Chapter 478 ·Fanatics (1)

With ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍their lightness skills, Il-mok and his crew arrived at the source of the commotion.

And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a scene of carnage lay before them.

Fresh ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍blood was splattered everywhere, and severed parts of human bodies lay strewn about.

Over ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a dozen bodies of all ages and genders were strewn across the dirt.

Daubed ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍on the wall above the carnage was a message written in human blood that Il-mok couldn't decipher.

"What ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍does it say?" Il-mok asked.

Jong-ri Chu read the blood-written message on the wall and answered before long. “Divine retribution upon the filthy apostates. That’s the gist of the message, Grand Preceptor.”

Il-mok scowled.

‘They went beyond assassination and now committed terrorism.’

For some reason, memories related to the extremist groups he had only ever encountered through news broadcasts in his previous life surfaced in his mind.

Il-mok quickly turned his head to look at Jeong Hyeon.

"Th-this way."

She had been scanning the scene the whole time, and she had finally detected traces of the killers' whereabouts.

They followed her lead and soon emerged from the alleyway and arrived at a busy main street bustling with passersby.

Jeong Hyeon paused her steps in alarm.

In response, Il-mok flicked his finger toward the wall of a nearby building in a sudden strike.

The moment the energy released from his finger struck the wall, a dull thud reverberated through the air.

Immediately after, a black-clad figure tumbled from the wall where nothing had been visible before crashing to the ground with a heavy thump.

"That’s a shoddy concealment technique for a supposed assassin.”

Il-mok surmised the figure had probably been trying to use the camouflage to melt into the panicked crowds of Bukhara.

While his crew moved in to secure the unconscious assassin, another wave of chaotic screaming erupted from further down the city. 

Amid that clamor, the distinctly familiar word Hashashin reached his ears, and Il-mok's expression darkened.

Fifteen or so corpses.

For a man who had spent a couple of years of his life in wars, fifteen was something that Il-mok could call a light casualty.

But that was only true on a battlefield.

"Deranged bastards."

There was a world of difference between soldiers trading blows in the trenches and armed zealots sneaking into a city just to butcher defenseless civilians.

***

After subduing their first target, Il-mok and his squad spent the night moving around Bukhara.

Carnage had broken out across various corners of the city, and a total of five Hashashin were captured.

Of those, three had been apprehended by Il-mok and his party, while the remaining two were captured by Bukhara's soldiers.

Moreover, those five terrorists had nearly a hundred innocent lives before being stopped.

Around the time they captured the last Hashashin, they crossed paths with a heavily armed squad of Bukhara’s guards.

There was a brief dispute over custody of the subdued Hashashin, but perhaps owing to the matter of the alliance, the other side did not press their case too forcefully.

"For now, we'll escort you back to your assigned quarters. However, please refrain from acting out in this manner again.”

With the situation settled for the time being, Il-mok’s crew followed their new escort back to their lodgings. 

The moment the doors shut, they dragged the three Hashashin into a room and went to work interrogating them.

Unfortunately, it was a massive waste of time.

"Kehehehe. Filthy infidels. Allah's wrath is going to rain down on you."

No matter how brutally they were tortured, the assassins just kept giggling like maniacs or mumbling prayers to their god with glassy eyes.

They were completely unhinged, every single one of them.

Frustrated, the interrogators turned to Il-mok.

Their expressions clearly asked what to do next, given that physical torment was proving entirely ineffective.

Unfortunately for them, Il-mok was wondering the same thing.

He stared down at the three half-dead Hashashin for a moment.

"Tch."

Clicking his tongue lightly, Il-mok turned his head toward the entrance.

"It seems we have visitors."

Since Il-mok's superhuman senses were never wrong, the crew dropped what they were doing and immediately pivoted toward the entryway.

The late-night visitors turned out to be old acquaintances.

Muhammad Majid, Head of House Majid and representative of Samarkand, and right beside him was Ahmed Molk, the man who had become the Head of Merv's council with Il-mok's assistance.

