Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Assembling the Squad
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"Well done coming here! Red Cloud! Haha!"
"......."
"Wasn't the journey too tiring? Have you shaken off the travel fatigue?"
The Alliance Leader welcomed me. I took a step back from his contrived smile.
There was meaning in his over-the-top behavior.
He knew full well he was sending me to my death.
"Leader of the Murim Alliance's support warriors for the Heavenly Dragon Society... What's this all about?"
"Isn't it just what you've always done? I heard you made a huge contribution at Mount Hua this time."
"......."
"Not just mediating a simple successor dispute, but curing the sect leader driven mad by mania... You did something truly incredible! Amazing!"
His smile vanished in an instant.
"Since you're far more capable than I thought, doesn't it make sense to give you a stage worthy of that?"
"...Isn't inspection far removed from the battlefield?"
"True. But what can be done? The Murim Alliance is short on people. The Heavenly Dragon Society is hounding us to send support, but no one wants to go. Even with civilians suffering from the unorthodox factions down south, everyone's turning a blind eye... Someone has to step up, right? Correcting what's wrong is the essence of inspection. So, you take the lead. For justice."
"My opinion doesn't factor in at all."
"Oh? You have one? Let's hear it. I'll accommodate as much as possible."
"......."
I peered into his smiling face. And pierced through the dagger hidden behind it.
The strategist who had just been sitting there silently said nothing. Keeping quiet as if everything was already decided.
What if I refused?
There was no reason to refuse from the start, but the moment I did, they'd tarnish my reputation. Spread rumors that the man called Silent Sword fled in fear of the Evil Faction Alliance.
They'd stage it so I had no choice but to go. A Murim Alliance warrior pushed by everyone, forced to head to the front lines.
They'd long since used the Alliance's influence to shape public opinion. By now, I was already listed as having "volunteered" as the support squad leader.
They could even use me as an excuse-that everything failed because of me-and slap a noose around my neck.
Obvious.
So obvious it made me want to curse.
The man who should uphold fairness and justice as Murim Alliance Leader resorting to such tricks...
I could see just how rotten the unseen parts must be.
I curtly drew my sword. Gripped it with both hands and offered a salute.
"As I'll be going as leader of the Heavenly Dragon Society support squad, please relieve me of my inspector duties."
"...What?"
The Alliance Leader blinked, as if it was the last thing he expected.
"Why?"
"Since there's no telling when I'll return, isn't it right to step down from the inspector position?"
"Hmm..."
"Holding two positions at once would only cause confusion."
"That's not wrong... but..."
The Murim Alliance Leader nodded reluctantly.
I added another condition.
"If I fully complete my duties as support squad leader, the Murim Alliance will formally accept my retirement."
"......"
The Alliance Leader exchanged glances with the strategist.
A silent conversation of utter incomprehension.
But what I aimed for was simple.
Just severing the ties one by one. Given how things were unfolding, the Alliance Leader clearly wouldn't trust me anymore anyway...
If I couldn't get information from inside the Murim Alliance, there was no point in staying. Better to cut all ties completely.
That way, I could act more freely, unbound by their scrutiny.
And above all, I wouldn't have to deal with that damn dogshit anymore.
"...Suppose you complete the mission and return as support squad leader. There'll be a welcome ceremony prepared for you. And rewards from the Murim Alliance waiting as well. You're saying you want none of it?"
I nodded at the Leader's question.
"Once it's done, I plan to travel around the Heavenly Dragon Society area instead of returning."
"......"
"Make a public announcement so everyone can hear my words. Before I leave. That's my one condition."
A clear declaration that I'd sever all ties with the Murim Alliance after this.
Zhuge So-ak, who received the message, stood up.
"Inspector. Separate from retirement, remember that desertion is not permitted as support squad leader."
"I'll give my all to the position until it's over. As I always have."
"...Are those all the conditions?"
"One more."
I stated firmly.
"Provide ample travel funds. Enough for everyone to eat their fill on the move."
"...Understood."
......
Heavenly Dragon Society Support Squad.
"H-Hello! Silent Sword hero!"
"You've had a hard time."
I approached the receptionist in the heart of the Murim Alliance, who had only a desk and chair set up to take applications.
No one else was in sight besides him. That must be why the numbers were so low.
"May I see the application list?"
"O-Of course!"
A roster nearly blank.
A few names were scribbled on it, but they were all unfamiliar.
Generous pay was listed. Rewards upon mission success were lavish...
But no one had ever properly received them.
"I want to see these people in person. In the name of the support squad leader."
"I'll, I'll call them!"
The handful on the list came to see me.
"H-Hello! Silent Sword hero!"
"An honor to meet you!"
Death row.
The battlefield at the same time.
I wanted to personally select those under my command. So I checked their skills myself.
The bare minimum: first-rate.
Anything less, and they couldn't even save their own skin on the battlefield.
Surprisingly, not a single one on the list met that standard.
