Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 252

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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 252. Cracks (2)
Young Ho Gyeong questioned Moyong Bi as he emerged from the Interrogation Chamber.
“What happened?”
“He confessed to all charges.”
Young Ho Gyeong glanced at his sleeve.
The darkened bloodstain was quite substantial.
“…I’m not sure if you’re aware, but torture during interrogation is illegal. Unless your authority to interrogate has been revoked.”
“Let’s say it has been.”
Young Ho Gyeong truly couldn’t comprehend it.
‘At times he clings to principles so rigidly it’s frustrating, yet other times he rejects them in the most peculiar ways.’
In short, he was utterly unpredictable.
‘And yet why…?’
Unpredictable though he was, there was no sense of recklessness about him.
On the surface, it appeared reckless. Yet strangely, it inspired confidence.
Not because he refused to bow to authority, nor because he was unmoved by power itself.
‘The reason the organization was born.’
Moyong Bi’s words echoed in his mind.
‘The scope is simple. When one recalls the reason the organization was born, its very origin, even unconventional flexibility in approach will not cause the organization to crumble.’
Young Ho Gyeong fell into contemplation.
‘Elder Jong Mu Seok’s crimes are crystal clear. Even if his guilt is already certain, it is the Law Enforcement Hall’s duty to obtain explicit testimony before rendering judgment. If everyone already knows the crimes he committed, then the method of interrogation becomes irrelevant.’
It was a dangerous approach. Should even one shred of evidence emerge proving this man innocent, the backlash would be unimaginable.
‘Which is precisely why such methods should never be employed carelessly. Conversely stated… when the moment demands it, one must not hesitate.’
To move freely between such unconventional acts and principles required a clear conviction, a sharp mind, and unwavering moral judgment.
In other words, what made him remarkable was not the act itself, but the clear distinction he maintained.
“What of the O Ha Gyeong matter?”
“He confessed as well. The man was far more cowardly than I expected.”
“He’s no schemer, yet he gorged himself on a position beyond his station. Such men are typically cowards.”
Moyong Bi shrugged his shoulders.
“Everything’s settled. I don’t seem to be needed as a witness anymore. Does the Clan Leader have anything else to investigate regarding this man?”
“No.”
“Then may I leave?”
“Before that.”
Young Ho Gyeong glanced toward the Interrogation Chamber.
“Elder Jong Mu Seok—what is his physical condition?”
“Poor, naturally.”
“….”
“Still, there should be no serious health complications. I extracted about five teeth, and I applied hemostasis after each extraction, so there was no excessive bleeding.”
Young Ho Gyeong felt his spirit deflate.
“Five teeth?”
“Perhaps he truly does have anger management issues. When I threatened to gouge out both his eyes in frustration, he became remarkably obedient—it seems more like a habit than anything else.”
“….”
“Ah, and regarding the Internal Energy seal—only I can release it, or a Master of the Trembling Heaven Twenty-Two Strength level can break the acupoints. Take note of that.”
Trembling Heaven Twenty-Two Strength.
Excluding the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven of the current era, they were considered the strongest Masters, and aside from Heaven Beyond Heaven, they were regarded as the most powerful in the Martial World.
“Should the moment come when the acupoints must be broken, either summon me or inform the Alliance Leader.”
“…I understand.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
As Moyong Bi departed from the Law Enforcement Hall without hesitation, his receding figure radiated boundless freedom.
‘Truly….’
These past two days felt like living in the eye of a tempest.
And the moment Moyong Bi vanished from sight.
Young Ho Gyeong understood.
‘Has the true moment of choice truly arrived?’
Until now, I had lived a life others envied.
While not quite continuous success, I had earned recognition for my abilities and risen to the position of Law Enforcement Hall Director.
Truthfully, I had never desired to become the head of the Law Enforcement Hall. I had never harbored great ambitions for power. My dream was to live a moderately happy life and die peacefully—not to become some great figure whose words determined the life and death of countless people.
‘Perhaps they appointed me as Director precisely because I lack such ambition.’
