Chapter 229 : Again, Operation Begins
Chapter 229: Again, Operation Begins
The moonlight was shining on many people.
It shone on the two beautiful people who launched a boat on the lake, the heavy footsteps of Yang Hae, the owner of the Baekseon Pavilion, who was returning after reporting the incident to the Murim Alliance, and the two eyes of the Great Demon filled with anger.
And that moonlight was also shining on the wine glasses of Mujin and Ma Young-gi, who sat across from each other at an inn.
Unlike Mujin, Ma Young-gi wore almost no disguise. He'd changed his atmosphere only very slightly, but since Ma Young-gi's face was barely known to the outside anyway, there was no need to bother touching it.
However, the two of them left their unique signature weapons behind and came out carrying other weapons.
Mujin, who used twin swords, brought out only a single ordinary iron sword, and Ma Young-gi, who used two short spears by combining them, left his spears behind entirely.
Since they used weapons that stood out so much, it was an unavoidable choice.
“The most important thing this time is time.”
At Mujin's words, Ma Young-gi nodded.
It was always like that. The most important thing in an operation was time. Because the difference of a split second decided whether the sacrifice of hundreds or thousands of people was created or prevented.
“What kind of time are you talking about?”
Ma Young-gi asked while lifting the glass in front of him to slightly moisten his lips. Since they faced a big task, he was just pretending to drink.
In contrast, Mujin drank steadily, sip by sip. Since his drinking capacity was so high, Ma Young-gi didn't worry.
Emptying the remaining liquor in his glass cleanly, Mujin answered.
“We have to make them fight at the time we planned. And at that time, we have to be there.”
Truly, it was not an easy task.
“It means a script must come out where the front and back fit perfectly together, like a performance by a troupe.”
There wasn't just one or two problems.
Ma Young-gi spoke with a worried expression.
“Even if we solve how to make them fight at the time we want……”
Ma Young-gi finally emptied the liquor he'd held back and continued his words.
“How on earth are we going to eliminate them all?”
“One by one, taking advantage of the confusion.”
“Ahh.”
Ma Young-gi let out a brief sigh.
Even if the opponent's martial arts were much weaker, this task was not easy. Moreover, among the opponents, there were those whose skills were similar to or even greater than his own.
Ma Young-gi could feel anew just how difficult this mission was.
But on the other hand, he was also jealous of Mujin.
Entrusting such a mission also meant that the Alliance Leader trusted Mujin that much.
“It's an impossible mission.”
“It could be, or……”
Mujin emptied his glass again.
“It might be unexpectedly easy.”
“How so?”
“Because the bastard's being chased.”
“And isn't that why it's more difficult? He'll be more alert and more suspicious about everything.”
“But his pride's been wounded as much as it can be. He's probably never been chased like this before.”
The words that his pride was wounded hit home. So did the follow-up words that he'd never been chased. It felt like they were approaching the solution to the problem correctly.
He certainly thought that Mujin was smart. In Ma Young-gi's view, Mujin was a talent too good to rot away as a warrior who only carried out orders from above.
“Normally, Yeo Su-in should've hidden the corpses. Since he was injured and even poisoned. Wouldn't it be better the later the corpses are discovered?”
“I suppose so. But the bastard didn't hide the corpses.”
“In other words, he wants them to come quickly, search the place, and leave. Because they won't search a place again once it's been searched once. Moreover, they'd never imagine he'd be hiding in the place where the Four Great Sons were found as corpses. What kind of person would think like this?”
“What kind of person?”
“A person with real guts and brains, or a person who knows that doing such a thing'll make them look like a person with real guts and brains. Is Yeo Su-in the former? Or the latter?”
“Aren't they the same thing?”
“I think they're different.”
Mujin's eyes shone sharply.
Then, a familiar remark was heard.
“I think he's the latter. Because there's only one person in my life who's truly smart and has guts.”
Looking back, Dan Woobin, who wore a bamboo hat pressed down, walked toward them. He joined the place where the two were sitting naturally.
“Is it okay to meet like this out in the open?”
At Mujin's question, Dan Woobin said with a laugh.
“What does it matter? One way or another, you're going to die anyway. Do you have any last words?”
Mujin, who wore an absurd expression, nodded.
“You're right. Tell the ladies that I loved them so much.”
Dan Woobin said with a giggle.
“It'll be a grand sight if dozens of women all gather to hold a memorial service.”
Then Ma Young-gi spoke up suddenly.
“Is it only a few dozen?”
Mujin said as if it were absurd.
“Is that something to come out of the mouth of a woman-avoidance patient?”
Without missing the chance, Dan Woobin said quickly.
“Captain Ma's right. I made a mistake. Hundreds of women'll shed tears for you.”
Mujin just shook his head.
“You rascals, how would street thugs like you know my noble and sublime love?”
“Hahaha. If it's sublime even twice, the largest training ground of the Murim Alliance'll be too narrow to accommodate all the women.”
Dan Woobin deliberately repeated the words about dying. He felt like he wanted to drive away actual bad luck by saying unlucky things.
“A moment ago, the owner of the Baekseon Pavilion reported the murder to the Murim Alliance.”
“He reported the incident?”
Mujin was startled.
Dan Woobin grasped the intent accurately.
“He's trying to avoid the Great Demon's suspicion. He has to show the corpses, but it's strange to just leave them neglected. However, if he's in a state where he's reported it to the Murim Alliance, he can avoid suspicion. I think it's a natural attempt.”
The reason wasn't important to Mujin.
He fell into deep thought because he felt like he could use that for something.
Taking advantage of the interval, Dan Woobin held something out to Ma Young-gi.
“Oh right, this is what the Leader told me to bring to Captain Ma.”
“What's this?”
It was a palm-sized short rod.
