“Why are we calling the Inspector all of a sudden?”
In life, the advice you brush off can surprise you by being helpful in unexpected situations. I smiled and answered Jeon Gil-san, who looked bewildered.
“I heard some advice from your grandfather.”
“My grandfather? What did he say?”
“A way to solve money problems.”
There was a method that both Man Geum-jeon liked and that I didn’t mind either.
—–
“I never thought Hong Ran would have such feelings for me…”
As I shared what I heard and saw at Hae-wol Ru, the Inspector looked shocked and was momentarily speechless.
“If it weren’t for you, Inspector, there would be no reason to keep living!”
“Originally, I planned to become a guardian after buying a miracle…”
“Excuse me? You weren’t planning to let her go and embrace her?”
So you mean you were willing to pay that steep price just to gain freedom.
“How can one buy a woman’s heart with money? If a suitable man appears for Hong Ran, I’d arrange their marriage.”
Jung Mun-won shook his head with a bitter smile.
It was dazzling to the point that I might need sunglasses. I guess this is how you support a reckless girl without accumulating any burden on yourself.
“In the end, the two of them were wrong, so either pay three times the price for the miracle or take back the money you entrusted. That’s the suggestion I brought from Gi-Ru.”
“I’ve seen many favorable changes in a situation that previously wouldn’t change no matter how much I begged. You’ve really worked hard to figure out the backstory.”
Inspector Jung Mun-won bowed his head in gratitude to me, a mere boy with dark hair.
“It’s for you, Inspector. So what are you thinking to do?”
Are you going to cut ties with Hong Ran after getting your money back? Or will you go for three times the amount? Three times the price of a miracle is truly a huge amount, so I asked, just in case.
“Hong Ran, in my heart, was like a younger sister I left at home. But if she desired a man, shouldn’t I respond as a man?”
In the Inspector’s eyes looking at me, there was not a hint of doubt.
“I figured you would say that.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the refreshing response.
“I’m sorry. I know your feelings toward me and the country are genuine. However, before you help me, Hong Ran has been by my side. How could I ignore her?”
No, I was just trying to get my money back.
“No. The Inspector I believe in would do such a thing.”
I expected this all along.
I sent a look of trust toward the Inspector with a smile, and Jung Mun-won looked at me as if momentarily lost for words.
“…I feel sorry to say this to someone who trusts me so much, but do you have some money?”
I expected it to go this far. His face turned as red as a tomato; I could see he was embarrassed. Don’t be too shy now. Either way, I’m not here to lend money, I’ve got other ideas.
“I have a proposal I would like to offer you, Inspector.”
I confirmed the Inspector’s intent.
“A proposal?”
“A proposal to save Hong Ran. However, it might not be to the Inspector’s liking.”
“Go on.”
“The truth is…”
It was a method that the Inspector would find somewhat unappealing. But it was surprisingly simple and wouldn’t tarnish his reputation. So I laid out the plan I had in mind for the Inspector.
“…Do we really have to go that far?”
“What is most precious to you right now?”
I stared straight into Jung Mun-won’s eyes, lips tightly shut.
No matter how good the plan, if the one choosing it doesn’t approve, it must be discarded. That’s why I asked.
What is your priority? What do you want to protect the most right now?
“…Fine. I will do it your way.”
Even the great Inspector Jung Mun-won knew that, at this moment, what mattered most was the woman and child who loved him.
—–
The method the Inspector was reluctant about, one that was solid yet wouldn’t stain his name, turned out to be surprisingly straightforward.
“Block all the entrances! Don’t let a single one escape!”
Boom!
“I’m just exercising my legitimate duty.”
I was merely using a little bit of public power mixed with personal motives.
In broad daylight at Hae-wol Ru, dozens of Constables, including myself, rushed in, led by the Head of the Right Guards.
“Head of the Right Guards? The Constables and all? What’s going on here?”
“We received a report about illegal activities at Hae-wol Ru and came from the Government Office!”
“Ah! Thank you, Head of the Right Guards. Just a moment, please come over here.”
The manager of Hae-wol Ru seemed to act as if this was all in a day’s work, pulling the Head of the Right Guards’ sleeve.
Ahem.
“Why are you looking to me? Am I leading the Constables? You should really do something today.”
In the end, I ended up going to a corner with the Head of the Right Guards.
“Head of the Right Guards. There seems to have been a big misunderstanding over the last case involving illegal brewing; we didn’t know about that. Since then, we’ve been using another brewery.”
