How to Catch a Spy
"So this is it."
Bang So-un clicked his tongue at the state of the secret room, where the cleanup had been blatantly sloppy. Jang Il's footprints were still there plain as day. The women's were too. Anyone who wasn't a complete idiot would take one look at those tracks and immediately start investigating a large-built man.
"......I'm sorry."
Jang Il hung his head, looking utterly dejected—like he had no face left to show. It was a rare sight. But this time, he had no excuse. Overconfidence had led to carelessness, nearly plunging them into crisis. He deserved to keep his head bowed.
"I never even dreamed someone would find the secret room......"
Jang Il tried to make excuses. Bang So-un understood. After their string of unbroken successes, in Jang Il's eyes, women had sunk to the level of sub-animal vermin. The idea that such lowly creatures could uncover the secret room hadn't even crossed his mind.
Even so, treating fully human women like vermin... what a bastard. That mindset was what got them into this mess.
"I did tell you not to get careless..."
Bang So-un's words trailed off mid-sentence. His eyes caught the tufts of pubic hair scattered around.
"Ah, for fuck's sake. At least clean up your pubes before you live like animals."
Bang So-un wrinkled his nose in disgust and scolded him.
"Well, they fall off every time we train them anyway..."
"Haa... Fine. What's the point."
Bang So-un shook his head. Still, after this fiasco, even Jang Il wouldn't screw up like this again. That was a gain, at least.
Bang So-un headed to the stairs and plopped down on the steps—the cleanest spot around.
"Let's check the situation first."
"......Yes, Young Master."
Jang Il lifted his head.
"We've trained three so far, right?"
"Yep."
"Perfectly done?"
"Perfect" here didn't mean masterpiece quality. Jang Il had said he lacked the motivation for top-tier work without top materials. Bang So-un had no intention of forcing it. True artisans only ignited their passion for the finest ingredients. How much more for Jang Il, crafting human artworks?
Besides.
That might be better anyway.
With a goal of twenty slaves, turning them into quick hypnosis drones for faster training made sense.
"Not quite, but you can consider it basically done."
If Jang Il said that much, it was safe to assume all three were firmly in their grasp.
"Any chance one of those bitches is a spy?"
"Definitely not. You kept harping on about spies, Young Master, so I checked them under hypnosis."
He'd taken Bang So-un's words to heart, at least a little. Too bad it hadn't lasted.
"I see."
Bang So-un murmured thoughtfully. Down to seventeen now. The problem? All background checks came up clean. Time to abandon that angle. They'd catch the spy another way.
Better to bait her out.
Rather than clawing through hiding spots, dangling irresistible bait was best. The trick was making it convincing...
The answer's in the footprints.
Bang So-un's gaze swept the room's tracks. Jang Il's were already under outer courtyard scrutiny. But the women's? Off-limits to that spy. Golden Dragon turf.
Which meant...
She'll have to move.
The spy hidden among the women would have no choice. She'd investigate the footprint owners. Lucky for them, those owners were already secured.
Perfect.
A satisfied smile curved Bang So-un's lips as his plan solidified.
"Jang Il."
"Y-yes, Young Master."
"Listen up. I'm about to lay out how we catch that little rat bitch."
......It's definite.
I Yeon stole a quick glance at Ju Ok-yeong's feet, then thought back. The tall woman's footprints from the secret room. They matched almost perfectly.
So the owner was Ju Ok-yeong.
Then......
That suspicious feeling hadn't been imagination. She'd been in the secret room right before bumping into I Yeon and Im So-min. Crawling around, doing that...
Ugh.
I Yeon barely kept her flushing face under control. She was on guard duty now. No showing it.
Outwardly calm, her mind raced.
Impossible.
Ju Ok-yeong had been with Golden Dragon less than a month at the incident. Could she really hook up with someone that fast? Especially in segregated quarters—slim odds.
If not consensual, then force. But Ju Ok-yeong was first-rate. Raping a woman like that? Even stronger experts couldn't without noise drawing attention. Peak? Maybe. But Golden Dragon's only known Peak was Yeon Su-rin, the Broken Heart Heroine.
