Those Who Meet Must Part, Those Who Leave Must Return (3)
Those Who Meet Must Part, Those Who Leave Must Return (3)
"Nothing unusual?"
The bearded man frowned at Im Seo-ryeon. She thought that his behavior, which had once seemed so frightening, now looked like a wild animal threatening others to keep its prey from being stolen. It was a strange thing indeed.
"Does that make any sense? Huh? We had evidence, which is why we sent you to inspect, and you're saying there's nothing wrong on paper? If there's nothing, you should've made something up and brought it! Huh? If you do this, what becomes of the face of Venerable Geumbok, who gave us precious information, and what kind of fool do I look like for entrusting this task to you?"
When she had been tormented by the obsession that she must not be pushed out of the Murim Alliance while bearing the name of Hengshan Sect, those eyes had looked like a tiger or a wolf. But now, seeing them again, he seemed less threatening than a neighborhood puppy.
She couldn't understand it herself. Had she really lived all this time cowering before something so trivial? Had she really lived trembling before a man so insignificant?
"Inspector Im Seo-ryeon! If you have a mouth, speak! Are you not ashamed of the epithet 'Kirin of Hengshan Sect'? You've made yet another mistake...."
"I did it because I am a kirin."
Im Seo-ryeon's words sounded like nonsense to the man. He furrowed his brow and raised his voice at her.
"Are you trying to play word games with me right now? How are you going to take responsibility for this situation...."
Im Seo-ryeon didn't listen to the man any further. She cut him off with the sharp finality of a blade.
"How could I call myself a kirin while pinning crimes on the innocent, and how could I claim to carry on the lineage of Hengshan Sect?"
"Wha—what?"
"You asked how I would take responsibility. I will resign. I wish to return to Hengshan Sect, so if you wish to send a letter to my master, do as you please."
"You—you bitch!"
Im Seo-ryeon turned and left the man standing there. The sound of the door closing echoed loudly. The man left alone, his face flushed with fury, could do nothing. It was only because she had clung to the position of Murim Alliance Inspector that he had been able to grab hold of her and shake her. The moment she casually let go of that meager authority, he could do absolutely nothing to Im Seo-ryeon.
The man looked down at the documents.
[The results of the account book verification on Crimson Ring Sect showed nothing unusual, and it could be concluded that Venerable Geumbok's information was erroneous.]
"Aaaaaaargh!"
The man, his face dyed bright red, grabbed the documents and hurled them.
*****
"Yeong-ha. It's been a while."
Im Seo-ryeon's deputy. The youngest of the Zhuge Family. Zhuge Yeong-ha. He was sitting in the marketplace in front of the branch office with a deeply troubled face. The sight of a reasonably good-looking man rubbing his chin and mulling over his thoughts was enough to draw attention, and a man who recognized him waved and greeted him.
He was someone who had joined the Murim Alliance around the same time to work. Yeong-ha bowed politely and said.
"Senior brother. It's been a while."
The man wrapped his arm around Yeong-ha's shoulders and said with a laugh.
"That's right. Since we've met after so long, how about we go to a brothel together? I heard your family's eldest brother is also enjoying himself at the brothel right now. Let's go and say hello at least. I'll treat you. There's a famous rumor that some decent-looking courtesans have recently arrived at the brothel here."
Yeong-ha shook his head with a bitter smile and said.
"I appreciate the offer, senior brother, but the brothel is fine—I'll pass."
When Yeong-ha declined, the man spoke in a stronger tone.
"Ah, come now, how often do we get to see each other like this? You're busy following the inspector around, and I'm busy being tied up here. Since we're both free like this, isn't it right to have a drink at a time like this?"
"Then, let's skip the brothel and go have a light drink at that inn over there."
It was a place where a plump female innkeeper was warmly greeting and beckoning customers. The man nodded at Yeong-ha's words and said.
"Sure, a simple drink and parting isn't bad either. More importantly, how are things with that inspector these days? The woman they call the Kirin of Hengshan Sect. The rumors are widespread that, contrary to her name, her work is quite clumsy."
Yeong-ha wore a bitter smile.
******
"A hopeless woman indeed."
"I know, right. Just because she's got a fancy title, doing the job like this... Since she filed documents saying the inspection results showed no issues, it's become awkward to send down another inspector."
The bearded old man said this with a frown, and the middle-aged man nodded. Their expressions clearly showed they were troubled by the incident Im Seo-ryeon had caused this time. He held a teacup in his hand and said.
