Chapter 100
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: A Pig Scarier Than a Wolf
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"Goodness, watch your words. You can't make such tribalistic remarks when you're about to become the princess's consort, now can you?"
[Why is that tribalistic?]
A question laced with sarcasm.
But Rimon asked it calmly, as if he genuinely didn't understand the reason.
[No matter who the opponent is, fabricating stories, deceiving them, betraying them, and then playing innocent—that's always been your clan's pride and joy, hasn't it?]
"That's true, but business relies heavily on image, you see. If our clan gets branded with that kind of reputation, it hurts our operations."
[So it all boils down to money?]
"Don't blame me for being so materialistic. When you're the head of a family, there are so many things you have to look out for."
[I don't particularly blame you. It's refreshing how straightforward it is.]
Rimon chuckled softly.
He understood why Wang Giyeong was being so brazen.
It wasn't just about avenging his cousin or the clan's grudge.
It was for the family's gain.
The more gruesomely they executed the murderer.
And the more information they squeezed out of him.
The Shanghai Wang family could not only restore their tarnished honor but also solidify their position—and even turn a profit.
In the end, it wasn't much different from when they had proposed a deal, asking Rimon to hand over the chance to capture the murderer.
The only difference was one thing.
Before, they had tried to negotiate with him, just like with Rimon.
This time, they decided to ignore him completely.
After all, no amount of sucking up would win him over, as proven last time, and picking a fight with Rimon—whose reputation had already hit rock bottom—wouldn't cost them much.
As long as they ignored the fact that entrusting the murderer chase to Wang Giyeong had been the decisive blow to that reputation drop.
It was a coldly rational judgment worthy of the head of a prestigious Black Dragon Clan family.
[Just to confirm: what if I still insist on killing that bastard right now? What then?]
"Do I need to spell it out?"
[Yes.]
"Something unfortunate would happen."
[Oh?]
Even without Wang Giyeong being present, Rimon could clearly picture the man's expression and intent behind those words.
He acknowledged it calmly.
[Fine then. Take him and do whatever—boil him, roast him, I don't care.]
"As expected of the Sword Duke, so wise."
[I just don't want to escalate this trivial matter to the point of severing your head.]
"......"
A bored, indifferent tone.
But precisely because of that, Wang Giyeong understood it was sincere, without a shred of bluff, and fell silent.
Rimon spoke to him in a low voice.
[With that in mind, let me warn you in advance: be careful if you plan to take that bastard. He's a poisoned apple.]
"Thank you for the advice."
Just like when Black Dragon Construction had withdrawn from tracking the murderer and shared the clues with them.
Wang Giyeong smiled and expressed gratitude for the unsolicited counsel.
Rimon snorted at him.
[Don't get the wrong idea. This isn't advice—it's a warning.]
As if mocking Wang Giyeong's foolishness for ridiculing Rimon's naivety behind polite facades and flattery, without even securing any real gains.
Rimon flashed a cold sneer at Wang Giyeong, who was blinded by immediate profits and swallowing an obvious disaster.
[If that bastard causes trouble, you'll be the one responsible, Wang family head.]
"No need to worry about that."
Since he had ignored Rimon's consideration and greedily pursued gains, any fallout would be entirely his own burden.
No use regretting it later.
Wang Giyeong replied nonchalantly to Rimon's icy words.
"As the Sword Duke said, we are the Black Dragon Clan, after all."
They might deceive others.
But they would never be deceived themselves.
That was the pride and strength of the Black Dragon Clan—something an outsider like Rimon could never understand.
Rimon didn't bother pointing out Wang Giyeong's arrogant self-assurance, stated without a hint of doubt.
He simply spoke dryly, with genuine intent.
[Good luck, then.]
After Rimon and Wang Giyeong concluded their not-quite-negotiation over the sparrow-eyed youth's fate, and the Shanghai Wang family warriors escorted him away.
Weiling stepped out of Tianhua Department Store.
She had intervened due to the emergency, but Tianhua hadn't yet contracted with the Guardians.
Cleaning up the aftermath fell to Sherung, the current head of security there.
Of course, whether Sherung—who was already gravely injured and had lost most of his men—could handle all those bodies and restore order was questionable.
Weiling didn't care.
What she wanted to ask about now was something entirely different.
"Why did you do it?"
[Do what?]
"I'm asking why you handed the murderer over to the Wang family head so willingly."
[What if I hadn't? Should I have just killed him?]
"Didn't you believe that's what you should have done?"
[I did.]
Rimon acknowledged calmly.
Though he had never seen the sparrow-eyed youth in person, the traces left on the victims he'd killed and the man's actions today made it clear.
That bastard was a harmful one.
Strength-wise, no issue.
Weiling had beaten him, after all.
But from Rimon's experience, scum like that always came back to bite later if left alive.
Still, the reason Rimon ultimately handed him over to Wang Giyeong was simple.
[But if I had, that Wang bastard would have blown it up big time. Claiming I killed him just to hog the credit.]
"That's ridiculous."
[Why do you think so?]
