Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 244

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 244. Mud Puddle (8)
“There’s quite the mess here.”
Young Ho Gyeong, the head of the Law Enforcement Hall, exhaled heavily.
“This is unprecedented. Aside from the Previous Alliance Leader’s era, this is the first time the commander of the Inner City combat forces and thirty percent of the organization’s warriors have been summoned to the Law Enforcement Hall.”
“Is that so?”
Gu Wol’s face was as rigid as if carved from ice.
Young Ho Gyeong asked in a subtle tone.
“Did you perhaps receive any hints from above?”
“I came merely to deliver the Alliance Leader’s letter to the head of the Law Enforcement Hall.”
“Ah, of course you did.”
Young Ho Gyeong clicked his tongue.
‘Such a rigid person, truly.’
The Secret Law Court, the Alliance Leader’s direct organization, was quite substantial in scale.
Naturally, with that scale came considerable work—from the Alliance Leader’s personal errands to assisting with official business.
“Deputy Director.”
“Speak.”
“As you know, the atmosphere in the Martial Alliance has been quite turbulent lately.”
“….”
“The Elders of the Twenty-Eight Mansions each have different connections and different desires, don’t they? In the end, it’s only the subordinates who read the room that perish.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Young Ho Gyeong raised both hands in a calming gesture and stepped back.
“I have no particular intention. It’s simply that both you and I are people doing our best to ensure the Martial Alliance stands firm, aren’t we? There’s no real faction to speak of.”
“….”
“Well, there’s no faction, but there’s no need to abandon personal connections either. If you could spare some time soon, I’d like to buy you a drink of fine alcohol.”
Gu Wol, who had been staring at Young Ho Gyeong, made a light fist salute.
“Now that the errand is done, I’ll take my leave.”
“Please do.”
Watching Gu Wol’s figure recede rapidly, Young Ho Gyeong clicked his tongue.
“Such a rigid person. Even if he is directly under the Alliance Leader.”
In truth, the Law Enforcement Hall wasn’t entirely free from the Alliance Leader’s direct authority. In principle, it was certainly under the Alliance Leader’s direct command.
However, due to the nature of its duties, the position of head of the Law Enforcement Hall could never escape politics. Sometimes one had to read the room of those in power, and sometimes one had to act boldly according to conscience.
Young Ho Gyeong believed he worked in the most troublesome position in the Martial Alliance.
Since it didn’t suit his nature from the start, he hoped all the more to get through each day safely.
“Damn it, I knew something would blow up eventually, but not like this.”
Muttering, he unfolded the letter and read through it swiftly.
A moment later.
“…What?”
Young Ho Gyeong’s mouth fell open, and after rubbing his eyes several times, he read the letter again.
His face grew increasingly pale.
“To this extent?”
Young Ho Gyeong lifted his head and turned it toward the Alliance Leader’s Residence.
“…Alliance Leader. Why are you suddenly doing this?”
* * *
“You’ve arrived.”
Gu Wol bowed his head slightly.
“I’ve brought the Alliance Leader’s letter.”
“You’ve gone through trouble. Given your nature, seeing his face must have been quite the ordeal.”
At Gong Sun Baek’s words, Gu Wol’s brows furrowed.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Hmm? Nothing in particular. I just thought you might not care much for someone like Young Ho Gyeong.”
“….”
“Heh, don’t read too much into it.”
Gu Wol found Gong Sun Baek uncomfortable.
‘I can’t read what’s beneath the surface.’
He knew well how significant the Chief Military Officer of the Martial Alliance was.
Still, he found it difficult to like Gong Sun Baek.
“Ah, and have you heard?”
“…?”
“That young man Moyong Bi has been appointed as the Commander of the Secret Law Court.”
In that instant, Gu Wol’s eyes widened.
“Commander, you say?”
“Indeed.”
Gu Wol’s eyes narrowed.
‘Commander of the Secret Law Court.’
The position of Commander within the Secret Law Court was a special office.
Among the many duties handled within the Secret Law Court, it was a position that uniquely emphasized independence, and when necessary, granted the formidable authority to command up to ten warriors from any organization within the Alliance.
Remarkably, this authority had no restrictions save for the Elders of the Elder Council.
It was truly an absurd amount of power, but since the Secret Law Court was established by the leadership of the Alliance, headed by the Six Major Sects, no one could object.
