The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 125

The room was enveloped in silence.

The Poison King furrowed his brow, staring at me. I returned his gaze with a calm expression.

As this chilly silence lingered,『Hahahahaha—!!!』

Yu Chun-gil burst into laughter, seemingly thrilled. The loudness was only audible to me.

『You rascal. I wondered what you were up to, but to think you’d do something so cute.』

Yu Chun-gil laughed continuously, finding the unexpected amusing. His laughter was incredibly annoying, but I had to ignore it for now.

After a brief moment, “Young master Bang.”

The Poison King called me quietly.

“Yes, Tang Family Head.”

“The words you just said…”

Poison King’s cold eyes were fixed on me.

“It sounds like you need power to secure your position, am I right?”

At his words, I lifted the corners of my mouth. As expected, this man was perceptive.

No, rather than just perceptive, perhaps capable would be the right word? He was exceptional not only as a martial artist but also in his ability as a family head.

Compared to the head of the Bang family, he was on a whole different level. Ah, I really wanted to change my father.

Pushing aside my petty thoughts, I answered the Poison King.

“Yes, family head. I need some power.”

The Tang Family. Securing the primary right to trade with Iron Workshop, the most crucial position within it. Additionally, obtaining the exclusive trade rights for lower-tier weapons.

This meant establishing a direct trading and cooperative relationship with the Tang Family.

No other family or martial sect had accomplished such a feat.

Of course. Why would the Iron Workshop, in their right mind, agree to an exclusive trade with anyone?

People lined up endlessly just to purchase a single weapon from the Iron Workshop.

In this situation, would the Iron Workshop really proceed with an exclusive deal with me?

‘No way.’

I was confident that the Poison King would reject this proposal outright.

‘Even for the Sky Filling Flower Rain Art, this is too much.’

Even though the Sky Filling Flower Rain Art was the Tang Family’s greatest symbol, he couldn’t just give away something as significant as the Iron Workshop.

So, knowing all this, why did I bring it up?

The reason was simple.

“To become the young sect leader in the future, as you know, I don’t have many supporters.”

To explain my situation more easily and transparently, “If you don’t like it, it’s okay to propose other conditions here.”

Negotiation was all about starting with the highest price and slowly bargaining it down.

The proposed exclusive trade with the Iron Workshop was the cornerstone for this negotiation.

『For someone who seems to have no grand plan, you’re quite cunning.』

Yu Chun-gil was busy laughing, seemingly pleased with my behavior.

Damn old man. Did he not care at all that I was leveraging his influence?

‘What’s ultimately important to him is whether I become the Blue Moon Sect Leader or not.’

Just as that thought started to sour my mood,『Hahaha. But, my child.』

Yu Chun-gil looked at me with a peculiar gaze as he spoke.

『Your idea isn’t bad, but there’s one issue.』

An issue? What could he be referring to?

『It seems like you don’t fully realize your own value.』

‘Hmm?’

Value? What did he mean?

As I tried to wrap my head around his words, the Poison King, having listened to me, spoke again.

“I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

“I can comprehend the need for a supportive force, but I’m unsure if Young master Bang truly requires it.”

“… What?”

What was he talking about now? I looked at him, puzzled.

“Only those who lack strength need a backing force. It seems to me that Young master Bang doesn’t need such a thing.”

“What do you mean by-”

Ah.

Just as I was about to speak, I finally understood the words of both Yu Chun-gil and Poison King.

Yu Chun-gil was referring to my value.

I had finally realized it.

‘A Sword Saint’s successor. And…’

I had defeated a martial artist with strength far beyond the peak instead of the Poison King. Earlier in the day, I had also taken down Seven Geniuses’ Poison Dragon.

Because of these incidents,

‘I gained the title Little Sword Saint.’

From others’ perspectives, I appeared to be a remarkably strong Young master of the next generation.

In Poison King’s eyes, I might even seem like the perfect candidate to lead Blue Moon Sect in the future.

That was likely why he questioned the need for me to seek additional power for a lower position.

‘Tsk.’

He cooled his head. It was fortunate that he realized it just in time. This meant he had to change his perspective.

“Isn’t it true that the more power one has, the better? And I think that even if this isn’t the Sky Filling Flower Rain Art for the Tang family, it’s still not a bad thing.”

“Why is it not a bad thing?”

“If you handle this transaction well, the Tang family can gain me as a valuable piece.”

“……”

『Oh……』

Yu Chun-gil laughed darkly upon hearing my words.

『Now that’s something that pleases me.』

He wore an expression that showed his complete satisfaction.

The Poison King’s brow furrowed upon hearing the words.

“… That’s an arrogant statement.”

Gaining me would be a huge advantage for the Tang family.

To say such a thing to the Tang family, one of the Five Great Families, was indeed arrogant.

But it didn’t matter.

“It’s not arrogance.”

Didn’t Yu Chun-gil say something?

‘Think of your own value.’

That was advice. Even though I almost let it slip by unconsciously, it was indeed advice.

It was important to utilize my current value, or more precisely, the value the Poison King was seeing.

“That’s not arrogance?”

“Yes. Arrogance is merely the bluff of those without qualifications. I am different.”

“……”

The Poison King said nothing further.

His attitude seemed to suggest he wanted to hear more.

So, I continued.

“I will become the World’s Greatest.”

“!”

“And it won’t take too long.”

