Solo Swordmaster

“Oh, my… Please watch your words. The Princess’s soon-to-be-husband shouldn’t say such things about the clan.”

[What was wrong with that?] Though he was replying in a sarcastic tone, Limon was genuinely curious. [Surely your clan took pride in scheming, deceiving, betrayal, and acting innocent. Did it not?]

“That is true, but wouldn’t there be restrictions on our business if our reputation fell?”

[So it all comes down to money.]

“Please don’t fault us for being too materialistic. There are a lot of things to look after when you are the head of a family.”

[I’m not trying to fault you. It’s better that you’re being transparent anyway.] Limon chuckled. He understood that Wang was being so brazen for the family’s benefit and to avenge his cousin and clan.

The more brutal the criminals’ deaths were and the more information he acquired, the more the Shanghai Royal Family would go beyond recovering their fallen honor and resetting their status, which would give them even more advantages.

It was, essentially, not much different from when he asked Limon to stay out of the investigation. The difference was, of course, that he’d tried to make a deal with Limon the first time, and the second time he was flat-out ignoring him.

The first time, it was proven that there was no use trying to look good in front of Limon, so there would be no consequences for going against him when his reputation was already as low as it could be.

Of course, Limon’s reputation had only fallen because he left the investigation to Wang, but that was something the man didn’t need to care about. It was a cold-hearted decision that truly fit the Black Dragon Clan’s reputation and the head of a noble family.

[Let me confirm… What would you do if I still insisted on killing that bastard this instant?]

“Is this something you really need an answer for?”

[I do.]

“Something unfortunate would happen.”

[Really?] Even though he wasn’t there, it was like he could see Wang’s demeanor and what he was trying to tell him.

Limon calmly accepted. [Alright, then. Take him with you and do whatever you wish.]

“You are wise as always, Master of Swords.”

[This isn’t important enough for me to cause a scene and cut your head off over, after all.] His tone was apathetic, like he was too lazy to bother, and it was clear that he wasn’t bluffing.

“…”

Limon calmly continued, [I’m telling you this in advance: Be careful after you take him with you. He’s a poisonous apple.]

“Thank you for your advice.” Just as he’d done after Limon gave him clues and stepped out of the investigation, Wang thanked his priceless advice with a smile.

Limon scoffed. [Don’t be fooled. This isn’t advice. It’s a warning]

Behind his respectful demeanor and flattery, Wang had laughed at Limon’s foolishness in not thinking about his own benefit. It was Limon’s turn to laugh at Wang’s incoming doom as a result of only thinking about immediate benefits.

[If that bastard causes trouble, then you’ll be held responsible, Wang,] Limon said with a cold tone. Since Wang had his courtesy in favor of greed, everything that happened after would be on him. There was no use regretting anything later.

“That is not a concern, sir,” Wang answered nonchalantly. “As you said, Master of Swords, we are the Black Dragon Clan.”

The Black Dragon Clan’s pride and power were in deceiving everyone and never being on the receiving end. It was something Wang was certain an outsider like Limon wouldn’t be able to understand.

Limon didn’t bother to criticize the man’s certainty and instead left with a final word.

[Good luck.]

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After Limon and Wang finished their “discussion” on what to do about the young man with slit eyes and the martial artists of the Shanghai Royal Family took him away, Wei-ling headed out of the Cheonhwa Department Store.

She’d interfered because it was an emergency, but the Cheonhwa Department Store wasn’t contracted with Guardian, and cleaning up was left to Xue-reung, the head of the store’s security department.

Of course, his ability to do so was questionable since he was critically injured and most of his subordinates were gone, but Wei-ling didn’t care—she had other things on her mind.

“Why did you do that?” she asked,

[Do what?]

“Why did you let Wang take the culprit so easily.”

[What if I wanted to stop him? Are you saying I should have just made you kill the culprit anyway?]

“Is that not what you said had to be done?”

[I did,] Limon calmly agreed. He may not have seen the slit-eyed young man himself, but he could tell from the corpses and the man’s behavior that the bastard was dangerous.

Strength wasn’t the issue since even Wei-ling had beaten him, but Limon knew from experience that leaving that bastard alive would cause future trouble. As for why he left the man to Wang…

[If I’d insisted and had you kill the man, that Wang bastard would’ve done everything he could to make it a problem. He probably would’ve tried to say I killed the man because I wanted the feat to myself.]

“That’s impossible.”

[Why do you think so?]

