Mercenary Harem in Murim Novel

In the Emperor's Palace, in the private room, Emperor Sheng was looking at the reports of the war and the movement of the enemy. The fake Emperor was kneeling in front of the bed, his head lowered deeply on the ground due to the tense atmosphere that the Lord he served created.

At that moment, Emperor Sheng suddenly raised his head and looked at the fake Emperor.

"Is this report correct?"

He asked, his voice cracked slightly, which was unusual for him. Usually, he could keep calm even when the situation was dire. But this time, he couldn't keep his voice steady.

"Yes, Your Majesty. This report is accurate. We have received the same information from the Shadow Guard, and Bloody Guards. The number of missing people has increased significantly. And among them, the people missing from the Sects affiliated with the Murim Alliance are the most. They are planning something, and we have to be prepared."

The fake Emperor answered, his face still facing the ground.

"Hmm."

Emperor Sheng leaned back on his chair and frowned.

There was a little... No, there was a big problem with the report.

While the fake Emperor didn't know it, Sheng had noticed a few familiar names written on it.

'The Muds are missing one by one. Are they really gone? Or is there something else behind this?'

Sheng didn't show his worry on his face. He kept his expression neutral and cold, not letting the fake Emperor know his thoughts.

Were they found out by the enemies?

Among 200 or more missing people in the last few days, almost half of them belonged to the force Emperor Sheng spread around the Sects. They were exceptional people who were loyal to him and capable of doing dirty jobs.

They were his hidden weapon and a force that he could use anytime he wanted.

In the Sects, these people had a position that wasn't too high or too low, perfect for them to move around without suspicion. Their power was also good enough without attracting attention.

And now, they were gone.

It was weird.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" The fake Emperor worriedly.

"I am fine. Investigate more and ask Hao Sect for help."

"Hao Sect? May I ask why we didn't ask for a Beggar Sect instead?"

An Orthodox Sect affiliated with the Murim Alliance or an Unorthodox Sect that was affiliated with the Mercenary Union. Normal people or Nobles would definitely choose the former immediately.

But, Emperor Sheng wasn't a normal person.

"Just do what I said."

He knew that darkness had seeped through the Murim Alliance. He couldn't trust any Sects affiliated with them anymore.

Not even the ones outside of Central Plain.

Then, who could he trust?

A truly neutral force that didn't belong to the Murim and wasn't under the Empire. They gained animosity and hatred from all sides and were known for their efficiency.

Mercenary Union. More specifically, the group that created them.

Not only their name was feared in the Murim, but also the fact that they were a force that no one dared to mess with. They were the best at handling the job that Emperor Sheng wanted them to do and wouldn't betray their client as long as they were paid.

Sheng believed he could use them. And he knew their Leader, Leo, also used him to gain power.

They were both using each other, and that was good.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Now, leave me. I have something else to think about."

Emperor Sheng waved his hand, and the fake Emperor quickly left. The latter put up a dignified face as he opened the room door and exited.

When the door closed, the Emperor finally allowed himself to frown.

"The Muds are missing? What's happening? Were they discovered or did they betray me?"

His mind was in chaos, and he didn't know what to do.

For now, he had to inform the Muds to be careful. He took the special communication device and turned it on.

"To all muddy brothers. The situation is getting complicated. Watch your back and stay in groups. If you have any news, report it to me immediately. Good luck and be safe."

Emperor Sheng sent the message and hoped it would help his men.

***

Late at night, Leo sat on the balcony of his room. The moon was high, and the cool breeze blew his hair.

He was thinking about the conversation he had with Emperor Sheng earlier and made a plan.

Hologram screens floated in the air in front of him, showing the map of the world and the information about the Murim Alliance. It had everything from the number of their members to their locations.

'No matter how I look at it, we won't be able to destroy them in a short time. I plan to drag the guerilla war until they exhaust their energy. But, there are still some problems.'

Leo tapped his finger on the armrest and sighed.

There were many problems, and he couldn't ignore them.

