Chapter 478: Groundwork (3)

“Everyone's here, I see.”

Je Gal Munho looked around at the assembled councillors, his expression no different from usual.

“Thank you all for coming despite your busy schedules. The matter is extremely serious, so I felt compelled to insist that everyone attend. I apologize for imposing such a demand.”

Deung Cheongyo spoke brusquely.

“Spare us the formalities and get on with telling us why you've dragged us all here.”

“Councillor Deung.”

At Venerable Gonggong's quiet admonition, Deung Cheongyo clicked his tongue and looked away. Even he couldn't entirely disregard the disapproval of the Shaolin Abbot.

Venerable Gonggong gave Je Gal Munho a meaningful glance.

Je Gal Munho nodded.

“As Councillor Deung suggests, I won't take up more of your time than necessary. I'll get straight to the point.”

His voice grew low and solemn.

The contrast between his usual demeanor and the atmosphere he exuded when serious was striking. Every councillor turned to look at him.

After surveying the room, Je Gal Munho began.

“Thanks to Councillor Deung's earlier statements, we are all aware of the situation now. Beyond the frontier, there exists a group known as the Three Creeds. Their military strength is formidable, and they have set their sights on the Central Plains.”

The already somber atmosphere grew heavier.

“I...”

The councillors representing the Nine Sects.

And those representing the Six Great Clans.

Je Gal Munho met each of their eyes in turn before continuing.

“I am convinced that there is an enemy infiltrator among the councillors.”

BANG!

Daoist Yonghwa of the Mount Hua Sect slammed a hand onto the table.

“What outrageous nonsense!”

Daoist Yonghwa wasn't alone in taking offense. Several councillors had turned scarlet with anger, and even those who hadn't were visibly uncomfortable.

“Strategist, surely you don't actually believe there's an enemy spy among us?”

“I believe I told you before that we had concealed the existence of the Three Creeds because we suspected there might be an infiltrator.”

Je Gal Munho nodded.

“I am certain of it now. I don't know whether there is one or more than one, but there is unquestionably an infiltrator in this room.”

“Preposterous!”

Daoist Yonghwa's voice was louder than ever.

“The reason I restrained my anger when the Abbot and you addressed us previously was that I understood the circumstances you were facing! And you, Strategist, were particularly at fault! You concealed matters concerning Ink Dragon Manor from us as well! Even then, you offered that ridiculous excuse about the possibility of an infiltrator!”

“That I did.”

“Everyone gathered here is a highly respected figure in the martial world! These are not people who would stoop to serving as spies for some foreign enemy whose origins we don't even know!”

“If you remember that occasion, then you should also remember what I said at the time.”

Je Gal Munho remained composed, as though he had anticipated precisely this reaction.

“A strategist is someone who cannot place absolute trust in even the greatest chivalrous hero under heaven. Even if a Martial Alliance Leader were elected, I would not trust that person completely. Such is the duty of a strategist.”

“Even so!”

“I understand your reaction, Councillor. Had our positions been reversed, I too would have found this situation offensive and infuriating.”

Je Gal Munho's gaze turned cold.

“But allow me to ask you something. Do you truly believe I would make such accusations lightly against councillors whose reputations are renowned throughout the martial world?”

“...!”

“Even if everything I've said is true, should I fail to apprehend the infiltrator, the entire backlash will fall upon me. I could be forced to resign as strategist. If matters go badly enough, I might even find myself imprisoned in the Brain Prison.”

He was staking his own neck on this accusation.

That was the unmistakable meaning behind his words.

However furious Daoist Yonghwa might have been, he couldn't continue lashing out in the face of such an uncompromising response. He had no choice but to bring his ragged breathing under control.

Je Gal Munho continued.

“Calm yourselves and consider the possibility. Even if you find it impossible to believe, imagine for a moment that there really is an infiltrator among the councillors. What if every word of this conversation is being relayed to the enemy even now?”

“...!”

The atmosphere, heavy from the beginning, turned icy.

