Chapter 270: Resonance (2)

An uproar broke out in the royal palace of Briol.

The night before, an assassin whose target was Joshua had managed to infiltrate.

Fortunately, they had all been repelled, but the fact that the Empire had sent assassins made the atmosphere inside the palace especially tense.

Even Rosso of the royal guard, who always wore a smile, was frowning.

“Sir Rosso, why such a serious expression today?”

“Didn’t you hear the news from last night?”

“Ah, so you’re angry about that. I get it. If I weren’t part of the royal guard, I would have already gone to the front…”

“That’s not it.”

“Then?”

“I’m asking if you didn’t hear that I was the one who finished off the assassin last night.”

“Are you putting on a ladies’ man face?”

“It’s not just a ladies’ man face, it’s a solemn and elegant expression.”

“Ah, I see.”

While conversations like this repeated throughout the palace, Yekaterina, now a guest of Briol, was having tea in the gardens with Elaine.

Elaine said,

“They say an assassin came last night.”

“Oh, really? And what happened?”

“They stopped him.”

“I see.”

Yekaterina nodded and brought the cup to her lips. The crimson tint stained them.

Elaine, watching her, said,

“I think I need to move.”

“Huh?”

“There are time limitations for keeping communication with the front. The situation is urgent, and I can’t just sit here doing nothing.”

“What do you plan to do?”

“I’ll go East.”

Elaine looked at her intently.

“It was what I had planned from the beginning. I’ll leave for the East immediately and bring back reinforcements.”

“All right.”

“Until then, please take care of yourself, Your Highness.”

“Aren’t you staring at me too much?”

“I won’t be able to see you for a while.”

Whatever her personality, it was undeniable that Yekaterina’s face was close to a work of art. Elaine didn’t look away, wanting to imprint that beauty in her memory before they parted.

“I don’t know what will happen in the future, but if I get to see you again after my absence, I hope everything goes well for you.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“I mean it.”

Elaine had dealt with Yuri Briol as her investor and partner. An exceptional man.

If there was anyone capable of managing Yekaterina, it was undoubtedly Yuri Briol.

“I support you, Your Highness.”

“It seems your intention isn’t entirely pure, but I’ll accept it for now.”

“What do you mean, not pure?”

“Isn’t it?”

“How perceptive… hahaha.”

Elaine laughed quietly.

Of course, she sincerely supported both of them, but she couldn’t help thinking that if Yuri and Yekaterina were to unite, the shares of the Elaine Trading Company would skyrocket.

If Briol won the war, the only imperial noble able to continue the bloodline would be Yekaterina.

The war hero who would dominate the world, Yuri Briol, and the beauty of the century, Yekaterina, descendant of the noblest lineage on the continent.

Those two uniting would be an event of historic magnitude.

And if, when the time came, it was discreetly revealed that Yuri was co-president of the Elaine Company, she could retire without regrets.

Elaine clung to that sweet dream, masking the arduous journey that awaited her to the East.

“Hahaha… I’ll set off for the East for that moment.”

“It sounds like you don’t want to go.”

“It won’t be easy… ugh.”

Securing agreements in the East wasn’t an easy task.

And this time she wasn’t going for goods, but to secure people. Lives, to be exact.

It was possible that the Eastern martial artists, feeling insulted, might draw their swords.

“Then, before you leave, go meet the Easterner who’s in the palace.”

“An Easterner?”

“You haven’t seen him?”

“No. There’s an Easterner here? Apart from Moyongchan?”

“Yes. I ran into him walking yesterday. He said something flattering to me, so we talked for a bit.”

“What did he say…?”

Yekaterina lowered her voice and, imitating a masculine tone, quoted,

“You are so beautiful that you would make a fish forget how to swim and a goose how to beat its wings, making them fall.”

“Hmm…”

“The moon and flowers would blush and hide their faces.”

“I see.”

“I thought the Three Phoenixes of Eastern Murim were the most beautiful, but I see there’s a sky above another sky.”

“I understand. And despite being Eastern, he seems to have a good command of the continental language.”

“Yes.”

“From what you say, I’m not entirely convinced, but I’ll meet him.”

Yekaterina stood up.

“Shall we go, then?”

The princess led Elaine somewhere, followed by palace servants.

Soon they arrived at the training yard, where an Eastern man was sitting cross-legged, reading a book.

“Cheongun?”

Yekaterina called.

The man immediately stood and offered a martial salute.

“I greet Your Highness.”

It was Cheongun, the leader of the ronin group hired by Yuri.

“Every time I see you, you are even more beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“In the East we have a saying, gyeonggukjisaek.”

“What does it mean?”

“Allow me to explain…”

As the conversation dragged on, Elaine intervened.

“That’s enough. Let’s talk about going East.”

“And you are…”

“My name is Elaine.”

Cheongun nodded and bowed again.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Elaine. I’ve heard of you.”

“Of me?”

“Yes.”

Elaine sensed this man was no ordinary person.

He spoke the continental language flawlessly, and when he pronounced “gyeonggukjisaek” he did so with the genuine Eastern accent, without any awkwardness in switching between the two languages. It was as if he had lived for years on the continent.

“Who told you about me?”

“Her Highness.”

“And what did she say?”

“That you would be the one to take me East shortly.”

