CFZ

“It seems we’re meeting rather often.”
The quiet room carried the faint scent of wood mixed with the sharper aroma of tea.

The orderly state of the room mirrored its owner’s nature—meticulous and composed.
An old man sat across from me, watching.
His calm eyes reflected the room’s stillness, yet the faint traces of emotion within them hinted at his humanity.

I smiled lightly and replied,
“Indeed. At this rate, we might grow fond of each other.”
“...”

"That’s why I was curious. Surely, the Great Lord of the Holy Dragon wouldn’t have acted without considering the problems that could arise if there were internal conflicts within the Alliance."
Although Muk Yeon claimed he was merely voicing personal thoughts, his voice brimmed with conviction.
The more I listened, the harder it became to respond.

“…There’s no such thing as overestimation. What exactly do you take me for?”
It felt like he was attaching endless layers of meaning to what was, at its core, just an outburst of anger.
But honestly, Muk Yeon’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

At first, I fully expected to be thrown into an interrogation room and questioned by the guards.
Oh, of course—
‘I’d already planned to pull a few tricks to end up here anyway.’

But I hadn’t anticipated skipping the interrogation room entirely and coming straight to Muk Yeon’s office.
“I understand what you’re saying, Strategist Muk, but as you pointed out, I’m not as calculating as you seem to think.”
“Is that so? That’s disappointing.”

“…”
His tone carried complete disbelief.
‘Damn it.’
Why was he acting like such a pain?

The types of people who approached me usually fell into two categories.
First—
‘The kind who pick fights no matter what I do, just because they don’t like me.’

That included fools like Twin Crescent Swords and the Blade King, both of whom had gotten themselves beaten not long ago.
And if not that—
‘The ones who have weird expectations for no reason.’

Some people insisted on inflating my abilities and pinning their hopes on me, even when I’d done nothing to deserve it.
Muk Yeon, standing right in front of me, clearly fell into the second group.
And honestly? That was even more annoying.

Because people like him never let their guard down.
They weren’t even sure if their assumptions were correct, so they obsessed over confirming their expectations, pushing and prodding relentlessly.
Annoying didn’t even begin to cover it.

And this time was no exception.
“I understand that you say you had no such intentions. As for the incident, we plan to make a decision after hearing the accounts of Commander Golden Dragon and his vice-commander.”
Even if his words pretended to be neutral, his eyes told a different story.

Those lowered eyes—the weight behind them—focused entirely on me.
“However, even if the reason you provided as the Great Lord of the Holy Dragon is valid, this is still clearly an assault that violates regulations. Please keep that in mind.”
“I’m aware.”

“Depending on how things go, this could even lead to your removal from your position. But as you know, the Murim Alliance currently needs the Great Lord of the Holy Dragon. I doubt it will go that far.”
“Yes.”
Muk Yeon was right, and I knew it.

That’s exactly why I’d let things escalate in the first place.
“Still, if there’s something I want to address—among the conditions the Great Lord listed when taking this position—”
Rustle.

Muk Yeon trailed off as he slid a scroll toward me.
When I took it, I realized it was the contract I’d drafted a while back.
“You stated that you would receive support from two of the Alliance’s sword divisions. I believe this part needs to be revised. Would that be acceptable to you?”

“…Ha.”
I let out a dry laugh as I read over the document.
Was I laughing because he was bringing up conditions now, in light of the incident?

No.
‘This old man…?’
I was genuinely impressed.

It was a laugh laced with admiration.
“How did you figure that out?”
Muk Yeon’s lips curled into a faint smile in response to my words.

Muk Yeon’s beard twitched slightly at my remark.
“Star King—or should I say, Commander of the Star Dragon Unit.”
The sudden shift in title irritated me in an oddly specific way.

“Yes, Elder.”
“Call me Strategist Muk from now on.”
“Understood, Strategist Muk.”

I was currently facing Muk Yeon, the famed strategist who had returned to the Alliance.
His desk was stacked with neatly arranged scrolls.
Among them, I spotted what seemed to be medicinal pills.

‘Those look like Shaolin elixirs.’
They weren’t high-grade pills like Great Rejuvenation Elixirs,
But they were still valuable products crafted by Shaolin.

