Episode 296
Accommodation within the Murim League headquarters.
Damun, who heard the story so far, said with a dumbfounded expression.
“The branch manager is the head of the Cheonan Gambu (天眼監部). This is literally nonsense.
“Why are you talking like that?”
“Do you remember how many elders you have bribed so far?”
“Well, there are quite a few people who became directly or indirectly involved with me when Hwayang Sangdan signed a supply contract with the Murim Alliance.”
I smiled and picked up the teacup on the table.
Even excluding Sohyeongeom, Manryokkwon, Manjunggeom, Unseonggeom, and Namhakgeom, who had a friendly relationship with me from the beginning, there were quite a few people who became tied to me financially.
A representative example was Hu Zhengquan, an elder from the Kunlun faction.
“The head of the inspection organization that is supposed to detect and punish corruption is such a corrupt person. If this is not the end times, what is the end times?”
“But that doesn’t mean that the current inspection department or the law enforcement party is a clean group that doesn’t leave a single speck of dust.”
“That’s true.”
“And because he showed a moderate amount of corruption, he was able to safely revive Cheonan Gambu.”
“What’s the point?”
“This means that if I had been a person of upright integrity, the elders would never have passed the bill.”
“but······.”
A bitter smile appeared on Damun’s lips.
The Murim League was a place where, no matter how great a cause it was and a great achievement, it could not be carried out if the Senate was determined and opposed it until the end.
You could tell that just by looking at the coins, the leading figures of the time.
Is the reason why he can’t push for Meng’s reforms because he lacks justification?
I can assure you that it would not be the case.
“I had a vague understanding of it, but it feels strange to be exposed to a cross-section of the intertwined power.”
“It’s not because those in power who are normally busy biting each other protect each other when it’s important.”
The elders probably had the calculation in their heads that ‘the minimum safety measures are in place.’
Because of that judgment, the elders probably acknowledged the activities of Cheonan Gambu, at least temporarily.
“Whew. “I’ll stop talking about politics here.”
“Then let’s get to the main topic.”
“First, please tell me your future plan of action.”
“First of all, I plan to absorb the inspection department and the law enforcement party and build up my performance step by step.”
At the beginning of the activity, it would be a similar process to the time when the corrupt Sacheon branch was overthrown.
To me now, the main area of Maeng looked like a gold dust field.
A land of opportunity where you can sweep up achievements.
As we cut out the miscellaneous things that lower the prestige of the Maeng one by one, the status of Cheonangambu will naturally increase.
“Of course, we will stick to our principles and not lose sight of practical benefits. If you are too straight, it will break. Sometimes you need flexibility. “Take what you deserve, and turn a blind eye to what you deserve.”
“·····So, are you saying that you will turn a blind eye to those who take bribes and break the rules?”
“I will not accept anything in kind. “I have too much money anyway, and above all, there is a risk of getting caught.”
“if?”
“Cooperation, support, agreements, etc. All you have to do is not leave any material evidence. “Once you take the top position, there are many things you can take away.”
“······.”
“Oh, of course, we need to expand the number of people before we start full-scale activities.”
I was given the title of Chief of the Cheonan Inspector General, but that did not mean that I immediately became a powerful person comparable to a leader or an elder.
Not only has the base not yet been established, but the only members of the organization are me and Damun.
It was truly shabby in scale and full of bubbles.
“When I return to the Sacheon branch, I will immediately send letters to various places.”
We had to increase our power step by step.
The first thing to do is recruit talent.
The time has come to utilize the connections you have worked so hard to build.
* * *
Lee Jang-jang (彛家莊).
Lee Kang-hak’s granddaughter, Lee Soo-yeon, greeted me with a soft smile on her lips.
“welcome. Brother.”
“A long time.”
Soo-yeon Lee had become a lady while I didn’t see her.
Before, it felt like a small animal that obeys people, but now it exudes a feminine charm.
‘You turned seventeen this year?’
I will be eighteen after this winter.
I felt like time flies so fast.
The change in appearance was a change, but what was even more surprising was the progress in martial arts.
‘I expected it to some extent.’
I could recognize it at a glance.
That she has reached the peak.
Perhaps because he consumed Hwari’s Naedan, the total amount of Naegong also increased significantly.
It was not at all inferior to Dok Go-seong, who was growing at an incredible rate.
‘Maybe it’s because my level of ice skills has deepened, but I feel like my impression is getting colder as the days go by.’
However, it didn’t seem like his personality had changed much.
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At least that’s how I saw it.
“Big!”
Lee Kang-hak, who was looking at me and Lee Su-yeon alternately with an uncomfortable look on his face, cleared his throat loudly.
As if he was trying to draw attention to himself.
“Long time no see.”
“How have you been?”
“yes. “Senior, you are still the same.”
“What does it mean?”
Lee Kang-hak’s eyes narrowed.
A questioning tone.
I answered, tilting my head as if I didn’t know why I was reacting that way.
“I was saying that it seems like you still corrected it.”
“······is it. “I guess I misunderstood.”
Every time I saw this old man, his dignity seemed to diminish.
