Young Palace Lord (2)
All eyes turned to that Protector at his words.
"Opposition?"
The Palace Lord's question made the Protector nod.
"Yes. That's correct."
"What's the reason? Escort Leader Jeon Il."
Right, that was his name—Jeon Il.
"To be frank, isn't Young Branch Leader Eun Seo-ho an outsider? An outsider as our Seolpung Palace's Young Palace Lord! The late previous Palace Lord would grieve in sorrow."
"Um..."
I spoke up cautiously.
"I'm a disciple of Seolpung Palace too. Doesn't that mean I'm not an outsider?"
"By 'outsider,' I mean anyone not of the Palace Lord's bloodline. As you know, the Young Palace Lord must be of the Palace Lord's direct descent—it's the tradition handed down from our ancestors."
Ah, that's not it at all.
Wrong.
Our ancestors said the Palace Lord's position isn't passed through bloodlines.
But even if I said that, no way he'd believe me.
"Out of curiosity, is there any record of that?"
"With Seolpung Palace reduced to ashes, how could any records survive?"
"Then has anyone actually seen that record?"
The Protectors exchanged glances at my question and shook their heads.
"I wouldn't know. Was there such a record?"
"I never saw it. You?"
"Me neither..."
That was when my master spoke up.
"We've always done it that way, but in truth, no such record exists."
"..."
My master neatly settled the matter.
"Any other objections?"
The other Protectors shook their heads at his question.
But Escort Leader Jeon Il still wouldn't yield.
"That's not the only reason I oppose it. We haven't seen his qualities."
Escort Leader Ha Cheol spoke in exasperation.
"Haven't you heard of all Young Branch Leader Eun Seo-ho has accomplished? He's even earned the title of Seonhyeopmirang!"
"Martial prowess is what matters in Seolpung Palace! I can't acknowledge him until I witness it myself."
Escort Leader Jeon Il turned to my master.
"Please understand this Protector's loyal heart."
"What do you want, then?"
"Well..."
"One moment, Escort Leader Jeon Il."
I cut in with a smile.
"How about a spar with me?"
"W-Why me?"
"Because you want to test my skills, right? The best way is for you to see it firsthand. Isn't it?"
Everyone nodded at my question.
"That's true."
"Fair point."
I turned to my master.
"So, please permit it."
He nodded at my request.
"Granted."
.
.
.
A short while later.
I infiltrated Escort Leader Jeon Il's office.
The Changin Escort Agency provided each Escort Leader with a private office.
I could slip in here now because Jeon Il was with Ha Cheol.
After the meeting ended, I'd quietly asked Ha Cheol to keep him occupied elsewhere for half a shichen.
I went to such lengths to find evidence to oust him.
That's why I'd deliberately postponed the spar to tomorrow.
I found it odd how desperately Escort Leader Jeon Il opposed me becoming Young Palace Lord.
Everyone else accepted it readily—why was he so dead set against it?
Plus, the anxiety etched on his face.
And that uneasy vibe I got from him.
It all pointed to him having something to hide.
I recalled events from the Changin Escort Agency in my past life.
And one memory provided the clue.
"Young master, did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"One of the Escort Leaders at Changin Escort Agency embezzled a fortune—rumored to be around a thousand gold taels."
"Really? He made a killing. But how did no one notice until it reached that much? Escorts aren't exactly sloppy with accounts."
"Young master, that's why they say you get chopped by the axe you trust and cut by the rice knife you rely on."
"True... Betrayers are everywhere."
That was about a decade before my death.
I hadn't thought of it until now, but I remembered Jeon Il vanishing after that.
That's what sparked this investigation.
His behavior screamed guilt.
And I proposed the spar to buy this time.
Not to actually fight.
I began methodically searching the office.
And crooks like him always hide embezzled goods in the usual spots.
Checking my suspects, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Here it is."
It was the lower shelf of the bookcase.
A long line scratched into the floor.
That was the giveaway.
I shoved the bookcase aside.
Creak.
It slid perfectly, matching the floor marks.
Behind it was a small wall cabinet.
I reached in, pulled out a ledger, and flipped it open.
Jackpot—I chuckled again.
***
Jeon Il finished talking with Ha Cheol and returned to his office.
He'd wanted to come straight back, but Ha Cheol had held him up.
Ha Cheol had ranted in his own office about how they must recognize Eun Seo-ho as Young Branch Leader.
Yeah, he knew.
If Eun Seo-ho became Young Palace Lord, Seolpung Palace's revival would accelerate.
Which was exactly why he couldn't let that happen—it would undermine everything he'd done.
He opened the window.
Night had fallen, pitch black all around.
Scanning outside and seeing no one, he shut it.
He went to the bookcase, opened it.
Inside: some of his hoard and the ledger listing it all.
Ideally, no ledger at all—but he needed it to track the massive sums and hiding spots he'd forgotten.
