WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 20: The Heavenly Pole (3)

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Until she reached the Seven Sword Society, Cheon Geuk remained lost in thought.

'So, the Seven Sword Society... It broke the Assassin Code.'

The Seven Sword Society was not only Zhejiang Province's foremost assassin organization, but also a large organization ranked among the Assassin Alliance's top five.

They were not an opponent she could simply visit, accuse of wrongdoing, and force to take responsibility.

But what if the Seven Sword Society really had broken the Assassin Code?

Anyone who violated its first rule, that children and those who did not know martial arts must not be killed, was executed without exception. In the Seven Sword Society's case, all seven members of its leadership would die, while the assassins below them would be scattered among other assassin organizations.

'This could actually be a good opportunity.'

After the previous Alliance Leader's system abruptly collapsed and Cheon Geuk, a young woman, took the position, several assassin organizations within the alliance had grown dissatisfied.

The Seven Sword Society stood at the forefront of the anti-Cheon Geuk faction.

'If I could eliminate them now...'

It would further strengthen her position within the alliance.

But if she handled it poorly, her own position could be threatened instead. The opposing faction centered around the Seven Sword Society would demand that she take responsibility.

If internal strife escalated into war, it would provoke the Murim Alliance. Should the Murim Alliance launch an assassin purge, she might have to step down as Alliance Leader and bear the blame.

Of course, that was only the worst-case scenario, but there was no guarantee unforeseen variables would not arise. Even Baek Socheon summoning her had been unimaginable just days ago.

"Tell me about the Mythic Gang."

The reply came from the empty air, from Northern Star of the Four Heavenly Assassins. Information-related matters were primarily handled by Northern Star.

"According to the initial report, the Mythic Gang is a newly emerging sect that has grown rapidly over the past few years. It is now a recognized sect here in Zhejiang Province."

"Other sects wouldn't have just stood by and watched them grow. Are the people of Zhejiang Province all idiots?"

"I will investigate the details further and report back."

Even now, information related to this matter was being gathered.

"Fine, look into it. There has to be more to this. If it was an assassination commission, who placed it?"

"Since the deceased Liang Qiu lived in Wencheng, Wang Gon, who is in charge here, may have done it. Or someone may have come directly from their main headquarters to handle it."

"So it was an affair involving the gang as a whole?"

"Yes. Given the nature of the matter, we expect the Mythic Gang Leader authorized it."

"And killing the entire family?"

"I believe it was an attempt to disguise it as a vendetta."

They had accumulated all manner of experience with assassination commissions. Their assessment of this incident was quite accurate.

"Fine. That explains the Mythic Gang."

This was the heart of the problem for her.

"Why did the Seven Sword Society accept this assassination commission, even at the cost of breaking the Assassin Code?"

"The Mythic Gang grew rapidly. Could they truly have done so through their own strength?"

"They received help from the Seven Sword Society?"

"If the Mythic Gang was the Seven Sword Society's largest client, it would not have been easy for them to refuse its request."

"I doubt the Seven Sword Society Master would risk breaking the Assassin Code over money."

"They believed they wouldn't be caught."

Cheon Geuk nodded. Those who committed great crimes seemed as though they must have agonized over countless things, but the spark that gave them courage was often surprisingly simple.

-We only have to avoid getting caught, right?

Had this matter not involved Baek Socheon, even she would have remained unaware of it forever.

"You must be cautious. If the Seven Sword Society was not involved, the Seven Sword Society and the opposing faction will rise up together."

"Yes, I need to be careful."

By then, the carriage had arrived at the Seven Sword Society's headquarters, which was disguised as an ordinary martial arts school.

* * *

The Seven Sword Society Master had no name.

Not only the Seven Sword Society Master, but the other six masters who led the Seven Sword Society were known only as Second Sword through Seventh Sword.

Yet at some point, the Seven Sword Society Master had begun wanting a name.

Not the name from a miserable, wretched childhood, nor any of the several names acquired after becoming an assassin.

One name alone.

Assassin Alliance Leader.

