Chapter 229

“Nice to see you. It’s been a while.”

Since I had sent word ahead, Hwang Jihak welcomed our visit with a pleased expression.

After a brief conversation, he apologized and hurriedly left the residence due to a prior commitment.

‘It must be related to Sakoonpa.’

Thus, left behind at Hwang Jihak’s residence, his sister Hwang Hyeyeon explained the situation to us.

“The atmosphere within the family has been unsettled lately. There are issues related to the Night Parade of One Hundred Specters, and it seems there’s a lot of talk because of recent friction with China’s Sakoonpa.”

Just as I thought.

Like the relationship between the Baek Family and the Liu Family I saw at the White Forest Pavilion last time, the Hwang Family and Sakoonpa have a cooperative relationship with each other.

However, the underlying circumstances were slightly different from the Baek Family’s side. While they had an equal partnership, Sakoonpa subtly viewed the Hwang Family as beneath them.

Gradually, dissatisfaction had been building up over this situation.

Sakoonpa’s Fourth Branch Leader side intended to use this opportunity to stir up trouble within the Hwang Family and draw the attention of those around them.

‘Judging by the busy atmosphere within the family, it seems Sakoonpa’s arrival is not far off.’

If so, I can’t afford to relax and rest either.

After finishing the meal Hwang Hyeyeon prepared, I left Arietta at the residence and set off to find Hwang Jincheol.

‘First, I need at least a collaborator within the family who knows my circumstances.’

And for that role, no one was more suitable than Hwang Jincheol.

He had a solid cooperative relationship with me and held a considerable position within the family.

Seeing me like this, Hwang Jincheol seemed to grasp the situation immediately and greeted me with a direct question.

“You seem to have something important.”

“That’s correct. I need your help, Elder Jincheol.”

Blindly hiding things isn’t the solution. Hwang Jincheol is a trustworthy person, so I conveyed the exact current situation to him, withholding only the bare minimum of secrets.

“I see, it seems Sakoonpa’s true objective this time is something else. Indeed, their movements have been a bit strange.”

“I don’t know the details, but there must be a reason they’re causing trouble at a time like this. Letting the situation unfold as they wish is not good.”

Hwang Jincheol, who is adept at political affairs as he dominates the financial world, soon nodded and agreed with my words.

“You’re right. They were shady from the start. Whatever they’re plotting, it’s surely something harmful to the country.”

Then this is where it gets important. Hwang Jincheol’s eyes gleamed as he asked me a question.

“So, the fact that you deliberately informed me of the situation means you have some plan, I take it?”

“That’s correct.”

Sakoonpa intends to draw the attention of the prestigious families, then secretly bring the Specter Desire Incense into Seoul and attempt to release its seal.

What I plan to do from now on could be said to be the exact opposite plan.

‘Draw the attention of the Sakoonpa members who have come to Korea, subdue the separate unit carrying the Specter Desire Incense, and seize it.’

And then, with the help of Xiao Chen, who by now should have inscribed a Teleportation Art at Sakoonpa’s headquarters, hand over the unsealed Specter Desire Incense directly to the other side.

The important thing is that, just as they intended, no evidence must remain for any of these events.

Therefore, I also need to disrupt their plans and draw as much attention as possible.

“They will try to find some fault to shake the Hwang Family.”

“Hmm.”

In the original work at this point, only the backgrounds of the Baek and Cheong Families were covered, so I don’t know exactly what happened in the Hwang Family.

What is certain is that they too would not easily back down until they achieved their objective.

“Come to think of it, I heard some news recently, but it seems it wasn’t just idle talk after all.”

“What is it?”

“It was information that there was a minor clash a few days ago with a Sakoonpa member who visited Korea.”

If that’s true, it’s an excellent pretext to forcefully pick a fight.

It’s highly likely that Sakoonpa also orchestrated that situation.

‘I can roughly picture it now.’

As I, having grasped the situation, sank into thought, a family servant soon came and delivered a message to Hwang Jincheol.

“Elder, family members are now being urgently summoned to the Kwihwangok.”

“Understood. I’ll be right there.”

It was none other than a summons signal from the family Elders.

Its meaning was truly clear. It meant that formal contact with Sakoonpa was about to begin.

“Will you accompany me?”

“Yes. I will.”

In any case, to take action, I needed to gather a bit more information.

Thus, at the Kwihwangok we headed to, one young man with a rather familiar face was trembling with a completely frozen expression.

It was Hwang Sejin, who had previously faced off against me.

Although Sakoonpa members were not yet visible, it seemed almost all of the Hwang Family Elders, excluding those absent, had gathered.

Their expressions were also extremely dark.

“Speak truthfully. Did you really lay hands on their people?”

“F-Father. That was…”

The Ninth Elder, Hwang Ilsoo, looked at his son Hwang Sejin with cold eyes.

From that one statement, I could roughly grasp the circumstances.

‘So the one who carelessly took Sakoonpa’s bait was Hwang Sejin himself.’

