Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Drawing Closer

Auditory hallucination?

Deputy Branch Leader Gong Pilsang doubted his ears.

"It's me. Jin Yeomyeong."

He stood at the doorway.

Ah, visual hallucination then?

This time he rubbed his eyes.

Without lowering those hands, he spoke.

"Haha, something's strange."

It had been a good day until daytime.

Midday autumn sunlight entering through the window behind,

and the new desk showing off its form receiving that light.

A nearby sect had provided the new desk.

A desk made of cypress giving off fragrance had pleased him greatly.

He'd also set down worries about Jin Yeomyeong.

Because lately Branch Leader Hwangbo Gak viewed Jin Yeomyeong unfavorably.

His mood was uncomfortable about not informing the Branch Leader of the opportunity to save Golden Cloud Trading Captain Zhu Hochong's life.

The Branch Leader was close to the Alliance's central politics so had many occasions to spend money. No opponent matched trading captains for obtaining financial support.

Since the Branch Leader felt that way, the atmosphere was such that Gong Pilsang himself needn't step forward. If the capable Hwangbo Gak, he'd make Jin Yeomyeong return to the branch.

When Jin Yeomyeong listened again, he'd definitely revenge the dead desk.

Roll him here, roll him there—what childcare leave—roll him busily.

That way he'd guarantee his own promotion path.

Grabbing the line of Hwangbo Gak, someone from the Alliance Leader's household, to a high Alliance position...

This was this afternoon.

It had been a good day.

How long would he rub his eyes?

He should lower his hands.

The Ink Sword Hero entered Gong Pilsang's field of vision.

He was looking down at the desk.

Couldn't understand the sudden words for a moment.

Surprisingly, the Ink Sword Hero had already drawn that hideous black-colored sword, hadn't he?

Didn't anyone stop him? He knew everyone liked him, but wasn't this too much?

From that moment, everything flowed slowly in Gong Pilsang's eyes.

Wheeeee—Mukheun rose vertically then descended.

Toward the desk's center.

His own hand grabbing a saber to block it was far too slow.

Kwadeudeudeudeudeudeu—a shattering sound that seemed it wouldn't end flowed—deudeu.

The desk split exactly in half.

Sunset illuminated the dead desk in vivid red.

He wondered whose scream—it was his own.

With the scream, time began flowing properly.

"Please wait a moment."

Kwadeuk, kwadeuk, kwadeudeuk—Mukheun struck down the desk again and again.

The desk became a fragmented desk, soon became firewood, then changed again to wood trash unusable even as firewood.

Gong Pilsang was momentarily engulfed in confusion.

Suddenly the day the ebony desk shattered overlapped with now.

"Wh-what? Today is today though? Why Jin Yeomyeong? Why my desk?"

"Today isn't four days ago though? Isn't it? Is four days ago today?"

Not only Alliance members but even Outer Hall warriors watched that scene.

Branch people who'd heard news from Iron Eagle Blade didn't even go home, waiting for good spectacle.

Now everyone was spectating Gong Pilsang together.

Among them, Iron Eagle Blade Jo Gyucheon made a diagnosis.

"He's gone. Completely gone."

Jin Yeomyeong approached before Gong Pilsang and waved his hand before his eyes.

However, Gong Pilsang too was someone who'd risen to Deputy Branch Leader.

He slowly collected his wits.

"Uuh... gone what... Jin Yeomyeong, to commit such violence again..."

"Not violence but explosion."

Explode, let go, become free.

Words Jin Yeomyeong heard from friends.

However, Gong Pilsang couldn't know those words.

"Jin Yeomyeong... why exactly do you torment me?"

"Why does Deputy Branch Leader torment me?"

"I heard you rejected childcare leave."

He utilized words heard from Kwak Daebang .

"To reject childcare leave. Do you plan to steal precious time from me?"

Jin Yeomyeong lowered his voice using inner power.

"And what about surveillance?"

Kwak Daebang had reported to the Deputy Branch Leader that he'd been caught.

