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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: I'll Think About It For Now
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"That's a shame."
"What is?"
"That I can't call you my husband."
"...Even if I told you not to."
"I could go with darling or oppa instead."
"Please, just hold back a little?"
What was so amusing?
Gazing at Li Chingwei, who beamed at him with a bright smile, Rimon thought to himself.
She's no ordinary princess, that's for sure.
Of course, he'd known she wasn't your typical princess ever since she'd shown up proposing marriage and boldly offering him a stake in Hotel Leviathan.
Still, for her to already call him "husband" and treat their marriage as a done deal—it was enough to make him click his tongue in disbelief.
She acts like a sly vixen, but somehow she comes off as innocently pure.
Above all, there was one peculiar thing.
He couldn't read her true intentions.
Having lived for ages, he had a pretty good eye for people.
Even so, Rimon found Li Chingwei impossible to gauge.
She seemed like a deep-scheming strategist, adept at hiding motives behind proposals and negotiations.
The problem was that the joyful smile on her face and her oddly friendly demeanor didn't feel the least bit feigned.
Why on earth would she be friendly with me?
This was only their second meeting.
The marriage proposal a few days ago had been their first, so they were practically strangers.
Yet here she was, acting delighted to see him.
It made no sense.
Considering the deep-seated grudge between the Seven Dragon Society and Rimon, there was zero reason for her to like him—hate him, sure, but fondness? Not a chance.
The logical conclusion is that it's all an act...
"Sword Duke? What's wrong?"
Rimon eyed Li Chingwei steadily.
Seeing the puzzled look on the girl's face as she met his gaze, he muttered abruptly.
"...Who knows."
"Pardon?"
"Nah, just decided to stop trying to figure it out."
"...???"
Li Chingwei blinked vacantly.
But Rimon stopped wondering if it was an act or genuine.
It didn't matter either way.
He'd already sworn on his sword.
As long as she didn't betray him, he wouldn't abandon her.
That was enough for Rimon.
Whatever her true motives, he didn't need to care as long as she didn't stab him in the back—and if she did betray him, he'd make her pay then.
With that, Rimon dropped the overthinking.
Instead, he lifted the whiskey glass Youin had brought and asked casually.
"Anyway, what're you gonna do now?"
"About what?"
"Those flies buzzing around outside."
Li Chingwei's eyes widened round.
She knew he wasn't talking about literal bugs.
"You knew?"
"How could I miss that bloodthirsty aura leaking everywhere?"
If those "flies" heard that, they'd protest it was impossible.
They were top-tier tracers.
No high-level player could easily detect their stealth specialized in tracking and infiltration.
"Well, I suppose you would."
"Even we noticed them," Youin added.
But neither Li Chingwei nor Youin doubted Rimon's words.
They, of the Black Dragon Clan, knew better than anyone how pointless it was to hide from him.
"Still, for government halfwits, they're hiding pretty well... so, Infinite Monarch's crew?"
"Yes. Specifically, it seems there are tracers from other guilds hired by the Infinity Guild mixed in."
That would shock the "flies" too.
Li Chingwei had not only spotted them but identified everyone stationed around.
Rimon took it in stride.
Staking out Hotel Leviathan of all places?
Getting their identities exposed was the least of their worries.
In the old days, they'd have vanished without a trace before he even identified them.
Not that it's any different now...
Rimon tilted his head.
Even tamed, they were still the Seven Dragon Society.
Given Hotel Leviathan's nature, leaving intruders alone was unthinkable.
"Because of the Infinite Monarch? You knew that far and still let them be?"
"Halfway, yeah."
Li Chingwei nodded readily.
Though the Seven Dragon Group dominated the world's economy, monarchs were this era's absolutes.
Even they couldn't lightly touch the Infinite Monarch's minions just for lurking nearby.
"The other half?"
"My future husband is here—wouldn't want to start something bloody."
"...Ah, right."
Should he thank her for the consideration?
Or pretend he hadn't heard?
After pondering seriously, Rimon just changed the subject.
"Here I thought you were leaving the ones in the back alone out of worry for them."
"Huh?"
"Yeah?"
It happened almost simultaneously.
Li Chingwei's puzzled head-tilt matched Rimon's.
"People in the back?"
"You didn't know? There's a whole gang waiting farther out."
Li Chingwei had no reply to Rimon's awkward question.
She just shot Youin a troubled glance.
Youin looked equally stumped.
"We haven't detected anyone within ten li (about four kilometers) of here..."
"Huh? You guys only monitor that far these days?"
"Times have changed. Tech surveillance aside, manpower covers just up to there."
