Chapter 44 : Preparation
“Did I say I would go for no reason.”
On the way back after coming out of the Palace Lord’s Hall.
I recalled the location of the Potala Palace and muttered with a troubled expression.
My father-in-law told me to go easily, but the distance was truly too far.
It was hard enough coming from the Demonic Cult to the North Sea Ice Palace, so how long would it take to get to the Potala Palace in the Western Regions.
‘Will it take about a month?’
If we went slowly, it seemed like it would take about that much time.
Suddenly, I wondered if it was okay to be away from Seol Ye-rin for a month.
‘It is troublesome no matter how I look at it.’
It was a problem if the Extreme Yin Qi became saturated and Seol Ye-rin froze up again.
Squirm-
As I thought about being apart from Seol Ye-rin, the Extreme Yang Qi began to squirm.
-Nyaa.
Peek.
Tamya also poked her head out from my bosom for the first time in a while.
“Are you coveting it again?”
Pulse-
It seemed Tamya also felt the Extreme Yang Qi squirming.
Looking at Tamya absorbing the Extreme Yang Qi.
“Ah.”
I could be certain that Miss Seol would not freeze if she was with this little guy.
Because Tamya was a Snow Wolf that absorbed even Extreme Yin Qi.
‘I should go talk to her first, right?’
It was late at night, but it seemed better to have the conversation quickly.
Because I felt like we had to move starting tomorrow to arrive at the Potala Palace even one day sooner.
‘A person with the same constitution as me…….’
By the way, I did not think the news of the Young Palace Head’s complete recovery would have reached all the way to the Potala Palace.
It is good that the Ice Palace’s recognition is rising, but it is troublesome if rumors about me, Hyeokryeon Yeom, spread as well.
Because I must not let Hyeokryeon Geuk take notice of me yet.
“What are you thinking about so intently?”
Flinch-
While I was lost in thought,
I felt a presence before I knew it.
It was Seol Ye-rin.
“I was actually on my way to the Young Palace Head’s Hall. How did you come here?”
“Ahem, I just happened to be taking a walk.”
“A walk?”
“I just wanted to get some fresh air.”
Whish!
Tamya escaped from my bosom and went over to Seol Ye-rin’s arms.
“Tamya!”
“It is fine.”
“I guess Tamya wants to take a walk together too.”
This time, it did not seem like it was to covet the Extreme Yin Qi.
Hop.
“It really seems like he wants to take a walk together.”
“Shall we walk a bit?”
“Sounds good.”
It was a good opportunity.
I thought I should bring up the story about the Potala Palace while walking with Seol Ye-rin.
Thud, thud.
“What did you talk about with Father?”
Seol Ye-rin brought up the topic first.
Thanks to that, I carefully opened my mouth about the Potala Palace.
“He told me to go to the Potala Palace.”
“… The Potala Palace?”
Seol Ye-rin stopped walking.
“Yes.”
“For what matter at the Potala Palace in the Western Regions?”
“He said the Young Palace Head of the Potala Palace has a constitution similar to mine.”
“Pardon? He must be very sick like Miss Seol. The Palace Lord told me to bring him to the Ice Palace.”
“… Is the Young Palace Head of the Potala Palace a woman?”
“He said it is a man.”
“Ah?”
Hearing that it was a man, Seol Ye-rin’s expression brightened slightly, then she tilted her head.
“But, you are bringing him to the Ice Palace?”
To bring him here, and have him meet whom?
I had not thought that far.
***
-Anyway, you received permission.
-Since it is the Palace Lord’s order, it cannot be helped.
Listening to the mutterings of the Sword Venerable and the Demon Queen, I left Seol Ye-rin behind and headed to the Small Snow Squad’s quarters.
I decided to go with the Small Snow Squad for the journey to the Potala Palace.
However, I decided to leave Eun Bin behind.
Because there was no one other than the Vice Captain, Eun Bin, whom I could trust to leave the Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin, with.
“Hmm? Captain?”
As I entered the Small Snow Squad’s quarters, Tae Un-seo looked at me and was startled.
His hair was damp, as if he had just washed up.
“Where are the others?”
“Most of them should be resting.”
I looked around.
Thinking about it, I had never visited the Small Snow Squad’s quarters before.
The problem was,
‘Why is it so shabby?’
It seemed the Small Snow Squad’s quarters were just using the place Eun Bin used last time as is.