After spending a lifetime as an assassin, the Seven Sword Society Master wanted to possess that name before death. There had been no such ambition while the previous Alliance Leader was in power. It was a dream born after Cheon Geuk became Alliance Leader.

Then Second Sword's voice sounded from outside.

"Society Master."

"What is it?"

"The Assassin Alliance Leader has arrived."

"What? Escort her in at once."

The Seven Sword Society Master was startled by Cheon Geuk's sudden visit.

When the Seven Sword Society Master rushed outside, Cheon Geuk, wearing a bamboo hat pulled low over her face, was crossing the courtyard alone.

"You didn't notify us in advance. What brings you to our society?"

"I had business in Zhejiang Province, so I decided to stop by."

She spoke gently, but she carried an authority entirely unlike the one she showed Baek Socheon.

"I am honored. Thank you for remembering us and visiting our society."

"Please forgive my rudeness in arriving without notice."

"You needn't say such things. Please, come inside."

The Seven Sword Society Master was courteous.

The Seven Sword Society Master was aiming for the position of Alliance Leader, so there was no one who knew Cheon Geuk better.

She may have looked young, but she was no child. She looked kind, but she was not kind. She was intelligent without arrogance, resolute without rashness.

Moreover, her talent as an assassin was innate. It was said that in a one-on-one fight, no assassin of the current generation could match her.

The Previous Assassin King had named her the next Assassin King because of that exceptional talent.

Too many people had been deceived by that beautiful appearance, let down their guard or acted arrogantly, then left this world without anyone noticing.

Once seated, the two conversed as though at ease. Because each hid a blade aimed at the other, their words flowed all the more softly.

"You seem to have grown even more beautiful."

"And you seem more vigorous than ever, Society Master."

"You should marry soon."

"Introduce me to someone suitable if you know one."

"Since you possess such beauty and intelligence, Alliance Leader, it isn't easy to find a spouse worthy of you."

"You keep praising me like this, so I suppose my standards keep rising."

"Ha ha ha. Naturally, they should be high."

They smiled at one another. They would remove each other at the first opportunity, yet warm looks passed between them as though they were old friends.

At the end of their conversation, Cheon Geuk asked as if the thought had only just occurred to her.

"By the way, I heard there's been trouble between the Murim Alliance's branch here and the Mythic Gang?"

The Seven Sword Society Master answered politely.

"I heard there was friction between the Mythic Gang's Southern Hall Leader and the Wencheng Branch."

"So you knew."

"Of course. I take an interest in affairs occurring in Zhejiang Province. Did you come because of that matter?"

"Yes. That's why I came to see you."

"Please give your command."

"The Liang Qiu family incident. Is your society involved in any way?"

Cheon Geuk stared straight at the Seven Sword Society Master. The Seven Sword Society Master showed no agitation or tension whatsoever.

"Of course not. We are not involved at all."

Cheon Geuk smiled and spoke softly.

"I thought so. There is no way you would have broken the Assassin Code, Society Master."

"Then why are you interested in that matter?"

"I'll be honest. I received a tip."

"A tip?"

"A ridiculous tip claiming that the Seven Sword Society accepted the assassination commission targeting the Liang Qiu family."

Cheon Geuk did not attempt a flimsy deception. Her opponent was the seasoned Seven Sword Society Master. She judged that telling the truth was wiser than offering a weak excuse.

"It is a baseless tip. Our society has never broken the Assassin Code."

"I didn't believe it from the beginning."

"Thank you for believing me."

The Seven Sword Society Master was too politically savvy to say, 'If you truly believed me, you should not have come here.'

"I know a place that sells fine liquor. Let us go together."

"I still have business to attend to. Another time."

"I will wait for that day."

Just as she had arrived, Cheon Geuk left alone.

The moment she was gone, the Seven Sword Society Master's expression turned cold.

Second Sword appeared before the Seven Sword Society Master.

"Word of the assassination commission has leaked."

It was something that should never have happened.

"It wasn't from our side."

Only two people knew about the assassination commission targeting the Liang Qiu family: the Seven Sword Society Master and Second Sword, who was speaking now. Second Sword had personally carried out the assassination. That showed how seriously they had taken this matter.

