“Seongwang---!!!”
A fierce shout swept through the branch office.
Qi seemed to be infused into the voice, making the amplified volume incredibly loud.
Moreover, given the shouter's level of cultivation, the Lion's Roar was enough to violently shake even the trees.
"…Urk..."
"Ughhh...!!"
The martial artists of the Alliance guarding the branch office all stumbled one after another.
The Flower Realm level. Moreover, this was the roar of someone practically guaranteed to be among the next Ten Great Masters.
"Where are you-!"
The owner of the roar.
The Azure Dragon Commander, Ilcheonggeom, was for some reason unable to control his emotions, fully venting his fury.
And to top it off.
"Gu Yangcheon-!"
He was hollering my name at the top of his lungs.
Thanks to that, everyone in the branch office was sweating bullets. In particular, the Branch Manager, Mok Riseon, looked utterly panicked, his eyes trembling violently.
Rumble---!!
The gradually spreading aura began to crush the surroundings of the branch office.
It seemed he possessed more qi than I had anticipated.
"Gah... hack...!!"
"Urgh."
The people went beyond stumbling; now they were dry heaving.
A little more, and they would obviously start coughing up blood. After watching it reach that point, I finally revealed myself.
"What are you doing?"
As I stepped out with a perplexed expression, Ilcheonggeom immediately spotted me and charged.
Without hesitation, he grabbed me by the collar.
My body jolted from the impact. I stared at Ilcheonggeom with an expression of sheer bewilderment.
"...My, Senior. What is the meaning of this?"
"You son of a bitch-!"
As if he couldn't hold it in any longer, Ilcheonggeom contorted his face and screamed at me.
"How dare you make a fool of me? How dare you-!"
Roaring furiously, Ilcheonggeom threw something at me. I glanced at it; it was a letter.
It bore the seal of the Alliance—specifically, the letter Ilcheonggeom must have received about two days after our departure for Sichuan.
If memory served, the content roughly read:
'The Azure Dragon Commander is to immediately lead his squad and return to the Main Alliance.'
Something along those lines.
Upon receiving it, Ilcheonggeom had made a strange expression but still returned to the Alliance.
He must have felt something was off, but it was the Alliance's seal. Moreover, it was stamped with the direct seal of Mok-yeon.
Seeing that, there was nothing he could do but obey.
And so, Ilcheonggeom departed for the Alliance.
Meanwhile, I continued on to Sichuan.
Because of this, there was a time gap between Ilcheonggeom's and my arrival in Sichuan.
So.
Then, why was Ilcheonggeom so furious upon returning? The reason for this was simple.
After going through the trouble of receiving the letter and returning to the Alliance, Ilcheonggeom must have heard the news.
Namely, that the Main Alliance—and specifically Mok-yeon—had never sent such a letter.
That's right, the letter was a fake.
Ah, wait.
'Then again, calling it a fake feels a bit wrong.'
The seal was undeniably real, so technically it was authentic... Well, whatever. Thanks to that, Ilcheonggeom had been led by the nose like a dog. That was likely why he was brimming with rage.
"Senior, why are you acting like this? Please calm down."
I had to keep putting on an expression of utter injustice.
"Calm down? Calm down, you say? Hah-!"
"You went all the way back, only to suddenly reappear and act like this. Why?"
"Are you going to play dumb? Do you think I don't know you're the one who did this-!"
"No, seriously, what are you talking about?"
"You tampered with the Alliance's seal and forged a fake order, and now you're pretending you don't know?"
Ilcheonggeom spoke while grinding his teeth loudly.
Feeling his wrath clearly, I furrowed my brow slightly.
"Seal tampering?"
"How long are you going to play dumb? Do you truly think I wouldn't figure it out?"
"You've seriously lost your mind."
Putting on an annoyed expression, I grabbed the hand holding my collar and swatted it away.
Rip-! He had been gripping it so tightly that a chunk of my uniform tore right off.
"What are you even talking about? Tampering? Forgery? Why are you throwing a fit the moment you arrive—"
—bullshit like this? I barely swallowed those last words.
I could have just spat it out, but right now, showing restraint was more important.
For some reason, Ilcheonggeom was convinced I was the culprit.
But the important thing here was—
'The bastard catches on quick.'
I actually was the culprit.
I wasn't the one who sent the letter and made him receive it, but I was the one who orchestrated the whole scheme.
That was why I was a bit surprised.
'I thought he might suspect me, but I didn't think he'd be so certain.'
How did he figure it out? What gave him the confidence to confront me like this?
I was a little curious about that.
"—making such a scene over nothing."
I somehow softened my words, but Ilcheonggeom's fury showed no signs of dying down.
If anything, it seemed to be rising by the second, his face contorting further and further.
