Answer with Deception (4)
Sima Qian and Jia Gyeong were growing closer by the day.
Both knew that this newfound camaraderie was anything but genuine.
But did it really matter? The Justice Pavilion and the Law Enforcement Hall were at the heart of power. Joining forces would only benefit both sides.
Jia Gyeong had always been a man of principles. It was how he had risen to lead the Law Enforcement Hall.
But everything changed after Tian Hae-jin’s death.
With the loss of the great leader he had admired and followed, it felt as if something inside him had vanished too. Before he could even process his grief, a blade found its way into the gap left behind.
Ju Cheol-ryong, the head of the illustrious Gwangwol Group, the most powerful of the three main factions, approached him with a blunt proposition.
“Will you cling to your principles and be cast out, or will you help me and continue to lead the Law Enforcement Hall?”
Had Ju spoken of grand ideals, invoked Tian Hae-jin’s name, or threatened his life, Jia Gyeong might not have wavered so easily.
But the straightforwardness of the question made the decision simple.
He didn’t want to leave the alliance he had dedicated his life to.
With Tian Hae-jin gone, Ju Cheol-ryong was the most powerful force. His swift, calculated moves were unexpected, but one thing was clear.
Refusal meant exile.
Once a man’s principles are broken, they continue to shatter. Eventually, he convinces himself that bending is the wise way to live, and that self-deception becomes his new creed.
Sima Qian, his face flushed with drink, spoke up.
“You might not know, but Gal Gun-sa is under me. Yes, the former chief strategist, Gal Sa-ryang.”
“I was aware. It must be quite a bother for you.”
“A bother? He’s a thorn in my side.”
Feeling comfortable enough to share, Sima Qian complained about Gal Sa-ryang.
“When the leader changes, shouldn’t the former chief strategist step down?”
“Indeed, that’s how it should be.”
“But this old bear seems to have honey smeared somewhere, constantly pestering me. Master Jia, help me out. Get rid of this nuisance!”
If he had a confidant, he would have eliminated Gal Sa-ryang. But there was no one he could trust with such a secretive task now.
Though it sounded like a joke, Jia Gyeong knew it wasn’t.
So he replied in kind, as if it were a jest.
“Haha, without evidence of a crime, we can’t even touch the gatekeeper of the alliance.”
“What if there is a crime and evidence?”
“A crime? That upright Gal Sa-ryang?”
“Yes.”
Sima Qian’s eyes were serious.
“There is evidence. He might spend the rest of his life in prison.”
In an organization where power was concentrated, the punishment for the same crime was harsher. It was a long-standing rule of the alliance.
Gal Sa-ryang had extorted money from the martial artists. No matter how corrupt they were, extorting money in an unjust manner as a member of the Justice Pavilion was a grave offense.
Jia Gyeong realized that Sima Qian was making a second request of him.
“If there’s evidence, there’s no problem.”
“But there’s another issue.”
“What is it?”
Sima Qian’s next words were unexpected.
“I’m involved in that crime too.”
Jia Gyeong looked at him in shock. Such a confession was significant. It was a declaration of trust, that they were truly in the same boat.
Their eyes met in the air.
Sima Qian pushed a box he had prepared to the front.
Inside, it was filled with small denomination notes.
“Fifty thousand nyang. Half of what I received.”
Jia Gyeong had never received such a large bribe before.
Sima Qian spoke with a meaningful look.
“Let’s share this crime. And spend the rest of our lives enjoying it together.”
At the same time, Gal Sa-ryang was meeting someone.
The person was key to resolving the current issue. It was Chae Mo, the chief strategist of the Justice Pavilion and a close associate of Sima Qian.
“Why did you want to see me?”
Chae Mo’s gaze was not friendly.
“I wanted to discuss something important.”
“What is it?”
“Your life.”
Chae Mo stood up angrily.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Gal Sa-ryang looked at him calmly.
“Have you forgotten why we met?”
Chae Mo flinched at the unusual seriousness.
Gal Sa-ryang spoke calmly.
“Get angry after you hear me out.”
Five days later, a subordinate rushed into Sima Qian’s office to report.
“The Law Enforcement Hall’s martial artists are trying to enter the Justice Pavilion. What should we do?”
Despite the urgent report, Sima Qian smiled.
‘So it’s finally happening.’
Jia Gyeong was moving to capture Gal Sa-ryang.
There are times when a power struggle erupts between the alliance’s organization and the Law Enforcement Hall. Especially when the organization is very strong.
Even now, because it’s the Justice Pavilion, there’s a scuffle at the entrance. If it were any other organization, they would have already forced their way in.
They could hold them off for a while if they wanted to.
“Let them in.”
“Yes, understood.”
Through the window, he could see the Law Enforcement Hall’s martial artists storming in.
‘Gal Sa-ryang, your time is up.’
Bang, the office door burst open, and the Law Enforcement Hall’s martial artists poured in.
Despite their rough entrance, Sima Qian didn’t lose his temper.
“What is the meaning of this?”
He expected them to greet him and head straight to Gal Sa-ryang’s room.
“We’re from the Law Enforcement Hall. I’m Hwang, the chief enforcer.”
“Welcome.”
“Arrest and search warrants have been issued for seven illegal activities. Shall we proceed?”
“Of course.”
Sima Qian answered without even looking at the warrant the martial artist handed him.
Then the Law Enforcement Hall’s martial artist instructed his subordinates.
“Escort him and begin the search.”
The martial artists rushed out and began searching the room.
Some approached Sima Qian menacingly.
“Please come with us.”
Only then did Sima Qian show surprise.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
The martial artist who had reported earlier spoke.
