Chapter 354

Chapter 354
## Chapter 354. Encounter with the Enemy (1)

—

The Orthodoxy and the Unorthodoxy.

The deep-seated feud between these two factions, which could never be truly reconciled, trace back three centuries prior to the present day.

To be precise, it was an era following two centuries after the birth of the Murim Alliance. It was a time when the boundaries defining the White Way and the Black Way remained blurred and ill-defined.

During that period, the Murim Alliance itself struggled to justify its purpose and continuity.

The Seven Sects, which served as the cornerstone of the Murim Alliance, were already expanding their domain as dominant entities within their respective regions and provinces, fully capable of thriving without the alliance’s banner.

In truth, the Murim Alliance at that point operated merely as a social gathering, draining financial resources from each member sect without offering much in return.

During this era, the Murim Alliance maintained relations not only with the Seven Sects but also with the Three Great Families—the precursors to what would become the Five Great Families—as well as the Three Gates and One Society representing the Black Way. Even outlaws from the Green Forest and the Water Reed Fortress frequented the alliance’s halls as if dropping into a local tavern.

It possessed no real regulatory authority, serving purely as a neutral hub for socialization.

Consequently, from the viewpoint of the Seven Sects, who shouldered the brunt of the financial upkeep, the Murim Alliance’s operations felt like a reckless squandering of their institutional wealth just to maintain an entertainment lounge for outsiders.

Thus, the gradual decline and eventual dissolution of the alliance felt like an inevitable outcome.

It was during this fragile period that a major crisis erupted.

Gu-yang-geuk, an martial artist who had ascended to the heights of an absolute master through his peerless poison arts despite his humble origins, assassinated the reigning Murim Alliance Leader, Ja-yang of the Transcendental Divine Sword.

In a turbulent world where martial artists constantly clashed within the Central Plains, the demise of a prominent figure at another’s hands might not normally seem world-shaking, but their respective positions changed everything.

In particular, because the slain Murim Alliance Leader held a status akin to the head of a massive social syndicate, his death sent shockwaves through the martial world.

Granted, his duties mostly involved hosting grand feasts and sharing wine while exchanging pleasantries, yet nominal protocol dictated that the alliance leader stood as the supreme representative of the White Way.

Since the leadership was deeply intertwined with the prestige of the Wudang Sect, that institution could not remain passive while the victim’s grieving relatives demanded retribution for the wrongful murder.

Ultimately, the Seven Sects released a collective mandate under the authority of the Murim Alliance, aiming to settle the unrest by capturing Gu-yang-geuk and sentencing him to a gold-prison for a handful of years.

As he was fundamentally a rogue agent lacking a formal faction and did not firmly belong to the White Way, executing this sentence did not seem overly complicated.

However, the blowback was fierce.

The Three Gates and One Society of the Black Way, alongside various Green Forest strongholds and wandering ronins, banded together to shelter Gu-yang-geuk, matching the decree with intense defiance.

The critical factor was the sheer scale of their unyielding resistance.

Because the opposing side reacted with a ferocity that bordered on irrationality, the alliance leaders who originally sought a quiet resolution found themselves growing increasingly stern.

Their collective honor was on the line.

Having officially decreed the punishment, they could no longer rescind their demands without appearing weak.

Furthermore, the victim of Gu-yang-geuk’s strike was the leader of the entire alliance, an act that defied simple forgiveness.

Faced with the aggressive posturing of the Black Way, the loose framework of the Murim Alliance was unable to act cohesively as a single vanguard.

Instead, a specialized task force composed of representatives from Wudang, Huashan, and Shaolin was assembled.

They marched directly to Gu-yang-geuk’s personal residence and placed him under arrest.

“You have arrived.”

Gu-yang-geuk offered no resistance, quietly acknowledging his deeds before being led away toward the alliance headquarters under the guard of the task force.

The true catastrophe unfolded shortly after.

Proving that their threats were far from empty, the Black Way mobilized a rescue contingent that outnumbered the escort party five to one, successfully breaking Gu-yang-geuk free from custody.

This embarrassing debacle left the Seven Sects of the Murim Alliance utterly bewildered.

Allowing a high-profile prisoner to be snatched directly from their grasp transcended a mere loss of face; it challenged their authority.

After all, was it not the grand legacy of the White Way-led Murim Alliance that had previously preserved order and safeguarded the Central Plains?