"Yes, I know everything. Especially telling to report people I meet in detail?"

"That's, because you, suddenly changed..."

"Enough. Don't give meaningless reasons. If you don't speak properly, I'll question loudly before people."

Talk for when making external justifications—not words to say with the person himself present.

Gong Pilsang struggled at length as if at a loss for words.

Suddenly color returned.

At his words, Jin Yeomyeong also turned back.

Branch Leader Hwangbo Gak, who usually often left his post, stood at the doorway.

Hwangbo Gak approached closely.

Gong Pilsang came out circling widely avoiding Jin Yeomyeong.

"Branch Leader, please say one word."

"The Ink Sword Hero misunderstood..."

"What misunderstanding?"

"That I ordered surveillance..."

"Mm? You did such a thing?"

Gong Pilsang's body stopped precisely.

"No, that's not... all this..."

Wasn't it the Branch Leader's instruction?

"Thinking about it, I haven't received reports about the Ink Sword Hero recently, have I? The Ink Sword Hero handles things well on his own anyway. It's been long since seeing your face too, hehe."

What? You were displeased though.

The Branch Leader smiled welcomingly toward Jin Yeomyeong and patted his shoulder.

"It's been quite a while."

"The Deputy Branch Leader seems to have handled work improperly. Come this way—let's go to the Branch Leader's office and talk."

Gong Pilsang actually staggered backward from the shock to his mind.

Hwangbo Gak didn't stop there but pushed Gong Pilsang with his hand to make him step back further.

"I'll ask about your arbitrary work handling later."

At Hwangbo Gak's firm words, Gong Pilsang,

Following a brief groan,

He collapsed, foaming at the mouth.

Hwangbo Gak took Jin Yeomyeong to the Branch Leader's office and served tea.

'Jin Yeomyeong. Just how did he change?'

Hwangbo Gak organized his thoughts.

The suspicion that Jin Yeomyeong might have fallen to demonic arts was just an excuse.

The worry whether he'd secretly joined hands with competing factions within the Alliance was his true feeling.

"Something strange..."

Hwangbo Gak was walking through the branch when he saw Jin Yeomyeong.

Following behind, he was making Deputy Branch Leader Gong Pilsang's desk into powder.

First intervening in the situation, he brought him to the Branch Leader's office.

'Not the previous Ink Sword Hero. Must approach carefully.'

Before, he would have maintained polite courtesy toward himself, superior in rank.

Now, seeing what he did to Gong Pilsang, didn't seem so.

"Mm. Ink Sword Hero, you seem in good spirits."

He started talking gently.

"Hahat, happy from exploding, hahahat."

His eyes and laughter differ from before.

"Yes, I see. Explosion. Hehe."

Taking one deep breath.

"But why to the Deputy Branch Leader?"

The unconscious Gong Pilsang was being cared for by Alliance members.

"You mean the reason?"

Jin Yeomyeong suddenly became serious and the atmosphere changed to before.

This was scary in its own way.

"I applied for childcare leave but it was rejected."

I told him to do so though.

"Also, the Deputy Branch Leader put surveillance on me."

"How unfortunate, why would the Deputy Branch Leader do so?"

"Exactly. I got so angry I exploded."

"Ah, so explosion..."

Finally understood the context.

he resolved to absolutely never say he'd ordered it.

"Did the Branch Leader not know about this?"

"Didn't know at all. Absolutely didn't know. When the Deputy Branch Leader regains consciousness, I'll harshly rebuke him."

That stupid Gong Pilsang bastard.

Said he sent someone suitable for surveillance yet got caught.

The leave rejection story—I planned to bring it up at an appropriate time, so why does Jin Yeomyeong know?

"Branch Leader, then with your authority can you approve childcare leave?"

The Ink Sword Hero thrust in.

Sounded like demanding to hand over childcare leave.

Jin Yeomyeong was needed to handle missions falling to the branch.

