Third Young Master’s Faction Lounge.

The Third Young Master’s faction already boasted a significant number of elders, so when the arrival of the Central Inspectorate forced every last one of them to crowd into the lounge, the room was filled to the bursting point.

Normally, such a dense gathering in a confined space would have been a cacophony of arguments and subtle power plays, a din of warring egos. But now, there was nothing. Nothing but the low, anxious murmuring of small groups huddled together, and the sight of men slouched dead in their chairs, silently puffing, adding fresh clouds to the thick pall of smoke that choked the ceiling.

This heavy, oppressive atmosphere was just as palpable among the core elders who occupied the center of the room.

There was, however, one critical difference.

“New evidence, secured by the Central Inspectorate…”

“…Shouldn’t we send someone to verify it, even now?”

It was the obsessive tenacity, the fighting spirit that compels one to search for a path to survival even when trapped in a confirmed death trap.

“Indeed.”

This was the terrifying nature of a veteran politician.

“If we’re sending someone, let’s not send just any random elder.”

“It would be best to dispatch an elder with solid connections to Legal Affairs or Inspectorate.”

Elders who had been sitting on the fringes of the room began to rise, one by one, gathering toward the center.

“Correct. That way, if there is a loophole, we can strike at it immediately and shatter the evidence.”

“Whether it’s a minor procedural illegality or a dispute over the informant’s credibility, we have to try to leverage anything we can find—”

Though it was forced, it was a spark.

Just as a flicker of fighting spirit was being rekindled, a voice cut through the discussion.

“It will be useless.”

The one who had silenced the room was a man who, despite his heavy presence in the center, had merely observed the proceedings until now.

“…Did you say useless, sir?”

The man gradually unveiled a resolute jawline, exuding an aura of unwavering determination. “That’s correct. It will be futile to proceed.” He nodded with absolute certainty, not slowly, but with a firm and decisive gesture. “You all are viewing this situation with an excessive amount of optimism.”

His words instantly extinguished the very flame they had been so desperate to ignite, yet no one dared to openly challenge him.

“…Elder Namgung.”

“What is it that you are trying to say?”

Elder Namgung, as his surname suggested, was a relative by marriage to the Third Young Master, Yeon Jeok-gwang, and a direct descendant of the Namgung Imperial Family. Despite his immense size and advanced age, he held the position of true leader within their faction.

“That Grand Young Master.”

He didn’t so much as flinch at the gazes focused on him. Instead, he lifted the cup he had been nursing, slowly savored its aroma, and continued, “Are you truly so naive as to expect him to have left such a flimsy, obvious loophole?”

It was a question that precisely articulated the fear they had all been desperately avoiding. This time, unlike before, a complete and total silence fell over the vast, luxurious lounge.

“This entire affair began with the Grand Young Master’s surprise attack. It was inevitable that we would be played, that this would all unfold on the board he designed. That, we cannot help.”

Like a true leader, he drew a line. One of clean, heavy, and final.

“This battle… is our loss.”

There was no point in waiting to see the conclusion.

The boulder the Grand Young Master had set in motion had already found its slope, and it was rolling without obstruction. That single falling stone had now become a landslide.

“The next time… it will neither begin this way, nor end this way.”

He set his cup down with a sharp thud.

Without a trace of lingering attachment, he rose from his seat and exited the lounge.

In the space left behind by Elder Namgung and his direct subordinates, a remaining core elder voiced the question that none of them could shake.

“…Evidence with no loopholes, no problems whatsoever.”

“How could such perfect evidence… be reported at this exact moment… to sever the Treasury Vice Director’s lifeline at this exact time…?”

A considerable number of elders remained even after Namgung and his inner circle had departed. But among them, there was no one who could answer that question.

***

The Head of the Court of Judiciary’s Lounge.

Impossible.

The Head of the Court of Judiciary agitatedly swept his hair back from his face.

As of this morning, I’m certain. The Grand Young Master had no evidence regarding the Treasury Vice Director’s corruption.

He was sure of it, based on both the situation and the physical facts.

