Chapter 704: Why Not Just Create a Witness?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 704: Why Not Just Create a Witness?
"The situation then and the situation now are completely different!"
Heo Sam-gwan flared up, his voice rising in indignation.
The circumstances were indeed different.
When Jang Sam was first framed as a serial rapist and murderer, he hadn't just been arrested at the scene; he had fled, making him the definitive suspect based on the circumstances.
It was worlds apart from the current situation, where he was being labeled a suspect without a shred of physical evidence.
"And how exactly is it different?"
Lee Jae-won spoke, a sneer playing on his lips.
"When he was framed before, Jang Sam was arrested at the scene! Furthermore, he fled, which made him the presumed suspect based on the circumstances, did it not?"
"Is it not the same in that there is no actual evidence, only circumstantial?"
"I told you, he was caught red-handed!"
"Did you see it?"
Lee Jae-won shot back, his eyes sharp as he stared him down.
"Pardon?"
"I asked if you saw Jang Sam killing Paeng Ji-yoon with your own eyes."
"…I did not see it."
"Then why do you keep using the term 'caught red-handed'?"
Lee Jae-won continued, a mocking smile spreading across his face.
'Caught red-handed.'
Was that not a term for a criminal apprehended during or immediately after the commission of a crime?
How could someone be called 'caught red-handed' simply because they were found lying next to Paeng Ji-yoon, who had already been dead for several hours?
It was preposterous.
"As far as this Alliance Leader knows, 'caught red-handed' refers to a criminal arrested during or immediately after the act… Has the definition changed while I wasn't looking?"
"…He was lying right next to Paeng Ji-yoon’s corpse."
"But Paeng Ji-yoon’s time of death was two shijin before he was discovered."
"…………"
"I ask you again. Do you truly believe Jang Sam was caught red-handed?"
"…………"
Heo Sam-gwan was struck dumb.
He couldn't find a single word to refute Lee Jae-won’s piercing logic.
Because Lee Jae-won was right.
Jang Sam hadn't been caught in the act.
Deep down, Heo Sam-gwan also knew that the man wasn't the culprit.
He had simply been trying his best to deny that truth.
If he didn't, he would have to admit that they had sacrificed Jang Sam under the pretext of maintaining the stability of the Cheonmu Alliance.
The other leaders were surely the same.
They were turning a blind eye to the uncomfortable truth to hide the ugliness of their own greed.
And now, Lee Jae-won had dragged that incredibly uncomfortable truth into the light.
He had laid it bare.
How could anyone argue in this situation?
What was there left to say?
He could only remain silent.
"You've gone quiet, Palbok Hall Master. For someone who usually has so much to say."
When Heo Sam-gwan fell silent, Lee Jae-won continued with a look of pure derision.
"You and I have already crossed the point of no return. Standing on ceremony with your conscience now won't change a thing."
Lee Jae-won began to speak slowly, as if offering advice.
"If we frame Jang Sam as the culprit, we can sufficiently quell this crisis. After all, he is the foul rapist and murderer who once shook the Cheonmu Alliance to its core."
"…………"
"We’ve already done it once. Just think of it as a repeat performance."
Lee Jae-won’s voice was incredibly smooth, almost seductive.
It was as if he were trying to ease the man's guilt.
"…………"
And Heo Sam-gwan did not offer a single word of protest.
It was a silent affirmation.
An agreement to overcome the crisis by framing Jang Sam.
Grin.
Seeing this, a deep smile carved itself onto Lee Jae-won’s face.
‘Now we are truly accomplices.’
The leadership and Lee Jae-won were now a community bound by fate.
They now shared each other's weaknesses.
"I agree with the Gyebang Hall Master’s opinion. For the Cheonmu Alliance to survive, we must designate Jang Sam, the Public Enemy of the Murim, as the culprit and solidify the narrative that the contents of the posters are a scheme intended to slander the Alliance."
Lee Jae-won looked around at the assembly and continued.
"What do the rest of you think?"
He asked them.
He asked for their thoughts.
