CFZ

Criminals? What do you mean, criminals?!"
"What is this nonsense you're saying now?"

The members of the Azure Dragon Division reacted explosively to my words.
Suddenly storming in, calling someone a criminal, and declaring executions—it was understandable they’d be flustered.
Among them, some voices stood out more.
"The Division Leader collaborating with heretics—! That’s absurd nonsense!"

"To say there’s a connection to the Demonic Cult? Ridiculous!"
They were furious about the accusations against Ilcheon Sword.
Ilcheon Sword.
A man rumored to be the closest to becoming one of the Ten Great Martial Masters.

Since joining the Alliance, he had achieved significant accomplishments during the Justice-Demonic War, earning his position as the Azure Dragon Division Leader for both his feats and his extraordinary cultivation level.
Some even said:
"Ilcheon Sword might ascend to the position of Alliance Leader in the near future."
With ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the Divine Dragon Division gone and the Sword Saint stepping down, Ilcheon Sword was considered the most viable candidate.

Though that rumor had faded somewhat with the return of the Divine Dragon Division, Ilcheon Sword’s value had not diminished.
In Zhongyuan, Ilcheon Sword was viewed as a future guardian of justice and chivalry.
"Justice and chivalry."

To me, those words were nothing but irritating hypocrisy.
"This is slander!"
The members of the Azure Dragon Division protested collectively. Their loyalty was admirable, I’ll give them that.

"Slander?"
I chuckled at their claim, still letting my voice resonate with inner energy.
The members flinched at the sound.

"Y-yes, slander!"
"If this isn’t slander, then what else could it be…!"
Though they were hesitant, they showed no signs of retreating.
It was commendable—a well-organized unit.

"Yes, commendable indeed."
On the surface, that is. What lay beneath would only be revealed upon digging.
"What authority does the Star Dragon Division Leader have to carry out such actions?!"

"Indeed! This is unacceptable!"
I smiled and asked:
"Why do you assume I lack the authority?"

"That’s because…"
Thud.
I tossed a wooden token onto the ground.
"Ah…!!"

"That’s…!"
Their eyes widened like saucers as they saw the token.
Inscribed with the word Alliance, it had only one meaning.
Acting on behalf of the Alliance Leader.

This token granted the bearer the right to act in the Alliance’s name without interference.
Currently, only three people besides the Alliance Leader held such authority.
The token I carried had been handed to me directly by Muk Yeon.
After throwing the token, I spread my energy further and spoke.

"Have you forgotten the reason the Star Dragon Division was established?"
The Star Dragon Division, newly created by the Martial Alliance, had one purpose:
"The Star Dragon Division exists to eliminate demons and execute traitors who oppose the Alliance."

While previous divisions like the Sword Division were created to deal with demonic beasts,
the Star Dragon Division was founded solely to deal with humans.
"And as its leader, I hold the right and authority to execute any criminal deemed guilty in the name of the Martial Alliance."
The Star Dragon Division operated independently of the Alliance Leader’s orders, with the autonomy to take action.

"I have judged Ilcheon Sword to be a criminal and will proceed with his execution. Are there any objections?"
"Of course, we object!"
One man stepped forward from the group, shouting.

"Even if the Division Leader has been granted authority, this is an emotional abuse of power!"
"Is that so?"
I tilted my head, scrutinizing him. Emotional abuse? What an amusing claim.

"And why do you think that?"
"Because…"
The man hesitated, then pressed on:

"You attacked our Vice Division Leader in the past and left him incapacitated!"
"Ah, that’s true."
I had spared him despite intending to kill him—my idea of mercy.

At my casual response, the man scowled.
"And now… you’re attacking our Division Leader…"
He trailed off, biting his lip.
Since he couldn’t finish, I decided to help him.

"Yes, I beat Ilcheon Sword as well. A few strikes and he collapsed, utterly weak."
"Ugh!"

The air filled with rising hostility.
Mocking Ilcheon Sword evoked that kind of reaction. Honestly, I didn’t mind.
Respect for their leader—it was good to see.
"But."

