Return of the Sword Emperor - Chapter 6

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

Chapter 3: A Twisted Future (1)

Late into the night, Hyuk Ryeon-su slammed the door shut with an irritable snap, tearing open his robe as curses tumbled from his lips.

“Damn it! These numbskulls are nothing but rotted brains!”

He seized the kettle from the table and drained it in one desperate gulp, yet the seething rage coiling in his chest refused to subside.
Crash!
He hurled the emptied vessel to the floor with brutal force, and it shattered into a hundred glittering shards.

“Perhaps it’s time you composed yourself, sir.”

Jong-gak’s voice emerged from the darkness.

“Huh?”

Hyuk Ryeon-su’s eyes flew open, startled half out of his skin.

“How—how long have you been standing there?”
“About half an hour, I’d wager. You’re later than usual, I must say.”
“Man, if you were waiting, couldn’t you have made some noise?”

Embarrassment crossed Hyuk Ryeon-su’s face, drawing a sigh from Jong-gak.

“You’re a Dan-ju who can perceive an ant’s movements a hundred paces away. What on earth happened to distract you so completely that you missed someone standing at arm’s length?”
“Well, that is… I…”
“The council meeting didn’t go well, I take it.”

Hyuk Ryeon-su nodded weakly.

“Does this concern the Mil-geom-dan?”

Jong-gak asked carefully.

“Yes. In ten days, we’re to join the Prisoner Escort Procession heading to Chamhoe Prison.”
“What? But prisoner transport—that’s the External Guard’s responsibility, isn’t it?”

Jong-gak’s expression twisted in disbelief.

“I know. Everyone at that meeting knows it too. That’s the whole problem.”

Hyuk Ryeon-su’s jaw clenched hard enough to crack teeth.

“But why? Even if they cite external threats and request reinforcements, haven’t the Bok-ma-dan and Geuk-ma-dan always handled that? So why are we suddenly being pulled into this?”

Jong-gak pressed his point like a man lodging a formal complaint.
Among all the dangerous missions and thankless chores the Mil-geom-dan was perpetually assigned, prisoner escort ranked relatively low on the scale of peril. It was, in fact, an opportunity to step back from scorching operations and snatch a moment’s breath. And yet the Mil-geom-dan never seemed to catch such breaks. For a direct order to suddenly send them on support duty felt like someone’s hidden hand at work.

“Sigh… Lately the Ma-do-ryeon’s offensive has been relentless, so those in power are trying to keep our forces from being depleted.”
“Hmph! They utterly ignore us whenever it suits them.”

Jong-gak snorted bitterly. More than anything, the timing rankled—saddled with a new mission just when the Mil-geom-dan needed to shore up its ranks. Even if it was only the comparatively easy work of prisoner transport.

“Don’t you see how exhaustion keeps piling up among the men? The last operation nearly broke them. They need rest when they can get it.”
“No amount of explanation moves them. Everyone’s got their sob story, it seems. Useless desk philosophers, the lot of them!”

Although those who’d attended the council were the core leadership of Jeong-moo-maeng’s Gang-nam Chong-ta, Hyuk Ryeon-su’s curses showed no restraint.

“Did the Yuk Elder consent to this?”

Jong-gak asked carefully.
Yuk Elder was a man who had always shown particular fondness for Mil-geom-dan and quietly extended considerable support to them.

“Yuk Elder meant well enough. But when the majority of the Leadership Council holds a view, there’s no arguing against it.”
“So in the end, we’re being asked to support the Prisoner Escort Procession.”
“That’s how it is. For what it’s worth, Bok-ma-dan is also sending people for this escort. Though they’ll be cutting their numbers considerably compared to usual.”
“Ha! And we’re supposed to fill in those gaps.”

Jong-gak let out a bitter laugh, but both the silent Hyuk Ryeon-su and he himself understood well enough. No matter how much one resented the order, there was no refusing a command that had been decided and handed down by the Leadership Council.

“Will all of Mil-geom-dan be mobilizing?”
“No, not the whole organization. One squad should be more than sufficient. After all, our role from the start is to provide support to Bok-ma-dan.”
“Well, even one squad shows considerable generosity. How grateful we should be.”

Jong-gak’s sarcasm might have seemed somewhat disrespectful, but since Hyuk Ryeon-su felt the same way himself, he offered no rebuke.

“Which squad would be best to assign to this task?”

Hyuk Ryeon-su asked in a voice that had grown quiet and measured.
Separate from his anger, an order had already been issued—and it had to be executed properly.

