Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 261
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Chapter 261: Just Say a Word
At the same time.
Chilriha Village.
Heaven and Earth Alliance.
Hyeoncheon Hall.
In his office, Jegal Seun, the Chief Strategist, was meticulously reviewing several documents. All were related to the support of the three divisions for missions in Five Peaks Mountain and Gyoguhyeon, also known as Jiaocheng. It wasn’t just about deciding to send the divisions. There were fifty members of the Black Turtle Division and two hundred twenty-eight from the Vermillion Bird and Human Divisions, totaling two hundred eighty people.
Arranging lodging and feeding those two hundred eighty people for at least a week (for the Five Peaks Mountain mission) and up to a month (for the Gyoguhyeon mission) was no easy task. Preparing the costs for accommodation, food, and medicine was not simple. That’s why it was decided to depart in three days.
No one acknowledged Jegal Seun’s tedious work as he locked himself away to handle everything.
“Ugh!”
After a while of reviewing documents, Jegal Seun felt stiffness in his neck and stretched a bit. Just then, hurried footsteps were heard outside the office.
“Chief, are you in? I have something to tell you.”
He recognized the voice of the Head of the Inspection Division, Monk Gonj Daeja from the Shaolin Temple. Jegal Seun put aside the document he was reading and stood up to open the door.
“Yes, come in.”
Gonj Daeja did not hesitate to step onto the porch.
Soon after, they were seated across from each other with a table between them.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’ve come regarding the Young Buddha Pearl that the sorcerer from the Demon Extermination Division lost.”
The Young Buddha Pearl was a small artifact the size of a child’s finger. It had exorcism effects, making both sorcerers and warriors eager to possess it. It could prevent paralysis caused by demon screams.
Last night, a famous southern sorcerer, Muheo Sanin, had lost his Young Buddha Pearl.
“Have you found the artifact?”
“Not yet. But we have captured a suspect…”
Gonj Daeja seemed uneasy.
“A suspect?”
Jegal Seun noticed the ambiguity and Gonj Daeja hurried to explain.
“There is a witness who saw the suspect lurking around Muheo Sanin.”
“Who is the suspect?”
“It’s Baek Gyo, the Invisible Hand of Jeokpung Stronghold.”
Upon hearing Jeokpung Stronghold, Jegal Seun frowned, recalling his confrontations with Yeon Jeokha.
“Monk, as you know, matters related to Nokrim must be handled carefully.”
“That’s why I came to talk to you.”
Gonj Daeja stroked his beard, embarrassed.
The conflict between Shim Tong and the patrol leaders had been common knowledge.
“What’s the issue?”
“Baek Gyo claims to be an intimate friend of Shim Tong. I thought you should know.”
Jegal Seun’s face tightened.
Capturing a suspect who turned out to be a friend of Shim Tong complicated things.
“Is it true that he is friends with Shim Tong?”
Bandits tended to exaggerate, so it needed to be confirmed first.
“Yes, they were together in Choyeon at noon today. According to the courtesans, they seemed quite close.”
“Ugh.”
Jegal Seun sighed in frustration.
Capturing a suspect who turned out to be a friend of Shim Tong seemed like a cruel joke of fate.
“Monk, Shim Tong and Yeon Jeokha are inseparable. If Shim Tong finds out about this, Yeon Jeokha will intervene. They might come here at any moment.”
“……”
“Before they arrive, get a confession from Baek Gyo. If you can’t, at least get irrefutable evidence of his guilt. Otherwise, both you and I will have problems.”
“Ay! Namo Amitabha. Namo Amitabha…”
Monk Gonj Daeja began reciting a mantra softly.
He worried that a seasoned thief like Baek Gyo might have left evidence.
With a somber expression, Gonj Daeja left Hyeoncheon Hall.
Jegal Seun tried to resume his work, but the image of Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong made it hard to concentrate.
“Ugh! A peaceful day never comes.”
Having opposing factions under the same roof was a constant source of trouble.
Chilriha Village.
Small house on the eastern slope.
Yeon Jeokha, sitting on the edge of the porch, suddenly lifted his head. Shim Tong and Jang Han-wi, who were observing him, stepped back in surprise.
“I need to speak with Baek Gyo first.”
“And what will you tell him? Wouldn’t it be better to speak with Lady Namgung first?”
Shim Tong preferred the quick solution of asking for Namgung Yeon’s help. Yeon Jeokha, after all, was quite mundane in his daily life.
“Old Shim, it’s not good to always rely on others. We must learn to solve things ourselves. Don’t I have hands and feet?”
“But you don’t have a head, do you?”
Shim Tong didn’t dare say it out loud and only cleared his throat awkwardly.
Jang Han-wi, on the other hand, seemed excited about the prospect of confronting the patrol with Yeon Jeokha.
“Grand Inspector, I will accompany you.”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Yeon Jeokha finally got up from the porch.
The bandits from Jeokpung Stronghold quickly aligned in front of him.
They seemed ready to follow him to the ends of the earth.
“Move aside! Move aside!”
“Make way! The Grand Inspector is leaving!”
