Chapter 81
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Spy (5)
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"Ah... You'll know once you hear this."
"What..."
I revealed the chimera and played back the evidence. They panicked at the sudden appearance of the chimera, but their expressions quickly hardened as the voices rang out.
"Hyung-nim, so... what do you plan to do about that matter?"
"We have to take it slow. That bitch Yun Yeon is full of suspicions."
"Wh-what..."
Their faces grew pale and rigid as the rest of their conversation played back.
"Remember this. Once the operation starts, we absolutely have to capture Yun Yeon alive."
"More than that... when does the operation begin? The kids must be raring to go... I heard a whole truckload of them can't sleep from excitement."
"Th-this is why..."
"...Why? You still have excuses?"
"It's a m-misunderstanding...!"
Unexpected.
Honestly, I'd thought they'd lunge at Yun Yeon right away. With things this far gone, their only option was to kill her and me and escape.
Denying it even now... Well, maybe they know they have no chance against Yun Yeon?
The reason I could stay so calm was because I knew how strong Yun Yeon was. I could bet my wrist that even if both of them attacked her at once, she'd finish them in under three minutes. In this world, the gap in power grew wider the higher you went.
Shin Ju-tae must have realized he had no shot in a fight, so he chose denial.
I spotted him desperately continuing.
"Something's wrong! It's been tampered with!"
"...Shin Ju-tae. You know I hate excuses."
"It's n-not an excuse. You're trusting that guy?! After all our years together, why believe him over me?!"
"R-really, Ju-tae hyung and I are innocent! P-please believe us!"
"...Ju-tae, Jong-won. What do you want from me? What are the outlaws expecting?"
"No! This is Eternity Clan's divide-and-conquer!"
"Haha! Divide-and-conquer? Hahahahaha!"
When crisis hit, their brains froze and IQ dropped. I couldn't hold back the laughter at their nonsense.
Why would our clan sow discord in Myth Clan? Even if we wanted to, we didn't have the spare resources.
They didn't seem dumb before... Must be mental pressure messing up their thinking.
"Don't l-listen to this crazy bastard, it's all Eternity's scheme..."
"Here's the thing, Mr. Shin Ju-tae."
"What..."
"You probably heard... Our clan found the Library of Records, right?"
"What does that have to..."
"Shut up and listen. Someone's talking. Got it?"
"You son of a...!"
"Swearing now? Anyway, listen up. Right after our clan left the Library of Records, we got ambushed by outlaws. After winning the fight, I interrogated one personally, and he spilled something unexpected. Said they'd planted a spy in Myth Clan."
"What bullshit is that!"
It was bullshit. He was a spy, sure, but the outlaws who attacked us had no connection to Shin Ju-tae. It was just a fabricated story to make it convincing for Yun Yeon.
It must have sounded utterly baffling from his perspective.
"Anyway, that's why I stuck around in Myth Clan for a while, investigating who the spy was. Get it now?"
"L-lies! It's lies! Clan Master! Please believe me! It's not true! That guy's lying right now...!"
"Ju-tae... You harbored dirty feelings toward me? And betrayed me and the clan because of it?"
"......"
Shin Ju-tae shut his mouth, realizing no words would sway Yun Yeon.
Crunch.
Shin Ju-tae whipped out a dagger from his robes and slashed at Yun Yeon. Pretty good timing. A normal person would've been sliced fatally.
But Yun Yeon isn't normal.
Thwack!
"Urghhh!"
Before anyone could blink, she dodged the dagger and smashed her fist into him.
"Urk! Guh...!"
As Shin Ju-tae barely regained his senses and staggered back, Kim Jong-won swung his sword at Yun Yeon.
"Raaah!"
What? Why isn't she dodging?
I wondered at Yun Yeon not evading, but then she threw a punch.
The result was shocking. Her fist met the sword—and instead of being cut, the blade shattered into pieces.
Insane.
Kim Jong-won was solidly upper-tier. Seeing him crushed like this was beyond words.
This showed why top players were treated like strategic weapons.
Damn... And she did it against two: Shin Ju-tae and Kim Jong-won.
Another level entirely. Kim Jong-won stood dazed, his sword in ruins.
"Wh-what..."
"You idiot! Dodge!"
Shin Ju-tae yelled urgently, but...
Too late.
Boom!
Kim Jong-won flew back from Yun Yeon's kick, crashing through the wall and passing out.
She controlled it not to kill him.
In this world, there's a saying:
'The stronger the opponent, the harder it is to capture or incapacitate them rather than kill.'
