738 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Vincent van Gogh. A master who lived a life of suffering, so much that he was afflicted with lead poisoning from eating paint due to lifelong poverty and hunger. He passed away in obscurity and poverty, without anyone recognizing his art during his lifetime, but after his death, his work was acknowledged, and his paintings and life have inspired countless creators. He wasn't included in art textbooks without a good reason. To think that a masterpiece by van Gogh has been stolen. 'It can't be the same person.' They called him Bangohu (班孤吼). It's just someone with a coincidentally similar name, probably painting in a similar style. "Why are you so surprised?" As I clutched my throbbing forehead, desperately trying to deny reality, the head of the Jin Yeom-bang asked. “I’ve heard the name in passing, but I was just confused whether it was the painter I know.” “A painter who, while alive, suffered both mentally and physically, even cutting off his own ear, but after his death is recognized as a tragic genius.” "It really is the same person...!" Why on earth is van Gogh a painter in the middle kingdom? It made me want to tear my hair out in this world that refuses to become familiar. “Bangohu (班孤吼). Now I understand why there was confusion. Lonely howl. Although the characters used in his name differ from the original van Gogh, over time, his self-deprecating signature earned him fame.” Is there even a reason for being called Bangohu? A Korean would understandably be confused. Seeing the understanding glint in the Jin Yeom-bang head's eyes, I decided to abandon my denial of reality. “Even the name inscribed in the seal is part of its storied history. You have quite a treasure.” “My grandfather scoured the entire country and finally managed to acquire it after much effort. He wanted to inspire his descendants to tirelessly pursue their goals, like sunflowers gazing at the sky.” “You have a noble grandfather.” “However now... never mind. It’s not important. Did you find any clues about the thief?” Because of the stolen painting, the head looked at the empty wall where the painting once hung with a complex expression. “Who has access to the treasure vault's key?” “It’s managed by me and the family steward. The family and the steward regularly check the treasury and lock it up afterward. Even on the day it was stolen, the keys were untouched, but the lock was found broken.” “A break-in...” Not a professional thief, then. If it were Miss Hayun, you wouldn’t even know she had been there to open it seamlessly. While I mulled over the initial clue in an attempt to seem engaged, someone anticipated finally arrived. “Master, I’m here.” It was Ga-young, who had brought the captive soul necessary for the deduction. “While I consult with my assistant, could you gather the family members and the steward?” “Do you mean you’ve found a major clue about the culprit?!” No, not at all. It didn’t matter. With a relaxed smile at the head's incredulous gaze, I turned slightly to the side. Ga-young. Will you nod up and down or shake side to side? “No.” “Then, what...?” The answer was up and down. “The culprit is among us.” This indicated that an insider, not an outsider, was the thief. ——— “You mean you've already found the thief?” “So, it wasn't an intruder?” While I listened to the account from the witness—or rather, the witnessing spirit—the Jin Yeom-bang head and household gathered. “There was indeed a thief, right inside the mansion.” Unfolding my fan, I heralded the start of the deduction play. Finding a culprit through deduction is challenging, but it’s easy to assign a scenario to a known culprit. Detective work may be tiring, but crafting a story? That’s familiar terrain for a novelist. “A culprit from within the mansion?” “What seems impossible only indicates there's no need to worry about it. The treasury is accessible only via the front gate. Too small a window for anyone to pass through. This makes the back of the treasury rarely visited.” “Guards, both day and night, never patrol the isolated spot behind the treasury.” “The culprit took advantage of that, hiding the painting inside an art supply tube, then threw it through the window. And later retrieved the painting at some point.” Tossing and catching the folded fan, I demonstrated, aiding understanding on why the painting disappeared so quickly. Everyone nodded in comprehension. “Indeed….” “That explains it as the culprit’s solve.” “And now, onto the detective’s problem…” With more readers of the detective serial Zhegal Sherlock