I dared to speak of becoming the World’s Greatest in front of one of the world’s top five.

The Poison King’s eyes widened at my words.

『Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!』

Yu Chun-gil burst out laughing as soon as the words left my mouth.

He laughed until tears welled up in his eyes, clearly finding it utterly hilarious.

『Haha!! Haha… Haha!!! To say such a thing yourself… Hahaha!!』

Stop laughing, you crazy old man.

I was already holding back my embarrassment; his laughter was not helping.

Barely managing to ignore him, I continued my words.

“If, at that time, I were in a transactional relationship with the Tang family. Would it be good for me? Or good for the Tang family?”

“……”

“This is an opportunity I am giving you. An opportunity to be on my side.”

Incidentally, he could also obtain the Sky Filling Flower Rain Art. Isn’t that a good thing, after all?

“… Huh.”

The Poison King finally let out a bitter laugh.

“… An opportunity? To the great Tang family?”

I felt icy terror creeping in, as though I might die here.

“It is indeed an opportunity. How could it not be?”

This was a moment to push forward. It was too late to stop now.

I needed to recall something.

‘What can I show from here?’

Before the Tang Family Head and the Tang family, with utmost elegance and arrogance, as if daring them to join hands with me.

I lowered my gaze and regulated my breath.

What would the gaze of a strong person looking down be like? There was no need to ponder.

There was one right beside me.

The one who had been called the world’s ultimate and the strongest ever known.

I just had to imitate him.

“!”

The Poison King’s eyes changed.

『Huh huh.』

Yu Chun-gil responded to my changed posture and gaze.

『Geez… What is with that insolent look…? It makes me want to hit you.』

Yu Chun-gil seemed irritated, not knowing whom I was imitating.

Seeing his reaction, it seemed like I imitated well.

“Soon, the Tang Family head will realize. That this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“…….”

The Poison King narrowed his eyes at my calm words.

I hid my tension behind my back and eagerly awaited the Poison King’s response.

There was a chance I might die here if things went wrong.

But despite the fear, an inexplicable assurance welled up within me when I looked into the eyes of the Poison King.

For some reason, that was how I felt.

While I was maintaining my composure, the Poison King whispered to me.

“Would you give me some time to think?”

I chuckled at his words.

“Take all the time you need.”

We understood each other.

* * *

Left alone in the main family’s room, the Poison King recalled the recent events with a sober gaze. He remembered the young man who dared to claim that he was the one offering a helping hand to the Tang family.

‘… How absurd.’

How could he be so confident? Might it be because of his talent, the name of a Sword Saint’s successor, or the backing of the Blue Moon Sect? That was a possibility, but the Poison King doubted it.

“He’s astute.”

Indeed, he thought Bang Sung-Yun seemed exceptionally astute. His arrogance was veiled with something else that pricked the Poison King’s conscience.

It wasn’t mere arrogance.

It was confidence.

It wasn’t that he was arrogant for the sake of being arrogant.

He had the conviction that he was allowed to be arrogant.

‘How intriguing.’

How was that even possible?

The Poison King found Bang Sung-Yun’s existence to be vastly different from others. He had witnessed numerous geniuses in his time — observed and interacted with them. Among them, Bang Sung-Yun was unique in an unparalleled way.

It was because…

‘He doesn’t appear to be a genius.’

Although he acknowledged Bang Sung-Yun’s cleverness, he seemed plain compared to the extraordinary talents of this era, like the Seven Geniuses.

When he first encountered Bang Sung-Yun, he doubted if he was truly the Sword Saint’s successor or if he had genuinely defeated Young Azure Sword. However, those doubts soon dissipated.

‘He defeated the Spear Demon.’

It was inconceivable for someone at the lower levels of martial arts to defeat Spear Demon.

It was mysterious how the man was still alive, let alone that Bang Sung-Yun had killed him. The fact that he even witnessed it himself made it even more astonishing. Thus, the Poison King wasn’t surprised when he heard that his own son had lost to Bang Sung-Yun that morning.

“… The World’s Greatest?”

He uttered words that no warrior in the Central Plains could dare to speak casually.

“Hah.”

The Poison King laughed as he recollected Bang Sung-Yun.

It had been many years since he last laughed aloud. He wasn’t entirely sure why he laughed — perhaps because he found the audacity amusing. No.

The Poison King examined his open palm. Tiny beads of sweat glistened on it.

It was because of Bang Sung-Yun’s final display.

‘Surely, the Tang Family head will soon realize that this is an unprecedented opportunity for our world.’

With piercing blue eyes, Bang Sung-Yun looked down on him with a smirk. Back then, the Poison King glimpsed someone else in his visage — someone who no longer existed.

An old man genuinely called the “World’s Greatest”.

Young Poison King remembered his father, the Poison Sovereign, saying, ‘That man is a monster. Never consider making him an enemy.’

Even the Poison Sovereign, reputed to be the greatest in the history of the Tang family, called him a monster and cautioned against him.

‘Moreover, if circumstances allow, try to befriend him. You can’t control a monster, but fortunately, such men don’t turn on their friends.’

‘Keep that in mind.’

“…”

Recalling his father’s emphatic advice, the Poison King pondered as he pulled out a letter.

“Friendship.”

Muttering that word, the Poison King deliberated. Though not entirely pleased by the notion, he thought there was something even better than friendship. Pondering over it, he began to write on the letter.

To the head of the Bang Family, the letter started with those words.