“I, I admit defeat-”

The first generation disciple of the Dao of Zen Temple admitted defeat.

“…….”

“-”

However, the cheering could not continue immediately.

Despite this being the shortest match in the preliminaries for the Third Tournament Stage…

Despite the deafening roar and the gust created by the formidable internal ki that shook the stage…

Nobody could easily react.

“Winner, Kim Hae-Yi!”

But once the judge announced the name of the victor…

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!

Waaaaaah—-

People shouted loudly and started to get excited.

“Wow. Did you see that?”

“No. Did you?”

“No! I couldn’t see a thing!”

“Yeah, I couldn’t see it!”

People who were not martial artists had not seen anything.

Nonetheless, they couldn’t hide their excitement.

“How strong is he?!”

“Holy shit! I knew the guy who qualified in the shortest period of time had to be fire! What a jackpot!”

The first generation disciple of the Dao of Zen Temple… They had seen the dragon-shaped gust of wind caused by his palm art.

That dignified yet somber power allowed people to feel his strength.

But the one who won was Kim Hae-Yi.

“Yeah.”

One old man quietly mumbled. His voice was shaking.

“It is always that case that the truly strong cannot be seen by the people.”

The old man recalled something from decades ago.

“His Majesty and my liege had been the same.”

When the current Queen, Tamahi, had sparred against the former King…

She had defeated the king without even breaking a sweat during the spar that would confirm her position as the crown princess.

The regular people had not been able to see what had happened in that match.

However, they were certain about one thing.

‘Strength does not have to be seen.’

Queen Tamahi.

Those were the words she said in the spot where she was confirmed to become the future Queen of the Lan Kingdom.

Those words remained etched in the hearts of the people of Lan.

“…At least one proper successor candidate has appeared.”

As the old man mentioned, people couldn’t help but cheer the man who easily defeated the Dao of Zen Temple disciple with such amazing abilities that could not be seen by regular people.

Because this competition was being done to choose the future of the Lan Kingdom.

Showing mercy like the Snow Flower Sect’s Hyun Seong was good too, but…

As a kingdom with a history of the strongest person becoming the ruler, the citizens cheered for strength.

“Who is this again? Kim Hae-Yi?”

“Hooooo. Where did such a person come from?”

Furthermore, Kim Hae-Yi was someone who was not well-known.

However…

“He qualified in the shortest period of time?”

“He sliced a Sword Ki Stone with one move? Are you sure about that?”

He wasn’t completely unknown.

He had already proved himself once.

Peek.

Furthermore, people had seen something else.

“…….”

It was the Sword Ghost, who had been quiet but suddenly jumped up.

“…….”

“…….”

There were also the other competitors who were looking at Kim Hae-Yi with vicious gazes.

The reaction of his competitors made Kim Hae-Yi’s presence clearly felt for the spectators.

Waaaaaa-

The cheering quieted down.

As people all looked at Kim Hae-Yi…

“…….”

The first generation disciple of the Dao of Zen Temple, who was standing there with his head down after admitting defeat…

A shadow appeared in front of him. He raised his head.

“That was a magnificent Dragon.”

He looked at the hand that Kim Hae-Yi was offering him.

“!”

Kim Hae-Yi did not show any emotion as the man looked up at him with wide eyes.

He just said something else.

“Furthermore, that Dragon is capable of being more free.”

The Wind Dragon Palm.

The martial arts that the man had used…

“So why are you keeping it tied down?”

Kim Hae-Yi calmly continued.

“The dao is important, but…”

The Dao of Zen Temple.

It was a place where people focused on the dao while training themselves.

“The wind is not something that is tied down.”

“!”

The words that Kim Hae-Yi made the man feel as if thunderbolts had struck him.

“You already possess such a large wind so I don’t think it would be a bad idea to let it free.”

“Ah.”

The man subconsciously gasped.

He reached out his hand.

He grabbed Kim Hae-Yi’s hand with both hands.

“T, thank you very much. Noble Warrior.”

He subconsciously bowed again.

His body was still shaking.

He was no longer bowing from defeat and shame.

His body was not shaking in fear.

His body was shaking from excitement and enlightenment.

“It was nothing. I just said something that you already know.”

Kim Hae-Yi’s words…

The man stood up, politely held Kim Hae-Yi’s hand and shook his head.

“That’s not true, Noble Warrior. Timing is important when it comes to words. It is not easy to say the right things at such important times.”

“Hoo.”

Kim Hae-Yi started smiling.

“It sounds like you’ve been training for a long time?”

The man bowed his head again.

“Thank you for the lesson.”

“It wasn’t much.”

The man let go politely while Kim Hae-Yi let go with a natural movement.

“It was a good match.”

The defeated man said that with a refreshed look on his face and Kim Hae-Yi slightly nodded his head.

He then walked off the stage and headed for the waiting room.

– Heavenly Demon, hey strong Heavenly Demon! Our human wanted me to tell you that you are good at acting like a good person!

“Pfft.”

A twisted smile appeared on the Heavenly Demon’s face before disappearing.

