Chapter 708: Mask (12)

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A calm anger spread over the Sheep Clan head’s nonsense.

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “What the! Tell us!”

Snake Clan [Finished Shedding LOL] “What’s wrong with you?”

Dragon Clan [Respected By Nephew, Full-Level Cheongryong] “I thought you changed, but you won’t cooperate until the end.”

Monkey Clan [Strongest in the Universe, Jecheondaesung] “I’m having lamb for dinner tonight.”

Hwang Jiho stared at the shadow of the Sheep Clan.

Even the silent heads seemed to have the same anger as their shadows blazed here and there.

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive] “If it weren’t for the non-aggression treaty, your territory would’ve been robbed.”

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “Exactly. All we have to keep to each other is the promise of inviolability. There’s no obligation to demand more than that.”

The Sheep Clan caused anger, but they were right.

The only thing that exists in the alliance is the promise of inviolability.

That means they’re not allowed to invade each other, and there is no obligation to further cooperate or right to demand help for anything else.

‘The boundary was set up through the alliance, but each head took individual care of restoration and maintenance. This alliance is like a grain of sand, just as they said.’

Therefore, when seeking cooperation with each other, they form separate alliances, just like what the Tiger Clan did with the Dog Clan and Horse Clan.

I’m not sure if the bickering Tiger and Rabbit clans were allies, but they seem to think they wouldn’t betray each other.

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “I don’t intend to be loyal enough to take the initiative and reveal the location of the nightmare and take countermeasures. If I do, it might provoke the nightmare and target me instead.”

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “Nightmare, are you watching? If you are, come for that guy first!”

Snake Clan [Finished Shedding LOL] “I agree with DMR.”

Horse Clan [More-Sensitive-Than-Usual Heukma] “I agree with DMR (2).”

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive] “I agree with DMR (3)”

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “Can’t you just say that you agree? Why do you have to mention “DMR”!”

The conversation was a mess, but I felt like everyone didn’t take the matter lightly.

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “As long as I keep the line, won't the nightmare aim for an easier prey?”

Dragon Clan [Respected By Nephew, Full-Level Cheongryong] “The alliance wouldn’t have known anything about nightmares if you didn’t mention it. That’s you keeping the line?”

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “Even if it wasn’t me, any dream-sensitive person would’ve noticed it one day. This much is okay.”

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “The spirit of nightmares is getting stronger, but no one has been swallowed up yet. I also went to that land to check.”

Snake Clan [Finished Shedding LOL] “You went personally? Where is the nightmare?”

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “Nightmares are active at night when everyone is asleep, so it’s relatively safe during the day. I didn’t want to go, but I had to check.”

Pig Clan [Serves Northern Europe’s Most Handsome – The Golden Wild Boar] “Hm… Does that mean you went to someone else’s territory?”

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “Yup.”

That confirmed something.

‘The nightmare isn’t in the territory of the Cow, Pig, and Sheep clans.’

Gullinbursti is in the Tiger Clan’s bamboo forest, not the Pig Clan’s territory.

Therefore, there are no Cow Clan or Pig Clan territories that the Sheep Clan’s head could’ve visited.

Also, the head of the Sheep Clan confirmed its existence during the day.

Does being relatively safe during the day mean that nightmares are not active unless people are sleeping a lot?

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “I actually went to that territory for my hobby, not for the purpose of checking the nightmare.”

What kind of hobby is he talking about that he visited a territory despite being wary of nightmares?

Snake Clan [Finished Shedding LOL] “Can’t we confirm if he visited our territory or not?”

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive] “We could find out if we check through the boundary system, but it will be tough.”

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “It’s difficult to see the clan heads who are involved in the creation of the boundary. If that were the case, we would’ve found the traitor right away.”

Considering the hard work it took to catch the Long Tail, Hwang Jiho was right.

The identity of the traitor was Uma, and if only we could see records of the boundary being bypassed, it would’ve been easy to identify him.

The heads had a serious conversation about nightmares, however, no proper conclusion was reached.

Horse Clan [More-Sensitive-Than-Usual Heukma] “I would’ve moved if it weren’t for earth power.”

Rooster Clan [Chicken That Will Fly From Mt. Gyeryong] “Speaking of earth power, the demons are moving here again.”

Rat Clan [This Kkeodori received the Best Designer of the Year Award] “You mean the Fomorian demons. I wanted to see them again.”

Pig Clan [Serves Northern Europe’s Most Handsome – The Golden Wild Boar] “So the rumor about the Fomorians coming to Korea is true.”

In the case of Heukma and Seodol, they knew it well because they attended the auction.

I remembered another person that I ran into.

‘If the Fomorians are coming to Korea, I should talk to Ryu Jang.’

MITRON’s chef serves Sidelentium, the Demon King of Silence.

At that time, Ryu Jang intervened unnoticed at the auction.

I don’t know exactly what he did, but I presumed that he did something with the coronation stone at the request of Tuathe de Dannan.

It was necessary to get help from Ryu Jang because the Lia Fail was related to Sung Gukeon.

As I listened to the conversation and organized my thoughts, the topic changed again.