“Aside from the fact that he would have nothing to gain from it, wouldn’t that be too ungrateful of him?” Wei-ling asked.

Limon already had to deal with backlash for leaving the investigation to Wang and not catching the culprit earlier, so it would be absurdly shameless for Wang to try doing something against him after receiving all of the benefits.

[Are you doing that on purpose, or do you really not get it?]

“What do you mean?”

[Never mind, it’s nothing. I feel like I can finally see why the Princess likes you so much.]

“…” Wei-ling frowned. It sounded like a compliment, but it felt like he was calling her ‘stupid’ for some reason.

[To answer your question, Wang would gain something out of doing that.”

“Like what?”

[Sympathy, and they say the enemy of an enemy is a friend.]

Wei-ling’s expression went stiff at the confusing statement. “So he would ruin your reputation on purpose and connect with the clans who don’t like you?”

[If you only look at possible benefits, it would be the most efficient for him.]

“…”

[What’s wrong? Does that sound too shameless?]

She agreed in silence.

Limon chuckled and went on, [Hey, Dummy… Remember this if you ever want to rise within your clan’s ranks: This is exactly what your people do.]

Wang Ki-neung wasn’t particularly cunning or shameless—he was just a member of the Black Dragon Clan.

Limon’s voice sounded light-hearted, but he meant what he was saying, and Wei-ling finally realized why Limon wasn’t angry about Wang’s disrespect and why he didn’t seem to mind his fallen reputation.

“Do you… not expect anything from our clan?” she asked.

[No, I do.]

He’d already revealed what he wanted from the Black Dragon Clan: their inherited insidiousness, their advanced tricks and schemes, and their global riches and influence.

[I just don’t trust you, that’s all.]

He never wanted trust, loyalty, conscience, or kindness from the Black Dragon Clan, and thus, he was never disappointed.

Wei-ling couldn’t stop herself from blurting out, “Even the Princess?”

[Why do you say ‘even’? She’s the least trustworthy person there.]

“Then why did you accept her hand in marriage?”

Li Chingwei had given Limon everything for the sake of their engagement, so Wei-ling looked skeptical of his distrust of her beloved princess.

His answer was short. [I don’t trust your Princess, but I’ve decided to believe her.”

“What kind of joke is that?”

[Sorry it sounds like a joke to you. This is the best I could do after your Princess put her own life on the line to get me.]

“What sort of weird relationship is that?”

[That’s just how implacable enemies on the same boat are.] Limon chuckled. After she’d proposed to him, he’d sworn on his sword that he wouldn’t go behind her back so long as she did the same.

It was not a typical marriage promise of unadulterated trust and devotion. Rather, it was closer to the opposite; it was a threat that she’d pay with her life if she ever betrayed him.

It was the best Limon could offer, and the Princess readily accepted it.

He knew he couldn’t trust the Black Dragon Clan when they went beyond not trusting him. Their relationship was based on doubt and necessity.

[I’m not Romeo, and she’s not Juliet.]

Only in novels could enemies fall in love at first sight. Limon knew all too well that the best thing that could happen between wed enemies was neither of them poisoning the other. Of course, the other Black Dragon Clan members wouldn’t trust him when they weren’t even trustful of Li Chingwei.

[Still, don’t take it too harshly. I’m not going to go against any of you as long as you don’t pull any tricks on me.]

“Even Wang?”

[Yep, even that Wang bastard,] Limon readily agreed.

Wang may have gone against him, but that was just the Seven Dragons Association doing its thing. Ever since they were coined as a demonic cult, Limon had been through all sorts of their schemes. This wasn’t enough to make him angry.

[I won’t go out of my way to help him, either.] Of course, that didn’t mean he was happy about it.

Wei-ling understood. “Are you sure that man will cause Wang trouble?”

[How would I know for sure? I’m not a prophet.] Limon would have fucked over the culprits already if his sword told him everything. As long as Wang took caution in his proceedings, whatever tricks the young man had up his sleeve might not work, and Wang could even get information out of him.

[It’d be best if you let the Princess know so that she can prepare for the worst-case scenario.]

“Must I?”

[Yeah. if there does end up being a problem, it won’t just end with a few bodies.]

It was the least he could do as Li Chingwei’s fiance and the executive of Guardian. Not to mention, he’d seen what became of a certain someone when they blindly chased after their own greed.

[A mad dog will only bite you, but a pig blindsided by greed will always cause trouble.]

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