Chapter 270: Resonance (2)
H7nAn uproar broke out in the royal palace of Briol.HR7Gz
0SwThe night before, an assassin whose target was Joshua had managed to infiltrate.JNd
zO2JdFortunately, they had all been repelled, but the fact that the Empire had sent assassins made the atmosphere inside the palace especially tense.olXUy
bawrt05Even Rosso of the royal guard, who always wore a smile, was frowning.PL2LAnj
5v1WJ“Sir Rosso, why such a serious expression today?”PwtbnC
rFNLv73“Didn’t you hear the news from last night?”LwD
db4“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…”PpdBFb
eUWZm4“That’s not it.”LKoB
pPLCtvI“Then?”Cuvdhzo
wCcWsK0“I’m asking if you didn’t hear that I was the one who finished off the assassin last night.”QCVAH
pcFA“Are you putting on a ladies’ man face?”G96Pl
T1pvg“It’s not just a ladies’ man face, it’s a solemn and elegant expression.”M7uqn3h
x7vA“Ah, I see.”oP1x
rORlWhile conversations like this repeated throughout the palace, Yekaterina, now a guest of Briol, was having tea in the gardens with Elaine.Y5S
p51ZEkElaine said,5l5
3dD8“They say an assassin came last night.”anVnqw
svWt8“Oh, really? And what happened?”OiQjma5
H4wky3“They stopped him.”PIPp
bBodYQ“I see.”jZI
i4ARECWYekaterina nodded and brought the cup to her lips. The crimson tint stained them.Opc
oXpf3pElaine, watching her, said,ZYi
PKXFW“I think I need to move.”8lBN
9Sg0B“Huh?”yp4
LIGk8“There are time limitations for keeping communication with the front. The situation is urgent, and I can’t just sit here doing nothing.”FCoKGG
p7843QA“What do you plan to do?”Q8adFW
Dyk1“I’ll go East.”SqaXpM
21kElaine looked at her intently.QH9CcN
GRR6“It was what I had planned from the beginning. I’ll leave for the East immediately and bring back reinforcements.”l4u
sYq4y“All right.”UVC0
X0B807W“Until then, please take care of yourself, Your Highness.”Wk6
l2Qp“Aren’t you staring at me too much?”XiW3Bak
IeGUS9K“I won’t be able to see you for a while.”8SZblMK
IETkf52Whatever 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.ASk
PnL1s“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.”Ir02
Bm1GEK7“Oh, thank you.”icI
Ap9342“I mean it.”TluM
4DHLElaine had dealt with Yuri Briol as her investor and partner. An exceptional man.P8iNA5
suXco8If there was anyone capable of managing Yekaterina, it was undoubtedly Yuri Briol.SLXFQ
JVY“I support you, Your Highness.”0Wqn
LBF“It seems your intention isn’t entirely pure, but I’ll accept it for now.”folx
fMoji“What do you mean, not pure?”Fyt
7RoniZ“Isn’t it?”eezWZA
vTemZu“How perceptive… hahaha.”uvmk
ylU9fElaine laughed quietly.h9lo10
UaPOf 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.IFqRrW
zoSIf Briol won the war, the only imperial noble able to continue the bloodline would be Yekaterina.xnkmf2
ugcThe war hero who would dominate the world, Yuri Briol, and the beauty of the century, Yekaterina, descendant of the noblest lineage on the continent.kWC
1QjgDUFThose two uniting would be an event of historic magnitude.7ssArdE
jXKAnd if, when the time came, it was discreetly revealed that Yuri was co-president of the Elaine Company, she could retire without regrets.yDx
VVhlElaine clung to that sweet dream, masking the arduous journey that awaited her to the East.6RUKAA
OIdiba“Hahaha… I’ll set off for the East for that moment.”3bPU4Lw
T6f“It sounds like you don’t want to go.”a9MLu
1iH“It won’t be easy… ugh.”MiUnMf
UgUVZSecuring agreements in the East wasn’t an easy task.ksXfdO6
kMARAnd this time she wasn’t going for goods, but to secure people. Lives, to be exact.EVkw
