The crowd that had filled the square dispersed.
In the distance, the personnel from the Charity House headquarters were finishing the cleanup after the memorial service and departing.
And to one side,
Yeon So-hyeon stood.
“…….”
Clang, clang – the workers’ hammers struck the chisels.
The epitaph on the memorial stone was being engraved.
The calligraphy was incredibly elegant.
And Yeon So-hyeon’s expression as he watched it was infinitely gentle.
It was as if time had stopped in that moment.
Jung-ah wished she could watch her master’s expression forever.
But that was not possible.
[…Master.]
Jung-ah, who had been quietly standing guard behind him alone, sent a voice transmission.
[Someone has been watching us continuously for a while now.]
Within the detection range of her dragon eyes, a middle-aged man could be seen in the distant shadows, anxiously pacing back and forth.
[…I know. Have you identified him?]
Jung-ah searched for the middle-aged man’s identity among the facial profiles in her mind.
[He’s the Sixth Division Commander of the Law Enforcement Bureau from the main house.]
At her words, Yeon So-hyeon gave a bitter smile.
[…I see.]
After leaving that voice transmission for her, Yeon So-hyeon approached the memorial stone.
“Young Master.”
The craftsmen working stepped back from the memorial stone, setting down their tools.
No one asked what was happening.
They too were poor laborers who had participated in the uprising, so their attitude towards Yeon So-hyeon was extremely respectful.
“…….”
Standing before the memorial stone, Yeon So-hyeon reached out his hand towards the flat surface of that massive rock.
His touch was careful.
Like someone touching something they dared not touch.
His hand hesitated several times in the air before gently caressing the stone.
“…Spring does not simply come.”
Yeon So-hyeon softly read the line he had written in the memorial text, then withdrew his hand from the stone.
The memorial service is for those who survived.
It’s to help those who survived continue living.
The memorial service was over.
The time for Yeon So-hyeon the human was over.
Now it was time to return to being Yeon So-hyeon, the Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House.
“Call the Sixth Division Commander.”
“Yes, Master.”
As Yeon So-hyeon turned away from the memorial stone, his expression was no longer gentle.
Jung-ah found this regrettable.
The Sixth Division Commander following behind Jung-ah nearly tripped over his own feet several times.
‘Damn it.’
For a man skilled enough in martial arts to light a pipe with the Three Mists True Fire technique, how embarrassing would it be to fall over his own legs?
‘Damn it all.’
But he lacked the peace of mind to imagine such an unsightly scene of himself.
‘Why, why me…’
He looked at Yeon So-hyeon sitting beneath the memorial stone.
The sight of the boy sitting in the shade cast by the massive stadium, gazing into the distance, was beautiful.
‘Why do I have to come all the way here to deal with this Young Master?’
But to him, that side profile of the Young Master looked like the profile of the God of Death.
“So should we all just wallow together in that mud?”
He recalled the words of his senior, the First Division Commander.
‘Think of your family’
As if following his senior’s words.
Until now, he had done his best to avoid the succession issue of the Sword House.
‘This time too, I was just following the Supreme Operating Council’s orders to take on the investigation, and yet…’
Somehow, the Young Master was here now.
And he found himself in a situation where he had to deal with that Young Master.
“Are you the Sixth Division Commander of the Law Enforcement Bureau?”
Yeon So-hyeon acknowledged him first.
“……!”
The Sixth Division Commander only then realized he had committed a breach of etiquette.
“M-My apologies.”
He clasped his hands and bowed.
“This humble one from the Law Enforcement Bureau greets the Young Master of the main house.”
The point where his clasped hands met was damp.
“Yes. I am Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.”
The Young Master turned to face him.
The Sixth Division Commander carefully moved his feet to approach him.
Though he was stepping into the shadow of the massive stadium building, for some reason it felt like he was stepping into Young Master Yeon So-hyeon’s shadow.
He wanted to flee from this place immediately, but
He couldn’t.
He squeezed his eyes shut and began to speak.
“Yes, Young Master. I…”
Yeon So-hyeon raised his hand to stop him.
“Before I hear your business.”
Those eyes of unfathomable depth turned towards the Sixth Division Commander.
“How is the investigation into the mutiny incident here progressing?”
“…Regarding the ongoing investigation—”
“You can’t speak about the ongoing investigation, right? I understand.”
Yeon So-hyeon nodded as if he understood.
