Chapter 3 Clan Leader Meeting

Chapter 3: Clan Leader Meeting

After finishing a chaotic patrol duty, I returned to the outer hall and immediately reported to the Deputy Clan Leader.

“Gu! Ryong! Seventeenth Squad Leader Jin Mujeon, reporting back after duty!”

“…What the hell is that slogan? And why are you pressing your palm to your forehead?”

“It’s a slogan and gesture expressing loyalty to Gu Ryong Fortress. Is it to your displeasure?”

Not knowing the basic salute ritual? The future of the Outer Fortress is truly worrying.

“Hmph, it’s not bad, I suppose.”

“That’s a relief.”

I could feel the Deputy Leader’s favorability toward me rise by +1.

“Anyway, no trouble?”

“A few drunks were causing trouble, but we handled it without any injuries.”

“That’s all thanks to you, I suppose.”

“You flatter me.”

“No, I don’t. Do you know how surprised I was when you first applied to the Outer Hall? A top graduate from the Ascension Pavilion volunteering to join the Outer Hall? And you’ve adapted remarkably well since coming.”

Truth be told, the Deputy Chief was the one who rejected my application, insisting that an elite like me from the Ascension Pavilion would only muddy the waters.

I spent nearly ten days following him around, clinging to his coat-tails, pleading for a chance.

‘Just give me one chance! I can do this!’

Looking back, the path to get here was incredibly arduous.

Perhaps because of that, the look in Budangju’s eyes when he sees me always carries a hint of goodwill.

My shoulders puffed up with pride at my superior’s boundless trust.

“Frankly, I’d almost want to leave Taeryong-ro entirely to the Seventeenth Division.”

Except when side effects like this occur.

“But that would violate the rotation principle, wouldn’t it?”

“Ah, haha, what a pity.”

The Outer Division rotates work locations once a month.

There are several reasons, but the biggest is ‘guanxi’.

Even when the same illegal act is committed, one side might be let off because they’re a familiar face, while the other is severely punished. It even leads to cases where they sabotage a competitor’s business to help their connections.

Bribes exchanged during this process were standard practice.

But the head of the branch seemed to have a different idea about unfairness, muttering something strange.

“Right? Then I’ll ask the head of the branch to make an exception for the Seventeenth Division…”

What did this guy eat wrong today?

“No!”

“Huh? Didn’t you just say it was a shame?”

“Granting an exception for something this trivial would severely undermine the discipline of the outer faction.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Indeed. The first time is difficult, but once that first time becomes a second and a third, it won’t take long, will it?”

“Well, you’re right about that. To receive such golden advice… I really made the right choice in selecting you as the Seventeenth Clause Chief.”

“You flatter me.”

After barely persuading the Deputy Chief, he brought up another matter.

“Speaking of which… You must attend the next Chief Council meeting with the Chief.”

“Huh? Isn’t that the First Chief’s job?”

“It is, but…”

The Deputy Chief hesitated briefly before continuing with a bitter expression.

“Actually, that fellow is currently being investigated by the Inspection Corps.”

“What? Section Chief Il?”

Section Chief Il was the third-ranked figure in the Outer Sect, directly beneath the Deputy Sect Leader.

Even though the Outer Sect was treated like dirt, he was still a person of considerable weight within the Inspection Corps.

For someone like that to be under investigation meant he’d committed a power-related crime of significant magnitude.

“They say he took five hundred nyang and ruined an entire merchant caravan.”

I never would’ve guessed that guy was capable of such a large-scale scheme.

“As you know, the other squad leaders are practically illiterate. You, however, come from the Ascension Pavilion, so you must be quite well-read.”

“I am still lacking in experience…”

Just as he was about to decline with a polite refusal to avoid overtime, the deputy chief held up four fingers.

“Instead, I’ll assign you to gate duty for the next four months.”

“Seventeenth Squad Leader Jin Mujeon! I shall carry out your orders without the slightest deviation!”

***

“So, you want me to prepare for the chiefs’ meeting?”

“Yes. ”

Yoo So-pyeong frowned and asked back.

“Me alone?”

“Then what else can we do? We can’t just leave it to those guys.”

Looking at the team members overflowing with sheer ignorance, Yoo So-pyeong gave a slight nod.

“Then couldn’t the team leader help?”

“I’m in management, aren’t I? I need to make sure our Seventeenth Squad runs smoothly.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

What nonsense? It’s saying he’s going to ditch the group project.

“Anyway, I’m counting on you.”

“Wait, just a moment!”

Ignoring Yoo So-pyeong’s desperate cry, he dashed out with a roar.

