Unexpected Clue (3)
Geum Sa-gyeon kept cursing as he raced along the mountain path.
Damn it! What the hell! This dogshit situation! You ×× bastards!
And who could blame him? His fate was hanging by a thread right now.
It had all started about half a month after he'd been assigned to Hainan Island, when a mysterious stranger approached him with a proposal.
"Being posted to this remote island, farthest from Beijing? That means your future's as good as dead. You're not seriously dreaming you can work hard here and climb to a palace position, are you? Heh heh heh."
"What are you talking about?"
"No need to get so worked up. I'm just making a proposal."
"A proposal?"
"Don't you want to get rich?"
"I'm already plenty rich. Even as a local magistrate, you think I ignore my branch stipend?"
"And you're satisfied with that pittance? You think it'll let you live out your wildest dreams forever?"
"……."
"What if you end up retiring sooner than expected?"
His persuasion was sweet enough.
"Hear me out. You won't regret it."
He'd proposed a scheme involving embezzlement and tax evasion.
"If the tax ships sink at sea, how would the higher-ups ever know? This place is worlds away from Beijing."
"It's not that simple. His Majesty's side has the Gold Guard and the Eastern Depot."
"I'll handle them. All you need to do, Branch Lord, is look the other way. In return, I'll give you thirty percent of the profits."
After agonizing, he'd accepted. They introduced him to a man posing as the head of a pearl-trading merchant group named Cheon Cheon-bok.
Geum Sa-gyeon simply provided cover in exchange for his thirty percent cut.
Watching his wealth pile up, his greed grew. He turned a blind eye even as they grew bolder.
Then he realized how deep he was in.
They hadn't targeted just him.
The nearest port from Guangdong to Hainan, Seomun County, had the Mu Merchant Group playing the same role as Chae Hong Merchant Group.
And its officials were bought off too.
That realization hit him hard.
If this blows up, I'm dead meat. No bones left.
Too late to snitch now.
They were organized enough to neutralize the Gold Guard and Eastern Depot. If they found out, he'd be finished.
So he'd prepared an escape route.
Assuming Guangdong would get hit first, he'd planted a contact there.
He'd bought a small plot and threatened the tenant farmer: show up every three days or lose the land.
But the time had come and gone—no contact.
Worse, all ships from Guangdong to Hainan had stopped.
Something had gone down.
To top it off, the pirates who'd raided Hainan this time were wiped out.
Those pirates were part of Cheon Cheon-bok's operation.
His post as branch lord wasn't won gambling—it came with instincts.
Sensing disaster, he bolted.
He'd stashed most of his fortune in a secret mainland vault, grabbing only the most valuable portable items.
One was the golden toad Eun Seo-ho had given as a gesture of goodwill.
A treasure worth at least 100,000 nyang of silver.
Packing his valuables, he slipped to his hidden boat and crossed to Guangdong alone.
Practice paid off—he made it solo.
Arriving in Guangdong, he realized it was worse than he'd feared.
Gold Guard everywhere.
"……."
He had to move carefully.
One slip, and no mercy.
First, convert the golden toad to a bill of exchange.
Too bulky for flight, despite its value.
With his hidden wealth, he could vanish forever.
The toad was travel funds to get there.
He headed to the money changer's, hat pulled low to hide his face.
"Welcome. How can I help?"
"Here to sell this golden toad."
"Hand it over."
The clerk appraised it, tilting his head.
"Sorry, sir, but we couldn't offer more than half a nyang of silver."
"Half a nyang? This thing's worth at least 100,000 nyang!"
"No, it's fake."
"What? Fake?"
"See here."
He scraped the belly with a sharp dagger. Gold leaf flaked off, revealing black iron.
"A iron lump coated in gold leaf."
Geum Sa-gyeon couldn't believe his eyes.
Wouldn't accept it.
"Fake? No, you bastards!"
He yelled, hurling his hat to the floor.
All eyes turned to him.
"Huh?"
Someone recognized him.
"Isn't that Hainan's branch lord?"
"Aigoo! What brings you here?"
Panicking under their stares, he fled.
But...
"Fancy meeting you here, Branch Lord."
"……!"
A familiar voice.
Eun Seo-ho, who'd given him the toad.
His rage turned on him.
"You con artist! Daring to give me a fake golden toad!"
"What are you saying? I just passed on what I got from Mu Merchant Group."
"It was fake!"
"What? Those dog bastards! So they gave me a fake as collateral?"
Eun Seo-ho feigned outrage, making him hesitate.
"S-seems so. Well, I'll be going then..."
"By the way, what brings Hainan's branch lord here?"
"I had business..."