The manager rubbed his palms together as if he were a fly, continuously bowing his head.
“You clearly understand what you’ve done wrong.”
“Do we not know? Come, let’s have a drink with the Constables who are working hard today. How about we set up a spot here at Hae-wol Ru?”
“Whoa! Don’t do that!”
When the Head of the Right Guards was about to be offered a bribe by being pulled into the sleeve, he grimaced and rejected it.
“Why not? When have we ever upset you?”
“I never said that! If anyone hears it, they’ll misunderstand!”
The Head of the Right Guards looked at me and desperately claimed his innocence.
I understand the Constables usually chip in a little. But it seems you drink often, huh?
“Head of the Right Guards?”
“Ugh! This won’t do. Gather all the employees of Hae-wol Ru!”
The Head of the Right Guards roared like a beast cornered.
“No! Why are you acting this way all of a sudden? In this world, wouldn’t you treat someone just for buying some illegal alcohol?”
That’s true. Hae-wol Ru isn’t a place where they manufacture illegal alcohol, but a place that purchases it. Ordinarily, they wouldn’t be heavily penalized.
It’s a bit like how someone distributing pirated films would be punished much more severely than someone just watching them.
“But today is different.”
Why would one of the two Head Guards in Wuhan show up?
“The illegal brewer bribed the manager.”
I explained to the Hae-wol Ru staff the reason why we came today.
“What?”
“The manager bribed another manager, and that manager bribed more managers, thus devouring the nation’s taxes.”
“No, what does that have to do with us…?”
“The corrupt ledger of the brewer showed evidence that your Hae-wol Ru provided funds! I’m ordering you to take them all into custody!”
Time to uproot the problem.
It was simply so straightforward because the Inspector was a model of integrity, someone who wielded immense power to root out governmental corruption.
“Yeah! Take them down!”
“Yes!”
“Ahhh!”
“I’m just a minor employee!”
“Please save me!”
“What is happening…?”
What else can it be? It’s the taste of public power.
—–
“Kang Ho Pil, the owner of Hae-wol Ru is waiting for interrogation.”
At the Government Office in Wuhan, all related personnel of Hae-wol Ru were captured and transported, including the owner.
“Thank you, Head of the Right Guards.”
I expressed my gratitude to the Head of the Right Guards, who had arrested everyone from the illegal brewer to the personnel involved over the past few days.
“Ahem, Kang Ho Pil. About that…”
The Head of the Right Guards roughly gripped my shoulders and cautiously lifted my bowed head.
“What?”
Why is he looking at me with a tense expression?
“I recently received a gift without knowing, and well, I didn’t realize it would mean so much…”
What on earth?
“Oh! What are you saying? If you tell them about today’s events, the Inspector will surely appreciate your efforts.”
I’ll make sure to phrase it nicely. I expressed it indirectly.
“Right? Ugh! Our talented Ho Pil is remarkable! I should have you go in and make sure everyone leaves, allowing you two to be alone.”
“Thank you.”
It’s no secret that Constables receive bribes because their earnings are thin. If it wasn’t for Hong Ran, I wouldn’t have touched the petty corrupt officials at all.
There was no need to mention the truth when receiving gratitude.
“I’m counting on you. I trust only you.”
I already know not to gaze at you so seriously while you hold my shoulder.
After reassuring the Head of the Right Guards multiple times, I finally was able to enter the interrogation room where the owner of Hae-wol Ru was being held.
—–
“It’s hard to see your face around here.”
The owner of Hae-wol Ru was a skinny middle-aged man in his 50s with a goat-like beard.
“Really?”
The owner of Hae-wol Ru seemed to have realized who I was when he saw my hair color, tightening his brows as he spoke to me.
“Haha, what do you mean?”
“Wouldn’t you rather sell Hae-wol Ru than give me Hong Ran?”
The owner of Hae-wol Ru shot back at me as if he understood very well why he was in this situation.
“You are here because of illegal activities, Mr. Hae-wol Ru. Don’t make unfounded assumptions.”
“Just a few lashes and a fine, and they’re throwing me into prison for this? How could I not suspect?”
The owner of Hae-wol Ru’s voice raised in anger.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“The mistake was made by Hong Ran and the Inspector. I merely proposed a fair price. But to end up like this?”
The owner of Hae-wol Ru scoffed in disbelief.
True, the mistakes were made by both parties. But this situation was one you created.
