The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 317
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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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Chapter 71
Upon entering the meeting hall, three long tables were arranged in a -shaped formation.
Though there were no nameplates at each seat, when Alliance Leader Yeon Un-jang headed to the left side, the right side naturally became Sado-ryeon’s territory.
My group from Cheon-sin-mun, who were mediating this conference, took seats in the middle.
At first glance it might have looked like the head seat, but the table’s shorter length made it not feel that way.
‘I heard that in formal diplomacy, they even consider chair heights…’
The meticulous preparation was clearly evident.
Once everyone was seated, delicious refreshments were served as if they had been waiting.
“Once again, welcome to our Alliance. I express my gratitude to your esteemed organizations for not refusing our sudden request and taking these difficult steps to come here.”
Alliance Leader Yeon Un-jang stood up from his seat and bowed with cupped fists to each of the three leaders.
“We are the ones who are grateful for such a warm reception.”
Bandit Grandfather also stood up and gladly responded.
“Since both sides have gathered with mutual understanding, I hope we can bear good fruit.”
“Our organization also sincerely hopes this will be a gathering that looks toward the future without being bound by the past.”
“If I could follow my heart, I would like to raise a toast to commemorate this historic moment, but as you know, please understand that we are not in such circumstances.”
“What difference does it make if it’s alcohol or tea?”
When Bandit Grandfather laughed heartily and raised his teacup, everyone stood up and raised their teacups as if by agreement.
Eok I-geon and I, who had been sitting there blankly, tactfully joined in.
“Tak of Cheon-sin-mun pays his respects to the Martial Arts Alliance and Sado-ryeon, who could not turn away from the chaos in Gangho and arranged this gathering.”
It was Grandpa Tak who made the toast.
As soon as Grandfather finished speaking, everyone gulped down their tea in one go as if drinking alcohol.
‘It must be hot…’
It was at that moment when I was having such pointless worries.
Clack!
Yeon Un-jang set down his teacup with a sound.
Thwack!
Following that, Bandit Grandfather set down his teacup with a slightly stronger sound.
‘Am I being oversensitive?’
For a moment, I had the illusion that the two were engaging in a battle of wills.
Rattle—
Then Am-jon Grandfather’s perfectly fine teacup suddenly shook with a clatter.
Clang!
By a hair’s breadth, Grandpa Yongwang’s teacup also spun around like a top.
The air between the two tables became taut in an instant.
“…”
I wasn’t being oversensitive, nor was I mistaken.
I don’t know what grudge they had against the teacups, but the grandfathers were openly shooting their qi at each other.
Chief Strategist Jegal Mun-gi looked at me pitifully.
Yes, I understand.
This is why you called me here.
I hesitated for a moment, then picked up a pastry and exclaimed in admiration.
“Wooow.”
I was embarrassed by my own bad acting, but I decided to endure it.
My mission was to prevent a battle between the orthodox factions.
“This pastry is really delicious! Grandfathers, please try some quickly. It tastes absolutely amazing!”
“Oh, does it suit our granddaughter’s taste?”
“Then this old man should try it too.”
Bandit Grandfather and Am-jon Grandfather quickly picked up pastries and put them in their mouths.
“How is it? Delicious, right?”
“Oho, it’s quite good.”
“The aftertaste isn’t bad.”
“Alliance Leader and Grandpa Yongwang, please try some too. It seems to go really well with tea!”
The four were of similar age. I smiled with aegyo toward the grandfathers and gestured to Jegal Mun-gi to start the conference quickly.
“Have you heard of an organization called Hyeolcheon-hoe before?”
Uncle Jegal Mun-gi went straight to the point. He looked at Sect Leader Uncle, who was Sado-ryeon’s strategist, and asked directly.
“This is the first time. I heard the Martial Arts Alliance captured quite a few spies? Among them was even Cheon-gi Susa’s top disciple, I heard.”
No, Sect Leader Uncle.
How can you poke such a sore spot from the very beginning!
Since it was such a major incident that even activated the Heavenly Wheel Formation, the Alliance couldn’t prevent rumors about Tam-rang from spreading.
From Jegal Mun-gi’s perspective, it was tantamount to having his face smeared with filth.
“…I won’t make excuses. This happened due to this strategist’s inadequacy. However, Sado-ryeon should not be complacent either.”
Jegal Mun-gi smoothly deflected Sect Leader Uncle’s provocation.
But our Sect Leader Uncle’s sharp tongue was still razor-sharp.
“Our organization is not as lax as your esteemed Alliance.”
A faint smile appeared on Sect Leader Uncle’s lips.
Jegal Mun-gi’s eyes narrowed as he watched this.
“Are you saying that your organization has no Hyeolcheon-hoe spies?”
“If there were any, wouldn’t we have captured them long ago?”
“Hahaha.”
With murderous eyes, Jegal Mun-gi laughed out loud.
“Such tremendous confidence. Planting spies would be much easier in your organization than in our Alliance… It seems your organization only begins treatment after wounds fester, burst, and rot.”
His tone was very gentle and polite, but it contained more than a few sharp thorns.
“Can you take responsibility for those words?”
When Sect Leader Uncle reacted sensitively, Jegal Mun-gi shrugged and replied.
“Even if my words are wrong, that would be problematic in its own way.”
“…?”
