Chapter 20
Cheongeuk (3)
Until they arrived at the Seven Swords Society, Cheongeuk remained quietly lost in thought.
‘...The Seven Swords Society. So the Seven Swords Society violated the Assassin Laws.’
The Seven Swords Society was the leading assassin organization in Zhejiang Province and a large organization ranked among the top five within the Assassin Alliance.
That meant it was not an opponent she could simply confront without preparation, accuse of wrongdoing, and force to accept responsibility.
What if it was certain that the Seven Swords Society had violated the Assassin Laws?
Anyone who broke the first law—which prohibited killing children and those who had never learned martial arts—was executed without exception.
In the case of the Seven Swords Society, all seven members of its leadership would be killed, while the assassins beneath them would be scattered among other organizations.
‘This might actually become a good opportunity.’
After the previous alliance leader’s system abruptly collapsed and the young, female Cheongeuk rose to the position, several assassin organizations within the alliance became dissatisfied.
The Seven Swords Society stood at the forefront of that anti-Cheongeuk faction.
‘If I can eliminate them through this opportunity...’
She could further solidify her position within the alliance.
But if she handled it poorly, her own position might instead be threatened.
The opposition centered around the Seven Swords Society would demand that she take responsibility.
If internal conflict escalated into war, it would provoke the Martial Alliance.
Should the Martial Alliance then launch a campaign to purge assassins, Cheongeuk might be forced to step down as alliance leader and bear responsibility for the disaster.
Of course, she was merely imagining the worst possible outcome.
Still, there was no guarantee that unexpected variables would not arise.
The fact that Baek Socheon had summoned her was itself something she could never have imagined only a few days ago.
“Tell me about the Shinhwa Sect.”
A voice belonging to Bukseong of the Four Heavenly Killers answered from the empty air.
He was primarily responsible for gathering and handling information.
“According to the initial report, the Shinhwa Sect is a newly risen sect that has expanded rapidly over the last several years. It has now become one of the recognized powers in Zhejiang Province.”
“There is no way the other sects simply watched them grow. Does Zhejiang Province contain nothing but fools?”
“We will investigate the details further and report back.”
Even at that very moment, information connected to the incident was being gathered.
“Yes, investigate it. There must be something more. If they commissioned the killing, who made the request?”
“Since the deceased Yang Chu lived in Munseong, Wang Gon, who is responsible for that region, may have arranged it. Alternatively, someone may have come directly from the main sect to handle the matter.”
“Either way, it was done at the sect level?”
“Yes. Given the gravity of the matter, we expect that the leader of the Shinhwa Sect authorized it.”
“Why kill the entire family?”
“We believe it was an attempt to disguise the incident as a massacre motivated by personal vengeance.”
They had accumulated extensive experience with assassination contracts.
Their understanding of the incident was therefore remarkably accurate.
“Good. Let us put the Shinhwa Sect aside for now.”
From Cheongeuk’s perspective, the heart of the matter was this.
“Why did the Seven Swords Society accept this contract even though it required them to violate the Assassin Laws?”
“The Shinhwa Sect has expanded at an extraordinary pace. Do you think they achieved that solely through their own strength?”
“You believe the Seven Swords Society helped them?”
“If the Shinhwa Sect is the Seven Swords Society’s largest client, refusing their request would not have been easy.”
“The leader of the Seven Swords Society does not seem like someone who would risk violating the Assassin Laws merely for money.”
“He probably believed they would never be discovered.”
Cheongeuk nodded.
One might imagine that people who committed major crimes had considered countless complicated matters.
Surprisingly, however, the source of their courage was sometimes exceedingly simple.
—It is fine as long as we do not get caught.
Had this incident not become connected to Baek Socheon, Cheongeuk herself might never have learned about it.
“You must proceed carefully. Even if there is only the slightest chance that the Seven Swords Society was not involved, the Seven Swords Society and the rest of the opposition will rise against you all at once.”
“Yes. I must be careful.”
As they spoke, the carriage reached the Seven Swords Society’s headquarters, which was disguised as an ordinary martial arts school.
The leader of the Seven Swords Society had no name.
Not only the leader, but the six other experts who governed the organization were known only as Second Sword through Seventh Sword.
At some point, however, the leader of the Seven Swords Society had begun to desire a name.
