Never Let Your Guard Down (3)
Saho Hyeong.
They called it evil because it could suppress someone's will and bend them to your command at whim.
Just like the one the Shaanxi family had possessed before.
I had no idea why such a cursed artifact had been created in the first place, but in the future I remembered, it had always ended up in the hands of black path scum—unless pirates got to it first.
And because of it, countless good people had suffered terribly.
They said using Saho Hyeong left a lingering rose scent in the air.
I'd found it strange that roses weren't even in bloom yet, but there was that fragrance anyway. Now I knew why.
I hadn't thought that far ahead.
Grind.
As I ground my teeth, Gold Spirit tapped my arm from inside my sleeve, as if telling me to calm down.
- Ku-i! Ku-i!
I'm fine. My mind's sharper than ever right now.
I turned to the former pirates.
"Any weaknesses you know of?"
I already knew plenty about the Blood Bird Pirates, but they might know something I didn't.
"Weaknesses..."
"Not sure about that, but they're greedy as hell."
"That's why they've come all the way up to the port to pull this crap."
"Real pirates know to keep a low profile in port if they wanna live long."
I nodded at their words.
"Got it. Tell me everything you know about them. Cooperate, and I'll make sure dinner's something special tonight."
A short while later, I returned to my quarters.
I poured tea into a cup, chilled it with my ice arts, and downed it in quick gulps.
Then I spoke.
"I'm planning to wipe out those Blood Bird Pirates. If I let slide the ones who dared cause me this much trouble, someone else will suffer next."
"You're right."
I recalled what the ex-pirates had told me earlier.
Those enthralled by the Blood Bird Pirates' Saho Hyeong remembered nothing about it.
That's why no one recalled the cart being swapped.
And since the victims themselves had done the swapping, there'd been no trace of black path energy either.
"They're greedy, they said. They've already tasted success once. Dangle the bait again, and they'll bite for sure."
I continued.
"Palgap. Fetch the deputy branch manager of Yeo Chang."
"Yes, sir."
Soon, Yeo Chang's deputy branch manager entered my room.
"You called for me?"
"Yes."
"I'm truly sorry about this incident. I should have guarded it better..."
"This isn't the time for self-recrimination."
I shook my head, cutting him off.
"Listen carefully to what I say."
"I'm all ears."
"Our Eunhae Merchant Group lost the gifts meant for Dai Viet's king, so we've prepared gold goblets instead. They're being kept under strict guard in a warehouse at the port."
"Pardon? Really?"
"Believe it's real. Act like it is. You get what I'm saying?"
His eyes gleamed at my words. He clasped his fists and bowed.
"Understood. Consider it done."
"You're the only one who knows the true intent here."
"Yes."
"Then go. Move immediately."
"As you command."
Yeo Chang's deputy left my quarters, and I addressed the others.
"Alright, let's get moving."
We stepped out of our rooms. Just then, the door to the adjacent room opened, and Lady Seo Hyang emerged.
"Ah, Deputy Kwak."
"I heard. I'm sorry."
I paused at her apology, looking her over.
"Come in. Let's talk."
"Yes."
I led her inside and sat.
"Why are you apologizing to me?"
"Because... I didn't foresee it."
Ah, so that's it...
Not that she'd kept quiet because it would resolve itself—no, she hadn't seen it at all.
Makes sense. Her foresight was fragmentary at best, and she couldn't control or predict it.
I could guess what she was thinking.
"Deputy Kwak."
"Yes."
"Are you blaming yourself for not helping me with your ability?"
She flinched at my words.
"Are you an idiot?"
"Pardon?"
"I thought you were smarter than that."
I sighed.
"Sure, I've benefited from your ability, and I'm grateful. Thanks to you, we've saved a lot of people this time too."
I went on.
"But I keep you around because of that? Honestly, there's your father's request and your role as my deputy, but before all that... it's because you're you."
"Pardon?"
Uh... why'd I say that?
I cleared my throat.
"Ahem. Anyway, I have a duty to protect you. So don't obsess over being useful to me. Got it?"
"......"
"Answer me."
"Yes."
I chuckled softly.
"So don't worry too much. Just wait and see. You've seen enough by now—you know I'm pretty damn capable."
"That's true."
Then she spoke up.
"Ah... you must get rid of that necklace."
I chuckled again.
"So it was a necklace."
A short while later.
I took my group around Nanjing's markets, buying up gold goblets.
And I didn't forget to lament loudly for all to hear.
"Sigh... Losing those gifts means this is a huge loss!"
"Good heavens! I don't even know what to say."
"This time, we'll guard them thoroughly. Even bought a sturdy warehouse for it."
"Fingers crossed it's safe this time."
We bought a suitable number of goblets, packed them ostentatiously, loaded them onto carts, and headed to the port.
I had the cart hauled to the warehouse and ordered the guards.
"Remember: protect those goblets at all costs."
"As you command."
I returned to my quarters.
Now, all that was left was waiting for the rumors to reach their ears.
They'd made a fatal mistake.
Daring to touch my things.
It was night.
The only sound was the lapping waves—this was the port where ships bound for foreign trade were docked.
Figures appeared, wearing shoes padded with beast fur to muffle their steps.
They crept toward a certain warehouse.
"That the right one?"
"Yes. No doubt."
At the reply, a man smiled with satisfaction.
