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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Hall Masters' Meeting
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#003 Hall Masters' Meeting
As soon as I returned to the Outer Hall after a hectic patrol, I reported to the Vice Hall Master.
"For the Nine! Dragons! Seventeenth Squad Leader Jin Mujeon, reporting back from duty."
"…What on earth is that slogan? And why is your hand plastered to your forehead?"
"It is a slogan and gesture to express my loyalty to the Nine Dragons Fortress. Do you not approve?"
To think he doesn't know the basic salute. The future of the Outer Hall is truly worrisome.
"Ahem, it doesn't seem too bad."
"I'm relieved to hear that."
I could feel the Vice Hall Master's favorability toward me increase by +1.
"Anyway, was there any trouble?"
"A few drunkards were causing a scene, but we handled it without any injuries."
"I'm sure that's thanks to you."
"You praise me too highly."
"Not at all. Do you know how surprised I was when you first applied to the Outer Hall? A talent who graduated at the top of the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion, volunteering to join us. And you've adapted so well since coming here."
In truth, the Vice Hall Master had rejected my application, claiming that an elite from the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion would only stir up trouble in the Outer Hall.
I had to follow him around for nearly ten days, practically clinging to his leg, to persuade him.
'Please, just give me one chance! I can do this.'
Thinking back, the road to this point has been nothing short of arduous.
Perhaps that's why the Vice Hall Master's gaze always holds a certain kindness when he looks at me.
My shoulders squared at my superior's boundless trust.
"If I had my way, I'd just entrust Taeryong Road entirely to the Seventeenth Squad."
Except for when side effects like this occurred.
"But that would go against the principle of rotating duties."
"Ah, haha. What a shame."
The Outer Hall rotates duty assignments once a month.
There are several reasons for this, but the biggest is to prevent the formation of illicit connections.
It prevents situations where one person gets a pass for being a familiar face while another is punished harshly for the same offense, or where one might even sabotage a rival business to help an acquaintance.
And of course, bribery was a given in such processes.
However, the Vice Hall Master seemed to think differently, muttering something strange.
"Right? In that case, I'll speak to the Hall Master and make an exception for the Seventeenth Squad…"
What did this man have for breakfast today?
"You mustn't!"
"Hmm? Didn't you just say it was a shame?"
"If we make an exception for something so trivial, the discipline of the Outer Hall will crumble."
"Is, is that so?"
"Indeed. The first time is always the hardest. Won't one exception quickly become two, and then three?"
"You have a point. To think you'd offer such golden advice. I was right to appoint you as the Seventeenth Squad Leader."
"You praise me too highly."
After I barely managed to convince the Vice Hall Master, he brought up something else.
"That's why… I need you to accompany the Hall Master to the Hall Masters' Meeting."
"Pardon? Isn't that usually the First Squad Leader's job?"
"It is, but…"
The Vice Hall Master hesitated for a moment before continuing with a bitter expression.
"Actually, he's currently being investigated by the Disciplinary Corps."
"What? The First Squad Leader?"
The First Squad Leader was third in the Outer Hall's chain of command, right below the Vice Hall Master.
No matter how much of a backwater the Outer Hall was, he was still a person of considerable rank for the Disciplinary Corps to touch.
For him to be under investigation meant he must have committed a significant abuse of power.
"They say he took five hundred nyang to ruin a merchant guild."
I never would have guessed. That old man plays for high stakes.
"As you know, the other squad leaders are all illiterate. You, at least, being from the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion, must have read a book or two."
"My experience is still lacking…"
Not wanting to work overtime, I tried to politely decline with a show of humility, but the Vice Hall Master held up four fingers.
"In return, I'll put you on gate duty for the next four months."
"Seventeenth Squad Leader Jin Mujeon! I will carry out your order without fail!"
***
"So, you want me to prepare for the Hall Masters' Meeting?"
"Yes."
Yu So-pyeong asked again, his brow furrowed.
"By myself?"
"What choice do we have? We can't leave it to them, can we?"
As I glanced at our squad members, who practically radiated ignorance, Yu So-pyeong gave a slight nod.
"Then Squad Leader, you could help, couldn't you?"
"I'm in a management position. I have to make sure our Seventeenth Squad is running smoothly."
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
What do you mean, nonsense? It means I'm ditching this group project.
"Anyway, I'm counting on you."
"W-wait!"
I pointedly ignored Yu So-pyeong's desperate cry and dashed away with a skip in my step.
Don't resent me too much.
This is just part of the working world.
Besides, I let you skip your patrol duty.
***
A week later, Yu So-pyeong, with dark circles etched under his eyes, handed me a stack of papers.