If that’s true, it means the informant… handed the evidence to the Central Inspectorate while this council meeting was already in progress…

“…But who? Who in the world?”

“….”

From the Head of the Inspectorate Bureau, who was seated nearby, there came no reply. The Head of the Court of Judiciary didn’t even care. He hadn’t expected an answer in the first place.

“Wonju-nim.”

The door opened, revealing his right-hand man, the First Department Head.

“The bastards?”

The First Department Head’s complexion was dark.

“The Central Inspectorate’s agents are steadily narrowing their search.” He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and continued, “It seems they wanted to avoid a direct confrontation with our Court of Judiciary, so we were pushed down the priority list, but…”

The Head of the Court of Judiciary cut him off. “In the end, it won’t be long before they reach us.”

“…That is correct.”

“The Council of Elders’s secret passages?”

The First Department Head shook his head. “The Head of the Council of Elders is cooperating with the Central Inspectorate, following official procedure. The secret passages are unusable.”

The Head of the Court of Judiciary clicked his tongue.

“…So this was all part of his calculation?”

“The corruption tip-off was the decisive blow.”

Crack.

The sound of the Head of the Court of Judiciary’s tightly clenched fist was sickening.

“Head of the Inspectorate Bureau.”

At the sound of his name, the bandaged man lifted his head, only to shake it.

“…It’s impossible.” He added curtly, “As I said. The Central Inspectorate is already out of my hands.”

It was a fact the Head of the Court of Judiciary already knew; the Head of the Inspectorate Bureau was merely stating the obvious. But in this moment, even his characteristically dry tone was grating.

“…Wonju-nim.” The First Department Head glanced nervously toward the lounge’s inner chamber, then lowered his voice. “…I believe it is time to throw in the stone.”

His great horse was dead. The board was so tilted there was no point in even counting the territory. Just as the First Department Head had said, it was time to resign.

“…Is that so.”

After a long, painful deliberation, the Head of the Court of Judiciary opened his eyes.

“…Is there any way to exit gracefully?”

When the First Department Head asked a question, he averted his gaze, his expression pained, while the Head of the Inspectorate Bureau remained silent.

“…Of course not.”

Though the Yeon Clan had taken the lead, this had been his game to run. There was no such thing as a graceful exit for the man who had started it all.

“…In that case,” the Head of the Court of Judiciary said, his decision made.

“I will flip this board over with my own two hands.”

Understanding his intent, the First Department Head looked horrified. “Are you saying… you’ll abandon the Yeon Clan and, in reverse, offer your cooperation to the Grand Young Master?”

“Yes. I must sell myself at a high price while I still have value.”

As the Head of the Court of Judiciary nodded, his subordinate expressed his concern. “We might be able to handle the Yeon clansmen directly tied to the Treasury Director’s case… but… the rest of the Yeon bloodline won’t sit still. However…”

“However,” the Head of the Court of Judiciary declared, his resolve unwavering. “Are you suggesting that we abandon our position and plunge into the depths of the Yellow River together?”

“…That is indeed true, but…”

The Head of the Court of Judiciary bared his teeth. “If I am unable to select the optimal option, then I will simply opt for the ‘second-best’ before it is too late.” He retrieved a cigarette and placed it between his lips.

After a moment of contemplation, the First Department Head’s expression also turned grim, and he nodded in acknowledgment. “…Doing nothing is certain to be the most disastrous outcome. We have no choice.”

The Head of the Court of Judiciary turned his gaze toward the inner chamber and said in a low voice, “…Fortunately, we are still in possession of the Treasury Vice Director.”

“We can use his custody as a bargaining chip… to open a dialogue with the Grand Young Master.”

Even as he said it, the First Department Head’s expression was anything but pleased.

“…You.” The Head of the Court of Judiciary looked at him and clicked his tongue. “Have you still not shed your ‘newbie elder’ skin? Haven’t I repeatedly told you? In this world of politics…”

The First Department Head nodded, cutting him off. “I understand. ‘In politics, there are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends.’ I understand.”