"…I agree."
Lee Dae-gon, a member of the pro-Alliance Leader faction, was the first to voice his support.
"I agree as well."
"I agree."
"I believe it is unavoidable for the greater good."
"The milk is already spilled, is it not? I don't think spilling it once more will make a difference."
"I feel the same. If it is for the sake of the Cheonmu Alliance…"
One by one, the leaders—regardless of whether they were pro-Alliance or anti-Alliance—began to voice their agreement.
They spat out self-justifications about the 'greater good.'
Watching this, Lee Jae-won’s smile deepened.
It seemed things would work out well, thanks to that nuisance of a first disciple.
Once again, they would secure the stability of the Cheonmu Alliance by sacrificing him.
"Very well. I shall accept everyone's opinion."
Lee Jae-won spoke with a solemn expression, making sure to add that he was reflecting the will of the collective.
"We must issue an official statement regarding this situation."
"No."
Cha Do-jin, the Gyebang Hall Master who had been quiet until now, slowly spoke up.
"It would be better to delay the announcement."
He spoke with a grave expression.
"And why is that?"
Lee Jae-won asked, looking puzzled.
It was strange that the very man who had suggested framing Jang Sam was now suggesting they delay the announcement.
"Before we go public, shouldn't we create evidence that proves everything was Jang Sam’s doing?"
"…Evidence, you say?"
"Precisely."
Cha Do-jin nodded as he spoke.
"If it isn't proven to be Jang Sam’s work, there may be those who do not believe the Alliance’s announcement."
"…Hmm… True enough…"
Lee Jae-won nodded in agreement.
True to its reputation as a land of paranoid Chinks, the Central Plains was crawling with cockroach-like bastards who doubted everything first.
To incite such people, firm evidence was required.
Irrefutable proof that Jang Sam was the source of all this trouble.
"How do you intend to create this evidence?"
"Why not just create a witness?"
"A witness?"
"Yes."
A cold smile began to drift across Cha Do-jin’s face.
He looked as though he had a plan he was quite confident in.
Lee Jae-won watched Cha Do-jin with an intrigued expression.
He was curious to see what kind of clever scheme the man would use to impress him.
"Do you have a brilliant idea?"
"I have a method in mind…"
"Don't hold back, speak up!"
Lee Jae-won urged him impatiently.
"However, there is a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"It may require some sacrifice."
"…Sacrifice?"
"Yes. To add credibility, we need to emphasize Jang Sam’s brutality."
"……Hmm."
Lee Jae-won looked thoughtful.
Honestly, he didn't care.
It didn't matter to him who else died.
However, he didn't think these stiff-necked leaders would allow it.
"What do the rest of you think?"
Lee Jae-won passed the decision to them.
He had no intention of taking the fall alone.
"…I believe we must accept the sacrifice."
Lee Dae-gon answered immediately.
He had instantly grasped what Lee Jae-won wanted and spoke accordingly.
"I never expected to succeed without any sacrifice."
"I feel the same."
The other leaders began to chime in one after another.
From the moment they accepted the uncomfortable truth that Jang Sam was a scapegoat, they seemed to have tossed their hypocrisy far aside.
‘Look at these power-mad sons of bitches. Kekeheke…’
Lee Jae-won watched them with an amused expression.
It was hilarious to see them throw away all pretense and snap at the bait like dogs.
They were finally being honest.
Honest about their desires.
And they had gone mad.
Mad for the sweet taste of power.
Soon, the meeting hall was filled with the voices of these crazed curs.
In the end, every leader except for Heo Sam-gwan voted in favor of the 'unavoidable sacrifice.'
Watching this, Cha Do-jin began to recite the plan he had devised.
As they listened, crazed smiles began to form on the leaders' faces.
It seemed the plan was quite to their liking.
"Hwaaaa-am."
Jo Jun, a member of the Black Tortoise Hall, let out a massive yawn.
He had been suddenly drafted to stand guard near the commercial district.
