Chapter 17: Villains Don’t Lose Their Cool
Chapter 17: Villains Don’t Lose Their Cool
After parting ways with the Demon Monarch, I headed straight for the infirmary.
Seo Dae-ryong, who was already there, looked up in surprise.
“Oh? Young Master Lee, what brings you here?”
He seemed genuinely caught off guard by my appearance.
“Why so surprised?” I asked.
“No, it’s just… I didn’t expect you to come all the way to the infirmary, sir.”
“I’m more surprised to see you here,” I countered.
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t you say your colleagues hate you?”
“That’s why I’m trying to make amends.”
Contrary to his self-deprecating words, there didn’t seem to be much friction between him and the other investigators.
“How is the injured man?”
“The Demon Doctor is treating him now. Thank you for calling for him, sir.”
“Of course I did. It’s a temporary assignment, but we’re still colleagues working together.”
I said it without much thought, but Seo Dae-ryong and the other Huangquan Pavilion investigators nearby looked visibly moved.
A moment later, the Demon Doctor emerged from the treatment room.
In the Main Cult, he was known as the Divine Doctor for his peerless medical skills, but the Orthodox Faction called him the ‘Demon Doctor.’ Since he actually preferred the nickname, we all called him that as well.
“How is he?” I asked.
“Fortunately, his life isn’t in danger. However, he’ll need to recuperate for a while before he can return to duty.”
“Use the best medicine available.”
“I shall.”
Hearing our exchange, the investigators approached me to express their gratitude. Even if they were injured on a mission, they rarely had the chance to be treated directly by the Demon Doctor himself.
As we walked back to our quarters, Seo Dae-ryong asked, “What did the Demon Monarch say?”
“He wants me to drop it and go back.”
“And regarding the death of the 1st Squad Leader?”
“He suggested we pin the blame for this entire incident on him.”
Seo Dae-ryong looked shocked. “But that was his most cherished subordinate.”
“Not his most cherished—his most useful. Someone else will fill that void soon enough. What exactly were you expecting from a Demon Monarch?”
“I thought he would fly into a rage and demand revenge for his man.”
“You’re mistaken. You think villains are more prone to getting worked up, don’t you?”
“Are they not?”
“That’s only true for low-level thugs. Real villains don’t lose their cool easily. In fact, it’s the pure and kind-hearted people who get agitated. Their emotions bubble over far too quickly.”
Of course, the Demon Monarch likely harbored a massive grudge against me now. He would be waiting for any opportunity to drive a sword through my heart, replaying today’s humiliation in his mind.
“What do you plan to do now?”
“I’ve cast the bait. Let’s see how he reacts.”
“Bait?”
“I’ll tell you if he bites.”
Since he claimed evidence was needed to bury the case, it was time to see what the Demon Monarch would produce.
“Then what should I do in the meantime?”
“Come have a drink with me.”
At that, Seo Dae-ryong turned in a different direction.
“Where are you going?”
“To buy the liquor. Is there anything specific you like?”
“Buy whatever you want to drink. Here, take this.”
As I reached for my money, Seo Dae-ryong walked away with long strides.
“The drinks are on me today.”
*
I sat drinking with Seo Dae-ryong even though it was broad daylight.
The liquor he bought was sweet and easy to drink, which had the downside of making it easy to overindulge.
“I’ve always had a bit of a sweet tooth,” he admitted.
“I thought you said you didn’t care much for food?”
“I enjoy a drink every now and then.”
After a few cups, Seo Dae-ryong began to open up.
“Earlier, you called me a power-oriented human, didn’t you?”
“Adding ‘human’ at the end makes it sound so cold. Let’s just say you have a power-oriented personality.”
“It’s the same thing.”
“It’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s better than being listless, isn’t it?”
Despite his gloomy exterior, Seo Dae-ryong harbored big dreams. A man without dreams wouldn’t talk about ‘change.’
“To be honest, I want to succeed. I don’t have even a shred of desire to do something grand like implementing justice by stopping the Cult’s corruption. It’s hard enough just looking out for myself.”
I should have brought Lee An here. This was exactly the mindset she needed.
“Why are you acting so dejected while saying you’re working hard for your own sake? Hold your head up!”
Seo Dae-ryong lifted his head.
“How old are you?” I asked.
“Thirty-two.”
“Whoa! You’re older than you look.”
I was genuinely surprised. I had pegged him for twenty-three or four. Then again, no matter how smart one was, becoming a Special Investigator required at least ten years of experience after joining the pavilion.
“Why did you become an investigator?”
