Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 160

Bang!
A fist wind imbued with killing intent was unleashed.
It was an excessive measure.
The young man was an ordinary civilian without a trace of inner energy. The initial move of Clear Wind Fist, amplified by the power of True Step, would have been more than enough to leave him half-crippled.
‘Foolish.’
But this was the path Hwang Cheol, the Flying Sword, had to walk. For those who forgot their place, a beating was the best medicine.
Those who didn’t know their limits had to be thoroughly beaten to understand their place.
As a master of the Yongmu Sect, destined to surpass the Hwarang Sect and make a name for himself in the world, he had to govern the ignorant civilians with strict discipline.
Swoosh.
However, the civilian who should have been blown away by the fist wind remained seated in his place.
Suddenly, a phenomenon like black smoke appeared and absorbed the fist wind. It was as if a ghost had intervened.
‘What just happened?’
Even though fist techniques weren’t his primary martial art, Hwang Cheol was a young master who had reached the pinnacle of the second tier before turning twenty.
Not even his father, Hwang Gyu, the head of the Yongmu Sect, could make a fist wind containing thirty percent of his inner energy disappear like a mirage.
Swish—
Hwang Cheol drew his sword and scanned the surroundings. There were six people in total caught in his sensory net. Besides his companions and the insolent civilian, there was no one else on the third floor of Unha Pavilion.
It had to be the intervention of a mysterious master whose presence even his keen senses couldn’t detect.
“Who are you? Reveal yourself.”
Convinced of this, Hwang Cheol raised his inner energy while inspecting every corner of the inn.
Simultaneously, his cautious demeanor caused his companions’ eyes to waver with unease.
In their homeland, Hwan, mysterious masters who concealed their identities and wandered the secular world often roamed freely.
Such eccentric individuals generally had nothing to lose and sometimes harbored grudges against large sects or clans.
Even for Hwang Cheol, it would be difficult to guarantee victory against a mysterious master whose abilities were unknown.
“You don’t need to know my identity. You should take a hit too.”
The young man in blue robes, with striking blue eyes, tilted a water cup, letting the water flow before flicking it with his fingers.
In an instant, a barrage of water droplets shot out, striking Hwang Cheol squarely in the chest.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
The water droplets, which seemed like they could pierce through his chest, delivered a shockingly blunt impact.
As the droplets scattered into the air, an overwhelming pain surged through him, making him feel as if he might stop breathing.
‘That guy is the mysterious master!’
If there had been any visible signs of martial arts training, he would have been more cautious.
The young man in blue, who looked to be in his mid to late twenties at most, seemed far removed from the world of martial arts. His palms were smooth, and his face was unblemished, as if he had never been exposed to the sun.
And those unfocused eyes—he looked every bit like a pampered playboy who frequented pleasure houses.
“Which faction do you belong to?”
“I-I advise you to stop! The person you just attacked is the second son of the head Yongmu Sect. If you continue, a kill order will be issued against you throughout Yangpyeong Province!”
Wang Mu-un, who had been acquainted with Hwang Cheol for five years, tried to pressure the young man in blue by invoking the prestige of the Yongmu Sect.
Soon to become the head of the Eunha Trading Company, one of the top three trading companies in Yangpyeong Province, Wang Mu-un was trying to manage the sudden crisis.
The other men and women, witnessing the overwhelming presence of the mysterious master, turned pale with fear.
“Yongmu Sect? Got it. And you all?”
“I-I am the future head of the Eunha Trading Company. This is Miss Yeon Bin-hwa, the precious daughter of the Yeon family, and this is Wang Yun-seon, my cousin…”
Suppressing his fear, Wang Mu-un calmly answered the young man’s questions, deciding it was best to comply with his demands for now.
The young man in blue seemed satisfied with Wang Mu-un’s attitude, nodding indifferently before resuming his meal.
“C-Can we leave now?”
“Wang Mu-un, you stay.”
“Wh-Why just me?”
“I have a proposal for you.”
“Ah, haha…”
Wang Mu-un, on the verge of tears, swallowed his resentment and instructed his companions to take Hwang Cheol to a physician.
It was a day of terrible luck. He had planned to enjoy a pleasant meal with promising acquaintances at Unha Pavilion, known for its delicious food.
Instead, he found himself in a private audience with a temperamental mysterious master. The old saying about life’s ups and downs had never felt more real to Wang Mu-un.
“Please, go ahead…”
“Do you know about the Purple Spirit Root?”
“No, this is the first time I’ve heard of it. Is it an herb?”
“Yes. Has your trading company ever dealt with legendary medicinal herbs?”
“There was one instance, but it was before I was born.”
The young man in blue inquired in detail about the scale and products of the Eunha Trading Company, especially its dealings in medicinal herbs.
As the future head of the trading company, Wang Mu-un answered fluently without any hesitation.
Before long, the sumptuous Hwan cuisine on the table had all disappeared into the young man’s stomach.
“I am searching for a legendary herb called the Purple Spirit Root. If you bring me decisive information, I will grant your trading company one favor. If you deliver an intact Purple Spirit Root, I will grant you three favors.”
“Ah, are you perhaps at the ‘Pinnacle’ level of mastery?”
“You could say that.”
In Hwan martial arts, the levels of mastery were classified as third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, and pinnacle.
There were fewer than thirty masters at the pinnacle level across all of Hwan. The assistance of such a master could dramatically influence the future of a trading company.
“I need time to think.”
