< Episode 583 > Nice to Meet You.
“Huff… hah!”
In a back alley near Henan, a man was running like a madman.
Perhaps because it was midsummer, the man was drenched in sweat from head to toe.
“Gack…. Huff….”
His breath came in ragged gasps.
He felt like collapsing on the spot and heaving up his guts, but he had to keep running.
If he stopped, he would die.
That brutal reality was what kept him running.
‘Where…. Where to…!’
Which way should he turn?
Even as he kept running, the man had to think of all sorts of things.
Where should he flee?
Which direction would let him survive?
As he wheezed and agonized, the man’s eyes flew wide.
‘The Alliance…! I have to flee to the Alliance.’
The Martial Alliance.
He had to go there. Right now, that was the only way he could survive.
Having made that judgment, the man put strength into his legs.
Soon, he kicked off the ground and sprinted away.
Discerning the fastest route, he dove into the alleys.
Just then.
“Kyaa!”
He collided with a woman who had suddenly darted out of the alley.
“Out of the way!”
Naturally, the man had no time to care.
Ignoring the fallen woman, he entered the alley, and.
“…”
The woman watched the man intently as he disappeared into the alley.
With an expression of utmost displeasure, at that.
“Huff… hah…!”
He moved, exhaling ragged breaths as he plunged deeper into the alley. Just a little further.
It was a sparsely populated area, but if he made it through here, the Martial Alliance was right there.
‘Just a little, just a little more…!’
He could survive.
If he could just escape from here, he could live. Just as that hope wrapped around the man.
Thud.
“Grrk!?”
Something pierced the man’s leg.
Pain surged through him, his stance crumbled, and he tumbled to the ground.
Boom—!
His heavy body swept across the floor, and the man grabbed his leg.
“Grr… grrrgh… urk!”
He tried desperately to endure, but a scream still leaked out.
A throwing dagger had pierced the man’s thigh and ankle.
“Hck… heugh.”
Distant, overwhelming pain washed over him.
Even so, the man tried somehow to rise.
If he stayed like this….
“Muk Doseok.”
“…!”
“Is the game of tag over?”
At the voice that came from nearby, the man’s breathing stopped momentarily.
Footsteps.
The sound of footsteps drew near.
“Your desperation was somewhat amusing, so I humored you for a bit. But that, too, ends here.”
“Huu… huu….”
“Did you think you could survive?”
Figures wearing masks approached.
At the sight of them, the man shouted as if screaming.
“S-spare me! Why are you doing this!”
“Hmph.”
At the man’s cry, the one at the front narrowed his eyes.
“I believe I told you clearly. If you caused any unnecessary accidents, your life would be forfeit.”
“I-I did nothing.”
“That is not something for a man who had been captured by the Alliance to say.”
“That is…!”
At the pointed remark, the man couldn’t help but tremble violently.
“That was… because a strange man got involved…!”
“Excuses are unnecessary. You were reaching your limit anyway.”
“P-please!”
Muk Doseok tried to cry out desperately at the response, but.
Squelch!
“Grk!”
Even before that, the opponent’s dagger had embedded itself in Muk Doseok’s throat.
Before long, the light faded from Muk Doseok’s eyes.
Confirming that, the masked figure pulled out the dagger and retrieved it.
“Erase the traces.”
“As you command.”
As the order fell, several figures appeared and began moving about the surroundings.
Not even a trace of blood remained in the spot where the corpse had lain.
The same was true for the dagger held by the masked figure.
The masked figure slipped the dagger into his bosom and clicked his tongue in regret.
‘Did I expect too much from trash?’
Though he hailed from an outsider background, I had heard he was first-rate, so I had tried giving him menial tasks.
As expected, it was a futile endeavor.
He had even nearly escalated the situation.
Not only had he been captured by the Alliance due to the incident at the inn.
‘To think he nearly got entangled with the Shenlong.’
It could have become troublesome.
For now, this was not something that should get entangled with them.
‘Thankfully, I handled it well.’
It could still cause problems. Recalling that, the masked figure turned his head.
‘I must report to the Great Lord.’
It wasn’t just the Shenlong.
In Henan, matters that went against their interests had been cropping up one by one.
They were not matters worth focusing on, but it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.
Less than two months remained until the Martial Arts Tournament.
‘Before then.’
I must establish the framework.
The masked figure turned around.
At the same time, he whispered in a very small voice.
“All for the revival of the Zhuge family….”
Having said that, the masked figure concealed his presence.
Leaving behind the slowly cooling corpse of Muk Doseok.
*************
It was noon.
Immediately after finishing morning training and having a brief meal, I was walking through Henan with Dang Soyeol and Seong Yul.
The reason was none other than this.
At the Baihua Merchant Group,
and moreover, because I had heard that Mi Hyoran was looking for me.
‘What could it be?’
