Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Chapter 415

#415

Taejonbirok Volume 17, Episode 15

Chapter 95: Confronting the Lazy (5)

“So you came back alive and well?”

"……yes."

Zhuge Liang's eyebrows formed a reversal of fortune. Woo-il, seeing Zhuge Liang's face, his brows furrowed, sighed silently.

'I knew it would turn out like this.'

It was a miracle that he returned alive from Wei Yanho's room. The moment he was discovered by Wei Yanho, Woo-il was ready to die.

'No, I wasn't prepared for that.'

It was a strange thing.

Wooil always lived with the thought that the moment he was caught would be the end of his life.

But… why did he beg? Why did he ask to be spared?

Even Wooil himself couldn't figure out the reason.

So it is natural that Zhuge Liang sees himself in such a way.

“Okay, let’s summarize again.”

Zhuge Liang tilted his head from side to side and continued speaking.

“So, you went undercover and got caught by Wi Yeon-ho?”

“Yes.”

“But Wei Yanho sent you away without saying anything?”

“Yes.”

"Yes, I see. Yes, it's a great achievement to have discovered that Wi Yeon-ho was so generous as to let the assassin who broke into his room go free. I commend him."

Wooil quietly bit his lip.

It was a sarcastic remark, almost scathing.

“But no matter how much I think about it, there’s something I just can’t understand.”

“…….”

Zhuge Liang held up a fan and waved it gently towards his face.

"If possible, I'd like to believe you. But I don't understand. Hey, Wooil."

“Yes, Lord Soga.”

“Why are you alive?”

“…….”

Wooil couldn't answer.

It was impossible for him to answer something he didn't even know.

“What was the most appropriate response you could have made the moment your presence was discovered?”

“Suicide…….”

"Yes, I understand. How much do you think the poison in your mouth is worth? Why do you think you'd pay for such expensive poison?"

“For suicide…….”

“No! No!”

Zhuge Liang's voice became sharp.

"It's for a sure death. No matter how great a master you are, it won't be easy to force your mouth open and extract that dogma. It's a dogma I gave you to ensure your death, rather than stabbing you in the neck with a dagger. But… where is that dogma now?"

“……It remains as is.”

"Yes. That dogma is in your mouth, not your stomach. And you returned safely. You didn't even know who was following you."

“No one followed.”

“Does that matter?”

“…….”

Wooil lowered his head.

It doesn't matter how sharp the words you hear are. What matters is that there's nothing wrong with them.

'Why couldn't I die?'

It lacked realism.

He should have known what would happen if he were to emerge from Wei Yanho's room unharmed. Even if he told the truth, no one would believe him.

"So, you were discovered by the enemy and returned alive and well, is that it? You didn't escape without even biting your tongue like you were trained to, but rather the enemy let you go and you returned here? Is that what you're saying?"

“……Yes.”

Debt started moving a little faster.

Wooil could clearly see Zhuge Liang's face flush. He was a man who hated revealing his emotional changes. For him to be blushing like that meant he was so angry he couldn't control himself.

I understand.

The mistake Wooil made was that big. He would be speechless even if his head was cut off right now.

‘I barely made it back alive… … .’

Wooil closed his eyes quietly.

Now, his fate rests solely in Zhuge Liang's hands. He could not refuse Zhuge Liang's orders. If he were told to bite his tongue now, he would do so without a moment's hesitation.

If he runs away, other people's necks will be cut off.

Their lives were more important than his.

“It’s not organized.”

Zhuge Liang shook his head and gulped down the tea.

"I have to say, it's amazing. You surprised me. I've been through so many things, but this is the most absurd thing I've ever seen. I never thought something like this could happen."

"……sorry."

"No, no. This isn't something I should be sorry about. It's just a little unfortunate."

"yes?"

Jegalmun-in glared at Wooil with cold eyes.

"What would you think if you were in my shoes? Would you be able to accept that Wei Yanho, the greatest of all great men, captured you and then released you so easily? And that he let you run away without even a trace? Would you believe it?"

Wooil shook his head.

This was a no-brainer.

What would he have said if he had heard a story like this a while ago?

It must be obvious.

He must have ordered the returned informant to be captured and tortured. Clearly, he had ulterior motives, or he was brainwashed by the enemy. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense.

“Woo-il.”

“Yes, Lord Soga.”

“I believe in you.”

"……thank you."

"But I have my own position. I'm not someone who can be moved emotionally."

Wooil nodded quietly. He understood what Sogaju was saying.

'Accept.'

Whatever decision Sogaju made, he had to accept it. That was his fate.

"For me to trust you again, you need to prove your innocence yourself. There's only one way to do that."

