Chapter 56: Chapter 56
* * *
Jang Un’s couple and the people of the merchant guild were terrified at first, thinking the deceased was the wet nurse. However, thanks to the fake hair on the corpse and the disguise technique half-unraveling upon death, the misunderstanding was quickly cleared up. Afterwards, Jang Un sent someone to the wet nurse’s house.
The real wet nurse, Madam Lee, was found as a corpse in her own house. Being someone who lived lonely without any particular relatives, there was no one else to notify of her death. Only Jang Un’s couple and the merchant guild members grieved for her.
And the Martial Alliance, which had its headquarters in New Sichuan, quickly dispatched an investigator when an incident involving two deaths occurred right in their front yard. The investigator arrived at the Jang Family Merchant Guild before the sun set on the very day the fake wet nurse died.
She was a face Jang Geon also knew.
A large scar stretching from her left forehead to her right cheek, as well as distinct blade marks beneath her lips and on her left cheek. However, thanks to her sharply defined features, she appeared distinctive in her own right rather than menacing. She appeared, holding out her Martial Alliance identity plaque.
“Long time no see, Martial Artist Jang. It is good to meet again.”
It was Jeok-sein, Patrol Officer No. 71 of the Martial Alliance. Beside her, her colleague San-ho lightly raised his hand in greeting. Jang Geon looked at them and asked.
“I thought patrol officers toured through various branch offices.”
“We do not always tour the branches. Usually, while half the patrol unit tours, the other half spends time doing minor tasks at headquarters. Then, if an incident occurs in New Sichuan, we step up.”
Stowing her identity plaque into her breast pocket, Jeok-sein continued speaking.
“First of all, Martial Artist Jang? You are a murder suspect until the full scope of this incident is completely clarified. If you leave New Sichuan as you please, a bounty will be placed on you, and you will be hunted by the Martial Alliance. So stay put quietly.”
Listening nearby, Jang Un gasped in shock and shouted.
“A suspect! How can my younger brother be a suspect! Catching an infiltrator who killed a wet nurse and even disguised himself to enter our home was self-defense, and the one who actually died drank poison himself…”
“Ah, please calm down. We’re strictly talking about the period before the investigation ends. If the reported details turn out to be true, he will naturally be cleared of suspicion. Don’t worry too much.”
“No… still…”
Unlike Jeok-sein with her stiff face, San-ho soothed Jang Un with an affable smile. Unable to vent his anger at that face, Jang Un glared sharply at the merchant guild members. As soon as the incident took place, someone among the merchant guild people had rushed to file a report with the Martial Alliance first.
Jeok-sein and San-ho first investigated the basic background circumstances. Things like why the wet nurse hadn’t come out the day before, who had heard the news that she couldn’t come due to illness, whether all the merchant guild members had truly failed to recognize the fake wet nurse before letting him inside, as well as how Jang Geon subdued the fake wet nurse.
Afterward, looking at Jang Geon and Jang Un, she spoke.
“I need to inspect that infiltrator’s corpse.”
Jeok-sein, San-ho, and Jang Un moved to the storeroom where the corpse had been placed. Jang Geon casually trailed behind them.
Upon entering the storeroom, Jeok-sein sat beside the corpse, pulled back the straw mat covering it, and extended her hand to San-ho. Fumbling inside the small bags at his waist, San-ho lit a tiny lantern and placed it into her hand.
“Hmph.”
Shining the lantern light, she examined the corpse meticulously. She smelled the odor coming from inside its mouth and pressed firmly on various spots of the body. Afterwards, she looked up at Jang Geon and asked.
“First, I must ask. How did you know he wasn’t the wet nurse herself? Did you know the real wet nurse beforehand?”
Jang Geon shook his head.
“I only stayed overnight yesterday. I hardly know any of the merchant guild members’ faces.”
“Then how did you realize this person wasn’t the wet nurse? None of the other merchant guild members noticed anything strange before letting her inside.”
“The kid knew.”
“The kid?”
Crossing his arms, Jang Geon leaned slantwise against the storeroom doorway and continued.
“There is a four-year-old child named Jang Yeong who hesitated without approaching, perhaps because she felt something was different from the wet nurse she knew.”
“…Are you saying you became convinced he wasn’t the wet nurse based solely on the child’s reaction?”
Even at Jang Geon’s response, Jeok-sein asked once more. As Jang Geon was about to answer again, he could sense from her tone and gaze that she had something else she wanted to say. So he shut his mouth and simply stared at her quietly.
Gazing back into those eyes for a moment, Jeok-sein turned her eyes to Jang Un and spoke.
“I apologize, but please excuse yourself for a moment.”
“Wh-what? No, this happened in my residence, so how can I not know…”
“Brother.”
At Jang Geon’s single brief word right then, Jang Un’s expression changed. He fixed his eyes on Jang Geon, who was looking down at the floor without meeting his gaze, then slowly walked out of the storeroom with a hardened face.
Once he left, Jang Geon, who had been leaning by the door, shut the storeroom door. Inside the dim storeroom, only the small lantern flame flickered. Having closed the door like that, Jang Geon turned toward Jeok-sein and spoke.