Just third-rate riffraff blinded by money, throwing their lives away.
"I'll remove all of you from the roster."
"M-My lord!"
"B-But...!"
"Is money worth more than your lives?"
"......."
I struck a line through the roster.
Murim Alliance strategist Zhuge So-ak came to see me.
"You need to form at least a minimal unit. Ten or more for legitimacy."
"I'll handle it."
"......"
Now that I knew they distrusted and saw me as an enemy, I stopped mincing words.
I recruited in my own name. And ironically...
People showed up.
"Brother. I trust you won't remove my name."
"Red Cloud. Put my name on too."
Baek-hyeon and Gu Hwa-rin from Mount Hua applied to the squad. It was prearranged, so in a way, expected.
"Daddy. Me too."
"If you're filling spots, better add my name. Can't just slap the sect leader's name anywhere, right, Red hero?"
"Su-a, maybe not..."
"Daddy. I'm the assistant. And it's just the roster anyway. No real power. I wanna be vice-captain!"
"......"
Su-a and Il-ho joined on paper. I couldn't help but chuckle at her vice-captain claim, but I added their names for now.
That way, if Su-a went missing mid-battle, the Heavenly Dragon Society would officially search for her.
"Master. I heard everything."
"Time to put our training to use."
Na-rin and Gwang-yang from the Heavenly Martial Academy applied. I refused, but they persisted.
"Want us sneaking after you?"
"Master, please... I know what that battlefield's like. Can't send you alone!"
I had no choice but to add those two. Four spots left.
Ironically, two of those were filled by familiar faces.
"How's it feel? Used and discarded."
".......?"
Myo Cho-a.
The elder Dan-ri Jin-su's disciple had put her name on the roster.
"Am I qualified enough?"
"What's your reason for walking into death row? Once your name's on, you can't back out till the mission's done."
"You blabbered on like you were so superior. About your values. I just want to see them with my own eyes. Thanks to you, the New Murim Alliance coalition's momentum has tanked."
Myo Cho-a narrowed her eyes.
"The plan to install a new Alliance Leader might as well have failed. Lost the two biggest pillars. So I'll confirm it with my own eyes. What comes of that justice you preach so fervently."
"I see..."
I nodded.
Then struck a line through her name on the roster.
"W-Wait?! What are you doing?!"
"Why would I accept someone who might sabotage us outright?"
"D-Doesn't the flow demand you say 'Let's see what you've got...' and accept?!"
"...You've watched too many plays."
Naturally, I struck through Gu Yang-do and Geum Pyeong's names too, as they followed her.
"No need to follow to the death zone. Geum hero. Stop surveilling me."
"......."
Gu Yang-do and Purple Sword.
I removed those two without mercy. No reason to accept them.
Still four spots empty. I considered filling with Snake Sect disciples as proxies... but didn't want to burden them more.
Did I have to just grab anyone for the last four?
"Daddy. Can't I put my name four more times?"
"No joking."
"Heehee."
Holding Su-a, I waited for any potential recruits. Then I spotted a woman approaching from afar.
Petite build, unfamiliar face. But for some reason, she felt familiar.
She stood before me. Spoke sharply.
"I'll join."
"...Your name?"
"Ran."
".......?"
Single syllable.
And a strangely familiar voice.
Her gaze fixed on Su-a. The girl in my arms smiled brightly and bowed.
"Hello!"
"...She looks similar... but not quite..."
"Pardon?"
"Hey!"
Two more women approached from afar.
Tall frames, unfamiliar looks. The slender pair stood before me.
"I'll join."
"M-Me too."
".......?"
Again, eyes locked on Su-a. I looked at them awkwardly, then spotted another woman hurrying over behind.
"You... you...!"
The unfamiliar woman glanced around, then hurriedly lowered her voice.
"F-First, I'll join."
"......."
Once more, eyes on Su-a. Su-a blinked.
She wiggled her little pinky finger slightly. Four gazes followed it.
Su-a giggled.
"Daddy. The sisters like me."
"...Daddy?"
"For real...?"
"Ahaha... uhuhu... hwaaang..."
"Th-This crazy..."
Beyond the four faces visibly boiling, I felt a wave of nostalgia.
More questions than joy at the reunion after years.
"...What the hell are you all doing here?"
Eun Seol-ran.
Black Orchid.
Joo Ryeong-ryeong.
Baek Mae.
The four faces behind their face masks twisted.
"You call that a question?! Hey! You're married?!"
"R-Red Cloud! No secrets between us! Why didn't you tell me you had a wife...?"
"This is cheating! Cheating!"
"Th-Those things you did for me were all lies?! O-Oppa! Tell me! Say it!"
Su-a, who had been tilting her head at the sudden uproar, let out an "Ah---" of realization.
She turned slightly. Lifted her face and rubbed her cheek against mine.
"Daddy's mine."
"......!"
"......!"
"......!"
"......!"
I stood awkwardly amid the erupted shrieks.
What a commotion. Really.