Volume 4 Chapter 5 – The Conclusion of the Council

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Luoyang Sword Family,

Elder Yeom’s training ground.

“Now, everyone understands, right?”

Yeom Baek-ha, the Law Enforcement Envoy who was called by the nickname of the Law Enforcement Lady, was explaining.

“The education you are receiving right now is conducted as a special education period has been declared by the Law Enforcement Court of the Main Family.”

In front of her, dozens of warriors were sitting huddled together.

“It is for the purpose of strengthening the discipline of the Main Family due to the incident in the Inner Courtyard. Everyone, did you understand up to here?”

A warrior sitting next to a dozing warrior burst into laughter at her words.

“Haha, young lady. No matter what, even we understand that much.”

Another warrior also laughed.

“We are not thugs from the Luoyang marketplace….”

“Are you not ignoring us too much?”

As they chattered noisily, the dozing warriors also pretended to laugh along.

Yeom Baek-ha let out a sigh and spoke.

“Now, then, I will ask a question to our warriors, who possess both learning and refinement. What does the ‘Supreme Executive Council’ of the Main Family do?”

One warrior answered energetically.

“Is it not the organization with the strongest power?”

“It is the most terrifying place!”

“It is also the most important organization!”

Yeom Baek-ha covered her face and sighed.

If they had studied as much as they used swords, they would have all become Law Enforcement Envoys instead of warriors.

She managed to control her mind and continued the education.

“The Supreme Executive Council of the Main Family is currently the Acting Patriarch of the Main Family, and at the same time, it is the name of the current system. It is the final decision-making and resolving organ of the Main Family, which even holds the authority to forcefully intervene in matters that the Elders’ Council or each subordinate organization cannot resolve on their own.”

“…Does that not mean it is the strongest?”

“It seems to mean it is the most terrifying place….”

“My answer was correct! You mean it is the most important organization!”

Yeom Baek-ha nodded roughly.

“Yes, yes. Everyone did very well.”

The warriors clapped energetically.

Yeom Baek-ha gestured for them to stop clapping and asked another question.

“Then does anyone know how many members compose the Supreme Executive Council?”

“Is it not three people?”

“…Uh, I knew it to be five people.”

Yeom Baek-ha forced a smile.

“The answer is: ‘no one knows’.”

The warriors jeered at her.

“Ayy, is it not a trap in the first place?”

“You asked how many people, and the answer is no one knows. Are you mocking us?!”

“…I am sorry.”

“It is fine!”

“Anyone can make a mistake!”

Yeom Baek-ha’s smiling face twitched.

“Now, not to mention the number of supreme members composing the Supreme Executive Council, even their identities are not known. Why is that?”

“I think it is for protection!”

“Although they are in important positions, they might not all practice martial arts, so I think it is an excellent measure.”

This time, a fairly decent answer returned.

Since VIP escort was included in their training curriculum, it was likely because of that.

“Yes! Excellent answers.”

Everyone clapped in excitement.

“Now, now. But the most important reason is to prevent all power from concentrating on them.”

Yeom Baek-ha continued her explanation gently.

“In exchange for having mighty authority, they must keep a vow of silence that they will not reveal their identity anywhere, to anyone.”

“…Uh, then they won’t even be able to boast about it anywhere.”

“Mhm. Then I shouldn’t do it. My rising in the world is my mother’s only boast.”

“…Ah, yes. That’s right. They are making a noble sacrifice for the Luoyang Sword Family.”

One of the warrior chiefs sitting at the very front jumped up and shouted.

“Therefore, all of us must follow their example, arm ourselves with a thorough warrior spirit, and possess an infinite spirit of sacrifice for the Main Family! Do you understand?!”

Everyone answered loudly in unison.

Yeom Baek-ha wanted to just slump down.

‘Ah. I want to quit right now, this education….’

Whether the master suffered pain or not, White Tiger was jumping around joyfully on the training ground.

* * *

Luoyang Sword Family.

Elders’ Hall, Grand Assembly Hall.

Following the Inner Courtyard Chief Manager’s statement, a recess was declared again in accordance with the elders’ demands.

Elders gathered by faction exchanged conversations in whispers.

“It has been a long time since that Inner Courtyard Chief Manager made a statement.”

“Is it not because he had a big clash with the Eldest Young Master this time?”

“Is that fellow someone who would blink an eye at such a thing?”

“At least his pride must have been hurt. It was practically like the Eldest Young Master holding a departure ceremony in his front yard.”

Elder Yeom’s faction was also exchanging conversations.

“If the Supreme Executive Council unexpectedly releases the Eldest Young Master’s confinement, what will happen?”

“Is there any reason for them to do that?”

“I am just asking for the sake of conversation.”

“If we dare to think, even if they release the confinement, as long as they can prevent a civil war somehow, it won’t harm neutrals like us.”

Elder Yeom opened his mouth.

“Besides, the Eldest Young Master’s confinement is bound to be released someday anyway.”

At his words, everyone nodded in agreement.

“Indeed. He had his ‘betrothal’.”

“…If so, wouldn’t the Supreme Executive Council also try to retrieve only the Patriarch’s Official Seal somehow? Since confinement is not the problem.”

“Do you think the Eldest Young Master would exchange confinement for the Patriarch’s Official Seal?”

“If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t.”

“The discussion is a mess.”

