Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 111 - You Have to Lift Your Head to See the Sky (5)

Chapter 111 – You Have to Lift Your Head to See the Sky (5)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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That morning.

“Heok! Branch Leader, did you stay up all night?”

Murong Yu smiled. It was a slightly tired face.

“Because I had something to think about.”

Pity dwelled on Yi Geon’s face.

“Please rest today. I will deal with the representatives of the Trade Alliance.”

“It’s fine. It’s not just a day or two.”

“Will you really be okay?”

“I am the one who has even polished my martial arts while dividing up my busy time until now. Do not worry too much. If there’s really no answer, I’ll just have to draw my sword.”

Yi Geon unknowingly burst out into a hahaha laugh.

“That’s what I’m saying. You should rather draw your sword. Who is there that could stop the Branch Leader.”

In his heart, he sincerely wished he would do that.

Of course, Yi Geon also knew that he shouldn’t do that. Even though they had become extremely sharp because their livelihoods were on the line, they were also victims if you could call them that.

“Then please sleep for just one shichen. I will finish up the morning work.”

“Shall I?”

“Yes.”

However, Murong Yu did not sleep.

He was definitely tired, but his mind was clearer than ever. There was no need to force himself to sleep.

‘I feel like I’ve been possessed by something.’

Murong Yu recalled Yeon Ho-jeong.

Had he just reached the age of twenty? It might also be thanks to his internal energy, but his face, without a single wrinkle, looked overflowing with vitality.

Overall, it was a sharp but extremely handsome impression. He seemed like he would be stiff for some unknown reason, yet he possessed a bizarre charm that drew people in.

However, that was only limited to his appearance.

‘Just what is his true identity.’

Murong Yu was more accustomed to looking at a person’s inner inclinations rather than their outward appearance.

It was natural. The Murong Clan was a hellish stage where one even killed blood relatives to gain power. In order to survive there, the first thing was to develop the discerning eye to read people.

When seen by him, Yeon Ho-jeong was already a person who didn’t lack anything even if he were to establish a family.

A power stronger and more precious than martial arts. That was the eye to see the flow of the world, and the ability to sway that flow as he pleased.

‘Rather, it would have been less surprising if his martial arts were stronger than Elder Brother’s.’

Of course, it was already surprising enough even now. From Murong Yu’s perspective, Yeon Ho-jeong’s martial arts were at a level where even he couldn’t guarantee victory or defeat.

Just that alone was a sufficiently monster-like talent.

‘Prey…?’

Murong Yu suddenly felt anxious.

Yeon Ho-jeong, just what was he planning to do with the Trade Alliance? Making them beg on their hands and knees, what exactly did that mean?

‘Could it be… he’s not planning to threaten them with martial force, is he?’

He wouldn’t do that.

He looked like a rough person, but he still seemed like a person who knew minimal benevolence and righteousness. Murong Yu decided to trust his own discerning eye.

How much time had passed like that.

It was around the time the sun was slowly moving to the middle of the sky.

“Br-Branch Leader!”

“What is it?”

“The representatives of the Trade Alliance have come to visit!”

Murong Yu’s eyes flashed.

“I understand.”

“But the atmosphere is strange.”

“Strange? What do you mean?”

“I-I do not know. For some reason, everyone’s faces have turned pale…”

Could it be…?

Murong Yu hurriedly came outside.

“Heok! Br-Branch Leader!”

“Have you come!”

“Oh my, we should have come to see you earlier…”

Murong Yu blinked his eyes.

What is this, these incomparably subservient reactions?

“I do not know why you are all being like this, but let’s go inside first.”

The three people observed each other’s moods.

Murong Yu tilted his head.

“Is there a problem?”

One man among them cautiously opened his mouth.

“Um… ar-are you okay?”

“What are you saying?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“…?”

“Excuse me, are you going to continue staying here?”

What the hell did this mean?

Murong Yu looked at the faces of the three people.

Their faces had turned pale. However, their complexions were a bit strange.

