Chapter 83
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Aftermath
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The information spilled by Shin Ju-tae had the entire community buzzing. It wasn't just any issue—it involved outlaws, so everyone's heightened sensitivity was hardly surprising.
The revelation that spies had infiltrated not just any clan, but two of the three great clans and one mid-tier clan, had caused an uproar. It was a predictable outcome.
The problem was letting the Madan Clan's spy slip away.
They'd succeeded in capturing the spy in the Brothers Clan, but the one in Madan Clan had vanished. The reason they couldn't catch him was that, despite the tip-off reaching Madan Clan quickly, Ha Yu-ri had dismissed it as nonsense and ignored it.
As a result, the spy from Madan Clan had gone completely off the grid.
It was only natural that negative comments about Madan Clan's judgment started circulating, especially when compared to Myth Clan, which had discovered their spy and acted swiftly.
Of course, since Madan was one of the three great clans, no one dared say it outright, but they'd essentially knocked over a perfectly served meal. Backroom gossip was inevitable.
Kwang!
The reason Ha Yu-ri slammed both hands on her desk in her office was exactly that.
"Aaaargh!"
"M-Ma-Master! Pl-Please calm down..."
"Do I look like I can calm down right now?! Everyone's comparing me to that bitch Yoon Yeon!"
Ha Yu-ri's deputy was going insane. She occasionally threw tantrums, but today was on another level.
"What?! Comparing us to Myth Clan? Doubting my judgment as clan master? How dare they?!"
The deputy clamped his mouth shut. He knew no one could talk her down in that state.
After fuming for a while, Ha Yu-ri finally turned to the man with a question.
"Hoo... So... what about that guy, Lee Nam-in?"
"... We couldn't catch him. I'm sorry."
"You couldn't catch him? Is that even something you say?!"
"... I'm sorry. The tracking team searched every place he might have hidden, but no luck. He probably got help from the other outlaws..."
"Is that what I asked?! This is tanking our clan's reputation!"
The man barely swallowed a curse. Strictly speaking, this was Ha Yu-ri's fault for ignoring Myth Clan's advice, but thinking it and saying it out loud were worlds apart.
All he could do was stand there, hands behind his back, head bowed.
"Ha... Fine, get out."
"Yes... Understood."
The moment the man left the office, Ha Yu-ri hurled a glass bottle from her desk.
Crash!
"... Yoon Yeon...!"
Ha Yu-ri was pissed that of all people, she was being compared to Yoon Yeon.
"Why her of all people... That damn bitch...!"
In truth, if it had been any other clan warning her about an outlaw spy, Ha Yu-ri might have listened. But coming from Yoon Yeon's Myth Clan, her pride made her brush it off—a huge mistake.
"And... I never thought there really was a spy...!"
The sudden letter claiming a spy in her clan had seemed like Myth Clan fumbling around. But just a day later, the spy Lee Nam-in vanished, flipping the situation overnight.
Once Myth Clan's announcement proved true, Madan Clan was branded the clan that failed to catch even one spy.
And not just compared to fellow great clan Myth Clan, but even to mid-tier Brothers Clan.
"The training facility mess too... Yoon Yeon... She's got nothing but things I hate about her. Ha, nothing's going right lately, not even the Japan clan business. Hoo..."
Ha Yu-ri swallowed her irritation and left her office.
'Damn...'
I'd expected it, but returning to the clan house meant facing the reality I didn't want to see.
"... Yun-seong."
"......"
I had nothing to say, of course. Meeting Seo Yu-ju's icy gaze made my body flinch involuntarily.
"Yun-seong... Say something."
"... I'm sorry."
"... Do you know how shocked I was? What am I supposed to do if you pull something like this while I'm away?"
"... I have no excuses."
It felt like I was an employee getting chewed out by my boss. All I could do was bow my head and apologize.
'Our timing overlaps like this.'
I returned to the clan house, and exactly a day later, Seo Yu-ju came back. Perfect timing.
Yesterday, I got an earful from the other members; today, from the returning Seo Yu-ju.
Gauging her mood, I cautiously opened my mouth.
"Still... we formed an alliance with Myth Clan..."
"... I never asked you to do that!"
'Wh-What?'
For the first time, Seo Yu-ju was yelling at me directly, stopping my words cold.
I'd braced for some scolding, but her actual anger caught me off guard.
"I clearly... clearly told you before I left that it wasn't allowed! No matter the alliance or whatever, I can't protect you if something happens!"
'Damn... what do I do?'
She was ranting like someone who'd hit a panic button, words firing like a machine gun. I needed to do something.
"F-First, calm down a bit..."
"How can I calm down?! What if something happened to you while you were at another clan?!"
"... I was reckless this time, that's true. But I was careful about my own safety..."
"No one knows what could happen—how can you say you were careful?"
