The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 299

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Heavenly Supreme Has Died – Episode 299
The first thing I did after forming this alliance was to gather my companions.
“…I wondered what this was about.”
Cheonhye-in was the first to respond when I addressed the assembled group.
“It turned out to be a bigger matter than I anticipated.”
Even Cheonhye-in, who rarely showed much reaction, displayed a hint of unease. It was only natural, given that this concerned Patcheon Gung.
“…A Gwima, you say. Young Master, are you certain you’re unharmed?”
At the mention of Gwima’s appearance, Cheon Euijin expressed concern for me. He couldn’t have found me during my treatment, as no one was permitted entry until it was complete.
“Ah, yes, I’m fine. It wasn’t a serious wound.”
I laughed awkwardly. I had wanted to handle this matter while keeping it hidden if possible, but circumstances had forced my hand.
Do-hyeong simply stared at me throughout, saying nothing.
“Given how matters have unfolded, I believe I’ll need to ask for your assistance.”
“…Now, of all times?”
“….”
I fell silent at Cheonhye-in’s words. Having remained quiet until now, only to suddenly claim necessity seemed utterly absurd to her.
“…I hope you’ll consider that there were circumstances on my end as well.”
“I understand that. But things don’t always work out the way we wish, do they?”
“That’s true.”
“…And to think, even resorting to Hwasan Sect’s machinations….”
Cheonhye-in stroked her chin thoughtfully.
“What’s the objective? I don’t quite understand.”
In a brief moment, she had reached the crux of the matter. Her deduction was instantaneous.
She couldn’t fathom why Patcheon Gung would establish itself in Shaanxi.
It was the same question I had first posed to myself.
“There must be something or someone we need to find.”
“Something important enough to require such machinations?”
“Surely that must be the case.”
“Then.”
Cheonhye-in’s gaze grew slightly colder as she spoke to me.
“Having come this far, it’s likely you’ve already manipulated someone in a higher position.”
‘Ah.’
With just a few pieces of information, she had already arrived at the conclusion.
Her speed was quite remarkable.
Noticing my expression of admiration,
“Your reaction confirms it.”
Cheonhye-in spoke with certainty.
“Who is it?”
“I’m still investigating, so I can’t give you a definitive answer yet.”
“…Isn’t the information sharing rather lacking?”
“I’ve made preparations for that concern.”
I handed over the letter.
“These are the conspirators I’ve identified so far.”
“….”
Cheonhye-in frowned upon seeing it.
“You’ve already figured that out?”
“I’m not entirely certain about this either. For now, please keep it.”
“….”
She examined the letter. I had selected only a few individuals, excluding others.
Cheonhye-in immediately asked me again upon seeing it.
“What is it that you need help with?”
I smiled slightly at her words and answered.
“It’s nothing much.”
It truly was nothing much.
Well, it would depend on the circumstances, of course.

* * *
After informing my colleagues, I met with Yeo Hyeok once more.
“Wol-hyeop.”
He faced me with a somewhat uneasy expression.
“Yeo Hyeok.”
“I’ve heard the news. You’re collaborating with the Plum Blossom Sword Masters, I hear.”
“Yes. That’s how it’s become.”
“…Is that really alright?”
Yeo Hyeok asked with concern. I could sense what his worry was about.
Maehua Daeju.
What he was concerned about was him and the other conspirators.
“In a situation where no one can be trusted, I find it strange that you would choose to collaborate.”
“It was necessary. And it’s the fastest way.”
“…The fastest way?”
“A method to make the bees swarm.”
“Bees?”
“Yes. Bees won’t gather unless you coat something with honey, will they?”
I spoke to him matter-of-factly.
“I’ve coated myself with honey. To gather the bees.”
“….”
His face showed he still didn’t understand. Cheonhye-in would have grasped it immediately.
“In any case, since I’ve said it’s necessary, you needn’t worry about it.”
“But….”
“It’s fine. I can’t ask you to trust me… Just watch and see.”
Whether he watched or not, nothing would change.
Anyway.
‘Yeo Hyeok will come too.’
If my prediction is correct, Yeo Hyeok would inevitably get caught up in this as well.

* * *
As time passed and noon approached.
Just as I finished my training with Dok-ryong and emerged, I encountered the Sword Emperor ahead.
“Sword Emperor.”
His expression was cold. Since there were no people around, I immediately bowed to him respectfully.
“I will ask.”
The Sword Emperor who appeared questioned me without a moment’s hesitation.
“You said a Gwima appeared. Is that true?”
“…Ah, yes. I didn’t recognize the face myself, but according to Sochul Daeju, it was true.”
“Is it also true that Patcheon Gung exists in Shaanxi?”
“Yes.”
“Then.”
Whoosh.
“…!”
Before I could react, the Sword Emperor’s two hands were covering my eyes.
A moment longer and they would have pierced through.
“Your two eyes can see those creatures just as they could in Henan, correct?”
“….”
I nodded very slowly.
“…That is correct.”
Upon hearing my answer, the Sword Emperor withdrew his extended hands. I barely managed to contain myself, but I was genuinely shocked.
“A Gwima, then….”
The Sword Emperor tilted his head as if lost in thought.
“Things that should have died keep raising their heads. How repugnant.”
Hm.
With the Sword Emperor’s words came a surge of killing intent. Feeling it, my body trembled.
‘…It’s brutal.’
Even though I felt it only briefly, this was the extent of it. The reputation of the Heavenly Supreme Swordsman was vividly apparent.
“What do you intend to do?”
The Sword Emperor questioned me again. What did I intend to do?
“Hmm.”
I paused to choose my words. How should I answer? I pondered it, but nothing particular came to mind.
“…Since it has been revealed.”
Therefore.
“We should eliminate it, should we not?”
I answered with utmost honesty.
“….”
The Sword Emperor’s expression shifted at those words.
Was it a smile? If so, it was one cold and terrifying beyond measure.
“A most satisfactory answer.”
Yet his response was surprisingly positive.

