NOVEL NEXT Chapter 185
Chapter 185: The Calm Before the Storm
“Not coming, huh?”
Si-hyun stood like a statue before Il-gwi’s decapitated body.
Mangjong and Seomjeon merely observed our side’s movements without any intent to engage in battle.
Si-hyun had no intention of making the first move either.
Even if he did, he had no real way to take down the enemy.
If they attacked, he would obviously have to join forces with Seung-hoon and Ha-rin to counter, but there was no need to take the initiative.
After all, time was on their side.
The association had likely dispatched hunters to this location by now.
Considering how severe the situation was, it was clear they would have gathered as much manpower as possible and sent it over.
Thus, there would be no harm in them taking a passive stance.
Seomjeon and Mangjong were waiting for Cheonbyeon to turn the tide of the situation.
Naturally, a strange standoff ensued.
– But what is Cheonbyeon planning to do?
Mangjong asked.
Amidst the strange standoff, Mangjong and Seomjeon exchanged thoughts through telepathy.
– We will take hostages.
Seomjeon answered.
– Hostages? You really think that will work?
– It wouldn’t work against anyone else, but for the Sword Master, there’s no more effective method. However…
Seomjeon hesitated at the end of his sentence.
The Sword Master was the epitome of righteousness.
He couldn’t bear to see the innocent suffer because of him.
That’s why he had already discussed the possibility of trying the hostage tactic with Cheonbyeon if things went awry.
Yet today, the Sword Master felt different.
That uncertainty cast doubt in Seomjeon’s mind regarding the effectiveness of this method.
– Didn’t you see? Look at what the Sword Master has done today.
Mangjong spoke with a tone that implied skepticism.
– …I’m aware, but people don’t change that easily. I believe it’s worth a shot.
– Well… it’s true that we don’t have any better options right now. I understand.
‘What’s really going on here?’
Si-hyun was also contemplating as he watched them.
They surely understood that stalling would be detrimental to them.
Yet their lack of movement must have some reason behind their swift defeat of the twin beasts.
If they had shown any weakness in that fight, they would have charged at them like hungry wolves.
But that wasn’t all of it.
There must be another hidden agenda that kept them silently watching.
However, Si-hyun had no way of guessing what it was.
“…Sword Master?”
Ha-rin looked at him as if to say, ‘Why aren’t we moving when we have the advantage?’
Seung-hoon bore a similar expression.
‘What do you expect me to do?’
Si-hyun chuckled inwardly.
If a way to defeat them had dawned on him, he would have charged forward a hundred times.
However, the two World Tree golems certainly didn’t seem like foes he could take out by sheer luck.
He knew firsthand how formidable the World Tree was.
If it had created those golems…
It was evident without needing experience.
Fortunately, they also viewed him as that formidable an opponent.
Otherwise, they could have rushed in recklessly.
At that moment, Si-hyun heard it.
“AAAH!”
“Please, save us! Save us!”
Screams from women echoed from the vicinity, drawing ever closer.
—
“Is the Sword Master strong?”
The Leader asked.
“Yeah, he’s quite competent.”
The phrase “quite competent” was the highest praise coming from an Emperor.
Seomjeon silently listened to their exchange.
“Please tell me his weakness.”
The Leader inquired again.
“Weakness? Of course, he has one. He’s a completely foolish man.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Think about how Kaiel Castle fell.”
“Indeed… that makes sense.”
The Leader nodded.
Kaiel Castle was the stronghold of the Duke of Kaiel and was deemed impregnable.
Even the Emperor’s massive army would suffer heavy losses attempting to seize Kaiel Castle, which was guarded by the Sword Master and his elite knights.
Yet, astonishingly, the Emperor managed to open the gates of Kaiel Castle in just three days without significant loss.
The method was heinous but quite straightforward.
A large gallows was constructed in front of the castle, and one by one, the residents of the Duke’s territory were taken and executed.