A month had passed since arriving in Henan.
During that time, Mi Hyoran had also been staying in Henan, but she had never called for me separately.
No, even aside from this matter, it was extremely rare for Mi Hyoran to call for me personally.
Wasn’t this the first time?
She would come if she wanted to see me, but this was the first time she had asked me to come.
It didn’t stir any particular thoughts.
She called, so I would go.
Dang Soyeol had followed me upon hearing I was going to see Mi Hyoran. Seong Yul just so happened to be there, so I had brought him along.
We were on our way to the Baihua Merchant Group’s Henan branch.
Even as I slowly walked, I kept sending telepathic messages to someone.
[Have you looked into it?]
As soon as I asked, a reply came.
[We have deployed personnel throughout the Henan area and are investigating, but we have not found anyone matching the description you provided.]
[Hmm.]
Immediately after parting with Tianmo in front of the noodle house.
I had promptly requested the Dark King’s assassin corps to search the surroundings.
But.
‘As expected.’
I had entertained a very faint hope, but sure enough, they could not find a trace of Tianmo.
She was not someone who would leave traces carelessly in the first place.
‘Even if a trace were found, we couldn’t approach her.’
Rather than the opponent recognizing Tianmo,
Tianmo recognizing the opponent would likely be faster.
If that happened, it would only become more dangerous.
[I understand. Please stop the search now.]
[Yes.]
Not much time had passed, but it was enough for them to grasp the situation in Henan.
There was no need to create any further unnecessary danger.
In that case.
‘Will the Dark King have to come personally?’
I thought that might be the safest and most accurate method.
Just then.
[However….]
At the transmitted voice, I slightly raised an eyebrow.
Was there something more to convey?
[During the search, we did discover something rather incongruous.]
Just moments ago, they had said they couldn’t find anything regarding Tianmo. Now, an incongruous aspect?
[What is it?]
[It is none other than that an assassination seems to have taken place in an alley leading to the Alliance.]
[An assassination?]
[Yes. One of our agents discovered the situation but could not approach.]
The Dark King’s assassin corps had discovered it but could not approach.
This meant the opponent’s strength was considerable.
However.
[What problem does that pose?]
Was this saying it had some connection to the matter at hand?
Assassinations were common occurrences in the Central Plains.
Of course, the fact that it was an alley leading to the Alliance was a somewhat chilling detail, but
it was not that strange of an occurrence.
[Is it related to the matter I requested?]
[No. We simply found it strange that when we arrived to check for traces, there were no notable traces remaining, so we are reporting it.]
[No traces…?]
This was the same as saying they had not discovered the body either.
It meant the cleanup was so meticulous that even renowned individuals in the world could not detect it.
‘Who could it be?’
Who could it be? Or rather, which group?
To carry out an assassination in Henan where the Martial Alliance was located was impossible unless the assassin was quite extraordinary.
I was a little curious.
[Do you have any idea who it might be?]
[We are investigating.]
Without my even saying anything, they had already started gathering information.
As expected of the Central Plains’ foremost assassin corps.
[Once you find out, please just give me a hint.]
[Yes. We will definitely find out.]
‘Definitely’ wasn’t necessary… but if it’s fine, it’s fine.
Without voicing any particular disagreement, I nodded.
Finishing the conversation with my informant, I looked ahead.
In the distance, the Baihua Merchant Group building was slowly coming into view.
Was it because I had been talking while walking? It felt like we had arrived too quickly.
Hmm, what should I do? Should I stall for a bit? Just as that thought crossed my mind.
“Y-Young Master, what should we do?”
Dang Soyeol was trembling with a somewhat anxious voice.
Why is she like that?
“W-we haven’t bought a gift yet…!”
Hmm?
“What gift?”
“A gift for Lady Mi….”
“Why… are you preparing that?”
I asked in disbelief, and Dang Soyeol made an expression as if she couldn’t understand me even more.
“Last time, it was a sudden occasion so I couldn’t prepare, but… it’s not now!”
“No, I’m asking why you’re preparing one.”
Sudden or not,
what need was there to go so far as to prepare a gift?
Unable to understand at all, I tried to ask Dang Soyeol for the reason, but
the Dang Soyeol who had been beside me had disappeared somewhere.
What? Where did she go?
Was it because she had learned martial arts from the Dark King? It wasn’t easy to sense her presence.
“Young Master!”
As I was looking around, the vanished Dang Soyeol reappeared.
“What?”
I had to open my eyes slightly looking at Dang Soyeol.
Because something was clutched in her hand.
That is.
“Flowers?”
Several gorgeous flowers mixed with white and yellow.
Wondering where on earth she had gotten them, I saw there was a flower shop behind us.
A place that sold flowers for money—so Henan really did have everything.
They piled up in the mountains, yet they were sold here for money.
I thought it was truly a useless commodity, but.
“…You went and bought that?”
