The Vanished Missive (4)
It was a strand of indigo thread.
Indigo thread... Could it be the work of the Blue Silk Guest?
Blue Silk Guest.
A thief notorious for his elusive movements, but even more infamous for leaving strands of blue thread at crime scenes. What truly made him legendary, however, was his willingness to kill without hesitation to steal treasures.
At any rate, if this was his doing, things just got simpler.
I wouldn't have to show any mercy.
I immediately headed to report it to Ak Dae-in.
"Oh! What brings you here?"
"I just inspected the ship and found this."
"Isn't this indigo thread?"
"Yes. Exactly. I found it where the box had been."
Ak Dae-in promptly summoned Branch Leader Ji Seok-mun.
"You, have you ever seen this at the spot where the box was?"
"No. I searched every inch—if it had been there, I would've found it."
"Hmm..."
Ak Dae-in let out a groan, his face troubled as he spoke.
"This thread suggests the culprit is the Blue Silk Guest. And it being left behind during the search of the box means..."
"If it's truly the Blue Silk Guest, it implies he's still around here."
"It could also be someone impersonating him."
Ak Dae-in fell deep into thought.
"Is there anything I can assist with?"
"Not at the moment."
"Understood. Call on me anytime if you need help."
With that, I excused myself and returned to the inn.
Since he said he didn't need my help for now, no one would interfere.
Time to get serious.
I didn't know if it was the real Blue Silk Guest or an imposter, but leaving that thread today was a fatal mistake.
Geum-ryeong could track even the faintest scent.
"Geum-ryeong!"
"Kkwi!"
"Remember the scent of that thread I showed you today?"
"Kkwi!"
"Find its owner. I'll give you a silver coin if you do."
"Kku! Kkwi!"
Geum-ryeong's eyes gleamed as it shot off like an arrow.
And it returned not long after.
The short time meant the target wasn't far.
Of course—carrying something that heavy wouldn't be easy over long distances.
"Let's go!"
"Kkwi!"
I followed Geum-ryeong, with Seo-u Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior trailing behind me.
Speed was key for this, so I'd brought only those two.
We arrived at a manor.
The Blue Silk Guest's hideout is in Namgyeong!
"Shall we go in?"
Jin Yu Warrior shook his head at Seo-u Warrior's question.
"It looks like there are traps and mechanisms. Entering recklessly would be dangerous."
"You know about traps and mechanisms?"
He nodded at Seo-u Warrior's query.
"I've undergone extensive training in detecting and navigating them. I still have a keen sense for them."
His bitter tone hinted at the grueling, brutal nature of that training.
"In that case, it's wise to heed your advice."
I nodded.
"Exactly. No matter our realm, we can't rush in blindly."
But we had to enter.
Geum-ryeong always led precisely to valuables and rarities.
A missive didn't qualify.
Which meant I had to go in myself and retrieve it.
There was a chance it had been burned, but unlikely.
It was written in Mara Western Kingdom script.
A greedy thief who killed for gold wouldn't destroy it without knowing its contents.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck me.
That evening, a notice was posted in Namgyeong's marketplace.
"Behold, Blue Silk Guest. The treasure map you've acquired depicts the legendary master thief's vault, dormant for centuries. It's beyond your grasp. Thus, this One-Stone-Two-Birds Senior shall claim it tonight."
Those who saw it gathered in clusters, buzzing with chatter.
"Oh! One-Stone-Two-Birds—that's the thief who stole the Murim Alliance Lord's treasure from his own warehouse, right?"
"What about the Blue Silk Guest? Didn't he rob the richest man in Zhejiang Province?"
"Who's stronger, the Blue Silk Guest or One-Stone-Two-Birds?"
"The Blue Silk Guest has a treasure map? What's that about?"
"Legendary master thief's vault?"
A man in a bamboo hat slipped past the crowd.
Veins bulged on his arm.
How dare he challenge me!
It was the Blue Silk Guest himself.
Proud to a fault, he was deeply offended by One-Stone-Two-Birds' gauntlet.
But it said it's a legendary master thief's treasure map?
A few days prior, he'd overheard sailors talking about treasure from the Mara Western Kingdom's king to his daughter aboard a ship.
He'd acted immediately.
Slipping in during a guard shift change, he'd hung the box from the ceiling to sow chaos, then snatched it amid the confusion.
Later, he'd casually dropped the indigo thread.
Back at his manor hideout, opening the box revealed heaps of gold and silver—and a single scroll.
Unfurling it showed incomprehensible script.
He'd considered burning it, but it was fine silk with gold leaf—too valuable to discard.
And apparently, it was something precious.
I need to find someone who can read Mara Western Kingdom script and decipher it immediately.
But first, he had to crush this One-Stone-Two-Birds fool.
I'll crank the manor's traps to maximum and wait.
He headed back to the manor.
The problem was, among those who saw the notice, plenty were opportunists eyeing a score.
Treasure map?
"Legendary master thief's treasure."
The punk Blue Silk Guest got his hands on something valuable.
Beyond his station.
Treasure maps are my specialty.
Thus, the greedy flock descended on one place to track the Blue Silk Guest.
The Hao Clan.
Thanks to that notice, the Hao Clan's Namgyeong branch was raking in fees.
I peered out the inn window.