"Sheesh... the world's really gone soft."
Rimon clucked his tongue.
He got it, though.
With the Seven Dragon Society pacified, they needed less vigilance.
Still, for Hotel Leviathan to be this lax...
Feeling a generational gap in the oddest way, Rimon pinpointed the issue.
"Anyway, makes sense you missed 'em. They're about twelve kilometers out."
"Thirty li away?"
"Yep. The tracers are bait—probably waiting for you to move on them so the main force can jump in."
"I see..."
Li Chingwei finally looked enlightened.
Youin, however, still had questions.
"How did you know they were there, Sword Duke?"
"Just glanced out the window and saw 'em."
"...From here?"
"Over there."
Youin followed Rimon's casually pointed finger out the window.
Hotel Leviathan was a skyscraper befitting its fame.
From the top floor, dozens of kilometers were visible.
For a psionic master like Youin, spotting people ten kilometers away wasn't hard.
The issue was distinguishing suspects amid the good eyesight.
"Nothing suspicious stands out, though..."
"That's the barrier hiding them."
"A barrier?"
"They're trying to stay hidden with something set up. Focus on spots where the presence feels off."
"..."
Youin was speechless for a moment.
Rimon had sensed an unnatural presence from twelve kilometers away and pinpointed their concealed ambush—likely high-level Infinity Guild players behind a barrier.
Inhuman feat.
...As expected of the Sword Duke.
But he didn't doubt Rimon.
Recalling the Seven Dragon Society's desperate failures against such a monster in the past, he sighed inwardly.
He was a warrior of the old era.
Unlike the young folk who dismissed Sword Masters, he knew what they truly were.
"If that's the case, we can't just sit idle."
"Why not? It'll sort itself if I step out."
"We can't let that happen."
"What, pride on the line?"
Rimon chuckled.
The Seven Dragon Society's pride pierced the heavens.
They wouldn't tolerate such blatant provocation.
That's why her answer surprised him.
"No, because they might be after me."
"What?"
"They've been tailing me since I entered the country."
"...They've been chasing you? Why?"
"Who knows why?"
Was she genuinely clueless?
Or reluctant to say?
Rimon didn't press the smiling Li Chingwei who countered playfully.
He just accepted it.
No wonder she brushed off my clash with the Infinite Monarch.
Marrying him now meant making an enemy of the monarch.
Even needing his power, she'd have reconsidered.
Her nonchalance made sense if she'd had issues with Lee Cheongi from the start.
Whether he was the culprit or someone behind him.
Tailing her meant conflict with the Infinite Monarch was inevitable.
"If they're watching this place because of you, then what?"
"I'll respond accordingly."
"And what does that response look like?"
Rimon eyed her oddly, but Li Chingwei didn't answer directly.
She simply spoke quietly.
"Youin."
"The Dark Serenity Squad and Black Demon Squad can move immediately."
"Have the Ink Dragon Squad on standby if possible."
"Is that wise?"
"It's the Infinity Guild. Better to go all-in and take the elders' scolding later than half-ass it."
"Indeed, you're right."
Youin nodded gravely at Li Chingwei's grinning words.
Rimon was dumbfounded.
"...You planning all-out war with the Infinite Monarch?"
"They crossed the line first."
"Not defending them, but they probably didn't even know there was a line."
"Ignorance doesn't erase what they did."
"Well, true..."
Rimon scratched his cheek.
Truth be told, he had no intention of stopping them.
He understood her sharp reaction.
Intentionally or not, Lee Cheongi had touched the Seven Dragon Society's reverse scale—something they couldn't overlook.
"Still, charging head-on in this day and age? Your business would take a hit right away."
That said, Rimon spoke up for one reason.
He didn't want a ruckus at Hotel Leviathan.
He'd just agreed to shares— an all-out fight between the Infinite Monarch and Black Dragon Clan would tank its value.
"Any better ideas?"
"Not exactly advice."
Rimon downed his whiskey in one go.
He set the empty glass down and continued nonchalantly.
"Just thought I'd show you why they feared making enemies of Sword Masters back in the day."
"Uh, um..."
"Hmm..."
That was the moment.
Li Chingwei and Youin's expressions shifted subtly in unison.
Looking at Rimon like a puppy rolling on a bomb.
A mix of pity, anxiety, and sympathy crossed Li Chingwei's face as she ventured carefully.
"...Um, Sword Duke?"
"Yeah?"
"You'll show a little mercy... right?"
Her question dripped with sincere worry, and Rimon pondered briefly.
Then he smiled coldly.
"I'll think about it."
Unfortunately, it offered zero comfort.