Chapter 235

Chapter 235
“What?”

Dam Ak queried, as if he could not fathom what he had just heard, while the underling reporting to him looked on with apprehension.

“W-well, Jin So-un provoked a massive brawl at the Yellow Sand Sect’s headquarters…”

Has he lost his mind?

“A brawl?”

“Yes, exactly. Initially, he clashed with the martial artists of the Yellow Sand Sect, and then the other combatants watching the spectacle jumped into the fray as well…”

“Has he truly gone insane?”

“T-that is correct. Unless he had completely discarded his sanity…”

“That is a full-blown war, not a skirmish!”

The underling, who had been joining in on the insults against Jin So-un, caught on that Dam Ak’s rage was now directed at him and immediately straightened up.

“M-my deepest apologies.”

Ignoring the underling entirely, Dam Ak demanded,

“Tell me, what was the casualty count?”

“There are several from the Yellow Sand Sect who sustained heavy injuries, but there were no fatalities.”

“……”

Dam Ak’s features grew rigid as he processed the information.

No one from the Yellow Sand Sect perished, then…

It was only yesterday that he was instructed to keep an eye on Jin So-un.

“……Did the Black Flame Dragon meet his end?”

It would be a pity, yet unavoidable.

He had foolishly relied on his own mediocre abilities and sparked a conflict within enemy territory; if he had been beaten to death, there would have been nothing to be done.

Just then.

The underling, reading Dam Ak’s temperament, gingerly continued.

“T-the Black Flame Dragon is still alive.”

“……What? How?”

The Yellow Sand Sect possessed considerable military might, sufficient to have been a pillar in the establishment of the Black Thought Alliance.

Beyond them, the onlookers had all swarmed in as well. How could Jin So-un have possibly survived?

Just as Dam Ak’s expression began to waver between begrudging respect and disbelief—

“Because Elder Blood Battle arrived and removed Jin So-un from the scene.”

“Ah, I see.”

Now the picture was clear.

Driven by that arrogance typical of the Orthodox Path, Jin So-un had acted while prioritizing moral high ground, landed in a dire situation, and Elder Blood Battle had eventually been forced to intervene to protect him.

Jin So-un might not realize it, but Blood Battle’s actual purpose was closer to that of a hidden guardian masquerading as a mere spectator.

A headache began to pulse behind his eyes again.

“I explicitly warned him not to stir up trouble.”

Because Cha Seok-du raved about the Black Flame Dragon whenever he was in his cups, Dam Ak had harbored some expectations.

However, the behavior Jin So-un had displayed was nothing more and nothing less than the typical conduct of an Orthodox Path disciple that Dam Ak so loathed.

No, it went further; the sheer negligence he had displayed in the heart of enemy territory was frankly disappointing.

In the end, Jin So-un was merely a fortunate youth who had been vastly overrated.

Tap, tap-

As Dam Ak drummed his fingers on the table to compose his thoughts.

The underling brought up the primary concern.

“Due to Jin So-un’s actions, the various members within the Black Thought Alliance have started voicing their outrage.”

An individual who ought to have been branded a criminal was wandering around freely, initiating fights under the guise of an investigation.

At this point, it would be baffling if they were not rioting to have Jin So-un’s head on a platter immediately.

“Hmm……”

“What are your orders? Shall we allow them to vent their grievances?”

Regardless, if they offered up the Envoy Delegation as scapegoats, the internal friction within the Black Thought Alliance would likely subside.

Furthermore, since Jin So-un had instigated the fighting himself, he had provided the perfect justification; if they claimed he had died accidentally, even the Murim Alliance would be unable to retaliate with ease.

However……

“Quell them. Inform them that anyone who acts impulsively will be severely punished as a warning to the rest.”

The underling faltered at Dam Ak’s directive, then bowed his head.

“……I shall relay your orders.”

The underling retreated.

In the quiet where only Gun Yu-hyeon and Dam Ak remained, a heavy sigh filled the air.

“What in the world is he attempting to accomplish……?”

Gun Yu-hyeon, who had been observing Dam Ak’s demeanor, asked carefully,

“Will this suffice? The public outcry will be far from trivial.”

“……What other choice do I have? The Alliance Leader issued the order, so I must comply.”

Gun Yu-hyeon offered a gentle smile as he watched Dam Ak, who was venting his frustrations.

“It appears you hold a genuine distaste for Young Master Jin.”

Dam Ak scoffed and retorted instantly.

“In all my years, I have never encountered someone so reckless.”

“Even so, would it not be wiser to cultivate a positive rapport? If hostilities erupt, the devastation will be immense.”

Dam Ak stared into the void as if sinking into deep contemplation for a moment.

“……I am not fearful, yet we must remain prudent.”

He shared an inner concern he had never revealed to anyone except Cha Seok-du.

