South of the River.
The Martial World Alliance.
“The meeting is over, My Lord of the Alliance.”
“Huh? Ah, oh. Already? Is it over so soon?”
“Yes, you may now return.”
Namgung So So emerged from her bored stupor, murmuring sleepily.
She was pretending to be the head of the Martial World Alliance, wearing the Silver Mask of Sword Lord, the former Alliance Lord.
In fact, calling it pretending might be inaccurate.
‘Is this even what being the Lord of the Alliance entails?’
The fact that Sword Lord was merely a puppet figurehead controlled by the elders was well-known. No one in the martial world was ignorant of it.
However, even so.
‘During the entirety of the meeting, the Lord didn’t say a single word… they just discussed amongst themselves and made all the decisions…’
The reality was that the power of the Alliance Lord in the Martial World Alliance wasn’t as strong as the leaders of the Four Black Chains.
In this era, and largely always, the Alliance functioned more like a coalition where each sect was equal rather than under someone’s subjugation.
The leader of the Four Black Chains, Black Bull King, wielded absolute authority. He could order the death of anyone and governed with supreme power.
But the Lord of the Martial World Alliance was different. The Lord was elected from among the leaders of various sects and thus had minimal influence.
Still, even with all this…
‘Not a single person even spoke to the Lord… even when He was clearly sleeping upright.’
To treat someone as if they didn’t exist was, by any standard, unacceptable. At least by Namgung So So’s reckoning.
Moreover…
‘No one… no one suspects me.’
It had been several months since Namgung So So had begun impersonating the Martial World Alliance Lord Sword Lord.
Over this not-so-short period, she noticed no one came near her, aside from casual disputes.
‘Since the Lord should have been at the Alliance Manor but was actually at His home, I should have guessed something was amiss.’
Sword Lord seemed to be receiving a form of silent disregard.
The Lord’s power had long been divided and consumed by the elders, and the Lord’s influence within the Alliance had waned completely.
Namgung So So initially thought Sword Lord was either an accomplice or involved in the plot against Namgung Cheolbin.
But Sword Lord didn’t have that kind of power left. That was her conclusion after living as the Lord for months.
‘Perhaps even the way He was rude to the servants back then…’
Was it not a release of frustration from being the powerless Lord of the Martial Alliance? Namgung So So cautiously speculated.
This Martial World Alliance was a place that turned inward and operated solely on its own.
For Namgung So So, this was a good thing. Being ignored meant less surveillance — a boon in disguise.
She gathered as much information as she could as the Lord, about Namgung Cheolbin, rumors, and more. Even if the title of Lord was largely symbolic, its power was not to be underestimated.
“Hmph…”
Returning to her manor, Namgung So So sighed and slumped into a chair, facing a table stacked with dozens of official documents. Among them were files collected by Sword Lord himself.
“Sword Lord wasn’t completely clueless, it seems…”
Namgung So So glanced at the documents with weary eyes.
Here were the records Sword Lord had left behind. Though she couldn’t determine who from the vague references, there were traces of someone else behind the scenes.
Instead,
‘Namgung Bin.’
In life, Sword Lord had curiously compiled a vast amount of information about Namgung Bin. This was evident from the extensive records in her quarters.
Namgung Bin’s origins, life, movements, organizations, wealth, networks — Sword Lord had investigated everything using the authority of the Lord, digging into the roots of his family.
Namgung So So, however, knew one thing Sword Lord didn’t:
‘The poison used to assassinate Hwangbo Ji-yak was definitely Hidden Thunder Poison.’
Even months later, Namgung So So remembered vividly seeing Hwangbo Ji-yak with a darkened Danjeon.
Hidden Thunder Poison was an exclusive skill used only by the direct lineage of the Namgung family. Hence, Namgung So So had already planned to visit Namgung Bin once she was done with her duties as the Lord.
However, with the trove of information Sword Lord had prepared, it seemed unnecessary to go directly and confront him.
“Namgung Bin could be behind this… or there could be someone else behind him… but Namgung Bin’s involvement is certain.”
As a Lord completely ignored by everyone, Namgung So So was able to continue what Sword Lord started and track Namgung Bin thoroughly.
But Namgung Bin wasn’t an easy target.
Once you uncovered a certain level of information available publicly, digging further felt like spinning in circles, as if information was deliberately being blocked.
Had she wielded full authority of the Lord, she might have gotten closer to the truth. But this was a hopelessly idealistic scenario.
“Hmph… what should I do now? If I go to Namgung Bin blind, I’ll likely end up in trouble.”
Namgung So So sighed wearily.
“It’s been quite a journey…”
Ever since a year ago, when she met Namgung Cheolbin at Hangsan Sword Sect, she had discarded her title as one of the Seven Flowers, abandoned her sect, and pursued those who had framed Namgung Cheolbin.