Yet, during that era, the martial world favored an unbridled, lawless climate, meaning the combined might of the Black Way was vastly superior, ultimately leaving the Murim Alliance powerless to exact retribution upon Gu-yang-geuk.

This failure served as a jarring wake-up call for the Murim Alliance and the entire White Way faction.

The Seven Sects immediately initiated a formal reorganization, drafting dedicated operatives and purging every single Black Way affiliate who had previously enjoyed free rein within the alliance’s halls.

From the core of the Seven Sects, they laid down the groundwork for what is known today as the Nine Sects and One Society.

They reinforced the alliance’s structural foundation by integrating the Zhuge Family and the Namgung Family alongside the original Three Great Families, thereby establishing the renowned Five Great Families.

With their ranks fortified, they launched an all-out ideological war against the Black Way.

The previously ambiguous boundaries separating the factions became sharply defined and deeply entrenched from that point onward.

The Righteous Way crystallized into the White Way, while the Evil Way solidified into the Black Way.

The ultimate conclusion of that struggle remains a historical fact.

It concluded with the triumph of the White Way, which successfully weaponized ‘Justice’ as its ultimate moral authority.

“……And that is how the enduring, bloody feud between the Black Way and the White Way was born.”

Though Cheol-sun-jik had concluded his historical recounting, no one offered a reply or raised a query.

An extended, heavy quiet filled the room.

Eventually, finding the context puzzling, Seong-mo-ran broke the silence.

“What relevance does that historical tale have to our current predicament here……?”

Cheol-sun-jik shook his head slightly, offering further clarification.

“It demonstrates that fundamentally, the White Way and the Black Way do not occupy entirely separate realms. It shows that our factions were once intimate enough to coexist within the same circles.”

Cheol-sun-jik gave a reassuring nod, smiling gently to soothe their nerves.

“Therefore, I am advising you that terror is unnecessary. There was an era when our predecessors shared drinks under the very same alliance roof.”

Seong-mo-ran countered, her face tight with disbelief.

“……That entire conflict erupted because Ja-yang of the Transcendental Divine Sword brought dishonor upon Gu-yang-geuk’s spouse. Moreover, following that event, the Murim Alliance branded the Black Way as their ultimate foe, ensuring that animosity has only festered deeper over the last three centuries, has it not?”

“Is it not then high time to sever that chain of vengeance?”

Faced with such strained and unconvincing logic, Seong-mo-ran narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

“……To begin with, did you not harbor a strong dislike for Master Jin? What drives you to suddenly act as a spokesperson for Master Jin, the very man who locked us within this gold-prison?”

Cheol-sun-jik remained silent, reflecting inwardly.

In truth, he questioned his own motives as well.

[Keep them calm so they don’t panic.]

Had Jin-so-un not left him with those specific instructions prior to their confinement in this chamber, he would have seen no reason to take charge of the situation.

Regardless of past grievances, he currently held the responsibility of Unit Commander for the Sahwal Unit.

Botching a directive issued by the commanding officer was a direct blow to his personal pride.

“Regardless of the circumstances, can we not appreciate being able to rest inside a secure environment?”

“A secure environment, you say?”

Seong-mo-ran tilted her head, her fingers tracing the heavy metallic bars partitioning the outer perimeter from the inner chamber.

The dark luster of the metal suggested it was forged from black iron, a material renowned for its absolute durability.

As Cheol-sun-jik searched his mind for a reassuring response, another voice cut in.

“Pardon me……”

Dang-gi-han, the 7th Squad Leader whose countenance had been plagued by anxiety ever since they set foot inside Mandok-mun, spoke up hesitantly.

“These apertures along the stonework.”

Dang-gi-han brushed his fingers against the recesses, his eyes fixed on a grim mental picture.

“These are almost certainly…… hidden mechanisms designed to launch volleys of arrows.”

“…….”

The words Cheol-sun-jik had been preparing instantly vanished, leaving his mind momentarily reeling.

The walls bordering the iron grating were riddled with a dense pattern of small openings.

If Dang-gi-han’s assessment proved accurate, and a hidden trigger released a simultaneous barrage from those hidden slots……

Every single person trapped inside this gold-prison would be instantly skewered without hope of survival.

Cheol-sun-jik tore his eyes away from the perforated walls and locked his gaze onto Dang-gi-han.

