Chapter 101
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: No Way That Would Happen
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Finally, the culprit had been captured alive.
The news spread throughout every affiliate of the Black Dragon Clan overnight.
Including the rumor that it was Wang Jinong, the head of the Shanghai Wang Family, who had caught the culprit.
"The Wang family head must have overexerted himself."
"Shall we issue a rebuttal statement?"
"Hmm."
Li Chingwei tilted her head slightly.
Then, with genuine curiosity on her face, she asked,
"If I said that I caught the culprit, do you think many in the clan would believe it? Or would more suspect that the Sword Duke stole the Wang family head's credit?"
"The CCTV clearly shows Wei Ling arriving first, though."
"But few would believe that Wei Ling caught the culprit who even killed Great Hero Wang all by herself."
Li Chingwei paused for a moment.
Then, delicately picking up a Go stone with her slender fingers and moving it to a new position, she added,
"And the idea that it was possible only with the Sword Duke's remote guidance? That would be even harder to swallow."
"...You're right."
Youin gave a wry smile.
Even he, a warrior of the old era, found the notion that the Sword Duke had caught the culprit just by giving phone instructions utterly absurd.
And the clan, who had never witnessed Rimon's skills and now harbored only grudges, would never buy it.
Especially while the Shanghai Wang Family was spreading these rumors at the risk of their lives.
"It's so typical of the Wang family head to spread it as mere rumors."
"If they claimed it officially, we could at least reveal the truth."
"That's exactly why they're content with unofficial whispers. Sometimes, vague rumors carry more weight than gold, jewels, or even territory."
"A cunning ploy."
For the Shanghai Wang Family, who already had plenty of wealth and power, quietly letting rumors circulate was a brilliant move.
If the truth never came out, they could claim the honor and restore their family's position just like that.
And if things got messy and it was revealed they'd snatched the culprit, they wouldn't be held accountable for the rumors.
Low risk, high reward.
It was a scheme perfectly in line with Wang Jinong's calculating nature—gaining much while losing little.
"Frankly, I couldn't care less about something so trivial."
"So you won't take any special action?"
"It's not worth the effort."
But Li Chingwei dismissed Wang Jinong's efforts as pointless toil.
It might have been a matter of life and death for the Shanghai Wang Family, but to her, it was too insignificant to bother with.
Youin asked her cautiously,
"Won't the Sword Duke feel slighted?"
"The Sword Duke?"
As if she'd heard the most amusing joke.
Li Chingwei let out a soft chuckle, flashing a playful smile as she countered,
"Do you think the Sword Duke would regret such a minor achievement that even seems trivial to me? The man who doesn't care about the honor of saving the world?"
"...It was just my unfounded worry, then."
"It's not unfounded. The Sword Duke might not regret it, but it's still something to lament."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. That's why I said the Wang family head overdid it."
Li Chingwei smiled faintly.
If he'd politely asked to hand over the culprit, Rimon would have given in despite his reluctance.
But Wang Jinong had essentially stolen the culprit away, crossing the line of what Rimon might tolerate.
Since Wang Jinong weighed everything in terms of profit and loss, he'd misjudged, assuming Rimon wouldn't yield such credit.
"If all he gains for earning the Sword Duke's enmity is that much, can it even be called a win?"
It might be a gain for now.
But one mustn't forget.
Rimon was the immortal Sword Master.
A superhuman who could meddle in the Shanghai Wang Family's affairs for centuries to come.
Recalling the losses the Seven Dragon Society had suffered over the past few hundred years because of Rimon alone, Youin found himself pitying Wang Jinong despite himself.
"...The Wang family head has committed the error of greed over small gains."
"He's been busy lately. Anyone gets hasty and makes poor judgments when they're impatient."
It sounded like she was defending Wang Jinong.
But Youin could tell.
There was no nuance of mediation or reconciliation in her words.
And that Wang Jinong's enemy wasn't just Rimon, but their princess as well.
'I should sell off any stocks related to the Shanghai Wang Family.'
Separate from his surging pity, Youin made a cold decision as Hotel Leviathan's general manager.
To him, Li Chingwei said calmly,
"Truth be told, we don't need to worry about the Wang family head. The problem is outside."
Clack.
With her composed words, she moved a Go stone.
Or rather, gazing at the map where Go stones of gold, silver, ruby, sapphire, emerald, jade, and obsidian were placed, Youin asked quietly,
"...You mean the other clans?"
"Yes. Honestly, if they decide to move in earnest, it won't just be a headache."
"Even the other clans wouldn't dare挑衅 us openly."
"But they could act covertly. And regrettably, we lack the power to block their interference."
Youin couldn't deny Li Chingwei's sigh-tinged words.
The Gold Dragon Clan, who controlled America's financial might.
The Silver Dragon Clan, Great Khans of the Russian Khanate.
The Azure Dragon Clan, who dominated the British Empire.
