Crime and Punishment
Luoyang Sword House, the Hobop Court.
The corridors of the Hobop Court's main hall were packed with personnel hurrying about their duties. It was the usual scene. However thoroughly the Hobop Wonju had been publicly humiliated by the Eldest Young Master, the work of the Hobop Court could never be allowed to stop.
But even amid that work, there were clearly things that were different from usual—things unmistakably alien.
"…Then, about that case…"
"…Understood. I'll report…"
As if the entire building were crushed beneath a heavy atmosphere, the voices of Hobop Court personnel as they communicated for their work were little more than whispers. Unlike usual, no one barked at subordinates for mistakes, and even the everyday trivial chatter was nowhere to be heard. Not even gossip about superiors, not even the smallest grumble, left their lips.
Even—
Clink.
Those who startled at the tiny sound spun toward its source.
"…S-sorry."
The one clearing empty teacups bowed his head in apology, startled despite himself.
…Heh. Honestly.
One of the Hobop Court's mid-level managers clicked his tongue inwardly as he surveyed the scene inside his office.
The Hobop Court. The largest investigative organ of the Luoyang Sword House. Those who belonged to such a place were regarded as beings to be dreaded and feared—and of course, that was why their noses had always been stuck so high in the air.
The atmosphere of our Hobop Court…
Now even the clink of teacups seemed to fray their nerves; people had stopped drinking the tea they usually kept at their lips at all times.
To change the atmosphere of a place like this overnight…
The cause of this was, without a doubt…
The mid-level manager casually turned his chair, pretending to look at documents, and cast his gaze through the open window. And he was not the only one paying attention to the view outside. Those walking the corridors. Those moving through the office spaces. Those in the interrogation rooms. Without exception, they all—unconsciously—found their eyes drifting outside the window in the middle of their work. As if they would be scolded if anyone caught them looking. As if they were looking down on something they dared not look down upon.
There, on the vast grounds of the Hobop Court, stood a clearly luxurious pavilion. The pavilion for receiving distinguished guests of the Hobop Court. And inside it right now was the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House. Yeon So-hyeon.
Hobop Court. The guest reception room.
With Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon at the center, people sat around a prepared large table. The Banker of the Sword House Bank could not take his eyes off Hwa Bok of the Central Audit Department.
The Central Audit Department is loyal to the Eldest Young Master…
More precisely, through him, he was thinking of Dokgo Ya-yeon, Head of the Central Audit Department. Dokgo Ya-yeon, called the White-Haired, White-Eyed Ghost—a person who might break, but would never bend.
…That Dokgo Ya-yeon has offered up her sword.
What the Banker himself had hoped for was merely that the Head of the Central Audit Department might support the Eldest Young Master, if only a little. But far beyond mere support, she had pledged her loyalty. With this, Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon now held enormous influence over both of the Luoyang Sword House's two great investigative organs—the Hobop Court and the Audit Department.
Heh heh. Truly magnificent.
What other reaction could there be? Only admiration. Noticing the Banker's gaze, Yeon So-hyeon gave him a slight nod, then turned to the Sixth Bureau Chief and said,
"Begin."
Yeon So-hyeon added briefly,
"Get to the point."
Inside the Luoyang Sword House. A certain garden.
The conversation between the Hobop Wonju and the Gamchal Buju was also getting to the point.
"The Eldest Young Master has revealed that he holds the Hobop Sixth Bureau Chief and the Central Audit Department."
"…And in doing so, he has openly pushed you and me—the two of us—aside."
When the Gamchal Buju nodded his cloth-wrapped face, the Hobop Wonju spoke again.
"What he intends to do by pushing us aside is—"
"Surely."
Anger laced the Gamchal Buju's low voice.
"The Eldest Young Master means to show the entire House that he can make those he wishes not guilty without our influence."
"Witness Number Twenty-Four was scheduled to testify that 'the Banker had been turning a blind eye to the corruption of the Yeon blood relatives surrounding the Sword House Bank.'"
"A hostile witness, then."
At the Sixth Bureau Chief's words, Yeon So-hyeon asked calmly,
"How did you handle it?"
The Sixth Bureau Chief answered without the slightest delay.
"Witness Number Twenty-Four has chosen to enjoy a somewhat early retirement with a generous sum in hand."
He added without a smile,
"He is no longer a 'hostile witness.'"
"Good. Keep watching him."
"Yes."
Without room for anyone else to interject, the two men's conference continued.
"Next."
As Yeon So-hyeon turned the document to the next page, the room was momentarily filled with the sound of everyone flipping pages.
"Suspect Number Six is currently in custody. He is one of the figures who played a decisive role in the embezzlement of the bank's funds by the Yeon blood relatives."
"The problem?"
"The problem is that this individual claims, 'I clearly reported it to the Banker.'"
Yeon So-hyeon let out a dry laugh.
"He thinks that if he clutches at the Banker's pant leg, he might just save his own skin for now."
"Yes."
"Then we should give him a way to live."
The Sixth Bureau Chief nodded.
"So this time, through a plea bargain, we have given him the chance to be released without charges."
In exchange for being released without charges in this matter, he had delivered a larger catch.
"Still."
Yeon So-hyeon stroked his chin.
"Just letting one of the principal offenders go free doesn't sit entirely well with me."
"I will report on that part."
When Hwa Bok, the closest aide to the Head of the Central Audit Department, opened his mouth, everyone's eyes turned to him.
