A Week of Frustration
“What did you say? The lieutenant’s support? Just four lieutenants arriving?”
Thud!
The lord of Dongye, Marquis Samro, slammed his fist on the desk in a fit of rage.
“Lord, please calm yourself.”
“What? Am I supposed to stay calm right now? Does the National Academy actually intend to help Dongye? What the hell are four brats supposed to do?”
“Even so, their credentials are formidable. Three hail from the Ahrirang clan and one is a direct disciple of His Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Ah… I see. Very well, then.”
A flustered aide rushed to soothe his lord, words spilling out in a torrent.
The moment the aide mentioned the Ahrirang clan and the Grand Duke, Samro’s fist halted its descent.
And then, as if nothing had happened, he broke into a wide smile.
“Hold on. No… but if something happens to the man sent by His Highness the Grand Duke…”
Boom! Boom!
Samro, who had only a vague memory of Crow’s Duck’s old temper, slammed his desk again in fury.
“Dongye will be wiped from the map that very day! A city-wide panic because one kidnapper was caught? Are you out of your mind?”
Although Samro’s emotions shifted dozens of times a day, his aide had served him for years and knew exactly how to handle the volatile man.
“My lord, he is none other than a direct disciple of His Highness the Grand Duke. Surely such a thing won’t happen? We won’t be capturing anyone ourselves—just a routine investigation and assistance. Nothing will go wrong. Please calm yourself.”
“Hmm… I suppose you’re right.”
His mood swung from fury to resignation in an instant—utterly unpredictable.
* * *
Requests issued by the National Academy spanned every conceivable category.
From simple tasks that even a child could handle, such as shearing wool, to high-stakes missions where the lives of agents might be threatened by vicious criminals.
The job we had accepted was of the latter sort.
We were to investigate a string of mysterious disappearances unfolding in Dongye, the third city of the Dongwang Kingdom.
Screeech! Clank!
The carriage jolted violently.
A wheel had sunk into a sharp stone jutting from the roadside.
Teraden, whose head had struck the ceiling, rubbed the sore spot and let out a deep sigh.
“How long is this going to take? At this speed, the crime will be solved before we even arrive.”
“It won’t happen. We’ve been rushing so much that we can afford to go a little slower this time, can’t we?”
“No way. We need to find the culprit and save the victims as fast as possible. My whole body is itching.”
Squeak.
Teraden shook his head, opened the window, and poked his head out to hail the driver.
“Hey, driver!”
“Yes, young master!”
“I’m sorry, but could you possibly pick up the pace?”
Had he bent his fingers into a circle as if offering extra pay?
The driver gave no clear reply, but Teraden grinned and reached into his pouch.
“You should have said so earlier.”
Teraden flicked a glistening silver coin with his finger.
“How about three silver coins?”
“Y-yes?”
“Take us to Dongye as fast as possible and I’ll give you three silver coins.”
The driver’s Adam’s apple bobbed audibly at the sight of the tempting coins.
“Y-yes, of course! I’ll escort you right away!”
Hiss! Hiss!
The driver’s whip cracked again and again, and the horses broke into a wild gallop, hooves pounding the earth.
“That’s it! This is the way!”
A flush of color finally returned to Teraden’s face as he clenched his fists.
* * *
We reached Dongye seven full days after leaving the National Academy.
The merciless midday sun and the incessant buzzing of insects had left us looking like beggars by the time we arrived.
So that same day, exhausted, we took a room at an inn under the escort of the garrison and collapsed into bed.
The following morning, shortly after lunch, a man from the garrison came to find us.
“Good afternoon, everyone. I am Yebaek, captain of the garrison assigned to accompany you during your stay in Dongye.”
Yebaek seated himself where I had gestured and began to brief us on the case.
“The first report came roughly two weeks ago. The initial incident was probably a little earlier than that. No evidence has been found yet, so we’re having a difficult time.”
After listening to the basic information and organizing my thoughts, I asked the questions that mattered.
“Do the missing people share any common trait?”
“Not really. If I had to pick one, they’re all young people of marriageable age. Beyond that, there’s nothing else. No distinction between male and female, and no confirmed connection between the victims.”
“So how many people have disappeared altogether?”
“Six in total. Four men and two women.”
“Six disappearances, and not a single trace left behind. That means either incredibly meticulous planning or a well-organized group. What do you think, Yebaek?”
While I listened quietly to the conversation, Teraden shrugged his shoulders.
“What’s there to think about? We’ll search everywhere, find them, and take them out.”
“Whoa! I agree with Teraden-nim!”
