When Im Cheongsan turned his head, a man was slowly walking in.

He was middle-aged, with neatly trimmed beard and sharp eyes that left an impression. His attire was plain, yet every step he took radiated an uncommon presence.

Most of all, the force he exuded was extraordinary.

The Heaven-Human Apex.

And at a rather considerable level of it.

But Im Cheongsan did not shrink back. He himself had reached the very edge of the Mythic Realm, and more than that—this was his own territory.

“Who are you?”

Im Cheongsan asked in a cold voice.

The man smiled as he answered.

“I am Jang Icheong, the Ten-Thousand Transformations Sword Emperor.”

Im Cheongsan’s eyes narrowed. The Sword Heaven of Ten Transformations—was this not that Jang Icheong?

“What business brings a warrior of the Sword Heaven of Ten Transformations here?”

“I came with a simple proposal.”

Jang Icheong stepped closer. The qi of the Heaven-Human Apex poured even heavier from his body.

But Im Cheongsan did not retreat in the slightest. On the contrary, he released his own force. The auras of the two masters clashed violently within the cave.

Jang Icheong’s expression turned to one of admiration.

“As expected of the Green King. To remain unmoved before such pressure.”

Who the hell does this bastard think he’s mocking?

“Enough nonsense. State your business.”

Looking at the curt Im Cheongsan, Jang Icheong’s lips twisted into a sinister smile.

He spoke.

“Why not join hands?”

“...Join hands?”

“You intend to aim for the Snowfall Demon Lord. As it happens, so do I.”

A flash lit Jang Icheong’s eyes.

“Let us do it together.”

The words were phrased as persuasion, but in truth they were a threat.

No matter how bold Im Cheongsan was, he could not fail to know what would happen if he truly fought against Jang Icheong.

Certain defeat.

That word etched itself in his mind.

“...And what exactly do you intend to do?”

“I will tell you in time. But first—I need to hear it clearly. Can I count on you to stand with me?”

“...For now, I will.”

“In that case—”

Jang Icheong’s words cut off as his leg lashed out, kicking Im Cheongsan.

KWAANG—!

Struck in the abdomen, Im Cheongsan was hurled into the wall.

“First, you will mind your manners. Insolent bastard.”

***

It was intriguing.

Among the Eighteen Strongholds of the Green Forest, ten currently lay within the domain of the Heavenly Alliance.

Four at Seongrim Mountain.

Four at Manwol Mountain.

And two at Mount Taihang, on the outer edges of Heavenly Alliance territory.

The four strongholds at Seongrim Mountain had been annihilated the other day. Today, the plan was to crush the remaining six—but Ham Jangshik had brought some interesting news.

“You say both the Manwol Mountain and Taihang Mountain strongholds have withdrawn?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know where they went?”

“To different places. But their retreat is certain. Lately, not a single merchant caravan passing nearby has been attacked.”

There was only one explanation.

“Someone has intervened.”

“Indeed.”

I touched my chin, lost in thought.

No matter how one looked at it, among the territories overseen by the Heavenly Alliance, Seongjak Province was the most fertile land. One of the richest soils in the world, and a strategic hub adjoining the very heart of the Central Plains. That was undeniable.

If the Everlasting Snow Palace gained complete control of Seongjak Province and maintained the branch sect established here, then inevitably the core of the Heavenly Alliance would shift toward the Everlasting Snow Palace.

Naturally, there would be those displeased by this.

And beyond that, there would be those who simply hated me as a person.

That was not all. Cheonrim and the Mukse Society were undeniably separate organizations.

Just as Seo Hyo had been unaware of the Mukse Society’s existence, the Sword Heaven of Ten Transformations—the current backbone of Cheonrim—would not know of it either.

I could not say with absolute certainty, but the probability was very high.

Which meant there was plenty of room for them to act independently of the Mukse Society.

As I always said, what matters is not who laid the board.

It is who leads the game upon it.

That is what matters.

I stared quietly at Ham Jangshik.

I had secured martial power.

Now I needed information. And no matter how I looked at it, Ham Jangshik was clearly testing the waters.

It seemed I would have to make things certain.

“Senior Ham.”

He lifted his head.

“What is it that you desire most?”

“...Hm? What sudden riddle are you speaking?”

A peculiar smile curved his lips.

“Do you truly not know?”

“...”

“Let us be frank. I require your full and unwavering support.”

“...Full support, you say...”

“You may take it as meaning—I wish to move as though we were one body. You surely know where the Green Forest bandits have withdrawn to, and what is unfolding in the surrounding lands.”

“...”

“There must be things you have not told me. So—why don’t we strike a bargain?”

“A bargain...?”

He was silent for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.

“I will make you one of the Six-Decisions Elders.”

Ham Jangshik’s eyes flared.

“How do you mean?”

“The Beggar’s Sect is in the midst of a fierce clash between the Sect Leader and Vice Leader. Ultimately, the choice of whom to side with is yours, Senior Ham. But with merit to your name, you would hold initiative even before making that choice.”