"Even if you think Strategist Mok and the whole world are on your side, this is a grave matter decreed by the Main Alliance! It is not something a bastard like you can just manipulate as you please!"
I tilted my head. I let the first remark slide.
"No matter how much you dislike me, letting personal feelings interfere with the mission—"
And then I dug into the second half of his sentence.
"Personal feelings? Who from?"
Ilcheonggeom, who had been ranting, suddenly flinched, his throat bobbing.
"I'm not sure who you think you're saying that to."
"...You bastard."
"Look. Even if I let that slide for now. Senior."
Honestly, I had no intention of letting it slide. It was too perfect of a trap to just pass up.
However, I had something even better in mind, so I merely pretended to let it go.
"Do you have any proof that I did it?"
"..."
When I asked, he fell silent. Naturally. How could there be any proof?
I wasn't sloppy enough to leave any behind.
That was exactly why I could act so brazenly.
"Personal feelings? Yes, since you brought it up, let me be frank. I don't particularly like you, Senior."
Actually, I detest you.
Enough to want to kill you.
"But it doesn't seem like you feel any differently, Senior. Or am I wrong?"
"..."
"Since you don't answer, I'll take that as a yes... And honestly, that doesn't really matter. We don't have to be on good terms, do we? But."
Pat, pat.
I lightly brushed the collar of Ilcheonggeom's robes.
"I understand you're upset because you went through something bizarre. I truly sympathize with you on that part, but..."
Simultaneously, I looked Ilcheonggeom dead in the eye and spoke.
"It puts me in a difficult spot when you act like this without any proof. Especially with so many eyes on us. As you yourself just said, we're here on an important mission, aren't we?"
As I said that, I slightly lowered my gaze.
I could see Ilcheonggeom's hands trembling violently.
He looked like he wanted to draw his sword at any moment. His killing intent was faintly seeping out.
Seeing this, I offered him a smile.
"So please calm down. That is, unless you're going to draw your sword right here and now."
If you're pissed, draw your sword. Let's duke it out in front of everyone.
I established my justification and even struck a blow to his pride. As if proving the wound had been scratched open, a vein bulged on Ilcheonggeom's forehead.
After pushing him this far, would he really hold back?
I already knew the answer to that question. Ilcheonggeom would definitely endure it.
Creak.
As if to prove it, he ground his teeth, forcefully suppressing his emotions.
He was an overly cautious bastard.
Him acting so emotionally was a bit unexpected, but he wouldn't fall for such an obvious trap.
That was why I had to carefully orchestrate this.
So he wouldn't think of himself as the prey.
But rather, so he would think of himself as the predator. I wasn't trying to catch him; I needed to make him think *he* was catching *me*.
Everything from the start until now had been orchestrated for that exact purpose.
Ilcheonggeom's face twitched. Barely holding back, he stepped closer to me.
I didn't back away.
"...Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not just letting this slide out of the goodness of my heart."
"My, of course. I'm well aware."
"No matter how much you play dumb. The outcome won't change. The moment we return to the Main Alliance..."
Creak.
The sound of him grinding his teeth rang clearly in my ears.
"Along with the Golden Dragon Commander's matters. I will thoroughly investigate every single thing you've done in the shadows."
His attitude made it clear he wouldn't let this go easily.
Hearing this, I gave a slight nod and replied.
"Yes. I'll be looking forward to it. Now, please go and do your job, Great Azure Dragon Commander."
With my final words, the Azure Dragon Commander, who had been forcefully holding back his anger, whipped around.
He headed toward the Branch Manager.
"Squad, move out."
Ilcheonggeom ordered the Azure Dragon Squad.
"We have arrived at our destination, so we will commence the search immediately. Ensure there are no hiccups with the pre-established plan."
"Yes, sir!"
They were starting the mission immediately upon arrival without even resting. Yet, the squad members replied in loud, unwavering voices.
They were certainly well-disciplined. Seeing that, I asked Ilcheonggeom.
"Should I hand over the intel we've gathered? If you need it—"
"It is unnecessary. I will hear the situation directly from the Branch Manager."
"Ah, yes."
His tone had already reverted to its original formality. He'd been speaking informally all this time, so what was the point of changing it so belatedly? It was beyond my comprehension.
Having cut me off, Ilcheonggeom went to speak with the Branch Manager.
We were supposed to be working on this mission together, so it would've been nice if he'd at least listened to the intel... Tsk tsk.
'Though I knew he wouldn't listen anyway.'
Smirking, I also turned my back.
When I turned, the Azure Dragon Squad members subtly flinched. However, they immediately began to move. Just as Ilcheonggeom said, it seemed they already had a strategy in place.
Watching them, I recalled the words Ilcheonggeom had spat out.
—The moment we return to the Main Alliance... Along with the Golden Dragon Commander's matters. I will thoroughly investigate every single thing you've done in the shadows.
