Internal Monologue Of Elder Baek Changho, First Elder Of The Heavenly Sword Sect, Leader Of The Formal Orthodox DelegationApproximately Fifteen Minutes Before Everything Became Very Educational
I am Elder Baek Changho.
I am the First Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
I have cultivated for seventy three years.
I am at the late stage of the Supreme Peak.
I have sat in formal council with six sect leaders.
I have conducted seventeen major diplomatic missions.
I have resolved three inter-sect conflicts and one full-scale sect war.
I have never failed a diplomatic mission.
The grandmaster — the Unmoving Mountain — sent word through the Dragon Vein Gate that Earth has different customs from the martial world.
He said: they have a registration system.
He said: go through the registration system.
He said: there is a woman named Ms. Yoon who manages the intake.
He said: do not under any circumstances bring formal tribute.
I brought formal tribute.
I did not think he meant it literally.
He meant it literally.
The tribute is seventeen lacquered boxes of rare cultivation resources.
Each box is carried by a sect disciple.
There are seventeen disciples.
Plus myself.
Plus four senior elders.
Plus the sect's formal ceremony guard of eight.
Thirty people.
Through the Dragon Vein Gate.
We arrived on the rooftop.
There was a man on the rooftop.
He was crouching.
He was pressing his hand against the rooftop surface.
He looked up.
He looked at the thirty people.
He looked at the seventeen lacquered boxes.
He looked at the ceremony guard in full formal uniform.
He looked at me.
He said: "You are in the residue zone."
I said: "I am Elder Baek Changho, First Elder of the—"
He said: "Can everyone step back six meters."
I have conducted seventeen diplomatic missions.
I have never been asked to step back six meters before delivering my formal introduction.
He was looking at the rooftop surface.
Not at me.
At the rooftop surface.
He looked at me.
He said: "Please."
I stepped back six meters.
Everyone stepped back six meters.
He cleaned something on the rooftop.
Stood up.
Made a note.
Then looked at us.
"Who arranged this visit," he said.
"The grandmaster informed us of the Earth contact protocol," I said. "We are here as a formal orthodox delegation to—"
"Did he tell you about the intake desk," said the man.
"Yes," I said. "But we brought formal tribute—"
"The tribute registration field," said the man. "Is on the intake form. Sixth floor. The building adjacent to this one."
He was already walking toward the rooftop door.
I have conducted seventeen diplomatic missions.
I have never been walked away from mid-introduction.
"Wait," I said.
He stopped.
"My name is Han-Ho," he said, without turning around. "Mana-Janitor. Rank F. One skill. The intake desk processes all new arrivals. Ms. Yoon will assist you. The tribute registration field was created specifically for formal delegations. She was expecting you."
"She was expecting us," I said.
"Yes," he said. "The grandmaster sent word last week. She has been ready since Monday."
He went through the door.
I stood on the rooftop.
With seventeen lacquered boxes.
And thirty people.
And the specific feeling of someone who has conducted seventeen diplomatic missions and is not sure any of them prepared them for this.
The formal delegation of the Heavenly Sword Sect arrived at the intake desk at ten seventeen AM on Thursday.
Park Sung-Jin counted them.
Thirty people.
Seventeen boxes.
He updated the conference room assessment window.
Ninety minutes.
He went to the storage room.
Returned with additional chairs.
Ms. Yoon was at her desk.
She looked at Elder Baek Changho.
At the seventeen disciples with seventeen boxes.
At the ceremony guard in formal uniform.
"Elder Baek," said Ms. Yoon.
"Ms. Yoon," said Elder Baek Changho.
"The tribute registration field," said Ms. Yoon. "I will need a description of each item. Category: cultivation resources. Subcategory: rare. Provenance: Heavenly Sword Sect."
Elder Baek Changho looked at her.
"You have a tribute registration field," said Elder Baek Changho.
"The grandmaster indicated formal delegations might bring tribute," said Ms. Yoon. "I created the field Monday."
"And the provenance field."
"For completeness," said Ms. Yoon.
"The items are extremely valuable," said Elder Baek Changho.
"I will note that," said Ms. Yoon.
"Some of them are four hundred year old cultivation resources that—"
"Subcategory: extremely valuable cultivation resources," said Ms. Yoon. "Noted. The items will be catalogued and stored in the Registry secure storage facility. Access will require Han-Ho's approval."
Elder Baek Changho stared at her.
"Han-Ho's approval," said Elder Baek Changho.
"The tribute is for Han-Ho," said Ms. Yoon. "His approval is required for access to his registered items."
"I see," said Elder Baek Changho.
"He will review the items at his earliest convenience," said Ms. Yoon. "He has the Thursday afternoon ley line assessment today. He will likely review Friday morning."
"The tribute review is—scheduled for Friday morning," said Elder Baek Changho.
"After the route," said Ms. Yoon. "The route ends at approximately eleven."
Elder Baek Changho sat down.
Not because he was tired.
Because.
"Ms. Yoon," said Elder Baek Changho.
"Yes."
"In the martial world. When a formal orthodox delegation brings tribute to a practitioner it is received immediately. With ceremony. The practitioner accepts the tribute in a formal acknowledgement that—"
"Mr. Kang will acknowledge receipt when he reviews the items," said Ms. Yoon. "The Registry will provide formal acknowledgement documentation." She produced a form. "Would you like the acknowledgement documentation now or after review."
Elder Baek Changho looked at the form.
At the formal acknowledgement documentation for seventeen lacquered boxes of extremely valuable cultivation resources from the Heavenly Sword Sect.
"Now," said Elder Baek Changho.
