Chapter 69 – K – Military Look (3)

[Favorability has risen to “Trusting.”]

[Except under special circumstances, favorability will not decrease.]

[You can now issue missions to Jeok Seong.]

He could send Jeok Seong on missions now that he had 100 favorability. Seol-Hwi recalled that if all of his subordinates had maxed favorability as well, he’d be able to take them on missions.

“Captain, is there something you’re curious about?”

…Hm? Seol-Hwi was momentarily put-off by Jeok Seong’s bright expression. He couldn’t think of anything he wanted to ask, but the window popped up again.

<You can acquire the below information from Jeok Seong.>

▶ The future of warriors who do not pass the demonic energy suitability test.

▷ About the current relationship between the Lord of the Supreme Pavilion and Hidden Truth Corps.

▷ About equipment [Weapons], etc.

Hmm… All three were important, and from the way the prompt was phrased it didn’t seem like it mattered which one he chose.

<You have selected “The future of warriors who do not pass the demonic energy suitability test.”>

– Their future is… terrible.

– They can’t accept that they are weak and might die. That’s why certain groups of warriors are weaker than the sect’s warriors.

Seol-Hwi was speechless. Am I going to end up the same way? He, too, was someone said to be unsuitable, but he knew what that meant. That was why he didn’t hesitate to kill, but Jeok Seong’s account threw his future into doubt.

I have a lot to think about… He looked around, confused.

<You can acquire the below information from Jeok Seong.>

▶ About the current relationship between the Lord of the Supreme Pavilion and Hidden Truth Corps.

▷ About equipment [Weapons], etc.

<You have selected “About the current relationship between the Lord of the Supreme Pavilion and Hidden Truth Corps.”>

– Recently, six members and four captains who were scouting the Supreme Pavilion disappeared. They most likely used the bone-crushing powder to prevent us from finding them.

– But if they’re using that, it means we’ve stepped on the tiger’s tail. The Supreme Pavilion Lord would have realized that someone was monitoring him; with a little thought, he’d be able to figure out who it is.

– We’re in danger. In a broader sense, the Earth Demon’s position is threatened.

– At the same time, your role has become important.

The map I gave him caused this issue. The Earth Demon must have been keeping an eye after what Seol-Hwi told him. The missions I’ll get… will not be easy.

He turned back to Jeok Seong.

<You can acquire the below information from Jeok Seong.>

▶ About equipment [Weapons], etc.

<You have selected “About equipment [Weapons], etc.>

– Equipment does help a lot in battle. There are things that the members can have, not just the captain. When you have what you need, our combat power will increase.

– The effectiveness changes depending on who’s wielding the weapon and when.

– If you can get such weapons for us, it’ll be greatly helpful for our missions.

– How? Well, a variety of ways; missions, quests, warrior training…

– You can buy it with money… but it’s expensive.

Weapons? There were a variety, and if he could handle gathering them, his subordinates would be more helpful.

“Right.” Seol-Hwi committed everything to memory—maybe what they were talking about right now could be of great help in the future. No, he was certain that everything Jeok Seong said would be hugely impactful.

<There is nothing more to learn from Jeok Seong.>

Seol-Hwi looked at Jeok Seong, but the other man wasn’t returning his gaze anymore. He had his head bowed like he was in deep thought.

“Um, Jeok Seong…?”

“That is all for now,” Jeok Seong said stiffly, almost as if he was possessed.

“Huh…” Strange. Seol-Hwi shook his head at the surreal experience and left.

Suddenly, he froze. Or rather, his viewpoint switched to Jeok Seong’s.

“Eh?”

Someone was approaching Jeok Seong: a smiling old man with his hands folded behind his back.

“I came to ask what you were…”

What is this!? A dream? Seol-Hwi’s heart pounded. A lump of shame like he’d never felt before lodged in his chest, struggling to burst free.

For some reason, the asshole who’d constantly killed Seol-Hwi was standing in front of Jeok Seong.

[Status]

Sama Gwi [Lord of the Supreme Pavilion]

Body: Normal

Heath: 30 million/30 million

Internal Energy: 50 million/50 million

Peak Demon State

His health and internal energy was unbelievable—but the real kicker came next.

Combat Power: 20 million.

Twenty million… not two million, but twenty million… Seol-Hwi felt suffocated and enraged.

<What would you like to do?>

▶ Bet on a fight

▷ Wait

Seol-Hwi’s vision began to fade, but he stared intently at the old man and sighed.

[Status Summary]

Health: 30 million/30 million

Internal Energy: 50 million/50 million

Peak Demon State

He’d seen a lot of statuses, but none as high as this. 20 million, 30 million? Sama Gwi was in a different realm. Seol-Hwi didn’t know if even one of the Heavenly Demon’s disciples could take him on.

Could I ever… kill him? He felt so defeated. Seol-Hwi had put in so much hard work—all the times he’s fought through the line of death, all the experience he’d gained from battle. But to overcome this man would be a constant dance with death.

Why is he here? This was inside the Hidden Truth Corps; it had nothing to do with the Supreme Pavilion. The Supreme Pavilion Lord wouldn’t come here without a godo reason.

<What would you like to do?>

▶ Bet on a fight

▷ Wait

He could fight, but right now he needed information. They had to keep an eye on this man.

<You have selected “Wait.”>

“What brings the Supreme Pavilion Lord here…?” Jeok Seong bowed to the old man, fear glimmering behind his blue eyes. That was the kind of man the most influential of the pavilion lord was. It was safe to say that there was no one in the sect who didn’t know of him.

“Hm. I came here for work.” Sama Gwi nodded and smiled.

“What work…?”

“Is there someone called the ‘vice-commander’ here?”

What? For a moment, Seol-Hwi doubted his ears. What was going on? Why was the Lord looking for him? He had nothing to do with him anymore; he even moved to the library without a fuss.

Wait, was it because I killed his men? He had killed a couple of people.

He held his thoughts as they kept speaking.

“You must be looking for our captain. He isn’t here.”

“Is that so? Then where can I find him?”

“Um…” Jeok Seong paused, trying to decide if he should answer. If he didn’t answer, the atmosphere would sour, but if he did answer, the Supreme Pavilion Lord would go to Seol-Hwi.

“I apologize. I don’t know.” Jeok Seong stood tall. “He’s newly appointed, and it isn’t like we’re close enough to…”

“Mm-hmm. I see.” Sama Gwi nodded and walked away. “Wait.” He tilted his head. “Shouldn’t I… go look for him, then?”

“Ah, huh? Um…” Jeok Seong blinked, confounded. “You…”

Sama Gwi smiled and approached Jeok Seong again.

“It seems like you people were taught right.” He raised his hand and slapped Jeok Seong’s face, knocking him to the side.

“Ugh…” Jeok Seong reached up and touched the blood dripping down his face. Sama Gwi’s slap had broken his nose, it seemed. “…I apologize.”

“Apologize?” Sama Gwi smiled at his pain. “You don’t seem very sincere.”

He threw something.

A sword.

<What would you like to do?>

▶ Bet on a fight

▷ Wait

This bastard!

Seol-Hwi knew what this man was like. He even cut off his own arm for the Supreme Pavilion Lord, and still he was publically humiliated.

And Sama Gwi was doing it again.