“……You have never stepped foot inside Mandok-mun before today, so on what basis do you make such an absolute claim?”

Aggression crept into his tone despite his best intentions.

His primary directive at this moment was to keep the crowd from descending into hysteria.

Since the primary Unit Commander had departed to negotiate directly with the opposing leadership, he had been entrusted with maintaining order over the group.

What purpose did airing such fatalistic observations serve, other than incitement to panic?

Yet Dang-gi-han pressed on, entirely oblivious to the tension he was causing.

He spoke with the naive earnestness of a pupil eager to showcase a topic he thoroughly understood.

“Furthermore, do you notice those miniscule vents positioned just above the larger ones?”

Under the unstable illumination of the dancing torchlight, the tiny apertures continuously shifted through shadows.

“Those are undoubtedly designed to flood the chamber with toxic vapor.”

“…….”

“Ah, the Dang Family utilizes identical defensive installations within our own compounds! They are primarily employed when we must contain highly volatile magical beasts harvested for tactical experimentation.”

Thus, after fighting through the Silent Forest at the peril of their lives and traversing a literal gauntlet of horrors;

After overcoming adversaries wielding unnatural, corrupted arts, the destination they had finally reached was……

A specialized containment cell designed to suppress monstrous magical beasts, or so he claimed.

“…….”

What words could he possibly conjure now to stabilize the spirits of the assembly?

The disciples, who had previously been drooping from sheer physical exhaustion and reaching their physical thresholds, were now wide awake, their eyes filled with unmasked dread.

“Sigh……”

The collective murmurs among the academy pupils began to swell exponentially.

Amidst the rising panic, dark speculations like, ‘Are we meant to perish in this place?’ or ‘Did we flee a lesser threat only to march straight into a predator’s jaws?’ began to echo through the space.

Right at that second.

*Clang! Clang!*

The sentry stationed outside struck his weapon against the metallic partition, bellowing at the captives.

“Silence! Hold your tongues!”

The authoritative command coupled with a chilling glare instantly choked out the whispers.

The overt hostility and cold demeanor displayed by the Mandok-mun sentries left absolutely no room to hope for hospitality.

Seong-mo-ran leaned in close, whispering under her breath to Cheol-sun-jik.

“Am I truly supposed to feel secure here?”

“…….”

Receiving no reply, Seong-mo-ran stepped back and gave a dismissive shrug.

“I would find far more solace in a sermon from monk Il-gak than listening to your convoluted historical rationalizations, Master Cheol.”

dishonesty.

Cheol-sun-jik felt a sudden surge of bitter irritation.

An unexpected wave of envy washed over him directed toward the shaven-headed monk—no, toward Il-gak, who had accompanied Jin-so-un to negotiate directly with the Supreme Master of Mandok-mun.

From Il-gak’s perspective, electing to enter Mandok-mun under their current pressures represented choosing the lesser of two evils.

Initially, he reasoned that seeking refuge here to evade the forces believed to belong to the Demonic Cult was a fundamentally sound tactical move.

Given their inability to immediately contact a regional outpost of the Murim Alliance, attempting to hide within a minor or secondary sect would only invite total annihilation upon their hosts.

‘However…….’

Mandok-mun was an entity that even the most formidable factions within the Murim Alliance preferred to avoid provoking.

This reputation stemmed from their mastery over lethal toxins, rendering them just as venomous and unpredictable as the Dang Family.

He harbored no doubt that anyone familiar with Mandok-mun’s terrifying reputation would hesitate to recklessly breach their borders, regardless of how desperately they wished to hunt down the refugees hiding within.

Viewed through that lens, Mandok-mun could be interpreted as their premier option, yet it retained its status as a compromise for one glaring reason.

That reason was Mandok-mun’s deep-seated aversion toward any faction associated with the White Way.

In fact, aversion was too mild a term; they utterly loathed them.

The figure standing directly before him, Dan-se-ung, was recognized as a radical extremist even among the factions of the Black Way, causing his own allies to treat him with immense caution.

The historical account of his ascension speech, where he vowed to ‘annihilate the White Way from the Jianghu and transform the Central Plains into an exclusive domain for the Black Way,’ had sent shockwaves through the martial world for quite some time.

Imagine the sheer dread that had seized him when he realized Jin-so-un’s intended course of action was to throw themselves upon the mercy of Mandok-mun.

