Chapter 51 (2/2)

s.h.i.+n also nodded from beside.

“She's using the skills [insidious deceit] and [illusion upon worlds and people]....”

The two skills are often used in debates when the speaker lacks proof, or persuasiveness. And from a while back, Ja Guk Lyung had been using those two high level skills. The only ones who did not fall to this alluring skill were any adapters over the 7th order.

Han Myong Gwan spoke again from amidst the sea of spectators.

“Then who does the Ark think is fit to be the leader of this Abyss Expedition?”

“This lady wishes the lord could lead this expedition, as this was his idea.”

“Huu, as expected of the Holy maid’s Ark!”

She held the crowd's confidence. They would not have objected if she took the position of the team leader herself. In the crowd’s eyes, her actions were considerate and sympathetic. What they did not know was that she was holding everything into consideration.

“I disagree.”

It was Han Myong.

“The Lord of Gorgon is not trustworthy.”

The nearby people objected. Lyung calmed them down and asked him.

“Why do you say that? The Lord has more than enough qualification to become the team’s leader.”

“You might be correct on some points. I acknowledge that the lord poses great intellect and strength. In fact, it would be difficult to find a greater man than him in that aspect.”

It was an excessive amount of compliment.

“Then why do you disagree?”

“Because the expedition is not something that can be lead with strength and intelligence alone.”

Han Myong silenced those around him with his speech. Although he was not in the expedition 900 years ago, he was one of those who were known to have witnessed the creation of the team with his own eyes.

Ja Guk Lyung smiled and asked.

“Then what does the elder think is required for the leader to have?”

“Character.”

It was an immediate answer.

“Power and strategy can be subst.i.tuted with strong warriors and large armies. But character is different. What the team needs is a able character that can hold all the members together.”

“Then you mean, that the Lord does not have that personality you think is important for the team?”

Her direct question made the audience to send their gazes towards Han Myong.

But instead of confronting that inquiry, he shrewdly evaded it.

“I have heard many rumors of the lord in coming here.”

“Rumors? Which one are you referring to?”

“That the Lord of Gorgon has yet to live a century, and has appeared in Chaos only a month ago for the first time.”

The audiences were facing a dilemma; all of them have at one point also heard that rumor.

Ja Guk Lyung turned her head and asked Jae Hwan.

“Lord, is that true?”

“It is.”

His answer spread unexpected animosity from the audience.

‘Another matter of numbers.’ Jae Hwan frowned lightly.

His age was holding his ankle again.

“Virtuous sword. Your opinion is sensible. Wisdom only comes with age. But-”

Han Myong nodded in understanding.

“It is an ineffable discourtesy to belittle the Lord’s character just because he is young. We do not know how the lord has lived his 50 years of life.”

This fraud was huge.

“I agree with the Ark. But I still think that we need to check the lord’s character.”

“Check? Maybe. But how do you propose that we check someone’s personality?”

“I think that the Ark should be the judge.”

“Me? How do you mean?”

“How about a test of morality?”

A morality test. There were few adapters who didn't know of Lyung’s morality test. Some even requests for the test to fill up their ‘enlightenment levels’. The test puts them to a temporary unconscious state, but after that, they are able to acquire great amounts of enlightenment level.

“If it’s that test, then the results would be accurate!” someone shouted.

“Hurry up and do it!”

When others started to shout out in its favor, the crowd tilted that way.

Ja Guk Lyung also said in a helpless voice.

“Well… if it's what the people want….”

She smiled and turned towards Jae Hwan.

“But now that I think about it, we have been deciding things on our own without the lord. I apologize, lord. Do you consent to this?”

Jae Hwan did not answer. He looked up at the sky silently. The dark clouds of omen was approaching, and he felt the faint traces of a calamity. He knew this feeling.

Chung Heo let out a groan.

‘That wrench totally beat you. What are you going to do?’

With unbelievable abruptness, things have worsened. If Jae Hwan pulled out his sword as he would normally have done, then the prospect of the expedition team would disappear. There would not be a single person who would want to join an expedition led by him. But then otherwise, he had to accept the test of morality offered by Ja Guk Lyung.

A while later, Jae Hwan finally spoke

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