Even their lower-tier medicines were absurdly expensive.
And yet, he had piled them up like common goods.
Though they looked untouched, their mere presence showed just how much the Alliance valued Muk Yeon.

“Star King.”
“Yes.”
Muk Yeon sipped his tea and set the cup down.

I took that moment to subtly examine the liquid and draw in its scent.
“Why did this situation arise?”
“...”

“I heard about the duel between Commander Iron Dragon and one of the candidates. It’s said that he acted to verify the test process. Is that correct?”
“…It is.”
“I’ll have a more detailed discussion with him later. Moving on.”

Rustle.
Muk Yeon picked up a sheet of paper from his desk.
It was my written report—the so-called incident report.

“Regarding the assault on Commander Golden Dragon.”
“...”
This was the reason I was having this meeting with Muk Yeon.

“Currently, Commander Golden Dragon remains unconscious, so we only have two accounts—one from his vice-commander and the other from your report. Now, I ask you this.”
Muk Yeon’s gaze suddenly grew heavier.
I felt my throat tighten involuntarily.

He hadn’t moved an inch, yet the change in his expression shifted the entire atmosphere.
“What happened?”
His words struck with the weight of stone.

I steadied my breathing.
“I believe I already provided sufficient details in the report.”
I had described everything.

After I left Golden Dragon battered and unconscious, the guards and martial artists had arrived.
I still remembered their eyes—
The cautious, almost terrified looks they gave me.

Golden Dragon was a Hwagyeong-level martial artist, a recognized force within the Alliance.
The fact that he had been beaten unconscious proved that very few people in the Alliance could stop me if I decided to go berserk.
That fear had been clear in their reactions.

So I had held out my arms and asked to be restrained.
There was no point in causing further chaos—I had expected this outcome.
“Commander of the Star Dragon Unit.”

“Yes, Strategist Muk?”
“You claim that Commander Golden Dragon attempted to accuse Sword Dancer of using forbidden techniques and spread false rumors about illegal dealings between you and Commander Iron Dragon. Is that correct?”
Rustle.

Muk Yeon flipped the page.
“And you responded with violence because you could not contain your anger?”
“Yes.”

His summary ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) was clean and precise.
I had barely written anything detailed, but he had extracted the essentials and laid it out.
However—

“While I’ve verified your claims, the evidence is lacking.”
He was right.
My report was simply my version of events.

There was little to validate it.
Moreover—
“This involves one commander attacking another. We cannot make a judgment based solely on the attacker’s words.”

“I understand.”
“So I’ll ask you again.”
Muk Yeon set the report down and locked his gaze on me.

“What happened?”
The same question as before.
“…Strategist Muk, as I’ve already explained—”

“I’m not asking about the report.”
“Then what?”
“Do you understand why you’re sitting here talking to me instead of facing formal charges?”

“Because you summoned me, Strategist Muk.”
“Correct. This conversation isn’t being handled by the guards or internal investigators—it’s happening because I used my authority.”
Muk Yeon didn’t flinch as he admitted to abusing his power.

He looked resolute, not defensive.
“Normally, this matter wouldn’t be left in my hands. But I wanted to ask you personally.”
“Should I thank you for that?”

“There’s no need.”
“Understood.”
“Your reason for attacking him—it doesn’t sit right with me.”

“If you doubt me, put me under a truth spell. My answer won’t change.”
“Truth spells are forbidden for commanders in the Alliance.”
“…They are?”

What kind of useless rule was that?
Truth spells would make exposing traitors so much easier.
‘No wonder the Alliance is crawling with rot.’

“So, no proof and no trust—what do you want, Strategist Muk?”
“Ah, it’s not that I don’t believe you.”
“Excuse me?”

“I’m simply curious. Why would someone like you make such a reckless decision?”
“It’s all in the report.”
“I don’t believe you’re someone who acts purely out of emotion.”

I flinched but quickly recovered.
“Then you’ve misjudged me. I’m quite impulsive.”
“Yes, I see that.”

What?
“You’re like a blazing fire—powerful enough to consume anything in your path. However—”
Muk Yeon’s heavy gaze didn’t waver.

“You’re a fire that knows when to burn.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? Fire doesn’t decide when to burn.”
I couldn’t agree with his words.

