Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 50 - The Wind Blows (5)
Chapter 50 – The Wind Blows (5)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The atmosphere in the Chief Steward’s office turned cold.
A look of bewilderment was glimpsed on Tae-gyeong’s face.
“Wh-what do you mean?”
Crunch!
Yeon Ho-jeong crushed the teacup. Even though he crushed the cup with his bare hand, not a single wound appeared on his hand.
At that threatening action, Tae-gyeong unintentionally swallowed hard.
“At first, I was somewhat curious.”
Yeon Ho-jeong opened his hand.
Clatter.
The fragments of the broken teacup fell in a heap.
“In normal cases, when planting a spy in another organization, three rules are followed. First, an inconspicuous place. Second, an inconspicuous position. Third, an inconspicuous personality.”
Tae-gyeong’s eyes wavered.
He was a person who had trained thoroughly enough to maintain his facial expression even if a lightning bolt fell before his eyes. But he could not do so now.
The Eldest Young Master was openly calling him a spy. The light in the Eldest Young Master’s eyes was as intense as lightning and as hot as lava.
He couldn’t distinguish whether it was bloodlust or dignity. The moment the teacup broke, Tae-gyeong’s composure also broke. And Yeon Ho-jeong’s bloodlust opportunely dug into the crack of his broken heart.
“A first-class spy follows those rules thoroughly. People do not suspect an inconspicuous person to be a spy. Countless organizations in the martial world have walked the path of destruction because of such spies.”
“……!!”
“But a special-class is different.”
Yeon Ho-jeong pointed to himself with his thumb.
“A spy classified as special-class shows a pattern that is thoroughly opposite to other spies. They seize a conspicuous position with a conspicuous personality and linger in a conspicuous place.”
“……!!”
“A person anyone would suspect when something happens, but also a person with many ways to avoid suspicion. They know that once they avoid the arrow of suspicion, they will never be caught.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
Tae-gyeong could not smile back.
“However, you are unique. You are not first-class, and it is also ambiguous to classify you as special-class. You do not have a conspicuous personality, yet you are working in a central position of the organization with a conspicuous role.”
“E-Eldest Young Master! If you are perhaps misunderstanding me as a spy……”
“Misunderstanding? It is certainty.”
“……!”
“At first, I was also flustered. No matter how I looked at it, this fellow did not belong to the Myeong Clan, so where could he be from? Were there others besides the Myeong Clan who intended to swallow the family?”
Tae-gyeong unintentionally gripped his thighs.
‘Myeong Clan? What is the Myeong Clan again? Was the Myeong Clan also targeting this place?!’
Even in a moment of crisis, he accumulates new information. He instinctively remembers what to convey to his allies when his escape is successful.
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“Did the Murong Clan Head not tell you? That they joined hands with the Myeong Clan?”
“……?!”
“Your skill is quite high. By the looks of it, you seem to be a spy cherished and raised in your own way. Even if you’re caught, it’s easy to cut the tail and just feign ignorance, right?”
“……!!”
“Murong Clan…… truly interesting. Aiming for a backstab after a backstab? In the end, the family was merely looking after the people’s livelihoods without knowing anything in the midst of the competition between hungry ghosts.”
Only now could Yeon Ho-jeong deduce what had happened in the past.
The Murong Clan and the Myeong Clan, both targeted the Yeon Clan.
They were not targeting it separately. The Yeon Clan was not a family that a single organization could swallow up. Especially for one of the Seven Great Clans with many enemies, it was even more so.
Thus, the Myeong Clan and the Murong Clan had joined hands. They had thought of destroying the Yeon Clan and tearing Jiangsu Province in half.
In the past, Yeon Wi opposed the business proposal until the end.
Thus, the Myeong Clan stepped forward. For a family that would not be won over, they chose the most barbaric yet effective option of sweeping them away with force and then taking over.
What was surprising was the choice of the Murong Clan.
The fact that the Myeong Clan perished without a sound was highly likely the handiwork of the Murong Clan.
A family that had achieved the glory of being the Number One Clan under Heaven with a short history.