She had faced death when her innate energy was entirely drained, but by a stroke of luck, she had her life energy restored by an unknown master. She even killed Sword Lord using two powerful poisons, wearing his Silver Mask as a disguise to rule as the Lord for months — a far cry from the life she imagined a year ago.
To be honest, saying she wasn’t exhausted would be a lie.
‘The slander has yet to be resolved.’
Whenever she heard Alliance elders insult Sword Sage or use him as a symbol of hypocrisy, Namgung So So felt a twisting pain in her chest, recalling her past.
‘Whatever vile mastermind it is… you’ll be caught by my hands, no doubt.’
And,
“Big Brother… if only I could meet you again…”
She dreamed of a brighter future for herself.
A bright spring day, a picnic blanket with floral patterns where Namgung Cheolbin ate a lunch she had prepared and she watched him happily.
All she wanted was that, and her imagination brought her immediate strength. It was a hopeful daydream, a lifeline for Namgung So So.
“If only that day would come sooner…”
As she sat idly in the Lord’s chambers lost in her thoughts,
Knock, knock.
‘Guest?’
An outsider had come.
‘Who is it? It’s not a time for the servants to come?’
Looking out the window, a bright crescent moon hovered in the sky. It was far from a normal visiting hour.
With an uneasy atmosphere, Namgung So So expanded her senses. They caught a figure outside the door.
‘…!’
Namgung So So inhaled sharply. The aura was strong.
Perhaps stronger than herself, even. No, at this level, it must be an upper-tier master.
‘As strong as Sword Lord! At least a top-level master!’
In a reflexive movement, Namgung So So’s hand went to the dagger hidden in her sleeve, one coated with the same deadly poison that killed Sword Lord.
“Enter.”
Imitating the Lord’s commanding tone, Namgung So So spoke first.
Creak.
The guest entered without responding, showing disregard for the Lord.
‘What..? Even if you were like this, showing rudeness directly to the Lord’s face is unprecedented.’
Namgung So So looked at the man who walked in.
Broad shoulders, towering over six feet tall, a thick waist and arms far more imposing than most in the martial world, strong thighs — the man’s overall appearance was overwhelming.
“It’s been a while, Lord.”
The man spoke disrespectfully without any formality.
Uncertain of the man’s identity, Namgung So So decided to play along with appropriate respect.
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
“…? Have you become obedient already? Did you finally realize we couldn’t escape from our lord?”
“…Yes.”
“Good, this will make it quick.”
‘Lord? What is he talking about? Did the Lord of the Alliance have an overseer?’
In the few months she had been posing as Sword Lord, Namgung So So had never encountered a situation like this.
While her mind was brimming with questions, the visitor reached into his coat.
Namgung So So instinctively gripped her sleeve.
“Let’s make sure, shall we?”
Whish.
“What’s this…?”
“Do you know what it is? I’ve heard you wrote your name on it yourself.”
It was a piece of paper.
The visitor then held it up to Namgung So So’s face and moved his lips.
“By the contract of names, you are hereby commanded not to lie.”
‘Wha?? What did he do??’
“Hmm, I’m not sure if this worked. It’s my first time trying this…”
The man tilted his head, looking at the paper in confusion. Namgung So So stared at him as if he were insane.
A top-tier master appearing out of nowhere, holding a random slip of paper before saying incomprehensible words was bewildering.
Namgung So So struggled with her disbelief.
‘Could this person be behind it all? He mentioned a lord, suggesting he might be a minion of whoever’s behind the scheme.’
While Namgung So So pondered, the man carefully folded the paper and returned it to his coat.
The paper was the contract between Namgung Bin and Sword Lord called “The Contract of Names.”
The visitor was none other than Iron Tiger Wanderer, who together with White Shadow Assassin King, served as Namgung Bin’s right arm.
A few months prior, Iron Tiger Wanderer had received orders from Namgung Bin to obtain funds and was headed to the Martial World Alliance but had only just arrived.
“Huh? Now that I think about it, Lord.”
The Iron Tiger Wanderer inquired curiously.
“You… seem slightly different somehow?”
The Iron Tiger Wanderer intensely stared at Namgung So So, carefully observing him.
“What do you mean?”
“Wasn’t your eye color originally red? Not blue?”
“…”
The eyes, impossible to hide even with a mask.
Even though Iron Tiger Wanderer lacked understanding and adaptability, his memory was excellent, and he remembered the exact color of the Lord’s eyes from their single meeting.
Swish!
The next instant.
Namgung So So, sensing danger, unleashed the poisoned dagger from her sleeve like a streak of light.