"....."
"Hoo... Let's say this happened: You're staying at Myth Clan, and suddenly they're attacked. What then?"
"That’s..."
"Myth Clan would prioritize saving their own members first. What about you?"
I knew what she meant. I understood why she was saying it—from her position, she was worried something might happen to me while she was gone.
"... I was short-sighted, Yu-ju."
"... And what's this?"
What Seo Yu-ju pulled out was the duplicate clay doll.
"I don't know where you got this... but using it to fool Ho-yeon and sneak out? How could you?"
I had no excuse. After returning yesterday, I'd apologized profusely to Wi Ho-yeon because I felt so bad. She must have been stunned realizing the person she was guarding was a fake.
Still, she seemed relieved I was safe, but I felt terrible toward her.
"And what exactly did you do? This announcement from Myth Clan—is it your doing?"
I'd expected her to ask about that. The problem was I couldn't tell her everything.
I doubted she'd fully believe me anyway, so I had to lie.
"... Not exactly my doing, but I happened to help Myth Clan a little. In return, I asked for an alliance."
This was pre-arranged with Yoon Yeon. Back then, she'd wondered why I didn't want credit for exposing the spy. It was my work, after all, and revealing it would boost my value and Eternity Clan's across the continent.
'Boosting value is good, but the moment it's out, I can't shake the suspicions from others.'
Yoon Yeon knew my abilities, but others would question it.
Officially crediting Myth Clan had its downsides for me, but it was the right call.
'And... I don't want retaliation from that Execution Church or whatever.'
Without the power to protect myself, I had no intention of exposing my abilities.
'Standing out is a pass. Plus, it's easier to explain to Yu-ju this way...'
"... Hoo... Fine, I get it. But that doesn't mean you did well. The outcome was good this time, but you can't do this again. Got it?"
"... Yes, understood. I'm truly sorry about this, Yu-ju."
'I'm gonna lose it.'
Right after wrapping up the Myth Clan issue, getting scolded all day yesterday and today was mentally exhausting.
Maybe noticing the fatigue on my face, Seo Yu-ju stopped after a while.
"... Anyway, don't do it again. I'll return this—it's your personal item. We'll discuss the alliance announcement later. You look tired; rest today."
"... Yes, Yu-ju."
Leaving her office, I spotted Wi Ho-yeon waiting outside.
"... Lee Yun-seong. Are you alright? You look exhausted..."
"Ah... I'm fine, Ho-yeon. More importantly... I'm really sorry about this."
"... No need. But... the clan master seems pretty angry..."
'Damn...'
"Yeah, she was furious. But I deserved the lecture this time."
"... Yes, you went too far, Lee Yun-seong."
"....."
"Lee Yun-seong. I believe you won't do it again."
"Haha..."
Her words drew an awkward laugh from me. Heading to the first floor with Wi Ho-yeon, I saw the clan members' faces after a while.
"Bro! What'd Yu-ju sis say?"
"What else... Got an earful."
"Hey, you deserved it, you jerk."
Kang I-seo was still mad.
Better than yesterday, but it’d take time for her to cool off completely. Yesterday, Hyun-jin had to hold her back—this was mild.
"You damn jerk..."
"Sis, go easy. Bro had his reasons..."
"Hey, don't cover for him. Even if, this time he went too far! If you keep defending him, he'll pull this crap again!"
"I-seo unnie, I get it, but... Oppa apologized enough. Maybe let it go?"
"Hoo... Shit!"
Normally, I'd tease or snark at Kang I-seo's grumbling, but not now—I wasn't that oblivious.
'Do that now, and she'd explode.'
Best to stay quiet and look remorseful.
After my silence, Kang I-seo spoke up.
"Hey, you really wanna join Myth Clan or something?"
"... I get how it looks, but no."
"Hard to believe after this. Honestly."
Her slightly anxious expression told me she wouldn't buy it easily. And not just her—the others looked suspicious too.
I had to clear it up fast. Lectures were one thing; misunderstandings could snowball.
"Going to Myth Clan this time... it was to seal the alliance. I told you before—I have no plans to join them."
"Fuck, alliance or not, don't act like that. From your side, maybe, but from ours, how can we not think that?!"
"... I'm really sorry this time. But I swear, no transferring to Myth Clan, so no worries."
"... Ugh, whatever. Do it again, and you're done."
"... Okay."
"Ha... He never misses a chance to weasel out."
"....."
Even I thought it was a bit shameless.
"Bro, so how'd the alliance with Myth Clan happen?"
"Ah... I gave them a little help, and it led to the alliance. Good for us—it's with one of the three great clans."
"... But their announcement didn't mention the alliance."
"They delayed it. Probably announce in about a month."
The reason for setting the announcement a month out was simple: to avoid linking it to the spy hunt.