Chapter 146
“Do you think I would pay more money here? I’m not a pushover, you know?”
“…”
As if holding back his anger, Dokgo Jun ground his teeth and spoke.
I absentmindedly threw a fact at him.
“Ah, you weren’t a pushover? I thought you were a pushover…, oops…”
I meant to only think that on the inside…, but I ended up…
“General Stronghold Master-!!”
In the end, Dokgo Jun couldn’t hold back and raised his voice.
Then he strode toward me…
“I can’t take this anymore-!”
…and reached out for the Heavenly Demon Sword.
And the moment he snatched the Heavenly Demon Sword from me and gripped it in his hand…!
“As stated in the pledge document, we will be taking the Heavenly Demon Sword, so never again… Aaaaaagh-!!”
“…What is this.”
…Dokgo Jun’s arm, which was holding the Sword, began to tremble as if he had been electrocuted, and the blood vessels on it bulged.
As if it were agonizing, Dokgo Jun let out a Loud Roar and threw the Sword to the floor.
“Heuk…, heuk…, no, why is this suddenly…”
“…”
His eyes were instantly dyed with panic. I was the same.
“Wait, the Heavenly Demon Sword had a function like this?”
But I was fine whenever I held the Sword until now…?
Feeling doubtful, I placed my hand on the Heavenly Demon Sword…
“…It’s fine, though?”
“…”
…When I grabbed it, nothing happened; it just felt like it wrapped snugly around my hand, just like it usually did when I held the Heavenly Demon Sword.
“N-No, why is it that only when I grab it…”
“I guess it’s because it already decided on me as its Master. Here.”
Whoosh-.
To check one more time, I threw the Heavenly Demon Sword, scabbard and all, at Dokgo Jun.
And as soon as it touched his body…
“Aaaaaaaagh-!”
…he screamed, showing that electrocuted reaction once again.
“Heuk-! Heuuuk-!”
It must have hurt a lot, as Dokgo Jun threw the Heavenly Demon Sword away and backed up. His eyes were filled with terror.
“Tsk, tsk.”
I clicked my tongue at Dokgo Jun, then leisurely picked up the Sword and approached him.
“Hey, man. I told you everything yesterday. I said this Sword is possessed by a ghost. Why didn’t you believe me.”
“…”
“My, my. Even if you somehow manage to take it with you, it’ll just come back to me like it has been doing, so what are you going to do.”
“…”
Unable to think of a way to retrieve the Heavenly Demon Sword, Dokgo Jun’s face darkened.
He asked me politely, his voice trembling.
“Um…, General Stronghold Master…”
“Hmm?”
“…Could we pretend this never happened and have you return the Murim Alliance’s money?”
A sliver of hope was contained on his face.
To meet his expectations, I spoke with a smile on my face.
“Look here. Dokgo Jun.”
“Yes, General Stronghold Master. Please have mercy…”
“Do you happen to know the phrase No Take-backs?”
“…”
His expression began to rot away again.
“Sorry. I already exchanged the promissory note you gave me for cash at the Continental Exchange yesterday.”
This meant that 2,300 Gold Gwan had already been withdrawn from the Murim Alliance’s account.
Realizing the meaning behind those words, Dokgo Jun’s face grew so cold that his blood began to chill.
“…”
Seeing his expression that looked like he was ready to commit seppuku at any moment, I patted his shoulder as if telling him not to worry.
“Ah, don’t worry too much. I still received the money, so I should repay the favor. I’m not a thief who eats the money and wipes his mouth clean.”
Actually, a Bandit was a thief who lived in the mountains, but I didn’t bother adding that part.
“Since you gave me that much money, this Heavenly Demon Sword naturally belongs to the Murim Alliance.”
“…What does it matter if it belongs to the Murim Alliance. I can’t even take it with me… If I can’t bring this back, the General Strategist will…”
He’ll tear you a new one, probably.
If a Subordinate returned after shitting the bed this badly and he held it in, he wouldn’t be human. He’d be an Immortal left on the Surface.
Anyway, I whispered into the ear of the pale Dokgo Jun as if I had a brilliant solution.
“So, you see. I have a way to resolve this situation…”
“Ah, please tell me-! If you just tell me, I’ll do anything.”
At my sweet whisper, Dokgo Jun lunged forward like a man who had seen the light.
Seeing him lunge at me like this when we were just having a war of nerves over the Alliance Pledge Document a little while ago, he must have been really desperate.
I noticed Dokgo Jun’s demeanor and said to him.
