The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 54

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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 54

Ten thousand taels of silver.

It was an enormous sum that even the Namgung Family could not ignore.

With that money, the Namgung Family could strengthen their forces and carry out reforms they had been unable to implement until now.

“B-but would they really be willing to pay such a huge sum of ten thousand taels?”

“They will.”

Namgung Hyeok spoke with certainty.

“Just as we underestimated them, they will overestimate us. If we really fought to the death, we could inflict damage to the point of mutual destruction.”

“…!”

“Of course, we won’t actually do such a thing, but we can at least threaten them. The Evil Path Alliance Leader won’t be able to simply ignore this threat. Elder Brother, please step forward and personally deliver this message.”

Namgung Hyeok said this while giving a meaningful look.

The fact that he specifically designated Namgung Cheon rather than Namgung Jangcheon.

It was an action that carried many meanings.

“Understood.”

Namgung Cheon, who grasped the meaning, nodded his head.

“I’ll do that.”

Since the topic had come up, he immediately called the Evil Path Alliance’s messenger to the great conference room to put it into action.

The messenger arrived at the great conference room with an anxious expression. Namgung Cheon looked at the messenger and said.

“As a result of our meeting, the Main House has decided to accept your ceasefire negotiations.”

“You’ve made a wise decision! Then….”

“However, there is a condition.”

At the mention of a condition, the messenger’s face hardened drastically.

He asked cautiously.

“What condition?”

“To compensate for the damage you have inflicted on the Main House this time, we demand ten thousand taels of silver.”

“…!”

The messenger opened his mouth in shock.

Ten thousand taels of silver was a huge sum that even the Evil Path Alliance could not easily produce.

He immediately protested.

“T-ten thousand taels! That’s too much!”

“It’s not much at all. This is the minimum amount calculated based on the damage the Main House suffered as a result of our meeting. We originally intended to demand a much larger sum, but it ended up being only ten thousand taels.”

Namgung Cheon lied without batting an eye.

The messenger could only freeze in place. He realized that no matter what he said, their demands wouldn’t change.

“P-please give me some time. I’ll contact our Alliance Leader.”

In the end, what he chose was to take a step back.

Namgung Cheon nodded at the messenger’s words and pointed outside.

Meaning he should leave now.

The messenger bowed his head with a sour expression and quickly headed outside. He probably intended to send a messenger pigeon.

“Phew. We’ve made the demand, but… I wonder if they’ll accept it.”

Namgung Cheon, who had returned from his stern demeanor to his usual friendly atmosphere, wiped his sweat.

Seeing this, Namgung Hyeok smiled and said.

“As I said before, they’ll accept it. They’re also in a hurry.”

“I hope so.”

“Now, let’s discuss how to use the ten thousand taels once we receive it. Please share any good ideas you have.”

Namgung Hyeok clapped his hands as if trying to lighten the mood.

His efforts seemed to pay off as the atmosphere became much lighter, and everyone licked their lips thinking about the huge sum of ten thousand taels.

And they began to see Namgung Hyeok, who had made this demand, in a different light.

‘The Third Young Master isn’t just confident in martial prowess, but also has talent in negotiations.’

‘Indeed, I did well to side with him.’

‘With ten thousand taels, we could replace our old weapons.’

They each harbored their own thoughts while enthusiastically engaging in the discussion.

Namgung Hyeok merely watched them with a faint smile.

* * *

Meanwhile, two days later at the Evil Path Alliance’s main headquarters.

Evil Path Alliance Leader Lee Cheolgun, who had received the news through an express carrier pigeon, couldn’t control his trembling hands.

“These…!”

His face was red like a volcano about to erupt, and the killing intent swirling around him cracked the floor.

He crumpled up the letter sent by the messenger.

The Evil Path Alliance executives, though frightened by his appearance, cautiously asked.

“Alliance Leader. What kind of content could make you react like this?”

“These arrogant bastards have made an unreasonable demand. They say if we want to stop the war, we must pay ten thousand silver coins.”

“T-ten thousand taels?”

“These highway robbers!”

Intense reactions erupted from various places.

Ten thousand silver coins was an amount that warranted such reactions.

Even though it was compensation paid for losing a war, it was an excessive amount.

Of course, an organization of the Evil Path Alliance’s size could afford to pay it, but….

‘Still, if we pay this, our finances will be shaky for a while.’

Lee Cheolgun thought this as he threw away the crumpled letter.

He fell into deep thought for a moment.

‘Let me calm my anger and think. What would happen if I refused this?’

That was obvious.

The Namgung Family would continue attacking them without ending the war.

Of course, those fools might charge toward Hangzhou saying they’d take his head, but….

‘Namgung Hyeok. That bastard won’t make such a foolish choice.’

Instead, he would thoroughly attack and destroy only the nearby Evil Path Alliance branches.

Because that would be the best strategy the Namgung Family could employ.

If that happened, the Evil Path Alliance would have to endure considerable damage.

Then, as time passed and support from the Shandong Ak Family or Murim Alliance joined them, there was a high possibility that an enemy too powerful to ignore would emerge.

So….

In the end, he had no choice but to accept the proposal.

“Sigh. I accept the proposal.”

“A-Alliance Leader!”

His shocked subordinates called out to him, but Lee Cheolgun waved his hand as if tired.

“I won’t hear any objections. General Manager. Send word to them that we accept their proposal.”

“Understood, Alliance Leader.”

The General Manager nodded and headed somewhere.

He was probably going to write a letter to send to the Namgung Family.

Lee Cheolgun grabbed his face as if exhausted and pressed down hard. As he had just concluded, now was the time to endure.

‘Namgung Hyeok. Someday I’ll repay this debt with interest.’

