Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 868

Chapter 868

«Criminals? What are you talking about, criminals?!»
«What kind of nonsense is this now?»

The members of the Azure Dragon Division reacted with explosive outrage to my declaration. To suddenly burst in, label someone a criminal, and pronounce a death sentence—their flustered response was only to be expected.

Some voices rose above the rest.
«Division Leader, colluding with heretics—?! That’s utter nonsense!»
«A connection to the Demonic Cult? Preposterous!»

Their fury was directed at the accusation against Ilcheon Sword.

Ilcheon Sword.
A man rumored to be on the cusp of being named one of the Ten Great Martial Masters. Since joining the Alliance, his significant achievements during the Justice-Demonic War had earned him his position as Azure Dragon Division Leader, a role granted for both his accomplishments and his exceptional cultivation.

Some had even begun to say:
«Ilcheon Sword may soon ascend to the position of Alliance Leader.»

With the Divine Dragon Division dissolved and the Sword Saint retired, Ilcheon Sword was widely seen as the strongest candidate. Although that rumor had quieted somewhat after the return of the Divine Dragon Division, his prestige remained undiminished.

In Zhongyuan, Ilcheon Sword was viewed as a future guardian of justice and chivalry.

«Justice and chivalry.»
To me, those words were nothing more than irritating hypocrisy.

«This is slander!»
The members of the Azure Dragon Division protested as one. Their loyalty was, admittedly, admirable.

«Slander?»
I let out a soft laugh at their claim, my voice still amplified by inner energy. The members flinched at the sound.
«Y-yes, slander!»
«If this isn’t slander, then what is it?!»

Though hesitant, they showed no signs of backing down. Commendable—a well-disciplined unit.

«Yes, truly commendable.»
On the surface, at least. What lay beneath would only be revealed once we started digging.

«What authority does the Star Dragon Division Leader have to take such action?!»
«Exactly! This is unacceptable!»

I smiled and asked:
«Why would you assume I lack the authority?»
«That’s because…»

Thud.
I tossed a wooden token onto the ground.
«Ah…!!»
«That’s…!»

Their eyes widened as they saw it. Inscribed with the word ‘Alliance,’ it could mean only one thing: the bearer acted with the full authority of the Alliance Leader.

This token granted the right to operate in the Alliance’s name without question. Currently, only three people besides the Alliance Leader held such power. The token I carried had been given to me directly by Muk Yeon.

After throwing it down, I expanded my energy further and spoke.
«Have you forgotten the purpose for which the Star Dragon Division was formed?»

The Star Dragon Division, newly established by the Martial Alliance, had a single mandate:
«It exists to eradicate demons and execute traitors who betray the Alliance.»

While previous divisions, like the Sword Division, were created to combat demonic beasts, the Star Dragon Division was founded solely to deal with humans.
«And as its leader, I possess the right and authority to execute any individual judged guilty in the name of the Martial Alliance.»

The Star Dragon Division operated autonomously, independent of the Alliance Leader’s direct orders, with the power to act on its own judgments.
«I have judged Ilcheon Sword to be a criminal and will carry out his execution. Does anyone object?»

«Of course we object!»
One man stepped forward from the group, shouting.
«Even if the Division Leader has been granted authority, this is a reckless abuse of power!»

«Is that so?»
I tilted my head, studying him. A reckless abuse? What an amusing claim.
«And why do you say that?»

«Because…»
The man hesitated, then pressed on:
«You attacked our Vice Division Leader in the past and left him severely injured!»
«Ah, that’s true.»

I had spared his life when I could have killed him—my own form of mercy. At my casual reply, the man’s face twisted into a scowl.
«And now… you’re targeting our Division Leader…»

He trailed off, biting his lip. Since he couldn’t finish, I decided to do it for him.
«Yes, I defeated Ilcheon Sword as well. A few strikes were all it took for him to fall. Pathetically weak.»

«Ugh!»
Crack.
The air grew thick with hostility. Mocking Ilcheon Sword provoked that kind of reaction. I didn’t mind it.