Did they truly understand the kind of man they were venerating?
If not, they were simply pitiable.
And if they did understand, then:
"They’re all fools."

There would be no need to spare them.
"So?"
I gestured for him to continue. Seeing the opening, he quickly added:

"We know you harbor animosity toward the Azure Dragon Division. But declaring our Division Leader a criminal and seeking to execute him—this is an abuse of power!"
His voice trembled as he spoke.
He was afraid. Between my oppressive energy and the rumors of me defeating Ilcheon Sword, he couldn’t help but see me as a monster.

Even so, he managed to voice his objections. Impressive, in a way.
"For the sake of legitimacy… at least report this to the Alliance first…"
"Geum Taeseom."

"…!"
The man flinched.
Of course, he did—that was his name.

"Born in Hahnam’s Geum family. Joined the Alliance ten years ago. Age forty-two. Based on your contributions, you’re likely to be promoted to Vice Division Leader in two years."
"H-how…"
"You’ve lived a diligent life. It’s no small feat to rise to your position."

For someone from the obscure Geum family of Hahnam to achieve this rank—uncommon, to say the least.
"Still, you should have known better than to cross certain lines."
"W-what do you mean…?"

"Geum Taeseom, you’ve been backing Baekdong Sect and extorting dirty money from them four times a year. Is that correct?"
"…!!"
His eyes widened in shock.

"Furthermore, you’ve been using their information on heretical sects to bolster your achievements. That information was likely supplied by Baekdong Sect."
"I… I…"
"Justice and chivalry? What a joke."

I took a step toward him, and he stumbled backward.
"Do you truly have the right to utter those words?"
"N-no… this is… this is…"

"If you have an excuse, speak it. Whatever you say, I have evidence to refute it."
He bit his lip, his face a mixture of fear and desperation.
"This is sl… slander—!!"

Bang!
Thud.
With a loud crash, Geum Taeseom fell to his knees.

Blood trickled onto the ground as his lifeless body slumped forward, his head caved in.
"Geum Hyung!"
"This can’t be…!!!"

The others reacted violently to his death.
"Geum Taeseom had collaborated with heretics over ten times across five years. Without a valid defense, the penalty is death."
I wiped the blood off my hands and spoke coldly.

The response was enough. The atmosphere and stage were set.
"From now, I will call out the names of the guilty."
Scanning the area with icy eyes, I began naming them one by one.

"Member Oh Seokcheong. You turned a blind eye to the abduction of orphaned girls from Hwanseong Pavilion in Hubei, allowing them to be forced into prostitution. You personally engaged in depraved acts with the girls you acquired, visiting every three months. And yet, you have three daughters of your own."
A man with thinning hair, Oh Seokcheong, covered his mouth, trembling.
I shifted my gaze to the next target.

"Member Seok Gyeongdo. You embezzled funds from Hae Seonggwan, the Alliance’s direct supply office."
A man in his fifties, Seok Gyeongdo, visibly quivered.
Haeseong Hall was a martial arts academy created and operated by the Martial Alliance. It wasn’t open to just anyone. Children under fifteen had to pass a rigorous test, and only those with sufficient talent were accepted.

Those who passed would undergo several years of training, eventually earning the right to join the Alliance's official sword unit. Because of this, even prestigious noble families would sometimes send their less prominent descendants there.
Such was the influence of this martial arts academy.
"[You took bribes and colluded with an elder to rig the admission tests. Isn't that right?]"

The man had accepted large sums of money from various merchant groups, ensuring their children’s acceptance into Haeseong Hall.
"[For the record, that elder will also be apprehended, so you needn't worry about him.]"
As the words continued, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. A few more individuals were summoned afterward.

Each time a crime was mentioned, the reactions varied. Some grew indignant, claiming it was slander, but the fear in their eyes was unmistakable.
Did others fail to notice? Impossible. The cracks had already begun to form. I had set the stage; all that remained was to play my part.
"[You claim to pursue righteousness and honor.]"

Sching.
The sound of a sword being unsheathed came from behind me.
"[I’ll ask again.]"