Fire was destruction.
It didn’t choose—it simply consumed.
“And that’s why it’s terrifying. A fire that knows when to burn is far scarier.”

“…So you think I’m dangerous?”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps not.”
Rustle.

Muk Yeon unwrapped one of the pills and popped it into his mouth.
Its fragrant scent filled the air.
“But you’re someone who can become dangerous. And someone who doesn’t act without purpose.”

“You’re giving too much credit to a reckless fool like me.”
“If that’s true, then I’m mistaken. But I don’t think so.”
“...”

"So I was curious about this."
The room remained still, save for the faint scent of wood and the sharper aroma of tea lingering in the air.
Muk Yeon’s calm voice carried unwavering certainty, even as he presented his thoughts as mere speculation.

The more I listened, the harder it became to offer a clear response.
“…That’s quite the overestimation. What exactly do you think I am?”
It felt as though he was reading too much into this—like he was layering meaning upon meaning over a simple outburst born of irritation.

And yet, Muk Yeon wasn’t entirely wrong.
Initially, I had expected to be dragged straight to an interrogation chamber, seated opposite the guards for questioning.
Of course, I had fully intended—

‘To pull some strings and end up here anyway.’
But I hadn’t anticipated bypassing the interrogation altogether and being brought directly to Muk Yeon’s office.
“I understand your perspective, Strategist Muk, but as I’ve said, I’m not as calculated as you seem to think.”

“Is that so? That’s a shame.”
“...”
His tone suggested he didn’t believe me at all.

‘Damn it.’
What exactly did this old man want from me?
I’d encountered two types of people in this world.

The first type—
‘Those who constantly pick fights because they just don’t like me.’
People like Twin Crescent Swords and the Blade King had been prime examples—morons who felt threatened or annoyed by my existence.

And the second type—
‘Those who have absurd expectations of me despite knowing almost nothing.’
The ones who overestimated my abilities and endlessly projected their hopes onto me.

Muk Yeon seemed to belong to the latter group.
Which, frankly, made him even more of a headache.
People like him were never careless, always second-guessing and overanalyzing everything.

And the worst part? They weren’t even sure themselves whether their expectations were justified—so they constantly tested and prodded to validate their assumptions.
There was no one more exhausting than people like that.
And Muk Yeon was proving to be no exception.

“If that’s how you feel, then I understand.”
He leaned back slightly and continued,
“As for this situation, we’ll determine the outcome after hearing from Commander Golden Dragon and his vice-commander.”

Despite his words, his eyes betrayed his distrust.
Muk Yeon’s gaze had softened slightly, but it remained firmly fixed on me.
“However—regardless of your reasoning—even if what you’ve claimed is true, this incident still violates our regulations. Keep that in mind.”

“I understand.”
“Depending on the outcome, this could result in your removal from your position. But, as you know, the Alliance is in a situation where we need you right now. It’s unlikely things will escalate to that point.”
“Yes.”

Muk Yeon was right, and I was well aware of it.
It was part of why I’d allowed myself to go this far in the first place.
“That said, there’s one condition I’d like to address.”

Sliding a scroll across the table, Muk Yeon gestured for me to take it.
I accepted it and immediately recognized it as the contract I had signed when I took my position.
“You included a clause requesting support from two of the Alliance’s martial divisions.”

He tapped the document with his finger.
“I believe this section needs to be amended. Would you be amenable to that?”
“…Ha.”

A short, dry laugh escaped me.
Not because I found it absurd, but—
‘This old man…’

I was impressed.
My laughter was tinged with genuine admiration.
“How did you know?”

Muk Yeon smiled faintly in response.
Even as I studied his expression, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this man was always several steps ahead.
He’d already sniffed out my intentions—intentions I’d planned to leverage later.

And now, he was using this moment to tie my hands.
The timing. The approach. Everything about his maneuver felt calculated.
‘No wonder they call him a ghost on the battlefield and a demon in politics.’

But I wasn’t about to give in so easily.
“So you’ve been watching me closely, huh?”
“I wouldn’t call it watching. Merely observing patterns and drawing conclusions.”

“That’s quite the talent.”
“You’re too kind.”
Muk Yeon’s voice was calm, but the weight behind it was undeniable.

This was no ordinary opponent.
If I wasn’t careful, he’d keep tightening the noose before I even noticed.