Catastrophe
The spiritual leader of the Golden Lion Clan, a veteran user of nine years known as Son Bunrye, or “The Matriarch,” was brutally murdered in the Eastern Mountains. Her body was so horrifically mutilated that it was unbearable to look at, and there were no clear traces left at the scene of the crime or the presumed site of the battle. This suggested that the perpetrator was highly skilled in covering their tracks and had intentionally erased any evidence.
News of the Matriarch’s death spread rapidly across the Northern Continent. The incident reignited tensions that had been simmering since the failed expedition to the Iron Mountains. For nine years, the Matriarch’s influence on the Northern Continent and the whole of Hall Plain had been legendary. Her sudden and mysterious death was bound to cause an uproar.
Following Do Youngrok’s declaration at the Academy instructors’ meeting, the Golden Lion Clan acted swiftly. They issued an official statement regarding the Matriarch’s death and called for extensive cooperation from the leading clans of each city to uncover the truth.
The justification was impeccable. This wasn’t just any user; it was the Matriarch. The weight of her name was significant, and users across the Northern Continent were eager to uncover the mystery behind her death.
I was privy to these details thanks to Go Yeonju, who had decided to stay at the User Academy for a while after returning from the Eastern Mountains. The external affairs she reported were quite intriguing, especially the growing debate over the Matriarch’s death.
The focus of the Northern Continent was now on “Who killed the Matriarch, and why?” Amusingly, despite the lack of concrete evidence, the narrative was leaning towards the perpetrator being someone from within the Northern Continent.
Some speculated that it was the work of vagrants, but this theory held little weight. Most vagrants had fled to the Western Continent following a recent extermination plan, and their presence in the Northern Continent had significantly dwindled, causing the theory to quickly fade.
As the notion that the crime was an internal affair began to take hold, the allied clans of the Golden Lion issued a sweeping statement. They pledged unconditional support and cooperation to uncover the truth, garnering public sympathy.
With the Northern and Western city clans having declared their positions, all eyes were on the Southern and Eastern cities. The tension between expedition and non-expedition clans was well-known, so everyone was keenly awaiting their announcements.
A few days later, the non-expedition clans released their statement. It was starkly simple compared to the allied clans: “We agree to uncover the truth behind the Matriarch’s death.” While it could be seen as accepting the Golden Lion’s request for cooperation, given the existing tensions, it was a rather nuanced declaration.
Regardless of how things would unfold, it seemed that Do Youngrok’s intentions were being realized.
The Golden Lion’s subsequent actions were swift, reaffirming their status as a once-dominant clan of the Northern Continent. They summoned key figures from all the clans that had agreed to their statement to Barbara, limiting attendance to clan lords or high-ranking diplomats.
As the influential figures gathered in Barbara, the attention of ordinary users naturally shifted to the center.
Thus, the meeting of the representative clans that ruled the Northern Continent commenced.
“You bastards!”
Bang!
Kim Deokpil shouted furiously, slamming the table with all his might. The table’s surface shattered, sending fragments scattering. Despite the rudeness of his actions, no one stopped him. Everyone present shared his anger.
“So ‘agreeing’ was just agreeing, nothing more.”
I chuckled bitterly, lost in thought. The three meetings over the past five days had been one-sided.
To cut to the chase, the non-expedition clans wanted to send another investigation team to the Eastern Mountains, the only place where clues about the perpetrator might be found. Their representative, Jo Seongho, proposed a large-scale joint investigation by both factions to thoroughly search the entire Eastern Mountains.
However, the Golden Lion flatly rejected Jo Seongho’s proposal, claiming they had already conducted a thorough investigation and that further investigation would be a waste of resources. The non-expedition clans didn’t back down easily, but Do Youngrok’s remark, “Bring someone with better tracking skills than the Shadow Queen, and I’ll be convinced,” silenced them.
While not entirely unreasonable, the Golden Lion’s subsequent statements shocked everyone.
They announced plans to conduct internal audits of each clan. This meant that the audited clans would have to disclose all their information to the Golden Lion without reservation.
Naturally, the non-expedition clans fiercely opposed this. But the Golden Lion remained firm, and the allied clans criticized the opposing clans, saying, “If you have nothing to hide, comply with the audit.”
Even I thought the Golden Lion’s demand for direct internal audits was excessive. Being audited was inherently humiliating.
But the Golden Lion didn’t stop there. They declared they would use the “Crystal of Truth” on any clan members deemed suspicious during their audits. And that wasn’t all.
They further demanded that the clans supply the lacking “Crystals of Truth,” citing a shortage, which incited outrage among the non-expedition clans. At this point, it was beyond humiliation.
After Do Youngrok’s shocking statement, heated arguments ensued. The non-expedition clans, including the Goryeo Clan, proposed a compromise, offering to conduct their own internal audits.
Agreeing to internal audits was already a significant concession, but the Golden Lion remained unmoved. They emphasized that the Golden Lion Clan was the victim in this incident and questioned whether a clan that committed the crime could conduct a transparent audit.
The discussions devolved into petty arguments, and the three meetings only served to highlight the deepening conflicts and divisions, with no tangible results.
Unable to bridge the gap over internal audits, the meetings ended in catastrophe. The remaining instructors at the Academy found themselves in a precarious position.