‘Me?’

It didn’t seem like they were threatened by someone, but rather that they were finding Murong Yu himself difficult to deal with.

‘Asking if I’m going to stay here? That means…?’

At that time, the eldest person, who looked to be in his fifties, opened his mouth.

“We did not know how much the Branch Leader Murong was suffering. Come to think of it, even though the Branch Leader didn’t have to, you deliberately took on the hard work and handled it for us.”

“…”

“It is all because we were foolish. It is our negligence. However, we will somehow coordinate among ourselves from now on, so could you not just remain in your position?”

Murong Yu felt incomparably frustrated inwardly.

“I do not know what you are saying. What meaning is there in me remaining…”

To Murong Yu, they were words spat out because he didn’t know the situation, but to the three people who heard those words, it seemed to be a remark like a bolt from the blue.

“We are sorry! Please spare us just this once!”

“If the Branch Leader leaves, we will truly starve to death!”

“We will rather carve out our shares and give them to you!”

Wh-What?

Murong Yu couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the enthusiastic reactions of the merchant representatives.

At the same time, his head became cold.

‘Yeon Ho-jeong?’

It was clear that that person had played some trick.

But looking at it, it didn’t seem like he threatened them with martial force. They were not fearing Yeon Ho-jeong, but him.

In an instant, Murong Yu recalled the words Yeon Ho-jeong had left behind.

‘You shouldn’t let them come complaining to give them food, you have to make them come begging on their hands and knees saying they are sorry.’

‘When you think it’s a chance, bite their throat right away.’

…Hmm, I don’t know what it is, but shall I try poking them once?

Murong Yu deliberately feigned ignorance and spoke.

“Aren’t the three of you the representatives of the trade merchant groups? Even without a single me, you will be able to lead it well enough.”

In an instant, Murong Yu felt the atmosphere of the area freezing rapidly.

The faces of the three people went beyond turning pale and became blue. It seemed half their minds had blown away from extreme fear.

“W-We are sorry! We are sorry, Branch Leader! Please show mercy just this once!”

“Keuheuheuheuk!”

“We will never fight among ourselves again! If there are bastards intervening in the fight over interests in the future, we will blow them away first!”

Murong Yu stopped poking them. It felt like he might kill a person if he did it wrong.

At that time, the man in his fifties spoke while shedding thick tears.

“We did not know that the Branch Leader was fighting a lonely battle. From now on, we will step forward and protect the Branch Leader.”

“I am…”

“Therefore, ignoring my shame, I speak. Please block the Murong Clan from coming to Zhejiang!”

In an instant, Murong Yu felt a chill run down his spine.

‘Murong Clan? Suddenly why the name of the main house?’

Murong Yu struggled to ask calmly.

“Are you that afraid of people from the main house coming to Zhejiang?”

“Keuheuheuk! We truly have nothing to say.”

That was the same for Murong Yu. He had nothing to say because he didn’t know what was revolving and how.

Anyway, he knew he shouldn’t leave it like this.

“Come inside first.”

The three people entered the guest hall while wiping their tears and snot with bright red faces.

At that time, there was a person knocking on the main gate of the branch as if they had been waiting. It was a beggar from the Beggars’ Gang.

“It is a letter from Young Master Yeon.”

Murong Yu hurriedly unfolded the letter.

[If you had properly made up your mind, there would be no need for this kind of help either. However, since you must have also spent a time full of agony in your own way, I fully understand. You can leave this matter out of the deal.]

It was tremendous confidence.

As if he could solve this level of matter at any time, the spirit-filled remark caught his eye. He felt that he had formed a connection with an outstanding person, if nothing else.

[If it’s Murong Jun’s personality, he would definitely be thinking of cutting down all the merchants belonging to the Trade Alliance. You shouldn’t let them know that fact. They look weak on the outside, but they are people who have lived viciously. If they are driven to a corner, they will bare their claws instead. Then it will become bothersome in many ways.]

Murong Yu felt goosebumps rising.