Because within this Black Thought Alliance, which could never truly serve as a place of refuge for Dam Ak, Gun Yu-hyeon was the sole friend with whom he could be truly transparent.

As if he grasped the depth of Dam Ak’s sentiment, a faint smile graced Gun Yu-hyeon’s lips.

“War only mandates suffering for everyone. You are well aware of that, Strategist Dam.”

Dam Ak offered a grave nod.

“I know it better than most. However, I am also aware that if I refrain from acting out of that fear, I will be paralyzed.”

“That is also accurate.”

“Moreover, I doubt he has the capacity to locate the perpetrator who has evaded even us.”

After weighing Dam Ak’s definitive statement, Gun Yu-hyeon spoke.

“Hmm……. Judging from my personal interactions with him, I believe he might just succeed.”

Gun Yu-hyeon was not one to offer praise unless the person was truly exceptional.

Having secured his own status in the Black Thought Alliance after navigating treacherous circumstances, he rarely found anyone who met his high standards.

Yet, that man had vouched for Jin So-un.

Dam Ak’s brow knit together instinctively.

“What leads you to that conclusion?”

Gun Yu-hyeon lifted the teacup sitting before him.

“I fear that if I recount what I experienced while gambling with him, I might cloud your judgment, Strategist.”

“I am capable of discerning fact from opinion, so please, speak your mind.”

“Mm……”

Gun Yu-hyeon waited a moment, sipped his tea, and began.

“He possessed the air of someone who inevitably achieves his desired outcome, no matter the situation. It is simply that his methods are incredibly aggravating to everyone else.”

Black Flame Dragon, Jin So-un.

He was certainly a man as abrasive as jagged rock.

However.

“Regardless of the path taken, I am confident he is someone who delivers the result he intends.”

He was, without a doubt, a unique and potent figure.

Dam Ak listened in silence, then slowly shook his head.

“Aggravating, you say……. Does that not imply he is a dangerous individual who creates even greater disasters while attempting to solve one?”

“Heh, heh…… That is quite likely. Had I realized how he manipulated the gambling from the start, I would have been quite infuriated as well.”

A brief stillness passed between the two.

Then Dam Ak stood, as if he had come to a firm resolution.

“I must see the Black Flame Dragon. If this persists, even if he discovers the culprit, the mounting tension may lead to war regardless.”

Gun Yu-hyeon nodded in agreement.

“We must avert such a catastrophe, if nothing else.”

The Black Thought Alliance had barely taken its first tenuous steps.

Having just managed to stand, it could not afford to crumble now.

Dam Ak marched toward the exit.

“Ah, wait!”

Recalling something, he spun back around.

“……What is the status of my friends’ families?”

For a fleeting second, a heavy shadow crossed Gun Yu-hyeon’s face.

As though he were ashamed, he clenched his hands into tight fists.

“We are searching extensively, but they have left no trail behind.”

“Is that so……?”

“Please, do not lose hope. We will never abandon the search.”

Touched by the consolation, Dam Ak mustered a weak smile.

“I feel guilty, as though I am constantly indebted to you.”

Gun Yu-hyeon, having masked the sorrow on his face before Dam Ak could notice, shook his head and offered a self-deprecating smirk.

“These things are all I can offer, are they not?”

Just as I anticipated, the investigation proceeded much more smoothly starting the next morning.

Bae Hwan-jang of the Yellow Sand Sect, whom I had failed to encounter the previous day, arrived at my lodging with a countenance clearly brimming with resentment.

What are you going to do if you despise me, honestly?

“What were your whereabouts at the moment of the crime?”

“Grrr…… Jin So-un, one day I will tear you apart and devour you.”

“Yes, yes. I get it, so for now, just answer the question.”

“……I summoned courtesans from a local house and held a private banquet with my subordinates.”

A banquet would have been sufficient, yet he even brought in courtesans?

Honestly, these people were masters of indulgence.

“You were enjoying yourself while your Sect Leader was being murdered.”

“Grrr.”

After interrogating the subordinates who attended the banquet individually and dispatching Il-myeong to the pleasure house to corroborate the claims, it was confirmed that Bae Hwan-jang had indeed been nowhere near the scene.

Subsequently, I followed the same protocol for Gal Mun-jeong, Deputy Sect Leader of the Four Dragons Sect, and his men.

Mae Bong-sik of the Demonic Path Sect and his guards.

And finally, Do Bong-su of the Blood Sword Sect and his sworn brothers.

During that period, I received approximately eight death threats, and threats to incinerate the Taeul Sect and wipe it out were issued eighteen times.

Yet, the search for the perpetrator remained clouded in mystery.

“This concludes the interrogation. You are dismissed.”

As Do Bong-su and his brothers, who had been spitting profanities, walked out of the room.