Naturally, it was not a proper residence.
“You guys live here?”
“Yes? That is correct.”
At the very least, the Ice Wolf Squad’s quarters were not like this.
Then that means only the Small Snow Squad is receiving this kind of treatment.
“Since when?”
“Since the beginning.”
“Groan.”
“There are no major inconveniences. We mostly live in places like this.”
No.
The Young Palace Head’s Hall and the Palace Lord’s Hall were not like this.
“Call Baek Mu-yong and Wi Ji-yeong. I have a matter to discuss.”
“Yes, Captain.”
I saw Tae Un-seo going inside.
“You said the Captain is here?”
Wi Ji-yeong came running out.
Since returning, it seemed she had finished preparing for bed.
“What is the matter?”
Baek Mu-yong also came out while rubbing his eyes.
“I came because there is something to discuss, but before that, I think we need to talk about the lodgings first?”
“What about the lodgings?”
Eun Bin also came outside.
He has an expression that says there is no problem at all.
“I am saying this because I feel it is too frugal compared to other units.”
“I think the Captain knows well that the Ice Palace’s situation is poor these days.”
I know it well.
That is why I gave money to solve that.
Furthermore, the money received from selling the Cold Iron to the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild this time is quite substantial.
The problem is whether to use that money for repairing the Small Snow Squad’s quarters.
“I know that, but.”
I felt that this kind of treatment was a bit unreasonable.
I think it would be good to have a talk with the General Manager before leaving.
“More importantly, for what reason did you call us?”
“Ah, everyone prepare for long-distance travel tomorrow.”
“By long-distance travel, you mean……?”
“We will leave for the Potala Palace.”
At the words Potala Palace, the expressions of the Small Snow Squad members stiffened.
“Are you talking about the Potala Palace in the Western Regions?”
“Correct. For what matter there…….”
I began to tell the Small Snow Squad members the explanation I gave to Seol Ye-rin once again.
“… The Young Palace Head of the Potala Palace.”
“I did not know the relationship between the Ice Palace and the Potala Palace was this good.”
“Aren’t the Outer Region Murim factions all close to each other?”
At my question, Baek Mu-yong shook his head.
“That is not so. Since they tend to move depending on who holds the hegemony of the Outer Regions, the fact that they requested this of the Ice Palace is a bit questionable in itself.”
“Is that so?”
“If the Captain cures the Potala Palace’s Young Palace Head, the Potala Palace will owe a tremendous grace to the Ice Palace.”
From my perspective, it means they could become a force that can stand against the Demonic Cult at least once.
“Knowing that, I definitely have to bring him back safely, right?”
“The fact that we have to go… does not change.”
“I will go pack the food ingredients.”
As Tae Un-seo spoke while shaking off the water,
“Let’s go together!”
Wi Ji-yeong chased after Tae Un-seo.
“If we all leave, who protects the Young Palace Head?”
“That is why I intend to leave the Vice Captain behind.”
“That is…….”
“It seems it will take about a month, so I ask you to take good care of the Young Palace Head during that time.”
“Then the Young Palace Head’s Extreme Yin Qi…….”
Hop.
Tamya pounced on Eun Bin.
“… A Snow Wolf?”
“As long as that guy is with the Young Palace Head, the Young Palace Head will no longer be swayed by the Extreme Yin Qi.”
Tamya was a spirit beast.
“I hope you return safely.”
Eun Bin opened his slit eyes slightly.
There was no way something that would cause those slit eyes to fully open would happen for a month.
“Right. I trust only the Vice Captain.”
I left the Small Snow Squad and began to move to meet the General Manager.
***
Knock knock knock-
Seol Su-hyeok, who had collapsed on his desk unable to overcome his drowsiness while managing the affairs of the Ice Palace in the General Manager’s office, opened his eyes at the sound of knocking on the door.
“Ahem, who is it?”
“It is the Small Snow Squad Captain.”
Hyeokryeon Yeom?
For what reason is Hyeokryeon Yeom here at this hour?
General Manager Seol Su-hyeok stood up and opened the door.
“What brings you here at such a time?”
“I came because there is something to discuss.”
Hyeokryeon Yeom, with a stiff expression, clasped his hands and spoke from outside the door.
There must be a reason for visiting at this hour.
