Chapter 304 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Delivery Mishap – Part 2 Hao Mun's information-gathering skills were something we had verified once when he was trying to outsmart Jeon Gil San in Yichang. In short, it must feel like a live commentary board where updates are posted every second. But, that's not to say there isn't a method to extract the pearls amidst the rubble. Think of it as a kind of search engine. You need to set numerous restrictions and input precise information. If you simply ask to find a suspicious guy from last night, it would be tough to locate the desired information. However, if you specify details like hair color, attire, and the context, then more specific information will pop up. “You've done well to investigate so thoroughly. Did those with black hair possess such skills?” Shimun Hyang Ju handed over the prepared documents to his subordinate and then asked me. “I picked it up from Gwak Jibu Jang while looking over his shoulder.” Rather than boasting, I decided to praise my superior, answering Hyang Ju in a humble tone. “You picked up this much just by looking over someone's shoulder? Descriptions of the missing individuals, the timeframe of moving the goods, miscellaneous information necessary for the search, and even a bit of speculation about the incident. Have you ever considered just quitting and working under me?” “Haha. I’m burdened with many responsibilities.......” I declined, subtly. “I suppose you wouldn’t want to work under someone who couldn’t even protect his own woman?” Even with a soft refusal, did it brush him the wrong way? Shimun Hyang Ju's tone seemed to be probing me. “I’m aware you are waiting for the right moment.” I bowed my head in response. A conflict between the leaders of Hao Mun could escalate into a civil war. Having demonstrated my skills once more with this incident, I must have moved a step closer to meeting Hyang Ju's standards. “Hmm, your words flow like a river.” “Hyang Ju-nim, I’ve brought it.” Before long, a subordinate from Hao Mun arrived with compiled information. Shimun Hyang Ju placed the papers on the desk, chuckled, and gestured for me to join him. “Burdened man! Let’s take a look together. ...... Let’s see, this looks promising.” Promising? The information didn't quite align with my expectations. “There are fifteen suspicious locations? Isn’t that too many?” Is the performance of Hao Mun’s search engine lacking? It included all sorts of reported discoveries. As I looked at Hyang Ju, puzzled, he stroked his beard and curled up one side of his mouth in a sly smile. “Still a youngling, aren’t you. Why do my words seem strange? Do fifteen locations seem futile to you?” Did I miss something? What could be the reason our perspectives differ? “I’d like to hear the esteemed insights of Shimun Hyang Ju on Hao Mun’s search.” In times like these, it’s best to ask respectfully. “It’s about casting a net.” Hyang Ju spoke with an expression akin to a master trying to enlighten a young disciple. “Casting a net?” “The most important thing when casting a net is knowing the paths fish travel. What do you think would happen if we concentrated manpower and information solely on these fifteen places?” “The information would be filtered quickly.” “With the intel you brought, we narrowed an infinite range to fifteen spots in a moment. What happens after half a day, a day, two days?” “The culprit will emerge.” If there’s a fish where we cast the net, it will be easily caught. “Humans need to eat and drink, and stolen goods need to be converted into cash. Conveniently, both can provide easily accessible information if you pay attention.” The information deriving from human carelessness becomes Hao Mun’s information. The escape might have been carefully planned, but what follows may not be. “Thank you for the valuable lesson.” “Go on inside. I’ll let you know if good news arrives.” ——————— “Did everything go well at Hao Mun?” Upon returning to the office, I found Lim Ha Yeon there, who had decided to stay and wait for contact from the Hyang U Meeting people. “The results weren’t bad.” I briefly mentioned to Lim Ha Yeon about how Hao Mun had helped narrow down the locations. “Everyone is pitching in because Gang Hwae Joo-nim is in trouble at the Hyang U Meeting. We actually have too much information, it’s confusing.” Lim Ha Yeon looked at the stacks of paper filling the corner of the office, overwhelmed. “All of this? Certainly, that’s too much.” If this is the amount of information gathered by the Hyang U Meeting, how voluminous must the information from the entire Infinite Land be? No wonder Hyang Ju had hesitated when asked initially. “There were fifteen places, right? Should I sneak in alone?” “Would take too much time, and there are skilled people there who killed escorts and martial artists. It’s too dangerous.” There’s no reason to risk it unnecessarily. What I aim for is the best strategy, not the worst outcome. “......Still.” “Rather, let’s cast a net.” I offered a better plan to the reluctant Lim Ha Yeon. “A net?” “Let’s narrow down the suspicious places with the information we’ve got. After that, we’ll station our people. Even if they fled meticulously, someone careless is bound to slip information.” If we can further refine the list from the Hyang U Meeting’s information, we might bring it down from fifteen locations. We might be able to