“To be honest… I didn’t have the confidence to succeed through martial arts. I didn’t learn a technique that could lead to the Peak Realm, and I’m short, so I don’t have the ideal physique for it…”
By its nature, Huangquan Pavilion wasn’t a place for combat. It was a place that maintained the Cult’s discipline through absolute authority. Therefore, they recruited investigators who were intelligent, possessed excellent judgment, and could handle subjects well, rather than those who were simply strong.
“It probably sounds pathetic, but I chose to be an investigator because I lacked confidence in my martial arts.”
“The way you keep emphasizing that makes it sound like you still have regrets.”
“Who wouldn’t? Anyone who has stepped into the Murim feels that way.”
“It’s not too late, even now.”
“It is too late.”
“Now that sounds pathetic.”
Seo Dae-ryong looked up from his cup and stared at me.
“It’s too late? The martial arts you learned are too weak? You’re too short? Do you really think those are the reasons?”
Unable to offer an excuse, Seo Dae-ryong simply downed his drink.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been hit with the truth. It stings.”
“Later on, your bones will ache even if you’re just sitting still. You need to move before you get old.”
“You’re younger than me, yet you talk like an old man.”
I laughed and emptied my cup.
Just then, a Huangquan Pavilion investigator arrived to deliver something.
“The Demon Army sent this over.”
It was a ledger and bank notes worth several thousand taels.
“He took the bait.”
The book was an Assassination Commission Ledger—a record of contracts where members of the 1st Squad were mobilized to kill people for money.
“They claim this was discovered at the home of the 1st Squad Leader, Go Dang.”
The ledger detailed which warriors were involved, how much they were paid, and who they killed. Coincidentally, the names listed were the very men who had died by my hand earlier.
It seemed they had extracted only the parts involving those men to create a new ledger. Their intention was to use the dead to wrap up the case. Furthermore, they had reduced the number of incidents to just three or four, framing it as a rogue operation by Go Dang and a few subordinates. The Demon Monarch had minimized his own responsibility.
I handed the book to Seo Dae-ryong.
“Go dunk your face in cold water and sober up!”
“Yes, sir. I’ll start by investigating the bank notes.”
“Don’t bother. They’ll be untraceable. Instead, look into something else for me.”
“Name it.”
“Find out who the smartest guy in the 1st Squad is. There’s bound to be one fellow who’s unusually well-educated and sharp.”
“Understood.”
“I need to go meet the Demon Monarch again.”
“Why him?”
“I need to buy us some time.”
We hurried out of the room and moved to our respective tasks.
*
When I met the Demon Monarch again, he looked much more at ease.
“Evidence was found at Squad Leader Go Dang’s residence,” I reported.
“Oh, that is good news.”
“I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”
“Haha, we should have a celebratory drink. I’ll make a reservation, so let’s meet at the same place as yesterday.”
“However, there is one problem.”
“Another one? What is it this time?”
“The Demon Army brought this to us. We should have been the ones to find it.”
A flash of annoyance crossed his face. He clearly thought I was being pedantic.
“Is the source really that important?”
“It is. Is the Chief Strategist an ordinary man? If it’s revealed that the information came from the Demon Army, he’ll immediately doubt the entire investigation process and its results. If that comes to light later, even I will be in danger.”
“Then what do you propose?”
“I need to at least make it look like I’m investigating. I’ll conduct a large-scale search for just one day, so please cooperate. It’s not like I want to stay here any longer than necessary.”
Then, I threw in the clincher to persuade him.
“I won’t dig through classified documents. General records will suffice. It’s just a formal investigation, after all.”
Only then did the Demon Monarch nod his approval.
“Fine. I’ll tell my subordinates to cooperate.”
With the Demon Monarch’s permission, a massive search and seizure began.
The Demon Army’s ledgers and documents were moved to the interrogation room, and the investigation commenced. I didn’t ask for the sensitive documents that would have made the Demon Monarch uncomfortable.
I didn’t need them anyway. What I was looking for were the original applications the warriors had submitted when they first joined the Demon Army, and the wills they left behind before going on dangerous missions.
I secretly brought in the Cult’s best handwriting expert. Using the materials I gathered, I had him identify who had actually written the Assassination Commission Ledger.
When Seo Dae-ryong returned after finishing his task, I acted like a fortune teller.
“Shall I guess who the smartest man in the 1st Squad is?”
He looked skeptical, so I gave him a name.
“It’s Yang-gu, isn’t it?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
The handwriting analysis proved that Yang-gu was the one who had written the ledger. Now I knew who was handling the Demon Monarch’s bookkeeping. I even had solid evidence through the handwriting match.
“What now?”
