Chapter 50: “I'm Cunning.”

Limon could not believe his ears when he first heard her say those words.

Li Chingwei’s smile was so bright and innocent, she couldn’t have possibly said something so clueless!

“…You have no idea when we’re getting married?”

“Yes.”

“…Why?”

At least Limon had the excuse of being the proposee. But if Li Chingwei, the proposer, didn’t know, who else would?

How were they going to get married, then?

Why didn’t she know?

Limon had multiple questions within that single ‘why’.

Li Chingwei’s answer, however, was concise.

“It is difficult for us to do so at the moment.”

Limon blinked watching her beaming face and scratched his head.

“Hey, didn’t you propose to me?” he asked begrudgingly.

“I did, of course.”

“…And I said yes.”

“It was an unforgettable proposal.”

Being reminded of a certain memory, Li Chingwei blushed as she glanced at Limon’s lips.

Anyone could tell that that was a girl in love. It was the face of a future bride excited for marriage.

It was all the more reason Limon couldn’t understand her words.

“After all that, and you’re now saying that we can’t get married?”

“Huh? I never told you we can’t.”

“……???”

Question marks appeared above Limon’s head as he saw Li Chingwei’s face turn into a look of surprise.

He crossed his arms, thinking over what she said as he tapped his fingers against his arm.

“So it’s not that we can’t, but that it’s hard to do so?”

“Yes.”

“What, like a young couple going against the opposition of their parents?”

“Exactly like that.”

Li Chingwei clapped, seemingly impressed by his wise insight.

But Limon didn’t look pleased by the ‘praise’ at all. Rather, he furrowed his brows.

The more he understood her, the more questions he had.

“You never told me there were in-laws to fight.”

“But of course. My parents have already passed away.”

“Then who’s opposing us?”

“Almost everyone else.”

“……Everyone else?”

“Yes. All the way up from the elders and nobles down to the lower ranks and even my own aides. If there were 100 members in the Black Dragon Clan, 99 of them would be against it, basically.

Hearing Li Chingwei’s bluntness, Limon couldn’t help but look perplexed — not that he couldn’t understand. He and the Seven Dragons Association have been enemies since the dawn of time.

He knew better than anyone else that this marriage would not be blessed, which was why he had warned Li Chingwei back at Hotel Leviathan.

And yet, Limon was still dumbfounded.

“Isn’t it the sole authority of the princesses to choose the king’s sons-in-law?”

Just as the Monarchs were the absolute rulers of the Iron Age, the seven princesses were themselves the absolute rulers of the Seven Dragons Association.

Or at the very least, they wielded dominion over their clans.

But choosing their husbands were their prime responsibility, and there hasn’t been a single exception since their inception.

Considering the Seven Dragons Association’s customs, everyone opposing the husband a princess had chosen and the princess being concerned about it was unusual.

But it really wasn’t that unusual in this situation.

“There has never been a princess who’s screwed over their clan like I have before.”

“Well, you’re not wrong…” Limon inadvertently sighed.

Not only had she thrown away half of her clan’s assets, she had poured out the remaining half to marry Limon.

The bottom line was, Li Chingwei had brought the downfall of the Black Dragon Clan. No matter how absolute her authority was as a princess of the Seven Dragons Association, there were just some things that couldn’t stand.

And as a matter of fact, it was thanks to their unique customs that she didn’t face anything more than opposition.

If the Seven Dragons Association were any like any other typical religion, company, or organization, it wouldn’t have been surprising if there was an insurrection or expulsion.

“In truth, I didn’t expect this much opposition. I thought that the elders would welcome it, at least.”

“They wouldn’t welcome shit unless they all decide to do drugs and go senile…”

Lee Chingwei tilted her head.

“If you consider the pros and cons, it’s a complete win.”

Regardless of what anyone says, Limon was still undoubtedly an absolute ruler. His power to take down the Infinite Monarch Lee Chun-gi alone was priceless.

To appease that man, their sworn enemy, just by selling her own clan? Li Chingwei thought that was a small price to pay. She couldn’t understand all the opposition — especially not from the elders, who flipped out in strife when they first heard it.

“The elders cannot be unaware of how strong the Master of Swords is.”

The elders were typically sharp when it came to weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a situation. So why would they oppose her plan, when it came with so much benefit?

Limon sighed.

“…Princess. The reason they know how strong I am is because I beat them up. Badly.”

Of course they knew of Limon’s power.

Not just anyone could become an elder of the Seven Dragons Association. While the seven princesses succeeded by blood, the elders were the culmination of the Seven Dragons Association.