“Hyeolcheon-hoe planted spies to drive a wedge between our Alliance and the Demonic Sect. Having no spies in your organization means they see the world as divided in two, not three, doesn’t it? How is that different from treating your organization like a borrowed sack of barley?”
Ugh!
A dagger, a dagger!
Was paying back in kind Uncle Jegal Mun-gi’s specialty?
He’s mercilessly digging into Sado-ryeon’s painful spots.
Thanks to that, Sect Leader Uncle’s complexion hardened like ice, beyond just being cold.
‘Good grief.’
Where did the person who asked me to help prevent the Martial Arts Alliance and Sado-ryeon from clashing go?
Who would have thought this side would be more serious than the grandfathers.
“Oh my!”
I once again put on a poker face and challenged myself to bad acting.
“This pastry is also really delicious! Sect Leader Uncle, have you tried it?”
“…No, I haven’t tasted it yet.”
“Here, say ‘ah.'”
When I opened my mouth, Sect Leader Uncle reflexively followed suit. I quickly fed Sect Leader Uncle a pastry and turned to Jegal Mun-gi.
“Chief Strategist, where did you get this?”
I shot lasers with my eyes as I asked him.
“…I’ll find out and definitely let you know.”
Fortunately, Jegal Mun-gi, who understood the meaning, nodded slightly in a way only I could see.
I planned to question him twice as hard about the recent situation later.
Anyway, after a brief lull, Sect Leader Uncle and Jegal Mun-gi finally began rational dialogue.
These were exactly the scenes I had been eagerly anticipating.
The orthodox factions joining forces to crush Hyeolcheon-hoe!
That was what mattered most to me right now.
“…So what I’m saying is, wouldn’t it be good if we continued to exchange information specifically about Hyeolcheon-hoe going forward? It would be beneficial for tracking those bastards.”
“I agree completely. The more information we have, the more advantageous it is.”
“On your side, it would probably be mainly Haomun, right?”
“Then would Gaebang step forward on our Alliance’s side?”
“That would probably maintain the balance, wouldn’t it? You’ve already coordinated with Gaebang as well.”
“An alliance between Gaebang and Haomun….”
Sect Leader Uncle trailed off as if recalling something, then asked.
“Do you happen to know someone called Gwang-gwon in Gaebang?”
“Gwang-gwon?”
“He was the Hapbi branch leader.”
“Ah, Gwang-gae!”
Jegal Mun-gi remembered Uncle Wang Dang a beat later.
“I believe he’s currently in Wuhan.”
“You’re acquainted with Wang Dang?”
“We’ve crossed paths a few times here and there.”
In reality, Sect Leader Uncle had even saved Uncle Wang Dang’s life before.
It wasn’t just a matter of casually crossing paths.
“It’s better if there’s already an acquaintance. Wang Dang was also chasing Tam-rang together with Miss Tak. Unless something special happens, there shouldn’t be any problems.”
Uncle Wang Dang was trustworthy.
Though I hadn’t been able to see him lately due to many busy matters, Uncle Wang Dang was probably spending his own hectic time in Wuhan.
“Let’s discuss the practical details separately.”
Jegal Mun-gi lightly nodded in agreement with Sect Leader Uncle’s summary.
He moistened his dry mouth with tea and moved on to the next topic.
“I have information that might help in rooting out spies.”
Jegal Mun-gi speculated that the names of Hyeolcheon-hoe’s executive-level spies seemed to be taken from the seven constellations of the Big Dipper.
Among them, the spy captured by the Martial Arts Alliance this time was Tam-rang, and he added that they were using forbidden techniques and isolation to manage their subordinates.
“Forbidden techniques and isolation… They’re indeed troublesome to deal with, befitting descendants of the Blood Sect.”
“What are you so worried about?”
Seeing Sect Leader Uncle’s expression grow serious, Jegal Mun-gi suddenly pointed at me.
“Don’t we have Cheon-sin Bo-sal right here?”
“…What do you mean?”
“It was Cheon-sin Bo-sal who captured Tam-rang’s subordinates, broke the isolation and forbidden techniques, and discovered the true identity of the organization called Hyeolcheon-hoe.”
“I thought nephew Seolha had only taken down Tam-rang this whole time.”
Did you really?
It’s understandable since you’ve been busy right after arriving in Wuhan.
“I was lucky. Gwan-se-eum Bo-sal.”
I barely restrained myself from wanting to spin the journey so far into heroic tales and humbly recited my Buddhist name.
Though the beginning was a bit rocky, the meeting seemed to be proceeding smoothly without any issues, which made me secretly proud.
“But you know.”
Sect Leader Uncle, who had been exchanging various stories, raised a question.
“I heard that what Hyeolcheon-hoe was aiming for was conflict between the Martial Arts Alliance and Maegyo. Then shouldn’t we inform Maegyo about this fact too? Wouldn’t it be terrible if Maegyo started a great war without knowing it was Hyeolcheon-hoe’s doing?”
Oh, finally the part I’d been waiting for came up.
I thought I was going to die of boredom.
“General Staff Officer, you don’t need to worry about that.”
“…Miss Tak?”
“Maegyo’s side probably knows about that much already.”
No, actually they know in more detail than anyone else.
At my confident tone, not only Jegal Mun-gi and Sect Leader Uncle, but even the others who had been quietly listening looked at me with surprised eyes.
The highlight among them were the three grandfathers who knew my true identity.
Their three pairs of eyes widened so much they looked ready to pop out.
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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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