Chapter 611: Aren't They Making More Money Than Us?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Several days passed in this manner.

Geom Mugeuk fully immersed himself in his responsibilities as the Acting Cult Leader. In the past, he would have gone to a tavern after finishing his daily tasks to drink and socialize with the Demon Supremes.

This time, however, he did not. He couldn't bring himself to go out and have fun. The thought of his father's unimaginable suffering and constant worry weighed on him. Besides, the role he had undertaken was a grave responsibility.

Then today, the moment finally arrived.

"What's the next item on the agenda?"

"There are none."

When Geom Mugeuk looked up, he saw Sama Myeong staring at him with a surprised expression.

"You've finished all your work on time."

He had long been aware that the Young Cult Leader was a brilliant man, but he hadn't anticipated him adapting to the work so quickly. It wasn't merely a matter of intelligence. The Young Cult Leader possessed the ability to see through people's minds and had an accurate understanding of how the organization functioned.

Blood will tell, it seems.

The Young Cult Leader's profound insight truly made it feel as if he were working with the Cult Leader himself.

Until now, Sama Myeong had mostly seen the results the Young Cult Leader produced. But now, he was witnessing firsthand how those results were achieved.

"You are remarkable."

"It's not that I'm remarkable. It's just my will to get this tedious work over with as quickly as possible showing itself."

"Even so, you handled it too well. Well then, I will see you tomorrow."

Sama Myeong gathered the documents and started to turn away.

"I have something to ask."

"Please, go ahead."

"The Demon Supremes all know that I've returned, right?"

"Not just them. Every member of the cult knows."

At that, Geom Mugeuk couldn't restrain himself and shouted.

"But not a single one has come to see me? This is too much!"

He had hoped that upon finishing his work, he would find the Blood Heaven Blade Demon drinking at the entrance of the Heavenly Demon Hall, his giant dao planted in the ground.

He had wished that the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon would be perched atop the giant demon statue, looking down at him with a smile.

He had expected the Drunken Demon to appear, reeking of alcohol, and tease him, asking if the work was hard and if his hyung should lend a hand.

"How could no one come!"

Sama Myeong comforted Geom Mugeuk in a gentle tone.

"They are people who wouldn't come unless the Cult Leader summoned them. They tend to keep their distance from the Heavenly Demon Hall."

"Well, that's because my father is difficult, of course. How can my father and I be the same?"

Then, Sama Myeong asked a meaningful question.

"Are you different?"

Geom Mugeuk looked at Sama Myeong with an expression of surprise.

"Then are we the same? Aren't I much easier to be around than my father?"

Surprisingly, Sama Myeong thought the opposite.

"Wouldn't the Demon Supremes find it more difficult to deal with the Young Cult Leader than the Cult Leader?"

"Me?"

Geom Mugeuk's expression shifted from surprise to utter bewilderment.

It was a truly unexpected statement. He thought it must be a joke, but Sama Myeong's serious expression suggested he was sincere.

"Didn't you see on the day I returned? The Fist Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme left without even listening to what I had to say. I'm probably the most approachable Young Cult Leader in our Cult's history. So how could I be difficult?"

Sama Myeong did not agree with Geom Mugeuk's words.

"I believe they find you more difficult."

"Even though I joke around and play pranks so much?"

The Demon Supremes find me more difficult than my father? No way!

Then, with a sliver of doubt, he asked.

"What about you, Strategist?"

Instead of answering, Sama Myeong offered an enigmatic smile, bowed politely, and turned away.

"I will see you tomorrow."

"Hey, you have to answer me before you go!"

However, Sama Myeong left without another word.

"How can you say I'm difficult while ignoring me like this?"

Left alone, Geom Mugeuk spoke to the empty air.

"Cheokyeon, what do you think? Do you find me difficult too?"

A reply then came from the empty space.

"…You are difficult, but not as difficult as the Cult Leader."

"Right?"

"……"

But why would the clever Sama Myeong say such a thing?

Geom Mugeuk, who had been sitting for a moment, shot up from the grand chair.

"Where are you going?"

"I have to go confirm if it's true."

"Which of the Demon Supremes are you going to see?"

He naturally assumed Geom Mugeuk would seek out one of the Demon Supremes.

"I'm not going to a Demon Supreme."

"Pardon?"

Geom Mugeuk spoke as he strode down the blood-red path.

"There's someone who will tell me the truth without worrying about my feelings."

A dozen or so boxes were arranged in a row on the floor.

Each box contained different hidden weapons. Some held three or four, while others contained more than a dozen.

The person who approached them was Geom Mugeuk's older brother, Geom Muyang.

"Are these them?"

