Chapter 192
Translator: penny
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Securing Baek Ilyeong
After finishing our conversation, we went together to find the Third Captain of the White Tiger Unit.
This was to detach Baek Ilyeong from here.
Considering that the White Tiger Unit was currently in the midst of an operation, this would normally be impossible, but I had solid backing.
"An order from the Chief Strategist?"
"Yes. Senior Baek has other duties to attend to."
"Duties for Red Peak? What on earth could that be?"
The Third Captain muttered to himself in disbelief as he stared blankly at the letter I'd delivered.
But nothing changed.
The seal of the Chief Strategist on the letter was genuine, after all.
The letter simply stated to permit Mok Jimyeong to take Baek Ilyeong with him.
'I got it before leaving the Murim Alliance.'
At the time, the Chief Strategist had readily agreed to write it when I said I'd take Red Peak into the Harmony Unit.
I'd failed to actually put her in the Harmony Unit, but it ended up being useful for another purpose.
'Well, it's all the same. The goal of having Senior Baek join is the same anyway.'
For reference, that goal was to more easily seduce Baek Ilyeong.
The Harmony Unit's mission to find the backing faction?
I couldn't care less about that.
'Paeng Deokjo will handle that himself.'
Thinking of that guy who'd come here without telling me still made the back of my head throb.
I'll make sure to repay him properly next time I see him.
As I thought of Paeng Deokjo, the Third Captain let out a deep sigh.
"Sigh, of all times..."
I had no idea what "times like these" he meant, but Baek Ilyeong bowed her head apologetically.
"I'm sorry."
"No, no. It's not your fault. It's an order from the Chief Strategist."
Even as he said that, he looked at Baek Ilyeong with eyes full of lingering regret.
I didn't like seeing some guy eyeing the woman who was going to be mine, so I stepped between them.
"Then, may we take our leave?"
"...You're leaving right away?"
"Yes. It's urgent."
There was nothing more urgent than seducing a beauty.
In the end, the Third Captain nodded in resignation.
"Very well. Go on, then. Sigh, now I have to worry about how to fill the empty spot. Especially when..."
I didn't want to hear him grumbling to himself, so I turned and left the makeshift camp right away.
As I descended Mount Tai with Baek Ilyeong, I started racking my brains hard.
'Now, how do I seduce her.'
I'd succeeded in hooking her and getting her to join as planned, but everything after that was a blank slate.
The original plan from the Murim Alliance had assumed Paeng Deokjo would be with us.
'Tch, that useless bastard.'
I'd dragged him along to help seduce Baek Ilyeong despite the hassle, but he was gone when I actually needed him.
Of course, it did let me travel alone with her, but I still had to rethink the entire plan.
As I pondered seduction methods, Baek Ilyeong suddenly spoke up.
"By the way, how much time do we have?"
"Pardon? Time?"
It was such an out-of-the-blue question.
For a moment, I wondered if she was interested in me and asking about my free time, but...
"I mean the time until the Death Order Sect storms in. They said they've already finished preparing to attack Mount Hua Sect."
Of course not.
Only after hearing her did I recall the flimsy lie I'd told to persuade her.
'Oh, right. I said the Death Order Sect would invade any moment now to create urgency.'
I couldn't confess now that it was a lie.
What should I say here?
If I said too little time left, our time together with Baek Ilyeong would be short.
She'd feel rushed too, making seduction even harder.
But making it too long would make her suspicious right away.
'Tch, what's the right amount.'
First, I estimated how long it would take me to seduce her.
That was the most important part, after all.
'How long did it take with other women?'
Moyong Hui, Namgung Sua, Sa Hye-rin, Baek Ri Eunjeong, etc.
Recalling briefly, I realized it had taken less than three days from when I started trying to seduce them.
'...Was it that easy?'
Somwol didn't count since I'd basically taken her by force rather than seducing her, and the longest had been Eun Garyeon...
'Eun Garyeon was my first after regressing, so I had no knack for it yet.'
Excluding her, I'd never had trouble seducing a woman since regressing.
I marveled anew at my skills and continued calculating.
'Still, Senior Baek has family matters too...'
Recalling what I knew about Baek Ilyeong and factoring in the distance from here to Mount Hua Sect, I settled on an appropriate timeframe.