Not the miserable, shabby name from his childhood.
Not any of the several names he had used after becoming an assassin.
He wanted one single name.
Leader of the Assassin Alliance.
He had lived his entire life as an assassin.
Before dying, he wanted to possess that title.
While the previous alliance leader had lived, he had never harbored such ambition.
It was a new dream that arose only after Cheongeuk became leader.
Just then, Second Sword’s voice came from outside.
“Society Leader.”
“What is it?”
“The leader of the Assassin Alliance has arrived.”
“What? Escort her in immediately.”
The unexpected visit startled the leader of the Seven Swords Society.
He hurried outside and saw Cheongeuk, her bamboo hat pulled low, crossing the courtyard alone.
“You came without informing us in advance. What brings you to our humble society?”
“I had business in Zhejiang Province and decided to stop by.”
Her voice was gentle, but the confidence in her bearing revealed an authority entirely different from how she behaved around Baek Socheon.
“I am deeply honored. Thank you for remembering and visiting us.”
“Please forgive my discourtesy in arriving without notice.”
“There is nothing to forgive. Please, come inside.”
The leader of the Seven Swords Society was exceedingly polite.
Because he coveted the position of alliance leader, he had studied Cheongeuk more thoroughly than anyone.
She looked young, but she was not naïve.
She appeared kind, but she was not kind.
She was intelligent without being arrogant and decisive without being reckless.
Furthermore, her talent as an assassin was innate.
It was said that among the assassins of the current generation, no one could rival her in a one-on-one fight.
The previous Assassin King had named her as his successor precisely because he valued her natural talent so highly.
Countless people had been deceived by her beautiful appearance, let down their guard, acted insolently, and then disappeared from the world without anyone noticing.
After taking their seats, the two conversed comfortably.
Because each concealed a blade directed toward the other within their heart, their tongues moved all the more gently.
“You seem to have grown even more beautiful.”
“And you appear even more vigorous than before, Society Leader.”
“It is time you considered marriage.”
“Introduce me to a good man.”
“Your beauty and talent are so exceptional that finding a suitable partner will not be easy.”
“You keep praising me like this, and my standards continue to rise.”
“Hahaha. Naturally, they should be high.”
The two looked at one another and smiled.
Although each would eliminate the other if given the opportunity, they exchanged warm gazes like old friends.
Near the end of their conversation, Cheongeuk asked as though the thought had only just occurred to her.
“Come to think of it, I heard there has been trouble between the local Martial Alliance branch and the Shinhwa Sect.”
The leader of the Seven Swords Society answered respectfully.
“I heard that friction arose between Hall Master Nam of the Shinhwa Sect and the Munseong Branch.”
“As expected, you already knew.”
“Naturally. It occurred in Zhejiang Province, so I have been paying attention. Did you visit because of that matter?”
“Yes. In truth, that is why I came.”
“Please give me your command.”
“The murder of Yang Chu’s family. Is your society involved in any way?”
Cheongeuk stared at him as though she intended to see through him.
The leader of the Seven Swords Society showed no agitation or nervousness.
“Of course not. We have absolutely nothing to do with it.”
Cheongeuk smiled and spoke gently.
“I thought as much. There is no possibility that you would violate the Assassin Laws.”
“Then why are you interested in the matter?”
“I will be honest. I received a report.”
“A report?”
“An absurd report claiming that the Seven Swords Society accepted the contract to murder Yang Chu’s family.”
Cheongeuk did not attempt to deceive him with some clumsy lie.
Her opponent was the seasoned and cunning leader of the Seven Swords Society.
She judged that telling the truth would be better than offering an unconvincing excuse.
“It is a false report. Our society has never violated the Assassin Laws.”
“I did not believe it from the beginning.”
“Thank you for trusting us.”
The leader of the Seven Swords Society was not such a political novice that he would say, ‘Had you truly trusted us, you would never have come here.’
“I know a place that sells excellent liquor. Shall we go together?”
“I still have business to attend to. Let us do so another time.”
“I will look forward to it.”
Just as when she arrived, Cheongeuk left the grounds alone.
The moment she departed, the leader of the Seven Swords Society’s expression turned cold.
Second Sword appeared nearby.
“Information concerning this contract has leaked.”
It was something that should have been impossible.
It was something that absolutely could not be allowed.