“I should probably consult with the Squad Leaders first.”
“Yes, do that. By the way, did you hold a proper welcoming for the new recruits?”
“Yes.”
“Mm, it’s getting late at night—is the celebration still going on?”

Hyuk Ryeon-su glanced toward the night sky beyond the window as he spoke.

“I’m not sure. I left early.”
“Tsk, and here you are, supposedly the Bu-dan-ju, and you didn’t stay longer? It’s a welcoming for the new recruits, after all.”
“You yourself once taught me that a superior does well to slip away early—that it’s the way of a gentleman.”
“Did I say that…?”

Hyuk Ryeon-su let out a sheepish laugh.

“Yes.”

Jong-gak rose to his feet at once as he answered.

“I’ll go consult with the Squad Leaders right away.”
“Now? This very moment?”
“Yes.”
“At the welcoming…celebration?”
“Yes.”

Hyuk Ryeon-su watched Jong-gak as though he might leave at any instant and let out a heavy sigh.

“Do it tomorrow.”

* * *

“A sudden meeting? Do you know what this is about?” Gwak Ryeong asked with a yawn.

Gok Sa-bong shook his head.

“I only heard it secondhand, so I’m not entirely sure. But the Dan-ju attended the Leadership Council yesterday, and it seems to be connected to that somehow.”
“Something about it feels off.”

Beon Hu, who had rushed over the moment he woke, smoothed down his tousled hair as he spoke. The care he took in arranging what few hairs remained on his head was remarkably meticulous.

“I saw the Bu-dan-ju briefly at the training grounds earlier, and he didn’t seem to be in a good mood.”

At Wi Dae-bung’s words, the Squad Leaders’ eyes turned toward him in unison.

“The Bu-dan-ju?”
“Do you know what happened?”
“Could it be a new order came down?”

Wi Dae-bung waved his hand against the barrage of questions from all sides.

“I don’t know either. It wasn’t the right time to ask.”
“Still, that’s impressive. After drinking like that last night, you came to the training grounds this morning?”

Yu Seol-ran asked with an expression of wonder.
At last night’s welcome feast, Wi Dae-bung had drunk more liquor than all the other Squad Leaders combined.

“You know how it is, senior. If you skip the training grounds even one day, you waste that whole day.”

Wi Dae-bung grinned broadly.

“I know you’re the fussy type. I do know that, but it’s still impressive to see it fresh.”
“I’m young—that’s why. Back in my day, I too could boast of holding my liquor without turning down a drop.”

As Gwak Ryeong spoke enviously, Beon Hu let out a scoff.

“That’s rich. Even lies should be told within reason. Everyone here knows your capacity, senior. The real drinker among us is Gok here. There was no one who could match him back in those days. Remember? When I was a new recruit, I had a drinking contest with him and passed out for three days straight.”
“Hah, did that happen? There were so many times I can’t quite recall them.”

With light laughter, Gok Sa-bong shook his head, his face bearing the quiet pride of a true man of spirits.

“Anyway, let’s be on our guard. If the Bu-dan-ju’s mood is poor, it’s likely the Dan-ju is in a similar state.”

Gok Sa-bong, mentioning the leader of the Mil-geom-dan, slightly dampened the buoyant mood.
Just then the door opened, and Hyuk Ryeon-su and Jong-gak entered the conference room with stern expressions.

“We greet the Dan-ju.”

As the Squad Leaders bowed in unison, Hyuk Ryeon-su waved his hand subtly, signaling them to sit.

“Was the welcome feast conducted properly?”

Hyuk Ryeon-su, aware that the conference room had grown heavy with tension, asked with deliberately brightened expression.

“Yes, it proceeded without incident.”
“Looking at the Squad Leaders’ faces, it seems so. It’s quite a feat that you all survived.”

Laughter broke out in several spots at Hyuk Ryeon-su’s quip, and the heavy atmosphere in the conference room eased somewhat.
Yet, reading the unease and tension in the Squad Leaders’ eyes, Hyuk Ryeon-su offered a bitter smile.

“You’re curious why I’ve called you here.”
“Frankly, yes.”

At Gok Sa-bong’s response, Jong-gak began the explanation in Hyuk Ryeon-su’s stead.

“…and so the Mil-geom-dan is being asked to provide support in this situation.”

When Jong-gak’s explanation ended, none of the Squad Leaders opened their mouths.

“Incidentally, we’re considering mobilizing one squad.”
“This is a damnable mess.”

