Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Since I Started Lying

At some giant's shout, the introduction of the Extermination Corps was interrupted.

"The Boss has returned!"

"He's here! Quickly, this!"

The figure with fierce momentum seemed to be Iron Dog Gang's Boss.

Several gang members strained while handing him something.

Muscles bulged from the body of the Iron Dog Gang Boss, who appeared with his upper body completely bare.

The anchor flew through the blue sky.

Even a small boat's anchor would have considerable weight.

"Excellent external arts!"

"To use such external arts only for committing evil acts!"

This was also sincere.

I stood sideways and firmly planted both feet on the ground.

I grasped Mukheun's handle with both hands and spun it round and round.

"Ink Sword Hero, be careful!"

The moment I heard the Corps Leader's warning,

I twisted my upper body slightly more to the right.

When the anchor approached right in front,

I gave recoil and forcefully turned my upper body to the left, using that force to swing Mukheun.

A refreshing sound rang through the harbor.

The properly struck anchor returned along the exact trajectory it had flown.

However, this time even faster.

The Boss who hadn't anticipated that speed took a direct hit.

With a short groan, the Boss's body collapsed.

"The Boss was struck!"

It became a scene of carnage in an instant.

"Black Path Extermination Corps! Charge!"

Then I just needed to clean it up.

The fight wasn't long.

Iron Dog Gang was annihilated.

I looked down at the Iron Dog Gang Boss who was breathing roughly from serious injuries.

"Heok, heok. How did you find us?"

"After knowing how things were going, many things became clear."

For the past half year, Luoyang hadn't had smooth material supplies.

The same for cases entering through the river.

Trading companies brought in fewer materials claiming the waterways were dangerous because of Black Path, instead raising prices.

"When merchant ships from outside entered through the river, most were attacked. They said it was river bandits' doing, but it wasn't."

I crouched before the Boss and met his eyes. Newest update provıded by novel fire.net

"Why only steal goods? There was no need to kill all the trading company members and sailors, was there?"

After several such incidents, an atmosphere of fear was created.

Outside trading companies working through the river became reluctant to come to Luoyang.

"It was the Black Path King's instructions, wasn't it?"

The Iron Dog Gang Boss's eyes widened.

Today was the seventh day since I returned.

If I had been faithful to Alliance missions, I wouldn't have known at all, yet I learned it in just seven days.

Thanks to doing as my heart pleased.

"You don't know, do you?"

"You also don't know well about the Black Path King. Right?"

The Extermination Corps Leader said large sects would have seen the Black Path King.

My thought was different.

"Isn't Black Path's bravado an everyday occurrence? Even if you talk about the Black Path King, you've probably never actually seen him."

Even if they were leaders, they weren't Demonic Cult members with golden prohibitions. If he had revealed himself to people gathered from here and there, rumors would naturally spread.

If so, before regression I would have heard his name too.

"Even if he revealed himself, he wore a face covering..."

Glancing back at the Extermination Corps, I changed my thoughts.

"Face coverings might lack some dignity. He probably stayed behind a curtain."

"There wouldn't have been times he stepped forward directly either."

The word "curtain behind the scenes" wasn't a metaphor.

"Seems we have no more to discuss."

"W-wait, Ink Sword Hero! I have accumulated wealth! Take it and spare me!"

At that moment, the former Tiger Might Society Leader, current Extermination Corps Leader, approached.

"Ink Sword Hero, we found a safe inside the inn."

"Don't know about opening, but I can break it. It's not even a safe made of cold iron."

"A cold iron safe wouldn't be in such a place. Please break it."

After finishing the conversation with the Corps Leader, I looked at the Iron Dog Gang Boss again.

"I'll use the accumulated wealth well. I'll send it to victims' families and use the rest for good places."

"N-no, then what about me..."

"There's a way to live."

The Iron Dog Gang Boss's eyes sparkled.

"I didn't expect anything about the Black Path King anyway. However, tell me about sects like yours helping trading companies under the Black Path King's instructions."

"I'll tell, I'll tell."

There was no loyalty among Black Path sects.

When they could betray even for money, wasn't this a matter where lives were at stake?

Without hesitation, the Boss spoke about the Black Path sects he knew.

"Go to the afterlife and apologize to the trading company members and sailors."

"What? Ink Sword Hero bastard! Didn't you say you'd spare me if I spoke!"

