The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 130

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

Bang Sung-Yun couldn’t hold back his words, causing the Poison King’s brow to furrow. Instantly, he regretted his outburst.

‘Damn.’

It was so absurd that he couldn’t help but burst out. I mean, wasn’t it too bizarre?

“An engagement? What kind of crazy talk is this?”

Among all the things he’d heard recently, this was undoubtedly the most bewildering, even more so than anything else.

“Nonsense?”

The Poison King caught his words, clearly showing his discomfort.

“No, but think about it. An engagement?”

Even hearing it, he couldn’t stop himself.

To be told to get engaged to someone was—’He’s talking about getting engaged to Tang Yelan.’

Who could stay quiet after hearing such a thing? Bang Sung-Yun spoke heatedly to the Poison King, “Yes.”

The Poison King merely affirmed it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“… Yes?”

“Indeed. That’s my additional condition.”

“You mean, you want me to get engaged to Young lady Tang?”

“Yes.”

“… Why?”

“Hmm?”

“Why do you want that?”

Even though he hadn’t raised her with particular affection, Tang Yelan was still the Poison King’s daughter. She hadn’t been treated well and wasn’t well-regarded even within the Tang family. Still, after the recent events, it seemed likely her treatment would change.

‘Since she beat the Poison Dragon like a dog.’

From a brat who had lived quietly to a genius who defeated her elder brother, one of the Seven Geniuses, Tang Yelan’s position was expected to change dramatically.

If that weren’t enough—’Tang Yelan is quite useful.’

Tang Yelan had significant value within the Tang family.

‘Considering what an engagement symbolizes, even more so.’

An engagement forged strong ties. For prestigious families, it was a reliable and straightforward method to form solid alliances.

‘The Murong family was the odd one.’

It only seemed unrealistic because the Murong family tried to tie themselves to a nameless family like the Bang family. Families as distinguished as the Five Great Families usually relied on engagements to extend their influence.

“Why me…?”

Why was the Poison King trying to link such a valuable card to mr? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t comprehend.

At that moment—『That guy is shrewd.』

Yu Chun-gil commented as he looked at the Poison King.

『He’s quick in judgment. He might not be the best martial artist, but in matters of family leadership, he is far better than that fool.』

For once, Yu Chun-gil praised someone else. Hearing that, Bang Sung-Yun looked closely at the Poison King.

“What is the problem?”

The Poison King found his reaction peculiar.

“Young master Bang, you claimed you believe you will become the World’s Greatest someday. Given that belief, I felt this condition would be most beneficial.”

“….”

As Bang Sung-Yun listened, he frowned. He finally understood the Poison King’s intentions.

‘This guy.’

Was his contemplation over this?

‘He put me on the scale.’

Bang Sung-Yun realized he had been evaluated, and the result was this proposition.

‘… That damned value.’

Reflecting on what Yu Chun-gil had said about value, and how the Poison King must have perceived me, was intriguing.

Had the Poison King truly judged my value to be someone who would become the World’s Greatest? Was that why he wanted to tie me to his daughter?

If the Poison King’s assessment was correct, it wasn’t a bad value per se.

‘… Could this be a test?’

I couldn’t rule it out. The Poison King might have been testing me by gauging my reaction, but something about it felt genuine. The Poison King seemed sincerely intent on engaging me to Tang Yelan. This warranted serious consideration.

‘If those words were sincere, I wouldn’t stand to lose anything.’

The conditions were reasonable. Just accepting the engagement would bring about an unimaginable reward.

Even apart from that, the engagement itself was a good deal.

A direct descendant of one of the Five Great Families.

Moreover, she was around my age, had a pretty face without any flaws, and didn’t have a bad personality.

If I married Tang Yelan, I would become a member of a distinguished family and live much more comfortably.

“…… I’m sorry.”

I had to respectfully decline the Poison King’s words.

“……?”

Upon hearing my refusal, the Poison King’s expression changed ever so slightly before he spoke to me.

“What is the reason?”

“If you ask for a reason, there are many complex parts involved, but fundamentally…… it is because I do not wish to be tied to anyone at this moment.”

“Hmm?”

Even after hearing my words, the Poison King’s expression didn’t drastically change.

Of course, my answer wouldn’t change regardless.

“Are there no other conditions?”

An engagement, my foot.

‘If I get more involved now, it’ll become a headache.’

I understood that the Poison King saw me in a favorable light, but that was due to Yu Chun-gil’s successor I had created.

Even if that was not the case, ‘I have lots to do, so I can’t get entangled somewhere,’ an engagement with the Tang family might be a significant part of my life, but at this moment, it was merely an ambiguous choice.

“…… Is that so?”

“Yes. I greatly appreciate your kind consideration, but…… unfortunately for me.”

“I understand.”

“…… Pardon?”

“I said I understand.”

Despite my mental preparations to continue refusing, the Poison King accepted my refusal nonchalantly.

What was this?

‘Was it just words after all?’

Who would use their own daughter’s engagement as a mere suggestion? It didn’t seem like that.

The Poison King truly appeared indifferent, withdrawing his gaze from me without any hesitation.

I was okay with it ending well, but something felt amiss.

‘To give up that easily.’