“Ask again.”
Jeok-sein’s eyes gleamed dimly in the lantern light.
“…Did you truly see through this fellow’s disguise technique based solely on the child’s reaction?”
“I’ve seen fellows using disguise techniques a few times besides this one, so that much was enough.”
Her gaze deepened further.
“Then do you also know who those people using disguise techniques are?”
“Well. As far as I know, there’s only one place.”
When he said only that much and shut his mouth, silence reigned inside the storeroom for a moment. Remaining crouched beside the corpse while looking at Jang Geon, Jeok-sein spoke abruptly as the silence lengthened.
“Tales of the Empire’s secret organization operating in the shadows of the New Continent are quite famous. Of course, very few people have actually seen them. In fact, even the Alliance is devoting considerable effort to catch their tail.”
She smirked.
“Though I never imagined I would suddenly find traces right here in our own front yard.”
Jang Geon tilted his head slightly.
“…I understand that the Martial Alliance receives support from the Empire. Even the Martial Alliance Leader was granted a sword and status by the Emperor.”
Jeok-sein clasped her hands between her knees and continued speaking.
“Politics—or rather, worldly affairs—are always like that, but things are not that simple. This land is far too distant from the Central Plains, and there are far too many people harboring their own ambitions. The Martial Alliance, the Imperial Army, ancient noble clans, merchants, outlaws, demonic practitioners practicing demonic arts, and even those whom Martial Artist Jang speaks of. Among them, even those who outwardly claim to serve the Emperor’s order ultimately wield their blades for their own profit. In the end, the ones who suffer are always the powerless common folk.”
Her eyes turned toward the corpse lying on the dirt floor.
“We’ll have to investigate further to know for sure, but it seems you’ve become entangled in a complex matter, Martial Artist Jang. Because these people—an organization calling themselves the Dark Dragon Corps—are not ones to meddle in just any affair.”
Listening, Jang Geon naturally crossed his arms and spoke.
“So what do you intend to do now?”
“We must investigate step by step. Hearing that Martial Artist Jang’s stay at this merchant guild today was merely a coincidence, the purpose of this fellow infiltrating as a wet nurse might have been abduction or… murder of the children. Without Martial Artist Jang, there was no one to stop this fellow and protect the children. And that ultimately means he had a special objective regarding the children’s father, Manager Jang. Whether extortion, a warning, or a trade.”
Jang Geon could tell that her reason for sending Jang Un out wasn’t simply to conceal the name of the Dark Dragon Corps. Since she also had things to investigate regarding him, she had created distance. Around that point, Jang Geon felt a question arise. In that case, wasn’t there no need to converse with him like this either?
“…I am not a person of the Martial Alliance.”
Jeok-sein laughed again. She had understood his doubt.
“Indeed. But Martial Artist Jang must now always stay by my side. So rather than following along without knowing a thing, you should follow along knowing at least the state of affairs so you have no doubts.”
“Why?”
“Because you harmed a Dark Dragon Corps operative and disrupted their plan, there’s no telling when or how you might be attacked. Perhaps an Imperial Army officer might suddenly launch an assault on you. How many Dark Dragon Corps operatives and undercover Imperial Army soldiers are present in New Sichuan is something even the Martial Alliance has not fully grasped yet.”
Answering thus, Jeok-sein stood up from her seat.
“We must begin individual interviews with the merchant guild people. San-ho?”
“Yes, Senior.”
“Begin interviews one by one. Record all interview details meticulously.”
“…What about you, Senior?”
“I will meet with Manager Jang separately.”
“Ah, yes.”
Jeok-sein looked back at Jang Geon, who was staring blankly at her, and spoke.
“Let’s go.”
Jang Geon temporarily followed behind her as she left the storeroom. As she had said, if this was an incident intricately entangled with the complex interests of various factions, her identity plaque and the name of the Martial Alliance would be helpful in pursuing clues to a certain degree.
Stepping outside, San-ho immediately cleared a vacant room in the merchant guild building and began interviewing the employees. Meanwhile, Jang Geon and Jeok-sein headed to the annex where Jang Un was waiting.
Inside the annex were Jang Un, sister-in-law Madam Yeom, and the siblings Jang Sang and Jang Yeong. Seeing Jang Geon entering, Madam Yeom asked worriedly.
“Young Master, things were so frantic earlier that I passed it over, but you aren’t hurt anywhere, right?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Jang Geon replied with a light smile. Madam Yeom and the siblings, who had grim complexions, brightened slightly upon seeing that smile. Right then, Jeok-sein spoke up.
“Manager Jang, do you have any suspicion regarding the cause of this incident?”
With a stern expression, Jang Un met eyes with Jeok-sein.
“…It has only been two months since the Jang Family Merchant Guild entered New Sichuan. We’ve only just secured the deeds for the building and land, so what could I possibly suspect? The merchant guild hasn’t even established itself properly yet, nor have we conducted any trade. On top of that, we haven’t even finished product surveys. Since we haven’t even decided what to buy and sell, there was no reason to clash with anyone.”
