Chapter 477 ·Westward (2)

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍several days of traveling westward, the familiar silhouette of massive walls caught Il-mok’s eye.

It ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was Samarkand.

During ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his days as a merchant traveling between the Western Regions and the Central Plains, he had visited this city countless times.

With ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a massive army knocking on their front door, the city was practically buzzing with panic.

Perhaps ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍because a great army was approaching.

Archers ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hastily scrambled onto the ramparts, though their numbers were laughably small for a wall that size.

Someone up on the walls shouted something, but Il-mok could not make it out since it was voiced in a foreign language.

Then, from their side, someone channeled their internal energy and shouted back.

It was Jong-ri Chu.

Standing at his side as he negotiated with the person in charge were Ohalak and James.

Since those two had spent half their lives traversing the West, dragging them along as interpreters was a no-brainer.

Whatever exchange had brought things to a satisfactory conclusion as the tightly shut gates of Samarkand's walls began to open with a grinding creak.

Soldiers on the ramparts still had their bows trained on them, but their numbers were few enough that they posed no particular threat.

They marched right past the archers aiming down at them and stepped into Samarkand. 

Il-mok murmured as he moved through the city streets.

"It’s really quiet here."

Jong-ri Chu beside him chimed in with his thoughts as well. "Most likely because the young men have been conscripted on account of the war."

Il-mok nodded in agreement.

The city felt nothing like the bustling hub he remembered from his previous visits.

With a war actively being waged, that was perhaps only to be expected.

They wove through the quiet avenues until a familiar landmark of the Majid Family's estate came into view.

The Majids were the most influential family in Samarkand, and Il-mok had frequented this estate during his past travels through the Western Regions.

However, Muhammad Majid was absent.

"The Head of the Family has traveled west to attend a conference as a representative of our city of Samarkand."

The young man who stepped forward as a proxy briefly explained the situation and then added, “If your army is here to provide reinforcements, we can assign you a guide to smooth your journey."

"Much appreciated."

This was far more convenient than getting into a standoff at the gates every single time.

Thanks to the Majid Family's hospitality, the Hong Dynasty's forces were able to rest and recover from their journey in reasonable comfort within Samarkand.

The following morning, they set out westward once more.

Wherever they stopped, the mood was much the same.

The near-absence of young men made each place feel quiet and empty, and there was a tension to the air everywhere they went.

After yet more days of traveling west, Il-mok and the army of forty thousand arrived at a city called Bukhara.

The reason the army had been reduced by ten thousand was a matter of logistics and precautions.

A portion of the forces had been left behind in small numbers at each place they had passed through on the way, while another portion had been sent back toward the Hong Dynasty territory to serve as supply units transporting the necessities.

As he gazed at the walls of Bukhara, Il-mok murmured. "Well, the vibe here is definitely different from the last time I visited."

He didn't mean it was a ghost town like the rest.

The tension was still there, but the place was absolutely packed with people.

Jong Ri-chu finished speaking with their guide and stepped up to offer an explanation. 

"It appears the leadership of the coalition is currently assembled here, Grand Preceptor."

No wonder.

"Halt!! Only the representative and those escorting him may enter!"

Unlike the other cities they had stopped at, the officer commanding Bukhara's walls barred their way.

"Hmm. I will take about ten people in with me."

Il-mok quickly handpicked his squad and made his way toward Bukhara's gates.

The ten who crossed the threshold were Il-mok and Jin Hayeon, Jeong Hyeon, Hyeokryeon Seon-ah, and Jong-ri Chu as their interpreter. As for the rest, Il-mok picked five of their most formidable martial artists.

Outside, James watched them disappear into the city and muttered to himself.

"I wonder if they'll be all right."

Ohalak beside him scoffed at James's murmur.

They had personally witnessed Il-mok's divine might, so Ohalak felt no concern whatsoever.

"Are you seriously worried about the Grand Preceptor?"

James shook his head at Ohalak's question.

"I'm worried about those Muslims leaders in there. If they happen to rub the Grand Preceptor the wrong way, he might just vaporize the entire city."

James too had seen Il-mok's divine might firsthand.

