Book 13: Chapter 20: Lord of the Law Enforcement Court

“Hmm?”

A voice was heard from ‘above.’

“Was that fellow not supposed to be here?”

Although it was hard to understand properly since it was a sound from beyond the wall the owner of that frost-like voice could be identified without even grasping the content.

‘The white-haired, white-eyed ghost Dokgo Ya-yeon...!’

What kind of end befell those dragged into the Central Inspection Department and what they had to undergo until reaching that end, he had heard all too much during his long career in the Sword Family Bank.

‘Just how on earth did things turn out like this...?!’

Lest even his breathing be heard the Deputy Director covered his own mouth and was even holding his breath.

‘Exactly from where did things begin to go wrong?!’

Underneath the bed in the inner chamber the Deputy Director was hiding in a small secret space.

Although that cramped secret space was so narrow and uncomfortable that he had to practically crumple his body into it he was in no position to pick and choose.

“Hmm? I certainly confirmed he was here just a moment ago, though.”

The owner of that voice was the First Department Head, who had been browbeating him, the Deputy Director.

It was a situation where those who entered the inner chamber were searching for him.

“First Department Head. This matter is already as good as over. Please cooperate obediently...”

The First Department Head also could not help but be flustered.

“Goodness...! Just as you say, in this situation, what reason would I have to hide that fellow...”

Listening to their conversation, the Deputy Director shuddered inwardly.

‘Damn Law Enforcement Court bastards...! They only try to use a person when needed, and the moment they don't, they immediately try to sell him out?!’

The one who told the Deputy Director about this secret place was none other than the corrupt Yeon bloodline elder.

“Only a few among our bloodline know of this mechanism. It's a space secretly built at the time the Elders' Hall was constructed, so even the Lord of the Elders' Hall does not know of it.”

The words that the corrupt Yeon bloodline elder had spoken to him flashed through the Deputy Director's mind.

“We have put in enough water and food, so hold out. We will get you out when an opportunity arises.”

The corrupt Yeon bloodline and the Deputy Director himself were in the same boat and even though they shook hands with the Law Enforcement Court, they did not trust them.

The Deputy Director had secured another lifeline that the Law Enforcement Court did not know about, utilizing that point.

Kyotosamgul—a cunning rabbit has three burrows.

Was it not said that a rabbit does not dig only one burrow?

For him, who had weathered all kinds of storms and risen to the position of Deputy Director, there was yet another means of survival.

‘It does not end like this...!’

He clutched the ledger inside his shirt, swallowing his humiliation and anger.

‘As long as I have this secret ledger, the Yeon bloodline has no choice but to cooperate to the utmost to keep me alive...!’

Even if he became wanted by the Luoyang Sword Family as long as his secret ledger existed, he would be able to make a comeback anywhere by borrowing the power of the corrupt Yeon bloodline recorded in the secret ledger.

‘I will survive...! I will survive...! I will definitely survi—!’

Just then in the Deputy Director's ears, absolutely.

Never, ever wanting to hear it the voice of another person was heard.

“Neither of you needs to raise your voices.”

A person who could speak down to even the First Department Head of the Law Enforcement Court and the Chief of the Central Inspection Department.

“Because the delicious smell is coming from here.”

There was no need for any deduction.

It was because he could not forget the owner of that voice even in his dreams.

Clack, clack.

Along with the sound of something being operated, with a rumbling noise, the secret door above his head began to open.

‘This sound is...?!’

“It is indeed a simple mechanism.”

The gaze of the person who suddenly poked his head down and the looking-up gaze of the Deputy Director met head-on.

“......!”

Although it was an outstanding face that would not be lacking even if called a handsome young master to the Deputy Director, it was no different from the face of the Grim Reaper.

“Did I not tell you to resist to your utmost?”

The Eldest Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, bared his sharp teeth and showed a smile.

“I told you to stake that life and resist by dragging in everything you could, but” the sound of a soft click of the tongue followed.

“was this really all you could do, you bastard?”

Swoosh.

A pure white hand reaching down grabbed the Deputy Director's head in a firm grip.

“A-Aaaaargh!”

