Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Part 20: Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, The Beginning of Change (2)
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Laborers repairing the outer walls of the Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment shared cool water and murmured among themselves.
"Have you heard anything about those folks in uniforms?"
"I saw them once when we went to fix up the martial arts academy. No idea what group they're from, though."
"Even just patrolling, you can tell they're no ordinary warriors."
At that moment, amid the noisy construction site, a special task force member seemed to catch their whispers and glanced their way.
"Whoa... This water's ice cold!"
"Ahem! Alright, everyone back to work!"
The special task force member watched them hurriedly grab their pickaxes and shovels and scatter in a panic. He sent a sound transmission to his colleague patrolling alongside him.
'This... I figured it'd just be a simple announcement that the Eldest Young Master's seclusion was over, but it's nothing like what I expected.'
Hundreds of laborers were bustling along just the wall they were patrolling.
'No matter what, he's still the main family's Eldest Young Master. They must've decided his previous state was damaging the family's reputation.'
They dodged carts piled high with materials and continued their patrol.
"Hah, really. Issuing emergency orders for such a massive overhaul? Who's gonna rush over just because the Swordless One's seclusion is done?"
'...Well, what would thick-headed swordsmen like us know about what the higher-ups are thinking?'
'Thick-headed...?'
'You, how many books have you read besides martial arts manuals and strategy tomes?'
'...And how many have you read?!'
'....'
For some reason, the two felt as if they'd taken inner injuries, continuing their patrol with oddly dragging steps.
* * *
"One, two, three!"
With the resounding command, whips cracked.
The muscles of twenty oxen linked by thick iron chains rippled dynamically.
Amid the oxen’s thunderous bellows, the pillars supporting the Pavilion’s main gate were uprooted, and the entire gate began to collapse.
"Woooah!"
Even through the swirling clouds of dust, the laborers cheered at how cleanly it fell, just as planned.
At the engineers' orders, cranes moved next, pulleys screeching as they hoisted up new pillars.
Then, carpenters who had been waiting rushed in, assembling a new gate in the blink of an eye.
It was a wondrous sight.
With unlimited capital and manpower poured in under emergency orders, the Luoyang Sword Clan's Construction Division showcased its unrivaled prowess.
But the expression of the Life-Seizing Ghost Sword watching it all seemed, for some reason, a touch forlorn.
"Wow, what a spectacle."
"At this rate, the whole job'll be done in a day or two."
The two special task force members who had finished their patrol approached, admiring the new gate.
"Captain, patrol's done."
"Ah. Good work. Anything unusual?"
"Nothing much—just rescued a few laborers who fell over the wall."
"And the Pavilion's back gate, which had been sealed off, is open now. They're repairing it big time."
It had been bricked up since there was no need for it before.
"We were informed ahead of time. That's why we stationed men there too—did you see?"
"Yeah, we did. Everyone's too busy gawking at the construction to do much else."
The special task force member chuckled.
"Anyway, looks like they're rebuilding the main gate from scratch?"
"Too long abandoned—better to start fresh, they said. And over there..."
The Life-Seizing Ghost Sword pointed to the spot right next to the gate.
The laborers had finished the foundation and were already using cranes to lift main beams.
"That'll be the gate sentry post."
The special task force members nodded.
"We saw them building outposts all over on our rounds."
"...Well, the sweet life of slacking off is over, but at least it'll make duty more interesting."
The Life-Seizing Ghost Sword pointed to a two-story building by the main road, closest to the Pavilion's main gate.
"And that'll be the Special Task Force headquarters for the Pavilion. The buildings behind will be renovated into barracks for the team."
Scaffolding for the external workers covered the two-story structure, with major repairs underway inside and out.
"Headquarters and barracks..."
"Heh heh. Looks like they're turning it into a full mini-fortress."
"Guess the big shots at the Supreme Operations Council see the Eldest Young Master a lot differently than we do."
The Life-Seizing Ghost Sword shrugged.
"...I told you before. The Eldest Young Master isn't like the rumors say."
One special task force member slowly scanned the surroundings, smacking his lips.
"Seeing all this, I gotta admit... maybe you're right, Captain."
"But why the long face, then?"
The other chimed in.
"Yeah, isn't this all for that Eldest Young Master you like so much?"
"...It's nothing."
Contrary to his words, the Life-Seizing Ghost Sword's gaze was fixed inside the gate.
There, piles of rubble from the collapse were rapidly being cleared by laborers.
