a place that's gathered dozens of such factions be!"
Do Tong-dal stopped the two of them.
"Both of you, that's enough. Why do you think I brought the Makya Sword all the way here?"
* * *