What Must Happen (5)
The head of the Kyeong family nodded at my proposal.
"Understood. If he refused even that, he wouldn't be leaving this spot upright today."
I promptly drew up two copies of the investment contract and handed one to him.
With the matter satisfactorily concluded, I sipped my tea and asked him,
"By the way, who did you commission to build that house?"
"Ogeol Geon-sang."
That was the culprit behind this whole mess with the shoddy construction.
"May I ask how much the construction cost?"
"Five hundred nyang of silver."
I nearly spat out my tea.
These damn robbers!
Wait, hadn't they first quoted me four hundred nyang?
But I'd paid a thousand nyang upfront to get them out in a hurry.
"Then why were you planning to sell it for four hundred?"
"It's not a new build—it's an old house, ten years since construction. How could we charge new-house prices?"
Well...
I was moved for the second time.
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.
.
That night, Jin Yeong Daehyeop visited to teach me the imperial palace martial arts.
After training ended, he looked at me with a satisfied expression.
"Indeed, you have a real talent for martial arts. Hasn't your master ever said as much?"
"My master has mentioned it, but I thought it was just encouragement."
"No, you truly have talent. You might not know this, but most who learn imperial palace techniques already have prior martial arts foundations."
That made sense.
The imperial palace arts were designed to unify practitioners from various schools.
"And no one's progressed this quickly before."
"Hahaha."
I gave an awkward laugh.
"In a few more months, you won't need me anymore."
"Then I'll have to slow my pace on purpose."
"Pardon?"
"Because I want to keep seeing you, Daehyeop."
Jin Yeong Daehyeop smiled warmly at my words.
"As your instructor, I should scold you, but it feels good."
That was exactly the point.
"No wonder His Majesty favors you. Training ends here for today."
"Thank you for your guidance."
I quickly cupped my hands in respect.
"To explain the situation: As you predicted, the head of Ogeol Geon-sang tried to flee through a secret passage."
"Just as expected."
"Yes. Thanks to your tip, we used tracking spells in time."
"I'm truly relieved. With crimes like that, they deserved punishment—not living high on the hog after escaping."
I asked him,
"So where is he now?"
"Locked in the capital prison. And everyone who inspected those houses ten years ago during completion is being rounded up."
Normally, summons are issued first for explanations.
But with clear guilt, Gold Guard agents arrest them directly—hence "rounded up."
Even in my previous life, when the scandal broke late, those involved were dragged to the palace and suffered greatly.
They walked in on their own two feet but were carried out on stretchers, they said.
Of course, more than half their assets were confiscated.
This time wouldn't be much different.
"The Inspectorate is shaking down the Ministry of Works, and it's worse than we thought."
I smirked inwardly.
Had the higher-ups truly been unaware of the corruption all this time?
No way.
They knew.
They just turned a blind eye for some payoff.
Corruption is always a chain reaction.
And I figured the Emperor had known about this Ministry mess too.
He'd just been biding his time.
That's why he pounced the moment it erupted, sweeping through like a storm.
"Anyway, all the ministry officials are under investigation now."
I nodded and said,
"That must worry His Majesty."
"Hm?"
"He probably wants to execute them all or send them to corvée labor. But that would paralyze the ministry, leaving him in a bind."
That's the gap between ideals and reality.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop looked at me admiringly.
"Impressive. You nailed His Majesty's concerns. Your loyalty is profound."
"I am humbled."
"So, how would you handle it?"
I chuckled.
"Does corvée labor have to mean mines and such?"
"Hm?"
"Keep their ranks, pay them one-fifth salary. Use the rest to fine them."
"Wouldn't high officials finish too quickly?"
I shook my head.
"The higher up, the bigger the graft. Hit them with bigger fines."
"Clever indeed!"
"And threaten: Slack off, and their families go to the mines instead. They'll work themselves to the bone."
Jin Yeong Daehyeop tilted his head at my words.
"The father sinned—why punish the family? Too harsh, no?"
"They lived lavishly off that money, didn't they?"
"Ah... true."
"And if those collapsing houses had killed people, leaving widows and orphans—would victims call that unfair?"
"Well..."
"If the sinner works hard, the family stays free."
Jin Yeong Daehyeop nodded, his gaze turning golden with admiration...
Yikes!
I bowed quickly.
"This is just my humble opinion—feel free to disregard it."
But he already looked like he'd memorized every word. Damn.
.
.
.
A month passed after that.
It was mid-October now.
Rumors swirled everywhere about the scandal.
Among those who'd sold me houses, only the Kyeong family head came back, offering to return part of the payment.