Nevertheless, because Jin-so-un had previously dealt with the Sa-heuk-ryeon and possessed certain diplomatic inroads within the Black Way, he had followed along, praying the commander possessed a hidden trump card.

‘How can a human countenance harbor such malice…….’

That shred of optimism withered completely the moment he looked upon Dan-se-ung’s face, which resembled the visage of a wrathful Asura.

Furthermore, observing how the sect had immediately herded the academy disciples into a gold-prison the moment they crossed the threshold, he felt entirely convinced that Dan-se-ung was preparing to fulfill the bloody vow from his ascension ceremony.

-Unit Commander Jin, what is your strategy here?

Sensing the suffocating pressure radiating from the grim-faced Dan-se-ung and his surrounding guards, Il-gak carefully transmitted his voice directly through internal energy.

To his horror, Jin-so-un merely blinked in mock surprise, his eyes wide.

-Why are you directing that toward me? The individual who proposed we seek shelter here ought to handle the negotiations.

In that singular instant, Il-gak felt his heart plummet into his stomach.

“What did you say?”

The shock was so absolute that he blurted the words aloud, completely forgetting to maintain the silent telepathic channel.

“Ahem……!”

The assembled elites of Mandok-mun, alongside Dan-se-ung himself, openly displayed their irritation at the outburst.

Il-gak, unable to even wipe away the cold sweat pouring down his bald head, frantically renewed his internal transmission.

-W-what madness are you uttering?! Unit Commander Jin! Unit Commander Jin!

He called out to Jin-so-un with absolute desperation, yet the commander simply stared ahead, acting as though the monk did not exist.

At that juncture, Dan-se-ung, his face twisted into a menacing scowl, broke the silence.

“Am I to understand that you have marched into Mandok-mun expecting us to provide you with free sustenance and shelter?”

His voice carried a crushing weight, low yet resonant.

He spoke without raising his tone, yet the words reverberated through the massive audience chamber as if amplified by structural sorcery.

Jin-so-un, who had been idly inspecting the architecture until that very moment, offered an immediate, crisp response.

“Precisely.”

“Do you mistake Mandok-mun…… for a common roadside tavern?”

Predictably, Dan-se-ung’s tone dripped with profound displeasure.

In fact, he appeared deeply insulted that their lethal sanctuary was being treated like a hospitality house for travelers.

Il-gak was entirely at a loss as to how they might defuse the supreme master’s mounting wrath.

In scenarios demanding delicate diplomatic maneuvering, it would have been far more prudent to let Cheol-sun-jik employ his intellect to navigate the conversation…….

He could not fathom why he had been dragged along as a companion—no, why he was even standing in this room to begin with.

The sole option left to him now was to place his absolute faith in the commander he had chosen to follow, Jin-so-un…….

“Come now, do you truly fail to perceive that this is an incredibly dire crisis?”

Can I genuinely put my life in the hands of this erratic man?

As Il-gak began frantically chanting inner sutras to keep his composure, Dan-se-ung’s voice dropped an octave lower, turning lethal.

“Did you honestly believe I would buy into such a preposterous fabrication?”

“If that is the case, why did you grant us entry in the first place???”

Did this lunatic…… did the Unit Commander actually just raise his voice at him……?

While Il-gak questioned whether his own senses were deceiving him, the tirade continued.

“If your intention was to turn us away, you should have barred the gates from the start. Why offer people a glimmer of hope only to pull the rug out like this?”

“……!!!”

This madman, this Jin-so-un, was addressing the notoriously violent extremist Dan-se-ung as if he were an annoying elder from the neighborhood.

It was not merely Il-gak who perceived Jin-so-un’s conduct as dangerously insolent.

Throughout the grand audience hall, the senior captains of Mandok-mun began muttering fiercely among themselves, debating whether they should execute Jin-so-un on the spot.

Dan-se-ung let out a sharp, mocking scoff.

“You ask why I permitted your entry? I was merely contemplating how pleasant it would be to slaughter every single academy student and deliver their severed heads back to the Murim Alliance.”

“Amitabha……”

Il-gak’s expression smoothed out into a mask of total, grim resignation.

He had survived the horrors of the chaotic realm and eluded the blades of the Demonic Cult, only to realize his life was about to be snuffed out purely because of Jin-so-un’s reckless mouth.