"Even setting aside that the Wang family head gains nothing from it, wouldn't that be too ungrateful?"
Weiling retorted without thinking.
Rimon had endured all sorts of slander just to give them a shot at personal revenge, even stepping back from the murderer.
For the beneficiary, Wang Giyeong, to scheme against him like that would be utterly shameless.
[...Are you doing this on purpose, or do you really not know?]
"What do you mean?"
[Never mind. Now I get why the princess treasures you so much.]
"......"
Weiling furrowed her brow.
It sounded like praise on the surface.
But it felt oddly like she was being called an idiot, stirring an inexplicable discomfort.
[To point out the flaw in your thinking: he does gain something from it.]
"What?"
[Sympathy votes and the enemy of my enemy.]
Weiling's face hardened at the cryptic words.
"You're saying he'd deliberately tarnish your reputation and ally with clan members who view you unfavorably?"
[If we're just talking pure profit and loss, it's the most effective move.]
"......"
[What, too ungrateful?]
Silence in place of agreement.
Rimon chuckled at her reaction and continued.
[Listen up, little miss know-it-all. If you ever want to rise high in the Black Dragon Clan, remember this: that's exactly how your clan operates.]
Wang Giyeong wasn't particularly cunning or shameless.
The Black Dragon Clan was just like that by nature.
His voice carried a light laugh.
But the words held undeniable sincerity, and Weiling finally realized.
Why Rimon hadn't gotten particularly angry at Wang Giyeong's face-saving stunt.
And the real reason he'd brushed off his plummeting reputation within the clan all this time.
"You... don't expect anything from our clan at all?"
[No, I do have expectations.]
Their innate slyness.
The schemes and strategies built over generations.
The influence controlling the world's wealth, and so on.
As he voiced what he expected from the Black Dragon Clan, Rimon added one more thing.
[I just don't trust you.]
Things like trust, loyalty, conscience, or gratitude—he never expected them from the Black Dragon Clan to begin with, so he was never disappointed.
Weiling found herself asking without realizing it.
"Even the princess?"
[Why does 'even' apply there? Truth is, your princess is the least trustworthy of the lot.]
"Then why accept her marriage proposal?"
Li Chingwei had offered everything for their betrothal.
Weiling's face chilled at the claim he still didn't trust the princess she revered.
The response was straightforward.
[I don't trust your princess, but I decided to place faith in her.]
"What's that supposed to mean? Wordplay?"
[If it sounds like wordplay, that's unfortunate. This is the best compromise your princess wrung from me, staking her own life.]
"That half-baked relationship where you neither fully trust nor fully suspect?"
[Isn't that what May-December romance is?]
Rimon chuckled.
When he accepted the proposal.
He swore on his sword.
That as long as she didn't turn her back on him, he wouldn't abandon Li Chingwei.
It wasn't a promise of unconditional trust and protection.
If anything, the opposite.
A threat: betray him, and she'd pay with her life.
But Li Chingwei accepted.
It was the best Rimon could offer.
She knew it was natural—he distrusted the Black Dragon Clan as much as they distrusted him.
A betrothal forged not from trust, but suspicion.
Blades pointed like thorns instead of flowers.
Bound by necessity.
That was their relationship.
[I'm no Romeo or Prince Dongmyeong, and your princess is no Juliet or Nakrang.]
Love at first sight between enemies only happens in novels.
In reality, political marriages between foes meant eyeing each other's poison cups even if they didn't outright kill one another—Rimon knew they could never be soulmates.
Let alone trusting other Black Dragon Clan members when he didn't even fully trust Li Chingwei herself.
[Anyway, don't think too badly of it. As long as you don't pull any tricks, I have no intention of shunning you all.]
"......Even the Wang family head?"
[Yeah, even that Wang bastard.]
Rimon acknowledged calmly.
Though Wang Giyeong had stabbed him in the back, that was just the Seven Dragon Society being the Seven Dragon Society.
To Rimon, who had endured every scheme since they were called the Demonic Cult, it wasn't worth getting mad over.
[But I won't go out of my way to help, either.]
Of course, it didn't exactly leave a good taste.
Weiling read the implication and asked quietly.
"Are you certain that man will cause trouble for the Wang family head?"
[How could I be certain? I'm no prophet.]
It was just a hunch.
Not prophecy.
If hunches alone could solve everything, Rimon would have hunted down the murderers long ago.
That's why he said it.
If Wang Giyeong handled it carefully.
Whatever schemes the youth had, they might come to nothing—or he might even extract truly useful info.
[But you should warn the princess ahead of time. Tell her to prepare accordingly.]
"Is that necessary?"
[Yes. If trouble brews, it won't end with just a few deaths.]
Even so, Rimon issued the warning.
Not solely because he was convinced the sparrow-eyed youth would cause problems.
It was the bare minimum responsibility as Li Chingwei's betrothed and the Guardians' leader, tasked with the Black Dragon Clan's safety.
And another hunch, from watching someone act purely on self-interest.
[With a mad bastard, you just avoid the bite. But a greed-blinded pig always overreaches and causes an accident.]