You Are Now a Constable of Jangan County Office
“It would be a hundred times better to give it up and be done with it.”
“So we’re just asking to be cursed by the officials?”
“People don’t look down on constables for no reason. Still, you’re determined to do this?”
“I have to. It’s an official chance to take revenge on the Thousand Lotuses.”
“Just don’t go overboard. Your background was going to come out eventually anyway.”
“It sounds like you’re telling me to stab them without drawing blood.”
Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong realized Dan Yeop had no intention of compromising and shook his head.
“Do as you like. Just never forget that Haomun stands behind you.”
It was a reminder to ensure Haomun suffered no consequences.
But it had no effect on Dan Yeop.
“I’ll take that to mean Haomun is my solid backing.”
“Aigoo, if only I could take back my own words. Go rest. Starting tomorrow you won’t be able to rest even if you want to.”
“Understood.”
Dan Yeop offered a polite farewell to Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong and turned away.
The next morning.
Jipdanhyang, headquarters of the Jeommun branch.
County Lieutenant Do-gyeom of the Jangan County Office arrived at Simhyang Pavilion early, determined to pressure Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong.
“My, my! County Lieutenant, sir, you’ve come bright and early.”
“The swift-footed claim the prize first, as they say. So what treasure does Branch Leader Baek intend to offer our Jangan County Office?”
“We will present Haomun’s greatest treasure within the county. Please, come inside.”
The moment Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong finished speaking, the door opened and a strikingly handsome youth stepped in.
County Lieutenant Do-gyeom’s eyes widened like lanterns at the sight of him.
“Young Master Dan?”
Even with the Yeonangyeong hiding his eyes, Do-gyeom recognized him at once.
Dan Yeop offered a formal bow.
“It has been a while. I am Dan Yeop.”
Still looking incredulous, County Lieutenant Do-gyeom turned to Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong.
“You truly mean to send Young Master Dan? As a constable?”
Do-gyeom had known Dan Yeop was affiliated with Haomun, but he had never imagined the young man would volunteer for this.
What the Jangan County Office had wanted from Haomun was a hound with a keen nose.
“If there is someone else you prefer, please say so.”
“No, no. Young Master Dan is more than sufficient. In fact, he is far too good.”
At the usually dignified lieutenant’s sudden excitement, Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong asked, “You know Constable Dan Yeop?”
“There was a bizarre incident involving the Thousand Lotuses several months ago. Young Master Dan was the one who resolved it.”
“Ah, so there was such a connection. Then no further introduction is necessary.”
“The county magistrate has been eager to meet him. There is no need for introductions.”
“Understood. Constable Dan, handle the affairs of the Jangan County Office with care. While you serve as a constable you need not concern yourself with Haomun matters. There will be watchful eyes, so do not even consider visiting Haomun grounds. I trust your excellent judgment.”
Even at the end, Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong couched his warning about the Thousand Lotuses in careful language.
“Do not worry, Branch Leader. I will carry out my duties to the best of my ability without tarnishing Haomun’s reputation.”
That’s exactly what I’m worried about—your best.
Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong could only swallow the words and suffer in silence.
Chang’an Castle.
Jangan County Office.
Around noon.
Two men approached the main gate of the county office.
County Lieutenant Do-gyeom and Dan Yeop.
Do-gyeom glanced sideways at him. “Those tinted glasses. Do you plan to keep wearing them?”
No matter how open the empire was, officials remained conservative. If a county lieutenant wearing Yeonangyeong would raise eyebrows, a mere constable would face far worse.
Yet the answer came back resolute.
“Yes. My eyes are rather weak.”
“Ah…”
Do-gyeom, who knew little about the glasses, chose not to press the matter.
He led Dan Yeop through the main gate.
The officials gathered in the courtyard spotted him and immediately began whispering.
Do-gyeom quickened his steps. It was Dan Yeop wearing the glasses, yet the lieutenant was the one burning with embarrassment.
Main Hall.
County Lieutenant Do-gyeom introduced Dan Yeop to County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin.
“Magistrate, this is the constable recommended by Haomun. It is the Young Master Dan Yeop I mentioned previously.”
A spark of interest lit up County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin’s eyes.
A man in his position possessed both extensive combat experience and considerable martial skill. Jo Mu-jin himself was no slouch.
Yet even to his trained eye, Dan Yeop’s level was impossible to read—made even more difficult by the tinted glasses.
Dan Yeop clasped his hands respectfully and bowed.
“I am Dan Yeop.”
The magistrate let out a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha! Young Master Dan, I have heard much about you from Lieutenant Do. You are the one who uncovered the truth behind Gwak Jin’s murder and discovered the scriptures of the Thousand Lotuses, correct?”
“I was merely fortunate.”
“Humility as well. And this is the man who read the Law Codex once and memorized it entirely. I myself have been studying it for six months and have only committed a few passages to memory.”
“It must be because your official duties keep you so busy. Besides, with the Codex available, there is no pressing need to memorize it when handling cases.”
“Here is a man who would go far in government service. Making the other party feel good is no easy feat.”
“Thank you for the generous assessment.”
“Sit.”
County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin took his seat first and indicated the chair across from him.
Dan Yeop sat where invited, but County Lieutenant Do-gyeom remained standing, discreetly withdrawing so the two could speak alone.
The magistrate’s expression grew serious.
“I will be frank. What I asked of Haomun was a hunting dog that could track murderers. Yet you, Young Master Dan, are far more than that. There is no reason not to employ you. Still, one thing weighs on my mind. This matter is exceptionally dangerous. I am uncertain whether I should involve you. If you are killed or injured during the investigation, I will deeply regret my decision to appoint you as constable.”
