I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 60

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

60.

Like Hwan, he also had his hair tied up in a single round topknot, secured with something as ornate as a small crown. From there down to his pure white long robe that was white as snow. All of it created a luxurious atmosphere that was different from Hwan’s elegant and dignified presence.

Moreover, perhaps because the place where I encountered him again was a Monster Fighter’s mansion, he seemed to give off the feeling of a cruel aristocrat who enjoyed cruelty with a smiling face.

I had already thought since Maehwagak that he couldn’t possibly be just a wandering demon hunter, but seeing him properly dressed up made his identity even more suspicious.

What was even more suspicious was that unlike me, Sa-baek’s face showed no sign of confusion whatsoever.

‘Did he know I would come here? No, even if that were true, how? Wait, what on earth…?’

Absurd questions filled my head so much that I almost forgot the reason I had come here.

At that moment, Wang Ho-bang, who had succeeded in arranging the meeting as he intended, stood up with an excited face.

“First, I would like to express my gratitude to the three of you who have shown great interest in our monster fighting business.”

His eyes gleamed greedily with the determination not to let these noble guests slip away.

“Now then, let me introduce each of the distinguished guests here one by one.”

Only then did Seon-o remember his duty and managed his expression. Wang Ho-bang’s respectful hand gestured toward Hwan first.

“This gentleman here is Master Jin Geon-hwan, a magnate in the southern mining industry. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he controls all the mines in the southern region. And this beautiful lady beside him is Master Jin’s wife. They are the most beautiful couple I have ever seen.”

At those words, Sa-baek’s gaze paused for a moment.

“Ah.”

Then he immediately smiled clearly and said.

“So you’re a married couple.”

At that murmur that sounded like some kind of realization, Seon-o’s heart skipped a beat. Sa-baek clearly knew both that Seon-o and Hwan weren’t really married and that they were pretending to be a couple for some reason.

Unlike Seon-o, Hwan, who couldn’t know Sa-baek’s inner thoughts, asked leisurely.

“Don’t we look like a married couple at first glance?”

In the question that carried a hint of laughter, there was wariness toward Sa-baek. It also contained mockery, as if asking whether he needed an explanation to know that Seon-o and he were married, as if it were absurd.

Only then did Sa-baek’s gaze turn toward Hwan. He met Hwan’s calm stare for a moment, then smiled brightly.

“Relationships between men and women can’t be easily determined, after all.”

His voice was so polite and cheerful that there was no room to find fault with it. However, sensing the subtlety contained within it, coldness swirled in Hwan’s eyes.

Becoming anxious at the sudden tension between the two men, Seon-o couldn’t hold back and stepped in.

“Won’t you introduce who this young master is?”

Even in the midst of this, when Seon-o asked gently like an elegant lady, a quiet smile spread across Sa-baek’s lips. When Seon-o noticed that smile and glared at Sa-baek without showing it, Sa-baek raised his eyebrows in response.

Wang Ho-bang’s hand now gestured toward Sa-baek.

“Of course I should introduce him. This young master here is the third son of the famous Baek Family.”

At those words, both Hwan and Seon-o’s expressions became strange simultaneously.

‘Baek Family?’

For Seon-o, who couldn’t know all the famous figures of this world in detail, there was only one Baek Family that came to mind. Hwan voiced Seon-o’s question aloud.

“You mean the Imperial Family?”

At that dry joke, Wang Ho-bang was startled and waved his hands frantically.

“Ahaha, oh my! That could have caused a misunderstanding! Of course, our business is very interesting enough to catch the attention of the Imperial Family, but the family I mentioned is the Baek Family of Dobukcheon, famous for demon hunting.”

At those words, Hwan also let out a chuckle.

He had known from the beginning that Wang Ho-bang was referring to the Baek Family of Dobukcheon. The Baek Family in Dobukcheon was indeed a place with a high reputation for demon hunting, as Wang Ho-bang said. Of course, the problem was that they would stop at nothing to build that reputation and were arrogant enough to threaten even fellow superhumans.

