âThe First Blade Division has returned and reports as ordered.â
At the sound of a firm voice, the Sword Saint, leader of the Martial Alliance, responded without hesitation.
âI see. Did everything go smoothly?â
âYes, my lord.â
Thirty men had joined the missionânone were lost.
A few bore minor wounds, but nothing severe.
Their flawless execution of the mission proved why they were considered second only to the Sword Emperor in reliability.
âYouâve done well.â
âIt was an honor to serve the Alliance.â
The First Blade Leader, Song Jongho, spoke with resolute conviction.
The Sword Saint nodded and began walking, prompting Song Jongho to follow without delay.
âHow is the prisoner?â
âHeâs been restrained and locked in the inner chamber.â
âDid you manage to extract any information?â
â...â
Song Jongho hesitated briefly before replying.
âHeâs unusually tight-lipped. We couldnât extract any meaningful details. My apologies.â
âHm.â
The Sword Saintâs sigh was faint but heavy.
It was disappointing, but he did not blame the First Blade Leader.
âEven the Death Echo Sword couldnât make him speakâ¦?â
Song Jongho, known as the Death Echo Sword, had earned his moniker because anyone who heard his voice usually didnât leave alive.
Despite the sinister title, Song Jongho was a righteous man who had spent years as a shadow operative for the Martial Alliance.
Once an assassin, now a loyal blade of the righteous sects.
He was the Allianceâs dagger in the darkâsilent and lethal.
âIf even the Death Echo Sword failed, the prisoner must be formidable.â
The Sword Saint frowned.
Song Jongho was chosen precisely because of his expertise in extracting information, yet even he had failed.
âThis complicates things.â
There were still methods left, but if none yielded results, the Sword Saint would have few options remaining.
The most troubling optionâ¦
âCalling in the Blade King.â
Torture and information extraction had long been the Tang Clanâs specialty.
But with their recent disgrace and exile, seeking their help wasnât feasible.
âTch.â
The Sword Saintâs brows furrowed deeply.
âNo choice but to find another way.â
Letting the situation spiral further was unacceptable.
As his mind raced, an image flashed before him.
The young man who had crushed the Shaolin prodigy.
The most talked-about figure in Hanam.
ââ¦So Yeomra.â