The Red Phoenix Bracelet pulsed ever so slightly.

‘Hm?’

It was incredibly faint, but via the Red Phoenix Bracelet, a minute trace of energy flowed into me.

I believed it only reacted to Demonic Qi… Does it detect Black Path techniques as well?

While I was briefly lost in thought regarding this development, Blood Battle spoke.

“It is bizarre that the investigation became easier as you predicted, yet the culprit is nowhere to be found. What is your next move?”

I had grown accustomed to Blood Battle’s cynicism by now, so I responded calmly.

“I never expected to find the culprit through a formal investigation like this in the first place.”

“What?”

Honestly, he is more naive than his appearance suggests.

“Would a bastard who committed a bold murder reveal himself simply because of a standardized procedure?”

“Then what?”

I looked at Blood Battle and grinned.

“I am simply waiting for the culprit to make their next move.”

“Next move?”

Individuals who weave conspiracies are highly sensitive to the pulse of the public.

They manufacture legitimacy, stir up the masses, and exploit that agitation to serve their own agendas.

That is precisely the specialty of those who plot in the shadows.

The foundation for this incident had been laid as well.

The atmosphere was primed by the death of Gu Gye-ak, and because I—a member of the Envoy Delegation—was acting aggressively under the guise of an investigation, the temper within the Black Thought Alliance was boiling.

For the culprit hiding in the dark, it was an ideal scenario.

It was a temptation they could never resist.

“The culprit will undoubtedly act soon.”

“……”

While Blood Battle furrowed his brows, Il-myeong stepped closer.

“Benefactor Jin, a man named Dam Ak has arrived.”

Hmm, I wondered why he hadn’t shown up sooner.

I nodded promptly.

“I will go out to meet him.”

Currently, Dam Ak was a complicated variable.

Considering the Great Righteous-Demonic War that loomed in the future, it was true that having him act as the Grand Strategist for the Black Thought Alliance would be advantageous.

But right now, as an adversary to the Murim Alliance, he was an incredibly difficult individual to navigate.

Furthermore, I was unsure of the motive, but he seemed to harbor a deep-seated hatred for the Murim Alliance—no, for the entirety of the Orthodox Path.

This was certainly not a positive development.

Moreover, judging by how he had diffused the chaos I instigated and was managing the members of the Black Thought Alliance, at least on the surface, he already seemed to have seized control over a significant portion of the organization.

His strategic genius, which had been peerless in my previous life, was shining just as brightly now.

Contrary to his usual temperament, Dam Ak approached me with brisk, measured strides.

“What is it that you are doing exactly?”

Judging by his appearance, his mood had soured due to a situation he could not fully command.

I offered a shrug.

“As you can observe, I am pursuing an investigation.”

“Or are you trying to get yourself killed?”

His characteristically sharp gaze looked even more severe today.

While he had been methodically seizing the Black Thought Alliance with his superior strategy, I had arrived and thrown a wrench into his plans.

Naturally, he had every reason to harbor resentment toward me.

“Would it not be better for you if I were dead, Strategist Dam?”

“You call that a reasonable question……”

This was precisely why I needed to know.

Whether he was someone destined to become an enemy of the Murim Alliance, or a comrade who could stand by us in the future.

If the former, regretfully, it would be simpler to neutralize him. If the latter, then I had to ensure his survival by any means necessary so he could take full control of the Black Thought Alliance.

I deliberately needled him.

“Are you not part of the pro-war faction, Strategist Dam?”

“Does a lack of fear regarding war equate to someone who desires one?”

“Well…… I suppose that is true.”

At my measured response, Dam Ak massaged his temple as if struggling to retain his composure and muttered,

“What is going through your head? The incident with the Yellow Sand Sect, and summoning the heads of every sect under the pretense of an investigation. Are you acting without considering the inevitable consequences?”

“They are exactly what I anticipated.”

Dam Ak’s eyes widened.

“Do you truly…… intend to be buried here?”

I held Dam Ak’s gaze steadily.

“There is one thing I wish to ask.”

At the shift in my demeanor, Dam Ak’s gaze also calmed.

I did not break eye contact.

“Why do you hold such hatred for the Murim Alliance?”

A silence hung between us.

Dam Ak pulled back, answering with a defensive tone.

“……I am the Grand Strategist of the Black Thought Alliance. Is it not natural that I despise the Murim Alliance?”

Well, as someone who knew how, in my previous life, he had labored tirelessly for the survival of the Murim Alliance, I could not easily accept his claim.

He was not the sort of man who exerted his intellect simply for wealth or status.

As he drew back, I leaned in.

“A person who truly despises the Murim Alliance does not act as though they are part of the pro-war faction. They would quietly wait for war to unfold.”

“……!”

