Chapter 141: Chapter 141
Surprised, Jeok-sein soon quelled her embarrassment and spoke with an expression as rigid as stone.
“…I’m sorry, but that’s hard to believe. Although they’ve temporarily withdrawn to Hawaii Island, the Imperial Army was always stationed in New Sichuan. Unless the Alliance Leader and the Council of Elders intend to make them absolute enemies, they wouldn’t make such a foolish choice.”
The Martial Alliance and the Imperial Army stationed in Hawaii maintained a mutually cooperative relationship. This was because the New Continent was vast.
Although more than a century had passed since the New Continent was discovered, the uncultivated land remained far vaster than the developed areas. Yet compared to its expanse, the number of stationed Imperial soldiers was far too small. This was primarily because the Emperor did not hold much interest in this land from the beginning, which allowed Martial World sects to flourish and form their own alliance, unlike in the Central Plains.
Had there been any movement to establish an organization like the Martial Alliance in the Central Plains, they would have been branded as traitors plotting rebellion and slaughtered to the last man.
In any case, the stationed forces, seeking to expand their influence on the New Continent with insufficient troops, chose to concentrate their small numbers in coastal cities and control the apex of the New Continent’s interest groups rather than scattering their forces across the vast lands.
Thus, the Imperial Army stationed troops only in Gamsan City, New Sichuan City, and Heavenly Empress City, leading to the formation of the Martial Alliance. Granted the legitimacy to establish order on the New Continent by the Imperial Army, the Martial Alliance had upheld justice in this land for decades.
The current Martial Alliance Leader, Helian Wi-jin, could be called the pinnacle of that legitimacy. Among all the Alliance Leaders to date, none had ever been bestowed a sword and a title directly by the Emperor. That was a rare honor, even when considering the Imperial Army or ancient martial clans.
However, the fact that such legitimacy could be easily granted also meant it could be easily stripped away. If the Martial Alliance’s high command did something to fall out of the Emperor’s favor, the Imperial Army would wipe them out. Thousands of Imperial soldiers might not be able to govern the entire New Continent, but they were more than enough to wipe out tens of thousands gathered in a single place.
Even if the remaining Martial World sects rose up against the Imperial Army after the leadership was wiped out, it would still pose a problem. Such full-scale warfare would draw the attention of the Central Plains, making it only a matter of time before dozens or hundreds of Imperial warships crossed the ocean.
Ultimately, the Martial Alliance had no choice but to walk on eggshells around the Imperial Army. Yet the Imperial Army also hoped the Martial Alliance would not cause trouble and attract the Emperor’s scrutiny. The ocean between the Central Plains and this land was far too vast and distant—a distance that posed a burden even for the Thousand-Year Empire.
Even amidst the power struggles between the Alliance Leader and the Council of Elders, the Martial Alliance sought to gain a bit more independent autonomy externally. On the other hand, the Imperial Army sought to secure supplies for the troops stationed in Hawaii, maintain their influence on the New Continent with minimal force, and simultaneously prove their competence to their Emperor. In the current landscape of the Martial World, alongside the stirring of the Demonic Palace, there existed such a subtle power play between the Martial Alliance and the Imperial Army.
And the facts Bae Won-hyeong had just disclosed were enough to shatter that balance. If his words were true, as soon as the Imperial Army returned from Hawaii Island, the subtle tug-of-war they had maintained while testing each other would come to an end. Though no one could predict how it would end, it was clear that the process would prove disastrous for everyone involved.
To Jeok-sein, who understood this background, Bae Won-hyeong’s words appeared to be nothing more than lies intended to confuse them.
“Jang Geon, let’s go. If we arrest Elder Bae Yang-o and search his residence and the Baekrim Bureau, the whole truth will come to light.”
Jeok-sein turned her eyes away from the hanging head of Bae Won-hyeong and spoke to Jang Geon. Indeed, it would all end if they arrested Elder Bae Yang-o without wasting any more time.
Yet despite her attitude, Bae Won-hyeong slowly raised his head, chuckling with a labored wheeze.
“Keuh… You still don’t get it… The Alliance Leader and the Council of Elders aren’t cooperating with the Demonic Palace… They’re simply standing by and watching their tricks… Now that the Imperial Army has withdrawn from New Sichuan, they’re doing it to shake up the board even a little before they return…”
“Shake up the board? And what would the Alliance Leader and the Council of Elders gain from that? They would only suffer disadvantages for failing to stop Demonic Practitioners from swarming New Sichuan, not gain anything.”
