The Ruler of Darkness

Book 3: Chapter 23

Kang Ho was tearing his hair out.

The Central Inspection Department had launched a full investigation.

In an attempt to share the spoils with the Inspection Bureau through a deal with the Inner Court Supervisor, the Law Enforcement Chief had no choice but to mobilize two of his divisions.

“Otherwise, most of the credit would be snatched away by the Central Inspection Department!”

“Originally, it would have been enough for just the Law Enforcement Six Departments to step in.”

“Are you saying that the Grand Young Master himself set things in motion just by summoning me, causing the Law Enforcement Court to deploy two divisions?!”

He cried out as if in anguish.

“And the Inner Court Supervisor, instead of covering it up, was forced to swiftly and efficiently remove the rotten shell!”

Yeon So-Hyeon shrugged his shoulders.

“If the old man couldn’t cover it up, he must have decided that was the best course of action.”

“How can this be, how can this be…”

Kang Ho paced back and forth in the room, muttering to himself.

“Wait, the confidential report!”

He had thought the Inspection Bureau Head gave him a secret mission because of his grandfather’s connections.

Yeon So-Hyeon smiled.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

Kang Ho repeated what Yeon So-Hyeon had said.

“Whoever gave you this opportunity, it seems they have significant ties with your grandfather…”

In reality, it was Yeon So-Hyeon who had given him the opportunity.

He slumped into his seat.

Unconcerned with the gazes of the audience, he continued to mutter to himself.

The triplets serving as maids covered their mouths and whispered.

“Has he lost his mind?”

“It seems like he’s comparing himself to Zhou Yu meeting Zhuge Liang.”

“Hmm. To me, that young master doesn’t seem as great as Zhou Yu.”

Just then, Kang Ho suddenly jerked his head up and stood up.

“…Then how did the Grand Young Master know I would respond to the summon?!”

He rushed towards the Grand Young Master and knelt before him.

His glasses were gone, and his clothes were a mess.

“My direct superior, who had recommended me for the ancestral investigation, assured me! If you don’t want to do it, you will never be forced!”

The Inspection Bureau Head couldn’t force him into a dangerous investigation due to his relationship with his grandfather.

“Well, I knew you were investigating the misdeeds of Wongak Pavilion on your own.”

“How, how did you…?!”

Looking back, Yeon So-Hyeon had naturally asked him before.

He had asked if the stewards involved in the misdeeds of Wongak Pavilion were those who had risen rapidly to prominence within the last ten years.

He had already known.

Jung-ah, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“Inspector Kang Ho, that’s not what’s important right now.”

“Yes?”

Jung-ah spoke softly to him.

“Listening to the lord, it seems that Inspector Kang Ho was unwittingly walking into the mouth of the Inner Court Supervisor, a behemoth.”

The triplets serving as maids nodded.

“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

“Our lord has bestowed upon him the grace of saving his life.”

“As expected of our lord. He couldn’t just leave the grandson of a friend.”

Tears welled up in Kang Ho’s eyes as he knelt before Yeon So-Hyeon.

“Grand Young Master… For someone you’ve never met like me….”

“It’s not that I did it for you. You just happened to be on my path.”

“It doesn’t matter… If it weren’t for the Grand Young Master, I would have ended up dying stupidly.”

Yeon So-Hyeon patted his head.

“There is a way you can repay the favor.”

Kang Ho looked determined.

“Just tell me! This man, Kang Ho, will risk his life to carry it out!”

Yeon So-Hyeon chuckled.

“No, nothing like that is needed. Just hand over to me first all the details you remember about the ledgers of the Inner Court.”

“What?!”

“And help me draft the confidential report that will go to the Elders’ Council. How about that?”

“That is…”

He was fiercely conflicted inside.

Handing over all the confidential details related to the Inner Court’s ledgers to Yeon So-Hyeon meant that he would write the report as he wished.

“Tsk, tsk. Where is the man who just now said he would risk his life?”

“Men these days are all talk. There is no one like our master.”

“What a pathetic man. Doesn’t deserve to be called a man.”

At the words of the triplet maids, Kang Ho banged his head on the floor.

“This humble Kang Ho! From now on, I will only follow the Grand Young Master’s words! From now on, I, Kang Ho, will serve the Grand Young Master as my lord!”

The provocation had worked too well.

“No, that’s not necessary…”

“No! If it is not necessary, then take my life right here!”

He had inherited his grandfather’s temperament.

Yeon So-Hyeon smirked and patted his shoulder.

“Kang Ho. You have more to do at the Inspection Bureau than by my side.”

“Am I to become the Grand Young Master’s spy planted in the Inspection Bureau? If commanded, I will memorize and convey all the secrets stored in the Bureau!”

“No, no. That’s not necessary.”

He forcibly lifted Kang Ho.

“Let’s do one thing at a time. One at a time.”

“Yes! Command me!”

“First, do what I just mentioned, and then live as usual. Got it?”

“First, succeed to prove my worth to serve the Grand Young Master? Understood!”

Yeon So-Hyeon gave up.

“…Right. Let’s not talk about achieving merit out of nowhere. Report to me and act on any mission given, okay?”

“Yes! I will remember!”

Then Jung-ah reported to Yeon So-Hyeon.