He'd siphoned off fortunes, stashed in scattered places.
Seolpung Palace had been destroyed long ago.
They clung on, but like a candle in the wind.
He had no desire to go down with it.
Revival wasn't his goal.
Thriving personally was.
'Rebuilding Seolpung Palace is just a delusion.'
Soon, once he hit his target sum, he'd ditch this hopeless place without a backward glance.
That's why Eun Seo-ho couldn't become Young Palace Lord.
A merchant world figure, renowned for his sharp mind.
The Escort Agency dealt with merchants but focused on escorting and transport—core staff were mostly martial artists.
Not as meticulous with money as a trading company.
If Eun Seo-ho took over and checked the books, his embezzlement would be exposed.
"So... tomorrow, no matter what, I have to crush Eun Seo-ho. If not, at least cripple an arm or leg."
He muttered darkly, restored the bookcase, extinguished the candle, and left.
Moments later, a shadow dropped silently from the ceiling.
Cold eyes gleamed in the dark.
***
Late night, I slipped out of the banquet hall to Jeon Il's office again.
After I'd checked earlier, he'd surely come back to verify the ledger.
He'd be anxious.
Corrupt folks obsess over evidence when uneasy.
As expected, signs he'd checked it.
Time to retrieve it?
He'd never dream it was gone.
I'd reached Super First-rate, but sneaking through Changin Escort Agency wasn't easy.
Higher realms lurked inside.
So I suggested the banquet.
My master and the others were enjoying it now.
Jeon Il skipped it, resting alone.
Makes sense—no way he'd join a feast from the man he opposed.
Even if caught sneaking, master would understand...
But these things hit hardest when unexpected.
Back to the banquet?
Absent host looks rude—and suspicious.
The next day.
I arrived at Changin Escort Agency.
"I'm worried, young master."
I waved off Palgap's words with a laugh.
"No need. I won't lose."
The guards nodded.
All six had followed upon hearing of the spar.
"Not you, sir."
Palgap continued.
"Escort Leader Jeon Il, your opponent."
"Huh? Not me?"
"Why worry about you? You don't pick fights you can't win."
"W-Well, true..."
"I'm concerned he'll hold a grudge against you."
"Got the headspace for that?"
"Pardon?"
"You'll see."
I followed the waiting Ha Cheol to the training ground.
I'd been here before.
Crowds already ringed it—Seolpung Palace disciples, identities secret to avoid trouble.
They'd keep my secrets too.
My master and the Protectors stood to one side.
"We'll begin the spar. Both sides, step forward."
Ha Cheol's call had Jeon Il and me facing off.
He spoke first.
"Quit now, and we'll call it off."
"Please advise me well."
"No backing down, eh."
"Yes."
He spoke that way because he didn't know my realm.
The Seo-u warrior had said as much—you need to see martial arts in action.
Even Nangong Gang hadn't sensed mine just by looking.
Wait.
But master clocked me instantly?
His level lets him see differently?
Anyway, master hadn't shared it.
Grateful.
Sorry, Escort Leader, but no swords today.
I said to him,
"Why oppose me as Young Palace Lord so fiercely?"
"Obviously..."
"Beyond not being master's direct line or lacking skills—the real reason."
He flinched.
"What nonsense? No other reason!"
"I know the real one. If it's hard to say, I will."
I grinned.
"Scared I'll uncover your embezzlement from Seolpung Palace funds? As Young Palace Lord, I'd audit the books—exposing you."
He exploded.
"Baseless slander! Shut your mouth!"
Another Protector chimed in.
"Don't accuse without proof."
"Embezzlement? Ha, Escort Leader Jeon Il wouldn't."
Sigh.
Such innocents.
That's how he'd gotten away with it so long.
And gotten backstabbed big time.
My master, who'd watched silently, spoke.
"Young Branch Leader."
"Yes, master."
"The Young Branch Leader I know wouldn't assert this without certainty."
"As expected of master—you know me well."
I grinned, pulling a ledger from my bosom.
"What's that?"
"Ah, the ledger. Records what Escort Leader Jeon Il siphoned off."
His face paled; his voice trembled.
"P-Proof that's evidence of my crimes?"
"The handwriting matches yours."
"H-Handwriting can be forged. For all you know, you faked it to frame me."
Even if I'm not yet Young Palace Lord, I'm still a trading partner branch head—some nerve, talking down.
"You made it 'cause I opposed you becoming Young Palace Lord. To oust me!"
"Think what you want."
I smirked.
"So this ledger isn't yours?"
"No! Couldn't be!"
"Then I faked it to frame you?"
"Obviously!"
"Hmm, let's see... Fifty taels of silver hidden behind the rock on the back mountain of Sungyang County, golden Buddha under the pine nearby, five gold certificates invested in Aengngru behind the bookcase... And tons more—all mine, you say?"
"..."