The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 456

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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 456
The Central Plains, as it is called, is fundamentally a world steeped in blood and violence.
One could say that power itself equates to authority, and since everyone understood this, this was a place where people obsessed over cultivating martial arts or gathering martial artists to expand their influence.
But if one were to ask whether that is truly ‘everything,’ I would say no.
Strength is truth, yet depending on how efficiently one utilizes it, the outcomes vary vastly.
Observing this, ‘information’ possesses a value comparable to strength itself.
Information about martial artists.
Information about factions.
Information about regional composition and what follows from it.
Whether one possesses such knowledge determines the balance of power in any world.
Even in the Central Plains, where violence is considered paramount, this principle holds true.
Thus, the Beggar Sect—vast in influence yet relatively weak in martial might—could confidently stand among the Nine Great Sects and Righteous Factions, and this is why they are called one of the greatest pillars of the Righteous Path.
They were the ones who dealt in information.
The eyes and ears of the Righteous Path.
There was reason behind such a title.
Yet the Beggar Sect was not the only faction that wielded information to such great value.
The Demonic Sect once possessed such an organization in the past. It was destroyed during the war and disappeared.
This means that if both the Righteous Path and Demonic Sect had such entities, then the Unorthodox Path could possess one as well.
And indeed, there already existed a famous information bureau among the Unorthodox Path.
‘The Hao Sect.’
The Hao Sect.
If the Beggar Sect is a den of beggars,
then this place originated from street thugs and ruffians gathering to form a faction.
Like the Beggar Sect, they dealt in information.
‘But they are far more chaotic and reckless.’
They commit murder without hesitation to gather information, and the nature of their intelligence is far more brutal and unfiltered.
They possess much that is unadorned and raw, and approaching them was never easy.
‘Especially not in times like these.’
With the Righteous Path’s influence reaching the heavens, approaching the Hao Sect was equally difficult. No one knew where or how to contact them.
Being part of the Unorthodox Path, they were far more cautious about such matters.
Yet in such circumstances,
“Long time no see?”
I found the Hao Sect without difficulty.
A woman with an elegant smile comes into view. A figure crossing her smooth, exposed legs while looking at me with a knowing grin.
“Indeed. It has been quite a while, hasn’t it? Branch Leader.”
Hoyeon, Branch Leader of the Yeolyeong branch of the Hao Sect.
She was someone with whom I had some connection.
“I hadn’t heard from you in so long, I thought you were dead. Yet here you are, alive and well?”
With a snap, Hoyeon unfolds her fan and speaks. I let out a small laugh at her words.
“That’s quite an absurd thing to say.”
No contact, so you thought I was dead? That’s absurd.
“You must know everything I’ve been doing. Why pretend you don’t? Between us?”
From the moment I left Yeolyeong. From when I joined the Martial Arts Alliance. Until the moment I became a martial artist of the Cheongwol Sect.
Someone who knows all of that displaying such an attitude—I can only laugh.
“Between us? That’s quite an affectionate phrase. Did it make your heart flutter a little?”
A playful smile reached my eyes.
“How about it? Why not abandon that jealous fool from the Moyong family and come to your sister instead?”
“Ahahaha.”
I laughed at her words. And then.
Clang.
My hand moved to my sword.
In that instant.
Shhhhh—!! Killing intent flooded from all directions. Though it seemed like no one was there, enemies surrounded me from every side. I’d reached the level to sense it.
Though I’d done this knowing full well.
“Do I seem like I came to play around?”
I shifted my tone. The pleasantries were over.
“Hardly. Our prince wouldn’t have come without business.”
Hoyeon didn’t seem particularly surprised by my demeanor. After all, this was my true nature.
“Remarkable. It’s been what, a year? You’ve become a completely different person.”
“It’s a growth phase. A time to eat well and grow strong.”
“Your terrible jokes have grown as much as your height? How does it feel, having your status elevated?”
