The moment I said I was the son of the Heavenly Demon, not only Besaine but also Seo Jeongtae and the seven members of the Twelve Apostles were shocked.

“Is it really you, Geom Muguk?”

Besaine’s face twisted even further, and his voice became more subdued.

“Yes.”

Besaine requested confirmation from Gukak Soma.

“Shall I ask the Demon Lord? Is it true?”

“Who in this world would dare impersonate the blood of the Sect Leader in front of them?”

That was the end of the matter. Gukak Soma wouldn’t claim a fake to be true unless he was insane.

“Why are you here?”

Although the Apostles knew that Gukak Soma had been expelled, they had no idea that I was accompanying him.

“Probably for the same reason you are. To resolve this matter without bloodshed. You came for the same reason, didn’t you?”

Instead of answering, Besaine asked again.

“How did you know it was me?”

It was from something that happened in the past.

But I couldn’t answer that directly.

“Two members of the Twelve Apostles are known to be capable of facing a single Demon Lord. But eight of the Twelve Apostles ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) came to face a single Demon Lord? Even though this matter is important, don’t you think that’s excessive?”

“That doesn’t seem to be the reason for knowing it’s me, though.”

“Of course not. So I watched you all. Normally, important figures are placed in the middle, so I observed the person in the center. There were certainly differences.”

“What were they?”

“Your clothes are the same as everyone else’s, but you didn’t pay attention to your shoes. Your shoes are an extremely luxurious pair, rare to find in the Central Plains. The sword you’re carrying is also not ordinary. Not only that, when you performed energy projection earlier, your movements were different from the others. Since it’s rare to see someone perform energy projection together, it was bound to stand out.”

“Did you really notice such a difference?”

I nodded, and Besaine’s expression stiffened. Just reading the energy wasn’t enough to prove a clear difference in skill, but it certainly wasn’t a pleasant situation.

I continued as if I didn’t notice his reaction.

“There’s another reason. The Sect Leader sent a message earlier. Sending a message at such a crucial moment means someone must be asking for advice. The person who can issue orders while wearing luxurious shoes and carrying an expensive sword, and is accompanied by seven members of the Twelve Apostles. With that, shouldn’t I have guessed it was you?”

Still with a stiff expression, Besaine slowly nodded his head.

At that moment, both Gukak Soma and Ian sent the same message simultaneously.

— The young master is a genius.

— The young master is a genius.

I sent a message to Ian.

— You just sent the same message as Gukak Soma.

— The young master is recognized as a genius by both good and evil.

— Which side are you on?

— Young master!

If it had been just the two of us, we might have laughed and kept joking, but I stood calmly, keeping my composure.

While the two of them were pleasantly surprised, Besaine’s mood sank instead.

Besaine, now is not the time to be upset. You’ve just encountered your only chance to change your fate.

“I envy you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ve already been confirmed as the successor, haven’t you? I’m still struggling.”

Besaine’s lips twisted. Even a slight smile from him turned into a highly provocative expression.

I knew why he was making this expression when he should have been proud.

Although he had already been confirmed as the successor, internal strife within the Apostles still raged fiercely.

He had already been ambushed three times, and one of them had been very close. So many people were aiming for the position of successor that the perpetrator had never been discovered.

That was why he was accompanied by seven members of the Twelve Apostles.

But in his past life, he would ultimately be assassinated.

Would his fate change by meeting me?

That was something I didn’t know. Whether events would unfold as they did in the past, or if he would live a new fate.

At that moment, one of the Twelve Apostles who had been guarding Besaine stepped forward, removing his sword. He was an old, silver-haired martial artist.

“I am the leader of the Twelve Apostles.”

Ilang (One Wolf), Baek Cheolgi.

He was the leader of the Twelve Apostles and the close confidant of the Sect Leader.

When Besaine was young and his face had been injured, he had felt guilty for not being able to protect him. Baek Cheolgi had also died trying to protect Besaine when he was assassinated by the secret forces.

Was that why? I felt some sympathy for him. I saw a bit of Ian in him, someone who had died trying to protect his leader.

“I’ve heard news of the young master’s rising prominence in the new school, but indeed, it’s not without merit.”

“It was just a lucky guess.”

“To a warrior, perception is the most important skill.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

After the pleasantries, Ilang got to the point.

“The reason the Sect Leader came today was not merely to resolve the matter of the Merchant’s Guild.”

“Then what is it for?”

“Someone is hoping that Gukak Soma will instigate bloodshed once again.”

Upon hearing his name, Gukak Soma stepped forward and asked.

“Who are they?”

Ilang shook his head.

“We don’t know.”

At that, Gukak Soma looked at me, as if expecting me to provide an answer. I complied.

“They are probably those who are aiming for the position of successor in the Apostles.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

“Let’s suppose Gukak Soma massacred the Baekgye Merchant Guild today. Another uproar would surely follow, right? The masterminds behind this incident are probably trying to use the conflict and division between our sect and the Apostles to orchestrate something.”

I immediately deduced it, and both Ilang and Besaine were surprised. They hadn’t expected someone to grasp the situation so quickly.

Besaine spoke again.

“How did you know that?”

“As you said, the young master came out himself today. If it wasn’t something directly related to him, he wouldn’t have come out personally, he would have sent someone else.”

“You’re so sharp, I don’t need to explain why you should leave. Go back to your guild. That would be the best for both of us.”

“We also have a request from Besaine.”

“What request?”

“Right now, I want you to hand over the Baekgye Merchant Guild. And compensate for all the losses Gukak Soma has suffered in the past two years.”