lately, it’s easier when more people know the next line. I smiled, turning to pose the next question to everyone. “How did I figure it out?” “What are you referring to?” A method for the culprit to leave via the front gate without raising suspicion. But this required one precondition. “Knowing no one would come to where they left the painting behind the treasury until it was retrieved.” “…!” An art supply tube lying in a seldom-trod area. Some might not pay it attention, but others might pick up the unfamiliar tube and check its contents. This required insider knowledge. Even if an outsider might know the number of Jin Yeom-bang's guards, deducing their patrol routes and shift times would be difficult. Of course, this logic had one flaw. “If the thief entered the treasury a second time, why bother with the art supply tube at all? The thief could carry it out.” “If exiting through the front gate, though the guards are there, presuming a battle even breaks out… huh?” The head had realized the strangeness. “That never happened, though.” “What is going on?” An outsider might meticulously learn shift times or guard routes to enter, but this raises another problem. How to escape. What about the guards at the front gate? “The plan never accounted for a fight in the first place. Leaving empty-handed arouses no suspicion.” Only an inside person could do this without suspicion. “Someone among the household?!” “Finally, the location where the culprit thought a solution was easy is also where I found an easy solution too.” After narrowing it down with the trick, it was time to reveal the culprit. “What are you saying?” "A location rarely visited remains uncontaminated. Next to the mark left by the art supply tube, I found a set of footprints." "The culprit's footprints?" I answered the alarmed faces with a serene smile. Truthfully, there were no visible marks from the tube at all. "The thief is someone from within the household. Judging by the size and stride of the footprints, the answer became clear." "Who could it possibly be!" No matter where I looked, no mark from the art supply tube was visible. While human traffic was sparse, footprints still muddled the area. It’s absurd to pinpoint a person by stride alone. I'm not some fictional detective. Yet, I don’t need to voice my frustrations. What matters is my ability to present myself as a detective, not possess the deductive prowess of one. In front of the gaping crowd, reading my pre-prepared answer was all I had to do. "The thief is one of the guards assigned to the treasury. Since they work night shifts and don't rotate during the day, they must've quietly taken the item when their shift ended." "That's impossible! Are you saying the two conspired to steal the household's treasure?" "To be precise, it’s just one. There was only one set of footprints beside the art supply tube. The accomplice must've stepped away for a bathroom break or some other reason when the crime was committed." "Using the art supply tube and not touching any other treasures—is it because...?" "Time constraints, perhaps. Once successful, all that remained was to collect the item upon leaving their shift." The bathroom was a fair distance away. As martial artists, they had enough time to break the vault lock and sneak the painting out. “That’s…” “You don't have to believe me. However, you'd do well to interrogate those on duty the day the treasure vanished.” "I’ll do so immediately!" The detective had spoken with certainty. This should serve as solid grounds for reinvestigating the case. “Is the case solved, then?” Easy. Very easy. The case wasn't particularly difficult. Of course, having seen the answer key, the solution was straightforward. Alright, it’s time to continue business expansion. Ga-young deserves some treats for her hard work. I’ll buy her a snack on our way. “The guard was found dead!” Idle thoughts were short-lived. —— “Such a shame. Was there a scuffle among martial artists?” “What happened?” Did the constables gather because of a murder case? Upon heading to the inn near the Jin Yeom-bang, where the dead guard stayed, officials were already swarming the place. “Hey, you black-haired fellow! Do you think you should be here? Ow! Why are you hitting me, sir?” “You fool! Don’t you know the famous constable who shows up at crime scenes these days?!” “Surely not...?” The constable who got slapped looked at my appearance in shock. With the black bamboo hat and exotic duster coat, holding a fan, looking very much the part of a detective—albeit Eastern-style. “I am Kang Yun Ho of the Man-geum Firm.” “The