〈 Episode 594 〉 Zhuge.
A day had passed.
The night faded, the sun rose, and it was just now approaching noon.
Yuri left the lodgings arranged by the merchant group with her guards and headed toward the promised location.
It was not a long distance.
But Yuri’s expression as she walked was far from good.
A deep shadow hung over her face.
Perhaps because she hadn’t slept a wink, her face was full of fatigue.
“Huu….”
A sigh escaped her involuntarily.
Because she had spent the night without sleep, making plans.
How could she change Red Feather’s mind?
She had devoted all her focus to that alone.
And as a result.
‘Three things….’
She had derived three outcomes.
The contract the Lord of the Ice Palace had made with the Alliance to bring Yuri to this land.
Furthermore, she revised what they had originally intended to pay the merchant group, creating conditions so generous that the other side might wonder, ‘Is it really okay to receive this much?’
Her guards had desperately tried to dissuade her upon hearing this, but Yuri judged that it was necessary and pushed forward resolutely.
‘This is the best I can do.’
At a moderate level, he would not be moved.
She had to go this far.
There was a high possibility that even this wouldn’t work.
But.
‘Somehow….’
She had to somehow turn his heart around.
That was her only thought.
“Young Lady…. Will you really be all right?”
Ubeom asked.
Yuri didn’t answer, only nodding her head slightly.
It wasn’t a question of whether she would be all right.
She absolutely had to be all right.
‘I can do this.’
That was the mindset she had to maintain.
Yuri bit her dry lips and organized her thoughts.
Before long, they arrived at the merchant group.
Personnel from the merchant group who had been waiting for Yuri came out and guided them.
It was not the upper floor where they had spoken yesterday.
It was a floor that looked somewhat more spacious.
It seemed to be a space where others in the merchant group held meetings.
Soon, they arrived before a massive door.
Before opening the door, Yuri collected her breathing inwardly.
‘Don’t be too afraid.’
Because of yesterday’s events, she seemed to be extremely nervous.
Even if her impatience had been revealed, she had prepared plenty of ways to smooth it over.
She kept recalling.
That by whatever means, she would steer things to a direction advantageous to herself.
Yuri had made up her mind like that, but.
Squeak-!
The door opened.
“…!!”
Seeing the situation inside, Yuri had to immediately erase the thoughts she had just been recalling.
At the end of the wide table.
The master of the merchant group, Baekhwadanju, was seated, and beside her, among the women, Red Feather was seated.
‘…What is that….’
Yuri had to forcibly hide her trembling body as she looked at him.
She knew the moment the door opened.
That the air in this spacious room was somehow heavy and suffocating.
Red Feather, chin resting on his hand, looking this way.
An enormous aura was radiating from his body.
And what of his gaze?
Though they were merely eyes staring quietly, Yuri felt it would be impossible to meet his gaze for long.
It was frightening.
Terrifying and spine-chilling.
A perfect predator.
Red Feather was like a starving beast, and Yuri herself was no different from weak prey.
“You’re here.”
Red Feather spoke to Yuri.
“…”
His voice was clearly no different from yesterday’s, yet for some reason, something sticky seemed to coil around it.
That sensation gradually crept up Yuri’s body, binding her suffocatingly.
Something was wrong.
“Sit down.”
Yuri definitely felt that way.
But by the time she felt it.
“I’ve come to have quite a few things I want to ask since last night.”
It was already far too late.
******************
The conversation didn’t continue for long after that.
Honestly, it would be difficult to even call it a conversation.
Yuri would speak unilaterally, and they would merely listen.
“…Thus, if Your Excellency enters into a contract to provide treatment, exclusive trading rights with the North Sea….”
“Young Lady.”
“Yes, Merchant Leader.”
“A clear designation of who will receive the treatment seems necessary. Who is it that you wish to be treated?”
“…The Lord of the Ice Palace.”
“Confirmed.”
Even when conversation occurred, Madam Mi mostly handled it, so from my perspective, I was merely watching.
Yuri, who had already shattered the mask she wore, was showing a personality completely different from before.
If I had to say, her appearance and even her behavior felt closer to Moyong Huia’s.
Though I suppose Moyong Huia is a bit more capable.
Then again, this might just be me being partial.
“I have a question.”
“Please speak.”
“First, I find the conditions all quite favorable, however….”
