Chapter 128
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Proper Discipline (3)
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"Why... why are you doing this to us...."
"Hmm... Just chalk it up to bad luck. It's simply because you're Ha Yu-ri's adjutant."
Park Chan-seok mumbled in a feeble voice, his head hung low.
".... What do I need to do?"
He'd probably given up on resisting after hearing he'd have to dope his wife with drugs and sell her off to outlaws.
I may have come on a bit strong with my words, but I had no intention of actually doing that.
'I'm human too, you know.'
"Well, just mix some drugs into the potions. And I noticed the Madan Clan is trading with one of the clans in the Eastern Alliance."
"... You mean the Heukchae Clan."
"Yes. Out of all the Madan Clan's trading partners, it's the only shady one. In fact, the Heukchae Clan even runs a drug factory."
"But... our clan's trade with the Heukchae Clan is completely legitimate."
"I know, I know. I'm well aware."
"......"
The Heukchae Clan—one of the Madan Clan's trading partners.
This clan was one of the three major ones in the Eastern Alliance distributing drugs alongside the Kototsuke Clan.
Of course, if the Kototsuke Clan held a position akin to the three great clans of the neutral nations within the Eastern Alliance, the Heukchae Clan was merely a mid-sized outfit.
My plan was to frame the Madan Clan for receiving drugs from the Heukchae Clan.
I'd already prepared the forged documents for that purpose. All that was left was...
'To raise suspicions that the Madan Clan accidentally used drugs they were hiding for shipments to other clans.'
However, to pull this off, the Madan Clan needed to be caught with a substantial quantity—not just a trace amount—of drugs that matched those produced by the Heukchae Clan.
'Looks like I'll end up using Riki's rival clan after all.'
The drugs I'd gotten from Riki weren't even produced by her own clan to begin with.
They were the exact same type produced by the Heukchae Clan.
For someone like Riki, getting her hands on another clan's drugs was a piece of cake.
Fake documents discovered in Ha Yu-ri's office, along with the drugs themselves?
And one of the Madan Clan's trading partners was the Heukchae Clan, which produced drugs in the Eastern Alliance.
It couldn't paint a prettier picture.
'Mark my words—she'll instantly become known as the bitch who's been secretly doing drugs all this time.'
Even back on Earth, the public didn't fly into a frenzy over politicians or chaebol heirs doing drugs for no reason.
'People at the top can fall in an instant.'
Even in the Joseon era, they'd bury fake royal seals to frame fellow royals for treason. There's no limit to framing someone.
Truth be told, against an opponent like Ha Yu-ri, I'd planned for a much longer game, but things had fallen into place perfectly after meeting Riki.
"Anyway, all you have to do is move the drugs and documents I give you into the Madan Clan."
".... And after that? The Master will definitely suspect a traitor in the clan. She might not pinpoint me right away, but..."
"Don't worry. Just act natural. You won't need to do anything once it all goes down anyway."
"....."
"Once it's over, I'll release your wife and give you money too. Go live out your days in the Taios Kingdom, the Holy Kingdom, the Eastern Alliance—wherever you want."
"What..."
"Ha Yu-ri's a total bitch, isn't she?"
Park Chan-seok couldn't bring himself to deny it.
"I'll even send money to the orphanage where you and your wife do volunteer work."
".... You won't touch the orphanage, right?"
Park Chan-seok seemed terrified that I knew so much about him and his wife, but he was even more worried I might do something to the orphanage.
"Hey now, what do you take me for? I'm not that much of a scumbag. If anything, I'm friendly toward orphanages."
Park Chan-seok's expression dismissed my words as nonsense. Honestly, it hurt a little.
".... Fine. I'll do as you say. But can I ask one thing?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"... Why are you going this far against Ha Yu-ri?"
From Park Chan-seok's perspective, he must have been dying to know why I hated Ha Yu-ri so much.
"Hmm... Same reason as with you. She's just a bitch."
Park Chan-seok seemed to be carrying out my instructions perfectly.
To guard against any funny ideas, I'd attached a chimera to him.
That way, even if he planned some reckless move, I'd know in advance.
'He was shocked to learn his every move was being watched.'
To drive the point home, I'd listed off the places he'd gone and conversations he'd had. He'd been gripped by fear.
Put myself in his shoes, and I'd be scared shitless too—especially with his wife in my hands.
'It's about time for it to blow up...'
And sure enough, Wi Ho-yeon came into the office holding something, speaking up.
".... Mr. Lee Yun-seong. I think you should see this."
What Wi Ho-yeon handed me was a newsletter.
'... Bingo.'
Shocking revelation: A significant number of potions supplied by the Madan Clan to other clans have tested positive for drugs. The Madan Clan...
Clans trading with the Madan Clan are preparing lawsuits. Suspicions are rising that Madan Clan Master Ha Yu-ri has been using drugs all along...
