Chapter 1613: Invading (3)

“The Azure King?”

Did Lee Seong-Hwi really say the Azure King?

Undisguised contempt now filled Lee Hyeon-Ju’s face.

“You were busy licking Japan’s boots until recently, but now, you’ve switched sides to China? Not only that, but one of the Three Kings, no less?”

Lee Seong-Hwi calmly replied, “A man with no place to go will try to find someone, anyone, to depend on. Since the Crimson King’s faction seems to be enjoying a cosy relationship with your side, that left me with no choice but to seek out the Azure King's people instead.”

“You trash…!”

Lee Hyeon-Ju gritted her teeth loudly. Moments like this made her feel ashamed for having called this man her family once upon a time.

“Stop looking at me that way,” said Lee Seong-Hwi with a hint of sorrow. “I never intended to use the Azure King to attack the Martial Assembly. I don’t have the power to do that, anyway. The one with the ability to pull something like that off was Kim Seok-Il. But he’s currently sleeping with the fishes at the bottom of the East Sea. Probably.”

He sounded self-deprecating just then.

“I only went to the Azure King’s people to survive. And I’m only alive because they thought they could use me somehow. I am… Yes, I'm nothing to them.”

“For someone deemed only useful for something, you seem to be given a lot of leeway? Seeing how you can return to Korea on your own free will and all?”

“You…” Lee Seong-Hwi was about to say something, only for him to stop and groan deeply. “I get it. I get why you would think that everything I do has a purpose or some kind of ill intent behind it. My past actions make me look guilty, after all. But not this time. I’m only here to warn you. That is the truth.”

“Warn me? About what?”

“I told you. Leave the Assembly. That’s the only way for you to survive.”

Lee Hyeon-Ju scoffed derisively. “Looks like the Azure King’s faction has scared you shi*less.”

“You’d be scared too, if you knew the truth.”

“No. I'm different from you. Do you know why? Because, unlike you, I’m looking at the Assembly and all the changes it has gone through. Which is something you have no idea about.”

“Actually, I do know."

“No, you don't,” Lee Hyeon-Ju responded unwaveringly. “What you think you know are things only on the surface. You genuinely have no idea how much the Assembly has changed underneath. So much so that the Assembly in your memories is a completely different place compared to its current form.”

Lee Seong-Hwi held her sharp glare in silence before sighing deeply again. “I’m not here to fight you.”

“Shut up. You've already started the fight. You think you can just walk away from a fight you've started? Sorry, but I'm not going to let that happen.”

Lee Seong-Hwi stared deeply into her eyes, then quietly muttered, “You said I don’t know the Martial Assembly, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Then… Do you know what the Azure King is like?”

“…!”

Lee Seong-Hwi coldly growled. “Do you know anything about the Azure King’s faction? Or how terrifying they actually are? Can you even imagine what kind of monsters they are when you’re merely a sheltered princess who calls this cramped little country her home?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Looks like you're having a lot of fun these days,” said Lee Seong-Hwi as the corners of his lips twisted weirdly into a smirk. “Now that you're in the surface world with a nice-sounding job title, you think your life's beautiful? You think you're a successful career woman just because you're pounding away at a computer keyboard?”

“…”

“Better still, I hear you’re living together with someone who’s basically your mortal enemy.”

“I don't need your permission for that."

“Must be so nice for you,” Lee Seong-Hwi growled loudly. “To you, I’m a traitor. Isn’t that right?”

Lee Hyeon-Ju shot back. “So you know.”

“But to me, you are THE traitor. You betrayed me, you betrayed your own grandfather, and even, even… You even betrayed the Martial Assembly!”

“…”

Lee Seong-Hwi stopped growling like an agitated predator before sucking in a deep breath.

“I was worried about you and came this far to warn you. You can insult me and criticize me all you want. I never expected you to understand me, anyway. But, at the very least…”

Lee Seong-Hwi took out a packet of cigarettes from his pocket.

“I hope you take my warning seriously.”

“You can’t smoke in here.”

“But Kang Jin-Ho can, right?”

“…”

Lee Seong-Hwi smirked bitterly. “You all are too laidback.”

Lee Hyeon-Ju glared coldly, but Lee Seong-Hwi brushed aside her glare with sheer nonchalance.

“You were more on guard when the Assembly was at odds with the Yeongnam Group. The way I see it, you are a sleeping lamb utterly oblivious to three wolves hovering near you.”