Ma Young-gi pressed a small button protruding from the side.
Sssst.
With a smooth sound, the short rod lengthened like a magic staff.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Ma Young-gi tried swinging the rod.
“Ohh!”
Admiration flashed across Ma Young-gi's face. It wasn't just because the length became longer. The rod had an appropriate weight, and its strength was not ordinary. It wasn't ordinary metal.
It seemed like it could be used very usefully when he didn't have his spears while carrying it around easily.
“The Leader said he'd asked the Black Iron Chamber to manufacture it for Captain Ma a long time ago. It arrived because it was completed the other day, so I brought it.”
Emotion flashed across Ma Young-gi's face. He was so happy he felt like he could fly at the words that it was a gift Lee Jaseung gave for him.
“What about mine?”
Mujin asked cautiously.
“There isn't one.”
“Has it not come yet? Or is there really nothing?”
“There's nothing.”
“My god! This mission is definitely a conspiracy to kill me.”
At those words, Ma Young-gi said while shortening the rod.
“What does an object matter? The Leader's trust is what's important. I'm more jealous of Captain Mu.”
“Then give me that and Captain Ma does the mission.”
As if it were out of the question, Ma Young-gi quickly tucked the rod into his bosom.
“I'll receive that trust next time.”
Everyone laughed together at Ma Young-gi's joke.
The playfulness disappeared from Mujin's face as he stopped laughing.
“When will the Great Demon arrive?”
“According to the Three Eyed Pavilion's analysis, it's tomorrow night. He's coming here now.”
“The time's tight.”
“Then I'll head back first.”
Dan Woobin got up first.
Mujin didn't forget to joke.
“Take good care of our Lord.”
“Don't worry. I've already unofficially decided on the next Divine Sword Regiment Captain.”
“You can take the erotic paintings under my bed.”
“Thanks, I'll look at them over and over whenever I miss Captain Mu.”
Bidding farewell with such nonsensical words, Dan Woobin left the place.
Now that only the two of them remained, Ma Young-gi asked cautiously.
“What do we do now?”
“What do you mean, what do we do.”
Judging by Mujin's sparkling eyes, it looked like he'd thought of something.
Indeed, Mujin said vigorously while looking at the Baekseon Pavilion far away.
“To catch a tiger, you have to enter the tiger's den.”
* * *
“The two of them should've arrived at the Baekseon Pavilion by now.”
At Dan Woobin's report, Lee Jaseung continued to look out the window. This was a safe house of the Murim Alliance located not far from the Baekseon Pavilion.
Whenever Dan Woobin looked at Lee Jaseung's back, he always felt a sense of loneliness.
That must've been why. Why he asked this question.
“Are you perhaps worried?”
Only then did Lee Jaseung glance back at Dan Woobin.
“Not at all. Mujin'll do well.”
“I think so too.”
Lee Jaseung's gaze turned out the window again.
“Captain Ma was very happy to receive the weapon.”
Lee Jaseung showed a faint smile. He could've made it for him much sooner. But he deliberately didn't. Originally, the short spears he carried around shouldn't be separated and carried like that either.
A weapon must always be used in its original state to gain the enlightenment that its essence provides.
In other words, when using an unorthodox method, it must be done after sufficiently learning the orthodox method.
Fortunately, Ma Young-gi was a warrior with solid fundamentals, and by the time it was time to use the short spears separately, he'd already established himself through his spear techniques.
If he'd used a separated spear before then, Lee Jaseung would've stopped him.
The reason he made this new weapon for him now was because his skills had become good enough to use it.
“Right, and here's the report on the hypothetical full-scale war with the Demonic Cult.”
Lee Jaseung took the booklet Dan Woobin held out and read it slowly while standing.
The content was divided into two cases.
When making a preemptive strike and when being subjected to a preemptive strike.
It was written in detail about how troops would move and how they would act.
The movement of the Murim Alliance's troops. From how they would seek cooperation from the righteous factions scattered all over the Central Plain to logistics. Truly, he'd set up operations by predicting every situation.
Of course, this operation'll change slightly depending on the result of the fight between Yao Hong and Yeo Su-in. The more Yeo Su-in put up a good fight, the easier it'll be for this side.
One more thing. The case of making a preemptive strike was extremely advantageous.
“Any movements from the outer regions?”
“There's no special movement. Do Baek is a person who values self-cultivation so much that he's satisfied with his current position.”
Lee Jaseung turned the pages of the booklet again.
It was written about various situations in case a war broke out.
“What about surveillance on the Demonic Cult?”
“The true demons of the Heavenly Demon Sect, the elites of the Three Eyed Pavilion, and even the Golden Ants. Since we receive reports on the Asura Demon Sect's movements six times a day, we'll never miss their movements.”
Lee Jaseung said in a meaningful tone.
“We must never be subjected to a preemptive strike.”
This fight is a fight for the initiative.
Whether the success or failure of this operation will firmly grasp that initiative or not'll decide the result.
* * *
At that time, Mujin and Ma Young-gi were knocking on the main gate of the Baekseon Pavilion. The two were wearing the uniform of the Murim Alliance with the character 'Mu' written on the left chest.
As if he'd been waiting, Yang Hae opened the door and came out.
“Welcome, Great Heroes.”
Yang Hae bowed his head deeply in greeting. One had to look good to a warrior of the Murim Alliance to be able to do business properly.
“Are you the one who made the report?”
At Mujin's question, Yang Hae answered.
“Yes, it's me. Investigator.”
Mujin and Ma Young-gi came here in the capacity of investigators from the Murim Alliance. After hearing that the brothel had reported a murder to the Murim Alliance, what Mujin thought of was coming here as an investigator.
Mujin asked with a sharp gaze.
“Where are the corpses?”
Finally, the operation begins.