The Critic Murder Case (3)
Eunhae's intelligence network had been steadily growing for several years now, allowing it to operate actively across the empire.
With my involvement, it had developed far faster than in my previous life.
And now, I was reaping the benefits in full.
"Jin Yu Warrior."
"You called?"
"Please deliver this letter to Cheongya-ru discreetly."
"Understood."
Cheongya-ru in Beijing.
That was our merchant group's Beijing base for intelligence operations.
But I'd made a point of using it as little as possible.
Given all the public attention on me, I worried that its true nature might be exposed.
I only requested information through Jin Yu Warrior when absolutely necessary.
And this time, their help was essential.
The next day, Jin Yeong Daehyeop came to see me again.
"His Majesty the Emperor summons you."
"Yes, sir."
I'd figured he'd call me around today, and my guess was spot on.
After tidying my robes, I followed Jin Yeong Daehyeop to the imperial palace.
Once I'd paid my utmost respects to the Emperor, he said to me,
"Raise your head."
"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace."
"So, I've heard you're helping Jin Yeong with the critic murder case, working to uncover the truth."
So the incident had been officially named the Critic Murder Case.
"If I can be of help, it's only natural that I should."
"You do have a way with words."
The Emperor chuckled softly.
"No doubt you're inwardly whining that you already have plenty to do, and now this on top of it."
Gasp...
How did he know?
Did the Emperor have some side gig besides ruling?
Maybe something where all you needed was a mat to sit on?
"Alright, let me ask you this. Do you think the man we've caught is the culprit?"
Anticipation gleamed in the Emperor's eyes.
He was hoping I'd say, "Yes, that's the culprit."
But I couldn't.
It might please him now, but it'd be a headache later.
"No."
"No...?"
"That's right."
I nodded.
"In my judgment, he is not the culprit."
Disappointment flickered across the Emperor's face.
He'd probably planned to use this as leverage to pressure and intimidate the Murim Alliance and the Namgung Clan, and now that was off the table.
"Why not?"
"Because his skills surpass those of the real culprit."
"Hmm... Is that so?"
We'd agreed to keep it secret, but this was the Emperor.
Besides, with Transcendent Realm experts at his side, how could I hide it?
"However, he asked that we keep his abilities hidden, even though revealing them would clear him of suspicion."
"...A strange request."
"That's why we're searching for other evidence now."
"That bastard, making my man work overtime for no good reason."
I doubted my ears at his mutter.
Did he just call me his man?
I stood there blankly for a moment, and the Emperor asked,
"So, do you think you can find that evidence?"
"Yes. We're investigating his whereabouts that night."
"His whereabouts that night?"
"Yes. He refuses to reveal them. But if we uncover them, we can prove his innocence and find the real culprit."
"Tch!"
The Emperor clicked his tongue.
"What a high-maintenance bastard."
I glanced at the eunuch beside him.
He already looked utterly unfazed by His Majesty's rough speech.
"But if he won't reveal it himself, doesn't that mean he'll likely ask you to keep that secret too?"
"We'll cross that bridge once we know his movements."
"Fine. You'll handle it well enough. Still, it's a bit disappointing."
"Your Majesty, allow me one word."
"Speak."
I chose my words carefully.
"We don't necessarily need him to be guilty to gain something from this."
"What do you mean?"
"Even if he's innocent, we can still get something out of it."
I continued,
"Just take some credit for it."
The Emperor pondered for a moment, then grinned at me.
"You little...
Was it my imagination, or did his gaze resemble Geum-ryeong eyeing a gold ingot?
"Eun Seo-ho, branch leader."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Do your utmost to prove his innocence. As you said, we need that first to claim the credit."
"I shall obey."
......
I returned to the Beijing branch.
"Branch leader, Poet Song Lok has arrived."
Vice Officer Galhyeon informed me.
"Where is he now?"
"Resting in his quarters, I believe."
"Then tell him to meet me in the reception room."
"Yes, sir."
Song Lok had won the poetry contest two years ago.
True to our contract, he'd joined Eunhae Merchant Group and traveled the country, performing.
This time, he'd been invited to judge the poetry contest.
He was supposed to come with Brother Jeong-ho last time, but something came up, so he'd arrived late.
I waited in the reception room, and soon Song Lok entered.
"Welcome."
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No need. I haven't been here long. Please, sit."
Palgap soon brought refreshments.
"Help yourself."
"Thank you."
"It's been a while. You've filled out nicely—looking much healthier."
He'd been gaunt and hollow-cheeked when we first met, but now he had some meat on his bones and seemed full of vitality.
He smiled sheepishly.
"This is all thanks to you, Branch Leader."
"I still get chills thinking about it. Some random guy at the Beijing branch construction site..."
"Uwaaaah!"
At my mention of his dark past, Song Lok flailed his arms dramatically.
"Th-that was..."
"What's wrong?"
"P-please, forget about that."
"How could I? The poem you wrote there was so beautiful."
"......"
He sighed and grumbled,
"Is teasing this humble poet really that fun for you?"
"Sorry. Things have been too grim lately for laughs."
With the mood sufficiently lightened, time for the main topic.