The unexpected request startled everyone. Even Gukak Soma would have been surprised by my proposition.

The first person to react angrily was Seo Jeongtae, the leader of the Baekgye Merchant Guild.

“What are you saying? Hand it over right now? And compensation? Does that even make sense?”

I coldly glared at Seo Jeongtae.

“There seems to be no hierarchy here. You’re interrupting a conversation with the Sect Leader.”

I felt a bit bad for saying that, considering our sect was a mess too.

Instead of Seo Jeongtae, Besaine spoke coldly.

“You should be thankful for the warning and extend the deadline, not making such absurd remarks.”

“Absurd remarks are what you’re making, Besaine.”

“Me?”

“How long has it been since you officially became the successor?”

“Two years.”

“The ones who planned this incident have likely been scheming since you became the successor, or even before that, trying to take the position. Right?”

“Let’s say that’s true.”

“Then, do you have any proof that they weren’t involved in the bloodshed two years ago?”

“What?”

Besaine was taken aback. He hadn’t thought about that part.

“You saw how Gukak Soma handled today’s situation. Despite being angry, he managed to control himself. But why was it different two years ago?”

I looked at Gukak Soma. He spoke with a shocked expression.

“Are you saying that there was some sort of hidden force behind that incident? That they used me? That they threw themselves at me because they had a reason?”

Each word he spoke carried a cold, ominous air.

Soon, Gukak Soma laughed maniacally, his laughter growing as if enraged.

“You know, Young Master, I jokingly said I’d clear it all out and spend about ten years locked up, but I might need to spend twenty years locked up instead.”

Besaine, sensing the truth in Gukak Soma’s reaction, was momentarily speechless. He was also starting to suspect that the bloodshed two years ago might have been a plot orchestrated by those behind the scenes.

“But I still won’t hand over the Baekgye Merchant Guild.”

“Fine. Then let’s add one more condition.”

“What condition?”

“I’ll help you uncover the masterminds behind this incident.”

It was an unexpected proposal. Besaine was probably shocked more times today than ever before.

“You told us to leave, but we won’t. Gukak Soma is not the kind of person to return just because you say so.”

Gukak Soma added with a grin.

“I’m the one who stays when told to leave.”

I smiled faintly and continued.

“As you can see, that’s how he is. So we’ll help. If they involve Gukak Soma, we won’t be able to just stand by.”

“Are you confident in exposing them?”

“It’s impossible to fully expose them after years of lurking, but I’ll find you some solid clues. If I provide those clues, will you fulfill the demands I made earlier?”

The reason I made this proposal was simple.

I already knew who was behind it.

Besaine would accept in the end.

From what I showed today, he must have seen my extraordinary ability, and more than anything, the benefits from the Merchant Guild or punishing Gukak Soma were nothing compared to finding and eliminating those who tried to kill him.

Besaine and Ilang exchanged messages.

I gave them time.

Then, Gukak Soma sent a message.

— Do you think they’ll accept? The loss will be huge.

— They’ll definitely accept. Shall we make a bet? I’ll treat you to a meal! How about it?

— Again with the meal and my mask obsession. No, thank you.

I laughed in response, but he didn’t.

Afterward, Besaine finished the discussion with Ilang through the exchange of messages.

“Alright. We’ll accept. But when you provide the clues, we’ll back off.”

“Good. Let’s do it that way.”

I drew my black sword and offered it to him. Besaine drew his sword and lightly tapped it against mine.

Clang.

The clear sound of our swords clashing was the seal of our agreement.

We gazed at each other through the crossed swords.

My gaze at his twisted and contorted face was calm, without a trace of special affection. I had negative feelings about the next successor—someone like him taking the position was a disgrace.

Of course, if this life goes like the past, it will mean nothing. He’ll be killed by Hwa Mugi anyway.

But if we all survive?

Then it will have meaning.

Better for you to survive.

Your scarred face would be much more useful in the martial world than that trash's pretty face.

“We’ll meet again.”

“Let’s do that.”

We left the Baekgye Merchant Guild without shedding a drop of blood.

In the returning carriage, Gukak Soma asked me.

“Was that boring?”

“You met the successor among the seven Apostles? You talked about the masterminds behind the plot to kill him? Where’s the boring part?”

Gukak Soma laughed. It was his habitual laugh, but I felt it was different this time.

“How did you know they’d accept?”

“It’s about their lives and the position of Sect Leader. I figured they’d accept any condition.”

“Are you confident in capturing them?”

“That’s a question for you, Gukak Soma. Are you confident? They’ll target you, not me.”

Gukak Soma laughed even more.

“My boring world is becoming more interesting.”

“It was never boring from the start. The martial world is thrilling, but perhaps you and I have been too stuck in the sect.”

“But where will we find them?”

“We won’t need to look. They’ll come to us. We just need to do what we must.”

Gukak Soma looked at me with genuine admiration. The attack would happen eventually, and if we could get the clue in the process, all the troublesome issues in the Guild would be solved in one stroke—while compensating for past losses.

His admiration added a sense of triumph to the moment.

“I don’t care whether the Apostles’ successor lives or dies. The only thing I care about is Gukak Soma’s world. That’s the world I want to explore.”

This journey is about exploring Gukak Soma’s world, and by the time it ends, we will know each other much better.

Gukak Soma, who had been staring at me quietly, spoke with an interesting gleam in his eyes.

“This time, I’ll show you why this ugly heart is so ugly.”

And so, the carriage began racing towards somewhere in his world once again.