The next day.

The council hall was strangely restless. Or rather, it was restless and heavy at once.

The heads of the Seven Families filled their seats, along with the men who held the key posts.

Glances kept crossing the room. Low whispers leaked out here and there.

The rumor that the Gok Clan's estate had been raided had already spread.

The Four Black Dragons had rescued Yoo Geonwoo, the man who'd hurt the Gok Clan's Young Clan Head.

But nobody knew anything more than that.

Some said Gok Cheonmu had taken matters into his own hands. Others said the Dark Alliance Lord had shown his face at the Gok Clan.

The Gok Clan had kept a tight grip on the information, so there was no telling what was true.

Cheon Doyun had taken a seat near the head of the hall and swept his eyes over the room.

His face was composed.

What he felt inside was another matter.

'It's time.'

He had prepared enough.

Witnesses, of course. He'd manufactured evidence, too.

Not finding Gok Taejun bothered him, but it might even work in his favor.

The suggestion that he'd been kidnapped and was locked up somewhere would be enough.

Cheon Doyun took his eyes off the room.

Then he looked toward the door.

The Alliance Lord, the man this gathering was about, had yet to show himself.

'Hoho. He must have a headache. Working out how to get out of this one.'

He didn't underestimate Seo Woojin.

And he had Woon Seorin at his side, besides.

He would surely have guessed what this meeting was for.

'Did you know the Four Black Dragons would move like that? No. If you'd known, you'd have stopped them. You're a rational man.'

Seo Woojin had a hand in Gok Taejun's kidnapping. That much was certain.

He would have meant to rescue Yoo Geonwoo.

But he wouldn't have planned on breaking into the Gok Clan.

Naturally.

There was nothing at all to gain by breaking into the Gok Clan.

Making the Four Black Dragons his men was a tempting prospect, but becoming…