I applied more pressure, increasing the tension. This wasn’t killing intent or battle aura—just pure, overwhelming pressure.
"[Are you truly righteous?]"

"[If you cannot answer, then I shall make the judgment myself.]"
I raised my hand.
"[You are not righteous.]"

And then I lowered it.
"[Azure Dragon Unit, execute the sinners.]"
Boom!

The moment my hand fell, several individuals burst into motion. They were already briefed and had no hesitation.
“D-Damn it…!! I—!!”
Slash!

Before he could finish his words, his head was severed by Seong Yul’s blade. He was one of those who had been harassing women at the brothel.
Before his head hit the ground, cries echoed from other parts of the hall.
“Aaargh!!!”

“Hihihi—!! Hahaha—!!”
With Bong Soon’s eerie laughter, another body was crushed to pieces. Those who had crossed the line were killed outright; those whose guilt was ambiguous had their tendons severed, left barely alive.
Huff—huff—

“D-Damn it—!!”
Some tried to resist, but it was futile. Even those at higher levels of cultivation were rendered helpless under the crushing weight of my pressure.
“L-Lord Commander…!”

“Argh—!!”
I walked forward, observing the chaos. Those whose crimes I had mentioned struggled desperately, while the expressions of others were no less grim.
They looked as if they didn’t know how to respond. Witnessing their comrades being slaughtered left them paralyzed.

Such is the nature of fractured relationships.
As one after another was dealt with, a commotion erupted at the Azure Dragon Unit’s barracks.
“What in the world is this…!!”

It was Mok Ri-seon, the head of the Sichuan branch, who appeared with a group of people.
I shifted my gaze toward him.
“L-Lord of the Star Dragon Unit, what is the meaning of this…?!”

Ah, that’s right.
"[Oh, you’re here too.]"
“…What?”

In the moment Mok Ri-seon was taken aback, I was already in front of him.
Grab!
“Gah!?”

I extended my hand and seized him by the throat.
"[Mok Ri-seon, head of the Sichuan branch. It has been confirmed that you conspired with the Celestial Stream Sect and engaged in espionage.]"
“Guh…ugh!”

"[You betrayed the Martial Alliance and colluded with the heretical sects, threatening peace. For your crimes, I will punish you here and now.]"
“W-Wait… guh…”
Crack!

Mok Ri-seon’s neck snapped, and he died a miserable death.
“Hiik—!!”
The martial artists accompanying him trembled at the sight. Among them, one stepped forward, drawing a sword and pointing it at me.

Though clearly terrified, his gaze was firm. I recognized him—he had been under observation for some time.
In the vast Sichuan branch, he was the only one with a clean record.
“…What do you think you’re doing in the Alliance’s branch?! Even if you are the Lord Commander of the main branch…!”

"[Seong Dogyeom.]"
“…!”
At the mention of his name, Seong Dogyeom, who had pointed his sword at me, froze. I spoke to him.

"[From now on, you’re the branch leader.]"
“…What? What are you saying…?”
With those words, I turned my back on him. By then, most of the situation had already been resolved.

The stench of blood filled the air, and the surviving culprits groaned in pain. Those who hadn’t been accused but had resisted were subdued.
I gradually released the pressure I had been exerting.
As my martial robes settled, I walked past the corpses, and someone approached me.

It was Seong Yul.
“…As you instructed, everything has been handled.”
“Well done.”

Had it been so long since I last wielded a blade? The glow in Seong Yul’s eyes suggested he’d awakened the Heavenly Killing Star within himself. I patted him on the shoulder.
Thump.
The glow in his eyes dimmed slightly.

As I observed this, Seong Yul added another remark.
“However, the whereabouts of the Azure Dragon Unit’s leader remain unknown.”
“Is that so?”

“…Yes. Should we look for him?”
“No need.”
I already knew where he had gone.

“Bong Soon.”
“Yes?”
Bong Soon, who had been grinning ear to ear, looked at me as I called her name. Damn it. That smile of hers was terrifying. Why does she smile like that when she’s so pretty?

“Come with me.”
“Where to?”
“You’ll see.”

I clenched my fist and spoke.
“To hunt the prey that fled.”