Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 44 - Flaw in the Rules (4)

Chapter 44 – Flaw in the Rules (4)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Kang Yun’s face turned red.

“Do you mean to say you will drag me down from my position as Squad Leader?”

“You should consider yourself lucky, shouldn’t you?”

Yeon Ho-jeong raised his fist.

Woooooong.

Intense True Qi rose from his fist.

Kang Yun, who was about to speak again, was instantly startled.

‘How can this be?!’

The energy felt from Yeon Ho-jeong’s fist was truly formidable. It was to the extent that it far surpassed the internal energy of himself, the Flying Eagle Squad Leader.

“In my heart, I want to break your limbs and kick you out, but a punch is something to be given to someone who is worth the effort.”

“……!”

“A punch is too good for someone like you.”

Yeon Ho-jeong turned back to Yu Ji-ha.

Yu Ji-ha was startled.

“Do my words sound like a joke?”

“I-I am sorry!”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s gaze was incredibly bloodthirsty. Yu Ji-ha’s feet moved on their own.

Kang Yun’s lips twitched.

“You are making this a big deal.”

“Do not overestimate yourself. This is not something that will become a big deal because of someone like you. Rather than you, I find the superiors who felt at ease even after placing someone like you in that position even more incomprehensible.”

Yeon Ho-jeong laughed coldly.

“I am trying to handle this according to the rules you so dearly love. Just shut your mouth and wait.”

“……Even if you are the Eldest Young Master, you cannot make me step down from the Squad Leader position.”

“That is why I called the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades instead of just striking you dead, isn’t it? And didn’t I tell you? To wait. I think I’ve said all I had to say, so there’s no need to keep babbling.”

Kang Yun bit his lip.

“I was only acting for the sake of the Yeon Clan!”

“I am also trying to dismiss you for the sake of the family.”

“Small organizations gather to form a large organization! If an organization is not governed by laws and rules, it is bound to scatter! It is only logical to accept a certain level of sacrifice for the sake of perfected organizational power!”

“What a piece of trash.”

“Wh-what did you say?”

“That sacrifice… why do you, who should be an example for your squad members, live without bearing it yourself?”

“……!!”

“You are a typical petty man who is flexible with yourself and harsh only with others. Because someone like you is in charge of the Squad Leader position, the performance of the Flying Eagle Squad is so stagnant.”

Yeon Ho-jeong turned his head.

“Is that not so?”

There was no one where he was looking.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong continued speaking without hesitation.

“Since I have called the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades anyway, word will reach my father. Please reveal yourself now.”

It was then.

Sliiiide.

Kang Yun and the Third Squad of the Flying Eagle Squad were startled.

From a shaded area next to the weapon storehouse of the Great Martial Arts Ground, a man revealed himself.

He was tall and had a sturdy build. However, it was difficult to discern his appearance as he wore a mask that covered everything except his eyes. Judging by the look in his eyes, he appeared to be around forty.

The man spoke.

“Were you aware?”

“I did not know. However, just a moment ago, your Qi wavered for a very brief second.”

“Formidable.”

“It is nothing special.”

Yeon Ho-jeong said with a smile.

“Are you Wang Jeon?”

“I am.”

Kang Yun’s eyes widened.

Wang Jeon referred to the closest escort warrior of the Clan Head, Yeon Wi. People called the one who traditionally took charge of the Yeon Clan Head’s escort the Lord Protector.

Wang Jeon was the current Lord Protector. His skills could be said to be the best in the family, excluding the Clan Head, Yeon Wi.

“Do you have something to say?”

Wang Jeon shook his head.

He only shook his head at the Eldest Young Master’s words. It might seem to deviate from etiquette, but the Lord Protector was allowed such things. The Lord Protector was a special person who only listened to the commands of the Clan Head.

“Go and tell my father. It seems I will be making a bit of a scene today.”

Wang Jeon, who was silently observing Yeon Ho-jeong, spoke.

“I have something I am curious about.”

“Please speak.”

“If the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades does not question the sins of the Flying Eagle Squad Leader, what do you intend to do?”

He did not know why such a question was being asked, but Yeon Ho-jeong answered honestly.

“I would have no choice but to kidnap Leader Kang and make it so he can never function as a human being again.”

A flash of light appeared in Wang Jeon’s eyes.

Kang Yun also looked at Yeon Ho-jeong as if he found it absurd.

“In my heart, I want to overturn the Hall of Judicial Blades and everything else, but I am not the Clan Head. Even so, it is not the duty of a human being to be disappointed in the family because of such foolish people, is it?”

