Chapter 29: What We Should Fear

TL: FoodieMonster007

I expected the Blood Heaven Blade Demon or the Blade Demons to show up first. However, the first backlash for arresting Yang Ho came from within.

About thirty investigators from the Sanzu River Hall gathered in the main hall and summoned me.

The one leading them was the most senior Special Investigator, Gong Myeong.

"We should've visited you in your office, but there were too many of us, so we've been rude."

"It looks like you've come here to fight, not to talk."

"Absolutely not. Please don't misunderstand."

They had not come with one mind. I could tell just by looking at their eyes who had a complaint and who had been dragged along reluctantly.

Gong Myeong stepped forward on behalf of everyone.

"I heard you reinvestigated a case that our Hall had already closed as not guilty."

"I did."

"That act undermines the morale and authority of our Hall's investigators."

I asked the investigators standing behind Gong Myeong.

"Do you all think so too?"

"Yes, we do," they answered thunderously.

"My thoughts are a little different. I think the Yang Ho case is what undermined the Hall's authority, and quite severely at that."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Do I really need to explain something so obvious? This is disappointing."

At that, Gong Myeong's expression hardened as he retorted, "You're the one who has already done something nonsensical, Director."

"Did you hear that when I arrested Yang Ho, the bastard confessed everything in front of everyone?"

"I did."

"So what's this? Why have you all swarmed here?"

"We are addressing the reinvestigation of an already closed case."

"A matter of principle?"

"That's right. It's also unprecedented."

"Investigator Gong, an innocent child was beaten nearly to death. The guilty bastard was caught and even confessed. Shouldn't it obviously be reinvestigated? How do you think you look, bringing up principles in this situation?"

"You can call me old-fashioned, but it can't be helped. For an organization, principles are that important."

Is he being stubborn, or is he trying to pressure me? He would not back down an inch.

"Fine, let's see what everyone thinks. Anyone who thinks the reinvestigation is right, come over here!"

They came here for collective action, so I doubted anyone would move.

But one person walked over to my side.

It was my absolute supporter, Seo Daeryong. Everyone knew he was close to me, so there was no ripple of agitation.

"My loyal subject and one-man army, Detective Seo."

"If you say it like that, it makes it seem like I moved because of our personal connection, doesn't it?"

"Weren't you?"

"No. Separate from my loyalty to you, Director, I believe this case must be reinvestigated."

"The reason?"

"The investigation was insufficient."

Gong Myeong and a few other investigators openly scowled, but Seo Daeryong calmly stated his thoughts.

"And we can't rule out the possibility of external pressure."

"Good. Anyone agree with this opinion?" I raised my hand high again and looked at the investigators.

I thought it was unlikely, but one person stepped forward.

"I think so too."

He was the martial artist Godang had injured during the last investigation of the Demonic Army. I had not only avenged him but also asked the Demonic Physician to give him the best treatment.

"I'm the Flying Tiger. I wasn't able to greet you properly back then. Thank you so much."

"How's your injury?"

"It's fine."

"That's a relief."

Other than the Flying Tiger, no other investigators moved. They seemed to be watching Gong Myeong's reaction. After all, they had known me for only a few days, while they had been with Gong Myeong for years, or even over a decade.

Then, one more person moved.

"I'm Yang Gon. I'm from the same class as the Flying Tiger. Thank you sincerely for avenging the Flying Tiger."

With Yang Gon stepping forward, a few more people mustered their courage and moved to my side. They did not move because of personal connections. They were the ones who also thought this investigation was wrong.

However, the number of people still standing on Gong Myeong's side was overwhelmingly larger.

I called out one person from among them. He was the man at the center of today's events.

"Investigator Jonghwa!"

"……"

Jonghwa was the investigator who had been in charge of this case. He was the one who had let the son of the Hundred Blade Ghosts go free.

"What are your thoughts?"

"…I investigated the case properly."