They were the leaders of the cities Il-mok had frequently visited during his past travels through the Western Regions.

In truth, he had already spotted them at the grand council earlier today, but they were overshadowed by the leader of Nishapur and failed to claim the most prominent seats.

Merv's representative had been seated near the head of the table, and the others had likewise occupied positions no lower than mid-to-high-tier seats.

Il-mok suspected that their political leverage was entirely due to the massive fortunes they had amassed from trading with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

After guiding them to the reception room prepared within the quarters, Il-mok asked without preamble.

"What brings you here at such a late hour?"

In response to Il-mok's question, Ahmed Molk provided a rather unexpected answer.

"We heard that you managed to capture three Hashashin."

"Are you here to demand I hand them over?"

Il-mok wondered whether they had been dispatched as mediators, given their existing rapport with the Divine Cult, but the answer he received was another unexpected one.

"We did not come specifically because of them. Torture is useless on those men anyway, am I wrong?"

Il-mok regarded Ahmed Molk for a moment. "Do you know something about them?"

"All we have are stories our forebears once told us, along with rumors that have circulated recently. But allow me to share at least that much with you."

Ahmed got straight to the point. “To start with, the Hashashin who attacked this place today belong to a group calling themselves the Brotherhood of Purity."

"Purity…"

Il-mok actually snorted out loud at the ridiculous irony, prompting Ahmed to explain. "They were not always such people. A few centuries ago, they were men who peacefully preached doctrine and aided the poor. But the reigning dynasty of the West at the time persecuted them so extremely that it became the catalyst of their change. I am told they turned to assassination as a desperate means of resisting that dynasty."

As she listened to Jong-ri Chu’s interpretation, Jin Hayeon couldn’t help but raise her hand.

"Go ahead and ask, dear.”

With his permission, Jin Hayeon spoke. "Was that dynasty not of Islamic faith?"

"They too were an Islamic dynasty. They merely belonged to a different school of thought."

Jin Hayeon looked completely baffled by the concept of religious infighting, so Il-mok stepped in to explain. "Persecution can occur even within the same religion. Remember that even within our own Divine Cult, we’ve seen plenty of disputes over the interpretation of doctrine."

Only then did the other members of the Divine Cult present nod in understanding.

While he had cleared up his wife's confusion, Il-mok's own mind was suddenly racing.

'Come to think of it, it’s a miracle the Divine Cult hasn't splintered into a dozen different factions yet.'

Maybe it owed to the fact that the Divine Cult had been trapped in the isolation of Xinjiang for so long. 

On top of that, having a literal god-like figure like the late Heavenly Demon pop up every few generations to force everyone in line definitely helped nip any schisms in the bud

But now that the Divine Cult governed the vast empire of the Hong Dynasty, this was a matter demanding vigilance.

'One wrong move, and I could watch my homeland tear itself apart in a bloody civil war over a single line in a dusty old book.' 

Reminding himself that this was by no means someone else's problem, Il-mok spoke.

"Please, continue."

Once Jong-ri Chu translated, Ahmed picked up right where he left off.

"While it is true that the Brotherhood of Purity first turned to assassination because of that dynasty's persecution, they quickly rotted from the inside out. Eventually, they started assassinating other leaders belonging to different schools of thought just because they disagreed on their interpretation. Worse, they started acting as mercenaries, taking on contracts to kill people and amass wealth.”

After this lengthy account, Ahmed took a sip of a black tea called shāy (شاي) while Jong-ri Chu interpreted his words.

"But the worst part is how they breed their killers. I have nothing to say, but it’s horrific in that regard. They trained boys in the arts of assassination through regimens tantamount to torture. In return, those who endured the training were given rewards. Namely, hallucinogenic herbs and slave women."

Il-mok frowned in disgust. “Drugs and women? You’re telling me they built an army of assassins by getting kids hooked on carnal pleasure?"