“…….”

“Does that answer your question?”

Wang Jeon nodded.

Yeon Ho-jeong pointed his hand toward the Third Squad.

“Please also ask my father to look into a nearby medical clinic. The children’s condition is not good.”

“Were you aware?”

“I only found out today. I was also too indifferent, so my responsibility is also great.”

Wang Jeon’s gaze became peculiar.

Wang Jeon, who had been silently observing Yeon Ho-jeong, left a single remark before disappearing.

“The Flying Eagle Squad Leader will receive a heavy punishment.”

Kang Yun’s face turned pale.

This was said by the Lord Protector himself, one of the greatest masters of the Yeon Clan. The vague sense of crisis he had felt was only now touching his skin.

“Just…… just why?!”

“Do you still not know?”

Yeon Ho-jeong said while looking at the members of the Third Squad.

“The flesh and bones of your squad members have been severely damaged by your uniform training.”

“Wh-what?!”

“Did you prattle on about organization and unit without even knowing such a thing?”

Kang Yun looked at the Third Squad in confusion.

They bit their lips and avoided Kang Yun’s gaze.

“That is exactly where your incompetence lies. I do not know how you conducted the squad training, but the blood vessels of your members are not normal. They entered training without even receiving proper treatment after being injured.”

“……!”

“What kind of Squad Leader are you, unable to even grasp the physical condition of each squad member?”

Kang Yun’s face turned pale.

Even in the ancient era of the Three Kingdoms, injured soldiers were not included in training to maintain the unit’s combat power. Yet, he had been excessively indifferent to the individual tendencies and health of his squad members.

Despite that, he had delivered punishment close to torture under the pretext of disobedience for training during sleep hours.

He was a failure as a Squad Leader.

A short while later, the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades arrived at the Great Martial Arts Ground.

“Eldest Young Master?!”

“Please wait a moment. There are still many people who will come.”

“Wh-what do you mean by that?”

Yeon Ho-jeong glared at Kang Yun.

Kang Yun’s face was not just pale, but turned blue.

“You like collective responsibility, don’t you?”

That day, almost all the units and organizations that made up the Yeon Clan gathered at the martial arts ground.

Yeon Ho-jeong announced Kang Yun’s incompetence in a place where everyone could hear.

Kang Yun was also a human being. He himself must have known that his unit operation was not normal from the beginning. He had simply chosen the path that was easy only for himself.

Since that fact was spread out in detail in front of everyone, no matter how thick-skinned he was, he could not endure it. Kang Yun eventually knelt under the cold gaze of the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades.

However, Yeon Ho-jeong did not only blame Kang Yun’s faults.

He called out those who had taught Kang Yun and those who had learned alongside him. Then, he minutely investigated each of their organizations to see if there were any incidents like those in the Flying Eagle Squad.

The results were shocking.

In fact, three organizations were discovered to be in an even worse state than the Flying Eagle Squad. In one of those organizations, there was even a case where a squad member had been killed and buried over a trivial matter.

It was a situation like a bolt from the blue. Since the entire unit had kept their mouths shut to cover up that fact, it had been smoothed over as a disappearance case.

Neither the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades nor Yeon Wi, who heard the situation later, had any idea that such a thing could have happened within the family.

For the next five days, the atmosphere of the Yeon Clan was as bloodthirsty as a bomb on the verge of exploding.

Those who participated in evil deeds, those who committed corruption, and those who secretly aided them were all sought out. They were thoroughly punished according to the laws of the Yeon Clan.

The same went for Kang Yun.

Kang Yun’s sin was, in truth, not something that could be called a serious crime. However, the issues of his immature unit operation and his failure to properly care for his squad members… that is, his incompetence and lack of communication… were great.

However, the statement he had made was an even greater problem.

No one knew whether Wang Jeon had conveyed it or if the members of the Third Squad had. However, the Hall of Judicial Blades saw his words and actions toward the Eldest Young Master as a much larger problem than Kang Yun’s incompetence.

It was only natural. Kang Yun’s behavior was essentially no different from insubordination.

The laws of the Yeon Clan are solemn. As much as a leader of an organization was given that much authority, they had to bear a great responsibility.

Since someone as high as the Flying Eagle Squad Leader had committed insubordination against the Eldest Young Master of the family, it was not something to be overlooked. The Hall of Judicial Blades sentenced Kang Yun to internal power abolition and ten years in the dungeon.

