I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 137

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 137.

“Huh? What?”

Jeon Soo-yeon’s eyes widened.

She blinked several times, as if pleading to wake up if this was a dream.

“Am I seeing things…?”

“Does this blade feel like an illusion too?”

“Ah, yes. Right.”

Shiver! 

As Yoo Baek-jun pressed the blade closer, Jeon Soo-yeon’s body trembled violently.

She realized her life was hanging by a thread.

“Wh-why are you here, young master…? I-I clearly came here just to talk with that guy over there…”

“It wasn’t just an ordinary conversation, was it? Both of you belong to the Yoo Tae-rang faction, so I assume you were planning to exchange information after meeting for the first time in a while?”

“N-no. Well, I can’t say it wasn’t, but, um, anyway…”

Jeon Soo-yeon’s eyes darted around frantically.

“P-please spare me.”

Those were the words that escaped her lips in her confusion. A plea for her life.

But Yoo Baek-jun didn’t even flinch.

“Spare your life?”

His expression only grew colder.

“You seem well aware that what you did was worthy of death. How dare the family’s intelligence division investigate the successor behind his back?”

“Ah, ahh…”

“There’d be nothing strange about cutting your head off right now. You know that yourself, don’t you?”

The blade gradually moved closer to her neck.

Jeon Soo-yeon’s mind grew even more chaotic. 

What should I do? How can I get out of this crisis? Should I pretend to be crazy and try fighting?

‘How could I possibly win against him?!’

Maybe if it were the old Yoo Baek-jun, but the current Yoo Baek-jun was not someone she could handle.

A dilemma with no way out.

What made it even more frustrating was that she had no idea what he wanted from her.

‘Does he intend to kill me? No, if that were the case, he would’ve already cut my throat. He wants something…’

Her spinning eyes met Choi Gun-woo’s apologetic gaze.

Now that she thought about it, why was that guy here? He was Im Woo-do’s subordinate—in other words, a member of the Yoo Tae-rang faction.

If he was here, that meant…

‘Ah!’

Her mind arrived at the answer.

“I-I’ll do anything! I’ll do whatever you say, young master! Just spare me!”

“……”

No response.

Was she wrong? Was she going to die like this? Just as Jeon Soo-yeon thought so—

“Hmm.”

The blade hovering at her neck slowly withdrew. 

Yoo Baek-jun’s indifferent eyes stared at her.

“You’ve been tailing me for a long time. Why were you following me? Answer.”

“Th-that was…”

“I already know everything, so just say it.”

After struggling for a long time, Jeon Soo-yeon sighed and finally spoke.

“I heard that you went to Busan, so I came to investigate what you were doing…”

“On whose orders?”

“Section Chief Lee Ja-yae ordered it. The head of the intelligence division doesn’t know about this matter.”

“So it was an independent move.”

Jeon Soo-yeon bowed her head deeply.

“…As you may know, there are factions within the intelligence division that follow Yoo Tae-rang. Originally, we didn’t investigate you, but after Yoo Tae-rang returned, the situation changed.”

“Is my brother wary of me?”

“Yes, extremely so. That’s why people from the intelligence division, including me, came all the way here to find out what you’re doing in Busan.”

She kept her head bowed like a criminal. No—she was a criminal.

She had done something unforgivable in the Sword Saint family, so losing her head right now wouldn’t be strange.

“So, did you find out anything?”

“…What that man over there reported, that Lady Yoo Jung-yeon is heading to Busan, and that the two of you are meeting tomorrow.”

“Ah, so you all rushed here thinking it’d be great since the two successors opposing Yoo Tae-rang are gathering. Right?”

“Y-yes.”

Yoo Baek-jun smirked.

Even though Lee Ja-yae and the Yoo Tae-rang faction were acting independently, the head of the intelligence division was unaware.

Regardless of his abilities, this meant the Yoo Tae-rang faction within the intelligence division was moving extremely covertly.

But this time, they acted too hastily.

“What about the others besides you?”

“The veterans in the Yoo Tae-rang faction are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning. I was supposed to monitor for any changes until then.”

“Then you’ll have to change that plan from now on.”

“Eek!”

Thud! 

Yoo Baek-jun’s sword struck the table.

“You said you’d do anything, right?”

“Y-yes! I’ll do anything!”

“From now on, kill each other.”

“Huh?”

Jeon Soo-yeon trembled as she stared at the deeply gouged table. It looked like her future.

“As you know, Yoo Jung-yeon and I are meeting tomorrow to talk. Lure your superiors there.”

“Th-then what?”

“Kill them all.”

Shiver! 

Jeon Soo-yeon’s trembling intensified.

“Y-you mean me too…?”

“Hey, Jeon Soo-yeon. You said you wanted a promotion, right?”

“Y-yes. I did say that.”

Yoo Baek-jun leaned forward. His cold yet mesmerizing face came close to hers.

“What do you think will happen if the people blocking your path to promotion disappear from this world?”

Jeon Soo-yeon’s body stiffened.

“You’re ambitious. But right now, there’s no room for you to squeeze into the intelligence division. The Yoo Tae-rang faction is out of the question.”

She was, after all, just a low-ranking member.

Even if Yoo Tae-rang became the family head, the credit would go to others.

Nothing would come to her.

“But, well. If you switch sides here… and if all the people blocking your path disappear, your future might change.”

“Y-you can’t mean… Young master, are you really planning what I think you are?”

Yoo Baek-jun grinned.

Somehow, it was a smile that smelled of blood.