Right at that critical juncture.

“Is your vision truly confined to such a petty scale?”

“……What?”

Jin-so-un’s voice cut through the tense atmosphere of the hall like a sharpened blade.

“Word in the Jianghu claims that upon ascending to your position as Sect Leader, you proclaimed to the heavens that you would wipe clean the stain of the White Way from the martial world. Is this pathetic display how you intend to realize that grand ambition?”

“…….”

“You cannot possibly believe that your grand oath will be fulfilled merely by butchering a handful of young academy pupils and presenting them to the Murim Alliance?”

“……It would, at the very least, instill absolute terror of Mandok-mun’s name throughout the land.”

Jin-so-un let out a mocking chuckle.

“Would that not simply brand you as a pack of bloodthirsty savages? If you perpetrate such an atrocity, the common folk will only run faster into the arms of the Murim Alliance, declaring that the rumors were true and that no decent soul should ever associate with the subhumans of the Black Way!”

“…….”

“The sole reason the Murim Alliance successfully coalesced three centuries ago and managed to brand the Black Way as the public enemy of the Jianghu was because they held the ultimate moral high ground of ‘Justice.’”

*Thud!*

Dan-se-ung slammed his fist against the armrest of his throne, his voice thick with explosive irritation.

“State your point clearly, boy!”

Jin-so-un’s tone instantly shifted, becoming eerily composed.

Il-gak recognized that specific shift in tone and the cold expression that accompanied it.

He had witnessed it far too many times before.

And invariably, whenever Jin-so-un adopted that persona, Il-gak ended up suffering the consequences.

Just like this very moment.

“Did you not receive reports regarding the incidents at the Sa-heuk-ryeon? A unprecedented menace is poised to descend upon the Jianghu. An existential threat that neither the White Way nor the Black Way can hope to withstand in isolation.”

“…… shreds of truth.”

“If these are entities we will ultimately be forced to combat side by side, would it not be vastly superior for your faction to extend the olive branch first, thereby seizing complete political leverage?”

Dan-se-ung remained quiet for a brief moment before letting out a cynical sneer.

“……The sanctimonious hypocrites guiding the White Way would never consent to such an alliance so readily.”

“Which plays perfectly into your hands.”

“Hmm?”

Dan-se-ung’s posture shifted slightly, his upper body leaning forward in intrigue.

Capitalizing on the shift, Jin-so-un mirrored the movement, leaning closer to the supreme master.

“The Black Way magnanimously offered their hand to preserve the peace of the Jianghu. Yet, the arrogant, self-righteous White Way chose to slap that hand away.”

He paused, a sharp, calculating smile curling the edges of his lips.

“Does that scenario not paint a radically different narrative compared to the events of three hundred years past?”

Dan-se-ung stared intently at Jin-so-un, his lips pressed into a tight line.

“An unimaginable terror has emerged to threaten the world. Yet the White Way turns its back on salvation simply because its pride forbids cooperating with the Black Way. While innocent blood flows, the Black Way fights valiantly on the front lines. How do you imagine that dynamic will look to the ordinary citizens of the Jianghu?”

Faced with Jin-so-un’s pointed query, Dan-se-ung muttered under his breath, processing the imagery.

“The White Way…… would appear utterly incompetent and foolish.”

“You grasp the strategy perfectly, after all.”

Il-gak watched the exchange unfold, completely baffled by how the tide was turning.

The one undeniable reality was that Dan-se-ung’s gaze was beginning to burn with an intense, calculated ambition.

“…….”

Dan-se-ung masked his face with his palm, sinking into deep contemplation for a long interval.

Moments later.

“However,”

He spoke, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.

“What proof do I have that your claims are factual? It strains credulity to believe that such a massive military force mobilized undetected, and it is equally absurd to claim you brought down a forest spirit.”

“Is that not precisely why I ensured this man accompanied me?”

“What?”

Jin-so-un’s hand whipped around, pointing directly at the monk.

“Behold monk Il-gak, a master who has achieved full comprehension of the Shaolin Temple’s legendary Yeok-geun-gyeong, no less.”

Il-gak’s facial features contorted into a grimace of pure disbelief.

Ignoring his companion’s horror, Jin-so-un address the gathered audience with theatrical bravado.

“Have any of you ever witnessed a Buddhist master of such immense spiritual attainment utter a single falsehood?”