I stood with my hands behind my back, circling around the owner of Hae-wol Ru mockingly, speaking in a derisive tone.
“I intended to sell her for double the miracle’s worth. But when the Inspector brought the money so swiftly, I suddenly grew greedy. While pondering that, an absurd idea popped into my head—something that might help the declining management of Hae-wol Ru.”
Acting all innocent now, huh?
“Wha-what do you mean?”
“I planned to extract enough money from the Inspector to satisfy him, but I would ask for even more. Even if I took four times the amount, I would still ask for eight times, and once Hong Ran gave birth, I’d sell her off to another Gi-Ru to gather the funds.”
From the start, the owner of Hae-wol Ru had no intention of handing over Hong Ran to the Inspector.
Desperate to resolve Hae-wol Ru’s declining management, he bought illegal alcohol, watered the drinks down, and tried to squeeze money out of the two who got into trouble.
“How could you…”
The owner of Hae-wol Ru’s eyes widened.
“Who do you think is before you?”
“Kang Yoon-ho…”
The man who solved countless murder mysteries and thwarted the Shadowless Thief—could someone who held such credibility with the Inspector be so oblivious?
Actually, the subordinates of the owner of Hae-wol Ru spilled everything.
I’d need to manage the staff at Hae-wol Ru. They made it too easy for me to gather information without even having heated tongs ready when I entered the interrogation room.
“If the crime is revealed, Hae-wol Ru will have its liquor business license confiscated.”
Liquor business license. In layman’s terms, it was the permit for running a bar.
“What nonsensical talk is this? To confiscate a liquor license! Are you saying we can’t run a business?”
“This bribery case is being specially monitored by the Inspector. The involved parties will receive appropriate punishment, and Hae-wol Ru will not escape the consequences.”
“Is it true? Just because I bought some illegal alcohol means my license will be confiscated? The price for such a small crime is too steep!”
I paused, observing the aggrieved expression on the owner of Hae-wol Ru’s face.
Smiling, I hardened my expression. Not as just Kang Yoon-ho, the owner of Hae-wol Ru, but as a Constable handling a criminal, I shifted my gaze and asked him.
“Why, do you think it’s unfair and the Inspector isn’t aggrieved?”
“…”
The cost of the crime is just too high. Walk a mile in my shoes, you scoundrel.
“When your head cools down, we can talk again.”
Eventually, the owner of Hae-wol Ru was imprisoned.
Reflect on the crime of mocking the great Inspector Jung Mun-won. We shall see how long it takes for you to request a dialogue again. Hardly a day has gone by since waiting at the mansion, and someone came looking for me.
“Lady Gi-mun Hyang-ju is looking for you.”
“Tell her I’ll visit in the evening.”
—–
Huuu~
Through the hazy smoke of incense, the gaze of a troublesome grandson pierced through me like an arrow, contemplating what to do.
“I should visit more often, but it feels like I only see you for someone else’s business. I’m sorry.”
I greeted Lady Gi-mun Hyang-ju with an expression that seemed like I couldn’t swear at her smiling face.
“Is it because you didn’t like my last proposal?”
“It was quite decent. I thought it was a very reasonable proposal.”
“Then why…?”
“Are you trying to make this into an even bigger issue?” Lady Gi-mun Hyang-ju’s reproachful gaze was directed at me.
“Because I want to do something different this time.”
“Something different?”
“It doesn’t sit well with me to just nod in gratitude after Hong Ran’s owner has shaken the Inspector’s most precious thing.”
It is true that this mess was caused by the Inspector and Hong Ran. Thus, I thought that around three times the price of a miracle was fair.
However, upon further reflection, the calculations seemed a bit off.
“Is that why you’re escalating the issue?”
It reminded me of the matter concerning the restriction office.
You are forced to follow the other’s intentions. You can only plead for mercy and beg them to lower the price.
Why is that so?
Because they have something precious to me held hostage.
Why must I bow to their demands without exception? Why am I catering to their whims? How can I resolve this matter?
The answer was in the advice that Man Geum-jeon had given me.
“Find what’s more valuable than money to the other party.”
Just because the other has something dear to them held captive doesn’t mean I should have to comply.
Haven’t I already received such advice? Don’t I know the methods used by Jang-no-yah?
The advice Man Geum-jeon had shared with me.
“If we are to begin the negotiation holding each other’s most important thing hostage, we might just be ready to negotiate properly.”
To get the other party to the negotiation table, you simply had to take their most treasured thing hostage. That way.
Now it was my turn.