Impossible.
That's what I Yeon would conclude. But Eun Hwa-yeong's letter had provided one answer.
Aphrodisiac.
Dose her with that, and even a first-rate loses reason—ripe for violation. The picture formed: that brutal man spiked Ju Ok-yeong somehow, dragged her weakened to the secret room, raped her. Then blackmailed her. For an unmarried woman, the shame of rape leaking out was terror itself. Thus, their coerced affair began.
Hoo.
I Yeon sighed inwardly in pity. But pity aside, duty called: report to Eun Hwa-yeong. Might not help now, but eventually, Golden Dragon's dark underbelly would pay.
She believed that.
"Today's duties are wrapped up nicely. Let's head back."
Hwang Bo-seol stood with a smile.
Back in the inner courtyard, Hwang Bo-seol retired to her room, leaving the pair. They headed to their quarters.
Thud. Thud.
Only footsteps echoed in the awkward silence. Ju Ok-yeong was naturally taciturn; so was I Yeon. Inevitable.
Plus, I Yeon was cautious. She wanted to probe for more info casually, but the woman was blackmailed. If word got back that I Yeon suspected... dangerous.
So she stayed silent. Until...
Hoo.
Unexpectedly, Ju Ok-yeong halted with a short sigh. Then asked abruptly,
"You were sneaking peeks at my feet earlier. Care to explain?"
Thump.
I Yeon's heart raced. But she kept her cool. Submerged Sword—calm, quiet blade. Her epithet earned through blood.
"My eyes just wandered by accident. Sorry if it bothered you."
"Accident, huh. I see."
Ju Ok-yeong's low voice continued.
"Guess I have to believe you if you say so."
"......"
Ju Ok-yeong resumed walking; I Yeon followed. Awkwardness loomed again—until,
"Come to think, we crossed paths around this time before too."
"You mean about a fortnight ago?"
"Yes."
"Yeah... similar time, I guess."
Why bring that up now? I Yeon wondered—
"Sorry."
Ju Ok-yeong apologized out of nowhere. So sudden, I Yeon nearly cracked.
"......No idea what you're apologizing for."
"I lied back then."
"Pardon?"
I Yeon faltered—relieved it fit the situation.
"......"
She waited; silence stretched. Finally, impatience rising—
Ju Ok-yeong spoke.
"I have somewhere to be. Business."
"Business?"
I Yeon recalled the secret room—and what happened there.
"Yes."
Short reply, then Ju Ok-yeong turned.
"I hope you're happy, Miss."
Her face and voice—like she'd cast everything aside. I Yeon sensed foreboding. Not just coerced secret-room visits. Something off. And that feeling...
"Wait! What do you—"
Whoosh!
Before I Yeon finished, Ju Ok-yeong vanished in a blur. Destination obvious.
"Ah... damn it."
I Yeon frowned, deep in turmoil. Not her first time seeing that look on a martial artist. She knew it.
A face that had abandoned life.
Which meant...
...Kill the rapist, then herself.
I Yeon foresaw the tragedy. Hence her agonizing.
"......Gotta go."
Decision made. Dangerous, yes. She knew her heavy duty. That's why she'd ignored the rape suspicions after confirming them.
But life was different. She couldn't let a pitiful woman die before her eyes.
That wasn't who she was.
Please, let it be nothing.
Stoic-faced, I Yeon launched her form.
"—Plant a suggestion in those women to lure the foot-peeker here, no matter what it takes?"
"Yeah. Give all three the command."
"Ah... I get it. The foot-checker is the spy?"
"Even you figured that much."
"Hey, I'm not an idiot......"
"Good thing."
"R-really?"
"Enough. Hurry and do as I say."
"Got it. But since they're not masterpieces, there might be issues..."
"What kind?"
"They'll think and act on the subconscious suggestion, but it might not feel natural."
"Can't be helped. Leave it to luck."
Luck was already flowing their way.