An Unexpected Clue (4)

I scoured the area thoroughly with my two guard warriors, Seo-u Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior, and finally spotted something suspicious.

It looked like a hook for hanging a torch, but this place had night pearls embedded in the walls—no torches needed.

Yet it showed clear signs of use.

I pulled it down, and with a grinding rattle, a door slid open.

Man, installing all this must've cost a fortune.

The moment the door opened, a thick stench of blood hit my nose.

Rotten blood, too—it had clearly been left untouched for quite some time.

What the hell happened here?

Seo-u Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior sensed something off as well; their faces hardened.

Unlike the outer chamber, the inside was pitch black.

But I had night pearls.

I pulled three necklace-style night pearls from my pouch and handed two to the warriors.

We each hung one around our necks and stepped inside, immediately sensing the presence of black path warriors.

Three of them.

"Let's each take one," I whispered.

"Understood."

We muffled our night pearls' glow and rushed in silently, knocking out the black path warriors before they could react.

No other black path presences now.

While Yeo Eung-am Warrior bound them, Seo-u Warrior and I searched the surroundings.

Several tunnels branched off, and from one larger one came a groan.

"Ugh……."

Following the nose-burning blood stench, I saw someone chained to the wall.

Uh…… is that even a person?

It was so horrific, the thought flashed through my mind.

Whatever they'd done to him, his naked body was a mass of wounds—no inch of it unscathed.

I approached, then froze, biting my lip.

I could sense the unique aura of imperial palace martial arts from him.

He lifted his head at the sound of footsteps.

But torture had likely damaged his eyes; he couldn't make out who I was.

"Ha! Who's this time? Spare me the pointless games and just kill me already!"

His voice was hoarse and ragged.

I spoke to him.

"Jin Yeong Daehyeop has been greatly worried about you."

He flinched at my words.

"I'm Eun Seo-ho, of the Eunhae Merchant Group. His Majesty the Emperor sent me to resolve the corruption in Haenam Province."

But he raised his voice instead.

"How dare you invoke His Majesty's name! And Jin Yeong? I don't know anyone by that name."

"Believe me or not, that's your choice."

Good thing Jang Won Daehyeop didn't see him like this first—he'd have been shocked.

"Seo-u Warrior."

"Yes."

"Go outside and tell Myeong Jong Warrior and Chang Woon Warrior to bring reinforcements here."

"Understood."

"And if possible, bring along a Gold Guard daehyeop too."

"Yes."

Looking at his condition, he needs treatment fast. Regular golden sore medicine won't cut it……

No choice.

Once Seo-u Warrior headed out, I went to a nearby table used for meals and tea.

I picked up a bowl-like dish from it and drew out Gold Bell from my sleeve.

"Here, Gold Bell. That gold coin I promised you before."

"Kku! Kkwi!"

Gold Bell's eyes sparkled at the shiny gold coin, and it panted excitedly.

Drool poured from its mouth, of course.

Whoops!

I caught it in the bowl, and once it was full enough, handed over the coin.

"Kkwi!"

Gold Bell snatched the coin in its mouth and burrowed back into my sleeve.

I felt its tail wagging inside—clearly thrilled.

I chuckled and approached the chained man with the bowl of Gold Bell's saliva.

I smeared it evenly over his body.

He tried to resist my hands but couldn't move, so……

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Hm…… wonder if it'll work on his eyes too?

It's an external injury, so maybe.

Thinking that, I applied some to his eyes as well.

I saved the rest in an emptied liquor bottle.

A liquor bottle……

Come to think of it, that young head of the Mu Merchant Group got in trouble for drinking illicit brew.

They said he'd face harsher punishment for it.

Tsk, just hold on a bit. The alcohol ban will lift soon enough.

Then—

"Ung?"

I turned at the sound. The Gold Guard daehyeop was blinking.

Focus returned to his gaze.

Whoa…… Gold Bell's saliva is insanely effective.

Good job, you little rascal.

I approached cautiously.

"Can you see a bit now?"

"And you are?"

"I explained earlier, didn't I?"

"……It was true?"

"Yes."

"Sorry."

His voice strengthened instantly.

I shook my head.

"No need. I understand your situation fully."

He glanced at the three bound black path warriors Yeo Eung-am had tied up.

"Can't see, and suspicion runs wild."

"Exactly. Just wait a moment—the Gold Guard will be here soon."

His expression turned to shock.

"Then you've uncovered Cheon Cheon-bok's true identity?"

"Of course. He's already been captured and locked in the imperial prison."

"And this branch here?"

"He's in the prison too."

"Guangdong Province's……"

"The Mu Merchant Group's acting chief accountant, Ji Hyeon, and that Mo Kyung fellow—all rounded up in the prison."

"Heh…… impressive. Now I see why His Majesty favors you so."

"……."

That's…… a good thing, right?

The Emperor always piles more work on his favorites.

I smiled wryly inside and replied.

"We got lucky. Cheon Cheon-bok's summoned pirates happened to invade Haenam Province, and our Eunhae Merchant Group's merchant ships handled them."

"I see."

I asked him.

"Any other survivors?"

"Not sure. Check the tunnels first. With luck, someone might still be breathing."

Resignation laced his tone.

Odds were slim for the others.

