Chapter 219
Chapter 219
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: Two Requests
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Si-woo and Ye-ryeong had asked Jin Ha-ryeong for two favors.
The first was revenge.
No matter how formidable Blue Zone was, with Jin Ha-ryeong's help, revenge wouldn't be so difficult.
But Jin Ha-ryeong refused.
He had no intention of killing Kim Il-su. Even when Kim Il-su had joined forces with Jin Do-ha to attack him, Jin Ha-ryeong had let him go alive.
So there was no way he'd grant Si-woo and Ye-ryeong's request now.
The second request was...
"Right, those two are indeed after Hyo-min..."
It was to rescue Hyo-min, who was being held captive by Kim Il-su.
He had expected as much.
Si-woo and Ye-ryeong wouldn't just leave Hyo-min in captivity forever. No, it was strange that so much time had passed in that state already.
The reason they hadn't done anything until now was surely just one thing.
They couldn't move carelessly, or she would be in danger.
The fact that they were finally making a move now meant...
"You've finally found her?"
They had located Hyo-min's hidden position.
Otherwise, it didn't make sense that the two had stayed so quiet for so long.
"That's what they said."
"Of all places, they had to come to you."
"Thanks to that, you now know where those guys are headed."
Soo-hyuk nodded.
Yes. Their choice might have been foolish, but the outcome wasn't.
"Thanks for letting me know."
"And you?"
"Me?"
"You're not going to ask for a favor? For help?"
Soo-hyuk shook his head at Jin Ha-ryeong's question.
"Coming to you in the first place was foolish. We're lucky if we just get refused."
"You know me well."
"That's what worries me more. Those two must have known that too."
Ye-ryeong might not know, but Si-woo was aware of what kind of person Jin Ha-ryeong was. And yet, he had gone to him with Ye-ryeong.
He had gone despite knowing full well it wouldn't work.
'It means they're that desperate.'
It's too hard for just the two of them. If things continue like this, not only will they fail to rescue Hyo-min, but Si-woo and Ye-ryeong themselves will be in danger.
If they were the people he knew, they wouldn't abandon Hyo-min no matter what happened to their own lives.
"Thanks for the info."
He had unexpectedly received valuable information.
"If you're done talking, get out. And don't go killing anyone else somewhere."
"No expectations."
Soo-hyuk and Jin Ha-ryeong turned in opposite directions. Soo-hyuk headed back to the manor, while Jin Ha-ryeong stepped outside.
Jin Ha-ryeong's words lingered in his mind the entire way.
Thanks to that, he was fully awake now.
Murim Alliance headquarters.
In what could be called the heart of the Murim world, Namgung Hwa-young strode forward purposefully.
The military strategist of the Murim Alliance, Zegal Dancheon, spoke up at her visibly angry gait.
"Please calm down for now."
"Do I look like I can calm down right now?"
Her voice was louder than usual as she headed to the reception room.
"He doesn't even bother to show his face when I come looking, but now someone's in the reception room?"
"It's the Namgung Clan Leader and the Sinryeon Fortress Lord."
"This is outrageous. A guest going to meet another guest."
The Murim Alliance Leader was the master of the Murim Alliance. Moreover, Sinryeon Fortress had been one of the guilds affiliated with the Murim Alliance since its founding.
Yet the Sinryeon Fortress Lord visiting the Murim Alliance had gone to see the Namgung Clan Leader instead of her.
It was undoubtedly improper. Still, Zegal Dancheon found her reaction unusual.
"This isn't like you."
The Namgung Hwa-young he knew wouldn't show her anger so openly, even if she was upset.
"Is it because of the Namgung Clan Leader?"
Namgung Hwa-young flinched and trembled, then answered in a quieter voice than before.
"...Maybe."
"If you feel it might be, then it probably is. But, Alliance Leader."
Zegal Dancheon gently soothed the flames rising within her.
"Issues between parents and children are rarely one side's fault alone."
"Yes."
Namgung Hwa-young nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind, Strategist."
"Then let's go."
Somewhat calmed, her footsteps were slower than before. Upon arriving at the reception room, Namgung Hwa-young took a deep breath and said,
"Announce me."
"Yes. The Murim Alliance Leader has arrived."
The attendant waiting outside announced her arrival.
And shortly after.
"Come in."
The Namgung Clan Leader.
Namgung Ga-hwi's response came.
The door slid open.
The scene inside the reception room came into view at once.
Two men sitting across from each other, facing two glasses of liquor on the table. Namgung Ga-hwi and Un Cheon-geuk.
Her gaze went first to Namgung Ga-hwi.
"It's been a while, Father."
"You don't show your face even when I come, but the Fortress Lord is welcome?"
"The Murim Alliance is my home. If you wanted to see me, you should have come to me, Father."
"Does etiquette supersede natural bonds? Since when do parents go seeking their children?"
There was no way to say who was right between the two.
It could have been resolved if one of them had just gone to the other. And neither Namgung Hwa-young nor Namgung Ga-hwi was foolish enough not to know that.
This was simply a matter of pride between a father and daughter who disliked each other.
Namgung Hwa-young's glare at Namgung Ga-hwi shifted to Un Cheon-geuk.
'He doesn't care at all.'
Her words just now applied to Un Cheon-geuk as well. He too had come to the Murim Alliance and sought another guest first.
What on earth were these two plotting here?
Was she overreacting to what was just a drink between them?
'No.'
Just a drink.