Without realizing it, a scream full of pain burst from his mouth.

“A rat-like fellow who amounts to only this much has been gnawing away at my family all this time.”

Just how powerful the strength loaded in that grip was it felt as if his head were caught between a carriage and the ground, splitting apart as it was.

“Aaaargh, aaargh!”

Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.

No, the Grim Reaper, rising blue ghostly fire from his eyes, pronounced his sentence.

“You will taste a living hell in the Central Inspection Department from now on.”

Simultaneously with those words, the Deputy Director, grabbed by his head, was yanked upward.

“Aaaaargh—!”

Like his uselessly long life thread leaving behind only a uselessly long scream.

And in that cramped secret space, only the food and drinking water that he could not even eat or drink were left abandoned.

* * *

“Drag him away.”

“As you command!”

At the command of Chief of the Central Inspection Department Dokgo Ya-yeon, the members of the Central Inspection Department dressed in red uniforms dragged the Deputy Director away.

“P-Please!”

With both shoulders firmly held, the Deputy Director grabbed at whatever his hands caught, and crash.

Tables and ceramics were all knocked over and shattered, turning the surroundings into a shambles, but not a single person inside the waiting room cast even a single glance at the man who was already as good as dead.

“...Congratulations on your victory, Eldest Young Master.”

The one who opened his mouth first like that was the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court.

Even if one plotted for the future or targeted the opponent's back later, not becoming mortal enemies with that opponent was the secret to surviving in politics for a long time, so the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court forced a stiff smile while grinding a knife inside.

‘There are neither eternal enemies nor eternal allies.’

“...It was a splendid match.”

“Thank you, Lord of the Law Enforcement Court.”

As if enjoying the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court's humiliation, Yeon So-hyeon was verifying the secret ledger in his hand with a smile.

It was that secret ledger, which was the Deputy Director's last lifeline.

“...But how did you know there was such a secret space?”

At the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court's question, the gazes of the Chief of the Central Inspection Department and the First Department Head, who were inwardly curious, also turned toward him.

“I did not know.”

“Pardon...?”

Yeon So-hyeon replied as he slowly flipped through the secret ledger.

“It is not that I found that fellow because I knew there was a secret space, but I found the secret space because I knew he was here.”

Although it was an answer it was not an answer that someone who did not know of the existence of the Scripture of Controlling Darkness and Shaking the Heavens could understand.

“...What do you mean by that?”

Instead of explaining further at the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court's words, Yeon So-hyeon smirked.

Although he was congratulating Yeon So-hyeon on his victory and saying this and that, the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court's gaze could not drift away from the Deputy Director's secret ledger that Yeon So-hyeon had been slowly flipping through.

“......”

“Helping the corrupt Yeon bloodline to pocket profits is out of the question now, but...”

The Eldest Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, smiled broadly toward the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court.

“if you have this secret ledger, you can compensate for the losses of this affair by arresting the corrupt Yeon bloodline, right?”

As the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon casually dropped his honorifics, the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court's wrinkled face twitched.

“......”

Looking into his face, Yeon So-hyeon continued.

“The Lord of the Inspection Department preserved his share in this game, and if you leave empty-handed like this, it won't just end with a heartburn.”

‘Damn it...’

However the winner was clearly the Eldest Young Master, and he was in a situation where he had to expect the winner's goodwill.

“...If you show me goodwill, I will not forget it.”

Gathering his hands, the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court said as politely as possible.

“Although I suffered a great setback from the Eldest Young Master's divine calculation this time, as long as I remain in the position of the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court, I will often be able to offer great help to the Eldest Young Master in the future.”

The inside of the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court who spoke like that was, of course, completely different from his exterior.

‘A gentleman's revenge is not too late even if it takes ten years, Eldest Young Master.’

Since the one who laughs last is the winner would the immediate humiliation be an issue?

“...Indeed.”

Fiddling with the secret ledger and pondering for a moment, the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“...I will often need the help of the Law Enforcement Court in the future.”

‘It worked...!’

At those words, color returned to the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court's face.

“Take it.”

The First Department Head, who caught the ledger Yeon So-hyeon casually tossed with a snap, bowed his head.