I was aware of that. In terms of pure ability, I was not the right talent to lead the Law Enforcement Hall.
‘Regardless, I must truly make a choice now.’
Moyong Bi is the Tambi Ryeong-ju.
The Tambi Ryeong-ju of the Secret Law Court can launch surprise investigations into any organization within the Alliance once the Alliance Leader grants permission.
In other words, Moyong Bi had just conducted an investigation of the Law Enforcement Hall. Even getting captured in the process.
Young Ho Gyeong’s expression grew increasingly grave.
‘This is not the time to concern myself with power or survival.’
This was the moment I had to become a true Law Enforcement Hall Director.
If I could not bear this responsibility, I should step down now. That would be the right choice.
‘If I do step down… I might die without anyone knowing.’
Though Moyong Bi had conducted the interrogation, I was still the head of the Law Enforcement Hall.
A Martial Alliance Elder was captured and tortured on my watch. Once the Elders of Jong Mu Seok’s faction learn of this, they will not leave me be.
Even if they cannot kill me, I will spend my life walking on eggshells.
‘I do not wish to die, but neither do I wish to live constantly looking over my shoulder.’
Young Ho Gyeong closed his eyes.
“…Can one truly escape the wind that blows across a barren wasteland?”
* * *
On the path to my residence.
Somehow knowing, Gu Wol stood with his back against a rather large tree beside the road.
Moyong Bi cupped his fists in salute.
“I greet the Deputy Director.”
Gu Wol, who had been watching him with arms crossed, pushed off from the tree.
“To understand why the position of Director in the Secret Law Court remains vacant, one must first grasp the unique position of the Secret Law Court itself.”
Moyong Bi’s eyes gleamed with light.
The fact that he brought up the Secret Law Court first meant he was pleased with how I had handled matters.
The two of us naturally fell into step beside each other.
“The Secret Law Court is the most expansive organization under the Alliance Leader’s direct command. And with that scale comes proportional authority. It couldn’t be otherwise—the organization was founded by the Six Major Sects themselves.”
“….”
“But before the current Alliance Leader took office, there was a gap of a full fifteen years. The Secret Law Court wasn’t forgotten, but it’s true that the Six Major Sects’ interest waned considerably.”
The Secret Law Court was indeed a formidable organization, but it was one that required a master to serve in order to function properly.
Naturally, with the position of Alliance Leader vacant, the Secret Law Court couldn’t operate as it should. Until Meng Ha Sung assumed the position of Alliance Leader, the organization’s membership never exceeded ten.
“Even after the Alliance Leader took office, they showed no interest in the Secret Law Court. Since the organization itself wasn’t functioning properly, it was natural for it to fade from memory. Besides, the one who rose to Alliance Leader was the Fist King, someone far removed from politics, so they probably didn’t think it would become a major problem.”
The Fist King, Meng Ha Sung.
One of the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven of the current era, and among the top three in the Martial World when it came to unarmed combat—an absolute master of supreme skill.
“But even without interest, they know of the Secret Law Court’s existence. While they might think it poses no real threat, the probability that they’re always prepared for it is quite high.”
“I see.”
“If you were part of the Secret Law Court—or rather, if you were the Alliance Leader, how would you operate it?”
Moyong Bi nodded and spoke.
“I would leave the position of Director vacant.”
“Why?”
“The Director’s position holds the greatest power among all organizations under the Alliance Leader’s direct command. In other words, it’s the position most vulnerable to attack under an Alliance Leader without a political foundation.”
Gu Wol’s eyes sparkled.
“And?”
“But I wouldn’t leave the position vacant for that reason alone. The key is that the Secret Law Court must not intimidate the leadership of the Six Major Sects and others, while simultaneously conveying the impression that the Alliance Leader’s blade remains sharp.”
“….”
“If the position of leader in an organization under the Alliance Leader’s direct command is vacant, it means the Alliance Leader could assume that role himself. In other words, there’s a need to leave room for the possibility that if no suitable talent emerges for this position, he can directly seize and wield the power of the Secret Law Court.”
