Grant Me Authority (2)
“Hmm.”
One of the elders cleared his throat, and Hanbin continued.
“This is my position within the family. But will my words carry weight on this joint mission with other sects?”
Silence hung over Hanbin's words.
“……”
Glancing around at everyone, Hanbin spoke up.
“It doesn't have to be the family head's plaque. Just give me a position that other sects won't ignore.”
Finishing his piece, Hanbin politely cupped his fists toward the assembly.
Throughout, he observed their expressions.
Most were hostile.
Some pretended indifference, fiddling about.
A few allies.
Hanbin memorized the faces of enemies and allies in this game.
That was when it happened.
Paeng Daewi casually tossed a plaque onto the table.
Clack.
The sliding plaque came to a stop right in front of Hanbin.
Reflexively grabbing it, Hanbin heard Paeng Daewi call out.
“Will this do?”
Hanbin examined the plaque in his hand.
Hebei on the front, Paeng on the back.
And a chilling touch that bit into the skin.
It was unmistakably the family head's plaque, forged from millennial cold iron.
Hanbin grinned.
“Thank you for trusting me.”
Grumbles erupted from here and there.
“How can you hand over the family head's plaque so easily…”
“Family head regent, what is the meaning of…”
Paeng Daewi's next words silenced them all.
“From now on, leave the paperwork to him.”
Paeng Daewi pointed at Hanbin.
As everyone gaped in shock, unable to close their mouths, Paeng Daewi stood.
“This concludes today's meeting.”
With a brief cupped-fist salute, Paeng Daewi left the family head's hall.
Hanbin slipped out quietly as well.
Behind him, the elders and division heads descended into chaos, brimming with discontent.
Not his concern.
Hanbin had lit the fuse intentionally.
The fallout would determine the order in which he'd snap their necks.
“Oh, right, the Paeng Ho Squad got a mission.”
“What kind of mission?”
As So Daeseop asked with a serious expression, Hanbin replied nonchalantly.
“Wolf hunting.”
So Daeseop eyed him suspiciously.
“Wolf hunting? What do you mean?”
“Wolves have been coming down from Absol Valley into the villages lately. It's a joint op with the officials, so…”
Hanbin trailed off, alternating glances between So Daeseop and Sim Miho.
Both swallowed hard, awaiting his next words.
Seeing their faces, Hanbin smiled.
“This time, Deputy Leader Sim Miho, you'll come along. Get Jo Ho and Jang Sam ready too.”
“Understood.”
Sim Miho beamed and cupped her fists. Beside her, So Daeseop's shoulders slumped.
Hanbin addressed him.
“Leader So Daeseop, drill the remaining squad members hard.”
Handing over a letter, Hanbin watched So Daeseop scan it quickly.
So Daeseop's eyes widened as he read, and Sim Miho peeked over to read along.
“Gasp!”
Sim Miho cried out.
So Daeseop followed.
“If we follow this, we're dead.”
He pointed to sections of the letter.
It was densely packed with the training regimen Hanbin had prepared.
Even tougher than last time—So Daeseop felt dizzy just looking.
Heading to Cheonsu Manor would've been a better deal than this Absol Valley mission.
“Fulfill it diligently while we're gone, and I guarantee ten nyang of silver.”
“Yes, sir. I'll work hard.”
Hanbin chuckled at So Daeseop's quick shift.
His daughter's medical bills must be running short.
I'll deal with him after the hunt, he resolved.
Sim Miho gaped at the seamless pivot.
“Isn't that too much, Leader?”
“Money makes the world go round, no? Deputy.”
“Well, true.”
Then Hanbin called So Daeseop again.
“Leader So.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“One more thing.”
“Speak, my lord.”
“If Cheolno wants to join training, include him.”
“Cheolno?”
So Daeseop glanced at Cheolno.
Cheolno shook his head as if to say, What're you talking about?
Hanbin prodded.
“Time for Cheolno to reclaim his martial arts and protect me, right?”
“Ah.”
Cheolno looked skyward, speechless, drawing laughs from around.
So Daeseop cupped his fists.
“As you command, my lord.”
Cheolno vanished from his seat in a flash.
That night.
In the chambers of Jeonghwa Madam, the family head's second wife.
Jeonghwa Madam sighed, fingering her teacup.
“Hoo.”
The man before her bowed his head in sync.
Jeonghwa Madam fixed them with a chilling gaze.
“A man must always hold his head high, no matter what. Is there a tiger limping from a pup's bite?”
She spoke to herself as much as to them.
“Yes, Mother. Understood.”
The responder was Third Young Master Paeng Mubin.
Jeonghwa Madam's lips parted again.
“But!”
Her icy voice echoed through the room.
As Paeng Mubin's face hardened, she set her teacup down hard.
Thud!
Tea sloshed out, splashing everywhere.
Some hit Paeng Mubin, but he waited stoically for her to continue.
