Chapter 102
Chapter 102
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Capture Without Resistance
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There was someone watching Yi Hwan's back as he left the Imperial Palace.
It was Yi Seong-ji.
A flicker of doubt twisted in his eyes.
'What was with that attitude, like he was seeing me for the first time?'
Just moments ago, Yi Seong-ji had met with Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan's demeanor had been strange, somehow grating on him.
'See you next time.'
That was the only greeting Yi Hwan had offered the friendly approach.
'They said he'd changed a lot, and it was true. But even so, to change that much?'
As doubt crept into Yi Seong-ji's mind, a middle-aged man approached.
"Shall I arrange an audience with Her Majesty the Empress?"
"Better to see her next time. This place always feels suffocating whenever I come."
"Understood. I'll have the carriage prepared right away."
The middle-aged man stepped out to the plaza first. Then Yi Tae-ji approached from behind.
"What brings you to the palace?"
"I heard the youngest was here, so I came to at least see his face. Now that I have, it's time to head back."
"Did the kid welcome you?"
"What does it matter if brothers welcome each other or not? Seeing his face after so long is enough."
A cold smile curled at Yi Tae-ji's lips.
"The Crown Prince and that guy don't see you as a brother. You need to know that."
"Is that so? I'll keep it in mind. Well then."
Yi Seong-ji gave a slight bow and headed straight to the plaza. Yi Tae-ji stared at his retreating figure, his gaze darkening.
'Pretend all you want, but do you think I don't know about the ambition you're harboring?'
His eyes held the look of one sizing up an enemy.
'You need to pick your side carefully. Otherwise, no matter that we came from the same womb, I won't forgive you.'
* * *
Yi Hwan left the palace grounds and leisurely made his way to his official residence.
He recalled the ministers' reactions toward him during the appointment ceremony and let out a smirk.
'Treating me like a rolling stone even with the Crown Prince right there.'
Many of the ministers had done so.
He had expected it, but their intensity was so absurd it left him dumbfounded just watching.
'I'll have them bowing their heads before me soon enough.'
Whoosh!
With autumn setting in, the breeze was refreshingly cool. The sky was high and blue, lifting his spirits just to gaze at it.
Yi Hwan looked up at the heavens and took a deep breath.
'Maybe from today, a completely different life begins.'
Head of the Golden Army, with a rank equivalent to Grand Commander-in-Chief.
Power to do anything he wished was now in his grasp. The original owner of this body probably never even dreamed of such a life.
'Maybe the life he wanted was better.'
Far removed from ambition or greed, content as long as his little sister was happy. And now, the incarnation of ambition had taken over that body.
'Watch. I'll show you that the path I'm taking isn't so bad.'
Moments later, Yi Hwan's group entered the market street. Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, and Son Yeong's eyes sharpened instantly.
Assassins could appear targeting Yi Hwan at any moment, anywhere.
[Stay focused.]
[Already am.]
Golden Army soldiers patrolled the market street in various spots. Being near the palace, the number of patrols was substantial, with tight intervals between them.
Yi Hwan let his horse's movements carry him while scanning the street.
The Golden Army passed by without recognizing him.
As he absentmindedly observed them, a glint entered Yi Hwan's eyes.
"Martial artists mixed in with the patrol units?"
Son Yeong replied.
"Yes. One per squad. But with numbers so short, most squads don't have one."
"How many martial artists in the Golden Army?"
"Around three hundred."
"Bring the martial artist roster when we get back to the residence."
"Understood."
"Let's grab some food first."
"Isn't it safer to eat at the residence? This place feels a bit..."
Son Yeong trailed off.
Yi Hwan had already dismounted and strode toward the inn. Cheol Mu-ok followed.
Ju Tae and Son Yeong led the horses to the stables. Son Yeong asked as they went.
"Was he always this bold?"
"He doesn't fear assassins much."
"......"
Ju Tae chuckled.
"Don't worry and let's hurry. We rushed out early this morning and barely ate breakfast—my stomach's sticking to my back."
"Ah, yes."
* * *
Yi Hwan headed to the top floor.
The server in charge bowed and spoke politely.
"You need a reservation to enter here."
"No empty seats?"
"Even with empties, without a reservation... Hey! Sir! This is a problem!"
Yi Hwan barged right in. Cheol Mu-ok swiftly grabbed the server's nape as he tried to block the way.
Snap!
"It's the Great Prince."
"......!"
Ju Tae added.
"He's also the head of the Golden Army."
"......!"
The server froze like a statue.
* * *
The inn was fairly crowded.
Mostly high officials in plain clothes or generals on leave.
Even though Yi Hwan wore general's armor, the server had mentioned reservations because most patrons here held significant status.
Yi Hwan sat at an empty table.
The gazes that had briefly fixed on him scattered. Cheol Mu-ok approached with the server.
Yi Hwan stared at a table by the window with two men and said.
"The same as them."
"No alcohol?"
"Two bottles of your strongest."
"Understood."
The server, who had bowed and withdrawn, no longer showed any sign of his earlier attitude.
Moments later, Ju Tae and Son Yeong came up.
Ju Tae looked around the inn and clicked his tongue.
"This place is insane. An average person would choke just trying to drink water here."