“Take your time. I’ll give you three days.”
Wang Mu-un respectfully cupped his fists and left the inn. Unlike his initial trembling voice, his face now gleamed with a hint of determination.
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After the trivial commotion had passed, Isaac wandered around the bustling streets, visiting general stores, fabric shops, weapon shops, and pleasure houses, searching for any underground information networks.
He spent an entire day without any success until he finally heard something that could be considered information at a large pleasure house called Nowol Pavilion, which was bustling with customers late into the night.
“I need some information. Where should I go?”
“Information? What kind of information?”
“I haven’t been in Yangpyeong Province for long, so there’s a lot I don’t know.”
“Hehe, you’ve come to the right place. There’s nothing I don’t know about this area. Ask me anything you want. Of course, nothing in this world is free, right? I’ll take a bottle of rice wine for each question. Hehe.”
The red-nosed drunkard, surprisingly knowledgeable about the local ecosystem, began to share what he knew.
From him, Isaac learned about the medicinal herbs that grew around Yangpyeong Province and the types of monsters that frequently appeared. Due to the heavy human activity and the lack of dense spiritual energy, rare medicinal herbs were scarce in the area. There were also eerie rumors about malevolent spirits appearing in the forest called Yulim to the south of the city during the hours of 11 PM to 1 AM.
“Do you know anything about a herb called the Purple Spirit Root?”
“Purple Spirit Root… That’s an unfamiliar name. What are its properties?”
“It’s the main ingredient of a legendary elixir said to help a martial artist at the pinnacle level advance to the transcendent level.”
“Haha, young man, you’ve been fooled by some con artist’s silver tongue. There’s no such herb in this world. And the so-called transcendent level is just a storyteller’s exaggeration.”
“I see. Then, have you ever heard of any secret organizations dealing in high-level information in Yangpyeong Province?”
“High-level information… Hmm? Oh dear, my jerky is all gone. What a shame, just when the mood was getting good. Looks like the fun is about to end~”
“Madam! Bring us a platter of assorted pancakes.”
“Yes, please wait a moment!”
Shortly after, the ordered platter of assorted pancakes arrived, along with three bottles of rice wine that Isaac had pre-ordered. The drunkard, who had trailed off in his speech, greedily devoured the colorful pancakes with his right hand while guzzling the rice wine straight from the bottle with his left.
He finished everything within ten minutes.
“Burp. Oh, I’m stuffed.”
“…”
Isaac waited patiently, knowing that the drunkard would continue once he was satisfied.
“Alright! Let’s get going.”
“Where to?”
“You said you needed high-level information. I apologize for the late introduction. I am the head of the intelligence organization, Jiyoungak, known as Amugae.”
The head of Jiyoungak, Amugae.
His real name was Yoo In-bong.
Isaac, who had known his true identity from the start through his information window, allowed a faint smile to form on his lips, though no one noticed it.
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***
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Jiyoungak’s headquarters was located beneath a shabby tavern on the outskirts of town.
A motherly-looking woman greeted Amugae and Isaac with a face that seemed to find everything in the world bothersome.
“Are there two of you?”
“Number 7. This is an esteemed guest. Make sure there are no mistakes.”
“Yes!”
The woman’s expression changed instantly.
She led them to the back of the kitchen and opened a secret passage leading underground. Surprisingly, they were using primitive magitech, a mechanical array, to open and close the passage.
“Stay calm. Did you approach me knowing my true identity?”
“Of course not. I might have recognized your skills, but that’s all. It seems you are about to break through soon.”
“Indeed. You are at the pinnacle level. Please, come inside.”
The underground facility consisted of four rooms, a spacious living room, and a secret chamber. The secret chamber seemed to have some kind of barrier technique deployed, as it couldn’t be sensed through normal means.
Isaac was led to the secret chamber, where he explained the characteristics, appearance, and effects of the Purple Spirit Root. He paid one high-grade mana stone as an advance for investigating its location.
“There are a few places that might be considered sacred grounds. I will bring you accurate information within a month. Our Jiyoungak has branches in Muanju, Seopo Town, and Baekrim City. We are a large intelligence organization, and there will be no mistakes in fulfilling your request.”
“Reliable. I look forward to it.”
Having achieved his objective, Isaac collected the contract and left Jiyoungak’s underground facility.
He returned to his room, spent the night, and the next morning…
Isaac blew on his hot noodle dish, savoring it as he ate breakfast at Unha Pavilion’s dining hall. Hunger was the best seasoning.
The food of Hwan suited Isaac’s palate perfectly. Although he had some aversion to fish dishes laden with spices, he generally enjoyed the strong salty and spicy flavors.
“That was delicious.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I’m really sorry about last time.”
The innkeeper, who also served in the hall, leaned in and whispered softly.
“That Hwang Cheol… He struts in here like he owns the place, calling himself the Flying Sword and whatnot, and harasses the merchants. We’re not the only ones suffering.”
It was a common grievance.
She seemed eager to distance herself from the conflict between Isaac and Hwang Cheol, the Flying Sword.
“Sigh, but what can us commoners do? We have to follow the Yongmu Sect’s orders. The protection fee is expensive, but they do occasionally beat up the ruffians who cause trouble… Oh!”
Rumble.
Following the innkeeper’s gaze, Isaac turned his head to see a group approaching, surrounding the inn. They were all armed martial artists, clad in armor and wielding spears and swords, with the character for “Dragon” emblazoned on their chests in Hwan script.