I walked up to Jonghwa, stared intently into his face, and asked, "Did you, by any chance, take a bribe from the Blade Demon?"

For a moment, Jonghwa's expression stiffened. Gong Myeong got angry on his behalf.

"What kind of outrageous remark is that?"

I unleashed a cold aura and asked Gong Myeong, "Then did you take it?"

"No."

"Then why are you stepping forward? Going so far as to make such an outrageous remark to your superior?"

"Because it concerns my subordinate."

"He's my subordinate too. Is he not?"

In that moment, Gong Myeong realized his slip of the tongue and bowed his head.

"You are right. I apologize."

"Don't step forward without permission."

"……"

After shutting him up, I spoke to Jonghwa again.

"Did you take money from the Hundred Blade Ghosts?"

"I did not."

"Do you swear it?"

"I swear on my life."

As if to prove his innocence, he did not avoid my gaze.

"If you don't believe me, you can investigate."

"I already did. You really didn't take any money."

Everyone was startled by my words. To have already investigated meant an internal investigation had been completed.

I told him not to step forward, but Gong Myeong could not hold back.

"Our investigators can't be internally investigated without a special investigation."

"I conducted it as a special investigation. I even got a direct order from the Cult Leader to conduct it as an external investigation."

I asked the startled Gong Myeong coldly, "When the Cult Leader appointed me as the Director here, did you think he wouldn't back me up this much?"

"No."

I looked around at everyone and said calmly, "I was curious. If you didn't take any money, why did you cover up the case like this?"

"I didn't cover up the case. According to my investigation…"

I cut Jonghwa off.

"Because that bastard threatened to kill your younger sister?"

Jonghwa froze instantly. His expression seemed to say, How did you know that?

"The investigation into you revealed that you are a remarkably incorruptible man. I didn't believe it. I told them to dig deeper, saying no one in the world hates money, but surprisingly, you really were an incorruptible man. So why would someone so upright just gloss over the case? It turns out you have one great weakness. Your only family, your young sister."

Jonghwa's eyes wavered.

A shocked Gong Myeong asked him, "Were you really threatened by that bastard?"

Jonghwa could not answer.

"You fool, speak! Were you really threatened!" Gong Myeong pressed him, but Jonghwa just kept his head down and said nothing.

I also knew why Gong Myeong had taken the lead. Jonghwa was the junior he cherished the most. He had stepped forward to help prevent Jonghwa from facing any disadvantages because of this.

I said to Jonghwa, "If you're worried about your sister, don't be. I've already sent enforcement martial artists to guard her at a safehouse. Your sister will be safe until this case is completely resolved."

Only then did a look of relief spread across Jonghwa's face. Soon after, as if admitting everything, he knelt before me.

"I have committed a crime worthy of death."

Watching this, Gong Myeong sighed.

"Ah…"

Having worked together for a long time, he would have known better than anyone how much Jonghwa adored his sister. However, it seemed even he did not know this had happened.

I spoke to Jonghwa, whose head was bowed low.

"You know you shouldn't have done this, even if you were threatened, right?"

"Yes, I will gladly accept my punishment."

The watching investigators had varied expressions, but they were all furious. This was not someone else's problem. It was something that could happen to any of them at any time.

"Get up."

"……"

Jonghwa rose from his spot.

"If this had happened after I became the Director, I wouldn't have forgiven you. However, since this happened before I arrived, I'll make a special exception and forgive you."

"Are you really forgiving me?"

"It's not me forgiving you. It's your past life of integrity that has forgiven you. Now, that past life of integrity has been wiped away by this incident. Start building it up again from the beginning."

Not expecting to be forgiven, Jonghwa was deeply moved.

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

However, my next words truly moved him.

"Now that I'm the Director, your families are like my family. Any bastard who touches my family, I'll destroy them all. What? Don't believe me? I've cut down a General of the Demonic Army. You think I'd be scared of some Blade Demon?"