Although there weren’t many people on the street, the bandits from Jeokpung Stronghold made a lot of noise.
Heaven and Earth Alliance.
Reception Room.
The guards of the Heaven and Earth Alliance took Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong to the reception room. Soon after, Monk Gonj Daeja arrived hurriedly.
“Lord Yeon, I have heard much about you. I am Gonj, in charge of the patrol.”
“I’m not here for a pleasant visit. I’ve been told you captured Baek Gyo.”
“Ah, that’s why you’ve come. Let me explain the details.”
Gonj Daeja hurriedly explained why they had captured Baek Gyo.
“We apprehended him as the main suspect. There are no witnesses to the theft, but the circumstances point to him. We are investigating the places he frequented and the people he associated with, and we will have results soon.”
“So, you captured him only based on suspicion?”
Gonj Daeja was left speechless. Without evidence or witnesses, he couldn’t refute it.
“Baek Gyo is a miserable old man, that’s true. He has light fingers and is a traitor. He might have actually stolen the artifact.”
To Gonj Daeja’s surprise, Yeon Jeokha criticized Baek Gyo.
“Yes, that’s true. That’s why we are investigating him.”
“That’s the problem. No matter how miserable he is, we cannot accuse him without evidence. He’s just a dirty old man with bad habits.”
“What?”
Gonj Daeja didn’t understand. Was Yeon Jeokha defending or accusing Baek Gyo?
“Forget it. Where is Baek Gyo?”
“He is detained in the patrol’s prison.”
The Heaven and Earth Alliance had a prison since the days of the Justice Alliance. Baek Gyo was there.
“Should I go, or will they bring him here?”
“I inform you that you can see him, but you will need the approval of the Chief or the Leader to take him away.”
“I don’t plan to take him away. I just want to verify a few things.”
“Ah, I understand. I will accompany you to the prison.”
Gonj Daeja’s face lit up. If Yeon Jeokha only wanted to talk to Baek Gyo, that was a relief.
The prison was not far from the reception room.
Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong went straight to the cell where Baek Gyo was held.
“Grand Inspector!”
Baek Gyo, looking disheveled, bowed before Yeon Jeokha.
He then raised his head to look at him.
Yeon Jeokha’s presence was overwhelming.
“I apologize for the trouble caused.”
Crushed by Yeon Jeokha’s presence, Baek Gyo crouched like a frog.
Yeon Jeokha looked at him coldly and asked:
“Did you steal it or not?”
“No, I didn’t! Believe me! I’ve stopped stealing for a long time. If I stole it, I’m not human; I’m a dog.”
“Bah! Dogs stop pooping. Do you want me to believe that the Invisible Hand has stopped stealing?”
“It’s true. I can swear on my parents’ names.”
“Pathetic! At your age, using your parents’ names. How shameful!”
Embarrassed, Baek Gyo couldn’t lift his head.
“You bought alcohol for Old Shim yesterday, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“They say Jeokpung Stronghold doesn’t share resources well. Where did you get the money?”
“Well, I…”
“Did you steal it?”
“It’s hard to live solely on Jeokpung Stronghold’s income, so I had to do it.”
“You stole to buy alcohol. And you say you’ve stopped stealing?”
“But I didn’t touch the artifact, I swear.”
“Every time you open your mouth, you lie. And you want me to believe you?”
……
Baek Gyo’s shoulders slumped.
Shim Tong, in a cold tone, spoke:
“Baek Gyo, I’ll only ask you once. Think carefully before you answer. Did you steal the artifact?”
Shim Tong’s demeanor made Baek Gyo glance at him sideways.
Shim Tong looked like a demon ready to kill him.
“No, I didn’t steal it.”
“If I later find out that you lied to Young Master Yeon, I will kill you with my own hands.”
Terrified by Shim Tong’s words, Baek Gyo trembled.
Soon after, Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong left the cell.
With all the guards outside, Baek Gyo leaned against the wall, relaxed.
“Heh, heh…”
His dry laughter echoed in the empty cell.
Leaning against the wall, a strange smile appeared on his face.
On the way home, Shim Tong asked:
“Young Master, what do you think about Baek Gyo’s words?”
“I don’t know.”
“So, what will you do?”
“I don’t know either.”
“Ay! Saying you don’t know won’t solve anything. Boss Jang must be waiting for a response.”
“Tell him I don’t know.”
Yeon Jeokha’s irresponsible words frustrated Shim Tong.
“What will you do? You can’t just say you don’t know. What’s your plan?”
“Stop asking! I have no choice but to see Lady Namgung! Didn’t you know?”
“Is it difficult for you to see Lady Namgung?”
“Of course. After the disaster caused by Lady of the Black Lotus, how can I face Lady Namgung?”
“Lady Namgung is probably waiting for you to visit her. I’m sure.”
“And how do you know?”
“I may not know much, but when it comes to a woman’s heart, I know more than you.”
“What nonsense! Not all women are like the courtesans you frequent.”
“Young Master, just tell Lady Namgung one thing: ‘The person I like is you.’ That will be enough.”
Shim Tong raised his fist, determined.
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