Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 247

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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 247. Invasion (3)
Jong Mu Seok staggered backward frantically, his teeth clenched.
Psssht.
Pale smoke rose from his ribs where the fist had struck. He was using his Internal Power to neutralize the invading Energy Force.
‘That was close.’
Had I not immediately expelled the Energy Force with my Internal Energy, at least one rib would have shattered.
“You bastard!”
Moyong Bi spoke to Jong Mu Seok, who had raised his head.
“Is this treason?”
“What, what did you say?!”
No matter how hot-blooded Jong Mu Seok was, he couldn’t act unreasonably in the face of the word treason.
Moyong Bi spoke with a sneer.
“Indeed, an Elder of the Martial Alliance. Without using full strength, he won’t be easy to capture. Since it’s come to this, it’s better to frame him as something akin to treason.”
“Who do you think you are, spouting nonsense about treason and such?!”
Though he shouted indignantly, Jong Mu Seok was greatly alarmed.
Moyong Bi spoke to Young Ho Gyeong.
“Not quite treason? Attempting to apply external pressure to a matter the Alliance Leader directly ordered investigated—isn’t that grounds sufficient to remove him from his Elder position without even needing a hearing?”
Young Ho Gyeong was taken aback once more.
“That is… well…”
“Since we’re on the subject, why don’t you tell us what the Clan Leader said? What exactly did the Alliance Leader instruct?”
Young Ho Gyeong, who had been looking back and forth between Moyong Bi and Jong Mu Seok, soon hardened his expression and spoke.
“The Alliance Leader directly ordered an investigation into Ho Jeong Clan Leader O Gyeong Ha dispatching assassins against Tambi Ryeong-ju of the Secret Law Court.”
In that instant, Jong Mu Seok’s eyes widened.
‘Tambi Ryeong-ju?!’
I knew of the Secret Law Court. But what was Tambi Ryeong-ju? Where had I heard that title before?
“And?”
“…Furthermore, the Alliance Leader directly filed charges in his own name for not only failing to respect an organization member as a subordinate and treating them like an object, but for allowing unjustified assault resulting in severe injury.”
Jong Mu Seok’s mouth fell open.
“The, the Alliance Leader himself?!”
“Indeed.”
If the Martial Alliance Leader had not merely issued orders but personally filed charges, this was a matter no one dared touch.
Though it was said that a Martial Alliance Elder could make even birds fall from the sky, and many Elders actually had more solid connections and funds than the Martial Alliance Leader, they still could not openly obstruct the Alliance Leader’s affairs.
The reason was simple. The system would collapse.
Whether one liked it or not, the Martial Alliance Leader was the head of the Martial Alliance and the representative of the Orthodox Martial World. To attempt to apply external pressure to a matter such a person had formally ordered investigated and personally charged?
‘Damn it!’
Jong Mu Seok’s face, which had been flushed red with rage, turned deathly pale.
To begin with, the act of applying external pressure itself was improper. And if one interfered with a matter the Martial Alliance Leader had directly ordered, it was no different than openly raising a banner of rebellion.
This was the moment I understood why that young man had spoken of treason.
Moyong Bi opened his mouth.
“Did you also bring along that Third Squad Leader of the Ho Jeong Clan?”
“Indeed.”
“The commander of the Third Squad was destroyed by Tambi Ryeong-ju, yet there are no separate charges against him?”
“Of course, we must conduct an investigation through proper summons procedures, but based on the consistent testimonies of the witnesses, Tambi Ryeong-ju….”
Young Ho Gyeong, mid-sentence, was startled.
“Wait, could you possibly be Tambi Ryeong-ju?”
“Didn’t I mention being the head of a special organization directly under the Alliance Leader? I thought you would have understood by now?”
In this brief moment, I had no way of knowing how much my lifespan had been shortened.
Young Ho Gyeong hastily clasped his fists in salute.
“Law Enforcement Hall Master Young Ho Gyeong pays his respects to Tambi Ryeong-ju.”
The other’s age mattered not at all.