"Yes, these are the counterfeit hidden weapons that were collected this time."

Geom Muyang held several important positions within the cult, one of which was managing the weapons produced in the smithy. His primary duty was to distribute the armaments made in the smithy to the various regional Branches and sub-branches.

But recently, a new issue had demanded his attention.

It was the task of identifying counterfeit armaments being produced throughout the Central Plains.

Various armaments made by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were being counterfeited and sold through the murim's black market. Among these fakes, hidden weapons were by far the most numerous.

In particular, various hidden weapons that used a launching mechanism became the main targets for counterfeiting. This was because they sold for a high price.

The mere fact that they were hidden weapons used by demonic practitioners gave these fakes value. Even though possessing one could get them branded as a demonic practitioner, many people sought out the hidden weapons of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

And recently, the number of these counterfeit hidden weapons had increased significantly.

Geom Muyang picked up a hidden weapon from the first box. It was cylindrical in shape.

"It's the Death Web."

Listening to his subordinate's explanation, Geom Muyang fired it at the wall.

PWAAAK!

Originally, it was a hidden weapon designed to sweep the area in front by launching dozens of projectiles like a net. However, only a dozen or so projectiles flew out and embedded themselves in the wall.

"Crude."

The counterfeit hidden weapons were usually made this crudely. If they possessed the skill to create an exact replica, they wouldn't be making and selling these counterfeits in the first place.

But as days passed, hidden weapons that were quite plausible imitations were being made.

"They're mainly being distributed in Hunan, and we are trying to find the creator."

Even knowing they would be killed if caught, the work brought in a lot of money, so the fakes kept appearing. Judging by the volume being released into the Central Plains, it was clear this was not an individual's work but an organized effort.

"The next one is an item from Hubei."

Geom Muyang picked up the hidden weapon from the next box and fired it at the wall.

SHWOOOSH!

THWACK!

"This one is more powerful than the one we recovered last time. Did they improve it in the meantime?"

"It seems so. Their skills are improving day by day."

As Geom Muyang picked up the hidden weapon from the next box, the subordinate who had been explaining the weapons bowed his head respectfully toward someone.

Geom Mugeuk was walking toward them.

"If you fire that this way, it won't be an assassination attempt on the Young Cult Leader, but an assassination attempt on the Acting Cult Leader. The crime would be twice as severe, right?"

Of course, despite those words, Geom Muyang fired it anyway.

The fired hidden weapon embedded itself in the wall next to where Geom Mugeuk was walking.

Right, that's my brother for you.

"It's been a while for me too, Hyung."

Seeing the two of them, the subordinate standing nearby discreetly moved away.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the hidden weapons stuck in the wall and commented.

"Testing the power of hidden weapons?"

"These are counterfeit hidden weapons modeled after our Cult's."

Geom Muyang tossed the one he was holding to Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk caught it and examined the hidden weapon.

"A fake? It looks pretty plausible."

"They're getting more sophisticated by the day."

"How much do these sell for?"

"I hear they go for anywhere from tens to hundreds of taels."

At that, Geom Mugeuk flared up.

"Aren't these guys making more money than us?"

Geom Muyang's lips twitched up slightly at Geom Mugeuk's joke. He bent down, picked up a hidden weapon from the next box, and asked.

"What brings you here?"

His tone was still gruff, but Geom Mugeuk could tell. The look in his eyes as he gazed at him was gentle, unlike before.

"I came to see you, Hyung."

"……"

"Because I missed you."

Geom Muyang scoffed and aimed the hidden weapon again.

"Move it, I'm busy."

"Were you as busy as me?"

Geom Mugeuk sighed and said.

"If I'd known there was this much work, I wouldn't have fought with you over the succession. I would've really given this position to the person I hated the most. Ah, back then, that would've been you."

At those words, Geom Muyang finally let out a small laugh.

SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK!

THWACK THWACK THWACK THWACK THWACK!

The newly fired hidden weapons grazed Geom Mugeuk's shoulder and embedded themselves in the wall.

"Stop, stop! Stop pretending to be busy and talk with me for a bit."

Geom Mugeuk stood in front of the wall, waving his hands from side to side.

"Talk about what?"

"Father is in seclusion training, and the little brother you haven't seen in a long time has become the Acting Cult Leader. If you have nothing to say even in a situation like this, why do you even have that mouth?"

Geom Muyang picked up a hidden weapon from the next box.

"Father came to see me the day before he entered seclusion training."

"What did he say?"

Geom Mugeuk looked at him with expectant eyes, but…

"He told me to watch you carefully and see if you cause any trouble."

Geom Mugeuk raised his voice.

"He said that to you too? Father, that's too much! What on earth does he think of his son?"