“I intend to root out and kill every member of the Yoo Tae-rang faction in the intelligence division. Starting with the ones who came to Busan.”

Yoo Baek-jun looked straight at Jeon Soo-yeon.

“Having someone’s help would make things easier. What do you think, Jeon Soo-yeon?”

An intense pressure overwhelmed her.

She swallowed hard.

She could sense that this was Yoo Baek-jun’s final offer.

‘Leave Yoo Tae-rang and join me.’

If she agreed, she would live. If not, she would die here.

In reality, there was no choice.

But,

“In return… how far can I rise?”

“To the highest position in the intelligence division.”

Yoo Baek-jun flicked his finger.

As if waiting for the signal, Choi Gun-woo pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket. It glowed faintly, looking oddly familiar.

Jeon Soo-yeon immediately recognized it.

“A magic contract…”

The terms were extremely simple.

Yoo Baek-jun would ensure Jeon Soo-yeon became the head of the intelligence division. In return, she would assist him until he became the family head of the Sword Saint family.

“Y-young master, a magic contract? If you break this, you could lose your life.”

Magic contracts were rarely used because the penalties for violation were too severe.

Even a minor violation could result in stat reductions or skill loss. Continued violations could lead to losing limbs, and eventually…

‘Losing one’s life.’

Both parties had to pledge something of equal value as a condition.

Thus, a magic contract couldn’t be used to unilaterally demand loyalty.

To swear loyalty, one had to offer something the other truly desired.

“For you, that’s a promotion, right? If I win, I promise you the position of intelligence division head.”

“……”

Jeon Soo-yeon fell into thought.

But her heart was already leaning.

‘There’s no choice. Die now, or struggle and most likely die later. But still…’

If the reward was the position of intelligence division head, it was a gamble worth taking.

‘Yoo Tae-rang doesn’t even know who I am anyway. Better than staying somewhere I’m not acknowledged.’

Jeon Soo-yeon signed the contract.

Without a moment’s hesitation.

Whoosh!

The contract dissolved into light, flowing into Yoo Baek-jun and Jeon Soo-yeon.

An invisible connection formed between them.

“The contract is now binding.”

“I do feel a bit forced, though.”

Jeon Soo-yeon knelt on one knee.

“I’ll do whatever you command, young master.”

Yoo Baek-jun smiled in satisfaction.

‘She looks like a complete fool, but…’

This woman’s abilities changed based on her position.

She had a related trait. The higher her rank and the more she was acknowledged by her master, the stronger her abilities became.

What was it called again? ‘The Ambitious Climber’?

In short, she was someone desperate to be recognized for her abilities.

“Jeon Soo-yeon, you know what to do, right?”

“Yes, I’ll lead my superiors—no, my ‘former’ superiors—to the place you mentioned.”

Jeon Soo-yeon suddenly made a face as if she’d realized something.

“But you’re going to kill them all, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Uh, won’t the intelligence division find that suspicious? How are you going to handle that…?”

“That’s for you to figure out.”

“Huh?”

Jeon Soo-yeon’s jaw dropped.

“…Excuse me?”

* * *

The next morning.

Jeon Soo-yeon went out to greet her guests.

“……”

The rooftop of a building where a cold wind blew relentlessly. Naturally, it was the least suitable place to welcome guests.

But it was perfect for the intelligence division.

Whoosh!

The wind howled nearby.

Jeon Soo-yeon closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them, unfamiliar figures stood before her.

People dressed in black infiltration suits.

“You’re here?”

“……”

No response came.

The man at the forefront stepped forward and glared at Jeon Soo-yeon with cold eyes.

‘Ugh, that look.’

It was like he was looking at an insect.

A sharp-faced man with a shaved head and no expression whatsoever.

His name was Yoo Ji-woong, one of the rising rookies in the intelligence division.

“Idiot. Didn’t you learn that showing your expression is forbidden in the Sword Saint family’s intelligence division?”

“I-I did learn that.”

“Then what’s with your face right now?”

Yoo Ji-woong glared at her.

“No matter how many times I teach you, you never learn.”

“S-sorry…”

Jeon Soo-yeon slumped.

Yoo Ji-woong had been her mentor when she first joined the intelligence division.

Well, ‘mentor’ wasn’t quite accurate.

He had ignored, belittled, and resented her presence from the start.

“Tch. Why did Yoo Tae-rang assign someone like this…?”

“Huh?”

“…Nothing.”

Yoo Ji-woong turned his head away.

Jeon Soo-yeon suppressed a sigh at the sight.

For some reason, the man in front of her detested her.

“Are we done with this pointless chatter?”

“Let’s get to the point quickly. We can’t disappoint Yoo Tae-rang.”

The others behind him spoke up.

Choi Yi-chang, Yoon Seo-ha, Jeon Chi-hoon…

All were famous for their exceptional skills within the intelligence division.

And, of course…

They had ambitions to match.

“Jeon Soo-yeon, the intel?”

“Yes, Yoo Baek-jun and Yoo Jung-yeon are scheduled to meet at an abandoned factory. It was closed down recently due to monster attacks.”

“How many guards are there?”

“Just Han Seong-ah.”

Yoo Ji-woong smirked.

“One guard, two targets. I’d love to kill them right here, but…”

He slowly shook his head.

“We can’t do that without permission. Distract the guard and gather information on the rest. We need to hear what those two are discussing.”

“Understood.”

Whoosh! 

The sound of wind echoed.

By the time the wind settled, Yoo Ji-woong and the others had already vanished.

As if they were never there to begin with.