Chapter 150: I Will Approach My Duties with Seriousness
Won Seung returned home to find Im Cho-ye greeting him.
"Uncle Gi has woken up."
Gi Seung-gyo's injuries had been relatively lighter, so he'd come around first.
Won Seung went with Im Cho-ye to see him. Gi Seung-gyo had his upper body wrapped so tightly in bandages that he looked twice his normal size.
Spotting Won Seung, Gi Seung-gyo spoke in a somber tone.
"I've indebted myself to you again."
"Don't sweat it. I treated you for Cho-ye's sake."
Gi Seung-gyo glanced back and forth between Im Cho-ye and Won Seung before saying,
"Miss Cho-ye is still young."
Ah, seriously. What the hell is he thinking?
"Cho-ye, could you grab some porridge?"
Once Im Cho-ye had stepped out, Won Seung asked,
"What happened?"
Gi Seung-gyo didn't answer right away. Instead, he eyed Jin Eok-so, who lay on the bed opposite.
"That one's wounds run deep."
"……."
Gi Seung-gyo looked around the room.
"How did I get here?"
"You walked in on your own two feet. Even carried that guy on your back."
"……."
Gi Seung-gyo scanned the surroundings again.
"No sword. We came empty-handed."
He furrowed his brow, lost in thought. His memories seemed fuzzy.
Just then, Im Cho-ye returned with the porridge.
"Rest up. You barely escaped with your life—what kind of sense do you have right now?"
Won Seung, fresh from his nighttime outing, needed sleep himself.
He retreated to his room for a nap. When he emerged, it was already the hour of the horse. Jin Eok-so was awake by then too.
The Bi Sword Sect's servants are known for their reticence.
Gi Seung-gyo wasn't much of a talker, but Jin Eok-so was a true clam.
"I've incurred a debt."
That was all he said. To Won Seung, it rang like a solemn vow to repay it.
Two days later, a messenger arrived from the Ministry of Justice bearing an official hat, robe, and appointment scroll. He instructed Won Seung to report for duty in three days.
Won Seung headed to a tailor in Samya County to have several sets of official robes made. The state-issued ones used cheap fabric, and hardly anyone wore them. To save face, officials shelled out their own coin for fine materials.
After placing his order, he made for Hwapyung Guest House. Jang Chunsam, the owner and Hao Men eastern branch head, shared a tangled history with him. Won Seung had hoped to smooth over their bad blood, but instead got stabbed in the back. It wasn't incomprehensible, but retribution was due. Skip it, and he'd look like a fool.
Hwapyung Guest House sat in the boonies of Samya County, but it lay on the main route from the east to the imperial capital, so it bustled with travelers. Not now, though—the morning rush was over, and lunch was still hours away. Dead hour.
"Haha, I figured you'd make it through alive."
Jang Chunsam was a bit short but plump all over, his round head included.
"Brother Chunsam, mind if we chat somewhere quiet?"
Wariness flickered across Jang Chunsam's face. Guilt, no doubt. He hadn't expected Won Seung to come back in one piece.
"What're you on about? It's plenty quiet here, as you can see."
"Got something for you. But not with eyes on us."
Won Seung smiled, but Jang Chunsam was already edging back, eyes flicking to the staff around the room—Boys, get ready.
Won Seung launched himself forward.
Thwack!
He thrust out his right index and middle fingers for the eyes. Jang Chunsam's arms shot up to block, and in that split second, Won Seung kneed his shin. He'd learned through experience that martial artists hated leg strikes.
"Urk!"
Jang Chunsam grunted but swung a wild haymaker anyway. Won Seung slipped aside and cracked him clean across the back of the skull.
"This is how you hit the nape."
Jang Chunsam crumpled face-first. The errand boys startled, drawing hidden blades from here and there. But they knew Won Seung's prowess—no reckless charges.
Won Seung raised a hand to calm them.
"Easy now. Don't want you lot hurt too. I'll wrap this up quiet and go."
He toed the fallen man over with his foot.
Gurgle...
Froth bubbled from Jang Chunsam's mouth. Won Seung fished a pill from his sleeve and popped it right in.
Even dazed, Jang Chunsam chewed and swallowed.
Won Seung grinned wickedly at the staff.
"Oops. I just dropped a pill, and wouldn't you know—Brother Chunsam scarfed it down?"
The boys' eyes darted frantically between him and their boss.
"What kind of pill is that?"
"Aw, heck. It's got a nasty kick... What now?"
Won Seung pulled a white vial from his bosom and tossed it to one boy.
"Tell him one a month, whenever the bloody stools hit. Skip it, and he'll bleed out and wither dry."
The boy peered in—three pills.
"Cured in three months?"
Won Seung flashed pearly whites.
"Fat chance. He'll be shitting blood till he drops."
