Ch 358 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Title: "Daetul – Chapter 7" Inspector General. A trusted servant directly appointed by the Emperor, possessing enormous power despite the low rank due to being part of the inspection system. In front of me stands Seogi, appearing younger than in the original story, but surely the Inspector General who used to clean up after the Princess’s misadventures. “You mean to say you have shattered priceless centuries-old porcelain in your attempt to capture the thief Mu Yeong Sin Tu? Why? Do you dislike me, perhaps? Hahaha…” “Because when there's nowhere to hide, he’ll have to come out? Ah, that’s a resolution befitting the Princess. Alright, I'll manage this somehow.” The issue is the person to be managed is someone who exists, which essentially makes it a torturous position for the subordinate official. ‘Could the Princess really be nearby?’ I don't wish to become an extra swept up by the golden tempest. If there’s a natural disaster alert in the weather forecast, I must flee quickly. I hastily scanned my surroundings. “Kang Pokhwae, are you searching for someone?” The chief of firearms asked me, seeing my rushed glance around. She’s not visible. Time to test my luck. “I thought I saw a stunning beauty.” If the Princess is planning any reckless actions, the Chief of Firearms might not react, but the Inspector General certainly would. “A beauty in the office? Is there a feast with courtesans today? That can’t be. Surely you’ve mistaken?” Neither of them seemed aware. “I must have been mistaken due to being tired lately.” Emergency red alert cancelled. Switching to a yellow alert. “Tsk, tsk. You’ve been through a lot lately. I understand. Let’s wrap this up quickly, follow me to the office.” I nodded and secretly observed the Inspector General walking behind the Chief of Firearms. ‘In the original, he appeared after the Princess ran away. Perhaps he's not yet the Princess’s Inspector General?’ Regardless of being a loyal servant to the Emperor or being acquainted with the Princess, the Inspector General appears only after the Princess causes an uproar. Now, he’s a regular inspector. ‘Why is he posing as Seogi?’ The Inspector General I intend to ask the Chief of Firearms to liaise with seems to be this one. The Chief of Firearms seems aware of his identity, perhaps because of me. Is there any reason for him to pose as Seogi just to meet me? Let’s swiftly assess the situation and deduce. Ah, there is one indeed. A small smirk crossed my lips. I am in need of the Inspector General’s assistance. Perhaps I can leverage this situation. **** “Hyun, Hyuncheol Jung-gwa! Because of you scoundrels, Hyuncheol Jung-gwa! Gurk!” I dramatically portrayed the Inspector Jeembeodae's demise due to high blood pressure, akin to Lu Meng’s dramatic end like in the Three Kingdoms. “I never thought Kang Pokhwae had such talent. You could make an excellent meddler.” The Inspector General and the Chief of Firearms contributed their thoughts, impressed by my act. “Indeed! This might be more amusing than any meddler I’ve seen! What happened next?” The Inspector General, in particular, seemed as though he would have willingly handed me money as if writing a promissory note had I used secret techniques. He must really despise the Inspector Jeembeodae. Perhaps the rumors of him nearly being dismissed after reporting the Inspector Jeembeodae’s corruption were true. “The Inspector Jeembeodae is still bedridden. And…” Now that the story has concluded, it's time to execute my planned actions. As I intentionally prolonged my words, I gradually shifted my gaze from the Chief of Firearms to the Inspector General. There’s actually an untold story. For a few seconds, I made eye contact with the Inspector General, portraying a look that suggested there was something at the tip of my tongue, but difficult to voice. “And? Is there something more?” Frustrated by my obvious reluctance, the Inspector General asked me urgently. “No, that’s all I have to report.” There’s a part that cannot be reported though, surely you understand? I wish to speak, but how could I discuss this with a mere Seogi? No, it must at least be with the Inspector General. I sat down with a look of someone who had reconsidered a rash thought. “Kang Pokhwae seems quite exhausted these days. Shall I send some tonic to your home?” “No need, as someone working for the state, I shouldn’t show signs of strain.” “As expected of Kang Pokhwae! Ah! Seogi, have you written everything down?” “What did I say? Ah!” In front of the Inspector General’s desk, only a barely used piece of blank paper remained. “I have matters to attend to, I’ll rise first. Kang Pokhwae, feel free to report anything when you come by next, and head home if you’re weary.” Had it been the Chief of