Normally, it was basic courtesy to give notice before guard duty so one could get some sleep, but in this sudden emergency, such considerations were non-existent.
'This sucks.'
Jo Jun cursed under his breath.
He clearly wasn't happy about being dragged out like this.
"Watch out, a fly's gonna fly in there, kid."
The woman beside him scolded him.
It was a woman named Ye-hwa, who belonged to the Black Tortoise Hall just like Jo Jun.
"What am I supposed to do if I'm sleepy?"
"Even if you're tired, don't show it. What will people think if they see you?"
"Who's gonna see us in the middle of the night!?"
Jo Jun snapped back, his face scrunched in a frown.
He didn't appreciate her nagging when there wasn't even an ant passing by.
"You never know. You should always be on guard and keep yourself composed."
"I've always felt this way, but you're way too stiff, Ye-hwa."
"And you're way too lax, Jo Jun."
"It's not being lax. It's being relaxed."
"You don't have a lick of talent, so what 'relaxed'? You're just dim-witted."
"No talent!?"
"You've been a common martial artist for five years, haven't you? Isn't that proof enough?"
"I'm the one who refused the promotion!"
"Stop lying. I saw you drinking your sorrows away when you got passed over last time!"
"Why are you being so sensitive today? Are you on your period or something?"
Jo Jun raised his voice, looking genuinely confused.
He didn't like how prickly she was being today.
"I've always been like this! You bastard!"
The bickering between the two began to escalate.
"Don't talk to me!"
Jo Jun shouted, raising his voice.
He then whipped his head to the side.
He realized he could never win an argument against her.
"You don't talk to me either!"
Ye-hwa shouted back, seemingly seeing no point in continuing the spat.
"…………"
Silence soon settled between the two.
After some time had passed…
"Hey, Jo Jun."
Ye-hwa, who had turned her head away, slowly spoke up to call him.
"Are you really sulking?"
"…………"
But Jo Jun remained silent.
It seemed he was truly offended.
"Whew."
Ye-hwa let out a long sigh.
It was a sigh mixed with annoyance at this narrow-minded man.
"You petty bastard."
She began to provoke him again.
She figured it would be better to have a big fight and clear the air than to sit in this awkward atmosphere.
"…………"
But Jo Jun remained silent, offering no response.
Ye-hwa’s brow furrowed deeply.
It seemed this petty man had no intention of letting his anger go easily.
"Stop sulking and just—"
Ye-hwa began to turn her head back toward him as she spoke.
She intended to break the awkward tension.
But she couldn't finish her sentence.
Her brain simply stopped working at the sight of something so horrifying she couldn't believe her eyes.
She had turned her head, but Jo Jun wasn't there.
Instead, only his torso remained.
It had been severed.
His head was gone.
‘What… is this… what on earth… is this? Is it a dream? It has to be a dream… it can only be a dream… please… please…’
She squeezed her eyes shut.
She prayed fervently.
Prayed that the sight before her was nothing but a nightmare.
Snap.
She opened her eyes and was met with despair.
She realized that the scene before her was not a dream, but reality.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"
Once her brain finally processed the horror, Ye-hwa let out a blood-curdling scream.
A comrade she had worked with for years had become a headless corpse.
How could she not scream?
Shink.
Suddenly, she felt an incredibly cold sensation against her throat.
Startled, Ye-hwa’s scream was cut short.
She was paralyzed by the chilling cold at her neck.
"Ye-hwa, you have to be quiet."
A man's voice pierced her ear.
Ye-hwa slowly turned her gaze.
And there she saw him.
A man whose face was all too familiar.
"If we get caught, are you going to take responsibility?"
The man who had once been a squad leader in the Black Tortoise Hall.
The man who had been declared a Public Enemy of the Murim for raping and murdering female martial artists for decades.
The man who had been the sole disciple of the Cheonmu Alliance Leader.
It was Jang Sam.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Ye-hwa?"
Jang Sam spoke, a thick smile plastered on his face.
And as she looked at him, Ye-hwa’s eyes filled with pure, unadulterated terror.