He didn't have proof, but he seemed to have caught onto something.
Ilcheonggeom's reaction certainly implied he had a lead.
If we really returned to the Alliance as is, things might get a little complicated.
I felt this, but I wasn't particularly worried.
'Because that too, is conditional.'
It was entirely dependent on Ilcheonggeom safely returning to the Main Alliance.
In that regard, unfortunately, Ilcheonggeom would not get his wish.
Because for Ilcheonggeom—
'This place would be his end.'
Sichuan, the place he had just arrived at, would be the end of his life.
******************
"Are you sure it's fine not to hand it over?"
I turned my head at the words I heard the moment I stepped into the quarters. The one who spoke to me was Cheol Jiseon.
He had struck up the conversation while handing me an object.
"About what?"
As I took the object and asked with genuine confusion, Cheol Jiseon spoke with a worried expression.
"About sharing intel with the Azure Dragon Squad."
I took off my training-drenched uniform and slightly relaxed my aura.
My qi filled the room.
"I heard you decided not to. Is that true?"
"Ah, that? Yeah. They said they didn't need it."
"...Didn't we spend two days organizing it specifically to share with them?"
"We did."
Right. Anticipating that the Azure Dragon Squad would request intel sharing, we had taken the time to prepare it.
Well, Cheol Jiseon did, not me.
But since I was now saying we wouldn't send it, he seemed to have a hard time understanding.
"They said they didn't want it, so what can we do? Forcing it on them would be even stranger."
Especially when it was Ilcheonggeom himself who refused it—what were we supposed to do?
"But... then what are we going to do about the plan?"
"What plan?"
When I reacted as if I had no idea what he was talking about, Cheol Jiseon made a strange face and spoke.
"No, I mean... Yangcheon, weren't you planning to clear up the misunderstanding about the Gyecheon Gate Master being tied to the Demonic Cult, and then frame Ilcheonggeom to take him out? To do that, we have to hand over some intel."
"Hmm?"
I widened my eyes slightly at his words.
What kind of crazy nonsense was this?
As if he had just spoken the most absurd thing in the world, I addressed Cheol Jiseon.
"You little shit? You pull a few pranks and suddenly you've turned into a full-fledged villain."
"...Huh?"
Cheol Jiseon responded, looking bewildered.
"What do you take people for? Frame and dispose of, my ass. Do you think Ilcheonggeom is some pair of straw sandals you can just toss away? Frame him? Frame him with what?"
"Ah, so that wasn't it?"
"Of course it wasn't."
Good grief.
I was so dumbfounded I was practically speechless.
"Jiseon, you need to choose your words carefully."
"Hmm?"
"Clear up the misunderstanding? That part is wrong right off the bat."
I beamed a bright smile and patted Cheol Jiseon on the shoulder.
"The Gyecheon Gate was in bed with the Demonic Cult from the very beginning."
"Huh...?"
As if correcting his misunderstanding, I continued my explanation in a gentle tone.
"Not only are those villains in league with those insane bastards of the Demonic Cult who want to turn the Central Plains into a sea of fire, but the Branch Manager here is in on it too, and even Ilcheonggeom is part of their crew, right?"
"...What... what are you talking about?"
Cheol Jiseon reacted as if he couldn't comprehend it at all.
I spat out my words with absolute sincerity in my eyes.
It was a conviction devoid of even a sliver of doubt.
"So we're executing those villains who are trying to mess with the Murim Alliance in the name of justice, right? But 'framing and disposing of them'? What a terrifying thing to say. That makes it sound like... we're the villains."
"..."
"We don't need to frame them... They were already in bed together from the start. Right?"
I said with a grin.
At that, Cheol Jiseon nodded with a mechanical creak, as if he had malfunctioned.
It seemed he finally understood.
As expected of a smart guy, his comprehension was remarkably fast.
"So."
I said as I finished putting on my clothes.
"Keep that in mind. I'm going to go meet one of those villains, so you just handle the things I asked you to do."
Cheol Jiseon tried to say something else, but I got up without listening.
The preparations over the past three days were complete.
With the Azure Dragon Commander's arrival, the real game was about to begin.
Clear up the misunderstanding about Gyecheon Gate?
Not a chance.
'Why would I clear up something so useful?'
It was actually perfect. If I could exploit it, I would gladly feed into it.
And so.
'Might as well catch all the annoying pests at once.'
To think about how busy I'd been for those three days before the Azure Dragon Commander arrived just for this.
Considering all that effort, I had no intention of letting anything slide easily.
I checked the object I had just received from Cheol Jiseon. White powder wrapped in cloth revealed itself.
This was the key to making Ilcheonggeom mistakenly believe he was the predator...
It was a root powder known as Gyeonyeolcho (Silk Heat Herb).
And it was the poisonous herb I was going to consume "at the hands of Ilcheonggeom."