Firearms, he would have harshly scolded Seogi, but nothing could be said to an Inspector General appointed by imperial decree. The Chief of Firearms chuckled bitterly and left the office directly. “Kang Pokhwae, I apologize.” The Inspector General apologized to me with a remorseful expression. “No need, I was too absorbed in conveying it vividly.” “If you tell it from the middle again, I’ll organize it.” “You might as well start from the beginning.” For the cosmic epic, only "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…" had been noted down. “If you tell it again, I may refine it into a better report. There are things I couldn’t speak of in front of the Chief of Firearms, but perhaps I could discuss with a subordinate Seogi like myself.” The bait worked splendidly. The Inspector General might think he’s probing me, but in reality, he was merely swallowing the bait I had tossed. “The story I couldn’t tell at the very end today?” “Yes, indeed.” “If you’re eager to hear, perhaps you should formally introduce yourself when you next visit.” To maneuver the Inspector General as I intend, I had to instill some urgency in him. My task for today ends here. I stood up. “What did you say?” “I’ll be off now, Inspector General.” I turned away with a meaningful smile towards the Inspector General, whose expression momentarily hardened. “…How did you know?! Where are you going?” “Oh! The Chronicles of the Windy Knight.” I turned at the door, looking at the Inspector General rising hurriedly from his seat. “What?” “When you come by next, it’d be nice if you read the Chronicles of the Windy Knight. I’ll take leave now.” “Wait, just a moment!” Curious, aren't you? Well, if you're curious, finish your homework first. ***** “Chief of Firearms! Did you inform Kang Pokhwae of my identity beforehand?” The Inspector General hurriedly asked the Chief of Firearms as soon as Kang Yoon Ho left. “What? What are you talking about?” “Then how... Never mind that. Just tend to your business.” Could it be someone I've met before? A black-haired officer wouldn’t escape my memory, especially not one recently appointed. Besides, I haven't set foot in the office since the Inspector Jeembeodae incident, so there’s no chance our paths have crossed. The Inspector General was utterly baffled by the turn of events. Who would have thought a simple inquiry into someone he disdained would lead to this? That black-haired officer is hiding something. Still, since I concealed my identity when meeting him, confronting him openly isn’t an option. “Inspector? Were you not entertained?” As the Inspector General entered the room with a troubled expression, Seogi made a speculative comment. “Seogi, do you know the Chronicles of the Windy Knight?” What could Kang Pokhwae be hiding? The Inspector General probed Seogi for clues based on what Kang Yoon Ho mentioned. “Who doesn’t know it these days? Everyone’s in a frenzy trying to get hold of the new release.” “Is it that popular? I haven’t much interest in fiction.” “Fiction? Are you calling Ho-Pil’s latest masterpiece, the Chronicles of the Windy Knight, mere fiction?” The Inspector General was taken aback by Seogi’s unexpected irritation over a book. “Why so upset?” “I stood in line all day yesterday on my day off just to buy this book! Ho-Pil silenced the critics who mocked him as a mere writer of lowbrow tales, proving his worth unequivocally by removing the sensationalism from his adventure stories! How could you call it fiction?” As a new member of the Daseo Club, Seogi couldn't overlook this. Of course, this didn’t hold much significance for the Inspector General. “How much did you pay for this book?” The Inspector General snatched the complete Chronicles of the Windy Knight from Seogi’s hands and asked. “Huh?” “Sell it to me for that price. I’ll buy it.” Should he hit the Inspector General, would that land him in prison? Seogi pondered this seriously. ** “Kang Gongja! A young official is here to see you.” I didn’t think it would happen so soon. Only a day wasn't enough for him to hold back. The Inspector General arrived early in the morning, led by a servant to the reception room. “Welcome. I’ll bring some tea.” I must make the Inspector General act according to my scheme. Whether he has ties with the Princess, will become her Inspector General in the future, or is a loyal officer to the Emperor, he’s someone I need to involve in my plans right now. I welcomed him warmly and led him to a seat. “How did you know?” The Inspector General seemed unwilling to sit before resolving his curiosity, glaring at me with a stern expression. “What do you mean?” “About me being the Inspector General.” “Is that important?” “If you can’t substantiate your claim, our next conversation might occur somewhere other than this estate.” What is he here