Jeok-sein stroked her chin as she continued speaking.
“Have you joined the New Sichuan Merchant Association?”
“I did. Even before putting up the merchant guild sign, I had already joined and paid the dues.”
“Hmm, very well. Then if you think of anything else or if any suspicion arises, please inform Warrior San, who is investigating in the merchant guild. Martial Artist Jang? The murdered wet…”
She glanced at the siblings held in Madam Yeom’s arms before continuing.
“…Well, we shall move to the other scene. Let’s go.”
Turning around first, she exited the annex. Jang Geon was about to follow her out when he stopped his footsteps, turned to Jang Un’s family, and spoke.
“There’s no need to worry too much. Don’t go anywhere and stay at home.”
Jang Un looked at him with complex eyes, then nodded with tightly closed lips. As Jang Geon turned to leave afterward, Jang Sang, held in Madam Yeom’s arms, suddenly shouted.
“Uncle! Punish all the bad guys!”
Jang Geon smirked. Does that kid even know what he’s talking about?
“Right, I’ve got to teach every single one of them a good lesson.”
He looked at Jang Sang’s sparkling eyes once more before turning away. Jang Un watched his receding figure with troubled eyes.
Leaving the annex, Jang Geon and Jeok-sein set out toward the wet nurse’s house. However, a man was looking around in front of the merchant guild building. Seeing the two walk out, he called out to them.
“Hey there, is something going on here?”
“What business do you have?”
Seeing Jeok-sein’s face up close, he continued speaking with a slightly surprised expression.
“Well, you see. I came to escort Young Hero Jang Geon and Manager Jang Un, who were invited by Elder Gyeon today.”
Come to think of it, before long it was turning into evening with the sun setting. Indeed, the Jang brothers had received a dinner invitation from Guild Leader Gyeon Woo-young.
Jang Geon stepped forward.
“I’m sorry, but a problem has come up. Someone died.”
“Wh-what? Someone died?”
“Tell him we’ll come for dinner next time.”
Flustered, the servant bowed repeatedly, agreeing, and hurried away from the merchant guild. Jang Geon watched his back for a moment before setting off for the wet nurse’s house with Jeok-sein.
* * *
In front of the wet nurse’s house, not far from the merchant guild, a Martial Alliance martial artist sat on a chair, turning away approaching people with solemn eyes. Only the residents living nearby were buzzing among themselves here and there.
Shooting sharp glares, he sprang up at the sight of Jeok-sein approaching.
“Officer Jeok, you’ve arrived.”
“Yes. Did anyone else come by?”
“There was no one. Not even anyone curious enough to approach and ask what happened.”
“That’s because your glare is terrifying.”
Exchanging brief greetings, she opened the door to the small shack and stepped inside. Thanks to the Martial Alliance quickly securing the scene after the merchant guild employee’s report, the wet nurse’s corpse was still lying right where she had died.
Jeok-sein directly approached the corpse. Following her inside, Jang Geon surveyed the interior of the shack with calm eyes. The Martial Alliance warrior looked at him with suspicious eyes.
“Hmm. Muffled her mouth while she slept and stabbed her heart.”
The broad bloodstain and the wet nurse’s corpse told only that much story. After killing the wet nurse, the culprit had merely taken her clothes from the wardrobe without leaving any other clues. Jeok-sein and Jang Geon searched the small shack for a long while, but ultimately had to step out the door empty-handed.
“Collect the body.”
“Yes, Officer Jeok.”
Jeok-sein instructed the Martial Alliance warrior thus and looked up at the darkening sky. Jang Geon noticed that despite her expressionless face, she was feeling slightly annoyed due to the lack of clear clues. It was because her eyebrows were forming an inverted ‘eight’ shape slightly more than when they first met.
“…We must dig deeper starting with the merchant guild employees. Since someone knew the internal situation, they must have thought of killing the wet nurse and posing as her.”
Jang Geon nodded. Without any scientific investigative techniques in this era, questioning was ultimately all they could do. So the two turned around to return the way they came. In Jang Geon’s view, half a dozen residents had gathered in the distance, looking over here and murmuring.
“…That bastard.”
However, among those people, someone caught his eye who subtly tried to hide his body as Jang Geon’s gaze turned toward him. Like Jeok-sein beside him, he was also a face Jang Geon knew. Hiding behind the residents, he froze solid. It was because he realized Jang Geon was staring in his direction.
Jang Geon strode toward him with big steps.
“Martial Artist Jang? Where are you going?”
Jeok-sein followed behind him, slightly flustered. As Jang Geon and Jeok-sein approached, the murmuring residents watched with bewildered eyes and went quiet. Standing in front of them, Jang Geon spoke calmly.
“Come out.”
The residents turned to look at each other in confusion. Following behind, Jeok-sein also looked back and forth between them and Jang Geon with puzzled eyes. It was unclear what this out-of-the-blue action was about.
“Come out quietly. Before I drag you out.”
“Martial Artist Jang, please explain the situation…”
Yet from among the flustered residents, someone slunk out. The man who appeared with a slightly servile smile was named Yang Goeng.