WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 101: Surely You Can’t Mean That
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At last, the culprit had been captured.
The news spread through every Black Dragon Clan subsidiary overnight.
Including the rumor that Wang Gi-neung, head of the Shanghai Wang Family, had captured the culprit.
“Family Head Wang has overreached.”
“Will you issue a statement refuting it?”
“I wonder.”
Li Qing-yu tilted her head slightly.
Then, looking genuinely curious, she asked,
“If I said Weiling was the one who captured the culprit, how many clansmen would believe it? Or would more people suspect that the Sword Duke stole Family Head Wang’s credit?”
“The CCTV footage clearly shows that Weiling arrived first.”
“But few would believe that Weiling captured the culprit who killed even Great Hero Wang by herself.”
Li Qing-yu paused.
Then, moving a janggi piece[1] with her slender fingers, she added,
“And even fewer would believe that such a feat was possible because the Sword Duke coached her.”
“...That is true.”
Youin smiled bitterly.
Even Youin, a martial artist from the old era, found it absurd to hear that the Sword Duke had captured the culprit simply by giving advice over the phone.
The clan, which now had nothing but resentment for Rimon despite never experiencing his skill firsthand, would never believe it.
Especially while the Shanghai Wang Family was practically risking its life to spread the rumor.
“Spreading it as a rumor rather than making an official claim is very much like Family Head Wang.”
“If Family Head Wang made the claim officially, we could at least reveal the truth.”
“That is why he is content to keep it unofficial. Sometimes, vague rumors carry more weight than gold, jewels, or territory.”
“A cunning scheme.”
The Shanghai Wang Family already possessed plenty of wealth and power. Quietly spreading rumors was a very clever move.
If the truth never came out, they could claim the honor and restore their family’s standing.
Even if it became known that they had seized the culprit, they would not need to take responsibility for a mere rumor.
Low risk, high return.
It was a move worthy of Wang Gi-neung, who was skilled at weighing gains and losses, with much to gain and little to lose.
“Honestly, that hardly matters.”
“Are you saying you will not take any special action?”
“It is not worth it.”
Li Qing-yu dismissed Wang Gi-neung’s efforts as wasted labor.
It might have been a matter worth staking the Shanghai Wang Family’s fate on, but it was too trivial to concern herself with.
Youin asked carefully,
“Would the Sword Duke not be displeased?”
“The Sword Duke?”
As if he had made a particularly amusing joke, Li Qing-yu let out a quiet laugh and smiled playfully.
“Would the Sword Duke mind losing credit for such a small achievement, one that even I consider trivial? He does not care even for the honor of saving the world.”
“...It seems my concern was unnecessary.”
“It was not unnecessary. The Sword Duke may not mind losing the credit, but he will find what was done objectionable.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. That is why I said Family Head Wang had overreached.”
Li Qing-yu smiled.
If Wang Gi-neung had politely asked Rimon to hand the culprit over, Rimon would have done so, even if unwillingly.
But by taking the culprit as though seizing them by force, Wang Gi-neung had crossed the line of what Rimon could overlook.
Because Wang Gi-neung measured everything in terms of profit and loss, he had made the mistake of assuming Rimon would never give up such an accomplishment.
“If all Family Head Wang gained in exchange for falling out of the Sword Duke’s favor was that, can it truly be called a profit?”
It might be a profit for now.
But there was something Wang Gi-neung must not forget.
Rimon was an immortal Sword Master.
He was a superhuman who could interfere with everything the Shanghai Wang Family did for hundreds of years to come.
Remembering the losses the Seven Dragons Society had suffered over the past centuries because of Rimon alone, Youin could not help feeling sorry for Wang Gi-neung.
“...Family Head Wang has made the mistake of sacrificing the greater for the lesser.”
“Family Head Wang has had much on his mind lately. When people grow impatient, they tend to make poor judgments.”
Her words sounded as though she were defending Wang Gi-neung.
But Youin knew.
There was not the slightest hint that she intended to arrange a reconciliation.
Wang Gi-neung had not only turned Rimon into an enemy. He had turned their princess into one as well.
‘I should sell off any stocks tied to the Shanghai Wang Family.’
Despite his suddenly rising sympathy, Youin made a cold judgment as Leviathan’s general manager.
Li Qing-yu spoke calmly.
“Family Head Wang is not the real concern. The problem lies outside.”
Clack.
With her calm words, she moved another janggi piece.
More precisely, Youin looked at the map covered in janggi pieces made of gold, silver, ruby, sapphire, emerald, white jade, and obsidian, then asked quietly,
“...You mean the other clans?”
“Yes. If they truly decide to act, it will not end with being troublesome.”
“No other clan will openly pick a fight with ours.”
“But they can act without showing themselves. Unfortunately, we lack the strength to prevent their interference.”
Youin could not deny Li Qing-yu’s words, spoken with a sigh.
The Gold Dragon Clan, which controlled the financial power of the United States.
The Silver Dragon Clan, the Great Khan of the Russian Khanate.
The Azure Dragon Clan, which ruled the British Empire.
The White Dragon Clan, one of the pillars of the Holy League.
The Red Dragon Clan, which headed the African Military Government.
