Chapter 96: Chapter 96

“What, this is the Bumun Inn? This is a place for sending carrier pigeons.”

“I have business here, so wait.”

“Hey, I said let’s just find him and go! Do it next time. I’m dying of sleep deprivation!”

One look and he knew. But a spy’s fundamental rule was to finish all preparations before moving.

If Gu-yu was truly a master at the Hall Master level, this wasn’t something to approach carelessly.

Add Guang-yi as a variable, and even more so.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Yeah, like you’d listen to me. Go, you bastard.”

Jang I-seo ignored him completely, entered the pigeon loft, sent a letter, and came back out.

Mao, who had been waiting, asked brusquely.

“Who are you sending it to?”

“Someone I can actually trust.”

“Who is that?”

“Let’s go. You said you were tired.”

“I’m curious!”

“Just follow me.”

“Tell me, tell me! Jang I-seo!”

As Jang I-seo walked away, ignoring him, Mao scurried alongside, weaving left and right. To anyone watching, they looked quite close now. But he still wouldn’t tell him. That was Jang I-seo.

Before long, they reached the front of a narrow alley flanked by street vendors on both sides. The Bumun Inn was at the end of this road.

The moment the two entered the alley, calls for customers erupted from all directions.

All of them were Western Region goods rarely seen in the Central Plains.

“Come and pick, pick! Martial arts manuals imported directly from the Western Regions, two nyang each, three for two! Die and resurrect in three days after completing them!”

“J-Jang I-seo! Manuals are two nyang! Should we buy them? You die and come back to life!”

Blasphemy. If he wanted to repent, he could buy them. Jang I-seo grabbed the distracted Mao and dragged him out.

Naturally, Jang I-seo was well-versed in the Western Region languages as well. Being fluent in numerous languages was a given for a spy.

Once past the alley, the central thoroughfare marking the border between the Shan Wang Jia’s territory and the Demonic Cult revealed itself.

And standing imposingly in the very center was a single inn.

【Bumun Inn】

They had finally reached their destination.

Jang I-seo was well-informed about this place. The foremost intelligence hub of the north, where any information could be bought with money.

For a spy, not knowing this was preposterous. Though its location was so public that he had never actually used it.

Moreover, what met the eye wasn’t everything.

‘Operating a business on the border between the Demonic Cult and the northern steppes means they have deep ties to both sides. And the fact that they’ve openly bought and sold information without incident means they have the power to back it up.’

So the Bumun Inn they could see was likely just the tip of the iceberg. They were not people to take lightly.

“Let’s go in.”

Jang I-seo pushed past departing customers and threw the door open with a rigid gaze. Creeeak.

The entire interior, visible up to the second floor at a glance, spread out before them. Even a quick scan showed it was nearly full.

“Hm?”

As he turned his head, his eyes met those of a man wearing dark glasses at the counter right beside him.

“Huh?”

The man stared at Jang I-seo with an equally surprised face.

It was So-o, the proprietor of the Bumun Inn.

The Deputy Master of the White Crow Gate, whose hidden identity was the handler for VIP customer Jang I-seo.

‘What, why are you here, Jang I-seo?’

It was the first time they had met face to face without the crow mask.

Thanks to that, So-o was uncharacteristically flustered.

“Wel…come?”

Jang I-seo tilted his head as he looked at him. What was this strange tone? A bizarre cadence with an upward inflection at the end. Relatively short hair. A cross hanging around his neck. A Western Region shepherd?

Sensing he hadn’t been recognized, So-o hastily scratched his head with an “ahaha” and added gratuitously.

“Ah, it’s just that you’re new faces. Probably didn’t make a reservation. What brings you in? And with your faces so openly exposed like this.”

“Openly exposed? What’s wrong with my face?”

When Mao asked back, Jang I-seo gestured toward the surroundings as if it were nothing. Looking around, most patrons wore masks with their heads wrapped in something.

“When snooping on others, hiding your own intentions is the basics.”

“Ah.”

Mao nodded vigorously. He’d learned something.

Of course.

‘Coming from you, Jang I-seo, it really hits home. Haha.’

So-o forced a wide smile.

‘Lighter than he looks.’

At this, Jang I-seo withdrew his interest and surveyed the surroundings. Exactly three seats were empty. He went to the one in the middle and sat down.

So-o, who had been sidling up behind him, stood nearby rubbing his hands together for no reason.

Originally, the proprietor personally guiding guests was rare. But he knew Jang I-seo well.

He was strong enough to defeat Sa Do-cheol one-on-one.

His mind was exceptionally sharp.

And above all, he had a lot of money.

That last point was the key.

“Well, looks like you picked a spot that happened to have no reservation. Lucky, or just got a good eye?”

Why did he need to know? Jang I-seo replied brusquely.

“Customers left as I was coming in. And compared to the other organized seats, only this one had its chairs pushed out of alignment. Which means someone had been sitting here.”

“Spot on.”

So-o grinned. Seeing this, Jang I-seo felt a strange sense of deja vu and asked.

“Have we met before?”

A snake-like glare paired with a sudden question.

So-o was glad he had his tinted glasses on. If it were Jang I-seo, he’d notice even a single twitch of an eyebrow.

But he was also the Deputy Master of the White Crow Gate, a secret cleaning organization shrouded in veils.

