Light Novel: Volume 24 Episode 8
Manhwa: N/A
“Here we are at the Red Bandana Association. It’s quite big, isn’t it?”
Tae Musang proudly introduced the Red Bandana Association to Soma.
The front gate of the Red Bandana Association was wide open. Men with red bandanas tied around their heads diligently walked in and out of the Red Bandana Association.
It wasn’t always like this.
The Red Bandana Association used to be so closed off that it never left its gates wide open.
Yoo Il-seok, the head of the Red Bandana Association, had solidified his power by monopolizing the laborers who worked at the docks of Haimen. But after he was defeated by Tarha and made a subordinate, his power dwindled to nothing.
Despite this, Yoo Il-seok considered himself fortunate. If it weren’t for Tarha’s mercy, he would also be doing menial work like the workers wearing red bandanas.
Soma marveled at the size of the Red Bandana Association.
“Impressive. So, they send workers to all the docks in Haimen from here?”
“Yes! Without going through this place, the docks can’t function.”
“Then you must know everything about this place?”
“That’s right. I know every nook and cranny. Why, is there something you want to know?”
Tae Musang’s eyes sparkled.
It was the same for Geomyeon as well.
Both of them felt deeply indebted to Pyo-wol. Without him, they wouldn’t have become Tarha’s disciples and would still be living miserable lives.
Thanks to Pyo-wol, they had saved their lives and could live like human beings. That’s why they had vowed to repay his kindness someday.
“He wouldn’t come to Haimen for no reason. He always has a clear purpose.”
“We’ll help with anything we can. Just tell us.”
Tae Musang said, followed by Geomyeon.
Soma looked at them for a moment, and then smiled.
It occurred to him that their faces were very similar to his own.
Like him, they were ready to do anything for Pyo-wol. So, he felt it would be alright to ask for their help.
Soma opened his mouth.
“My brother is tracking the Phantom Fleet.”
“The Phantom Fleet?”
Tae Musang and Geomyeon’s expressions changed instantly.
“You know about them?”
“I’ve had an encounter before.”
“Then it should be easier to explain. Big brother thinks that the Phantom Fleet has infiltrated and hidden itself in Haimen.”
“Really? The Phantom Fleet is here?”
“They’re probably disguised as ordinary ships. We need to find those ships. Can you do it?”
“If they’re really here, we’ll be able to find them.”
Whenever a ship comes in, the Red Bandana Association always sends its workers.
Whether it’s unloading cargo or restocking supplies, incoming ships need the help of workers.
At least here in Haimen, there’s no place that can escape the eyes of the Red Bandana Association.
If the Phantom Fleet has truly entered Haimen, as Soma said, the two were confident that they could find them.
“I’ll mobilize the entire Red Bandana Association.”
“Thank you!”
“Don’t mention it. It’s what we need to do.”
Tae Musang smiled at Soma.
Soma returned the smile.
At that moment, Geomyeon interrupted their conversation.
“Wait! Did you just say the Phantom Fleet?”
“Why?”
“Huh?”
The two men looked at Geomyeon with puzzled expressions.
Geomyeon frowned and said,
“I’m not sure if it’s related to the Phantom Fleet, but there’s been talk of strange people frequently showing up at the inns recently.”
“What do you mean?”
“The inn servants have been saying that lately there have been many people of unclear identity showing up.”
Geomyeon used to be an inn servant.
Before becoming Tarha’s disciple, he had worked and grown up as an inn servant. Even now, he maintained friendships with the inn servants who currently worked in Haimen.
That’s why if the inn servants saw anything out of the ordinary, they usually informed Geomyeon first.
Tae Musang asked Geomyeon,
“People of unclear identity? Isn’t that the case with most people who come in by boat from foreign countries?”
Dozens of ships came in and out of Haimen every day.
Many of them came from the Western Region or foreign countries. It was impossible to know the identities of all the people on board.
Geomyeon rebutted,
“Even if we don’t know their exact identities, we can usually figure out which ship they came on, right? But now there are people who even that is unclear.”
“Really? Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“Alright. Then, Let’s start investigating those people first.”
“Should I gather the inn servants?”
“Don’t make it too obvious. Gather them quietly for now. How much time do you need?”
“It won’t take long.”
“Good! Start right away.”
“Understood.”
With that, Geomyeon ran off to the bustling area.
Soma watched Geomyeon’s retreating figure and called out loudly,
“Be careful!”
“Got it!”
Geomyeon turned back and waved before running off again.
Tae Musang smiled and said,
“Don’t worry. He’s as sharp as a ghost. If he thinks there’s danger, he will avoid it.”
“They aren’t ordinary people.”
“We know from experience. Don’t worry about Geomyeon, let’s focus on our work.”
Tae Musang led Soma into the Red Bandana Association.
Soma nodded and followed him inside.
* * *
When Pyo-wol opened his eyes, Yul Ayeon was nowhere to be seen.
She had quietly slipped away before daylight.
Even though he knew this, Pyo-wol didn’t try to stop or hold onto Yul Ayeon.
Although they had shared a passionate time together, neither of them had any intention of tying the other down.
Pyo-wol was not the kind of man to settle down in one place, and Yul Ayeon knew she couldn’t handle someone like him.
She thought this level of relationship was just right, so she quietly slipped out of Pyo-wol’s room at dawn.
Pyo-wol had no intention of getting attached to Yul Ayeon either.
He was not someone who could settle down with any one woman.
A regular martial artist might be able to do so, but it was impossible for an assassin to settle down. Settling down would create a weakness, and his enemies would certainly take advantage of that weakness.
An assassin is destined to live alone and die alone.
