Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Part 9: Sneer
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The female newcomer Supreme Councilor was momentarily speechless, then opened her mouth again.
"Eldest Young Master. This councilor thanks you for your sacrificial spirit toward your main family. At the same time, as a member of the Supreme Executive Council, I apologize for the council's actions."
Yeon So-hyeon shook his head.
"I've already received that apology long ago. In this very council."
"...In that case."
"The reason I'm bringing it up again is because you lot, who hid that fact, dared to use it in dealings with the Second and Third Young Masters."
The female newcomer Supreme Councilor swallowed hard.
They had concealed the goodwill the Eldest Young Master had shown and never made it public.
And without the Second and Third Young Masters knowing, they had struck a deal promising to block the Eldest Young Master from wielding the Family Head Seal.
She had been present at that deal.
She opened her mouth with some difficulty.
"Eldest Young Master. This councilor regarding that deal..."
"Wait."
A Supreme Councilor who had remained silent until then cut her off.
"That deal was inevitable to fulfill the promise this council made to you in return for the goodwill you extended."
"Is that so?"
"Indeed."
"But it doesn't seem like that promise is being properly kept right now?"
"...We're working on it."
At this point, the female newcomer Supreme Councilor had to admit it inwardly.
The male newcomer Supreme Councilor felt the same.
Before the Eldest Young Master arrived, the Chairman's words in the preliminary meeting had been correct.
This council couldn't decide anything without the involvement of the man himself, Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.
And this conversation could never be recorded.
She shut her mouth.
* * *
A long silence stretched out.
A chaotic and confused situation.
Having sorted his thoughts, the male newcomer Supreme Councilor cautiously spoke up.
"...Would someone care to explain what promise this council made to the Eldest Young Master at the time?"
The Supreme Councilor who had just spoken with Yeon So-hyeon answered.
"This council promised the Eldest Young Master one thing at the time."
He continued calmly.
"That we would prevent the successors' competition from escalating into a large-scale conflict."
The female newcomer Supreme Councilor sighed.
"I understand. I know that both of your points are valid."
She continued.
"The deal with the Second and Third Young Masters was inevitable to keep our promise to you."
She recalled that time.
"What this council demanded of them was that they strictly follow certain rules to prevent the competition from intensifying. And..."
She rubbed her temples as she went on.
"...Furthermore, this council is gradually losing control over the successor competition."
Another Supreme Councilor added.
"Of course, we still have perfect control over the successor competition for now."
"But as time passes..."
Another Supreme Councilor continued.
"It will become increasingly difficult to stop the power holders inside and outside the main family from openly backing their chosen successor."
If the Second and Third Young Masters continued competing on equal footing like now, the number of their backers would snowball without fail.
The female newcomer Supreme Councilor sighed.
"And that will ultimately become an unstoppable landslide."
"Even if one starts to gain the upper hand, the same problem will arise."
Those who had banded together tightly until that point, swelling their forces, wouldn't simply admit defeat and step aside.
No, they would begin acting the moment defeat loomed near.
Yet there was no justification or means to stop them from building their power starting now.
One Supreme Councilor asked Yeon So-hyeon.
"...So, Eldest Young Master, you've decided to resolve this issue yourself."
"Yes."
Yeon So-hyeon straightened his shoulders and glared at them.
"I request today that the Supreme Executive Council, in its capacity as Acting Family Head, formally and publicly revoke the seclusion order imposed on me."
"...."
"...."
In the prolonged silence, one Supreme Councilor finally spoke.
"I understand what you're saying. Then, from now on..."
At that moment, the male newcomer Supreme Councilor interrupted.
"This councilor opposes."
As everyone lost their words, he pressed even harder.
"On the contrary, we should specify the seclusion order on Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon right now and confine him completely to the Won-gak Pavilion! And if possible, place him under house arrest!"
Once more, everyone fell silent.
But even the female newcomer Supreme Councilor sighed and cautiously voiced her agreement.
"...I know it's shameless, but it's a valid argument."
Yeon So-hyeon remained expressionless.
She couldn't look him straight in the face as she continued.
"All the Supreme Councilors here agree that the Eldest Young Master's abilities are exceptional."
She closed her eyes instead and spoke.
"But precisely because your abilities are so outstanding, lifting your seclusion will make the competition slip from this council's control even faster."
Yeon So-hyeon asked toward the direction of her voice.
"Even if I renounce the Family Head Seal right here?"
Her eyes shook violently.
"...That is."
The male newcomer Supreme Councilor drew the line in her place, as she couldn't continue.
"It doesn't matter. Without the Family Head Seal, you'll resort to even more extreme methods, and the result will be the same."
Yeon So-hyeon asked again.
"Even if I promise to follow the rules you've set?"
"Yes. This councilor knows you have the ability to cleverly twist those rules however you like."
The female newcomer Supreme Councilor nodded.
"...This councilor agrees. In the end, the struggle between you twisting the rules and this council enforcing them will cause a massive rift in the main family."
Yeon So-hyeon shook his head.
