The Ruler of Darkness

Book 3: Chapter 18

In Court Lady Seomun’s office.

“Elder Ham’s confidant also sent a message. They’ve confirmed that they will help as much as they can.”

“I’ve sent a letter to Lord Lee’s side as well. We should receive a reply soon.”

“Those with connections to the Inspection Bureau have also agreed to lend their support.”

Court Lady Bang spoke with an excited face.

“The elders within our Sword Faction have assured that they will definitely help, so just be strong.”

However, Court Lady Seomun, sitting in her chair, gave no response.

“Court Lady Seomun?”

“Hmm? Yes. Understood.”

Despite the stream of good news, Court Lady Seomun’s face remained pale.

Just then, another court lady burst into the office.

“I just heard that a group from the Inspection Bureau has left. They are probably the team for the main investigation.”

Everyone looked at Court Lady Seomun, but she remained silent.

“Everyone, pay attention.”

The most senior court lady among them stepped forward to gather attention.

“We failed to prevent the Inspection Bureau’s team from departing, but that’s not a concern.”

Everyone wore determined expressions.

“The outcome of the main investigation depends on how much more we can do in the remaining time, so let’s all try our best until the end.”

“Alright!”

“Let’s do this!”

They clapped, cheered energetically, and refocused on writing letters.

They had already sent letters to everyone on the emergency contact list.

Therefore, they racked their brains to think of even the thinnest thread they could pull.

Still, Court Lady Seomun did not move.

The scene she had witnessed earlier wouldn’t leave her mind.

‘…What was with those broken scissors?’

She had seen numerous suicides in the Inner Court during her time there.

In her early days, she even had to handle the corpses directly.

The efficiency of the Inner Court staff in such matters was evident even in the current situation.

If someone as high-ranking as the Accounting Secretary within an ordinary organization like the Luoyang Sword House had committed suicide, it would have caused a major uproar in the department.

But no one coming and going from Court Lady Seomun’s office had heard about the Accounting Secretary’s suicide.

The Inner Court was such a place.

It was the department that assisted the most powerful authority in the Luoyang Sword House, the Head of the other Houses, and also the organization with the most secrets.

It was a place where incidents were bound to happen, and the top officials of the Inner Court had always been adept at cutting off any loose ends.

‘But the Accounting Secretary was one of those top officials.’

It was the first time she had seen a top official being cut off as a loose end.

‘What exactly is going on with this situation?’

She chewed her nails anxiously.

‘Wasn’t this about the budget issue of the Wongak Pavilion? Weren’t they trying to catch us out on book expenses, to sift through the Wongak Pavilion budget details and take revenge on us?’

Blood dripped from her bitten fingertips, bright crimson.

‘Why… how could this…’

Suddenly, she looked at the court ladies and attendants running around frantically.

Their actions seemed like puppets dancing on a stage.

* * *

“Your Highness! The main investigation has been confirmed!”

Kang Ho burst into the waiting room, his eyes wide.

“Ah, you’re here. Sit down.”

Yeon So-Hyeon pointed to an empty seat.

“Were you dining, Your Highness…?”

He couldn’t hide his astonishment.

Was the Grand Young Master really dining casually in a place that was essentially enemy territory?

He adjusted his slipping glasses and took the seat offered by Yeon So-Hyeon.

As he sat down, the protocol stewards and maids of the Inner Court began to prepare his meal with trembling hands.

He hurriedly refused.

“Oh, no. I, as an inspector, shouldn’t be receiving meals here…”

Yeon So-Hyeon waved his hand dismissively.

“You wouldn’t have been involved in the main investigation anyway, right? Just eat comfortably.”

“How did you know, Your Highness?”

He was already quite disheartened because of that.

Yeon So-Hyeon chuckled lightly.

“All of you, leave now.”

Following his command, the attendants vacated the room.

As their footsteps faded away, Yeon So-Hyeon spoke again.

“If the Inspection Bureau is planning a main investigation in the Inner Court, they wouldn’t assign the task to a rookie like you.”

“…That’s true, Your Highness.”

“Besides, the merit you earned by conducting the preliminary investigation should be more than enough for you.”

“…I have heard as much, Your Highness.”

“That kind of merit wouldn’t have been given to any other junior officer. It’s only because of your grandfather’s influence that you received it.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Watching his dejected demeanor, Yeon So-Hyeon smirked meaningfully.

“But you must have received some special instructions from the highest ranks of the Inspection Bureau, right?”

“…How could that be?!”

He jumped up from his seat.

“No, Your Highness! I have not received any instructions from anyone!”

The triplet maids giggled softly at his reaction.

Feeling defeated, he buried his face in his hands.

“…I absolutely cannot disclose the details of my mission.”

Yeon So-Hyeon shrugged.

“That’s obvious. I guessed as much when you said you had access to the account book storage.”

“…What?”

Yeon So-Hyeon smiled at the bewildered prodigy.

“The contents of the ledgers you saw today. You must’ve remembered them all, right? So, your mission is related to that.”

“….”

