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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Perhaps sensing the chilling air in Limon’s voice, Na-kyung froze and remained silent.
She knew that messing with Limon in his current foul mood wouldn’t end with just a few flicks on the forehead.
“Head Wang probably didn’t intend to disrespect you, Sword Saint. He likely thought it wouldn’t concern you since the Torture Hall is under my jurisdiction.”
Whether due to her lack of understanding of Limon or a different moral compass, Li Chingwei responded calmly despite his displeasure.
Limon said coldly,
“If he wasn’t disrespecting me, he was disrespecting you.”
“That’s…”
“And since you’re my fiancée, looking down on you is the same as looking down on me.”
“Ah, yes.”
Na-kyung gaped at Li Chingwei, who blushed and seemed to forget what she was about to say, as if taken aback by his unexpected words. But Limon paid no attention to her reaction.
Frowning, he asked curtly,
“So? Did you agree to take that bastard to the Torture Hall?”
“I was just about to ask you about that.”
“Ask me about what?”
“You, of course, Sword Saint.”
“…Ask me whether or not to take that bastard to your Torture Hall and torture him as that Wang bastard requested?”
“Yes.”
Li Chingwei smiled brightly and nodded repeatedly, as if asking him what he wanted for lunch.
Limon, seemingly forgetting his earlier anger, asked with a puzzled look,
“Why are you asking me? I’m not in charge of that gruesome facility.”
“But you’re responsible for the Leviathan’s security. And you were the one who told us that culprit was dangerous.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Li Chingwei tilted her head at Limon, who trailed off with a strange expression.
“Is something bothering you?”
“It’s not so much bothering me as it is strange. I used to run around trying to save people from being tortured by you, and now I’m the one making the decision.”
Limon scratched his cheek. But Li Chingwei’s reaction was calm.
“We don’t torture innocent people like we used to.”
“Regardless of whether the person is innocent or not, don’t you think there’s a problem with torturing someone for hire in the first place?”
“It’s fine. Our Torture Hall is in an extraterritorial location.”
“It’s not a matter of law, but of principle.”
“Principles are meant to be used only when necessary.”
“…Oh, is that so?”
Limon clicked his tongue.
He realized anew that it was ridiculous to discuss principles with Li Chingwei, the princess of the Black Dragon Clan, whose specialty was schemes and conspiracies.
“So, what should we do?”
Whether she knew how he felt or not, Li Chingwei asked with her usual bright smile.
Limon answered immediately,
“Refuse.”
“As expected, you’re not happy with Head Wang taking the culprit by force and then asking us to do the torturing?”
“That’s also irritating, but there’s no need to take on such a dangerous bomb.”
Li Chingwei and Na-kyung both made strange expressions.
Limon, noticing the change in their expressions with his sharp senses, narrowed his eyes.
“Why those suspicious looks?”
“No, it’s not suspicion.”
[It’s just that it’s been a while since you’ve considered someone so dangerous, Team Leader.]
Na-kyung tilted her head.
Limon had always treated even high-level players like gum when he was with the PAB.
He had even crushed the Infinite Monarch. But for him to be so wary of Ryu Kang-chul, who was ‘just’ a Duke, and one who had already lost an arm and was half-crippled, even if he was a high-ranking member of the Liberation Brigade, seemed strange.
Limon chuckled at Na-kyung.
“Na-kyung, do you know this kind of person?”
[What kind of person?]
“The kind who claims they want to have a discussion, but then insists only they’re right.”
[Of course, I know. They’re surprisingly common.]
“Right? Now add to that someone who throws punches the moment they hear a rebuttal.”
[Hmm, they wouldn’t be easy to get along with.]
“And what if, even after losing a fight because they’re a terrible fighter, they declare a mental victory, boasting that their logic was flawless and their opponent only resorted to violence because they couldn’t win?”
[…I wouldn’t even want to deal with someone like that.]
“Right? That’s how I feel.”
[Aha?]
Na-kyung wore a puzzled expression, as if she understood but didn’t. As if to supplement his explanation, Li Chingwei summarized Limon’s point.
“In short, you’re saying a fool is more troublesome to deal with than a genius.”
“You never know what a fool will do. Especially a crazy fool.”
Whether it was a Monarch called an absolute being, a Grand Duke considered a king, or a Duke with rare skills, as long as they were human and could die from a sword wound, they weren’t his match.
Na-kyung gaped at Limon, who said it was natural to be more wary of a madman than a Monarch.
[Wow, that’s incredibly arrogant and annoying, but it’s true, so I can’t deny it.]
“I’m just that good.”
[Ugh!]
Limon flicked Na-kyung on the forehead as she gagged, then turned to Li Chingwei.
“Anyway, it’s best to refuse that bastard’s request. Especially if it’s about using the Torture Hall.”
The Torture Hall was a Leviathan facility. In other words, to torture Ryu Kang-chul, he would have to be brought to the Leviathan.
This was absolutely unacceptable to Limon, who considered Ryu Kang-chul a troublesome piece of shit, or rather, a shit bomb, that he didn’t want to touch.