What if there really was an infiltrator among the councillors?

What if that infiltrator had been reporting every major matter discussed at their council meetings to the Three Creeds?

Few possibilities could be more terrifying.

It would mean they had been handing the Martial Alliance's most closely guarded secrets directly to the enemy without ever realizing it.

And what would that mean?

“We've been losing,” Je Gal Munho said. “Utterly and completely.”

“...”

“Now that we know we're losing, it's time we did something to turn the tables.”

Deung Cheongyo spoke up, almost tossing out the question.

“Do you genuinely believe that?”

“I do.”

“Then let me ask you again. Are you absolutely convinced that one of us councillors is an infiltrator working for those Three Creeds?”

“Yes.”

The corners of Deung Cheongyo's mouth lifted.

“How fascinating. In that case, we can't rule out the possibility that you yourself are one of those infiltrators, can we?”

Je Gal Munho smiled.

“If that is how the councillors choose to regard me, I have no grounds for complaint.”

“You'd better have plenty to say in your defense. If our own strategist is an infiltrator, then we've been played for fools from the very beginning.”

At that moment, Peng Mugang spoke.

“Councillor Deung.”

Peng Mugang was a man who rarely spoke more than ten words during council meetings. The moment he opened his mouth, everyone's attention shifted toward him.

“This is a serious situation, is it not? I'd appreciate it if you refrained from making remarks that disrupt the discussion.”

“What?”

“We're discussing the presence of an enemy infiltrator. Our strategist is convinced that such a person exists. Rather than stirring up unnecessary conflict, we should be pooling our wisdom and doing everything we can to uncover the culprit as quickly as possible.”

Deung Cheongyo's face twisted.

“Have you quite finished?”

“Not yet, so kindly hear me out. If there truly is an infiltrator among us, then we must drive that person out through unity and concentrated effort, not by fighting among ourselves. I understand your anger, but I ask that you approach this situation with greater composure.”

“Unity? Concentrated effort? And who is it that's undermining those very things?! We've turned a blind eye to everything the strategist has been doing behind our backs! No matter how unavoidable the circumstances may have been, those actions were a blatant overreach of authority!”

Pung Byeokja quietly interjected.

“Councillor Deung, calm yourself for now. Getting angry won't resolve anything.”

The nun from the Emei Sect nodded in agreement.

“I agree. This is not the time for us to fight among ourselves. We should be putting our heads together.”

Deung Cheongyo's expression grew even more distorted.

“Are you all going to behave like this?! Then why do we even bother holding council meetings? If the strategist is going to make every decision himself and do whatever he pleases, what purpose do these meetings serve?!”

He turned toward Venerable Gonggong.

“Abbot, you should say something as well! Didn't you tell us before that you had been supporting the strategist's actions behind the scenes?”

Venerable Gonggong regarded Deung Cheongyo in silence.

Deung Cheongyo's eyes blazed with fury.

“You said you would take responsibility, didn't you? Then speak as someone responsible for what happened! Do you honestly believe this situation is acceptable?!”

Just then, Daoist Seunghyeon spoke.

“Of course it is.”

The unexpected remark drew every eye in the room, beginning with Deung Cheongyo's.

Daoist Seunghyeon turned toward Je Gal Munho.

“This reaction is only natural. Councillor Deung's anger is entirely understandable. Wouldn't you agree?”

Je Gal Munho nodded.

“I would.”

“And although Councillor Deung has expressed himself rather forcefully, his objections are not entirely without merit. The strategist's abilities and character are beyond question, of course, and no one here would doubt the Abbot's devotion to the Dharma. Nevertheless, looking back on recent events, it is clear that both of you have overstepped your authority on occasion.”

“I can only apologize.”

“The Martial Alliance is an enormous organization. Inevitably, we have many enemies. But we cannot continue handling matters this way whenever a crisis arises. Some of it is unavoidable because the position of Martial Alliance Leader remains vacant. Even so, such secretive and drastic decisions are bound to unsettle a great many people.”