"Here it is."
"Ahem, let's see."
Despite the large volume, everything was neatly organized. It seems I made the right call in delegating.
"Good work. Go get some rest."
"…Yes, sir."
As soon as Yu So-pyeong left with a face full of discontent, I headed to the Vice Hall Master's office.
It was time for the final confirmation before the Hall Masters' Meeting.
"Here are the materials for the meeting."
"Ah, good. Let me see."
He briefly looked over the documents, then nodded with a satisfied expression.
"This is better than what the First Squad Leader used to prepare. I'll have to ask for your help more often."
"Think nothing of it, sir. Just say the word anytime."
Sorry, So-pyeong. You'll have to make a sacrifice for the good of the Seventeenth Squad.
"Well then, I'm counting on you for tomorrow."
"Will you not be attending, Vice Hall Master?"
"Ahem, I have a mission for the time being."
"…Pardon?"
"In any case, I'm counting on you."
An unsettling feeling made me nod my head before I knew it.
'Why do I feel like I just did a job and won't get paid?'
As I was about to leave, recalling the sight of the Vice Hall Master's retreating back as he headed home…
"Hm? Is the Vice Hall Master not in? I have something to report…"
"No, he just left for the day."
The Third Squad Leader walked in.
"Well, he has to go all the way to Yunnan, so he must have left early. Can't be helped. I'll have to tell him next time."
"Pardon?"
"You didn't know? He took a leave of absence starting today to marry the second daughter of the Yu family in Yunnan."
'I've been had!'
My fists clenched unconsciously.
To think I'd get stuck with someone else's work, a tactic rampant in the corporate world of 21st-century Korea, here in the martial arts world, 500 years behind!
My hands trembled, and my vision blurred.
At the same time, a sense of respect for the Vice Hall Master's brilliant office politics began to blossom within me.
"Urgh!"
"Hm? What's wrong with you?"
"It's just… indigestion."
***
The day of the Hall Masters' Meeting dawned.
I arrived a little early and knocked on the Outer Hall Master's office door.
"Hall Master, it's time for the meeting."
*Creeak.*
"Yaaawn! Is it that time already…?"
Bukgung Baek emerged, his hair a bird's nest.
"…Since you'll be seeing the other Hall Masters for the first time in a while, perhaps you should at least wash your face."
"What's the point of washing up when all I'm going to get is an earful?"
"That is true."
Although we were slightly better off than some, the Outer Hall was still the Outer Hall—an outsider, through and through. At best, we were the king of the nobodies.
This remained true even with Bukgung Baek, the Ten-Hand Heavenly Conqueror, a supreme master said to be able to rend the heavens with ten gestures, as our Hall Master.
The reason was simple: the 'Nine Dragons' of the Nine Dragons Fortress referred to the nine halls, including the Outer Hall.
The other eight halls were all prestigious clans, each with hundreds of years of history.
In simple terms, the Nine Dragons Fortress wasn't originally a single entity but a conglomerate formed through mergers, acquisitions, and stock swaps between major corporations.
So, it was inevitable that the Outer Hall, with its lack of pedigree, was treated as an outcast.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir."
Following behind Bukgung Baek, I entered the Inner Fortress.
'It's been a while.'
When I was at the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion, I used to come and go from this place daily, but returning after so long felt a little strange.
After walking for another hour, we arrived at the largest structure in the Inner Fortress, the Lord's Hall.
"Ahem."
Upon entering the Lord's Hall, I saw the masters of each hall, all clad in magnificent robes.
Though I had seen their faces throughout my life in the Nine Dragons Fortress, the atmosphere was as cold as ice.
This was the result of political maneuvering, where they all stagnated in one place, constantly slandering each other.
Bukgung Baek, looking accustomed to it, casually took a seat at the end of the table, and I stood behind him.
A moment later.
"Is everyone here?"
At the entrance of Dang Cheong—the Lord of Nine Dragons, the Dark Poison Star King, one of the five who had carved up the martial world, and a man whose own martial prowess was said to have reached the heavens—the Hall Masters rose from their seats.
"""We greet the Lord."""
'It's been a while, old man.'
I had actually seen him before. We had even exchanged a few words.
He was the one who had awarded me a martial arts manual and its commentary for graduating at the top of my class at the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion's completion ceremony.
*Swoosh.*
As Dang Cheong swept his gaze around with his unique dark green eyes, the hall instantly felt as if it had frozen over.
"Begin."
At his single word, the reports began, starting with the Blue Dragon Hall Master at the head of the table and ending with the Red Dragon Hall Master seated right next to Bukgung Baek.