“Like garbage.”
“Looks like it.”
The killing intent didn’t fade. It didn’t matter.
“It’s strange. That prince who found everything tedious becoming the Sword Saint’s Predecessor. What could it be? I should have known everything. What happened?”
“Interesting. You asking me something like that. You must have prepared payment, yes?”
Information required payment. It was an absolute rule held by both the Hao Sect and the Open Faction without exception.
“Ah, I see.”
So Hoyeon laughed awkwardly at my point.
“It’ll be expensive?”
“Probably. It’s a price you can’t afford right now.”
“…Hmm.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Fine. Let’s skip that part. I’m curious, but I’m more interested in the real reason our prince came to visit.”
“Lucky for me.”
“Should I make some tea?”
“Only if you’re not putting poison or sleeping drugs in it.”
“My. Then I can’t serve it.”
“Are you a thug?”
“Just joking.”
Shortly after, tea arrived. There were three cups in total. A fragrant aroma wafted from the tea placed on the table.
“The young lady came along, so I prepared something sweet. That’s fine, right?”
At the mention of “young lady,” Gungwi, who had been standing behind me, stiffened. Displeasure flickered across her eyes.
“By the way, you’re traveling with quite the curiosity. I thought based on the rumors you’d be far removed from women, but here we are.”
“Such rumors have spread about me?”
“They have. That you work the legendary Dok-ryong like a slave, surround yourself with peerless beauties, and command the realm with an iron fist.”
“That’s absurd.”
“Is it? Is there any falsehood among those claims?”
….
I thought it over. Do I work Dok-ryong like a slave? No. It’s a sign of familiarity, nothing more.
Peerless beauties around me? Well, there are some.
But that’s not what it means, and commanding the realm? That hardly suited me at all.
“It’s all baseless gossip.”
“Hmm…. Is that so?”
Hoyeon’s expression became peculiar. It was the exact expression that irritated me most.
“So, why did you bring that young lady along?”
“I didn’t bring her. She chased after me of her own accord.”
“Chased after you? Speak plainly. You simply allowed her to chase after you, didn’t you?”
It wasn’t entirely wrong.
Half of it was true.
“I’m not that meticulous of a person.”
“How amusing.”
Hoyeon chuckled and took a sip of tea. As the fan disappeared from her face, the beauty marks beneath her eyes and below her lips became more pronounced.
“So. Why did you come?”
She got straight to the point. I appreciated that about her. There was no need for unnecessary back-and-forth.
“The reason for seeking out Hao Sect is obvious. I have questions.”
“Why? You could use the Gaebang. It wouldn’t be good if word spread that the Hero of Hanam is connected to the Hao Sect.”
I regarded Hoyeon with an expressionless face at those words.
Was that a threat? Perhaps.
“It wouldn’t be good. But what can I do? Your usefulness is too valuable.”
If I were to become entangled, I would have been long ago. And if that bothered me.
“If I disliked it, I would have swept you away already.”
“…My. How frightening.”
“Fortunately, I’ve gained such power now.”
“You’ve grown taller in the time we haven’t seen each other, and your personality has become more terrifying too. You seem to be trembling with fear.”
Just from the way she laughed, as if she found it amusing rather than frightening, I could tell.
“Enough. Give me the information.”
The verbal sparring was over. I was tired and had no desire to continue.
“What information are you looking for?”
Sensing my mood, Hoyeon set down what she was holding as well.
“I need intelligence on the movements of heterodox sects operating near Yeolyeong. Especially….”
I recalled the name of those men.
“The Sama Sect.”
“Hmm?”
The faction of those who had been abducting and murdering women. At the mention of them, Hoyeon’s head tilted slightly.
“Give me their activity records and a comprehensive compilation of recent incidents involving them.”
“…The Sama Sect, huh? That’s an odd question. I never thought the prince would be curious about such things? You’ve always been reluctant to get entangled with heterodox sects.”
