Chapter 340: Conclusion and Unrest
A week had passed since my visit to the Istantel Rowe clan house.
I had reached an agreement on the fate of the vagrants I had brought in that day, and Han So-young conducted the trial five days later as planned. It was an internal trial, not one concerned with right or wrong, so there wasn’t much difference in the outcome.
To cut to the chase, every single vagrant was sentenced to execution. I didn’t utter a word in their defense. The death sentences were entirely Han So-young’s decision, and given her meticulous nature, there was no chance she would let them live.
The vagrants’ reactions to their sentences were… varied, to say the least.
Some screamed that we had promised to spare them, others tried to calmly argue their potential usefulness. Some pleaded with tears, while others, having given up, silently accepted their fate.
But with Baek Seoyeon on our side, the other vagrants had lost their value.
Han So-young never reversed a decision once made, and in the end, all the vagrants met their end, except for one—Baek Seoyeon.
Technically, Baek Seoyeon was also sentenced to death. However, unlike the others, her execution was delayed, thanks to a request from Han So-young.
And that request was…
”…We’ve identified Jang Hae-yun and four other internal officers.”
It was then that a heavy voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I slowly surveyed my surroundings.
I was in the conference room of the Goryeo clan house, a place I had visited during a previous summons. There were even fewer people now than before. Most of the seats were occupied by Goryeo clan members, with me being the only outsider.
The atmosphere in the room was dark and heavy. The people seated around the table cast cold, piercing glances. Following their gaze, I saw several individuals kneeling in the center, their arms bound.
“Confirmed. Let’s begin immediately.”
The calm voice of the Goryeo Lord resonated throughout the room. Though his tone was composed, it couldn’t mask the underlying fury. Jo Seong-ho, the Goryeo clan’s diplomatic officer, seemed to sense it too and spoke cautiously.
“Clan Lord, how would you like to proceed? I can handle the interrogation…”
“No need. It’s straightforward enough for me to do it myself.”
The Goryeo Lord shook his head and stood up, addressing one of the bound individuals.
“Jang Hae-yun. You’re smart enough to know why you’re here.”
“Thank you for the compliment, but I’m not as clever as you think. I’m genuinely curious why I’ve been dragged here like this.”
“You…”
“So, I trust you’ll explain this situation to me.”
Despite the undeniable circumstances, Jang Hae-yun responded calmly, without blinking. He was one of the spies infiltrating the Goryeo clan, first mentioned by Baek Seoyeon.
“Hmm. I doubt my brother would act without reason. If there’s a misunderstanding, it should be cleared up.”
The Goryeo Lord’s fists clenched at Jang Hae-yun’s nonchalant words. He seemed to struggle to contain his anger before speaking quietly.
“I saw you glance at Baek Seoyeon when you came in. It’s infuriating to see you so brazen when you should be begging for mercy.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I heard rumors that the Mercenary Lord captured Baek Seoyeon, and I was curious to see her. That’s all.”
“Ha. Even after she named you?”
“She mentioned my name? Why would she do that…”
Jang Hae-yun tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. As the Goryeo Lord was about to react, Jo Seong-ho placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Clan Lord, please remain calm. This is a pointless argument. We should end this quickly.”
”…”
Jo Seong-ho’s sharp gaze was fixed on Jang Hae-yun. The Goryeo Lord nodded reluctantly and sat back down with a sigh.
Jo Seong-ho stepped forward and continued.
“Jang Hae-yun, internal officer of the Goryeo clan. I won’t waste words.”
“Say what you will, but at least explain the situation first.”
”…Recently, the Mercenary Lord captured Baek Seoyeon, and during her interrogation, she revealed shocking information. Vagrant spies have infiltrated the northern continent.”
Jang Hae-yun seemed to ponder this, tilting his head. I couldn’t help but admire his performance. He acted as if he knew nothing, like a seasoned actor.
After a moment, Jang Hae-yun furrowed his brow and spoke.
“Are you saying I’m a spy?”
“Exactly.”
“Ha… I suspected as much, but hearing it is quite shocking.”
“You’re shameless.”
Jo Seong-ho’s sharp rebuke was met with a steady gaze from Jang Hae-yun. His face darkened, and he replied in a somber tone.
“I’m innocent. I’m not a spy.”
“Anyone can say that.”
“You’re choosing to believe a vagrant over someone who’s been with you for years?”
“I expected you to say that. That’s why we have this.”
Though the Goryeo Lord seemed slightly swayed by Jang Hae-yun’s words, Jo Seong-ho was unyielding. He cut through Jang Hae-yun’s emotional appeal and pulled a small crystal from his pocket. As soon as I recognized it, my eyes widened.
The ‘Crystal of Truth.’
It’s rare, but not unheard of. I understood Jo Seong-ho’s confidence now. The Goryeo clan, being one of the top clans, would likely have one.
Jo Seong-ho tossed the ‘Crystal of Truth’ to Jang Hae-yun. It rolled to a stop in front of him, and he slowly looked down at it. Before he could react, Jo Seong-ho spoke with a confident voice.
“You know what this is.”
“This is… Brother! Is this really necessary?”
“As you said, I won’t waste words. If you’re truly innocent, this crystal will prove it.”
”…”
The game was over. Jang Hae-yun’s face remained calm, but his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.
