Seong remained silent. Despite waiting patiently with his head bowed, Norahn sensed no forthcoming response. He rose from his seat with a short bow.
"I will raise this matter again at a later gathering," he said.
As Norahn turned to leave, Seong spoke. "Aside from the Second Emissary's hand, what other justification do you have?"
Norahn sat back down. "Our current forces are barely sufficient to control the four cities of Birahng," he explained. "Though the Emissaries are few in number, they could provide significant support if they were to take up arms."
"But you, as their leader, know their condition better than anyone," Seong countered. "Are you certain they are capable of fighting?"
"If the High Councilor can learn to wield a sword, so can the Emissaries," Norahn replied.
Seong let out a dry chuckle. "Word travels fast." His laughter faded, and he asked, "Is arming the Ministry all you desire?"
"That will settle our calculation," Norahn affirmed.
"Calculation…" Seong echoed. He looked up at Norahn. "I remember the sincerity you showed me. Was I mistaken?"
"Guardian, I…" Norahn faltered under Seong's disappointed gaze. His lips trembled. The warmth that Seong had once shown him, the concern in his eyes as he examined Norahn's wounded body, was gone. His lord's heart seemed distant, as if it had already sailed across the sea.
Norahn felt a wave of despair and resentment. Why does the Ministry always have to yield and make concessions for the sake of cooperation? Why is Seong's compassion and favor always directed towards House Myeonghyeon? The blood ties between Seong and Ryang, the deep history they shared, felt like an insurmountable wall.
As if reading his resentment, Seong averted his gaze. "Your request is granted. You may leave."
Though Seong's approval came swiftly and easily, Norahn felt a hollowness in his chest. Unable to bear the coldness any longer, he rose, bowed respectfully, and departed.
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Ryang seethed inwardly as he followed Ryucheon, who strolled with an air of leisurely confidence. Upon entering Yeonyahng, Ryang rounded on Ryucheon, his irritation evident.
"You deliberately antagonized him after I went to the trouble of arranging that meeting?" he accused. "How do you think that makes me look?"
Ryucheon, removing the silk veil that concealed his lower face, chuckled dismissively. "Taking me to meet him was your duty, High Councilor. And I believe your lord is capable of understanding a few probing questions."
Ryang scoffed and turned to leave.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Ryucheon called after him.
Ryang ignored him and continued on his way.
He headed straight for the government office, where Seong resided. The guards informed him that Seong had met with Norahn immediately upon his return. Ryang glanced towards the guesthouse where Norahn was staying, trying to decipher the purpose of his visit. He had a bad feeling about it.
As if anticipating his arrival, Seong immediately bombarded Ryang with questions about Ryucheon, a subject he had previously shown little interest in. However, Ryucheon had revealed little about himself or his organization, offering only vague hints and veiled threats. Ryang had few answers to provide. All he knew was that Ryucheon and his organization were affiliated with the Board of Diplomacy in Sungian Court, and that central officials like Ryucheon were periodically rotated to oversee local operations.
"You don't even know his exact position?" Seong pressed.
"He hasn't disclosed the name of his organization or his specific title," Ryang admitted.
"His age?"
"Only that he's older than me."
Seong frowned. "Is Baek Ryucheon even his real name?"
"I can't be certain," Ryang said, "but I've confirmed that there's a House Baek in Gahng'ahn. I've heard he initially intended to become a physician, but his path changed. I suspect he may have faced some hardships. I'm currently investigating his family background through merchant contacts."
Seong took a sip of water and pondered for a moment. "He seemed quite wary of us," he observed.
"Baek Ryucheon witnessed the entire battle," Ryang explained. "He's also heard about the incident in Hyangdo. It's only natural for him to be wary. He even concealed the ring he always wears as a symbol of his status when he met you. It means he no longer underestimates us. Initially, he didn't even seem to consider the possibility of us turning against Sung."
"So he's afraid of us?"
"We possess power they can't control."
Seong recalled Ryucheon's veiled threats, delivered with a polite smile. "Perhaps we should instill a bit more fear in them."
"That's a valid point, but we must be cautious," Ryang warned. "We don't know the extent of their involvement or their true motives for helping us. They promised to deploy troops to keep the Dahnian forces occupied, but we don't know if it's a genuine effort or just a pretense. His arrogance is irritating, but for now, just smile and play along."
Seong asked, "Couldn't you have used those tactics on the Ministry?"
"Norahn came to see me," Seong began. "He asked to rearm the Ministry. If I grant that, they won't make an issue of the previous matter."
The demand wasn't unexpected, but the way Seong delivered it seemed different from before. Ryang tensed, then began.
