Chapter 17: Villains Don't Get Agitated

TL: FoodieMonster007

I left the Demonic Army General and went to the infirmary.

Seo Daeryong, who was already there, startled when he saw me.

"Huh? Second Young Lord, what are you doing here?" he asked, clearly surprised.

"Why so surprised?"

"It's nothing. I just didn't expect you to come all the way to the infirmary, Second Young Lord."

"I'm more surprised that you're here."

"Pardon?"

"I heard your colleagues don't like you."

"That's why I'm trying to make up for it."

Despite his words, he and his colleagues seemed to be getting along without any major issues.

"How's your injured friend?" I asked.

"The Demonic Physician is treating him now. Thank you for calling for the Demonic Physician Elder."

"Of course I had to. We're still colleagues working together, even if it's a temporary assignment."

I had said it without much thought, but Seo Daeryong and the nearby Sanzu River Hall investigators looked slightly moved.

A moment later, the Demonic Physician emerged from the treatment room.

He was the most skilled divine doctor in our Cult. The orthodox sects called him the Demonic Physician, a name the doctor himself liked, so we all used it.

"How is he?" I asked.

"Fortunately, his life isn't in danger. However, he'll need to rest for a while before he can return."

"Please use the best medicine available."

"I will."

The Sanzu River Hall investigators who overheard our conversation came to thank me. They rarely had the chance to be treated directly by the Demonic Physician, even when injured on a mission.

On the way back to my quarters, Seo Daeryong asked a question.

"What did the Demonic Army General say?"

"He wants me to wrap this up and leave."

"What about the First Captain's death?"

"He wants to pin the whole thing on him."

Seo Daeryong looked shocked.

"But his most cherished subordinate died, didn't he?"

"Not his most cherished, but his most useful. Someone else will soon fill that void. What exactly were you expecting from the Demonic Army General?"

"I thought he'd go on a rampage to avenge his subordinate."

"That's a misconception. You think villains get agitated more easily?"

"They don't?"

"That's only true for petty thugs. True villains don't get agitated easily. In fact, it's the pure and good people who get emotional quickly. Their feelings well up in an instant."

Of course, the Demonic Army General must harbor great malice toward me. He's probably waiting for any chance to plunge a sword into my heart and remind me of today's humiliation.

"What are you going to do now?" Seo Daeryong asked.

"I've cast the bait, so let's see how he responds."

"Bait?"

"I'll tell you when he bites."

I told him I needed evidence to close the case. Now it was time to watch what the Demonic Army General would do.

"Then what should I do now?"

"Let's have a drink."

At my words, Seo Daeryong turned in another direction.

"Where are you going?"

"To buy drinks. Is there anything you like?"

"Buy whatever you want to drink. Here, take this."

I tried to give him money, but Seo Daeryong strode away.

"I'll buy the drinks today."

Seo Daeryong and I started drinking in the middle of the day.

The alcohol he bought was sweet and easy to drink, which made it dangerously easy to have too much.

"I like sweet drinks," I said.

"Didn't you say you don't really like to eat?"

"I drink sometimes."

After a few drinks, Seo Daeryong began to open up.

"You once called me a power-hungry person, didn't you?"

"Adding 'person' sounds too harsh. Let's just say you have power-seeking tendencies."

"That's the same thing."

"It's not necessarily a bad thing. It's better than being lethargic, isn't it?"

Despite his gloomy appearance, Seo Daeryong had big dreams. Someone without dreams would not talk about 'change'.

"Honestly, I want to succeed. I don't have a shred of desire to grandly implement justice by stopping the corruption in our Cult. It's all I can do to feed myself and manage my killing intent."

I should have brought Lee Ahn here. This is the kind of mindset Lee Ahn needs.

"You say you're living diligently for yourself, so why are you so intimidated? Lift your head!"

Seo Daeryong lifted his head.

"How old are you?" I asked.

"I'm thirty-two."

"Wow! You're older than you look."

I was surprised. I thought he was around twenty-three or twenty-four. Then again, becoming a Special Investigator required at least ten years of experience after joining, no matter how smart you were.

"Why did you become an investigator?"

"To be honest, I wasn't confident I could succeed with martial arts. I never learned a martial art that could lead me to the peak level, and my short stature isn't suited for it either…"

The Sanzu River Hall was not a place for combat. It maintained discipline within the cult through absolute authority.