Yun Yeon awed me, subduing an upper player in two hits.
Soon, Yun Yeon's adjutant waiting outside rushed in and gasped at the scene.
"S-sis?! What...?"
"...Wait outside. I'll explain later."
The massive noise had stirred the clan house. Clan members were probably heading here.
"Damn... damn...!"
Shin Ju-tae spat curses, realizing it was over for him.
"Die!"
No chance his excited charge would land on Yun Yeon when he needed calm most.
"Too bad, Shin Ju-tae."
Crack—
"Guhk...!"
Thud.
"Cough... urgh... ughhh..."
...I underestimated her.
Not even three minutes—she handled both in one. Even if Shin Ju-tae the assassin couldn't use his full strength head-on, the gap was overwhelming.
Moments later, many clan members gathered in the office.
"Cl-clan Master. Wh-what happened? What's going..."
"…The Outlaw Clan has planted spies inside. Shin Ju-tae and Kim Jong-won are suspects—detain them and lock them up. From this moment on, no one leaves the clan house until I finish interrogating Shin Ju-tae. There may be additional spies, so cooperate and endure the inconvenience for now."
Everyone looked flustered at Yun Yeon's sudden announcement. Outlaws and spies out of nowhere left them bewildered.
"S-spies?"
"Yes. And Seo-hwa."
"Y-yes! Sis!"
"Search Shin Ju-tae and Kim Jong-won's rooms. Report anything you find."
"Got it, sis."
"Everyone back to your posts. A few of you, take these two."
"Y-yes!"
Her charisma's insane...
Not just me—everyone was overwhelmed by Yun Yeon's presence.
As expected of a major clan master.
"Hoo... You... come with me."
Her office was trashed from the commotion, so we headed to my room.
"Haa... shit..."
Yun Yeon sighed, mentally exhausted, and flopped onto the sofa almost lying down. I asked worriedly.
"...You okay?"
"...Yeah. Don't worry about it."
...You're the one making me worry, you idiot.
"Sit already. You're making me awkward standing there. Just relax."
"Sure..."
I sat casually at her words, and she spoke up.
"Anyway... good work. You basically handled everything alone."
Well... true enough.
But I wasn't dumb enough to say that here.
"Nah. Wasn't that hard..."
Mentally tense, sure, but physically? Easy. If anything, Myth Clan spoiled me rotten.
"Don't play humble—it doesn't suit you... Without you, our clan would've had big problems soon."
"Glad you think so."
"...Hmm."
"...Something wrong?"
Her face showed displeasure, so I asked carefully.
"No... Not wrong, but aren't you treating me too formally?"
"Huh?"
"I told you at the training facility. Call me noona. It was a joke then, but from now on, just call me Yeon-noona."
"That's a bit..."
"Just call me comfortably. Getting honorifics from you feels weird. Bluntly, you've helped me more than I've helped you—it's odd."
No, that's not the point. Experience gap aside...
"Still feels weird..."
"Agh, fine. Drop the formal speech or no talking."
What the...
"Come on, you're not a kid..."
"La la la—I can't hear you."
Crazy woman...
"......"
"I know your personality... You must hate being formal too. Just relax. It's easier for me."
"I'm not comfortable..."
"Ugh, so stubborn. It'll feel natural soon enough."
Sigh...
"...Fine, whatever."
Reluctantly dropping formalities, Yun Yeon finally smiled and spoke.
"Good. Now, about your reward. The alliance between Eternity and Myth Clans will proceed as you said. Details after talking with Eternity's master, then announce."
"Got it, Yeon-noona."
"Alliance was obvious anyway. Want anything else? I'll grant most things, so no pressure."
Something else...
I hadn't done it for rewards, prioritizing saving Yun Yeon. Hadn't thought of compensation.
But if I can get something, better to.
Question was what.
"...Honestly, nothing comes to mind right now."
"Tell me whenever. No need to hold back, like I said."
"...Okay."
"...You're too stiff."
Damn, yeah, I'm scared.
After seeing her pulp two guys, speaking casually to her was intimidating.
"Saw you turn two into bloody messes. Of course."
"Ha... More cowardly than I thought. Acted fearless sometimes, but surprising."
"...I'm not crazy enough to lose fear after that."
"Casual speech is good... but I don't like you fearing me. I'm not the type to beat friendly people."
Obviously...
If she were, I wouldn't have helped.
"Anyway... when do you plan to start the interrogation?"
"...After sorting things out first."