Pyo-wol had no intention of rejecting his destiny.
Pyo-wol stood up and put on his clothes.
Only after he had put on the gauntlets on his wrists and the blood-red robe did he step out.
“Did you sleep well?”
The first person to greet him was Elder Assassin.
Elder Assassin’s breath reeked of liquor.
“You’ve been drinking all night, haven’t you?”
“Tarha, that friend of yours is more talkative than I thought.”
“A friend?”
“We’re about the same age, so we decided to just be friends.”
“Is he your second friend after the divine doctor?”
“Yes, that’s how it turned out. We don’t have much time left anyway, do we? Since we don’t have many days left to live, we decided to just enjoy ourselves.”
Elder Assassin joked.
Pyo-wol thought Elder Assassin had become more cheerful over time.
Whether it was because he truly believed his days were numbered, or because he felt more comfortable around Pyo-wol, he couldn’t tell.
Either way, it wasn’t a bad thing.
No matter how his personality changed, as long as he did his job well, it was fine. And Elder Assassin was someone who understood Pyo-wol’s intentions better than anyone else and handled tasks accordingly.
That was enough.
Pyo-wol walked with Elder Assassin through the grounds of Hae-won Manor.
In the morning sunlight, Hae-won Manor looked exceptionally beautiful. The exotic atmosphere made it feel as if they were truly in the Western Region.
Pyo-wol and Elder Assassin strolled leisurely through Hae-won Manor.
Suddenly, a group of people approached them from the opposite direction.
They were wearing clothes from the Western Region that covered their heads and bodies at once.
The moment Pyo-wol and Elder Assassin saw them, they recognized them as martial artists dispatched from the Mara Sect.
This was because their aura and energy were similar to Tarha’s.
When they saw Pyo-wol and Elder Assassin, they bowed slightly in recognition. But none of them opened their mouths.
Their demeanor was reminiscent of assassins.
Pyo-wol and Elder Assassin also bowed slightly in greeting.
In this way, they passed each other indifferently.
Once they had disappeared, Elder Assassin spoke in a low voice.
“I sense some pretty strong aura among them. As expected of the Mara Sect’s elite, their reputation is well-deserved.”
Elder Assassin couldn’t hide his expression of admiration.
Pyo-wol nodded wordlessly and continued walking.
Just then, they were approached by a group of people.
“Oh, you’re up?”
“Did you sleep well?”
It was Tarha and Yul Ayeon.
Yul Ayeon greeted Pyo-wol in a calm and nonchalant manner, as if nothing had happened the night before.
Pyo-wol also gave a slight nod in return.
Tarha spoke to the two of them.
“Everyone must be hungry. Let’s eat first.”
He led them to the back garden.
In the beautiful garden, a large table was set, and a platter of sumptuous meals was laid out on it.
The four of them sat at the table and began to eat.
“How about a drink?”
“No, I had enough last night.”
Elder Assassin shook his head at Tarha’s offer of alcohol.
In truth, he hadn’t had that much to drink last night.
No matter how much he had agreed to be friends with Tarha, he hadn’t forgotten his duty as an assassin.
The moment an assassin indulges in alcohol or other pleasures, their senses start to dull. Elder Assassin knew very well what happens to an assassin whose senses become dull.
Tarha laughed and said,
“I expected that. Then let’s just enjoy the meal.”
He didn’t insist further and began eating.
Pyo-wol suddenly spoke up.
“I don’t see the children.”
“They went out and haven’t returned yet. There shouldn’t be any problems. If there were, we would have already received a report.”
The one who answered was Yul Ayeon.
Tarha added,
“Nothing happens in Haimen without us knowing. So, don’t worry.”
His tone was confident.
He believed he had complete control over Haimen.
Although there was still the Sea Dragon Sect left, they were no match for Hae-won Manor.
If things continued like this for a few more years, they would completely lose their influence in Haimen and disappear into history.
Of course, it’s uncertain if anyone would even remember them.
Pyo-wol nodded silently.
It was extremely rare for Yul Ayeon and Tarha to be this confident. It meant they were that sure of themselves.
Yul Ayeon asked,
“What will you do after breakfast?”
“I plan to take a walk.”
“A walk? You plan to move around yourself?”
“Mmm!”
Pyo-wol nodded.
Even if he stayed still, information would come to him.
With Hae-won Manor, the Red Bandana Association, Soma, and the kids moving around, any suspicious activity would be quickly detected.
Pyo-wol didn’t need to exert himself. Nonetheless, he preferred to gather information firsthand.
No matter how good the information was, Pyo-wol still believed that it was still not as good as seeing it with his own eyes.
Yul Ayeon smiled and said,
“Then I’ll show you around.”
“That’s not necessary, I know Haimen well enough.”
“It’s changed a lot since Master Pyo was here, so it won’t be easy for you to find your way alone.”
“This is not the Haimen of the past. It will be much easier if you move around with Ayeon.”
With Tarha joining in, Pyo-wol couldn’t refuse any longer.
“Alright, let’s do that.”
“Good decision. I’ll gather as much information as possible.”
“Thank you!”
“Don’t mention it. The help I’ve received from you is immense. I’m just glad I can repay some of the favor.”
Tarha’s eyes were very warm as he looked at Pyo-wol.
He was ruthless to his enemies, but infinitely generous to his allies.
Moreover, Pyo-wol had done him a great favor.
He would do anything for him, even more than this.
“If you ever need anything, just say the word. I’ll go to the ends of the earth to get it for you. Your enemies are my enemies. I swear to you that the martial artists of the Mara Sect will not spare anyone who dares antagonizes you.”
LUNA-CAVE
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