"Guardian."
But Seong cut him off. "I'm not asking for advice," he said. "My decision is final. Just follow my orders. Calculate the necessary budget and arm the Ministry. Have Joon draw up the training plans."
"Couldn't you reconsider?" Ryang pleaded.
"You know why that's not possible," Seong said, his eyes filled with reproach. Ryang lowered his gaze.
"Reduce the funds we send to the Ministry under the pretext of rituals," Seong continued. "They'll have less time for rituals with the new training. They won't be able to argue with that. And ensure that House Myeonghyeon manages all the incoming support from Dong'gyeong. As long as we keep Baek Ryucheon in check, the Ministry won't dare to overstep. Do you understand?"
Ryang acknowledged the balance Seong was striving for. "I understand."
"Since you're here, summon Joon and finalize the details with him."
The order was relayed to Joon, who was peacefully engaged in his usual training. The news came as a shock. He had just become the High Commander and was busy learning to lead troops and establish a system with Nahmgyo's seasoned officers. The task of preparing the Emissaries for battle seemed daunting. But Joon was more concerned about House Myeonghyeon than himself. As he left the courtyard, he reassured Ryang, "Don't worry too much. Even if the Emissaries take up arms, they'll only be a small part of our forces. The soldiers are under my command."
"Thank you for your concern," Ryang replied, then turned towards home.
His steps were heavy. He had been anxious about Norahn's demands, and while the situation seemed resolved for now, he dreaded informing Seon and facing the challenges ahead. Seong's instructions were clear: keep the Ministry under control. But will that be possible once they get armed? The cost of equipping them alone felt overwhelming.
Upon arriving home, he summoned Seon and relayed the events at the office. Seon listened with unnerving composure.
"Do we have enough funds to last until winter?" Ryang asked.
Seon, her brow furrowed, shook her head. "Not with our own funds. It's time to start bleeding Nahmgyo."
"Won't they notice the gaps in our military budget if we press them too hard?"
"This is our territory now," Seon countered. "Taxation is a natural consequence of conquest. The Guardian will soon demand Hyangdo or some other city. We'll demand taxes then."
While Seon responded obediently, she was exasperated with Ryang's lack of urgency.
"Money isn't the issue right now," she stressed. "Arming the Ministry puts swords in the hands of a force five times larger than our own. Do you even realize what that means?"
"They're a bunch of weaklings who spend their days doped up on drugs," Ryang dismissed her concerns. "It'll be a long time before they can even swing a sword properly. There's no need to panic yet."
"That's the kind of complacency that forced Grandparents to flee here with Father," Seon retorted. "Are you out of your mind?"
Her harsh words stung, and Ryang couldn't brush them aside as he usually did.
"We need to move to Hyangdo," Seon declared.
Her suggestion caught Ryang off guard. "Nahmgyo may not be our homeland, but we've been its caretakers since Grandparents' time."
"Sunyahng is our home, isn't it?" Seon countered. "Does it matter if we stay in Nahmgyo or Hyangdo until then? Survival is all that matters."
"Our assets will dry up in an instant if we move to Hyangdo. How will we survive there?"
"Didn't the Guardian say we're to manage the funds from Dong'gyeong?"
Ryang looked at Seon. "Are you confident you can handle Baek Ryucheon?"
"I am," Seon affirmed.
Ryang felt a mix of relief and despair at her answer. What am I doing, discussing such matters with my younger sister? He felt ashamed before his parents, but if he and Seon were to fall, his sense of responsibility would mean nothing. Still, he hesitated.
"Let's think about this some more."
"There's no time to waste," Seon insisted.
"Hyangdo belongs to the Birahng lords," Ryang said, "no matter how they divide it. We can't just claim it for ourselves before the negotiations even begin."
"I'm not claiming Hyangdo," Seon clarified. "I'm just seeking a safe haven within Birahng. If Hyangdo is out of the question, then Dongrahng or Seorahng will have to do. We can't stay here with the armed Emissaries!"
Seon, who had been speaking calmly, was now losing her patience. Her eyes burned with a desperate intensity. Ryang had no right to blame her, even if she were to explode and accuse him of causing this mess. But Seon, instead of dwelling on his mistakes, focused solely on their future, pushing him to act. He couldn't deny the possibility of her worst-case prediction becoming reality. If that happened, the Ministry would have no reason to spare them, and House Myeonghyeon would be annihilated. Ryang finally conceded.
"I'll speak to the Guardian tomorrow."
"No, stay put. I'll go speak to him now."
Seon rose abruptly, changed into proper attire, and raced towards the office on horseback.