Double Conspiracy (2)

Princess Jang-ok’s quarters.

The princess was exhausted from the meetings that continued day after day. They were meetings that drew out no particular method and only drained her stamina.

“Prin…… Admiral!”

A voice urgently calling her rang out. Since he tried to call her princess and then hurriedly changed it, he seemed to be an agent of the Eastern Depot. Those who were not Eastern Depot agents all called her Princess.

“What is it?”

Princess Jang-ok asked without even turning her head.

“Reports have arrived from the Operatives Bureau and the Capture Bureau.”

“Reports?”

She tilted her head. Her expression showed that she did not know what kind of reports these were.

“Bring them here, at any rate.”

Whatever they were, reports sent up from the Eastern Depot were work she had to look at anyway.

Princess Jang-ok picked up one of the reports the messenger had left behind. The place that had sent it was none other than the Capture Bureau.

“A report on Neung Je-gang?”

An interested light swirled in the princess’s eyes. She had ordered them to investigate the senior brother of Secret Shadow, who had been imprisoned in the Forbidden Demon Prison, and the result had only now arrived. There was no probability that Neung Je-gang was alive, but since one never knew, she had told them to open the Forbidden Demon Prison and rescue him.

The princess read the report closely. The report did not contain only matters about whether Neung Je-gang was alive or dead. It also contained detailed information about Neung Je-gang’s time as an agent of the Eastern Depot’s Capture Bureau. Perhaps because the one who had ordered the work was the princess, it seemed they had conducted a somewhat excessively detailed investigation.

“Hooh! Waaah!”

Princess Jang-ok sometimes exclaimed in admiration as she read the report. Records of the various criminals arrested, which could be called Neung Je-gang’s achievements, had been attached.

“They said his master was called the greatest problem-solver in the martial world, and both senior and junior brothers are extraordinary.”

Since she did not know Secret Shadow and Neung Je-gang were the same person, she could not help being astonished by the achievements Neung Je-gang had accomplished as an Eastern Depot agent.

“If this report is right, then almost every case the Capture Bureau handled in Beijing was solved by this man, wasn’t it? No, but they killed someone like this through a false accusation?”

As she read the report, anger surged up in her. It was partly because she felt goodwill toward him as Secret Shadow’s senior brother, but literally, it was because of the foolish higher-ups of the Eastern Depot.

“To kill such a talent so pointlessly.”

The princess carefully read and memorized the names of the Eastern Depot higher-ups recorded as having agreed to imprison Neung Je-gang in the Forbidden Demon Prison at that time.

“I should look for chances and cut them down one by one. People who cannot grasp a situation like this only harm the Eastern Depot.”

It was a single remark that fully revealed the true nature of a narrow-minded woman. No matter how much of a princess she was, what could be done when she was a woman by nature? Her desire to look good before Secret Shadow was making her narrow-minded.

“Huh?”

However, as Princess Jang-ok read the end of the report, her eyes widened. She completely forgot even the names she had gone to the trouble of memorizing.

“There are traces of a prison break? And an explosion?”

The report stated that there were no survivors in the Forbidden Demon Prison, that there were traces of a small tunnel dug on one side, and that a large explosion had occurred outside the Forbidden Demon Prison several years ago.

At the time, it had been considered nothing special, but after examining the Forbidden Demon Prison this time, the conclusion written there was that someone had dug a tunnel, escaped, and then used an artifact of the thunderbomb type to blow it up in order to erase the traces.

What decorated the very end of the report was a list of all past prisoners of the Forbidden Demon Prison. Among the names decorating nearly the end of that list, two names entered the princess’s eyes and lodged there…….

“Neung Je-gang…… Human-Faced Leech? Ma-jil? Surely this Ma-jil and that Ma-jil are not the same person, are they?”

The princess recalled the face of a certain person who called Secret Shadow “Captain.” A person who had visited this very place not long ago.

“Wait, let us keep reading.”

The princess turned her eyes to the end of the report. Then she fixed her gaze on one sentence written there.

“Among the current martial artists, the most likely person capable of breaking someone out of the Forbidden Demon Prison is Nam Yeong?”

The princess’s expression became as though she might scream. If there were no lies in the report, then perhaps some imagination that had not yet been firmly established in the princess’s mind might become reality.

“Neung Je-gang…… Secret Shadow…… Cheong Yeon, Ma-jil, and Nam Yeong?”

The conclusion reached was that Neung Je-gang, who had been falsely accused, made a criminal, and imprisoned in the Forbidden Demon Prison, might soon be the same person as Secret Shadow.

“B-but the face? No one recognized him, did they? If that person and Neung Je-gang are the same person, then it makes no sense that the Eastern Depot agents did not recognize him.”

The princess concluded that way. Though she suspected it, she thought Secret Shadow and Neung Je-gang were not the same person. Within the common sense she knew, there was no way for a face to change completely.

Princess Jang-ok calmed her heart a little and read the next report.

“This is from the Black Alliance.”

Sarararak.