"She said there was an informant."

"It appears the information leaked from their side."

"Fools! How could they handle this so poorly?"

In truth, the Seven Sword Society Master had hesitated over this assassination commission several times. Killing an entire family who did not know martial arts violated the Assassin Code.

But the client was the Mythic Gang.

For the past several years, they had been the Seven Sword Society's largest client. The loss would be far too great if the Society abandoned them. On top of that, they had offered a sum several times greater than usual for this assassination commission.

Still, ambition was what had ultimately made the Seven Sword Society Master accept this assassination commission.

Before long, the Seven Sword Society Master intended to usurp the position of Assassin Alliance Leader. When the time came to pour all his strength into that effort, the plan was to use the Mythic Gang as backing. Since the Mythic Gang had placed the assassination commission with the Seven Sword Society Master, it would have no choice but to help.

Of course, the Mythic Gang may have had similar thoughts. The moment the Seven Sword Society broke the Assassin Code, both sides had boarded the same ship.

"We must find the one who gave that tip."

"I will look into it."

"Be careful. The Assassin Alliance Leader will be watching us."

"Yes."

After Second Sword withdrew, the Seven Sword Society Master walked to the window.

He was impatient, and the road ahead was long. Why were there so many people blocking the way?

The Seven Sword Society Master hated the saying that one should take the long way around when busy. If one was busy, one should run. Why take the long way around?

Though the Seven Sword Society Master was past sixty, his heart was still racing ahead.

Once the carriage was well away from the Seven Sword Society, Cheon Geuk finally spoke.

"The Seven Sword Society definitely did it."

Eastern Star, seated on the driver's bench, asked through the small rear window.

"How can you be so certain?"

"Given the Seven Sword Society Master's temperament, if it hadn't been their doing, the Seven Sword Society Master would have asked about the informant. Even if I didn't give him the informant's name, the Seven Sword Society Master would have tried to find a clue from my response somehow. This was not just any accusation. It concerned the Assassin Code. The Seven Sword Society Master would have raised a fuss, demanding that we thoroughly investigate and punish the false informant who had tarnished the Society's honor."

"Ah, I see."

"Even that sly old fox never expected me to ask about that assassination commission."

When she suddenly asked about it, the old man had failed to respond properly.

"Even if they did it, it won't be easy to find evidence."

"That's true."

Breaking the Assassin Code meant staking one's life. They could not possibly have left any evidence.

The Seven Sword Society Master had either carried out the assassination personally or entrusted it to someone he trusted most. Otherwise, that assassin may have been disposed of afterward.

After a moment of thought, Cheon Geuk spoke to Eastern Star.

"Let's go back to Baek Socheon."

* * *

"Why are you back?"

That was Baek Socheon's first remark to Cheon Geuk when she returned.

"You're as prickly as always. When you see me again, greet me first."

"It's not as though I was eager to see your face."

"I feel the same way. Why else would I be here? I came because of work."

"You figured it out already? Not bad."

"If I don't want to see an unpleasant face, I have to move quickly."

"Come on, let's save time."

"I'm fairly certain the Seven Sword Society accepted the assassination commission."

"I already told you that."

"To find proof that the Seven Sword Society killed the Liang Qiu family, I need to deal with them for breaking the Assassin Code. But there's a problem."

"What is it?"

"Finding proof will be difficult. Breaking the Assassin Code means death, so they wouldn't have left evidence behind easily."

"Go turn the place upside down! Beat them until they confess. You have that kind of strength, don't you? That's why I called you."

"That won't be easy. The Seven Sword Society itself is powerful, and many forces within the alliance support them."

"So?"

"We need to find the evidence from the Mythic Gang, not the Seven Sword Society. You find it."

Baek Socheon stared at her for a moment, then readily answered.

"Fine. I'll do it."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Cheon Geuk found it unexpected. He was not the type to agree so easily.

"You don't want anything in return?"

"Of course I do. Nothing in this world is free."

Thinking that was more like him, she asked.

"What do you want?"

Baek Socheon presented a condition she had never expected.

"Arrange a meeting with the Radiant Assassin."

Footnotes:

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