The door closed behind me, revealing a long, straight corridor lined with cells on either side. Though nearly empty now, just two years ago these cells were packed with vagrants and people from the Western Continent. Rumor had it they were captured during the war and intended to be sold as slaves. Yet, the cells felt more like rooms than prisons.
“Ahhh! Ahhhhh! Park Tae-jin!”
The shouting continued from the visitation room. I glanced back briefly before turning toward the exit. There, leaning casually against the wall, was another version of me, waiting silently.
“Still at it, huh?”
“It’s been a while since I took on a man’s form. Just enjoying it for a moment, Mother.”
“I’ve told you countless times, I don’t have a child like you. Anyway, we need to leave, so change back.”
“Hehehe.”
The other me straightened up with a feminine laugh. Is this what self-loathing feels like?
I knew it wasn’t really me, but the resemblance was unsettling. Sensing my discomfort, a burst of light erupted, and soon, a woman with flowing black hair stood before me, smiling gently.
It was Helena Lu Aeyens.
Left alone, Shin-hyuk’s state was a sight to behold. His once lifeless eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted in anguish. His hands trembled visibly as he clutched the table, his lips moving incessantly as if muttering to himself. Even the guard who came to fetch him was startled.
Seeing a grown man cry might have seemed comical, but there was something chilling about it. Anyone who knew the situation, if there was such a person, might have tried to stop him.
“Heh… Amazing… Truly amazing… Caught in a perfect trap… Heh…”
The situation wasn’t complicated. In fact, it was quite simple.
Everything was going according to plan when we received the equipment from the mercenaries. But then Park Tae-jin intervened, using Park Hwan-hee to divert suspicion and attention. Just before everything was set to unfold, he struck with precision.
Why hadn’t I considered Park Tae-jin? He had both the motive and the means, the closest suspect to the crime.
Yes, with Park Tae-jin, everything fits perfectly. Even Park Hwan-hee’s words make sense.
‘No! I didn’t reveal the plan!’
With Park Tae-jin, there was no need to reveal the plan. He already knew.
‘Brother! I’m not a spy!’
With Park Tae-jin, this too makes sense. Both of us are part of the same union. Even if he spied on me, if it was for Park Tae-jin, the union would be involved. The crystal of truth likely didn’t react.
At first, I thought there might be a third party within the union, as Kim Soo-hyun suggested. But now it’s clear Park Tae-jin is the mastermind. That crystal orb is undeniable, powerful evidence. With a little thought, I can guess what Park Tae-jin said.
Finally, after a long contemplation, Shin-hyuk steadied his staggering body. His mind was calmer than before, but still boiling, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
‘Yes. It doesn’t matter. The union is like family. Whatever the outcome, I’ll accept it gracefully.’
“And yet you said that…!”
Blood that had stopped flowing from his clenched hands began to drip again. Shin-hyuk, now silent, stared ahead with a haunted expression. Then, suddenly, he noticed the crystal orb lying beneath the window. It was a recording orb, capturing the images of Park Tae-jin, Baek Doo-san, and Cho Seung-woo. Kim Soo-hyun hadn’t taken it; he’d left it behind.
At that moment, a thought flashed through Shin-hyuk’s mind like lightning.
”…”
Could it be, perhaps, that it was left on purpose?
His hand, reaching for the orb, hesitated. It clenched and unclenched, trembling. Why was it left behind? What did they want from him?
After about ten minutes of hesitation, Shin-hyuk suddenly lifted his head. In front of him sat Park Tae-jin. Of course, it wasn’t really him, just an illusion conjured by his troubled mind. The illusion spoke with a solemn face.
‘Do you even have the right to say that? Who’s to blame for this mess? Your petty greed tangled everything! …Anyway, just wait quietly. We’re not just sitting around. But if I were you, I would have taken responsibility for this mess. For the union.’
In that moment, a fierce light flashed in Shin-hyuk’s eyes. Without further hesitation, he placed his hand on the orb and called out loudly for the guard. The guard came running, slightly surprised at the sight of Shin-hyuk.
“Guard. I have some visitors I’d like to see, personally.”
“Hmm. As a prisoner, you can’t exactly request visits…”
“Then could you at least tell the people I name to come visit me soon? If you do that, I’ll make it worth your while.”