* * *
The Sword Emperor departed, mentioning he had matters to attend to, and hinted there would be no training today.
After seeing him off, I changed into fresh clothes.
Clang.
I fastened my sword at my waist. Perhaps due to my injured back, it felt unusually heavy.
I considered leaving the Divine Blade and taking a standard sword instead, but decided against it.
The problem was that the other blade was even heavier.
“Well then.”
With preparations complete.
“Shall we go?”
I opened the door and headed toward the heart of Hwasan. As I approached my destination, I could see people had already gathered.
Seven in total, led by Maehua Daeju.
Yeo Hyeok was among them as well.
“Greetings.”
I offered my salutation upon seeing them. They all wore grave expressions.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Yes, Daeju.”
I bowed respectfully to Maehua Daeju while observing my surroundings.
‘…Ha.’
I suppressed a smile upon seeing those gathered here.
Maehua Daeju, Yeo Hyeok, and the others—their attire was identical.
They appeared to be Plum Blossom Sword Masters, figures I’d already come to know.
It couldn’t be otherwise.
‘They’re all traitors.’
Every person gathered here bore the aura of Patcheon Gung.
‘Perfect.’
This was precisely what I had hoped for.
Didn’t I say so earlier?
‘I would coat myself in honey.’
I would prepare to lure the bees.
That was the purpose, and it had worked.
“Is this the complete contingent?”
I asked the Daeju. He nodded with a grave expression.
“Indeed. These are the finest, carefully selected warriors.”
I had deduced and deduced again.
The absurdity of it nearly made me burst into laughter.
Of course they would have deduced the same.
‘But it’s far too simple, isn’t it.’
Everyone gathered here was a chess piece I had positioned, save for Yeo Hyeok.
Moreover.
‘Those I deliberately excluded from my information network.’
I had summoned those very people I had intentionally kept in the dark, assembling them here.
It was likely because of the letter I had sent.
Still, how remarkable—they had gathered only the pieces I had arranged.
‘The reason I included Yeo Hyeok is painfully obvious.’
He was the one figure I had collaborated with before, so they assumed I would trust him.
Unless, of course….
‘There’s a reason I’d rather not contemplate.’
A rather distasteful possibility seemed to loom.
But I would consider that later.
“Then Wol-hyeop, if I may ask.”
The Maehua Daeju posed a question to me.
“What is it you intend to do now?”
Since we must proceed with our collaboration, what would be my plan?
I nodded in response to his inquiry.
“Ah, yes.”
I spoke, looking at them all. An investigative collaboration to root them out. In that case.
“First of all.”
There was only one place we needed to go.
“We must scout the suspected nest once more, must we not?”
I would scatter honey.
To draw them all in without exception.
That was my strategy.

* * *
Hmm.
A soft humming echoed through the air. The young man sitting in his chair, sipping tea—Gwima leisurely grasped his teacup.
As if savoring the present atmosphere, the delicate mood was striking.
It was around the time I was thoroughly enjoying myself.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
A subordinate appeared and knelt before Gwima.
“What is it?”
Perhaps disturbed, wrinkles formed on Gwima’s pale brow.
The subordinate, suppressing his fear, handed him a letter.
“…An urgent message has arrived from Hwasan.”
“Mm.”
Accepting the letter, Gwima read through its contents.
The message was simple.
“…My goodness.”
Wol-hyeop had proposed a collaboration, and he had accepted it.
They would begin a hunt, so keep that in mind.
At such words, Gwima chuckled softly.
“That old man must have been quite desperate.”
He had clearly told him to speak first if he intended to undertake something.
Yet he had notified him unilaterally. It was hardly amusing.
“…A hunt, is it.”
To drive the prey. At those words, Gwima harbored peculiar thoughts.
“I wonder who is doing the driving.”
Which side would be the hunted prey? From my perspective, something felt off.
However.
“Since it’s entertaining, shall I observe a bit longer?”
It seemed a shame to hint at this. It had been a long time since something amused me.
That young one.
“That child with those covetous eyes.”
So beautiful, like a jewel, I wanted to pluck out those eyes and adorn myself with them.
The beauty was such that merely gazing upon it made my body tremble.
Moreover.
“No matter how I think about it, they resemble each other.”
The appearance, the atmosphere, the voice—everything is different.
Yet something resembles.
Strangely similar to that person who was my deity, my heaven, and my entire life.
It shouldn’t be possible…
A mere martial artist born of the orthodox sects couldn’t possibly be like that.
Why do I feel this way?
“…Perhaps.”
Gwima’s eyes gleamed as he pondered. Perhaps indeed.
He might have found what he had been searching for so desperately.
Though such thoughts crossed his mind.
“Heh heh.”
He dismissed it at once. It was an absurd notion.
Just as Gwima was about to take another sip of tea.
Boom—!!
“…Ugh!?”
Suddenly, Gwima threw a punch into empty air.
The wall beneath his fist caved inward.
“…B-Branch Leader, what is the matter….”
“Ah, my apologies. Did I startle you?”
Gwima spoke while brushing off his hand.
“I thought I sensed an insect… but it seems I was mistaken.”
The wall revealed nothing.
Something seemed to have been there. Yet it appeared otherwise.
Gwima resumed drinking his tea.
[Hm.]
The elderly Giant who had been observing from that direction.
[That man. His instincts are sharp.]
Yoo Cheon-gil smiled as he watched Gwima.

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