I'd deliberately teased him to ease into it because what I had to say wasn't pleasant.
"The poetry contest starts tomorrow."
"Yes."
"You'll be judging again, just like last year. I appreciate your help."
"It's an honor."
He cupped his hands and bowed slightly.
"This year, it's open to the entire empire, unlike the past two, so there'll be a huge number of participants."
"No problem. Appreciating poetry is my joy. And being invited as a judge is a great honor."
I nodded with a smile.
He was right.
I turned serious.
"Actually, there was a gruesome incident in Beijing recently."
"Gruesome?"
"A literati who came for the poetry contest was brutally murdered."
"Heavens!"
I gave him a rough outline of the case, omitting any classified details.
He nodded thoughtfully.
"I know Poet Na Jeong-su. Not that it's right to speak ill of the dead, but he had a nasty temperament—I never cared for him. His brutal end doesn't surprise me much."
If even Song Lok said that, the man must have had quite the reputation among poets.
"How vicious were his critiques to warrant that?"
"Honestly, his so-called critiques were just vitriol."
He explained Na Jeong-su's methods.
"He'd compose denunciatory poems about others' work and post them in busy streets."
Damn...
Public humiliation?
Song Lok was right—he was a spiteful bastard.
Then the poem on the wall wasn't just a warning.
It was giving him a taste of his own medicine.
"His barbs were so vicious you'd wonder if any human could stoop that low... Several poets, unable to bear the shame, took their own lives."
"And he never stopped?"
"No. He claimed that if they died, it proved they lacked the grit of true poets—that they'd have chosen death eventually anyway."
"......"
Wow, what a piece of trash.
I could see why Song Lok disliked him.
"Did he ever target you?"
"Fortunately, no."
"Good."
Of course—Song Lok's poetry was acclaimed as near perfection.
"Actually, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"First, take a look at this."
I handed him a transcription of the poem found at Na Jeong-su's murder scene.
"Ah... This must be...?"
He recognized it immediately and looked back at me.
"Yes. The poem from the scene I mentioned."
I continued,
"I'm told every poet has unique markers in their work."
"Correct. They may not notice, but others can spot them."
"If you see any entries during judging with the same or similar markers, let me know."
"You think that's the killer?"
"Yes."
I nodded at his question.
"Na Jeong-su may have been a lousy human, but we still need to catch his killer, right?"
"Understood."
I asked him because I couldn't linger at the contest venue.
As a judge, he'd hear every entry and judge more accurately.
"Thank you for agreeing."
"No need to thank me. If I can help my lifesaver, it's only right."
The next day, the poetry contest began.
I watched for a bit, then headed to the yamen to check on Nangong Yang.
"You've arrived."
The yamen officials, familiar with my face and mindful of Jin Yeong Daehyeop's request for cooperation, treated me kindly.
"Where's Nangong Yang?"
"In the jail."
I went to the cells and approached Nangong Yang, locked inside.
"Hungry?"
He noticed me and asked with a gloomy expression.
"For what?"
"Hard candies."
I showed him the candies I'd brought, and his eyes lit up.
"I... I won't refuse."
He must be starving.
I handed them over, and he unwrapped one and started eating.
Crunch, munch.
I watched him savor it.
If he weren't from the Namgung Clan, just a commoner, he probably wouldn't look so pristine now.
With that level of evidence, they'd have tortured the truth out of him by now.
Like what happened to Inner Manager Yu So-ak before.
We should treat everyone equally, but honestly, it's not that simple.
Anyway, a sudden curiosity struck me.
"Nangong Yang."
"Yes?"
"With your skills, you could escape this jail easily. Why stay so obediently?"
"I can't tarnish... my family's name."
Family honor, huh?
"And..."
He continued softly,
"If I stained the family honor, Father would punish me severely. Then Mother would be heartbroken."
"I see."
I squatted in front of him.
"The poetry contest started today."
"I see."
Calmer than expected.
"The preliminary round isn't over yet, so if your name is cleared now, you could still participate."
"......"
"So, any thought to tell me where you were and what you were doing that night?"
"......"
Stubborn guy.
What on earth happened?
I stood up.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
He said nothing.
"My lord, a reply from Cheongya-ru."
Back at the Beijing branch, Jin Yu Warrior handed me a letter.
Tonight, at Yeoji-ru, we shall meet.
Yeoji-ru was one of Beijing's taverns.
Famous for its lamb skewers.
Perfect. Time for a belated team dinner.
Night fell.
I headed to Yeoji-ru and went up to the top floor.
"Lamb skewers and..."
I ordered food, and it arrived soon after. Then a gisaeng approached us.
"A cup of tea for you."
I sensed her aura and smirked.
"Long time no see, Chun Il."
He chuckled back.
"Your instincts are as terrifying as ever."
The others around us gasped in surprise, clicking their tongues in admiration. Impressive indeed.
Fooling even a Super First-rate warrior.
"You've been in Beijing?"
"Yes, about half a month now. So, you want to know about Nangong Yang?"
"Yes."
"Then I should start with this: Nangong Yang's life is in grave danger."
"...Pardon?"
What the hell?