"Of course," said Ms. Yoon.
She processed it in four minutes.
Elder Baek Changho received his copy.
Looked at it.
It was very organized.
Every item listed.
Provenance documented.
Storage location assigned.
Review date: Friday.
He had conducted seventeen diplomatic missions.
He had never received documentation this organized.
"The intake form," said Ms. Yoon. "Name, sect affiliation, realm, primary technique, purpose of visit—"
"Purpose of visit," said Elder Baek Changho. "We came to pay formal respects to the one who—"
"The Dragon Vein activation," said Ms. Yoon. "Yes. Purpose field: formal respect visit, Dragon Vein activation acknowledgement."
"Yes."
"And to discuss the Dragon Vein gate management protocol," said Ms. Yoon.
Elder Baek Changho looked at her.
"The grandmaster mentioned that the formal delegation would likely want to discuss the Gate management protocol," said Ms. Yoon. "I prepared a draft protocol document." She produced it. "Would you like to review it."
Elder Baek Changho looked at the document.
At the Gate management protocol that Ms. Yoon had prepared in advance.
For a discussion that had not yet been requested.
By an organization that had not yet existed until Monday.
"How long did you know we were coming," said Elder Baek Changho.
"Since last Monday when the grandmaster sent word," said Ms. Yoon. "But I began the Dragon Vein Gate management protocol in week four of the martial world contact. The formal delegation component was anticipated when the breakthrough surge in the martial world was projected."
"You prepared for us weeks before we came," said Elder Baek Changho.
"I prepare for most things," said Ms. Yoon.
"Most things."
"Things I can anticipate," said Ms. Yoon. "Some things I cannot anticipate. Han-Ho tends to generate both kinds."
Elder Baek Changho looked at the protocol document.
At the intake form.
At the acknowledgement documentation.
At the tribute registration.
At Ms. Yoon who had been ready for every part of this before any part of it had arrived.
"In the martial world," said Elder Baek Changho slowly. "We have a concept. The practitioner who has thought of everything before the battle. Who has prepared the ground before the opponent arrives. Who has already won by the time the fight begins."
"Yes," said Ms. Yoon.
"We call it absolute preparation."
"Yes," said Ms. Yoon.
"You have absolute preparation."
Ms. Yoon drank her coffee.
"I have a complete record," said Ms. Yoon. "And four years of practice anticipating what comes next."
Elder Baek Changho looked at the record visible on Ms. Yoon's desk.
"That is the complete record," said Elder Baek Changho.
"Yes."
"The grandmaster mentioned it."
"Yes."
"He said reading it would help us understand."
"Yes," said Ms. Yoon. "Registered parties have access. You are about to be registered."
She pushed the intake form across the desk.
"If you would like to begin," said Ms. Yoon.
Elder Baek Changho picked up the pen.
He had conducted seventeen diplomatic missions.
This was the eighteenth.
He was already certain it was the most significant.
He signed his name.
Han-Ho came to the intake desk at eleven forty AM to pick up the Thursday afternoon preparation materials.
He looked at the seventeen lacquered boxes in the secure storage.
"The Heavenly Sword Sect formal delegation," said Ms. Yoon.
"Yes," said Han-Ho.
"Thirty people. Tribute for you."
"I saw the acknowledgement form," said Han-Ho.
"Friday morning," said Ms. Yoon. "After the route."
"Yes," said Han-Ho.
He looked at the boxes.
"What is in them," said Han-Ho.
"Extremely valuable cultivation resources," said Ms. Yoon. "Four hundred year old sect reserves. Rare qi crystals. Formation manuals. The formal tribute of the oldest orthodox sect in the martial world."
Han-Ho looked at the boxes.
Made a note.
Heavenly Sword Sect tribute: seventeen boxes. Extremely valuable cultivation resources. Reviewing Friday after route. Note: the tribute is generous. Will need to determine appropriate response. Filing.
He filed it.
"Ms. Yoon," said Han-Ho.
"Yes."
"Appropriate response for a formal tribute from the oldest orthodox sect in the martial world."
"I prepared a response options document," said Ms. Yoon.
She produced it.
Han-Ho read it.
Made notes.
"Option three," said Han-Ho. "A formal acknowledgement of the sect's role in the Dragon Vein network stewardship during the blockage period plus an invitation to participate in the ongoing Dragon Vein monitoring protocol."
Ms. Yoon made a note.
"I will draft the formal acknowledgement," said Ms. Yoon.
"Thank you," said Han-Ho.
He looked at the boxes one more time.
"The cultivation resources," said Han-Ho. "Are they useful for the between-layer survey."
Ms. Yoon looked at the inventory.
"The rare qi crystals," said Ms. Yoon. "Possibly. I will send the list to the old man for assessment."
"Today," said Han-Ho.
"Before noon," said Ms. Yoon.
"Thank you," said Han-Ho.
He went to the Hongdae Gate.
The Thursday afternoon ley line session was scheduled for twelve forty five.
He was going to be three minutes early.
Somewhere in the Registry secure storage, Elder Baek Changho was reading the complete record.
He had requested access immediately after registration.
Ms. Yoon had provided it.
He was on chapter seven.
He had not moved in forty minutes.
The ceremony guard was waiting outside.
The seventeen disciples were in the orientation waiting area.
Elder Baek Changho was reading about the Frost Giant.
About the road that had been cleaned.
About Han-Ho telling Kjor he was dripping on the road.
About the cleaning fee.
He had conducted seventeen diplomatic missions.
He had never brought tribute to someone who had charged a Frost Giant a cleaning fee.
He kept reading.