“…….”

Jin-so-un paraded Il-gak before the assembly like a smooth-talking merchant hawking dubious elixirs at a crowded fair.

“If there is a soul among you who has caught an esteemed high monk of the Shaolin Temple spinning lies, step forward now.”

Yet, despite Jin-so-un’s grand posturing, the crowd’s response remained completely flat.

Naturally, no rational person would measure the absolute truth of a claim based entirely on an individual’s religious background or institutional prestige.

It was entirely reasonable that Il-gak’s expression overflowed with a deep sense of betrayal, his mind screaming, ‘Is this humiliating stunt the sole reason you dragged me along?’

Noticing the distinct lack of enthusiasm from the audience despite his best efforts, Jin-so-un clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.

“Tsk, it seems referencing the sacred name of Shaolin carries no weight with this crowd.”

With a theatrical sigh of regret, Jin-so-un reached deep inside his robes, rummaged around for a brief moment, and extracted a weathered leather container.

“Behold the authentic gall bladder of the Man-nyeon-to-ung. I invite you to inspect it for yourselves.”

“!!!”

“!!!”

“!!!”

The assembled martial artists of Mandok-mun recoiled in unison, their bodies tensing.

As Dan-se-ung gave a stiff nod of permission, a nearby operative quickly stepped forward, took the vessel from Jin-so-un’s grasp, and hurried to present it to the supreme master.

“……!”

The moment Dan-se-ung unsealed the pouch and examined its contents, his own eyes stretched wide with astonishment.

“To possess dimensions of this scale……. Did your party genuinely slay the legendary Man-nyeon-to-ung?”

“I have already stated that we did.”

“The spirit pill…… what became of the spirit core?”

“There was no core inside the beast.”

“……What sort of ridiculous lie is——”

Jin-so-un merely offered a shameless shrug, his face an unreadable mask.

“Had such a treasure existed, do you truly believe I would have experienced such a harrowing escape?”

At that instant, a senior advisor of Mandok-mun quickly stepped forward to counsel his leader.

“Sect Leader, according to our ancestral archives, there are documented instances where the inner essence of a Silent Forest spirit is abnormally underdeveloped or entirely absent.”

“Hmm…… is that historical fact?”

Dan-se-ung lingered over the bear gall bladder, his expression heavily tinged with a lingering sense of covetous regret.

Seizing the opening, Jin-so-un spoke up with a sly, knowing grin.

“Ah, of course, since I carried this bear gall bladder across perilous lands specifically as an offering for the Sect Leader, I would be deeply honored if you would receive it.”

“What?”

“I was brought up to understand that one should never cross a neighbor’s threshold empty-handed.”

A heavy silence descended upon the hall.

Then, a thunderous, unbridled roar of laughter erupted from Dan-se-ung’s throat.

“Buhahahahaha! You were indeed educated with absolute excellence by a magnificent institution. Now I comprehend entirely why the Lord of the Four Emperors Peak holds you in such high regard. Buhahaha!”

As Dan-se-ung’s booming laughter echoed through the chamber, the suffocating bloodlust previously held by the guards dissolved into broad grins one by one.

Abruptly stifling his mirth, Dan-se-ung straightened his posture, his expression transforming into one of absolute authority.

“Hear my command! These are esteemed dignitaries from the White Way who have crossed into Mandok-mun for the first time in three centuries. You are to treat them with greater luxury and reverence than any visitors we have ever hosted.”

The gathered subordinates bowed in unison, their voices thundering in affirmation.

“““Understood!”””

Jin-so-un turned toward Il-gak, casting a smug grin his way.

“A perfect resolution. It was a stroke of genius that I opted to preserve that bear gall bladder.”

“…….”

“What is with that look? Why do you look so incredibly displeased?”

Why am I displeased?

“Was there…… any logical justification for dragging the reputation of the Shaolin Temple into your scheme?”

Jin-so-un let out a click of his tongue, his face a picture of exaggerated sorrow.

“Had the prestige of the Shaolin Temple actually carried any weight here, I could have kept that priceless bear gall bladder for myself. What an absolute waste of capital.”

“…….”

“Sigh, your institution truly needs to work on its public branding. Zero credibility out there, zero credibility. Tsk.”

Staring at Jin-so-un’s utterly unrepentant and audacious behavior, Il-gak found himself entirely speechless for a very long time.