“...Thank you, Eldest Young Master.”

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court also wore a beaming smile on his face and bowed to Yeon So-hyeon.

“Eldest Young Master. I will absolutely make sure you do not regret this decision.”

However for some reason, the Eldest Young Master was conversing with the First Department Head without even looking at him.

“With that secret ledger and the cooperation of the Central Inspection Department, it will be sufficient, right?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

With a calm expression, the First Department Head scanned the secret ledger he received from the Eldest Young Master and said, the First Department Head nodded.

“Rooting out the corruption of those power holders who embezzled the Main Family's assets from the Sword Family Bank, especially when it is not just ordinary power holders but the Yeon bloodline relatives...”

“it would not be lacking if I dare call it a major achievement.”

“Indeed.”

As if agreeing the Eldest Young Master smiled at the First Department Head.

“And if it is that much, combined with the career you have built up so far, it will be sufficient as an achievement to inaugurate you as the 'new' Lord of the Law Enforcement Court.”

The First Department Head bowed politely once more.

“...Thank you, Eldest Young Master.”

Keeping his head deeply bowed, he continued.

“I promise once again that the Law Enforcement Court will conduct investigations without any sanctuary in the future.”

“I will be looking forward to it.”

The Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon walked over and patted his shoulder.

“Although there will be a final review and decision by the Supreme Executive Council, leave that side to me and do not worry.”

The Supreme Executive Council, whose identity was not even known.

The Eldest Young Master spoke as if the extremely tricky procedures of the Supreme Executive Council were nothing.

“You can leave all those political things to this Eldest Young Master and simply be faithful to your duties.”

Swallowing his dry saliva, the First Department Head nodded.

“...I will keep it in mind.”

“Congratulations.”

This time, it was congratulations from Dokgo Ya-yeon, the Chief of the Central Inspection Department, who had been watching from behind.

“I look forward to good cooperation in investigations with the Central Inspection Department in the future.”

At Chief of the Central Inspection Department Dokgo Ya-yeon's words, the First Department Head also replied politely.

“I also look forward to working with you.”

Although everyone was exchanging conversations as if it were natural there was one person who could neither follow the situation nor accept it.

“...W-What is the meaning of this?”

It was the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court.

“What on earth are you talking about right now...?”

There was no way a person with that level of political ability could not grasp the situation now.

“What in the world...?”

However, he simply could not accept it.

“You two must have a lot to talk about.”

Smirking at him, Yeon So-hyeon walked out, leading the Chief of the Central Inspection Department.

“I will go to the Grand Assembly Hall first.”

“Yes, Eldest Young Master. See you in a moment.”

Waving his hand backward in his usual leisurely manner, the Eldest Young Master disappeared down the far end of the corridor.

“......”

“......”

The one who broke the silence was the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court, who seemed to have aged ten years in that short span of time.

“...Was it from the beginning?”

“...Yes.”

At the point where this affair began the First Department Head had already caught Yeon So-hyeon's line.

“I see...”

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court slowly sat down in his chair, but the look of it was not much different from collapsing onto the floor.

“You sold yourself when you were most valuable. Well done.”

The Lord of the Law Enforcement Court raised his eyes and praised the First Department Head, who had been his right hand.

“You, too, have now become a splendid politician and an elder of the Main Family.”

At those words, the First Department Head shook his head.

“No.”

“No need to show modesty. You—” the First Department Head cut him off.

“As soon as I take office as the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court, I will resign from the elder position.”

“What did you say...?”

Utterly dumbfounded, the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court asked back with an expression of not understanding what he meant.

“What on earth does that mean...?”

“The head of an investigative organ must not engage in politics while concurrently serving as a member of the Elders' Hall.”

The First Department Head, the thoughts he had harbored all this time as if reading his mind, released the words that the Eldest Young Master, who had met him, had spoken to him.

“From now on, in the Main Family, there will no longer be any politicization of investigative organs.”

“......”

To the Lord of the Law Enforcement Court who was looking at him with a dumbfounded expression and an open mouth, the First Department Head bowed deeply one last time in greeting.

“I have learned a lot during this time.”

“Thank you for everything.”