Won Seung rose at dawn, dressed sharp, and mounted up. First day on the job.
"Cho-ye, take care. Look after the patients."
"When you come back..."
"Got it. I'll grab some tanghulu."
He spurred his horse lightly. Crisp morning commute. Reaching the outer walls, he spotted gate guards checking papers.
Behind them loomed the gate captain, barking orders—a rare sight.
Won Seung dismounted, leading his horse through the gate. The captain, out on patrol, noticed the official-robed rider on foot and approached.
Won Seung flashed his badge to the gate sentry. The captain took it, checked, and nodded.
"Ministry man, eh."
"Investigator."
The captain sized him up. Too young for an investigator, maybe.
Fresh greenhorn.
Horsemen and palanquin riders dismounted for checks at the gate, but officials rarely bothered. Won Seung doing so felt novel.
Handing back the badge, the captain felt something slip into his palm.
Silver. A hefty ingot.
Surprised inwardly, he caught Won Seung's eye and heard,
"Captain, I'm Investigator Joo Neung of the Ministry. First day, so I dismounted for the check. But I'll be in and out often—can't do this every time. A little leeway?"
"Ah..."
The captain beamed inside. Same rank 7th grade as him, outer gate captain, but Ministry investigators got deference—search and probe powers made folks wary. This kid had spotted it quick; likeable.
"No need. I'll tell the men."
"This is for me. Sharing first-day joy with you hard workers. How about drinks tonight? Bless my path ahead."
"Haha, young lord's got a generous heart. Impressive. Let's do it—Hwanyang Pavilion's our spot. Tonight?"
"New guy's schedule? Who knows. Later."
The more he heard, the fonder the captain grew.
"Fair enough. Come when you can. We'll use this silver then."
"Deal."
"Ma Kyung-un."
He gave his name.
"Lord Ma, I'll lean on you plenty."
Won Seung bowed politely and led his horse on.
Gate Captain Ma Kyung-un watched his back with a pleased smile.
Won Seung entered the Ministry's front gate and headed for a building marked Illumination Hall. The door guard demanded his badge.
"The hall master awaits. This way."
Following the guard inside revealed a spacious courtyard, main hall ahead, annexes flanking.
The guard handed him off at the main hall's entrance sentry, who said wait—then enter.
One man sat at the dais desk; two stood beside.
The seated man, long-faced with neat beard, beckoned Won Seung and scanned him top to bottom.
"You're Joo Neung? Younger than expected. Investigators stand at the forefront upholding the law. Can you handle it earnestly?"
"I will approach my duties with seriousness."
"Good. You're under the Six Divisions. Gold Division guard?"
One of the standees stepped forward.
"Take him."
The Gold Division guard saluted the hall master and led Won Seung out.
"I'm Gold Hyung-cheol of the Six Divisions guard. Your direct superior. Follow."
Gold Hyung-cheol guided him from Illumination Hall.
"Rode in?"
"Yes."
"Fetch it."
Won Seung retrieved his horse. Riding abreast, Gold Hyung-cheol explained.
"For convenience, Four through Six Divisions work at the outer Illumination Annex."
Illumination Hall covered all Six: One handled imperial kin; Two and Three, official corruption. Four and Five oversaw the outer walls; Six, all villages beyond.
Outer walls made sense. Won Seung didn't mind—no big loss missing inner hall access. Outer spot eased commutes and side gigs.
The annex sat amid outer offices. Gold Hyung-cheol took him to the Six Division office, sat sternly, and lectured.
"Heard you're from Samya County detectives. You know the job... Under me, one rule: caught taking bribes, you die."
"Guard, no worries there. My hands are clean."
Won Seung showed his palms confidently. Gold Hyung-cheol nodded and called out. Moments later, a scholarly type entered—narrow eyes, sharp jaw, pale.
"Silver Chief Investigator, meet rookie Investigator Joo Neung. Brief him."
Won Seung was passed to Chief Investigator Eun Bang-seo of the Six.
Eun Bang-seo led him down a hall and shoved open a door.
Three desks inside; a small side table.
"Your room. Reports must say Six Division Room 7."
Eun Bang-seo sat at the side table, face sour, hiding nothing.
"I hate special hires. Drops from above are hopeless incompetents. Insult to us rank-and-file."
He trashed Won Seung's appointment outright.
"Yesterday's couldn't even recite the Criminal Code. That was your Samya boss, right? If superiors are trash, no point asking you."
"Pardon?"
Won Seung blinked. Mu Gi-an a Ministry investigator? Same Six Division?
Eun Bang-seo said coldly,
"Memorize the Criminal Code first. Work after."
"I've already done so."
The Criminal Code was a thick tome covering laws, crimes, penalties. Won Seung hadn't been long in Samya detectives, but he'd committed it to memory.