The White Dragon Clan, a pillar of the Holy Alliance.
The Red Dragon Clan, generals of Africa's military regimes.
The Emerald Dragon Clan, who had swallowed South America's cartels.
Even within the Seven Dragon Group, the Black Dragon Clan's power was feeble compared to those six clans.
In fact, there were many countries in the Zhonghua Seventy-Seven Federation where other clans held more sway.
East Asia was their home turf, after all, and the Black Dragon Clan had clashed with Rimon the most in the Seven Dragon Society, paying the heaviest price.
So when Rimon—the very root of the Black Dragon Clan's decline—and Li Chingwei announced their engagement.
The other clans wouldn't just sit idly by.
"How do you think they'll move?"
"Each clan will have different ideas."
Recalling the recent string of meetings, Li Chingwei continued softly,
"The Gold Dragon Clan seems intent on slapping us with their gold, and the Red Dragon Clan is ramping up their threats."
"That's somewhat fortunate."
"Yes, at least they won't act immediately. But the others... who knows."
Those who showed clear intent were better off.
You could predict their moves and prepare accordingly.
But those who hadn't revealed their stance were harder to anticipate or counter.
"Do you suspect the other clans' involvement in this incident too?"
"No, I doubt it. They'd gain nothing from petty prods like this—they'd go for all-out war if anything."
"It could be reconnaissance."
"Maybe, but do you really think so?"
Li Chingwei tilted her head slightly.
She didn't trust alliances with the other clans.
The Seven Dragon Society was less a unified organization and more an alliance of seven clans. Even when they'd opposed the whole world in the past, their solidarity hadn't been that solid.
Now that things had softened, staging a terror act for scouting was entirely possible.
Yet Li Chingwei saw the odds as low, and for good reason.
"If I were them, I wouldn't scout like this. I'd plant a spy quietly inside or try contacting the Sword Duke directly."
"You don't mean the other princesses would step up personally?"
"Probably."
The Seven Dragon Society was the organization that had fought Rimon most fiercely.
They knew better than anyone what kind of existence he'd been in the past.
Even if the era had changed, remembering even half of that former glory made it unsurprising if another princess moved directly.
Li Chingwei herself had gone straight to propose to Rimon, after all.
"They're holding back because after our engagement, the Sword Duke's reputation has been steadily declining."
"...Is that why Your Highness hasn't been particularly concerned with restoring the Sword Duke's reputation?"
"It's one of the reasons. If his reputation rebounds, the other princesses will move that much faster."
Youin nodded inwardly, understanding why Li Chingwei had watched Rimon's falling reputation so leisurely.
"I'll pay more attention to the other clans' movements."
"No, focus on internal security instead. Especially around Hotel Leviathan's staff."
"So no need to guard against direct intervention?"
"If they decide to move in secret, we couldn't stop them anyway."
Li Chingwei shook her head.
Then, eyeing the Go stones on the map, she spoke softly.
"For all we know, some princess might have already started contacting the Sword Duke."
"No way that's possible."
"It is."
Dismissing Youin's skeptical denial with ease, Li Chingwei added,
"Especially if they know about the Sword Duke's musical talent—at least two would fly over immediately, right?"
"That's..."
Youin trailed off.
He knew, having heard Rimon's performance himself.
Setting aside his Sword Master status, Rimon's musical skill was in a league of its own.
And as Li Chingwei said, among the Seven Dragon Society's seven princesses, there were those who would come from the ends of the earth to hear it.
The incarnation of possessive desire, who couldn't rest until she claimed whatever she wanted.
Or the princess who lived for song, wandering the world in pursuit of it.
"...Those ladies won't get a chance to hear the Sword Duke play."
"I hope not."
Youin thought to himself.
Li Chingwei's worries were overblown.
How could they hear Rimon's playing when even in the Black Dragon Clan, only she, himself, and Wei Ling had?
And even if by some chance, princesses who each rivaled a nation's king wouldn't act so rashly.
* * *
"Hmph. Well, now."
"What's up, partner?"
"What else? It's you, obviously."
"What's wrong with me?"
As if she had no idea.
Rimon clicked his tongue at Yujin tilting her head innocently.
"I thought you'd found a proper job since you said you wanted to work."
"This is a proper job."
"Waitressing?"
Rimon clicked his tongue again at Yujin, who held a tray in one hand, dressed in her uniform and serving tables.
But Yujin remained unfazed.
She just shrugged and set down the juice she'd brought.
"Why not? You make money, get food, and sometimes even sing. Best job ever."
"...That last part isn't normal waitress work, is it?"
"Partner, I hate rigid thinking. Without flexibility and quick wits, it's hard to get hired these days."
As if he were hopelessly naive about the world.
As Yujin wagged her finger side to side and Rimon wore an odd expression,
"Hahaha! Miss Yujin's absolutely right. A waitress singing now and then? No problem at all. Of course not!"