My confidence was not directed at the enemies.

This was a message meant for my father.

It meant that I trusted him this much.

I do not know how much strength this would give my father’s heart.

Because he had never heard such words from his child before.

Would there even be a chance in this life to hear such words from a child?

“Father, I will trust you and handle things at my own ease.”

This was the core of this Seomseo operation.

But that was my thought, and my father’s was different.

“Go and clean up afterwards.”

“Yes.”

Hwi’s expression brightened upon receiving the order.

The order to clean up meant to completely erase all traces left behind in Baekseonbang.

To handle it as if they had vacated Baekseonbang and left.

Hwi’s mission was, above all, his father’s safe return to the school.

Quietly, with as little exposure as possible was what he desired, so this order was likely something he himself wanted to request first.

I wanted to make this joke.

‘Why are you being so careful when you want to fight against the entire martial arts world!’

My mouth itched to say it, but I refrained. It was probably better not to talk about matters related to the unification of the martial world.

Instead, I spoke to my father about this matter.

“The outcome of this will draw out the masterminds behind it. They will soon make a move. They cannot afford to lose the funding source called the Geumryong family.”

They could attack me or my father, or use an unexpected move. I could not predict how they would act.

“Move cautiously.”

“Yes!”

He is the one who holds the strongest power in this martial world.

“Is your cautiousness because of me? Because you worry about your son?”

And then I saw it.

The sneer that appeared on my father’s lips.

Since we had spent time together recently after going out from the school, the atmosphere had been good, so I hadn’t seen it often.

So I forgot.

Seeing that sneer makes me feel so good.

“That’s too much! Worry about your son a little, please!”

My father silently walked to the window and looked outside at the sky.

I looked at his back and the cloudless blue sky spread above.

It was an ordinary scene, but our two lonelinesses were alike.

‘I know well that it is for me.’

My father was not someone who cleaned up after himself because he was conscious of someone else. If that were the case, he would not have drawn his sword in the first place.

So I will be careful. Don’t worry.

Geumcheonbang silently looked down at the one million five hundred thousand nyang voucher. This was not just money. It was a signal that everyone’s fate was beginning to change.

“Did he really bring this money from Baekseonbang?”

To his surprised question, Geumarine calmly replied.

“Why are you so surprised? You entrusted it because you expected success, didn’t you?”

I felt sorry speaking to my father like this. He must have been several times more surprised.

“What about Baekseonbang?”

Facing his doubtful look, an astonishing answer came out.

“They said it disappeared from this world.”

Geumcheonbang could not believe it. Because there was a slight hope it might be possible, he entrusted the matter. The gains upon success were too great not to entrust.

But did they really exterminate them and bring the money?

“That can’t be.”

Something suspicious must have happened.

“What about that person? Why didn’t he come?”

I wanted to see him and ask directly.

“He is under my command. This matter is entirely mine. If you have questions, ask me.”

Geumarine deliberately came alone.

From now on, the fight with father over the successor would begin.

“Did you check Baekseonbang?”

For a moment, Geumarine flinched.

“You didn’t.”

“I trust my subordinate.”

It was not because of that.

He did not even think to check.

Because he trusted Geom Mugeuk?

No. This is not about trust.

He was so shocked by the result, and distracted by the person Geom Mugeuk who had done this, he missed sending people to Baekseonbang to check what happened.

They said Baekseonbang disappeared from the world, so he lazily assumed they were all dead. But what if that was a lie? What if all this was a scheme between Baekseonbang and Geomyeon?

It was unlikely, but not checking was clearly a mistake.

‘I won’t let this happen again.’

The reason I seriously reflected was because I felt I was being deceived by the person named Geom Mugeuk. I thought about him the whole way to meet my father.

“I have more to tell you.”

Geumarine told her father about the money Geom Mugeuk had taken from the groups extorted by Baekseonbang, taking half for himself. He had already returned money to all groups yesterday and today.

Geumcheonbang was not surprised at all. From his reaction, it was clear he knew this in advance. After all, among the merchants who requested money to be retrieved, some must have confirmed it separately with father.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I planned to tell you once the result came out. I intended to take the blame if any problems arose later.”

