NABC Book 6: Chapter 24
Book 6: Chapter 24
Book 6: Chapter 24
“Of course, it’s the opportunity for the former clan heads present here to regain the position of clan head and stand by His Majesty the Emperor’s side.”
At those words, all the former clan heads fell silent.
Yeon So-hyeon saw the remnants left by the gently spreading ripples of emotion on their previously expressionless faces.
‘Indeed, this alone is slightly insufficient.’
Their lust for power was stimulated, and there was certainly anticipation for the opportunity Yeon So-hyeon would propose.
But they still hadn’t fully let go of their wariness, like snakes hissing and guarding their prey even when it was right before their eyes.
“...In that case.”
The former clan head of the Chunyu Clan spoke in a deep bass voice.
“I’d like to hear more details.”
Yeon So-hyeon grinned brightly.
“Of course. But before that...”
He raised his hand and pointed behind them.
“It seems welcoming the guests I invited comes first.”
At Yeon So-hyeon’s words, everyone turned around.
“Ho-ho, has everyone been well?”
“There are some faces I haven’t seen in a long time.”
Surprise and shock appeared on their faces as they recognized those approaching from the opposite side of the garden.
“...Are you saying this many people entered, and no one informed me?!”
As Gongsun Nakang, the owner of the mansion, flew into a rage, one of those who reached the table waved his hand.
“No, weren’t you the one who said no one should enter this garden in the first place? If they couldn’t stop us, that would be their sin.”
Who would dare stop these people?
The former clan heads of the Capital’s Sixteen Clans, the owners of this North Mang Mountain.
“Thank you all for waiting. Now, over here...”
Following Yeon So-hyeon’s guidance, they sat in a long row facing him.
It was everyone except the former clan head of the Kong Clan, who had been unable to attend due to mobility issues.
“What brings you all here?”
At Gongsun Nakang’s displeased tone, the newly joined former clan heads smiled.
“We’ve also come to hear the details about the ‘opportunity.'”
He raised his mushroom-spotted hand and pointed at Yeon So-hyeon.
“The Eldest Young Master here said everyone had to gather for the conversation to proceed, so we were waiting.”
“But we didn’t expect him to actually gather everyone.”
One of them shook his head at Yeon So-hyeon.
“He said he was confident he could persuade all the remaining clan heads, so we waited and see.”
“To actually gather all of us.”
The former clan heads of the clans Yeon So-hyeon had visited before coming to the Gongsun Clan clicked their tongues.
At those words, one former clan head cackled.
“It was rare for all of us to gather even when we were in the Capital.”
“You could count the occasions on one hand.”
The last time they had gathered in one place was when a resolution on the Northern War was made in the Imperial Palace.
To gather all of them in one place by an individual’s power, not for a major national event...
It was an achievement that could be called a great feat in itself, but Yeon So-hyeon had a calm expression as if it were nothing.
No, he felt it was still insufficient.
Yeon So-hyeon examined each former clan head as they vented their grudges in their own way and relieved their pent-up feelings.
The fabricated emotional expressions had disappeared, but they still didn’t outwardly express their lust for power.
It was a state of ‘expressionlessness.’
‘They’re not showing their expressions.’
Fifteen snakes gathered in one place.
Those snakes were sneaking glances at Yeon So-hyeon with cunning eyes while ‘pretending’ to converse among themselves.
There were different ‘degrees’ in those gazes.
Some were still wary, some were merely curious, and some had emotions of a different level.
Amidst those varying thoughts, calculations, and judgments, they were waiting for Yeon So-hyeon to speak first.
‘I shouldn’t be the first to make a proposal at this point.’
It was insufficient for now.
He had to tie their respective emotional lines into one.
He had to tie the heads of the fifteen snakes together.
Only by tying their heads together like that could he deal with a single emotional line, not heads with different emotions.
‘To make that happen, I have to shatter their expressionlessness.’
To do that...
It was the touch of power, the scent of power, the taste of power, the color of power, the joy of power, the wistfulness of power, the happiness of power...!
As vitality returned to their bodies, the will to live returned.
But at the same time, they realized.
That they no longer possessed the brilliant wit and flashing ideas of their youth.
They still had unrivaled experience and senses sharpened with age.
But that wasn’t enough.
That deficiency, that loss, struck them painfully.
“If you’ve admired it sufficiently, let’s...”
A white and beautiful hand reached out and retrieved the imperial edict from them.
Their gazes passed over the imperial edict, up the arm, and to Yeon So-hyeon’s face.
Yeon So-hyeon’s softly arched eyes met the old monsters’ faces.
The absurdly blatant desire revealed on their faces.
Those expressions were showing raw, vivid emotions that could never be feigned.
Expressions as if they would tie Yeon So-hyeon to the table, open his skull, scoop out his fresh brain, and devour it raw at any moment.
Emotions they had tried to suppress until the last moment to weigh profit and loss with thorough calculation.
Down to the last shred of those emotions.
They were revealing them all without reserve.
‘Yes, that’s the expression.’
There was no more expressionlessness.
Yeon So-hyeon smiled with satisfaction.
The snakes’ heads were tied together.
The initiative had completely shifted to Yeon So-hyeon.
“Eldest Young Master. Shouldn’t we start having a proper conversation?”
“Indeed. A lot of time has already passed.”
They began to urge Yeon So-hyeon.
Their voices were subtle and soft-spoken, but in Yeon So-hyeon’s judgment, it was different.
“As you know, we may be old men in the back room, but we’re not people with endless leisure.”
“Ahem.”
Their voices were interpreted entirely differently by Yeon So-hyeon, sounding like a massive shout.
Tell us what that opportunity is right now!
Having built up sufficient anticipation, Yeon So-hyeon opened his mouth.
“Of course, I will tell you.”
Everyone closed their mouths and stared only at Yeon So-hyeon’s lips.
“The business operator selection rights for the Chongqing city development project and the Yangtze River waterway expansion and maintenance project.”
Yeon So-hyeon’s lips fluttered.
“I’ll give you each one of the business operator selection rights for those two major projects.”
“...!”
The group stirred.
“The business operator selection rights for those two projects?”
“Securing influence over those two projects is a challenging aspect even for the current clan heads of our Sixteen Clans...”
“Indeed. If we just take the business operator selection rights, we can easily overturn the power dynamics within the clan...”
The Chongqing city development project and the Yangtze River waterway expansion and maintenance project were very far from the Capital.
For the Sixteen Clans, who had the Capital as the center of their power, it was difficult to exert influence as easily as they did in the Capital.
That was why the current clan heads were also putting in a lot of effort, but they weren’t reaping results commensurate with the resources they invested.
But what if the former clan heads here, who could project the most formidable influence, took the business operator selection rights back to their clans?
Their own return to their positions would also come within reach in one fell swoop.
“But...”
Everyone’s gazes turned to Yeon So-hyeon with questions.
“Saying you’ll give us the business operator selection rights...”
“Doesn’t that mean the Eldest Young Master possesses the business operator selection rights that even the Sixteen Clans haven’t obtained yet?”
“And not just one, but enough to give to all of us?”
Yeon So-hyeon grinned.
“It wasn’t all that difficult.”
He added briefly.
“Because currently, I, Yeon So-hyeon, am protecting Daseollang.”
At those words, strong doubt colored the faces of all the former clan heads.
“What do those kids, engaged in child’s play-level business, have to do with the business operator selection rights?”