"Hmm."
Nok-gi was in a good mood.
This kind of cloudless, clear weather wasn't the type Nok-gi particularly preferred, but he could appreciate it to that extent. Today would become the greatest day of his life, after all.
"Grand Eunuch, you have entered the palace!"
"Grand Eunuch!"
Wherever he went, high-ranking officials dressed in red robes bent their waists so low they nearly touched the ground.
'Pathetic fools.'
Nok-gi wore a sardonic smile.
Even those who had despised him as a eunuch until recently were now wearing bright smiles and desperately trying to win his favor. Watching that spectacle, he couldn't hide his laughter.
Probably not many among them had truly submitted to him. Beyond that, all of them either hated or despised him, yet they had no choice but to acknowledge Nok-gi, who had devoured all the power in the Imperial Palace by himself. To survive.
Nok-gi lightly waved his hand, barely acknowledging their greetings. But even that made them bow their heads repeatedly as if they were deeply honored.
This was the power of authority.
Authority meant crushing others.
It didn't matter what thoughts the other person had or what ideology they held—it was simply about pressing them down. In that sense, Nok-gi now stood at the pinnacle of power.
"Heh."
A snort escaped him naturally.
'It took a long time, it took a very long time.'
Looking back, it had truly been a long journey.
While other high officials had studied under the protection of their families and walked a smooth path even after entering government service, Nok-gi had truly started from the bottom and crawled his way up to this position.
All through his own strength alone.
Of course, without the help of those who followed 'that person,' even Nok-gi couldn't have reached this place. But conversely, if it hadn't been Nok-gi, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't have planted their own person in this position.
In the end, even with help, the fact that all of this was achieved through Nok-gi's fierce efforts couldn't be denied.
Nok-gi snorted as he slowly walked down the palace's main road.
Those who saw him split left and right, clearing the way. Among them were even Prince Lee Wang-ya's people, who until recently had been raising their voices in front of him.
"Heh."
There were countless pleasures in the world.
Base people were obsessed with physical pleasures, and those slightly more advanced considered the pleasure of spending and accumulating money the highest. But all those pleasures were utterly base.
Power.
Power, which could behead with a single gesture both those with wealth and those with violence, was the world's only true strength and only true pleasure. To obtain that power, Nok-gi could do anything.
'And now the ultimate power comes into my hands.'
The thorn in his side, Prince Lee Wang-ya, had fallen from grace, and the Emperor's lifespan wasn't long. Soon the Crown Prince, who trusted him like a rock, would ascend to the throne. From that moment, he would hold power equivalent to being the Emperor himself.
'It really took a long time.'
Nok-gi let out a quiet laugh.
How much time had it taken to get this enormous Imperial Palace into his hands?
It was a treacherous path, but thinking that everything would finally be accomplished today, he felt as if all his past hardships were washing away.
Today, the fates of Prince Lee Wang-ya, Wei Yan-ho, and others would be decided in the imperial court. And Nok-gi just had to watch that spectacle with pleasure.
'What expression will you make, Your Highness?'
Prince Lee Wang-ya's distorted expression would complete Nok-gi's victory today.
"Kekekekek."
Nok-gi headed toward the imperial court with his characteristically unhurried, leisurely steps.
Inside the imperial court, a strange atmosphere filled the air.
'Hot.'
Cold yet hot.
Nok-gi had experienced this atmosphere several times before. It was always like this when the world was about to turn upside down. The air grew cold with worry about the future and concerns that the current system would be twisted.
And then a subtle expectation that a new world would unfold from now on covered everything. When that happened, this kind of tense yet slightly excited atmosphere was completed.
And soon the smell of blood would mix in here. Change, in other words, meant purges.
'The first blood will probably be Wei Yan-ho's.'
Wei Yan-ho's death would signify Prince Lee Wang-ya's complete downfall.
Whether he would meekly accept death was questionable, though. While it would be impossible for Wei Yan-ho alone to subdue the palace guards, escaping wouldn't be difficult. And if he fled like that, there was no intention to stop him.
Rather, it would be better if Wei Yan-ho escaped. Then the Imperial Family and the Emperor would also learn of the danger posed by martial artists, and they could mobilize troops to pressure the martial world.
"Huhhuhu. Either way is fine, either way."
Nok-gi straightened his back.
Having spent his entire life bowing, bending his back was more familiar than straightening it, but now there was no longer any need to bow. That foolish Emperor would soon learn too. What a huge mistake he had made.
That fool thought he was using Nok-gi, but he would soon learn. Which side had been used.
'No, he might never know.'
Since the senseless couldn't think.
If possible, it might be fine to let him live a few more years. After all, having the current Emperor take his side would be more helpful in crushing those foolish Confucian scholars than having the Crown Prince become Emperor.
If only the Emperor were a bit healthier and could live even one more year, there would have been no need to curry favor with that foolish Crown Prince.
Murmur murmur.