One was the Supreme Evil followers. And the other was the Murim Alliance itself.

'They are gathering their force and moving to a single place. That is not good. It seems they are about to attack us at this time. The movement will put us at a disadvantage. Jack, Anya, and the others are still interrogating the people we captured.'

The only way to combat and destroy the Murim Alliance, much to Leo's dismay, was to make all Hallowed Insect members awaken Qi and for them to reach a minimum of 5 Stars, awakening their element.

'We have to deal with the Supreme Evil followers and the Murim Alliance. We are not prepared for both at the same time.'

Fortunately, Emperor Shang's force would help. However, Leo didn't want to rely on them too much. He needed his own force that could fight equally.

As he was thinking, a knock on his door was heard.

"Benefactor, it's me, Min-Gu."

Kim Min-Gu's voice was heard, and Leo turned around.

"Wait a minute." He answered and looked at the bed. There, Jessica was still sleeping, so he couldn't let the boy enter.

Rising from his feet, Leo wore his bodysuit and the robe before using optical illusion to disguise himself. He had to ensure his identity was hidden from the others.

The bedroom and the living room were in different rooms. And the entrance was connected directly to the latter, so no one could see the inside.

"Enter, Min-Gu."

Once Leo spoke, the door opened, and Kim Min-Gu entered. His face was tired, and his expression showed his exhaustion.

"Benefactor, I have something to report. It's regarding the request you gave me."

"Please sit down and relax. Have some tea. Then, you can speak."

Leo gestured for him to take a seat and pour some tea for him. The boy nodded his head and sat on the chair. He looked nervous and fidgety, and his hands were trembling slightly.

"What's wrong? You seem worried. Did something happen?"

He asked calmly as he didn't want to make him even more nervous.

"Benefactor, I... I found some suspicious characters on my way here. There are some people dressed like merchants, but their energy and attitude are very different. I can feel their dark energy."

"Really?"

"Yes. They seem to be watching me and following me. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but after observing them for a while, I can tell they're not just normal merchants. Their moves are suspicious and they meet some people with similar energy. Also, I feel like they are watching me. Maybe they can feel my dark Qi too."

Listening to the boy's explanation, Leo frowned. He knew this wasn't a coincidence. The fact they met up while the Murim Alliance made a strange movement seemed too much for it to be a coincidence.

"Tell me in detail."

"Benefactor, they seem to be the same as the ones we captured from the Supreme Evil. They are hiding their faces and energy, and they are moving around like assassins. I followed them to see their destination, but I lost them when they reached the outskirts of the city. Then..."

He proceeded to explain the details, and Leo nodded his head.

Kim Min-Gu unexpectedly managed to gather a lot of information from the person he followed. Such as where they gathered and their movement when they were around the city.

That was enough for Leo to create a map to pinpoint where they met up together.

"And even now, there is someone in front of this inn with a dark Qi."

"Really?"

"Yes, Benefactor. They're hiding their presence, but I can still sense them. They have been here for a while, and I can feel the energy they give off. I believe they are here after you return from the Four Wind Merchant estate."

"Hmm..."

So he was followed after he returned from Ming Yuchan's place. And there was only one person watching over him.

That was strange.

Considering he destroyed one of their important group, he expected at least a group or even the important member to watch over him.

However, it was only one person.

Why was that?

The answer was simple.

'They only followed me because I seemed to have a connection with Ming Yuchan. Their target isn't me but the Four Wind Merchant.'

Since he had no relation with the Murim Alliance and his actions didn't hurt them, they didn't care about him.

Maybe he could use this.

"Kim Min-Gu, listen to me closely. I will have you act a certain way from now on. Please don't worry and just do as I say."

Leo explained his plan, and the boy looked at him with wide eyes. He was surprised and didn't expect Leo to come up with such a strategy. However, he nodded his head and didn't question him.

After the boy left, Leo sat on his chair and grinned. He moved a piece in his mind, placing it in front of a black king.

"Check."