A hint of admiration flickered across Gu Wol’s typically expressionless face.
“You saw that far?”
“I simply thought about it. Why the position of leader in such an important organization has remained vacant all this time. Once I eliminated all the unnecessary assumptions, only a few reasons remained.”
“Still, it’s not easy to deduce that far.”
“What gave me the key was the Alliance Leader’s attitude itself.”
“Attitude?”
“You appointed me to the position of Tambi Commander, didn’t you? Of course, it was to use me, but the Alliance Leader is someone who takes care of his own people thoroughly.”
Moyong Bi smiled and looked up at the sky.
The image of Meng Ha Sung in his younger days came to mind. A far more passionate version of himself then, a vessel broad enough to be ready to learn everything the world had to offer.
“I simply thought—if things go wrong, he could even seize the Director’s position himself. For the sake of his loyal organization.”
“….”
“Of course, he could also prevent the prestigious families of the Martial World from treating him carelessly, as both Director and Alliance Leader.”
Gu Wol couldn’t help but acknowledge it.
‘He’s not just intelligent. This man reads people well.’
In this brutal Martial World, there was no ability more important than the judgment to read people accurately.
The Martial World is a place where even those with strong martial arts can die without anyone knowing if they lack intellect and discernment. Conversely, those with sharp intuition and quick analysis can survive somehow, even with weak martial arts.
Moyong Bi possessed both of these strengths.
‘Now I understand why the Alliance Leader appointed this inexperienced fellow to the position of Tambi Ryeong-ju.’
He lacked experience working within the Martial Alliance’s subordinate organizations, but his worldly experience was abundant enough to overflow.
That made it all the more remarkable, and precisely why I had no choice but to acknowledge him.
“The Tambi Command carries out two types of operations. You’re aware of them, aren’t you?”
“Unannounced surprise investigations without prior notice, and covert operations as a special task force.”
“Your investigative capabilities are quite well-developed. Well, considering how you handled that Martial Alliance Elder, it would be difficult to do better than that.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“But your abilities as a covert operations unit are another matter entirely. Have you received any formal training in covert operations?”
“I’ve never received formal training.”
Gu Wol’s lips curved upward.
“It sounds like you’re saying you’ve never been trained, but you know how to do it anyway?”
“Give me one assignment, just like this time.”
“I’m not the one who assigns those missions. If the Alliance Leader deems it necessary, he will give the order then.”
“Then it seems I’m only half-acknowledged by the Deputy Commander.”
Gu Wol had already recognized Moyong Bi as the Tambi Ryeong-ju. But he deliberately refrained from revealing that sentiment.
“Due to the Tambi Command’s organizational nature, aside from the Alliance Leader and the Elders, anyone within the Alliance can be taken as a subordinate if the number is ten or fewer. That’s quite an extraordinary privilege.”
“I’m aware.”
“But that authority excludes formal organization members. There’s no limit on the number of formal members.”
“So far, there hasn’t been a single one?”
“The Tambi Ryeong-ju itself is the first. There are no organizational rules unique to the Tambi Command yet.”
Moyong Bi let out a soft laugh.
“So it depends on what I make of it?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ll be clashing with the Deputy Commander quite a bit then.”
“Judging by your temperament, I’m afraid that’s likely to happen.”
“That’s fine. Men grow through conflict, don’t they?”
“My age is too advanced for that.”
I’m older than you, damn it.
“It seems there won’t be any covert operations for a while. But you, you’re not one to rest easy. Having turned the Elder Council upside down like that, the time will soon come when you must step forward again.”
“I expect so.”
It was then.
“Deputy Commander.”
Someone who had been rushing over from a distance using lightness martial arts dropped to one knee before Gu Wol.
“Intelligence report. Elder Jeon Chil Sung of the Elder Council has convened an Elder Assembly.”
Gu Wol’s eyes widened.
“What’s the agenda?”
“The revocation of Elder Jong Mu Seok’s Elder authority.”
A peculiar light flickered across Moyong Bi’s face.
“Cutting off the tail.”

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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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