Anyway, the sect leader of Hyeongsan Bukryu who was the main instigator had died, and the Third Young Master’s side had to withdraw from here.
He had already guessed the investigation would fizzle out.
“Rather, congratulations on your formal appointment as the legal affairs officer of the ‘Investigation Monitoring Team’.”
The encampment that the Third Young Master’s side had all departed from.
That encampment had now become the encampment for the forces dispatched by the Supreme Operating Council.
And now their official name had become the ‘Dragon Phoenix Association Stadium Construction Site Investigation Monitoring Team’.
The purpose of the Investigation Monitoring Team was
‘To identify, monitor, and evaluate all the poor laborers who participated in the uprising’.
And the Sixth Division Commander had been appointed as one of the leaders of that Investigation Monitoring Team, following the investigation into the mutiny incident.
“Th-Thank you.”
Even as he offered his thanks,
There was a question in the Sixth Division Commander’s eyes.
‘How does the Young Master already know that I’ve been appointed as the legal affairs officer?’
Even he himself had only just found out through an appointment letter whose ink was barely dry, and yet.
Before he could finish that thought, the Young Master continued speaking.
“The Dragon Phoenix Association is a major affair for the main house as well. Participating in such a matter will be a great help in your evaluation for future promotion.”
Though Yeon So-hyeon said this with a smile on his lips,
The Sixth Division Commander felt there wasn’t a shred of goodwill in it.
“…It is an honor just to be able to assist in an event of the main house.”
Yeon So-hyeon felt there wasn’t a shred of truth in his words.
The Sixth Division Commander probably wanted to throw away his newly gained position and run away just from being entangled with the Young Master like this.
“Yes. It must be an honor.”
Yeon So-hyeon said with a snicker.
“How is the investigation into the poor laborers progressing?”
“Thanks to you, it’s proceeding smoothly. Since they are cooperating fully, the identification process is going well.”
“That’s good. So…”
His tone was calm, and as casually as before, he asked the Sixth Division Commander,
“What does the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau want from me?”
“…….”
The Sixth Division Commander swallowed hard, momentarily at a loss for words.
‘Does the Young Master already know everything…?!’
He looked at Yeon So-hyeon with trembling eyes.
‘No, perhaps it would be better to talk if he already knows—’
As if reading his inner thoughts, Yeon So-hyeon said,
“Yes. I’ve already guessed that you came with secret orders from the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau. That would make it easier for you to talk to me, wouldn’t it?”
“…Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
He opened his mouth and took a deep breath, about to speak the secret orders from the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau, when from Yeon So-hyeon’s next words,
“Why does the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau.”
He realized that “Then tell me” wasn’t asking him to speak the secret orders.
“Ignore the documents I sent about corruption within the Yeon clan, yet seek favors from me?”
“……!”
He was struck speechless.
Yeon So-hyeon clicked his tongue at him.
“The Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau wants my cooperation in investigating the martial artists who participated in the uprising, right?”
At this point, the Sixth Division Commander gave up trying to think.
After all, he was currently just a messenger for the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau.
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
Then he spoke exactly as the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau had instructed him.
“Those martial artists are suspected of having been involved in several similar incidents before, showing a disregard for the law.”
The Law Enforcement Bureau didn’t seem to have discovered the organization name “Spring of Luoyang” yet, but
They appeared to have grasped their danger.
“It’s been determined that they have already formed an organization, and the investigation shows they were heavily involved in this incident, influencing the laborers.”
Even under Yeon So-hyeon’s piercing gaze, the Sixth Division Commander steadfastly continued saying what he had to say.
“The Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau’s position is that they need to be rooted out before they become a major problem for maintaining order in Luoyang.”
Yeon So-hyeon shook his head.
“They’ve already had their sentences commuted by order of the Luoyang Governor and the Supreme Operating Council.”
“No.”
The Sixth Division Commander said firmly.
“That order was for the laborers, not for an antisocial group of martial artists.”
“…….”
It was in some ways just wordplay, but it also accurately pointed out a loophole.
Yeon So-hyeon asked him with twitching eyebrows.
“Is that the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau’s thinking?”
“Yes, it is.”
“That can’t be true.”
Yeon So-hyeon looked into his eyes and asked again.
“Is that really purely the personal opinion of the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau?”
“…As far as I know.”
Yeon So-hyeon looked up at the sky from his seated position and opened his mouth.