Even to me, who knew little about the Fortress's affairs, many of the issues sounded quite serious, but the Lord merely watched on with an indifferent expression.
Then came the turn of the Outer Hall, the last in line.
"Let's end it here for today."
Looking bored, he tossed out the words and left the hall. I was so dumbfounded I couldn't speak.
'We went through so much trouble preparing those documents, and he won't even listen!'
Of course, Yu So-pyeong had been the one to prepare them, but as his squad leader, his effort was my effort, so I had every right to be angry.
Did he sense my fury?
"Wait."
The Lord, who had been about to leave, stopped in his tracks.
"Who is that young man behind the Outer Hall Master? His face is familiar."
At the Lord's call, I shot forward like a lightning bolt.
After all, the CEO of a global super-conglomerate like the Nine Dragons Fortress had just spoken to someone of my level, a mere assistant manager in a minor subsidiary.
"I am Jin Mujeon, Squad Leader of the Seventeenth Squad of the Outer Hall!"
"I remember you."
"I am honored that you remember me!"
"Yes. Are you practicing 'that' which I gave you?"
"Though I am still lacking, I am doing my utmost to master it!"
That was a lie. I had only learned the immediately useful opening parts and hadn't looked at it since.
Getting caught lying to the Lord would surely cost me my head, but I gambled that he wouldn't bother checking the progress of someone like me.
However, contrary to my expectations, the Lord intended to do just that.
"Is that so? Then let's have a look."
'Gasp!'
The moment he finished speaking, a viscous and heavy energy approached and began to probe every corner of my body.
The Lord was using his internal energy to check my progress.
I didn't dare resist, merely standing still as his energy coursed through me.
'Damn it, am I going to get scolded for slacking off?'
A moment later.
"Your progress is not bad. Continue to strive."
For reasons I couldn't fathom, the Lord praised me and turned away.
Stunned by the sudden turn of events, I could only stare blankly at his retreating figure.
*Thud.*
A kick from Bukgung Baek snapped me back to my senses. I quickly clasped my fists and bowed my head.
"Thank you for your guidance!"
And so, the stormy Hall Masters' Meeting came to an end.
With me at the center of the gazes of all the major subsidiary presidents.
***
"It seems the old man has taken a liking to you."
"Heavens! Hall Master, we are still in the Inner Fortress. What if someone hears you?"
"Hears what? There's no one around."
This man is going to get himself into serious trouble one day.
I think I'll have to cut ties with him soon.
"By the way, what did the Lord give you? Ah! You don't have to say if it's a secret."
"It's no secret. He simply bestowed a martial art upon me."
"The Lord's martial art… Ten Thousand Blossoms Scattered like Rain? The Thousand Poisons Heart Art?"
"No, nothing so grand. He just said it was a martial art he created himself."
This was exactly what irked me.
For the Lord of the Nine Dragons Fortress, of all people, to give me a nameless, self-made martial art.
Unbranded goods are a pain to get serviced…
However, Bukgung Baek's thoughts were different. His eyes gleamed as he spoke.
"A martial art created by the Lord himself. I should ask for it as a reward the next time I perform a great service."
I'm telling you, it's not that great.
Besides, for you, the Outer Hall Master, to perform a great service, a full-scale war would have to break out with the Ten Demon Alliance above us. That's pretty much impossible.
As we were heading back to the Outer Hall, Bukgung Baek stopped in his tracks.
"Looks like we have a visitor."
"There's no one here."
"What do you mean, no one? He's right next to you."
I turned at Bukgung Baek's words and saw a short old man smiling at me.
"Good heavens!"
"Heh heh, have you been well?"
"Old man! You scared me half to death."
"A young man like you, scared? I'm disappointed, you brat. You haven't visited once since leaving the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion."
*Flick!*
"Ouch!"
The old man flicked his finger, and my head rang. It was a bootleg version of a finger-flicking technique.
"You old geezer, I swear!"
"Do you want another one?"
"…No."
Bukgung Baek quietly clasped his fists in a formal salute to the old man.
"Greetings, Adept."
My word, to think that ruffian could be so polite.
Corporate life really does change a man.
"It has been a long time. Is your esteemed father well?"
"It has been over a decade since he entered the Great Snow Mountains, so I have not heard from him, but I imagine he is fine."
"True, there are few in this world who could trouble him. Anyway, may I borrow this one for a while?"
"If the Great Pure Adept of Mount Diancang requires him, then of course you must take him."
"Thank you."
With that, Bukgung Baek leaped away, leaving me alone with the old man. I spat out a curse of betrayal.
'Damn it.'