At this level, a question arose whether Yeon Ho-jeong had perhaps planted a spy on this side. If it weren’t for that, he couldn’t see through it so clearly.

‘Terrifying!’

He knew one thing, if nothing else.

Yeon Ho-jeong is a person who should absolutely not be turned into an enemy. This person’s resourcefulness was already discussing the world. To such resourcefulness, terrifying execution ability was a bonus.

Could it be that Elder Brother had already turned Yeon Ho-jeong into an enemy?

[I told them that the Murong Clan is planning to release funds and grasp the entirety of Zhejiang’s trade business. And I made them understand that the person blocking that on the front lines is you. I don’t know about later, but there won’t be anything giving you a headache for the time being.]

“Ha!”

Murong Yu inwardly clicked his tongue.

The Murong Clan is resolving itself and getting involved in the trade business?

Then the Zhejiang merchants would meet their end. All the interests they had been holding onto would be stolen by the Murong Clan. Whether in the shadows or in the light.

If interests are stolen by a group equipped with astronomical financial power, the ones dying off are the small and medium merchants.

He finally understood why the merchant representatives were crawling like that. Hearing that Murong Yu, the very bloodline of the Murong Clan, was blocking the Murong Clan from swallowing them up, how could this not be something to be grateful for.

Yet they were told he was sick of their behavior and was now going to leave. To the merchants, it was no different from a bolt from the blue.

“Shaking the board with just a few words… My goodness, it’s my first time seeing someone actually executing this.”

Murong Yu, who had been shaking his head back and forth, suddenly stiffened his expression.

[Do you know why I deliberately pulled the Murong Clan into this? When Murong Yeon-hwa comes, you must make a choice. Will you abandon them, or will you embrace them and go? The lives of all of them hang on your judgment.]

The bridge of Murong Yu’s nose trembled slightly.

[If you truly want to overturn the clan, start by seizing Zhejiang. If you have neither the mind nor the ability to do so, kneel to Murong Yeon-hwa.]

If he chose the former, he would join hands with Yeon Ho-jeong in earnest. If he chose the latter, they would be enemies from then on.

It was an extreme alternative situation. Yeon Ho-jeong was openly testing Murong Yu’s vessel.

‘Terrifying!’

While testing Murong Yu, he also allowed him to establish a foundation in Zhejiang if he passed the test, and furthermore, seized the Zhejiang trade market in one stroke during its most sensitive period.

If Zhejiang stabilized, Jiangsu Province would naturally stabilize as well. If so, the Green Mountain Yeon Clan would also be able to proceed with their work much more smoothly.

‘With this single move, he made it possible to obtain double, triple the benefits…’

Talent recognizes talent.

Murong Yu clicked his tongue as he thought of the countless things Yeon Ho-jeong would gain from this incident.

‘If I fail… he will probably drag the Yeon Clan’s troops over and occupy it then.’

It meant that even in the worst-case scenario, he would secure what he needed to secure.

It was amazing. To Murong Yu, it was an unconventional method he couldn’t even dare to think of.

Murong Yu finished reading the rest of the letter.

[I plan to stay at the Lake Fresh Great Joy Tower for about a month to investigate the Zhejiang market. If you succeed, come over for an outing.]

Murong Yu, who folded the letter, let out a deep sigh.

‘Could it be that I have joined hands with a person too difficult to handle.’

At that time, Yi Geon came running.

“Br-Branch Leader!”

“What is the matter?”

“The merchant representatives want to nominate the Branch Leader as the Great Honored Guest of the Trade Alliance! Why are they suddenly acting like this?”

“Great Honored Guest…”

Murong Yu smiled bitterly.

“He told me to bite their throat when the chance came, but he pulled out all their fangs and teeth and sent them over.”

“Yes?”

“It is nothing. Let’s go in.”

A light of determination was engraved in the eyes of Murong Yu, who took a large breath.

“What can I do. Even if it’s a flower with thorns, if the scent is good, I must pluck it.”