"Isn't that the waiting room the Captain used as quarters on the Eldest Young Master's orders?"
"You looked like a wild man in there, eating and sleeping."
Ignoring the two chuckling special task force members, the Life-Seizing Ghost Sword muttered wistfully.
"...It was home, in its own way."
"...."
The two looked at him like he was some freak.
"...Well, the Special Task Force is where all the weirdos end up."
"I wondered why a guy with all his limbs joined up—turns out it's his head that's busted."
* * *
Inside a building along the Pavilion's main street.
The meeting of executives and engineers overseeing repairs to the surrounding buildings had just wrapped up.
As the remaining men gathered in groups, puffing on pipes or lighting tobacco, a burly executive entered with a pale face.
"Hey! Good work!"
He gave perfunctory greetings and approached the group.
"That Head Maid at the Pavilion? She's gotta be a ghost. Not just any ghost, either."
The executives, who had each tangled with the Head Maid since dawn, burst into laughter.
"You said her beauty was like the moon goddess and begged to handle her—now you're singing a different tune."
"Until some other executive gets dispatched and falls for her too, you're still the liaison with that Head Maid."
"No, that's..."
He wanted out, but he'd said it himself—no backing out now.
The burly executive looked like he wanted to bolt.
"Try to nudge things our way even a little, and she catches it like a ghost. No fighting it."
"And that eerie gaze of hers? Makes you a frog staring down a snake."
Everyone added their two cents, shaking their heads.
"There are scary folks in this line of work, but to be the Eldest Young Master's Head Maid at her age... guess you gotta be that sharp."
The burly executive took a tobacco from another and lit it with a flint.
"Anyway, what's the deal with fixing up all these main-street buildings?"
"Beats us."
One executive peered outside.
Beyond the demolished wall, every building along the street was under repair without exception.
"If it's just appearances, fixing the exteriors should do it..."
"I get the fortress for those mystery experts, but gutting the insides of all the others...?"
A grizzled executive glanced at his documents and spoke.
"From the specs, seems like waiting rooms for guests and administrative offices for operations."
The others looked baffled.
"Waiting rooms...? Thinks that many people will come calling on him?"
"A guy with no real power needing this many admin buildings?"
"No power? He has none at all."
"Or maybe preparing ahead for the future."
"...We're outer ops—we don't know much about internal politics."
"Even without knowing politics, anyone can see the Eldest Young Master's odds in the succession fight are slim..."
The grizzled one tapped out his long pipe and cut in.
"If you don't know, maybe don't talk about it? Our division had downtime—having even this 'little project' is a blessing."
Hundreds mobilized, funds and resources pouring in—and he called it 'little.'
A glimpse into the scale of the Luoyang Sword Clan's Construction Division.
Everyone nodded.
"Well, our special duty pay's guaranteed..."
"And it boosts our records—no downside."
"Plus, coordinating max manpower across divisions for a rush job like this? Rare chance. Good experience."
The grizzled executive stood, brushing his clothes.
"Enough fretting over the Eldest Young Master. Back to work, all of you. No time to slack if we want to hit the deadline."
* * *
The first to appear from afar was none other than the Chief Steward.
Even from a distance, his high-grade silk robes screamed luxury.
Spotting him, the laborers dropped their tools and bowed deeply in respect.
Trailing him came a line of lovely young women.
The laborers stole glances at their demure grace and blushed.
All wore the Pavilion's maid uniforms neatly, but oddly, each had a sword securely strapped to her back.
"Finally."
"Our subordinates have arrived."
"Hee hee hee."
Ilryeong and Yireong whispered behind Jeong-a.
Their eyes ignored the Chief Steward who had raised them—they were busy eyeing the new maids to be placed under them.
Of course, they kept their prim expressions and postures impeccable.
"Head Maid."
"Chief Steward."
Jeong-a and the Chief Steward exchanged formal bows.
The Chief Steward unfolded a document and spoke.
"Pursuant to the Pavilion's request under the Supreme Operations Council's emergency directive, the Steward's Office hereby transfers fifty maids."
His face was all business, stiff as a board, but he couldn't fool Jeong-a's eyes.
He was inwardly leaping for joy at the chance to aid his lord.
Jeong-a politely accepted the document and smiled.
"The Young Master awaits. Please, come inside."
"Ahem. Yes, best to."
The Chief Steward cleared his throat a few times and hurried after her.
He'd been quietly fretting she might just take the maids and send him off amid the bustle.