“W-what did you say?!”
Ma Dong-pil’s face grew serious.
“I said he’s been imprisoned.”
“How could even the Criminal Court imprison the Third Young Master? Without a rebellion, that’s impossible!”
“…”
“Surely he didn’t actually rebel?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then why!”
Ma Dong-pil sighed and explained the whole situation.
Hearing this, Wi Hong-ryeon’s face twisted in anger.
“Has that son of a bitch Criminal Court’s Leader lost his mind? What’s wrong with candidates fighting each other that he needs to imprison him?!”
“The situation isn’t that simple.”
“What’s not simple about it? What could be simpler than candidates fighting for supreme power?”
“He swung his sword at the Criminal Court’s Leader who tried to stop the fight.”
“…!”
“Though he holds the most noble status in our cult, this case is different. It’s not just anyone – there was conflict with the head of the Criminal Court.”
“…Fuck.”
The authority of the Criminal Court, which carried out the cult’s punishments, was truly formidable. Even if the opponent was the cult leader’s disciple, swinging a sword at the Court Leader wasn’t a matter that could be easily overlooked.
“Moreover, there were too many witnesses. They had to imprison the Young Master, if only to maintain the Criminal Court’s authority.”
Wi Hong-ryeon glared with blazing eyes.
“You bastard! Whose side are you on?”
“What do you mean?”
“So you’re saying the Criminal Court’s Leader did the right thing?!”
“I said I understand him, not that I’m on his side.”
“You sure know how to talk, you damn bastard.”
“That’s not what’s important. There’s nothing we can do at this point. We don’t know how the Criminal Court’s Leader will act or how the Young Master will respond.”
Ma Dong-pil’s voice gradually lost strength.
“Honestly, I don’t know what to do either right now.”
Wi Hong-ryeon, who had been grinding her teeth, turned her head away. She too couldn’t think of anything else.
A stifling silence enveloped the two.
Ma Dong-pil tilted his head.
“By the way, why are you here, Squad Leader Wi?”
“What’s it to you, bastard?”
“Shouldn’t the Mad Demon Squad be returning to the field starting today?”
Wi Hong-ryeon snorted.
“We move when orders come from above. There hasn’t been any word from the superiors yet.”
“Then why aren’t you on standby…”
“You sure talk a lot. What? Am I not allowed to come here?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“My mood’s complicated enough, don’t nag.”
Wi Hong-ryeon, who had been sighing heavily, soon showed a wicked smile.
“But he sure is fierce. To crush the Fourth Young Master right there, as expected.”
Though it was being kept quiet, rumors were spreading throughout the inner palace that the Fourth Young Master had received injuries from which he couldn’t recover.
At the same time, the Third Young Master’s powerful martial might was being highlighted anew. The demonic cult members were amazed by his martial arts, which had not only broken free from demonic possession but become far stronger than before.
Excitement, and anxiety.
The Third Young Master’s power left a strong impression on the demonic cult members’ hearts, but it also caused anxiety. The fighting between candidates that had been happening in secret had now surfaced.
“Tch, it’s a bit disappointing though.”
“What is?”
“The Third Young Master made such a flashy scene.”
“Watch your words.”
“Whatever, because of that, what should have become rumors didn’t spread.”
“Rumors?”
“About Song Gyeong. How badly that bastard got crushed should have spread everywhere too.”
“Is that important?”
“It is to me.”
Ma Dong-pil clicked his tongue.
“Why do you hate the True Demon Squad Leader so much? Did something major happen between you two?”
“Would I hate him this much if nothing happened?”
“What exactly happened?”
“There was a squad leaders’ meeting shortly after I became squad leader. That bastard tried to discipline me then. I got angry and crushed one of his balls.”
“…!”
“Since then he’s been desperate to get back at me. Even though he started it first.”
“…”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…Let’s go get something to eat.”
“How can food go down in this situation?”
“That’s rich coming from you, Squad Leader Wi. Let’s go – whatever we do, we need to eat to think straight.”
“Who brainwashed you with such food-obsessed nonsense?”
“The Third Young Master.”
***
“…”
“…?”
“…”
“If you’ve come in, say something. Why just stand there blankly?”
“Third Young Master.”
“What.”
“Just how…”
“Ah, right. Before that, would you mind removing these?”
Seo Ryang raised both hands. On his wrists were Unshakable Iron Cuffs[1] handcuffs, the same ones Wi Hong-ryeon had worn before.
“My wrists are getting sore. Since I have no intention of escaping anyway, I think you could remove them.”
“You are currently imprisoned, Young Master. Being imprisoned means you are temporarily a criminal – naturally, I cannot grant that request.”
Crack!
Go Gu’s eyes deepened.
Seo Ryang scratched his head. The Unshakable Iron Cuffs handcuffs that had been on both hands were split in half.
“I didn’t think they’d break, but they did. Sorry for damaging them.”
Handcuffs made of Unshakable Iron Cuffs seal internal energy.
Even the chain connecting the cuffs was made of high-purity steel that couldn’t be destroyed by sealed internal energy. Yet that Unshakable Iron Cuffs had shattered instantly.
“Your internal energy wasn’t sealed?”
“It was sealed.”
“Then how?”
“I’m naturally strong.”
It was an absurd joke. These handcuffs were something even external martial arts masters who reached first-rate realm through physical training alone would struggle to break.
However, Seo Ryang was well-versed in devices that temporarily sealed internal energy, like handcuffs, rings, and bracelets. He had used them countless times when assassinating masters who could assess energy presence at a glance.
