The Price of a Blade Hidden in the Sleeve
“A fighting tournament?”
“I don’t know the details. It was all so noisy that I only caught bits and pieces here and there. Apparently all kinds of martial artists are gathering for a grand contest, and I heard that Third Young Master is taking part too.”
“Then is this event being held in Baekmyeongok?”
“That’s right. Since it’s a chance to see a member of the Cheon family in person, Cult members are pouring in from everywhere. The rumor spread so fast they’re saying it’s already hard to find a place to stand.”
“I see.”
It was unexpected news, but it wasn’t hard to understand the reason behind it.
He thought of Third Young Master’s face—the man who had said that once training was finished, he would head straight for Baekmyeongok.
So he’s going there to persuade Doje. A martial tournament, huh? That’s a bold move.
Gathering his thoughts, Sama Ryang asked, “A lot must have happened while I was away. Aside from that, were there any other unusual developments in the investigation?”
“There’s one major thing left. Ever since you collapsed….”
What came next made Sama Ryang’s expression turn cold.
“You executed the criminals and hung their heads on display? What do you mean by that? Before I left, I was certain we were going to bind them and interrogate them.”
“No need to get so worked up. It was Chief Military Counselor’s order.”
“Chief Military Counselor?”
“Yes. While you were unconscious, he moved quickly. He personally stepped in and publicly announced the crimes of the Changwoong Trading Hall. What was shocking was the content. Those bastards hadn’t just been trafficking people.”
“There were additional charges?”
Sama Chang nodded.
“I figured something was off when the atmosphere turned so ugly, and sure enough, we found out they’d been preparing sorcery in a hidden chamber. It was a great formation called Geukmyeol Sisa-jin, a horrifying array that drained a person’s vital essence.”
“There shouldn’t be any such demonic art left in the Cult.”
Sama Ryang frowned as he spoke, thinking of the Cult’s policy after the decision to seal the mountain gates—how they had ruthlessly forbidden and destroyed anything that might consume the Cult’s manpower.
Sama Chang’s answer was blunt.
“Didn’t I say it was sorcery?”
“...So it’s a Central Plains method.”
“Exactly. It had been smuggled out from a prisoner in Ma Royok. He was an assassin from the Dark Lotus Society—he stole the manual and fled, then later defected to the Cult. He was found out by the Left Guardian of Light, and after having his limbs ripped apart he’d gone out of his mind. It seems the information slipped out while he was being interrogated after he recovered consciousness.”
“And so… you hung them on display and made the contents public?”
“That’s right. At first even the people who found it grotesque changed their tune when the charges were revealed—they spat on the corpses and said good riddance. That made the atmosphere a little uglier, though.”
Sama Ryang slowly stroked his chin.
Executing criminals in that way was so extreme and cruel that it naturally provoked backlash, but it also had clear advantages that outweighed the ugliness.
It strengthened authority and control through harsh punishment, and increased trust in the existing order. The more vile the crime, the greater the effect.
It was the kind of measure the upper ranks of a closed-off Cult—one that had grown inward and oppressive after years of sealing itself away—would choose.
And yet a question remained. It had long been standard practice for the investigation’s beginning and end to be handled by the head of investigations.
Was it because I was absent, or is there another motive behind it?
Turning the question over in his mind, Sama Ryang said, “I’ll need to look into it in detail. First I’ll report my return, then I’ll head straight to the site.”
“Do as you like. I’m leaving first.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“It’s Sama Ryang. May I come in?”
“Come in.”
Squeak.
At the head seat of the office, Sama Hyeok paused in the middle of writing and set down his brush. His gaze traveled over Sama Ryang from head to toe.
“I’ve just returned. My recovery took longer than expected, so it delayed me more than planned. I apologize.”
“It’s fine. I guessed it would take a few more days. Sit.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sama Hyeok resumed moving the brush. The sound of the brush sweeping across paper spread softly through the room.
“This investigation was certainly impressive. Given your nature, I had some concerns, but you handled it well.”
“It was only possible thanks to the help of several seniors.”
“That wasn’t all, and it shouldn’t have been. Since you produced results, I intend to reward you.”
Sama Ryang looked a little dazed. “A reward?”
“In any matter, proper recognition and reward for merit is what improves efficiency. Scholars are no different. Is there something you want?”
...!
At Sama Hyeok’s question, Sama Ryang clenched his fist beneath the table.
This was by no means a trivial chance. He chose his answer carefully.