They specifically targeted the elderly, children, and women first.
Such an inhumane act could only be carried out by an Emperor with a heart of ice.
Unable to bear the sight of innocents losing their lives, the Sword Master ultimately decided to open the gates and surrender.
That was the background of the siege of Kaiel Castle.
Seomjeon listened intently to the discussion.
And then.
—
‘This is…’
Si-hyun’s expression twisted.
He recognized the faces.
The Female Correctional Officers from the facility.
They were being dragged in, bound as if they were prisoners.
‘I never thought they’d come out like this.’
Si-hyun bit his lip in frustration.
If the enemies targeted the staff, there would honestly be no way to stop them.
If they knew the exact date of the attack, they could simply prevent that day’s staff from coming in.
But that wasn’t the case here.
There was no way to shut down the detention center until things went wrong.
Ultimately, as long as there were inmates, staff were needed round the clock for management.
And there was neither a method nor manpower to perfectly protect these staff members.
So in the event of an incident, discussions had already been made with the higher-ups to stay inside the building irrespective of Choi Gang-hyuk’s situation.
After all, Choi Gang-hyuk was the fundamental objective, so they thought enemies wouldn’t target the unrelated staff members.
And yet this worst-case scenario had unfolded.
“Get down!”
Baek-wol shouted coldly as he dragged them.
Trembling in fear, the Female Correctional Officers dropped to their knees.
“It’s been a while.”
The woman at the front smiled and greeted them.
“…Who are you?”
“I thought you might recognize me like this?”
When the woman waved her hand lightly, her face and bone structure changed in an instant.
And Si-hyun recognized that new face.
It was the very same face he had seen in the park.
Cheonbyeon from the Black Cross.
“Cheonbyeon.”
Si-hyun glared at her.
“Impressive, you recognized me. By the way, you certainly made quite the colorful mess here. Your skills are remarkable.”
Cheonbyeon remarked, eyeing the decapitated body of Il-gwi and the spattering red blood everywhere.
“What do you want?”
Si-hyun asked in a chilling tone.
“You’re quick on the uptake, that’s nice.”
Cheonbyeon grinned as she continued speaking.
“It’s pretty obvious what I want, isn’t it? Choi Gang-hyuk.”
Upon arriving, she had quickly relayed the situation to Seomjeon through telepathy.
So she was aware of the unexpected emergence of the Great Sorceress and Sinchang.
Additionally, the Sword Master was still intact.
In this situation, it was best to secure the target, Choi Gang-hyuk, and retreat swiftly.
Both Seomjeon and Mangjong shared her assessment.
“…”
Si-hyun remained silent, wearing an inscrutable expression.
It seemed he was deep in thought.
– I wonder if this will work?
Mangjong voiced.
– We can only watch and see.
Seomjeon replied.
He silently fervently hoped this tactic would prove effective.
Otherwise, a conflict was inevitable, leading to catastrophic consequences.
“…”
Seung-hoon and Ha-rin also anxiously stared at Si-hyun.
They were well aware of the Sword Master’s character.
Thus, worry was only natural.
Yet they were in no position to voice any concerns since they had earlier considered abandoning the situation altogether, forgetting about Choi Gang-hyuk.
They could only silently remain subdued.
At that moment, when all eyes were on Si-hyun, he slowly lifted the Acureruts.
Seomjeon, Mangjong, and Cheonbyeon’s expressions darkened.
Cheonbyeon squinted and opened her mouth.
“Kill one of them.”
Just as she said that, Si-hyun sheathed the Acureruts.
Cheonbyeon’s expression brightened once more.
“Stop.”
The blade halted right before the Female Correctional Officer.
The officer—barely alive—sobbed weakly, her pale face trembling.
“Thank you! Thank you… Section Chief!”
“Open the door.”
Si-hyun said to Seung-hoon, maintaining his expressionless face.
“Uh?”
“Open the door to where Choi Gang-hyuk is.”
