“Have you heard the news about Man Geum Battlefield?!”
“I have! It’s been quite a ruckus lately. What’s going on?”
A few days after the incident at Man Geum Battlefield, an intriguing story was buzzing among the people of Wuhan.
“Don’t be shocked! They say a Demonic Cult member tried to swallow up Man Geum Battlefield!”
“A Demonic Cult member at Man Geum Battlefield?! What’s that about? Speak in detail!”
Just the appearance of a Demonic Cult member would be interesting, but they tried to swallow up an entire wealthy family from Wuhan, of all things.
Listening to the man, not just his friend, but passersby and even those standing still perked up their ears.
“Have you heard of the Impeachment Gate? It’s a mask made of human skin!”
“I think I’ve heard of it. Why?”
“They say a Demonic Cult member killed Man Geum-jeon’s grandson and put on his skin to secretly become the successor!”
“What?!”
“They changed so completely that even the mother who gave birth didn’t recognize her own child!”
A Demonic Cult member wearing human skin and perfectly mimicking someone else. Is that even possible? It sounds like a ghost story!
With the appearance of the Demonic Cult and the unprecedented event taking place, everyone’s attention turned to one person.
“Goodness! Killing one’s own child and impersonating them! What kind of wicked person does that?!”
“They’re doing things even evil spirits can’t do. It’s no wonder they keep calling them Demonic Cult!”
“How terrifying! But wait, if they were indistinguishable from their parents, how on earth did they find them?”
How did they discover a Demonic Cult member disguised in human skin? If they perfectly mimic others, wouldn’t it be impossible to tell?
The man smiled at his friend’s question and replied.
“Who in this land of Wuhan could solve such a difficult matter?”
“Stop beating around the bush and just tell me!”
At his friend’s slightly annoyed answer, those around him nodded in agreement.
“Just think for a moment! Not just killing, but handling cases that seem unsolvable. There’s someone making a name for themselves in Wuhan, isn’t there?”
Someone who’s becoming famous for solving impossible cases in Wuhan? Suddenly, a person crossed his friend’s mind.
“Could it be that famed Ho Pil…?”
“Correct! That black-haired Ho Pil you’re thinking of! Kang Yoon-ho found the culprit!”
“What in the world! It’s Kang Yoon-ho again!”
“That famed Ho Pil grasped the situation, set a trap in advance, and revealed that Demonic Cult member’s true identity! Moreover, he completely obliterated the family collaborating with the Demonic Cult!”
People often feel a small thrill when a seemingly impossible problem is resolved. Especially if it’s an issue that could affect them directly.
The opponent was a Demonic Cult member who committed unspeakable crimes. Yet there is a Ho Pil who managed to catch this criminal.
“If something happens, he just solves it!”
“That’s why they call him the famed Ho Pil!”
It was only natural that people cheered for the exploits of Ho Pil, Kang Yoon-ho.
“Good job, Ho Pil.”
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to Inspector-nim.”
If you succeeded by borrowing someone else’s power, you ought to express gratitude. I quickly tidied up the incident before finding Inspector Jung Mun-won.
“A person wearing a mask and devouring others’ brains to impersonate them? People aren’t just spreading rumors about the Demonic Cult. How on earth did you identify Baek Myeon-ho-ri’s true identity?”
The inspector stared at me, as if he was astonished by what he was seeing, and asked.
“I connected a series of unsolved cases and thought there would be a perpetrator moving with a singular purpose, and that’s when the outline started to form. To be honest, I got lucky.”
“Humility suits you! I couldn’t help but admire the report you wrote!”
“I truly believe it was luck.”
Though people praised me as Ho Pil, if I hadn’t known the answer was Baek Myeon-ho-ri, I wouldn’t have been able to solve it.
“If the Man Geum Battlefield had fallen into the hands of the wicked…You’ve truly done a great service. I must report this.”
What kind of report could he be referring to? Given how big the incident is, is he planning to put my name up the chain?
“A great service? I merely turned their plots to kill me back on them.”
How about turning my attention to the ones who were trying to kill me instead? I said that subtly.
