"Phew, this is tough." So Yeon-shim wiped her forehead with her hand. Yeon-il spoke cautiously.
"You've stayed up for three nights already. How about getting some rest, even if just for a moment?"
"No, the Pasun Festival is only three days away, and there's a mountain of work to do. I can't afford to rest."
"Then at least take a half-hour break. Chief Zhu and I will handle the material organization."
For a moment, the words "Should I?" almost slipped out. So Yeon-shim shook her head.
"You've worked as hard as I have. Besides, Hua-ah only recently regained her martial arts. I have to do what I can."
Yeon-il sighed inwardly. So Yeon-shim was an admirable superior. She was efficient in handling tasks, cared for her people, and took on difficult tasks herself. And she was as challenging a superior as she was admirable.
When a superior suffers, the subordinates naturally become more cautious. So Yeon-shim knew this but said she couldn't help it because of her perfectionist nature.
Yeon-il respected So Yeon-shim for that. His suggestion for her to rest was out of genuine concern, not because he was trying to be cautious. Though he expected this kind of answer...
'I should at least get her some good tea.'
Just as Yeon-il was about to bow and leave, a loud voice came from beyond the window, startling both So Yeon-shim and Yeon-il.
"Master So!!"
"This voice?"
"Master So! I'm here! Please spare me a moment!"
So Yeon-shim stood there with her mouth agape. Yeon-il smiled and bowed.
"We'll handle the material organization. Please attend to your guest, Master."
"...I suppose I should."
A little later, Seo-ryang and So Yeon-shim sat facing each other in the master's office.
"I'm sorry for coming unannounced."
"Why do you say that? I'm the one who should apologize."
"Huh? What do you have to apologize for, Master?"
"I should have visited you earlier regarding the transport team incident... I'm too late, aren't I?"
Seo-ryang tried to brush it off with a cheerful joke, saying things like he should have bought drinks sooner or that the younger one should visit first to lighten the mood. But seeing So Yeon-shim's face, he couldn't bring himself to do so.
'She's become a patient.'
Her once clear and transparent skin was now rough, and the area around her eyes was dark and sunken. Though she had tried to dress up for her guest, anyone could see she was exhausted.
"Ahem, it's fine. I had completely forgotten about it."
"But that's not right. Let me formally apologize here."
She bowed her head slowly, her movements sluggish. It seemed she was beyond just tired. The fatigue from excessive work was something even a master couldn't avoid.
"And thank you. If it weren't for you, the transport team's mission would have ended in failure."
"You heard everything from Chief Zhu, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Well, I was stubborn and dragged Chief Zhu into a dangerous situation. Let's just pretend it never happened."
"If you say so, I'm grateful."
Seo-ryang smacked his lips. So Yeon-shim asked with a forced bright face.
"By the way, what brings you here? Do you have a special request for me?"
"Well, I wanted to suggest we drink to our hearts' content, but I have my own matters to attend to... I'm sorry for visiting when you're so busy."
It's certain he has a request. So Yeon-shim smiled and asked.
"No, it's fine. So, what brings you here?"
"It's something that might disturb your peace of mind. Normally, it wouldn't be a big deal, but... I'll apologize in advance."
"What is it?"
"I'm here about the matter of a deceased cult member."
Deceased? Who died?
"Didn't a maid from the Hwanhee Institute get murdered two years ago?"
So Yeon-shim's face hardened instantly.
"Is that what you're here about?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Her reaction was quite sharp. Among the victims, six were from the outer sect, and one was from the Hwanhee Institute. She was a maid who only learned the basic internal energy techniques, not even half of the external martial arts techniques. No superior would be pleased to hear that a member of their group was murdered. Even so, So Yeon-shim's reaction seemed excessively sharp.
Seo-ryang, observing So Yeon-shim's complexion, asked bluntly.
"You knew, didn't you?"
"..."
"You knew there was a real culprit, didn't you?"
"...How did you know that?"
As expected, she knew.
"How I know isn't important. What's important is that I'm running around trying to catch the real culprit."
"What?"
Seo-ryang smacked his lips.
"I'm trying to catch that real culprit this time."
So Yeon-shim asked with a bewildered expression.
"You, Young Master? Personally?"
"That's how it turned out."
"But why would you, Young Master? This is something the Criminal Law Department should handle..."
"..."
"Did the Criminal Law Department ask for your cooperation?"
"As expected, you're sharp as a ghost."
"Did you hear about the real culprit's identity?"
"I did."
Whoosh!
A fierce demonic energy surged from So Yeon-shim's body. The energy was burning with anger. Despite everything, So Yeon-shim was also a top master overseeing the Hwanhee Institute, and the pressure from her demonic energy was truly formidable.
"Who is it, the real culprit?"
"I can't tell you that."
So Yeon-shim didn't ask why. If she were the head of the Criminal Law Department, she would have also asked not to reveal the real culprit's identity. The fewer people who know about such matters, the better.
"Understood. Since you, Young Master, are trying to catch the real culprit, we should provide you with information."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Don't mention it. We should roll up our sleeves and help."
"I'd appreciate it if you could provide detailed information about the victim's identity, appearance, and habits."
