Chapter 234
Chapter 234
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 234
Chapter Title: Lord of the Fortress, Bukgung Baek (2)
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Though part of the vast framework known as the Central Plains, the world is essentially divided into four powers.
The Lion Alliance in the southeast, the Martial Emperor Fortress in the northeast, the Righteous Path Alliance in the heart of the Central Plains, and the Nine Dragons Fortress, which encompasses the entire west.
They are entrusted with the rights to taxation and administration, and are even responsible for national defense, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to consider them individual nations.
Following the command of the king of this nation called Nine Dragons Fortress, I headed for the Lord's Hall.
The problem was.
“The Lord is waiting for you in the Grand Dragon Hall.”
“...Why are you guys here?”
The servants waiting for me were former spies from the Ten Demon Alliance.
“Hehe, we've been appointed as the Lord's personal servants to work in the Lord's Hall.”
“What kind of work?”
“We're in charge of tidying the Lord's bedchamber, and seeing to his meals, drinks, and clothes. Oh, and we're also supposed to serve tea when the Grand Chancellor visits.”
“No.”
Shouldn't that kind of work be entrusted to someone trustworthy?
As I stared at them suspiciously, their leader rubbed his hands together ingratiatingly.
“Hehe, this humble one has now truly resolved to dedicate his life to the Nine Dragons Fortress.”
“So before, you were planning to return to the Ten Demon Alliance if you got the chance?”
“Goodness, of course not. It just means I've steeled my resolve to work hard...”
I ignored them and strode away, and they followed in a fluster.
“We'll guide you!”
“Do what you want.”
Following them, I arrived at an open space behind the Lord's Hall.
“Th-this is the place. *Pant, pant.* You must go alone from here.”
“I know, you fool. And get some exercise. How can a so-called former spy be so slow?”
“Eek!”
Leaving the fussing men behind, I looked ahead.
A path stretched between large trees, and at its end stood a small thatched hut.
The path, just over a hundred meters long, was lined with all sorts of traps, and hidden in the trees on either side were guards who protected only the Lord. This was the Grand Dragon Hall.
“Hmm...”
Just as the saying goes, the more you know, the more you see. Perhaps because my martial arts had grown stronger, things looked different than before.
‘They weren't from the Dark Poison Corps.’
The guards protecting the Lord were not from the Dark Poison Corps.
Warriors reeking of the scent of death.
If I had to compare, they were closer to a refined version of the Black Mountain Tigers.
Well.
‘It's not my place to worry about it, though.’
Who was I now?
Was I not the Master of the War King House, which steadfastly guarded the north, and the Lord's first disciple?
To put it in fantasy terms, I was like the first prince who had become the Grand Duke of the North. There was no reason for my master's guards to be hostile toward me.
I walked with confident strides toward where my master was.
“You're here?”
I found my master drinking under the eaves of the thatched hut.
“Becoming the Lord has at least one benefit.”
“What might that be?”
“The liquor the old Lord left behind.”
“...What a tremendous perk.”
“Come, have a drink.”
“Yes.”
The liquor brewed by the previous Lord could practically be considered an elixir. Fearing he might change his mind, I quickly sat down and accepted the cup he poured for me.
“Kuh... It truly lives up to its reputation.”
Hearing my exclamation, my master smiled faintly.
“This was the liquor the old Lord cherished most. I could only get a cup by begging and pleading.”
“It's certainly worthy of being cherished. In that spirit, please give me one more cup.”
“What you just drank was the last of it. You should have come earlier.”
“...”
“Don't be disappointed. There's still other liquor left.”
My master asked as he poured another drink.
“Now, tell me what I should do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn't you say you would make me the Lord and grow the War King House?”
“Ah. That.”
“Yes, that.”
“I haven't thought about it.”
“...”
“I mean, now that you're the Lord, you should be supporting me on your own. What more advice are you expecting from me?”
My master drank his liquor, a bewildered look in his eyes.
“Ahem. Support you... I understand.”
“But don't make it too obvious. It's worse than nothing if it earns me criticism from others.”
“Do you have a method in mind?”
“Well, there are many ways.”
I explained a few examples to my master.
“Honestly, the easiest way is for you to provide funds. It's the most convenient to utilize. But does that mean you give me money directly? No, not that either.”
