Volume 4 Chapter 7 – Remember

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The four-person palanquin carrying Yeon So-hyeon to attend the Supreme Executive Council ran down the grand avenues without hesitation.

In the landscape that changed in an instant as they crossed, not a single pedestrian could be seen.

There was not even anyone looking out from beyond the walls or through the windows.

This was the power of the ‘priority authority’ that the organization called the Agency possessed within the Luoyang Sword Family.

“Are you not dizzy?”

It was a question from the commander sitting opposite him.

“While those carrying the palanquin are running at full speed with lightfoot techniques, my eyes are covered, and they circle the same alley several times or occasionally leap over roofs, and you ask if I am not dizzy?”

Yeon So-hyeon leaned back.

Although it was difficult to even lean back comfortably inside the cramped four-person palanquin.

“We are sorry, but…”

“It is the guideline. I know too.”

The commander, who was bending his body as much as possible so that Yeon So-hyeon could be comfortable, smiled.

“….”

As he sent some transmission to his subordinates, the warriors who were running while guarding the perimeter of the palanquin adjusted their formation widely.

And they took out something like a small bell from their chests and shook it.

However, peculiarly, no bell sound was heard.

“…Is this the Agency’s unique eavesdropping prevention stance?”

To Yeon So-hyeon’s question, the commanding warrior replied via transmission.

‘Yes, that is correct. You have sensitive ears. With this, my transmission will not leak out.’

Yeon So-hyeon merely nodded without a reply.

‘You must have many questions after seeing my hand signal, but please understand that the travel time is not long, so the time given to me is also short.’

Without even checking Yeon So-hyeon’s reaction, he hastily continued the transmission.

‘According to an information source known only to me…’

Information that started like this was highly unreliable information.

However, Yeon So-hyeon listened to the transmission in silence.

‘That hand signal’ was worth that much.

‘At an unspecified point in the past, the Second Young Master and the Third Young Master were summoned by the Supreme Executive Council.’

Yeon So-hyeon’s eyebrows twitched.

‘They are said to have received a certain assurance from the Supreme Executive Council. That is…’

He stared straight at Yeon So-hyeon, who sat with his eyes covered.

‘The Supreme Executive Council will ensure that the Patriarch’s Seal will have no influence on the selection of the successor.’

Inside his blindfold, Yeon So-hyeon closed his eyes.

The commanding warrior hurried his transmission.

‘I will not ask you to believe me right away. In any case, once you meet the high councilors soon, you will be able to verify it directly through their actions.’

He looked at Yeon So-hyeon with earnest eyes.

‘I earnestly beseech you, Eldest Young Master.’

His sincerity was palpable even through the transmission.

‘You must be careful of them. And you must show all politeness so as not to disturb their peace of mind.’

It seemed they were nearing their arrival.

He delivered his request as hastily as possible.

‘For now, it is a time when you must bow your head as much as possible. Only by overcoming this crisis can you plan for a greater cause later…’

Yeon So-hyeon cut off his words.

“When returning, another commanding warrior will ride along by regulation, correct?”

“That is a security matter, so it is difficult to answer.”

The commanding warrior replied doubly by using transmission.

‘Yes, that is correct.’

At that, Yeon So-hyeon replied to him via ‘transmission’.

‘In that case, I shall deliver it now.’

He was startled out of his wits by Yeon So-hyeon’s transmission digging into his ears.

“……!”

He was so shocked that the Agency warriors outside, sensing his presence, grabbed their swords all at once.

“Nothing is wrong here! The Eldest Young Master is preparing, so everyone keep your distance and maintain guard.”

The eavesdropping prevention stance was deactivated.

The destination was right ahead.

‘You… knew how to use… martial arts?’

Reflecting his mental agitation, the transmission was unstable.

‘It seems you are currently fighting a lonely battle within the Agency.’

‘…That is correct.’

‘Listen carefully. These are the same words I said to your older brother, who was also my friend and the former Chief of the Agency.’

“…!”

Yeon So-hyeon had recognized who he was through the hand signal alone.

The palanquin stopped at the destination.

‘If a situation arises that you cannot handle alone, remember.’

Guided by the commanding warrior, Yeon So-hyeon stepped off the palanquin and continued the transmission.

‘In this Sword Family, there is I, Yeon So-hyeon.’

The commander felt as though Yeon So-hyeon were looking at him from behind the thick blindfold.

‘If there was a reason your brother died, it was surely because he forgot or ignored my advice.’

Another squad was approaching from over there to take over.

‘Come find me.’

The warriors of the other squad entered the range where transmission interception was possible.

The commander could only stare at Yeon So-hyeon blankly.

Nothing could be read from the face of the boy whom his own brother had praised so highly.

“Are you alright?”

He snapped out of it at his subordinate’s words.

“Ah, I am fine. Listen, everyone. We are moving to the first evacuation point from now on.”

The Eldest Young Master’s figure had already vanished.

Running alongside his subordinates with lightfoot techniques, he recalled his brother’s will.

He recalled his brother, who had been the chief of the Agency in the past.

The will that he had read dozens of times and memorized completely.

‘If you see this will, it naturally means that I am dead.’

His brother was exceedingly nonchalant, even while preparing for his own death.

‘If that is the case, it is likely because I forgot or ignored the request of the Eldest Young Master, who was my close friend.’

‘Remember, my brother.’

