Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Luoyang Sword Clan Supreme Operations Meeting
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Part 8 Luoyang Sword Clan Supreme Operations Meeting
Luoyang Sword Clan, Fourth Young Master's office.
The door to the office opened, and the Fourth Young Master's head maid entered.
"Master, is the work finally wrapping up?"
From amid the pile of documents that had once been the Fourth Young Master's desk, Yeon Bi's voice rang out.
"...Yeah, just a little left. Doing the final checks."
The head maid smiled at the boy's utterly weary voice.
"Here, I've prepared some candied sweets for our tired master!"
"Candied sweets!"
The boy sprang up from the document grave.
His eyes sparkled as he gazed at the candied sweets on the tray she held.
"Wowww...."
"Hehe. Don't eat too many and skip meals, so hold off with these for now."
Yeon Bi nodded at her words.
"Yeah! Gotta eat to grow tall!"
Yeon Bi perched on the edge of the table, licking at the candied sweets bit by bit.
Seeing the boy looking so blissfully happy, the head maid spoke with a warm smile.
"By the way, what do you think the Eldest Young Master was ultimately aiming for?"
The Fourth Young Master beamed innocently.
"No idea!"
"Really?"
"How could a little kingfisher like me figure out what a great peng like my big brother is thinking?"
Even as he said it, Yeon Bi wore a playful smile, as if hoping she'd keep probing.
"Oh, come on, don't hold out on me—tell me about the Eldest Young Master's brilliant intentions. You must have some guesses, right, Master?"
It wasn't that she had any particular interest in the Eldest Young Master.
She just wanted to see her master brim with energy and vigor whenever the topic came up.
"Hehe. In that case, I'll let you in on it special."
"Yay!"
It was her own special way of supporting her master, who had been suffering through back-to-back grueling workloads lately.
"If I had to guess...."
Perched on the table, Yeon Bi swung his legs as he spoke.
"...Big Brother's goal was probably getting summoned to the Supreme Operations Meeting?"
"...The Supreme Operations Meeting?"
It was an unexpected answer.
Hadn't the Eldest Young Master been pushed even further into a corner by advancing from the Elders' Meeting all the way to the Supreme Operations Meeting?
"Isn't the Eldest Young Master currently in a crisis, cornered by those who want to reinforce his seclusion even more? And on top of that, the Family Head Seal issue piled on, drawing in the Supreme Operations Meeting."
Yeon Bi nodded at her question.
"Yeah. Right."
"You're saying it's a crisis?"
"Yeah."
Watching the Fourth Young Master nod vigorously while licking at his candied sweets, the head maid calmly organized her thoughts.
"...So what you're saying, Master, is that yes, the Eldest Young Master is in a crisis, but it was the goal he wanted?"
The Fourth Young Master grinned widely.
"Correct!"
"Yay!"
The two clapped enthusiastically together.
"So then, what does the Eldest Young Master plan to do once he's summoned to the Supreme Operations Meeting?"
The Fourth Young Master shook his head at her question.
"I can guess what Big Brother's aiming for, but no clue how he plans to pull it off."
"Is that so?"
The Fourth Young Master gave a wry smile.
"I've attended that meeting a few times myself, but nothing's ever gone my way."
"...True enough."
Yeon Bi crunched down on a candied sweet.
"Those guys aren't Supreme Councilors for nothing. Total monsters. Nine of them ganging up like they're one body...."
He shuddered.
* * *
Luoyang Sword Clan, Supreme Operations Meeting.
A distorted voice echoed through the hemispherical cavernous stone chamber.
"Eldest Young Master. No matter that you are the main family's Eldest Young Master and possess the Family Head Seal, there are lines that must not be crossed."
Yeon So-hyeon shrugged.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Another voice cut in, raising its pitch.
"Do you even realize how grave a crime it is under the Sword Clan Code of Laws to dare investigate a Supreme Councilor's identity?!"
"This council can formally demand the Judicial Court punish you accordingly."
Yeon So-hyeon chuckled.
"On what grounds will you accuse me?"
"We have the exclusive minutes of this council's meetings—that will serve as evidence!"
Yeon So-hyeon burst into loud laughter.
The two new Supreme Councilors faltered for a moment.
No one had ever dared show such an attitude in this place before.
"Are you truly determined to taste bitterness?!"
"Eldest Young Master, please, let's steer this meeting toward mutual benefit...."
Yeon So-hyeon, barely containing his laughter, cut in.
"Sorry, but this gathering leaves no records whatsoever. Minutes included, of course."
The two new male and female Supreme Councilors fell silent.
After a moment, one of their voices spoke.
"General Affairs. Is the Eldest Young Master's claim true?"
The voice called General Affairs replied.
"Yes."
"Why are no records kept?"
"I cannot disclose the reason for not keeping records, for the same reasons."
"...Just how many more unrecorded meetings like this have there been?"
"None besides those with the Eldest Young Master."
"Then how many such meetings with the Eldest Young Master have there been until now?"
"That, too, I cannot reveal."
"What were the minutes from past meetings where we saw the Eldest Young Master in attendance?"
Yeon So-hyeon answered that one.
"Naturally, excluding what had to be recorded, it was all the General Affairs Councilor's fabrication, wasn't it?"
