I Know Nothing
About fifteen minutes later, Wang Chung arrived outside a warehouse in an extremely secluded area, leading Myo Yak-bi and his men.
"H-He must be hiding here. This is a safe house my young master prepared. He mentioned it to me once before..."
Myo Yak-bi furrowed his brow and released his aura. Sensing something, a look of surprise and delight crossed his face.
"There is definitely a faint trace of demonic energy remaining here! Everyone, stay sharp!"
He drew his sword and led the group as they slowly approached the warehouse.
"Charge!"
Mystic energy exploded. CRASH! The warehouse doors were completely pulverized.
Myo Yak-bi and two other Great Martial Masters fully unleashed their energy and stormed into the warehouse.
Another fifteen minutes passed.
In the main hall of the Unmong City Administrative Headquarters.
"What?!"
Dam Gogeum, who had been sitting quietly, jumped to his feet in shock.
"What did you say? Myo Yak-bi, Yuan Xiang, and Li Qifeng are all dead?"
"Yes, my lord! Master Myo and the other two Consecrated Experts took thirty Martial Warrior-rank experts to raid an abandoned warehouse in the north. They found traces of Im Bukjin there. The three of them rushed in first to capture him, but they were wiped out on the spot before the support team could even draw their weapons."
Oh Sang-eon spoke while wiping cold sweat from his brow, trying to calm his racing heart.
"That’s impossible. This is strange... Did Im Bukjin truly possess such strength?"
Dam Gogeum felt a throbbing headache coming on. He barely managed to steady his nerves before speaking again.
"Those three were all Bronze-rank Consecrated Experts of the Pung-eo Province Governor's Office. They were Great Martial Masters who had mastered the Demon-Expelling Sword Style. They should have been the ultimate counters to a demon worshipper. Even if Im Bukjin has fallen into a demonic state, it should have been impossible for him to kill all three of them. And they had thirty subordinates with them... Are you saying not a single person returned alive?"
Oh Sang-eon didn't dare look up, a bitter smile on his face.
"All thirty-three experts are dead. There were no survivors... However..."
"However what?" Dam Gogeum asked sharply.
Oh Sang-eon answered quickly. "The one who led Myo Yak-bi and the others to the warehouse was Wang Chung. He survived, though he's in a near-death state. He seems to have been driven into a stupor by the shock; he's acting like a complete simpleton and can't even speak properly."
"Wang Chung?" Dam Gogeum asked. "Are you referring to that foolish old servant?"
"That is correct," Oh Sang-eon replied. "I have already interrogated him myself. He has no hidden skills whatsoever; he's just a useless old man. He’s famous in Unmong City for being a half-wit. He poses no threat at all."
"Did that Wang Chung fellow say anything useful?" Dam Gogeum pressed.
"He seems to have been traumatized beyond reason. He just keeps repeating the word 'Ghost!' over and over. I tried using special methods, but there was little to be gained. He claims a vengeful spirit lives inside that warehouse and that the spirit murdered Myo Yak-bi and the others."
Hearing this, Dam Gogeum slowly sat back down in his chair. His head was spinning.
"Is there any news from the other squads?"
"Nothing yet. Im Bukjin has vanished like smoke within Unmong City. We can't find a single trace of him."
Dam Gogeum waved his hand dismissively. "Continue the search with the investigation team. Use whatever means necessary to make that brat crawl out on his own."
"By your command!"
As Oh Sang-eon turned to leave, a guard rushed in to report to Dam Gogeum.
"Reporting! Master Baek Hae-geum requests an audience!"
"Oh? Send him in at once." Dam Gogeum’s eyes snapped open.
Baek Hae-geum strode into the hall and offered a formal salute.
"How did it go?" Dam Gogeum asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.
Baek Hae-geum shook his head. "It seems it will be difficult for you to intervene further in this matter, my lord."
Dam Gogeum narrowed his eyes, the light of expectation vanishing instantly.
Baek Hae-geum gritted his teeth, hardening his heart before speaking. "However, I have a plan. It might be effective in making Im Bukjin walk out of hiding of his own accord. But I do not know if you will have the stomach to use it."
"Oh?" Dam Gogeum said, his eyes thinning further. "You have such a brilliant idea, Master Baek? Let’s hear it."
Baek Hae-geum began, "First, we must drastically increase the bounty. If the reward is high enough, bounty hunters will act with much more vigor. But bounty hunters alone are not enough. The amount must be so large that every citizen is motivated to join the hunt. We must make the entire city of Unmong desperate to find him. Only then can we locate him in a short amount of time."