“The Eun Family that collaborated with the Demonic Cult will face annihilation. I’ve heard the Bang Family, who bribed the officials, conspired with the Eun Family. Even the collaborating officials are being subjected to intense interrogations. The crimes they’ve committed will soon be laid bare.”
The Bang family that tried to imprison me was in cahoots with the Eun family? Now that I think about it, it made sense.
“What’s this world coming to…People willing to join hands with demons in human forms for their own greed are truly concerning.”
“Aren’t we tasked with ensuring they never see the light of day again on behalf of the emperor?”
“Indeed, you speak rightly.”
“I will make sure your name is mentioned prominently in this report.”
Inspector Jung Mun-won seemed satisfied with my resolute answer and nodded his head with a pleased smile.
“Please take care of that.”
While I had no intentions of stepping into the government, it wouldn’t hurt to become famous in some way.
“I heard you’ve been interrogating other cases as well.”
With a smile, the inspector took a sip of tea and asked me with an intrigued expression.
“Given their elusive nature and the unusual methods, I thought various suspicious deaths or unsolved cases might be related.”
It was certainly a question worth asking. The interrogations I assigned to the constables had nothing to do with the Man Geum Battlefield incident.
“There’s chaos in the government. They’re asking how you knew.”
“If you simply ask for confessions regarding their crimes, they won’t say a word, would they? I put in a bit of effort.”
Knowing what Baek Myeon-ho-ri did in the original story, I thought that if I secretly noted down the list of misdeeds he committed during the interrogation, I could also enhance my reputation for solving unsolved cases.
After clearing a tough mission, I wanted to score some bonus points too.
“This… it’s really a shame to see you as Ho Pil.”
Inspector Jung Mun-won! Pesky honey drips from your eyes. No amount of longing will change my status.
“Hahaha! No matter how much you lament, it truly cannot be!”
Since I’ve now even become the heir of Man Geum Battlefield, I truly have no interest in government affairs. Offering an awkward smile, I politely declined.
“You’ve become the heir of Man Geum Battlefield? Congratulations.”
The inspector, knowing he couldn’t overturn the situation with any proposal, smiled slightly and congratulated me.
“Thank you. It should be time to get off work soon. Shall we go for a drink? I’ll treat you at a good place.”
“I’d love to, but…”
Why does he seem hesitant?
“Surely, you’re not saying you won’t drink with me just because you’re now the heir of Man Geum Battlefield?”
Inspector-nim! No matter how much you fight against corruption, haven’t we ever drunk for a benefit? I asked him with an exaggeratedly disappointed expression.
“No, that’s not it. It’s just that Hong Ran…”
“Oh dear, having a pregnant wife makes things difficult, I see.”
He suddenly used the unbeatable statement to dodge any meetings. As I lowered my head with a disappointed expression, Jung Mun-won waved his hands in surprise.
“That’s not it! Hong Ran would welcome a drink with you! It’s just that…”
“Just what?”
“Ahem! The very first thing she said was to not go to the brothel, so…”
The inspector awkwardly cleared his throat and averted his gaze, embarrassed.
Oh, now I see. It must be awkward if the thanks turned into a meeting where hiring a courtesan is a given in this era. That would indeed be troublesome.
“Haha! You don’t need to worry. I’m not headed to a brothel either.”
If I went to a brothel as the heir, I would have a terrifying figure waiting for me.
“Great! It’s been a while since I’ve had a drink! Let’s go right now!”
With an expression full of excitement, Jung Mun-won jumped up from his seat.
I couldn’t help but wonder about that inspector lately. Perhaps he’s been caught up in something he shouldn’t be. I stood up, worrying too much.
“K-Kang Ho Pil!”
Suddenly, someone barged in with a shocked face, like a worker bringing urgent work just before the Friday clock-out.
This doesn’t feel good.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re in big trouble! Baek Myeon-ho-ri!”
The inspector’s face, which had brightened at the prospect of drinks, twisted in an instant.
——
“What do you mean Baek Myeon-ho-ri suddenly clammed up?”
Hurrying my steps, I asked the Ho Pil.
“The interrogation regarding Man Geum Battlefield was almost finished. But after listening to what Master Kang said, he just shut his mouth!”
Anyway, since it’s already been discovered, it seems Baek Myeon-ho-ri just refused all allegations regarding the Eun Family.
