Chapter 62: Like a Blade
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SPRING-!
Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong sprang to his feet and frantically went to the desk, picking up the brush resting on the inkstone.
The position of Vice Commissioner was by no means a low one.
Within this Prosecutor’s Branch, there was only one person with a higher position than him – the Provincial Prosecutor, who was one rank above.
And yet.
Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong’s current appearance was reminiscent of a subordinate obeying the commands of some absolute being.
As if facing someone equal to or greater than the Provincial Prosecutor.
What had he seen?
What on earth was the small object Ju Yu-gang had shown him to make Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong suddenly fill with dread?
Tremble, tremble.
The hand holding the brush kept shaking, attesting to the deep fear in his heart.
The only thing governing his body and mind right now was the instinct to survive.
‘I’m now… No different from a fly’s life!’
Thump-thump.
His heart pounded violently.
It was an extreme tension he had never felt in his life.
Hoo, hoo, hoo…
Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong barely steadied his rough breathing and began moving the brush in his hand.
Swoosh, swish, swoosh-
Black characters steadily increased on the thin paper.
Not much time passed before he stopped his hand and finished the document by stamping it with the Vice Commissioner’s official seal.
“Here… It’s done. This is a Special Warrant issued under my authority. As you well know, this is an emergency approval document that bypasses main office reporting, so it will only be valid for three days.”
When Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong held out the Special Warrant with a thoroughly frightened look in his eyes, Ju Yu-gang moved his hand to snatch it as if seizing it.
“Everything will be over by tomorrow anyway.”
“Ah… Yes.”
“If you had been an upright official, I wouldn’t have had to reveal this proof of my identity like this.”
“I’m truly sorry! I’ve committed a mortal sin!”
“Now we’ll find out. Whether it’s a mortal sin or not.”
At Ju Yu-gang’s cold, scornful tone, Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong broke out in cold sweat and bowed his head.
“Yes… I-I will just quietly await my punishment.”
“All corruption in the world starts from the top and flows downward. Just as the upper waters must be clean for the lower waters to be clean. That’s why the sense of duty and responsibility of officials who live off the nation’s money, soaked with the people’s blood and sweat, is immensely heavy.”
“…”
“The hearts of the people can make a nation prosper or fall. If vermin like you gain power, this nation will eventually lose the faith of its people and fall into peril.”
“…”
Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong couldn’t say a word, just listening nervously as if he’d swallowed honey.
“The hearts of the people are the world, and it is the Emperor who governs that world. In other words, through your excessive greed, you have insulted both the Emperor and the world.”
Immediately after, Ju Yu-gang reached out and grabbed the other’s chin firmly.
“Look me straight in the eyes.”
Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong met his gaze, terrified.
In an instant.
A cold, sharp gaze flew like a transparent dagger and lodged deep in his eyes.
Goosebumps rose from head to toe.
A terrifying majesty that transcended the gap in status poured through that gaze, delivering a shiver.
“Ah… Please… S-Spare… Me.”
The moment Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong stammered with a pale face.
“The White Fang sword is physical evidence, and you are a witness.”
“…!”
“Tomorrow I’ll go to the Thousand Snake Gang and secure the remaining irrefutable evidence. So how should you behave from this moment on?”
Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong immediately grasped the hidden meaning in that question.
“Ah… Te-Testimony… I will prepare a testimony in advance!”
Ju Yu-gang nodded and once again radiated a sharp gaze.
“You must know the authority this body holds.”
“Yes, y-yes!”
“Summary execution by beheading is certainly possible… But I’ll let you keep your life for now.”
“Th-Th-Thank you!”
“Don’t stammer. It’s unpleasant to hear.”
Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong flinched and worked to calm his quivering lips before speaking carefully.
“I’m sorry… I was just so startled…”
“Anyway, when I visit again, I sincerely hope there won’t be any annihilation of three generations of your clan.”
It was a threat and warning that if he harbored any other thoughts and did anything foolish to hide his crimes, or if he carelessly revealed his identity to others, he would immediately pay the corresponding price.
When Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong slightly nodded instead of answering, Ju Yu-gang gently released his grip on the chin.
“How deeply involved is Dam Maeng-gi in this matter?”
Since he had been keeping him as a close bodyguard for several years, he thought he might have handled shady business multiple times.
It was reasonable suspicion.
At that point, Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong shook his head and said.
“No. He normally doesn’t get involved in matters outside of official duties… That’s just how he is.”
A peculiar light suddenly appeared in Ju Yu-gang’s eyes.
“He knows nothing?”
“That’s right. If Dam Maeng-gi had noticed anything somehow… He wouldn’t have stayed by my side.”
Hearing that, a barely perceptible smile formed at the corner of Ju Yu-gang’s mouth before quickly disappearing.
‘So he’s just a bodyguard faithfully doing his original job without ulterior motives. That’s somewhat unexpected.’
On the other hand, it was fortunate.
Not everything next to trash was trash.
He had thought the famous warrior that the Prosecutor’s Branch boasted of might get caught up and punished because of the Thousand Snake Gang matter.
‘His martial prowess is wasted protecting a corrupt official like that.’
With that thought, Ju Yu-gang issued another order.
“How can a wolf serve under a dog? Have his transfer documents prepared separately by tomorrow as well. I happen to need a suitable bodyguard myself.”
At that, Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong moved his trembling hands to clasp them before his chest.
“Yes, I will handle that as you command as well.”
He had suddenly lost the bodyguard he had cherished like family, but there was no look of discontent in those eyes.
* * *
Ju Yu-gang picked up the White Fang sword wrapped in white cloth and the Special Warrant and came out of the office.
Thud-
Having closed the lattice door, he walked along the corridor connected to the courtyard while muttering internally.