An elder had to first be an apostle-rank master in at least one of the 72 martial skills. And in order to become an elder, they had to achieve a ‘significant feat’ worthy enough of one.

This wasn’t something that was put in place after the Iron Age, either.

Achieving a ‘significant’ feat in the Seven Dragons Association was synonymous with going head-to-head with Limon, since he was always first in line to foil their schemes whenever they popped up.

In short, every single elder of the Seven Dragons Association has had a near-death encounter with Limon before.

To take him in as their son-in-law?

“Would you like it if a tiger came into your own home demanding to be your master—”

“I would.”

“…That’s because you’re weird.”

***

***

Li Chingwei had responded without much of even an ounce of hesitation.

Limon groaned in response, and she grinned.

“I believe that’s better than letting the tiger run wild.”

“Maybe if you didn’t wreck every brick of your house to get that tiger, yeah?”

Limon hit the nail on the head.

The elders would have considered it if their marriage came with no conditions. But as long as the dowry was set at 49% of Hotel Leviathan’s shares, there was no room for compromise. They wanted Limon for his sword, not for his leadership as the new master of the Seven Dragons Association.

“Well, that’s besides the point. I understand why it’s not a good time to get married.”

Limon raised his cup again.

“If the Master of Swords wishes, we can force a marriage, but…” Li Chingwei looked discouraged.

“But the shares I got will become nothing if I get kicked out before I can even lay my hands on them.”

“Yes, which is why I said it would be difficult.”

Li Chingwei hadn’t forgotten Limon’s declaration that he would devour the Seven Dragons Association whole while he was taking her in as his bride. And for that, Hotel Leviathan’s stocks were crucial.

If he didn’t have them, the power struggle would be impossible. But with half, it was at least a fighting chance against the other six clans.

‘It really would be a headache…’

He fiddled with his paper cup. He downed a cup, then poured more inside.

“So what’s your plan, then?”

“…How did you know I had one?”

“How could I not?”

Li Chingwei blinked, her eyes widened. Limon scoffed in response.

His eyes cold and settled, they met with hers.

“You wouldn’t bail so easily from just a little opposition.”

She sold off half her clan just to get Limon in her grasp.

Hell, she restructured the global economic system for world peace.

Limon had no doubt that Li Chingwei wouldn’t give him up this quickly.

Li Chingwei beamed at his words.

“You know me well.”

“I hold the title of ‘your future groom’, after all.”

“I don’t think it has to be just a title.”

“I’ll determine that after hearing your plan.”

Limon laughed freely, while Li Chingwei looked at him with discontent as she sighed.

“It’s complicated to get into too much detail, but I’m going to first persuade the elders.”

Regardless of how much antagonism and discontent there was against her, there was few who could stop her besides the elders. As long as the elders were in her favor, she wouldn’t have to worry about the opposition.

And for that, she had come up with the best plan.

“They won’t listen with just words,” Limon pointed out coldly.

If they did, they wouldn’t have opposed her in the first place.

Li Chingwei didn’t deny it.

“Yes. It would be difficult with just words. But we should be able to reach a compromise at least with another method.”

“And what’s that method?”

“There are quite a few elders I gathered blackmail against just for times like these.”

“Really? Then surely, there is some chance—” Limon’s words faded after realizing what she just said so matter-of-factly. “Didn’t you say that you didn’t know the elders would oppose?”

“I did.”

“Then why do you have blackmail?”

It would be understandable if she had anticipated their opposition, but Li Chingwei had expected the elders to be in her favor. She had been holding blackmail against her own team.

Why would she waste so much manpower gathering blackmail when her position was already in jeopardy? Limon was baffled.

Li Chingwei tilted her head as she looked at him.

“What? I’ll need to provide grounds when I change elders.”

“You were going to change them out in the first place?!”

“I can’t say that there aren’t any elders vying for my expulsion post-haste for the sake of the clan.”

If Limon hadn't accepted her proposal, the elders would have sold her off to another one of the clans. It was better to maintain tradition than blowing off what was left of their assets.

“…So you were getting ready to remove the elders before they removed you?”

“You’re correct,” Li Chingwei nodded.

The elders wouldn’t have imagined that she was preparing to remove them. Throughout the history of the Seven Dragons Association, the elders have always been trustworthy supporters of the princesses, and it was customary for them to yield to a certain extent if the elders thought differently.

If she actually did wipe them out, the Black Dragon Clan would shatter even more. But Li Chingwei paid no mind to that thought.

Elders and whoever else, she would not allow anyone to get in her way.

With that ever-present smile of hers, she added on with pride:

“The Master of Swords said so himself. I’m cunning.”

——

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