“I have a feeling it’ll become necessary. Can you provide it or not?”
It wasn’t a question of whether records existed. They certainly had them—the question was whether she could hand them over.
“There’s a price, isn’t there? This one will be quite expensive.”
As expected. At Hoyeon’s words, I let out a soft laugh.
“How expensive?”
“Well? I don’t think a few coins will cut it.”
“Then that’s fine. I wasn’t planning to pay in money anyway.”
“Not in money?”
Interest flickered in Hoyeon’s eyes.
“Then what are you offering?”
“Information.”
“What?”
Hahaha. At my words, Hoyeon laughed aloud.
“…Information? Our prince’s jokes have gone too far.”
Proposing an information trade to Hao-mun. Her reaction suggested the idea was absurd. Naturally—this place rivaled even the Kaebang in openness and intelligence networks.
Few knew this fact. Hoyeon continued as if telling me not to joke, but—
“Whatever information you’re talking about, that won’t be enough to-”
“I’ll find where your father is.”
“Hey.”
In an instant, killing intent brushed past.
Shuuung—!!
A blade flew to my throat. Against the sharp air, cold steel touched my skin.
“There are limits to jokes. You’ll die that way.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
With an expressionless gaze, I raised my finger. I tapped lightly at the blade pressing against my throat.
“This much should be worth more than most prices. Can you treat a good customer this way?”
“Customers vary. Prince. I do like you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll overlook crossing the line.”
“Then I understand well.”
Hoyeon of Hao-mun. I knew exactly how terrifying this woman was.
I could tell just from the karma wrapped around her soul.
She’s a madwoman. Knowing that, I still had to use her. Setting aside my fear, her abilities were undeniable.
“That’s why I’m telling you this. With a price this high, you should be willing to hand it over.”
“….”
Hoyeon stares at me intently.
The moment her smile fades, her gaze persists.
“Put the sword away.”
The command falls. The blade at my throat vanishes.
“How did you know?”
The question begins.
“Which part? That you’re searching for my father? Or his whereabouts themselves?”
“Can you answer both?”
“Neither. You haven’t paid the price yet. Give me something and choose one.”
“…Ha.”
Frost clings to my laughter.
“Bangseong-yeon.”
The form of address changes.
“If that’s a lie, you’ll die by my hand within a fortnight.”
“Oh. How touching. You’re giving me a whole fortnight?”
“You’re worth that much.”
For this woman, a fortnight was an extraordinarily generous span of time.
“What did you say you were curious about?”
“The Sama Sect. Information about those bastards and their recent activities and incidents.”
“Fine. I’ll give it to you.”
Clink. Hoyeon sets down her teacup and speaks.
“I’ll throw in information about Patcheon Gung as well.”
“….”
The mention of Patcheon Gung, unspoken until now. I smile at Hoyeon.
“Still a terrifying woman. I’d rather not get entangled.”
“Thanks for the compliment. Come back tomorrow. I’ll have it organized for you.”
“Will a day be enough?”
“I’d prefer longer. Since I’m curious too, I’ll prepare it hastily.”
“Works for me. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
With the main discussion concluded, I rise to my feet.
I leave the room as is. Gungwi, who had remained quietly beside me, follows.
Still, no one appeared in the surroundings. Even as this thick killing intent saturates the room.

* * *
Creak.
The moment the door closed and I stepped outside.
“….”
Gungwi stared at me intently.
“What.”
What was she looking at.
The way she was staring like that.
“…You. What exactly are you.”
“What do you mean?”
“And what is that supposed to be.”
“I’m asking what you mean.”
When I asked with a frown, unable to understand her words, Gungwi spoke with trembling eyes.
“That woman.”
She was referring to Hoyeon.
“She’s not human, is she.”
‘Oh.’
I was impressed by her words.
Indeed, I had felt it before as well.
“You have good instincts.”
Gungwi had excellent instincts. Exceptionally so.

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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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