It was truly unfortunate for him, but ultimately, he brought it upon himself.

The responsibility for this incident would likely be far heavier than Hwang Sejin imagined.

“Don’t think about evading; confess truthfully. They are also on their way here now.”

“I-It’s true there was a clash, but it wasn’t that serious! They insulted our family first, and I merely put them in their place through a legitimate display of skill!”

“Hoh, so you did lay hands on them after all.”

There probably wasn’t any particular falsehood mixed into Hwang Sejin’s words.

He too is a promising talent with some standing in the family. Naturally, he wouldn’t have gone so far as to use excessive force.

However, once a pretext has been given, there’s no knowing how the other side will seize upon it.

“Troublesome. Of all times, now.”

“Even so, what on earth are they thinking? Instead of solidifying defenses for the upcoming Night Parade of One Hundred Specters, they’re deliberately trying to cause friction…”

“It’s hard to guess their intentions.”

The influential members of the Hwang Family also harbored their own doubts about Sakoonpa’s movements this time.

However, they probably couldn’t even imagine it. The fact that what Sakoonpa is about to commit from now on is a cruel and heinous atrocity far removed from mere political fighting or checks and balances.

“Anyway, if things have come to this, we can’t simply turn them away at the gate. It seems the matter has become complicated.”

And before long, finally, Sakoonpa’s Fourth Branch Leader Wang Long and his subordinate forces revealed themselves at the Kwihwangok.

At Wang Long’s signal, a middle-aged man stepped forward, stroking his bushy beard as he spoke.

“Well, judging by your expressions, you all seem to know what happened last night.”

“…Even so, what kind of senseless action is this during such a chaotic time? You could have calmly followed procedures to lodge a protest without any problem.”

“Senseless? You’re saying we are senseless now?”

Although the Hwang side’s complaint wasn’t particularly wrong, strangely, the Sakoonpa side showed an attitude of not yielding an inch.

And the reason was soon revealed through the other party’s words.

“I am Wei Zihong, Leader of the Yeongjindan within Sakoonpa, to which the victim of this incident belonged. And on Sakoonpa’s side, there are two severely injured in comas, with additional fatalities. And yet you speak of common sense?”

“Fatalities? What on earth…”

At the sudden declaration, the Hwang side stiffened their expressions and frowned.

If it was such an urgent matter, there should have been some commotion, but they hadn’t heard anything specific.

The Ninth Elder Hwang Ilsoo looked at Hwang Sejin with eyes asking if it was true, but Hwang Sejin urgently shook his head.

His expression suggested no particular falsehood. However, it was also unlikely Sakoonpa would spread a lie that would be immediately exposed.

Which meant, in other words.

‘They orchestrated the situation themselves and cut off the tail to leave no room for rebuttal?’

A ruthless act of discarding even their own people for their objective.

But certainly, if things have come to this, the Hwang side will have no choice but to be manipulated by Sakoonpa’s will for the time being.

It meant the very situation they desired had been created.

“I heard the main culprit of the incident is a prized prospect cherished by the Hwang side. How exactly do you intend to take responsibility?”

“…Hold on, let’s clarify this first. This differs from the facts we have ascertained.”

The Hwang Family’s Eleventh Elder Hwang Cheolho slammed the table loudly, glaring as he spoke.

“We heard there was a clash, but no one used such excessive force. There are limits to forced accusations, aren’t there? Where is the evidence that we committed such acts?”

“Hoh, so you intend to deny it now when all the results are clearly evident?”

“Even if it’s your claim, the only plausible part is that members from both sides had a clash. Ultimately, you can’t prove anything beyond that, can you?”

He seemed unable to contain his anger, but Hwang Cheolho’s words were unexpectedly sharp in pinpointing the issue.

Unfortunately, however, they didn’t know.

The fact that continuing such arguments, drawing attention, and buying time was precisely Sakoonpa’s true objective.

“There are clear fatalities, yet you insist on denying the allegations to the end. That is utterly unconvincing.”

“Of course, regarding that part, we have nothing to say. The Hwang Family will also cooperate in the investigation to clarify the exact truth and then take appropriate measures.”

“Do you think Sakoonpa’s superiors will be satisfied with just that?”

Clashing with a massive force like Sakoonpa at a time like this is not good.

Knowing that fact, the Hwang Family is in a position where they cannot respond strongly against Sakoonpa.

Therefore, now was precisely the timing for me to step forward.

“Elder. I need your help.”

“…It’s quite noticeable, but I’ll trust you.”

The moment the atmosphere between both sides was about to turn hostile, Hwang Jincheol rose from his seat, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Jincheol? Do you have something to say?”

“That’s correct, Ninth Elder.”

Hwang Jincheol calmly took a breath and, with an uncharacteristically slightly tense demeanor, scanned the faces of the Sakoonpa members before opening his mouth to declare.

“Their words are false. We are not guilty.”

It was the moment when the chilling gazes of the Sakoonpa members, including Wei Zihong and Wang Long, turned solely towards me and Hwang Jincheol.