“I’m grateful for the offer, but I only did my duty as head of the investigation. Like the other seniors before me, I simply devoted myself to the responsibility entrusted to me.”
“And so?”
“As with this investigation, I would be satisfied simply to continue following that path and carrying out my duties. Even so, if recognition must be given, could you perhaps reward Third Young Master instead?”
Thud.
Sama Hyeok set his brush down. A gray glint flickered through his pupils.
“Third Young Master?”
“As you know, this investigation began with the Jagui Sect. It was entirely due to Third Young Master’s efforts that their exploitation of frontier Cult members and their human trafficking was exposed.”
“...”
“He eradicated the sect leader Yang Bong and destroyed the entire sect, securing decisive evidence in the process. In my opinion, his contribution is greater than mine.”
Sama Hyeok’s mouth curled slightly at the seemingly reasonable logic.
He’s become more devious.
Rather than displeasing, it was a welcome change. Hiding a blade behind modesty and taking the practical route was exactly the sort of attitude a scholar should have.
It was also the change he had hoped for when he brought Sama Ryang into the Military Council.
“Then the things you want are two: to keep your position as head of the investigation, and to reward Third Young Master. Is that correct?”
Sama Ryang’s eyes twitched.
“...Yes.”
Sama Hyeok stroked his chin.
“The first is impossible. Once you entered the Cult as bloodline of the Sama Devil Family, you were always going to be judged by stricter standards and a harsher scale. You were no exception. Stepping forward as head of the investigation was already unusual.”
“...”
“At most, this is a merit for bringing evidence. No more than a temporary retention until this investigation is concluded.”
“...I understand.”
“As for the reward for Third Young Master, I’ll count this as sufficient.”
Sama Hyeok pointed at the document resting on the desk.
“What is that?”
“A dispatch to be sent to the Cult Leader’s Palace.”
“...!”
“I’ll write up Third Young Master’s accomplishments and submit them. Once the Cult Leader finishes seclusion, he’ll receive a response. Of course, if it doesn’t interest him, he’ll simply ignore it.”
Sama Ryang’s eyes shook violently.
Entering the palace was a miracle and a blessing that every Cult member longed for. There could be no greater reward than Third Young Master being summoned to the Cult Leader’s Palace.
“Thank you.”
“Very well, enough about rewards. I heard that after capturing the criminal, you intended to interrogate him yourself, and that you thought the inverted Heavenly Spirit Art you used on Gwak Jiryang would let you uncover more?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Sama Hyeok’s brows drew together.
“And after suffering the side effects of that technique, you still reached that conclusion?”
“I believed it was necessary.”
“Tsk. Foolish. Seizing control of another’s upper dantian and forcing time upon them is a reckless act that goes against the natural order. The price is not something you can possibly bear.”
Sama Ryang looked at him in confusion. “...You know about the technique I used?”
“Did you think there was anything new left in heaven and earth?”
“...”
“It was unexpected that you discovered it yourself, but forbidden arts that gamble with a strategist’s life have existed since ancient times. This time you were lucky and only suffered that much. Next time, I can’t say whether you’ll wake again. That is why they are called forbidden arts.”
“...”
“You will not escape heavenly punishment, so never use it again.”
At the stern warning, Sama Ryang slowly nodded.
“...I’ll keep that in mind.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
That’s a relief.
Sama Ryang left the Military Council with a noticeably lighter step.
He felt some relief, because he had achieved what he wanted.
With this, I can keep the investigation going a little longer.
From the beginning, the only thing he had feared was that the investigation would be wrapped up early while he was away.
He had already known he would not be able to keep the position of head of investigations. But even if it was only temporary, he’d been given a chance to bring the case to a close, and now was the time to move quickly.
Sama Ryang absentmindedly rubbed the paper tucked inside his robes.
-Ah, you mean tell you everything I know?
The paper had been written by Gwak Jiryang. It listed, in no orderly fashion, the people the Black Corpse had traded with, the organizations involved, and even those he suspected were connected in some way.
Changwoong Trading Hall still handled normal transactions, so most of those names were probably unrelated to the current case—but there was still enough there to justify digging deeper.
If I use this…
Even if Changwoong Trading Hall was wiped out in one stroke, that wouldn’t end the human trafficking case. If there was a ringleader, there had to be participants too.
Since the investigation target, method, and punishment were all determined solely by the head of investigations’ discretion, it wouldn’t be difficult to thin out the list if he pressed through that authority.