I could feel the gazes directed at me growing hotter.

"From now on, this Hall will not tolerate any external pressure. From this moment on, if you take even a single coin as a bribe, you will be charged with a serious crime. You'd better be prepared to be locked up in the same prison as the criminals you've thrown in there. If you don't think you can abide by this, then get out of this Hall."

There were various reactions. Joy and excitement, animosity, disbelief, all bloomed on their faces.

"In return, I won't let anyone who messes with you get away with it, just like this time. If you're threatened, tell me, and I will definitely protect your family. Even if they've already been kidnapped, I will rescue them. You can trust me. If you can't trust me, then trust the Cult Leader. I'll beg my father to save them if I have to, so I will get them back. So, if you face any external pressure, you must report it to me."

I was speaking from the heart. The Sanzu River Hall would only function properly when there was certainty that we and our families were safe.

"I'm the kind of person who believes that whoever commits an evil act must be punished, no matter who they are. Even if someone from the Heavenly Demon Hall does wrong, I won't let it slide. If the Cult Leader commits a crime, I'll arrest the Cult Leader too!"

For a moment, everyone held their breath. To say you would arrest the Heavenly Demon was a statement for which you could be killed by the Heavenly Demon on the spot.

"What I fear isn't the Cult Leader, nor is it the Eight Demon Supremes. What I fear is us becoming useless. Failing to protect those we must protect, and failing to stop the guilty bastards from smirking as they get away. Yesterday, when I caught that guy, the people at the inn were so happy they all clapped. I'm a guy who likes the spotlight, so I'm going to keep getting applause from now on."

As my sincerity was conveyed, the investigators' expressions changed. Jonghwa, who had been threatened, was especially at a loss, his eyes turning red.

Just then, an investigator standing behind Gong Myeong walked over to my side and spoke. It was none other than Jo Hyang, the woman Seo Daeryong liked.

"I want to receive applause with you too, Director."

That was the beginning. One by one, the investigators walked over to my side. Some were sincere, while others came over reluctantly, swayed by the atmosphere. It did not matter. What was important now was that they were all moving in the same direction.

Now, the last person remaining was Gong Myeong.

"Don't you like the new principle I've established?"

"No, that's not it."

"Then why are you still standing there?"

"……"

"Is it because your pride is hurt?"

"No. I don't know if what you've said is sincere, Director."

Nonsense. His pride was hurt. He had come with the good intention of protecting his junior, but his justification and momentum had vanished, and he had even been embarrassed. That was why these few steps were so difficult for him.

I had to soothe that wounded pride. That was the role of a leader. This was a time that needed unity, not division. While he was stubborn, he was not a bad person. In fact, when I investigated Jonghwa, I had him thoroughly investigated too.

"Everything I said before was sincere. To make my sincerity a reality, I absolutely need your experience and help."

I extended my hand to Gong Myeong first.

"Help me."

"Thank you, Director."

Gong Myeong took my hand. His hand was trembling. This act had more value than just placating Gong Myeong. It was because of the investigators watching this scene.

I immediately gave an order to Seo Daeryong.

"Detective Seo."

"……"

"Take the enforcement martial artists and go arrest Yang Ho's father, Yang Tae of the Hundred Blade Ghosts, right now. The charge is aggravated blackmail."

At that moment, Gong Myeong spoke cautiously.

"He won't submit to the arrest quietly."

I spoke loudly for everyone to hear.

"Let him. If he does, I'll wipe out the entire Blade Demon Sect."

They were probably all wondering what I was relying on to act this way, but one thing was certain.

The investigators of the Sanzu River Hall standing before me had probably never once heard someone talk about wiping out the entire Blade Demon Sect since the Hall was founded. They were excited. Their hearts must have already started beating faster. I could feel their fervor.

With this passion, I could be sure. Today was the day the morale of the Sanzu River Hall was the highest since its inception.