Though Tambi Ryeong-ju belonged to the Secret Law Court, in a certain sense, his authority exceeded even that of the Secret Law Court Master. If the other truly was Tambi Ryeong-ju, even the Law Enforcement Hall Master had to exercise absolute caution.
Moyong Bi spoke with a smile.
“It seems Master Yeong is well acquainted with the Tambi Command.”
“Y-yes, that is correct.”
“Then why do you bow your head? As I understand it, there is no hierarchical superiority between Tambi Ryeong-ju and the Law Enforcement Hall Master in principle.”
“That is… well, yes.”
Tambi Ryeong-ju is a special position appointed directly by the Alliance Leader.
Even if the Secret Law Court Master made a strong recommendation, if the Martial Alliance Leader refused, the position could never be filled. In other words, Tambi Ryeong-ju is a position that only the Martial Alliance Leader can select.
In essence, it is a position connected most closely to the Martial Alliance Leader, alongside the Secret Law Court Master. No one could help but bow before it.
The smile faded from Moyong Bi’s face, which grew cold once more.
“If you go about bowing and scraping so readily because the Alliance Leader appointed me directly, how will you properly handle the affairs of the Law Enforcement Hall?”
“…!”
“When you should come on strong, you hesitate and equivocate. You decide whether to bend your back based on who is closest to whom—how did such a person become the Law Enforcement Hall Master?”
Young Ho Gyeong straightened his posture immediately.
His expression was complicated. He understood what Moyong Bi meant, but the moments of reality that had suddenly descended upon him were all equally unbearable.
“I have come here as a witness, and as Tambi Ryeong-ju.”
“…I understand what you are saying.”
One of the two duties performed by the Tambi Command was precisely unrestricted internal investigation.
In other words, it meant monitoring whether the Law Enforcement Hall was functioning properly.
Moyong Bi looked toward Jong Mu Seok.
“Elder Jang Gu.”
“….”
“If you do not wish to be listed as a traitor, enter the Law Enforcement Hall directly.”
“What did you say?!”
“Did you not directly defy the Alliance Leader’s orders?”
Jong Mu Seok was flustered.
“I-I knew nothing of this!”
“Ah, so you committed an act in ignorance?”
“Yes!”
“That statement itself constitutes an admission that you applied external pressure on the Law Enforcement Hall Master.”
“…?!”
“External pressure is the root of all corruption. For a Martial Alliance Elder to directly apply pressure to the head of the Law Enforcement Hall violates the Alliance’s regulations.”
Moyong Bi gestured with his chin toward the Law Enforcement Hall building.
“Enter.”
“….”
“If you wish to see this through with me, then do so.”
Jong Mu Seok’s pallid face flushed with color once more.
“It is not external pressure. I merely heard that the Law Enforcement Hall’s handling of this matter was unjust, and I came to correct it.”
“If the Law Enforcement Hall’s handling is unjust, that should be reported to the Inspection Organization—it is not a matter for an Elder to come and voice opinions about directly.”
“…!”
“Elder Jong, you are an elder of the Martial Alliance, yet you know nothing of the Alliance’s regulations? The words and actions of superiors can loosen an organization’s cohesion, and you did not even know that systematic handling of affairs is the foremost virtue of the Alliance’s leadership?”
“This…!”
“Furthermore, you just said you ‘heard’ that the Law Enforcement Hall’s handling was improper. If the information was compelling enough to move a Martial Alliance Elder of all people, it must have come from a credible source. I should investigate where exactly you obtained such information.”
In that instant, Jong Mu Seok’s complexion turned ashen.
This young punk was now saying he would investigate not only him, but also the extent of his backing.
‘This madman!’
In a brief moment, he had made far too many verbal missteps.
Of course, even if they investigated, there would be nothing problematic to find. The power of the Martial Alliance Elders was strong enough to pressure the Alliance Leader, and few knew that factions had already divided externally.
The problem was that his opponent was the head of an organization directly appointed by the Martial Alliance Leader himself.
Moyong Bi, who had been watching Jong Mu Seok quietly, asked Young Ho Gyeong.
“It seems the criminal has no intention of entering of his own accord. In such cases, how does the Law Enforcement Hall typically proceed?”
