Volume 4 Chapter 6 – Agency

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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In the distance, the snow piled high on the famous peaks of the rugged Mount Song blazed pure white in the morning sunlight.

Several streams of waterfalls pouring down from the cliffs brilliantly spilled golden light, drawing rainbows.

The dense forest flowed down to the gentle plains, becoming the woods of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, which was known as a forbidden area.

The fog rising from dawn held the fresh air of the forest and enveloped Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, and from the kitchen of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, the smell of cooking rice spread far through the chimney.

It was a perfectly peaceful dawn landscape of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, as always.

“…Did you come from the Agency?”

“Yes.”

However, starting from the main gate of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, that peace was shattering.

“From now on, you will follow the control of the Agency.”

It was in the form of polite speech, but it was also an explicit command that could never be refused.

“All personnel performing guard duties for Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment will hand over their weapons and halt their current tasks.”

The Life-Snatching Ghost Sword frowned and glared at the opponent.

“…There’s no way you’ll tell me what’s going on, right?”

“Special Duty Captain. You do not have the authority to handle information related to the Agency’s mission execution.”

Not a single trace of warmth could be felt from the opponent, who wore a golden-shimmering cape.

Behind the smooth golden mask, cold eyes flashed sharply.

“From now on, this area will be controlled by the Agency. Please follow the Agency’s control immediately.”

“…Ha, damn it. What is this since dawn?”

“Well, that’s fine. Let’s just think of it as getting a vacation after a long time.”

The special duty members, who had never backed down against anyone until now, meekly handed over their weapons and retreated.

And their places were taken by those clad in golden capes with their faces covered by masks.

The Agency’s commanding warrior spoke once more.

“Special Duty Captain.”

His gaze was dreadfully emotionless.

Looking at the hand he held out, the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword clenched his teeth.

“You have no right of refusal. Cooperate immediately.”

The changed tone of voice signified a warning.

“Captain….”

His comrades’ worried gazes turned toward the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword.

Sharp tension settled in a heavy silence.

“…Damn it.”

Ultimately, the Life-Snatching Ghost Sword relaxed his eyes and let out a sigh.

He unfastened the weapon from his waist.

“…Since I also hold the duty of guarding the Eldest Young Master personally, please allow me to enter Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.”

The Agency’s commanding warrior, who received the weapon from him, nodded.

“However, you must never leave our sight.”

* * *

The triplets, who were in the middle of cooking rice and preparing food, stared at the people who barged in.

“Please halt everything you are doing and follow the control.”

One of them raised a rice paddle and spoke.

“No, what does cooking rice have to do with your mission that you are doing this?”

“We are preparing breakfast for the Eldest Young Master!”

“Discard everything.”

As the Agency warrior in the cape waved his hand, the other warriors moved.

“Hey!”

“Look here!”

They poured water into the hearth and threw ash into the pots, ruining all the dishes.

They even went so far as to sprinkle ash over the dishes that were already cooked and covered.

“Hey! Are you guys crazy?!”

Seeing the dishes they had sweated since dawn to prepare with all their heart get ruined, the triplets exploded.

“You could have just left them covered, so why the hell are you throwing ash?!”

“Just because you came from that high-and-mighty Agency, do you think you can do whatever you want?!”

The angered I-ryeong pushed the Agency warrior, but she was the one who ended up falling back instead.

It was not because of internal energy or anything else.

It was simply due to the massive weight of the heavy armor the warriors were wearing.

“….”

Looking at the extreme level of heavy armament revealed between the golden capes, they clenched their teeth.

“From now on, all your daily tasks will be controlled through the Agency.”

* * *

In the front yard of Yeon So-hyeon’s quarters, the Agency’s commanding warrior took out a written order and unfolded it.

“As of this moment, we declare in the name of the main family’s Supreme Executive Council and the Agency that Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment has entered a state of complete lockdown.”

On a peaceful morning, Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment was closed down just like that.

* * *

“And for personal matters rather than daily tasks, this female warrior here will oversee the head maid, so you must speak to her first and follow her control without fail.”

Handing over her sword, Jeong-ah asked.

“Even when I need to use the outhouse?”

The Agency warrior nodded emotionlessly.

“If you state your business, the female warrior in charge will explain it to you then and there.”

The female warrior stepped forward and spoke.

“In the case of the outhouse, you must use it with the door open, and you must never leave my sight.”

Jeong-ah shrugged her shoulders at her.

“You have taken on a difficult mission.”

The female warrior replied in a calm voice from behind her mask.

“You do not have the authority to handle information related to the Agency’s mission execution.”

Looking at those rummaging through her room, Jeong-ah asked.

“Is what they are doing also necessary for the mission execution?”

“Yes.”

The Agency warriors were carelessly pulling her undergarments out of the wardrobe.

Although she did not verify it herself, the same thing was likely happening in the rooms of the triplet maids.

“Hey! You bastards…!”

Hearing the shout, Jeong-ah looked out the window.

The Agency warriors were digging up a portion of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment’s field.

The rapidly growing vegetables were uprooted and thrown here and there.

“Those are the vegetables we worked so hard to grow!”

Sam-ryeong tried to stop them, but the Agency warrior holding her back did not budge.

“Is that too?”

“Yes. It is all part of the mission.”

With her Dragon Eyes, Jeong-ah looked at the Agency warrior who answered emotionlessly and nonchalantly.

“Though that is partially true, you yourself harbor doubts. Is it not a necessary security procedure, but rather that you received someone’s orders?”

“It is all a security procedure.”

He replied with the most natural attitude possible, but Jeong-ah sighed and shook her head.

“I must go see my master.”

