I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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13.

At those words, Hwan’s gaze turned toward Heo Seop.

The Jinseol mine referred to the Baekun-ok Mine. ‘Baekun-ok’ was a clear and hard mineral that could deal the greatest physical damage to the thick hide of demons.

Since Yin Stones were excessively expensive and had many places where they needed to be utilized, most civilian weapons or consumable weapons were made from Baekun-ok.

Among them, the Baekun-ok Mine in Jinseol was a place where excellent quality Baekun-ok was extracted and even supplied to the Imperial Court.

But such a magnificent mine…

“You said it was reclaimed.”

Reclaimed, not purchased. When Hwan immediately pointed out that issue and asked, Heo Seop bowed his head again and answered.

“I was a bit late in finding out about him. Please forgive me. According to the information, the Jinseol mine was already sold 10 years ago. Upon investigation, it seems the former mine owner Shin Nam-hyeop sold the ownership rights due to gambling debts. That ownership appears to have passed to Master Kang’s family through some incident.”

“Then why has Shin Nam-hyeop continued to act as the mine owner?”

“That was apparently the contract condition. He was to act as the mine owner until the rightful owner appeared to reclaim it, but it seems someone else was actually operating the mine. We predict that person purchased the mine’s ownership and transferred it to Master Kang’s family.”

Someone else. Hwan’s expression became subtle at this unexpected situation.

“Who is that?”

“I apologize. We couldn’t find out that much.”

When Heo Seop bowed his head again to ask for forgiveness, Hwan stared at him intently. Couldn’t find out, he said. His subordinates rarely gave him disappointing answers. So the fact that they brought such an answer meant that whoever had been purchasing and operating the mine had truly succeeded in thoroughly concealing their identity. Even evading the eyes of the Imperial Palace.

“Also, Master Kang’s family moved their residence to the grand mansion in Central Capital today.”

It was natural to move residences after reclaiming their wealth. However, all of this happening right after becoming a phoenix candidate was artificial. Perhaps there was someone sponsoring Seon-o.

“Find out if there’s a sponsor.”

When Hwan quietly gave the order, Heo Seop bowed to accept the command. Just then, an urgent voice came from outside the door.

“Sect Leader.”

“Come in.”

Then another subordinate entered. Hwan’s gaze fixed on him. Hwan had people monitor each candidate’s movements, and the subordinate who just entered his room was the one overseeing that mission.

His face, which rarely showed panic, was flushed bright red.

“Candidate Kang Seon-o has requested to meet with you, Sect Leader…!”

Hwan’s gaze stopped at this unexpected report.

This was something he had never calculated. Hwan soon put down his documents and calmly waited for his subordinate’s explanation.

“As ordered, we secretly assigned someone to Candidate Kang Seon-o as well, but somehow it seems she noticed our surveillance.

At this, Hwan’s eyebrows moved subtly even as he maintained his composure despite the bewildering news. She noticed the surveillance of a Yawol Sect superhuman?

“She found our disguised member and said she had something to tell the Sect Leader of Yawolbang and wished to meet. She said she hoped to meet as soon as possible.”

The gazes of the two subordinates, who couldn’t help but be flustered by this impossible situation, turned toward their lord. Hwan fell into thought for a moment.

Even after the competition began, Seon-o hadn’t left her house for a whole week. Except for Gi-rim and Seon-o, the other candidates were already running around everywhere from the very next day, looking for ways to break the Yin Stone. Of course, most candidates were just loitering around blacksmith shops that disassembled Yin Stones.

Yet after doing nothing for a whole week, she suddenly said she had something to tell him.

‘Could she have known I was watching the Demon Beast Cave?’

But that couldn’t be. At that time, Seon-o hadn’t noticed his presence.

Hwan pushed away all the chaotic thoughts and stood up from his seat. Seon-o continued to show moves that bewildered him, and as Hwan, there was no reason to refuse a meeting with such a special being.

“Bring her here.”

* * *

Seon-o, who boarded the Ghost Carriage sent by Yawolbang, arrived at their fortress, Yaweol Palace, in just a couple of hours.

