Chapter 147. Those Who Move (5)
When I returned to my throne in the Spirit Realm, there were a lot of notifications waiting on my Observer.
They were messages sent by other Constellations while I was away.
Basically, email.
“Let’s see... this one’s from Jason...”
Jason’s message was mostly about the situation in Korea.
With Jegal Geum dead, Jason’s influence had weakened somewhat, but he was compensating for that by actively increasing the number of Contractors under him.
Jason had also taken on the role of intervening in Korea on my behalf during emergencies.
For now, there didn’t seem to be any major problems.
“Pure-White Hero... Arjuna sent one too.”
Even though I had refused the Committee’s invitation last time, Arjuna continued contacting me.
The message itself wasn’t anything special.
Just a greeting and a suggestion that we meet again sometime soon.
It seemed Arjuna wanted to maintain a friendly relationship with me separately from the Committee.
“This one’s Bradamante...”
I had assigned Bradamante to gather information from all over the world, not just East Asia.
For now, I had her focusing on Ha Mina and the Vessels.
Unfortunately, it didn’t look like she had uncovered much yet.
“Wait...”
A Constellation name I had never seen before appeared in the message list.
“S-rank Constellation ‘Taoist of Transformation’...?”
That Constellation had sent me five messages already.
He had even sent one five minutes ago.
"..."
I checked the contents of each message one by one, then sat there thinking for a moment.
Afterward, I opened a communication window and contacted Princess Longji.
“Princess Longji, I have something I’d like to ask.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
As always, Princess Longji answered with an elegant and dignified demeanor.
“The S-rank Constellation ‘Taoist of Transformation’... isn’t that Yang Jian, the Taoist who used to belong to the same faction as you?”
Yang Jian.
A Taoist who had supported Taigong Wang, the protagonist of Investiture of the Gods.
He was widely identified with Erlang Shen, or Erlang Zhenjun, the god of flood control and subjugator of monsters.
A prodigy with outstanding abilities, including the art of seventy-two transformations.
In Journey to the West, he even competed against Sun Wukong in transformations.
At one point, Sun Wukong had decided he couldn’t beat him and fled.
"..."
But for some reason, Princess Longji fell silent.
They had both fought on the Chan Sect’s side against the Shang Dynasty.
They should have known each other fairly well.
Why was she acting like this?
“Princess Longji?”
“N-No. It’s nothing.”
Princess Longji cleared her throat.
“Yes, that is Yang Jian.”
“Is he not part of the Mountain-Sea Alliance?”
The Mountain-Sea Alliance, led by Wen Zhong, gathered Constellations related to Investiture of the Gods, regardless of whether they came from the Chan Sect or Jie Sect.
That meant Yang Jian should have belonged to it as well.
“Yang Jian... left the Mountain-Sea Alliance several years ago.”
“Did he?”
“Yes. Since then, I believe he has been acting independently.”
“Independently...”
“Um... did Yang Jian do something?”
Princess Longji sounded more hesitant than usual.
“He sent me a message.”
“A message?”
“He said he wanted to meet and talk.”
From the tone of the messages, it seemed like he wanted to bring me over to his side.
He also appeared to know that I had rejected the Committee’s invitation.
"..."
“Why are you acting like that?”
“No. It’s nothing.”
Princess Longji still seemed slightly strange.
“Yang Jian is... a very capable person. Recently, he has been heavily involved with the White Forest Alliance.”
“The White Forest Alliance...”
“Why not meet him once? I believe it would be useful for you.”
If Princess Longji said that, then he was probably someone worth meeting.
I had already decided to actively make contact with other factions anyway.
Meeting him wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“I see...”
I slowly nodded.
But.
“I’ll put off meeting him directly until later.”
“What?”
“If I immediately agree just because he asks to meet, I’ll look too easy.”
"...!"
That was right.
At the moment, I was trying to raise my value.
If I happily agreed to meet him the instant he asked, that would make me look cheap.
