Chapter 174: The Night’s Banquet (3)
A white mask engraved with geometric patterns.
It was the mask symbolizing ‘Unknown’.
“What is this…?”
Ellis scanned the surroundings.
Everyone was too busy trying to catch the attention of the different powers, so no one paid mind to this side.
It seemed as though the empire and its smaller factions, including Penheimer, were eagerly looking for opportunities, but because of mutual checks and balances—or perhaps due to saving face—they did not openly approach.
“Don’t worry. I’ve also put up a barrier to block the view.”
“You’re thorough. So, what do you want me to do with this?”
“Just wear that mask and approach the side of the Murim.”
Jinhyuk nodded towards one of the Murim residents.
A man in his early forties, with a solid build.
At first glance, he was clearly a master with uncommon internal energy.
“That man?”
“Yes. The leader of the Heukfenghoe (黑風會), Yang Homoeng.”
The status window of the guy appraised through ‘Eyes of Gluttony’ and the copy conditions were a perfect prey.
Name: Yang Homoeng
Gender: Male
Age: 43
Level: 65
Strength 35 Agility 45 Stamina 26 Magic Power 11 Internal Energy 58
Occupation: Martial Artist
Unique Ability: Heukcheongong (黑天功)
Skills: Lv13 ‘Heukhosin Fist (黑虎神拳)’, Lv13 ‘Heukcheon Step (黑天步)’, Lv13 ‘Bodyguard Energy’, Lv11 ‘Blood Snake Shura Palm (血蛇修羅掌)’
[Copy Condition: Although Yang Homoeng is fairly proficient in martial arts, he holds a low status compared to his skills. Homoeng is desperate to make a name for himself. If you make him an offer enticing enough and receive an invitation to his base, you can copy one of his unique abilities or skills.]
It’s a common tale.
A life despised, excluded from the mainstream groups simply because of being from a collateral branch.
Yang Homoeng, filled with a sense of inferiority, was in many ways an easy target.
‘And if I put Ellis in this mission… it will expand the activity radius of Unknown.’
Lately, more people are trying to track down the activities of Unknown.
Ellis, able to freely adjust his size through magic, could take on that role.
In short, if he could simply wear the mask and act well enough, anyone could become Unknown.
‘No need to bother editing skills or unique abilities.’
Ellis’s skills were quite eye-catching, so using that as the concept would be enough.
Since he could also copy new abilities, there was no loss in this for them.
The consideration was brief.
Jinhyuk spoke again.
“Tell him you can reveal the final secret of the Chuhon Sword. Claim you’ve got your hands on a secret manual written by Chuhon Sayoung himself.”
“Chuhon Sayoung? You mean… that original Sword Saint?”
“Right, that guy. You know characters from Murim?”
“I’ve heard the name at least. I didn’t live with my head buried in the sand.”
Chuhon Sayoung was known as the Sword Saint in Murim, the founder of the Chuhon Sword.
A sect leader from the evil faction capable of splitting mountains with a single sword stroke.
A secret manual from such a legendary figure could certainly make Young Homoeng deeply interested.
“But, do you really have it? That manual?”
Ellis asked, as if genuinely surprised.
Of course.
“If I had such a thing, I would have used it against Chun Yuseong. You think I would just save it?”
Especially since Chun Yuseong was so desperate to master the Chuhon Sword.
With just one manual, Jinhyuk could create a second obedient follower.
“In the end… it means you’re planning a scam again.”
“A scam? I am actually going to bring a book written by the Sword Saint.”
Although it might differ from what Homoeng is expecting.
Nevertheless, it was technically true that it was written by the Sword Saint.
“First, listen to this. If you say it like this, he’ll bite for sure.”
Jinhyuk whispered the detailed plan to Ellis’s ear.
Ellis’s pupils shrank and expanded repeatedly.
And after a few minutes passed.
“Sigh. I’m really glad I made a deal with you.”
Ellis let out a long sigh of relief.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I mean, if I met you as an enemy and suffered like the others, I’d probably have died of a rage-induced illness.”
Any revenge on the other heads of houses, if it had mattered.
Honor for the Ataraxia family name, et cetera.
He would have collapsed from high blood pressure first.
＊＊＊
“Damn it.”
The leader of Heukfenghoe, where only the elite fighters of the martial world gathered.
A master in martial arts, ranked among the best even within Murim.
A strong contender against any faction, whether the Martial Alliance or the demonic cults.
All these titles were what supported the man known as Yang Homoeng.
But.
Yang Homoeng thought it was all in vain.
No matter how brilliant the skill, there was a limit to how high you could climb with the status of a collateral branch.
No amount of desperate struggle would change his station.
“That’s why I get tasked with these trifles.”
Yang Homoeng’s face twisted bitterly.
To clean up the mess left by Moyong Soo.
To recruit decent-looking rookies from among futile things for that very reason.
“If things had turned out this way, I might have been better off going head to head with the castoffs of the empire…”
True martial artists should establish their power through force.
Half-heartedly engaging in schemes and not fighting properly, has the battle already tilted without a fight?
“Tch.”
His annoyance grew as he mulled over these thoughts.
Even after downing an entire glass of strong liquor, it was hard to quell the rage boiling inside him.
