I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 87

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 87.  

The Sword Saint family operates several businesses and places advertisements or sponsorships in newspapers.  

Given the extremely long-standing nature of these relationships and the substantial sums involved, most media outlets had no choice but to pay close attention to the Sword Saint family.  

—For those who have questions regarding the recent incident, please visit the Seoul branch of the Sword Saint family. We will hold a Q&A session.

Many knew that Yoo Baek-jun had taken the lead in this incident and played a major role in resolving it.  

However, he had never appeared in the media before and seemed to have no intention of doing so.  

Under such circumstances, his announcement of a Q&A session naturally drew the attention of most reporters.  

“The Hunter Association, the Gate Response Strategy Division, and the government all did their best to overcome the crisis and cooperated with me fully.”

“It would have been better if this had happened before the incident erupted. But there was someone among us who deliberately obstructed and distorted communication.”

“Yes, had it not been for that person, the damage from this incident would have been far less than it is now.”

“The current Hunter Association Chairman, Kang Byeong-jo.”

Words entirely different from what the reporters had expected were coming from Yoo Baek-jun’s mouth.  

This was, in effect, an exposure.  

That very evening, the online articles of various newspapers began to ignite.  

—The Hunter Association Chairman, who should have protected South Korea, instead stood by and watched the crisis unfold?

—Kang Byeong-jo’s complacency fueled this incident. Why did he ignore the Sword Saint family’s warnings?

—On the 27th, the Association planned a massive event to host foreign dignitaries! The event’s cost ran into the hundreds of billions!

—Kang Byeong-jo caused trillions in damages because he couldn’t bear to part with a mere few billion!

Articles about Kang Byeong-jo poured out in droves.  

The Gate Response Strategy Division of the Association and the government, who had been waiting for this moment, also released a flood of incriminating materials in unison.  

—Kang Byeong-jo’s embezzlement and bribery allegations. Association executives are no different, it seems.

—Corruption in hiring close associates of the Chairman. Incompetent individuals were supposedly protecting South Korea.

—The CEO of the company that prepared the event is a relative of the Chairman, raising suspicions of collusion.

—A faction loyal to the Chairman existed within the Association! Evidence reveals special favors for Hunters who supported him, sparking controversy.

The Gate Response Strategy Division also exposed the corruption of the Chairman and his faction, materials they had been gathering for some time.  

Chae Jeong-jun was so busy that he wondered if he had ever been this swamped in his life.  

“Chief, have a cup of coffee before you continue.”

“Ah, sure.”

Chae Jeong-jun, with dark circles under his eyes, sipped the coffee brought by his subordinate.  

He looked around blankly.  

The place was in chaos as government audit teams stormed in, declaring they would conduct an investigation.  

“We’ll be fine, right?”

“Of course we will. We’ve been careful all along.”

“Yeah, that’s true… But I’m still anxious.”

Chae Jeong-jun turned his gaze to the television.  

Praise for Yoo Baek-jun, who played the biggest role in resolving the incident, and condemnation for Kang Byeong-jo, who had exacerbated it, were pouring in.  

“…….”  

“What’s wrong?”  

“Nothing. It’s just… it’s terrifying when you think about it.”  

Kang Byeong-jo had been a man of immense power. In such a situation, even Baek Jang-hyeon or the Division had only gathered evidence, not daring to strike.  

‘But to think he’d be brought down in one fell swoop like this…’  

The events were unfolding with frightening speed.  

Watching it sent chills down his spine.  

‘So this is what power is.’

Chae Jeong-jun let out a deep sigh.  

***  

The TV showed Kang Byeong-jo appearing at the police station and the Hunter Association being investigated.  

“Kang Byeong-jo, you son of a bitch!”  

“Give me back my son! My son!”  

“What about my property?!”  

Kang Byeong-jo, standing before the cameras, tightly shut his eyes.  

—I apologize. For now, I will do my best to cooperate with the investigation—

—Shut up!

—Hey! Don’t do that!

Trash was hurled at his face.  

The area in front of the police station descended into chaos in an instant. The screen shook violently before cutting away.  

—Hmm.

Yoo Baek-jun was watching TV.  

In his hands, he held a newspaper, looking utterly at ease.  

Beside him stood Han Seong-ah .  