Of course, it would have been difficult to bury them with the strength of the Murong Clan alone. However, it was certain that the Murong Clan played a leading role. If not, the Murong Clan would not have been called the Number One Clan under Heaven.
In the end, everyone was played by the Murong Clan.
“The world is all like that. Whether you evaluate them by dividing their colors into Black Path or White Path, it’s all the same in the end. The good fellows are played, and the bad fellows get fat.”
“…….”
“Looking at such things, isn’t the Murong Clan Head truly amazing? You don’t seem like a good fellow either, so what kind of trust did he give someone like you to make you stake your life like this?”
Yeon Ho-jeong grinned.
“Why? Did he say he would let you look down on the world by his side once he takes over the world in the future?”
Cold sweat flowed down the back of Tae-gyeong’s neck.
“I-I truly do not understand what you are talking about, Eldest Young Master……”
“I thought you would say that.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shouted while glaring at Tae-gyeong.
“Successor!”
Sliiiide.
Instantly, Tae-gyeong was startled.
He did not know since when he had been there. Ga Deuk-sang was standing with his arms crossed right in front of a shaded bookshelf in a corner of the Chief Steward’s office.
“Tsk, I didn’t want to interfere in someone else’s family fight.”
The gaze of Ga Deuk-sang glaring at Tae-gyeong was also incredibly cold.
“The way you act is so despicable. It made the thought of receiving the commission fee completely disappear.”
Yeon Ho-jeong reached out his hand. Ga Deuk-sang handed him a neatly folded letter.
Tae-gyeong’s eyes shook greatly.
‘How did that happen?!’
That letter was the one he had sent to the Murong Clan through the Heavenly Communication Group.
The problem was that it had not been sent under the name of the Yeon Clan. Having spent quite a long time as the Chief Steward of the Yeon Clan, he had also made several members of the Heavenly Communication Group his own people.
“It was written in code. It was quite complex, but it wasn’t difficult to interpret.”
Tae-gyeong felt his vision go dark.
If it were someone else, it might be different, but for the Beggars’ Gang, decrypting codes is quick. The larger the scale of the organization that handles information, the higher the level of the code decrypters is bound to be.
The Beggars’ Gang is the peak of the Orthodox information world. It was a giant group that possessed countless first-class code decrypters.
Yeon Ho-jeong shook the letter.
“Now, stop that miscellaneous acting. Isn’t your facial muscle about to become paralyzed from hiding your true heart all this time?”
His words were correct.
Since even that coded letter had been discovered, feigning ignorance was meaningless. No, even without the letter, he had already failed to properly manage his expression in front of Yeon Ho-jeong.
‘Dammit.’
Tae-gyeong sighed.
“How did you know?”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled. Although he was certain that he was a spy, he had not expected him to admit it so easily.
“How could I not know?”
“I am curious what the motive for suspecting me was.”
Yeon Ho-jeong snorted.
“Do I really have to think about such a thing to know? I’m not a fool, I know just by looking.”
It was a statement that made most people living in the martial world into fools.
Tae-gyeong made a bitter smile.
“You have no intention of telling me.”
Even if he wanted to tell, he couldn’t. Even if he told, he didn’t have a credible past.
“It’s more disappointing than I thought. I thought you would feign ignorance until the end.”
“Even if I feigned ignorance until the end, would you even believe me?”
“Of course not.”
“Because I knew that, I admitted it.”
It was a strange thing to say. At least it was so to Yeon Ho-jeong’s ears.
“I misjudged you. I thought you were just some half-baked martial artist wretch who was anxious to become the Clan Head.”
“My acting worked well, then.”
“It was a great performance. Since I, who aim to be a strategist, could not even see through the inner thoughts of a young man, it seems I still have a long way to go.”
Yeon Ho-jeong felt a subtle pride in his voice.
‘Just as expected.’
Tae-gyeong’s eyes deepened.
“Since you wouldn’t have acted alone, the Yeon Clan Head must also know.”
Even though several years had passed since he began serving him, he unhesitatingly referred to him as the Yeon Clan Head.
At least that shamelessness was worth being called first-class. No matter how much of a spy one was, it was not easy to be like this.
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“My father does not know.”