‘That in this Luoyang Sword Family, there is the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.’

He clenched his teeth.

‘If he ends his seclusion and comes out to the world again, you must go see him.’

He earnestly prayed that the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon would overcome this crisis.

He was the one who had searched for information to help Yeon So-hyeon ever since the rumors about his seclusion began to circulate.

In the end, he succeeded in delivering the information he had painstakingly found to Yeon So-hyeon.

‘The Supreme Executive Council will ensure that the Patriarch’s Seal will have no influence on the selection of the successor.’

Now, the rest was up to Yeon So-hyeon.

* * *

The faction of the Second Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family.

Han Myeong-hwi, the strategist of the Second Young Master, spoke to Elder Son.

“…A conclusion will be reached by today.”

Elder Son, who sat in a relaxed manner with the leading strategists of the Second Young Master’s faction, nodded.

“Since the Supreme Executive Council never delays matters, the issue regarding the Eldest Young Master will be resolved within today.”

They were merely waiting for new news to arrive.

Strategist Choi bit his nails and asked Elder Son.

“…There is no way the Supreme Executive Council would break their promise to our lord, right?”

Elder Son chuckled.

“If only our lord had been in that position, perhaps they might have. However, the Third Young Master was also there. The high councilors will surely keep their promise, if only for the sake of their reputation.”

Elder Son wore a benevolent smile.

“If they had lacked trust and credibility, that is…”

The strategists’ gazes converged on him.

“Would they have quietly accepted their continued operation of the main family in a situation where the Grand Patriarch is unconscious?”

His eyes flashed.

“Those monster-like powerholders of the main family?”

* * *

Yeon So-hyeon, with his eyes still covered, walked endlessly following the Agency warriors.

Their heavy footsteps ringing in his ears seemed to linger and echo like tinnitus.

Yeon So-hyeon was grumbling.

“…In any case, the location where the Supreme Executive Council is held always changes irregularly, doesn’t it?”

He muttered.

“Using security as a pretext, this kind of action is nothing more than putting psychological pressure on the summonee. Doing this to a summonee, who is not even a criminal, is an extremely unfair treatment.”

The commanding warrior responsible for the internal guard replied.

“If you have complaints, make a formal protest to the Agency, Swordless One.”

It was full of mockery.

“Though it will be useless.”

Yeon So-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.

“Really? If I truly make up my mind and charge in, you guys will be shattered ‘just like in the past.’ Will you be alright?”

“….”

“You must have heard my stories from your seniors until you were sick of it, right?”

There was no reply in return.

Instead, for some reason, their footsteps grew even faster.

Yeon So-hyeon, who was walking with his arms linked by the warriors on both sides, was now practically being dragged along.

“Hey! Guys! I’ll go easy on you this time, so let’s go a bit slower!”

Naturally, they became even rougher.

Clinging to them, Yeon So-hyeon chuckled.

“You guys. I will remember all of this.”

“…Do as you wish, Swordless One.”

* * *

“Go straight forward.”

They untied Yeon So-hyeon’s blindfold and pushed him forward.

Yeon So-hyeon stumbled before barely regaining his balance.

“Guys, isn’t this too harsh just because I made a joke?”

Behind him, the stone door closed with a thud.

“…Heartless bastards.”

Yeon So-hyeon shook his head and headed forward along the long corridor.

Along the long corridor, an artificially constructed stream flowed on both sides.

Above the streams, the ceiling was open, allowing natural light to filter in.

Indeed, isn’t the Sword Family the best in the Central Plains when it comes to wasting money? Yeon So-hyeon wore a twisted smile.

The formations installed along the corridor sought to make him psychologically shrink back and feel anxious.

However, there was no way a mere formation could affect him.

Humming a song lightly, he moved with loose steps.

Reaching the end of the corridor, a wide hemispherical space revealed itself.

“Please stand in the center, Eldest Young Master.”

A modulated voice, which felt like neither a man’s nor a woman’s, echoed.

It was due to the shape of the massive hemispherical stone cave.

“This is the place my father used to use as a personal training ground in the past…”

Yeon So-hyeon muttered to himself as he stood in the very center of the stone cave.

The sunlight pouring down from the hole in the ceiling illuminated him.

“…We also feel deeply apologetic for that, Eldest Young Master.

However, please understand our circumstances as well.”

It was a different person from before, but it was a modulated voice all the same.

And those voices were flowing from the small stone caves hollowed out all around the hemispherical cave.

Nine caves, meaning nine individuals.

Yeon So-hyeon slowly turned a full circle and greeted them.

“Long time no see, nine high councilors.”

Yeon So-hyeon clapped his palms as if he had just realized something.

“Ah. Some must have been replaced in the meantime. Nice to meet you, I am Yeon So-hyeon.”

There was no answer.

He smiled.

“It is strange since I am the only one greeting. How about we exchange greetings first?”

At those words, a modulated voice replied.

“High councilors do not exchange such things as greetings.”

Another voice continued.

“According to the strict internal regulations of the Supreme Executive Council, all members composing the Supreme Executive Council must not know nor try to know each other’s identities.”

Yeon So-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.

“At least two of you are seeing me for the first time after becoming high councilors.”

“…”

“Though it is not something to brag about…”

He smiled.

“The high councilors who have a memory of dealing with me even once in this place would absolutely never reply to such words.”