Moreover…

“As far as I know, that house only has two grown sons who are married and three daughters. I haven’t heard of having another son as handsome as this.”

Hwan leisurely tilted his head and stared at Sa-baek with penetrating eyes. Sa-baek, wearing a gentle smile, didn’t avoid his gaze at all and exclaimed playfully.

“Ah.”

Sa-baek smiled brightly.

“I’m an illegitimate son born from a gisaeng.”

At that innocent answer, a cold silence fell over the dining table. Seon-o opened his lips with a face that half-disbelieved and half-doubted his words, while Hwan stared intently at Sa-baek with a face that didn’t seem to believe his words at all.

Wang Ho-bang hastily tried to salvage the situation.

“Nevertheless! Our young master Baek-ryu has proven his outstanding abilities and earned recognition as a rightful member of the Baek Family by fulfilling his duties.”

‘Young master Baek-ryu…’

To use the same name he told me, Seon-o’s suspicion deepened even more. There were only two reasons why Baek-ryu could be so confident. Either his identity really was this person called Baek-ryu from Dobukcheon, or everything had been a lie from the beginning.

Of course, it would be the latter.

“So this is how such a perfect opportunity came to be arranged. If it wouldn’t be presumptuous, would it be alright to publicly reveal the parts where you two gentlemen have agreed to invest in our business?”

Wang Ho-bang brought up the main topic even before the meal. When Hwan and Sa-baek silently agreed, he excitedly opened his mouth.

“Well, first let me express my gratitude to you two gentlemen for making such a proposal. Ah, and to our beautiful lady as well.”

Seon-o forced a smile in response to his shameless flattery.

“Then, without dragging out unnecessary words, let me speak directly. Master Jin here has made a proposal to invest the full amount for the hosting fees of the upcoming Monster Fighting competitions.”

Wang Ho-bang clapped his hands in overwhelming excitement. This was an extraordinary proposal for Wang Ho-bang, who wanted to travel across the Entire Continent holding Monster Fighting competitions. The costs of scouting or setting up venues each time and transporting demons and supplies there were considerable.

So Wang Ho-bang had been contemplating whether he should only hold competitions in the North Sea from now on, but that would carry a high risk of being discovered. Therefore, Hwan’s proposal at this time was something he couldn’t refuse.

When Sa-baek raised his eyebrows and smiled as if it was quite a good investment, Hwan stared intently at that smile.

“Now, let me reveal Young Master Baek’s proposal. Our Young Master Baek has promised to supply at least four mid-to-high grade demons for every competition! He has already provided two demons for tomorrow’s Monster Fighting competition!”

This time Hwan’s eyebrows rose leisurely. Sa-baek’s proposal was also extraordinary. Mid-to-high grade demons were very dangerous, and most Superhumans couldn’t capture them alive. Due to the nature of Monster Fighting competitions, the more dangerous demons that appeared, the more popular they became, so if such demons were supplied for every competition, Wang Ho-bang had no reason to refuse.

It was indeed a proposal worthy of the Baek Family, famous for Demon Hunting. If things went well, this opportunity might connect not only this bastard son but even the main family.

Therefore, Bang Gwang-chun was desperate to hold onto these two noble guests, and thus came to the conclusion of arranging a direct meeting with the protagonists of these extraordinary proposals. It was certain that the investors’ resolve to invest would become even firmer after hearing each other’s proposals.

However, somehow the atmosphere seemed to be flowing a bit differently from his expectations. It was because the relationship between the two men wasn’t very harmonious.

‘What’s with these guys? Why are they having a pointless war of nerves?’

As Wang Ho-bang waited for the noble guests’ reactions with slightly anxious eyes, Hwan smoothly turned to look at Seon-o.

“What do you think, Mother?”

At those words, Seon-o, who had been continuously trying to gauge Sa-baek’s identity, looked at Hwan in surprise. Hwan was waiting for Seon-o’s answer with the kind of affectionate gaze one would give to a beloved wife.

Seon-o took a moment to catch his breath and smiled properly.

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