The Ruler of Darkness

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 Grand Young Master, Yeon So-Hyeon, smiled. “Does that mean the investigation within the Inner Court will be concluded today?”

“I can’t disclose all the details, but since it’s you, the Grand Young Master, I’ll tell you specially…” He continued with a smile. “Even if the investigation inside the Inner Court ends, the ongoing external investigations will take a few more days.”

“Is that so?”

He smiled as if understanding Yeon So-Hyeon’s thoughts.

“Don’t worry. Those who dared to deceive the main family’s Grand Young Master will be punished immediately after the external investigations are concluded.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Trust us.”

Yeon So-Hyeon smiled at the Sixth Division Chief’s boast.

“Reliable indeed. Then, will I also be able to recover the budget that they embezzled and which I was unable to receive all this while?”

“Ah, that is…” He rapidly calculated in his head before naturally continuing, “Given the amount involved, and since it’s related to budgetary matters, I suppose the Elders’ Council will have to come to a conclusion, won’t it?”

Yeon So-Hyeon’s smile grew wider.

“Then let’s leave it at that, but given the scale of the malfeasance revealed, shouldn’t the investigation be expanded to encompass the entire Inner Court?”

“That, that is…”

The one who interrupted with a raised hand was the First Division Chief of the Law Enforcers, who had been quietly sitting until now.

“The investigation is not yet properly concluded. For now, it’s appropriate to focus on the immediate cases, in line with the purpose of the Joint Investigation Headquarters.”

“But…”

The weighty gaze of the First Division Chief turned towards Yeon So-Hyeon.

“Anything beyond that could be interpreted as overstepping authority, so please be cautious, Grand Young Master.”

Yeon So-Hyeon nonchalantly turned his head towards Dokgo Yayeon.

“The Central Inspection Department does not declare its position nor conducts investigations.”

Yeon So-Hyeon shrugged.

“Then it can’t be helped.”

He stood up.

The people seated hurriedly stood up following him.

“Will the investigation within the Inner Court be concluded today?”

“Ah, yes. It should be finished by dawn at the latest.”

Yeon So-Hyeon nodded.

“Since there’s nothing more to hear, I should go back and have dinner.”

The Sixth Division Chief looked at him.

“If you’re returning to Wongak Pavilion, I can provide you with a temporary pass…”

“No. Should the main family’s Grand Young Master casually ignore the confinement orders?”

The Sixth Division Chief was astonished.

“…So, are you saying you’ll dine here in the Inner Court?”

Outside, the Inner Court’s main building was still filled with screams and the scent of blood.

“Yes. The Inner Court’s ceremonial secretary wanted to offer a banquet as an apology.”

“…Aren’t you worried about being poisoned?”

Yeon So-Hyeon chuckled. “If that happens, all of you are here to catch the culprit quickly.” He turned around and said, Well then, everyone, keep up the good work.”

Having finished his words, Yeon So-Hyeon left before they could even respond, opening the door and walking out.

The Sixth Division Chief, watching the direction he left, had an expression as if he’d seen something bizarre.

Meanwhile, the First Division Chief and the Central Inspection Department Chief had already sat back down.

“Heh, really…” He shook his head and pulled out a small box containing tobacco. “Does anyone need some…?”

No response came back.

He shrugged his shoulders, took out a cigarette, and lit it with a Samadhi True Fire.

After blowing a puff of smoke towards the ceiling, he spoke, “…Is it just me who feels uneasy about this case?”

Neither the First Division Chief nor the Central Inspection Department Chief responded, but their silence was as good as an agreement.

He continued, cigarette in mouth.

“To mobilize part of the Law Enforcers and the Six Divisions for just this level of an incident? Even though I’m now just a lowly division chief of the Law Enforcers, has there ever been such a case?”

“It’s my first time too.” Agreeing with the First Division Chief, the Sixth Division Chief smacked his lips.

“Besides, both the part and the Six Divisions had several ongoing cases, didn’t they?” Smoke rose from his cigarette. “Let’s speak more openly.”

He tapped the ash into an empty teacup.

“I was instructed to mobilize all available personnel of the Law Protector’s Sixth Division and conclude the investigation in the shortest possible time.”

The usually silent First Division Chief spoke, “Three days at most. The limits of our investigative authority will become clear once we’re on the scene.”

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.

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