Solo Swordmaster

Chapter 55: Clearing My Name?

• A Surprise to Go Down in Legends… People appalled by the Blue House’s statement that the [Blue House attack] was part of an emergency drill.

• National Peace Party House Representative: “No matter what reason it may be, making a fool of the people is unacceptable.”

• Why did Infinite Monarch Lee Chun-gi speak for the Blue House?

As expected, all of the newspapers were plastered with a single issue.

Lee Chun-gi’s press conference was that impactful.

The world was already helter-skelter from the incident. And like a flooding dungeon, the press release was what finally made it overflow.

“< This is all a conspiracy!>”

“< What do you mean?>”

“< Just think about it! Does it make sense they would decimate the Blue House all for a drill? This is a conspiracy for the current government to improve its approval ratings!>”

“< No, I think you’re going too far. If you look at the current crime rates of high-level players…>”

There were debate programs discussing whether it was a ridiculous scheme, or if this emergency drill was really necessary.

“< **** this. I sold all my stocks because I thought there was going to be a civil war. What is this, April Fool’s? I can’t believe this was a nationwide scam.>”

“< congrats★you’re★a sucka>”

“< You’re the dumbass for falling for it.>”

“< you thought a geezer swordmaster could topple the Blue House on his own? He’s not even a Monarch LOL>”

“< There was too much murder in his eyes for it to be an act, man.>”

“< swordmaster XXX bluffmaster OOO.”>

Internet forums were laughing and cursing as if this was all a thing of the past.

“< In the age when even the Blue House is collapsing! We have a big sale on special items just for you!>”

“< That’s right. This product is a hallucinatory item officially approved by the Infinite Guild, and it was used while plotting the Blue House incident……>”

Home shopping networks, advertisement firms, and various companies tried to turn this into an opportunity to make money.

It was like a herd of ants running towards honey.

Everyone was heads over heels splitting hairs over Lee Chun-gi’s press release.

The course of discussion went in so many different ways that even in the same form of media, the claims and arguments were miles apart from one another.

But there was one thing. One similarity in every single conversation.

“There really isn’t anyone who thinks the Master of Swords would commit treason.”

Li Chingwei, the girl dressed in an oriental dress, muttered.

Limon scoffed.

“Ya think? That dimwit intimidated everyone to not run their mouths if they can’t take the responsibility for it.”

“But there are always people who talk more when they’re silenced.”

“That depends.”

Limon set down the paper he was reading and looked at Li Chingwei. She was tilting her head.

“Attention seekers are the ones who talk the most at times like these. And right now, all of the attention is on that dimwit. Who would turn their heads to a goner like me?”

Limon had hit the nail on the head.

The center of every conversation going on all over the world was on the current government and Lee Chun-gi.No one was thinking about Limon.

Even those claiming it was a conspiracy or were suspicious weren't considering for a minute Limon would have actually committed treason.

Of course, If Limon was actually guilty of treason, that meant they would have to accept it—that the Blue House did take a fall, that the President was held hostage. That it was all real.

By an ordinary man who didn’t even make a deal with a Constellation, let alone a high-level player, at that.

For the current generation who considered swordmasters to be goners of the past, it was simply impossible to wrap their heads around. It just wasn't the common belief.

“So people just believe what they want to believe, I see.”

“Common belief goes beyond logic for them, after all.”

Turning a fan on when you sleep will kill you.

Taking a picture robs you of your soul.

The sun goes around the Earth.

All of these were ridiculous superstitions if one actually stopped to think about it. And yet, there was an entire generation of people who believed such things, and it wasn’t because they were foolish.

It was because that was the common belief.

In that sense, Lee Chun-gi’s press release was quite exquisite. He’d just given reasonable grounds for everyone grasping at straws for a way to understand this situation in a way that would fit their common beliefs.

How ridiculous those grounds were did not matter.

“He planned all of this in his press conference… I see that the Infinite Monarch is more of a strategist than I thought.”

“A strategist? Get outta here.”

Fitting for a member of the Black Dragon Clan, Li Chingwei expressed awe for Lee Chun-gi’s tactics.

Limon looked dumbfounded for a moment and responded with sarcasm.

“I can assure you, that little shit just flipped everything over because he was too lazy to resolve every little matter.”

“Are you saying there was no strategy involved?”

“Yeah.”

Li Chingwei widened her eyes.

For the Black Dragon Clan, where scheming and conspiracies were in their blood, holding a press release that absurd without thinking was beyond their imagination.

But Limon nodded without hesitation as he told her why he thought so.

“I did that too.”

“That is... incredibly persuasive."

***

***

Limon was once an absolute ruler as well. He was well aware it is the way of an absolute ruler to suppress with authority rather than bother himself with troublesome strategies and using one’s head.

Normally, it would have been a foolish abuse of power, but the fact that he was the absolute ruler was the resolution to everything.

After all, that was the essence of an absolute ruler.

Why was this entire situation just a ‘show’? Because the person saying it was Lee Chun-gi.