‘Those people better behave themselves. Against him, an army is just a larger pile of corpses.’

Ohalak also felt something stir within him at James's answer and turned to look back at Bukhara.

For some reason, the image of Bukhara's walls blowing apart came unbidden to his mind.

"Hahaha. Come to think of it, if this whole place blows up, that coalition of theirs would be finished too. They said all their leadership is gathered here."

"That's exactly what I mean. I do wonder whether those people in there have any idea who they've just invited inside. Tsk, tsk."

"Watch your tone; the Grand Preceptor is a man of wisdom. He wouldn't just level the city to the ground on a whim... Or would he?"

"Maybe not. If he wipes this place out, we’d instantly share a border with that empire after all.”

Only then did the two let out sighs of relief as they turned their gaze back toward the walls.

But there was one crucial fact the two did not know.

A man whose sweet and blissful honeymoon had just been ruined was in an extraordinarily foul mood.

* * *

Il-mok and his party entered Bukhara and before long arrived before a grand estate.

News of their arrival had apparently already reached the higher-ups of this place as a man promptly emerged from the estate.

"I shall guide you from here. However, only the representative and two escort warriors may accompany you inside the estate."

Il-mok scoffed under his breath.

‘It’s like watching a credit card payment get deducted piece by piece on payday.’

They had gone from forty thousand to ten, and now they were down to three.

But there was no particular reason to refuse.

And no, it wasn't because he naively assumed they wouldn't dare attack the very reinforcements they were waiting for.

‘If it comes to that,  I can just blow this entire place to kingdom come.'

Doing so would end the war in a single stroke.

Now, that’s a brilliant and effective solution.

(TL Note: Il-mok is in his demon time lol)

"Hayeon and Sixth Brother will come with me.”

Jong-ri Chu was indispensable as an interpreter and could not be left out.

As for Jin Hayeon, it was partly because they were newlyweds and he wanted her with him at all times, and partly because she was Il-mok’s most capable personnel.

Well, if he were to be truthful about the motive, being a newlywed accounted for roughly ninety-nine percent.

But anyway!

After selecting his companions, Il-mok entered the estate with unhurried steps.

They navigated the sprawling hallways until they arrived before a large door.

One of the two warriors guarding the entrance stepped inside, and shortly thereafter a voice could be heard from within. The remaining guard stepped aside and opened the door.

Inside, several dozen people were seated in a U-shaped arrangement, with two warriors standing in attendance behind each seated figure.

It was evident that those seated were the representatives of their respective regions, while the pairs standing behind them were their personal escorts.

As Il-mok briefly surveyed the room, a middle-aged man seated at the head of the U-shaped arrangement spoke.

"I am Ma'mun, leader of Nishapur and Head of the Arslan Family."

When the man named Ma'mun offered his greeting as the representative of the council, Il-mok returned the courtesy.

"I am Il-mok, Grand Preceptor of the Hong Dynasty."

Jong-ri Chu interpreted Il-mok's words, whereupon Ma'mun asked in return.

"Our countries use different systems, so I must ask for clarification. What exactly does the position of Grand Preceptor entail?"

Rather than translating for Il-mok, Jong-ri Chu answered directly.

"Excluding His Majesty the Holy Emperor, it is the highest position in our land. The Grand Preceptor has traveled here as the direct proxy of His Majesty.”

Upon hearing that the second-in-command of the Hong Dynasty had come in person, roughly half of those gathered in the hall brightened visibly.

As the previously heavy atmosphere in the hall lightened somewhat, Il-mok asked Jong-ri Chu.

"What did you tell them?"

"They asked about the title of Grand Preceptor, so I answered on your behalf."

That answer was enough for Il-mok to grasp the general shape of how things were unfolding.

He turned back to face the lords gathered here.

"Forgive me, but do not mistake my coming here in person as a sign that we have decided to enter the war."

As Jong-ri Chu translated his words, the bright expressions of the lords instantly clouded over.

Ma'mun furrowed his brow and asked. "Then why have you made this long journey yourself? And with tens of thousands of soldiers in tow, no less."

"War is a matter of the gravest consequence that can determine the very survival or fall of a nation. A matter of such gravity demands my own eyes and my own judgment before any decision is made."

