Chapter 119
Chapter 119
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Part 19: Motley Crew
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Before Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon made his appearance in the meeting room, Elder Yu from Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi's side quietly surveyed the room with a pipe in her mouth.
"Alright, everything's ready."
First up was Yeom Baekha, clapping her hands and beaming to herself.
Before the meeting started, she had unpacked the bundle she'd brought and decorated her spot with its contents, clearly delighted.
Stuffed dolls in all sorts of shapes, wildflowers she must have picked herself, a comb, a mirror, and all sorts of girlish stationery that reeked of maidenly charm.
"Ugh, argh?! C-can't someone help me get this off? Hey, over there?"
Yeon Ha-eung was twisting and squirming on his own, his hair tangled in the small clip meant to hold his wig in place.
The tight-fitting Kurapa noble trousers clinging to him were too cringe-worthy to behold with open eyes.
"...Oh dear, my nail's split."
And then there was the courtesan in full garb—someone they'd apparently never seen before, and whose reason for being here was a total mystery.
She immediately rummaged in her bosom, pulled out her tools, and began meticulously tending to her nail.
"...."
At least Pavilion Master Se-ah of Crescent Moon Pavilion seemed somewhat composed, arms crossed as if organizing her thoughts...
"Snooort...."
A closer look revealed she was snoring away.
A week ago, when Elder Yu first laid eyes on this crew (now with a courtesan added to the mix!), only one phrase had come to mind.
Motley crew.
But at this moment, among all these people, the one who irked Elder Yu the most was...
"Wow?! Th-that's a stuffed doll modeled after big brother! Lady Yeom! Please sell that doll to me!"
Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi, chatting with Yeom Baekha.
"Hee hee hee. Join our 'Club of Girls Who Adore the Eldest Young Master,' and this doll is yours as a gift."
"Th-the application form, right now...!"
Yeon Bi, putting on a ridiculous show with Yeon Ha-eung.
"H-hold on! Consultant Yeon! Stay still if you want me to get this out or not?!"
"Ow! It hurts! It hurts!"
"Ah?! I ended up cutting your hair too...."
"A bald patch on my head?!"
And now Yeon Bi teasing the dozing Pavilion Master Se-ah.
"Hahaha, Pavilion Master Se-ah snoozes with such a cool expression, drool dripping down."
"...Snooort."
...That was the very Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi, heir to the Tang bloodline, whom Elder Yu was pushing with all her might.
'...As the saying goes, close to ink, you get stained black.'
The Fourth Young Master seemed thrilled just to sit right next to the Eldest Young Master, chattering nonstop with those around him and jiggling his legs.
A week of meetings together.
Now he looked every bit the part of one more ragtag member.
'A child with more than enough talent and ability to become Acting Family Head... why is he so fixated only on his eldest brother...'
What would the Second or Third Young Master's camps think if they saw this?
Elder Yu let out a sigh along with a puff of smoke.
At least there was one silver lining...
Just then, that person flashed a smile at Elder Yu.
"Elder Yu, the materials have been organized."
A polite, demure, elegant woman.
She was Fourth Young Master's closest aide, Pavilion Lord Hong Dok.
"...Good."
With her lashes neatly lowered, putting on such a picture of propriety—it was hard to believe this was the same woman Elder Yu had seen in Fourth Young Master's office.
The image of her rampaging on the desk, howling like a beast, rolling on the floor like a pig in a tantrum, was still fresh in her mind.
"Ho ho. Shall I pour you some tea first?"
The thick powder she'd slathered on to hide the freckles down to her chin scattered slightly with every word.
"...No need."
Elder Yu's wrinkled eyes twitched at that loathsome (yet somehow pitiable) display of impression management.
'Right. This one's never been normal since way back....'
And yet, amid all these oddballs, one stood out as the leader of the pack.
That person's actions always happened beyond Elder Yu's wildest imaginings, their thoughts impossible to guess.
That person was...
"The Eldest Young Master is entering."
Everyone rose from their seats.
In swept a figure with a black cloak billowing like a cape.
A beauty so ambiguously boyish or youthful, impossible to pin down.
A decadent aura laced with raw, feral intensity.
"My apologies for keeping you all waiting."
Incomprehensible.
Outlandishly ingenious.
Bizarrely unfathomable.
What words in the world could capture this man in just a few characters?
"Let's begin the meeting."
It was the arrival of Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.
* * *
A week ago, when Elder Yu first met these people, she'd dismissed the meeting as a motley crew gathering.
But it hadn't taken long for her to retract that judgment.
The proof was evident in this very meeting.
First, Yeon Ha-eung.
As always, when his turn came, he stood, greeting the room with elegant poise.
For some reason, it was in Kurapa fashion this time.
He took his applause and sat back down, just like always.
"...."
The Eldest Young Master had banned him from speaking in meetings due to his excessive verbosity.