cast the net more efficiently than Hao Mun. “Wow....... How do you come up with these ideas?” “Well, you see, I’m quite remarkable.” Actually, I learned it. “......Ha.” Lim Ha Yeon placed a hand on her forehead and shook her head at my audacious tone. Oh, come on! In times like this, you should be saying, “Our leader! Manager! You really are amazing.” I was expecting some applause. “Let’s start working on it.” “To narrow down the places to cast the net, we need to compile the information received from the Hyang U Meeting and search for vital clues.” “Except for Miss Ha Yeon and me, there’s likely no one better at this, so let’s give it our best.” We hardly have anyone else to help anyway. ———————— “I want to be of help to Gang Gongja-nimmmmm.” At the residence of the Wan Geum Jeon Ju, a silver-haired, blue-eyed beauty, Zhegal Hyang, buried her head into the paper on the desk, muttering sorrowfully. “Ugh……. Gang Gongja-nim noticed my efforts, thoughhhh.” With a voice filled with frustration, Zhegal Hyang recalled an event that happened not long ago. She had failed at something as basic as giving an order — something virtually anyone could do. Anyone witnessing such a scene would certainly find it laughable or absurd. ‘But Gang Gongja-nim was differenttttttttt.’ He recognized her efforts, empathized with her situation, and even praised her—something typically reserved for family or a romantic partner. This was the first time Zhegal Hyang had experienced such a thing. The praise from Gang Yun Ho reached a deep corner of her heart. For days, Zhegal Hyang was in a strange mood, simmering with emotions. In the end, she took up her brush, filled with uncontainable feelings. "That's why I drew a picture... Ah! My Gang Gongja-nim!" Raising her head, Zhegal Hyang was startled to see the ink smeared all over the paper, and though she tried to salvage it, it was too late. If someone from the Zhegal family had seen her drawing, they would have been greatly surprised. She usually drew scenes from the world within novels. But the image on her paper was a dark-haired man. For a lady who avoided people to have drawn someone else, it would be an event that spread rumors throughout the Zhegal family. Of course, the piece she had carefully drawn was now ruined. "Am I really being helpful?" Even her drawing ended in failure. Ignoring the ink staining her forehead, Zhegal Hyang frowned. I want to be praised by Gang Gongja-nim. Having lived a life distant from others, receiving acknowledgment from someone was a foreign experience to her. And yet, to be recognized by a romantic interest. Gang Yun Ho's praise was a sweet experience for Zhegal Hyang, one she yearned for more and more. She wanted to gain more recognition, receive more praise. That was why she was increasingly curious about the woman in his presence. "There’s such a beautiful sister by his side." Zhegal Hyang touched her ink-stained forehead, recalling Lim Ha Yeon beside Gang Yun Ho. She was a dazzling sister in every sense and appeared as a very mature woman who excelled in everything. An ideal type of woman Zhegal Hyang aspired to be but couldn’t match was right there beside Gang Yun Ho. "I’m so envious of Sister Ha Yeon." Zhegal Hyang tried to hover around Gang Yun Ho in hopes of being helpful in some way, but in the end, found nothing she could assist with. Instead, she met with Lim Ha Yeon’s cold gaze, as if indicating she was merely a nuisance. "I want to be helpful to Gang Gongja-nim, just like Sister Ha Yeon." She knew nothing about running a bookstore. Maybe it was best to stay out of their way, as Sister Ha Yeon suggested. If it were the usual Zhegal Hyang, she would have admitted defeat quickly and retreated to her family home. That might have been the case if it weren’t for one person. "But it’s between me and Gang Gongja-nim." With a face flushed with embarrassment, Zhegal Hyang muttered to herself, fumbling with her hands. She didn’t want to be treated as a useless burden. "Why are we meeting more often, yet talking less?" She saw Gang Gongja-nim’s face frequently, but why did it feel like drinking saltwater? So envious of Sister Ha Yeon. Overwhelmed by unresolved frustration, Zhegal Hyang buried her head back into her desk. “Isn’t it as simple as expressing your true feelings?” Sibi, who had overheard her muttering, answered. "Ah?!” Startled, Zhegal Hyang lifted her head to find the source of the voice. “Oh? Apologies for surprising you. I thought you were talking to me since you’ve been muttering while I was cleaning.” “O-Oh, th-that’s...” “Look at your face! Wait here,” Speaking to herself was a habit. As she stammered, embarrassed, Sibi approached with a damp cloth to carefully clean Zhegal Hyang’s forehead. Only then did Zhegal Hyang realize who Sibi was. She was a girl of similar age who would occasionally offer unsolicited romantic advice outside her door. As Zhegal Hyang looked at her, seemingly seeking advice, Sibi began to speak while cleaning her forehead. “Even if you don’t want to disturb Gang Gongja-nim’s work, you still want to engage in lots of conversation, right?” “Yes, that’s right.” “I know a perfect way for girls who are a bit shy.” “Wh-What is it?” Zhegal Hyang had often unknowingly relied on Sibi's help. And each time, her advice was spot-on. Eager for an answer, Zhegal Hyang watched Sibi expectantly. “Have you heard of a ‘shared diary?'”