“The Martial Alliance already has the incident involving Commandant Fierce Tiger… An incident where the senior commandant abused the power of the Imperial Army at will for personal gain… He died in the Martial Alliance’s dungeon. Without being extradited to the Central Plains… Do you really believe the Alliance Leader couldn’t prevent that assassination?”
Jeok-sein fell silent. Her mind spun rapidly. Bae Won-hyeong’s words meant that the Martial Alliance had handed over Commandant Gyeon Woo-young, holding a debt over the Imperial Army’s head, and intended to use that as a shield for this incident.
Suddenly, her eyes and Jang Geon’s turned toward Yang Goeng. It was Yang Goeng who worked directly with the Imperial Army. He was likely to know about this matter.
But Yang Goeng met their gazes with a bewildered expression and shook his head.
“I-I know nothing about that. I’m just a low-ranking grunt. What I know is that back then, the Dark Dragon Corps discovered corruption and launched an operation to slice it out. How could a guy like me, who just goes around robbing carriages, know anything about politics like this?”
Leaving aside Yang Goeng, who looked wronged, Jeok-sein gently shook her head.
“…That’s not enough. That’s not enough to conceal the fact that they collaborated with Demonic Practitioners. Demonic Practitioners ran rampant in New Sichuan—do you really think it can end with just collecting on a debt?”
“The Alliance Leader intends to use this opportunity to scatter the power of the Council of Elders, while the Council of Elders tacitly acquiesces to put my father at the forefront of the political feud… In the worst-case scenario, only the Baekrim Gang will be expelled from the Martial Alliance… After all, if the Imperial Army wants to maintain its influence in this land, the Martial Alliance itself must survive…”
Jeok-sein parted her lips to offer a rebuttal. But following that logic, she reached the conclusion that the Martial Alliance might get off by making a slight concession to the Imperial Army. No, looking closely, it wasn’t even a concession.
The Alliance Leader was attempting to reduce the Council of Elders’ power by borrowing the Imperial Army’s hands, while the Council of Elders used Bae Yang-o as the spearhead of their political battle against the Alliance Leader, hoping he would be purged before his power grew too large. On top of that, the stakes and rights in Heavenly Empress City currently held by the Baekrim Gang would also become their prey.
At the top of the Martial Alliance, which was supposed to establish justice in the Martial World, the supreme leaders were merely sacrificing colleagues and exploiting others for the sake of power struggles. Jeok-sein squeezed her eyes shut and cradled her forehead. At this rate, it was far better to wander the eastern wasteland meeting branch heads who took modest bribes on the side. In this moment, she felt herself longing for the dust-laden wind and desolate plains more than the splendor of New Sichuan’s streets.
Just then, Jang Geon, who had been quietly smoking a rolled leaf, spoke up abruptly.
“If you knew all that, why did you join hands with the Demonic Palace?”
At that question, Jeok-sein and Yang Goeng’s eyes focused back on Bae Won-hyeong. Bae Won-hyeong, whose face had grown increasingly pale, let out a hollow laugh at Jang Geon’s inquiry. He spoke in a noticeably calmer manner than before.
“…In stories, why do people make deals with the devil? Isn’t it because it’s that tempting? My father, who once held a single seat on the Council of Elders simply because his elder brother was the Baekrim Gang Leader, is now locking horns and competing for power with none other than the Great Chivalrous Hero, the Master of the Righteous Dragon Sword. He became a true power broker of the Martial World, beyond just the Alliance… And… honestly, I thought we wouldn’t get caught… I merely overlooked the fact that the Alliance Leader and the other elders have been playing mind games for decades, that they weren’t fools either…”
Watching Bae Won-hyeong’s head sink downward again, Jang Geon puffed out smoke with a pheew. Then, looking up at Jeok-sein, he spoke.
“The one riding a tiger was this guy all along. And the tiger was running straight toward a cliff.”
Listening intently, Jeok-sein recalled the conversation she had shared with Jang Geon before going to find Bae Yang-o. Back then, she had thought she was the one riding the running tiger. A running tiger, and the person atop it. The moment one dismounted or slipped, the tiger would instantly tear through their neck.
“Don’t overthink it. It’s a clear fact that Bae Yang-o joined hands with the Demonic Palace, so we just need to eradicate him and the Demonic Practitioners hiding in New Sichuan. As a member of the Martial Alliance, what else is there for you to do?”
Saying so, Jang Geon flicked away the remaining stub of his rolled leaf and stood up. Her thoughts tangled, Jeok-sein forced a nod. In any case, that was indeed her duty. If she wiped out Bae Yang-o and all the Demonic Practitioners who committed massacres in the east, the internal political strife within the Alliance would naturally settle, and matters with the tribal alliance would proceed as well.
