Monopolizing Fortunes (31)
Monopolizing Fortunes (31)
The next place Do Tong-dal's steps took him was the magistrate's office. As always, Do Tong-dal walked deep into the government office without any hindrance.
Half a ke after he entered the reception room, Yang Su-pan appeared.
"I heard you came back alive. I've been expecting you any day now, and here you are today."
"I had urgent matters to deal with, so I'm a little late."
"A busy gangster with official duties would be occupied. But there's something I can't help asking about. Who's that?"
Yang Su-pan pointed at Namgung Seol-rin with his chin.
"She's the one who did this to my arm."
Wrinkles formed between Yang Su-pan's brows. It was the most common reaction when people heard Do Tong-dal's story.
But the words that came out of Yang Su-pan's mouth could never be common.
"If you want, I could have her given a hundred strokes of the cudgel and locked up in prison for about ten years."
Namgung Seol-rin's eyes wavered uneasily. She had felt uneasy from the moment she entered the government office.
It was an unwritten rule that the martial world and the government did not interfere with each other, like stream water and well water.
As a martial artist, Namgung Seol-rin had never once been to a place like a government office. Just meeting an official made her skin crawl.
And not only had she met not just any official but a county magistrate, but dreadful words had come out of that magistrate's mouth.
'Just how far did Do Tong-dal's connections reach, and why did people care for him so much?'
Namgung Seol-rin acknowledged Do Tong-dal in her own way, but people's consistent reactions were still a mystery to her.
"I'm being punished by becoming his arm."
"Does he wipe your ass too?"
Seeing that gangsters and magistrates said the same thing, people were all similar regardless of rank.
"Envelope."
Namgung Seol-rin, belatedly realizing the words were directed at her, took the envelope containing the promissory notes from her bosom.
"It's a bribe from the Gangseon Merchant Company."
"I thought you were managing all of it?"
"This money has to be delivered by you personally."
Surprise rose on Yang Su-pan's face after checking the envelope's contents. Yang Su-pan, hastily composing his expression, asked.
"Th-this money, who am I supposed to give it to? It's clearly my money. My money."
Yang Su-pan clearly said "my money."
"You've heard that a new Provincial Vice Commissioner has been appointed to Zhejiang Province, right?"
"Jeon Su-bang is a kite with a snapped string. Seeing that he kept his junior third rank even after falling out of the emperor's favor, he must have handled himself well until now."
"Give that money to Jeon Su-bang."
"Did you not understand what I said about a connection whose string has snapped? They say he's the second-in-command of Zhejiang Province, but it's just an honorary post! He's the type to idle around with nothing to do and then quit his office!"
"He's not someone who'll end like that."
"How do you know that?"
"That's what his features told me."
Yang Su-pan made a dumbfounded expression, then soon let out a sigh.
"Have you ever seen Jeon Su-bang?"
"He came to Cheonsangru last night."
"How was he?"
"That severely narrow space between his brows was driving his fortune away."
"That's exactly what I wanted to say! I read faces a bit too, and it's a miracle he rose to junior third rank with that face! A miracle!"
"Of course, the eyes are like that. But the nose with round nostrils and the thick, drooping earlobes were truly the features of a heaven-sent person. If only his eyes had been ordinary...... I won't say what comes after."
Yang Su-pan shouted in a burst of anger.
"You're telling me to throw away five hundred nyang of silver over a single face reading!"
"It's not just a face reading—it's buying your advancement for a mere five hundred nyang. Of course, it's the magistrate's money, so how you spend it is up to you. But if it were me, I'd write it off as nonexistent and invest five hundred nyang in Jeon Su-bang."
"Five hundred nyang is right here. How do I write it off as nonexistent?"
Do Tong-dal sprang to his feet.
"That man really won't listen! Do you think I'm doing this for my own good? If I give that man five hundred nyang, do you think even a single coin will fall into my pocket?"
"That's exactly why I can't understand it!"
"If you can't understand, then just trust me!"
He had no choice but to push through by force. That said, he couldn't exactly spin a tale like, "I know because I've lived a past life......."
The two engaged in a fiery staring contest. To anyone watching, they looked ready to throw punches at each other at any moment.
Namgung Seol-rin had a practical worry: 'If Do Tong-dal tells me to hit Yang Su-pan, should I hit him?'