“Then?”
“You bestow them as gifts. For example, when there's something to celebrate, you grant a priceless treasure. The amount of money is visible, but the value of a treasure isn't. In other words, it's not obvious.”
“Hoh... I see.”
“Next is supporting me with martial arts, and this is actually even easier.”
“Why is that?”
“Because we are master and disciple. Wouldn't it be enough for you to find a few decent martial arts from the Nine Dragons' Secret Archives, study them, and then teach them to me?”
“Wouldn't it be problematic if it became known that I took martial arts from the archives?”
“If you alter them slightly and give them new names, ninety-nine out of a hundred people won't know what martial arts they are.”
“Changing the name... How creative.”
“Of course, we can't do this for long. We have to stop once we've milked it enough.”
“Why?”
“Because the War King House is not a part of the Nine Dragons Fortress. It could easily look like we're siphoning the fortress's assets to an outside party.”
It was the so-called sorrow of a partner company.
“That can be solved simply.”
“Yes?”
“I held a meeting with the Hall Masters this morning. The agenda was the incorporation of the War King House into the inner fortress.”
“Gasp!”
“You once persuaded me by saying this: It's good for the War King House to grow, but what's the point if the lives of the common people are shattered?”
My master continued, a cynical smile on his lips.
“So I thought. How can the War King House continue to grow and prosper?”
“N-no way?”
“That's right, by reigning over the Nine Dragons Fortress. Just like those Namgung bastards reign over the Lion Alliance.”
“...!”
It was a new solution from a new perspective.
To reign over the Nine Dragons Fortress meant he wanted me to become the next Lord. And perhaps my descendants after me.
“W-will the Green Dragon Hall stand by? What about the Blue Dragon Hall?”
“You don't know yourself very well.”
“I'd think no one knows me better than I know myself.”
“The Red Dragon Hall Master has his eye on you for a grandson-in-law. Personally, you're the savior who saved the Gold Dragon Hall Master's life. And the Black Dragon Hall considers you one of their own.”
“Well, not exactly family...”
“If not, how could you have possibly performed the secret techniques of the Sun-Shooting Sword?”
“Ah...”
“The Black Dragon Hall Master's reaction was a sight to behold. He was overjoyed that a successor to the Sun-Shooting Sword had appeared, even though you aren't a disciple of his school.”
“Th-that's...”
I hurried to make an excuse.
Learning the martial arts of another lineage without permission was a great discourtesy between master and disciple.
But my master simply extended his fingers one by one, seeming completely unconcerned that I had learned the Sun-Shooting Sword.
“The Red, Gold, and Black Dragon Halls will back you. If the War King House joins, that makes four halls on one side.”
“Right...?”
“Excluding the White and Silver Dragon Halls, and including the War King House, there are seven. Four out of seven is a majority, is it not?”
“But the Red Dragon Hall...”
“Do it.”
“Yes? What do you mean?”
“The marriage. I've already made the promise. You'll be married next year.”
“No.”
Who gave him the right to arrange my engagement?
* * *
On the way back home.
Chirp, chirp.
The sun rose and the birds chirped.
Shielding my eyes from the sun with my hand, I thought about yesterday's events.
“...”
The discussion that began at night continued until morning.
The reason was simple.
My master was too stubborn.
‘I told you I have a lover?!’
‘The Red Dragon Hall said they don't care as long as she's not a concubine. Get married.’
‘I don't like her looks.’
‘She's quite pretty. Get married.’
‘Her chest is too small!’
‘There's an elixir that can make them bigger. I'll get it for you. Get married.’
‘You don't know her, but her personality is terrible.’
‘A dazed fool like you needs a sharp-witted wife. Get married.’
‘How would you know, Master? You've never even been married.’
‘You think I've never been married?’
‘That's not what I meant... If you were widowed, my apologies...’
‘Correct. I don't know how you knew. So, get married.’
‘...’
In the end, after arguing for a long time, I managed to secure a six-month grace period.
‘First, I'll discuss it with my lover in Hanzhong. If she refuses, there's nothing I can do, right?’
‘Domestic peace is important. I'll give you six months, so think it over slowly.’
‘Phew...’
Of course, the marriage wasn't the only thing we discussed.
‘Setting that aside, I'll need your help with something.’