“Since this seems to be our first meeting, let me explain. Our inn’s name is Bumun Inn. Bu of ‘not,’ mun of ‘ask.’ Don’t ask. If you want to ask, pay. That’s what it means. But since our customer answered first, I’ll tell you.”

“…”

“We have met.”

“Where?”

“If you want to ask more, you’ll have to pay. And it’s a hefty sum. My mouth is high-class. Of course, whether you like the answer or not is entirely up to you, our customer.”

Even if the answer is nothing special, he’ll charge generously?

Jang I-seo examined him with disbelief. He smiled nonchalantly. He wasn’t an ordinary man. Fine. Personal matters could wait.

“Jang I-seo. I’m here to find someone.”

When Jang I-seo offered his name, So-o quickly sat across from him, cupped his chin in his hand, and beamed.

“I’m So-o. The proprietor.”

Proprietor? As Jang I-seo regarded him with an ambiguous gaze, he bared his teeth in a wider smile. Straight teeth.

“So this is how they greet customers here.”

“Not good? Everyone loved it.”

“Right.”

“You’re pricklier than you look.”

So-o smirked, crossed his legs, and leaned back.

Slam!

Then the impatient Mao slammed the table and cut to the chase.

“Shut up. Proprietor, good. There was a kid who came here a few days ago, right? Where is he now?”

But the reaction was lukewarm at best. So-o stared at the ceiling, scratching his head as if hearing a dog barking somewhere.

“No, bu of ‘not,’ mun of ‘ask.’ I said don’t ask. Good grief. But if you reeeeally. If you reeeeally must get an answer, you’ll have to pay a price.”

“What?”

Pay first if he wanted to hear. As Mao glared in disbelief, So-o slid his tinted glasses down the bridge of his nose, met his eyes for a moment, then slid them back up and whispered.

“Oh my, how scary. Looks like fire’s going to shoot out of your eyes.”

This bastard! As Mao kicked back from his seat to confront him, Jang I-seo raised a hand to stop him. He then surveyed the room and spoke.

“You said you were the proprietor here.”

“I did. See? Everyone here knows me.”

So-o looked around and offered hand greetings to the customers. A few returned the gesture.

At this level, it didn’t seem to be a lie.

In that case.

“If the proprietor of the renowned Bumun Inn doesn’t know who he’s dealing with right now, that makes him incompetent. And if he does know but still behaves rudely, that means he has no excuse even if he dies… Which is it? Ah, let’s pay for the answer with this.”

Clack! Jang I-seo placed a dagger drawn from his waist onto the table.

At that, guards who had been watching from various corners flinched and reached for their weapons.

“Ah.”

So-o lowered his tinted glasses slightly and blinked wide.

“Didn’t expect him to come out this strong.”

“Now that you know, I’d suggest fixing your manners.”

As Jang I-seo glared coldly, So-o smacked his lips a few times, cleared his throat, and stood from his seat.

He pushed his chair in, brought his hands respectfully to his front, bowed at the waist, and spoke.

“My apologies for the late greeting. I am So-o of the Bumun Inn. It is an honor to meet you, Seventh Young Master.”

At his greeting, the entire room fell silent in an instant.

Absolute silence.

Then Jang I-seo rose and issued a single command.

“Stop making a racket and finish your business.”

Only then did some people slowly rise and slip out of the inn, while others resumed their conversations as if nothing had happened.

Once the commotion subsided, Mao opened his mouth again.

“This bastard knew exactly who I was and still asked me for money?”

“Haha, that’s just the Western way of greeting. We call it a joke.”

“Bullshit.”

As Mao raised his voice, Jang I-seo spoke in a calm tone, signaling for restraint.

“As I said, we’re looking for someone who visited here a few days ago. Finish the job and I’ll pay double.”

Clack! A silver ingot was placed on the table. So-o’s eyes gleamed.

‘He reveals Mao’s identity as the Seventh Young Master to establish dominance, then immediately tosses out bait? That’s Jang I-seo for you. The man knows how to handle people.’

Smirk. So-o curled his lips and swiftly pocketed the silver ingot. Then he sat back down and spoke.

“How about it. What should I start with?”

“How much do you know?”

“Everything except what I don’t.”

“I’d like to see your competence first.”

“Adjutant Jang I-seo. Former Counter-Espionage Division Squad Leader, recently promoted to adjutant with a rank increase. Outstanding ability during his Counter-Espionage days. His biggest case was exposing Hwan-ik, the Vice Hall Master of the Flying Dragon Hall, as a spy. As a result, his relationship with the Flying Dragon Hall Master remains poor to this day. Shall I continue?”

Jang I-seo glared coldly. So-o sheepishly lowered his head and muttered. That seemed to be enough.

“I understand a young boy visited this place a few days ago.”

At Jang I-seo’s words, So-o looked up as if recalling a memory, then spoke.

“A few days ago… He did come. A kid did show up.”

“A kid? Must I question your incompetence again?”

As Jang I-seo glared, So-o hastily corrected himself.

“Actually, calling him that is a bit… Let’s just say that person. Hmm. Let’s go with ‘that person.’ You’re strict, Adjutant Jang. Anyway, he did come. About six days ago, around the hour of Shen, I think.”

Why was he still speaking informally? Jang I-seo’s eyes twitched as he spoke.

“And.”

“But he left quickly. Looked like he was going to ask about someone, but then disappeared without even listening? I didn’t see him directly myself. Just heard about it. I was a bit busy at the time.”

He disappeared?