The Miraculous Divorce Technique

Chapter 22

To think he would kick an examiner.

Bungsangae, caught off guard by the unexpected event, couldn't even react properly and was sent crashing into a wall.

Even though he was a Hall Leader, he couldn't withstand that surprise attack.

"You bastard! What do you think you're doing!"

Jindeokgae shouted, his voice laced with internal energy, and Samsalgae also stared at him with a displeased gaze.

"This young punk, how dare you..."

Bungsangae staggered to his feet.

His face, which had been hit consecutively by a headbutt and a kick, had two streams of blood flowing endlessly from his nose.

"To resort to violence over a mere goading tactic. You're disqualified!"

At the excited Bungsangae's shout, Cheok Sagyeol sneered and said.

"I may have lost my temper and lashed out, but you can't discuss disqualification over that."

"What? What kind of crazy talk is this bastard spouting..."

"Hey, wait a minute."

The one who cut off Bungsangae's words and approached was Samsalgae.

"Continue."

"Since we're on the topic of that man who is my father, let me state my motive for applying again. The reason I applied to the Beggars' Sect was to find out the details of what happened back then. He must have guessed it would turn out this way. But why on earth! Did he make my mother and me live this life of being pointed at."

Cheok Sagyeol channeled his rage, imagining Muheo.

Thinking of that bastard, it wasn't just acting; real anger erupted.

"Are you saying you don't know the details of what happened at that time?"

"If that man had consulted with his family beforehand, could he have committed such an act? It's obvious that his descendants, starting with me, his son, would be cursed one after another."

'I don't give a damn about Yeom Seokjin's thoughts.'

However, when committing such a major incident, it was common not to consult with family. That's why it was a major incident.

"Are you saying you want to know not just your father's surrounding circumstances but also the change in his heart?"

"That's right. The Beggars' Sect must have an investigation report related to that incident. If I can just obtain that, I can willingly throw away my life!"

"There must be many places to get related materials, not just the Beggars' Sect. Why the Beggars' Sect?"

At Samsalgae's words, Cheok Sagyeol calmed his ragged breath and said.

"Where? The Hao Sect? I don't even know where their headquarters is, so I'd have to rot as a porter or a waiter for several years just to meet a recruitment contact, and even if I join, I'd have to be active for several years to be able to view the materials. Should I go to the intelligence units of the Five Great Families then? Would they, who are centered on blood ties and do not tolerate even the slightest blemish, really give me a chance? The son of Yeom Seokjin..."

GRIND.

The sound came from Cheok Sagyeol's mouth as he trailed off, grinding his teeth.

Of course, this time too, thinking of Muheo made him grind his teeth automatically.

'Ah, fuck, is this not working... If I fail, how can I face Sa-wol.'

'She'll be disappointed if she finds out I failed because I didn't look at the materials she prepared.'

It was then, as Cheok Sagyeol was thinking that.

"Examinee number 70, Yeom Jang. You pass."

The words came from Samsalgae's mouth.

"No, hey. Are you saying you're going to pass a guy who laid a hand on an examiner?"

Jindeokgae said, frowning.

"Strictly speaking, there's no rule that says you can't use your hands. And what we wanted to get from the question was an answer that would resolve the awkwardness of Yeom Seokjin being his father. Applicant Yeom Jang answered that."

"Are you saying you're satisfied with just that answer? That he won't make the same choice because he hates his father?"

"At the very least, he'll think it over carefully."

As Jindeokgae was about to retort to Samsalgae's answer, Cheok Sagyeol opened his mouth.

"There will absolutely be no same choice. Because I am different from that man."

"Hmph! There's no such thing as 'absolutely' in this world. What if your father made that choice to save your and your mother's lives? What would you do then? Could you still hate your father?"

"Are you saying that man was threatened?"

"What if he was? Could you still use the word 'absolutely' then?"

"..."

Cheok Sagyeol hesitated for a moment.

"Hmph! See that. Anyone can talk big, but if they know the inside story and are in that situation..."

"That was the very first thing I thought of among the tens of thousands of situations I've imagined."

