Chapter 256
Chapter 256
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 71
>Chapter Title: Mark (2)
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Yesterday,
and early this morning.
Before training began, Chief Supervisor Yuk Cheon-ho Cha Ho-seong had separately summoned Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak, members of the Heaven-Earth Society, and quietly informed them of the previous night's incident.
[What is the matter?]
[There's been a regrettable accident, so I called you. Last night, due to an unfortunate mishap, your society's cadet Mok Kyung-un was assassinated by an assailant while receiving treatment at the clinic.]
[Wh-what do you mean?]
Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak alike could not hide their bewilderment at the sudden news, like a bolt from the blue.
Who was Mok Kyung-un?
He was a monster who had surpassed the Wall at an age not even twenty.
They had already found it suspicious that such a monstrous liege had been injured and hospitalized, and now this—what on earth was going on?
[That can't be. Who would dare...]
[Seop Chun. Calm yourself.]
[Mu-yak, but...]
[Are you going to be rude to the supervisors?]
[...]
[I apologize. It's just that he's a comrade from the same society, so this news is too hard to believe.]
At Mong Mu-yak's words, Yuk Cheon-ho Cha Ho-seong spoke with a look of regret.
[The details are still under investigation, but the culprit seems to be a man named Beom Jeong, a minor official from the Western Depot. It appears he held a grudge and acted on it.]
[Beom... Jeong?]
Hearing that, Mong Mu-yak and Seop Chun recalled the eunuch from the Western Depot.
They didn't know his exact name, but they remembered his surname was Beom.
Did that mean he had done this over that incident?
Unable to contain his anger, Seop Chun asked.
[Where is that eunuch scum?]
[...I understand your feelings, but he is dead as well.]
[What??]
According to Yuk Cheon-ho Cha Ho-seong, this Beom Jeong was a eunuch serving Prince Jingqin, and not only did he commit the act out of personal grudge, but he even targeted Prince Jingqin himself when scolded for it.
As a result, he was subdued and killed by Ho Tae-gam, the head of the Western Depot.
'Damn it.'
The two were utterly dumbfounded.
It was impossible to accept that their monstrous liege had died so pathetically—not anyone else, of all people.
No, they could hardly believe he had been injured and hospitalized in the first place.
When they protested that something was off about that, Yuk Cheon-ho So Ye-rin had called them aside separately, bowed her head, and apologized.
It was this:
[This is all my fault. It happened because I failed to properly subdue Cadet Mok Kyung-un.]
'!?'
According to her, there had been a misunderstanding the night before, leading to a confrontation with Mok Kyung-un.
At those words, Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak were inwardly stunned.
Their liege Mok Kyung-un was a supreme expert who had surpassed the Wall.
For her to have sent someone like him to the clinic meant she was an even greater transcendent master.
'The Embroidered Uniform Guard's Yuk Cheon-ho is at that level?'
Yet to them, she said something incomprehensible.
[...I didn't defeat him and injure him.]
[What do you mean?]
[Cadet Mok Kyung-un possesses an astonishing martial talent I've never seen before. He momentarily reached a realm beyond my grasp, and in forcibly embodying that enlightenment, his body couldn't withstand it.]
What on earth did that mean?
They struggled to comprehend her words.
Reaching an unattainable realm, only for his body to fail under the strain—what did that signify?
In any case, it was clear that his confrontation with So Ye-rin had led to his hospitalization, and that was when the Western Depot eunuch Beom Jeong had seized the chance for revenge.
Having lost the liege they had chosen in such a futile manner, they could not hide their sense of emptiness.
Yet they could not abandon their mission just because their liege was dead.
Thus, they had to shake off this emptiness and resume their duties.
* * *
"You're handling things well even without me."
'M-my liege?'
Mong Mu-yak's eyes widened in shock.
This voice unmistakably belonged to his liege, Mok Kyung-un.
'You're alive?'
He had been shown the mutilated corpse and truly believed Mok Kyung-un was dead.