"You're saying I should trust you?"
"Have you ever lost out by listening to me?"
"I haven't gained anything particularly big either."
"To say that with five hundred nyang of silver sitting in front of you."
"Well, I do have to acknowledge your skill at extorting bribes. Even in Beijing, officials who can receive five hundred nyang are few enough to count on one hand."
"You'll become one of those few officials in the future."
"Hah—! Five hundred nyang of silver is money an ordinary person could live in comfort on for a lifetime......."
"The magistrate isn't an ordinary person."
"No matter how special I am, five hundred nyang is......."
"Are you giving it or not!"
"I'll give it! I said I'll give it! Damn it!"
"You can't take out even one nyang."
Judging by his flinch, he had apparently been thinking of reducing it by about a hundred nyang.
"Fine."
"And a fixed amount of the magistrate's money will be sent to Jeon Su-bang every month without fail."
"You're giving even more from here?"
"If you don't want it to rust, you have to keep oiling it. Ugh—!"
"Why the sudden sigh?"
"Because I wonder why I'm going this far. It's only the magistrate who benefits."
"It won't only be me who benefits. If you help my advancement, do you think I'd forget it?"
Do Tong-dal narrowed his eyes and looked at Yang Su-pan.
"It seems you've already forgotten that I saved your life?"
Yang Su-pan rubbed his left chest.
"It's engraved here. That's why my chest aches every time I see you. Hehehe......."
"The mistress of Cheonsangru said she'd reserve a spot, so go right after you leave work today."
"Got it. Got it."
After securing Yang Su-pan's promise, Do Tong-dal left the government office after asking him to lend some support to the Gangseon Merchant Company.
"Hey, My Arm."
When Namgung Seol-rin, who was following, didn't respond, he turned his head. She was following along right behind him.
"Why aren't you answering?"
"Huh? Did you call me?"
"I just called you 'My Arm.' You're my arm, so your name is My Arm."
It was a ridiculous and humiliating name, but she had no choice but to accept it.
"Understood."
"Last time, you kidnapped me and took me to the mountain. How did you do it?"
"I knocked you unconscious and took you."
"That simply?"
"That simply."
"Can you do it again?"
"A hundred times over."
"This time, you thought you'd just kill me, didn't you?"
"......."
"In a little while, we're going to kidnap one person."
"Is he strong?"
"By your standards, he's weak."
"What's the reason for kidnapping him?"
"Does an arm ask things like that?"
"I apologize."
"Don't think. I'll do the thinking."
* * *
Wang Chil, who had received twenty nyang of silver, wore a bewildered expression.
"Tong-dal, what's this?"
"Entertainment expenses."
"Entertainment expenses?"
"You said to buy drinks for someone you like."
"You mean buy them for you? It'd be nice if Jin-ho joined too. And......."
"Boss."
"I know. No matter how dull I am, do you think I don't know why you're giving me this money? But just thinking about drinking with the headquarters people makes me break out in hives."
Politics isn't something just anyone can do.
"You have to endure that to rise to a high position."
Wang Chil sighed as if the ground were caving in.
"Living thin and long really was more comfortable."
"You have to think about the brothers lined up above you too."
Wang Chil's name wasn't Wang Chil for nothing. His eldest brother's name was Wang Il, and his second brother was Wang I.
Seeing that their third older sister was named Wang Sam, one could guess at their parents' simple clarity.
"There are two below me as well."
"It'd be nice if the family prospered thanks to you, Boss."
"Fine."
"Get some help from Elder Han."
"That old man is at least comfortable to be around. But where did this money come from?"
"It's a bribe that came in to the magistrate."
"Huh? C-can you just use that as you please?"
"As long as I don't get caught."
* * *
Something was definitely off about Jang Baek-dong. In the expressions of those looking at him, unease could be felt, and he also showed something like guilt.
Even mastering only the early part of the Mind-Reading Art allowed one to know that much precisely. Moreover, Jang Baek-dong was an easy person to read.
'That bastard seems to be up to something.'
It wasn't that he was uncomfortable with Jang Jeong-baek like the other subordinates in the branch; it was the face of someone scheming something.
The reason Do Tong-dal came to mind was probably because Jang Baek-dong was close with Do Tong-dal. Do Tong-dal had no reason to harm Jang Jeong-baek.
