Chapter 65
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Loophole
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"Well, it's no big deal, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"The power of the constellation I absorbed. I went through hell trying to sort that out."
After slaying the Serpent Connecting Ends.
Rimon had been suffering from the remnants of starlight seeping into his body.
Being able to wield a constellation's power wasn't bad, but he couldn't control it freely, and the intense sense of alienation had caused him no small discomfort.
"In the worst case, I was even prepared for secluded training."
The only solution was swordsmanship practice.
Even that was progressing so slowly that it would have taken a full ten years at the rate things were going.
"That would have been a problem..."
"Yeah, our plans to devour the Seven Dragon Society would have gone up in smoke."
"No. If you went into seclusion, Sword Duke, I'd end up getting beaten and locked away right after our wedding?"
"Is that what you're worried about?!"
"What could be more troubling for a bride on the verge of marriage?"
"Tch, anyway, we found a solution, so it's fine."
"Yes, truly fortunate."
While Rimon was racking his brains over it.
An unexpected solution had emerged.
The Ebony Violin he'd obtained at the amusement park with Li Chingwei.
More precisely, playing it.
"Who would've thought that cursed instrument would help dissolve the constellation's power."
"Exactly."
The moment he was forced to play by the cursed violin's power, which moved its owner at will.
Rimon had felt it clearly.
The starlight remnants, lodged in his body like unyielding rock until now, began melting away like salt clumps in a downpour.
"Thanks to that, I can at least somewhat control the constellation's power now, which is nice..."
"Is there something lacking?"
Li Chingwei tilted her head.
Rimon gave her a dissatisfied look.
"It's ridiculous that the constellation power I can finally wield properly is just this disguise ability."
"'Just'? It's on par with the White Mask Disguise Art, which is no small thing."
Li Chingwei wore an amused expression.
The form of the young man 'Li' that he used during Julia's lessons was Rimon's disguise.
A transformation ability unlocked by playing the Ebony Violin and melting the starlight fragments.
Derived from the serpent's fragments that dealt in deceit and illusion.
This disguise went beyond mere appearance changes—it interfered with perception itself.
A single mole on the face could make him someone else entirely, or a white coat alone could make him look like a doctor.
It was the pinnacle of disguise arts.
An actor could embody a thousand roles; an assassin could infiltrate anywhere. A dreamlike ability.
But Rimon remained unimpressed.
"It's still just disguise. I'm neither a clown nor an assassin—what good is this?"
"Yet you use it well when meeting Julia."
"That's just because I figured she'd run before learning anything if she saw my real face."
The bluebird perched on Rimon's head giggled at his words.
[And yet you still made two teachers flee on the first day. Even a fake face can't hide Team Leader's dignity...]
Smack!
[Ow! Why hit me?]
"Butting into adults' conversation, you cheeky thing?"
[I'm an adult too!]
"That's your past life. A fledgling with no feathers pretending to be grown—what's that about?"
[Ugh! Mental age counts! And I'm a bird anyway—a few months and I'm fully grown!]
"Sure, go eat some more earthworms then."
Li Chingwei smiled faintly as Yuna Kyung flapped her wings in outrage and Rimon teased the bluebird.
"Anyway, it's been a week already, and Julia's still here, unlike before. Glad the lessons are going well."
"..."
[...]
"What's wrong?"
"Well, yeah. The lessons are going fine. Yeah, fine."
[Team Leader, watch your words...]
"Blue, beasts eat—that's their job. Here, stuff yourself."
[Mmph, mmph!]
Rimon crammed snacks into her beak, silencing her and attempting murder in one go.
Ignoring Yuna Kyung, who flapped wildly before collapsing in spasms, he turned to the puzzled Li Chingwei.
"So, why'd you seek me out? You didn't interrupt my training just to check on lessons."
"Ah, it's about that loophole I mentioned before."
"Loophole... You mean when they asked me to run a subsidiary?"
"Yes. Preparations are finally complete."
Rimon looked surprised at Li Chingwei's reply.
"Pretty quick. That didn't seem like something you could resolve easily."
"It wasn't that hard, surprisingly."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Turns out there are plenty of cases like yours in this country. I referenced them."
"At least I'm the first to hold the president hostage, though?"
"Of course, excluding that precedent."
Li Chingwei grinned and offered a small case.
Rimon opened it, checked the contents, and made a strange face.
"...Princess, what's this?"
"As you see, Sword Duke's business card."
"It says I'm the CEO of 'Guardian,' the dedicated security, guard, and audit firm for Leviathan Group's subsidiaries?"
Expensive flair.
A luxurious card: thin silver plate with gold lettering.
Holding the card emblazoned with an even pricier title, Rimon looked dubious. Li Chingwei replied calmly.
"Because that's the subsidiary you'll be heading from now on."
"...Didn't you reference similar cases?"
"High officials here often become outside directors at conglomerates after retirement or start firms benefiting from their connections."
"Princess, that's not 'connections'—it's 'parachute.'"
"Different?"
"Two letters become three—that's the difference."
Rimon gave up explaining the nuance between "connection privilege" and "parachute drop."
Instead, he asked dubiously.
"Princess, I said I'm too busy training for this. Dumping a busy CEO role on me—what's the plan?"
