Chapter 195: v8c20 - Raison d'Etre
Volume 8 Chapter 20 – Raison d’Etre
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In the past, as the Luoyang Sword Family gradually expanded its power and established itself as the number one family under heaven.
Feeling the necessity for a specialized criminal investigation agency, there was an organization they established, and it was called the Law Enforcement Court.
* * *
This morning.
The Luoyang Sword Family, the Law Enforcement Court.
The office of the Head of the Sixth Department of Law Enforcement.
‘…The Eldest Young Master finally caused trouble.’
The Head of the Sixth Department was starting his day’s work, checking the Law Enforcement Court’s intelligence report on the rumors heard last night.
‘Going in and out of Mount Beimang like his own home, and even displaying martial arts in the Valley of Sin?’
He marvelled.
‘…Amazing.’
He was one of the figures who had handled the investigation during the so-called ‘Inner Courtyard Book Price Incident,’ and was someone who had an acquaintance with Yeon So-hyeon.
“What kind of accident is that Eldest Young Master going to cause again today…?”
They say it is like watching a fire across the river, and the behavior of the Head of the Sixth Department was exactly like that.
‘Anyway, whatever the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master do, it has nothing to do with the Law Enforcement Court.’
Muttering like that, he was just about to pull out the investigation records of the case he had been handling until last night.
“Department Head!”
The door burst open.
A law enforcement envoy under the Head of the Sixth Department entered with an armful of documents.
“W-What is all that?”
At his subordinate’s answer, his eyes widened.
“These are all materials that were anonymously whistleblown to our department at dawn!”
“What?!”
The subordinate shouted with a bright expression.
“I briefly flipped through and verified them, and the credibility seems sufficient! There even seem to be several cases of a level that we could go into investigation immediately!”
‘J-Jackpot!’
Could it be an internal whistleblower?
Or is it the work of a rival department?
‘It doesn’t matter either way…!’
If this amount of quantity and even credibility were secured to some extent, it was equivalent to a pile of treasure rolling in for free.
‘Buddha! Thank you!’
However, the wide grin of the Head of the Sixth Department did not last very long.
“…What is happening?”
Because it was confirmed that every department in the Law Enforcement Court had received whistleblower reports exactly identical to his.
The Law Enforcement Court was thrown into an uproar.
* * *
Present.
The Law Enforcement Court, the First Meeting Room.
‘Mmh.’
Swallowing a groan inwardly, the Head of the Sixth Department of Law Enforcement stroked his beard.
‘…We are the sword that brightens the darkness of the Sword Family.’
He muttered a part of the Law Enforcement Court’s creed to himself.
Although he did not mutter it out loud, his throat was hoarse as if he had been delivering an eloquent speech for hours.
It was because he had smoked too much tobacco.
‘…We are the sword that cuts down the injustice of the Sword Family and implements justice.’
Through the tobacco smoke, he looked at the seat of honor in the meeting room.
“Therefore, in the case of this agenda as well…”
The Head of the Second Department, who was in charge of conducting the meeting, coughed a few times and took a sip of cooled tea to soothe her tired throat.
Because the meeting that started around lunchtime was still ongoing.
“Even in the case of this agenda, under the judgment that it damages the political neutrality of the Law Enforcement Court, there will be no investigation, and the agenda will be tabled.”
“…….”
Following the decision of the meeting, the Head of the Sixth Department of Law Enforcement lowered an investigation agenda that had been placed in front of him to the floor.
A tower was already piled up on the floor with investigation agenda documents, so there was not even need to bend his waist.
They were all agendas decided not to be investigated in this meeting.
“The rest are also the same.”
The head of the Law Enforcement Court, the Director of the Law Enforcement Court, tapped the few remaining documents.
“Our Law Enforcement Court will not conduct any investigation that damages political neutrality.”
All department heads except the Head of the Sixth Department of Law Enforcement nodded.
As it was the moment when the end of the long meeting was finally in sight.
The Head of the Second Department of Law Enforcement swallowed a sigh of relief inwardly and said.
“…With this, it has been decided that there will be no investigation related to the anonymous whistleblower reports that came in this morning. In accordance with this decision, we will retrieve all the whistleblower reports.”
Her gaze swept across the crowd.
“If by any chance there is a department that has already started an investigation in search of credit, please halt the investigation immediately.”
Several department heads frowned but soon acquiesced.
Was it just one or two agendas that were buried like this?
“…Is it really fine to just bury it like this?”