Young Ho Gyeong’s face was clouded with embarrassment.
‘Damn it!’
Moyong Bi’s words were essentially asking directly which side he would take—the Alliance Leader’s faction or the Elders’ faction.
‘Why is this happening to me?!’
Unfortunately, there was no time for deliberation now.
The moment a decision is made, sides are drawn. But any fool would know what judgment to render in this situation.
Young Ho Gyeong sighed and withdrew a small whistle from his robes, blowing it.
Shrill.
A sharp sound pierced through the area.
Moments later, dozens of warriors poured from the building—the Law Enforcement Hall’s Arrest Squad.
Moyong Bi spoke with a smile.
“Will you enter of your own volition? Or will you be taken into custody?”
Jong Mu Seok clenched his teeth and spoke.
He understood instinctively that there was no way out of this quagmire now.
“…Grant me one day’s time.”
After much deliberation, that was all he could say.
Both Moyong Bi and even Young Ho Gyeong stared at him as if bewildered.
“Who grants time to someone whose crimes are clear? They should be arrested immediately, if only due to flight risk. Do you understand that I am merely allowing you to preserve your dignity as an Elder?”
“Flight risk? I am an Elder of the Martial Alliance! I will not flee anywhere!”
“You can’t read the situation at all.”
Uuuuuuung!
Terrifying power began to gather in the Sealed Demon Divine Spear.
The earlier exchange of hands had been merely a warm-up—Moyong Bi’s Energy Wave transcended imagination.
“Let’s get arrested then. Let’s see just how far the reputation of the Brilliant Dragon Saber falls.”
“You!”
My hand moved instinctively to the saber as rage surged through me.
But I couldn’t draw it. Even if I didn’t know the full situation, if my opponent was the leader of a special organization under the Secret Law Court, drawing my blade would constitute outright treason.
‘Damn bastard! That’s why he never revealed his actual position!’
The situation had unfolded, and a decision had to be made.
Jong Mu Seok, who had been grinding his teeth, withdrew his hand from the sword.
“Step aside! I will enter on my own two feet!”
Young Ho Gyeong and the members of the Arrest Squad were equally taken aback.
Given the circumstances, they had half-expected it, but they never imagined a Martial Alliance Elder would actually walk into the Law Enforcement Hall of his own volition.
Whoosh!
Moyong Bi, having concealed his Infinite True Qi, slung the Sealed Demon Divine Spear back over his shoulder.
“A wise decision.”
Jong Mu Seok, brushing past Moyong Bi roughly, spoke with trembling cheeks.
“I will never forget today’s humiliation.”
Moyong Bi replied with an indifferent expression.
“You commit all the wrongs yourself, yet play the victim—shameless indeed. Are all the Alliance’s Elders this brazen?”
“You!”
Puff-puff-puff!
Jong Mu Seok’s eyes went wide.
‘What, what is this?!’
His mouth suddenly sealed shut, and his entire body stiffened as if paralyzed.
That wasn’t all. His Dantian felt as though bound by iron chains—he couldn’t circulate his Internal Energy at all.
‘Paralysis Points!’
With his back turned, he hadn’t even sensed the wind of the strike coming, let alone dodged it.
Stiffened, Jong Mu Seok toppled forward.
‘What is this! Release it at once!’
As if reading his thoughts, Moyong Bi spoke with a smile.
“It seems you have little interest in the Alliance’s regulations, so allow me to explain. Due to the nature of the Law Enforcement Hall’s environment, many rough individuals enter—which is why nearly all witnesses, suspects, and criminals must have their Internal Energy sealed before entry.”
“…!!”
“I struck your Paralysis Points specifically because a master of your caliber could still contend with ordinary masters even without Internal Energy. If the purpose of sealing is to prevent disturbances, then greater constraints must be imposed on the strong—that is only just.”
Jong Mu Seok’s face flushed so deeply it seemed blood might seep from his skin at any moment.
Moyong Bi spoke to Young Ho Gyeong.
“I’ve wrapped the package. Deliver it.”
Young Ho Gyeong exhaled deeply and said.
“Escort the Elder.”

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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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