“Those lunatics. They’re ignoring us and pushing ahead!”
“They’re not just pushing ahead; they’ve already started. After the second meeting, they began auditing the Northern and Western city clans that agreed.”
Kim Deokpil couldn’t hide his anger, and Na Seunghye corrected him with a cold voice.
“Internal audits? They’ll scrutinize everything with a fine-tooth comb. Who in their right mind would agree to that?”
“That’s not the issue. Regardless of internal matters, we’ve effectively rejected the Golden Lion’s request for cooperation, and public opinion is turning against us.”
As they said, the current sentiment in Hall Plain was unfavorable to the non-expedition clans. It wasn’t just about rejecting internal audits. Some even argued that the audits were excessive.
However, after the second meeting, the Golden Lion began auditing the Northern and Western clans that agreed, and those clans cooperated actively. Meanwhile, rumors about the Matriarch’s reasons for leaving after the summons and her words about the Academy began to spread, as if orchestrated.
“Well, it’s obvious who’s spreading these rumors.”
The conflict among clans over the User Academy, the Matriarch’s departure to the Eastern Mountains for the Golden Lion Clan Lord’s treatment, her body found in the Eastern Mountains, the growing belief in an internal conspiracy, and the non-expedition clans’ refusal of internal audits—all these elements began to align, shifting the narrative decisively.
“We can’t just sit idly by.”
”…”
At that moment, Seo Jinwoo, who had been silent, finally spoke. The users, who had been sighing in frustration, immediately turned their attention to him.
“Since we’re all in similar positions here, I’ll share my personal thoughts.”
Seojin Woo wiped away his usual gentle demeanor, his face hardening as he spoke.
“I don’t believe Do Young-rok is genuinely outraged by the Grandmother’s death or that he’s doing this to uncover the truth.”
“You think the same as I do. Wasn’t he the one who clashed with her back in the day and led the charge to oust her? That’s what I heard.”
Hearing this, Hyeo Yuri quickly nodded in agreement. Everyone else in the room wore serious expressions, nodding along.
“While they claim to be investigating the Grandmother’s death, their actions are excessive. It’s over the top. Honestly, I’m starting to question their true motives.”
“Are you suggesting they killed the Grandmother on purpose to create this situation?”
“You’re jumping to conclusions. I didn’t say that. No one knows for sure. But I do have an idea why they’re acting this way. Their actions have been too swift and calculated to ignore, as if they had a pre-meeting before the talks.”
“Surely not.”
“Yes. Let’s be frank. To me, it looks like they’re desperately trying to regain the reputation and control they lost during the Steel Mountain expedition.”
“A power struggle, then. You’ve hit the nail on the head.”
Seojin’s blunt words left everyone silent. It was something they’d all been thinking but hadn’t dared to say out loud. Now that it was out in the open, it seemed to resonate with them.
An awkward silence settled over the room. Seojin, feeling the tension, gulped down a glass of cold water. He glanced around at everyone in the meeting room before speaking again. There was a faint, mysterious smile on his lips, or so it seemed.
Suddenly, Seojin stood up. Following his lead, members from the Eastern faction, including Seong Hyun-min and Na Seung-hye, rose as well. Their faces were cold and stern, likely because they were directly under suspicion and their emotions were running high.
“As you said, public opinion is against us right now, and it probably will be for a while. But we have no intention of relinquishing control so easily.”
“Are you saying you’re going to actively engage in this power struggle?”
“Well, you’ll find out soon enough. When we responded to the summons from the Eastern clan, we came with a lot on our minds. We were even prepared to make enemies. But with the Grandmother’s mediation, we held back. Now, it seems there’s no need for that.”
“They started this mess. We didn’t expect it to escalate because of the Grandmother’s incident, but if they provoke us, it’s only natural to respond.”
“I agree. We can’t just sit back and let them take advantage.”
Seeing their faces sent a shiver down my spine. Seong Hyun-min and Na Seung-hye’s expressions were telling. It was as if they had anticipated this day and had prepared thoroughly.
“They must have something up their sleeve. The Golden Lions have played their hand, so it’s time for them to reveal theirs. After all, they’re not ones to shy away from a dirty fight.”
As they calmly walked towards the door, they paused in front of the Southern clan’s table. Seojin looked down at the Blue Wolf clan’s representative and spoke.
“Let’s end today’s discussion here. We’ll be leaving now. Starting tomorrow, or rather today, things are going to get busy.”
“Busy, you say. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Are you just going to sit back and watch?”
Na Seung-hye quickly interjected. The Blue Wolf clan’s instructor paused in thought before responding in a quiet voice.
“A proverb comes to mind. Something about lips and teeth.”
“Heh. Glad you understand.”
Seojin grinned, baring his teeth, at the Southern clan’s positive response. The Southern clan instructors’ eyes also lit up at his words.
Witnessing this, it felt like a signal flare had been fired, marking the beginning of a full-blown clash between the two clans.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ryu Jin.
I usually post by morning, but I fell asleep due to not being used to working late at night. I apologize. ㅜ.ㅠ Yesterday, I had an unavoidable commitment. I have another appointment at 2 PM, so I need to prepare quickly. I’ll combine the replies in the next update. I ask for your understanding, dear readers.