Book 13: Chapter 19: Slope

The Third Young Master's faction, waiting room.

The Third Young Master's faction had a large number of elders to begin with.

However, as they all gathered in the waiting room at once because of the Central Inspection Department the waiting room could not help but be packed to bursting with people.

"......"

"......"

Ordinarily, if this many people gathered in a cramped place at once it would have been filled with the noise of people bickering or engaged in psychological warfare here and there, but now,

"......"

"......"

There was only the low whispering of people gathered in small groups here and there,

"......"

"......"

And the act of just sitting slumped in chairs, merely moving their lips to add to the thick smoke clouds gathering on the ceiling.

And that heavy atmosphere was the same among the leading figures occupying the center of the waiting room.

However, if there was a decisive difference, it was the obsessive tenacity and fighting spirit to search for a way to survive until their breath cut off, even within a guaranteed gate of death.

"The new evidence said to have been secured by the Central Inspection Department..."

"...Should we not send someone to verify it even now?"

"Indeed."

That was the terrifying aspect of a crafty politician.

"If we are going to go anyway, let us not send just any elder half-heartedly."

"It would be better to send an elder with a clear footing in legal affairs or inspection."

Those who had been sitting on the outskirts of the waiting room also began to stand up and gather in the center one by one.

"That's right. Only then, if there is a loophole, can we dig into it immediately and tear down the evidence."

"Whether it is a minor procedural illegality or a dispute over the informer's credibility, we must first raise every issue we can—" although it was forced at that moment when they were finding their fighting spirit again anyway, the one who cut off the discussion like that was one who, despite showing a heavy presence sitting in the center, had only been watching the unfolding situation until now.

"It will be useless."

"...Did you say it is useless?"

Showing a firm jawline where stubbornness could be felt, he slowly, but firmly, nodded his head.

"Yes. It will be useless even if you go."

"You all are viewing the situation far too optimistically."

Although it was a remark that instantly extinguished the fighting spirit they were trying to force,

"......"

"......"

No one dared to blatantly express resentment toward it.

"...Elder Namgung."

"So, what is it that you wish to say?"

Elder Namgung.

As could be known from his surname he was a maternal relative of the Third Young Master, Yeon Jeok-gwang, and a direct descendant of the Namgung Clan, and that giant old man was the leader of the Third Young Master's faction.

"Do you expect" unmoved by the gazes focused on him, he raised the liquor cup he was drinking from, slowly savoring its aroma, and continued, it was a question from Elder Namgung that accurately dragged out the point they were trying hard to ignore, and unlike before, this time a complete silence descended upon the spacious and luxurious waiting room.

"that the Eldest Young Master would have left behind such a simple loophole?"

"......"

"......"

"Since this began with the Eldest Young Master's surprise attack, it cannot be helped that everything is running on the board he designed and that everyone was played."

Befitting the leader of a group, he drew a clean yet heavy line.

"This time, it is our defeat."

There was no longer any need to watch for the conclusion.

The boulder rolled by the Eldest Young Master was already rushing down the slope without hesitation and that falling rock had straight away become a landslide.

"Next time, things will neither start like this nor end like this."

He set down his cup with a click stood up from his seat just like that, and exited the waiting room without a shred of lingering attachment.

"......"

"......"

In the space vacated by the elders who could be called Elder Namgung's direct subordinates, one remaining senior elder voiced a doubt he could not shake off.

"...Evidence with no loopholes or issues whatsoever."

"Of all things, why did such evidence have to be reported at this exact moment, cutting off the Deputy Director's breath at this very moment...?"

Although a fairly large number of elders remained even after Elder Namgung and his direct elders left an elder who could answer that question

"......"

"......"

Was not present here.

* * *

The Law Enforcement Court Lord's waiting room.

‘Clearly.’

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court nervously swept up his hair that had fallen down.

‘Until this morning, the Eldest Young Master had no evidence whatsoever regarding the Deputy Director's corruption.’

That was something the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court was certain of, both circumstantially and physically.

‘Then, that means the informer handed over the evidence to the Central Inspection Department while this Elders' meeting was in progress...’

"...Just who on earth was it?"

"......"

Although no answer came back from the Lord of the Inspection Department who sat nearby the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court did not even care.

Since he had not expected him to know the answer in the first place.

"Lord."

The one who opened the door and showed himself was his right-hand man, the First Department Head of the Law Enforcement Court.

"What about those guys?"

The First Department Head's complexion was dark.

"The members of the Central Inspection Department are gradually narrowing their search scope."

The First Department Head wiped the sweat flowing down his forehead and continued.

"Perhaps they also wished to avoid friction with our Law Enforcement Court, so we seem to have been pushed back in search priority, but—" the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court cut him off.

"In the end, it won't be long before they arrive here."

"...Yes."

"What about the Elders' Hall's secret passages?"

The First Department Head shook his head.

"The Lord of the Elders' Hall is cooperating with the Central Inspection Department according to procedures. The secret passages cannot be used."

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court clicked his tongue.

"...Does this mean he has already finished the calculations?"

"The report of corruption was decisive."

Crack.

The fist tightly clenched by the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court made an unpleasant sound.

"Lord of the Inspection Department."

At the sound calling him, the Lord of the Inspection Department, who raised his bandage-wrapped face, shook his head.

"...It is impossible."

He added briefly, just as the Lord of the Inspection Department said, he had merely mentioned again a fact they already knew, but at this very moment, even that characteristic dry tone was irritating.

"as I said, the Central Inspection Department has already left my hands."

"......"

"...Lord."

The First Department Head glanced toward the inner chamber of the waiting room, as if concerned about that direction, and said in a lowered voice, his large group was dead, and the situation was already so tilted that there was no need to count territory.

"...I think it is time to resign the game."