Qja9rIt was possible that the Eastern martial artists, feeling insulted, might draw their swords.cpra
XH0“Then, before you leave, go meet the Easterner who’s in the palace.”MxbinP
jxutgDt“An Easterner?”iot1p3
vOWqy“You haven’t seen him?”Oz3
1Lhrl“No. There’s an Easterner here? Apart from Moyongchan?”tvDlS
DMcP2“Yes. I ran into him walking yesterday. He said something flattering to me, so we talked for a bit.”1xAli
ucsZGsX“What did he say…?”UHuj
8IqvrKNYekaterina lowered her voice and, imitating a masculine tone, quoted,xkYXFR
xb1Dfz“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.”yg3
JhF“Hmm…”2Gm3xAd
nUXv“The moon and flowers would blush and hide their faces.”LDsZ
CkH“I see.”dchB
qMlJ“I thought the Three Phoenixes of Eastern Murim were the most beautiful, but I see there’s a sky above another sky.”xein
t7QnK7“I understand. And despite being Eastern, he seems to have a good command of the continental language.”qwD0
6f5jF“Yes.”jyk
6VIEkCl“From what you say, I’m not entirely convinced, but I’ll meet him.”Xz8j
fdcYekaterina stood up.MwlvO
1Thd9e“Shall we go, then?”2wm
sWZeThe princess led Elaine somewhere, followed by palace servants.CrrT1p
9OXXyqSoon they arrived at the training yard, where an Eastern man was sitting cross-legged, reading a book.I0neP
MSU“Cheongun?”WmDG
DYkExYekaterina called.9KAji9v
rqT8The man immediately stood and offered a martial salute.bydT
4GCXY33“I greet Your Highness.”pvLKN04
wGEEk7uIt was Cheongun, the leader of the ronin group hired by Yuri.hxTzF
wpJ“Every time I see you, you are even more beautiful.”RRP
epH“Thank you.”Leb
cxbgB“In the East we have a saying, gyeonggukjisaek.”U9dV
02to“What does it mean?”uodMNT
Bu4P08g“Allow me to explain…”ZaPd
14NgAs the conversation dragged on, Elaine intervened.KwgsxA
CIBFN“That’s enough. Let’s talk about going East.”8qZDRuH
Eh1wNjZ“And you are…”uZY
33n“My name is Elaine.”Caee
bGVWLBCheongun nodded and bowed again.cNQYN
YZI“Pleased to meet you, Lady Elaine. I’ve heard of you.”5mm8
XQeCV“Of me?”UGkD
kinD“Yes.”QIN
7gNobxElaine sensed this man was no ordinary person.clO
G3c1He 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.o2pTw
mtIbcU“Who told you about me?”LQ9iP
bj1o“Her Highness.”DK5gP
vfWyC“And what did she say?”yB4l
iQJr“That you would be the one to take me East shortly.”UePKlt
MFEgElaine’s eyes widened in surprise.RXGEFta
dUWY“Really?”AMlK
hAGZ“Yes.”SwG6jsc
r0vJQpEElaine realized that Yuri had prepared in advance a new ally for her before she set off for the East.3HDVtFn
Pm8Jb5v“What was it she said?”Inyo
q2lGjYI“Hmm…”ISHr
zAki3Cheongun blinked.MVv3Wmn
XMnBkt“That I’ll tell you in private. My apologies, Your Highness.”KPSjzF9
lyX2qX“It’s fine. Speak in private.”SdZW8o
LY0IsyH“Thank you.”Nvi
OqmwYekaterina withdrew to let them talk.fyN
yQxBcKGCheongun said,hhtVR4J
yFOu“Then, shall we walk while we talk? The royal palace of Briol is a fine place for a stroll.”YTIqmo
VSmnm“Agreed.”a6SAFz
qxTuLThe two strolled through the palace grounds. From time to time, members of the guard or servants greeted them.hRB5k6
LRjmJ“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.”sFMolyQ
rvv9qah“Huh?”oNOCS
5g8UCheongun looked surprised.N0A
T3Xicmg“Is that all?”DIOLXb
UtiRIc3“Excuse me?”dcM
rTG3“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…”XwxjYIO
ZEScY“Don’t joke.”nEry0
Py6“Yes.”7sIJ
Y1HCheongun smiled.uD5s
aeW“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.”8s2O
8EZvR“And what is it?”XU2Q
DmLElaine’s face brightened.2tz4
ijGb1She had planned to bring Eastern warriors, but the probability of success was minimal.OE4