While the lords murmured among themselves at Il-mok's reply, Ma'mun raised a hand as if to settle them and spoke. "Does that mean you will join if it seems we can win, and withdraw if it does not?"

It was a rather blunt question, but Il-mok answered with a calm expression.

"Does that really matter to you? At the end of the day, you just want to win. If our involvement guarantees that victory, isn't that all that counts?"

"…"

As Ma'mun and the assembled lords stared at Il-mok with speechless looks, Il-mok swept his gaze calmly across them and said without bothering to mask his irritation.

"So then, rather than wasting time in the middle of a war, why don't we get to the point? Tell me honestly how the war is currently going, and what the enemy's strength amounts to."

Il-mok wanted nothing more than to finish the business as quickly as possible and be done with it, so he added this while smiling.

"Ah. And for the record, if you feed us lies, it will pose a very grave problem for the trust between our two parties."

It was a smile utterly devoid of any human emotion.

* * *

Several hours later, Il-mok and his group emerged from the estate.

They rejoined their companion outside and made their way to the lodgings that had been prepared for them.

"I had not expected things to have deteriorated quite this badly."

Il-mok nodded at Jong-ri Chu's remark.

"I had a feeling when I saw the lord of Nishapur sitting at that table, but their frontlines are collapsing way too fast."

Nishapur was a massive hub sitting way further west than Bukhara, and it was even further west than Merv, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s usual landing zone.

It was a major city in its own right.

And yet the leader of that city was holding a conference all the way out here in Bukhara rather than in his own seat of power, which was a massive red flag by any measure.

And as Il-mok had suspected, Nishapur had already fallen into the empire's grasp.

During the early stages of the war, the empire had launched a devastating surprise attack. 

This inflicted massive casualties on the coalition before their lords could even properly muster their forces.

As the enemy forces pushed toward the outskirts of Nishapur in the blink of an eye, Ma'mun had made a bold decision to lead Nishapur's forces into the rear rather than holding his ground and dying a glorious but futile death.

It was a decision that allowed him to remain the most influential voice in the council even now since his military strength was still the greatest among the lords.

And at present, the coalition's forces had at last begun to rally from across various regions to resist the empire's advance.

"Nishapur being taken is already bad enough, but when I piece together everything they told us, it seems they have already lost nearly half their territory."

Il-mok clicked his tongue softly at Jong-ri Chu's further elaboration.

"Tsk. If the current frontlines are breached, joining the war will just result in a complete reversal of roles."

When a front line was breached, it was never just the immediate area that was lost.

Vast swaths of territory would be surrendered before a proper defensive line could be rebuilt.

In other words, if the current front line were breached, the coalition would stand to lose at least 70% of its remaining territory.

Joining the war at that point would make the term reinforcements a moot point; the Hong Dynasty’s forces would become the main army, while the surviving coalition’s forces would merely serve as auxiliaries.

Should they commit to the war right this moment?

Or should they monitor the situation a little longer to gather more information?

While Il-mok was turning this problem over in his mind, a sudden noise caught his ear.

It was a mix of pained screams and clashes of blades.

Il-mok was frowning in the direction of the commotion when Jong-ri Chu deciphered the frantic shouts and urged Il-mok.

"Grand Preceptor! They say the Hashashins (حشّاشين) have appeared!"

"Hashashins? What are those?"

"They are the Sultan's legendary hounds. They specialize in assassination. Think of them like our Eastern Depot back home! Ah,, wait, I don't mean they're a bunch of eunuchs, though!"

Il-mok tilted his head in confusion. 

The word Hashashin sounded strangely familiar to his ears.

'Assassination? Ah! Assassin!'

Il-mok realized what Hashashin referred to and launched himself in that direction without delay.

"Let us go and see!"

The source of the commotion was now clear, but he still had plenty of questions.

Why would elite assassins appear this far behind enemy lines? And why were the screams coming from a completely different area where the leadership had gathered?

There were many things that did not add up, but the most important reason Il-mok had decided to head that way was something else entirely.

"We need to capture one of these Hashashins and extract information from them. I want to know if those lords were telling us the truth or if they're trying to con us!"