A few older members shuddered when they heard the name.
It wasn't dramatic. It was small and involuntary. Shoulders tightening. Fingers flexing. The kind of reaction men had when they remembered pain they hadn't earned.
That caught Iori's attention.
He'd seen fear before. He'd caused it. But this wasn't fear of a monster in front of them. This was fear of a concept.
"About this Murim...place thing, or whatever, what makes it so special?" Iori asked.
"Its pretty ancient. Far older civilization than ours, but not nearly as advanced, they still use swords and fight with martial arts."
"How are we losing to these primitives?"
The words came out sharper than he intended, more insulted than curious. Iori had lived in a world where guns, tech, and modern tactics mattered. Hearing "swords and martial arts" sounded like hearing someone brag about sticks.