His eyes gleamed menacingly. His subordinates could only swallow their breath at his murderous appearance.

* * *

The Evil Path Alliance sent word that they would accept the conditions.

The Namgung Family was truly in a festive mood.

They were extremely delighted and purely enjoyed their victory.

And that rumor soon spread throughout the nearby area.

“Did you hear? The Evil Path Alliance has agreed to pay compensation to the Namgung Family.”

“What? They acknowledged defeat so obediently?”

“Yes. But the amount is said to be enormous.”

“How much?”

“Don’t be shocked when you hear this. It’s a whopping ten thousand taels of silver.”

“T-ten thousand taels!”

People who heard that rumor were astonished.

They never expected the Evil Path Alliance to acknowledge defeat so readily.

Conspiracy theories even circulated, wondering if there was some hidden plot.

But regardless, the Namgung Family began the reforms they had been postponing.

“Most of the ten thousand taels will be used for intelligence unit operations and military expansion. I trust there are no objections.”

Namgung Cheon said this while looking around.

Under that piercing gaze, everyone had no choice but to nod.

In fact, many senior members wanted to pocket some of the enormous sum of ten thousand taels…

But with Namgung Cheon and Namgung Hyeok glaring with wide eyes, there were no brave souls who dared.

They couldn’t embezzle even if they wanted to.

“Good. Then let’s establish clear usage plans. First, we’ll expand the Shadow Unit by fifty percent from its current size.”

“F-fifty percent?”

“To monitor and analyze enemy movements in the future, even fifty percent won’t be enough. This is the minimum estimate, so please understand.”

Though it was reasonable, Namgung Jangcheon’s faction couldn’t hide their discomfort.

That meant expanding Namgung Cheon’s subordinate forces, didn’t it?

If the already powerful Shadow Unit grew even larger, family members wouldn’t be able to make a peep.

Normally this would be something they’d have to stop somehow…

‘Why isn’t the Acting Family Head saying anything?’

Their actual leader, Namgung Jangcheon, said nothing.

His thinking was this:

‘There’s no point trying to stop this flow now. It would only invite backlash from other factions.’

Namgung Jangcheon thought this way and tried to secure as much as he could for himself.

Just as Namgung Cheon sought to secure his influence, he too tried to strengthen his own faction.

“Then I propose expanding the scale of the Changcheon Unit. As the only first-class battle unit in the main house, the Changcheon Unit symbolizes the Namgung Family’s military might. Therefore, expanding the Changcheon Unit will raise the main house’s external prestige.”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Cheon let out a contemplative sound as if thinking it over.

There was nothing wrong with Namgung Jangcheon’s words.

Then telepathic communication reached his ears.

[Accept it.]

[…!]

The person who sent the telepathic message was Namgung Hyeok. Namgung Cheon hesitated briefly but soon nodded.

“We’ll do that. As Uncle says, the Changcheon Unit holds important meaning for the Namgung Family.”

“Well thought.”

“But if only the Changcheon Unit, which didn’t participate in this battle, gains benefits, other military forces will complain. Therefore, I think we should provide sufficient support to other military forces as well.”

Namgung Hyeok joined the conversation.

Hearing his words, the Elder Council Head quietly asked.

“What kind of support, for example?”

“Replace main and secondary weapons, raise salaries, and expand the military forces themselves as was done with the Changcheon Unit. Also, combine several third-class military forces to create new second-class military combat units, and fill those vacant positions by recruiting new personnel to form new third-class battle units.”

“Not bad. But then the ten thousand silver taels received as compensation won’t last very long.”

“But if we can strengthen the family’s power as a result, I think it’s a profitable deal. Don’t you agree?”

Namgung Hyeok looked around as if seeking agreement.

“The Third Young Master is right!”

“After all, in Murim, the stronger you are, the greater influence you inevitably have.”

“Considering the coming rematch with the Evil Path Alliance, it’s only natural.”

Of course, the response was positive.

In fact, more than half of those gathered in the meeting hall were people ready to accept whatever nonsense Namgung Hyeok might say.

His influence was practically greater than that of Namgung Cheon, the actual Young Family Head.

If Namgung Hyeok had ill intentions and wanted the Young Family Head position, the Namgung Family would gladly place him in that seat.

‘Elder Brother himself would say I’m right and try to hand over the position to me.’

After all, Namgung Cheon thought himself lacking compared to Namgung Hyeok.

Of course, Namgung Hyeok had no intention of accepting such a position.

For the goals he had to achieve in the future, the Young Family Head position was unnecessary. Rather, becoming the Namgung Family’s Young Family Head would certainly be a hindrance.

When the atmosphere seemed to calm down a bit, Namgung Cheon spoke as if summarizing.

“Then it’s decided. We’ll use nine thousand taels of this compensation to expand military forces and strengthen our power. If anyone has objections, please speak now.”

“…”

Of course, there was no one with objections.

The forces present here were all pleased that the units within their influence were being strengthened.

However, while there were no objections, some had questions.

“But Young Family Head, nine thousand taels? Then what do you plan to do with the remaining one thousand taels?”

“Ah, I didn’t mention that. I plan to give that to Hyeok.”

“…!”

Everyone looked surprised. Even Namgung Hyeok was no exception.

“Elder Brother?”

“The victory we achieved this time and the enormous sum of ten thousand taels would never have been possible without you. So I should give you at least this much. I’m sorry I can’t give you more.”

“I’m fine with it. Please use it for the Namgung Family.”

At Namgung Hyeok’s refusal, Namgung Cheon smiled.

“You’re not fine. And you have something to do with this money. This is an order as Young Family Head, so just accept it.”

“Something to do?”

“Yes.”

Namgung Cheon nodded and said.

“Have you ever heard of the Black Market?”

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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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