”…Well, in that case, it’s not a problem.”
As the guard jotted down the names Shin-hyuk provided, he glanced at him. He’d expected a fuss when he initially refused, having heard the shouting from outside. But instead of causing a scene, Shin-hyuk spoke calmly, almost gently.
Yet, this was more frightening. His face and voice were composed, but his eyes gleamed with a wild light, occasionally flickering like those of a madman.
After making his request, the guard quickly turned away. An inexplicable sense of unease crept over him, as if he shouldn’t get involved in this matter. He decided to fulfill the request but planned to apply for a transfer soon, leading Shin-hyuk back to his cell.
Time flew by like an arrow.
It took about four days for the guard to relay Shin-hyuk’s request to the Koran Union. The delay was due to waiting for his transfer request to be approved. Having diligently completed his duties, the guard left the prison with his belongings once the new guard and users arrived.
The new arrivals were not prisoners but Shin-hyuk’s subordinates, the same ones who had previously kidnapped Park Hwan-hee.
The entire union was in turmoil, but the clan most affected was Nambeol. As the clan lord, Shin-hyuk bore the brunt of the blame, and the records Kim Soo-hyun released showed Nambeol attacking other clans within the union. While other clans were similarly guilty, Nambeol was left isolated, abandoned by allies.
Many users left, and numerous sub-clans turned their backs, but some loyal followers remained. These were the ones who had been with Shin-hyuk from the start.
Upon hearing that their clan lord was calling for them, they rushed over without hesitation. Seeing Shin-hyuk in the visitation room, they gasped. Whatever had happened, he looked drastically different from before his imprisonment. Yet, his eyes were alive, burning with intensity.
“Brother…”
“Skip the pleasantries. You can see my state. Did you find out what I asked?”
“Yes? Yes, we did.”
“Then tell me. What is Park Tae-jin up to?”
“He’s heading to the Sleeping Dragon Mountains. Says he’s conducting a thorough investigation.”
“The Sleeping Dragon Mountains? Really?”
Shin-hyuk’s eyes gleamed. The man hesitated briefly before lowering his voice to a whisper.
“From what I’ve secretly gathered… the investigation is just a pretext. It’s merely for show. In reality, he’s going to excavate a ruin in the same direction. Seems he got a tip-off.”
“So, the investigation is just an excuse, and he’s off to clear his head? Maybe do some swordplay on the side.”
”…That’s right.”
“I had my doubts, but I was right. Park Tae-jin never fails to disappoint. A gift from the mercenaries? He played me to the end! Haha! Well, it’s not entirely wrong. He’s not just sitting around.”
Shin-hyuk burst into laughter. The men exchanged bewildered glances. Then, abruptly, Shin-hyuk stopped laughing and, with a deep sigh, placed a crystal orb on the table. He activated the recording and pushed it toward them.
“Don’t say anything. Just watch.”
The men obeyed. The sight of several burly men huddled around a single orb was almost comical. But the content of the recording and the changes in the men as the video played were anything but funny.
After what felt like a brief moment, the light within the crystal orb flickered out. The men who had watched until the end remained silent, their expressions unreadable. But soon, they all lifted their heads, eyes wide, staring across the room. Shin-hyuk was grinning broadly. One man, his voice trembling with disbelief, stammered out a question.
“Brother! You can’t mean Tae-jin…!”
“Yes, him. He’s the mastermind behind this whole mess.”
“But… why? Why would he do this? Aren’t we family? How could he betray us like this?”
“Why? Isn’t it obvious? He was afraid I’d take over, that I’d become the leader. So he resorted to this filthy scheme to bring me and Nambol down. A fair competition? Family? Does this look like fair competition or family to you? Not a chance!”
”…”
“So, should I just sit back and do nothing?”
Shin-hyuk’s last words carried a weight of unspoken meaning. The men, caught off guard, exchanged glances, unsure of what to do, their eyes drifting to the window. Then Shin-hyuk slammed his fist on the table, gritting his teeth.
“Fine. At this point, I don’t care what happens to me. But I can’t stand the thought of Tae-jin leading the alliance, claiming to be family after I’m gone, or seeing you all abandoned by the alliance.”