At Madam Mi’s response, I nodded inwardly.
Yes, the conditions were good.
Exclusive trading rights with the Ice Palace that had been blocked until now due to the relationship between the Alliance and the North Sea.
Furthermore, upon completion of the task, the Ice Palace would hand over a huge reward and three precious items.
The other conditions Yuri brought were all so good as to be absurd, but.
There was no mention of the biggest problem.
“Why is there no word on the safety guarantee and the current situation in the North Sea?”
“…”
At Madam Mi’s words, Yuri bit her lip.
This was the biggest problem.
Attaching such favorable conditions. No matter how much she tried to give.
‘There is a lack of certainty about whether they can actually deliver.’
In a situation lacking trust, they were ultimately just empty words.
If she had said this yesterday, before I noticed the talk about the Ice Palace, I might have accepted it readily.
But.
“Isn’t it different now?”
Now was a time when I clearly knew something had erupted in the Ice Palace.
Moreover, the current ruler, the Lord of the Ice Palace, had a problem.
Who would accept a commission based on empty words in this situation? It was absurd.
“…That is correct.”
Yuri readily admitted this as well.
However, if Madam Mi or I hadn’t pointed it out, she would have passed over it.
I didn’t view that poorly.
Because it was an essential part of business talk.
“I am well aware of your concerns…. If only the Lord’s situation improves, then as much as….”
“That is merely speculation. If it fails or goes wrong during the process, those are words that won’t protect us.”
What Yuri wanted was none other than this.
For me to go to the North Sea, treat the Lord of the Ice Palace, and return.
Madam Mi was blocking this decisively on this matter.
The reason was none other than this.
‘Because it differs from what was originally discussed.’
The letter received through the Alliance had apparently stated that the Young Lady would be sent for treatment.
That now I had to go directly to the North Sea was the problem.
‘Though I think the original purpose was ultimately the same.’
Checking if treatment was possible through Yuri’s body.
If it was confirmed that treatment was truly possible, they would have attached certain conditions and taken me to the North Sea.
There, they would have omitted saying that the North Sea was in a dangerous state.
And.
‘The Alliance likely doesn’t know about this matter.’
It was obvious.
The North Sea being precarious could, in a way, be seen as conditions for invasion being met.
The Alliance might not act so militarily.
But from the Ice Palace’s standpoint, it could be dangerous at any time.
They had obviously passed it off with different words to the Alliance.
In other words.
The danger regarding information—that if mishandled, the Alliance itself could become an enemy.
On top of that, having to head to dangerous foreign lands after hearing conditions that might or might not be kept.
It was a situation where those two overlapped.
“There are far too many problems with accepting the Young Lady’s commission.”
“We have prepared a safe route for travel. Therefore, safety….”
It was over.
Madam Mi’s judgment was made. And not in a good direction.
I immediately looked to the side.
Moyong Huia was sitting beside me.
Her expression wasn’t much different.
Showing no interest.
Meaning it was meaningless talk.
No matter how profitable it was, when including the situation in judgment, it was a commission with no need to be accepted.
Even the original me would have been the same upon hearing this.
‘Hmm.’
Watching this, I let out a sigh. I knew that, but the situation was different now.
I felt I had to step forward somehow.
“This matter is—”
“I have something I want to ask.”
I interrupted right as Madam Mi was about to finish.
However, when I opened my mouth, Yuri flinched for some reason.
Why is she like that?
I looked at her questioningly.
Swoosh.
I felt a sensation at my fingertips.
It was Dang Soyeol’s hand.
“…Young Master, your energy is too strong.”
“Ah.”
Only then did I realize at her words.
I had been trying so hard to suppress it, but it seemed to be leaking out on its own.
Hearing this, I controlled my energy.
Huuuu-!
Wind faintly coiled in the space. I gathered my energy to a single point and released it outside the window.
“Huu…hu….”
Then Yuri exhaled.
She seemed to have been quite suffocated.
Was that the reason she had been subtly watching my expression?
‘It wasn’t particularly intentional.’
It truly wasn’t on purpose.
I was simply that annoyed.
Looking at Yuri, who seemed exhausted, I asked.
“What is the Ice Palace’s current situation? Start by explaining that.”
“…That is….”
“If useless preambles are mixed in, the talk is over.”
At the short warning, Yuri immediately spoke.
“…There are largely three great clans in the North Sea.”
