I Know You're a Natural Pushover (1)
The Murim Alliance's Mun-seong branch grew even busier.
With Wang Gon and Heuk Su dragged in, they had to repurpose a warehouse as a temporary prison. The branch wasn't built to hold so many criminals in the first place.
Once Wang Gon's treatment was roughly finished, Im Choong handled the interrogation himself.
Wang Gon shuffled into the interrogation room with his nose and mouth wrapped tight in bandages, his eyes wide with terror.
But spotting that Baek So-cheon wasn't there, his fear swiftly twisted into hatred.
He glared at Im Choong with eyes that screamed he could devour the man whole.
In the old days, such vulgar malice might have choked Im Choong with frustration. But not anymore.
What's done is done.
The real battle between him and Wang Gon was just beginning.
"Just admit it all and pay for your crimes."
Needless to say, such persuasion fell on deaf ears.
"I've never tried to bribe anyone, never assaulted or threatened you lot. And certainly never tried to kill you."
"Keep denying it, and you'll just add insubordination to your sentence."
"Come on, Branch Head Im. Wasn't that what you said? With the charges already piled up, you figure I'm looking at thirty years minimum in prison. A few more won't make a difference, will they?"
"Confess honestly, and your sentence might get lighter."
Wang Gon just snorted derisively.
"You'll be transferred to the Jeol-gang Branch in a few days."
"Might as well send me there. Someone who'll clear my name is waiting."
Rather than dreading the transfer, he seemed to see it as his breakthrough.
Im Choong sighed inwardly.
This won't be easy.
Given who he was dealing with, even handing him over to the branch felt risky—would they handle it fairly?
Just then, Beon Saeng called from outside.
"Branch Head."
Im Choong stepped out of the interrogation room, and Beon Saeng delivered the news.
"What is it?"
"Someone from Jeol-gang Branch just arrived."
Im Choong was startled by the report.
"Already? How'd they know?"
It was too soon for news of Wang Gon and Heuk Su's capture to have reached them.
"Nah, it's not about this. They're here to investigate the Yang Chu family massacre."
"Ah. Right."
With a case that big, it made sense they'd send someone.
"Who came?"
"The Venomous Snake."
"Damn it! Why him, of all people?"
The Venomous Snake was the nickname of Jeol-gang Branch's top squad leader, Cheon Yang-ho. He was called that for his snake-like temperament, but the real issue was his bad blood with Im Choong. Bad things really do come all at once...
"Where is he now?"
Right then, a middle-aged man appeared at the end of the hallway.
"Right here."
This sharp-eyed man was Jeol-gang Branch's resident viper, Cheon Yang-ho.
Skipping even a greeting after all this time, he demanded answers.
"What the hell happened with Wang Branch Head?"
He'd only learned about the arrest after arriving.
"We took him in on charges of attempted bribery, assault, threats, and attempted murder."
"What?"
Cheon Yang-ho's shock was plain—his face screamed, Are you insane?
"What exactly went down?"
Im Choong explained the events. Cheon Yang-ho immediately poked holes.
"So he came alone at first to return the Baek-nyeon Ha-su-o? Then how'd your men know to follow?"
"They saw me storm out in a rage over the Baek-nyeon Ha-su-o and tailed me."
"How'd your men know it was Baek-nyeon Ha-su-o? Did you open the box in front of them?"
"No."
"Then how'd they know?"
"Well..."
It was a point even Im Choong hadn't considered.
Baek So-cheon. He must've figured it out.
Pressed hard, it could raise suspicions. If someone claimed to identify the contents without looking, it'd sound fishy.
"Got proof he offered a bribe?"
"My wife and I are witnesses."
"Anyone impartial?"
"No."
"So you—the involved party—personally arrested him over the bribe? For something like that, you should've reported to the branch!"
Cheon Yang-ho dug in relentlessly.
"They struck first with the assault. One of my men got hurt."
"And you're proud of that?"
"What?"
The two locked glares, tension crackling.
"I need to see Wang Branch Head. Where is he?"
"Didn't you come for the Yang Swordmaster case?"
"Sure, but—"
"Then stick to your assignment. An entire warrior family was slaughtered. What could be more important?"
"I decide what's important."
"This branch is my jurisdiction."
They stood off evenly. Normally, a dispatched squad leader shouldn't challenge the branch head like this.
But Cheon Yang-ho, Jeol-gang's power player, outranked Im Choong.
"One last question. I won't ask again."
His tone made it clear he was pissed.
In the end, Im Choong yielded a step. Things were messy enough without making an enemy of the snake at full venom.
Im Choong opened the interrogation room door.
Seeing the swollen face, Cheon Yang-ho's expression hardened.
As Im Choong moved to follow, Cheon Yang-ho waved him off.
"I'll go in alone."
He slammed the door behind him.
Wang Gon lit up, starting to speak, but Cheon Yang-ho shushed him.
Lowering his voice, Cheon Yang-ho asked,
"Did this happen without Heuk Su around?"
He skipped the charges—they were probably true anyway.
"Nah. Heuk Su got hit too."
Cheon Yang-ho was stunned.
"Branch Head Im isn't that good."
"New guy was there."
"Who?"
"How should I know? Felt like one of yours, from the vibe. Anyway, get me out now. Can't stand another moment in this hole."
"Got it. I'll do my best."
Wang Gon gripped his arm tight.
"Your best? Make it happen. I've been paying you steadily for moments like this."
