713 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Though Kang Po-kwai made a rather plausible exit, the situation was far from resolved. 'How on earth do I catch the culprit?' Deducing a cause of death and pinpointing a suspect are as vastly different in difficulty as shearing a sheep and capturing a dragon's hide. Various methods flitted through his mind, but an insurmountable concern blocked his path forward. 'It's too risky to try and find the culprit.' He had already done everything he could in this situation. There was no need to risk mistakes in pursuit of the suspect, which could tarnish his reputation. "Kang Po-kwai! What were you thinking disappearing like that?" Just as he was reaching his conclusion, the captain entered the cabin. "When we dock, don't let the passengers off yet. Call Po-kwai in for questioning first." "You mentioned it was a murder case. Naturally, then..." "This beyond our jurisdiction." Let's handle this smoothly. The option Kang Po-kwai chose was to retreat with a plausible excuse. "Jurisdiction?" "I am a Po-kwai of Hubei Province, not Hunan. To identify the culprit, one must investigate and interrogate, but neither you nor I have that authority." "You're not the renowned Po-kwai? Aren't you supposed to easily find the perpetrator on your own?" "Deduction is not an omniscient power. It's a supporting tool for investigation. Even Jegal Seol-rok had assistance from Jeong Po-gyo, didn’t he?" "That's right! Even Jegal Seol-rok left the tedious tasks to Jeong Po-gyo and used the gathered evidence and information to pinpoint the culprit!" "Yes, exactly. Regrettably, I lack investigative authority." With a gesture of regret, he shook his head like a young detective impeded by the harsh realities of bureaucracy. The ship he was on was a luxury vessel, and if he were to investigate, he would have to go all-in. After all, prominent figures were also on board, and he himself was the heir to the Mining Guild, wasn't he? Even as the renowned Po-kwai, without investigative authority, he was powerless. It was a perfectly valid reason to retreat. However, there was one thing he hadn't considered. "Don't worry about that! I happen to want to introduce you to someone! Come on in!" Occasionally, there is someone whose pure intentions can utterly derail one's plans. "Let me introduce you to someone who works in justice in Changsha, Hunan Province: Jo Pan-gwan. Feel free to call him Judge Jo." "What brings a judge to this place?" "This is a luxury vessel, after all, with many officials on board!" "..." "As the judge overseeing this case, witnessing your deduction in the cabin was deeply moving!" "You were watching from behind." Jo Pan-gwan nodded with such enthusiasm that it seemed his head might fall off as he approached Kang Po-kwai. He heard it. He could clearly hear it. The sound of his plans unraveling. "As a judge, I've seen countless Po-kwais, but never one with your unique abilities! I understand now why the author Ho-pil picked up the pen! If he didn’t capture your performance in writing, then what could he possibly write about?" "Kang Yoon-ho of the Mining Guild. I'm flattered beyond measure by your praise." Though Jo Pan-gwan was more akin to a local magistrate than a high-ranking official, to local law enforcers not affiliated with the judiciary, he was someone to be revered, second only to heaven. There was no harm in gaining his favor. Except right now, when it was rather inconvenient. "As a judge in Hunan Province, I'd like to grant you full investigative authority. I've already discussed this with the captain. You can use the crew as soldiers." "Wouldn't it be better for the competent Po-kwais of Hunan to handle the case?" No, this is where I'm at my limit. "Hahaha! What a joker you are! Where could you find a Po-kwai more capable than you?" "..." Passing this task off wasn't going to be easy. His escape route was completely blocked. "However, I have one condition. If you can agree to it, even if there are influential passengers on board that common sailors would struggle with, I'll take full responsibility." He couldn't accept that. It's better to just give up. He wanted to dash out of the captain's cabin immediately, but a renowned Po-kwai wouldn’t behave that way. "What is it?" He had no choice. He had to accept it. Once he steeled himself to ask, Jo Pan-gwan, looking slightly embarrassed, spoke to him. "I'm staking my name on this too. Kang Po-kwai should stake... something as well." "Are you asking for my reputation?" "No, no! It's not that... You know, that thing! That one thing!" Despite being the one proposing the condition, Jo Pan-gwan couldn't maintain eye contact with him and fidgeted awkwardly. Wait a minute. Could it be? "Judge, you don't mean to suggest I become an ancestral successor right now, do you?" You mean to invoke the name of my ancestors? "I-I understand it might seem outrageous... But well, one could say a renowned Po-kwai would have that level of confidence... Of course, if you're not inclined, you don't have to. But still, for a renowned Po-kwai...!" "..." The absurdity of it all made Kang Po-kwai chuckle, and realizing the audacious nature of his request, Jo Pan-gwan hung his head. "I'm sorry. I got too excited watching Kang Po-kwai's deduction. No matter how thrilling, what's wrong is still wrong." I understand. Even for a judge, it's an unreasonable request, but if one were a fan of Jegal Seol-rok's tales, it's a scene they'd want to witness at least once. "Originally, Jegal Seol-rok was confident he'd catch the culprit, so he acted that way... Oh?!" At that moment, a small idea sparked in his mind. "What is it?" "Just let me think for a moment." With the judge now involved, it was inevitable that he had to oversee the case. 