Hearing his voice now, he could not help but be astonished.
-Tatataatak!
Mok Kyung-un released the acupoints he had sealed on him.
With the mute acupoint unsealed, even the usually taciturn Mong Mu-yak unleashed a torrent of questions.
"What on earth happened? The Embroidered Uniform Guard supervisors said you were assassinated at the clinic by a Western Depot eunuch. They even showed a mutilated corpse.... Ah!"
Mong Mu-yak stopped mid-sentence.
The corpse had been so mangled it was unrecognizable.
At the time, he had thought it was done out of vengeful fury.
Shaking his head in disbelief, Mong Mu-yak continued.
"Did you deliberately pretend to be assassinated?"
"Yes."
"Then this face now?"
"Human skin mask."
Mong Mu-yak furrowed his brow, puzzled, and asked.
"Did you commission a craftsman separately?"
The human skin mask they had ordered was different from this.
Seeing it for the first time, he naturally had questions.
At his query, Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly and replied.
"No. This face is from a Western Depot Grand Eunuch."
"Pardon? What do you mean? Did you obtain a human skin mask of a Western Depot Grand Eunuch separately?"
"Not separately. It's his actual face."
'!!!!!'
At those words, Mong Mu-yak's expression froze rigid.
For a moment, he doubted his own ears.
'His actual face?'
What did that mean?
From the way he said it, it didn't sound like a mask modeled after the face—it sounded like he had peeled off the skin and was wearing it.
To him, Mok Kyung-un said nonchalantly.
"That's exactly what you're thinking. It's more efficient this way, and easier to use as a human skin mask."
"......"
Mong Mu-yak genuinely felt chills run down his spine.
He knew his liege thought differently from ordinary people, but he never imagined he would skin a living person and wear it.
The idea of peeling off real human skin might cross one's mind, but it was so repulsive that most never acted on it.
The fact that he could—and did—was truly terrifying.
Then Mok Kyung-un said.
"Anyway, it wasn't planned, but thanks to that eunuch Beom Jeong targeting me, I can move much more freely now."
"So what will you do?"
A human skin mask was a double-edged sword.
Wasn't a Western Depot Grand Eunuch someone who served Prince Jingqin?
Wearing the face of someone who interacted with so many people meant the risk of exposure was extremely high, no matter how good the acting.
"Now that I have more freedom of movement, I should gather information and explore various options."
"......Then you won't go to the underground Golden Prison?"
"I will."
"But officially, you're already dead...."
"I can switch to the face of someone who can enter the underground Golden Prison when the time comes."
"......"
Mong Mu-yak fell silent at Mok Kyung-un's clear answer.
But one concern lingered inescapably.
Using a living person's human skin mask ultimately required killing them.
If disappearances or deaths kept occurring in the palace as a result, the matter could escalate.
Cautiously, Mong Mu-yak voiced his opinion.
"My liege.... Just in case, but about changing faces...."
"The moment I descend to the underground Golden Prison will be the last time. Changing too often would obviously cause problems, so don't worry too much."
Fortunately, Mok Kyung-un was aware of his concern.
Grabbing Mong Mu-yak's hand, Mok Kyung-un pulled him to his feet and said.
"Seop Chun doesn't know, so please inform him of this."
"Understood."
"Then continue with the mission."
-Sruk!
With those words, Mok Kyung-un's figure vanished like mist.
Watching this, Mong Mu-yak stuck out his tongue and muttered.
"Of course."
There was no way this monster would die so pathetically.
* * *
Embroidered Uniform Guard's Six Selection Office.
The Six Selection Office was the investigative division, headed by Yuk Cheon-ho So Ye-rin.
The position assisting the head of this Six Selection Office was Cheon-ho, and the Six Selection Office's Cheon-ho was none other than the masked Embroidered Uniform Guard, Mara Hyeon.
It was late, but Mara Hyeon was reviewing documents.