“We’ve already fought the Crimson King and won.”

“And that’s where you’re mistaken. When did you actually fight the Crimson King’s faction? I thought you had to try everything in your power to flee? With things like that, do you honestly think the Assembly at full strength can match up to the Crimson King’s faction?”

“…”

“None of you will survive. Not a single one. That fate is already set in stone. And you don’t even have a lot of time left, too.”

Lee Seong-Hwi slowly got up.

“I guess you won’t listen even if I flap my gums some more. With this, my obligation to you is finished. Even if you die, I’ll at least have an excuse when I meet my master again in the afterlife. It’s not like I can kidnap you, after all.”

“Are you expecting gratitude from me?”

“Still being sarcastic till the end, huh?”

“Oh? Were you seriously thinking that I’d thank you?” Lee Hyeon-Su growled, her cold glare locked on Lee Seong-Hwi. “You don’t have the qualifications. Because you’re trash. Why should I feel grateful toward someone who gave up on his humanity? Even if you save my life one day, I will still never thank you.”

“…That kinda hurts.” Lee Seong-Hwi chuckled softly. “I figured you’d at least try to persuade me or something.”

“Persuade you? Me?”

It was Lee Hyeon-Ju’s turn to chuckle.

“Don't be ridiculous. I don't have a hobby of keeping unrecyclable trash around, okay? The place you belong to isn't the Assembly, but hell.”

“I'm already there,” said Lee Seong-Hwi with little enthusiasm. "Good news for you, then, since this will be the last time you see me.”

When Lee Seong-Hwi turned around to leave, Lee Hyeon-Ju reflexively bit her lower lip.

She didn't want to talk to him if she could help it. However, it was impossible for her not to say this out loud.

“If only it weren't for your stupid inferiority complex, you wouldn't have ended up this way!”

Lee Seong-Hwi stopped walking and froze on the spot.

Lee Hyeon-Ju yelled again. “If only you didn’t lose your mind while trying to fight someone beyond your strength!”

He slowly turned around. She thought his expression would be stiff and cold, but to her surprise, it was unexpectedly peaceful.

“What a stupid thing to say.”

“…”

“Struggling against a force you can't win against? That's what makes you human, Hyeon-Ju. Only the lowly beasts give up fighting if their opponents are stronger than they are. But real humans don't.”

“You…”

“Since that's your belief, you'd better heed my advice. The Azure King is powerful. So powerful that you don't even stand a chance. You and the Assembly are doing the same stupid things that I did.”

Lee Hyeon-Ju deeply scowled. “Is that all you have to say?”

“Maybe. For now.” Lee Seon-Hwi faltered slightly before saying something else. “I'm like a mountain climber. A climber who rushed to conquer a mountain that no one has done, with little to no preparation. And now, he's fallen into a deep crevice below and is barely alive. Because of his broken limbs, he can't escape on his own strength. And he has no allies to come and rescue him, either. Yes, I am a climber who spends his days waiting for his death!”

Lee Hyeon-Ju coldly shot back. “How poetic.”

“Ha. Hahah…” Lee Seong-Hwi slowly shook his head. “Don’t become like me, Hyeon-Ju. That was all I wanted to say to you. Really.”

His face was basically only skin and bones, while the light in his eyes was subdued and dim. Maybe he wasn't lying about experiencing a living hell.

Even then, Lee Hyeon-Ju didn't feel one iota of sympathy for him. Because what Lee Seong-Hwi had done was not what humans with a conscience would do.

“Leave.”

“…”

Lee Hyeon-Ju pointed to the door. “Never come back. I don’t want to see you ever again.”

“What a nice farewell that is.”

Lee Seong-Hwi resumed walking toward the office’s exit, opened the doorway, and stepped outside. However, before closing the door, he glanced behind him.

“Don’t forget what I’ve said.”

“…”

“You have no idea who's pulling the strings. That you've been merely dancing on his palm all this time. All of your guesses and expectations of the Azure King are wrong. He… He is a truly terrifying individual. So much so that even Kang Jin-Ho feels like a little kid compared to him.”

“…”

“Remember that.”

Clack.

The door closed shut. Only then did the clenched-fist Lee Hyeon-Ju slowly crumble on the spot, her glare finally drifting away from the doorway. She rested her back against the wall while squatting on the floor, her eyes gradually closing.