The Green Dragon Clan, which had swallowed the South American Cartel.
Though they were all part of the Seven Dragon Group, the Black Dragon Clan’s influence was weak compared to those six clans.
There were even many countries within the Zhonghua Seventy-Seven Federation where other clans held greater influence.
East Asia was the Black Dragon Clan’s home territory. As a result, they had clashed with Rimon more than any other clan in the Seven Dragons Society and paid the highest price for it.
And now, Li Qing-yu and Rimon, the man who could be called the chief cause of the Black Dragon Clan’s decline, were about to enter a betrothal.
The other clans would not watch silently.
“How do you think they will act?”
“Each clan will have its own thoughts.”
Remembering the meetings held one after another not long ago, Li Qing-yu continued quietly.
“The Gold Dragon Clan seems to be planning to slap me in the face with gold, while the Red Dragon Clan is escalating its threats.”
“That is at least a relief.”
“Yes. At least they will not move immediately. But the other clans... I do not know what they will do.”
Those whose goals were clear were better, if anything.
It was possible to predict when and how they would act, making preparations easier.
But those who had not revealed a clear position were harder to predict and harder to prepare for.
“Do you believe another clan was involved in this incident as well?”
“Probably not. They would sooner wage open war, because they would gain nothing by harassing us bit by bit like this.”
“It could have been for reconnaissance.”
“I wonder if that is truly likely.”
Li Qing-yu tilted her head.
It was not because she trusted her ties with the other clans.
The Seven Dragons Society was an alliance of seven clans rather than a single organization. Even when they had stood against the whole world in the past, their unity had not been particularly firm.
Now that they had come out into the open, it was entirely possible that they would commit terrorism for reconnaissance.
Even so, Li Qing-yu had a reason to consider it unlikely.
“If I were them, I would not scout us in this manner. I would quietly plant a spy within, or try to contact the Sword Duke directly.”
“Surely you do not think the other princesses would act personally?”
“Probably.”
The Seven Dragons Society was the organization that had fought Rimon most fiercely.
No one knew better what Rimon had been like in the past.
Even if times had changed, it would not be strange for another princess to act personally if they remembered even half of his former standing.
Li Qing-yu herself had personally sought Rimon out and proposed to him.
“Perhaps they are not acting immediately because, since I became betrothed to the Sword Duke, his reputation has continued to decline.”
“...Is that why Your Highness has not gone out of your way to protect the Sword Duke’s reputation?”
“It is one reason. If his reputation rises again, the other princesses will move that much faster.”
Youin understood inwardly.
Now he knew why Li Qing-yu had watched Rimon’s reputation decline so calmly.
“I will pay closer attention to the other clans’ movements.”
“No. Focus instead on tightening internal discipline, especially among Leviathan’s employees.”
“You mean we need not be wary of direct intervention?”
“If they are determined to move in secret, there is no way for us to stop them anyway.”
Li Qing-yu shook her head.
Looking over the arrangement of janggi pieces on the map, she spoke quietly.
“One of the princesses may have already begun contacting the Sword Duke.”
“Surely you cannot mean that.”
“It is possible.”
Li Qing-yu simply denied Youin’s doubtful response, then added,
“Especially if they know how well the Sword Duke plays. There are at least two who would come flying here at once, are there not?”
“That is...”
Youin trailed off.
Having heard Rimon perform, Youin knew.
Whether or not he was a Sword Master, Rimon’s musical skill belonged in a league of its own.
And as Li Qing-yu said, among the Seven Princesses of the Seven Dragons Society were those who would seek him out from the ends of the world if they heard him play.
One was an incarnation of possessiveness who could not rest until obtaining anything she wanted.
Another was a princess who regarded song as her very life and wandered the world for its sake.
“...They will not have an opportunity to hear the Sword Duke play.”
“I hope so too.”
Youin thought Li Qing-yu’s worries were excessive.
Only Li Qing-yu, Youin, and Weiling among the Black Dragon Clan had heard Rimon play. How could the others possibly hear it?
And even if it did happen, princesses who each possessed strength surpassing that of a nation’s king would not move so rashly.
* * *
“Hmm. Well, this is something.”
“What is it, Partner?”
“What do you think? It is because of you.”
“What is wrong with me?”
Eugene tilted her head as if she did not understand.
Rimon clicked his tongue.
“When you said you were going to work, I thought you had found yourself a respectable job.”
“This is a perfectly respectable job.”
“As a waitress?”
Rimon clicked his tongue at Eugene, who was serving customers in a uniform and holding a tray in one hand.
But Eugene remained unbothered.
She merely shrugged and set down the juice she had brought.
“Why? I can make money, get food, and sing sometimes. It is the best job ever.”
“...The last part is not normally a waitress’s job.”
“Partner, being old-fashioned is no good. If you do not have broad adaptability and quick wits, finding a job is hard these days, you know?”
Rimon wore a strange expression as he watched Eugene wag a finger as though he knew nothing about the world.
“Ha ha ha! Miss Eugene is right. There is nothing wrong with a waitress singing from time to time. Yes, indeed.”
Footnotes:
[1] Janggi: Korean chess, a strategy board game.
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