She spoke seriously, but in truth she hadn’t told him because she was afraid he would stop her. If this succeeded, she would be the one to gain the most. She wanted to show her father after achieving {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} results.

So after returning money to each group, she came last to her father.

Until entering here, she had come like a victorious general.

Not that she expected praise like, ‘Well done, my daughter,’ but she did not expect this kind of questioning.

“Many groups and sects harmed by Baekseonbang will hold great goodwill toward the main family because of this. If you use that well, you will gain enormous profits. I didn’t waste the money, right?”

Her father’s response remained cold.

“What mistake did I make?”

She thought he was angry because she did not tell him earlier, but no.

“Do you want to be the successor?”

Geumcheonbang saw clearly why she had not told him earlier.

She answered honestly.

“Yes, I want to be.”

Then a thunderous word came from her father.

“Give up on the successor.”

“!”

She could never have imagined he would say that directly.

“Why?”

Geumcheonbang did not say why.

“Step back now.”

“Father!”

Geumcheonbang coldly looked at her daughter. Usually, when he got angry like this, he was scary and she quietly withdrew. But not today.

“Are you angry because I didn’t tell you beforehand? Or because I am greedy for the successor?”

Geumcheonbang said nothing.

To her, it felt like silence of denial. Naturally, a wave of resentment came.

‘Is it because I’m a daughter? Or because I lack ability? Or because you like my older brother more?’

Because of resentment, she could not judge rationally.

“I will definitely become the successor.”

She declared like a declaration of war and left the room.

Her father’s eyes deepened as he stood with his back turned. If she had seen them, she would surely have thought there was a reason for this.

After leaving her father’s residence, Geumarine stood briefly in the yard trying to calm her emotions. She was very resentful and angry.

At that moment, a person came to mind. She didn’t know why he came to mind at times like this, but her steps naturally moved toward his residence.

When Geumarine arrived, Geom Mugeuk was in the room.

“Do you have a moment?”

“Of course. If the leader calls, I make time even if I have none.”

Geom Mugeuk’s martial uniform was soaked with sweat.

“Wait a moment. I will wash and change and come out.”

Geumarine was inwardly puzzled.

‘What did he do in there to sweat so much?’

Then she was startled.

‘Could it be?’

Standing in the yard, she could not suppress her curiosity and entered the building.

She quietly walked down the corridor to Geom Mugeuk’s room. She peeked inside through the window gap. There was no one in the room. She felt an unnecessary sense of relief at the neatly made empty bed.

Just as she was about to turn away, she was startled.

Someone was standing behind her.

It was Geom Woojin.

She was so shocked by his staring at her that she almost screamed.

“Ah, I wasn’t spying, I came to meet Geom So-hyup, but that person is washing right now. No, actually...”

Flustered, she babbled.

“Come in and wait.”

“No, I can wait outside. Then I will see you next time.”

She bowed and ran out like escaping.

Coming out to the yard, she sighed. She didn’t know why it was so hard to deal with Geom Woojin. By the way, she had been caught spying on the room.

A little later, Geom Mugeuk returned.

The image of Geom Mugeuk in clean martial uniform overlapped with his previous appearance, coming back wearing blood-stained clothes.

‘Which one is your true self?’

Not knowing well what kind of person he was, her heart was confused and angry, so she came to see Geom Mugeuk.

“You were sweating a lot.”

“I trained martial arts a bit.”

“In the room?”

“Training in a confined space is harder and consumes more mental power. You should try it sometime.”

Of course, that was not the only reason. He had performed the Space-Time Swap Technique in the room and then practiced the Si-cheon Art.

He even saved his spare time. It was not spare time for Geom Mugeuk.

“You look gloomy. Is something wrong?”

I was thankful that Geom Mugeuk recognized my feelings accurately. I didn’t have to worry about how to start, and I could easily tell him my business.

“We wasted our efforts. Father has no intention of making me successor.”

Geom Mugeuk showed no particular reaction to her words.

“Why aren’t you surprised? Did you also think I wouldn’t become successor?”

After snapping at him, Geumarine realized she had reacted irritably out of unnecessary inferiority. In contrast, Geom Mugeuk was calm.

“If this were easy, would you have paid me so much to hire me?”

Hearing Geom Mugeuk’s answer, I felt calmer. That was true. It was not easy from the start. I had been thinking as if I were already the successor.