"Hmm... that makes sense," Dam Gogeum mused, pondering in his chair. "You are right. A problem that can be solved with money is not a real problem. In your opinion, how much should we increase the bounty?"
Baek Hae-geum spoke with absolute conviction. "10,000 gold for anyone providing a lead, 50,000 gold for anyone assisting in his capture, and 100,000 gold for the one who brings Im Bukjin in."
Dam Gogeum thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
"Very well. Hearing your words makes me feel as if my eyes have been opened. With a reward like that, people will be hunting for him with fire in their eyes. Even those without martial skills will be moved to find a way. Since one can earn enough money to last a lifetime just by providing a lead without risking their life, men, women, young, and old will all join the fray."
"Then you agree, my lord?" Baek Hae-geum asked.
Dam Gogeum laughed. "Why would I refuse? Haha, I wouldn't mind spending a thousand times that if it meant catching Im Bukjin. I will have the investigation team notify everyone in Unmong City that they can earn a fortune just by providing a lead."
"As expected of you, my lord," Baek Hae-geum said.
In truth, Baek Hae-geum had worried that Dam Gogeum might be stingy with the funds. But seeing him now, Dam Gogeum—a descendant of a fallen dynasty's nobility—seemed to possess the decisive drive to spend any amount of capital once he set his mind to a task.
"The second point I must mention is that you still do not fully understand Im Bukjin. You may think of him as nothing more than an arrogant, spoiled brat, but in my eyes, he is different from his public reputation. He is a fellow who likes to meddle in others' affairs, is weak to sentiment, and knows how to protect those around him."
Baek Hae-geum continued, "That means..."
"That means I should treat the people I've captured related to Im Bukjin even more harshly?" Dam Gogeum interrupted, catching his drift.
"Exactly. Im Bukjin's master, Jeong Sam-seok, is currently outside Unmong City, but given their relationship, he cannot be cleared of suspicion. It would be wise to issue an order to pursue him. Another method is to select the teachers and students of the 3rd Academy who are close to Im Bukjin and torture them. We should publicly punish their families as well and imprison anyone who has even the slightest connection to him. Furthermore, issue a city-wide proclamation: if Im Bukjin is not captured within a day, no business shall be conducted the following day, schools will be closed, and all activity will be suspended."
A predatory smile played on Dam Gogeum's lips. "If we do that, the resentment within Unmong City will be immense."
Baek Hae-geum smiled despicably, his voice cold. "We must make the people of Unmong City scream in resentment. And then, we turn all that hatred toward Im Bukjin. If necessary, killing those involved is also an option. If he does not appear, we execute one person every day. Their deaths will be on his hands."
Dam Gogeum looked at Baek Hae-geum with a look of surprise. He had thought that no matter how ruthless a famous swordsman from White Cloud City might be, he would still be within the bounds of a typical martial artist. But now he saw that Baek Hae-geum was more vicious than most politicians, let alone ordinary swordsmen.
"Very well," Dam Gogeum said with a laugh. "I will grant you full authority over this matter. Capture who needs to be captured, and kill who needs to be killed. You do not need to seek my permission for every detail."
Baek Hae-geum was momentarily taken aback by the offer. But he soon gritted his teeth and replied, "Understood."
Having received permission, Baek Hae-geum turned and strode out of the hall. As Dam Gogeum watched his retreating figure, a sudden curiosity arose.
'Just what kind of grudge does he hold that a famous swordsman of White Cloud City would go so far as to deal with demons just to kill Im Bukjin? Still, relying on someone else's hand to achieve one's goal is never a bad choice. Baek Hae-geum's suggestion is certainly practical and highly effective, but it is far too cruel. Once the bloodbath begins, even if we succeed in catching Im Bukjin, it will be a great stain on my reputation. Baek Hae-geum, if you need a sword hilt, I will place it in your hand. I, Dam Gogeum, will never dirty my own hands.'
At a certain tavern.
A crystal screen was broadcasting a real-time feed of people being interrogated and tortured inside the prison of the Bureau of Martial Affairs. They were all individuals suspected of having ties to Bukjin.
Overseeing the torture was none other than Guan Bi-do, who had been expelled from the 3rd Academy.
"If you just tell us where Im Bukjin is, you won't have to suffer this pain anymore."
Guan Bi-do sat in a large chair, looking down at the students with his feet propped up on the desk, a cold sneer on his face.
"Senior Guan, we really don't know!"
"Even if you beat us to death, how can we tell you something we don't know?!"
"Please... please just let us go!"
Im Yeok and the others begged for mercy. Im Seol-geum, despite being a girl, had been whipped until her entire body was stained red, and her face was covered in cuts and bruises. It was a truly pitiful sight.