—Though no evacuation order was issued, Yoo Baek-jun of the Sword Saint family single-handedly evacuated people…

—Entered the demon world alone and eliminated the enemy commander—just who is Yoo Baek-jun?

The news and newspapers were lavishing praise on Yoo Baek-jun’s actions to an almost embarrassing degree.  

“When did you evacuate the people?”  

“I told Lee Jun-woo on the day I met the Chairman. We couldn’t evacuate everyone.”  

“I didn’t know.”  

Many had refused, insisting they wouldn’t evacuate even if it killed them.  

Those people were left behind, and instead, more effort was put into fortifying the surrounding defenses.  

“It seems this matter is finally settled.”  

“It should be.”  

Kang Byeong-jo had fallen completely, and his faction had collapsed with him. 

Now, the Association would be controlled by the executive directors and the Gate Response Strategy Division.  

“How is the situation in the demon realm?”  

“Bigtums is excited and digging underground. He’s from a race skilled in mining, so… I think we can trust him with it.”  

“He might get out of control, so make sure to keep some people around him. What about the costs? Are they still offering it for free?”

“Well, they’re getting exclusive rights to the materials, so they said they’d consider it a service.”  

Typical of the wealthy dwarves.  

Their way of thinking was downright flashy. Yoo Baek-jun nodded and leaned back in his chair.  

“Young Master, are you sure it’s alright for you to stay at the family estate like this? There’s still work to be done…”  

“Well, I’d like to, but…”  

It wasn’t as if he wanted to be holed up at the family estate during such a busy time.  

But there was no helping it.  

“I think my brother will be arriving soon.”  

“Ah…”  

Han Seong-ah nodded as if she understood.  

Yoo Tae-rang was returning.  

It wouldn’t do to be preoccupied with other matters and miss the most important one.  

“What about Ho-yeon?”  

“Park Chan-kyung and Cheon Min-ju kept watch. They said there were no suspicious movements.”  

“And Shin Woo-hyun?”  

“The interrogation is over. He’ll confess whenever necessary. However…”  

“Yeah, I know.”  

Yoo Baek-jun smiled bitterly.  

“It probably won’t mean much. He’s not the type to be swayed by a single confession.”  

“Yes. He might create another scapegoat or use Shin Woo-hyun’s condition to his advantage.”  

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”  

“It doesn’t matter?”  

Han Seong-ah looked puzzled.  

Making Instructor Shin Woo-hyun confess wasn’t about exposing Yoo Tae-rang’s crimes.  

It was about planting ‘doubt.’  

“He’ll play his part well enough.”  

Yoo Baek-jun covered his face with the newspaper and reclined further in his chair.  

“Bring Shin Woo-hyun to the mansion’s basement. Do it secretly, without anyone knowing.”  

“Yes, Young Master. It will be done.”  

Behind the newspaper, Yoo Baek-jun was quietly smiling.  

***  

And the next dawn.  

“The Young Master has returned!”  

Just as the morning sun was about to rise, a loud voice echoed through the family estate.  

The Young Master had returned. Though it wasn’t specified which one, everyone knew.  

“Yoo Tae-rang, the Young Master?”  

The heir to the family had returned.  

Though it was early dawn, the Sword Saint family rose early, so most were already awake.  

They all gathered at the estate’s main gate.  

“…….”  

“…….”  

Silence filled the estate.  

Yoo Tae-rang had not yet arrived. Everyone held their breath, waiting for his return.  

How long had they waited?  

Creeeak!

The tightly shut gates opened.  

Beyond them, a group of people appeared. First came the heavily armed swordsmen of the family, followed by a group of small dwarves.  

And finally—  

“Waaaah!”  

A man revealed himself.  

Tall stature, robust build. Taken individually, one might think him handsome.  

But the first impression was overwhelming coldness.  

“…….”  

His utterly expressionless face played a part in that.  

He stood at the gate, slowly scanning the faces of those who had come to welcome him.  

The cheers grew even louder.  

“Yoo Tae-rang, sir!”  

“Welcome back!”  

His name was Yoo Tae-rang.  

The de facto heir of the family, a man who commanded overwhelming support within the Sword Saint family.  

And Yoo Baek-jun’s older brother.  

“Thank you.”  

Yoo Tae-rang responded to the welcoming crowd with a brief word before stepping forward.  