“Then… what should we do? Should we expose this?”
“No, that’s not enough. We need to overturn everything. We have enough justification to take down Tae-jin and his cronies. If we can win, at least within the alliance, we can secure our place.”
”…What?”
One of the men questioned, understandably so, given the dire state of the Nambol clan. Even if Serengeti was manageable, Su was the most formidable clan within the alliance. Nambol had Artemis as an ally, but neither was in top form. Declaring a clan war now would be a clear path to defeat.
“I know the situation isn’t great. But don’t worry too much. I have a plan.”
Shin-hyuk’s calm voice suggested he had anticipated this reaction. The men swallowed hard, listening intently.
“Listen carefully. We can’t win in a direct confrontation. So first, we need to…”
The desert night was eerily quiet and desolate. By day, the red sands seemed barren, but by night, the darkness was so complete it felt like an endless void. Only the moon cast its glow on the ground, and the occasional breeze circled the campsite.
“Hey~ Hwan-hee! Hwan-hee? Park Hwan-hee!”
A man was circling the outskirts of the camp, calling out a name. It was Baekdu-san, the clan lord of Serengeti and a close ally of Park Tae-jin.
Baekdu-san’s presence in the red desert was due to a recent request from Park Hwan-hee. Park Tae-jin, seeing no harm in a brief visit, had made his first official statement since the incident, claiming they were investigating the truth behind the events by visiting the dragon’s resting mountains. In reality, it was a ploy to buy time and perhaps uncover some ruins, a plan that most users accepted.
Park Tae-jin was generous to those loyal to him. He selected only the most trustworthy members from Su and Serengeti clans to accompany him, revealing their true mission as they left the city. They pretended to head for the dragon’s resting place but secretly diverted to a location provided by Kim Soo-hyun.
Initially skeptical, Park Tae-jin was now convinced. A week into their journey, they had indeed discovered ruins.
“Park Hwan-hee! Where on earth did that rascal go?”
“He’s probably gone to bed already. You should get some rest too, brother.”
Baekdu-san was searching for Park Hwan-hee because they had been on watch together until just moments ago. They had been joking around while keeping an eye on the surroundings, but when it was time to switch shifts, Hwan-hee had vanished. Baekdu-san scratched his head, puzzled.
“No, he wouldn’t just disappear like that… Maybe he went into the ruins?”
“That’s nonsense. Hwan-hee isn’t like you, brother. No matter how curious he is, he wouldn’t do that. Besides, Tae-jin said we’d start exploring the ruins in the morning. Maybe he just went to relieve himself…”
“Ah, that makes sense. I didn’t think of that. Haha.”
“Anyway… we’ll keep watch now, so you should… huh?”
Baekdu-san laughed it off, slapping his forehead. Just then, the man who had been yawning and rubbing his eyes suddenly turned his head, noticing something.
“That’s strange. I hear someone approaching…”
“It’s probably Hwan-hee.”
“No, it’s more than one person…”
“Huh?”
The man stepped forward, trying to get a better look. As he leaned in, it happened.
Thwip!
Thunk!
An arrow shot out of the darkness, piercing the man’s head. It was imbued with magic, shattering his skull completely. With a sickening thud, blood sprayed as his body collapsed, twitching a few times before lying still in the sand.
”…”
”…”
Baekdu-san and the others stared blankly at the fallen man, their minds blank from the sudden shock.
And then it happened.
Boom! Boom!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, the night sky was lit up by countless fireballs, followed by a barrage of arrows. They rained down on the camp with deadly precision.
Finally snapping out of his daze, Baekdu-san shouted in his booming voice.
“Ambush! We’re under attack!”
But it was too late.
Moments later, the camp was engulfed in flames, accompanied by the sound of screams tearing through the night.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Today, I focused on maintaining a brisk pace. I trimmed parts that seemed unnecessary for understanding the plot and condensed the psychological descriptions. While writing, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it might be too fast, and I’m curious how readers will perceive it. How did today’s pacing feel to you? ☞☜
Oh, and I read the comments yesterday. For particularly intense parts, I’ll just mention them briefly and move on. It seems some readers are uncomfortable with certain content, and honestly, it’s not the most pleasant material anyway. :)