The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 42

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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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Spear Heaven Martial Emperor Episode 42

Namgung Hyeok kept his word.

As soon as his meeting with his elder brother ended, he went straight to find the Elder Council Head.

“Well, look who’s here. The Third Young Master has come.”

The Elder Council Head welcomed Namgung Hyeok with hearty laughter.

His attitude was gentle, as if treating his own grandson.

Namgung Hyeok also greeted him respectfully without losing his manners.

“This is the first time I’ve come to visit since last time.”

“That’s right. Ah, don’t just stand there, come inside.”

The Elder Council Head guided Namgung Hyeok to the reception room and poured him steaming hot tea.

“So? What brings you here today?”

“Don’t you already have a rough idea?”

“Haha. Simply thinking about it and hearing it from your own mouth are different things.”

“To speak directly, I’ve come to ask for your understanding. Your understanding that if any corruption is discovered in the Elder Council faction, I will punish it without mercy.”

“I see.”

The Elder Council Head smiled mysteriously.

“Isn’t that only natural? If someone on our side does wrong, they should be punished. However, punishment should be fair to everyone.”

“Of course. I’ll punish anyone whose corruption is revealed, regardless of faction.”

I’m in favor of it as long as you don’t use it to eliminate political enemies. Of course, given the First Young Master’s character, he wouldn’t favor only his own faction… but you never know.”

“Of course that won’t happen. I plan to monitor from the side. Even if elder brother harbors such thoughts, I’ll prevent him from acting on them.”

“I wonder who the real Young Family Head is here.”

The Elder Council Head burst into laughter. It was a remark tinged with slight sarcasm.

“So, you came to see this old man for that reason? To ask for understanding?”

“Rather than understanding, it’s a kind of consideration. If such a thing happens, I came to tell you to return the embezzled money to its original place. Then you might receive only minimal punishment or avoid punishment altogether.”

“Hehe. That’s quite thoughtful consideration.”

“The Elder Council Head has always supported us. This much is only natural.”

Namgung Hyeok looked at the Elder Council Head with a calm voice.

“Council Head. We sincerely intend to reform the Namgung Family.”

“….”

“Even if some noise gets mixed in during that process, it doesn’t matter. To build a stronger and more solid family, we’re prepared to get blood on our hands.”

“Prepared to get blood on your hands.”

The Elder Council Head smiled broadly.

“That’s quite a murderous resolve.”

“It’s just a figure of speech. Of course, if no corruption is discovered, such things won’t happen.”

“Do you really intend to use the money you scrape together to expand the military force?”

“Naturally. Otherwise, why would we go through all this trouble?”

“And the military force created that way will be placed under your and the Young Family Head’s influence.”

“To be precise, please express it as those who will be loyal to the family.”

“In any case, your influence will play a major role. Then half of the Namgung Family’s military authority will pass to you.”

The Elder Council Head’s eyes became serious.

“Seizing military authority after financial authority. It’s truly a clever idea. However, there won’t be no backlash.”

“Isn’t that why I came to see you, Council Head, to minimize that aspect?”

Namgung Hyeok took a sip of tea.

“If you truly care for the family, please soothe those who would go astray and minimize the backlash. If that happens, we’ll be able to complete our great work without difficulty.”

“Hmm. What do we gain from doing that?”

“The prosperity of the Namgung Family. And if the Namgung Family prospers, the Elder Council’s authority will naturally grow as well.”

“Third Young Master. If we really do as you say, can you be certain that the Namgung Family will prosper?”

The Elder Council Head asked sharply.

“Let me speak honestly. Quite a few people are anxious. They say you, having seized both financial and military authority, might bring a bloody storm to the family by putting the Young Family Head forward. And you would become an absolute ruler using a puppet Young Family Head.”

“Hahahaha!”

Namgung Hyeok suddenly burst into laughter. The Elder Council Head’s eyes narrowed.

“What’s so funny?”

“No, it’s just that from what I’m hearing, you seem to think I started all this because I covet the Namgung Family’s power. Well, it’s true that I’m trying to seize power. It’s not entirely wrong.”

“Then?”

“But that’s just the process. Returning the Namgung Family’s power to elder brother is simply restoring the natural order that had gone awry, and I never intended to live in luxury with that power. Think about it from the beginning. If I only coveted power, do you think I would have returned to the Namgung Family?”

“….”

The Elder Council Head closed his mouth.

Namgung Hyeok was a war hero of the Northern Region.

Though it was hard to believe the rumors, he heard that even the Great General coveted him.

Certainly, if he wanted to gain power, it would have been better to stay enlisted in the military. Then someday he would have gained power incomparable to that of a Namgung Family head.

“The reason I’m trying to straighten the Namgung Family’s finances and expand the military force is because of the Evil Path Alliance’s threat. Let me speak honestly. I’m certain that war with them will break out before long.”

“…!”

“For that time, we need stronger military power and a unified command system. That’s why I’m trying to reform everything in such a short time. Only by doing so will less unnecessary blood flow later. Do you understand?”

Namgung Hyeok asked while meeting the Elder Council Head’s gaze.

At that moment, the Elder Council Head couldn’t help but flinch slightly at Namgung Hyeok’s presence.

He had merely expressed his opinion, yet he felt an irrefutable presence from him.

The Elder Council Head had no choice but to nod.

“I understand the Third Young Master’s intentions well. It seems I had some misunderstanding.”