The Head of the Sixth Department, who was flicking tobacco ash into the ashtray, felt the gaze of the audience focusing on him and wore an embarrassed expression.
“Ah…”
It seemed his inner thoughts had slipped out of his mouth without him realizing.
‘Ah, whatever.’
Since it had already come to this, he decided to speak out what he wanted to say.
“In fact, when investigating incidents within this Sword Family, how many cases are there that are not political?”
Once his mouth opened, the words poured out next like a dam with opened floodgates.
“If we keep casting everything aside like this, the rebellious groups within the Main Family will run even wilder, and that will ultimately become a problem directly linked to the status of the Law Enforcement Court.”
“Head of the Sixth Department.”
“Yes, Head of the Second Department. I am listening.”
“How long has it been since you became a department head, and is your political sense still only at that level?”
“…….”
The Head of the Second Department sent a look of pity to the Head of the Sixth Department, who was looking at her with an indignant gaze, and continued speaking.
“Can you not tell from seeing information suddenly pouring in overnight in this manner?”
The Head of the Fifth Department, who had been keeping his mouth shut beside her, spat out just one word.
“The Eldest Young Master.”
At those words, the Head of the Sixth Department’s eyes grew wide.
“…The Eldest Young Master, you say?”
The Head of the Second Department sighed and nodded.
“It is a scheme to swing the Law Enforcement Court to deal a blow to the Second Young Master.”
“……?!”
“Looking at each one, they seem unrelated, but if you dig in, without fail, they are cases related to the Second Young Master’s side at some point.”
“…….”
The Head of the Sixth Department looked left and right.
The department heads who had revealed an air of having already started investigations earlier were also nodding without a single speck of surprise.
‘Did they all try to investigate despite knowing?’
He shook his head inwardly.
‘No way.’
They would have tried to use the cases to their advantage while pretending to investigate.
It was just that they temporarily expressed regret because it was forbidden in the meeting.
“Head of the Sixth Department, just as you said, if we cover up investigations solely because they are political, there would be no cases we could properly investigate.”
The Head of the Second Department wore something like a smirk as she looked at the Head of the Sixth Department.
“However, it is a fact of life that some investigations are far more political than others.”
The Director of the Law Enforcement Court, who had been silently lost in thought, tapped the desk.
“The meeting ends here. Each return to your routine duties.”
The department heads except the Head of the Sixth Department rose from their seats.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Some stretched, and others chatted with other department heads.
However, if there was a common point, it was that as they walked out of the meeting room, they patted the shoulder of the Head of the Sixth Department, who was still keeping his seat.
“If you do not diligently develop your political sense, maintaining the department head position will not be easy.”
“Well, we were all like that at first; that is how it is in the first year of being a department head.”
“That is how everyone learns, by rolling and tumbling with their body.”
Although they took the form of advice, far from being helpful, they were nothing but incredibly hateful words.
“…….”
The Head of the Sixth Department, who had been sitting with a frown, let out a sigh and stood up from his seat.
“Head of the Sixth Department.”
The one who spoke to him was the Head of the First Department, who had been conversing with the Director of the Law Enforcement Court via close sound transmission.
“Let us go out for a moment and have a talk.”
* * *
A certain small back garden of the Law Enforcement Court.
The Head of the First Department, who was a member of the Elders’ Hall just like the Director of the Law Enforcement Court, spoke to the Head of the Sixth Department.
“There are parts where one cannot help but go astray at first. It is merely because your experience is still lacking, so do not be impatient.”
He removed the tobacco he borrowed from the Head of the Sixth Department from his mouth and exhaled a long trail of smoke.
The night air was cold.
“I acknowledge your innate sense. Once you gain some experience, you will quickly show the ability to surpass the other department heads.”
“…Senior.”
Normally, the Head of the Sixth Department would have had his mood softened by the words of a senior who had risen to the elder rank, but not today.
“I am not a greenhorn. I am not doing this because of that.”
He looked at the Head of the First Department.
“Those cases earlier. Although they might have been whistleblown anonymously by the Eldest Young Master, they are clearly serious incidents. There is even a case where a high-ranking official of the ‘Sword Family Bank’ seems to be involved. Can we really just bury such cases?”
“…….”
The Head of the First Department’s wrinkled face twitched.
“So, you want us to all plunge into that mire and roll around together?”
“…….”
The Head of the First Department dropped the tobacco he was smoking onto the floor and stamped it out with his foot.
“…Think of your family.”
Watching the tobacco being crushed underfoot, the Head of the Sixth Department let out a low groan.