“You seem like someone who has fought fiercely to become successor. Even though you haven’t.”

Geom Mugeuk laughed. If he knew how the fight with his older brother went, he would realize her fight is not even a warm-up fight.

“Will you tell me why I can’t be successor?”

Geumarine shook her head.

Since he entrusted her with the secret organization, he must trust her. But why not successor?

Geom Mugeuk thought maybe the reason was related to the masterminds behind the scenes.

After meeting Geumarine, he understood. She did not know where the money she earned had gone. The second son Geum Ajong also seemed to be obsessed only with the successor fight.

Then the masterminds must be somewhere around the head of the Geumryong family or the eldest Geum Ahyeok.

‘Where are you hiding?’

At that moment, a new visitor arrived.

It was the second son Geum Ajong.

“Why are you here, older brother?”

When he came to Geom Mugeuk’s residence, Geumarine showed suspicion.

“There are promises only men like you don’t know.”

Geum Ajong said while looking at Geom Mugeuk.

“You haven’t forgotten our drinking promise, right?”

Geum Ajong was thinking of introducing this con artist to his brother somehow. If he ruins his younger sister and his older brother, he’ll carry you and take you for a round around Seomseo.

But before getting serious, there was one question to solve. He came determined to solve that question today.

“How are you today? Let’s have a drink.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Geom Mugeuk gladly accepted his offer.

“I’m coming too.”

I didn’t want to leave Geom Mugeuk alone with older brother. He was an older brother who might use some trick.

But Geum Ajong did not include me.

“It’s a prearranged meeting.”

I asked for help with my eyes, but Geom Mugeuk ignored it. It was easier to handle him alone with Geum Ajong.

A drinking party for two was held.

Since both had clear objectives, the atmosphere was really good.

Geom Mugeuk knew well that Geum Ajong considered him a con artist.

In the past, his subordinate Lee Chu had come to check the carriage and was caught by Geom Mugeuk. He used that to make Geum Ajong think he was a con artist.

Lee Chu had told Geom Mugeuk that Geum Ajong had overheard a plan to make a big hit at the family headquarters.

So he was completely considered a con artist.

On the other hand, Lee Chu told Geom Mugeuk his intention.

― He plans to introduce the eldest son to ruin him.

Geum Ajong raised his glass and said,

“If there are old grudges, forget them.”

Geom Mugeuk said he didn’t care about grudges at all.

“If there are old grudges, let’s build new ones and bury the old.”

“Wonderful words!”

“Now, let’s drink!”

So the two drank heartily.

Geom Mugeuk bragged about his drinking capacity and drank repeatedly. He matched the rhythm, knowing that the other wanted to get something by making him drunk.

As he drank, when Geom Mugeuk started slurring, Geum Ajong gently asked,

“What did you do with the money worms then?”

That was the question to be solved right away.

There had to be a reason why those fierce guys became so polite and cleaned up.

It was impossible to find out from the money worms. Their pride was so hurt that if you brought it up, they could draw swords. Unless father asked, they wouldn’t tell him willingly.

Were they really such skilled con artists, or was there some other trick?

Geum Ajong tried by all means to find out. Even when cooking, you must know your ingredients.

“Are you curious?”

“Of course I am! It’s all past, so can’t you tell me?”

Geom Mugeuk, with his face reddened by alcohol, raised his fist.

“This is it! What other reason could there be?”

If that were true, there was one problem.

If they didn’t leave after hitting the family hard? If they tried to swallow the entire family?

If they really had that skill as con artists?

Right then, a message from Lee Chu came.

He had gone to search the residence while Geom Mugeuk was away.

― We found empty medicine bottles in his place. I checked the remaining medicine, and it was a medicine I know.

― What medicine?

― Have you heard of Heukbi?

Geum Ajong had heard of it. There was a terrible mountain poison made by the Satan Alliance called Heukbi.

Yes, since their internal power had all disappeared, the money worms could not move.

Now the secret was revealed!

Things went smoothly. As if fate was pushing me to be successor, Geom Mugeuk asked casually.

“Who is the eldest son?”

Geum Ajong smiled broadly, relieved to proceed to the next plan.

‘You cute con artist!’