“No. It’s fine as long as you understand my intentions now. Then please soothe those who belong to the Elder Council faction.”

Namgung Hyeok said this as he rose from his seat.

He added with cold eyes.

“So that unnecessary conflicts don’t arise.”

“…!”

* * *

After warning the Elder Council Head, Namgung Hyeok returned to his quarters.

Jeon Wook, who had quietly accompanied him, asked.

“Wasn’t that pushing too suddenly? If the Elder Council Head develops a rebellious attitude because of this…”

“No, that won’t happen. The Elder Council Head isn’t a fool either.”

Namgung Hyeok told Jeon Wook not to worry.

“The Elder Council has enormous political influence anyway, but since it’s a gathering of retired people, it doesn’t hold that much real power in the family. So they’re relatively free in this reform.”

“In other words, they don’t have much to lose even if reformed.”

“Right. That’s why I went to see him. It was practically like going to advise him not to pursue immediate gains but future benefits.”

“But what if something unexpected happens?”

“Then, well, we’ll just have to fight it out, won’t we?”

It was a confident attitude.

He seemed to exude the leisure of being able to win easily even if he became enemies with the Elder Council Head.

Jeon Wook didn’t object to that fact.

He knew well that Namgung Hyeok would indeed be able to do so.

“Actually, it’s uncle’s faction that has fire at their feet. There must be quite a few among them who have been playing games based on the family’s real power.”

“That would be the case. The Acting Family Head must have grown his forces using such sweetness as bait. If we investigate, we’ll probably find quite a number.”

“How exactly to deal with them is a matter for elder brother to decide. I just need to lend my strength if there are those who won’t listen later.”

“It’s the perfect position to earn resentment.”

“Well, what can I do? It was a process we had to go through someday. Rather, I should say it’s good since we can normalize the family quickly.”

“Your foresight and deep planning are truly profound, my lord.”

“Stop flattering me. Rather than that, tell me about the Evil Path Alliance now. Did you leak the information as I said?”

“Yes. I leaked the story that the reason for subjugating the Black Kill Gate lies with them.”

“Well done. They might have unknowingly let it slide. If it had been something someone did on their own initiative midway through, it might have been quietly buried.”

“But now everyone will know about it.”

“They’re probably racking their brains over what to do. No matter how they respond, they’ll only damage their own reputation.”

“There’s also the possibility they might act impulsively.”

“That’s likely. But at most, they’ll probably just try to take my head, right?”

Namgung Hyeok chuckled softly.

“I’ve experienced that countless times on the battlefield. Being threatened with my life at this point wouldn’t be anything new. Besides, I have you all by my side, don’t I?”

“Yes. They won’t be able to harm you, my Lord, unless they step over our corpses.”

“There’s no need to go that far. Just help me out a bit when random thugs pop up. Like you’re doing now.”

Just as Namgung Hyeok said this.

The two suddenly turned their heads to look somewhere. One of the family’s warriors was running toward them, panting heavily.

“T-Third Young Master. There you are.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Well, something terrible has happened! Right now…”

Namgung Hyeok made a strange expression at the warrior’s following words.

“The Evil Path Alliance has sent a messenger to meet with the Third Young Master!”

“Oh ho.”

An intrigued smile spread across Namgung Hyeok’s face.

* * *

Namgung Hyeok immediately headed to the main gate where the messenger had arrived.

The elite members of the Namgung Family, including his uncle Namgung Jangcheon, had already gathered there.

The atmosphere was ominous.

No matter how you looked at it, it seemed more like they were facing an enemy rather than welcoming a messenger.

In reality, that wasn’t far from the truth.

“Hehe. The Namgung Family really has terrible hospitality.”

“What business does an executive of the Evil Path Alliance have here?”

Namgung Jangcheon responded calmly to the messenger’s words. However, the atmosphere clearly conveyed that they were ready to fight at any moment depending on the answer.

“And for someone of your stature to come personally. Hell Blade Demon.”

Because the one who came as a messenger was one of the top masters even within the Evil Path Alliance.

Hell Blade Demon Im Yeon.

He was one of the highest executives of the Evil Path Alliance, leading subordinates called Blade Demons and achieving victory in countless battles.

He was also an enemy too difficult for the current Namgung Family to handle. His martial prowess was evaluated as being practically within the top three even within the Evil Path Alliance.

But for such a person to come as a messenger…

From Namgung Jangcheon’s perspective, he had no choice but to be on guard.

“Well, don’t be so tense. My business isn’t with you people anyway.”

“If not with them, then you must have business with me.”

At that moment, Namgung Hyeok appeared from the other side.

Namgung Hyeok approached them while emanating a presence that was in no way inferior to Hell Blade Demon’s. Hell Blade Demon showed a momentarily surprised expression.

He hadn’t expected such an aura to emanate from Namgung Hyeok, who appeared much younger than himself.

But that was only for a moment.

“That’s right. I came because I have business with you. Flame Dragon Namgung Hyeok.”

“I’m quite busy, so I’d appreciate it if you could keep it brief. You don’t need me to serve tea, do you?”

“Haha. Of course not. We’re not in a position to leisurely drink tea together, are we? Then I’ll get straight to business as well.”

Hell Blade Demon grinned and looked at Namgung Hyeok as he spoke.

“Flame Dragon. Would you consider visiting our Evil Path Alliance?”

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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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