When I first saw him, he seemed like a very weighty person.
“So, what brought you here?”
“While I was visiting the main headquarters of the alliance, I came to say hello to my senior.”
“Is that really all it is?”
“There is one thing I would like to ask of you.”
“That’s right. “You too are the same person.”
“Don’t they say that if a person suddenly changes, he or she dies?”
“Enough of the jokes. “Just tell me what’s on your agenda.”
“If there is a good talent among the new monks, could you recommend it?”
“There is none.”
Lee Kang-hak answers firmly and shakes his head.
I thought it was just grumbling like usual, so I smiled bitterly.
“Please at least pretend to be worried.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to ask for your favor, but I really don’t have anyone I can recommend. “Because your teacher has already taken all of the promising new disciples under his wing.”
“······.”
“Why are you making such an expression? “If anyone saw me, they would think I had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer.”
“It feels roughly the same.”
If you think about it, it was natural.
Lee Kang-hak’s personal connections also had limitations.
A useful talent is not even the name of someone’s dog.
There was no way I could be introduced right away whenever I wanted.
‘I thought it was too easy.’
Some time passes.
Lee Kang-hak, who guided me to the living room in the manor, offered me a seat and asked.
“But why are you suddenly asking me such a favor? If it were a unit led by your teacher, it would already be full of people. “The same goes for the Sacheon branch.”
I answered indifferently, taking the teacup he handed me.
“This time, I got promoted. “I have moved my workplace to the main headquarters of Maeng.”
“promotion?”
“yes. “I have taken on the position of head of Cheonan Gambu.”
“······Cheonan Gambu. Are you talking about the Cheonangambu that disappeared more than two hundred years ago?”
“That’s right.”
“Hey, what on earth have you been doing? “There’s no way the elders would have allowed that, right?”
“We created a situation where we had no choice but to allow it. “Isn’t there a lot of credit I’ve made so far?”
“You always surprise people.”
“In any case, it is a revival, but in reality, you can think of it as the creation of a new department.”
“So we need to find people to join the department?”
“yes.”
“That’s right.”
“Well, it’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing we can do if there’s no talent worth recommending. “I will try to gather people in my own way.”
It would have been nice if he could get help from Lee Kang-hak, but even if he couldn’t, it didn’t really matter.
If only the key personnel were filled, the rest could be filled somehow.
“The revival of the Cheonan Inspection Department would mean the disappearance of the inspection department and the law enforcement party. “If we absorb the two departments, wouldn’t we be able to make up for the lack of personnel?”
“As you said, we are planning to absorb the two departments, but what we need is only their infrastructure and not their people. Except for a few people, everyone else will be kicked out.”
“but. “If the inspection department and the ruling party had functioned properly, there would have been no revival of the Cheonan inspection department.”
Lee Kang-hak put down his teacup and shook his head, rubbing his chin.
Lee Su-yeon, who had been quietly eavesdropping on the conversation, looked back at me with a determined expression and said, as if she had decided on something.
“Brother.”
“······?”
“Please accept me as a member of the department.”
A heavy silence fell.
That too for a while.
Lee Kang-hak jumped up from his seat and let out a scream-like cry.
“What do you mean!”
“It’s something I decided on quite a long time ago. I will join once I am confident in my own abilities. “I think now is the right time.”
“Can not be done! “How can you not even discuss it with me!”
“I thought my grandfather would absolutely be against it regardless of my will.”
“······.”
“I expected it to some extent, but still. “First of all, you are saying no.”
There was sadness in Lee Su-yeon’s voice.
Lee Kang-hak, unable to find anything to say, remained frozen like a stone statue and gaped.
“Black.”
Suyeon Lee wipes her tears with her index finger and turns her head.
At that moment, I saw.
Her expression suddenly changes.
I was shocked to see her squinting one eye as if she had no intention of hiding anything from me.
‘I don’t think he was this kind of kid.’
Although I was a little embarrassed, I decided to match the rhythm for now.
I scratched my cheek with a troubled expression, and Soo-yeon Lee performed passionately.
Lee Kang-hak, who looked restless for a while, finally lowered his head and said.
“······i get it. “If that is what you mean, there is nothing we can do.”
“Are you giving me permission?”
“I vaguely felt it. It won’t be long before you leave my arms. How can I stop you, who has become a worthy person? “I wanted to delay that period as much as possible, but it seems it was just my greed.”
“I’m not leaving forever.”
“Yes, it might be better to go under Yeonsun’s command rather than have a boss like a boss. “I support your future.”
“grandfather······.”
As I was watching the affectionate conversation between my grandson and grandson, I felt a little guilty.
Is it okay to cheat like this?
“Please take care of Yuna.”
Lee Kang-hak looked back at me and said.
Contrary to her words, the fearful look in her eyes seemed to warn her that she would not leave her alone if something went wrong with her granddaughter.
I nodded, pretending to have a serious expression.
Somehow I felt like I had to do that now.
It was the moment when the first member of Cheonan Gambu, excluding me and Damun, was decided.
martial arts,