Of course, those who organized the Secret Law Court and created this peculiar position called Commander had sinister intentions.
‘They believed a leader would emerge from their own sect.’
If an Alliance Leader arose from within their own sect, the power of the Secret Law Court would become the power of that sect.
Gu Wol could not understand that aspect.
‘Did they never consider that someone from another sect, not their own, would become Alliance Leader?’
Of course, they were not fools either, so they went through some adjustments.
One of these was the requirement that at least one member belonging to the Six Major Sects must be placed within the Secret Law Court.
It was a form of surveillance, but once an Alliance Leader emerged, it became meaningless. The Alliance Leader’s authority was far more formidable than expected, and should information from within the Secret Law Court ever leak to the outside, that person and their affiliated sect could be ruthlessly disciplined.
However, as the position of Alliance Leader remained vacant for a long time, they too ceased to concern themselves with the Secret Law Court or its Commander.
‘To be precise, they were confident that since an outsider had become Alliance Leader, they would wield no power whatsoever.’
It was impossible to tell whether they were clever or foolish.
And that incomprehensible thinking soon extended to the Alliance Leader and the Chief Military Officer as well.
“I heard that Moyong Bi is twenty years old now.”
“That’s right.”
“Recently, he’s earned a reputation under the nickname Northern Martial Dragon, and they say he’s reached the Rising Stars level, equal to the Four Dragons and Three Phoenixes.”
“That’s right.”
“Did he inherit the Previous Alliance Leader’s Martial Arts?”
Gong Sun Baek smiled.
“According to what the Alliance Leader told me, it seems he learned nearly all of the Moyong Family’s Martial Arts as they were.”
I see.
Gu Wol acknowledged that Moyong Bi was indeed exceptional. With talent comparable to the Four Dragons and Three Phoenixes and having inherited the Radiant Martial Sovereign’s Martial Arts, he was certainly worthy of praise.
But.
“An organization’s operations aren’t determined by Martial Arts alone.”
“I know.”
“Especially in the case of the Secret Law Court, the work is quite diverse.”
“However, that young man Moyong Bi only needs to handle his duties as the Secret Law Court Commander.”
“Even as the Secret Law Court Commander, he should at least have a basic understanding of the Secret Law Court’s organizational structure and overall operations.”
“Of course he would. That young man is sharp. It looks like he could memorize everything in less than half a day.”
Gu Wol’s eyes grew progressively darker.
“You should understand what I’m saying.”
The smile faded from Gong Sun Baek’s face as well.
“I do. That’s why I can’t understand you.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re loyal to the Alliance Leader, aren’t you?”
“Of course.”
“It’s not just because he’s your superior. You trust in the Alliance Leader’s abilities.”
“Naturally.”
“Then why ask such a question? I trust the Alliance Leader’s judgment just as much as you do.”
“…!”
“When the Alliance Leader said he would appoint Moyong Bi as the Secret Law Court Commander, I raised no objections. I was concerned, certainly, but I trusted the Alliance Leader’s judgment.”
“….”
“If you truly believe the Alliance Leader’s foresight is so lacking that he would place such an incompetent person in the position of Secret Law Court Commander, then reconsider your doubts now.”
Gu Wol, who had been staring intently at Gong Sun Baek, slowly clenched his fists.
“I shall take my leave.”
“You’ve worked hard. Ah! There’s one more thing I forgot to mention.”
“…?”
“There will be no formal appointment ceremony. This evening, I’ll come to report to you, so keep that in mind.”
Gu Wol bowed once more and turned to leave.
Left alone, Gong Sun Baek clicked his tongue.
“Without that rigidity, he could soar higher than anyone.”
Gu Wol, having left the Military Department, was about to head straight to the Secret Chamber when a sudden thought made him change direction toward the Alliance Leader’s Residence.
A moment later.
“Please.”
“Isn’t the Alliance Leader in the Grand Hall?”
“He’s in the Rear Garden.”
“I see.”
It was as I entered the Rear Garden through the side door.
Whoosh! Boom!
A fierce gust of wind swept through, and the air grew scorching hot.
“Huh, was it only this much?”
“Not yet.”
“That’s not the right time to say ‘not yet.'”
“It’s insufficient. The pinnacle is still far away.”