The Agency warriors blocked her as she tried to leave the room.

“That is not permitted.”

“…You make me regret handing over my sword.”

The Agency warriors in the room chuckled.

“We will acknowledge your confidence. However, do not forget that we, the Agency, receive orders directly from the main family’s Supreme Executive Council.”

His gaze turned toward Jeong-ah.

“We have the authority to summarily execute anyone who draws a blade against us, regardless of their status, Head Maid.”

* * *

“This is just tea, though.”

Among the triplet maids, Il-ryeong looked up with askance eyes at the Agency warrior blocking her.

“This is as far as you are allowed to enter. Hand the tray over to me, and return.”

Having handed over the tray with two cups of tea on it, she grumbled and stepped out of the building.

There, her twin sisters were already crouching on the stone steps.

In every corner of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment that entered their sight, warriors wearing golden capes were stationed.

And even more warriors were searching every nook and cranny of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment as if combing through it.

“…They are truly no different from an occupying army.”

“Ah… Today’s dish was my masterpiece.”

“They are rummaging through the entirety of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment as if it were their own house.”

“Their own house. Would they really do such things in their own house…?”

“I want to smack that ugly mask.”

Although she said it loud enough for the warriors standing behind them to hear, they showed no reaction whatsoever.

At that sight, they let out sighs in unison.

* * *

Yeon So-hyeon reached for the teacup on the tray brought in by the Agency warrior.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

As the Agency’s commanding warrior sitting across from him gestured, the warrior waiting behind lifted Yeon So-hyeon’s teacup.

Shifting his mask up, he took a sip and carefully tested the tea.

Yeon So-hyeon snorted.

“So. What kind of tea from where is it identified as?”

Without any answer, the warrior placed the teacup back in front of Yeon So-hyeon with a polite attitude.

Instead, the commanding warrior spoke.

“Please do not blame him too much. We are merely performing our mission for the Eldest Young Master’s safety…”

Yeon So-hyeon cut him off.

“It is not for my safety, but rather for the safety of the ‘Supreme Executive Council’ that summoned me.”

In front of Yeon So-hyeon lay a document containing the notice of his summons.

An official seal representing the Supreme Executive Council was clearly stamped on the document.

“….”

The commanding warrior, who had been silent for a moment, spoke.

“As you know, the Agency is the sole shield of the Luoyang Sword Family, the greatest and final shield, and all its members…”

Yeon So-hyeon intercepted his words once more.

“All members, under any circumstances and for whatever reason, do not forget that they exist to protect the Patriarch of the Luoyang Sword Family.”

It was the oath of the Agency.

Yeon So-hyeon leaned deep into his chair.

“…So you know the Agency’s oath.”

“I do.”

Yeon So-hyeon wore a twisted smile.

“And I also know that the oath has been revised lately.”

“….”

“Not to protect the Patriarch, but to protect the core of the Luoyang Sword Family, that is.”

Yeon So-hyeon’s sharp gaze seemed to pierce through the commanding warrior’s mask.

“Because what you are protecting right now is not my father, the Patriarch, but the high councilors of the Supreme Executive Council.”

The Agency was originally a security office meant to protect the supreme decision-maker of the Luoyang Sword Family, namely, the Patriarch.

It was also an organization granted the highest priority authority in executing operations for that mission.

“Strictly speaking…”

The eyes behind the mask slightly avoided Yeon So-hyeon’s gaze.

“The Patriarch whom the Eldest Young Master speaks of has currently retired to become the Grand Patriarch, and the main family is currently under the acting Patriarch system of the ‘Supreme Executive Council’…”

“Yes. Logically speaking, I am also not just the Eldest Young Master, but the acting Patriarch of the main family.”

“Since the Eldest Young Master has not been recognized as the acting Patriarch through formal procedures, you cannot claim authority as the acting Patriarch—”

“Is that so?”

Yeon So-hyeon pulled the Patriarch’s Seal of the Sword Family from his chest and placed it on the table.

“Say something about authority again.”

At the sight of the Sword Family’s Golden Seal glinting as it reflected the sunlight, the commanding warrior let out a low groan.

“I said, speak.”

He let out a sigh.

“…It is indeed just as I heard. One cannot dare to match the Eldest Young Master in eloquence.”

Though it was a sarcastic remark, Yeon So-hyeon did not mind.

“Then stop talking nonsense and just take me to the Supreme Executive Council.”

Lifting his teacup, he continued.

“And stop harassing my people for no reason, too.”

The commanding warrior shook his head behind his mask.

“As you surely know, we merely move according to the instructions given to us.”

Yeon So-hyeon snorted.

“Nonsense. What you bastards are doing in this Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment right now clearly violates standard procedures.”

“As for the Agency’s procedures…”

As Yeon So-hyeon quietly stroked the Patriarch’s Seal, he shut his mouth.

“It is obvious.”

Staring straight into the commanding warrior’s eyes, Yeon So-hyeon spoke.

“It must be a stunt by some foolish high councilor trying to break my spirit before the summons, is it not?”

“….”

Yeon So-hyeon bared his teeth.

“I can tell just by the fact that you deliberately sent a commanding warrior who has never met me before. Anyone who knows me would never pull such a stunt.”

At the remark disparaging the high councilor, the warrior waiting behind the commanding warrior cleared his throat conspicuously.

Yet he did not dare to act rashly in front of the Patriarch’s Seal.

“….”

However, Yeon So-hyeon did not speak any further either.

His gaze was fixed on the hand signal that the commanding warrior was ‘secretly’ making.

-Requesting Standby-

It was a hand signal that only Yeon So-hyeon himself and ‘his friend’, who had now left this world, knew.