“I want to save those people as soon as possible!”
“Alright. First, let’s thoroughly examine the surroundings of Dongye. There might be some clue waiting to be found.”
“Understood. Right now Dongye is under a curfew after the hour of the ox, but I’ll make sure no inconvenience arises for your activities.”
“Thank you, Yebaek. Let’s start tonight, then.”
* * *
Five days passed in a blur.
During that time, we scoured every inch of Dongye’s outskirts yet found nothing.
“Today’s news is bad.”
The culprit had slipped away again, and another victim had been taken.
Teraden’s head was already red with fury at the sight of yet another empty water jug.
“Aaaaah!”
Crack! Crash!
The swearing Teraden kicked the leg of his chair.
The broken chair leg rolled away, smashing into nearby furniture, while the detached leg lay limp on the floor.
“What’s wrong here? The garrison is guarding the walls like iron, patrols are tight—how are they being kidnapped? Where are the missing people now?”
“Maybe we were looking in the wrong direction.”
“What are you talking about?”
Teraden strode forward and shook his shoulders hard.
“We’ve only searched the inner city and the nearby Shinhyun Mountains. We assumed the hideout would be outside because inside, no one could hide anyone. But what if the criminal’s lair is inside Dongye?”
“It’s impossible to hide people inside without them leaking out. They’d be discovered for sure. And how many buildings in Dongye could hold an entire garrison without being noticed?”
“If it’s not inside, they must have moved people through a hidden entrance connected to the outside. This time, instead of searching from outside, let’s wait inside.”
Yebaek’s eyes lit up as he slowly nodded at my words.
“That makes sense. It’s worth trying.”
“Yebaek, please ask the other members of the garrison if there are any hidden entrances in Dongye.”
“Yes, Lord Haru.”
There was no time left.
We could not wait for another victim.
That night, we divided into four teams and hid in strategic spots around Dongye.
Teraden to the north, Blanser to the west, Maru and Yebaek to the south, and me in the center.
After final preparations, we waited in our positions, alert to every sound.
I climbed onto the roof of the fortress, slightly east of my central position, where Dongye spread out below me like a miniature city.
Clink.
When I stepped onto the upturned tiles, they rang out in a clear, pleasant tone.
By the time the sun dipped low, the intense light had softened, replaced by a gentle breeze that caressed my skin.
The wind carried away the sweat that had stuck to me and rustled the long grass, almost as if it were patting my back and whispering, “Don’t be so tense.”
Though Dongye lacked the grandeur of the Imperial Capital, the scent of cooking rice and the warmth rising from within spoke of a city with its own distinct beauty.
If only such unfortunate events had not occurred, Dongye would have been a bustling place filled with the smell of people.
I turned my gaze from the familiar scene of Dongye and looked far into the distance at my companions.
Maru and Yebaek were faithfully fulfilling their duties, of course, and Blanser… he was doing well, but he seemed to be eating again at the worst possible moment. I would have to scold him later.
Teraden, on the other hand, was gleaming with alertness, scanning every direction as if his eyes were shooting out bright light.
He muttered something resembling a curse under his breath, so I knew he was on edge.
After some time, the tension finally eased and a yawn slipped out.
Ssshhick.
“Found you.”
A shadowy figure in a tattered black full-body robe shuffled into view.
I narrowed my eyes and lay low, pressing my face to the tiles in case I was discovered.
In this weather, dressed like that?
Anyone would think I was advertising myself as the kidnapper.
Of course, the man might not be the real criminal, but right now he was the most likely candidate.
It was summer, after all.
The dusk had not yet fully settled.
And yet he had already started moving?
This was not the cautious behavior I had expected from someone who had left no trace until now.
He could not be so sloppy with his own safety.
Had the success of the kidnappings dulled his vigilance? Or was he trying to lure us in?
Doesn’t matter either way.
I wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away.
I would keep watching for now.* * *
Meanwhile, a man sat on the outer wall of the fortress, watching the day unfold.
Holding the communication mirror, he briefly looked away from Haru and focused on the conversation.
“Yes, my lord. Nothing unusual so far. However, this request seems suspicious.”
Chik! Jijik!
“Then my help isn’t needed?”
“How could I ever trouble my lord? While suspicious, there is no sign that those people pose a great threat.”
“Understood. I entrust everything to you. Keep them under watch. Your words have me uneasy too. If you need help, summon me at any time. Take care of yourself.”
“Yes, my lord. Then…”
The moment the mirror went dark, Jubern placed it in his pouch and turned his gaze back toward Haru.
But the man he should have been watching was nowhere to be seen.