for? Could he be planning to seize secret records by any means? Doesn't matter. I just need to prove why they call me the Legendary Detective. “You weren’t Seogi. That was evident at a glance.” I spoke confidently, like a detective solving a case from the comfort of an armchair. “How so?” “The fingertips. A Seogi washed in ink all day never has clean fingertips.” “I came in the morning. Isn’t it plausible that I washed my hands thoroughly before work?” The Inspector General countered, inspecting his clean fingertips. “No matter how diligently you clean, it’s hard to avoid the ink under the nails. Thus, Seogis often have nails as black as a martial artist’s.” Check your fingers. They’re clean because you haven’t touched ink for a while, likely from frequent drinking. “Even if you could deduce I’m not Seogi, that doesn’t lead to me being the Inspector General.” Reluctantly nodding, the Inspector General continued to contest. “I could smell the alcohol.” “Alcohol smell? It’s not unusual for an official to drink the night before.” “It becomes a problem when a young, disheveled official reeks of alcohol yet walks with confidence. As if asking, who dares accuse me? He walked with such poise that even older officials avoided meeting the Inspector General.” “...Continue.” “He’s too young to be a high-ranking official, but occupies a position untouchable by even senior officials. Among those, a man who would have reason to pose as a Seogi comes to mind. The list narrows down quickly.” “...” Could he truly deduce all that in such a short span? The dumbstruck expression was unmistakable on the Inspector General’s face. I knew the truth; it was a matter of connecting the dots. “Why would such a person take an interest in me? Is it because of Mu Yeong Sin Tu? Or perhaps linked to his visit to the office? There are still options left. Evidence is lacking. Strategies to reduce options in such cases?” Through question-and-answer, I naturally prompted the Inspector General to provide answers. “...Was your ploy to speak like a meddler a test of my reactions?” Tricked! A look of admiration crossed the Inspector General’s eyes. “A man who despises the Inspector Jeembeodae yet isn’t a high-ranking official, but whom even high-ranking officials fear. As far as I know, there’s only one person like this in the Infinite Office.” There is only one truth! How about it? Will you acknowledge this now? I smiled softly, waiting for the Inspector General's response. He eventually lowered his head with a nod, admitting to my deduction with sincere admiration. “I apologize for my rudeness. I thought the talk of the Legendary Detective was mere rumor. It seems I underestimated you.” The Inspector General earnestly expressed his admiration, admitting my reasoning. “It’s merely an exaggerated title. In reality, I’m just a merchant temporarily serving as an officer amidst the chaos in Infinity.” I merely knew the truth and feigned my way through. "Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Jeong Mun Won, appointed as the Inspector General by His Majesty." --- "Would you like some tea? Is there a particular kind you prefer?" "Anything will suffice. What I truly seek is something else." "Did you manage to read the Chronicles of the Windy Knight?" "I did. I assumed it was ordinary fiction, but it was far from that. I even managed to abstain from drinking for the first time in a while due to its captivating story." "Then you must have an inkling of the delicate matters we’ll discuss." As I sipped the tea brewed by Ha Yeon So Jeo, I calmly observed Jeong Mun Won’s reaction. Could it be true? Was his suspicion correct? What if it was true? In those brief moments, a myriad of emotions flickered across Jeong Mun Won’s eyes—hope, hesitation, and longing. He barely managed to take a sip of his tea before taking a deep breath and asking me: "...Did Mu Yeong Sin Tu hand over the Inspector Jeembeodae's secret ledger to you?" "Yes." "Is that true? How?" "It seems Mu Yeong Sin Tu took a liking to me." Perhaps he saw me as a kindred soul. I added nonchalantly. "...What do you plan to do with it?" Jeong Mun Won's eyes burned with the fire of hope and the thirst for revenge. Every fiber of his being screamed for me to hand it over, showing just how keenly he wanted to use it. I will, indeed, give it to him. But simply handing it over won't achieve my goals. ‘I must manipulate the Inspector General to serve my purposes.’ Even if I present the secret ledger, I must ensure that no suspicion or harm befalls me. He should accept the ledger and readily acknowledge Mu Yeong Sin Tu as the benefactor. The secret ledger is bait with a barbed hook. Even if Jeong Mun Won knows what's on the line, he has to take the bait willingly. And so— "I plan to burn it." "What?!" Let us commence our negotiations.