The Princess (9)
After climbing the spiral staircase all the way up, a massive door greeted me.
I knocked, and a voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Inside the office, Gwanwol, the master of Wolyeongjeon, sat with his chin propped on his hand.
"You need to train your subordinates better first."
As I spoke, he glanced at Jacheong behind me and let out a sigh.
"These youngsters these days are overflowing with zeal. A vigorous spirit is good, but they're so damn dense... They've forgotten that overreaching brings disaster."
Shick!
A needle shot out from his sleeve.
"Guhk... kuhuk...!"
The needle pierced Jacheong's throat precisely.
His face twisted grotesquely in an instant. Dark red foam bubbled up, and froth spilled from his mouth.
"Please overlook it generously. Not just Jacheong, but anyone who dared touch you improperly—I'll take responsibility and punish them myself."
Gwanwol had drawn a clear line, as if to say the previous incident had nothing to do with him.
With that, I had no need to press the issue further.
I shrugged and approached him.
"As expected of Wolyeongjeon's master. You're on a whole different level from these punk-ass kids."
"I hear that a lot. Well then, Investigator, get to your business. What do you need?"
"I'll start with the ledgers. God knows how many times I've said that since I got here."
"Hahaha! We live in such shadowy places, don't we? Lots of us are blind as bats."
Without a hint of displeasure, he pulled a document from his drawer.
"But Investigator, even if I do get my hands dirty, I don't play games. So take your time checking."
"Yes, I'll check leisurely."
No one gets full on the first sip, after all.
This ledger was probably fake anyway, and the truth would be up in the highest levels beyond. Same with the Empress's whereabouts.
I flipped through the papers he'd given me and casually opened my mouth.
"By the way, there's a rumor going around."
"What rumor?"
"That Her Highness the Princess has gone missing."
"Ah, that. You must know as an investigator."
He answered just as casually.
"It's like a bolt from the blue. With Her Highness's whereabouts unknown, we're all on edge here in Wolyeongjeon, wondering if a bloodbath is coming."
"Baekrok's been full of worry too. Do you have any leads on Her Highness's location?"
I probed directly, and he furrowed his brow.
"If I knew where Her Highness was, would I be dragging my feet like this?"
"Fair point."
I flipped another page in the ledger.
"But what is Wolyeongjeon? The world's greatest assassination unit that even shadows can't tread on, and you're the one commanding those shadows. I figured Lord Gwanwol would know something, naturally."
"I'm jealous of that youthful fire. I had a vivid imagination in my younger days too. Sadly, I have no leads on Her Highness either. Satisfied?"
I turned to the last page of the documents.
"Yes, I understand."
I handed the ledger back to him.
"Clean as promised. If only your subordinates cooperated this well."
"It's a shame. Handling underlings is such a pain."
Gwanwol smiled nonchalantly as he took the ledger.
But he was definitely shaken. His brow twitched ever so slightly.
"One piece of advice, Investigator. Watch your words. Your zeal, your curiosity—anything in excess brings trouble."
"Lately, everyone's giving me advice. Geumryong Palace really is full of affection. I'll take it to heart."
I clasped my hands politely and bowed my head.
Know the easiest way to win a fight?
Make your opponent drop their guard.
Right now, I was playing the fool.
Like some lunatic drunk on his own power, charging ahead recklessly.
That's how I'd look to Gwanwol.
"Heh, you're unusually reasonable for a young guy."
"They call me an old soul."
"Fitting nickname."
I kept flashing the most punchable smile I could muster.
"So, done with your business?"
"You think I'd wrap up with one ledger? I need to check the other records too. Especially in a situation like this."
Gwanwol openly frowned now.
"...Are you suspecting us?"
"I don't know what you mean."
Gwanwol leaned back in his chair.
"Did Baekrok tell you to probe us? Makes sense—he never liked me much."
"No such instructions."
"Then why keep digging for Her Highness in the wrong places? I can't treat you nicely like this."
"Why would I suspect you, Lord Gwanwol? The thought never crossed my mind. Why bring up Her Highness anyway? I'm here to investigate Wolyeongjeon."
I said that and stood up.
"I'll assume you understand. I'll look around a bit more before I go. You've lived a spotless life, Lord Gwanwol—no issue, right?"
"...No issue. I'll give you a room; look as much as you want."
He chuckled dryly.
I chuckled back and pointed to the painting hanging behind him.
"Speaking of, I've thought since I first came in—nice painting. Good eye, Lord Gwanwol."
"..."
Gwanwol's eyebrow twitched for a split second.
"Thanks."
But he quickly regained his smile.
True to a man who's seen it all, his poker face was top-tier.
Still, no amount of face control hides a racing heart.
Gwanwol probably wanted me out of Wolyeongjeon by now, any way possible.
I turned to leave.
"See you around."
"Sure."
From that day on, I scoured every inch of Wolyeongjeon.
- Shick!
Which earned me countless assassination attempts.
"Wheek."
And poison attempts.
Especially when I checked the floor with the secret warehouse—the bastards came at me with full intent to kill.
Of course, I handled them all. Sometimes I left them mangled and hung from pillars as examples.
Along the way, I found a few rotten things.
Like stacks of massive gold bars in a warehouse corner. Or piles of top-grade weapons.
When I asked Gwanwol about it, he pinned it on his subordinates and cut off tails, as usual.
But I didn't stop.
"...M-monster bastard!"
Those aiming for my neck got thorough payback.
"It, it was orders! Just orders...! P-please, stop...!"
Some I spared just enough to taste hell.
The really vile ones, I beheaded and tossed on the floor. Sometimes I lined up a bunch and made them stand at attention all day as punishment.
Four days after holing up in Wolyeongjeon.
"Hup!"
"Sh-shit! Don't make eye contact!"
"Aigoo, Investigator! Hard work today too!"
Before long, they were bowing their heads to me.
"...Investigator."
Dark shadows hung under Gwanwol's eyes.
"When the hell do you plan to leave?"
Gwanwol let out a deep sigh.
He offered me a cup of tea.
"Just go already. The organization's a mess lately."
"Not your fault, Lord Gwanwol. All because of your worthless underlings, right?"
"Even so, smashing the place like this—what's the point?"
"I never struck first. They brought it on themselves."
"True enough. You're right. But there's a thing called 'moderation.' For my sake, go easy—does it hurt you? Hell, are you even an investigator? You'd be in a higher post if you'd taken the military exams. I guarantee it."
He rubbed his forehead.
His face looked like he might collapse any second.
I sipped my tea and paced the office.
"Lord Gwanwol, I want to leave too. Not dragging this out."
Gwanwol swallowed hard.
He'd realized it by now. No moves left.
Honestly, Wolyeongjeon was no match.
I could've wiped them out without dragging it out.
But I didn't. Simple reason.
'Create justification.'
Without it, I'd just be a murdering demon. Baekrok worried about that.
I'm no idiot. I know mindless slaughter doesn't solve shit.
Plus, the Empress was a political master.
Killing Gwanwol recklessly here? She'd counter hard.
That's why I'd methodically dismantled them to this point.
Until he judged he couldn't kill me anymore.
"...How much do you know?"
He'd probably guessed since I pointed out that painting.
Why I was really here.
So he tried to kill me.
I made him try.
I took another sip of tea.
"No idea what you're talking about."
"..."
"I'm just here to investigate. Told you from the start."
He nodded slowly.
"...Follow me."
Gwanwol turned and pushed aside the massive painting.
Beyond it lay a staircase.