Attendants hurried to his side.  

“Young Master Yoo Tae-rang, we are overjoyed at your safe return. We have prepared—”  

“Save the greetings. Where is Father? I’d like to report to him immediately.”  

“Yes, I’ll inform you right away.”  

The attendants scurried about.  

Yoo Tae-rang removed his cloak, and a subordinate following him took it.  

A man with sharp, slit-like eyes and an inexplicably frivolous demeanor.  

“Hehe, nothing’s changed since I’ve been gone.”  

“Kim Mok-jun, this is the family estate. Can’t you fix that frivolous tone of yours?”  

“What can I do? It’s just how I talk.”  

“He’s right, Yeon-jeong. If you nitpick every little thing he says, you’ll be the one exhausted first.”  

“Sigh…”  

Next to Kim Mok-jun, a red-haired woman, Ha Yeon-jeong, frowned in displeasure.  

Other subordinates chimed in as well.  

Ignoring the chatter behind him, Yoo Tae-rang headed straight for the mansion.  

“…….”  

Then, his footsteps halted.  

He slowly turned his head toward where he sensed a gaze.  

A mansion at the corner of the estate.  

But no one was visible in the windows.  

“Who lives in that mansion?”  

“That would be… Yoo Baek-jun’s residence.”  

“Yoo Baek-jun.”  

Yoo Tae-rang repeated the name as if chewing on it, then shook his head as if dismissing something.  

“Must have been my imagination. Let’s go.”  

“Yes.”  

Yoo Tae-rang and his entourage departed.  

“…….”  

From the window he had been staring at, Yoo Baek-jun emerged like a ghost.  

He watched Yoo Tae-rang’s retreating figure, his hair fluttering in the cold wind.  

“It’s begun.”  

Yoo Baek-jun clicked his tongue.  

***  

The family’s grand conference room was filled with people.  

At the head sat Yoo Moo-hak, flanked by the Grand Swordsmaster as if guarding him.  

Along with the instructors and the family’s successors.  

Across from Yoo Moo-hak was Yoo Tae-rang.  

“You’ve returned.”  

“Yes.”  

The exchange between father and son, meeting after two months, was far too cold to be called a conversation.  

But no one present found it strange. To them, this was normal.  

“It took longer than expected.”  

“The matter was quite complicated. It couldn’t be helped.”  

“Tell me what happened.”  

Yoo Tae-rang recounted his experiences beyond the Gate, in Halpeon.  

How he had become involved in the dwarves’ struggle for the throne and succeeded in placing the dwarf he supported on the throne.  

“And what did you gain?”  

“As payment for their support, the King of Gnomes…”  

Yoo Tae-rang gestured behind him. The door opened, and a group of gnomes entered.  

“The gnomes have agreed to work for our family. As you know, they are exceptional magical engineers. They will further solidify our family’s foundation.”  

“Hmm, gnomes.”  

Yoo Moo-hak nodded.  

If dwarves were masters of metallurgy, gnomes were experts in magical engineering.  

Magical engineering utilizing magic stones—they combined magic and technology to create extraordinary tools.  

“Well done.”  

Yoo Moo-hak praised Yoo Tae-rang.  

A faint smile touched Yoo Tae-rang’s lips as he bowed his head. In contrast, Yoo Jung-yeon, watching this, frowned.  

It was a moment where her rival had scored points.  

“And besides that…”  

Yoo Tae-rang gestured, intending to present the other things he had brought from the other world.  

The door opened again.  

“What is it?”  

But beyond the door was something different from what Yoo Tae-rang had expected.  

Yoo Baek-jun.  

“Young Master Yoo Baek-jun?”  

“Yoo Baek-jun?”  

Yoo Tae-rang’s brow furrowed, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.  

The man standing there was nothing like the Yoo Baek-jun he remembered.  

“Yoo Baek-jun, you’re late. What’s the matter?”  

“My apologies for interrupting this auspicious occasion, but I have urgent news to deliver.”  

“Urgent news?”  

“Yes.”  

Yoo Baek-jun reached behind him and threw something forward.  

What he threw was a person.  

“This is…”  

None other than—  

“Shin Woo-hyun.”  

“Shin Woo-hyun?”  

At Yoo Baek-jun’s words, Yoo Tae-rang’s face turned as cold as ice.