detective…!” This is why people end up adopting uniforms. There’s a reason detectives are often seen with trench coats and pipes. “It’s a murder case. To investigate the crime scene, could you clear the area?” “Are you going to try your… deductions?” “I might engage in a little sleight of hand.” Bowing modestly, the constable nodded, unable to hide his anticipation. “With a detective helping out! Everyone, clear the area!” Closing the guest room door, I observed the lifeless body sprawled on the floor. “Cause of death: exsanguination. A clear case of homicide.” Was this murder connected to the theft? Was it due to a grudge? The haphazardly opened drawers indicated it might have been a robbery. Or it could have been a simple dispute that led to murder. I should investigate and narrow down the possibilities, but that wasn't my plan. What I was about to do wasn’t deduction, but a little trick. “Ga-young.” “Yes, I'm here.” “Summon them.” Given the answer sheet, there’s no need to solve the actual problem. [Damn! I should’ve fled immediately instead of avoiding suspicion!] Despite Ga-young's impassive face, anger simmered beneath, an outburst reflecting the bitterness of the unjustly slain spirit. “Let’s cut to the chase. Was it because of the sunflower?” [Yes. I got a knife in the neck as soon as I returned after selling it.] Attempting to sell the stolen goods and get away with the family heirloom and money clearly backfired. “What led you to such an ill-considered act?” [Settling gambling debts and securing money for life… for such a life-altering gamble, wouldn't you consider taking the risk?] Ultimately, losing the gamble, he parted ways with this life. “It didn’t work out, did it? Where’s the painting now?” [Forget about it.] “If you continue to be difficult even in death...” I snapped my fingers. The ghostly presence churned with the golden aura—a power the deceased feared. [No! No!!! It's far too dangerous; forget about it. One death should suffice.] “What are you talking about?” [Brace yourself.] “Are you implying martial artists?” Enough fear seeped through the dead man's words. Had he been killed while dealing with a powerful faction? [The Hunan Qimen Fragrance Owners were involved.] “……” [It's my damn fault for trusting those damn heretics... Oh? Auhhhh.] Time's up? The strained voice faded as Ga-young's expression smoothed out again. “Is it over?” “Yes. He's at peace.” Hearing the dead is useful, but the average spirit can’t endure my presence for more than three minutes and ends up passing on quickly. “Let’s go.” Having gleaned what we needed, I turned to recover the heirloom. ——— “So, you know why you’ve come. A detective’s reputation isn’t all hot air, it seems.” The city where I was operating was Changsha in Hunan Province. Naturally, the Hunan Qimen Fragrance Owner, who represents Hubei Province's notorious group, was residing there. “I’d like it if you could return it.” Perhaps in her early thirties, she had the allure of a seasoned actress, her charms palpable. Though certainly not surpassing the beauty of her grandmother, the former top courtesan of Hubei. “And if I refuse?” “Then I'll have to step away.” My prompt answer caused the Hunan Qimen Fragrance Owner’s eyebrows to rise in surprise. “You’re more reserved than anticipated. For a detective, I thought you might charge right in.” "I only came this far because I happened to grab the tiger by the tail. With the task accomplished, I intend to simply report back and conclude matters." After all, I'm receiving support from the Hao Clan for my detective work. The culprit's dead, and the heirloom's missing. Finding the masterpiece would be ideal, but there's no need to cross paths with the Hao Clan here. "No need, go ahead and take it." "Are you serious?" "Do you think I'd lie to anyone who shows up with the Black Tile of Hubei's Hao? Take it." With a wave of her hand, the Hunan Qimen Fragrance Owner gestured, and the courtesans brought something forward, waiting for the command. A painting that even an amateur could identify as a masterpiece at a glance. "It truly is Sunflowers." The renowned painting from textbooks, Sunflowers by van Gogh. "There is a bit of an issue, though." As she handed over the painting with some hesitation, the Hunan Qimen Fragrance Owner spoke in a begrudging tone. "An issue?" Does she want money for it? Or is there some condition attached? Perhaps she wants me to turn a blind eye to the murder? But her words took an unexpected turn. UlFRblVJeEt0R01oWGZFZXFXMGFSMXEyajRnM0VocWxJL1h3bENmL2VRWGQ2WUMzUWpITThtWUhDZ1FrSzQ3dA "This one's a fake."