When Cheon Yang-ho emerged, Im Choong waited at the hall's end.
"He denies all charges vehemently."
"No surprise."
"Claims illegal arrest forced self-defense. Even threatens to report you to Alliance HQ for trespassing, assault, and false accusation."
"The gall."
"Better release him before it blows up..."
Cheon Yang-ho eyed Im Choong's reaction. His goal was simple: spring Wang Gon. What came after was Wang Gon's problem.
"You trust us, Squad Leader Cheon? Or him?"
"You, of course, Branch Head Im. But you know Shin-hwa Bang's influence in Jeol-gang Province? If they pressure the Alliance, it'll get ugly."
Yeah. That was why he'd put up with the filth all this time.
Cheon Yang-ho doubled down for Wang Gon.
"Say they tried a bribe. Does that justify beating him? Piling on threats and attempted murder? Is this how the Murim Alliance handles things? The entire jianghu will laugh."
Im Choong bristled at Cheon Yang-ho's constant partisanship, but he was right—it'd play out that way.
"What's in it for us to cross Shin-hwa Bang? Good is good—don't complicate it. Release Wang Branch Head tomorrow. I'll smooth things over. Let's end this like adults. No grudges over something trivial, right?"
Short words, but they grated: "good is good," "like adults," "trivial."
Im Choong said nothing.
"Think it over."
As Cheon Yang-ho turned to leave, he paused, as if it just occurred to him.
"Must've been tough nabbing Wang Branch Head."
"Don't underestimate the branch."
"Of course not."
Cheon Yang-ho smirked inwardly.
Pride intact, huh? Wonder who intervened?
As Cheon Yang-ho vanished down the hall, Beon Saeng approached from afar, worried.
"What now?"
"Damn it."
Im Choong had no answers.
"Let's see Big Bro."
"Big Bro? Oh, Baek So-cheon."
"Yeah, he might have an idea."
Beon Saeng strode off briskly.
Kid, you think your 'big bro' has a magic fix?
Despite his scolding thoughts, Im Choong's legs hurried after.
* * *
"Any ideas?"
They'd come to Baek So-cheon together, but Beon Saeng did the talking while Im Choong hung back.
"Why ask me?"
"Who else? Only the three of us were there. If this drags, we'll have to let the bastard walk after all that work."
"Wasn't that much work."
Well, true—two strikes, two down.
"Send him to the branch; they'll sort it."
"Squad Leader Cheon Yang-ho came down today. Already siding with him. Branch won't change a thing."
"Branch has more than just him, right?"
"He's the power there. Why else? Branch Leader backs him. If Wang Gon walks, he'll come for revenge first thing."
Then Baek So-cheon said something unexpected.
"Wouldn't that be better?"
"Huh?"
"Wait for his revenge, then wipe him out. Legal kill then."
His intent was clear from the start, leaving Im Choong and Beon Saeng speechless.
"What if he hires real killers for payback?"
"Hm, possible."
"Possible? This isn't someone else's problem!"
"Honestly, not mine."
"Branch business is my business!"
"Classic pushover mistake. Branch work is branch work; your problems are yours."
"This all happened because of you!"
"Me? Why?"
Im Choong had listened silently. Should've sent Beon Saeng alone. Standing there as branch head, ears perked like a dog—pathetic.
Self-loathing rising, he stepped up.
"Couldn't properly thank you back there. Without you, we'd have been screwed. Don't worry about the rest—I'll handle it."
Beon Saeng asked impatiently,
"How?"
Im Choong voiced his bottled-up conviction.
"Yang Chu's family... Wang Gon's doing."
"What?"
"No doubt."
Beon Saeng would've doubted before. Not now.
"Yeah. He tried killing Big Bro right in front of us. Guy like that's capable of anything."
Baek So-cheon interjected.
"Not why."
"Then?"
"Remember? Trying to scare us, he said he'd pin it on the killer who massacred Yang Chu's family."
"Right, yeah."
"How do you improv that on the spot? Smart? Sudden idea? No way. Means he's connected."
"Ah!"
Baek So-cheon had spotted a clue they'd missed.
"If true... why would mighty Shin-hwa Bang stoop to massacring a family?"
Still a mystery.
But Im Choong's conviction solidified.
"Alright, let's find proof."
"Hold up."
Stopping Im Choong, Beon Saeng urgently asked Baek So-cheon,
"Where do we even look?"
"No idea. Quit asking me."
"You're the smartest here. I'm dying here too—wish I knew."
As Beon Saeng followed Im Choong out,
Before the door shut, Baek So-cheon tossed after them.
"Who'd keep the closest eye on Shin-hwa Bang normally?"
Im Choong and Beon Saeng halted, turning.
"Who?"
"Someone watching their every move."
Im Choong instantly recalled a faction. The one pushed from top dog to second by Shin-hwa Bang's rise.
"Enemy of my enemy...?"
Baek So-cheon nodded, spot on.
"They've been watching. Might know something."
Obvious in hindsight, blind before.
"You're right. Thanks—we owe you. Beon Squad Leader, let's go."
As Beon Saeng followed, he glanced back in awe.
"Told ya? Answer always comes from that mouth."
"Whether answer or poison, results will tell."
"Answer! Big Bro's word is law!"
Beon Saeng dashed out without waiting.
Alone, Baek So-cheon muttered softly.
"...If I were that good at answers, would I be stuck here?"