Unlike yesterday when she had spoken casually, she was using honorifics again.
Probably to clearly show her position.
Three clans in charge of each region.
In the North Sea, these are called nobles, she said.
“They are where warriors stand who support the bloodline and protect the Ice Palace generation after generation.”
“Hmm.”
Unlike the Four Great Clans… no, the Three Great Clans affiliated with the righteous faction through alliance with the Alliance.
They seem to be places entirely dedicated to protecting the Ice Palace.
“…Among them, one clan has raised a flag of rebellion and thrust a blade at the Ice Palace.”
Hearing this, I stroked my chin with my finger.
The North Sea is a world different from the Alliance.
While the Alliance repeatedly installs new martial artists once the Alliance Lord’s inauguration is finished.
The Ice Palace is one that inherits through bloodline succession.
Meaning complete royal authority.
Yet, to ignore this and show hostility toward the Palace itself.
“Treason.”
“…Yes.”
It must mean they intend to seize the throne.
The question here is.
“Not three places, but just one place incited a rebellion. What’s the reason it came to this?”
Perhaps if the three had united.
I couldn’t understand how they couldn’t suppress something caused by just one place.
To this, Yuri said.
“…Because those who incited the rebellion are the ones in charge of military power.”
At those words, my brow furrowed deeply.
“They handle all the military power in one place?”
What kind of crazy talk is this?
It was absurd.
Those words meant that one clan was handling the military forces and power currently in the North Sea.
“And despite such madness, there hasn’t been a rebellion until now?”
It was stranger that the royal authority had been maintained until now after concentrating power in one clan.
It was a situation where rebellion could have happened at any time, not just now.
Because as long as one possesses power, ambition can arise at any time.
Yet the Ice Palace had maintained its inheritance for generations.
How could that be?
When I asked containing such doubt, Yuri gave this answer.
“Because the North Sea can only be maintained if the Ice Palace is maintained.”
“What does that mean?”
“…I cannot speak beyond that.”
Yuri swallowed the most important words.
I debated pressing further, but soon decided to hold back.
If there were things she couldn’t say after coming this far, they were truly things she couldn’t say.
‘Because that’s not what’s important.’
How the Ice Palace’s royal authority is maintained.
I have no interest in such things at all.
What do I care?
That wasn’t important to me in the slightest.
What was important now was….
“Then I’ll ask about this next. This.”
I took out the letter received yesterday from my chest and showed it to Yuri.
“What is your relationship with the person who sent this to me?”
“…?”
Yuri’s expression changed at my question.
It was an expression asking why I was curious about that.
So I added a word.
“Is the owner of this letter involved in the current matter in the North Sea?”
“…!”
Yuri’s eyes widened upon hearing this.
And hope flashed in her pupils.
I think I know what she’s feeling.
She had realized my meaning from my words.
That I cared greatly about the person who sent this letter.
Namgung Bia.
I had pointedly asked whether she was related to the event currently surging through the Ice Palace—that was the meaning.
So, Yuri must have thought.
That she might be able to entice me using this.
She might have also thought she had discovered my weakness.
Even knowing that clearly, I said it.
The reason was one.
It simply wasn’t the time to calculate such trivial things.
Yuri, having confirmed my reaction, speaks.
“Regarding that, separately….”
“I’m saying this beforehand.”
It feels like she’s trying to make a deal with this.
So I spoke first.
“Don’t think of playing games with this.”
I opened my core and released my energy.
Energy flowed explosively through my meridians.
I felt pain because my internal injury hadn’t healed.
I ignored it.
Killing intent was unleashed through my flesh.
Huuuuuuk-!!
The room filled with fighting spirit and murderous energy incomparable to before.
“Hhup…!”
Yuri’s body stiffened rigidly from the energy.
Clang-!
Immediately, the guards beside her tried to take a stance to protect Yuri, but.
Srring.
Seongyul’s sword was at the neck of the one named Useok.
Dang Soyeol had already arrived before Ubeom before anyone knew it.
“I’m very short on patience right now.”
I’m holding back from jumping out right now.
I put strength into my body. I had to grab my arm that was moving on its own.
If not, I felt like I would grab the neck of that wench Yuri right away.
I forced a smile and asked.
“Answer properly. This is your last chance.”
If not.
Today, the star of the North Sea will die by my hands.
This was sincere.