Was there something else going on? While pondering that, “If so, it will be difficult to accept the conditions Young master Bang desires.”

Those following words made me inwardly click my tongue.

‘Ah, damn it.’

I realized upon observing the Poison King’s attitude and words.

‘The upper hand has shifted.’

In rejecting the engagement, the negotiation advantage slightly shifted to the Poison King.

This was not good. I had to stay sharp from now on.

‘Was the engagement talk just bait?’

Was the engagement talk used to gain leverage?

Such suspicions crossed my mind. If that was really the case, the Poison King was truly a sly old man.

‘To think he’d even use his daughter.’

I heightened my focus.

I faced the Poison King with a resolve not to yield a single step.

And thus, the discussion began.

* * *

By the time the conversation with the Poison King ended, it was around twilight.

We had to talk for at least two hours. As a result, “Damn it.”

Stepping out from the residence, I had to curse.

It was inevitable.

“…… Not a single opening.”

One side tried to wring something out by any means, while the other fought hard to protect whatever they could.

Looking at the results, “I barely got anything.”

The Poison King had a slight edge.

“Agh……. If not for the initial talk, I could have gotten more.”

It was immensely disappointing. Hence, I ended up biting my nails in frustration.

『That’s why you shouldn’t have wavered from the start. If you had just said yes, it would have turned out fine.』

Yu Chun-gil spoke to me, seemingly frustrated.

Hearing that, I let out a laugh, finding it absurd.

“You’re saying it easily since it’s not your concern. Engagement isn’t something you can decide like naming a dog. How could I easily agree to that?”

『She didn’t seem like a bad girl. Isn’t she someone you find acceptable as well?』

“…… That’s a different matter.”

No matter how agreeable Tang Yelan seemed, an engagement was a different issue.

Although negotiations had become somewhat difficult due to not hearing those words.

‘Now is not the time.’

Marriage was absolutely out of the question.

Maybe someday, but not now. I had no intention of getting involved with anyone at this point.

That made it all the more regrettable.

‘… I really can’t believe this.’

Who would have thought they’d bring up marriage negotiations?

Because of refusing it, the justification fell into the Poison King’s corner.

That caused the negotiations to flow in an unsatisfactory manner.

‘I still managed to obtain rewards and other things.’

The most crucial thing I sought was a deal with the Poison King.

‘Not very satisfying.’

The things I obtained through that deal were somewhat less than what I had anticipated.

‘Not exclusive trading rights, but trading rights priority.’

I had demanded exclusive rights for the lower-grade weaponry.

What I ended up obtaining was merely trading rights priority.

It wasn’t entirely bad. At least I got the prior rights.

The problem was…

‘… The first deal is the problem.’

I asked for trading rights priority with the Iron Workshop, but what I got back wasn’t trading rights priority.

‘Just trading rights.’

It was simply the right to trade with the Iron Workshop.

This wasn’t bad either.

The Iron Workshop wasn’t an easy place to establish trade with.

Even the ability to trade with them was beneficial to the Blue Moon Sect.

‘But still, it’s disappointing.’

I couldn’t help but feel regret. With a bit more effort, I could have secured better terms.

That regret lingered.

‘At least having this is something.’

It wasn’t negligible.

I decided to focus on that thought.

And also, ‘Regarding the Broken Heaven Palace…’

The Poison King had recently gathered some information on the Broken Heaven Palace.

He said Spear Demon was an entity the Poison Sovereign had personally killed in the last war.

Yet, this guy appeared alive again, and that alone was disturbing.

Moreover, some of the Poison King’s most trusted members within the Tang family had betrayed him, which was a problem.

So, they searched the surroundings and neighboring people of the family, trying to find the spies.

‘But those they caught either committed suicide or had already disappeared, right?’

That meant the Poison King’s harvest wasn’t particularly abundant either.

‘What exactly is the Broken Heaven Palace?’

What kind of people had planted spies within the Tang family?

What was their real objective?

‘I doubt it was simply about seeing me.’

They seemed to have another objective.

‘It could have been the Poison King.’

That possibility was quite high, but…

‘Don’t be hasty to make conclusions.’

Since nothing concrete had surfaced yet, it was too early to decide anything.

Considering it was a place so obscure that even the Poison King couldn’t catch its tail, the amount of information I had was insufficient to make any judgments.

‘It certainly seems to be a shady organization.’

The mentions of Yu Chun-gil, the hidden motives I sensed—all pointed to a dangerous group.

‘I really don’t want to get involved with them…’

But it seemed I was already entangled with them, which was incredibly frustrating.

“Damn it…”

Nothing was going my way. Scratching the back of my head and pondering, I continued walking.

『Found you.』

A familiar voice echoed.

It belonged to the Poison Sovereign.

“Elder, you came-”

Hearing that, I immediately turned to look at the Poison Sovereign.

“… Oh.”

『tsk tsk…』

Seeing the Poison Sovereign’s state, my eyes widened.

“… Elder.”

The Poison Sovereign had become translucent.

Initially, only his feet were slightly transparent, but now his entire form was see-through.

Which meant—

“You’re leaving?”

It signified that the Poison Sovereign was departing.

To be more precise, ‘Letting go of worldly attachments.’

It indicated he was in the process of putting his spirit to rest.