No voices replied.
Yeon So-hyeon raised a hand as if to soothe them.
"Well, this is your first time with something like this, so you're flustered—let's do our best."
In the inner small chamber, behind the curtain, the new female Supreme Councilor ground her teeth.
'...What is this!'
She recalled the pre-meeting that had taken place before Yeon So-hyeon's arrival.
* * *
"What do you mean the Supreme Councilors won't even agree on a resolution to this issue beforehand?"
"It's not just no resolution—we're not establishing any countermeasures at all."
"Don't talk nonsense! Do you not know how massive a problem this could cause the main family?!"
"I know. Precisely because of that, this council cannot agree on anything in advance."
"What on earth does that mean?"
"Will the other Supreme Councilors really let this absurdity slide?"
There were no replies.
Excluding the two new male and female Supreme Councilors, no one raised any objection to this outrageous situation.
She felt an urge to storm out of the dark cavern and grab the other Supreme Councilors by the collar.
But that would break the "Vow of Silence"—a grave offense.
Supreme Councilors were forbidden from probing fellow councilors' identities or revealing their own.
After regaining some composure, the female new Supreme Councilor spoke.
"...At least tell us the reason."
"Because this discussion cannot proceed without the involved party, Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon."
"But that involved party is the core figure in the very problem this council must block, and you're saying we can't discuss without him...."
A long sigh echoed.
"...You'll understand the reason soon enough."
* * *
The female new Supreme Councilor sighed and spoke.
"...I'll try to understand the no-records situation. So in turn, Eldest Young Master, please show some respect for this council."
"No, I get it, but...."
Even at her gentle request, Yeon So-hyeon just snickered.
"It's just hard to resist the thrill of mocking Supreme Councilors without punishment...."
"Eldest Young Master!"
The male new Supreme Councilor shouted as if seizing.
"You insolent cur! Do you even know where you are, spouting such drivel?! I'll—"
"Enough!"
A new voice cut him off.
"That's far enough. Do you still not grasp why the Eldest Young Master is provoking you?"
The voice rebuked the new Supreme Councilors.
This, too, was a sight no one except Yeon So-hyeon had ever witnessed in this Supreme Operations Meeting.
"Every word you utter just reveals who you are to the Eldest Young Master—surely you've realized that by now!"
Though distorted, the tone carried a distinct weight of age and experience.
As the two newcomers fell silent, the voice boomed toward Yeon So-hyeon.
"We would also appreciate it if the Eldest Young Master stopped toying with new Supreme Councilors every time."
He made the request of Yeon So-hyeon in a gentle tone.
Yeon So-hyeon nodded and formally bowed toward the voice.
"Long time no see, Chairman."
The Supreme Operations Meeting Chairman replied.
"Indeed, Eldest Young Master."
The Chairman added,
"You've grown remarkably brazen in our time apart."
"And you seem even older. Ruling this ever-expanding clan must not be easy as the days pass?"
"Hoho, thank you for your concern, old man that I am."
The atmosphere was astonishingly cordial.
Exchanging greetings?
Something utterly forbidden in this Supreme Operations Meeting.
Yet the two new Supreme Councilors, scolded by the Chairman, could not easily speak.
They were more disoriented now than at their very first attendance as Supreme Councilors.
But Yeon So-hyeon's greetings were directed only at the Chairman.
He made no effort to greet the other Supreme Councilors, nor did they speak up.
"Hoho. Now, let's begin this gathering in earnest. General Affairs, if you would proceed."
The General Affairs Councilor began as in any other meeting.
"The purpose of this Supreme Operations Meeting is to summon the main family's Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon and dispel the anxieties surrounding him that have spread through the main family's uppermost echelons."
The General Affairs Councilor asked Yeon So-hyeon,
"What is the summoned party's name?"
"Yeon So-hyeon."
"What is your status in the main family?"
"Eldest Young Master possessing the Family Head Seal."
"Were you notified of this summons in advance and do you consent to attending?"
"Yes."
"Do you swear before the sacred code of laws of the main family to speak only the truth here?"
"Yes."
"May the great spirits of the Luoyang Sword Clan bless this place."
The Chairman's voice followed.
"Supreme Councilors, you may now begin questioning the summoned party."
The female new Supreme Councilor spoke.
"Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon."
From beyond the special curtain, her gaze pierced straight at Yeon So-hyeon.
"In the past, in this very council, you swore that the Sword Clan Golden Seal in your possession would not influence the successor competition."
She asked,
"Is this record accurate?"
Yeon So-hyeon gave a wry smile.
"Yes. Though slightly different."
He answered,
"How is it different?"
"In the past, I said I owned the Family Head Seal and promised it wouldn't affect the main family's successor competition, so no need to worry."
He continued,
"...And how is that different? Please explain."
Yeon So-hyeon enunciated clearly.
"That promise wasn't some 'achievement' you dragged out of me."
"Then...."
"It means I was the one who 'voluntarily' brought it up first to the Supreme Operations Meeting side back then."
His voice rose.
"To help you all, who were at a loss over the Family Head Seal issue!"
He bared his teeth.
"And yet you didn't even publicize that fact back then!"