Son Yeong said.
"The top floor is mainly for high officials. A few days ago, the Second Prince was here."
Yi Hwan asked.
"Even non-officials can enter with a reservation?"
"Yes. But unverified identities require upfront payment, from what I know."
Yi Hwan nodded silently, then transmitted to the three.
[Watch those two by the window I just looked at.]
[Got it.]
Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok responded calmly, but Son Yeong whipped his head around in surprise.
[Don't look.]
"......!"
Son Yeong quickly turned his half-turned head back.
Cheol Mu-ok asked via transmission.
[Did you come here because of those guys?]
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
Truth was, passing the street, he had glanced at the inn on impulse. His eyes met the two by the window, and their quick aversion seemed suspicious, so he came up.
Moments later, the ordered food and drinks arrived.
Yi Hwan lifted his glass first. In the gleaming reflection, he saw figures.
[Two more in the back.]
[Take them out first?]
[No proof yet—if they deny it, we look foolish. Wait.]
Yi Hwan leisurely sipped his drink.
Cheol Mu-ok and the others began eating. But their senses were razor-sharp toward the window and the back.
How much time passed?
Patrons began leaving one by one. Empty seats increased, but no new guests entered.
Then a server came up.
"Anything else you need?"
Not the original server who greeted them. Yi Hwan set down his glass and asked calmly.
"Where's the guy from before?"
"This is a place for esteemed guests, so we rotate a few to serve."
"Pour me a drink."
Yi Hwan suddenly held out his glass.
The server calmly lifted the bottle with both hands and poured.
Pour.
"Your hands are rough. Trained in external arts?"
"......Pardon?"
Crack!
Yi Hwan seized the server's wrist.
At once, Cheol Mu-ok leaped to the window, Ju Tae to the back.
Crash!
The men at the two tables shot up in shock, toppling the tables.
Light rose from Yi Hwan's body. Unlike before, there was one extra.
The six glowing orbs enveloped the head of one at the back table.
Thud!
"Gahk!"
Simultaneously, Ju Tae's sword severed another's throat.
Slash!
As the severed head hit the floor, the men Cheol Mu-ok handled collapsed limply.
Thump! Thud!
Cheol Mu-ok turned to Yi Hwan with a troubled look.
"They took their own lives."
Yi Hwan's face twisted too.
Even after seizing the pulse and sealing the acupoints swiftly, the server was already spewing blood from eyes, ears, and mouth.
The whole incident unfolded in a flash.
"If they think it's hopeless, they die on the spot. Don't know the group, but at this level, they're practically fanatics."
"Seems that way."
Son Yeong, finally realizing, asked.
"Those villains who targeted royals and officials?"
"At least not the Second Prince's side. Troublesome bunch attached now—be on guard even for the outhouse from here on."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan rose from his seat.
Late-arriving servers and armed men came up—likely the inn's resident guards.
The remaining patrons fled in panic.
Then a middle-aged man approached. Having heard from the server that Yi Hwan was the Great Prince, he bowed deeply.
"My apologies. Had I known they were shady, I'd have warned you. Forgive us, Great Prince."
"How could the owner spot what the state's intelligence couldn't? Don't worry."
Yi Hwan pulled silver from his bosom and offered it.
"For the damaged items."
"No! We'll replace them ourselves!"
"With dead bodies around, who can eat properly? Take it without refusal."
"......"
As the owner hesitated, Yi Hwan handed the silver to a server and left the inn.
Heading to where the horses were, the owner ran after him.
"This is our inn's treasure liquor. Please accept it as a token of our regret, Great Prince."
Yi Hwan couldn't refuse.
"I'll enjoy it gratefully."
Yi Hwan handed the bottle to Ju Tae and mounted. Moments later, as Yi Hwan's group exited the market, two burly men in merchant guise emerged, watching his back with trembling eyes.
"Doesn't seem like someone we can handle. Especially those two..."
"We got overwhelmingly crushed."
"Thought the small number would make it easy..."
They couldn't tear their eyes from Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae's backs. The burly men had watched the entire scene from the opposite inn.
"Reporting to superiors will bring reprimands, but..."
"Reprimands aren't the issue now. Without stronger experts, it'll just mean more sacrifices."
"......"
"The guy tailing him yesterday hasn't returned. Maybe..."
"Got taken by them."
"Yesterday he suddenly changed route. So he must've been caught."
"Our intel on him must be wrong. Superiors sent mid-tier assassins based on that alone."
"Lucky we figured it out now. Back to the branch."
"Yes."
* * *
At the inn where Yi Hwan had been.
Two figures watched his retreating back, strange lights in their eyes.
They had been dining on the same floor. One burly man spoke with heavy, sunken eyes.
"Now I get why the young master failed. Unbelievable skill right before our eyes."
"Saw something really odd."
"Pardon?"
"Six sudden light orbs killed the guy in the back. But couldn't tell where they came from."
"Really?"
He must not have seen.
The burly man bit his lip and said.
"Need to inform the family head. He doesn't know their level is this high. Hurry and tell him to revise the plan."
"Understood."
They hurriedly left the inn.
They were men under Mun I-jong, father of Mun Chi-yong, the Grand Overseer.