“To begin with, since neither they nor the Eldest Young Master can guess how they will judge and move, is that not the problem?”

Elder Yeom chimed in.

“Probably this issue will be resolved once we watch their decision.”

Their gazes turned toward those Elder Yeom pointed to, namely, the elders of the Second Young Master’s and Third Young Master’s factions.

* * *

“We agree to raise this agenda to the Supreme Executive Council!”

“We also agree!”

The elders belonging to Elder Yeom’s faction nodded.

“As expected, Elder Yeom’s prediction was correct.”

“Since they would not make a decision that would harm the successors they serve.”

“They must be certain that the Supreme Executive Council will block the Eldest Young Master.”

“We have no grudge against the Eldest Young Master, but….”

“Still, we cannot leave someone who can cause the worst-case scenario of a civil war unchecked.”

“Then let us also express agreement.”

Elder Yeom also nodded.

But his mind was complex.

If the Supreme Executive Council summoned the Eldest Young Master, he could not predict what kind of conversation they would have and how they would clash.

However, it was obvious that the Supreme Executive Council, which was at the peak of all power in the Luoyang Sword Family, would place heavy restrictions on the Eldest Young Master in some form.

That was also the reason his heart was uneasy.

Because deep in his heart, there was a part of him that wished for the conclusion of the Eldest Young Master being trapped inside Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

If it turned out that way, his burden regarding his daughter’s treatment would also be greatly reduced.

The Eldest Young Master’s words on that day came to mind.

‘I am merely a physician and a Swordless One, but you? Can you be just a father to a child?’

When he grit his teeth hard, the voting began.

* * *

“I inform you that this agenda has been raised to the Supreme Executive Council!”

The Elders’ Hall Chief strongly tapped the gavel.

A conclusion was reached.

“Then next, it is the agenda related to the internal reform of the Main Family. Due to the unpleasant incident that occurred in the Inner Courtyard recently….”

From the time the Elders’ Hall grasped the Eldest Young Master’s situation to the time they reached a conclusion, it took only one shichen.

* * *

The regular meeting of the Elders’ Hall concluded, and the confined elders poured out of the Grand Assembly Hall.

“Haha, then I will see you at the next regular meeting.”

“Please take care of yourself.”

Coming out of the Grand Assembly Hall, they returned to being extremely sensible elders of dignity and refinement.

As they all dispersed to go their own ways, one elder asked Elder Son via sound transmission.

‘What you said earlier, is it true?’

Elder Son replied with a smile on his face.

‘Do not worry. The Supreme Executive Council will never leave the Patriarch’s Official Seal in the hands of the Eldest Young Master.’

‘Can I trust you?’

‘Of course.’

He sent the transmission with infinite trust.

‘Since it was what my lord, the Second Young Master, personally said to me.’

* * *

The empty Grand Assembly Hall.

“This must have been for the best, right?”

The Lord of the Guardianship Court asked.

“Was there any other way?”

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court also asked.

“…There were ways. Many.”

The Elders’ Hall Chief let out a sigh.

“But those were not the best of the best.”

“Sending it up to the Supreme Executive Council was the best judgment.”

“With all the power and authority, they will prevent the worst result.”

The Elders’ Hall Chief inhaled.

“That is the problem. That there was only one thing that could be called the best judgment.”

His gaze directed toward the main gate of the Grand Assembly Hall.

The Grand Assembly Hall had only one main gate.

Whether leaving or entering, one had no choice but to use that gate.

The Lord of the Guardianship Court opened his mouth.

“I heard that this Inner Courtyard incident started from a single inspector investigator.”

The Elders’ Hall Chief nodded.

“Was his name Kang Ho? I know the name because I am acquainted with the child’s grandfather.”

“And I hear it was the Eldest Young Master who designated and summoned that Kang Ho.”

The Elders’ Hall Chief groaned.

“…As a result, the Eldest Young Master moved a single low-ranking inspector to shake the Inner Courtyard.”

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court spoke in a low, sunken voice.

“On top of that, with the work through rumors in advance, he left me with no choices at all. He made it so the Law Enforcement Court had no choice but to cause that uproar in the central square.”

“It is utterly impossible to imagine that it was done by a single person who had been confined for ten years, possessing no strength or power.”

The Elders’ Hall Chief nodded slowly.

“Even that old monster, the Inner Courtyard Chief Manager, took a sudden blow….”

“Although everyone here is the same, this is not because we are hostile to the Eldest Young Master.”

“It is merely because he is a far too dangerous individual.”

“While he is at his weakest, we must nip him in the bud.”

“And we have pulled out the most powerful card we can mobilize in the Main Family, the Supreme Executive Council. Our judgment is correct.”

“…Do you all know?”

The Elders’ Hall Chief wore a hollow smile.

“Before we shared this conversation, we already knew all these details and had made our respective judgments. Yet, we gather here to chatter about a story that is useless to repeat.”

The Lord of the Guardianship Court and the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court fell silent.

It was because they were anxious.

Despite having completed all calculations and taken the most powerful measures possible, the Elders’ Hall Chief shook his head.

“…For some reason, I feel like recalling that ‘bloody history’.”

There was no reply.

The Elders’ Hall Chief moved his steps, which would not lift.

Toward the single exit.

“…I should visit the elders of the family after a long time.”

Suppressing his reluctant heart, he let out a deep sigh in his frustrating mood.