“Even if you were forty years old now, such words would be presumptuous. It’s not ‘not yet’—it’s ‘already.’ I never imagined your Martial Forms could be this formidable.”
One voice filled with admiration and another utterly indifferent tickled my ears.
“Are you satisfied now?”
“I’d like to have another round, but it seems we have a guest, so that won’t be possible.”
“Even without a guest, I wouldn’t spar.”
“Why?”
“There’s no point to it right now.”
“Hahahaha!”
The conversation was warmer than I expected.
As Gu Wol stepped into the Rear Garden, Meng Ha Sung raised his hand.
“You’ve come.”
Gu Wol dropped to one knee on the spot.
“Gu Wol, Vice Director of the Secret Law Court, greets the Alliance Leader.”
“Why kneel again so formally? Please, rise.”
Rising to his feet, Gu Wol gazed at the young man holding the spear.
‘Handsome.’
Whether man or woman, he rarely paid attention to others’ appearances, yet even he was momentarily taken aback by the young man’s striking beauty.
Especially his eyes were impressive. Clear and profound, yet radiating a conviction as solid as steel—eyes that seemed utterly unbecoming of someone his age.
“I was actually planning to summon you separately, but this works out well.”
Meng Ha Sung spoke to the young man, Moyong Bi.
“Introduce yourself. From now on, he’ll be your superior. Vice Director of the Secret Law Court, Gu Wol.”
Moyong Bi, who had been quietly observing Gu Wol’s face, slowly assumed a fist salute.
“I am Moyong Bi. I look forward to working with you.”
It was a greeting with nothing to add or remove.
Though somewhat austere, any more courtesy than this would have displeased someone of Gu Wol’s temperament.
“So you’re the Exploration Commander of our organization.”
“That is correct.”
Gu Wol, who had been studying Moyong Bi intently, was suddenly bewildered.
‘What is this?’
I lifted my head, and the light in Moyong Bi’s eyes as he gazed upon me was truly enigmatic.
Something distant and profound. It was a peculiar gleam—as though he felt warmth in seeing me, yet maintained a certain distance all the same.
It could not have been otherwise.
‘Gu Wol. So it is indeed Gu Wol.’
Moyong Bi had seen Gu Wol before.
Though we had never engaged in deep conversation, he could not fail to recognize me.
‘Gu Ja Woong’s nephew.’
Gu Ja Woong.
Once the commander of the First Division among the Dark Soul Six Divisions, and the mightiest warrior of the Dark Soul Squad.
Though he was merely the leader of a single combat unit, Gu Ja Woong was a master whose martial prowess approached that of the ten greatest experts of his era.
And it was I myself who had trained such a Gu Ja Woong.
‘He was so young then.’
The boy who had once feared me had now become a middle-aged man, appearing here before my eyes.
‘How mysterious the threads of fate truly are.’
Meng Ha Sung spoke.
“I told you to visit me formally this evening, but since we’ve encountered each other like this, there’s no harm in exchanging words now.”
“Ah, yes.”
“By the way, is there something else you wished to discuss with me?”
Gu Wol spoke with cautious demeanor, yet without concealment.
“I came seeking to ask about the appointment of the Tanbireongju.”
Meng Ha Sung glanced sideways at Moyong Bi.
Moyong Bi showed no displeasure whatsoever. Rather, he regarded Gu Wol with eyes of intrigue.
Thinking what a quick-witted fellow this was, Meng Ha Sung asked.
“So, what do you wish to know?”
“The position of Tanbireongju is a post that has never found an owner since the establishment of the Secret Law Court.”
“I am aware. I also know that Tanbireong, like the past Alliance Leader’s position, has long been merely an empty shell bearing a name.”
“I trust your judgment, Alliance Leader. Yet I was curious as to why you entrusted such a heavy responsibility to a young man of merely twenty years.”
“Is that so.”
He is a man without pretense. Especially toward his object of loyalty, the Alliance Leader.
Meng Ha Sung asked Moyong Bi.
“Your subordinate questions you thus—how do you respond? Will you prove your own qualifications?”
“How should I demonstrate this?”
“Figure it out yourself.”
“Hmm.”
Moyong Bi scratched his head, lost in thought.
After a moment.
“Vice-Alliance Leader.”
“….”
“Why did you live so… lifeless?”
Gu Wol’s brow furrowed.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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