“It did not come from our side.”
Only two people knew about the contract involving Yang Chu’s family: the Society Leader and Second Sword, who was now speaking with him.
Second Sword himself had personally carried out the killings.
That demonstrated how seriously they had regarded and handled the matter.
“She said there was an informant.”
“It seems the information leaked from the client’s side.”
“Those fools! How could they handle matters so carelessly?”
In truth, the Society Leader had hesitated repeatedly before accepting this contract.
Killing an entire family who knew no martial arts violated the Assassin Laws.
However, the client was the Shinhwa Sect.
For the past several years, they had been the Seven Swords Society’s largest customer.
The losses involved in abandoning them would have been enormous.
Furthermore, they had offered several times the usual sum for this particular contract.
Yet the decisive reason he had accepted it was his own ambition.
Before long, he intended to seize the position of leader of the Assassin Alliance.
When he poured all his strength into that effort, he planned to use the Shinhwa Sect as his backing.
Having already commissioned him to slaughter Yang Chu’s family, they would have no choice but to support him.
Of course, the Shinhwa Sect may have been thinking something similar.
The moment the Seven Swords Society violated the Assassin Laws, both sides had boarded the same boat.
“We must find the person who provided the information.”
“I will investigate.”
“Be careful. The leader of the Assassin Alliance will be watching us.”
After Second Sword withdrew, the Society Leader walked to the window.
His heart was impatient and the road ahead was long.
Why were there so many people blocking his path?
He detested the saying that one should take a detour when in a hurry.
Why take a detour?
If one was in a hurry, one should run.
Although the leader of the Seven Swords Society was over sixty, his heart continued racing forward even now.
Once the carriage had traveled some distance from the Seven Swords Society, Cheongeuk finally spoke.
“The Seven Swords Society definitely did it.”
Dongseong, seated in the driver’s position, asked through the small window behind him,
“How can you be so certain?”
“Given the Society Leader’s personality, if they were innocent, he would definitely have asked about the informant. Even if I refused to tell him, he would have tried to extract some clue from my responses. This was not some ordinary accusation, but a false charge involving the Assassin Laws. He would have leapt up in outrage and demanded a thorough investigation and punishment of the informant who damaged their honor.”
“Ah, I understand.”
“Even that cunning old snake never expected me to ask about the contract.”
Because she had suddenly raised the matter, the old man had failed to respond properly.
“Even if they are responsible, finding evidence will not be easy.”
“That is true.”
Breaking the Assassin Laws meant staking one’s life.
There was no possibility they would have left evidence behind.
The Society Leader likely carried out the killings himself or entrusted them to the person he trusted most.
If not, he may already have eliminated the person responsible.
After thinking for a moment, Cheongeuk spoke to Dongseong.
“Let us return to Baek Socheon.”
***
“Why are you here?”
Those were Baek Socheon’s first words when Cheongeuk returned.
“You are unpleasant as always. When meeting someone again, you should begin with a greeting.”
“As though yours is a face I am eager to see.”
“I feel the same way. Why else would I come? I came because of the matter.”
“You found something already? Not bad.”
“I have to move quickly if I want to avoid seeing your irritating face.”
“Let us save time and get to the point.”
“It appears certain that the Seven Swords Society accepted the contract.”
“I already told you that.”
“To obtain evidence that the Seven Swords Society murdered Yang Chu’s family, I would have to punish them for violating the Assassin Laws. However, there is a problem.”
“What is it?”
“Finding evidence will be difficult. Violating the Assassin Laws is punishable by death, so they would not have left evidence carelessly.”
“Then go there and turn the place upside down! Beat them until they confess. You possess that much strength, don’t you? That is why I summoned you.”
“That would be difficult. The Seven Swords Society itself is powerful, and many factions within the alliance support it.”
“So?”
“We must find the evidence from the Shinhwa Sect rather than the Seven Swords Society. You must find it for me.”
Baek Socheon stared at her for a moment before readily answering.
“Fine. I will.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Cheongeuk found his response unexpected.
He was not usually this cooperative.
“You do not want anything in return?”
“Of course I do. Nothing in this world is free.”
Cheongeuk thought, ‘I knew it,’ and asked,
“What do you want?”
Baek Socheon named a condition she had never expected.
“Arrange a meeting between me and Gwangsal.”