He raised his head to look toward Cale.

Cale flinched when they made eye contact.

‘Is he glaring at me?’

He had told Raon to say those words to the Heavenly Demon as a compliment, but… ‘That bastard is a bit twisted, so I don’t know how he will react.’

He heard a sound transmission from the Heavenly Demon at that moment.

– I’ve always been pretty good at acting like a good person. Being nice, being benevolent…

“Ha.”

As Cale scoffed in disbelief…

– It’s quite fun.

The Heavenly Demon said that and returned to the waiting room, disappearing from the stage.

Boom–!

“All of today’s matches are now complete! Please keep order as you exit!”

A drum announced the end of today’s matches and they heard some announcements about heading out.

People were still full of excitement as they discussed the matches both in the stands and as they walked out.

“…….”

“Mm. Boss?”

But the Ten Heavenly Tigers…

The five members of the Ten Heavenly Tigers did not move or even say anything.

The leader, Blue Tiger, quietly watched the door Kim Hae-Yi had disappeared through before looking away.

“…….”

“…….”

As his four subordinates looked at him…

He opened his mouth to speak.

“Did you see what it was?”

Nobody could answer him.

The Blue Tiger sent a sound transmission.

– It was a sword.

“!”

Two of his subordinates’ eyes opened wide.

– Sword? It wasn’t palm art?

– I thought it was palm art.

The Blue Tiger shook his head.

“It was a sword. I’m certain that was a sword art.”

It was such a high-leveled sword art that even the Blue Tiger could not easily follow it.

Kim Hae-Yi.

From top to bottom…

He had just made one movement with his hand.

There was nothing in his hand, but his body, posture, even his hand…

Everything was definitely a sword.

“…We are heading back.”

The Blue Tiger was feeling antsy.

‘My liege.’

His one and only liege…

He needed to quickly get to the Alliance leader.

He needed to inform him.

‘Kim Hae-Yi.’

This guy is different.

It had been a long time since the Blue Tiger felt the same ‘martial ability’ as when he first met the Alliance leader.

He had felt this kind of thrill for the second time in his life.

Once even all of the Ten Heavenly Tigers disappeared…

“…….”

The Snow Flower Sect’s Hyun Seong, who had disappeared earlier, revealed herself where the Blue Tiger had been.

Hyun Seong slowly walked down to where he had been before looking down.

“…It seems true that the alliance was just a mask to cover its ugliness.”

“Elder-nim.”

One woman popped out of the shadows.

She spoke to Hyun Seong in a low voice.

“…Apparently the Dark Pulse has attacked some of the competitors.”

Hyun Seong asked.

“Do you believe that?”

“…I believe the evidence, but… I cannot determine the validity of the evidence.”

Hyun Seong closed her eyes.

She thought about how the Ten Heavenly Tigers, people who only follow the Alliance leader’s orders, showed up at the Lan Kingdom’s capital and at all three of the Tournament Stages.

“It looks like I will need to prepare for the main tournament.”

She sent a sound transmission at the same time.

– It looks like we will need to dig into the Cooperative Alliance’s side.

She looked toward the center of the kingdom.

‘Her Majesty.’

The Lan Kingdom’s capital.

The Queen’s people should be all over this place.

‘What are you thinking?

I’m sure you know about all of this, so…

Why are you not making a move?

Maybe-’

The successor for the Lan Kingdom.

The next ruler…

Maybe this sweet position-

‘It might be a trap.’

Hyun Seong, who sought power but knew that she should not fall into the swamp of desire, still had firm and focused eyes.

* * *

“Alliance leader-nim.”

The Chief Advisor of the Cooperative Alliance.

He was at a small manor located outside the Lan Kingdom’s capital.

Within the manor…

In the C shaped main manor…

A small villa at the center of the inner garden…

He stood in front of that villa and bowed respectfully.

“The Blue Tiger says he has something to report.”

He received a sound transmission.

– Tell him to come in.

“Yes sir.”

He turned his head and addressed the Blue Tiger.

“Please head inside.”

“…….”

The Blue Tiger silently nodded and walked into the villa.

Tap.

The Chief Advisor’s gaze sank down while looking at the closed door.

‘I really don’t like this bastard.’

The Blue Tiger and the Ten Heavenly Tigers…

The ten tigers only moved for the Alliance leader.

They didn’t even listen to the orders from the Chief Advisor.

It would be better to call them a special organization within the Cooperative Alliance.

As their leader, the Blue Tiger kept basic levels of respect but oddly had a tendency to look down on the Chief Advisor.

He was only loyal to the Alliance leader.

‘It’s a relief that the Alliance leader has a good grasp on that bastard’s collar.’

Otherwise, the Blue Tiger would have been a major headache.

“Tsk.”

He quietly clicked his tongue before heading out of the villa and heading for the main manor.

There were still lots of meetings to attend.

“Chief Advisor-nim.”

He turned his head after hearing his subordinate call out to him as he entered the meeting room.

“Apparently it was people from the Snow Flower Sect who found the evidence.”

Smile.