"...So it's all because my abilities are too outstanding, leaving me speechless. But isn't this going a bit too far, even so?"
"I didn't want to say this much...!"
Even in this situation, his calm, almost brazen attitude made the male newcomer Supreme Councilor click his tongue.
"Don't you think it's shameless of you to step forward now in the first place?"
"Councilor...! I understand the intent, but mind your words a bit..."
Yeon So-hyeon shook his head.
"Not at all."
"Even now, you don't consider the innocent blood that will be spilled in the main family because you're stepping forward?"
"I have no idea what you mean."
Yeon So-hyeon twisted his lips into a smile.
"In the Yeon family, when I, a direct blood relative, claim my rightful authority, if blood flows..."
His gaze sharpened.
"The price in blood is naturally one the main family must pay."
Under the pouring sunlight, Yeon So-hyeon bared his teeth.
"Don't delude yourselves into thinking you're the masters of this family."
The Supreme Councilors swallowed.
"Eldest Young Master...! Mind your rhetoric! This council holds its current position based on proper procedures."
Yeon So-hyeon sneered.
"Don't talk to me about proper procedures. You thieves."
"What...?!"
She was so dumbfounded she was speechless.
"...Yeon So-hyeon, you bastard!"
The male newcomer Supreme Councilor trembled with rage.
"Have you ever seen such a shameless brat?!"
His shout, infused with inner energy, echoed thunderously through the stone cavern.
"When your father, the former Family Head, collapsed in the past, wasn't it you who abandoned the rightful succession order?!"
He fumed.
"If you had stepped up then and faithfully performed the Acting Family Head role with your vaunted abilities, the main family wouldn't be in this mess now!"
He pointed at Yeon So-hyeon.
"And now you talk about blood prices?! Now you say you can't trust us, so you have to step in yourself?! This...!"
As his words threatened to escalate, the female newcomer Supreme Councilor intervened.
"Eldest Young Master! I understand your anger and frustration, but this council has proven its abilities with excellent results so far! So trust us and...!"
Her words were true.
Under the Supreme Executive Council system, the Sword Clan had grown at a frightening pace year after year.
But Yeon So-hyeon couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.
It was a guffaw.
"You've proven your abilities...? I should trust you...?"
He rolled on the floor laughing.
Her deep patience snapped there.
"Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon! Your arrogance has truly reached its peak!"
"You'll only come to your senses after blood tears flow from your eyes, it seems?!"
"...Enough, all of you."
It was the Chairman's voice.
But no one paid attention to his feeble tone.
From where he lay, Yeon So-hyeon addressed them.
"Your arrogance has peaked, and you're the ones who need blood tears to come to your senses, aren't you?"
"Fine, you bastard! Now that things aren't going your way, you think everything out of your mouth is truth!"
"Mocking the Supreme Executive Council is grounds for summary execution, so feel the terror of that crime yourself!"
It was unclear which of the two newcomer Supreme Councilors pulled the emergency signal cord first.
But in any case, a loud bell rang outside, and the agency's warriors waiting beyond the door poured in immediately.
"Force him to kneel right now! We'll hold a summary judgment here!"
"If necessary, I'll stake my Supreme Councilor position to rein you in today, Yeon So-hyeon!"
At their shouts, the agency warriors rushed toward Yeon So-hyeon.
He ignored them completely.
He simply lay there, twisting a smile toward the Chairman.
"All of you, out!"
Finally, the Chairman's roar erupted, and the agency warriors halted in their tracks.
"Chairman! The provocation has gone too far! If we let this slide, everyone will mock the Supreme Councilors!"
"If the Chairman acts like this, we won't stand by idly!"
At that moment, a terrifying aura exploded from the stone cavern where the Chairman sat.
"You dare ignore this Chairman's orders in the main family's Supreme Executive Council chamber?!"
It felt like an earthquake.
The Supreme Councilors covered their ears, and the agency warriors tumbled like falling leaves.
With a flick of the Chairman's hand, they were swept out into the corridor like debris by a giant broom.
And when he pulled his hand back, the massive stone door slammed shut with frightening force.
Dust fell from the cavern ceiling in the aftermath.
It had all happened in a single breath.
A technique truly befitting the term divine might.
"Eldest Young Master..."
But the voice of the Chairman, who had displayed such divine might, was laced only with sorrow.
"...Do you intend to repeat this every time there are new Supreme Councilors, Eldest Young Master?"
What did this mean?
What was 'this matter' referring to?
Moreover, why was the Chairman using the utmost honorifics toward Yeon So-hyeon?
The two newcomer Supreme Councilors, who had been fuming until moments ago, felt utter confusion.
"Of course."
The newcomer Supreme Councilors' gazes hurriedly turned to Yeon So-hyeon, who lay there.
"If you won't tell your own shameful history, shouldn't the sole witness—that is, I—do it?"
He rose from his position.
Dust from the ceiling scattered from his body.
"Before you ascend to that seat and run this entire family as your own, shouldn't you first recognize your original sin?"