Then just then.
Someone approached.
From Yang Homoeng’s perspective, who was annoyed with everything, an unpleasant voice was inevitable.
Bang!
The glass clashed loudly on the table.
“I should be with my drink, if you’re interested in us, you could just talk to that pretty-faced idiot from the Nangong family over there.”
Yang Homoeng waved his hand without even looking.
His gaze stayed fixed on the liquor bottle gurgling as it filled his glass.
However, the words that came from the other person caught his attention.
“I’m not interested in someone who looks so fragile and weak.”
Yang Homoeng’s brows knitted fiercely.
“…What did you say?”
“I’m interested in someone with decent skills.”
“You bastard! Do you even realize what nonsense you are spewing!”
No matter what they say about the Nangong family being fools,
They don’t have the right to insult them like that.
Already in a bad mood, he struck gold.
He could easily suffocate this insolent person just by slightly releasing his internal energy.
With this thought, Yang Homoeng looked at his opponent.
“You… Who are you?”
His pupils quaked like an earthquake.
In his shock, he spilled his liquor, but he couldn’t afford to be worried about that.
How could he not recognize one of the players that everyone in the midway faction had been frantically searching for?
“Unknown…”
“That’s right. That’s what I’m called.”
Ellis nodded her head while wearing the white mask.
She had altered her voice using a barrier, so Yang Homoeng didn’t even suspect that Ellis was a woman.
“Surely… I didn’t see you at the labyrinth. When did you get here?”
“I was slightly late. I’ve no interest in trivial public achievements. Anyway, it’s not too hard to choose a faction.”
Ellis shrugged nonchalantly.
Proud and aloof.
Unknown was a character who didn’t pay much attention to others but drew everyone’s attention nonetheless.
And there was no one better than Ellis to play this character.
Even gods would relent to her in terms of pride.
‘Indeed… It doesn’t seem fake.’
Yang Homoeng narrowed his eyes.
Judging by his internal energy, the opponent was undoubtedly a strong person.
At a glance, his magic power was boundless, definitely not the act of an average person.
‘There were suspicions that Kang Jinhyuk and Unknown were the same person, but obviously, that was just a rumor.’
He could see that detestable guy sipping champagne at the next table.
At least they were not the same person.
Then…
This was an opportunity.
Unknown is one of the few players who could potentially compete with Kang Jinhyuk.
If he could pull such Unknown to their side…
Perhaps Murim would start to view him differently.
Not just that.
In the worst-case scenario, he could receive a huge reward for this achievement.
It might even transcend the boundary of his branch family status and attain something greater.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Yang Homoeng’s voice softened.
“I apologize. As you may know, things aren’t going so well for us lately.”
“I understand. But don’t be too disappointed. After all, I came here just for you, floundering in hell.”
Ellis calmly sat down next to Yang Homoeng.
“If there’s something you want to say… Please get straight to the point. Playing games isn’t my style.”
“I like the directness. To be honest, there’s only one thing I want to propose.”
Ellis pulled out an old-looking scripture from his possession.
“A secret manual written by the Sword Saint. I’d like to exchange this for ‘Precelestial True Energy Preservation Pill’.”
“That, that is!”
Yang Homoeng’s reaction was incomparable to when he first saw Ellis.
It was inevitable.
The last conclusion of the Chuhon Sword mentioned in the legendary secret manual.
Even that single book could potentially turn all of Murim into a sea of blood.
‘The Precelestial True Energy Preservation Pill is valuable, but not comparable to that.’
An opportunity that must be seized at all costs had presented itself before Yang Homoeng.
＊＊＊
“Why are you over there?”
“Is that Jinhyuk over there?”
Chun Yuseong and Theresa tilted their heads as they looked at the white mask.
Knowing the true identity of Unknown, they immediately sensed that the person with Yang Homoeng was not Jinhyuk.
“Ah… that?”
Jinhyuk scratched his cheek.
Hmm…
How should he explain this?
“I’m just rubbing salt in the wound right now.”
And doing so quite liberally with coarse sea salt.
The concerned party was unaware of the pain they would endure, so he must be feeling like he’s in heaven right now.
Though it will only last for a moment.
“Curious? Should I explain it in detail?”
“No need. You must be planning some absurd thing again.”
Chun Yuseong frowned.
As if he didn’t want to know the details at all.
“What about you, Jinhyuk? Have you decided which faction you’ll contract with?”
Contract…
Right, that existed.
The core of this masquerade ball was to decide which faction to ally with.
Depending on that, it would determine how quickly and effectively he could ascend the mid layers of the tower.
And Jinhyuk had already made his decision.
At that moment.
[All players and residents, please begin your ‘selection’ now.]
Rick, who was on the second floor, used his voice amplification magic.
Enough tiptoeing around—time to make a decision.
With Rick’s announcement, the atmosphere in the room shifted.
The laughter and chatter vanished in an instant, replaced by a thick tension.
And.
As one might expect, there was one place where attention was particularly focused.
Step.
Slide.
Thud!
As if on cue, multiple footsteps headed in one direction.
Seven in total…
‘More than I expected.’
Jinhyuk’s smirk grew.