“B-but…”
“I’ll take full responsibility, so just open it.”
Got it!
Seomjeon clenched his fist tightly.
—
“Ah, the outside breeze feels great.”
Choi Gang-hyuk appeared to be just an ordinary-looking man lounging about.
At first glance, no one would think he was a serial killer who had murdered 14 people.
“Wow, you guys came to rescue me? Thanks a bunch!”
Choi Gang-hyuk smiled sarcastically at Seomjeon’s group.
He was still bound by handcuffs, shackles, and ropes.
Seung-hoon and Ha-rin stood by, weapons drawn, keeping a cautious watch on him.
“Wouldn’t it be better to free each other?”
Cheonbyeon suggested with a smile.
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
As Si-hyun responded, he threw a glance at Choi Gang-hyuk as if telling him to release his bonds.
Seeing the look, Ha-rin reluctantly began to untie Choi Gang-hyuk.
Baek-wol also released the bindings of the Female Correctional Officers.
“Now let’s send everyone off. Of course, our noble guest will stay right here, won’t he? We’ll be sticking around, of course.”
Cheonbyeon said.
This meant they were only sending the hostages away while keeping still.
Seomjeon and Mangjong retreated to the line Cheonbyeon established.
There was no reason for them to make unnecessary moves that might compromise the negotiations.
“Let’s do that.”
Saying so, Si-hyun approached Choi Gang-hyuk.
It looked like they were reluctantly negotiating due to the hostages, but his mind was already racing with thoughts of how to turn the situation to their advantage.
What could he do to manipulate the situation favorably for himself?
After much contemplation, he had reached a conclusion.
Choi Gang-hyuk was a prisoner, condemned to death.
And he was not an S-Class, but rather at the capable level of an A-Class Awakened Being, which he confirmed through Seung-hoon.
If that were the case…
This should work.
The might of the fearsome Guard’s thunderous shout.
– If you shout your commands, prisoners will instinctively obey your orders, regardless of their will.
Si-hyun distinctly remembered that phrase from the skill description, and he was prepared to apply it in reality.
Using this, he intended to reverse the tide in one fell swoop.
Si-hyun thought to himself.
However, he hadn’t shared even a hint of this plan with Seung-hoon and Ha-rin.
He didn’t believe they would have the acting skills to hide it effectively.
If it leaked, everything would fall apart.
“You’re a condemned prisoner.”
As Si-hyun approached Choi Gang-hyuk, he whispered softly.
“What’s that?”
Even though he had heard that Si-hyun was the Sword Master, there was no sign of fear in Choi Gang-hyuk.
It seemed it was just his nature.
Si-hyun had also intentionally withheld the aura of the Iron-Blooded Guard.
To avoid attracting suspicion.
“You…”
Si-hyun leaned close to Choi Gang-hyuk’s ear and whispered a commanding shout.
It was the softest shout he’d ever uttered thus far.
The look on Choi Gang-hyuk’s face turned to one of utter disbelief.
“What nonsense is this? Are you out of your mind?”
Instead of replying, Si-hyun shoved him forward.
“Go.”
“I was going to go even without you telling me.”
Thwack.
Choi Gang-hyuk spat.
Cheonbyeon observed the exchange, assuming the Sword Master had issued a warning.
She did not notice anything unusual.
Nor did anyone else.
“Let him go.”
Cheonbyeon nodded to Baek-wol.
She then looked at Si-hyun and said.
“Don’t make any suspicious moves. Let’s take it slow, one step at a time.”
As the Sword Master, he could likely initiate something in the blink of an eye. They had to remain on high alert.
If anything happened, they had to act immediately to secure Choi Gang-hyuk.
If that didn’t work out, they would have to take more hostages.
“That goes for you.”
Si-hyun retorted.
And then whispered to Seung-hoon and Ha-rin.
“Make sure the safety of the staff is your top priority, no matter what happens.”