With Yuk Cheon-ho So Ye-rin currently appointed as deputy chief supervisor for the Embroidered Uniform Guard selections and thus occupied, he had to handle the duties, leading to frequent all-nighters.
Especially today, due to the incidents at the Embroidered Uniform Guard clinic and Prince Jingqin's palace, he stayed late to organize the case records.
-Sususeuk!
He was in the midst of writing in the records.
-Knock knock!
Someone knocked on the office door.
Mara Hyeon paused his writing and looked up.
He hadn't sensed anyone approaching outside the office, yet someone knocked—this meant they could evade his senses.
'Yuk Cheon-ho?'
For a moment, he thought it might be Yuk Cheon-ho, but no.
Yuk Cheon-ho, as the head here, would enter without knocking.
Thus, Cheon-ho Mara Hyeon rose from his seat, eyes sharpening with caution.
Circulating his internal energy, he called out.
"Who is it?"
-......
No answer came.
Through the slits of his mask, Mara Hyeon's sharp eyes narrowed.
No presence, yet someone knocked.
And no response to his question.
What was the intent?
He slowly rose to assume a battle stance.
-Thud thud!
Footsteps echoed from the corridor outside the office.
The steps paced back and forth a few times before approaching right to the Six Selection Office door.
'What is this?'
There must be someone at the door who had knocked.
Yet even as these new footsteps reached the door, no conversation sounds followed.
-Knock knock!
The knocking resumed.
Cheon-ho Mara Hyeon spoke again.
"Who is it?"
His wariness was at its peak.
Then a voice came from outside.
-Mara Cheon-ho. I'm here on his orders.
'!?'
Mara Hyeon's eyes narrowed at the words.
He let out a soft breath and said.
"Come in."
-Kkiiik!
The door opened, revealing a middle-aged man in a blue uniform with a short goatee beard.
The blue uniform alone indicated he was an Embroidered Uniform Guard Cheon-ho, just like Mara Hyeon.
Seeing him, Mara Hyeon inwardly seethed with irritation.
'I told the Six Selection Office not to send people.'
He hadn't expected them to boldly send someone even to where "he" was.
No, perhaps they knew "he" was away for the Embroidered Uniform Guard selections, enabling such audacity.
Then the goateed Embroidered Uniform Guard Cheon-ho spoke.
"No matter how much you hate the sight of me, you can at least greet me, right?"
"I thought we agreed to meet only at contact points or his residence?"
"Quite the prickly attitude."
"......"
"I get you're wary of prying eyes, but Mara Cheon-ho.... You're in no position to nitpick or fuss over such things."
With that, the goateed Embroidered Uniform Guard Cheon-ho pointed a finger at Mara Hyeon's abdomen.
The meaning was clear.
It was the Gu Poison.
-Grip!
Hidden by the mask, Mara Hyeon ground his teeth.
If not for the Gu Poison addiction creating his weakness, he wouldn't suffer such humiliation.
Suppressing his anger, Mara Hyeon said.
"......Close the door."
"Hahaha. Yes, keep that compliant attitude. When you're the one in need, you must mind your behavior, Mara...."
Before he could finish.
-Thwack!
"Urk!"
-Thud!
The goateed Cheon-ho's eyes rolled back as he pitched forward and collapsed.
Behind him stood a middle-aged eunuch in red official robes, smiling faintly.
Mara Hyeon stared at the suddenly appeared eunuch in undisguised shock.
"Ho Gong-gong?"
The eunuch was none other than Ho Gong-gong, the Grand Eunuch of the Western Depot.
Why had the Western Depot's top eunuch suddenly appeared in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Six Selection Office?
And what was this sudden act?
As he puzzled over it.
"I was going to wait a moment, but no need after all. Mara Hyeon Cheon-ho."
'!?'
Mara Hyeon's pupils trembled at Ho Gong-gong's distinctive voice and speech.
'This voice?'
[End of Episode 71 Mark (2)]