Ham Jangshik’s brow furrowed.

For two reasons.

Because I knew more of the Beggar’s Sect’s internal affairs than he expected, and because having their weakness laid bare to me was humiliating.

“...You do not sound as if you’re merely bluffing. I am surprised. The struggle between Leader and Vice Leader is among the highest of secrets.”

“The Beggar’s Sect may be supreme when it comes to handling information, but not even they can conceal everything. Senior.”

“...Continue.”

I did not hesitate.

“To raise your value as a beggar of the Sect, you must have results. That may be wealth, or intelligence—but if you turn those into accomplishments, they become achievements.”

I looked him square in the eye.

“Seongjak Province, as well as every city in its vicinity, has branches of the Beggar’s Sect. You, Senior Ham, are indeed one of the Five-Decisions Elders—but in other regions, there are other Five-Decisions Elders as well. To be frank, your position is ambiguous.”

“...”

“But—what if all the Heavenly Alliance’s information were to pass through you?”

Ham Jangshik’s eyes widened.

“...Is that... possible?”

“Yes. Entirely possible.”

Ham Jangshik ran a hand down his face.

“...I know you are not one to speak falsehoods when it comes to information. But for all intelligence of the Heavenly Alliance to flow through me—that would mean I controlled every Beggar’s Sect branch near here. That is no simple matter.”

“It is not simple, no. But neither would you lose anything great by aiding me. Would you not agree?”

“That much is true.”

Ham Jangshik was already offering intelligence aid to the Seongjak Union. Helping another now would not be especially strange.

With a grave expression, Ham Jangshik asked,

“What is it you want of me, precisely?”

I laid both hands neatly on the table and spoke.

“Two things. First, there must be no concealment of information from me. Whatever I ask, whatever I seek—you must fulfill faithfully.”

My voice turned cold.

“If you ever hide something, or feed me falsehoods, or otherwise cloud my judgment, our pact will be broken instantly. And you will be my enemy.”

Ham Jangshik swallowed hard.

I could see his thoughts. He was weighing the weight of those words—what it meant to become my enemy.

“And the second?”

I smiled.

“I find it uncomfortable, using honorifics. So I’ll be discarding them. How about it? Will you take my hand?”

Ham Jangshik hesitated for a long moment, then finally raised his head to look at me. His expression showed his decision was made. I drove in the final nail.

“When I saw you appear at the banquet on the first night, I thought you quick-witted. But it seems you’re slower than I imagined.”

A sharp remark. Cutting his pride even as it pressed him toward a decision—an exquisite pressure.

Ham Jangshik let out a bitter laugh and extended his hand.

“Very well. Let us do this together.”

I clasped his hand.

From now on, Ham Jangshik and I were one.

“Tell me everything you know.”

“...Understood.”

In this world, there are two kinds of people. Those who seize opportunity, and those who let it slip.

Ham Jangshik ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) was wise.

***

The Governor’s Office of Seongjak Province.

Unhwi and Commander Seong stood before the gates of the Assessor’s Residence.

Commander Seong gazed with concern at Unhwi’s pale face. Lately, Unhwi had been facing too many people.

No matter how great his resilience, the mind could not help but wear down.

Carefully, he asked,

“Young Master, are you truly going to do this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Should you not first see to your wounds properly? And according to the agreement between the Heavenly Alliance and the court of Un Nation, I believe it is required that when a Heavenly Envoy seeks audience with the Assessor, proper notification must be given beforehand.”

There was no way Unhwi could miss the concern in Commander Seong’s voice.

“The wounds will soon heal.”

He smiled faintly as he continued.

“And that agreement is nothing but formality.”

Commander Seong’s anxiety deepened.

“Even so, I remain worried. If the court of Un Nation becomes entangled, this matter could grow larger. As I understand it, Young Master has no ties to their court.”

“That is not wrong.”

“Then—you must have something in mind, don’t you?”

Unhwi chuckled lightly before replying.

“Commander Seong, do you know what lies at the heart of that ‘agreement’?”

He tilted his head.

For the Heavenly Alliance to dispatch an Envoy to govern lands belonging to Un Nation was, in truth, absurd.

Whatever words one used, in the end Un Nation was a sovereign state, and Seongjak Province part of its soil. Yet someone dispatched there was running the city?

It was not merely strange. It bordered on the grotesque. Yet here, now, it was reality.

Commander Seong pondered, then spoke with conviction.

“The core is this: that commoners are managed by the government, while martial artists are overseen by the Alliance’s envoy. And the affairs of both are discussed and resolved between the Envoy and the local magistrate.”

“Correct. That is the core. But more important still is this—”

Unhwi gazed at the residence.

“That in governing the province’s affairs, dialogue is essential.”

That was what made Commander Seong uneasy.

“I fear that dialogue will not be a matter of words.”

“Regardless of the manner, has the Assessor ever once sought dialogue with me?”

Commander Seong fell silent.

Not once.

Unhwi had never gone to him, nor had the Assessor approached Unhwi.