A little later, a demon brought some documents.
"There are five pages in total. All the information about the victim is written here."
"Thank you. It seems you're quite busy, so I'll take my leave first."
"Young Master."
"Yes?"
"...Please catch them."
Seo-ryang showed a reassuring smile.
"I'll do my best to catch them."
After Seo-ryang left, So Yeon-shim, deep in thought, pulled a string in the air.
"You called, Master?"
"Yeon-il."
"Yes."
So Yeon-shim's eyes turned cold.
"Gather the list of all the leaders participating in this Pasun Festival."
Normally, Seo-ryang would have mentioned the "Pasun Festival." It was his habit to instinctively dig into the current state of his opponent. However, today Seo-ryang didn't mention the Pasun Festival. He must have been worried that she might catch on about the real culprit.
Moreover, the Criminal Law Department had entrusted this matter to none other than one of the successors. If they only needed investigative skills, the Criminal Law Department would have handled it internally. It would have been much more professional and certain.
In other words, it means that the Criminal Law Department members find it difficult to easily touch the real culprit. Therefore, the real culprit is likely a high-ranking demon intending to participate in this Pasun Festival.
"Especially don't leave out the list of the Seven Great Families of the Demon Path."
If the real culprit were from a weaker or solitary faction among the high ranks, the Criminal Law Department would have contacted the military department instead of a successor candidate. It wouldn't have been highlighted as a political issue.
Therefore, the real culprit is likely a demon belonging to the Seven Great Families of the Demon Path.
'If they don't tell me, I'll find out myself.'
It was a moment when So Yeon-shim's extraordinary mind shone. With just a few conversations and the situation, she quickly dug into the group to which the real culprit belonged.
A power more terrifying than martial arts, it was intuition and intellect.
'I will definitely catch them.'
So Yeon-shim was famous for taking good care of her subordinates. Although it was an incident from two years ago, she still couldn't forget that time.
So Yeon-shim stood up from her seat. The accumulated fatigue vanished in an instant. What replaced the fatigue was the anger of the highest-ranking authority in charge of the finances of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
And so, a day passed.
"My head is killing me."
Seo-ryang's complaint came as he tossed aside a law book as thick as his index finger.
Thud!
Ma Dong-pil's eyes twitched. The spot on the bed where the law book fell sank deeply. It showed just how much murderous content was contained in that book.
The more frightening fact was something else.
"Did you... read it all?"
"Huh? Oh, roughly?"
Ma Dong-pil couldn't think of Seo-ryang as human.
Seo-ryang waved his hand dismissively.
"It's not like it's some martial arts secret manual where you have to look up each meaning. I just skimmed through it. I don't remember most of it."
"Still, it's impressive."
"Impressive? It's just a book full of wordplay. Looking at it, the Criminal Law Department is just doing whatever they want. They catch people as they please and slap a few charges on them, and they become criminals right away."
Seo-ryang yawned lazily as he grumbled.
He hadn't slept for three days while rechecking his martial arts, then spent a day training and another day skimming through that law book. He hadn't slept for five days already. Even a top master couldn't avoid feeling tired.
"How about getting some sleep?"
"I was planning to. Just need to check one thing first."
Seo-ryang glanced at Ma Dong-pil.
"How is it?"
"Yes?"
"How's your body? It must be quite a new world for you."
Ma Dong-pil's face brightened instantly.
"It's amazing. I never imagined I had such power hidden within me."
"Yeah, I didn't imagine it either. That you were suppressing your strength so ignorantly."
"...I have no excuse."
"Why apologize to me? You should apologize to your own mind for not being free. What's the use of a firm will if your thinking is rigid? One day, you'll get hit hard because of it."
"..."
"I'm not scolding you, so don't be so down, man."
"Oh, yes."
Seo-ryang muttered quietly. He thought he had become quite gentle, but Ma Dong-pil was still so stiff that he couldn't even understand a joke.
Ma Dong-pil's face turned awkward.
'It must not be easy for him to do this.'
He realized anew that Seo-ryang wasn't good at showing off. Well, that straightforwardness was part of his charm.
"The martial arts you learned are from the Guardian Institute, right?"
"Yes, it's the martial arts that all the guardians of the Guardian Institute learn."
"Even the head guardian?"
"Oh, the Great Guardian has learned a more advanced martial art."
"Hmm."
Seo-ryang nodded as he stroked his chin.
"Let's take a look at your martial arts later. You're not going to keep the secrets to yourself, are you?"
"Oh, of course not."
Rather, he would be grateful. How could he refuse when a top master offered to review his martial arts?
"Good, that's settled then."
Seo-ryang lay down on the bed and closed his eyes.
"Wake me up around sunset."
"Do you have something to do?"
Seo-ryang grinned.
"What else would I have to do? I need to firmly attach the martial arts to my body. Anyway, it seems I'll have to move around a lot to catch the real culprit. And most importantly..."
"...?"
"You're seeing a new world, but I'm also seeing a new world. I plan to fully complement it before the Pasun Festival."
"...!"
"Sleeping now."
One day, two days, three days passed. Finally, the night before the Pasun Festival arrived.