“I am aware of that.”

“There will certainly be occasions when circumstances leave you no alternative. Nevertheless, I ask that you exercise greater care in how such matters are handled from now on. After all, Councillor Deung and the strategist are ultimately walking the same righteous path, are they not?”

There was authority in Daoist Seunghyeon's words.

The voice was calm and unwavering. Moreover, Daoist Seunghyeon had openly acknowledged the mistakes of both Je Gal Munho and Venerable Gonggong.

Those mistakes were undeniable.

By presenting the facts plainly, without stirring up further hostility, Daoist Seunghyeon made everyone acknowledge them. Before long, the atmosphere that had been raging like an erupting volcano began to cool.

THUD!

Deung Cheongyo sat down and folded his arms across his chest.

With the atmosphere having shifted so decisively, he could hardly continue venting his anger.

Peng Mugang spoke.

“My frustration got the better of me as well, and my words were somewhat aggressive. I apologize.”

Daoist Seunghyeon smiled.

“Everyone knows the forthright temperament of the Peng Clan. You spoke up for the good of everyone here, Councillor Peng. There is no need to apologize.”

“Still, I'm rather embarrassed.”

Once the atmosphere had settled, Je Gal Munho resumed speaking.

“I anticipated a reaction of this nature, but actually experiencing it has been more uncomfortable than I expected. As the strategist, I have made decisions unilaterally, and I would like to take this opportunity to apologize once again.”

Je Gal Munho bowed his head.

Whatever his true feelings might have been, his apology appeared sincere, at least on the surface.

Deung Cheongyo merely snorted and turned his head away.

“However.”

Je Gal Munho straightened, his face once again devoid of expression.

“There is one more decision I made independently before convening this meeting. I ask the councillors to bear with me on this final matter.”

Daoist Yonghwa's cheek twitched.

“What now?”

“By this time, rumors should already be spreading throughout the lands north of the Yangtze. Within three days, I expect the entire Central Plains to be in an uproar over a particular rumor.”

“A rumor?”

“A rumor that an unknown force has set its sights on the Central Plains. And that this force may have planted infiltrators within the Martial Alliance.”

“...!”

Shock spread across the councillors' faces.

Deung Cheongyo shouted in disbelief.

“Have you lost your mind?!”

It was an entirely understandable °• N ?? v ?? l i g h t •° reaction.

Even by the standards of his previous unilateral decisions, Je Gal Munho had gone too far this time.

The councillors' gazes turned murderous.

“We were prepared to give you another chance, and now you've gone and caused a disaster of this magnitude without consulting anyone...!”

“Isn't that preferable to a war?”

Deung Cheongyo's eyes wavered.

He wasn't the only one. Most of the councillors stared at Je Gal Munho in astonishment.

“If we capture the infiltrator, there is a small but very real possibility that we will suffer a devastating surprise attack. Yet we cannot simply leave the infiltrator alone, can we?”

“...”

“Engaging an enemy whose forces surpass our own in an all-out war, when we haven't even completed our preparations, would be sheer madness. We cannot allow everyone to die because of a single rat.”

“...”

“And since we're discussing that rat, there's something I'd like to say directly to it.”

Je Gal Munho smiled.

The smile was so utterly cold that even Deung Cheongyo, a man of exceptionally fierce temperament, felt a chill run down his spine.

“Don't do anything rash.”

Je Gal Munho's voice was almost languid.

“Even if you fan the flames of fear in the hearts of the people of the Central Plains now that they've learned of the unknown terror called the Three Creeds, all you'll gain is a victory that leaves you bleeding. Stay exactly where you are, just as you have until now. We'll make this place the battlefield.”

“...”

“We'll be coming for you soon, so you might as well get the ropes ready to bind yourself. And if, by some chance, you choose to surrender voluntarily, I'll do my best to persuade the councillors to spare your life.”

Je Gal Munho bowed his head.

“That is all. Thank you, everyone, for your time and effort today.”