Seol Su-hyeok already knew that the Palace Lord told the Small Snow Squad Captain to go to the Potala Palace.
From the position of the Palace Lord, he was not sending the Small Snow Squad Captain because he felt sorry for the Potala Palace Lord.
‘If he cures the Young Palace Head of the Potala Palace, the Ice Palace places the Potala Palace in debt.’
Even if he fails to cure him, just by bringing the Potala Palace’s Young Palace Head to the Ice Palace, they can hold the Young Palace Head hostage.
After Seol Ye-rin’s treatment, the Palace Lord, who is grasping the power of the Ice Palace again, seemed to intend to expand his reach externally as well.
And as the person who can stand at the forefront of exerting that influence.
‘He chose Hyeokryeon Yeom.’
Recently, there are almost no affairs within the Palace that the Small Snow Squad Captain is left out of.
Thus, while the Small Snow Squad is dispatched externally this time, he might intend to completely reorganize the internal structure of the Palace.
If not that.
‘Maybe he intends to give him time to catch his breath from the pressure of the Five Families for a while.’
It is a long way to the Potala Palace.
In the time Hyeokryeon Yeom goes to the Potala Palace and back, the Palace Lord would have seized control of the Ice Palace.
-General Manager, I am sorry I could not pay enough attention to the Ice Palace all this time.
The Palace Lord’s words he heard today contained the meaning of wanting to make the North Sea great again.
He was hardly able to focus on work due to these thoughts and then Hyeokryeon Yeom came to visit.
“What is the discussion?”
“I have a proposal to make.”
A proposal?
“Speak.”
“I think the General Manager is also aware of the matter that I will soon be leaving for the Potala Palace.”
“And so?”
“Since coming to the Ice Palace, I have treated the Young Palace Head. I swept away the horse bandits and solved the Ice Palace’s financial difficulties, and I believe I showed you my ability by even selling off the Cold Iron through the transaction with the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild.”
Flinch-
As Hyeokryeon Yeom listed his credits, Seol Su-hyeok began to make a flustered expression.
Because when someone tells a story like that, there is definitely something they want.
“Right, I know well that you established merit. So, what do you want?”
A reward for the achievements?
Since the engagement ceremony with the Young Palace Head will be held soon, a wedding gift?
He wouldn’t demand the Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp received from the Demonic Cult.
Is he going to demand the Ice Palace’s spiritual medicine?
Seol Su-hyeok looked at Hyeokryeon Yeom with a curious expression as to what he would demand.
“The Small Snow Squad’s quarters are too shabby.”
Pause-
To Seol Su-hyeok, who was agonizing over what to give, Hyeokryeon Yeom’s answer was very unexpected.
“… So you are saying to change the Small Snow Squad’s quarters now, is that it?”
“It would be good if we can change it. Since we earned a lot of money, if possible, can’t you build a new one?”
He is asking to just build a new one.
Not for himself, but for his subordinates.
‘Look at this guy?’
He knew he was a lucky charm, but.
It was still a question to Seol Su-hyeok whether Hyeokryeon Yeom was truly moving for the sake of the Ice Palace.
“I will ask just one thing. Why did you readily accept coming to the Ice Palace?”
No matter that he is the Cult Leader’s third son, if he had stayed in the Demonic Cult and expanded his power, his future could have been different.
He was more certain after meeting the Cult Leader’s second son this time.
If Hyeokryeon Yeom had not become the Ice Palace’s live-in son-in-law, he might have been able to surpass the second son, if not the first.
“In Our Cult, the Ice Palace was always consciously regarded as a nemesis. If I am helpful for a blood alliance with such a nemesis, wouldn’t both the Ice Palace and Our Cult be able to move toward a warmer place?”
At the words warmer place, Seol Su-hyeok’s two pupils began to dilate.
“So I ask this of you, General Manager. I am fine, so please allow the squad members to live in a good environment.”
“… I will have a new one built while you are away at the Potala Palace. And I will raise the salary as well.”
At the word salary, Hyeokryeon Yeom opened his eyes wide.
“… There was a salary coming out too?”
Come to think of it, realizing that he had never once given a salary to Hyeokryeon Yeom, Seol Su-hyeok laughed and spoke.
“It will be an amount you will be satisfied with.”
***
The next day, just before leaving for the Potala Palace, the Small Snow Squad was able to receive their first monthly salary.