Geom Mugeuk's resentment changed its target.

"If you heard that, you should have come and helped your little brother."

"As you can see, I have a lot of work myself."

In truth, Geom Muyang had gone to see Sama Myeong. He went to see if there was anything he could do to help Geom Mugeuk, but he simply returned after hearing that Geom Mugeuk was adapting to the work day by day. He figured that not helping would actually be more helpful to his younger brother.

How could Geom Muyang not know? If their father had truly been worried about Geom Mugeuk causing trouble, he wouldn't have made him the successor in the first place. This was a lesson in succession.

His father had come to see him not because of Geom Mugeuk, but for his own sake. Because he felt sorry for his eldest son.

Father, I am fine.

Geom Mugeuk, having become the successor, understood his father better. And Geom Muyang, having not become the successor, also understood his father better.

"Why would I help you?"

"Everyone's so mean."

"Everyone?"

"I heard something absurd from Strategist Sama today. He said the Demon Supremes would find me more difficult to deal with than Father."

Geom Muyang let out a low 'hmm' sound.

"What kind of reaction is that?"

Geom Mugeuk asked with a 'no way' expression.

"Don't tell me you think so too, Hyung?"

"To me, you're just a joke."

"Right? That's the correct reaction."

Just then, Geom Muyang said something unexpected.

"However, if it's the Demon Supremes, they might find you more difficult."

Geom Mugeuk, startled, asked his brother again.

"You're saying the Demon Supremes find me harder to deal with than Father? Are you serious?"

Geom Muyang nodded.

"Because you stir people's hearts and drag them by the scruff of their necks. They want to be left alone, but when they're with you, they feel like they're being pulled onto a stage."

This was the Geom Mugeuk that Geom Muyang saw.

"Because being with you creates a pressure to do something well."

Geom Muyang thought that the Demon Supremes were no different from him.

Of course, for him, his father was naturally more difficult. He had desperately wanted to look good in front of his father, and that feeling hadn't changed much even now.

However, to the Demon Supremes, both his father and his younger brother were outsiders. The way they saw the two of them would surely be different from how he did.

"Father is predictable, but you are unpredictable."

Geom Muyang aimed the hidden weapon he was holding at Geom Mugeuk.

"I've said my piece, so move now."

Geom Mugeuk, who was blocking the wall, expressed his gratitude.

"Thanks. If it weren't for you, Hyung, I never would have heard this from the Demon Supremes. You don't know how precious you are to me, do you? I'll make sure to order a doll of you to be made in the Demon Village. Of course, it won't come out as handsome as my doll, but…"

"Aish, just take this!"

SHWAAAAAAK!

PAPAPAPAPAK!

A scream of 'Ugh!' burst from Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Muyang, who had used the hidden weapon, was startled.

The hidden weapon he had just fired had flown with incredible power.

"Are you okay?"

At Geom Muyang's shout, Geom Mugeuk, who had been awkwardly leaning against the wall, slid down into a sitting position.

"Aigoo, that was a shock."

A steel needle was embedded above his head. He had dodged it by a hair's breadth. The distance was short and the power was immense. If it hadn't been Geom Mugeuk, he would have been hit. Truly, Geom Muyang, the one who fired it, was even more surprised.

"You really planned this out to kill me!"

Geom Muyang stared blankly down at the hidden weapon in his hand. Lost in conversation with his brother, he had fired it without even looking to see what it was. No, it would have been the same even if he had looked. There was no way his brother would be hit by a fake hidden weapon.

Blitz.

It was one of the signature hidden weapons of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It had enough power to pierce straight through shields and armor, so it was not easy to block unless one was a considerable master.

The Murim Alliance had designated the Blitz as one of the Ten Great Forbidden Hidden Weapons. This was not only because of its immense power but also because its steel needles were coated in a deadly poison.

Therefore, even the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was extremely cautious about using the Blitz. Poison and hidden weapons were the biggest sources of conflict in the murim, so unless it was a wartime situation, the Blitz was forbidden from use even within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

TSSSSSS.

The poison was so potent that the wall bubbled and melted. The revealed steel needle had a bluish light shimmering around it.

"It's even coated with a deadly poison? This looks like the real thing."

"That can't be."

Geom Muyang shook his head with a serious expression.

"As one of the Ten Great Forbidden Hidden Weapons, the Blitz was under strict management."

Geom Mugeuk walked over to Geom Muyang.

"It's a fake, but it has this much power?"

Geom Mugeuk took the Blitz from Geom Muyang and examined it. For a fake, it was too exquisitely made.

"Instead of finding and killing the person who made this, shouldn't we hire them?"