"I completely support your thought of spending time with family..."

"But isn't it unprecedented? Even the term childcare leave is unfamiliar."

Oh, mentioning precedent—is it effective?

"Then I'll go directly to the Murim Alliance main body and propose it."

"No, no, that's not it."

Hwangbo Gak was startled.

Jin Yeomyeong was truly different from before. No hesitation in escalating matters.

Hwangbo Gak's purpose was keeping Jin Yeomyeong at the branch.

He had no intention of sending him to the main Alliance. What if going to the main body, he really contacted competing factions?

"I'll propose to the main body directly. After all, wouldn't it be better if the Branch Leader speaks rather than an Outer Hall warrior? First, I'll slowly give missions with my authority. Hehehe."

"What thanks? As Branch Leader, I should look after affiliated warriors' wellbeing. Hehehe."

He soothed Jin Yeomyeong with a magnanimous appearance.

Jin Yeomyeong also nodded and rose from his seat. Just need to send him outside now.

Jin Yeomyeong brought up talk as if flowing.

"There's too much Black Path in Luoyang."

Hwangbo Gak also received the talk as if flowing.

It didn't flow that way.

Jin Yeomyeong stood in place and continued speaking.

"Even taking leave, I still live in Luoyang. I didn't know while living busily before, but Black Path runs rampant in Luoyang vicinity to a strange degree."

"Black Path gathered trying to attack a pharmacy, there was also a case where Black Path deliberately attacked beggars inside Luoyang, and Xinyang Trading's human trafficking was connected to a Black Path sect that entered from Gansu."

"Yes, thinking again, too many."

Up to here was problem-raising.

"Is the branch properly fulfilling its role?"

Before he knew it, Jin Yeomyeong was looking straight at Hwangbo Gak.

A question not an exaggeration to call a challenge.

"Are you asking me that?"

Hwangbo Gak also hardened his face unlike before.

"Who else would I ask about doubts regarding the branch besides the Branch Leader?"

Definitely different.

Not the polite Jin Yeomyeong.

His clear eyes seemed to ask thus.

'Are you operating the branch properly?'

No, not 'seemed to ask.' Was asking exactly that.

A question to enrage as Branch Leader.

Brief silence flowed.

Silence full of tension.

Hwangbo Gak's answer's turn followed.

Having received a question, he must bring out some answer.

Hwangbo Gak's face, stiffened momentarily—impossible to know what he was thinking.

The answer that came from the mouth opened after silence was.

"Well, truly. I should look more carefully."

Simultaneously, a gentle smile arose.

"Probably I was too busy. Leaving it only to the Deputy Branch Leader, work handling doesn't seem smooth. Don't worry. From now I'll look directly."

A smile drawing out trust.

Jin Yeomyeong also smiled slightly—bing—at his words.

"As expected of the Branch Leader. I ask this of you."

And stepped outside. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel✶fire.net

Hwangbo Gak left alone muttered quietly.

The Branch Leader is suspicious after all.

Meeting the Deputy Branch Leader today,

he lacked the guts to reject my leave.

Already frightened at my appearance.

When I smashed the desk once more, he briefly lost his wits from mental shock.

Such a person giving leave rejection and surveillance orders?

Still premature for certainty, but feelings say no.

"If Hwangbo Gak, it's possible."

Collusion with Guyang Je or the Black Path King above him.

Using the Branch Leader position, he could neglect Black Path as much as wanted.

One concerning point.

"Hwangbo. The surname Hwangbo catches."

A person from Hwangbo Clan same as the current Alliance Leader.

Though the Alliance Leader is absorbed in strengthening his own faction within the Alliance, he abhors Black Path and the Demonic Cult.

Hwangbo Clan people also follow such an Alliance Leader with similar atmosphere.

Considering that, seems suspicion should be withdrawn from Hwangbo Gak.

"Catching Guyang Je first will reveal it."

Climbing up one by one.

If a colluder is revealed on that path.

Mukheun hummed trustworthily.