“W-we have to give her at least this.”
“Flowers?”
“Yes.”
“What would she do with flowers? It’s not even money.”
I spoke, wondering what kind of useless gift that was.
Upon hearing my words, Dang Soyeol’s expression turned strange.
“Young Master… if you say that somewhere else, you’ll get smacked on the back.”
“Who would smack my back? They’d throw out their waist doing that.”
“…”
As if they’d merely be bent.
They could probably fold me into all sorts of pretty shapes—birds, bears, you name it.
‘Well, she already bought it, so it can’t be helped.’
It was a waste of money on flowers, but since it was Dang Soyeol’s money anyway, I didn’t care.
The problem was.
‘I don’t think Lady Mi would like it very much.’
The Lady Mi I knew was not someone who would be pleased to receive flowers, but
that expectation of mine had to—
“Oh my.”
—shatter into pieces at the sight of Lady Mi accepting the flowers and smiling.
“…Oh my….”
Lady Mi, carefully receiving the offered flowers, smiled.
Yes, she was smiling.
‘…Lady Mi smiles too?’
It might not be brightly, but that was definitely a smile.
To think she would smile like that over mere flowers; it was bewildering.
I had simply taken the flowers because Dang Soyeol was hesitating and handed them over in her stead.
So, I was hastily trying to say that it was Dang Soyeol, not me, who had given them, but.
“T-Together with the Young Master…! W-We bought them together.”
Dang Soyeol cut in and intercepted my words.
Bought together?
‘When did I buy them?’
Far from buying them, I had scolded her for buying such things.
I was about to correct this, saying Dang Soyeol had bought them alone, but.
Pinch.
“…!?”
Dang Soyeol pinched my thigh with a hand hidden from view.
It didn’t hurt much, but I could tell this act was meant to shut my mouth.
What?
I didn’t know what was going on, but I closed my mouth for now.
If I opened my mouth here, Dang Soyeol would likely make a ghastly expression.
“…Thank you….”
Those were the words of Lady Mi, who had been affectionately gazing at the flowers.
It was the first time in my life I had seen such eyes from Lady Mi.
And all I had done was give her flowers.
“…They are truly beautiful….”
“Please… I hope they are to your liking.”
“I shall treasure them.”
At her words indicating she liked them, I scratched my cheek.
Seeing that, Dang Soyeol looked at me.
Her gaze was filled with ‘I was right, wasn’t I?’
‘I guess so.’
What was so great about that to make her so happy?
I didn’t really understand, but I simply nodded.
There must be a reason I didn’t know.
While Lady Mi was carefully touching the flowers,
I spoke to her.
“I heard there was a reason you called for me.”
I was trying to get to the main point, but for some reason, Dang Soyeol’s pinching hand grew stronger.
Why, what?
I was beginning to feel a bit of pain; perhaps she was putting her sincerity into it.
Just what was she dissatisfied with?
“Ah, I see. I need to tell you that.”
At my words, Lady Mi also nodded.
Even so, she still held the flowers.
“The reason I called you is none other than this.”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember that I once said I would have a favor to ask of you?”
“I remember.”
When I had come to Henan and visited the Baihua Merchant Group.
It was what Lady Mi had said to me.
That she would have a favor to ask me in the near future.
‘So this is it.’
I had wondered what kind of favor it would be, but I was hearing it sooner than expected.
I listened attentively, and Lady Mi continued.
“It is none other than that a certain matter has come to the merchant group this time.”
“You mean a matter for the Baihua Merchant Group.”
“Yes. Originally… it was something the Martial Alliance should handle. But it seems the other party wished to connect directly with our merchant group.”
Something the Martial Alliance should have handled?
‘And the Baihua Merchant Group is taking it on.’
I couldn’t quite understand.
Why was the Baihua Merchant Group taking on something the Alliance should have handled?
The affairs of the Alliance and the merchant group hardly overlapped.
Moreover.
‘The fact that it could be changed simply because the other party wished it….’
Even if it was something the Alliance should have handled, the fact that it had been delegated to the merchant group because the other party did not want the Alliance meant, in other words, that they possessed the power to make it so.
The Alliance was no fool; they would not have accepted this readily.
“Just where is it…?”
I asked, containing my doubts.
Lady Mi, cradling the flowers to her chest, spoke to me.
“The North Sea Ice Palace.”
“…Pardon?”
A somewhat abrupt yet familiar name popped out.
The North Sea Ice Palace…? Did I mishear? Why did that suddenly come up?
“The North Sea Ice Palace?”
I asked back in doubt, but.
“Yes.”
Lady Mi expressed a firm confirmation.
Before I could even contain my bewilderment at the sudden word. At the words Lady Mi added, I had to furrow my brow.
“It concerns the Young Princess of that place.”
Something.
Just by looking at it, it seemed like a troublesome matter.