“Master. Someone is approaching.”

The triplet maids rushed to Kang Ho to tidy his hair and straighten his clothes.

Then Kang Ho blushed and asked them.

“Uh, do you know where my glasses are…?”

“Your glasses?”

“Yes, I can’t see properly without them….”

He had returned to his original self.

The triplet maids sighed.

Shortly after, the protocol secretary visited to inform that temporary bedrooms had been prepared.

* * *

Early night.

Luoyang, a large workshop.

Two men walked out of the place where the Law Enforcement Court had passed an hour ago. Just like an hour earlier, the guards were as quiet as if their mouths were full of honey.

The two men looked dangerous at first glance and seemed to be in a bad mood.

The man full of scars on his face cursed.

“F*ck. The original mission was tough enough to kill me….”

He carelessly stuffed the documents he had gotten from the workshop owner into his backpack.

The bald man frowned at this.

“Hey, you know we’ll have to sort all that out later, right?”

The scarred man also frowned.

“I’ll do the sorting, so don’t bug me now. I feel like I’m about to explode.”

His weapons clanked at his waist.

The bald man snorted.

“If you don’t fix that temper, it’ll be hard to get ahead.”

“It’s none of your business.”

Exchanging such sharp words, they entered a deserted alley.

The work they were involved in wasn’t something that should catch others’ attention.

“Where to next?”

The scarred man asked the bald man, who was looking at a list of places to visit.

There was no response.

“…!”

The scarred man reflexively reached for his weapons.

But he couldn’t draw them.

Blades were already positioned around his neck.

He tried to assess the situation by rolling his eyes.

“Don’t move your eyeballs.”

At the cold voice laden with clear killing intent, he took his hands off his weapons and raised them.

“I don’t know what this is about, but I won’t resist, so ask whatever you want.”

A woman’s cold voice came from behind him.

“Daring to secretly investigate the Law Enforcement Court’s investigation of Luoyang Sword House, you guys are really bold.”

At the mention of the Luoyang Sword House’s Law Enforcement Court, the scarred man’s breathing became ragged.

“Please, there’s a reason for all this, if you just listen!”

The woman laughed coldly.

“Let’s hear it then.”

“We are from the Daesen Trading Association.”

The name of the association was unusual.

“…Daesen Trading Association, you say. Do you have anything to prove it?”

The scarred man felt a bit relieved inside as the woman seemed to recognize the name.

“There’s an identification plaque inside my clothes.”

“Take it out. Very slowly. Move even a bit faster, and your head will be the first to fall.”

The scarred man slowly took out the identification plaque.

“It’s true.”

The woman ordered her subordinates.

“All personnel. Sheath your swords and move to the next rendezvous point.”

“But Law Enforcement Messenger, these people…”

“Do my orders sound like a joke?”

“No!”

As the others disappeared, the woman in black, the Law Enforcement Messenger, sent a covert message to the scarred man.

‘A crow cries alone on an old pine?’

The scarred man hurriedly replied through a covert message.

‘Do not weep for the distance of Mount Tai.’

The Law Enforcement Messenger chuckled.

“A mere hunting dog, yet skilled in martial arts.”

“….”

“I’ve been too busy to make time, but meeting you guys turned out well.”

Without any response or reaction from the scarred man, the Law Enforcement Messenger pulled out a bundle of documents from her clothes and threw them at him.

‘Pass this on to the top.’

Before he could reply, the Law Enforcement Messenger disappeared.

“Cough, cough…!”

The bald man, who had been incapacitated and lying in the corner, started to cough violently as he got up.

She had released the pressure point with her finger technique as she left.

“…Shit. Aged ten years in fear.”

Feeling his body drenched in cold sweat, the scarred man quickly hid the bundle of documents he had received.

***

Luoyang Sword House.

In a study of Second Young Master Jin’s quarters.

“Information classified as ‘high-grade’ from the Daesen Trading Association, delivered immediately.”

The bundle of documents delivered to the study was neatly spread out on the desk.

“…Internal information from the Law Enforcement Court.”

Han Myeong-hwi, an advisor to Second Young Master Jin, stroked his mustache.

One of his close aides examined the documents and spoke.

“This is a significant amount of investigation records. We will immediately integrate these with our existing data.”

As the aides left the study with the documents, the spacious room was revealed.

Dozens of personnel were there, working tirelessly through the night.

They were compiling information flooding in from all directions.

“These are investigation details from a source within the Law Enforcement Six Departments.”

The person who took the bundle of documents headed towards a wall lined with bookshelves.

He found the section for the Law Enforcement Department and placed the bundle there, and soon it was picked up by an analyst for further review.

A single document, condensed and organized by the analyst, was handed over to another person and returned to Han Myeong-hwi’s study.

And by an aide’s hand, it was accurately placed on a wall already covered with such documents.

Han Myeong-hwi squinted his eyes, looking at the brightly lit wall.

“…Who exactly is orchestrating this incident on their stage?”

Time passed.

The staff moved busily, and the wall filled with more documents.

The sun began to rise, but Han Myeong-hwi’s eyes remained fixed on the wall.

His parched lips parted.

“The Inner Court Supervisor…”

A strong suspicion about the answer he had discovered was evident on his face.

“And the Swordless One…?”