The Azure King!

Lee Seong-Hwi being a piece of human trash was true, but it didn't feel like he was lying about the Azure King.

I… I need to report this in.

Lee Hyeon-Ju forced herself to stand again. She then pulled out her phone and dialed Lee Hyeon-Su’s number.

***

“Lee Seong-Hwi?”

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow.

Lee Hyeon-Su grimly nodded. “Yes, sir, him. He was in MK just now.”

“In MK’s HQ?”

“Yes, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow even more. Even if it was nighttime, being able to waltz in and out of MK undetected like that? The Lee Seong-Hwi of the past wouldn't be able to do that.

“Looks like we need to strengthen the HQ's security measures,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Yes, I agree. With martial artists as security guards, I figured that most people wouldn't be able to sneak in, so I didn't factor in situations like this…”

Lee Hyeon-Su subtly bit his lip. He knew he had been too lackadaisical. Had Lee Seong-Hwi’s intention been impure, Lee Hyeon-Ju wouldn’t be alive right now.

I shouldn’t have forgotten that being in Korea doesn’t guarantee our safety…!

Even though he kept harping on about staying vigilant, he still let himself grow lax.

“Sir, we will immediately improve and strengthen the protection detail on not just MK, but your family members, President Hwang, and his associates.”

“Good. Do that,” Kang Jin-Ho replied without hesitation with a firm nod.

“Also…” Lee Hyeon-Su grimaced, slightly anxious. “What Lee Seong-Hwi said is making me worried, sir. The bit about how the Azure King is pulling the strings and all that.”

“…”

The Azure King, was it…? Kang Jin-Ho’s expression grew withdrawn.

After having so many run-ins with the Crimson King, he almost felt a sense of friendship with him, but that story didn't apply to the Azure King and the Dark King. They still remained a complete enigma even now.

The Crimson King said those two Kings’ martial prowess more or less matched his, but…

But the Crimson King is a naive… No, an honest man.

A man like that could be dealt with by martial arts alone. But it sounded like the Azure King wasn't like that. It seemed he had more to offer besides martial arts. And according to Kang Jin-Ho's own experiences…

…People like that were several times more dangerous.

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su. “How are we getting our information on China?”

“Sir. We’re currently relying on the Round Table, the Chinese government, Korea’s NIS, and even our own intelligence-gathering department, which we’ve been augmenting for a while now. Despite all these disparate avenues, however, we have practically no information on the higher-ups of the Azure King’s faction. Or, for that matter, on the Dark King’s faction.”

“Mm…” Kang Jin-Ho scratched his chin. “It doesn’t matter how much money we spend on this. Improve our intelligence department even more.”

“Understood.”

“Oh, and also…” Kang Jin-Ho smirked softly. “Contact the Crimson King’s faction. Tell them to hand over all the info they have on the Azure King.”

“…? Sir, the Crimson King’s faction?”

“Yeah.”

Lee Hyeon-Su frowned deeply. “Will they even provide us with such valuable info? We might be in an alliance, but that’s only in name, and…”

“Don’t worry. They will.”

“…”

“Cai Kechang might oppose it, but not the Crimson King. He’ll think we can’t do much with such information.”

Of course, he was more or less correct on that.

“However, we need to clutch at straws even if we have to. We should gratefully lap up all the info the Crimson King tosses in our way.”

“Understood. I’ll get in touch with them.”

“Good.”

Lee Hyeon-Su bowed and left the Assembly Master’s office.

Now left alone, Kang Jin-Ho mouthed a fresh cigarette.

I knew it.

He knew his enemies wouldn't wait for long. They must be making all sorts of moves even now, as if to mirror how desperately Kang Jin-Ho and his allies had been moving, too. It was just that the enemy factions' massive size effectively hid their activities.

A winding river would change its shape, but a stormy ocean would remain as an ocean, after all!

Click!

Kang Jin-Ho lit his cigarette up, then reclined against the couch.

Can I protect everything?

He still wasn't sure about it just yet. However…!

Kang Jin-Ho slowly closed his eyes. The image of Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor appeared within the darkness of his mind.

—What’s wrong? Not feeling confident enough?

No, that's not it.

Kang Jin-Ho smirked. “Soon, we will all find out.”

They would find out that only one man had the right to call himself the King in this world!