This respect for their leader was good to see.
«But.»

Did they truly understand the man they revered so much? If not, they were merely pitiable. And if they did understand, then:
«They are all fools.»

There would be no reason to spare any of them.
«So?»
I gestured for him to continue. Seizing the opening, he added quickly:
«We know you hold a grudge against the Azure Dragon Division. But to declare our Division Leader a criminal and seek to execute him—this is an abuse of your power!»

His voice shook as he spoke. He was afraid. Between the oppressive energy I radiated and the rumors of me defeating Ilcheon Sword, he couldn’t help but see me as a monster. Even so, he voiced his objections. That was impressive, in its own way.

«For the sake of legitimacy… you should at least report this to the Alliance first…»
«Geum Taeseom.»

«…!»
The man flinched. Of course he did—that was his name.
«Born into Hahnam’s Geum family. Joined the Alliance ten years ago. Age forty-two. Given your record of contributions, you are likely to be promoted to Vice Division Leader within two years.»

«H-how…»
«You’ve lived a diligent life. Rising to your position from an obscure family is no small feat.»

For someone from the minor Geum family of Hahnam to achieve such a rank was indeed uncommon.
«Still, you should have known better than to cross certain lines.»

«W-what do you mean…?»
«Geum Taeseom, you have been providing covert support to the Baekdong Sect and extorting illicit payments from them four times a year. Is that correct?»

«…!!»
His eyes widened in shock.
«Furthermore, you have been using their intelligence on heretical sects to inflate your own achievements. That information was supplied by the Baekdong Sect, was it not?»

«I… I…»
«Justice and chivalry? What a joke.»

I took a step toward him, and he stumbled backward.
«Do you truly have the right to speak those words?»

«N-no… this is… this is…»
«If you have an excuse, give it. Whatever you say, I possess the evidence to refute it.»

He bit his lip, his face a mask of fear and desperation.
«This is sl… slander—!!»

Bang!
Thud.
With a loud crash, Geum Taeseom fell to his knees. Blood trickled onto the ground as his lifeless body slumped forward, his skull shattered.

«Brother Geum!»
«This can’t be…!!!»

The others reacted violently to his death.
«Geum Taeseom collaborated with heretics on over ten occasions across five years. Without a valid defense, the penalty is death.»

I wiped the blood from my hands and spoke coldly. The response had served its purpose. The atmosphere was set, the stage prepared.
«Now, I will call out the names of the guilty.»

Scanning the area with an icy gaze, I began listing them one by one.
«Member Oh Seokcheong. You turned a blind eye to the abduction of orphaned girls from Hwanseong Pavilion in Hubei, allowing them to be forced into prostitution. You personally engaged in depraved acts with the girls you acquired, visiting every three months. And yet, you yourself have three daughters.»

A man with thinning hair, Oh Seokcheong, covered his mouth, trembling.

I shifted my gaze to the next target.
«Member Seok Gyeongdo. You embezzled funds from Hae Seonggwan, the Alliance’s direct supply office.»

A man in his fifties, Seok Gyeongdo, visibly quivered.

Haeseong Hall was a martial arts academy created and operated by the Martial Alliance. It was highly selective; children under fifteen had to pass a rigorous test, and only those with sufficient talent were accepted. Those who passed would undergo years of training, eventually earning the right to join the Alliance’s official sword unit. Its reputation was such that even prestigious noble families would sometimes send their less prominent descendants there.

«You accepted bribes and conspired with an elder to rig the admission tests. Is that not correct?»
The man had taken large sums from merchant groups to guarantee their children’s admission.
«For the record, that elder will also be apprehended, so you needn’t worry about him alone.»

As I continued, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. A few more individuals were named afterward. With each crime revealed, the reactions varied. Some grew indignant, crying slander, but the fear in their eyes was unmistakable.

Had the others failed to notice? Impossible. The cracks were already forming. I had set the stage; now it was time to play my part.
«You claim to pursue righteousness and honor.»

Sching.
The sound of a sword being drawn came from behind me.
«I’ll ask you again.»

