Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Worst Assumption
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A short while later, the door closed firmly, and all the chief strategists moved to sit in the front row.
The elder sat on the chair hastily prepared on the platform and looked down at them.
“I’m just coming from attending the elder-level meeting personally presided over by our lord.”
Though the Luoyang Sword Clan’s elders referred to the Second Young Master as their lord, no one in this gathering found it strange.
“Given the gravity of the matter, unlike usual, you weren’t able to join us there, so I ask for your understanding.”
The short-statured strategist waved his hands hurriedly.
“Oh, no, that’s not necessary. Understanding? Your words are too kind.”
“Elder Son. May I say a word?”
“Permission granted.”
Han Myeong-hwi carefully opened his mouth.
“If the information available to the strategists is limited, our overall perspective becomes narrow. And when executing tasks, more steps mean slower immediate responses.”
The strategists showed no overt dissatisfaction but silently agreed with Han Myeong-hwi through their quietude.
Elder Son smiled gently.
“That’s why I’ve come directly to join you now, isn’t it?”
Han Myeong-hwi bowed his head.
“We’re grateful for that, but lately, as our lord’s influence grows rapidly, signs of the organization stiffening are emerging.”
Elder Son stroked his white beard and nodded.
“So you want us to elevate you to higher positions for the sake of innovation?”
“…I know it sounds like greed.”
“Greed? No, it’s splendid ambition, isn’t it? Ambition is always an excellent driving force that moves us.”
Elder Son, with his benevolent expression, let out a hearty laugh.
“I understand your feelings well, so please understand our position too.”
Beneath his long, white eyebrows, his deep eyes stared straight at Han Myeong-hwi.
“The secrets of the main family that you already know are enough to put us in a difficult spot.”
Han Myeong-hwi’s back instantly grew damp with cold sweat.
It was time to withdraw.
“…I apologize for spouting nonsense when the matter is so urgent.”
“No, no. Discussions like this are always welcome.”
Elder Son asked the short-statured strategist.
“Can this old man learn how far our excellent strategists’ discussion has progressed?”
“Yes. We strategists have reached a general consensus that the incident in the Inner Garden is the first cornerstone of the Eldest Young Master’s future path, and we were discussing countermeasures.”
“Splendid indeed!”
Elder Son clapped his hands and nodded in satisfaction.
“But the discussion is spreading too wide, so it needs narrowing. May this old man suggest a direction?”
“We will listen intently to Elder Son’s words.”
All the housekeepers bowed their heads in unison.
“Ha ha, thank you.”
Elder Son pulled his chair closer and sat.
“Now then. Regarding the Eldest Young Master, assume the worst scenario we must absolutely prevent.”
As everyone fell silent, Elder Son spoke again.
“How about this? Think of it this way: if you were the Eldest Young Master, you’d devise the most efficient strategy and plan your actions accordingly, right?”
Han Myeong-hwi spoke first.
“…If I were the Eldest Young Master, I would make maximum use of the Sword Clan Golden Seal I possess.”
“Exactly. The Sword Clan Golden Seal symbolizes the main family head’s unlimited authority.”
Chief Strategist Choi also spoke up.
“But wielding the Sword Clan Golden Seal carries tremendous risk. It could lead to accusations of abusing authority from rivals at any moment.”
That was why Yeon So-hyeon had only used it for trivial things like paying for paper or books.
He had never used the Family Head Seal for anything grandiose.
“Indeed! Then…”
Other strategists began chiming in one by one.
“To use the Family Head Seal freely in the current state, he’d need an overwhelmingly grand justification. The Sword Clan’s power holders won’t easily accept it.”
“Do we even need to convince everyone? Just gathering enough forces…”
“Even if he flaunts the Family Head Seal to gather forces, how many would come?”
“Then instead of gathering forces, use the Family Head Seal to solidify key positions.”
“As mentioned earlier, by treading carefully to expand activity range and spread reputation, forces can be gathered.”
“Then after gathering forces…”
“But there’s enough time until successor selection…”
The discussion grew heated.
Once it had progressed sufficiently, Elder Son raised his hand to calm them.
“Now, let me share whether this old man has understood correctly.”
All eyes turned to Elder Son.
“The Eldest Young Master first exploits the loophole in the seclusion order to build fame through internal and external activities.”
He held up two fingers.
“Second, using that fame and forces gathered, he brandishes the Family Head Seal to claim he is the rightful acting family head of the Sword Clan.”
He raised three fingers.
“And with support from Family Head loyalists like those in the Inner Garden, he skips the successor selection stage and solidifies his position as acting family head.”
He looked around the room.
“How is that? Have I understood correctly?”
Everyone fell silent.
Not because Elder Son’s assumption was wrong.
Because the strategy they had devised themselves was too shocking.
For a while, only low sighs echoed sporadically.
“Ahem.”
The short-statured strategist broke the suffocating silence with a strained voice.
“…It would require bracing for large-scale civil wars several times, with our side or the Third Young Master’s faction as opposition.”
Elder Son replied.
“A man secluded for nearly ten years, now stepping into the world—do you think he lacks that resolve?”
Another strategist cleared his throat and spoke.