“I’ll tell you if you write a promissory note stating that the Murim Alliance will pay 100 Gold Gwan to the Green Forest.”
“…Pardon? 100 Gold Gwan? But the Murim Alliance doesn’t have any more funds to spare…”
“You can’t? Well, if you can’t, it can’t be helped…”
“I-I can-!”
Dokgo Jun immediately pulled out some paper from his chest and quickly drafted a promissory note, handing it over.
“Here it is…”
“Hoh.”
I didn’t expect him to give it to me this quickly.
As I pocketed the promissory note worth 100 Gold Gwan, Dokgo Jun asked me in a desperate voice.
“Now, then, the way to resolve this situation…”
“Ah, of course I have to tell you.”
I kindly taught Dokgo Jun the method I had come up with.
After hearing my story, Dokgo Jun made an expression that said 'I’ve been tricked again,' but perhaps because there was no other way, he soon left the Green Forest.
* * *
A few days later.
“Nngh…”
From the moment Anhui was Raided by the Demonic Cult and the Righteous-Demonic War was practically confirmed, the busiest place was the Murim Alliance’s Strategist Department.
Especially the Murim Alliance’s General Strategist and Grand Strategist, Jegal Tak.
He had been racking his brain without sleep for several days now.
“We lack personnel…”
There is a saying: Know yourself, know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles.
However, the information the Murim Alliance had on the Demonic Cult was significantly lacking.
No, they originally thought they had quite a bit, but it was currently undergoing massive revisions.
Originally, the Murim Alliance viewed the Demonic Cult as a mere fanatic group, but that wasn’t actually the case.
The overwhelming martial prowess shown by the Demonic Cult’s Deputy Cult Leader the other day.
With just one Stance from her, the Murim Alliance lost two-tenths of its total forces.
Of course, she wouldn’t be able to use such a massive Attack consecutively, but that alone was enough to chill the Murim Alliance to the bone.
Above all, didn’t the other Elders besides the Deputy Cult Leader also show martial prowess far Superior to the Murim Alliance Leader?
Considering the Demonic Cult’s Main Force remaining in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, the Murim Alliance’s chances of winning in an all-out war were slim.
“Haa…”
Therefore, what the Murim Alliance desperately needed was a replenishment of personnel.
Among them, especially…
“The Green Forest General Stronghold Master.”
His existence was important.
The Chief of the bandits who Audaciously disguised himself as a Rising Star of the Righteous Faction and participated in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
He showed tremendous skill unbefitting his age and was the only one to stand against the Demonic Cult’s Deputy Cult Leader.
‘Come to think of it, the Green Forest was a powerful martial Organization that broke free from the Murim Alliance’s interference and secured its own territory.’
Not looking into it closely back then and just brushing it off was a lifelong regret for Jegal Tak.
“We must have become weak, steeped in a long peace…Me, …and the Murim Alliance too.”
Jegal Tak let out a sigh, then soon shook his head.
Right now, there wasn’t even enough time for regrets.
Even if it was late, wouldn’t it be fine to bring the Green Forest On the Same Side now?
To successfully form an Alliance with the Green Forest, Jegal Tak had prepared two rather large gifts.
One was the Great Restoration Pill. And the other was…
“The Unyo Pavilion Lord.”
…Dokgo Jun.
“The Green Forest had ill fate with the Dokgo Noble Family.”
Jegal Tak intentionally selected Dokgo Jun as the Negotiation Representative and sent him to the Green Forest.
It was to resolve any lingering resentment the Green Forest might have toward the Dokgo Noble Family.
Perhaps the Green Forest might even kill Dokgo Jun. But in the long run, that would be a benefit from the Murim Alliance’s perspective.
In exchange for daring to kill a Pavilion Lord, the Murim Alliance would be able to demand something even greater from the Green Forest.
This was a matter that had already been discussed with the Family Head of the Dokgo Noble Family.
He felt sorry for Dokgo Jun…, but it couldn’t be helped.
Sacrifices were necessary for the greater good.
However…
“General Strategist! The Unyo Pavilion Lord has returned!”
“Hmm…, is that so?”
…Contrary to Jegal Tak’s expectations, Unyo Pavilion Lord Dokgo Jun had returned with his life Intact.
‘It seems the Green Forest’s resentment wasn’t as deep as I thought. This is quite a shame…, ah…’
Jegal Tak flinched for a moment upon finding himself feeling disappointed at the news that Dokgo Jun had returned alive.
No matter if it was for the greater good, to genuinely wish for a Subordinate’s death.
Wasn’t this no different from being a monster rather than a human?