His name was Jeon Jung, captain of the pirate crew known as the Blood Bird Pirates.
Jeon Jung eyed the warehouse, guarded thoroughly by warriors.
"The escorts give it away. That's where they're keeping the gold goblets."
They'd heard in the markets that Eun Seo-ho, young division head of the Eunhae Merchant Group, had bought a full hundred gold goblets.
That's why they'd come tonight, targeting them.
"Idiots. No amount of guards will save it."
He smirked and pulled a necklace from around his neck.
This was the Saho Hyeong.
Its fragrance let him control others at will.
Yesterday, he'd already used it to hijack one cart.
Inside that box were several small liquor bottles.
They looked valuable enough not to touch—turns out they were gifts for Dai Viet's king.
Too little to drink anyway.
Then word of the gold goblets reached him. He had to come.
Saho Hyeong secured loyalty, but to rule over his men, he needed steady rewards too.
And a hundred gold goblets? Even divvying them up left dozens for him.
Jeon Jung activated the Saho Hyeong.
Shaaaa.
The fragrance soon enveloped the warehouse guards.
"You saw nothing."
"As you command."
"Those at the door: open the warehouse and bring out the cart inside."
"As you command."
At his order, the door guards opened up in a trance and dragged out the cart with the gold goblets.
No need for a swap this time.
Last time, they'd planned to stick around awhile, so they'd been careful. Not now—they were heading straight back to base.
"Return to your posts. Forget everything."
"As you command."
They resumed their positions.
The Blood Bird Pirates hauled the cart to their secretly moored ship.
At the shore, they opened the top box.
Gold goblets gleamed in the moonlight.
"Heh heh heh, oh baby, look at these beauties!"
"This'll keep us feasting for months."
"Heh heh, you bet."
The captain closed the lid and barked.
"To the main ship."
"Aye!"
"Drop any in the sea, and I'll tie you to the prow 'til you drown!"
"Eek!"
Terrified, the pirates handled the boxes with care.
They loaded them onto a skiff and rowed to the main ship.
The main ship couldn't dock at shore—too shallow, and too risky if spotted.
So it was anchored nearby.
Splash, splash.
They rowed up, hoisted the boxes with ropes, and climbed aboard via ladders.
The captain, waiting on deck, bellowed heartily to the crew.
"Hahaha! You lot! I've brought you something real nice! Feast your eyes!"
The pirates cheered at the glittering goblets.
"Woooah!"
"Captain's the best!"
"Can't just sit on a night like this. Party time!"
"Yeeeah!"
The empire's alcohol ban meant nothing to pirates.
Wine flowed from the hold, and the revelry began.
Meanwhile, the boxes of gold goblets went to the captain's cabin.
No one entered there uninvited—safest spot.
Couldn't have some drunk pirate swiping them.
Slice, slice.
I confirmed the surroundings had quieted, then sliced the box side and emerged.
Raucous noise and thick booze stench wafted from outside.
These bastards are having a ball.
Yeah, party hard. It's your last night alive.
I rapped on the box.
Knock knock, knock knock, knock knock.
Three pairs of two—signal to come out.
The side panels split, and my guard warriors emerged.
We'd hidden inside the boxes holding the gold goblets.
Ten boxes total: me, Seo-u Warrior, Jin Yu Warrior, and Yeo Eung-am Warrior in the bottom four.
The top six held real gold goblets.
We'd banked on their time crunch—only topped the cart with real ones.
The goblets were heavy enough that our added weight raised no suspicions.
The rest of the guards waited at shore—for their own tasks.
We scanned the area slowly.
This was the captain's cabin—likely held our stolen goods.
Ah! There.
A familiar box by the bed.
Opened it: perfectly intact.
"Good, they didn't touch it."
"Gold Spirit."
"Ku-i?"
"Empty all these small bottles into the gold goblets over there."
"Ku-i!"
But...
"Ku-i... ku?"
"Fine. One gold goblet for you. But in exchange..."
I asked Gold Spirit one more favor.
"Ku-i!"
Its specialty—no worries?
Gold Spirit perked up, wiggling its butt excitedly.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
But my eyes, gazing beyond the cabin, were ice cold.
"Hoo... let's go."
"Yes."
We gripped our swords, left the cabin, and swung.
Slash!
"Argh!"
Stab!
"Gahk!"
The booze-and-food-fueled revelry turned to screams and blood in an instant.
We might look like the villains here, but these scum weren't worth sparing.
Even the ex-pirates in Nanjing commandery prison would stick out their tongues at their villainy.
Years from now, the emperor would crush them.
Only the captain barely escaped—and that's how some black path fiend stole the Saho Hyeong from him, probably.
They'd be dealt with eventually, but the suffering in those intervening years meant they had to vanish here and now.
The pirates who snapped to tried fighting back, but drunk and staggering, they stood no chance.
Not with the skill gap anyway.
Then a voice rang out.
"You've made a mistake!"
I turned: the captain, flanked by pirate guards.
"I don't know how you infiltrated, but you won't die easy!"
And then—the rose scent hit my nose.
He commanded.
"Drop your weapons! Kneel before me!"
Hah. Think I'd come so boldly if I didn't know about the Saho Hyeong?
It was useless against me.
I grinned and spread the energy of my Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art in all directions.
The rose scent dissipated instantly.
"You made the first mistake."
And you'll pay for it with your life.