“Reports haven’t even gone up to the Supreme Operating Council yet about what kind of organization was helping the laborers here and how they cooperated. So how does the Law Enforcement Bureau know about it?”
“How do you know that, Young Master…?”
The Sixth Division Commander who had been asking the question closed his mouth.
Elder Yeom.
He was famous as the mediator of political deals with Young Master Yeon So-hyeon and was the overall person in charge here.
It wouldn’t be strange if all the reports that should have gone up had passed through Yeon So-hyeon.
Ignoring his hesitation, Yeon So-hyeon continued speaking.
“And it’s too early for you to have figured it out. I know well how busy you’ve been with the investigation into the mutiny and identifying the laborers.”
“…….”
The Sixth Division Commander chose to listen to Yeon So-hyeon’s words.
He too was curious about how the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau had come to know that fact.
“Then the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau must have heard information from someone who knows the situation here well.”
The Sixth Division Commander said with an involuntary sigh,
“…It must be the Third Young Master’s side.”
Those who were well aware of the situation here,
Who were in a position where they had to investigate the Spring of Luoyang that had become an obstacle,
And who had the ability to conduct a ‘proper’ investigation.
Yeon So-hyeon nodded.
“Yes. The Left and Right Grand Marshals of the Third Young Master’s side.”
“…So they fed information and suggestions to the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau.”
The Sixth Division Commander could now understand how the situation was unfolding.
“Yes. For the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau, it’s an opportunity to make achievements, while also a chance for the Left and Right Grand Marshals to take a shot at me.”
If Yeon So-hyeon doesn’t cooperate, they will immediately release the relevant documents and publicly criticize him.
“And that’s not all. When their organization causes similar problems again in the future…”
“They’ll point to me as the mastermind behind their organization.”
The Left and Right Grand Marshals were indeed not to be taken lightly.
Even in a situation where their home base was in extreme chaos, they had thrown a noose around Yeon So-hyeon’s neck.
‘They may have lost the battle, but they’re not withdrawing empty-handed, it seems.’
Yeon So-hyeon gave a bitter smile.
“They’re trying to make me cook the hunting dog after catching the rabbit.”
It means cooking the hunting dog after the rabbit hunt is over.
It was a scheme to damage Yeon So-hyeon’s reputation that was growing uncontrollably from the bottom of Luoyang society, by making him cooperate in arresting the knights.
“…At this point, ‘cleaning up’ those people might actually be the method with the least damage for you, Young Master.”
The Sixth Division Commander scratched his head and spoke as if trying to persuade Yeon So-hyeon.
“Those so-called knights and warriors are just single-minded fools. Since you’re their benefactor, they might stay quiet for a while, but eventually they’ll cause even bigger problems…”
The tongue and lips of the Sixth Division Commander, who had been earnestly trying to persuade Yeon So-hyeon, stopped.
“Why did you stop? Why don’t you continue?”
It was because he saw that a smile had appeared on Young Master Yeon So-hyeon’s face.
‘Come to think of it…’
The Young Master had already guessed that he had come with secret orders from the Head of the Law Enforcement Bureau.
And he had even guessed their content.
‘Then…!’
Perhaps, the Young Master
Might have even prepared his response.
As that thought occurred to him, a chill ran down the Sixth Division Commander’s spine.
“Well, it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to speak.”
Yeon So-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.
“I have a reputation to maintain too, so I can’t fully cooperate with you, but I also can’t prevent an investigation into an antisocial group of martial artists. Feel free to investigate as you see fit.”
“…….”
Too smoothly.
Though he had obtained what he wanted,
The Sixth Division Commander’s expression only hardened further.
“But what if, as a result of the investigation, the existence of their organization is not confirmed here at all? What will you do then?”
Yeon So-hyeon’s smile deepened.
“What if I claim from the beginning that they were never here?”
The Sixth Division Commander’s gaze wavered.
“Are you saying those martial artists have already left this place?!”
Yeon So-hyeon shrugged.
“I’m not sure how people who never existed here could have left.”
“…….”
The Sixth Division Commander wracked his brains while breaking out in a cold sweat.
‘The outskirts are still under strict surveillance. There shouldn’t be any way for them to escape?!’
Those who could enter and leave this place were
The Luoyang Sword House’s associates.
And the Charity House, which had visited for humanitarian support of the poor laborers…
“The Charity House?!”