WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 127: I’m Kind of Grateful, Too
──────
[...!]
Yoo Na-gyeong froze.
Because she could not understand what she had just heard.
At the same time, her thoughts stopped.
Because she did not dislike what it meant.
Unlike Yoo Na-gyeong, however, Velos had no reason to be shocked. That was why he spoke with a frozen expression.
“I crushed more than ten warriors here today.”
“Yes, sixteen in all.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Li Qing-yu corrected the number of victims, which even Velos, their killer, did not remember precisely.
Yoo Na-gyeong shuddered anew.
Velos’s eyes grew colder.
“And you only followed me?”
“That’s right.”
“Even though you could have ambushed me at any time?”
“Not at any time. There were only a hundred and five or six opportunities at most.”
She casually stated that she had had more than a hundred chances to attack him while he had not noticed her presence at all.
Velos finally cursed.
“You’re quite the cunning bitch.”
“You flatter me.”
As though she had received a compliment, Li Qing-yu smiled brightly.
As Velos radiated cold killing intent, Yoo Na-gyeong asked awkwardly.
[Um... Princess? I’m a little confused.]
“What are you confused about?”
[You’re saying you’ve been secretly following this crazy bastard all this time, right?]
“That’s right.”
[And you stood by while the warriors were killed... Hahaha, that’s not it, right? I misunderstood something, didn’t I?]
“No, you understood correctly.”
[...]
[What?]
She had expected an immediate denial and had even prepared to laugh it off as her own mistake.
But Li Qing-yu’s unexpected answer left Yoo Na-gyeong dumbfounded, so Li Qing-yu kindly elaborated.
“It means I merely watched from behind as the Ghost of the Liberation Brigade killed thirteen warriors of our clan.”
Her voice was as calm as ever.
Her eyes were still and unwavering.
Her beautiful face held a smile.
She looked exactly as she always did when she served tea and snacks with a smile during Yoo Na-gyeong’s occasional visits, yet she was stating a chilling fact.
Yoo Na-gyeong remained frozen for a while. After opening and closing her beak several times, she finally managed to ask.
[Why?]
Why had she done that?
Li Qing-yu’s answer was clear.
“Otherwise, we could not have learned that the Liberation Brigade was after this violin.”
[Y-You just watched the warriors die for such a reason?]
“It was necessary.”
Li Qing-yu answered calmly.
The Black Dragon Clan had been tossed around by merely three people this time largely because they did not know their objective.
Therefore, to prepare for possible future attacks by the Liberation Brigade, they needed to learn their target by any means necessary.
Even if it meant sacrificing a few warriors’ lives.
“Rather than leaving behind future trouble to protect only a handful of people, accepting some sacrifice is better for the entire clan.”
[That...]
Yoo Na-gyeong was speechless.
Because she understood.
Choosing to sacrifice the few for the many was both a leader’s virtue and duty.
And as the princess ruling the Black Dragon Clan, Li Qing-yu had merely chosen what benefited her entire clan.
But Yoo Na-gyeong only understood.
She could not fully accept it.
Seeing that, Li Qing-yu playfully added one more thing.
“Besides, I have no reason to look after people who have forgotten what clan they belong to.”
[...]
[What did they do?]
“Didn’t you find it strange? That Leviathan was especially empty today?”
[That’s because a subsidiary was attacked...]
“Yes, we sent support. Far more than necessary.”
Yoo Na-gyeong paused.
Even in an emergency, Leviathan’s security had felt far too lax.
Until now, she had assumed it was because they had pulled personnel away to protect their subsidiaries.
But what if that was not the reason?
What if there had been another purpose behind dispatching so many warriors?
What if Li Qing-yu had expected Leviathan to be attacked and had actually moved them outside to protect the warriors, rather than the subsidiaries?
What about the warriors who had not been dispatched?
What if they had not simply failed to send them?
What if some had deliberately been “left behind” for a reason...?
“Except for the traitors who had been won over by other clans to leak Leviathan’s information.”
[...!]
Yoo Na-gyeong’s beak fell open.
Velos gave a hollow laugh in her stead.
“Ha, you used me to purge traitors from your own clan?”
“Rather than using you, I think calling it a convenient side benefit would be more fitting. Thanks to you, we gained in many ways.”
Li Qing-yu smiled.
In truth, carrying out a large-scale purge of traitors was politically burdensome.
Leaving aside the internal turmoil it would cause, the Black Dragon Clan had also planted spies in other clans.
But because Velos had gotten his hands bloody for them, Li Qing-yu could eliminate the traitors without bearing any burden.
What was more, Velos had revealed his objective without suspicion because of it.
It was truly killing two birds with one stone.
“It worked out well for the thirty-three warriors who died today, too. Rather than being dealt with as traitors to the clan, they were able to die honorably in battle.”
How fortunate that there were so many traitors.
It allowed her to finish the purge without making it too obvious.
Velos’s expression became even colder as Li Qing-yu said this with a sweet smile.
Someone who had always toyed with and used others, he found it humiliating that his scheme had been seen through, turned against him, and even used to frame him.
But he did not fly into a rage.
He merely pointed something out sharply.
“You should not expect the number of honorable dead to end at thirty-three. My comrades may be foolish, but they are not easy prey.”
