Episode 29: What we should be afraid of.
Of course, I thought the Bloodthirsty Demons and the demons would come first.
But the first backlash against Yang Ho’s arrest came from within.
About thirty Hwangcheon-gak investigators gathered in the main hall and summoned me.
The person who led this case was the most senior special investigator, Gokmyeong.
“I should have come to your office in person, but there were too many people there, so I was rude.”
“It seems like you came here to fight rather than to have anything to say.”
“Absolutely not, don’t misunderstand.”
They didn’t come with one mind. I could tell just by looking at their eyes. Who came because they were dissatisfied and who moved along reluctantly?
The song title stands for everyone.
“I heard that you are reinvestigating a case that was already closed with a not guilty verdict.”
“It did.”
“It is an act that undermines the morale and authority of the investigators.”
I asked the investigators behind the song title.
“Do you think so too?”
“Yes, it is.”
They answered loudly.
“My thoughts are a little different. Rather, I think this incident has undermined the authority of this department. And it is very serious.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do I really need to explain such common sense things to you? This is disappointing.”
Then, Song Myung hardened his expression and retorted.
“The extraordinary thing has already been done by the lord.”
“Did you hear that when I arrested Yang-ho this time, he confessed everything in front of people?”
“I heard.”
“But what is it? Why on earth did you come here?”
“What we are talking about is the reinvestigation of a case that has already been closed.”
“Is it a matter of principle?”
“Yes, it is unprecedented.”
“Inspector Song. An innocent child was beaten to death, and the guilty one was caught and confessed. Of course, you should reinvestigate. How do you think you will look in this situation, insisting on your principles?”
“Even if you say it’s old-fashioned, there’s nothing we can do about it. Principles are that important to an organization.”
Whether it was old-fashioned or trying to pressure me, he didn’t back down even an inch.
“Okay, then let’s hear what each of you think. Those who think a reinvestigation is right, come here!”
Since we came to do group action, I wonder if there will be anyone moving right now.
A person walked this way.
He was my absolute supporter, Seo Dae-ryong. Since everyone knew that he was close to me, there was no wavering.
“My loyal subject and a one-man investigator.”
“If you say so, doesn’t that mean I acted out of personal friendship?”
“Wasn’t it?”
“No. Regardless of my loyalty to your lord, I think this incident should be reinvestigated.”
“The reason is?”
“The investigation was inadequate.”
Although several investigators, including Songmyeong, were obviously impressed, Seodaeryong calmly expressed his thoughts.
“We cannot rule out the possibility that there was external pressure.”
“Okay. Who agrees with this opinion?”
I raised my hand again and looked at the investigators.
In a situation that seemed impossible, one person stepped forward.
“I think so too.”
He was the unmanned man who had been injured by Godang during the last investigation of the Demon Army. Not only did I avenge him, I also asked the Demon Doctor to provide him with the best treatment.
“This is Ikho (翼虎). I wasn’t able to greet you properly back then. Thank you very much.”
“How is your injured body?”
“it’s okay.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Except for Ik-ho, the other investigators didn’t move. It seemed like they were watching Song-myeong’s mood. Well, it was only a few days since they saw me, but Song-myeong must have been with me for a few years at the shortest, or even a dozen years at the longest.
Then one more person moved.
“I’m Yang-gun. I’m from the same school as Ik-ho. I sincerely thank you for helping me avenge Ik-ho.”
Because of the two armies’ efforts, several people gained courage and moved to my side. They did not move because of personal friendship. They were people who, even in their own opinion, thought that this investigation was wrong.
However, the number of people standing on the song title side was still overwhelmingly high.
I called out to one of them. He was the one at the center of today’s action.
“Inspector Jong-hwa!”
“yes.”
Jonghwa was the investigator in charge of this case. He was the one who exonerated Baek Do-gwi’s son.
“What do you think?”
“… … I investigated the case properly.”
He approached Jong-hwa, stared intently at her face, and asked.
“Have you ever been bribed by a demon?”
At that moment, Jonghwa’s expression hardened. The person who got angry on his behalf was Gokmyeong.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
I asked the song title with a cold prayer.
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“So, did you receive it?”
“no.”
“But why are you coming forward? Saying such outrageous things to your superiors?”
“Because it’s my luggage’s business.”
“It’s my job too. Isn’t it?”
At that moment, the song’s title made him realize that he had made a mistake and lowered his head.
“No, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t come out without permission.”
“yes.”
After covering his mouth, he spoke to Jong-hwa again.
“Did you get money from Baekdogwi?”
“no.”
“Do you swear?”
“I swear on my life.”
He didn’t avoid my gaze as if he were innocent.
“If you don’t believe me, do your own research.”
“I already investigated. I really didn’t receive any money.”
Everyone was surprised by what I said. What I meant by already investigated was that the internal investigation was completed.
I told him not to come out, but I couldn’t help it when I heard the song title.
“Our investigators cannot investigate unless it is a special investigation.”
“They conducted a special investigation. They even received direct orders from the leader to conduct an external investigation.”
He asked the startled song title coldly.
“When the cult leader appointed me as a footnote here, did you think he wouldn’t push me to this extent?”
“no.”
I looked around at everyone and spoke calmly.
“I was curious. Why did they cover up the incident like this when they didn’t even receive any money?”
“I did not cover up the incident. According to my investigation… … .”
I cut off Jong-hwa’s words.
“Because he said he would kill your sister?”
For a moment, Jong-hwa froze. His expression said, How did you know that?
“After investigating you, I found that you are an unusually honest person. I didn’t believe you. I told you to look into it further. They say that no one in the world hates money. But surprisingly, you really are an honest person. Then why did such an honest person just cover up the incident? You have one big weakness. Your only family member is your younger sister.”