The notice was right across from my inn.
"So, how's the fishing going?"
I nodded at Palgap's question.
"Perfect."
Among those I'd just seen, five were already notorious.
My notice was working wonders.
For several reasons—but primarily to keep the Blue Silk Guest from destroying the missive.
And to draw flies to honey.
I'd slipped the manor info to the Hao Clan.
The Hao Clan disciples at my inn were grinning ear to ear.
With flies swarming, the first intruders would trigger the hidden traps.
Some might get hurt or die— but who cared?
They were vile scum who killed civilians for pocket change. Culling a few was fine.
Some might call me cruel, but learning their histories would change minds.
If any innocents risked it, I'd stop them before entering.
Thus, I reaped the benefits as the snipe behind the clam.
Time to head out?
A short while later, my guards and I approached the Blue Silk Guest's manor.
We couldn't help but laugh at the chaos inside.
"Well, well. What a mess."
Exactly that.
Clang! Clang-clang!
Swords flashing.
"Argh! You won't get away with this, you bastard!"
Men writhing from spears shooting from traps.
Hordes vied to enter—likely because I'd said I'd come tonight.
Beat One-Stone-Two-Birds to the punch.
"We broke through!"
"Woooaaah!"
They say two heads are better than one.
Traps began deactivating or running dry, passages opening.
Nearby, at a distance, others watched like us—probably angling for scraps.
"What should we do?"
I replied nonchalantly to Seo-u Warrior's transmitted question.
"The Blue Silk Guest won't yield easily. We stick to the plan."
The Blue Silk Guest panted heavily.
"Damn mongrels!"
He'd maxed the manor's traps, awaiting One-Stone-Two-Birds tonight.
But reality shattered his plans.
"Blue Silk Guest! Good things are for sharing, eh? Heh heh heh."
"Heard you got the legendary thief's treasure map? Hand it over!"
"Screw off. No way, punks."
"Then we'll take it by force!"
Enraged by Eun Seo-ho's provocative notice, the black path thugs stormed in blindly.
Traps held them initially, but sheer numbers overwhelmed them.
Many breached the manor.
Clang! Clang-clang!
A chaotic chase ensued.
But the Blue Silk Guest's fame wasn't for show.
In the dire moment—
Fwoosh!
He lobbed a smoke bomb, blinding pursuers. They lost him in the confusion.
Meanwhile, he fled via his pre-made escape route.
Like the Three Rabbit Burrows.
Sly as a hare, he'd prepared it in advance.
Rough terrain, but his hidden aids let him slip away swiftly.
"Whew, close call."
He pulled the scroll from his bosom and smirked.
"Heh heh. Shame about the manor loot, but this is all I need."
Then—
Swish!
The scroll vanished from his hand in an instant.
Startled, he scanned around and spotted a group.
A masked figure at their center had chilling eyes.
An inexplicable dread washed over him; he feigned bravado.
"Wh-who are you? What the hell?!"
"Who? The one who came for this."
"It's mine. Give it back, bastard!"
"How do you prove it's yours?"
"I had it."
"Hah! Afraid someone might call you a thief? 'I had it, so it's mine'—ridiculous."
That composure heightened his wariness.
"Fine, let's split it. I already deciphered it. We find the treasure, halfsies. Deal?"
The scroll-holder scoffed at the proposal.
"Deciphered? Hilarious. Then you know it's not a treasure map."
"What? What're you talking about?"
"Why'd you think it was? Let me guess—One-Stone-Two-Birds' challenge. Said it marked a legendary thief's vault."
"..."
"Pure bluff."
"What... what do you mean?"
"To stop you from burning it. Thanks for keeping it safe."
"No way... You're the liar here."
"Believe what you want. Anyone reading Mara Western Kingdom script knows—it's just the king's letter to his daughter."
I regarded him leisurely.
The Blue Silk Guest's face twisted from disbelief to rage as realization dawned.
"Arrrgh! You played me?!"
"Should've left that box alone from the start."
I'd intervened because this could sour ties between Mara Western Kingdom and the Empire.
It'd complicate things for Brother Seon-il.
And humanely—a father's letter from afar to his daughter.
How heartbroken would the princess be without it?
"I won't let you go!"
He lunged with a dagger, but—
Thud!
Can't ignore my guards.
I glanced at the rolling, unconscious thief.
"Bind him. Time to give Ak Dae-in another merit."
.
.
.
Returning to the manor, we found it secured by Ak Dae-in's troops.
Treasure seekers lurked afar, watching warily.
They knew better than to tangle with Ak Dae-in's reputation.
He'd arrived just in time—thanks to my tip.
"Oh! You're back?"
"Yes. Caught the Blue Silk Guest. And..."
I presented the missive.
"Retrieved His Majesty the Mara Western King’s letter too."
Ak Dae-in took it, chuckling.
"Now I see why His Imperial Majesty favors you. But this letter—folks thinking it's a treasure map will cause headaches. You sure?"
"No issue."
I eyed the bound, fainted thief.
"He'll take the blame. Say he burned the treasure map."
Ak Dae-in eyed me cautiously.
"Hmm... Did I wrong you somehow?"
"No, but why ask suddenly?"
"Nothing. Just... remember, I'm on your side."
What's with him all of a sudden?