“Isn’t it overly optimistic to expect Family Head loyalists to follow the Eldest Young Master on just that justification…?”
Elder Son smacked his lips.
“They’re not in their right minds like anyone you’ve seen. You mustn’t try to understand them with logic.”
A strategist who had been racking his brains spoke up.
“…This assumption only holds if the Eldest Young Master’s side has the talent to devise such a strategy.”
Elder Son looked at him.
“I guarantee the Eldest Young Master has the ability to formulate this strategy alone. He might even map out every process to achieve the result by himself.”
Another massive shock swept over the strategists.
“Are you saying he’s on the level of the Left and Right Grand Strategists on the Third Young Master’s side…?”
“Probably.”
The strategists’ mouths shut.
Elder Son gave them a wry smile.
“Those of us who knew the past Eldest Young Master haven’t told you such stories until now for good reasons, so understand that.”
“…We’ve heard some rumors and hidden tales a few times.”
“You probably thought the rumors about the Eldest Young Master’s past were exaggerations, but they’re not.”
Now no one could easily speak.
Han Myeong-hwi, eyes tightly shut, finally spoke with difficulty.
“…All this discussion started from the report I wrote.”
“It was an outstanding report. Our lord was said to have marveled at it several times.”
Even at those words, Han Myeong-hwi showed no elation.
“Thank you, but right now, I just want to deny it. Isn’t it possible my logic was an overinterpretation, and these events are mere coincidences?”
Elder Son nodded.
“The Eldest Young Master is governed by the laws of the universe like us, so coincidences must exist in his life too. But…”
He gave a bitter smile.
“There are no coincidences in his actions.”
“But based on his actions revealed so far…”
Elder Son held up a hand.
“I’ve heard the Eldest Young Master demanded an investigation of the entire Inner Garden from the joint task force. It was rejected, but.”
“…He intended to escalate the incident.”
“He probably wanted to announce his return more loudly to more people.”
Han Myeong-hwi ultimately fell silent too.
“Now do you all understand why I asked you to assume the worst scenario?”
No replies came.
But Elder Son knew well it wasn’t because they despaired.
True strategists never stop devising ways to escape alive, even with a blade at their throat.
While they immersed themselves in their world, racking their brains, Elder Son opened the door and left the conference hall.
When he returned, he was with a group of maids.
They quickly distributed cold tea and refreshments to the strategists, then exited the conference hall.
Han Myeong-hwi downed one cup of cold tea in a gulp, then tilted the teapot for another.
“…If the Eldest Young Master is such a worst-case opponent, we shouldn’t give him the ‘pieces’ to move in the first place.”
Chief Strategist Choi nodded while chewing on a snack.
“If all strategies assume possession of the Family Head Seal, we must seize it.”
“Or strip him of successor eligibility from the start…”
Elder Son smiled and egged them on.
“We can’t dare touch the family head’s symbol, the Sword Clan Golden Seal, ourselves. Same for successor eligibility. So what then?”
The short-statured strategist tilted his head.
“…Assassination?”
“Setting aside success odds, unlike before, it’s too risky now. The Third Young Master’s side might accept it, but most of the main family would rebel strongly.”
Another strategist spoke.
“In the current situation, can we touch the Eldest Young Master’s seclusion order at the Sword Clan’s Elder Assembly?”
“How?”
“The Elder Assembly is also an organization that ‘makes laws.’ How about using this chance to create clear rules on seclusion?”
Han Myeong-hwi shot to his feet.
“Yes! His actions this time give us ample justification!”
Elder Son nodded.
“Keep him locked in Won-gak Pavilion from the start, denying any pretext to wield the Family Head Seal. Excellent! Very good!”
Other strategists jumped in, pointing out issues and devising countermeasures.
“But unexpected variables could arise in this process.”
“The Family Head Seal itself could become a variable.”
“Then we need countermeasures for that.”
“There’s something you all should know about that.”
Their meeting continued unabated, ending only late into the night.
“Well done, everyone, up to this hour.”
As the still energetic Elder Son began clapping, the exhausted strategists joined in.
“Hearing your insights allowed this old man to devise strategies to prevent the worst scenario. Now, rest.”
He picked up his discarded outer robe and documents.
“This old man will now report these strategies to our lord. Alright then.”
With weary, fatigued faces, they rose unsteadily and bowed to him.
“…Elder Son.”
As he opened the door to leave, Han Myeong-hwi followed.
“Oh, Strategist Han. Still something left?”
“Perhaps…”
Han Myeong-hwi’s tired but sharp gaze fixed on Elder Son.
“The countermeasures we devised today… weren’t they already discussed at the elder-level meeting earlier?”
“…What are you saying right now?”
Elder Son laughed loudly and patted his shoulder.
“Do you think old folks like us could come up with such brilliant schemes?”
Elder Son walked out, laughing as if it were absurd.
Once the door closed, Chief Strategist Choi, slumped on the floor behind, muttered.
“…What a blatantly obvious lie.”
Throw the same topic to groups with different temperaments, then combine the results.
That method of perfecting plans was one they often used on their own subordinates.
“What’s infuriating is…”
The short-statured strategist wiped sweat from his hem and murmured.
“That those old men did in just one hour what took us over half a day.”