Just as the First Department Head said it was time to resign.

"Is that so..."

At the end of his deep contemplation, the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court opened his closed eyes.

"...Is there a way to exit gracefully?"

At his question,

"......"

The First Department Head avoided his gaze, showing difficulty, and

"......"

The Lord of the Inspection Department remained silent.

"...Of course there isn't."

Although the Yeon bloodline had taken the lead in the end, it was a game board that the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court himself had set up.

There was no way for the mastermind to make a graceful exit.

"...Then," the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court made his decision.

"I would rather overturn this board with my own hands."

Understanding his intent, the First Department Head showed a bewildered expression.

"Are you saying you will cast aside the hand you shook with the Yeon bloodline and conversely cooperate with the Eldest Young Master?"

"Yes. While I can still sell myself, I must sell at a high price."

As the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court nodded, the First Department Head expressed concern.

"Even if we can handle the Yeon bloodline members entangled with the Sword Family Bank with our own hands right now—" taking out a cigarette and placing it in his mouth, the First Department Head, who pondered for a moment, also soon expressed his acceptance with a bitter expression.

"—the remaining blood relatives won't sit idle. However," the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court firmly stated his stance.

"we cannot sink into the Yellow River holding onto the losers like this, can we?"

"...That is true, but" the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court bared his teeth.

"If I cannot choose the best, I will simply choose the lesser evil before it is too late."

"......"

"...Since staying still like this will become the worst, there is no choice."

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court turned his head toward the inner chamber and said in a low voice, looking at the First Department Head, the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court clicked his tongue.

"...Fortunately, we have the Deputy Director with us," even as he spoke, the First Department Head's expression was not entirely good.

"so by handing over custody of him with our own hands, we can open the way for dialogue with the Eldest Young Master."

"...You."

"Have you still not completely shed the skin of a rookie elder? Have I not told you repeatedly? In this political arena—" the First Department Head nodded, cutting off the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court.

"In this political arena, there are neither eternal enemies nor eternal friends. I know."

Even as he said that, the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court, turning his gaze away from him who had a poor expression, asked the Lord of the Inspection Department, the Lord of the Inspection Department tapped the armrest while twitching his finger and spoke.

"What about the Lord of the Inspection Department? Have you made up your mind?"

"...I have already decided."

"Good."

At the quick-calculating Lord of the Inspection Department's words, the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court nodded heavily with a much lighter heart.

"Then, before the Central Inspection Department's members barge in, let us first tell the Eldest Young Master—" he could not finish his sentence.

Clang!

"Who on earth dares to...!"

The First Department Head shouted at the opponent who burst open the door.

"I told you there was a delicious smell coming from here."

"......"

At the sight of the opponent appearing accompanied by the ghost of white hair and white eyes, the First Department Head backed away from the door in confusion.

"...E-Eldest Young Master!"

"My, my."

The Eldest Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, looked around the waiting room, a meaningful smile on his pale face.

"Well, all the main protagonists of this affair are here."

At the sudden appearance of the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon, the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court stood up from his seat with a bitter smile.

‘Since I was going to find him anyway, this is for the best.’

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court stood up and tried to greet him with clasped hands.

"Eldest Young Master of the Main—" however, there was someone who greeted faster and more politely than him.

"I greet the Eldest Young Master of the Main Family."

It was the Lord of the Inspection Department.

‘...That Lord of the Inspection Department, who dislikes stepping forward first in such matters, is greeting the Eldest Young Master first?’

The question that suddenly popped up did not take long to turn into suspicion, and for that suspicion to reach certainty did not take much longer.

"Good to see you, Lord of the Inspection Department."

"Thanks to you, we are able to wrap up this matter nicely."

"......!"

"......!"

The First Department Head's eyes widened like lanterns, and the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court squeezed his eyes shut where he stood.

"Were there any issues with the 'evidence'?"

At the Lord of the Inspection Department's polite question, the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon waved his hand.

"Given the identity of the informer who provided it, how could there possibly be such a problem?"

"Good to hear. It was a good deal."

"It was a good deal."

The Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon nodded to the Lord of the Inspection Department and headed toward the inner chamber.

"This Eldest Young Master has business over there, so..."

As he moved his feet, the Eldest Young Master's gaze glanced toward the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court.

"......"

Flushed with rage.

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court, unable to even hide his anger, trembled all over.

"It seems you two have a lot to talk about."

As Yeon So-hyeon walked with a blatant sneer, Dokgo Ya-yeon, the Chief of the Central Inspection Department, followed behind him.

"......"

"......"

Instead of the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court who had veins bulging on his flushed forehead, the First Department Head asked the Lord of the Inspection Department.

"...Did the Inspection Department also have hidden evidence of the Deputy Director's corruption?"

Although he had not asked expecting an answer, unexpectedly, the Lord of the Inspection Department replied readily.

"There was."

"Isn't that why we agreed to elevate the Deputy Director to Bank Director?"

"...When did you hand over the evidence to the Eldest Young Master?"

"It must have been immediately after the first revote was declared."

That answer came from the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court.

"...How did you know that, Lord?"

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court replied, trying hard to soften his expression.

"Because if it were me, I would have considered that the best opportunity."

"......"

The First Department Head, who was temporarily speechless at the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court's answer, barely opened his mouth.

"...Isn't that too early?"

"There is no such thing as too early."

While they were conversing a voice came from the Lord of the Inspection Department, who had finished all his preparations.

"A merchant must know how to sell a product when it can be sold at the highest price, and a politician must know how to sell himself when he is most valuable."

He clicked his tongue softly.

"...However, the winner of this deal was the Eldest Young Master. I only barely avoided losses and did not gain any profit whatsoever."

He greeted the two with a nod and left the room.

"I hope you learned well from this opportunity, First Department Head."