Ch 311 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Preparation for the Opening – 1 "It seems you two need some time to talk, so I'll leave just the letters from the Ichang branch and give you some privacy," the branch manager said, handing me two letters before stepping back from the room. "These letters are from Gwak, the branch manager of Hao Gate, and the Ichang branch of Seocheon Escort Agency." For both of them to send letters simultaneously... something significant must be going on. I quickly opened the letters and skimmed through their contents. "Could the Nokcheong Escort Agency have hired martial artists from the Demonic Cult?" "Since the escort agency head originates from the evil sect, it's possible he had connections with the cult." "What do they say?" "They're quite similar, really. It looks like the cult members have withdrawn from Ichang. It seems they realized Miss Hayun isn't at the printing shop, so they warned us to be careful." "Seems like our ruse of pretending someone was living at the printing shop got uncovered." "Even though the cult members belong to Hao Gate, they couldn't stay forever suspicious due to the misinformation from Ichang branch and Infinite City News' assistance, allowing us to hold out for this long." It was indeed miraculous that we managed to avoid their suspicion for this length of time. If the Ichang branch's Hao Gate head hadn’t cooperated or the head of Infinite City News hadn’t spread misleading information about Hayun, we would have been discovered long ago. "If they concluded she's not there, why would they attack the Seocheon Escort Agency?" "With the mass of books being transported from the printing shop to Infinite City, they might have thought Miss Hayun could be hiding among the cargo, attempting to escape." "It's a stratagem that has succeeded once before." Once, Im Hayun had hidden inside a wine jar that was part of the cargo and escaped to Ichang. Given the situation, the Demonic Cult couldn't simply ignore the large volume of cargo moving to Infinite City. I nodded at Hayun, acknowledging that. "So they've withdrawn from Ichang..." While there wouldn't be any more trouble originating from the Seocheon Escort Agency's Ichang branch and Dasuke headquarters, it wasn’t entirely a matter to smile about. "Now there's just one place the cult would be suspicious of." They had abandoned the place where Hayun was most likely to be found. But where is Hayun now? She's not among the cargo, and the cult would report that information. Would they trust the false information fed to them, believing the pink-haired woman is conducting thievery somewhere in the Hubei Province? If not, where would be the most suspicious place? Who is Im Hayun currently with? We exchanged a deep, contemplative silence. ———— "Are you done with your conversation?" The branch manager broke the heavy silence with a smile, striding confidently back into the room. "It seems we need more discussion when we return." It's not like we could come up with a definitive solution immediately. The branch manager nodded at my words, regarding Im Hayun with a gaze akin to a father looking at his daughter, before he began speaking. "Though I do not share blood ties with the Tang clan, I am not so ungrateful as to forget favors. Miss Im has done a great deed, so please call upon me should you ever need assistance." "Thank you." "Let's set aside the grim talk for a while—I have wonderful news for both of you." "Wondrous news, you say?" Could it be a reward! After resolving the matter involving the Seocheon Escort Agency, surely, they didn’t intend to wash their hands of it without providing any compensation. I looked at the branch manager with an expression of hopeful anticipation. "You’ve indeed performed a marvelous feat. A report has been sent to the Chengdu headquarters in Sichuan Province, and a grand reward will be dispatched once the decision is made." Maintaining a modest demeanor, I responded with an ungainly smile, "I merely sought to recover my cargo. I didn’t do it expecting a reward." Honestly, I was all about the reward. Given that we resolved a major incident, shouldn’t the compensation be substantial? "Modesty is a virtue, but in this case, you need not be so humble. The ghost ship incident nearly blocked Seocheon’s expansion into the Hubei Province entirely. Seocheon Escort Agency owes Mr. Kang a significant debt." "I’m overwhelmed by your consideration." Just see if you try to settle this with a meager sum. I’ll send Hwalin a heartfelt letter. "While the reward's scale will be determined by Seocheon Escort Agency, I have my own compensation I wish to offer as well." "From you, Branch Manager?" He's proposing separate