‘I couldn’t control my temper and went and did it. Originally, I agreed not to use my power hastily and came to Youyang as a magistrate…’
Originally, he had planned to attack the Thousand Snake Gang first and then bring all the internal evidence here to resolve matters at the Hunan Provincial Prosecutor’s Northern Bureau.
There was no need to move after getting a Special Warrant issued.
Everything was already set up under Cheol Ryu-heun’s leadership to trap the Thousand Snake Gang using the White Fang sword as justification.
However, since he was already going this far, he wanted to be even more perfect.
Because he didn’t want to give the corrupt officials who had taken the Thousand Snake Gang’s bribes even a moment’s leeway.
So.
He came here using the Special Warrant as an excuse.
Of course, without his own secret identity, it would have been an adventure he couldn’t have rashly attempted.
‘Anyway, my scheme ended successfully.’
He felt satisfied.
Now there was only one thing left.
Mopping up the Thousand Snake Gang.
If he just cleaned that place up tomorrow, he could tie up all the corrupt officials and have them punished.
There was no possibility of his true identity leaking outside.
He didn’t need to worry.
Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong already understood well.
That if he really did that, he would plunge into the bottomless abyss and face an irrecoverable crisis…
‘Still, I should be careful from now on. I have important work to do separately. Though I’m currently stuck in Youyang.’
Suddenly, the words his superior had charged him with echoed in his mind.
-First, go to Youyang in Hunan Province and stay there. It just so happens the magistrate there is about to retire soon, so you can take over. A position like that shouldn’t draw too much attention. Just remember this one thing before you leave. I’m not unaware of your extraordinary sense of justice and mission, but you must not get caught up in needless affairs and expose your true identity. You must also take good care of that sword disguised as a government-issue one. Understood?
‘Heh, I’m truly sorry. Since Cheol Ryu-heun suddenly appeared and threw me an unexpected opportunity, I ended up breaking those instructions.’
Having smiled internally, Ju Yu-gang was walking past the inner chamber with its door wide open beside the corridor when he spotted a figure sitting at a small table drinking tea.
It was Dam Maeng-gi, Vice Commissioner Pyeongneung Jin-jong’s bodyguard who had earned a reputation as the top martial force within the Prosecutor’s Branch.
The moment Ju Yu-gang stopped walking.
“Ah, are you finished?”
Dam Maeng-gi set down his teacup and asked politely.
Ju Yu-gang nodded and wore a meaningful look.
“What’s your life creed?”
At that, Dam Maeng-gi looked at him carefully before answering.
“Like a blade…”
“You mean decisiveness in starting and ending, and being clear about likes and dislikes?”
“It’s consistent with that.”
“Hmm?”
“It means I’ll stick to my work hours like a blade.”
“…”
Oh, that’s what he meant? Well, I guess… It is consistent with that.
“I thoroughly avoid work outside of set working hours. But why do you suddenly ask?”
“Just curious, no particular reason. So… You don’t do additional overtime?”
“I do so here out of necessity.”
“Necessity?”
“Yes. As you well know, the salary of a government bodyguard varies greatly depending on the employer. The Vice Commissioner I currently serve set the overtime pay quite stingily from the start. So I drew a line in advance. Unless the pay is increased, I won’t answer any calls outside of set working hours. A bodyguard’s rights should be looked after by oneself, not by others, shouldn’t they?”
“…”
“Of course, I pride myself on doing my best at the work I’m assigned. Demanding generous pay without adequate skills is something only shameless types do.”
Confidence in his own martial prowess showed through Dam Maeng-gi’s solemn voice and expression.
Ju Yu-gang nodded slightly and said suggestively.
“Hmm… Then what if hypothetically, another official proposed adding hazard pay on top of overtime pay?”
“I would bid farewell to the Vice Commissioner.”
As if there was no need to even briefly ponder it.
“…”
Like a blade, indeed.
While Ju Yu-gang was inwardly amazed, Dam Maeng-gi’s eyes suddenly changed.
“Um… Is the official mentioned just now perhaps Magistrate Ju?”
“I was too obvious. You seem too valuable to be here.”
“Ah! Are you really promising generous overtime pay and hazard pay?”
“I’m thinking of accommodating your conditions as much as possible. For now, wait until tomorrow…”
Dam Maeng-gi abruptly cut him off and exclaimed.
“My Lord Ju!”
“Wha…?”
“From this moment, I pledge my loyalty to Lord Ju!”
Dam Maeng-gi even went down on both knees and made a formal bow with clasped hands.
“No, wait, hold on…”
As Ju Yu-gang wore a dumbfounded expression, Dam Maeng-gi came out with an even more enthusiastic attitude.
“My Lord, I’ll pack my bags immediately and prepare to leave! My luggage isn’t even two bundles anyway, so it’ll be done quickly! No wait, I should fill out the transfer documents first!”
Ju Yu-gang stared at him blankly.
Is that guy going to be okay?
He looks ready to sell his soul for generous pay…
Hey, won’t he just decisively cut ties like a blade and leave if someone else makes him an enticing offer later?
Just then, Dam Maeng-gi sprang to his feet and drew his sword.
“My Lord, let me show you a bit of my skills while I’m at it! This is my specialty sword technique, White Night Chaos Blade!”
No, hey, stop it.
Before Ju Yu-gang could stop him, Dam Maeng-gi’s sword moved chaotically like white lightning.
“Swoosh, swish-swoosh! Swoosh, swish-swoosh, swoosh! Swish-swoosh, swoosh…!”
Hey, don’t make weird sound effects!
Your hands and mouth aren’t matching at all!
Gah, why are you breaking the innocent table too!