The palace located on a cliff deep in the mountain valley, from which one could never escape without the help of a Ghost Carriage, seemed as if it was floating in the sky. Several separate pavilions were built on multiple crystal-like extending cliffs, surrounded by lush black plum blossom trees.

‘The never-wilting black plum blossoms bloomed by a Wood Power superhuman, was it? They’re prettier than I imagined.’

The scenery visible through the window was breathtakingly beautiful. The surreal landscape, like a game illustration, must have cost an enormous amount of money.

‘Indeed, worthy of being called Yin Stone wealthy.’

However, even that beautiful scenery couldn’t stir any emotion in Seon-o’s heart right now. Since a week had passed, only eight days remained.

Getting off the carriage, Seon-o followed the guidance of the members whose faces were all covered and entered the reception room inside the palace. The man who had been sitting there waiting for her from the beginning slowly raised his head to look at Seon-o entering.

“…”

Seon-o also stopped at the doorway and faced the man who exuded a strange sense of intimidation. Behind the man, golden embroidery glowed softly against the black wall. That gorgeous yet ascetic space combined with the man’s bewitching beauty to create a magnificent scene.

Looking at that handsome man, Seon-o unconsciously frowned.

It was a face that wasn’t unfamiliar.

Soon, when Hwan opened his mouth, Seon-o recalled where she had seen him.

“I heard you have something to tell me.”

He was the man who had almost been robbed instead of her at the inn she stopped by on the way to conquering the Demon Beast Cave.

At the same time, Seon-o realized that the owner of the Golden Ghost Carriage that had passed by him was none other than this man. Because the man before him was Hwan, the sect leader of Yawolbang, and the one and only Golden Ghost Carriage on the Continent belonged to him.

‘No wonder he was excessively handsome. They say even enemies can’t help but admire Hwan’s beauty.’

The fact that he had already met Hwan before was surprising, but it wasn’t important now. Seon-o swallowed his surprise and bowed properly.

“My name is Kang Seon-o. I have something urgent to discuss with you, so I made this unreasonable request. Thank you for allowing this meeting.”

Hwan was an important part of Seon-o’s plan. For that plan, Seon-o had endured attempting to speak to the Yawolbang Superhuman who was monitoring him in disguise. Since even in the original work, Yawolbang’s Superhumans had been caught following On Gang around, it wasn’t difficult to notice their presence.

However, from now on, events that never existed in the original work were about to unfold.

“Please sit.”

When Hwan spoke softly, Seon-o took a seat in front of him. Then, hiding his nervousness, he met Hwan’s eyes directly.

‘Actually, I didn’t think Hwan would accept this proposal.’

In the novel, Hwan didn’t appear many times, but each time he gave off an unknowable sense of intimidation and a rather difficult impression. Therefore, Seon-o had half given up on this plan, but since an unexpected opportunity had come, he couldn’t let it slip away.

“I have a proposal for you.”

Then Hwan gazed steadily at Seon-o. Seon-o set down the wrapping cloth he had brought. The heavy object inside the wrapping cloth made a clinking sound. Hwan’s gaze slowly lowered.

“What is this?”

“All the Yin Stones I possess. This is all I can offer you right now.”

At those words, Hwan’s head tilted slightly. His face showed not the slightest bit of interest.

“I will use this as collateral.”

“Collateral? Collateral for what?”

“If you help me, you will gain something much greater.”

Only then did interest appear in Hwan’s eyes. Help me. That must be the reason Seon-o had sought him out.

Despite coming to ask for help, Seon-o showed no signs of being intimidated or hesitant as he looked directly at Hwan and spoke.

“Please help me.”

At those confident words, a faint pleasure passed through Hwan’s throat. It was the same tickling pleasure he had felt when witnessing Seon-o conquer the Demon Beast Cave.

It was a stimulus that was hard to forget, but this much wasn’t enough. He couldn’t respect and serve a master based on just this level of emotion.

If this person were to become a phoenix,

Hwan looked at Seon-o with deepened eyes and opened his mouth.

“What do you want?”

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