“What would you call a method?”

Zhuge Liang smiled quietly.

"There may be many ways, but none of them can completely prove your innocence. But there is one way: to clear your name."

Wooil's eyes were filled with doubt.

'suicide?'

At that moment, that was the only thought in my head.

But the answer that Zhuge Liang gave was a little harsher.

“Complete your mission and come back.”

"……yes?"

"Go and complete your mission. Then no one will dare to suspect you. Why don't you go and find out about Wei Yanhu?"

“…….”

"No matter what you say, no one will believe you. But if you complete your mission, no one will be able to disbelieve you. What do you think? Isn't that a good idea?"

“Ha, but…….”

"Yes, I know. Of course it's difficult. But it depends on how you think about it. Just because you failed once doesn't mean you'll fail again. In fact, having failed before might lead to success the second time. Do you understand what I mean?"

Wooil couldn't say anything.

There was so much to say.

But I can't do it.

His mouth was forced shut by the viper-like gaze of Zhuge Liang.

'It's meaningless.'

Whatever he says here will fall on deaf ears. Rather, it will only aggravate his suspicions.

If so, there is only one answer he can give.

“Understood, Lord Soga. I will obey your command.”

“Good posture.”

“I know this is presumptuous of you to ask, but… I would like to ask you a favor.”

"Why do you say that? You'll naturally complete your mission and return. There's nothing to worry about."

"yes."

Wooil slowly turned and walked outside. As his figure disappeared, seemingly absorbed into the floor, Jegalmunin clicked his tongue softly.

“Tsk.”

As if he was not satisfied, Zhuge Liang folded his fan and tapped the table with the end of the fan.

“Pathetic.”

Slurp.

At the same time, another undercover agent appeared behind him.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s not okay.”

Zhuge Liang spoke in an annoyed voice.

"But it doesn't matter. A person without ability isn't worth living. If he completes his mission, that's fine. If he fails and dies, that's fine too."

“Woo-il is capable.”

"Yes, he's competent. But he's also uneasy. I don't want someone I feel uncomfortable keeping around. I just want someone I can completely trust, even if their abilities are a bit lacking."

“……You are right.”

“What about you, Woohyun? Can I trust you completely?”

The undercover agent bowed his head.

"I know the Lord Soga favors Uil. But he's still just a child. Even if he has potential, if he can't put it to use right now, isn't that meaningless?"

“Yes, you’re right. I should have listened to you a long time ago.”

Zhuge Liang shook his head.

'Idiot.'

It doesn't matter whether Wooil's words are true or not. What matters is that he can no longer trust Wooil.

“But, Lord Soga, isn’t there a chance that he will tell us something about us?”

“That won’t happen.”

"one……."

"That's not for Wooil to decide. If Wi Yeon-ho had been interested, he would have found out somehow. He's more than capable of doing so. The fact that he let Wooil go, then that means there was no need."

“I find it difficult to understand.”

"It's either because they've already noticed we sent them, or because they're confident they don't care if anyone tries to spy on them. The reason they sent Wooil back was to tell me that. It's a provocation, to show they don't care about little brats like you."

"ah……."

"You're more agile and clever than I thought. Don't take it lightly; you'll be in big trouble."

“Then shouldn’t we not send rain even more?”

"Fool. Handling someone who failed their mission with my own hands will affect my morale. Birds listen to what's said during the day, and rats listen to what's said at night. There's no need to soil my own reputation by getting my hands dirty. What would Wei Yanho do if the person who was watching him came back to watch him again?"

“……I’ll kill you.”

"Yes. And my intention will be conveyed. Even so, I will not cease my surveillance of you."

Zhuge Liang wrote a letter.

"He's quite the master of the art of war. I'll revise my assessment of him. Perhaps he's far more intelligent than the world realizes. But he's just been dealt the wrong blow."

“No one can escape the clutches of the Soga Lord.”

"Let's see how he reacts. Will he try to execute the Seven-Four-Three …

Zhuge Liang's eyes sank.

'Certainly, you have to experience it to know.'

That's why information is so crucial. According to the reports, Wi Yeon-ho is incredibly impulsive and foolish, but judging by his handling of Woo-il, his mentality is anything but simple.

"Now, let's see how you react to the moves I've made. It doesn't matter how you react. Because your reaction will reveal more about yourself. The moment I fully understand you will be your last."

Zhuge Liang placed a stone on the table.

But Zhuge Liang did not know.

Wei Yanho, who thought he was sitting across from her, was completely uninterested in the table setting.

It was Zhuge Liang who started a meticulous battle with the ghost of Wei Yanhu, not Wei Yanhu.