"Not fleeing, I hope?"
"What?"
Eun Seo-ho smiled at his shock.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Eun Seo-ho, imperial inspector sent by His Majesty to investigate corruption in Hainan."
I smirked as the Gold Guard dragged away the branch lord.
Thanks to Seo Hyang's tip, I'd had Jin Yu Warrior tail him. Worth it.
The dispatched Gold Guard would shake him down thoroughly. No pity—he earned it.
"Let's head to the county office."
"Yes."
I went to Seomun County's office and met the Mu Merchant Group's acting head in the jail.
"Nice to meet you."
"Hm? Ack! You!"
He startled at the sight of me, pleading desperately.
"P-please save me! Treason? Me? Impossible!"
"What happened?"
"They say my vault had palace items."
He spilled the story.
Gold Guard had raided him on treason charges, searching his private vault.
And found palace property inside.
Unauthorized possession by a non-royal was treason.
"Oh dear!"
"It's a frame-up! I knew nothing about it!"
Tsk tsk, idiot.
I planted that in your vault.
Borrowed it from His Majesty.
And you're begging me, clueless...
I sighed.
"Sorry, but I can't trust you."
"W-what...?"
"The golden toad you gave as collateral? Fake."
"……!"
He flinched.
"How can I trust someone who offers fakes for a 100,000 nyang deal?"
"I-I didn't know!"
"We have testimony. Someone said they plated a fake on your orders."
"……."
"Plus, they say Gold Guard items came from your vault too. Proof you dealt with the missing agents dispatched here, right?"
His face twisted in panic.
"A Gold Guard hero told me His Majesty is furious. They'll strip everyone involved bare."
"……."
"Their torture breaks even heavenly machines."
His eyes and lips trembled like aspen leaves.
"It's fine. If you're truly innocent, you might save your neck."
"Um..."
"Yes?"
"I heard something..."
He spoke cautiously. I nodded after hearing him out.
"I see. So the county magistrate here is at the center?"
"Yes."
"But, acting head."
I grinned.
"You just kicked away the chance I gave you."
"Ch-chance?"
I flashed my inspector badge. He gaped, glaring.
"Y-you!"
"I've already got a full confession from Mo Kyung."
"……."
Realizing the trap, he gripped the bars and screamed.
"Arghhh! You bastard!"
I chuckled and left the jail.
The dispatched Gold Guard and Eastern Depot shook down everyone involved.
What emerged was shocking.
Dozens of local officials from Guangdong and Hainan were implicated.
Enough for the Emperor to send the Crown Prince as special envoy.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"His Majesty praises your efforts. Keep pursuing the truth."
After the report on findings, the Crown Prince asked General Jang Won.
"Good work. By the way, where's Eun Seo-ho, the branch leader?"
"In Hainan."
"Hainan?"
"Yes. Said he had business."
I'd returned to Hainan to check something.
Straight to Chae Hong Merchant Group.
The Gold Guard had probably taken everything valuable, but something felt off.
"Gold Spirit."
"Kui?"
"They'd stash valuables with important stuff, right?"
"Kui!"
"Any pricey leftovers? Scout around."
Gold Spirit floated down, waddling about.
Then it stopped, pawing a spot.
"Here?"
"Kui!"
A massive tree in Chae Hong's back mountain.
I inspected closely, reaching into a knothole.
Something grabbed. I pulled.
Rumble.
The ground beneath the tree opened.
Jackpot.
I took only Seo-u Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior down, tasking the rest with watch.
Fugitives or uncaught might show.
It was a dugout tunnel.
Inside: mountains of wealth.
Chae Hong's siphoned loot, no doubt.
Gold Spirit for the win!
I patted its back.
"Good job!"
"Kui!"
Hm? Not pats—pay up for good work?
That's my Gold Spirit.
"Got it. Silver later."
"Kui? Kui?"
Huh? Yesterday's sunken ship haul was huge—why just silver?
And after swimming, you caught a cold—need gold for tonic?
Clever excuse.
Gold Spirit knows limits. If it asks, the haul was big.
Time to check.
"Fine, gold it is."
"Kui!"
Next to it: stacks of documents.
I read them, smiling.
Pieces falling into place.
These guys never trusted their superiors.
So they hoarded protective intel. This was their "lifeline"—what I'd sought.
And proof this tied to the Blood Cult.
Perfect evidence for the Emperor: "The Blood Cult is rebuilding!"
I pocketed it.
No telling the Gold Guard—might leak midway.
Better report direct.
Now, sweep up the wealth.
As ordered: use their ill-gotten gains for a naval base here.
Then—
"Ugh..."
A groan in my ear.
Definitely human.