I need to play a little hard to get.
The tone of his five accumulated messages had gradually changed as well.
The later ones were becoming more and more urgent.
Of course, there’s no need to be excessively rude.
I had unintentionally ignored five messages already.
I should at least answer soon.
“For now, I plan to communicate by message.”
“By message... so you don’t intend to show your face?”
“Yes. There’s no need to open a communication window yet.”
The people I regularly communicated with through windows were Jason, Princess Longji, Lee Gyu, Bradamante, and Wen Zhong.
I planned to wait a while before adding Yang Jian to that group.
“I understand.”
Princess Longji nodded.
“I trust you’ll handle it well, Nameless King.”
“Yes. Thank you for answering my questions.”
That ended the communication with Princess Longji.
I projected several screens into the air to check the situation on the ground while beginning to type a reply on the Observer keyboard.
The message said that I appreciated him reaching out, but I was currently too busy to meet in person.
Sorry for brushing you off.
With that thought, I sent the message.
But one minute later.
[A message has arrived from S-rank Constellation ‘Taoist of Transformation.’]
“Huh?”
I was slightly surprised.
I hadn’t expected a reply that quickly.
[Sender: Taoist of Transformation]
[Subject: Greetings.]
[Body:
Greetings.
Thank you very much for replying. Considering your brilliant activities in so many areas recently, I fully understand that you must be extremely busy.
Even so, I would be grateful if you could spare even a little time for me. I will adjust entirely to whatever time is convenient for you.
I sincerely hope for a favorable response.]
It was an extremely polite message.
He hadn’t complained even once about being ignored until now.
He was thoroughly lowering himself to make the meeting happen.
“He’s being this polite... now I feel kind of bad.”
Would it be better to just meet him?
I could feel myself wavering a little.
“No. First...”
I immediately began typing again.
“I’ll avoid answering the request to meet and instead ask how he found my unique number.”
These messages worked like text messages on a phone.
You needed someone’s unique number in order to send one.
Since the Taoist of Transformation and I had never interacted before, he must have obtained my number from somewhere.
Let’s see how he reacts...
I sent the message.
Once again, a reply arrived within a minute.
[Sender: Taoist of Transformation]
[Subject: My Apologies.]
[Body:
First, I would like to sincerely apologize.
I will be completely honest. The reason I know your unique number is because I purchased that information from an Apostle.
I sincerely apologize for obtaining your number without permission. However, I hope you understand that this was only because I wanted very much to establish contact with you.
I would be deeply grateful if you could forgive me with generosity.]
“Hmm... so he bought it from an Apostle.”
It probably wasn’t Number 49.
In that case, it was likely Number 36, the one who had connected me with Xiahou En, Jason, and Lee Gyu.
That bastard had a history of selling me the location of Bellerophon’s throne too.
I should get revenge sometime... No, I should use this as leverage to squeeze something out of him.
Thinking that, I sent another reply.
Another answer came almost immediately.
Before long, Yang Jian and I were exchanging messages almost like a chat.
[Sender: Taoist of Transformation]
[Subject: Thank You.]
[Body:
Thank you very much for your generous forgiveness.
I have absolutely no intention of abusing your unique number. I will not spread it anywhere either, so please be at ease.
Even so, I would like to sincerely apologize for my wrongdoing.
If only for that reason, would you allow me to meet you in person?]
[Sender: Taoist of Transformation]
[Subject: Understood.]
[Body:
Since you put it that way, I will also speak frankly.
Separate from my personal desire to meet the renowned ‘Nameless King’ in person, there is something important I wish to discuss with you.
I am aware that your Contractor recently entered China.
Major changes are about to occur there.
I wanted to speak with you about that.]
[Sender: Taoist of Transformation]
[Subject: Of Course.]
[Body:
Naturally, I am also heavily involved in China.