"It's fine. No one will complain if you don't work."
"What does that mean?"
Rimon frowned in confusion.
Others might overlook it, but the elders who conditioned it on results wouldn't tolerate idleness.
Seeing his expression, Li Chingwei smiled meaningfully.
"Sword Duke, what do you call putting security, guards, and audits under one roof?"
"Overwork?"
"No—handing a fish shop to a cat."
"...What?"
A brief blink.
Realizing the implication, Rimon asked incredulously.
"You want me to be the eunuch in charge?"
"That's outdated. People say 'shadow ruler' more these days."
"Whatever—it's becoming the real power behind the throne, wielding info under the leader's favor."
"No, but the elders and others might see it that way."
"Hmm?"
Rimon furrowed his brow at her response.
He tapped the table thoughtfully, then spoke.
"In short, blackmail?"
"If you must analogize. No one in the clan truly expects you to work diligently in such an organization."
"Obviously. It's like handing a sword to the swordsman."
Past martial alliances.
Cold War secret police or FBI.
Organizations handling intel, security, and oversight wielded overwhelming power in any era.
Especially with Rimon in charge?
To the Black Dragon Clan, he'd look like a licensed killer.
Even if that killer was too busy holing up at home—without knowing, they'd tremble.
"Oversight bodies inherently hope enemies slack off the more hostile they are."
"Isn't that why tax offices and prosecutors end up corrupt?"
"Yes, just—we start corrupt. Slight difference."
"Doesn't sound slight."
"Must be your imagination."
Rimon scratched his head, eyeing her innocent smile.
"I get it—the less I work, the better the position. But really okay? If I slack, they'll complain later."
The elders were itching for excuses.
They'd watch now, but once they learned Guardian was hollow, they'd pounce.
"Don't worry. Even if you don't work, Guardian will."
"What now?"
"I've prepared everything."
"...?"
Rimon looked puzzled.
Smiling, Li Chingwei called instead of explaining.
"Come in."
Right then.
A figure entered as if waiting, bowing politely.
"You called, Princess."
"You know what to do now, right?"
"Yes."
Tall, short-cropped hair.
Slim build, semi-formal attire.
Neat face, cold eyes.
Ambiguous—man in drag or delicate man? The androgynous woman turned slightly.
Her icy indigo eyes fixed on Rimon as she bowed formally.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Weiling, appointed your secretary from today, Sword Duke."
"...Secretary?"
Rimon looked like she'd said something nonsensical.
Li Chingwei said lightly.
"You're nominally CEO now. You need at least one aide."
"I don't need that."
"Still, accept her. A capable aide helps in every way."
Rimon narrowed his eyes at her meaningful words, despite his indifference.
He glanced between her smile and Weiling's cold face.
"Like what help?"
"Depends, but advice on work or handling simple tasks."
"...Sounds like dumping all company work on her?"
"Oh, could be."
Feigning surprise, as if the idea never crossed her mind.
Rimon chuckled at her natural act.
"So, dump all work on her, I play figurehead CEO eating results while training?"
"No need to see it negatively. Appointing talent and delegating well is leadership."
"That's what incompetent bosses say to steal subordinates' credit."
Rimon marveled anew at her audacity.
'So that was the plan all along?'
No wonder she accepted the elders' condition so readily.
She'd planned to pair him with capable staff—even a monkey could perform.
"But to match their expectations without complaints, 'capable' won't cut it."
"No need to worry."
Before Li Chingwei replied.
Weiling spoke coldly.
Meeting Rimon's gaze squarely with sunken eyes, she stated flatly.
"I won't burden you with incompetence in business matters."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Her voice dripped overt hostility.
So sharp and direct it felt refreshing. Rimon smirked.
He glanced at Li Chingwei.
"You can trust her. Weiling's the most reliable talent in our clan."
"Giving her to me as secretary—okay with that?"
"It's that important."
Relief washed over Weiling's face openly.
Despite the same cold expression, the tension visibly eased.
But only briefly.
"Of course, if you're displeased, Sword Duke, I can replace her. What do you think?"
"...!"
Weiling paled instantly. Rimon chuckled.
He grasped Li Chingwei's intent in assigning this hostile woman.
But he didn't point it out.
Instead, he turned to Weiling.
"Weiling's fine?"
"Yes."
"Good. Surname later."
"Even then, I won't permit you to hear my alias from my lips."
"We'll see."
She replied coldly, as if the name alone offended.
Far from angry, Rimon laughed like he'd found a fun toy.
Then, as if it just occurred.
"Oh, ask for advice anytime. No stealth, but I can teach swordsmanship."
Since she was his aide now, regardless of feelings.
Rimon said casually.
He gave Weiling a mischievous look.
"Weiling of the Voidless Advance Sword Style."
"..."
Former princess's guard.
Now dismissed and assigned as Rimon's secretary, Chao Weiling said nothing.
She just glared, eyes screaming intent to stab his back.
Cold-faced Chao Weiling.
Ferociously grinning Rimon Asfelder.
Amid the bluebird choking on snacks, flapping and convulsing, Li Chingwei smiled at the contrasting pair.
"Looks like you two get along well. Glad to see it."