Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Remember
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**Part 7**
The four-man palanquin carrying Yeon So-hyeon to the Supreme Operations Council raced unimpeded down the main avenues.
In the scenery flashing by in an instant as they crossed through, not a single pedestrian could be seen.
Not even anyone peering over walls or out windows.
This was the power of the "priority authority" that the organization known as the Agency wielded within the Luoyang Sword Clan.
"Are you feeling dizzy?"
It was the question from the commanding officer sitting across from him.
"While the bearers are sprinting with lightweight techniques, blindfolding me, looping the same alleys multiple times, and occasionally leaping over rooftops—and you're asking if I'm dizzy?"
Yeon So-hyeon leaned back.
The cramped interior of the four-man palanquin made it hard even to lean comfortably.
"My apologies, but..."
"It's dizzying. I know."
The commanding officer, who had been hunching over as much as possible to give Yeon So-hyeon room, smiled.
"...."
After he sent a sound transmission to his subordinates, the warriors who had been escorting the palanquin while keeping watch adjusted their formation to spread out wider.
They then took small bell-like objects from their bosoms and shook them.
Oddly, no bell sounds could be heard.
"...The Agency's unique anti-eavesdropping posture?"
At Yeon So-hyeon's question, the commanding warrior replied via sound transmission.
'Yes, that's correct. Your hearing is sharp. With this, my sound transmission won't leak out.'
Yeon So-hyeon nodded without a word.
'You must have many questions after seeing my hand signals, but since the travel time isn't long, please forgive the limited time I have.'
Without even checking Yeon So-hyeon's reaction, he hurriedly continued the sound transmission.
'According to an informant known only to me...'
Information starting this way was of extremely low reliability.
Yet Yeon So-hyeon listened silently to the transmission.
Those 'hand signals' warranted it.
'At some unspecified point in the past, the Second Young Master and Third Young Master were summoned by the Supreme Operations Council.'
Yeon So-hyeon's eyebrow twitched.
'They received one firm assurance from the Supreme Operations Council. It was this...'
He stared straight at Yeon So-hyeon, who sat with his eyes covered.
'The Supreme Operations Council will ensure the Family Head Seal has no influence on successor selection.'
Yeon So-hyeon closed his eyes beneath the blindfold.
The commanding warrior hastened his transmission.
'I won't ask you to believe it right away. You'll meet the Supreme Councilors soon enough and confirm their intentions through their actions.'
He gazed at Yeon So-hyeon with earnest eyes.
'I beg you, Eldest Young Master.'
His desperation came through even in the transmission.
'You must be cautious of them. And take every courtesy to avoid disturbing their moods.'
They were nearing their destination.
He conveyed his plea as quickly as possible.
'For now, you must bow your head as much as needed. Only after surviving this crisis can you pursue the greater cause later...'
Yeon So-hyeon cut him off.
"On the return trip, regulations will require a different commanding warrior to accompany me, right?"
"That is a security matter, so I cannot answer."
The commanding warrior responded with both voice and a double-layered transmission.
'Yes, that's correct.'
Yeon So-hyeon then replied to him via 'sound transmission.'
'Then I'll pass it on now.'
He startled at Yeon So-hyeon's transmission burrowing into his ear.
"......!"
His shock was so great that the Agency warriors outside sensed it and reached for their swords in unison.
"No issues here! The Eldest Young Master is preparing, so everyone widen the perimeter and maintain vigilance."
The anti-eavesdropping posture was released.
The destination was just ahead.
'Do you... practice... martial arts?'
His transmission wavered, revealing his agitation.
'From what I see, you're fighting a lonely battle within the Agency right now.'
'...Yes.'
'Listen well. These are the same words I gave to your brother—who was also my friend—the former Agency Chief.'
"...!"
Yeon So-hyeon had recognized him just from the hand signals.
The four-man palanquin came to a stop at the destination.
'When a situation arises that you can't handle alone, remember this.'
With the commanding warrior's help, Yeon So-hyeon descended from the palanquin while continuing the transmission.
'In this Sword Clan, I, Yeon So-hyeon, am here.'
The commanding officer felt as if Yeon So-hyeon was staring at him through the thick blindfold.
'If there's a reason your brother died, it was surely because he forgot or ignored my advice.'
Another team was approaching from over there to take custody.
'Come find me.'
The other team's warriors entered sound transmission eavesdropping range.
The commanding officer could only stare blankly at Yeon So-hyeon.
He could read nothing from the face of the boy his brother had praised so highly.
"Are you alright?"
At his subordinate's words, he snapped back to attention.
"Ah, yes. Everyone listen. We're heading to the first withdrawal point now."
The Eldest Young Master's figure had already vanished.
As he dashed off with his subordinates using lightweight techniques, he recalled his brother's last words.
He thought of his brother, the former head of the Agency.
The letter he had read dozens of times until he memorized it all.
'If you're reading this letter, it naturally means I'm dead.'
Even preparing for his own death, his brother had been calm and composed.