"Ha Yu-ri, are you kidding me?! What the hell is going on here?!"
"Yes?"
Ha Yu-ri had been thrilled at the sudden contact. After all, it was from the man she'd been crushing on.
"Drugs were detected in the potions! What is this?!"
"... What? D-Drugs were detected?"
But her excitement vanished the instant she heard drugs had been found in the potions.
"W-Wait, Mr. Kanda! There must be some misunderstanding..."
"What misunderstanding? Do you have any idea what's happening to my clan members who drank the potions you supplied?!"
"No! It's a misunderstanding! There's no way our clan's potions could contain drugs!"
"... I trusted you and did business with you, but I'm truly disappointed. Personally, I don't care if you've been using drugs. But drugs in the traded goods? What am I supposed to do about that?!"
Ha Yu-ri's vision went white at the unfolding crisis.
She'd taken the call lightly, but the content was beyond imagination.
Complaints were pouring in that drugs had been detected in the supplied potions.
'What... what the hell is going on...'
The moment her conversation with Kanda Koshiro ended, an incoming signal lit up her crystal orb.
".... Damn it!"
Click.
"Are you joking?! What the hell is this?!"
"Uh... well... that is..."
"Madan Clan Master! Are you messing with us?! Our clan members drank drug-laced potions—what are you going to do about it?!"
As her head throbbed from the complaints, a knock came at the office door.
Creak.
It was her adjutant who entered.
".... Master, I think you should see this."
Ha Yu-ri felt an instinctive dread at her adjutant's words.
"... H-Hand it over."
The newsletter was filled with stories about her clan.
Ha Yu-ri's hands began to tremble as she read it, unable to focus on the voice from the ongoing call.
"Hey! Madan Clan Master! Why aren't you answering?! Say something!"
"W-Wait a minute. I'll... I'll call you back later."
"What do you m—!"
Click.
"What is this... what the hell is going on?! What is all this?!"
"......"
"Why did drugs show up in my clan's potions?! What happened?! Park Chan-seok!"
"Yes...."
"What is this?! Explain!"
"... It seems someone spiked our clan's potions with drugs. Not just a little—a large quantity was detected."
"A-And?"
"That's all I know. I'm sorry..."
"You call that an explanation—?!"
"......"
"That means someone in our clan spiked the potions! Who the hell...!"
Mid-sentence, one of the Madan Clan members burst into Ha Yu-ri's office.
"Pant... pant...! M-Master! People from the royal palace are here!"
"... What?"
"The palace is conducting a search and seizure on our clan based on tips from various clans! They'll be here any moment..."
Before the man could finish, a group of people entered Ha Yu-ri's office.
"Greetings, Ha Yu-ri. We are the inspection team from Baronia Royal Palace. Please comply with the search."
It was effectively an order. The palace inspectors immediately began ransacking her office.
"W-What? What do you think you're doing?! Are you insane?!"
"Please do not interfere with official duties."
"Do you know... do you even know whose office you're searching?!"
"Here! We found it!"
The inspectors had discovered a small stash of drugs tucked under Ha Yu-ri's sofa.
"Huh?"
Ha Yu-ri couldn't hide her panic. Why the hell were there drugs in her office?
And not just that—documents she'd never seen or signed were being uncovered among her files.
One inspector from downstairs came up and reported to the highest-ranking one.
"You need to come down. We found a large quantity of drugs in what seems to be Ha Yu-ri's private warehouse."
The man who appeared to be the inspection leader stiffened at his subordinate's words, then addressed Ha Yu-ri.
".... Ha Yu-ri. Due to the discovery of a large quantity of hidden drugs in your clan, as well as a small amount of drugs and drug trade documents in your office, we will escort you to the palace."
"What... what are you saying? Me? You're arresting me?"
"... By order of the palace."
"N-No, I didn't! I didn't do it! I don't do drugs! It wasn't me!"
".... Take her away."
Soldiers grabbed Ha Yu-ri's arms at the man's command.
"L-Let go! It's a setup! I didn't do it!"
"That will be determined by the investigation at the palace, Ha Yu-ri."
"I didn't do iiiit—!"
The soldiers wore tense expressions, wary that Ha Yu-ri might unleash her mana.
And for good reason—she was a ranker.
If she decided to go all out, most people here would die. Knowing that, everyone was on edge.
At the very least, no one present could handle her if she unleashed her full power here.
But the moment she did, it'd prove her involvement in all this.
'What... what is this... who the hell!'
Only then did Ha Yu-ri realize someone had meticulously set her up.
But the culprit, whoever they were, had already laid the trap perfectly.
By the time she figured it out, it was too late.
A no-win situation.
Escaping here would confirm her guilt; going to the palace for investigation promised a grim future either way.
Fabricated evidence had already been planted in her own office.
There was no way the charges would be easily dismissed.
And so, Ha Yu-ri was dragged wailing to the palace.