Rooster Clan [Chicken That Will Fly From Mt. Gyeryong] “It’s still unconfirmed information so I’m going to ask. There’s a rumor about an unidentified plague. Is it that rat’s doing?”

Rat Clan [This Kkeodori received the Best Designer of the Year Award] “You heard the rumors already? I think you’re right.”

The other heads expressed disdain.

Pig Clan [Serves Northern Europe’s Most Handsome – The Golden Wild Boar] “There’s a plague in Korea?”

Horse Clan [More-Sensitive-Than-Usual Heukma] “It’s a lot of trouble for the Horse Clan.”

Rooster Clan [Chicken That Will Fly From Mt. Gyeryong] “Ahk, I should postpone leaving the mountains!”

Sheep Clan [No Nightmare] “It doesn’t matter as long as the non-agression treaty is upheld.”

Snake Clan [Finished Shedding LOL] “That rat must be doing it because of humans.”

I don’t think the head of the Snake Clan, who did something for the human Bang Yoonseob, had the ascendancy to speak.

Even though she refers to Bang Yoonseob as a “stupid idiot,” she helped him both in PMH and in this world.

Seodol continued speaking formally.

Rat Clan [This Kkeodori received the Best Designer of the Year Award] “You don’t have to worry about the treaty. If you join hands with those who aren’t wise though, we’ll never know.”

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “Gasp, then we might get the plague without us knowing?”

Dragon Clan [Respected By Nephew, Full-Level Cheongryong] “Inaction is a sin. Shouldn’t a clan head have the liberty to choose their allies?”

The heads who were fed up agreed with Cheongryong.

Well, they all seem to secretly think that they’d be safe since they’re not “unwise.”

Of course, Seodol, the source of the plague, shouldn’t be left alone.

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive] “If only that rat wasn’t part of the alliance.”

Monkey Clan [Strongest in the Universe, Jecheondaesung] “Uma and Jogangryeob once suggested leaving Seodol out of the alliance. That damned dog fur disagreed.”

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive] “Hwangho disagreed too. Are you saying he’s a dog fur?”

I can’t believe they almost excluded the Rat Clan from the alliance.

Although Seodol isn’t the most pleasing guy, he’s considered to be one of the most prominent.

Even those who can’t memorize all 12 zodiac animals in order would know about the rat.

If Seodol had been excluded, the symbolism would’ve been greatly shaken.

In other words, the Black Screen has long attempted to break the alliance.

‘Uma sided with the Black Screen even before the alliance was formed.’

Thinking about the possibility of the Black Screen coming for the alliance again made me dizzy.

It would be safe to secure Ok Toyeon, the head of the Dog Clan, and Jecheondaesung, all three have been completely identified as allies.

Hwang Jiho stepped in as the dog and monkey buzzed.

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “The monkey and dog can go out and fight. The Rat Clan can’t be excluded from the alliance to maintain its symbolism. Seodol’s ability is annoying and filthy, so it’s safer to keep him tied to a non-aggression treaty.”

Rat Clan [This Kkeodori received the Best Designer of the Year Award] “Hwangho knows my worth!”

Snake Clan [Finished Shedding LOL] “It wasn’t really a compliment.”

After that, the useless chatter continued.

Hwangho briefly blocked the magic from flowing to the circle and turned to me.

“I don’t think there will be any more useful information. I’ll wrap up the meeting. Is that okay?”

Hwang Jiho seems to have not forgotten that my purpose was to collect information.

When I nodded, Hwang Jiho wrapped up the meeting.

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “We’ve chatted for long, The alliance excludes the two heads who broke the treaty of inviolability. If anyone disagrees, speak now.”

Rabbit Clan [DMR] “The traitors should be killed!”

Dog Clan [My Dog Fur is Expensive] “Does the monkey agree?”

Monkey Clan [Strongest in the Universe, Jecheondaesung] “I don’t intend to cover up for traitors.”

After Jecheondaesung, Hwang Jiho waited for about ten seconds but no one expressed disagreement.

Even if there were leaders who disagreed, they wouldn’t be able to speak in this atmosphere.

If they did, they would be attacked and suspected.

Thus, the exclusion of the two heads was decided.

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “The next meeting will be to introduce the new heads of the Cow and Pig clans. The meeting is adjourned.”

Pig Clan [Serves Northern Europe’s Most Handsome – The Golden Wild Boar] “Thank you, everyone!”

Gullinbursti alone greeted in a relaxed voice.

The others disappeared as soon as the meeting was adjourned, just like last time.

Tiger Clan [Tiger-nim] “Is the new recruit the only one to say goodbye? This body has nothing else to say. That’s it.”

Hwang Jiho finished his closing remarks when more than half of the heads already disappeared.

As soon as the magic circle lost its light, Hwang Jiho immediately headed for the elevator.

Is it because it’s bad to stay underground for long because of the density of energy waves and magic?

“Let’s go to Mt. Cheonik.”

There must be another reason.

We haven’t debriefed the contents of the meeting yet, but we’re already heading to Mt. Cheonik.

“If we don’t hurry, Sanryeong will be caught.”

“Sanryeong? By who?”

Hwang Jiho looked to the direction of the mountain with tired eyes.

“By Class 3-0 and Im Yeonhwa.”

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