Of course, that ultimately meant she and Jang Geon were doing the Imperial Army’s job for them, ensuring that the Alliance Leader and elders who created this situation would suffer no losses. Reaching that realization, Jeok-sein felt herself longing for the wasteland once more.
Having stood up, Jang Geon heard Bae Won-hyeong, whose head hung limp, draw his final rasping breaths. The breathing did not last long. As all strength left the body, the corpse went completely limp.
Turning his head to look around the warehouse, Jang Geon brought his gaze to rest on the other two and spoke.
“Bae Yang-o must be scheming something as well. Let’s head back.”
Jeok-sein nodded with a hardened face, while Yang Goeng, who had thought he provided enough information to at least guarantee his life, pulled a tearful expression. It did not seem Jang Geon’s eyes would allow him to back out.
The three left the warehouse and moved back toward the Martial Alliance. They decided to send personnel later from the Alliance to clean up. For now, they had to move quickly to capture Elder Bae Yang-o.
Late afternoon had set in, staining the sky over New Sichuan in shades of yellow. In the streets, laborers who had finished their day’s work crowded together in search of taverns, while shopkeepers who had been selling goods all day shouted at the top of their lungs to clear out remaining stock. Pleasure houses had already lit colorful lanterns and hung them from eaves and poles, preparing for business in earnest.
It was a scene that made the power struggles between the Alliance Leader and Council of Elders, the massacres of the eastern natives, and the Demonic Palace’s plots to overturn the New Continent seem like mere lies. Watching the scenery, Jeok-sein felt the corners of her mouth turn even more bitter.
Passing through the ordinary evening streets of New Sichuan, the three encountered the guard at the Martial Alliance’s main gate once more. Without a word, he demanded an identification token with his eyes, and Jang Geon pulled out the Righteous Dragon Token to show him. Having confirmed it, the guard did not block the three as they entered through the gate. He merely muttered softly as Jang Geon passed by.
“I smell blood.”
Jang Geon stopped with his back to him and spoke.
“Soon, the inside will smell the same.”
“…The Inner Court Guard is going to have a rough time.”
He replied as such and shut his mouth. Standing with his back turned, Jang Geon smiled faintly at the reply that sounded like a soliloquy and moved on once more. As the three went inside, the three guards standing watch at the gate remained motionless.
His eyes fixed straight ahead, the guard listened to the receding footsteps of Jang Geon’s party and thought to himself. It was regarding the Righteous Dragon Token. While people often called the Alliance Leader the Master of the Righteous Dragon Sword, no one called him the Master of the Righteous Dragon Token. That was partly because the sword held greater symbolism than the small token, and partly because even if the Alliance Leader drew the Righteous Dragon Sword, he rarely proffered the Righteous Dragon Token.
Yet that did not mean it was an object of light significance to be easily handed to an outsider. The Righteous Dragon Token could carry a far greater symbol than the Alliance Leader imagined. Though the guard did not know what thoughts led the Alliance Leader to entrust that token to a warrior named Jang Geon, he believed things would not proceed entirely according to his plan.
Thinking up to that point, the guard closed and opened his eyes tightly once, clearing his thoughts. Such matters were not for him to worry about. Right now, his job was the lockdown of the Martial Alliance’s main gate.
Just then, a woman caught his eye.
She wore a luxurious silk martial robe, with a magnificent black cloak embroidered with gold thread draped over her shoulders. The sword tied to her waist also bore golden tassels, and the hairpin in her elegantly tied hair was no ordinary luxury item.
Even standing alone in the middle of a street packed with people, whether due to her luxurious attire or the aura exuding from her entire being, she stood out like a noble who had dropped into the middle of a marketplace.
The next instant, the guard realized another woman was standing beside her. Though unadorned, she looked like a finely forged sword.
The moment he confirmed the appearance of the two women, the guard felt his grip tighten on the spear in his right hand.
In the street he had thought was filled merely with countless commoners, at some point, dozens of people possessing identical momentum had filled the space. They were all centered around the woman in luxurious attire.
She approached. Facing the dozens of formidable pressures emanating from behind her, the guard had to grit his teeth. Watching the approaching woman, he raised his left palm toward her.
“…Halt. The Martial Alliance is currently under lockdown.”
Her steps halted. Smiling as if finding the guard stopping her amusing, she reached into her bosom and produced something the size of a palm to show him, mimicking his raised palm. Seeing it, the guard unwittingly squeezed his eyes shut once more. What she held out was a golden token engraved with a yellow dragon.
That was the symbol of the Emperor.