Don’t blame me too much.

Isn’t this all part of working life?

At least I let you skip the shift.

***

A week later, Yoo So-pyeong, with deep dark circles under his eyes, handed over a stack of papers.

“Here you go.”

“Hmm, let’s see…”

Despite the large volume, it was neatly organized. I guess delegating was the right call after all.

“Good work. Go home and rest.”

“…Yes.”

As soon as Yoo So-pyeong left with a face full of discontent, I headed to the Deputy Chief’s office.

It was for the final confirmation before the Chief’s meeting.

“Here are the materials for the Chief’s meeting.”

“Oh? Let me see.”

After briefly reviewing the materials, he nodded with a satisfied look.

“Better than the First Assistant. I’ll need to ask for your help often from now on.”

“You’re welcome. Just let me know anytime.”

Sorry, So-pyeong. You’ll have to sacrifice for the Seventeenth Division.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you tomorrow.”

“Aren’t you coming with us, Deputy Leader?”

“Ahem, I have a mission to attend to for the time being.”

“…Huh?”

“Anyway, I’ll leave it to you.”

With an uneasy feeling, I found myself nodding.

‘What is this feeling, like I worked part-time and didn’t get paid?’

Just as I was about to leave, recalling the back view of the Chief leaving work.

“Huh? Is the Chief not here? I have something to report…”

“Yes, he just left for the day.”

The third-in-command entered.

“Well, he had to go all the way to Yunnan, so he must have left early. Can’t be helped. I’ll just have to tell him next time.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you know? He started his vacation today to marry the second daughter of the Yunnan Yu family.”

‘Got me!’

My fist clenched unconsciously.

Who would’ve thought I’d get played like this in a martial arts world stuck 500 years behind, like some underhanded scheme from K Corporation!

My limbs trembled and my vision blurred.

At the same time, respect for the Head’s exceptional political maneuvering welled up inside me.

“Guh!”

“Huh? What’s wrong with you?”

“Just feeling a bit queasy.”

***

The day of the Sect Leaders’ Meeting dawned.

I knocked on the Outer Sect Leader’s office door slightly ahead of schedule.

“Sect Leader, it’s time for the meeting.”

Creak.

“Ugh! Already?…”

Bukgung Baek emerged with his hair sticking up like a magpie’s nest.

“…Since you’ll be seeing the leaders of other factions for the first time in ages, wouldn’t it be wise to wash up?”

“What’s the point of washing if I’m not going to hear anything good from them anyway?”

“That’s true.”

It was slightly better than other places, but the Oedang was still the Oedang—inevitably treated like an outsider. At best, they’d be considered the underdogs?

Even if the supreme master, the Ten-Handed Heaven-Splitter, Baek of the North Palace, were the leader, it wouldn’t change a thing.

And for good reason: the Nine Dragons of the Nine Dragons Fortress refer to nine factions, including the Outer Sect.

The other eight factions, excluding the Outer Sect, are the most prestigious among the prestigious, each boasting hundreds of years of history.

Simply put, Nine Dragons City wasn’t born as a single entity; it’s a conglomerate formed through mergers, acquisitions, and share exchanges.

So it’s inevitable that the Outer Sect, lacking such roots, gets treated like a nobody.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Following Baek Gung-baek, I entered the Inner City.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been here.’

When I stayed at the Ascension Pavilion, I used to come here daily, but returning after so long felt strangely unsettling.

After walking another hour, we arrived at the largest hall within the inner city: the Lord’s Hall.

“Ahem.”

Upon entering the Lord’s Hall, I saw the heads of each faction dressed in their splendid robes.

Though I’d lived my entire life in Guryongseong and knew their faces, their atmosphere was utterly cold.

This was all the result of the political intrigue that had stagnated in one place, where they constantly slandered each other.

Bukgung Baek, seemingly accustomed to this, casually took a seat at the edge of the table, and I stood behind him.

After a brief moment.

“Everyone here?”

The leaders rose as one at the appearance of Dang Qing, the Dark Poison Star King, Lord of Nine Dragon City—one of the five who divided the martial world and whose own power was said to reach the heavens.

“We greet the Lord.”

‘Long time no see. That fellow.’

Truthfully, I had seen that man before. We’d even exchanged a few words briefly.

He was the one who awarded me martial arts techniques and a commentary as a prize for topping the graduation ceremony at the Ascension Pavilion.

Sssshhh.

As Dang Qing scanned the room with his signature dark green eyes, the hall instantly grew as cold as if frozen solid.

“Begin.”