Perhaps because she thought it would be nothing special, she flipped through the report quickly. The Eastern Depot agent who had infiltrated the Black Alliance had been sending reports regularly. However, there had been no particular content until now, so she assumed it would be the same this time as well.

But at some moment, her hand stopped sharply.

“Enemy annihilation? The Black Alliance broke through the wall between the Necromancer Cult and the Black Alliance?”

The princess sprang to her feet. According to the report, the Black Alliance would be attacking Kunlun. No, perhaps they might already have taken Kunlun.

“Secret Shadow?”

The princess, who had not taken her eyes off the report, finally discovered the name she had waited for so long.

“They reversed the state of the war with Secret Shadow’s help? He was alive.”

She had believed he would not have died. But it had been a time when she had anxiously worried because she could not know that news. Yet he was alive. Not only that, he was intact without even any injuries. Moreover, it was written that by the time the report arrived, Secret Shadow might also have arrived near Seon-yeong.

“Is anyone there!”

“Yes.”

One person entered from outside.

“Immediately deliver this to the Martial Alliance’s Investigation Unit Chief.”

The princess held out the report.

“This, you mean?”

“Yes! Why? Is that not allowed?”

“That is not the case, but if we send it as it is, they will know that we have an agent in the Black Alliance, will they not? Then they may infer that we have agents infiltrated into the Martial Alliance as well, so…….”

“How foolish. Do you think they do not know that fact? They know, but merely pretend not to know. They are not enemies now, so just send it.”

“U-understood.”

The Eastern Depot agent received the report and went outside.

“Wait. While you are going, call Cheong Yeon’s party who are there.”

“Understood.”

“W-wait! This will not do. I will go to the Martial Alliance myself. So give me the report.”

The princess took the report back as if snatching it away and left the tent. As the masters of the Eorim Institute who had been standing inside the tent like guardian posts stepped outside and seemed to send some kind of signal, the masters of the Eorim Institute who had been standing guard nearby instantly approached and surrounded her.

“Bring my sword.”

At her short command, one court lady brought over an ornate sword and held it out. The princess frowned when she saw that sword. The sword could truly be called decorative. If something happened by any chance, it would not help at all.

Although the princess had learned martial arts, she had not yet reached the peak stage, so the difference in her ability depending on the weapon was considerable.

“You are giving me this as a sword?”

The princess asked in a tone full of dissatisfaction.

“His Majesty sent it.”

The court lady’s face became troubled.

“I dislike decorative swords. Bring me something else.”

The princess dared to refuse the sword bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor. It was a scene others should not see.

“There is nothing suitable for Your Highness to use.”

The court lady spoke in a tactful tone, but the princess did not blink an eye.

“Throw it away. I would rather have nothing.”

The princess turned her head and went toward the Martial Alliance. She was thinking of going to the Martial Alliance and getting even some spare swords.

After the princess left, the court lady holding the sword let out a loud sigh and went back to the princess’s tent carrying the sword. The princess had told her to throw it away, but it was not an item that could truly be thrown away.

Sseuk.

Inside the tent, the court lady suddenly drew the sword slightly. In an instant, dazzling light filled the tent. The sharp blade contained an aura that seemed capable of cutting everything. Contrary to the princess’s expectations, the sword was something that could be called a treasured blade.

“What is wrong with this? It is only pretty.”

The court lady grumbled, put the sword back in, and shoved it roughly into one corner of the princess’s luggage. Thus, a peerless treasured sword bestowed by the emperor was not treated properly and was buried in the shadows.

The Soul Hunters stood stupidly, not knowing how to move. They had swarmed in to block the path, but as if mocking that, the opponent was flying across the air. And with one piece of luggage held in each arm at that.

“Is that also lightness art?”

The Soul-Hunting First Tiger looked with troubled eyes only at Neung Je-gang’s disappearing back. Who would call such a thing lightness art? It truly had to be called not lightness art, but flight.

“What should we do? That guy is going to throw another fit, isn’t he? Shouldn’t we chase him?”

Someone approached the leader of the Soul Hunters.

“There is nothing we can do. We have no choice but to withdraw like this. It is not as if we did not try to catch him, so would he really say anything?”

The Soul-Hunting First Tiger looked around at his subordinates and said that, then turned around.

“We may be fine, but will you not be humiliated, Village Chief?”

The Soul Hunters called their leader Village Chief.

“There is nothing to be done. What was missed was missed. Let us hurry back.”

The Soul-Hunting First Tiger moved first, and his subordinates followed behind him. Dozens of people moved all at once, yet there was no sound at all.

Whoosh.

The small table placed beside the grand preceptor’s chair crossed the air and was thrown at the Soul-Hunting First Tiger. Deung Myeong panted with rage as he threw the table and looked regretfully at the roasted beans that had flown along with it.

The Soul-Hunting First Tiger took one step to the side and avoided the table.

Crash!

The table flew straight into the door of the hall and shattered to pieces with a loud noise.

“You dodged? A hundred or so of you ran out, let one man escape, and yet you still have the shame to dodge that?”