'It's true that the conditions are ripe to catch the culprit.' The culprit is here. No, on this ship. But how? As he had told the captain, deduction was merely a tool of investigation. The reason he'd been able to catch culprits in the past was thanks to deduction combined with the assistance of various people. Identifying how to catch the culprit was a different story. But. 'What if there's a way to identify the culprit?' In focusing on staging a deduction show, he had let his thoughts sway too far in one direction. He needed to stop overthinking and just do it his way. "Gather the people, please." —— "What's going on, gathering people all of a sudden?" "Could it be that he found the culprit?!" The renowned Po-kwai was calling everyone. The people who had already witnessed the previous deduction show gathered once again. Even those who missed it seemed to have heard the news and flocked to the deck, eager to witness the detective's performance. “I have already found clues regarding the culprit.” Ascending the platform, Kang Po-kwai confidently declared to the gathering crowd. “You actually found clues?!” “As expected!!!” “Judge Jo, who is traveling with us, has been impressed by Kang Po-kwai's deduction and has authorized further investigation! We're aiming to unearth the culprit! I ask for your cooperation, everyone!” The captain's voice rang out assertively, addressing the passengers. “Are you suggesting you’ll treat us all as suspects?” “As a captain, I assure you the crew will investigate cautiously…” “If you've found clues, you should just find the culprit and be done with it! Are you proposing to search our belongings and interrogate us?” “It was promised to be a comfortable voyage, and now you intend to subject us to such indignity?” While most seemed to agree, a few voices of dissent erupted. This was expected. There would be individuals whose status even the judge found difficult to confront, or those who, despite being innocent, were reluctant to reveal their identity to others. Before the dissatisfaction flared into a full-blown uproar, Kang Po-kwai utilized his oratory skills to inject authority into his voice. “I understand the dissatisfaction from the passengers.” “Kang Po-kwai?” If dissatisfaction is simply trampled down, it spreads like wildfire. Convey as much empathy as possible, portraying the face of a detective tormented by a tragic incident. “A scholar who had devoted his entire life to studying chose to abandon everything and return to his hometown. Though I do not comprehend the depths of his reflections and struggles to make the daunting choice of returning after seeing his life’s work potentially dissolve in an instant.” “…….” He expressed sorrow over the tragic death of the scholar. In reality, he knew little of the scholar's life. But at this moment, packaging the scholar's death ensured anyone voicing complaints wouldn’t be regarded well. “However, there is one thing I know.” "What is it...?" “I, Kang Yoon-ho, will never forgive a culprit so brazen, not only for the brutal murder of a scholar but for further insulting the deceased by staging it as a suicide.” “……!” The renowned Po-kwai vows, absolutely to catch the perpetrator. He declares it with a voice laden with anger, visible to everyone. Then, he pronounces, “If you cooperate, I promise something to the passengers and crew.” “W-what do you mean?” “I stake my name on it. I will catch the culprit.” He lightly introduces the topic to everyone. “Your name? Surely you’re not...!” “Is he doing that?!” “Who is the ancestral figurehead for the dark-haired community?” “How would I know.” Admittedly, putting the name of an ancestral figurehead isn’t influential enough, but that’s fine. If you stake your name on someone famous instead. “I, Kang Yoon-ho of the Mining Guild, stake my father-in-law’s name on catching the culprit!” “……!” “It’s happening!!!” “If Kang Po-kwai is invoking the name of his father-in-law…. Could it be the head of the Jegal Family?” “W-what a revelation! To stake the honor of the Jegal Family?!” “Does he already have absolute confidence in identifying the culprit, to stake the in-law's name?!” “No doubt! A detective wouldn’t go as far as to stake his in-law’s honor lightly! The perpetrator is as good as caught!” For Kang Po-kwai to stake his father-in-law’s name indicated an uncommon determination. If successful, he's a capable son-in-law. If he fails, it borders on cultural sacrilege. Yet, the audacity of his commitment garnered him the cooperation he needed from the onlookers. —— “You sure