“If they entrusted it to someone like you, it can’t be a major mission. Probably something like compiling a confidential report on the Inner Court’s budget execution.”

“….”

“Your report will probably be used by someone in the Elder Council of the main house. Of course, your name won’t appear in the report, but the elders will know who prepared it.”

“….”

“Whoever gave you this opportunity must be someone with a strong connection to your grandfather.”

“….”

Yeon So-Hyeon continued eating, ignoring the silent Kang Ho.

After sitting quietly for a while, a sigh-like voice came from Kang Ho.

“…Now I understand why every letter from my grandfather mentions you, Your Highness.”

“Who opened the Inner Court’s account book storage for you?”

After a moment of silence, Kang Ho answered.

“…The Inner Court’s Accounting Secretary.”

“He’s probably dead by now.”

“….”

“Given what the Inner Court usually does, it must be suicide.”

Both Kang Ho and Yeon So-Hyeon’s maids were startled and looked at Yeon So-Hyeon.

“What do you mean by that?”

Kang Ho asked, to which Yeon So-Hyeon responded with a slight smile.

“Kid. Be careful not to overstep when preparing the report. It’s enough just to make your involvement known.”

“….”

Yeon So-Hyeon pointed at Kang Ho with his chopsticks.

“Until you can understand the scale of the game you’re getting involved in with your own ability, don’t thirst for recognition.”

Kang Ho felt as if it wasn’t chopsticks but a sharp blade pointed at him.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes! I understand.”

His glasses finally fell off as he nodded hastily.

“If you end up found dead in some corner of Luoyang, or disappear without a trace, I wouldn’t be able to face your grandfather. That’s why I’m specifically telling you this.”

Kang Ho didn’t even think to pick up his glasses.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

He sat upright, sweating profusely.

Deep down, he had always been jealous of the Grand Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House.

His grandfather, renowned for his discernment, had praised the Grand Young Master to the skies.

As the distance grew, his grandfather repeatedly urged him to stay close to the Grand Young Master, who had boldly topped the imperial examination in front of the Emperor himself.

He was known as the prodigy among prodigies, yet in his grandfather’s eyes, he was still just an immature grandson.

“My lord.”

The Chief Maid of the Grand Young Master, whose stunning beauty he couldn’t even bear to look at directly, spoke up.

“Could you at least briefly explain what’s happening now?”

The triplet maids gathered closer, curious as well.

“These humble maidens are also curious.”

Yeon So-Hyeon had just finished eating and put down his chopsticks.

“Hmm.”

He tapped his fingers on the table and began to speak.

“What kind of place is the Inner Court?”

Jung-ah responded.

“Isn’t the Inner Court the department that serves the Patriarch and his direct lineage at the closest range?”

“That’s right. But where is the Patriarch now?”

“He is on his sickbed.”

“Yes. And he has stepped down to become the Supreme Head of the House. So, what happens to the situation in the Inner Court?”

“…Without a focal point, the unity among the internal staff weakens, and power becomes dispersed.”

“You are half right and half wrong.”

“Is that so?”

“The Inner Court has always been the oldest organization within the main house and still uses one of the largest budgets.”

Jung-ah nodded.

“I learned that where there is money, there is power, and where there is power, there is money.”

“Yes. But what happens when they lack a focal point?”

“…If I may venture a guess, those in need of power will cling to power, and those in need of money will be ruled by power.”

“Indeed, befitting my Chief Maid.”

“You flatter me.”

Yeon So-Hyeon tapped the table, reaching a conclusion.

“That’s why the shell of the Inner Court is rotting away. It’s practically the cause of this whole mess.”

“The shell, you say…?”

“Yes. The shells. Do you remember the ones we saw today? Those who have risen sharply in the past decade or so. Isn’t that right, Inspector Kang Ho?”

Kang Ho, who had been listening intently, quickly nodded.

“Yes, yes! That’s correct.”

“That decade would be after the Supreme Head fell ill…?”

“Yes.”

Yeon So-Hyeon tapped the table.

“The original value of the Inner Court has been overshadowed by their habit of forming and dissolving alliances and fighting like dogs over a bone.”

Yeon So-Hyeon wore a sardonic smile.

“These people cling to their chosen successors, pushing forward those who pose a threat but have slim chances, like the 4th Young Master, and ignoring those like me, the Grand Young Master, who don’t serve their power interests.”

Everyone hesitated to speak.

Unable to contain his curiosity and with sweaty palms, Kang Ho asked Yeon So-Hyeon.

“…I understand the background of the ‘game’ you mentioned, Your Highness. But what about the true nature of this ‘game’?”

Yeon So-Hyeon stopped tapping his fingers on the table and raised one.

His Chief Maid was staring off at some point on the wall.

“Someone is approaching.”

A moment later.

With the sound of footsteps, a steward appeared, looking pale.

“The personnel dispatched from the Inspection Bureau have entered the Inner Court.”

Yeon So-Hyeon stood up abruptly.

“Let’s go see who the Inspection Bureau has sent.”

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