"What?"

At the answer that cut off his words, Jindeokgae's eyes shot open.

It was not the answer he had expected.

"Do you think I haven't had all sorts of thoughts until now? I've thought of every possible thing. Among them was a threat using my family as a pretext. My answer is that even so, I cannot forgive that man. At that time, our family was a martial arts family with a foothold in the martial world, and shouldn't a martial artist choose an honorable death? Not live a wretched life! He lacked resolve even though he had entered the martial world! That man!"

"..."

Jindeokgae was at a loss for words.

It wasn't that Yeom Seokjin had actually done that, but he had tried to shake the man with a situation that was easiest to empathize with.

But the one who was shaken was, on the contrary, himself.

'Right. As he said, in the martial world, a half-hearted resolve is the most dangerous...'

Of course, what choice one would make if actually faced with such a situation would depend on that person's true nature.

But Jindeokgae judged that if the applicant before him were in that situation, he would make a different choice from Yeom Seokjin.

"Pass... I also agree with applicant Yeom Jang's passing."

As the word 'pass' came from Jindeokgae's mouth, Samsalgae concluded.

"Since two out of the three have judged you to have passed, you may go back and prepare for tomorrow's practical test."

"Thank you, then."

Cheok Sagyeol performed a cupped fist salute and then went out the door.

But Bungsangae was smiling as he looked at the door Cheok Sagyeol had left through.

"Did you get hit somewhere wrong? Why are you suddenly smiling?"

At Jindeokgae's question, Bungsangae wiped his bloody nose and said.

"Sniff, I really like that fellow."

"Huh? You like him?"

"Yes. He must have been furious, but there was no internal energy in his fist. It means he doesn't lose his reason even when he's angry. He's a pretty decent guy. Hehe."

Jindeokgae narrowed his eyes and thought.

'Are you just trying to cover up late because you were the only one who said he failed... Ugh. You simple-minded fool.'

* * *

The day of the practical test.

At the Luoyang branch, the applicants who had passed the second round of interviews were gathered in the open space.

Around them, beggars who had come to watch them were sitting in every corner.

They were unmistakably beggars, picking each other's lice and wiggling the dirt from between their toes.

MURMUR. MURMUR.

There were a total of twenty-one successful applicants.

Two-thirds of the applicants had been eliminated in the interview.

Since only seven of them would pass, a test that would filter out another two-thirds would be held.

The eyes of the successful applicants looking at each other were filled with a fiery competitive spirit.

'What's so great about being a damn beggar that they're so passionate? Geez...'

Cheok Sagyeol clicked his tongue as he looked at the prospective beggars who were glancing at him.

But at that moment, there was someone who approached him, unlike the others.

"Hello, number seventy. We meet again."

He was acting familiar with Cheok Sagyeol.

"Huh? Who are you? I don't know you."

"This is disappointing. Wasn't I number sixty-nine, who had the interview before you yesterday?"

'Was that so?'

Since most of the interviewees had similar appearances and no distinguishing features, they all looked the same to him.

He hadn't paid much attention because he wasn't very interested anyway.

"So? Do you have business with me?"

"Ah. Ah. Don't be so on edge. I know you're desperate to become a beggar, but if you act prickly during the practical test, you might get eliminated."

'Who's desperate? Me?'

Cheok Sagyeol frowned and stared at the man.

"I was just happy to see you and thought we could exchange names, so you don't have to be on guard. Who knows? Maybe the two of us will be among the final successful candidates. Hahaha."

The man chattered on and grinned.

"My name is Bongdu. I'm a newcomer to the martial world, so I don't have a moniker. What about you?"

"...Yeom Jang. I don't have a moniker either."

"As expected! I knew it. Hahaha. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you."

Bongdu patted Cheok Sagyeol's arm and laughed.

But Cheok Sagyeol, still maintaining a cold impression, asked.

"It seems you know something about the practical test. Do you know what the practical test is?"

"Ah, that. Isn't it obvious? Since it's a practical test, it must be about digging up information."