"Unfortunately, yes. The boys endure those abuses solely for the chance to indulge in the drugs and pleasures once more. Once they grow up and become full-fledged assassins, the same drugs and pleasures are provided each time they return from a successful mission."

"Which is exactly why you said torturing them is a waste of time."

Ahmed nodded at Il-mok's remark.

"Their grueling training may have desensitized them to pain, but for men already addicted to drugs and carnal pleasure, torture is as good as futile. Every waking moment they are denied the drugs is already a living hell."

Il-mok shook his head in dismay, but Ahmed wasn’t done yet.

"That is not all. During the process of addicting them to these vices, they systematically brainwash the children through repeated indoctrination. They told them they are Allah's chosen warriors, and that every murder they commit is an act of divine judgment. That’s why they can hack innocent civilians to pieces without blinking an eye."

As Il-mok absorbed this account of how abhorrent the Brotherhood of Purity truly was, a question surfaced in his mind.

"But if they are so notorious, why have I never once heard of them?"

Il-mok had been running merchant caravans through the West way before Jong-ri Chu even set foot here. And for close to two full years at that.

Ahmed answered with a bitter expression. "Until recently, they were just a ghost story we told to discipline children. They were so vicious and unhinged that everyone eventually turned on them and drove them to near extinction. We all thought they were history. But then, they came crawling back out of the shadows."

"As the hunting dogs of the western empire."

"Indeed. To be precise, the usurper who currently calls himself the Sultan is said to have sought them out in their hiding and provided them patronage. He used the massive fortunes he made trading with the western heretics to bring them back to life."

Ahmed's account naturally shifted toward the war.

When the current Sultan of the empire had first raised his rebellion, the Brotherhood had assassinated a staggering number of key generals and politicians.

They had even frequently massacred ordinary civilians just like today.

The goal of their massacres was to terrorize the populace into submission.

"Worse still, if we mobilize our troops to stop a civilian massacre, they use the chaos to slip into the estates of the now poorly guarded high-ranking officials and assassinate them.”

It was a classic bait-and-switch operation.

For a long while, Il-mok and his crew listened as Ahmed recounted the various atrocities committed by the Brotherhood of Purity.

"Well, look at the time. I became so absorbed in the discussion that the hour has grown far too late. Shall we save the rest of this conversation tomorrow?"

Ahmed drained his cup and stood.

"Let us do so. Get back safely." Il-mok nodded.

"Oh, don't worry. Knowing those Hashashin might still be prowling the streets, I brought a number of guards here. In truth, the reason we all came together like this was because of those very people."

Leaving them with a joke that sounded entirely too truthful, Ahmed and the lords headed out.

Silence soon settled over the residence.

After a moment of what seemed an effort to organize his thoughts, Il-mok spoke.

"Tomorrow, I will return to the council room and take measures to allow the soldiers standing by outside the walls to enter Bukhara. In the meantime, Sixth Brother, I want you to select a few people and gather intelligence and verify whether what those men told us is the truth."

"If the story about the Brotherhood of Purity turns out to be true, are we officially entering this war?" Jong-ri Chu asked.

Il-mok solemnly nodded.

Seeing his confirmation, Jeong Hyeon and Hyeokryeon Seon-ah immediately chimed in.

"Su-such wicked people d-deserve to be punished."

"Indeed. It doesn't matter if the victims aren't part of our Divine Cult. Anyone who slaughters innocent people is an enemy of the Divine Cult!"

Il-mok nodded in agreement, though his decision had not been made purely from a moral standpoint.

'If even half of that story is true, that Sultan is a certified psychopath.'

He was a religious extremist and a bloodthirsty tyrant addicted to conquest. 

What would happen if a lunatic like that managed to conquer the entire West and park his armies right on the Hong Dynasty’s borders?

The vision of the Hong Dynasty engulfed in the flames of war rose unbidden in Il-mok's mind.