Chapter 29 - What We Should Fear

Naturally, I had expected the Blood Heaven Saber Demon or the Saber Fiends to come calling first.

But the first backlash against Yang Ho's arrest came from within. Some thirty investigators from Yellow Springs Pavilion gathered in the main hall and summoned me.

The man leading them was Gok Myeong, the most senior special investigator.

"We should have come to see you in your office, but there were too many of us. Forgive our discourtesy."

"It looks less like you've come to talk and more like you've come to pick a fight."

"Not at all. Please don't misunderstand."

They hadn't come of one mind. A glance at their eyes was enough to give me a rough idea of who had grievances and who had reluctantly tagged along.

Gok Myeong stepped forward to speak for everyone.

"I understand you reopened a case that our pavilion had already closed with a finding of innocence."

"I did."

"That undermines our investigators' morale and authority."

I addressed the investigators standing behind him.

"Do you all think so too?"

"Yes, we do," they answered resoundingly.

"I see it rather differently. I think the handling of Yang Ho's case undermined our pavilion's authority. Very seriously, at that."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Do you really need something this obvious explained to you? How disappointing."

Gok Myeong's expression hardened as he countered,

"You are the one who has already acted contrary to common sense, Pavilion Master."

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

"I did."

"Then what is this? Why have you all come here?"

"Our concern is the reinvestigation of a case that has already been closed."

"A matter of principle?"

"Precisely. It is also unprecedented."

"Investigator Gok. An innocent boy was beaten nearly to death, and we've caught the culprit and even obtained a confession. Shouldn't we naturally reopen the investigation? How do you think you look, insisting on principle in a situation like this?"

"You may call me hidebound, but I cannot help that. Principles are that important to an organization."

Whether he was being rigid or trying to pressure me, he refused to give an inch.

"Fine. Then let's hear what each of you thinks. Anyone who believes reinvestigating is right, come over here!"

They had come to act as a group, so I doubted anyone would move now.

Yet one man walked over to me.

It was my unwavering supporter, Seo Daeryong. Everyone knew we were close, so his move caused no ripple through the group.

"Investigator Seo, my loyal retainer and a man worth a hundred."

"If you put it that way, it sounds as though I moved out of personal friendship."

"Didn't you?"

"No. Quite apart from my loyalty to you, I believe this case needs to be reinvestigated."

"Why?"

"The investigation was inadequate."

Several investigators, Gok Myeong among them, openly scowled, but Seo Daeryong calmly continued to explain his views.

"Nor can we rule out the possibility of outside pressure."

"Good. Who agrees with him?"

Once again, I raised my hand high and looked at the investigators.

Just when I doubted anyone would step forward, someone did.

"I agree as well."

He was the martial artist Go Dang had injured during the Demon Army investigation. I had not only avenged him, but asked the Demon Physician to give him the best possible treatment.

"I'm Ik Ho. I didn't properly thank you at the time. I was truly grateful."

"How are your injuries?"

"I'm fine."

"That's a relief."

No investigator other than Ik Ho moved. They seemed to be watching Gok Myeong for cues. Fair enough. They had known me for only a few days, whereas they would have worked with him for anywhere from several years to well over a decade.

Then another man moved.

"I'm Yang Gun. Ik Ho and I joined at the same time. Thank you, sincerely, for avenging him."

Yang Gun's decision gave several others the courage to come over to my side. They hadn't moved out of personal friendship. They were people who themselves believed the investigation had been mishandled.

Still, the overwhelming majority remained on Gok Myeong's side.

I called out one of them—the very man at the center of today's affair.

"Investigator Jong Hwa!"

"Yes, sir."

Jong Hwa was the investigator who had handled the case. He was the one who had cleared the Hundred-Saber Fiend's son.

"What do you think?"

"... I investigated the case properly."

I approached him and stared straight into his face as I asked,

"Did you take a bribe from a Saber Fiend, by any chance?"

His expression froze. It was Gok Myeong who flared up on his behalf.

"What an outrageous thing to say!"

Letting my cold qi presence show, I asked Gok Myeong,

"Then did you take it?"

"No."

"Then why are you interfering? And making an outrageous remark yourself by calling your superior's words outrageous?"

"Because it concerns my subordinate."

"He's my subordinate too. Isn't he?"

Gok Myeong immediately realized his slip and bowed his head.

"Yes, he is. I apologize."

"Don't speak out of turn."

"Yes, sir."

Having silenced him, I turned back to Jong Hwa.

"Did you take money from the Hundred-Saber Fiend?"

"No."

"Do you swear it?"

"I swear on my life."

He met my gaze as though to declare his innocence.

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

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

Everyone was startled by my words. Saying I had already investigated him meant I had completed a confidential inquiry.

Despite my warning not to interfere, Gok Myeong couldn't restrain himself.

"Our investigators cannot be subjected to a confidential inquiry except as part of a special investigation."

"It was a special investigation. I even obtained a direct order from the Cult Leader and had it conducted externally."

I coldly questioned the visibly startled Gok Myeong.

"When the Cult Leader appointed me master of this pavilion, did you think he wouldn't give me even this much support?"

"No, sir."

I looked around at everyone and spoke calmly.

"I was curious. Why cover up the case when you hadn't even taken any money?"

"I did not cover it up. According to my investigation..."

I cut Jong Hwa off.

"Because he threatened to kill your little sister?"

Jong Hwa froze. His expression said it all: How did you know?

"The investigation revealed that you were a man of rare integrity. I didn't believe it. I told them to dig deeper. There's no one in the world who doesn't like money. But, surprisingly, you really were incorruptible. So why would a man of such integrity gloss over the case and let it slide? You had one great vulnerability. Your young sister, your only family."