‘Help?’
‘It's nothing much. I just need you to arrange a private meeting with Baek Jung-cheon.’
‘A private meeting, with a great sinner who committed treason... Why?’
‘To swallow up the White Dragon Hall. Since we're joining the inner fortress anyway, isn't it better to increase our size?’
‘Fine. I'll speak to the Grand Chancellor.’
And so, the long, drawn-out discussion came to an end.
The next day.
Just as my master had said, I was able to have a private meeting with Baek Jung-cheon, who was imprisoned in the dungeons of the Lord's Hall.
“What are you planning to do?”
The Grand Chancellor, who had come with me, asked.
Judging by his furrowed brow, he seemed to have noticed something.
When your opponent knows your move, there are two ways to respond.
One is to speak honestly.
“Yes? What do you mean? I just came to see his face.”
The other is to feign ignorance.
“What trouble are you planning to cause now...”
The Grand Chancellor sighed and said.
“You have two hours. I can't give you any more time than that.”
“That's plenty of time to mess with him.”
*Clank.*
As soon as I entered the dungeons of the Lord's Hall, I identified my destination at once.
There was only one place with a light on.
*Thud, thud.*
After walking for a short while, I saw Baek Jung-cheon, bound behind iron bars.
“You cur! How dare a sinner like you hold your head up so high?! Guards! Torture this man at once!”
I immediately roared.
I'd always wanted to try that.
At that, he spoke in a low voice, his eyes dead.
“...I don't know what you're doing, but if you have something to say, sit down.”
“...Alright.”
What's with the lack of reaction?
As soon as I sat down, I observed Baek Jung-cheon.
‘His eyes look a bit vacant, but there are no signs of him having been tortured.’
In truth, it didn't really matter whether he had been tortured or not.
He was a great criminal who had joined hands with a heretical faction to overthrow the Nine Dragons Fortress.
This was a crime so heinous that even a former Supreme Court Justice turned defense attorney couldn't have saved him from the death penalty.
And there was only one reason I was meeting with such a condemned man.
‘A deal.’
To make a fair and just deal.
“It's been a few days. Have you been well?”
“As you can see, I have not.”
“What are you planning to do?”
At the simple question, the corners of Baek Jung-cheon's mouth twisted.
It was a smile born not of mockery, but of resignation.
“I don't know either.”
“Have you given up on everything?”
When I asked again, he spat out in a voice full of resentment.
“Then what should I do? It's all over.”
“Wouldn't it be better to just spill who you were in league with and go peacefully?”
“I'd like to, but I don't know anything. I'm telling the truth.”
“Causing all that trouble and you can't even reveal who was behind it... You're just giving more reasons for you to die.”
Baek Jung-cheon chuckled softly and said.
“I'm going to die anyway, what is there to lose?”
“It might be a different story if it concerns the White Dragon Hall.”
“...!”
Baek Jung-cheon's eyes widened.
“The White Dragon Hall... no, the Baek Family and the Silver Star Escorts will be expelled from the Nine Dragons Fortress anyway. You must have guessed that much, right?”
“...Yes.”
“But what if they were to be kicked out with their bodies intact? And with all their assets, too.”
“Is-is that possible?”
In the Central Plains, the custom for treason is the extermination of nine generations of the family.
The martial world was no different, meaning the direct descendants of the two halls were as good as dead.
This was the part I had my eye on.
After the direct descendants are killed, the assets managed by each hall will be scattered to the winds.
But what if, in exchange for sparing the lives of the direct descendants, I could swallow their assets whole?
Wouldn't that be the very definition of a windfall?
“Let's make a deal.”
“A deal?”
“Yes. If you give me what I want, I'll let the Baek Family leave unharmed.”
“...What is it that you want?”
At his question, I rubbed my thumb and index finger together.
“What else? Money.”
Hearing my words, Baek Jung-cheon got off the chair.
His limbs were bound, causing him to fall awkwardly, but he paid it no mind and knelt.
“I'll give you as much money as you want. Please, just save the Baek Family.”
“Are you sure? The amount of money I want is a bit large.”
“A-a hundred thousand nyang. No, I can give you five hundred thousand.”
“That's barely enough to make it worth my while.”
I held up two fingers to show him.
“Two million nyang.”