The answer was given with Mukheun instead.

I'll say it again—now I'm also good at lying.

Since I had started lying,

I decided to deceive more people more thoroughly.

According to my friend Zhuge Sheng's words, such lies had a separate name.

They're called 'stratagems.'

Yeomyeong, you'd find it difficult even if you died and woke up.

Hahat, right, I'll handle this side. You just swing your sword.

Because it's before meeting Zhuge Sheng.

'I think I can imitate what friend Zhuge Sheng used to do. Don't know if it'll work well, but let's try.'

Ahem, after clearing my voice once,

I looked at the Black Path members of Yaksa Gate that I had attacked after the Iron Dog Gang.

"There was a mistake here."

Yaksa Gate was already heavily defeated.

The Gate Leader had already died by my hand.

All leadership figures were seriously injured.

When I stopped my sword, they also stopped and listened.

"Isn't this a sect working with Captain Guyang Je?"

"Ahem. This isn't the place?"

Shock spread across the Yaksa Gate members' faces.

This isn't... the place?

Is that such an issue?

Confirming their shock, I began consulting with the Extermination Corps Leader.

Whisper whisper, but audibly to all.

"We came to the wrong place. We agreed not to touch the Banyang side."

"Ink Sword Hero, that's why I said we should confirm."

"I thought it was correct."

As if there had been words exchanged with Guyang Je beforehand.

But giving the feeling that the stupid Ink Sword Hero attacked for no reason.

Everyone in Yaksa Gate was super focused on our conversation.

"Ink Sword Hero, what will you do?"

"If we withdraw from here, won't the picture become strange?"

"Right. It becomes strange. We need to sweep away all Black Path."

Just when relief spread across Yaksa Gate members' faces thinking 'we'll live.'

"Just processing one place here would be alright, wouldn't it? What would Captain Guyang say?"

Hiiik! sounds burst out from all directions.

"Hero, that's not right."

After tightening them once .

The bastards looked at me with extreme tension.

"Go out of Luoyang along the main road as is. Don't slow your lightness technique until leaving Henan. If you return, you'll unavoidably die this time. Go!"

Of course I had no intention of letting them go.

Their crimes were too heavy for that.

If they followed the main road,

part of the Extermination Corps personnel,

Swift Wind leading the Beggar's Gang Luoyang branch,

Outer Hall warriors of the Luoyang branch gathered by Kwak Daebang,

Yaksa Gate would be eliminated.

However, the reason for putting on such a show here was—

Several people were caught in Eight Sensations' detection range.

Obvious. They would be spies sent by the Black Path King's subordinates to monitor each other.

Something those temporarily united by interests often did.

Now they would return and report only that Yaksa Gate survived.

Including the conversation and circumstances I shared with the Extermination Corps Leader.

'Guyang Je, now you must react, right?'

It was a stratagem targeting not Black Path but Guyang Je.

Gatherings among trading captains were surprisingly rare.

Since trading captains were so busy, they met in twos or threes only when business required it.

Cases where everyone gathered were about when the Black Path King summoned them.

Today, trading captains under the Black Path King gathered even without the Black Path King's summons.

"Isn't this going too wrong?"

"Right. The atmosphere became strange in an instant. Ten days? No, doesn't even seem that much."

"Starting from Captain Zhu Hochong."

Golden Cloud Trading's Zhu Hochong, who should have died before the magistrate replacement, lived.

If he hadn't existed, they would have dominated Luoyang's commercial world and slowly cooked the new magistrate too.

No matter how upright the new magistrate, given time they were confident in making him an ally.

"Conversely, haven't trading captains on our side decreased in number?"

Great Ocean Trading's Captain Yang.

Xinyang Trading's Captain Jeong.

Captain Yang received punishment for failure.

Captain Jeong because his business was discovered.

Two people had already died.

Banyang, Xinyang, and rising Great Ocean were called the Three Yangs, but now only one remained.

"Black Path sects are being completely smashed."

"Black Path Extermination Corps? Jin Yeomyeong created some unknown organization and is running wild. Today alone Iron Dog Gang, Yaksa Gate, Janglak Hall, Cheonghang Gang, Chunggi Hall... don't know how many places he smashed in one day."

Of course, what trading captains worried about wasn't Black Path sects.

They were concerned about their own safety.