It seemed he could see the sight of those who carelessly intervened in the succession struggle being mangled like the tobacco stepped on underfoot.
“…….”
Watching the departing back of his senior, the Head of the Sixth Department turned his gaze to the night sky.
“…Right. I must think of my family.”
* * *
At that time.
A warehouse located in an alley where the guards of the Luoyang Sword Family Guard Unit were blocking the access of passersby without even knowing the reason.
Someone wearing a red official uniform descended into the basement of the warehouse and reported.
“Chief. The deployment of Group Three is completed.”
The middle-aged woman called the Chief was wearing a red official uniform, just like the others around her.
“Now, is the deployment of all groups completed?”
At the question of the woman with a stern impression and not a trace of makeup, the group leaders bowed their heads in unison.
“Yes, Chief.”
There was no hesitation.
The woman stood up from her seat.
“Commence the operation.”
“Loyalty!”
The answer was short, and the action was immediate.
As the operation commenced, her subordinates moved swiftly and precisely.
The white hair of the middle-aged woman who came out of the warehouse fluttered in the wind.
“…Chief.”
The Chief of the Central Inspection Department, Dokgo Ya-yeon.
Her unique white eyes turned toward the subordinate who had called her.
“What is it, Hwa-bok?”
Unlike his usual sly self, Hwa-bok smacked his lips and asked in a cautious tone.
“…Will this, be alright?”
To the question that implicitly contained all kinds of inquiries, she let out a cold snort.
“How about performing the command first before doing worries that exceed your station?”
“…I will obey the command.”
Hwa-bok hesitated for a moment, and just as he was about to say something, he bowed his head and ran out of the alley.
As she watched the back of her loyal subordinate, she raised her eyes toward the other side of the street.
Her subordinates were rapidly approaching a massive pavilion from each direction.
‘The Sword Family Bank.’
Though her mouth felt bitter, as always, there was no way her emotions were revealed on her face.
“Oh my, look who it is.”
“……!”
At the voice heard without a trace of presence, she, who was standing alone, reflexively gripped her sword hilt.
“Aren’t you that highly renowned ghost of white hair and white eyes?”
The boy who stealthily revealed himself from the darkness of the alley was someone she knew.
“Eldest Young Master…!”
He was the very person who caused the Central Inspection Department to move.
Having confirmed once again that there was no one around her, the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon stealthily approached.
“My. As expected, the Central Inspection Department seems to have decided to move.”
He played innocent.
“Isn’t it a bit dangerous? I heard the Law Enforcement Court also decided not to move, though.”
Dokgo Ya-yeon glared at the Eldest Young Master as if she would burn him with her gaze alone, but as always, he did not care.
“The Lord of the Inspection Department, your superior, would not have granted approval, though.”
Having approached her side before she knew it, he stood with his hands behind his back, looked at her subordinates in the distance, and continued speaking.
“The political neutrality of the Central Inspection Department will be damaged. Are you fine with that anyway?”
She answered as if chewing and swallowing.
“…Failing to move when having evidence of a crime before one’s eyes is what damages the political neutrality of the Central Inspection Department.”
An answer containing her pride and belief.
“That is a good answer!”
Yeon So-hyeon burst into a small laugh at that answer.
“Excellent. Very excellent.”
Furious at the sight of Yeon So-hyeon repeatedly nodding, she suppressed her anger and spoke.
“…If there is still evidence you hold, how about handing it over now?”
At her words, Yeon So-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.
“I do not know what you mean. I merely spoke because there was a familiar face as I was passing by.”
She, who was about to burst into anger for a moment, endured it.
Because she realized that if Yeon So-hyeon admitted to having a connection with those anonymously whistleblown documents, the problem would become far more complicated.
“…Have you by any chance heard any information that additional whistleblower reports might be made?”
“There could be, or there could not be.”
He turned to her and smiled brightly.
“How would I know that?”
Grrt, the sound of her teeth grinding rang out.
“Then why on earth did you come here?”
“Hmm? I did not come to seek out the Central Inspection Department.”
Yeon So-hyeon looked at her as if asking if she did not understand what he was saying.
“The Central Inspection Department barged into the Sword Family Bank I was planning to visit.”
And then, it was Yeon So-hyeon who headed toward the Sword Family Bank with his unique leisurely stride.
“Well then, goodbye. I have a previous engagement.”
Just what was the picture he was painting?
As Dokgo Ya-yeon stared at his departing back, her mind was in confusion.