“What else? We move to the next step. Bring Yang-gu to the tavern in Ma Clan Village without anyone knowing. Can you do it?”
“I’ll find a way.”
“I’m counting on you, Mr. Top Graduate!”
An hour later, Seo Dae-ryong had performed his duty perfectly. He had brought Yang-gu to the designated tavern.
The one who actually lured him there was Jo Hyang, a beautiful investigator from Huangquan Pavilion.
“The food here really suits my palate,” she said.
“I’m quite fond of the dishes here myself,” Yang-gu replied.
Yang-gu was lost in the expectation that he might spend an enchanting night with this woman.
“Why are there no other customers? This place is usually packed.” Yang-gu looked around with a puzzled expression.
“Isn’t it nice and private?”
“It seems even the heavens are welcoming our first meal together.”
Jo Hyang smiled and played along as he made his grandiose remarks.
“I never knew there was such a thing as fate at first sight until now.”
“The atmosphere is perfect, so let’s have a drink.”
“I’d love to.”
Yang-gu shouted toward the kitchen. “Bring out your best liquor and food!”
At that, Seo Dae-ryong and I stepped out from the kitchen where we had been waiting.
“I’m afraid the drinks will have to wait until next time.”
Yang-gu jumped in surprise at my appearance.
“Young Master Lee?”
His eyes darted around as he tried to process the situation, then he glared fiercely at Jo Hyang.
“You bitch! You tricked me!”
Thwack!
The next moment, Yang-gu’s jaw spun as he was sent sprawling to the floor. Seo Dae-ryong had lunged at him like a bolt of lightning and delivered a heavy blow.
“She isn’t someone who should be insulted by the likes of you.”
Seo Dae-ryong was imitating my style. He looked down at the man’s face and spoke menacingly.
“Do you want me to burst your skull open like your squad leader’s?”
Yang-gu shook his head frantically. “No! I’m sorry! I was wrong!”
Seo Dae-ryong showed no fear toward Yang-gu, who was twice his size. It wasn’t just because he trusted me; there was another reason.
While other investigators who had been on standby moved in to restrain Yang-gu and lead him out the back door, Seo Dae-ryong approached Jo Hyang.
“Good work.”
“I only did as you advised. I told him I wanted to dine with him because he’s famous for being the smartest man in the Demon Army. I didn’t expect him to follow me so easily, though.”
“With your looks, he would have followed you even if you’d glared at him while asking.”
Jo Hyang gave a playful, mysterious smile. “Is that a compliment?”
Seo Dae-ryong didn’t answer.
After Jo Hyang bowed to us and left, I turned to Seo Dae-ryong.
“A man. A real man’s man.”
“Pardon?”
“You like her, don’t you?”
“I do not.”
“You were a bit too forceful for that to be true.”
The man who was so dull in front of me had practically glowed in front of Jo Hyang.
“She’s just a junior colleague.”
His face reddened as he quickly changed the subject. “What happens now?”
“It’s time to wrap things up. Mobilize as many investigators and enforcement martial artists as you can.”
“Yes, sir!”
“And call that junior you like so much!”
“I told you, it’s not like that!”
Seo Dae-ryong hurried out, his voice unnecessarily loud.
“He’s so obvious…”
I went into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of liquor, and perched myself on the tavern’s railing.
“Come on out!”
Lee An walked out from the side of the building, her head hanging low.
“You stubborn bear, can’t you just play on your own for once?”
“I was just… curious if you were doing well.”
“Come here. Since you’re already here, have a drink.”
“I’ll go get a cup.”
“Forget it.”
I took a swig from the bottle and handed it to her. “Drink and give it back.”
“How could I dare?”
“Why? Is it dirty because I drank from it?”
“No, of course not. I’m just hesitant to put my lips where yours were. I’ll drink, I’ll drink!”
She took a drink, but in her attempt to avoid touching the bottle with her lips, she spilled a fair amount on her clothes.
“I’m sorry, Young Master.”
“Lee An.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t have to be like that.”
“…Yes.”
“Everyone else in the world can act that way, but you don’t have to.”
I took the bottle back and had another drink. “Still, it’s good to see you after a few days.”
Lee An beamed, her eyes crinkling until they almost disappeared. You can always tell when she’s truly happy.
“How is your training going?”
“Yes, I am doing my best.”
“You need more than that. Even villains do their best.”
“When you speak to me like that, I find myself gaining strength. Your advice is addictive, Young Master.”
“You’ll grow to hate it if you hear it too often.”
“I don’t think I ever will.”
I handed her the bottle again. “Drink your worries away with this, then go back and wait for me.”
Then, I gave her the best possible side dish to go with the drink.
“This business ends today.”