The great hall, where the Emperor had not yet entered, was filled with low voices. Whispering sounds. But since so many people were whispering, even those sounds seemed quite loud.
"Ahem."
When Nok-gi cleared his throat softly, the imperial court was instantly dyed in silence. In the silence where not even breathing could be heard, Nok-gi alone laughed quietly.
"Kukukukukuk."
Along with his laughter, those who followed Nok-gi all wore smiles.
Wasn't this the supreme joy that victors could receive?
Just then, a commotion was heard. Nok-gi, who had slightly frowned and turned his head outside, couldn't help but smile.
"I'm walking on my own!"
"You… might not believe me, but I really have no connection with that guy."
"Where is my younger brother now!"
"Amitabha."
Wei Yan-ho's group was being dragged in bound. His Majesty probably intended to interrogate them personally.
'How ridiculous.'
Nok-gi found that spectacle quite comical.
Except for a few, all those people there could easily handle the Golden Guard. If they put their minds to it, they could break those ropes right now and escape.
But none of them dared to think such thoughts. They were just being dragged along like rabbits bound by hunters.
How strong it was.
Power.
How great it was.
Even those terrifying people from the place he belonged to had no choice but to be wary of martial artists like them. Yet those same people couldn't overcome a single finger of Nok-gi's now.
Nok-gi trembled with the joy of finally having all of this in his hands.
'I must maintain dignity.'
All eyes in this place were focused on him now. Considering appearances, he couldn't laugh or enjoy himself frivolously. Also…
'I must show final courtesy to that person too.'
Prince Lee Wang-ya was being dragged in. As courtesy to royalty, he wasn't bound, but surrounded by the Golden Guard on all sides, his current predicament was starkly revealed.
Prince Lee Wang-ya, who had been heading toward the imperial court, stopped in front of Nok-gi.
"..."
Prince Lee Wang-ya glared at Nok-gi without saying anything, and Nok-gi met him with a gentle smile.
Then it was the Golden Guards who were flustered. No matter how much he was a criminal, Prince Lee Wang-ya had been one of the two great powers of the Imperial Family alongside Nok-gi until just days ago, and was still the Emperor's brother with supreme status.
They couldn't rush him.
"You seem quite gaunt. Do you have any worries?"
"You said worry?"
Nok-gi smiled brightly.
"Everything comes from the heart. We live just one lifetime, so what's the point of clinging to this and that? Now let it go and spend your remaining years in comfort. Isn't a life accompanied by poetry and painting the true pleasure of a scholar? I'll visit you from time to time."
"Would the Grand Eunuch, busy with state affairs, be able to visit a criminal?"
"Who would doubt Your Highness's insight? If I say I'm seeking advice from Your Highness, no one will stop me."
Prince Lee Wang-ya's burning gaze glared at Nok-gi murderously. If looks could kill, Nok-gi would have been torn to pieces by now.
"They say no flower blooms for ten days."
"Yes. I'm feeling it keenly while looking at Your Highness right now."
"Good, mock me. You've won, so you have the right to mock. I suppose even spit in the face should be received gladly, given my current position. But don't feel secure. No one who tried to manipulate the Son of Heaven has ever lived out their natural lifespan. Even if you do live out your natural life, history will not forgive you."
"Would that matter?"
"...What did you say?"
Nok-gi curled up the corners of his mouth.
"Even if the world rejoices on the day I die, what does that matter to me? Are you telling me to fear posthumous curses that won't even reach my ears? Your Highness, Your Highness… when people die, they just become dust. Rather than receive praise after death, I'll enjoy power while alive."
When Prince Lee Wang-ya, who had been glaring quietly, turned his head and walked away, Nok-gi smiled sardonically.
'The death throes of the defeated are always ugly.'
Still, seeing how he composed himself at that point, he truly was Prince Lee Wang-ya.
'Your Highness, your mistake wasn't failing to stop me, but not ascending to the throne. If you had been Emperor, I wouldn't have dared harbor different thoughts. Your mistake was putting that weak person on the Emperor's throne.'
And thanks to that mistake, Nok-gi had seized victory.
"His Majesty the Emperor enters!"
A smile bloomed on Nok-gi's face as he bowed respectfully.
Now it was over.
Now everything was finished.
Just then!
Something strange began to be heard.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
'Thump?'
Nok-gi's brow furrowed.
These were footsteps. Nothing else could make such a sound. The sound made when human feet heavily pressed down on the floor.
But they weren't the Emperor's footsteps. The Emperor didn't have this kind of weight. These were footsteps that someone with a large build could make.
'Who is it?'
Someone was beside the Emperor.
Someone who had earned the Emperor's tremendous trust enough to enter with him.
Nok-gi's brow began to contort.
'A variable? Or...'
He had to confirm.
With that thought, Nok-gi slightly raised his head. Immediately after, Nok-gi's mouth gaped open.
"Wha, what is this?"
A scream-like cry burst from Nok-gi.