The Tiger's Den
A guy sharpening a dagger, another sparring, one crouched on the roof.
All their eyes locked onto me.
"Who the hell are you?"
The masked man sitting on the courtyard rock, honing his dagger, spoke up.
"Hey, we're here on official business. Cooperate, alright?"
"……."
The masked man's eyes narrowed.
"Even if you're an investigator sent by Master Baekrok, causing this much commotion is a problem."
He must've already caught wind of the chaos outside the gate.
Well, with that bald bastard screaming like a little girl, it'd be weirder if he hadn't.
"I warned you three times. Don't you know non-cooperation means summary execution? That bald fuck and the rest—you all know better. Why the fuck are you playing dumb?"
"Hah, Investigator."
This time, the lanky fucker on the roof chimed in.
"You're still green as grass, huh? Can't tell shit from shinola. Push like that, and you might end up dead without a whisper."
"Threatening an investigator's a serious crime."
"This crazy bastard."
Figures for a bunch of thieves—paranoid as hell.
"C'mon, let's keep it chill. We're all just trying to get by, right?"
"I'd love to keep it chill. So just let me in."
"Fuck off, you little shit. We'll sweeten the deal with Baekrok for you. No hard feelings."
The guy snickered as he said it.
I tensed my toes.
Then—whoosh!
I leaped straight to the roof in one bound.
The crouched lanky fucker jolted up in shock.
"W-what the—?!"
"Keep calling me 'little shit.' Am I your fucking kid?"
"How'd you jump this high in one go…?!"
I clamped my hand over the bastard's jaw—crack!
"Mmph—! Gah!"
Crunch! Bones shattered.
"Hey, asshole. I said threatening an investigator's a heavy crime. Why can't you get it through your thick skull?"
Snap! Tears welled in his eyes.
That'd shut his flapping trap for months.
I hurled him down to the courtyard.
They'd probably dodged investigations with brute force like this forever.
Daring to pull this shit even on a senior investigator—juniors must've been their playthings.
I didn't need to see it to know.
"Listen up, all of you."
I looked down at them, tapping my scabbard.
"From now on, anyone who interferes gets summary execution. All of you."
At my words, they dropped into combat stances, ready to pounce.
That was when it happened.
"Enough."
A middle-aged man approached, hands behind his back.
No wasted motion in his steps, his breath and slightest gesture flawless.
"It's a simple matter of letting him in. Why provoke people needlessly?"
With a casual wave, the killers knelt in unison, heads bowed.
"Investigator, please quell your anger. The palace has been chaotic lately. These lads don't mean any harm."
The middle-aged man continued with a gentle smile.
"So forgive them. In return, seek me out anytime you need anything."
He pointed at the masked man.
"Jacheong, escort him to the main hall."
"Yes, sir!"
The masked man, Jacheong, fell in beside me.
"My apologies for the rudeness. This way."
One word from the man, and the hostility evaporated.
"Is that guy the boss here?"
"Yes, Lord Gwanwol, master of Wolyeongjeon."
Figured as much from the vibe.
The middle-aged man tidied up the situation and vanished.
The others looked like they had plenty to say but clamped their mouths shut.
I followed the masked man.
Baekrok's letter said it was an eight-story pavilion, right?
Up close, Wolyeongjeon looked more like a towering spire than a pavilion.
"This way in."
The interior was dim. Pitch fucking black.
No proper corridors—multiple floors merged into a vast circular space.
Masked men perched on pillars like ninjas, staring me down.
I recalled Baekrok's letter.
- Wolyeongjeon isn't a typical building divided into corridors and rooms. The entire interior forms a massive circle, with nine moon pillars stretching from the center to the top floor.
1~3 floors: Training grounds. Open structure, where most of Wolyeongjeon's warriors gather.
4~7 floors: Secure storage. Elites called 'Shadows' lurk in the darkness—exercise extreme caution.
8th floor: Office. The master resides here. Take the central spiral stairs to reach it.
Before coming here, I'd sent a letter to my sister.
Her reply:
- Bro, you okay in the head? What's the deal this time? Sudden Wolyeongjeon? Haven't left yet? Then swing by Hyeonmu Palace! Our lady's been asking for you nonstop!
- Fine, whatever. You need Wolyeongjeon's weakness, right? That's my specialty! Listen up. There's a secret ledger only the master and the Empress know about.
Her letter had a drawing.
An arrow pointing to the pavilion's peak.
- Officially, the top is the 8th floor, but there's a 9th above it. In the novel, it's called the Reverse Scale Chamber—actually a stash of records proving collusion between the Empress and Wolyeongjeon. Probably only the top brass knows. Reach it, and you've got their weakness. But getting there needs a gimmick. In the office, there's a painting...
Good. Got it all memorized.
"Let's start with the ledgers."
"……."
He just stared.
"Investigator, Wolyeongjeon specializes in ambushes."
"Yeah, heard that plenty."
"I see. Not scared at all?"
He stepped behind me.
"You've walked right into the tiger's den."
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dozens of masked men landed, surrounding us.
"Don't worry. No one will know of your death. We'll make it quiet."
I sighed.
Shit had been going too smooth.
Gripping my scabbard, I said,
"Your boss seemed cooperative."
"Yes. This is our own initiative."
Bullshit. They lured me in for this.
He slashed with a short thrust—straight for my carotid.
Shwick!
But his dagger sliced air.
I'd tilted my head aside.
I seized his overextended arm.
"……!"
Channeling inner energy, I crushed down.
Crunch!
"Gaaahhh!"
Two on the right, about five paces.
Three ahead, five paces.
One above, ten paces.
I flung Jacheong's body at the two charging from the right.
"You fucking—!"
Splat! A dull thud, and they tumbled tangled.
In that instant, a chill from the front.
The three at five paces lunged.
I didn't draw. Instead, I poured power into my toes and stomped the floor.
Boom!
Wood splintered, shards flying everywhere.
"What the—?!"
They hesitated; I kicked shards into their chests.
"Argh!"
One took it full-on—chest caved, crack! slammed into a pillar.
"Monster bastard!"
Last, the one at ten paces overhead.
I sidestepped casually, grabbed his head, and smashed him down.
Boom!
His skull embedded in the floor.
What a pain in the ass.
I brushed dust off my hands and approached Jacheong, sprawled on the ground.
"Hah… huff!"
Clutching his grotesquely bent arm, he sat up and slammed his head down.
"S-spare me! I've committed a mortal sin!"
What a fucking joke.
Seconds ago, promising a silent death; now begging like a bitch.
"Just guide me to the office. Unless you wanna die."
I grinned.