"I can roughly guess that much myself. The question is what kind of information."

"Haha. I don't know that either. How would I know that?"

'Damn it, was he just a blabbermouth?'

Cheok Sagyeol turned his head away sharply.

He didn't have a single moment to play along with a martial world newcomer's friendship game.

"No, hey..."

It was then, as Bongdu was about to open his mouth again.

"Interview passers, gather around. We will now give you instructions for the practical test."

Cheok Sagyeol pushed past Bongdu and walked to the center.

There were the leaders of the three halls, the three examiners.

"First, I would like to say thank you for your hard work to the applicants who have come this far through the interview. You are all outstanding talents, but unfortunately, the number of people we can pick is limited, so we will proceed with a practical test. I hope you all get good results."

As Jindeokgae's empty words ended, Bungsangae stepped forward and said.

"As you all know, the identity of our sect can be said to be an intelligence organization. Therefore, the practical test will also be conducted for the purpose of seeing your intelligence-gathering abilities. The applicants will become intelligence agents and obtain specific information from a designated place."

After saying this much, Bungsangae took a step back.

'Hah... you bastards, just have one person recite it all. Are you triplets or something?'

'Anyway, the righteous faction bastards have a knack for dawdling.'

As expected, the one who stepped forward this time was Samsalgae. He was holding several sealed letters in his hand.

"There are a total of seven types of assignments, and the three people who receive the same assignment will be competitors. Only one person will be selected for each assignment, and everything is allowed except for the use of force against competitors, so please keep this in mind."

Samsalgae handed out the sealed letters, and the applicants, conscious of their competitors, put them in their bosoms without opening them.

One of the applicants raised his hand and asked. It was Bongdu.

"If all three people obtain the information, how is the winner decided?"

Samsalgae looked at the questioner and said.

"Another word for information warfare is speed warfare. The one who brings the accurate information the fastest will have the honor of being the final successful candidate. Are there any other questions?"

Was it because it was simple and clear? No one readily asked a question.

But as expected, there was someone who raised his hand again, and it was Bongdu.

"Are there any restrictions on the intelligence-gathering method?"

"A good question. In fact, our sect has relied on eavesdropping for intelligence gathering in the past, but this had the problem of low information quality. Therefore, rather than intelligence gathering, we have focused our capabilities on grasping the situation of the demonic path or the Demonic Cult or disrupting information. That's why, for this public recruitment practical test, we have not set any restrictions and want to see the fresh ideas of the new recruits."

"Are you saying you'll also look at creativity?"

"If two or more applicants bring the same answer on the same day and at the same time, it will be so."

After Samsalgae's answer, there seemed to be no more questions.

Even the blabbermouthed prospective beggar Bongdu was lost in thought, fiddling with the sealed letter.

"Now, since there seem to be no more questions. We will begin the practical test. We examiners will wait here, so those who have obtained the information should come to the reception desk here."

As Samsalgae's declaration was made, the applicants left the venue like a receding tide.

Cheok Sagyeol also left the place and moved to a secluded spot to check the sealed letter.

In his sealed letter, an unexpected place and intelligence target were written.

-Prefectural Governor Lee Munjung. The number of spoons and chopsticks in his private residence. Submission of the said information is after the hour of the monkey tomorrow.

'What is this? Why do I need to know the number of spoons and chopsticks in someone else's house?'

'I thought there would be something grand... The Beggars' Sect has lost its mind.'

He felt that it was decided carelessly, to the point where he suspected it was decided because of the saying 'knows even the number of spoons and chopsticks in someone's house' when analogizing the ability of an intelligence organization.

But just because it was decided carelessly did not mean it was an easy assignment.

It was because the position of Prefectural Governor was not low.

Among the local government systems, the largest area after a province was a prefecture, and its chief administrator was called the Prefectural Governor.

It was no exaggeration to say that he was the most powerful person in Luoyang.

'Don't tell me they deliberately gave me an assignment about the most powerful person, tsk. By the way, the security will be tight, and there won't be just one or two spoons and chopsticks. What trick should I use...'

(End of Chapter)