As Gok Sa-bong gave vent to his anger, the scars that covered his face twitched and rippled, casting a savage atmosphere through the room.

“Blast it, can’t the man catch a moment’s rest.”

Complaints spilled from Gwak Ryeong’s lips, and oaths erupted just as readily from Beon Hu and Yu Seol-ran.
Hyuk Ryeon-su and Jong-gak absorbed the squad leaders’ fury as it broke forth like a bursting dam.

“That’s enough.”

At Jong-gak’s single word, the complaints vanished in an instant.

“The order has already been given. Now we must discuss how to execute it properly.”
“More than anything else, the question is who should be sent for reinforcement.”

In that moment, every gaze in the conference room converged on a single point.
Following the squad leaders’ eyes, Hyuk Ryeon-su caught sight of Yu Seol-ran, who was shaking her head in agitation and glaring, and burst out laughing.

“Ha! Unanimous, then.”

Even Jong-gak was directing his gaze toward Yu Seol-ran.

“Seniors, did you forget that my squad was assigned the final mission?”

Yu Seol-ran ground her teeth and fixed the squad leaders with a threatening stare. Ordinarily they would have been cowed by her intensity, but not this time.

“It’s true that Sa-jo’s turn hasn’t come. But each squad has been in difficult circumstances.”

Gok Sa-bong spoke in a soothing tone.

“If you’re unwilling to go, then hand over Dok-go Jin. Or Nam-gung Ho, at least. Then we could reconsider.”

Beon Hu smiled slyly, and Gwak Ryeong chimed in agreement.

“Exactly. That’s the way. Withdraw after cherry-picking only the best of the sparse new recruits, and you’ve done nothing but played the thief.”
“That’s nonsense! We received priority assignment of new recruits because of the casualties in the last mission, and I selected them fairly. Nam-gung Ho you can dispute, but Dok-go Jin was clearly ranked at the bottom of the assessment.”

Yu Seol-ran radiated such killing intent that she looked ready to throttle her seniors on the spot, yet the presence of Hyuk Ryeon-su and Jong-gak kept her from making a move.

“But that’s not fair. Once he concealed his true ability, the assessment became meaningless.”

Gok Sa-bong shook his head and continued.

“Moreover, you didn’t select him by your own judgment—you picked him with help from Nam-gung Ho, who knew of the ability he was hiding. It seems someone else lent a hand too.”

Beon Hu, who had instinctively objected when Yu Seol-ran tried to select Dok-go Jin and had given her the confirmation she needed, now wore a listless expression.

“I wasn’t particularly trying to help. It was simply the result of keen judgment in recognizing talent.”
“Nonsense—”

Just as Yu Seol-ran was about to object again, Jong-gak, who had been observing the exchange, opened his mouth.

“I also believe Sa-jo should move.”
“Bu-dan-ju!”
“I understand there’s some injustice in this. Still, I’d like you to make a concession this time, considering it the price for obtaining truly worthy new recruits.”

Though his tone was one of request, given Jong-gak’s usual manner, it was in fact a directive.

…….

Yu Seol-ran, delaying her response, looked toward Hyuk Ryeon-su.
He was the only one who could sway Jong-gak’s opinion. Yet Hyuk Ryeon-su, who had already coordinated to some degree with Jong-gak before entering the conference hall, turned away from her unspoken wish.

“The Bu-dan-ju explained it, didn’t he? This prisoner escort support goes forward with the Bok-ma-dan. The Mil-geom-dan can’t afford to lose ground to a bunch of refined gentlemen like that. If we’re doing this, we do it right.”

Seeing the subtle smile on Hyuk Ryeon-su’s face, Yu Seol-ran could instantly sense that Sa-jo had been chosen—regardless of what the Squad Leaders actually thought.
The moment the Bok-ma-dan was mentioned, the Squad Leaders’ eyes shifted sharply.

“A wise decision, Dan-ju. With Sa-jo as Squad Leader, we won’t lose an inch of ground in a test of wills against those Bok-ma-dan bastards.”
“The strongest among us is definitely Sa-jo. And with two of those monster-like new recruits added to the roster, it’s the icing on the cake.”
“Can’t speak to prowess, but I’ll grant this much—the Naengmyeon Yacha’s reputation is formidable on the surface, anyway.”
“Ha, best of luck to you, senior.”

The Squad Leaders chimed in one after another, their voices joined by Wi Dae-bung’s oblivious and oddly timed encouragement as the finale.
Sa-jo’s assignment was sealed.

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