If anything, it was an excessive sentence. It meant that the Hall of Judicial Blades also took this incident very seriously.

Thus, the cold hammer of the Yeon Clan was swung against those who had committed sins.

* * *

“Do you truly think it is excessive?”

“Yes.”

“I heard that you said you would personally punish the former Flying Eagle Squad Leader if the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades did not question his crimes?”

“That is true.”

“Then why do you say the current sentence is excessive?”

“If the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades had not questioned Kang Yun’s crimes, it would have meant that the family itself was rotten. It would have been a matter of striking down everyone, starting with the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades, and not just Kang Yun.”

“…….”

“However, the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades questioned Kang Yun’s crimes. The charges were incompetence and insubordination.”

“That is so.”

“Incompetence is one thing, but especially insubordination is a great crime. In a wartime situation, it can be seen as a capital offense that wouldn’t be enough even if he were executed on the spot.”

“That is so. That is why the sentence of internal power abolition and ten years in the dungeon was handed down. The reason is that I believe someone sitting in a high position must have a corresponding responsibility.”

“Your words are correct, but it is still excessive.”

“State your reason.”

“It might not be to the extent of collective responsibility, but in the end, it was the Yeon Clan that placed Kang Yun in that position.”

“…….”

“In the end, he was our family member. I do not know if you, Father, still think of him as a family member even now.”

“So, you are saying we should lower the sentence a bit?”

“Kang Yun received a sentence even more severe than what is specified in the family laws. I am not saying we should lower it, but that if we are to go by the rules, we should be transparent and clear.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled bitterly.

“In the end, was it not because Kang Yun also interpreted the family laws at his own whim that such an incident occurred?”

“…….”

“If you are not going to allow flexibility in the law, you must not handle it even more aggressively. It will surely cause confusion for many.”

“Do you truly think so?”

“That is my thought. I believe the family should be that way, even if other organizations are not.”

Yeon Wi turned to Yeon Ji-pyeong.

“What is your thought?”

Yeon Ji-pyeong, who had not expected the question to be directed at him, was startled.

However, he spoke as if he had been waiting.

“Even if it is not specifically about Leader Kang…… I believe it is a matter concerning a person’s life.”

“Hmm.”

“If a rule was broken, I believe it is right to give a corresponding punishment.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong, after hesitating slightly, continued speaking.

“I believe the reason the family is called the Green Mountain family is because of its clear and honest handling of affairs.”

Yeon Wi nodded.

“Your words are correct. In truth, I also think the judgment on Kang Yun this time is excessive.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong looked at Yeon Wi with questioning eyes. This was because if he thought it was excessive, he could have adjusted the sentence himself; he wondered why he had called them.

Yeon Wi asked Yeon Ho-jeong.

“Would you be all right?”

“Pardon? With what?”

“Insubordination is a crime where the range of increase or decrease in punishment is large depending on the situation. Since you are the superior who became the target of insubordination, you could even kill Kang Yun if you wished.”

“That is true.”

“Yet you say the sentence should be lowered. I am asking if that part is all right.”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“It is fine. Well, I also scraped his inside quite a bit. Considering I didn’t even draw my sword, isn’t that something?”

“If you had drawn your sword, it would have been grounds for immediate execution.”

“That’s what I mean.”

The corners of Yeon Wi’s mouth rose slightly.

But that was only for a moment; his face soon became blunt.

“Very well. I shall do as you two say regarding this matter.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong was inwardly startled. On the other hand, Yeon Ho-jeong listened to Yeon Wi’s words with a calm face.

“Ho-jeong.”

“Yes, Father.”

“You worked hard.”

Yeon Ho-jeong stood up with a smile.

“Please make it so I don’t have to work hard over such matters. I’m exhausted.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong, flustered, shook Yeon Ho-jeong’s arm.

Yeon Wi spoke while taking a sip of tea.

“I shall take care in the future.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong’s mouth hung open.

“Then, we shall go first.”

“What will you do tomorrow?”

“I must do what I have been doing.”

“Do you intend to start that harsh training again?”

“I’m thinking of changing the training method a bit now.”

Yeon Wi nodded.

“Drop by once before the Successor arrives. I shall take a look at your martial arts. You too, Ji-pyeong.”

The Yeon brothers left the Clan Head’s office.

Yeon Wi looked out the window. The brothers were heading toward their quarters, bursting into laughter as if something were very interesting.

A hint of regret remained in Yeon Wi’s eyes.

The target of that regret was, as expected, Yeon Ho-jeong.