Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: All Riddles Solved (2)
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#092: All Riddles Solved (2)
The next day.
I gathered everyone who lived in the house with the deceased, as well as the nearby neighbors.
“Ahem.”
Once all the preparations were complete, I stepped forward, and the eyes of everyone gathered in the inner courtyard simultaneously fixed on me.
“Is everyone here?”
“Yes. We brought every single one of them.”
“Good work.”
Woo Je-jun quietly approached and asked.
“You said the riddle was solved. Do you know who the culprit is? No matter how much I think about it, I just can’t figure it out.”
“Just wait. I’ll make him confess soon enough.”
Honestly, in a situation like this, identifying the culprit is indeed a difficult task.
But to me, whose intuition could rival the gods, it was crystal clear.
When I visited the household yesterday, I saw a flicker of anxiety in the eyes of a worker sitting in a corner.
Was that all it took to solve the riddle?
Of course.
In a world without CCTV, let alone fingerprint analysis, what other investigative method is there besides intuition?
If anything, my method could be considered scientific.
Given the hardcore nature of the martial world, when an incident occurred, it was common to round up all suspects and beat a confession out of them.
But I, with my modern mindset, couldn't resort to such methods.
‘This isn't some military junta.’
I created this setting to get a confession from the culprit in the most democratic and scientific way possible.
With that in mind, as soon as I sat on the chair placed on the makeshift stage, I shouted.
“The culprit is in this room!”
*Gasp!*
At my words, several people gasped as if their souls were leaving their bodies.
“Ugh.”
“Mother! Get a hold of yourself!”
“M-Mother!”
Old Man Jo’s elderly wife clutched her heart, foamed at the mouth, and collapsed.
That... was not what I intended.
After the commotion subsided.
Only after the old woman regained consciousness did the real interrogation begin.
One by one, they came up to the stage and spoke with me in front of everyone.
An interrogation conducted in plain view of all.
I had one goal.
“So, you were in the guild, but you didn't see anyone. Is that correct?”
“That is correct.”
“Then where was that servant sitting over there? No, not that one, the one who looks blatantly vicious.”
The eldest son followed my gaze, identified the man, and said.
“Do you mean So-dong? Why are you suddenly asking about him…?”
“So his name is So-dong. I just asked because there’s something I want to know.”
“At the time of the incident, he would have been working at the house.”
“Meaning he was in the same space as the deceased, Old Man Jo.”
“Yes.”
“I see. You may return to your seat.”
The interrogations continued, and each time, I asked about the man.
“That worker, So-dong. What’s his usual conduct like? Has he ever shown a violent side?”
“Doesn’t that guy look like a cattle thief?”
“Has that guy been frequenting gambling dens lately, or…”
I spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
The man began to tremble, his eyes darting around nervously.
Just in case he tried to take a hostage, I sent a mental message to Woo Je-jun, telling him to maintain a tight perimeter.
After more than four hours, it was finally his turn to be interrogated.
Looking at him up close, his eyes had a truly vulgar look; he had the face of a criminal.
‘I was right on the money.’
However, it is better to let ten guilty men go free than to punish one innocent person.
I began the interrogation as cautiously as possible.
“Be honest. You killed him, didn't you?”
“Heavens, no! That’s an outrageous accusation! For me to kill the master!”
“Then prove you didn't.”
“…”
“See? You are the culprit. What are you waiting for? Drag this damn murderer to the dungeon. How dare you commit murder in Nine Dragons Fortress? You, bastard, you’re dead.”
“N-No! I’m truly innocent!”
“Then talk.”
“W-Well, that is…”
The man’s eyes started darting back and forth.
It was as clear as day.
He was trying to figure out a way to get out of this and then bolt.
But even a criminal certain to be executed deserves a final plea.
I decided to give him time, thinking I might as well hear him out.
Finally, So-dong began to mutter in a very small voice.
As if he only wanted me to hear.
“The… the master was dealing in illicit salt. He was surely killed by those salt smugglers.”
Illicit salt? Why is that coming up all of a sudden?
“What kind of men are they?”
“…”
“Wouldn’t it be better to talk before I throw you in the dungeon? If you go in now, you won’t come out until your execution day.”
Terrified, the man continued.
“They’re called the Blood Salt Gang.”
“So a man who seemed quite wealthy was trading in illicit salt…”
Hearing it, it sounded plausible.
The Jo Family Guild primarily dealt in salt.
By trading in cheap, illicit salt, they could make several times the profit.
Perhaps Old Man Jo’s fortune was built on this illicit trade.
However, illicit salt was one of the items banned in Nine Dragons Fortress.
To be precise, illicit salt was banned no matter where you went among the Five Hegemons of the World.
The salt tax was a solid source of income for each faction.
The same was true for Nine Dragons Fortress, which was famous for its low taxes.
As a result, getting caught selling illicit salt in Nine Dragons Fortress meant summary execution.
If So-dong’s testimony was true, it was highly likely that Old Man Jo was killed after a dispute with the Blood Salt Gang.
Men who weren't afraid to trade illicit salt under the nose of the great Nine Dragons Fortress wouldn't think twice about killing a single person.
Of course, that didn't answer all the questions.
First.
“How do you know about this Blood Salt Gang?”
It was strange that a mere worker would know about salt smugglers, who were said to be extremely secretive.
“Th-They approached me first. They said they’d give me money if I introduced them to the master…”
“Where?”
“We met at a gambling den across Heuksa Road.”
Second, on what grounds did he connect Old Man Jo’s death to the Blood Salt Gang?