compensations, one from the agency and one from him? Could it be monetary, considering he's of branch manager rank? While concealing my expectation and feigning confusion, I looked at the branch manager as he presented to me something quite unexpected. He handed over a document. "I’ll handle all of your cargo to Infinite City free of charge." The document stated that all cargo sent by Kang Yunho to Infinite City would be transported for free. "For free? There must be a considerable number of shipments to the branch; it's not a trivial amount." Just because Ichang and Infinite City are connected by the Yangtze, doesn't mean the two cities are as close as Seoul and Incheon. Even considering water routes alone, the distance between Ichang and Infinite City is akin to that between Seoul and Busan. Water transport, while cheaper than land, still incurs significant costs to be covered entirely for free. Even for a branch manager, to offer such a benefit? Amazed, I questioned the smiling branch manager. "Our decades-long efforts invested in Seocheon were nearly rendered futile in an instant. I’m at ease with knowing I can at least offer this much." "I'm concerned this might become a burden for you, Branch Manager." Branch Manager, if your head's on the chopping block, I'd be affected too. Seeing my apprehensive stare, the branch manager reassured me with a laugh. "Haha. Once word reaches the Sichuan Tang clan, they'd question why I did so little, so set your worries aside." "The Sichuan Tang clan? Weren't the reports sent to Seocheon Escort Agency?" Why is the Sichuan Tang clan mentioned concerning a Seocheon matter? Did he misspeak about where the reports were sent? Or could it possibly be? "A report was also sent to the Sichuan Tang clan." "Ah...." The Famous Detective of Infinite City isn't within the authorities, but among the Koreans. With brilliant deduction and remarkable achievements, it’s no wonder the leader of the Tang Clan would be interested. I took special care to document Mr. Kang’s exploits in great detail. Technically, I'm considered an illegitimate child of the Tang family head. Though I chose to walk my own path away from the Tang Clan, it seems that a parent's heart thinks differently. So my actions have been reported back to the clan leader. That must mean the reward from the ghost ship incident has an extra perk due to being an illegitimate child. "Tang Clan Leader... Ah..." Oops. Im Hayun glanced between my flustered expression and the branch manager's pleased one with a knowing yet cryptic tone. It would be complicated if she picked up on any connections to the Tang family. "Ah, could I make a request regarding this incident?" Quickly adjusting my expression to shift the conversation, I addressed the branch manager with my query. "A request, you say? Feel free to speak. As long as it isn’t asking me to leave Seocheon Escort, I'll agree to anything Mr. Kang asks." The branch manager replied in a jovial tone. At first, I didn’t even consider asking for a reward from the branch manager. I had prepared this request as a last resort. How convenient the conversation turned out this way. "Hahaha, I understand many constables made sacrifices in this situation. Would it be possible to hire a few Koreans to fill those vacancies?" "Koreans, you say?" "I’m aware that constables are typically recruited through an examination. Would it be alright if I shortlisted Koreans without disqualifying factors for your consideration?" Hiring Koreans as constables wasn't just a favor for their troubles during the ghost ship incident. Though many Koreans found jobs—all due to my influence as couriers, clerks, cooks, dockworkers, and merchants—there were still insufficient jobs because of the lingering prejudice against foreigners. Introducing them to constable positions would extend my influence further; we’d have more people eager to lend a hand simply because it was a request from our guild leader, like during the ghost ship incident. "Agreed. By Mr. Kang's endorsement, I'm sure they'd be reliable. Given the recruiting situation, just send any recommendations you have." After discussing the details of recommending Koreans for constable positions with the branch manager a few more times, Im Hayun and I carefully returned to the inn. ----- "If you hadn’t solved the ghost ship incident, you would’ve been captured for sure." "Miss Hayun, let's refrain from external activities for a while." A mix of bad news and good news. It was a conclusion based on information we obtained quickly, allowing us to act quickly upon returning to the inn. "In what way?" "We can continue training messenger pigeons in Mr. Ann's yard, and focus on clerical work. For tasks requiring