Deung Myeong shouted. More than the fact that they had let the man escape, the fact that the Soul-Hunting First Tiger had avoided the table he threw made him angrier.

“There is no need to be hit for no reason.”

The Soul-Hunting First Tiger spoke bluntly.

“No…… reason? You let the enemy escape.”

“Anyone would have let him escape.”

“What?”

Killing intent wavered at the corners of Deung Myeong’s eyes.

“Anyone…… you say?”

The Soul-Hunting First Tiger’s words were no different from saying that even Deung Myeong would have let him escape. Those words touched Deung Myeong’s pride.

“…….”

The Soul-Hunting First Tiger closed his mouth. He also knew that he had touched Deung Myeong’s pride. So he had no choice but to endure it. If he scratched at him any further here, Deung Myeong might truly rampage, saying he would kill him.

“Good, good. If the Soul-Hunting First Tiger says so, then it must be so. But you know, we cannot just remain here after being struck like this. Right?”

As if he had thought of something, Deung Myeong lightly placed a smile in the corners of his eyes where killing intent had been swirling.

“Tonight, let us go stir up the Martial Alliance for a while. Understood?”

“Are you saying we should launch a surprise attack?”

Jeong Hoe-ja lifted his face in astonishment and asked.

“No. The enemy was one man, so if we all swarm in, it will not make a proper picture. One person can go to the Martial Alliance side, and one person can go to the imperial army side. Right?”

Deung Myeong’s scheme lay elsewhere. In any case, to kidnap the princess, he needed to cause a disturbance, did he not? He had had no justification to cause a commotion alone, but with one word from the Soul-Hunting First Tiger, that justification had been created.

“I will go to the imperial army side, so who will go to the Martial Alliance?”

Deung Myeong made the first move and chose the imperial army side. Only then could he take the Jieun Territory with him and kidnap the princess.

The Soul-Hunting First Tiger and Jeong Hoe-ja only blinked. Neither of them had any intention of charging into the Martial Alliance’s camp alone. Unless one wanted to die, who would want to put his own head into a tiger’s mouth?

“Soul-Hunting First Tiger, you go to the Martial Alliance.”

In the end, Deung Myeong decided on the Soul-Hunting First Tiger.

“……Understood.”

The Soul-Hunting First Tiger could not refuse. Since Deung Gak had ordered him to follow Deung Myeong’s instructions well, it could not be helped.

The Soul-Hunting First Tiger realized now that Deung Myeong was trying to kill him. Deung Myeong wanted his life merely because he had avoided a table. Killing intent slowly swirled in the eyes hidden behind the Soul-Hunting First Tiger’s mask. No matter how much he was in a position where he had to obey the Necromancer Cult Leader’s orders, he, too, was a person with emotions.

“If you do not have confidence alone, you may take those proud-looking dregs with you.”

Deung Myeong looked at the Soul-Hunting First Tiger and spoke as if he were showing generosity. Was it a trick to scrape at his pride?

“Understood. I will do so.”

However, as if he had no pride, the Soul-Hunting First Tiger quickly answered that he understood, turned around, and left the hall. Even though Deung Myeong had not told him to withdraw.

Because of that attitude, the killing intent that had disappeared from Deung Myeong’s eyes rose again.

“Are you not being too harsh? No matter how skilled the Soul-Hunting First Tiger is, if he goes to the Martial Alliance camp, he will not come back alive.”

Jeong Hoe-ja looked at Deung Myeong and spoke.

“I know.”

“Pardon? Th-then……?”

“That is right. I am sending him to die.”

“Why……?”

“Is it not about time to slowly deal with them? There is no need to keep those remnants of the old Necromancer Cult around.”

“Ah……! But they are still people we need.”

Jeong Hoe-ja shook his head.

“That is true. Those fellows are excellent at standing guard. But if we drag out the time and they notice, they may become a source of trouble. And winter is coming soon. The Martial Alliance and Black Alliance fellows will not try to fight during the winter either. Then the Soul Hunters will become useless as well. During winter, we can formally organize and train an army and fill the gap left by the Soul Hunters.”

“What will you do if he happens to return alive?”

“Then later, when we establish the empire, he will be used as a tool of reconciliation with the martial world.”

“A tool of reconciliation?”

“In truth, those fellows can be called the real Necromancer Cult, can they not? Since we cannot remain enemies with the martial world even after establishing the empire, we can hand those fellows over to the martial world as a reconciliation gift. Well, even if all of those fellows die today, as long as we know where their village is, it does not really matter…….”

Deung Myeong said that and slightly waved his hand.

Whoosh.

In an instant, the roasted beans scattered on the floor floated up and flew into Deung Myeong’s hand.

“Huk, huk!”

Deung Myeong blew on them, roughly shook off the dust, and put them into his mouth one by one. He used Airborne Object Seizing, deployed with mighty internal energy, to pick up roasted beans and eat them. Depending on how it was used, internal energy could make daily life convenient like this.