Jonghwa’s eyes shook.
The surprised song title asked him.
“Did you really get threatened by him?”
Jonghwa had no answer.
“Tell me, you punk! Were you really threatened?”
Although Gokmyeong kept nagging, Jonghwa lowered her head and said nothing. I also know why Gokmyeong took the lead in this matter. Jonghwa was Gokmyeong’s most beloved junior. He stepped forward to help Jonghwa so that she would not suffer any disadvantages because of this matter.
I told Jonghwa.
“If you’re worried about your sister, it’s okay. We’ve already sent executors to guard her at Anga. She’ll be safe until this incident is completely resolved.”
Only then did a look of relief appear on Jonghwa’s face. Soon, he knelt down in front of me as if admitting everything.
“I have committed a mortal sin.”
The song title that watched that scene sighed.
“iced coffee.”
Since they had worked together for a long time, he would have known better than anyone how much Jonghwa cared for her younger sister. However, it seems he had no idea that something like this had happened.
I spoke to Jong-hwa, who had her head bowed.
“You know you shouldn’t do this even if you’re threatened, right?”
“Yes, I will gladly accept the punishment.”
The expressions on the faces of the investigators watching were all different, but they were all angry. This wasn’t someone else’s problem. It was something that could happen to them at any time.
“Get up.”
“yes.”
Jonghwa got up from her seat.
“If this had happened after I became a footnote, I wouldn’t have forgiven you. But this time, it happened before I came, so I forgive you in particular.”
“Do you really forgive me?”
“It’s not me who forgives you, but your past life of integrity that forgives you. Now, your past life of integrity has all disappeared because of this incident. You must start over from the beginning.”
Jonghwa was deeply moved because she didn’t know whether to forgive herself.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
But what really impressed him were the following words.
“Since I came to the footnotes, your family is like my family. I will destroy any bastard who touches my family. Why? Don’t you believe me? I have even killed the Demon Lord. Do you think I would be afraid of a demon?”
I felt the gaze directed at me growing hotter and hotter.
“From now on, the main building will not tolerate any external pressure. From this moment on, if you take even a single penny, you will be punished as a felon. You must be prepared to be locked up in the same prison as the prisoners you have been put in. If you think you can’t keep it, then get out of the main building.”
There were a variety of reactions. Joy and excitement, resentment and disbelief blooming on their faces… .
“But I won’t let anyone who touches you like this get away with it. If you tell me when you’re threatened, I’ll definitely protect your family. Even if you’ve already been kidnapped, I’ll definitely rescue you. You can trust me. If you don’t trust me, trust the leader. I’ll definitely rescue you, even if I have to beg my father to save you. So if you feel pressure from outside, be sure to report it to me.”
I was being honest. When I am sure that my family and I are safe, Hwangcheon-gak will function properly.
“I am a person who believes that anyone who commits an evil deed should be punished. Even if someone commits a crime in Cheonmajeon, I will not let it go. If the leader commits a crime, I will arrest him as well!”
For a moment, everyone held their breath. The words that he would arrest Cheonma meant that it would not be strange if Cheonma killed him right now.
“What I’m afraid of is not the leader or Palmazone. What I’m afraid of is that we’re becoming idiots. We can’t protect the people we need to protect, and we can’t stop the guys who need to be punished from getting away with it. When I caught that guy yesterday, the people in the guest house were so happy that they clapped their hands. I like to be the center of attention, so I’ll continue to receive applause from now on.”
The investigators’ expressions changed as they heard my true feelings. Jong-hwa, who had been threatened in particular, didn’t know what to do as his eyes turned red.
At that moment, the investigator who was standing behind the song walked towards me and said. She was the very fragrance that Seo Dae-ryong liked.
“I also want to receive applause along with you, sir.”
That was the beginning. One by one, the investigators came toward me. Some were sincere, others came over reluctantly because of the atmosphere. It didn’t matter. What’s important now is that they all moved in the same direction.
Now the last one left was the song title.
“Don’t you like the new rules I’ve set?”
“no.”
“But why are you standing there?”
“… … .”
“Is it because your pride is hurt?”
“No. I don’t know if what you said is sincere, my lord.”
No way. His pride is hurt now. He came with good intentions to help his junior, but he lost all the justification and momentum he had for coming together, and he even got humiliated after stepping forward. That’s why these few steps are so hard for him.
I have to comfort that wounded pride. That’s the role of a leader. It was a time when unity was needed rather than division, and he was old-fashioned but not a bad person. In fact, when I dug up Jonghwa, he also got dug up.
“Everything I said before was true. I really need your experience and help to make my true feelings a reality.”
I was the first to reach out to the song’s title.
“Help me.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
The song title grabbed my hand. His hand was shaking. This was worth more than appeasing the song title. It was because of the investigators who were watching this scene.
I immediately gave the order to Seo Dae-ryong.
“Inspector Seo.”
“yes.”
“Go with the executors right now and arrest Yang Ho’s father, Baek Do-gwi Yang Tae. The charge is special intimidation.”
At that time, the song title was said carefully.
“I will not submit to arrest without a fight.”
I said it loudly so everyone could hear.
“Tell them to do so, or I’ll blow up the entire demon corps.”
You may be wondering what on earth he believes in, but one thing is certain.
The Hwangcheon Pavilion investigators standing before me have never heard of blowing up an entire demon since they entered office. They were excited. Their hearts must have already started beating fast. I can feel the heat.
I can be sure of this heat. Today is the day with the highest morale since the creation of Hwangcheon Pavilion.