The people would not have accepted it so easily if it had been anyone else.

“I should have known when he said he would take care of it on his own…… I’m the dimwit for believing that son of a bitch.”

“At least you cleared your name.”

“That’s why I’m not a sucker.”

“Oh, uhm. Is the difference between a dimwit and a sucker that drastic?”

“As drastic as premature ejaculation and a eunuch.”

“Very drastic indeed……”

She muttered as if moved by how wise that metaphor was.

“But aren’t you disappointed?”

“A little. If I’d known sooner, I would have given that shit a better beating.”

“Not that. You lost your opportunity to regain your renown by announcing you beat the Infinite Monarch.”

“Renown? Yeah, right. Putting a little pimp back in his place isn’t anything to flaunt.”

His treason charges were dropped thanks to the press conference, but so was the truth that he beat the Infinite Monarch.

Anyone else would have shed tears, but Limon wasn’t disappointed.

He continued apathetically.

“Besides, even if that came into the light, who would believe that? Those bastards would pluck their eyes out in denial even if they witnessed it first-hand.”

“That certainly is true.”

Li Chingwei candidly agreed.

People’s reactions to the press conference made it evident just how substantial the devotion to common belief was.

Not to mention, she was the very person who made such beliefs over the past several decades in an attempt to ruin Limon.

“And most importantly, I’d rather pretend it never happened than have swarms of those flies crowding around me.”

Li chingwei blinked. Finally understanding what he was trying to say, she smiled.

“You don’t want to be a convenient sword.”

“Some people really have to eat shit to know it’s not chocolate.”

There was no doubt he would regain his renown if people believed he took down Lee Chun-gi. But that meant that more people would also try to use him.

Even Lee Chun-gi, the absolute ruler of this age, had a parasite named Park Hyun-gun.

As much as he didn’t have influence or an affiliated group, people would believe he’d be more easy to manipulate.

Of course, sometimes, those people could be useful for Limon.

But nothing could be more annoying for Limon when his hands were already full with the Constellations. Not to mention, he hated using his powers beyond what was absolutely necessary.

“Well, at least I won the bet. I’m happy with it.”

“A bet?”

“Yep. there’s a dead fish eyes who bet I couldn’t drop my charges.”

He chuckled thinking about the face Shia made when she watched Lee Chun-gi’s press conference. She was aghast, as if she’d seen the sky crumble down.

Limon dug his body deeper into the couch. With amusement in his eyes, he looked at Li Chingwei.

“So, will that make it easier to get our marriage accepted by the elders?”

Limon asked about his own marriage as if it was someone else’s business.

As ironic as it was, Li Chingwei wasn’t a bit shaken. She simply responded with a bright smile.

“I already got it.”

“…You got approval? Already?”

“Yes, though there are some additional conditions. They’re not too difficult, so it’s safe to assume they’re going to say yes.”

“I don’t think they would have disapproved in the first place if it was so easy.”

“Well, of course. The elders are well aware of the Master of Sword’s power. I’m sure they soon realized they wanted the Master of Swords on their side after saying no.”

Limon had a perplexed look on his face as Li Chingwei answered with nonchalance.

As old as he was, he knew how stubborn old geezers could be once they set their minds on something. If the elders had changed their minds so quickly, didn’t that mean someone had driven them into a corner they couldn’t get out of?

“Tsk. I was happy too soon about getting my charges dropped.”

“Don’t be too down. There is most certainly good that comes from the Master of Swords clearing his name.”

“That you can blatantly use me as your sword now?”

“No. We can now hold our wedding confidently.”

“How sad. I have nothing to argue against.”

Limon said with a chuckle.

Whether it was Limon, who could wipe out a measly nation with a few swings of his sword, or Li Chingwei, who could crumble the global economy with a few orders—

A treason charge was all that was for them.

“Anyways, we just have to hold our wedding now, right?”

“There are just a few procedures.”

“Procedures?”

“I’m a princess of the Seven Dragons Association, after all. From choosing the wedding hall, to which guests to invite—there’s quite a lot to prepare.”

“Hmm, that is true…”

Limon slowly nodded. Even ordinary newlyweds spent months to years planning their wedding. Let alone Li Chingwei, a master of the Seven Dragons Association and owner of the Seven Dragon Group. Her wedding could not be done over a day.

“Well, let me know if you need any help. I have more than enough time, anyways.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’ll help out with what I can.”

Limon stoically nodded.

Li Chingwei looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Then, will you spare some time tomorrow?”

“Sure, doesn’t really matter… Why?”

“There’s something I have to take care of in the near future. I absolutely need help from the Master of Swords.”

“Any bastard that needs killing?”

“No.”

“Then do you need me to crush something?”

“That’s not it, either.”

Limon guessed like a true swordsman would after shortly pondering what he could be needed for. Li Chingwei let out a stifled laugh.

She put a meaningful smile on her face.

“It’s much rather the opposite.”

——

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