“How can you be so sure the Blood Salt Gang killed Old Man Jo?”
“Recently, after returning from a deal, the master was overjoyed. He said my contribution was great and gave me some silver.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know the specifics, but he said he earned ten thousand silver taels thanks to me and that if I followed him, I’d live in luxury. He also said the deal wasn't finalized yet, so it had to be a secret.”
“Then why did Old Man Jo die?”
“Th-That I do not know.”
That was a sum worth over ten billion in modern currency.
It was most likely the amount he would receive for selling the guild, but the problem was that the guild's value, even at a generous estimate, wouldn't exceed four thousand silver taels.
‘They paid an extra seven thousand for something worth four?’
Moreover, the ones trying to buy out Old Man Jo were salt smugglers who would risk their lives for a single coin.
They wouldn't do something that would cost them this much money.
In other words.
‘For some reason, the deal went south. Or Old Man Jo found out a secret he shouldn't have.’
Something was fishy.
“Names?”
“Pardon?”
“Give me any name you know.”
“I-I heard the name Im Go-san.”
I immediately sent a mental message to Ha Jin-hyeong, telling him to check the entry logs.
He went into the headquarters and came out a short while later.
“His name is in the entry records from ten days ago. He was registered as an apothecary on the log.”
This meant the man wasn't lying.
“Where are they?”
At my question, So-dong’s eyes darted around again.
He was clearly hoping I'd erase his crimes in exchange for information.
“You want me to just kill you right now?”
“Eek! L-Last I heard, they were staying at the Misan Inn on Taeryong Road.”
As soon as I heard that, I gave an order to Woo Je-jun.
“Lock this man up and send the rest home. Call back all the men on patrol and have them head to the Misan Inn… No. I’ll go to the Misan Inn myself. Have the men on standby at headquarters.”
I immediately unleashed the Flying Heavenly Wind and sprinted toward Taeryong Road.
After about thirty minutes of leaping over walls and rooftops.
When I arrived at the Misan Inn, the owner, Gwak Sam, rushed out barefoot to greet me.
“Well, if it isn’t the hero of the Outer Hall…”
I cut him off and asked.
“By any chance, did a rough-looking group rent a room recently?”
“Ah, there was, but they left at dawn yesterday.”
Meaning they left right after committing the murder.
“Did they leave anything behind?”
“They left some salt in the cart they brought. I’m keeping it in case they come back for it later.”
“Where is it?”
Gwak Sam brought out a sack of salt.
*Rip.*
I quickly opened the sack and checked its contents.
It was sun-dried salt, as white as could be.
It was clearly high-quality salt.
‘Just as I thought.’
Seeing it, I was certain.
“This is illicit salt. Keep it for now, but hand it over to my men when they arrive.”
“Gasp!”
Leaving Gwak Sam, who was freaking out at the mention of illicit salt, I once again used the Flying Heavenly Wind.
My destination was the Two Immortals Gang.
I needed to ask Yong Ma-san for help.
A moment later.
As I landed in the middle of the Two Immortals Gang’s inner courtyard, the members rushed out, drawing their weapons. The Vice Leader, recognizing me, tilted his head and asked.
“Squad Leader Jin? Why didn’t you come through the main gate…?”
“I’ll explain later. For now, I need to see your leader.”
It was rude, no matter our connection.
But I was out of time.
Since they had left Nine Dragons Fortress yesterday, I needed to find them as quickly as possible.
Perhaps sensing my urgency, the Vice Leader, despite his uncomfortable expression, led the way.
“Hmm, I understand. Please follow me.”
I followed him into the leader’s office, where Yong Ma-san was seated.
“You usually don’t care about the Outer Hall’s affairs. Is there a need to be so hasty over a single murder case?”
As expected, Yong Ma-san knew why I had come.
“Or have you suddenly developed a desire for a promotion?”
“I smell something.”
“What do you smell?”
“The smell of something that isn't a simple matter.”
“Why do you think so?”
I explained about the salt I had just seen at the Misan Inn.
“There’s no way illicit salt would be of such high quality, is there?”
That was right.
Illicit salt, by its very nature, was illegal to produce.
Making it had become even more difficult since the authorities cracking down had shifted from the government to the local martial factions.
Thus, most of what was called illicit salt was either rock salt mined from mountains or salt made by boiling seawater.
In other words, it couldn't possibly be clean, sun-dried salt like the one I saw at the Misan Inn.
“So they aren’t salt smugglers.”
“We should see them as a suspicious group disguised as salt smugglers.”
Yong Ma-san nodded and held out his hand.
“Give me thirty nyang.”
“…Between us?”
“And what kind of relationship do we have?”
“We’re family.”
“If you’re just going to spout nonsense, please leave.”
“We eat together every morning and evening. We’re family.”
“You weren’t eating for free.”
“Th-Then let’s count it as payment for the meals. I’ll lower the price from two nyang to one.”
That was better than paying out of my own pocket right now.
“I don’t need it.”
Yong Ma-san said with a slightly forlorn expression.
“I won’t be going for meals anymore.”
“What? Why all of a sudden?”
“I have my reasons.”
The shock of losing my meal ticket hit me like a ton of bricks.
As I stood there in a daze, Yong Ma-san pressed me.
“So, what will it be?”
Right now, catching those bastards was more important than getting my meal ticket back, so I had no choice but to hand over the thirty nyang.
“Fine. I’ll give it to you, so find them right now.”
“Understood.”
I’ll just have to expense it later.