I applied more pressure, intensifying the tension. This wasn’t killing intent or battle aura—just pure, overwhelming force.
«Are you truly righteous?»

No answer came, nor did I expect one.
«If you cannot answer, then I will render judgment myself.»

I raised my hand.
«You are not righteous.»

And then I lowered it.
«Azure Dragon Unit, execute the sinners.»

Boom!
The moment my hand fell, several figures burst into motion. They had been briefed beforehand and held no hesitation.

“D-Damn it…!! I—!!”
Slash!
Before he could finish, his head was severed by Seong Yul’s blade. He was one of those who had harassed women at the brothel.

Before his head hit the ground, cries erupted from other parts of the hall.
“Aaargh!!!”
“Hihihi—!! Hahaha—!!”

Amid Bong Soon’s eerie laughter, another body was crushed to pulp. Those whose crimes were severe were killed outright; those with more ambiguous guilt had their tendons severed, left barely alive.

Huff—huff—
“D-Damn it—!!”

Some tried to resist, but it was futile. Even those with higher cultivation levels were rendered helpless under the crushing weight of my pressure.
“L-Lord Commander…!”
“Argh—!!”

I walked forward, observing the chaos. Those whose crimes I had cited struggled desperately, while the expressions of the others were grim. They seemed paralyzed, unsure how to react to the slaughter of their comrades.

Such is the nature of fractured loyalties.

As the executions continued, a commotion erupted at the entrance to the Azure Dragon Unit’s barracks.
“What is the meaning of this…!!”

It was Mok Ri-seon, head of the Sichuan branch, who had arrived with a group of followers. I turned my gaze toward him.
“L-Lord of the Star Dragon Unit, what is going on here…?!”

Ah, of course.
«You’re here as well.»

“…What?”
In the moment Mok Ri-seon was taken aback, I was already before him.

Grab!
“Gah!?”

I reached out and seized him by the throat.
«Mok Ri-seon, head of the Sichuan branch. It has been confirmed that you conspired with the Celestial Stream Sect and engaged in espionage.»

“Guh…ugh!”
«You betrayed the Martial Alliance and colluded with heretical sects, endangering the peace. For your crimes, your punishment will be carried out here.»

“W-Wait… guh…”
Crack!

Mok Ri-seon’s neck snapped, and he died a miserable death.
“Hiik—!!”

The martial artists with him trembled at the sight. One among them stepped forward, drawing his sword to point at me. Though clearly terrified, his gaze was firm. I recognized him—he had been under observation for some time. In the entire Sichuan branch, he was the only one with a clean record.

“…How dare you do this in an Alliance branch?! Even if you are the Lord Commander of the main division…!”
«Seong Dogyeom.»

“…!”
At the sound of his name, Seong Dogyeom, who held his sword toward me, froze. I spoke to him.
«From this moment, you are the new branch leader.»

“…What? What are you saying…?”
With those words, I turned my back on him. By then, most of the situation had been resolved.

The stench of blood filled the air; the surviving culprits groaned in pain. Those who hadn’t been accused but had resisted were subdued. I gradually released the pressure I had been exerting.

As my robes settled, I walked past the corpses, and someone approached me. It was Seong Yul.
“…It has been handled as you instructed.”

“Well done.”
Had it been so long since he’d last wielded a blade? The glow in Seong Yul’s eyes suggested the Heavenly Killing Star within him had been awakened. I gave his shoulder a pat.

Thump.
The glow in his eyes dimmed slightly.

As I observed this, Seong Yul added:
“However, the whereabouts of the Azure Dragon Unit’s leader remain unknown.”
“Is that so?”
“…Yes. Should we search for him?”
“No need.”
I already knew where he had gone.
“Bong Soon.”

“Yes?”
Bong Soon, who had been grinning from ear to ear, looked at me as I called her name. Damn it. That smile of hers was terrifying. Why did she smile like that when she was so pretty?
“Come with me.”
“Where to?”
“You’ll see.”
I clenched my fist and spoke.
“To hunt the prey that fled.”