A gray light flashed in Sama Ryang’s eyes.
What I need to consider is how to use it.
Merely being entangled in this matter was enough to warrant the harshest punishment. The list he had pruned would be powerful enough to be called a death roster, and because he hadn’t even disclosed it to the investigators, the range of possible use was broad.
Then, suddenly, Sama Ryang stopped walking. His gaze turned toward a wall in a dim alley.
“Who’s there?”
The air rippled once, and a woman’s shape emerged. The woman, Hong I-gyeom, had a face twisted so badly she looked as though she’d bitten into a rotten insect.
...Forget it. It’s time to really let this go.
That was the moment all lingering attachment vanished cleanly.
Of all things, she’d been caught by a scholar?
Forcing her expression into place, she gave a dry cough and greeted him.
“Hello. You must be Sama Ryang, right?”
“...”
“Ahem, I should introduce myself first. I’m the brains of Baekmyeongok, and I handle the flow of real-time information—no, actually, just Hong I-gyeom. I have a proposition for you, if you’ve got a moment?”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In a cave thick with the stench of blood.
As the faint light within barely illuminated the interior, a man in red and black cautiously moved forward. His eyes were stained with nothing but tension and fear.
They found the hideout too…
Slosh, slosh.
With every step deeper into the cave, trampling through the pooled blood on the floor, the sinister aura grew heavier.
“You’re late.”
A heavy voice rolled out from the depths of darkness.
The man in red and black immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head. He was Black Corpse, the one who handled the distribution network for the Jagui Sect.
“I’m sorry. While I was retrieving the Life Soul Pills, people started following me, and it delayed me.”
“Were there Life Soul Pills left?”
“Yes.”
Black Corpse pulled a wooden box from his robes. At once, a crimson pill rose floating out of the box and was drawn into the thick darkness.
“That’s a relief. I was just thinking about smashing them to pieces.”
Black Corpse’s face, still lowered, twisted.
“...How is your body?”
“I’m reaching my limit. I don’t know what they’re screaming about, but the stray ghosts are gnawing away at my mind. The backlash from botching the great formation is far greater than expected. At this rate, I won’t be able to escape death. Well, though I suppose running into the deputy chief of the Law Enforcement Hall will come first.”
“Th-the Jagui Sect matter is truly something I’m sorry for….”
Crack!
An invisible force seized Black Corpse by the throat in an instant. His face turned red at once.
“Kgh!”
“Did you think I was waiting to hear your worthless apologies? Remember, every single moment you still have your neck because you were caught. If you can’t prove your usefulness, you won’t even close your eyes in death.”
“Kgh, ngh!”
“What’s the plan?”
As the pressure around his throat loosened, Black Corpse gasped for breath and answered in a rush.
“W-we have one! We received intelligence that the investigation head behind this incident is one of Third Young Master’s subordinates. If we use the White Family Horse Clan’s story to push the trade through, then escaping outside the Cult—”
“Are you still speaking with certainty? After a failure like that?”
Crack.
As the force clamped down on his throat again, Black Corpse cried out desperately.
“This time, I’ll make it happen for sure! If we divert the Cult’s attention and slip out beyond its reach, there’ll surely be a path forward—!”
Bang!
Black Corpse flew like a cannonball and slammed into the wall. Barely managing to get back on his feet, he quickly dropped to his knees and bowed his head again.
“This is your last chance to make up for your pitiful recklessness.”
“I-I will keep that in mind.”
“This is the time to pour everything into it. Now leave.”
Black Corpse left the cave, enduring the pain that seemed to scream through every bone in his body.
How had things come to this?
Had the plan to accumulate wealth too greedily been what poisoned everything?
That question refused to leave his mind.
When he had first run the business under the name Changwoong Trading Hall, everything had gone smoothly.
He had operated the hall, drawn in personnel from Ma Royok, and through the prisoners even acquired the dark art he had coveted.
Especially when he learned that the descendant of the White Family Horse Clan and Third Young Master had joined hands, he had been certain that information would become his greatest asset.
It was valuable enough to blow away a successor’s foundation in an instant. He had planned to hold onto it and use it later, once Cheon Sohyeon had built up his own forces—but someone had struck at that opening.
“Everything went wrong because of that obsolete maggot. I’ll make sure I repay this humiliation.”
Black Corpse muttered it through gritted teeth.
His bloodshot eyes flashed in the darkness.