“Refusing would be the best course of action.”
“Why? Do you think differently?”
“No, your will is my will, Sword Saint.”
Limon’s decision was her top priority. Her own opinion wasn’t important.
After answering calmly, she took out a document with a slightly troubled expression.
“However, the situation has become a bit difficult to refuse outright.”
Limon frowned as he saw the official document Li Chingwei handed him, or rather, the familiar seal on it.
“The Elder Council?”
“Yes, and it’s an official request.”
“So you’re saying it’s become difficult for you to refuse even if you want to.”
“The elders will grant permission to use the Torture Hall if it’s an official matter. I could oppose it if I really wanted to, but…”
Li Chingwei sighed softly.
Watching her, Limon clicked his tongue.
“You’re giving those elders, whom you’ve worked so hard to suppress by exploiting their weaknesses, a perfect excuse.”
“If I oppose the use of the Torture Hall, the elders will argue that I’ve lost my judgment because of you, Sword Saint.”
The elders had only been silenced because their weaknesses were being exploited.
They weren’t happy about Limon marrying Li Chingwei, or rather, the loss of the clan’s wealth and power that resulted from it. But if she ignored this request?
They would pounce like wolves on a carcass, claiming Li Chingwei was letting personal feelings interfere with official matters because Wang Ki-neung had hit Limon.
“Tsk, I should have killed those elders a long time ago.”
“Then the Black Dragon Clan would be in a more difficult situation. They contributed greatly to supporting the clan in the past.”
“The phrase ‘in the past’ implies that they’re now part of the establishment and aren’t much help.”
“But if we openly dispose of them, other clan members will lose morale and loyalty, thinking they’ll be discarded after serving loyally.”
“Hmm, that’s true.”
Na-kyung wore a strange expression. She had been listening quietly to their conversation, and something bothered her.
[Um, Princess? Why is there an ‘openly’ condition attached to the reason why you can’t get rid of your elders?]
“Do you want to know why?”
[…No, on second thought, I think it’s better not to know.]
Na-kyung subtly avoided Li Chingwei’s smiling gaze.
She wasn’t so clueless as to not understand why Li Chingwei, despite giving various reasons, never explicitly asked him not to touch the elders.
Leaving Na-kyung to gulp at the chilling ruthlessness of the Seven Dragons Association, Limon stroked his chin.
“What to do with this bomb…”
“I wonder.”
Seeing the two pondering their dilemma—taking Ryu Kang-chul to the Torture Hall was unsettling, but ignoring the elders’ official request would cause trouble—Na-kyung muttered softly,
[This is a tough one. If it were a real bomb, you could just call a high-level player with the right skills to deal with it.]
“Hmm?”
“Oh?”
Limon and Li Chingwei both made strange expressions simultaneously.
Na-kyung asked hesitantly,
[Did I say something strange?]
“No, you did well. You gave me a good idea.”
“Indeed. We were needlessly complicating things.”
[…???]
Ignoring Na-kyung’s bewildered expression at their cryptic words, Limon grinned.
He looked at Li Chingwei with meaningful eyes.
“Princess. That spy you bought in the Shanghai Royal Family, is he fairly high-ranking?”
“High enough to know all the secrets.”
“Hmm, then there’s no problem.”
“Head Wang is a cautious man, so I can’t guarantee it, but if we also conduct external surveillance, he won’t fall for a counter-intelligence ploy.”
“Is that so? Then let me know when you get the information.”
Li Chingwei wore a surprised expression.
“You’re going to handle it yourself?”
“It’s always better to be certain.”
Li Chingwei nodded at Limon’s sinister smile, then asked as if something had occurred to her,
“Then, how about preparing a backup plan as well?”
“The alternative Na-kyung mentioned?”
“Yes. There’s no guarantee that the remaining bombs won’t cause trouble.”
“I don’t mind… but are you sure? If they find out we brought in an outsider, there will be a lot of talk.”
“Do I need to care about such talk, now that I’m engaged to you, Sword Saint?”
“I suppose not.”
Limon chuckled.
Just by looking at the smile on her lips, he could tell she had already prepared countermeasures.
“Alright, then I’ll take care of that too. I know a kimchi jar, a bit lacking in skill, but capable enough to guard the house.”
“Alright, don’t worry about the money, just spend freely.”
Watching the two conversing in a harmonious atmosphere, like a couple deciding on a date course, Na-kyung grumbled with a sullen expression,
[You two lovebirds. It’s nice that you’re getting along, but could you please speak in a way this bird with a small brain can understand?]
“Heehee. We’re not even married yet, lovebirds is a bit much.”
[…….]
Na-kyung froze at Li Chingwei, who smiled brightly and gave a thumbs-up.
Limon said calmly,
“You said it yourself. If it were a real bomb, you could just call a high-level player with the right skills to deal with it.”
[So what?]
“How do you usually deal with a bomb if you don’t have a high-level player?”
[Well…?]
Na-kyung froze, her beak agape, as if she realized something.
Smiling coldly at her, Limon muttered,
“If he’s someone who’s treated people like toys, he should be prepared to be treated the same way.”
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