interaction with a wide range of people, like meeting with clients, please hand those off." "You’re already struggling with your tasks." "I'm not planning to handle it alone. Since Sos is here, let's have Sos do it. He gets along well with Miss Hayun, so it’ll be good for company as well." "I trust Sos, but..." Im Hayun hesitated, showing an expression of reluctance. Passing on tasks she's accustomed to won’t be easy. "Have you been overwhelmed with the workload? Instead of viewing it as shirking responsibilities, think of it as sharing the load." Im Hayun paused, contemplating my words. The Demonic Cult's encirclement is closing in. Even for Im Hayun, it's a pressing matter. With eyes full of unease, she looked at me and spoke. "...Will it be okay?" "If you wish, you're free to escape Infinite City." Fleeing before the encirclement tightens is a viable option. Though business without Im Hayun would be difficult, her risking her safety wasn’t an option either. I answered her earnestly, my expression serious. "You can’t possibly mean that." Im Hayun, seemingly more frustrated by my suggestion, furrowed her delicate brows and approached my desk. "You’re joking, right...?" "Weren’t we supposed to endure these struggles together? Surely, you're not suggesting I pretend not to see you toil and just flee?" Maybe my response didn’t satisfy her. Im Hayun leaned in, her voice tinged with disappointment. Looks like what I mentioned during our nighttime walk has stuck with her deeply. While I usually try to downplay it, having all three faces this close is challenging. "If you’re okay with it, I’d like to face these hardships alongside you." I surrender. I surrender. Im Hayun smiled contentedly and stepped back to her desk. "If you’d said that sooner... Oh! There's something I want to ask you, can I?" Im Hayun looked at me with a hopeful face. "Feel free to ask." "Why is the Tang Clan Leader interested in your news?" I hoped she wouldn’t ask. But she did. I disliked lying, yet the truth was difficult to share. How should I answer? In times like these, a playful strategy is best. "They say I should call him father, but I decline." I chuckled, delivering the line like a jest. "If you don’t want to talk, just say so." Im Hayun seemed a bit let down and replied. But it's the truth. ——————– "This is troublesome." 一 The Demonic Cult can now approach directly. Stay alert. An answer from the Hao Gate newspaper I contacted returned curtly. It was supposed to be a secret that I worked for the newspaper, and, being a guest of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Demonic Cult hesitated to approach. But circumstances might be changing. The News promised to assist as much as possible and advised me to stand by. "The inn might be risky. Yet, having her close by allows me to mitigate any issues." As long as the Demonic Cult knows I’m a guest of the Tang Clan, they won’t dare act recklessly. Moving Im Hayun to another inn to avoid surveillance, only to have her captured there, would leave me unable to respond. There’s no better plan than this. Yet having to find a better method... how troublesome. "You!" The office door swung open, revealing a rather cross Im Hayun. "What’s the matter?" "Did you call for that woman?" That woman? There’s only one person Im Hayun would refer to as 'that woman.' "What do you mean by that? Ah! Miss Jegal? What brings you here?" Behind Im Hayun stood Jegal Hyang, who you wouldn't expect to see at this inn. Why does she look like she's about to cry? "Master Kanggggggggggg! Oh?!" Why are you blocking her like that? Im Hayun blocked Jegal Hyang with one arm as she tried to come toward me. "It's improper for men and women to be too close to each other." Im Hayun, you were leaning very closely just yesterday. But she wasn’t so oblivious as to not know that her remark was offhand. "Miss Jegal, what brings you here?" "Wellllll..." Jegal Hyang shifted nervously, glancing around before swallowing her words. This isn’t something she wants to discuss at the doorway. "Miss Hayun, it seems I need to have a conversation with Miss Jegal, so could you close the door for us?" "Wha-what are you planning to do alone behind closed doors?" Why is she giving me that terrifying look with her eyes bulging? "Sigh. Just come inside, both of you. Miss Jegal, what brings you here?" Why would a young lady who rarely leaves her house visit the inn? Especially without me summoning her. Jegal Hyang entered, clearly anxious about being watched from outside. She hesitated for a while, then nodded as if she’d made up her mind. With fists clenched and a worried expression, she finally exclaimed to me, "I've been thrown out of my houseeeee!" What on earth is this about?