Naturally, he also knew methods to forcibly break seals. To Seo Ryang, the Unshakable Iron Cuffs were merely slightly harder handcuffs.
Crack! Crack!
After tearing off the remaining cuffs on his wrists, Seo Ryang crossed his arms.
“So what did you want to say?”
“…I remember you clearly agreed to my proposal.”
“Proposal? It was a threat.”
“Whatever you want to call it.”
“I did agree. To confess, I didn’t want to cause this much trouble either.”
“Are you saying it was beyond your control?”
“Whether proposal or threat, there was a mediator. It’s not a bad way to make peace, but proper reconciliation requires agreement between the parties involved, doesn’t it?”
“So you extended the hand of peace first?”
“I did. He kicked it away. With the bonus threat that he’d definitely kill me, if not immediately.”
“…”
“I can’t stand having someone suspicious at my back. Why should I spare someone who wants to kill me just because of a mediator’s threat?”
Go Gu’s eyes sank coldly.
“I don’t know how you took it, but my warning that you’d face considerable trouble was sincere.”
“I know.”
“Can you handle it?”
Seo Ryang tilted his head.
“Now that’s an interesting thing to say. Why should I have to handle it?”
“…I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I’m not talking about your ‘threat’ disguised as a proposal, but about the ‘reason’ for making such a threat.”
Reason? What did he mean?
“Whether as Criminal Court’s Leader or as the individual Go Gu, you don’t want conflict breaking out in the cult. That’s why you became the mediator, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Now there won’t be any conflict, right?”
“…!”
“Isn’t that so? That bastard Hong Wi-moon will have to lie down for at least a few years – could he provoke me in that condition?”
Go Gu’s expression changed dramatically.
Yes. Whether candidates or anyone else, he didn’t want conflict disturbing the cult.
But conflict requires two sides to break out. The moment Seo Ryang rendered Hong Wi-moon incapable of recovery, his proposal effectively ceased to exist.
Why? Because the other party who could create conflict had disappeared.
“Whatever the reason, the situation you wanted has been achieved. So why spout nonsense now about handling things?”
“…”
“Are you like that Third Guard Commander or whatever – someone who isn’t satisfied unless all demonic cult members bow their heads low?”
Go Gu slightly raised an eyebrow.
Seo Ryang smiled.
“Let it go.”
“…”
“If not for my respect for you, I would have broken out before the cuffs were even on. Having endured this much given my position as Third Young Master, haven’t I done my duty?”
“I noticed before, but you’re quite eloquent.”
“I just ramble as I please.”
“What do you plan to do if I don’t release you?”
“Is there any reason not to release me?”
“I’m just curious.”
“I thought you weren’t the type to drag out conversations with pointless hypotheticals. I guess I was wrong.”
“…”
“May I leave now?”
Go Gu, who had been staring at Seo Ryang, stood up.
“I’ll be watching you closely.”
“Watch all you want, but don’t block my path. I have no desire to make enemies of the Criminal Court.”
“You’re quite confident. You haven’t been designated as successor yet. You’re just a candidate.”
“So what?”
“If I set my mind to it…”
“Right, if I set my mind to it, burying you with rumors wouldn’t be very difficult. So let’s each go our own way quietly.”
“What do you mean?”
Seo Ryang stood up.
“Whether the Criminal Court or the Law Protection Court, such organizations run best when led by someone with strict standards, right? If rumors spread that such an organization’s head secretly threatened the Third Young Master, you’d have quite a headache, wouldn’t you?”
“…”
“Given the demonic cult members’ fear and unease toward the Criminal Court, I don’t think it would be too difficult.”
“How petty.”
“I return those words to you. If you want to play at being an official, discipline your underlings instead of messing with the wrong people.”
“…”
“I’m leaving. I hope we won’t have to meet often in the future.”
***
Watching Seo Ryang’s retreating figure in the distance, Go Gu let out a sigh. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d sighed like this.
“A difficult person.”
And a dangerous one. Though he said he hoped they wouldn’t meet often in the future, Go Gu had a feeling they would.
Just then, the Third Guard Commander walked up behind him.
“Initial repairs of the damaged areas are complete.”
“Good work.”
“…Court Leader.”
“Do you have more to report?”
The Third Guard Commander spoke in a dissatisfied voice.
“Is it alright to let the Third Young Master go like this?”
“…”
“He even swung his sword at you, Court Leader. This isn’t a matter of status but of cult discipline. We could find ways to implicate him.”
“It would take some effort, but we could.”
“Then why did you let him go?”
“Is there any reason to make the effort?”
“But…”
Go Gu turned his head to look at the Third Guard Commander.
Fear suddenly entered the Third Guard Commander’s eyes. Go Gu’s gaze was incredibly cold.
“Your actions were quick, but your words and handling were rash. Do you acknowledge this?”
“…I apologize.”
“Whether it’s the Third Young Master or anyone else, never try to catch them on technicalities. Such words pile up to create discontent, and when discontent accumulates, people who ignore rules emerge. Moreover, the Third Young Master’s statements had their own validity.”
“…”
“I’m docking three months’ pay as a chance for self-reflection. Use this opportunity to grow.”
“Thank you.”
The Third Guard Commander bowed deeply and hurried away.
Go Gu turned his gaze back to the window. The Third Young Master had already become a tiny dot in the distance.
Third Young Master.
He no longer thought about the Third Young Master’s words and actions.
What he was thinking about was the Third Young Master’s martial arts.
Though more vicious and fierce than demonic martial arts… that sword technique was clearly from the orthodox sects.
An unfathomable concern showed on Go Gu’s face.
Could he be like me?