Elaine’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Elaine realized that Yuri had prepared in advance a new ally for her before she set off for the East.

“What was it she said?”

“Hmm…”

Cheongun blinked.

“That I’ll tell you in private. My apologies, Your Highness.”

“It’s fine. Speak in private.”

“Thank you.”

Yekaterina withdrew to let them talk.

Cheongun said,

“Then, shall we walk while we talk? The royal palace of Briol is a fine place for a stroll.”

“Agreed.”

The two strolled through the palace grounds. From time to time, members of the guard or servants greeted them.

“I suppose you’ll be of help in the East, since you’re fluent in the Eastern language. But I doubt Her Highness sent you with me just for that.”

“Huh?”

Cheongun looked surprised.

“Is that all?”

“Excuse me?”

“I was a prodigy since I was young and have a great talent for learning new languages. It hasn’t been long since I learned the continental tongue. Relying on this brilliant mind of mine, Her Highness…”

“Don’t joke.”

“Yes.”

Cheongun smiled.

“Her Highness has given me certain information. With it, convincing the experts of Eastern Murim to travel to this distant West is not entirely impossible.”

“And what is it?”

Elaine’s face brightened.

She had planned to bring Eastern warriors, but the probability of success was minimal.

Who would suddenly agree to fight in far-off lands? In fact, such a proposal could put her life at risk.

However, it seemed this Cheongun had the solution.

“The Empire is a declared enemy of Eastern Murim.”

“A declared enemy?”

“In the East there’s a group that everyone fears and hates. They always leave a trail of blood and, with demonic arts, drive people insane. They are known as the Demonic Sect.”

“The Demonic Sect…”

Elaine had vaguely heard it mentioned in the East.

“The sovereign of that sect is the Heavenly Demon.”

“You’re saying he’s in the Empire?”

“That’s right. And along with him, there is also a demonic manual that provokes the wrath of all Murim. Here they call it the demon’s grimoire.”

“Ah…”

Elaine’s mouth fell open in surprise. She had never imagined that damned manual could influence even the East.

Cheongun continued.

“If it became known that those two things are in the West, and that they intend to use that power to dominate it, the Eastern warriors would not stand idly by.”

“Would they really come?”

“Yes. Even if the Murim Alliance claims it lives and dies by diplomacy, they are quick to sense any threat against them. If the Empire wins, they will know that the East will not be safe.”

“I understand. But…”

Elaine frowned.

“Do you think they’ll believe us in the East?”

As a merchant, she had dealt with all kinds of people and had survived political intrigues within her guild. She knew that people’s natural instinct is to deny what they don’t want to accept.

It could even provoke hostility.

At her concern, Cheongun smiled.

“In that case, I will be of help.”

“You?”

“Yes. Although I am now a wandering ronin, the name of my sect is still engraved in Murim’s memory. My credibility will be backed by my school.”

“Your school?”

“Yes. I am Cheongun, the last disciple of Cheongseong. The sect no longer exists, but I still carry my master’s emblem. If I show it, even the Murim Alliance will believe me. The legacy of Cheongseong is no small matter.”

Elaine didn’t fully understand, but she realized that he was the heir of a great sect and that he had proof to back it up, so the Murim Alliance would hear him out.

She felt as if the horizon had suddenly cleared.

Although she had traveled to the East, she had never managed to meet with the true authorities of the Murim Alliance and the Nine Great Clans. They were arrogant, and that worried her, but now, thanks to Cheongun, the mission seemed possible.

“But…”

At that moment, Cheongun added,

“Murim’s warriors, in the end, speak through the sword. If we are weak, they won’t take us seriously.”

“Huh?”

“My own level is low, so in that aspect, I won’t be much help.”

Elaine also had escorts, but she wasn’t sure they were strong enough to impress the Eastern elites.

“However, don’t worry.”

Cheongun smiled again.

“In the palace, I’ve made friends with someone very interested in the East. With that person at our side, no one there will dare look down on us.”

“Who is it?”

“In the East, there were people with a similar nickname, but I’ve never seen anyone wear it so well.”

Cheongun gave a faint smile.

“It’s the Sword Demon, Bernard.”

“Ah…!”

Elaine was delighted. She had heard countless stories about Bernard, Yuri’s sword master. In his childhood, Yuri would always return injured, and most of the time it was from his training with Bernard.

A man like that was more than enough.

“He’s interested in seeing Murim’s swordsmanship and wants to come with us. Since it’s something that will benefit His Highness, he’ll surely join.”

Elaine took Cheongun’s hand.

“What a relief. Thanks to you, everything seems to be falling into place.”

“It’s not thanks to me.”

Cheongun looked up at the sky.

When he had left the East to travel West, everything had seemed uncertain. He worried about what might happen or whether he would face something worse.

But after meeting one person, everything changed.

Perhaps the heavens had guided him to these lands to meet him.

“All of this is the work of Prince Yuri. So, it’s thanks to him. And the coming war will also unfold according to what he has planned.”

***

At that moment, Yuri was also looking toward the sky, just like Cheongun.

“Ha…”

He rested an arm on Jared’s shoulder.

“Jared.”

“Yes.”

“So, what do we do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do we all gather and advance straight toward the imperial palace?”

“Do what you planned.”

“Plan? I have no such thing.”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t it enough to fight as things come up?”

“Ha…”