Jong Hwa's eyes wavered.

A shocked Gok Myeong asked him,

"Did that bastard really threaten you?"

Jong Hwa couldn't answer.

"Speak, you fool! I'm asking if he really threatened you!"

Gok Myeong pressed him, but Jong Hwa kept his head bowed and said nothing. I also knew why Gok Myeong had taken the lead today. Jong Hwa was the junior he cherished most. He had stepped forward to keep Jong Hwa from suffering any repercussions over this affair.

I spoke to Jong Hwa.

"If you're worried about your sister, she's all right. I've already sent enforcement martial artists to guard her in a safe house. She'll be safe until this case is fully resolved."

Only then did relief spread across his face. He sank to his knees before me, as though admitting everything.

"I have committed a crime deserving of death."

Watching him, Gok Myeong let out a groan.

"Ah..."

Having worked with him for so long, he would have known better than anyone how dearly Jong Hwa loved his sister. But apparently even he hadn't known this had happened.

I addressed Jong Hwa, whose head hung low.

"You know you mustn't do this, even under threat, don't you?"

"Yes. I will accept my punishment willingly."

The watching investigators wore different expressions, but all were angry. This wasn't someone else's problem. It could happen to any of them at any time.

"Stand up."

"Yes, sir."

Jong Hwa rose.

"If this had happened after I became pavilion master, I would not have forgiven you. But since it happened before I came, I will make an exception."

"You're truly forgiving me?"

"It isn't I who am forgiving you. The life of integrity you've led until now has earned you forgiveness. But this incident has wiped away that entire record. Build it again from the beginning."

He hadn't expected forgiveness, and he was deeply moved.

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

But what truly moved him were my next words.

"Now that I'm pavilion master, your families are my family. I'll destroy every bastard who touches them. What? Don't believe me? I even cut down the Demon Army commander. Do you think I'd be afraid of the Saber Fiends?"

I could feel the gazes fixed on me growing warmer.

"From now on, this pavilion will tolerate no outside pressure. From this moment, taking even a single coin will be punished as a serious crime. You'd better be prepared to end up in the same prison as the inmates you threw in there. If you don't think you can abide by that, leave the pavilion."

Their reactions varied. Joy and excitement, resentment and disbelief rose in their faces...

"In return, I won't let anyone get away with targeting you as they did this time. Tell me when you're threatened, and I will protect your families without fail. Even if they've already been abducted, I will rescue them. You can trust me. If you can't trust me, trust the Cult Leader. I'll bring them back even if I have to beg my father to save them. So make certain you report any outside pressure to me."

I meant every word. Yellow Springs Pavilion would function properly only when each person was certain that both they and their family were safe.

"I believe anyone who commits an evil act must be punished, whoever they are. Even wrongdoing in Heavenly Demon Hall will not be overlooked. If the Cult Leader commits a crime, I'll arrest him too!"

Everyone stopped breathing. Declaring that I would arrest the Heavenly Demon was something he could kill me for on the spot without it being the least bit surprising.

"It isn't the Cult Leader or the Eight Demon Supremes I fear. What I fear is us becoming useless fuckwits. Failing to protect the people we should protect, failing to stop bastards who deserve punishment from slipping away with a grin. When I caught that bastard yesterday, the people at the tavern were so delighted they actually applauded. I'm a man who likes attention, so I intend to keep earning that applause."

As my sincerity reached them, the investigators' expressions changed. Jong Hwa in particular, who had suffered those threats, didn't know what to do with himself, his eyes brimming red.

Then an investigator standing behind Gok Myeong walked toward me and spoke. It was Jo Hyang, the woman Seo Daeryong liked.

"I'd like to earn that applause with you, Pavilion Master."

That was the beginning. One by one, the investigators came over to my side. Some were sincere; others crossed reluctantly, swept along by the mood. It didn't matter. What mattered now was that all of them were moving in the same direction.

Now only Gok Myeong remained.

"Don't you like the new principles I've laid down?"

"That's not it."

"Then why are you standing there?"

"..."

"Is your pride hurt?"

"No. I don't know whether you truly mean what you've said."

Not at all. His pride was hurt. He had come with the good intention of helping his junior, but both the justification and momentum behind their visit had vanished, and he had even been humiliated after stepping forward. That was why those few steps were so difficult for him.

I needed to soothe that wounded pride. That was a leader's role. This was a time for unity rather than division, and although he was rigid, he wasn't a bad man. In fact, when I'd had Jong Hwa investigated, I'd had him thoroughly investigated too.

"I meant everything I said. To turn those intentions into reality, I need your experience and help."

I offered Gok Myeong my hand first.

"Help me."

"Thank you, Pavilion Master."

He took my hand. His was trembling. This had value beyond merely appeasing Gok Myeong, because of the investigators watching us.

I immediately gave Seo Daeryong an order.

"Investigator Seo."

"Yes, sir."

"Take the enforcement martial artists and arrest Yang Ho's father, the Hundred-Saber Fiend Yang Tae, immediately. The charge is aggravated intimidation."

Gok Myeong spoke cautiously.

"He won't submit to arrest quietly."

I spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"Let him resist. If he does, I'll wipe out the Saber Fiends altogether."

They might be wondering what on earth gave me the confidence to act this way, but one thing was certain.

Not once since joining the pavilion would the Yellow Springs Pavilion investigators standing before me have heard anyone talk of wiping out all the Saber Fiends. They were excited. Their hearts would already be racing. I could feel that fervor.

That heat made me certain. Today, morale was higher than it had ever been since Yellow Springs Pavilion was founded.