The corners of his subordinate’s lips twisted up.

“They will end up suspecting the Dark Pulse.”

All of the planted evidence showed it was the Dark Pulse’s doing.

“Tsk.”

However, the Chief Advisor clicked his tongue and his face turned cold.

“You must think Hyun Seong is an idiot.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Hyun Seong is the one who put the sect leader in her current place. That woman is extremely suspicious of everything. We must make sure our traces are not discovered!”

The subordinate quickly bowed after hearing his stern voice.

“Yes sir! There is no chance of that happening.”

“Good. Make sure to report in frequently.”

“Yes sir.”

The Chief Advisor looked away.

She could see a mile of reports of the Lan Kingdom as well as the different

“…Small sacrifices are necessary for the greater good.”

He focused on the report again.

On the other hand, the Blue Tiger walked into the manor and knelt down in front of a closed door.

“My liege.”

Chhh.

The door automatically opened to the side.

This was all done through internal ki.

The Blue Tiger did not get shocked at the formidable amount of internal ki and its capabilities.

“What is going on?”

The Alliance leader was seated in lotus position inside the open door.

She was a woman in her mid-fifties, her name was Hwa In.

She was a highest-level expert, the current Alliance leader of the Cooperative Alliance.

“I believe we found a rat, Alliance leader-nim.”

Once she heard the Blue Tiger’s comment…

“…….”

She opened her eyes.

The old expert’s gaze was deep.

“A rat?”

“Yes, My liege.”

The Blue Tiger knelt down and his body sank low.

He seemed to be kowtowing as he continued.

“I believe it is the rat you were looking for, my liege.”

Shh.

Hwa In got up and slowly walked toward the Blue Tiger.

“Blue Tiger.”

He lifted his head up.

Hwa In was in front of him.

Not looking like a woman in her fifties, but…

Looking like a teenage girl.

“Yes, my liege.”

She looked similar to someone that the Dark Pulse’s Pao Seo Tae knew.

So Hee.

The wanderer.

The now younger Hwa In looked exactly like So Hee.

Hwa In had suddenly appeared in the past as the former Alliance leader’s hidden heir.

She had been living for the Cooperative Alliance since she was thirty.

Nobody knew what she looked like when she was young.

However, the Blue Tiger had seen Hwa In’s true appearance.

She had always been this young.

The same girl who had stepped on Pao Seo Tae spoke to Blue Tiger.

“I thought the rat was in the Eastern Empire. But it is in the Lan Kingdom?”

“It is only a hypothesis, but it is suspected, my liege.”

So Hee had an odd gaze.

“Who do you think is the rat?”

“Kim Hae-Yi.”

“Hooo.”

She let out a quiet gasp and the Blue Tiger calmly continued.

“I felt the same excitement I felt the first time I met you, my liege.”

“!”

So Hee’s pupils started shaking.

She smiled at him.

“What you said sounds quite reliable.”

The Blue Tiger.

This child was quite intuitive.

Furthermore, he was completely loyal to her.

That was why So Hee let him see her true appearance and kept him by her side.

“You may leave.”

“Yes, My liege.”

She mumbled to herself once Blue Tiger left.

“Ahn Roh Man’s helper, that AI is in the Lan Kingdom… And it is Kim Hae-Yi-”

Ahn Roh Man was scheduled to become the Imperial Crown Prince of the Eastern Empire.

The AI helping him…

The two bastards who will become poisons to this new world…

So Hee was looking for the dangerous, no, the annoying rat.

“I hope this is actually the rat.”

Those Transparent Blood bastards would finally stop their complaints if they found the rat.

So Hee looked out the window.

It was still bright outside.

“When was the main tournament again?”

Although the preliminaries were not over yet…

Around the time of the main tournament…

“I should go give him a visit.”

Kim Hae-Yi.

That should be the perfect time to go kill that bastard.

* * *

“I believe that the ones who left evidence to frame us after killing the competitors are from the Cooperative Alliance.”

Pao Seo Tae commented with a stiff look on his face.

Cale sighed after hearing that.

‘This place is quite complicated.

I just want to get a look at the Queen’s husband.

Well, I need to take care of that guy, but…

Why are there so many issues here?

Should I just infiltrate the palace?’

That was not easy because of the formation barrier.

‘Mm.’

The contemplating Cale heard a relaxed and calm voice.

“Can’t we just get rid of them?”

Cale turned toward the direction of the voice.

The Heavenly Demon was smiling while looking at him.

Cale looked at him and nonchalantly commented.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yes. This is fun.”

The Heavenly Demon was enjoying this new world very much.

“…….”

As Cale’s face slowly turned to a scowl…

Alberu walked over to him.

“Come outside for a bit.”

“Outside?”

He was talking about outside the game.

Alberu handed Cale a small letter.

< We found a way to connect the portal in the Black Castle. >

< We also found clues to reveal the crimes of the Transparent ©. >

This was some welcomed news from Rosalyn.

It was time to head back out to Earth 3 after a long time to do some work.

—

Translator’s Comments

Finally the portal!

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