Instead, the rumors he'd gathered were compiled and processed by the so-called Triplet Maids into formal reports.
Incredibly, the value of those reports—based on Yu Kak Pung Mun's rumor mill—exceeded all imagination.
Even Elder Yu, who attended the elders' meetings rife with Luoyang Sword Clan secrets, was astonished.
"Next, a report from Crescent Moon Pavilion."
Pavilion Master Se-ah of Crescent Moon Pavilion followed.
"As previously reported, Crescent Moon Pavilion successfully kidnapped three agents of the Great Selection Merchant Association in secret and extracted information from them."
She spoke boldly in her characteristic confident manner.
The drool stain still on her chin went unnoticed, which was a shame.
"Using that intel, we destroyed one of their secret branches, capturing one prisoner and a large haul of cryptograms in the process."
"What's the Great Selection Merchant Association's response?"
"None. The secret branch we hit looks like nothing more than a careless fire to anyone."
"Good."
Elder Yu inwardly clicked her tongue at the report.
The Great Selection Merchant Association was Second Young Master's secret organization (another revelation from these meetings).
Kidnapping their operatives and raiding their bases wasn't just a matter of guts.
Such espionage belonged to intelligence agencies, not mere informants.
And all this happening right under Second Young Master's info network? Utterly astonishing.
"Next, the girl attending in place of Elder Yeom Gak-chu of the main house will report."
Ahem. Yeom Baekha cleared her throat and began.
"I've analyzed Second Young Master's internal organization."
Yeom Baekha, who looked far younger than her age due to her chronic illness.
"...Second Young Master's forces still heavily rely on his maternal kin, the Four Heavenly Tyrants. Therefore..."
Sharp analysis.
Keen insight into the power dynamics.
Bold deductive skills grounded in exceptional memory.
Elder Yu had lost count of how many times she'd been stunned by her over the past week.
"...Thus, to avoid losing more face, Second Young Master will have no choice but to cross the line."
Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon's eyes narrowed.
"Cross the line how?"
After a brief hesitation, Yeom Baekha answered.
"...In advancing this venture, I predict physical clashes with Second Young Master's side ahead."
Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon nodded in satisfaction.
"Excellent analysis."
"Thank you, Eldest Young Master!"
Elder Yu nodded as well.
Her own conclusions aligned closely with Yeom Baekha's.
Elder Yu couldn't help a wry chuckle.
At first, she'd wanted to snap at the Eldest Young Master for holding meetings with such a crew.
But now?
'I'd kill to recruit even one of them to our camp.'
The Crescent Moon Pavilion Master, lacking power or wealth.
The endlessly frivolous Yu Kak Pung Mun.
The young Law Enforcer crippled by illness, barely able to show up daily.
How had the Eldest Young Master unearthed them?
Could she have spotted them amid the chaff?
Elder Yu sighed deeply to herself.
"Armed conflict, eh..."
The Eldest Young Master set down his teacup with a smile.
"Is there anyone here afraid of armed conflict?"
Did that even need an answer?
Everyone smiled in unison with the Eldest Young Master.
Yeom Baekha, dubbed Law Enforcer despite her frail frame, possessed astonishing courage and a thirst for victory.
Yeon Ha-eung seemed frivolous on the surface but hid ambition, ferocity, and a whetstone-sharp edge deep within.
Pavilion Master Se-ah, who had risen to this seat from nothing, even seemed eager for a fight.
"The investment team is heading here now."
Yeon So-hyeon rose and paced slowly.
Elder Yu's gaze followed him unwittingly.
He'd probably unveil some unimaginable scheme, as always, she thought.
But once again, he defied her expectations.
"The enemy will target them without fail."
Yeon So-hyeon spun to face the room.
"The enemy will target us without fail."
His black silk cloak fluttered in sync.
"Some might think: the enemy will strike us in a flash, anytime they please."
His voice grew louder.
"We must defend against such dire threats!"
He stepped to the front of the table.
"But that's wrong."
Gone was the inscrutable Eldest Young Master who pressured the room with silence.
Here was a general rousing his troops before battle, unleashing oratory.
"It's not the enemy attacking while we defend."
He locked eyes with each one in turn.
"It's us attacking while they defend!"
He pressed on relentlessly.
"We're the ones pushing the plan, aren't we? They're the ones who must block it—the ones who must defend. Not us, them!"
Everyone looked as if struck on the head by his words.
Even Elder Yu couldn't hide her wry smile.
Indeed.
Combined, Eldest and Fourth Young Masters' forces were a mere handful against the enemy.
Unconsciously, they'd placed themselves on the defensive.
"Everyone see it now?"
Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon smiled at their expressions, speaking calmly.
"No matter who comes at us, we'll make this plan succeed. We'll drive this venture forward."
He slowly raised his fist.
"We'll smash and shatter every resistance from the enemy..."
Flames sparked in his eyes.
"And drive our victory straight into that Second Young Master's solar plexus."