"Now there's no way to conduct further inspections. There's no justification, is there? If word spreads that we're sending inspectors until we get the desired result, who would ever accept inspection outcomes? Venerable Geumbok wanted the matter handled quietly, but things have become tangled."
"There are plenty of ways to turn things back. It's too early to jump to conclusions."
"What method is there?"
The old man stroked his beard and said.
"The bastard who swallowed up Crimson Ring Sect, no matter how high his prestige, is at best third-rate. There's also the method of contacting the Tang Clan and having him quietly disposed of without anyone knowing."
The middle-aged man showed reluctance.
"From what I hear, his martial skill is third-rate, maybe second-rate at best. Are we really contacting the Tang Clan just to get rid of a guy like that? Besides, the timing is bad. If he passes inspection and then suddenly dies young, the rumors won't be good."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"We kill him in an 'accident.' We've done it a few times before, haven't we."
The old man tilted his head at the word 'accident.' But soon, as if something had come to mind, he stroked his beard and laughed pleasantly.
"Ha ha ha! I understand what you mean, yes. With that method, both Venerable Geumbok and we can be satisfied."
"That's right. We'll shake off that troublesome bastard with this and forget about him. Ha ha ha!"
********
"Sorry to say this, but she really is a troublesome woman. I heard she's going to quit being an inspector completely this time—what's going to happen to you then, Yeong-ha?"
Yeong-ha nodded and smiled at the man's words. His smiling face was full of worry.
"I've been distressed and worrying about exactly that. I entered to raise my family's name, but it feels like I'm just... floating in the air, doesn't it."
"Right? There's no need to follow a woman who doesn't even know how to take responsibility properly, is there? You're a talented man with a bright future ahead."
"You flatter me, senior brother. I'm still lacking."
The man looked around and then lowered his voice.
"So what I'm saying is, going back to your family like this isn't ideal either, and you need to take on some work in the Murim Alliance to be able to face your family with dignity, wouldn't you agree?"
Yeong-ha's eyes rounded at those words.
"Is there some work?"
The man laughed with a smug expression.
"Since they failed to take out the Crimson Ring Sect Leader through the inspection, it seems the higher-ups are devising another plan. If they just back off like this, they can't face Venerable Geumbok, so their intention is to quietly deal with it in a different way."
Yeong-ha wore a flustered expression at the man's words but quickly composed his face. Then he looked around, leaned in, and said.
"Please tell me in more detail."
The man had a satisfied look at Yeong-ha's attitude and said.
"I like that you're proactive."
Yeong-ha seemed momentarily flustered by those words, then smiled again and said.
"Aren't all newcomers like this."
"Yes, of course, if you cooperate well, it's good for us. So listen. It's a martial arts tournament. We hold a martial arts tournament, and when the bastard participates, we kill him in an 'accident.' It's a frequent occurrence so there won't be any suspicion, and we plan to put in someone from the unorthodox faction as his opponent, so no sparks will fly back to our side."
"If the sect leader doesn't participate, that's the end of it, isn't it?"
"That's not such a simple matter. Because no one knows how that bastard defeated the Crimson Ring Sect's sect leader. According to what's being said, after he entered the sect leader's quarters, a very agonizing scream was heard, but is there any way to know whether he made a sneak attack or fought honorably?"
"No one but the man himself."
"Exactly. So we seize upon that point and drag it out. Rumors are circulating that the bastard secretly ambushed the sect leader in a very cowardly manner and unjustly took his position. To prove otherwise, he should step up in this martial arts tournament and show his skill."
"And so, if he doesn't participate, you use that as leverage to seize the sect leader, and if he does participate, the plan is to kill him in an accident."
"That's right. That's it. A flawless plan, isn't it."
"So what is my role?"
The man showed a sly smile.
As Yeong-ha looked at the man, his gaze gradually, steadily grew calm.
******
In a back alley off the marketplace, a woman stood with her arms crossed, waiting for someone. She seemed to be keeping time, tapping her fingers. Her face, hidden by boxes and odds and ends, straightened up as she caught the sound of footsteps running hurriedly.
For a moment, the face of her deputy, Yeong-ha, passed before her eyes. He acted as if he hadn't noticed Im Seo-ryeon standing beside him.
Im Seo-ryeon looked at the alley he had passed through. In a corner of the alley, she could see a small note that had been dropped.
Im Seo-ryeon picked up the note and hurriedly moved on.
The content written on the note was as follows.
[We must prepare for the martial arts tournament. There may be an accident, so I've received orders to be more thorough.]
"....Starting small. Right."
That alone was enough information.