“It seems he didn’t want to be pressured about additional crimes.”
It’s common for criminals caught red-handed to shut their mouths about other crimes they’ve committed.
“Yeah, but it seems the interrogators were a bit too enthusiastic in trying to get him to talk.”
I frowned at Ho Pil’s words.
“It seems they went overboard.”
“Given he’s already severely injured, and it was a hopeless situation, it was a miracle he lasted this long. I definitely warned them!”
The guy had a missile lodged in his body, severely injured, and became poisoned by a specially concocted poison from the Tang Family all while relying on life-sustaining herbal concoctions. It’s surprising he’s still alive!
“Is he critically ill?”
“The physicians say they can’t do anything. He’s only at a point where he has to choose between crossing the Styx or going over the Three Rivers. It’s miraculous he’s even conscious, given it’s due to the magic of Demonic Cult.”
I heard they say surviving for a week is a long time for Baek Myeon-ho-ri. Apparently, even when professional interrogators poured their effort, they couldn’t do anything for a body that was already beyond saving.
“What does Baek Myeon-ho-ri want with me?”
“Since his death sentence is already confirmed, they’re debating whether to prepare for it or to force him to talk amid this mess when he suddenly declared he would tell you everything.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he would tell everything to Master Kang.”
I doubt he’s thinking of making a confession.
Well, since I caught him, it wouldn’t hurt to at least glimpse his last moments.
“Alright. I’ll go see him.”
——
“Is it alright for you to go in alone?”
I headed straight toward the prison where Baek Myeon-ho-ri was held.
“I can easily win against someone who’s already a dying corpse. Open the door.”
Even so, against someone who can only crawl around, I wouldn’t lose. I jokingly said, and even the constable on guard smirked and chuckled as he opened the door.
“I’ll open it.”
Iron bars, huh?
Specially crafted prison for Martial Artists. As I made my way inside, there was no one around. At the farthest end, a familiar face appeared beyond the bars.
“Is the floor suitable enough for lying down?”
White hair, black eyes. A markedly unremarkable appearance that easily allows for someone to impersonate him. It was Baek Myeon-ho-ri, the one I saw in the original story.
“Yes, you rat!”
Looks like he’s in pain. Rather than rushing at the bars, he merely lifted his head while leaning against the wall.
“Honestly, if there’s no path for survival, you just end up either confessing to the Demonic Cult, thinking they’ll rescue you, or biting your tongue and dying. Don’t bother me with your games.”
I smirked and dragged a makeshift chair from the hallway to sit down.
“Hehe.”
“Got any strength left to laugh? If so, let’s share some stories. You’ve revealed all about the Eun Family. You went to Anhui Province recently, didn’t you?”
“Kang Yoon-ho.”
Though he lacked energy, his voice filled with deep resentment echoed within the prison.
“Indeed, you’ve captured me and laid me on this cold floor. Kang Yoon-ho is here.”
“I think this is the first time I’m seeing your face this closely.”
Baek Myeon-ho-ri stared at me blankly, as if he couldn’t muster strength to move, then muttered with a curious expression.
“It feels like I’ve never seen someone so busy summon someone else; let’s make this quick and wrap it up.”
I still haven’t finished fixing everything from Man Geum Battlefield.
“Haha!”
“Just looking at you, it’s amusing! Should we play another round of this delightful question-answer game?”
He sounds like he’s gone into some trance, only responding. Should I intervene physically only if he continues down this road? Let’s take it easy.
“Now THIS is interesting! Why didn’t I realize that before?!”
Did the formations from the Zhuge family really have such a strong effect? This guy isn’t completely crazy, is he?
“Stop being so curious about your questions and let me ask something too.”
Is he incapable of normal conversation? Baek Myeon-ho-ri’s eyes glimmered like a madman.
It seems I have no choice.
His body is already on the brink, and his mind might not be right either. If he confessed regarding the Eun family, it might be better to take Ho Pil’s advice and give up and send him off to the gallows.
“Kang Yoon-ho.”
After a moment of laughter, he suddenly became serious, calling my name.
“Why is the child of the Kang family, who was killed by the treacherous assassin known as the winged mantis, in front of me?”
