NABC Book 3: Chapter 21
Book 3: Chapter 21
Book 3: Chapter 21
Luoyang.
A large workshop that supplies various furniture to the Inner Court under contract.
At the time when the sun was stealthily hiding in the west, the guards at the entrance of the workshop were trembling in place.
These were usually imposing guards, notorious in the neighborhood.
They were dressed impressively in thick leather armor, with shin guards and wrist guards.
Yet, they dared not even reach for the clubs at their sides.
“What business do you have with our workshop?”
“Move aside.”
A single word was enough.
The underlings, who were moving in and out of the workshop owner’s private chambers, scattered in alarm at the sight of the newcomers.
The black formal attire they wore was well-known throughout Luoyang.
“Why is it so noisy outside?!”
The elderly owner of the workshop, who was enjoying his time with a concubine, flung open the door.
Half-dressed, he froze on the spot.
His eyes, trembling, caught sight of the silver letters embroidered on the epaulets of the black uniforms.
“Law Enforcers from the Sword House...?!”
The leading woman coldly smiled.
“Are you the owner of this workshop?”
“Yes! Yes! I am Lee, the owner of this workshop.”
He immediately knelt down.
“I don’t know what this is about, but please, spare my life!”
“I am a Law Enforcer Envoy of the Luoyang Sword House.”
“Yes, yes. Honorable Envoy!”
She pulled out a document from her robe.
“I have to investigate the contract you have with the main family’s Inner Court. Answer my questions honestly from now on.”
The owner of the workshop bowed his head to the ground.
“Yes, I understand. Ask me anything.”
Such scenes were unfolding throughout Luoyang.
* * *
Luoyang Sword House, Inner Court.
The area around the Inner Court, completely sealed off by the Law Enforcers, was devoid of passersby.
The absence of people, who would have otherwise gathered out of curiosity for other matters, was undoubtedly due to the individuals in black uniforms tightly surrounding the Inner Court.
At the main gate of the Inner Court, a procession of people being escorted inside intersected with those going out to make arrests.
Throughout the main building, the sounds of torture and the cries of those who couldn’t endure the harsh interrogations echoed.
Only essential personnel of the Inner Court were living a hellish routine under the strict surveillance of the Law Enforcers.
***
Inner Court Main Building,
Temporary Joint Investigation Headquarters, Command Room.
“It’s simply lightning fast.”
The one laughing heartily, self-praising, was the Sixth Division Chief of the Law Enforcers.
“....”
Despite the lack of response from the audience, he continued unabashedly.
“Of course, this is all thanks to the swift and excellent preemptive actions of the Central Inspection Department Chief, Dokgo Yayeon.”
Central Inspection Department Chief Dokgo Yayeon merely nodded silently, acknowledging his words.
“Ha-ha. We look forward to your continued support in the remaining investigations. But...” He smacked his lips. “As the investigation within the Inner Court is almost complete, where should we establish the joint investigation headquarters next?”
“Do as you see fit.”
“Ha-ha. Then, the joint investigation headquarters will be managed by our Law Enforcers from now on...”
“Yes.”
Dokgo Yayeon cut short the needless conversation with a brief reply. Her gaze was fixed on the person sitting in the highest seat.
The Sixth Division Chief, noticing her overtly cautious gaze, smiled and looked towards the high seat.
“Does the Grand Young Master have any questions?”
The Sixth Division Chief’s eyebrows twitched. “I received the same instruction.”
“Damn it...”
The Sixth Division Chief extinguished his completely burnt cigarette irritably and took out a new one, speaking as he lit it. “As expected, when I arrived, the Inner Court’s accounting secretary, a key figure in the case, had already committed suicide. And then...” His gaze shifted to Dokgo Yayeon, whose expression was unreadable. “...I was surprised to see the Central Inspection Department Chief here, having heard it was a request for cooperation from the Inspection Bureau. Why is the Central Inspection Department even investigating such a case?”
There was no answer.
Not expecting one, he let out a hollow laugh.
“And to think that the Grand Young Master, who hasn’t caused any friction with the power structures within the main family for the last ten years, is the whistleblower?”
Smoke from his cigarette clouded the air.
“...Can anyone tell me what’s actually going on?”
His gaze turned towards the two of them.
“Both of you here must know much more than I do, right?”
“The Central Inspection Department does not share internal information with other organizations.” Dokgo Yayeon stood up. “That’s all for now.”
The Sixth Division Chief watched her leave and spoke, “...Hard to read as always, but she seemed visibly upset. Seems like she doesn’t know much either.”
He sighed softly. “Is the Central Inspection Department Chief, who is supposed to hold most of the secrets, just a puppet on stage, manipulated by someone else?” He slumped back into his chair, rubbing his eyes. “...Senior.”
“Yes.”
He addressed the First Division Chief as he used to in the old days.
“I climbed up to this position, painstakingly, because I didn’t want to be in a situation like this.”
His cigarette glowed red as it crackled.
“I thought being a division chief of the Law Enforcers would mean knowing everything, and even if making deals with someone, I wouldn’t be manipulated.” His gaze drifted to the ceiling. “A division chief. And not just anywhere, but of the Law Enforcers.”
The air above was hazy with smoke, obscuring the ceiling.
“...And yet, here we are, still in this state.”
The usually silent First Division Chief finally spoke. “...Even I, who have barely reached the position of an elder in the main family, feel the same.”
“...Senior?!”
The First Division Chief took a cigarette from the Sixth Division Chief’s box, lit it, and began to speak, “The Elders’ Council? It’s a significant place. Unimaginable information is exchanged there, and decisions that sway the entire main family are made, but...”
The Law Enforcer First Division Chief, also one of the elders of the Luoyang Sword House, smiled emptily.
“I sometimes think about it when I lie down to sleep.”
His gaze wandered aimlessly.
“Would things change if I became the head of the Law Enforcers? What if I became the head of the Elders’ Council? Or if I retire and get selected as an elder? What if, against all odds, I become a top committee member? Would I then finally know everything?”
“....”
The Sixth Division Chief didn’t open his mouth.
Nor could he close it.
He just sighed, a mix of breath and smoke, and hung his head low.
The First Division Chief, observing his graying hair, let out a small sigh.
Had his distant junior already chased him this far up the ranks?
Then it was time for him too to gradually face the true nature of the Luoyang Sword House.
‘...What I’m about to say now, don’t speak of it anywhere. Better yet, forget you ever heard it.’
The sudden telepathic message made the Sixth Division Chief flinch.
‘The Grand Young Master and the Supervisor of the Inner Court are likely behind all this. Beyond that, even I don’t know.’
‘What do you mean...’
‘As I said, forget it.’
The First Division Chief stood up abruptly.
“Let’s return to our duties.”
‘Forget it, for the sake of your family.’
He calmly stretched his shoulders and opened the door.
“....”
As he was leaving, he glanced back.
The Sixth Division Chief was still in the same position, deep in thought.
His mind must have been in utter turmoil.
At the same time, he would begin to see how things that hadn’t made sense were now falling into place, feeling a sense of exhilaration.
And fear as well.
This reminded him of a day in the past, not long after he had become a division chief.
Someday, he too would pass on this information to someone else in the same way he had received it.
Just as he had once heard from his senior.