“Is there a need to lie in this situation?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Tae-gyeong frowned.
‘The Clan Head doesn’t know?’
He examined Yeon Ho-jeong’s face in detail.
“……Is that the truth?”
“If you’ve caught a fish, you should scale it first; would I kill time with jokes?”
“Why did you not tell him?”
Yeon Ho-jeong laughed chillingly.
Seeing that laugh, Tae-gyeong suddenly realized.
“You…… your ambition to become the Clan Head was real!”
“I don’t think acting that isn’t sincere would work in front of a fellow who has been playing spy for nearly ten years.”
Tae-gyeong sighed softly.
“It was my arrogance that brought the situation to this point. To think I was completely fooled by a packaged expression even though I saw the essence.”
Whatever help he received, the main character of this matter is Yeon Ho-jeong.
So to speak, he had caught a spy and proven his ability. The reason he hadn’t told anyone was likely for that reason.
Tae-gyeong, who was sighing, was simultaneously joyful.
‘What a foolish fellow!’
The Clan Head doesn’t know?
Even if he knew, he could escape somehow, but if he didn’t know, it would be easier. Tae-gyeong inwardly couldn’t help but sneer at Yeon Ho-jeong’s greed.
Yeon Ho-jeong stood up.
“Thank you for becoming a stepping stone for my future.”
Tae-gyeong glared at Yeon Ho-jeong with venomous eyes.
“You’d better be careful. A greedy person is always bound to make mistakes in places they never expected.”
“Fellows who lack greed say that.”
“They said a dog is born under a tiger, and those words are truly correct.”
“I don’t think those are words to be heard from a spy wretch like you.”
Yeon Ho-jeong pointed to the door with his chin.
“Are you going to walk out on your own feet, or are you going to be dragged out?”
A short while later, Tae-gyeong was surrounded by warriors and headed for the dungeon.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was watching his back, spoke.
“Mr. Successor.”
“Go ahead.”
“Tell my father. Tell him we’ll take care of the rest, so enjoy your reminiscence well.”
* * *
Creeeeeak!
The solitary cell door opened.
Thud!
Tae-gyeong entered the solitary cell as if falling. It was a narrow room that would be full if one person lay down.
The gaze of the Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades was extremely fierce.
“I did not know you were such a person.”
Tae-gyeong had his back turned just as he entered. His appearance, only looking at the wall, seemed transcendent in a way.
“You dared to play us with that shameless face?”
“…….”
“Do you have that little to say!”
“…….”
Tae-gyeong was silent.
The Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades, who was huffing, threw out a cold remark.
“You will not be able to die gracefully.”
The Master of the Hall of Judicial Blades closed the solitary cell door.
Kwang!
It was such a violent sound that the iron door shook.
Thus, Tae-gyeong was trapped alone in a solitary cell where only faint moonlight entered.
“…….”
How much time had passed?
Tae-gyeong, who was sitting with his eyes closed, opened his mouth.
“Listener.”
Then, to his surprise, a voice was heard from outside the small window.
“Speaker.”
“…….”
“Hyeon-cheon, Ho-cheon.”
“Ho-cheon.”
Chiririrng.
A small, black key entered through the small window.
It was so dark that there was no way to tell where it had fallen. Tae-gyeong fumbled the floor and finally found the key.
‘It’s done.’
It was easy from now on. He fumbled the wall opposite the door with the key.
‘Lower left point, up three, right two.’
No matter how well a dungeon was made, there was always a gap between stones.
But what Tae-gyeong was looking for was not a simple gap. He had to find a steel hole that this small key fit into perfectly.
Click. Click-click.
It was dark, so it was not easily inserted.
Cold sweat flowed from his forehead. He had practiced countless times when no one was watching, but when it came to the actual situation, it was not as easy as before.
‘Phew.’
He made his heart as calm as possible and poked again.
A short while later.
Whooooooong.
To his surprise, the middle of the floor sank in.
Even though the ground sank, no sound was made. Tae-gyeong cheered inwardly and entered the place.
Sliiiide.
After Tae-gyeong entered, the floor returned to its original state.
Thus, the solitary cell became empty.