'No, no. That guy isn't someone to trust.'
As he mastered the Mind-Reading Art, he even remembered the meanings of the expressions people had worn in the past when dealing with him.
Do Tong-dal was a sinister bastard. He was smiling, but hostility showed in the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, the tips of his lips, in a single gesture.
Of course, since it was a memory of the past, it might not be accurate, but there was no harm in being careful.
"I'll have to crush that bastard Jang Baek-dong."
With no proper charges, there was naturally no evidence either. But gangsters didn't need that sort of thing.
If he grabbed him and questioned him, something would turn up. Jang Jeong-baek sent a subordinate to summon Jang Baek-dong.
But even after waiting one ke, Jang Baek-dong didn't come up.
"Why isn't that bastard Baek-dong coming!"
A subordinate who appeared a moment later spoke with a bewildered expression.
"They say Baek-dong went out."
"What? I summoned him?"
"They say he left because something more urgent came up at Hwangha Pleasure House."
"Did this bastard eat rat poison! Bring him here right now! No, I'll go myself."
It was merely a single refusal of his summons, but suspicion turned into certainty.
'Once I master the Mind-Reading Art, I can see everything!'
Jang Jeong-baek grabbed two daggers and headed for Hwangha Pleasure House. After walking along the main road for about one ke and passing through maze-like alleys, Hwangha Pleasure House came into view.
Jang Jeong-baek walked through the alley with quick steps. Turning a corner that bent to the left, Jang Jeong-baek stopped dead in his tracks.
One jang ahead stood Do Tong-dal. Do Tong-dal, with both arms hanging limp, was smiling.
It was a triumphant expression that said, 'It went just as expected.' And from the other side of the alley, Jang Baek-dong appeared with an uneasy face.
"Can I stop going to Hwangha Pleasure House now?"
At Jang Baek-dong's question, Do Tong-dal nodded.
"We've caught the fish, so the fishing rod is no longer needed."
It was a trap. If it was a trap enough for Do Tong-dal to wear such a confident expression, it was extremely dangerous.
Jang Jeong-baek spun around in haste, but he couldn't move a single step. Not even one jang away stood a masked figure.
"Who......?"
The figure was so fast that he hadn't even noticed them approaching. Something flashed, the world spun round and round, and soon he lost consciousness.
When Jang Jeong-baek came to, the first thing he felt was thick, muggy dampness. The light was being cast by a torch stuck in the wall.
'A basement?'
He understood the space, and soon he understood the state of his body as well. His hands bound in iron chains, he was dangling in midair.
Do Tong-dal revealed himself in his field of vision. He was smiling, but no goodwill could be read in it.
The unease creeping in soon rose to the top of his head.
"Wh-why are you doing this to me?"
"You've done a lot of bad things all this time. I'm just doing what someone would have done eventually."
"Punishment? Don't make me laugh! Do you think you'll be safe after daring to do this to me! When I get out, I'll tear you to shreds and kill you!"
The threats didn't work at all.
"When you get out? You think you can get out? How naive."
"Y-you're going to kill me? Why on earth?"
"There's a saying: a person may be without sin, but possessing treasure is a sin. You have plenty of sins, and on top of that you even possess treasure, so you have more than enough reasons to die."
"Y-you...... don't tell me......!"
"If you hand over the Mind-Reading Art, you can die without pain. The Mind-Reading Art—you've learned a bit of it, right? Look at my face. Do I look like I'm lying?"
He was sincere. That bastard was sincerely trying to kill him. Saliva dripped from his trembling jaw, but Jang Jeong-baek didn't even feel it.
"Where is the Mind-Reading Art?"
"Wh-what are you talking about? I don't know what the Mind-Reading Art is."
"The Mind-Reading Art may teach you how to read other people's minds, but it seems it doesn't teach you how to hide your own. Well, you've probably only just learned a little of the beginning."
It seemed the one who could read minds wasn't Jang Jeong-baek but Do Tong-dal.
"Fine. It seems you have no intention of speaking willingly."
Do Tong-dal disappeared from view. And the one who took the spot where Do Tong-dal had stood was the masked figure.
The figure with a shaved-bald head and a white mask with only eye holes cut out was all the more unsettling because their face couldn't be seen.
Do Tong-dal's voice came from behind.
"Give him one ke. Make him talk within that time."
* * *