These were County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin’s true feelings.
The killers were masters who could slay high officials without hesitation. They would not tolerate constables meddling in their affairs. An encounter with Dan Yeop was inevitable.
To waste a genius like him on the post of constable and then lose him? He would face endless reproach from Lord Son, but more than that, he himself did not wish to lose such talent in vain.
Dan Yeop sensed the sincerity behind the words.
“You seem concerned I might die, but that will not happen.”
“Are you so confident you will not die?”
“I cannot say what would happen if I faced the Blood Emperor himself, but anyone beneath him poses no problem.”
“Oh? That capable?”
County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin regarded Dan Yeop with fresh eyes. He had not expected the young man to measure himself against the Blood Emperor.
“Yes.”
Dan Yeop’s tone was neither boastful nor insufficient, and the magistrate found himself pleased by it.
“Very well. From this day forth, you are a constable of the Jangan County Office.”
Having spoken, County Magistrate Jo Mu-jin retrieved a constable badge from his drawer and handed it over.
Dan Yeop accepted it with both hands in a show of respect.
The badge, roughly the width of two adult fingers, settled neatly in his palm.
“Lieutenant Do, introduce Constable Dan to the others and hand over the Nakan County case files.”
“Yes, sir.”
A short while later, County Lieutenant Do-gyeom led Dan Yeop back outside.
Walking beside him, Do-gyeom said, “From now on I will also address you as Constable Dan.”
“Understood.”
Dan Yeop found the lieutenant’s obvious statement faintly amusing. It was the weight of the title “constable,” yet he had not fully felt its reality.
Constable Office.
When County Lieutenant Do-gyeom and Dan Yeop entered, every waiting constable and patrolman turned to stare.
Stepping forward, Do-gyeom announced, “The man accompanying me is a new constable well-versed in the situation within Chang’an Castle. He comes with a personal recommendation from Magistrate Jo, so I expect seamless cooperation with no friction. Constable Dan, greet everyone.”
The fact that the lieutenant used polite speech toward the young newcomer caused several quick-witted men to shift uncomfortably.
Dan Yeop clasped both hands and bowed respectfully to the assembled constables and patrolmen.
“I am Dan Yeop. I ask for your generous guidance and instruction, senior constables.”
It was a perfectly courteous greeting, but the world was not so gentle.
“Oh, he writes proper characters. Looks like he’s swallowed some ink.”
“Does he really see us as seniors?”
“Coming to his first day wearing tinted glasses says otherwise, doesn’t it?”
“Who the hell walks around with pitch-black glasses like that? A brat whose head hasn’t even dried yet. Take it easy, damn it.”
County Lieutenant Do-gyeom pretended not to hear and retrieved the Nakan County case files from a large wooden chest, passing them to Dan Yeop.
“These are the records from the day the Nakan County Magistrate and military officer were killed. There are sketches of the perpetrators as well—study them.”
Dan Yeop accepted the documents and asked, “Will we be conducting a joint investigation with the Nakan County Office?”
“No. There is no one left in Nakan to lead the investigation, so the case has been transferred to us. These files are all we have.”
“Understood.”
“Everything now rests in your hands, Constable Dan. Whether you locate the criminals or discover new information, come to me at any time. Never pursue them alone. I trust you understand why without needing explanation.”
The words came from genuine concern for Dan Yeop’s life.
“Understood.”
Dan Yeop nodded without hesitation. He was confident he could defeat the criminals in battle, but he had no intention of acting recklessly.
“Then I will take my leave. I say this because I know you, but proceed carefully and without haste. Of course, I am not referring to the criminals themselves.”
County Lieutenant Do-gyeom smiled, waved, and departed.
The moment he was gone, the hot-tempered constables closed in on Dan Yeop.
The man with a wild, chestnut-burr beard—Constable Jang Ho—spoke first.
“Hey, greenhorn. You claim to know the situation in Chang’an Castle, yet I’ve never once heard your name. Are you some distant relative of Magistrate Jo?”
“I am not. But isn’t it rather rude to speak that way on our first meeting? Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the Jianghu proverb?”
“Jianghu proverb? What proverb?”
“Beware women, children, the elderly, and beautiful young men.”
“……”
The surrounding constables and patrolmen stared at Dan Yeop in disbelief.
Constable Jang Ho blinked, momentarily stunned by the unexpected reply, then asked again.
“If you’re not the magistrate’s relative, then you’re just some sheltered young master from a prestigious family who doesn’t know the real world?”
Someone behind him called out, “Constable Jang! Would any lunatic from a prestigious family become a constable? The family would strike the name from the register!”
Laughter erupted from every constable and patrolman.
It was no exaggeration—even families of modest standing would disown a son who chose to become a constable.
Constable Jang Ho glared furiously.
“You bastard! Neither one thing nor the other! What gives you the nerve to act so arrogantly!”
Dan Yeop met his gaze evenly and asked, “Constable Jang, I take it you live with your elderly parents?”
“What kind of bullshit is that!”
“They must be so very old that their hearing has grown poor. That is why you speak so loudly. But I am still young and my ears work perfectly, so there is no need to shout.”
“……”
Constable Jang Ho stood frozen for a moment, then charged with a furious “Ugh!”
Yet with a dull thud, he flew sideways far faster than he had lunged.
For an instant the entire constable office fell silent.
The low-ranking patrolmen did not even dare breathe loudly.
Constable Jang Ho, sprawled on the floor, scrambled back to his feet and—