it’s okay to stake your father-in-law’s name like that?” When back in the cabin, sifting through the passenger list, Gil San gave him a look of bewilderment as he asked. “True. Maybe I should’ve staked the Mining Guild Lord’s name instead.” “If you’re unsure, why bring in my grandfather’s name, you fool!” Gil San, since when were you so filial? It's loud enough to deafen my ears. “I also worry about the chaos it might cause if the Jegal Family finds out.” Woon Yeop, the deputy inspector, spoke with concern. “It's alright. I didn’t specify which father-in-law among my fiancées.” “…….” Conveniently, there’s one father-in-law who wouldn’t mind taking some flak. Then again, maybe using the name of a father-in-law in a coma might be easier on back-end repercussions. “Are you really confident about catching the culprit? You always say you’re more of a hunter than a deducer.” With a deep sigh, Gil San asked. “Since I’ve started, I might as well make it big. I’m prepared to lose one of my rights to use my father-in-law’s name if I’m wrong.” “Did you even have such usage rights in the first place...?” I do. It’s even more valuable than a fiancée, with only three selections possible. “What’s your next move?” Time to wrap up the jokes. He replied with a more serious expression. “I'll find the culprit through deduction.” “Can you really? Aren’t you about catching more than deducing?” “No, I plan to do it differently this time.” “What do you mean?” Detectives traditionally unmask culprits through deduction. What he did was more akin to pretense-driven catching, mimicking but never truly equivalent to the detectives in mystery novels who solve all crimes. However, “I have methods beyond mere deduction in my arsenal of tricks.” ——— “Have you heard the rumor?” “What rumor?” “They say Kang Po-kwai already identified the culprit.” Starting with the rumor. Making sure that what’s meant to be a secret becomes known to everyone. “What?! Is that true?” “I heard from the crew. He’s already pinpointed the culprit based on interrogations and evidence.” He had already validated his worth as a deducer through the deduction show to the passengers. Moreover, by claiming he had uncovered clues, even the gaps in their investigations had closed, making it impossible for passengers to outright deny the rumors. “If that's true, why hasn't he arrested the person yet?” “There are still a few days until they reach Changsha. For the captain and passengers, to avoid major commotion, he’s being cautious.” “Indeed... The one who’s already killed might be capable of anything.” “......” Though the culprit's identity remains unknown, the rumor will inevitably reach the murderer hiding in silence. I, Kang Yoon-ho, have already pinpointed you. The alarmed culprit, finely attuned, will be all ears to hear what follows. “Anyway, the culprit is a rat trapped in a jar! When we reach the port, we won't dock until the Po-kwai arrives, they say.” You cannot escape. You will soon be caught. The threat doesn't stop there. “To murder a scholar returning home! The judge seems quite furious. As soon as you're taken to the court, you'll face severe punishment!” At least a death sentence. Your fate is sealed. You whisper to yourself, it can't be. They haven't really found me. Yet you cling to hope, but there's something weighing you down. ‘This is Kang Yoon-ho of the Mining Guild. On the honor of my father-in-law! I will catch the culprit, no matter what!’ The renowned Po-kwai has even staked his father-in-law's name. Failing to deliver would be an act of sacrilege, so it’s not an empty threat. After all, it’s Kang Yoon-ho who served as the inspiration for Jegal Seol-rok. The noose that strangled the victim now seems to grip your own neck. “So, who is the culprit then? Do you know?” “How should I know? The renowned Po-kwai ensures no word leaks out, they say. Not even the judge knows.” “Truly?” “Yes indeed. Having staked his father-in-law's name, he’s keeping the secret ironclad.” “Well...” Then, they leave you a glimmer of hope. Only one person knows your true identity. Only Kang Yoon-ho is aware. What should you do? It plunges you into a whirlwind of deliberation. “When the sun sets, don’t leave your cabin! We’ll reach the port in 3 days!” To your unsteady mind, they impose a deadline. And for the last touch. “They say Kang Po-kwai drinks alone on the deck every night to console the spirit of the deceased.” They hint at a way to navigate this predicament. What will you do? To the murderer, I am not merely Kang Yoon-ho tormented by feeble deductive skills. I am the man who captured countless culprits, conducted deduction shows with poise in front of crowds, the man who inspired Jegal Seol-rok. Can you afford to believe that man is mistaken and simply wait? In 3 days, it’s a death sentence. Faced with the end of your life, pressure mounts through relentless whispers. Psychologically, it pushes you to the edge. I ask again. What choice do you think you must make? “The moonlight is truly radiant.” If you find yourself eventually toasting alone, “Mind if I join you for a drink?” One way or another, you will have to strike at this final opportunity.