At his single command, reports commenced—from the Blue Dragon Sect Leader at the very front to the Red Dragon Sect Leader seated right beside North Palace Lord.

Even I, unfamiliar with the affairs of the Nine Dragon Fortress, could tell much of it was quite serious. Yet the Fortress Lord merely watched impassively with indifferent eyes.

Then came the turn of the Outer Sect, last.

“That’s enough for today.”

As if bored, he tossed out a single sentence and left the hall. I was so stunned I couldn’t close my mouth.

‘How much effort did we put into making this data, and he won’t even listen!’

Of course, Yu So-pyeong made it, but as a team member, his effort counted as mine too. I had every right to be angry.

Did he sense my rage?

“Wait.”

Seongju’s footsteps halted as he tried to leave.

“Who’s that friend behind the Oedang leader? He looks familiar.”

At Seongju’s call, I shot out like lightning.

After all, the head of the global conglomerate Guryongseong was speaking to me, a mere assistant manager at a subsidiary.

“I’m Jin Mujeon, team leader of Oedang Group 17!”

“I remember you.”

“It’s an honor you remember me!”

“Right. Have you been studying ‘that thing’ I gave you back then?”

“It’s insufficient, but I’m putting my heart and soul into it!”

Bullshit. I only memorized the first half, the part I could use right away, and never looked at it again.

I knew lying to the Lord would get my head chopped off, but I figured he wouldn’t bother checking on a nobody like me.

But contrary to my expectations, the Lord intended to verify my progress.

“Oh? Then let’s see.”

‘Gasp!’

The moment those words left his mouth, a sticky, heavy aura descended, tearing through my body.

The Lord was using his aura to verify my accomplishments.

I dared not resist, merely watching as his aura tore through my body.

‘Damn it, I’m not getting punished for messing around, am I?’

After a moment.

“Not bad, your accomplishments. Keep striving.”

I didn’t know why, but the Lord praised me and then turned away.

Stunned by the suddenness of it all, I just stared blankly at his retreating figure.

Thump.

Bukgung Baek’s kick snapped me back to my senses. Only then did I clasp my hands and bow.

“Thank you for your guidance!”

And so, the stormy meeting of the heads concluded.

Amidst the CEOs of the major subsidiaries watching me.

***

“Seems Lord Sungju has taken quite a liking to you.”

“Oh my! Chairman, it’s still confidential. What if someone overhears?”

“Who’s going to overhear? There’s no one here.”

This guy is going to cause trouble, I tell you.

I really need to cut ties with him soon.

“But what did that Lord Seongju give you? Ah! If it’s a secret, you don’t have to say.”

“It’s not a secret. He just bestowed martial arts upon me.”

“Martial arts from the Lord Seongju… Mancheon Hwawoo? Cheondok Simgong?”

“No. It’s nothing that grand. He just said it was martial arts he created himself.”

This is exactly what makes me feel wronged.

To be the Lord of Nine Dragons and yet be given some nameless, low-grade martial art.

No-name stuff is hard to get serviced too…

But, seemingly thinking differently, Baek of the North Palace said with sparkling eyes.

“A martial art the Lord created. I should ask for it as a reward when I earn merit later.”

It’s not like that’s such a great thing.

And for you, the Outer Hall Master, to earn merit? That’s impossible unless a full-scale war breaks out with the Ten Demon Clans above us.

As we headed toward the Outer Hall, North Palace White suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“I think someone’s come to visit?”

“There’s no one here?”

“Of course there is. Right next to you.”

Turning at his words, I saw a short old man smiling at me.

“Good heavens!”

“Heh heh, how have you been?”

“Old man! I thought you’d dropped dead!”

“What nonsense about dropping dead. You left the Ascension Pavilion and never once came to see me. How disappointing, you rascal.”

Smack!

“Yow!”

The old man flicked his finger, and my skull rang. It was a cheap knockoff of the Divine Finger technique.

“This old codger is serious!”

“Want more?”

“…No.”

Bukgung Baek quietly raised his fists in salute to the old man.

“It’s an honor to meet you, True Master.”

Good heavens, that scoundrel showing such respect?

Guess working in a company for so long does have its perks.

“Long time no see. How is Minister Chun?”

“It’s been over ten years since he entered Mount Daeseol, so I have no news, but I imagine he’s fine.”

“Well, there’s hardly anyone in the world who could handle him. Anyway, might I borrow this fellow?”

“Since the Grandmaster of the Jianchang Sect, the Great Purity Immortal, needs him, I suppose I should take him.”

“Thank you.”

With that, Baek left abruptly, and left alone with the old man, I spat out curses of betrayal.

‘Damn it.’