The Stratagem of Division (2)
The interrogation began.
The Murim Alliance showed U Myeong-hwan no special treatment.
He was questioned in the same drab room where ordinary martial artists faced scrutiny, by a run-of-the-mill investigator who wasn't even a team leader.
That was one thing, but U Myeong-hwan had at least expected the Alliance Leader to make a brief appearance. Yet not only did Cheon Myeong-jin stay away—the not even a division head showed their face.
They mean to scrape at my pride? As if such petty tricks would work.
Having weathered every storm life could throw, U Myeong-hwan saw through their intentions clearly.
Still, he couldn't help feeling a sting of resentment. As the lord of Dae Jeong San Jang, when had he ever endured such shabby treatment? And sitting there alone, without even a lawyer, only deepened the humiliation.
"Why did Yang Do-hwa come to see you, Lord?"
The investigator's tone was polite but utterly bureaucratic.
"She asked me to kill Jang Cheon."
"And what did you say?"
"I refused, saying it couldn't be done. But Lady Yang kept begging me to do it anyway."
"Was An Bae-su present for that conversation?"
U Myeong-hwan nodded.
"Please answer verbally."
"He was there."
"Did you order An Bae-su to kill Yang Do-hwa?"
"Never."
U Myeong-hwan answered straightforwardly, without invoking his clan's prestige or bluster. He knew well that letting emotions take over would only hurt him.
"When did you first hire An Bae-su?"
"When was that again?"
The endless questions dragged on, delving into the pettiest details, but U Myeong-hwan responded patiently each time.
Thus, the morning session ended.
"Please have your meal and rest a bit. We'll continue afterward."
"Very well."
As the investigator left, U Myeong-hwan closed his eyes gently. Beneath that serene facade, his mind boiled with fury.
He had never in his life been subjected to interrogation by anyone. Even the heads of mid-tier sects dared not meet his gaze, yet here was some lowly Murim Alliance drone staring him down like a criminal. In his heart, he had smashed the man's skull a dozen times over.
The final blow came with lunch: a delivery of seolleongtang from some hole-in-the-wall near Alliance headquarters. It was the epitome of prisoner fare, right down to the last slurp.
These bastards!
As the afternoon session wore on, U Myeong-hwan grew visibly fatigued.
"Why did Yang Do-hwa come to see you?"
"Haven't I said it a dozen times already?"
"Please answer again."
"Why? Hoping to catch me in a contradiction?"
"Is there any reason your answer would differ?"
"What?"
These were interrogation experts. They knew better than anyone how to rile up a subject.
People slipped up when their composure cracked, so the investigator prodded relentlessly at U Myeong-hwan's temper.
"She came asking me to kill Jang Cheon."
"And?"
U Myeong-hwan ground his molars and replied calmly.
"I refused."
The afternoon wrapped up, and another break was granted.
Gwon I-tae, the mountain keeper waiting in the lounge, approached.
"You look exhausted, my lord. Shall I demand we stop for today and resume tomorrow?"
"No. Let's just finish it today."
The thought of returning tomorrow for more of this made his blood boil. He'd pull an all-nighter if need be—he never wanted to set foot here again.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
Gwon I-tae worried inwardly. He knew U Myeong-hwan was seasoned, but facing this without a lawyer risked a fatal slip. So far, though, he seemed to be holding steady.
"Where's An Bae-su?"
"Detained in the Alliance Prison, as far as I know."
"I see."
"I'll apply pressure to the Alliance to wrap this up as quickly as possible."
"Good."
After Gwon I-tae left, the door opened again moments later. Assuming it was him returning, U Myeong-hwan spoke with eyes still closed.
"What now?"
"You've had a hard time of it, Lord."
The unfamiliar voice jolted him upright. Standing there was the last person he expected: Murim Alliance Leader Cheon Myeong-jin.
"My greetings come late."
He'd seethed all day over the Leader's absence, but now that he was here, some of the irritation ebbed.
"It's been a while, Leader Cheon."
U Myeong-hwan was the elder, having entered the Murim world first.
"The media's attention has tied my hands in many ways. My apologies."
And his demeanor was more courteous than expected. U Myeong-hwan had braced for arrogance and chill.
"I understand. With your heavy responsibilities, it couldn't have been easy."
"I'm grateful for your understanding. How long has it been?"
"About two years, I think."
"Has it been that long already?"
"Time flies as fast as our age, doesn't it?"
He wore an expression of wistful impermanence, but inwardly, U Myeong-hwan yearned to race at 100 kilometers per hour. He wanted to savor this glory until his hundredth year.
"It's a pity we meet in a place like this."
"Did you really need to issue a summons? Surely there was a smoother way."
"If it were up to me, of course. But my position can't ignore Murim public opinion."
"There are forces slandering my house, trying to bring it down."
"Who might they be?"
"Gangnam-il-mun. They've coveted us for years. This is all their frame-up."
It was also meant to make him believe Gangnam-il-mun was behind the Leader's prior assassination attempt.
"Do you have evidence of their involvement in this incident?"