“Didn’t I tell you? Arrest and search warrants have been issued. You agreed to proceed, didn’t you?”
“What? You mean it’s for me?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Nonsense! This is a mistake!”
Sima Qian belatedly examined the warrant. His name was indeed on it.
“What is going on here?”
The warrant meant for Gal Sa-ryang had clearly been misdirected.
Sima Qian glared at them with cold eyes.
“Fools! Do you know what you’re doing?”
“We’re just following orders.”
The martial artists led Sima Qian outside. It was usually the quietest place, but once it started moving, the Law Enforcement Hall was the most fearsome.
The military officers in the office were at a loss. Even Chae Mo, the chief strategist, was feigning surprise. In the chaos, no one noticed his act.
Sima Qian was confined in a small interrogation room, barely three pyeong in size.
“You bastards! Bring your master here!”
He shouted at the top of his lungs, but no one responded.
He had never experienced such humiliation in his life.
A young investigator entered the room. Not the master, not even the deputy. A young investigator? It was a blatant show of disrespect.
“Hey! Bring your master here immediately!”
The investigator sat down and spoke in a businesslike tone.
“Sit down.”
“Sit down? Do you know who I am?”
“I said sit down.”
The investigator glared fiercely. It wasn’t a look to be underestimated just because he was young.
Intimidated by the investigator’s demeanor, Sima Qian sat down. In a subdued voice, he asked.
“How do you plan to handle the aftermath of this?”
“You should worry about yourself first.”
Sima Qian’s anger, which had been subsiding, flared up again.
“You insolent brat! Notify the leader immediately! Does the leader have to come in person for you to come to your senses?”
Even with the leader mentioned, the investigator calmly opened a file and asked.
“When did you first meet Jo Byeok?”
At the mention of Jo Byeok, Sima Qian flinched.
“What?”
He had never imagined he would be brought in over the Jo Byeok matter.
“The tasks you assigned to Jo Byeok weren’t just one or two, were they?”
The investigator glanced up. His eyes were those of a predator eyeing its prey.
“When did you first meet him?”
“I don’t know who that is.”
“Of course you don’t.”
Sima Qian’s face was turning pale. If the Law Enforcement Hall had evidence of him ordering Jo Byeok, he was finished. They wouldn’t have brought him in without evidence…
As he sank into deep despair, he wondered where it all went wrong.
The answer lay outside the small hole in the interrogation room wall.
Peering through the hole was Jia Gyeong, the head of the Law Enforcement Hall.
In his hand was a book detailing Sima Qian’s misdeeds. The very one Sima Qian had compiled.
Gal Sa-ryang had managed to extract it through Chae Mo, the chief strategist. He had shown Chae Mo the evidence that would soon see Sima Qian ousted and imprisoned.
Unless one was deeply loyal, Chae Mo was not much different from his master. In the end, Gal Sa-ryang succeeded in persuading Chae Mo to hand over the evidence.
Chae Mo had leaked the information, assured that he wouldn’t be taken down with Sima Qian. He planned to deny everything if things went awry.
It didn’t matter that it wasn’t the original. The contents were known only to Jia Gyeong. It detailed all the wrongs and mistakes he had committed throughout his life.
If this comes to light, I’ll have to step down from my position as head. Even if it wasn’t a grave offense, there were numerous moral issues. Being the head of the disciplinary committee, responsible for overseeing corruption and investigations, I couldn’t escape accountability.
What was even more absurd was that the dossier included not only my weaknesses but also my eating habits and the appearance of the woman I fancied. What infuriated me more was that they had investigated my entire family.
“Damn it!”
Standing before me was none other than Galsaryang.
Two days ago, Galsaryang had approached me discreetly and shown me this information. Moreover, he knew about my secret meetings with Samacheon. I had to choose between Galsaryang and Samacheon.
“With the evidence against Jobyeok being so clear, Samacheon is finished.”
“You’ve done well.”
“But… do you think the leader will intervene?”
“If he intended to, he would have already. To the leader, Samacheon is a discarded card. In fact, because of his closeness to the leader, he’s in even greater danger.”
I understood what he meant. Knowing too many secrets, the leader might decide to eliminate him. If he were thrown into a prison filled with the most heinous criminals, it would be all too easy to get rid of him.
“Samacheon might drag me down with him.”
“That won’t happen.”
“But…”
“Are you worried about that woman?”
I flinched for a moment. Galsaryang knew about the women too.
“Did you think I’d start this without knowing? Don’t worry. I’ve already taken care of those women. They’ll never appear in this world again. There’s no evidence of your meetings with them.”
Whenever I went to meet her, I moved discreetly, and the guards who accompanied me were as loyal as my own limbs. If the women had disappeared, there was no evidence linking me to Samacheon. No matter what he said now, it would be useless.
“You’re truly… a terrifying person.”
Galsaryang looked at me. The subservient Galsaryang who once cowered under Samacheon was nowhere to be seen.
“You may not know, but I was the one who put you in that position.”
“Is that so?”
Galsaryang nodded.
“Will you continue to protect me?”
It was a rather audacious question, but Galsaryang answered seriously. I was still useful to him. Until he decided to settle today’s score, he would use me thoroughly.
“As long as you don’t betray me, we’ll cross this river together. Of course, there might be unforeseen circumstances. Just as you betrayed Samacheon, you might find yourself in a situation where you have to betray me. Before you decide to jump ship, remember one thing.”
Galsaryang fixed his gaze on me and added,
“The person you’re thinking of betraying is none other than the one who once unified the martial world under the former leader…”
He paused for effect.
“Me, Galsaryang.”