But in this Murim world, for figures like the Sinryeon Fortress Lord and the Namgung Clan Leader, nothing was ever "just."
So she asked.
"How about you, Fortress Lord?"
It sounded like a veiled rebuke.
Both had skipped seeing the Alliance Leader, but Namgung Ga-hwi and Un Cheon-geuk's situations differed.
Unlike Namgung Ga-hwi, who had the clear excuse of familial bonds, Un Cheon-geuk had no such justification.
Sinryeon Fortress was part of the Murim Alliance. Whether by rank or host-guest relations, he should have sought her out first upon arrival.
But Namgung Hwa-young didn't show it.
"I heard bad news and was wondering if you were alright."
The Sinryeon Fortress Lord was a formidable opponent.
Even by rankings alone, he was above her. His skills were the same.
She had to tread carefully.
Dealing with him meant keeping in mind she could be devoured.
"I'm fine. Though my Vice Fortress Lord did die."
Was he fine or not?
Unsure how to respond, Namgung Hwa-young hesitated before speaking.
"Glad to hear you're alright. But... coming all the way to the Murim Alliance headquarters, what important matter are you discussing with the Namgung Clan Leader?"
She wasn't asking to hear the answer.
It was just a warning.
Whatever they were scheming, keep to the boundaries.
But.
"It's something the Alliance Leader should know as well."
Un Cheon-geuk nodded readily and gestured for her to sit.
As if telling her not to just stand there.
Wondering what he would say, Namgung Hwa-young took her seat. Un Cheon-geuk spoke.
"It's related to the well-being you just asked about, Fortress Lord."
"Well-being?"
At Namgung Hwa-young's puzzled reaction, Namgung Ga-hwi took over.
"We were discussing what to do about that Lee Soo-hyuk."
Lee Soo-hyuk.
A name she'd been hearing frequently lately.
The man who had boldly declared in front of her that he might have to fight the Murim world.
"What do you plan to do with him?"
"Sinryeon Fortress belongs to the Murim Alliance."
"Are you saying the Murim Alliance should punish him?"
"What do you think?"
Namgung Hwa-young shook her head at Namgung Ga-hwi's question.
"No."
It wasn't a snap decision.
It was a conclusion reached after careful deliberation and discussion with her strategist, Zegal Dancheon.
The Murim Alliance would not intervene in this matter.
"This incident happened solely because of the Fortress Lord's daughter. And she's Lee Soo-hyuk's manager."
"Is that so important?"
"It is. Protecting your comrades is only natural."
Namgung Hwa-young asked Un Cheon-geuk.
"Don't you think so?"
Un Cheon-geuk didn't deny her question, which implied she knew the full story.
The Murim Alliance was never sloppy. They had long ago grasped the relationship between the Sinryeon Fortress Lord and his daughter.
"Lee Soo-hyuk did nothing wrong. As he said, if you want to take your daughter back, I won't stop you, but the Murim Alliance won't lend swords to a family quarrel."
This was a fight justified by family and comrades.
The Murim Alliance couldn't get involved in such a conflict.
Moreover.
"You'd be wise not to make an enemy of Lee Soo-hyuk."
Zegal Dancheon.
The Murim Alliance's strategist said,
"If he's the blade to slay the Heavenly Demon as you hope, Alliance Leader, he can't be an ally, but he shouldn't be an enemy either."
They were in agreement.
When the strategist and leader saw eye to eye, it was only natural to push forward.
"I understand what you're saying, Alliance Leader."
Fortunately, Un Cheon-geuk didn't flare up.
No.
On the contrary, he responded as if he'd been waiting for her words.
"We'll handle this among ourselves. That seems right."
A faint madness gleamed in Un Cheon-geuk's eyes.
Even though Namgung Hwa-young opposed punishing Lee Soo-hyuk, his gaze suggested he'd received permission to kill him.
Meanwhile, Namgung Ga-hwi was displeased with her decision.
"Neutrality... You really believe that guy can kill the Heavenly Demon."
As if lording over her, Namgung Ga-hwi scoffed.
"Wake up. Not even the real deal could do it, let alone a fake."
"Lee Soo-hyuk didn't fail to kill the Heavenly Demon. He chose not to."
"You know well. He had no intention of fulfilling our wishes."
"That's the Lee Soo-hyuk from back then."
Judging there was nothing more to discuss, Namgung Hwa-young stood.
This wasn't a matter for sharing opinions.
"If we're done, I'll take my leave. Please continue your talk."
But.
"There's one more thing."
For some reason, Namgung Ga-hwi stopped her as she turned to go.
A man who would normally tell her to leave first.
"One more?"
"Do you think we came all this way for leisure?"
"You came to see me?"
"Yes. This is something you need to hear. You're the Murim Alliance Leader, after all."
As if the title irked him, Namgung Ga-hwi's face twisted at "Murim Alliance Leader."
Namgung Ga-hwi disliked his daughter becoming the Murim Alliance Leader.
The next leader in line had been him or Un Cheon-geuk here. Most people expected one of them.
But Jin Do-ha had overturned it at the last moment.
"We need your decision on this. The Murim Alliance Leader's decision."
A matter requiring the Murim Alliance Leader's decision meant the Murim world had to move.
And at this timing, there was only one such issue.
Sure enough, the name slipped from Namgung Ga-hwi's lips.
"We're challenging the Guardian."
Guardian.
The greatest existence in this tower, blocking the path to the next floor.
The tower had been stalled, unable to breach it for over twenty years.
"Isn't it time the stopped clock started ticking again?"