“Honestly, me too…”
Jegal Tak looked back at himself with a disgusted gaze before steadying his heart again.
And soon, he made a decision.
To tell Dokgo Jun all these facts and sincerely apologize.
And to praise him for safely concluding the negotiations and returning.
“Tell the Unyo Pavilion Lord to enter.”
“Yes!”
Thus, the Murim Alliance’s General Strategist Jegal Tak welcomed Unyo Pavilion Lord Dokgo Jun with a slightly lighter heart.
* * *
“…”
“…”
Right now, Jegal Tak was reading the Murim Alliance-Green Forest “Non-aggression Pact” pledge document while listening to Dokgo Jun’s account of everything that had happened.
Tremble, tremble.
Barely controlling his hands that were shaking like aspen leaves, Jegal Tak asked Dokgo Jun.
“…So.”
“…”
“…The Green Forest General Stronghold Master found the word 'Alliance' Burdensome, so he changed it to “Non-aggression Pact”?”
“…Yes.”
Jegal Tak felt a headache coming on.
The power of words was so great.
That was why he had specifically insisted on the word Alliance. Because they needed to show the Green Forest and the Murim Alliance uniting as one to stand against the Demonic Cult.
But didn’t the term Non-aggression Pact feel like a massive wall?
“Huu…”
No, well, let’s let that slide.
The problem was what came next.
“…The Green Forest will assist the Murim Alliance in battle, limited to 1 time? 1 time?”
“…The General Stronghold Master said that continuous battles would be Burdensome.”
“…”
Did this son of a bitch completely change his affiliation to the Green Forest while he was there?
Jegal Tak had intended to use this Alliance to fill the Murim Alliance’s lacking forces with the Green Forest’s martial artists. In particular, the General Stronghold Master’s existence was more important than anything else.
But only 1 time.
Once the Righteous-Demonic War began, dozens, hundreds of battles would take place, yet it was merely 1 time.
Furthermore, this clause didn’t clearly specify exactly how many Reinforcements would be sent.
To put it bluntly, even if the General Stronghold Master sent a few bandits and called them Reinforcements, the Murim Alliance would have nothing to say.
“…”
Looking at this heart-collapsing pledge document, Jegal Tak barely managed to let out a breath.
This mess of a pledge document was full of massive failures, but it wasn’t as if there were absolutely no achievements.
Namely, the Heavenly Demon Sword.
To think the Demonic Cult’s lost sacred artifact was in the Green Forest.
Its existence alone would be a great strength to the Murim Alliance.
This was still a remarkable achievement, so Jegal Tak gritted his teeth and tried to praise Dokgo Jun.
However…
“The Heavenly Demon Sword…, 2,000 Gold Gwan seems like an excessive amount, but retrieving it itself is commendable. So where is the Heavenly Demon Sword?”
“…”
“…?”
…Dokgo Jun’s demeanor was Strange.
“T-That is…”
Dokgo Jun once again began a lengthy explanation regarding the Heavenly Demon Sword while fumbling to pull something out of his chest.
“…”
Having received the full explanation from Dokgo Jun, Jegal Tak truly felt at a loss for words.
“So…, the Heavenly Demon Sword was possessed by a ghost, so you couldn’t bring it directly, and you received this instead?”
“…Yes.”
Jegal Tak took the document Dokgo Jun pulled out and read it.
It read…
“I declare in the name of the Green Forest General Stronghold Master that the ownership of the Heavenly Demon Sword belongs to the Murim Alliance.”
…It was a document containing those contents and stamped with the Green Forest General Stronghold Master’s Seal.
“…You paid 2,000 Gold Gwan and all you brought back is this single piece of paper?”
“…Actually, with the additional fee added, it’s 2400 Gwan…, keuheuk…”
Dokgo Jun was continuing his words when he witnessed Jegal Tak’s terrifying expression and immediately bowed his head.
Then he sobbed and shouted loudly.
“General Strategist-!! Please kill me for failing my mission-!!”
Since the deed was already done, he intended to appeal with tears at least.
Still, the General Strategist was surprisingly a benevolent person, so surely he would forgive…
“…Alright.”
“…Pardon?”
“…I will kill you as you wish.”
…There was no way he would forgive him.
Jegal Tak picked up his iron fan next to him and swung it straight at Dokgo Jun.
“You son of a bitch, you should have just died there. Why did you come all the way back here-!!”
“Aaaaaagh-!!”
Dokgo Jun barely managed to dodge the Attack, but his screams echoed in Anhui for a long time.