"During this audit, we uncovered a separate case of corruption committed by Suspect Number Six."
With a good-natured smile, he continued,
"That man will be under constant surveillance, and a few months from now, he will be arrested and detained by us—the Central Audit Department—and punished for the separate charges."
"Good."
Yeon So-hyeon slowly nodded in satisfaction.
"Feeling a brief taste of freedom, only to plummet—that's when true despair can be felt."
As Yeon So-hyeon turned the documents, the room filled once more with the sound of pages turning.
"Next, Witness Number Fifty…"
"So, the handling?"
"His brother-in-law runs…"
Without a moment's rest, without wasting time, the meeting continued. Kang Ho, who had been listening in silence, felt his head spinning. No—the entire lavish room itself… the ceiling, the sky, seemed to be flipping over.
Th-this is…
He too had once belonged to the Audit Department, but as a mere bottom-rung member, this was the first time he had ever witnessed such a scene.
So this is… judicial power…?
It felt as if the fates of everyone connected to the Sword House Bank's corruption were being decided right here in this room.
"In the case of Suspect Number Ten, it appears he has been co-opted by the other side."
"The handling?"
"That will be handled by our Central Audit Department…"
If necessary, erase a crime. If necessary, create a crime. If a mouth needed to be shut, shut it. If a mouth needed to be opened, make it speak.
"…Then Witnesses Number Thirty-Seven and One Hundred Sixty-One will take the stand as planned…"
"…Suspect Number Nine must receive the extreme penalty…"
Who would give what testimony was decided. Who would receive what punishment was determined. Tasks that would be burdensome for the Hobop Sixth Bureau were taken up by the Central Audit Department. Tasks the Central Audit Department wished to avoid were taken on by the Hobop Sixth Bureau.
"Kang Ho."
At Yeon So-hyeon's voice, Kang Ho nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Y-yes! Eldest Young Master!"
Yeon So-hyeon's gaze as he looked at the dazed Kang Ho was heavy.
"Focus."
His mind snapped clear.
"Yes, understood…!"
At Yeon So-hyeon's command, Kang Ho, now fully alert, concentrated on the meeting with all his power. He was Yeon So-hyeon's secretary, but in this seat, he had no role whatsoever. But precisely because of that—Yeon So-hyeon was right now giving Kang Ho a precious experience that could not be obtained anywhere else.
"Eldest Young Master."
At last the meeting ended. Those about to rise from their seats paused at the Banker's voice.
"What is it?"
Yeon So-hyeon answered as he set the documents on the desk. In a slightly trembling voice, the Banker asked him,
"From what I have observed of the meeting so far…"
An old man who had weathered every storm imaginable. Even to Kang Ho's eyes, the Banker could not hide his agitation.
"…From the very beginning, Eldest Young Master, you intended to save this old man."
The Hobop Sixth Bureau. The Central Audit Department. Everything they had prepared for today's meeting was not something that could have been accomplished overnight. The Eldest Young Master had clearly been proceeding with this matter for a long time already.
"If this old man had rejected the Eldest Young Master's invitation today, and simply sat where he was, laying everything down as he first intended…"
If he had—
"Then all of the Eldest Young Master's efforts would have come to nothing."
"No."
Yeon So-hyeon answered immediately.
"That is not so. Even if you had been dismissed as Banker, I would have seen to it that you were cleared of all these absurd charges."
Doubt clouded the Banker's deeply wrinkled face.
"Even if this old man had not dared to take the Eldest Young Master's hand—you would still have saved this old man."
The Banker's eyes wavered.
"Is that what you are saying right now?"
"Of course."
Yeon So-hyeon nodded at once and continued,
"To you, who have been this Sword House's steadfast pillar and supported it through the long absence of the Clan Head—that much is simply what I ought to do."
Yeon So-hyeon's words continued.
"I am neither a judge of this court, nor a member of this clan's investigative organs."
In a conversation neither of them dared to interrupt, the gazes of those who had only been listening focused on Yeon So-hyeon.
"So then, if—"
The Hobop Wonju summarized the situation.
"If the Eldest Young Master actually succeeds in clearing the Banker of all charges outside our sphere of influence…?"
The Gamchal Buju shook his head.
"The opponent is that Eldest Young Master. Not 'if he succeeds,' but 'he has succeeded.' That is how we must assume and move."
"…True."
They were gradually catching up to the ways of the man called Yeon So-hyeon.
"That Eldest Young Master would never reveal such precious cards as the Sixth Bureau Chief and the Head of the Central Audit Department without that degree of certainty."
"He must have prepared everything long ago."
It was nothing more than conjecture without clear basis. But precisely because the opponent was Yeon So-hyeon—even without evidence, they could hold that conviction.
"Then the place we must focus on immediately is…"
"Not the interiors of the Hobop Court and Audit Department, where the Eldest Young Master has already made all his moves…"
Their gazes turned simultaneously toward the distance. Beyond the grove of trees. What lay in that direction was—
"The place where, regardless of the verdict, a vote of no confidence against the Banker will be held this very day."
"The Jangro-won."
The exit of the Hobop Court.
Far in the distance, a massive structure could be seen. Looking upon the majestic Jangro-won that made one feel its authority and power, Yeon So-hyeon was smiling.
"Well then. Is it time to look upon the faces of those insufferably arrogant elders?"
After ending his seclusion—Yeon So-hyeon's first visit to the Elder Council Hall began.