I say this only because it is you, but I am currently supporting the White Forest Alliance, the largest organization among the so-called Orthodox Faction in China. At present, I possess considerable influence over the White Forest Alliance.
I believe that should make the nature of my proposal clear.
This could also become an excellent opportunity for you.]
[Sender: Taoist of Transformation]
[Subject: My Apologies.]
[Body:
I had no intention of playing word games with you.
Then I will explain in more detail.
As you may already know, Asmodeus, commander of Pandemonium’s Eastern Region First Command, is expected to mobilize his legions soon.
In order to stop him, the strength of China’s Contractors must be united. However, the conflict between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions is a serious obstacle.
Before Asmodeus begins his full-scale invasion, that conflict must be settled.
For that reason, I intend to recruit your Contractor, Kang Yujin, into the White Forest Alliance.
Kang Yujin’s presence alone is sufficient to shatter the balance of power between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions.
Through that, the two sides can be unified.]
[Sender: Taoist of Transformation]
[Subject: Correct.]
[Body:
Your analysis is accurate.
At present, peaceful cooperation between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions is impossible.
Therefore, the most realistic solution is for one side to subjugate and absorb the other.
That is why I want Kang Yujin.
If Kang Yujin is placed at the forefront and we eliminate the Black Dragon Society Chairman and its other executives, the entire Unorthodox Faction will surrender.
Then the Orthodox and Unorthodox forces can be unified against Pandemonium.
The reverse cannot work. The members of the Orthodox Faction possess far too much resentment toward the Unorthodox Faction.
Even if Kang Yujin were to defeat Yang Weizheng, leader of the White Forest Alliance, the Orthodox Contractors would never submit. Instead, their hostility toward the Unorthodox Faction would only burn more fiercely.
Using Kang Yujin to eliminate the Black Dragon Society’s executives is the most certain way to unify China’s Contractors.]
[Sender: Taoist of Transformation]
[Subject: I Forgot to Clarify.]
[Body:
I said that we would use Kang Yujin to eliminate the Black Dragon Society’s executives, but I do not mean that Kang Yujin would have to do everything alone.
The White Forest Alliance would naturally provide its full support. Yang Weizheng, who is currently in Chongqing, would also participate.
I have no intention of pushing all responsibility onto your Contractor, so please do not misunderstand that point.
I hope I have not angered you.]
“Hmm. So that’s his plan.”
After exchanging messages with Yang Jian for about thirty minutes, I had gained quite a lot.
Since I carefully pushed and pulled during the conversation, Yang Jian had ended up revealing his entire plan.
Thanks to that... I know exactly what the White Forest Alliance is thinking.
Of course, I hadn’t uncovered some astonishing secret.
I had already suspected they might be thinking along those lines.
If I were in Yang Jian’s position, I probably would have come up with the same plan.
Either way, now that I knew the White Forest Alliance’s actual policy, it would be much easier to decide how to proceed.
I had already secured Gremory’s cooperation as well.
Everything was moving smoothly.
So what should I do about Yang Jian...
He had given me this much information.
Maybe I should agree to meet him once.
Or should I continue playing hard to get and manipulate him a little more?
Meet him or not, meet him or not, meet him or not...
Leaning back in my chair, I sank into deep thought by myself.
Princess Longji sat curled up in her chair, staring overhead.
What she saw was an endless expanse of space.
There were undoubtedly many Constellations’ thrones scattered throughout the Spirit Realm, but because the distance between each one was so vast, it often felt as though she were completely alone in the universe.
Normally, that feeling disappeared when she turned on her Observer and watched the world below.
But right now, Princess Longji had turned every screen off.
She had also blocked all communications with other Constellations.
Alone in her silent throne, she sat curled up.
“Yang Jian...”
Her lips moved as she quietly murmured the name of her former comrade.
But nothing changed in the vast universe.
The name of her old companion scattered into the emptiness without even producing an echo.
A deep sadness welled up inside her.
Princess Longji quietly closed her eyes.