eMcjHWho would suddenly agree to fight in far-off lands? In fact, such a proposal could put her life at risk.qPZv
X2FHowever, it seemed this Cheongun had the solution.REmn4yB
mYu“The Empire is a declared enemy of Eastern Murim.”2jK2hHW
glLP“A declared enemy?”0CJgz9F
VL0L“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.”mHkbht
XUtHJo“The Demonic Sect…”4h0
u9oxvU8Elaine had vaguely heard it mentioned in the East.Rxch7v
2QwjKI“The sovereign of that sect is the Heavenly Demon.”MY5
jRO9“You’re saying he’s in the Empire?”kHA
1a3“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.”1JiDjh
KWf9hA“Ah…”9fq136
pI1bxgElaine’s mouth fell open in surprise. She had never imagined that damned manual could influence even the East.e105
g8EZCheongun continued.r9Y7GU
6gUr“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.”HLisKR
MpZn8PF“Would they really come?”s5hvV
E6qVIZY“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.”n7z
9vBqI“I understand. But…”kU16
j1IZWF5Elaine frowned.45vlP3
MSnuT2“Do you think they’ll believe us in the East?”mOuyTM
4JK0sZAs 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.QCYJUx1
tFgbxu2It could even provoke hostility.0wWr86K
kPDXAt her concern, Cheongun smiled.qThm8
9KV“In that case, I will be of help.”LTl
bmqRQpf“You?”gnCw
s5o“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.”3Lg7Ud
DyJAlA“Your school?”FIa7J
myZO88“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.”XyrUq7
CeMchEElaine 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.EHp0
oIy2ClShe felt as if the horizon had suddenly cleared.vsx0Qo
31PtajdAlthough 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.HevDl5R
SssVIzo“But…”55hj
QdM1zWjAt that moment, Cheongun added,qdCmlU
ZZj“Murim’s warriors, in the end, speak through the sword. If we are weak, they won’t take us seriously.”WNengo
0De“Huh?”6Za
KpD“My own level is low, so in that aspect, I won’t be much help.”83GW8
VdB68Elaine also had escorts, but she wasn’t sure they were strong enough to impress the Eastern elites.OdE3BF
oOBzpag“However, don’t worry.”zPLHbK6
qPySDBCheongun smiled again.VsNUBc
JsbXMQW“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.”fh6w
nKvnykH“Who is it?”GbDo
J7S“In the East, there were people with a similar nickname, but I’ve never seen anyone wear it so well.”HAU
gomFyCheongun gave a faint smile.So5o
yowoS“It’s the Sword Demon, Bernard.”7Mlp8Iq
xbqtez“Ah…!”bOaN
y4a7Elaine 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.Nost78R
SLcA man like that was more than enough.IVinx7
22T“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.”G4dz
xrGObdyElaine took Cheongun’s hand.vFstvR
Wbi1BDt“What a relief. Thanks to you, everything seems to be falling into place.”ravu
QqE“It’s not thanks to me.”FAEAQq
vGqGudWCheongun looked up at the sky.6xFej
UrcWhen 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.0KFGiOL
4BIklBBut after meeting one person, everything changed.47gK
inUPerhaps the heavens had guided him to these lands to meet him.0t3
5JF3Sy“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.”ObiDS
MNGm1***N2g
i2UDfAt that moment, Yuri was also looking toward the sky, just like Cheongun.AZ6gd
TzMp“Ha…”Cdm9a6
FtuTyhHe rested an arm on Jared’s shoulder.vI1oMXY
SLWhwc“Jared.”PzIl7
MBFb“Yes.”Ivgldl
0K1“So, what do we do now?”wijeB
0i2r4“What do you mean?”UeTzD9j
m9duL“Do we all gather and advance straight toward the imperial palace?”ZbKEl
DDW7c“Do what you planned.”psT
74LaSl“Plan? I have no such thing.”py2IDj
PRZE“Huh?”LB13Id
n44hD“Isn’t it enough to fight as things come up?”MKz
xntOd“Ha…”eN1
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