“Raising your voice and issuing threats deliberately—is that not an intentional ploy to make the pro-war faction believe you share their stance?”

Dam Ak, who had been glaring at me as if he might kill me, narrowed his eyes.

“……You are mistaken. Everything I did was genuine. My position is that, should it become necessary, we may wage war against the Murim Alliance as we see fit. I am confident we would prevail.”

I am sure you are.

Was he not the strategic prodigy who had led the Murim Alliance’s army, which had been on the brink of total annihilation, and helped them survive the Demonic Cult?

But when it came to political maneuvering, I appeared to hold a slight advantage.

“If you were truly such a person, Strategist Dam, you would not have labored so intensely to manage this crisis. You would have left it alone. Once the fury of the Black Path martial artists tore the Envoy Delegation apart, conflict with the Murim Alliance would have been inevitable.”

“……Did it not occur to you that I acted because of an order from the Alliance Leader?”

Dam Ak, whose frown had softened, glared at me again with a cold, blunt expression.

“I loathe the hypocritical Orthodox Path. I despise the Murim Alliance, which preaches justice while acting otherwise, even more. If you people were truly righteous, as you proclaim, then my master and my friends would not have perished……”

He stopped abruptly, wiped a hand across his face, and added,

“……If the day arrives when the Murim Alliance falls, I will be standing at the vanguard, smiling.”

Clearly, the root of his resentment had just been exposed ever so slightly……

‘His master and friends……’

His bitterness ran deeper than I had imagined.

I gave a slight nod.

“I understand.”

“If you intend to offer some empty excuse……”

“There is nothing of the sort.”

“……”

There was likely no one who understood the inner workings of the Murim Alliance and the duplicity of the Orthodox Path better than I did.

That was why I had nothing more to add.

“Whatever occurred, Strategist Dam, the Murim Alliance must have committed wrongs. I have no intention of offering excuses or justifications for that.”

Perhaps this was a response he had not foreseen, because Dam Ak’s expression crumbled momentarily.

I ignored it and continued.

“I am well aware of how the Murim Alliance functions, and the countless injustices that occur within its ranks. Even if I attempted to defend it, it would not heal your wounds, Strategist Dam.”

“……”

I bowed my head slightly toward him as he stared at me.

“However, I wish to express that I am sorry.”

It was not a transgression of my own, nor had it been committed by someone within my immediate circle.

I did not know the specifics, but if I investigated, I was certain that people of the sort I detested would be involved.

Even so, to offer some small measure of comfort, I apologized with a sense of guilt as someone affiliated with the Murim Alliance.

I did not know if it would reach him.

“……”

Dam Ak, whose expression had tightened, regained his composure.

“……It is not a matter related to you, so I have no reason to accept your apology.”

A moment later, Dam Ak rose, clearly finished with our interaction.

“Refrain from causing any further disturbances. If you cause more trouble, you may find yourself unable to preserve your life.”

He spoke and moved to depart, but I halted him.

“Strategist Dam. As a precaution, I advise you to bolster your security.”

“What is the meaning of this……”

“If the culprit’s goal is war, then you, Strategist Dam, who are currently steering the Black Thought Alliance, will be a significant obstacle. They will surely reach out to remove you.”

“……I will manage my own affairs.”

“There is one more thing. Do you happen to be acquainted with a man named Gun Yu-hyeon of the Heavenly Crown Sect?”

“……I am acquainted with him.”

“What is he like? Is he someone trustworthy?”

“What are you implying?”

“It is simply that this is the first time I have heard of a sect called the Heavenly Crown Sect.”

Dam Ak’s brow knit.

“The Heavenly Crown Sect is a small sect situated in the South Sea. Historically, it is a venerable lineage spanning nearly a century.”

“Is it reliable?”

“……Do you harbor suspicions about Gun Yu-hyeon?”

“That is not it. I intended to seek his assistance, nothing more. I asked because I wished to hear your esteemed perspective, Strategist Dam.”

“It is a sect and a person with integrity. The reason they align with a Black Path organization is partially because they were spurned by the Murim Alliance after taking bold action to defend nearby fishing villages from pirate raids.”

“Mm…… That sounds plausible.”

Dam Ak spoke with his signature intensity.

“Do not place a burden on the Heavenly Crown Sect and Gun Yu-hyeon. They are in too precarious a position to carry the weight that is you.”

Hmm…… But if he is as trustworthy as he says, I cannot help but utilize his intellect.

I deliberately remained silent and saw him off.

Dam Ak seemed inclined to speak further, but turned his head away as if the conversation had become tiresome, and left the room.

And the following morning.

Do Bong-su was discovered dead at the residence of the Blood Sword Sect.

Clutched within the corpse was an Ox-Hair Needle, a weapon frequently employed by the Tang Clan.