Moving the warriors to the subsidiaries had not been a wise choice.
With Ryu Gang-cheol and Eugene running wild, there was no avoiding bloodshed, no matter what preparations had been made.
Velos spoke with a cold smile.
“That’s right. Which is why I’m glad.”
But Li Qing-yu did not deny his point, become angry, or show any unease.
Instead, she readily nodded, then added with a bright smile.
“To be honest, I’m kind of grateful, too.”
“...You’re saying you’re grateful that we’re slaughtering your clan?”
“Yes.”
“...”
Velos fell silent.
Even someone like the Ghost of the Liberation Brigade, who had grown accustomed to every kind of madman, had not expected to receive thanks in a situation like this.
[Why is that something to be grateful for?]
Unable to contain her confusion, Yoo Na-gyeong asked blankly, still unable to close her beak.
Li Qing-yu smiled at her.
“Because these people have given the Sword Duke an opportunity to save our clan.”
[...]
[Our team leader?]
“Yes, my prospective husband.”
As though it were an important matter, Li Qing-yu corrected the title.
But Yoo Na-gyeong was so stunned that she did not even register it. She only asked awkwardly.
[Uh... is that really something to be grateful for?]
“Of course.”
Li Qing-yu answered without hesitation.
Then she continued in a calm voice.
“The Sword Duke is someone who scoffs at accomplishments and is wary of fame. He dislikes showing himself off, and he does not draw his sword except when necessary.”
[What do you mean he dislikes showing off? Our team leader is amazing at raising hell.]
“That is only because there has never been anything worthy of the Sword Duke’s efforts.”
Li Qing-yu spoke.
A giant caused an earthquake with every step.
People called such a giant violent only because they did not know that it was walking as carefully as it could.
But those who had seen a giant rage and run wild in earnest would feel awe and fear, and would never dare disregard it.
“Thanks to these people, we have gained a chance to show our clan the Sword Duke’s power without his having to deliberately show it off. How could I not be grateful?”
[...]
[Even if there could be many casualties?]
“That will make the clan feel the Sword Duke’s kindness in protecting them all the more deeply.”
The subsidiaries that had joined the Guardian System were already being protected with even the Infinity Guild mobilized.
That meant any damage would be limited to subsidiaries that had not contracted with Guardian and held great resentment toward both Rimon and Li Qing-yu.
If he stopped them, Rimon’s accomplishments would grow.
If he failed to stop them, the opposition would weaken.
Either way, neither she nor Rimon would suffer a loss.
With a quiet chuckle, Li Qing-yu explained it all. Then she turned her gaze to Velos and concluded.
“Of course, that includes the accomplishment of capturing the Ghost of the Liberation Brigade who caused this incident.”
[...]
Yoo Na-gyeong had nothing to say.
It was not merely because of Li Qing-yu’s cunning, having toyed with the world-famous Ghost of the Liberation Brigade in the palm of her hand.
It was her boldness in using this entire incident as an opportunity to purge spies and strengthen her power.
Her attitude, as though even lives were no more than tools.
Above all, her untroubled smile.
Together, they sent a chill through Yoo Na-gyeong and made her realize one thing.
‘...This is a princess of the Seven Dragons Society.’
A clan that ruled crime throughout the world despite becoming the massive corporation known as the Seven Dragon Group.
An organization with a thousand-year history that had tried to overturn the world countless times, and had once been called the Demon Cult because of its power and ruthlessness.
Li Qing-yu was one of its seven rulers.
‘Team Leader, what kind of nerve did you have to enter a betrothal with this woman...?’
As Yoo Na-gyeong trembled, a burst of applause rang out.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
“Indeed, I admit it.”
“What do you admit?”
“That I had underestimated the Seven Dragons Society too much, and that I was not merely dealt a blow. I was completely played by you.”
As though his cold, murderous expression from moments ago had been a lie, Velos regained his composure and spoke softly.
“But cunning vixen of the Seven Dragons Society, do you know that you have forgotten something important?”
“Are you referring to the compensation we owe you?”
“Of course not.”
Li Qing-yu smiled as she said that if they required compensation, she could promise them a painless death.
Though it might not have been their intention, it was the best reward she could offer people who had so wholeheartedly allowed themselves to be used by her.
Velos flatly rejected her goodwill.
Instead, he continued in a coldly sunken voice.
“You have no one here to protect a cunning vixen like you.”
Li Qing-yu’s plan would only succeed if she could escape from here.
If he captured and killed her here, recovered the box, and escaped this place, then he would ultimately be the victor.
Velos spoke with killing intent.
Li Qing-yu blinked at him.
“Why would that be a problem?”
“If you think you can escape my hands without anyone to protect you, I will show you how arrogant you are.”
The Ghost of the Liberation Brigade.
One of the most horrific murderers and criminals.
A Level 97 Player who had murdered Grand Duke Beopjeong and possessed the cheat Skill 『Rule of Law』.
Even after hearing Velos’s murderous explanation, Li Qing-yu was not afraid.
She merely tilted her head.
“Hmm... I do not understand what you mean. Why should I run from you?”
As though she had heard something strange, she looked at Velos with a puzzled expression.
Then, in her usual calm voice, she continued.
“You are going to die at my hands.”
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