U Myeong-hwan fell silent.
"You know as well as I: without proof, it's worthless. Well then, good luck with the rest of the questioning. I'll stop by again before you go."
Cheon Myeong-jin rose.
"Wait."
U Myeong-hwan played his trump card.
"Let's talk frankly, just the two of us."
Grasping the intent, Cheon Myeong-jin spoke into the microphone.
"Turn off the camera for a moment."
The camera filming the room went dark.
"It's definitely off?"
"Yes."
"Can you swear to it?"
"On a martial artist's honor."
Among Murim folk, swearing on one's honor as a warrior carried immense weight. Breaking it made one worse than street scum. Coming from the Leader's mouth, it rang true.
"I don't doubt you, but let's make sure."
Crack!
U Myeong-hwan leaped up and ripped the ceiling-mounted camera free.
"I'll cover the replacement."
"No need. Whatever you wish to say, speak freely now."
They sat facing each other.
"Our house and you weren't always so distant."
"True. But let me say upfront: no personal grudge here—don't misunderstand."
"Good. Then I'll be candid. I know what you want, Leader."
"Do tell."
"Gangnam-il-mun. I know your ties with Seo Tak-hyeon are strained. Putting my house in this corner is ultimately to strike at them. Lips gone, teeth feel the chill, after all."
U Myeong-hwan rarely spoke so bluntly in business. He circled, hinted, led others to voice it.
But time was short. He had to go for the kill in one stroke.
Cheon Myeong-jin watched with keen interest, saying nothing.
"I'll cooperate fully in any move against Gangnam-il-mun. Their fall benefits me too. We could be fine allies."
Their gazes locked in the air. U Myeong-hwan sensed the Leader's interest from his eyes. He swung harder.
"In the next Leader election, my house will back you wholeheartedly. Not just Alliance ventures during your term—I'll invest in your personal projects too."
Offering bribes via "investments" in Cheon Myeong-jin's side businesses.
U Myeong-hwan took this gamble based on the Leader's recent actions. Over the past few years, the Alliance had aggressively promoted Geom-myeong Co. There had to be massive kickbacks involved—Cheon Myeong-jin was no saint.
Sure enough, he didn't snap in outrage or reject outright. Instead, he looked almost regretful.
"I understand your intent, Lord. But this matter has ballooned too far. Even if I accepted, we couldn't let it slide now. That's why the summons was issued."
From this, U Myeong-hwan was certain no recording was happening. Otherwise, no such response to his bribe hint.
"This old man understands that much."
"Locking An Bae-su in the prison won't placate the public."
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
"If you have a plan, speak it."
"If imprisonment won't soothe them, then execution will."
The shocking proposal, delivered so matter-of-factly, startled even Cheon Myeong-jin.
"You're saying kill An Bae-su now?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"I'll convince him. He'll accept it from me."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you think his sins as a warrior are limited to Yang Do-hwa?"
In other words, have him confess to unrelated crimes—ones warranting death, ideally sensational enough to distract the media.
"Are you serious?"
"Deadly. Let me see An Bae-su."
Appeal to past bonds and loyalty, promise care for his remaining family—he'd fold.
"Aren't you discarding him too easily?"
As Cheon Myeong-jin smiled slyly, U Myeong-hwan mirrored it.
"And that bothers you?"
"Far from it—music to my ears."
Cheon Myeong-jin extended a hand; U Myeong-hwan clasped it firmly.
"Great deeds demand sacrifice, after all."
The camera was indeed off. No bugs, no mics.
Yet their words carved deep into someone's heart.
U Myeong-hwan had no need to rage at the room's plainness. It was anything but ordinary.
The walls looked normal but were one-way mirrored glass on the other side, flawlessly disguised.
Watching through the glass beyond were An Bae-su and Joo Won.
An Bae-su's face twisted in shock. He knew this was a setup to drive a wedge between him and U Myeong-hwan.
Still, the betrayal burned too hot to bear.
The stratagem had succeeded spectacularly.
Cheon Myeong-jin hadn't expected victory in one go. He planned to repeat until it stuck, but U Myeong-hwan proved more desperate than anticipated.
There was good reason.
Since the scandal broke, U Myeong-hwan had endured constant stress, regretting a hundred times over not eliminating An Bae-su sooner.
The repetitive questioning had worn his focus; smashing the camera bred complacency. And with Cheon Myeong-jin entertaining his secret offer, he let his guard down.
He never dreamed they'd built this special room and brought An Bae-su to hear it firsthand.
An Bae-su ground his teeth until they nearly shattered.
"That damned bastard!"
He wasn't ready to die for U Myeong-hwan, but he'd steeled himself for years in prison, trusting his lord would eventually free him.
But to be discarded so casually—and deceived right up to the end?
Had U Myeong-hwan agonized even a minute over it, or faked concern, the rage might have been less.
So An Bae-su's own decision took under a minute.
"Tell them no visitors."
He turned to Joo Won and added,
"I'll talk about the Yang Do-hwa case... everything."