As the droplets dried, Jeonghwa Madam spoke.
“Without me, you'd have taken the full blame for smuggling manuals.”
“I'm sorry.”
“And after I fixed that, you caused another mess. If I hadn't bowed to that Fourth Young Master, you'd be rotting in the cells for six months.”
“……”
Paeng Mubin had no retort.
He had grievances, but his mother was mostly right.
Jeonghwa Madam's expression grew frostier.
“Never drag me down, no matter what. If you do, you can't stay in this house.”
“Yes, I'll remember.”
Paeng Mubin bowed deeply.
Amid the pile of letters, numbers peeked out.
Jeonghwa Madam inked over one, obliterating it completely with repeated strokes.
Then she penned a new letter.
Scribble, scribble.
She sealed it and summoned a subordinate.
“You called?”
“Deliver this to my maternal family.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
The black-clad warrior saluted and vanished.
Gazing after him, Jeonghwa Madam turned toward a distant spot.
Hanbin's quarters.
Her glare there was even colder than toward Paeng Mubin.
As her sigh deepened, a shadow slipped from her window crack.
The shadow reappeared in the bamboo grove.
Swish.
It was Hanbin.
He never slacked on surveillance any more than training.
“Man, she's always so vicious.”
The next day, Hanbin summoned Sim Miho.
“Deputy Sim.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Take this letter to Cheonri Escort Agency.”
“Why there?”
“It's an order form—they need it directly.”
“Order form?”
“You must know Cheonri isn't your average escort agency…”
“Huh?”
“You didn't?”
“First I've heard.”
“Learn now, then. If Cheonri can't get it, no one can.”
“Ah.”
Sim Miho eyed Hanbin and the letter dubiously, then pocketed it.
Everything Hanbin did had a reason.
And the results were never bad.
“I'll deliver it right away.”
“Good, thanks.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As Sim Miho whooshed away, Hanbin tapped his temple.
Jeonghwa Madam would play her final card soon.
Countering it required the Wandering King's aid at Cheonri Escort Agency.
A week later.
Twenty tents dotted the area around Jeongmun Mountain.
Justice Alliance sects, ronin, and imperial troops mingled there.
The Hebei Paeng Family's tent was at the far end.
Stepping out, Hanbin scanned around.
Searching for owners of Yongrin Sword Art formulas.
“So many gathered, and no hits. Sigh.”
Meaning no formula bearers, of course.
Sim Miho asked at his sigh.
“No hits?”
“Nah, my body's just stiff—must be a ley line nearby.”
“Then, some training…”
“No need to waste energy.”
A kindly voice came from the side.
“We'll be neighbors for a while, so allow me to introduce myself.”
A mild-mannered man smiled.
Hanbin checked him, then the banner on his tent.
[Ak (ak)]
Shandong Ak Family's banner, for sure.
No need to feign here.
Hanbin put on a friendly face, sizing him up.
Tall as Paeng Family men, a youth with a long spear in his right hand.
Hanbin quickly cupped his fists.
“Shandong Ak Family's joining the mission too, I see.”
“Indeed. But who might you be to speak of 'hits'?”
“I'm the youngest son of Hebei Paeng Family, Paeng Hanbin. I meant drinking buddies.”
“My apologies—I misunderstood. But youngest son…”
The warrior trailed off.
Hanbin filled in.
“Guess my reputation's reached Shandong. Not a good one, probably.”
“No, no, young master. Rumors aren't reliable—your aura pierces the heavens. How could we dismiss Hebei's youngest? I'm Samheowon, serving Young Master Akbigwang of Shandong Ak Family.”
He knew how to play along.
Smooth talker, honey on his tongue.
Hanbin smiled faintly.
“One of the Three Heroes, eh.”
“Hero? Too kind. It's early, but care for a drink?”
The Ak Family warrior laughed heartily, planting his spear and saluting.
Hanbin returned it.
“Sure. I'll handle the liquor.”
“Haha, I'll bring the snacks.”
Thus, an impromptu gathering between the two families began, with warriors from both sides joining.
After a round of drinks, Hanbin asked.
“Young Master Akbigwang not joining?”
“He had business—delayed, so I set up camp first.”
Then.
A booming voice from behind.
“Who’s the Paeng Family's youngest?”
Turning, Hanbin saw a spearman eyeing him.
A head taller than Samheowon, hands scarred like leather gloves.
Hanbin rose calmly.
“I'm Paeng Hanbin, youngest of Paeng Family.”
“I see. I'm Akbigwang of Shandong Ak Family.”
Hostility laced his tone.
Paeng and Ak warriors alike widened their eyes at the sudden tension.
Samheowon jumped up, blocking Akbigwang.
“Young master, we're just getting acquainted with Paeng warriors. Something wrong?”
“Sit down. I need words with Paeng Family's youngest.”
Akbigwang raised his spear at Hanbin.