'If so, it's because I forgot or ignored the advice of my close friend, the Eldest Young Master.'
'Remember, little brother.'
'In this Luoyang Sword Clan, there is Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.'
He ground his teeth.
'When he emerges from seclusion and returns to the world, you must meet him without fail.'
He fervently hoped that Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon would survive this crisis.
He had scoured for information to help him ever since rumors of Yeon So-hyeon's seclusion began circulating.
In the end, he had succeeded in passing on the crucial information he had painstakingly uncovered.
'The Supreme Operations Council will ensure the Family Head Seal has no influence on successor selection.'
Now, the rest was up to Yeon So-hyeon.
* * *
Luoyang Sword Clan, Second Young Master's camp.
The Second Young Master's strategist, Han Myeong-hwi, said to Elder Son.
"...It should conclude today."
Elder Son, sitting relaxed with the Second Young Master's chief strategists, nodded.
"The Supreme Operations Council never delays matters, so the Eldest Young Master issue will be resolved by today."
They were simply waiting for fresh news.
Chief Strategist Han bit his nails before asking Elder Son.
"...The Supreme Operations Council wouldn't break their promise to our lord, right?"
Elder Son chuckled softly.
"If only our lord had been there, perhaps. But the Third Young Master was there too. The Supreme Councilors will keep their word if only to protect their reputations."
Elder Son smiled kindly.
"If they lacked trust and credibility..."
The strategists' gazes turned to him.
"Would the main family's monster-like powerhouses have silently accepted them continuing to run the clan while the Supreme Family Head lies unconscious?"
His eyes flashed.
"Those powerhouses of the main family?"
* * *
Still blindfolded, Yeon So-hyeon followed the Agency warriors endlessly.
Their heavy footsteps echoed in his ears like tinnitus.
Yeon So-hyeon grumbled inwardly.
"...The Supreme Operations Council's meeting location changes irregularly every time anyway."
He muttered.
"This is just using security as an excuse to mentally pressure the summonnee. Treating a summonnee like this when they're no criminal is utterly unjust."
The commanding warrior in charge of internal security replied.
"If you have complaints, file a formal protest with the Agency, Swordless One."
His tone dripped with mockery.
"It won't do any good, though."
Yeon So-hyeon shrugged.
"Yeah? If I really charge in, you'll all get smashed 'like before'—that okay with you?"
"...."
"'You've heard all about me from your seniors, haven't you?'"
No reply came.
Instead, for some reason, their pace quickened.
With his arms linked by the warriors on either side, Yeon So-hyeon was now practically being dragged along.
"Hey! Kids! I'll go easy this time, so slow down a bit!"
Naturally, they grew rougher.
Dangling from them, Yeon So-hyeon giggled.
"You all. I'll remember this."
"...Do as you like, Swordless One."
* * *
"Proceed straight ahead."
They removed Yeon So-hyeon's blindfold and shoved him forward.
Yeon So-hyeon stumbled but barely regained his balance.
"Kids, I was just joking— isn't this too much?"
Behind him, the stone door slammed shut with a thud.
"...Heartless bunch."
Yeon So-hyeon shook his head and headed down the long corridor.
An artificially created stream flowed on both sides along the endless corridor.
The ceiling above the stream was open, allowing natural light to filter in.
As expected, no one spends money like the Sword Clan, the best in the Central Plains, Yeon So-hyeon thought with a twisted smile.
The formations lining the corridor tried to psychologically intimidate and unsettle him.
But mere formations couldn't affect him.
He whistled lightly and sauntered along with loose steps.
At the corridor's end, a vast hemispherical space came into view.
"Please stand in the center, Eldest Young Master."
A modulated voice, neither distinctly male nor female, echoed.
It was due to the form of the massive hemispherical stone cavern.
"This used to be a place my father used as a private training hall..."
Muttering to himself, Yeon So-hyeon stood in the center of the cavern.
Sunlight streamed down from a hole in the ceiling, illuminating him.
"...We deeply regret that as well, Eldest Young Master.
But please understand our circumstances."
A different person, but still a modulated voice.
These voices emanated from nine small caves piercing the hemispherical cavern's walls.
Nine caves, nine people.
Yeon So-hyeon slowly turned a full circle and greeted them.
"Long time no see, Supreme Councilors of the Nine."
As if just realizing, Yeon So-hyeon slapped his palm.
"Ah. Some of you must be new since last time. Pleased to meet you. I am Yeon So-hyeon."
No response.
He smiled.
"It feels odd with only me greeting. How about we all exchange greetings first?"
One of the modulated voices replied.
"Supreme Councilors do not exchange greetings."
Another continued.
"By the strict internal rules of the Supreme Operations Council alone, no one constituting the Council may know or seek to know each other's identities."
Yeon So-hyeon shrugged.
"Well, at least two of you are seeing me for the first time since becoming Supreme Councilors."
"...."
"Not to brag, but..."
Yeon So-hyeon smiled.
"Any Supreme Councilor who's ever faced me here once won't answer nonsense like that."