“You’ll need one hand free to channel your magic. I’ll come down, so don’t try anything foolish, Jang Hae-yun.”
As Jo Seong-ho descended to the center, I stifled a yawn.
My business with the Goryeo clan was concluded. Afterward, the Goryeo Lord and Jo Seong-ho thanked me for my assistance. They invited me to join them for a meal, but I declined, citing a prior engagement with my brother. Truthfully, I might have stayed, but the Goryeo Lord’s expression was so grim that I decided to give them space. Confirming Jang Hae-yun’s betrayal must have been a significant shock.
So, I went to see my brother. Since the last time I had scolded him during a summons, he hadn’t contacted me once. It wasn’t that he was sulking; he was likely trying not to upset me. Ever since we were young, whenever I got angry, he would cautiously gauge my mood. I intended to make amends.
As expected, my brother was delighted to see me at the Haemil clan. He readily agreed to go out for a meal. I felt a bit guilty for interrupting Jun-seong, who was working with him, but my brother eagerly led me out before I could say much.
We found a quiet, spacious restaurant and settled into a corner table. After ordering, we exchanged pleasantries.
“So, how have you been?”
“Not bad.”
“What brings you here?”
“I had business with the Goryeo clan. Thought I’d visit afterward.”
I took a sip of water and briefly recounted the events at the Goryeo clan, from bringing Baek Seoyeon to the appearance of the ‘Crystal of Truth.’ My brother listened intently, showing no signs of boredom.
“Hmm… So, the Goryeo clan didn’t say anything else to you?”
“He just thanked me for helping him out. Then he suggested we grab a meal together, but I turned him down. He looked like he really needed some rest.”
“Got it. Well, if it was Jang Hae-yoon he was dealing with, that makes sense.”
My brother nodded knowingly, letting out a sigh. I stared at him, curious about his cryptic response. Noticing my interest, he smacked his lips and began to speak.
“I don’t know all the details, but Jang Hae-yoon was known to be a loyal aide to Goryeo Road. So when it came out that he was a spy, a lot of people were shocked.”
He gave a brief, bitter smile before continuing.
“I knew Jang Hae-yoon a bit myself. He was quite a character, well-respected and all…”
‘I see. So that’s why Han So-young asked for help.’
Rooting out a spy was no easy task. Even though we were making progress, there were still obstacles. Someone like Jang Hae-yoon, with his reputation, had many followers. Arresting him suddenly would surely cause an uproar.
And to minimize that backlash and justify the action, Baek Seo-yeon was needed.
‘If my brother is saying this much… there might be others who have sided with Jang Hae-yoon.’
“Anyway, thanks for coming by. I was planning to visit you soon.”
“Huh? At the mercenary guild?”
Lost in thought, I was brought back by my brother’s voice. I looked up to see him wearing a serious expression.
“Soo-hyun, there’s something I really want to say. I hope you’ll hear me out.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about the upcoming war.”
”…”
“Oh, I know what you’re thinking. But could you just listen to what I have to say first?”
If he had outright told me not to participate in the war, I might have gotten angry. But his tone was sincere, so I nodded, agreeing to listen.
“Thanks. So, has there been any word from the Southern Clan?”
“No, nothing. Why?”
“I see…”
He trailed off, then waved his hand lightly. I felt an invisible barrier form around the table. After checking that it was properly in place, he spoke in a much lower voice.
“Soon… the Eastern forces are planning to mobilize users, possibly as early as next week. And it’s going to be on a large scale.”
“Next week? That soon?”
He didn’t respond to my question. Instead, he tapped his finger on the table, as if organizing his thoughts, and then spoke quietly.
“Listen carefully. I’ll explain everything. This war is going to be bigger than you can imagine.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Based on the current outline, it looks like we’ll dive into the war arc around the next chapter (episode 345). Of course, there might be some variation; it could come sooner or be delayed by an episode or two.
Sorry for the delay today. I had a group project meeting because of the start of the semester. It’s due at the end of September, but with Chuseok and midterms in October, we need to prepare in advance.
『 Reader Comments 』
UsainBolt: Yes, congratulations on being first. :) I made a slight change to Han So-young. A bit of a “this is the kind of woman I am” vibe? Haha.
Nodens: Congratulations. You’ve given up, I see. I gave up early too. We’re comrades in that!
AlDante: Soo-hyun isn’t gay or impotent. Trust me. Really.
PotatoChip: Thank you! It was a bit risky today, but I managed to save it. Haha. I’ll have to take a break from e-book editing today. ㅜ.ㅠ
Hyun-oh: Long time no see, Hyun-oh! ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. Your eye-catching comments are as sharp as ever. :D You seem busy. Hang in there!
BeardedUncle: Thank you. I can confidently say that pats on the back are one of my sources of strength.
Lea: A gem appraiser is a rare class! (Did I make a mistake?) I tend to miss the small details while focusing on the big ones. ㅜ.ㅠ
OfficeLove19: You’re sharp, OfficeLove. But shh! Shh! Shh! Sigh. You have the eyes of a hawk.
Devaran: Are you a professor by any chance? ㄷㄷㄷㄷ.
Eshurica: I plan to fix things one by one. Haha. :)
Thank you for always reading. I hope you enjoy the story with a relaxed mind.