"Two months. They said they'd move if there's no apology by then. But factoring in moving troops from Death Order Sect to Mount Hua, we have about three months at most."
"Three months...?"
She furrowed her fine brows and tilted her head.
She must think it's too lenient.
I hurriedly added an excuse.
"I persuaded them hard. Didn't I tell you? I'm close to the Death Order Sect. Plus, my younger sister Eun-i is at Mount Hua, so I begged desperately."
"...I see."
Thankfully, my excuse worked, and she didn't press further.
Realizing the timeframe was generous, Baek Ilyeong asked me with a more relaxed expression.
"So, where are we going now?"
"Mm, Jenan Province first. As I said, we need to seek help from the Murim Alliance too..."
That wasn't all, actually.
'I need to inform the Death Order Sect Leader too.'
From now on, I had to turn my shoddy lie into truth.
Since I was at it, I should get a real apology from Mount Hua Sect and secure the Death Order Unit as well.
***
Jenan Province was quite close to Mount Tai, so we passed the checkpoint before evening.
'I've been coming here too often lately...'
To seduce Baek Ri Eunjeong, to meet the Shadow Gate Sect Lord.
At this rate, Jenan Province felt like my home base.
"So, what's the plan now?"
"Mm, why don't you book an inn and rest first. I have some separate matters to attend to."
It was a shame, but we had to part for a bit.
I had a packed schedule of real tasks.
'Gotta hustle if I want to finish today.'
Perhaps feeling sorry for me, Baek Ilyeong asked again.
"Is there nothing I can help with?"
"Hmm... Maybe think about how to persuade the Mount Hua Sect Leader."
"Got it."
With that, we agreed to meet again tomorrow at lunch.
I'd set it for lunch since I was already in Jenan Province and wanted to see Baek Ri Eunjeong once more.
'Who knows when I'll come back here.'
After parting with Baek Ilyeong, I first went to find the Shadow Gate Sect Lord.
The information I wanted from him was records on the Mount Tai Sect, Death Order Sect, and Sword Queen.
"I can give you info on Mount Tai Sect and Death Order Sect right away. But Sword Queen records will take a bit."
"No rush, so take your time."
"Understood. By the way, is the Death Order Sect Leader really planning to hit Mount Hua Sect?"
"Who knows. Ask him yourself. More importantly, could you bring some paper and ink for a letter?"
I unilaterally listed my requests to the Shadow Gate Sect Lord and entered a separate room in the building.
Soon after, I spread out the supplies a Shadow Gate Sect disciple brought and slowly began my tasks.
'First, coordinate with the Death Order Sect Leader.'
I wrote that he'd build atmosphere for two months, then actually move troops if no contact by then.
Of course, I added a note not to actually start a war.
'That should do for the Death Order Sect side...'
Now for the real work.
I wrote a letter first to Cheon Woojin at the Murim Alliance.
'Mm, did I miss anything? Wrote about Death Order Sect and Mount Tai Sect, that Death Order is prepping to hit Mount Hua, asked to say hi to Hyea... Oh! Forgot Sword Queen.'
I also detailed Paeng Deokjo heading alone to Shandong Family, that I'd go to Mount Hua with Baek Ilyeong, and more—everything for Cheon Woojin.
He was the one who'd act as my hands and feet in the Murim Alliance.
'This much, and he'll handle it. Smart guy. Now, to Moyong... no, to Father-in-Law.'
To politically pressure Mount Hua Sect for real, the Murim Alliance alone wasn't enough.
It would have some effect, but not quite enough to make them admit their ancestors' wrongs.
Thus, unusually for me, I decided to mobilize every connection I had.
'Eun Merchant Group is doing well lately, so send one there. Visit Baek Family in person. Mm, send one to our Mok Family Clan too? And maybe ask Namgung Sua to get the Namgung Family...'
Honestly, I didn't need to go this far just for the Death Order Unit.
That unit was practically useless to me anyway.
But since I'd started, I wanted to do it thoroughly.
'It's the first official thing I'm doing with the Divine Dragon title.'
No matter that it started from a lie, if Mok Jimyeong moved, failure wasn't an option.
Mount Hua Sect would surely apologize to the Death Order Sect.