"At this rate our hands and feet get cut off. Businesses we ran by having those bastards do it will be blocked. We were proceeding with other businesses counting on funds coming from there."

"Stupid bastards. Usually they acted so special saying they're rough men. Getting exterminated in just one day?"

"To block our money flow. Should have worked without those bastards from the start."

There was one more fact grating on the trading captains' nerves.

One of the captains unnecessarily lowered his voice.

"Speaking of being absent here. They say he let go the Black Path under Captain Guyang?"

Though trading captains gathered without the Black Path King's summons, one person was absent.

Guyang Je's figure wasn't visible.

"So they say. The Black Path moved at tremendous speed and left."

"Not only that. At other places he destroyed or burned business sites, but at Captain Guyang's business sites he only drove out Black Path. Subtly less damage."

That was the reason for not calling Guyang Je.

Trading captains keen on profit and loss.

Though a subtle difference, they didn't miss the fact that Guyang Je's damage was less.

"Could Captain Guyang possibly..."

Someone threw out an unfinished statement.

They all fell into silence at once.

Why did the quiet Ink Sword Hero suddenly run wild?

Though he seemed like someone money wouldn't work on, what if it did?

If Guyang Je succeeded in bribery?

If he was using him to eliminate competitors?

Questions followed in succession.

Even if Banyang Trading dominated all of Luoyang's commercial world this way, the Black Path King wouldn't care at all.

"If that's the case..."

Captain So, who had been speaking negatively about Captain Guyang from earlier, continued speaking.

Everyone focused on his mouth.

"You've all been here."

One voice interrupted and entered.

Though they were people with dignified attitudes as trading company owners, they were startled at that voice.

"Yes, it's me. I came after receiving contact."

No one had agreed to contact him.

Yet he said he came after receiving contact.

That is, someone here had clearly leaked the meeting.

The captains cursed inwardly.

"Hmph, Captain Guyang truly has tremendous scheming. Seems there's someone among the captains whose leash you hold?"

Captain So openly spat out rough words.

Captain Guyang looked at him, but Captain So also didn't avoid his gaze.

"How far will the Black Path King's favor toward you go? With things going wrong like now, seems the end will soon be visible."

"Are you saying it's my fault?"

Though no one invited him, Guyang Je sat down.

Before he could open his mouth, Captain So continued his criticism.

"The Black Path King said he'd give us Luoyang's interests. For people here to divide. But now it seems someone alone is trying to monopolize everything."

Guyang Je's eyebrows twisted.

"Are you suspecting me?"

"How could suspicion not arise? The Ink Sword Hero is somehow avoiding your surroundings."

Guyang Je gave a deliberately relaxed smile.

"What? Disappointing?"

"That you'd fall for such a trivial stratagem."

He asserted the Ink Sword Hero's movements were a stratagem.

However, Captain So was different.

"A stratagem. Maybe you want it to look like a stratagem. Also, does the result change if it's a stratagem?"

Other captains' eyes weren't favorable either.

Captain So was right. Even if called a stratagem, the damage they suffered was real.

If Banyang Trading pushed in through this gap, it would be difficult to block.

Captain So added one more remark.

"Moreover, weren't you the only one meeting the Black Path King separately? Since we can't even know what you say at that meeting."

Captain So finally snorted—hmph.

This was also a problem.

As a trading captain, Guyang Je was practically a newcomer, yet was close to the Black Path King. An issue all other captains found uncomfortable.

Guyang Je ground his teeth inwardly.

When he let them meet the Black Path King and arranged special businesses, they were bowing their heads up and down.

When the situation became slightly difficult, this appearance.

After observing the surrounding atmosphere, Guyang Je calmly spoke.

"Don't worry. A method to reverse Luoyang's atmosphere and end your doubts is being prepared."

"Don't you all know? That all recent matters originated from one person."

Everyone recalled one person's alias and name.

"Ink Sword Hero Jin Yeomyeong."

"Correct. Until he ran wild, everything was proceeding properly."

to return to that time,

"We deal with Jin Yeomyeong."

A confident smile spread across Guyang Je's face. Seemed he had some plan.

'Really? This time too, isn't it failing?'

'You're not controlling him?'

The trading captains' gazes were asking this.

They weren't believing Guyang Je's words.

Guyang Je's insides boiled.

'Jin Yeomyeong. Did you bastard bring about this situation?'

Guyang Je's grand plan was shaking.