Seo-u Warrior returned just then, so I ordered him and Yeo Eung-am Warrior to search the tunnels.

"And…… there's a desk over there."

"Yes."

"Open the drawer beside it."

I went straight there and pulled it open.

Hm……

Details of their tortures and info extracted from victims—Gold Guard members and even Embroidered Uniform Guard agents.

Makes my teeth grind.

These ×× bastards.

But for all their efforts, they hadn't learned much.

Of course not— not every Gold Guard or Embroidered Uniform Guard is a traitor like Mo Kyung.

A short while later.

The Gold Guard arrived, including a high-ranking officer.

"No way! Aren't you O Sam-ryeong of the vanguard unit?"

"Alive and well—it's like a dream."

He recognizes me.

"Thank you! Truly! Without you, I'd have missed a comrade right under my nose."

He thanked me profusely.

"Another survivor here!"

My guards found one more in a tunnel—an Embroidered Uniform Guard agent.

And in another, only bones—cremated, it seemed.

I used the Gold Bell saliva I'd bottled earlier to treat the Embroidered Uniform Guard survivor.

Their testimonies accelerated the case.

Remaining ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠suspects were rounded up.

And I began recovering the wealth they'd hoarded.

The amount shocked even me.

Enough to waive taxes in Haenam Province and Guangdong for years.

"Eun Seo-ho, branch chief."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"This…… not sure if I should be pleased or furious."

The speaker was the Crown Prince.

The Emperor had dispatched him to handle this, and he'd crossed to Haenam yesterday.

With high officials in Guangdong implicated, only someone like him could manage it.

And soon, he'd head to Nanjing.

Guangdong fell under Nanjing's jurisdiction—likely a chance to clean house preemptively.

"You can do both."

He gave a hollow laugh.

"Without you, they'd have kept bleeding the empire dry."

Not quite.

It would've been wrapped up soon anyway.

But I couldn't say that, so I nodded along.

"Still, a relief. His Majesty sent you in time, and the Gold Guard moved swiftly."

"Knew you'd say that."

The Crown Prince handed me a scroll.

A lavish golden-and-crimson scroll.

From the Emperor—I rose from my chair, knelt, and received the edict with both hands.

I unrolled it.

I cheered inwardly.

Seeing this edict washed away all my past hardships.

All that suffering for this!

I carefully tucked it into my sleeve and sat back down.

"By the way, Eun branch chief. I heard your wife came with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you—when did you marry?"

I nearly spat out my tea at the Crown Prince's follow-up.

"Cough!"

"Oh dear! You alright?"

"Cough! Cough! Yes, fine."

I wiped with a handkerchief and quickly explained.

"Actually, it was a ruse to lower their guard and protect my adjutant."

"Ah, got it."

I'm twenty-four now.

Plenty old enough for marriage in the empire.

So introducing Seo Hyang as my wife had gone smoothly.

"You two suit each other well, though."

The Crown Prince grinned mischievously and told his eunuch attendant.

"Bring that thing I mentioned."

"Yes."

The eunuch returned with an ornate box.

"Take it."

"What's this?"

"You'll see when you open it."

I took the box and opened it.

Eh? This is……

A beautiful pearl hairpin, arranged with pearls Seo Hyang herself had selected.

The Crown Prince spoke to my surprised expression.

"A craftsman came to the Chae Hong Merchant Group, saying Cheon Cheon-bok commissioned it. We found your request slip in the desk."

"Ah……."

I explained.

"I suspected Chae Hong Merchant Group and investigated under that pretext."

"No need for needless excuses—your suspicions were groundless anyway."

They'd disguised perfectly as a pearl dealer—no slip-ups till now.

That's why the craftsman delivered the finished piece.

"But why give it to me?"

"A gift."

"Pardon?"

"I paid for it. Within my authority to deduct that much."

"But……."

"Ahem, you wound me. Can't I manage that much?"

"N-no!"

"Then take it. Gift it, toss it—your call."

……

……

……

After discussing matters with the Crown Prince, I returned to our inn.

"You're back?"

Seo Hyang greeted me warmly.

Down on the first floor—she must've known I'd arrive.

"No troubles?"

"None. All safe. And Palgap took good care of everything."

I turned to Palgap.

"Good work. Thanks."

"Just doing my duty, young master. No need for thanks."

I chuckled at him rubbing his nose.

Meanwhile, others gathered around me one by one.

As if they'd been waiting.

"We heard! You fought for us too."

"Can't thank you enough."

"A token of gratitude from our tribe."

They were chieftains from Haenam Province tribes, bearing gifts: a stone-carved frog, clothes woven with ornate patterns, colorful painted daggers.

Accepting them, I realized I'd achieved one key goal.

These were items outsiders weren't permitted to hold.

A sign they'd truly accepted me as one of their own.

I thanked each personally and sent them off.

"Whew, time to head up and rest."

"Yes, please do."

"Um…… Adjutant Kwak. A word. Come to my room."

I entered the guest room with Seo Hyang.

"What's up?"

At her question, I sheepishly offered the box I'd brought.

"A gift."

She opened it and gasped in surprise.

"Oh my! This……."

She hadn't foreseen this.

I took the pearl hairpin and pinned it in her hair.

"Suits you perfectly."

Her face flushed red.

Whew, suddenly so hot.

Guess I'll take a cold bath.