Therefore, the Sanzu River Hall recruited investigators who were smart, had excellent judgment, and could handle subjects well, rather than those who were strong in martial arts.

"It might sound pathetic, but I chose to become Detective Seo because I had no confidence in my martial arts."

"The way you keep emphasizing that, it seems you still have lingering feelings for martial arts."

"Who wouldn't? Anyone who has entered the murim would."

"It's not too late, even now."

"It is too late."

"Now that sounds a little pathetic."

Seo Daeryong looked up from his cup and met my gaze.

"You can't because it's too late? Because the martial arts you learned are weak? Because you're short? Do you really think those are the reasons?"

Unable to offer an excuse, Seo Daeryong drank the alcohol in his hand.

"It's been a while since I've been beaten with the truth. My bones ache."

"Later on, your bones will ache even when you're sitting still. You need to get moving before you get old."

"You say that so easily, even though you're younger than me."

I smiled and emptied my cup.

Just then, a Sanzu River Hall investigator arrived and handed something over.

"Someone from the Demonic Army brought this."

It was a booklet and promissory notes worth several thousand taels.

"He took the bait."

The booklet was a contract killing ledger, a record of paid assassinations carried out by the Demonic Army of the First Division.

"They said this was discovered at the First Captain Godang's house."

The ledger detailed which of the First Division's martial artists were mobilized, how much they were paid, and who they killed. Coincidentally, the members listed were the very ones who had died by my hand.

They had created a new ledger, extracting only the parts detailing their activities. The intention was to use the dead to wrap up this incident. They had also reduced the number of cases to just three or four, framing it as a deviation by Godang and a few members. The Demonic Army General had minimized his own responsibility.

I handed the booklet to Seo Daeryong.

"Go dunk your face in cold water and sober up!"

"Yes. I'll start by investigating the promissory notes."

"It's useless. They'll be untraceable. Investigate something else for me instead."

"Please, tell me."

"Find out who the smartest person in the First Demonic Army is. There's bound to be one guy who is unusually learned and intelligent for his position."

"Understood."

"I need to go see the Demonic Army General again."

"Why him?"

"I need to buy some time."

We hurriedly left the room and went our separate ways.

When I met the Demonic Army General again, he looked much more at ease.

"Evidence was found at First Captain Godang's house," I said.

"Oh, that's good to hear."

"This allows me to breathe a sigh of relief."

"Haha, this calls for a celebratory drink. I'll make a reservation, so let's meet later at the same place as yesterday."

"However, there is one problem."

"Again? What is it this time?"

"This was brought over by the Demonic Army. We should have been the ones to find it."

A flash of annoyance crossed his face, as if asking why I was being so meticulous.

"Is the source that important?"

"It is. The Head Strategist is no ordinary person. If he learns the information came from the Demonic Army, he'll immediately doubt the entire investigation. If it comes out later, I'll be in danger too."

"So what do you suggest?"

"I think we need to at least pretend to investigate for a little while. I'll conduct a large-scale investigation for just one day, so I ask for your cooperation. Do you think I want to stay here any longer than I have to?"

That was the final, decisive point to persuade him.

"I won't go through any confidential documents. Regular papers will be sufficient. It's just a formal investigation, after all."

Only then did the Demonic Army General nod his permission.

"Fine. I'll tell my subordinates to cooperate."

With the Demonic Army General's permission, a large-scale seizure began.

The Demonic Army's ledgers and documents were moved to the investigation room, and the inquiry started.

I did not request any confidential documents that would have troubled the Demonic Army General.

I did not need them. I was looking for something else. I sought the applications they had filled out when they first joined the Demonic Army and the last wills they had left behind before dangerous missions.

I secretly summoned the best handwriting expert in the cult.

I had him use the materials I brought to identify who had written the contract ledger.

When Seo Daeryong returned, I pretended to be a fortune-teller.

"Shall I guess who the smartest person among the First Division's martial artists is?"

To his disbelief, I named a single person.

"It's Yang Gu, isn't it?"

"Huh? How did you know?"

The handwriting analysis had revealed that Yang Gu was the one who wrote the contract ledger.

Now I knew who managed the Demonic Army General's affairs. I had also secured definitive proof through the handwriting comparison.

"What now?" Seo Daeryong asked.

"What do you mean, 'what now'? We move to the next step. Bring Yang Gu to the tavern in the Demon Village without anyone else knowing. Can you do it?"

"I'll try to use my head."

