The Art Of Sword

This meeting happened while Sunz and Grace were on their date.

All of the people that appeared at the meeting are Jihu, Jun, and Sogae the three characters we have met throughout the novel.

Inside this meeting room also include 3 other figures.

Nam the clan's current leader, who is also Jihu and Jun's Grandpa.

Da Narae a female member of the clan who works as an infiltrator in the Hero Corporation. Not only being a high-rank member of the clan she is also ranked 1 in the Female Hero category.

Tteok Soju a male member of the clan that works as a scouter, that collects information from other clans outside of Korea, while also keeping tabs on them.

Nam: Now that everyone is here let’s start the meeting. Soju please report all of the information you had collected.

Soju: Everything is mostly the same but just getting worse. The members of all the clans from big to small just keep decreasing. Some clans have disbanded, others are waging war on each other. While some took an interesting approach, joining the villains or the hero's side.

Nam: Any of our associates are included in the situation you just named? And did any of them take my offer?

Soju: None had taken the offer. But if the war will happen some will give it a thought, and some said that they will cut ties with us in order to keep their clan out of this.

Nam: That is reasonable to an extent. After all, they aren’t the main target. You still have the list of possible traitors right?

Soju: Never go anywhere without it. Need me to show you all of the main suspects!

Nam: No need to bring it out. I trust your decision! When the time comes, make sure to erase those names. The faster you act, the more members of the clan can live a simple life after it is gone.

Narae: He’s right no one wants to see your social tree. Each time I look at it I just want to slice both my eyes off.

Soju: Said the person who is currently the rank 1 Female on the hero list. With how many times I see your face in advertisements and that is outside of Korea. Slowly make me believe that you might betray us sooner or later.

Narae raises her voice and points at Soju: How dare you said that about me! Just because you can see human relationships, mean you should know my loyalty to the clan.

Soju: Of course, I should know! I was the only person that can keep up with you since birth. So I was only joking with the idea that you might betray us. Because of one reason. Your strength!

"Right now you’re one of the top heroes and you are still young. Which means you are in a position to side with our enemy or stick to the clan."

Narae: Are you underestimating my ability to take down thousands of enemies? I will fight until I die for the honor of the clan.

Soju: I don’t underestimate you but you are underestimating our enemy. Do you still remember what I always said to you?

Narae: Of course I do, and don’t act like you are my dad. We are the same age!

Soju: If you do then repeat it with me.

Narae groans: Fine…

Soju and Narae: One can take down an army of thousands but two can control a whole kingdom.

Soju then points his finger at Jun, Jihu, and Sogae: You three should also remember it too.

Nam: Thank you for your speech Soju. Is that all or do you still have more to report?

Soju: Sorry for taking too much time Elder Nam. I still have a bit more information to tell.

I still can’t find any information about your friend. It’s like he just disappear with no trace. And it has been Five Years since you requested me to find him. Do you think he is still alive?

Nam: I last saw him 10 years ago and 5 years later I request you to find me information about him. And everything is still going as expected.

Soju: Expected? You mean, you always know that I can’t find any information on him.

Nam: Precisely! I request you to find information about him is to not look for him but for his Successor. They will deliver to me a gift from him. That is when we’ll know whether he is dead or alive.

Soju: Why do you old people like to make thing more complicated than it has to be? Just mail each other with bird rather than making me find his next bloodline.

(He is not frustrated. He just questioning their decision.)

Nam: Is that all you have to report?

Soju: No, there is one more. Finally a good news from all of the bad ones. And it’s all thanks to your grandson Jihu.

It looks like right before this tournament he has become close friend with the grandson of the Lighting clan leader. And their leader would like to cooperate when the war happens.

That is all I have to report.

Nam: Jihu why didn’t you report this back to me? And this is the second time you bring us an outside ally.

Soju: Second? Did he also bring back another powerful swordsman?

Sogae: I wouldn’t say powerful but unique. One of the contestants who is Jihu’s friend can control two elements.

Soju: I guess I’ll have to see him in action to judge his skill then.

Nam: Well then Narae, it’s your turn to report.

Narae: The Heroes Corp as we know has a lot more fighters than every clan combined together. But we shouldn’t worry too much about the quantity. And focus more on the qualities.

Each year they always have one or two new powerhouses being added to their army. And this year they have a young talented hero.

“Ember Witch”. She has only been doing this for 4 years but within one year she already reached the top rank at the age of 22.

Soju: So she is just like one of us. What is there special about that? We all reach the highest rank in the clan before 20. Except you Jihu but you will tho.

Narae: Of course, we all reach the top rank before 20 because we had been training most of our lives with other high-ranking teachers. But she has four years of experience with no teacher except this guy name “Grimm” that only train her for 2 years and left.

Soju: So she just found a good teacher that helps her rise in rank.

Narae: Of course, that is what you would think. But this “Grimm” guy has only been doing this for 4 years and he is only a B-rank before he met “Ember Witch”.

One of the things that amazes me is “Grimm” is just a normal guy, with no special ability that can train another person to use their ability that skillfully, and both of them rise to A-rank within 2 years.

Sogae: Wait! One of the contestants in this tournament's name is “Grimm” and he also works as a hero too.

Soju asks Narae: If he is the “Grimm” should we worry about him as an infiltrator?

Narae: He left the Corp 2 years ago and suddenly showing up in this tournament 2 years later definitely is strange. But one of the detail is his status in the database displayed as “dead”.

Soju: So currently we have a dead man in this tournament… Sogae you’ll be the one to keep an eye on him ok?

Sogae: Wait why am I supposed to keep an eye on him?

Narae: That I also agree! You are probably the best to keep an eye on this “dead man”.

Sogae: Ugh…Fine if you two said so. I’ll do my best.

Soju: Ok then let’s get back to this “Ember Witch”. How is her stats look like?

Narae: She has good offense and defense. Also good at both physical and magical damage. She can fly and has good base speed. Basically, she is an all-rounder, and... she is as powerful as me.

Soju: No no no! You’re joking right about that last part, right? Don’t put yourself that low!

Narae: I wish I did but it’s all true. There is such a huge gap in producing talent each year. And you also have to factor in the fact that not every clan will stand together.

Soju: But we still have the clan elders and their power is tenth or a hundred times more than ours. Which means we can still win!

Narae: The Hero Corp also has those that are equal to our elders but they are not on the ranking. It’s either in strength or the ability that they possess. Maybe even both…

Soju starts to feel frustrated but he doesn’t say anything and Narae starts to be concerned about him overthinking.

Nam: That is all for today. We’ll continue discussing these problems once the tournament is over. For now, let’s just take a break.

Narae apologized for leaving in such a hurry and hastily drag Soju out of the room.

Nam to the rest that is in the room: You three don’t worry about this too much. The war happening is inevitable. All we have to do is keep your connection to the clan a secret.

That’s all everyone dismisses.

Then everyone returns to their room. Except for Sogae still working in the lobby of the hotel. Until she saw Grace and Sunz return to the hotel.