The Head of the Court of Judiciary averted his gaze from his subordinate’s troubled face and turned to the Head of the Inspectorate Bureau. “And you, Head of the Inspectorate Bureau? Have you made your decision?”

The Head of the Inspectorate Bureau, who had been drumming his fingers on the armrest, finally spoke, “…I’ve already made my decision.”

“Good.”

At the fast-calculating man’s reply, the Head of the Court of Judiciary nodded, his heart feeling significantly lighter. “Then, before the Central Inspectorate’s agents can storm this place, let us first go to the Grand Young Master—”

He never finished his sentence.

SLAM!

“Who dares—!”

The First Department Head roared at the figure who had just thrown the door open.

“I knew I smelled something delicious in here.”

The First Department Head, recognizing the man who had entered with the White-Haired, White-Eyed demon in tow, stumbled back from the doorway in shock.

“G-Grand… Grand Young Master!”

“Oh, my!” Yeon So-hyeon’s gaze swept across the lounge, a deeply meaningful smile spreading across his pale face. “Well, look who it is. All the stars of today’s show have gathered right here.”

At this sudden intrusion, the Head of the Court of Judiciary gave a bitter smile and rose from his seat. “It’s fine,” he said. ‘I was just about to go and find him anyway.’ The Head of the Court of Judiciary stood up and clasped his hands, preparing to offer a formal greeting. “To the Main Clan’s Grand Youn—“

But someone else was faster, and his greeting was far more polite. “Greetings to the Grand Young Master of the Main Clan.”

It was the Head of the Inspectorate Bureau. The Head of the Inspectorate Bureau… who hates taking the initiative in these matters… is greeting the Grand Young Master first? The flicker of doubt instantly became suspicion.

“Good to see you, Head of the Inspectorate Bureau.”

And it didn’t take long for that suspicion to become certainty.

“Thanks to you, I was able to wrap this up nicely.”

“…!”

“…!”

The First Department Head’s eyes went wide as saucers. The Head of the Court of Judiciary, still standing, squeezed his eyes shut.

“Was there… any issue with the ‘evidence’?” the Head of the Inspectorate Bureau asked respectfully.

Yeon So-hyeon waved a dismissive hand. “With an informant of your reputation, how could there possibly be?”

“That’s good to hear. It was a successful transaction.”

“Indeed,” Yeon So-hyeon agreed. “A successful transaction.” He nodded to the Head of the Inspectorate Bureau and then turned toward the inner chamber. “My business is in there…” As he walked, his gaze slid sideways, landing on the Head of the Court of Judiciary.

The Head of the Court of Judiciary’s face was a mottled red and purple, his entire body trembling with an anger that he couldn’t even begin to conceal.

“You two look like you have a lot to talk about.”

Yeon So-hyeon walked on with a naked sneer, and Dokgo Ya-yeon followed silently behind him.

In the heavy silence that followed, it was the First Department Head who finally spoke to the Head of the Inspectorate Bureau, his voice strained. “…Did you… Did you also have evidence of the Treasury Vice Director’s corruption?”

He hadn’t expected an answer, but surprisingly, the Head of the Inspectorate Bureau replied coolly.

“I did.”

“That’s why I agreed to back him for the Treasury Director position in the first place.”

“…When? When did you give the evidence to the Grand Young Master?”

“It must have been… immediately after the first re-vote was declared.”

That answer came from the Head of the Court of Judiciary.

“…How did you know that, Wonju-nim?”

The Head of the Court of Judiciary, forcing his expression into a mask of calm, replied, “Because if it were me… that’s when I would have seen the best opportunity.”

The First Department Head, momentarily speechless, finally spoke. “…Isn’t that… too soon?”

“There’s no such thing as ‘too soon.’”

The voice belonged to the Head of the Inspectorate Bureau, who had finished adjusting his attire.

“A merchant must know when to sell their goods at their peak value. A politician must know when to sell themselves at their most valuable. He clicked his tongue softly. “…But the real winner of this trade was the Grand Young Master. I merely managed to minimize my losses. I didn’t gain anything.”

He gave the two men a parting nod and left the room.

“I hope you learned something from this, First Department Head.”