"I believe in you, top entrant!"

Two hours later, Seo Daeryong had brilliantly completed his mission.

He had brought Yang Gu to a tavern in the Demon Village, our designated meeting place.

The one who brought him was Jo Hyang, a beautiful investigator from the Sanzu River Hall.

"The food here really suits my palate," Yang Gu said.

"I like the food here too," Jo Hyang replied.

Yang Gu was lost in the hopeful expectation of an ecstatic night with this woman.

"Why are there so few customers? This place is usually packed." Yang Gu looked around, puzzled.

"It's nice and private, isn't it?"

"It seems even the heavens are welcoming our first meal together."

Jo Hyang smiled and played along with his grand statement.

"This is the first time I've realized that love at first sight can truly happen."

"The mood is great, let's have a drink."

"Alright."

Yang Gu shouted toward the kitchen.

"Bring out your best alcohol and food."

At that, Seo Daeryong and I emerged from the kitchen.

"Unfortunately, it looks like you'll have to have that drink another time."

Yang Gu startled at my appearance.

"Second Young Lord?"

His eyes darted around, trying to understand the situation, before he glared fiercely at Jo Hyang.

"Damn bitch! You tricked me!"

"……"

The next moment, Yang Gu's jaw twisted as he tumbled to the floor. Seo Daeryong had rushed him like a thunderbolt and landed a single blow.

"She's not someone who deserves to be cursed at by the likes of you."

Seo Daeryong was imitating me. He showed the sole of his foot to the man's face and spoke menacingly.

"You want me to smash your head in like your Captain?"

Yang Gu shook his head frantically.

"No! I was wrong."

Seo Daeryong was not the least bit afraid of Yang Gu, who was twice his size. It was not because he trusted in me, but for another reason.

While other investigators subdued Yang Gu and took him out the back door, Seo Daeryong approached Jo Hyang.

"Good work."

"I just did as you advised. I told him I wanted to have a meal with him since he was rumored to be the smartest person in the Demonic Army. I didn't think he'd follow along so easily, though."

"With you, he would've come even if you'd glared at him while asking."

For a moment, Jo Hyang gave a suggestive smile.

"Is that a compliment?"

Seo Daeryong did not answer.

Jo Hyang bowed to me and Seo Daeryong, then left.

Once we were alone, I spoke to Seo Daeryong.

"You're a real man. A true alpha."

"Pardon?"

"You like her, don't you?"

"No, I don't."

"You were a bit too forceful for someone who says no."

The guy who was so gloomy in front of me was shining in front of Jo Hyang.

"She's just my junior."

Seo Daeryong, his face flushed, quickly changed the subject.

"So what happens now?"

"It's about time to wrap this up. So, gather all the investigators and enforcement martial artists you can."

"……"

"Call that junior you like, too!"

"I said I don't!"

Seo Daeryong needlessly raised his voice before scurrying out of the tavern.

"He makes it so obvious…"

I went to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of alcohol, and sat on the tavern's railing.

"Come on out!"

At my call, Lee Ahn walked out from the side of the building with her head bowed low.

"You silly bear, can't you play by yourself?"

"I was just curious if you were doing well."

"Come here. Since you're here, let's have a drink."

"I'll get a cup."

"Don't bother."

I drank straight from the bottle, then handed it to her.

"Drink up and give it back."

"How could I dare?"

"Why? Is it dirty because I drank from it? Oh?"

"No, of course not. I just feel it would be presumptuous of me to put my lips to it. I'll drink, I'll drink."

She took a drink. Trying her best not to let her lips touch the bottle, she spilled it all over her clothes.

"I'm sorry, Young Master."

"Lee Ahn."

"……"

"You don't have to be like that."

"…Yes."

"Everyone else in the world might, but you don't have to."

I took the bottle back from her and drank again.

"Still, it's nice to see you after a few days."

Lee Ahn gave a bashful smile, her eyes disappearing into her cheeks. You can always tell when she is truly happy.

"How is your martial arts training going?"

"Yes, I'm doing my best, but…"

"You need to do more than that. Even villains do their best."

"When you say things like this, I feel energized without even realizing it. Your advice is addictive, Young Master."

"You'll get sick of it if you hear it too often."

"I don't think so."

I handed her the bottle.

"Drink away your worries about me with that alcohol, then go back and wait."

Then I gave Lee Ahn the best possible side dish to go with her drink.

"This business will be finished today."