That's normal folk for you.
Why I'd been moved.
Selling a flawed house—known or not—made returning some money the moral thing.
But few uphold morals over profit.
Not that I'd take it outright.
At least a 'thanks for saving our necks' would be nice...
"Young master, shouldn't we start looking for builders for the new structure?"
I nodded at Palgap's words.
"Yes. But we'll commission later. Winter's coming—no starting construction anyway."
"True enough."
"And I won't spend more of my own money. We'll build with compensation."
"As expected of you, young master. When's the verdict due?"
Recalling Jin Yeong Daehyeop's words from days ago, I replied,
"Probably in four or five days."
That's when they'd summon me to the palace for my input.
And then,
"My lord, a man from the palace is here."
A guard's voice rang out.
Quicker than expected.
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.
.
The next day, I headed to the palace.
After notifying via messenger, someone came to fetch me.
"Are you Eun Seo-ho, branch leader?"
"Yes."
"I'm Gang Eul-jin of the Inspectorate. First, my deepest condolences."
His formal tone suggested a low-rank official.
No mid-level would be that deferential, fame or not.
"Thank you."
"Follow me."
"Yes."
I trailed him to the Inspectorate, where I spotted a familiar face.
Huang Bon-ji, now Left Censor-in-Chief.
One of the top three there.
Instead of a warm greeting, I gave a subtle nod.
"Wait here briefly."
After a short stay in the antechamber, I followed him to a hall.
Several high officials in grand robes sat there.
I bowed respectfully.
"This humble merchant greets the lords."
"Sit."
"Yes."
I took my seat, scanning the faces.
Inspectorate, Gold Guard, other ministry heads.
They must be handling the verdict.
The Emperor appoints about five for major cases like this.
"We called you for opinions on this matter."
The center figure spoke first.
"Did you know the houses were defective when you bought them?"
"Pardon? Of course not. If I'd known, I wouldn't have paid double market price."
Of course I knew, but couldn't say that.
"A thousand nyang per house."
"Gasp!"
Their jaws dropped.
"Th-that's six thousand..."
"Ten houses total—ten thousand nyang."
"..."
"The other four are defective too. Not a small loss."
They nodded.
Someone raised a doubt.
"Why pay so much? Half that was market value, as you said."
"I needed them vacated fast. Wanted repairs before winter."
I continued,
"Owners needed new homes urgently too—so I added premiums."
"Hm, I see."
"Thankfully, no casualties. Right?"
"Y-yes..."
I asked them,
"I understand that for defective buildings causing financial loss, compensation can be demanded from those responsible."
I'd checked the legal codes beforehand.
Merchant groups always keep them handy—know the law or get fleeced.
Though I knew this anyway.
"That's correct."
"Then may I claim for my losses?"
They asked,
"How much?"
"Here's the list."
I pulled a scroll from my sleeve and submitted it.
My painstaking compensation demand.
"..."
They read in stunned silence, murmuring.
But no counterarguments possible.
All reasonable, fully legal: Compensation for buildings, debris removal, rebuilding costs, etc.
Three thousand nyang per collapsed house.
Six collapsed: eighteen thousand nyang.
Plus demolish/rebuild the four intact ones: three thousand five hundred each.
Four: fourteen thousand nyang.
Total: thirty-two thousand nyang.
"Rumors call it a curse or heavenly punishment. But this excludes reputational damage—one house would be five thousand easy."
I pressed on,
"I request compensation for these losses."
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.
Days later, the final verdict came down.
Corrupt Ministry of Works officials got labor sentences.
A new penalty by imperial decree: Work off fines diligently.
Exactly as I'd suggested.
Ah, imagining the Emperor's laughter made my stomach ache.
In my past life, most got light fines—except the worst offenders.
Ideals versus reality.
Now, they'd pay dearly.
Ten years of grueling labor to settle the fines, at least.
Ogeol Geon-sang's head and accomplices: corvée labor.
Past life, execution unavoidable.
This time, no deaths—so labor.
Still, rotting in mines for life.
No pity.
Self-made fate.
They'd reveled in ill-gotten luxury—time to pay up.
The firm's assets were confiscated, most going to my compensation.
Remainder to other shoddy builders—but not much.
They'd profited double on sales.
Kyeong family head got five hundred nyang back—because I'd mentioned their refund.
Other firms' graft surfaced too; they collapsed under massive payouts.
Anyway, I invested ten thousand nyang, earned twenty-two thousand more.
Full amount granted—thanks to the Emperor backing me.
His Majesty is the best.
But... gotta be careful.
Never know when he'll drag me into work slavery.