WeTried Translations
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Editor: Abstract
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 79: The Hidden Card (3)
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They were named Neung Hyeon-bo.
They were from Le'an in Jiangxi.
Though they had a perfectly good name, it had been so long since anyone had called them by it that they could barely remember.
Secret Agent No. 2 was more familiar than their own name.
From Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu's days working in the Martial Artists' Association Audit Department, through his time as head of the Audit Department and now as Vice-Master of Changcheon Martial Academy, eight secret operatives had served at his side.
Dan Pil-hu always looked ambitious, like he was constantly plotting something, but unexpectedly, he took care of those beneath him to the very end. Not one of them had left when he changed jobs.
Still, even Dan Pil-hu had a flaw.
'...He never lets anyone rest.'
The other benefits were decent enough.
The pay was good, and he handed out generous performance bonuses and special allowances.
He never forgot holiday gifts for Lunar New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival, or the Dano Festival.
He had even provided homes for their families.
But there was no time to rest.
He worked them like mad in return for everything he gave.
'...Should they go on strike?'
That thought had crossed their mind, but few people paid their subordinates so well and took responsibility for them until the end.
As former shadow agency operatives, it would not have been strange for them to be discarded once they had outlived their usefulness.
That was why the secret operatives followed the Vice-Master to the end.
Then one day...
[What?]
[Did you not hear me? Watch over one academy cadet until roll call.]
[When you say watch over a cadet, do you mean you want us to spy on academy cadets now?]
It was the first time.
Until then, they had gathered information on or monitored outsiders entering the academy, as well as people Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu considered suspicious. This was the first time they had been assigned to a cadet.
They had thought he was someone who might have strong desires but still knew where to draw the line. Had he grown old enough to lose even that line?
That was what they thought, until...
[Who said anything about spying? I mean exactly what I said. Make sure nothing happens to the cadet, and report to this Vice-Master if anything does.]
[What?]
What was this?
It was no different from being told to babysit.
They were a secret operative from the shadow agency, specializing in assassination, surveillance, and pursuit.
And now they were supposed to watch over and take care of an academy cadet?
It made no sense, but what choice did they have?
As a salaried worker, if their superior told them to do something, they had to do it.
'Ah! Could this cadet be someone who needs protecting as much as the successors of the Four Immortal Masters?'
Thinking it over, that seemed possible.
Given Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu's personality, he would not tell someone to watch over an academy cadet with no connection to him for no reason.
He only moved when there was something in it for him.
Then Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu gave them a warning.
[Ah... I am only saying this just in case, but do not be too shocked by that child's strength.]
...What was that supposed to mean?
They did not have to wonder for long.
The cadet Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu had assigned them to watch, Mumu, defied all common sense.
'What is this?'
He had passed the academy entrance examination without learning any Martial Arts at all.
They had wondered if that was even possible, but after watching him clash with several academy cadets, they understood.
They understood why they had been told to watch this child.
'...This is serious.'
Setting aside his absurd brute strength, he caused trouble constantly.
Perhaps because he had lived alone with his exiled father in the mountains of a place of exile, he lacked common sense and seemed incredibly innocent.
That was why he made unexpected moves at the most unpredictable moments.
Thanks to that, Secret Agent No. 2 had spent every day running around without a moment to spare.
'I thought I was going to lose my mind.'
Whenever Mumu caused trouble, they had to report it and clean it up.
It went on all day.
Thankfully, Mumu entered the dormitory after roll call, allowing them to rest. Otherwise, the mental and physical strain would have made them collapse.
If they were expected to do this for three years, they might actually die from overwork.
Still, as time passed, they began to understand.
'I have to keep watching him.'
This child's strength was on an entirely different level from ordinary academy cadets.
They could not even imagine what might happen if they took their eyes off him for a single moment.
Several days passed like that.
As they watched him every day, Secret Agent No. 2 came to think Mumu was interesting, separate from all the trouble he caused.
'He has not been tainted by the world.'
There was an innocence in Mumu's actions that ordinary people lacked.
Perhaps that was why he reminded them so much of their own childhood.
'At least it will not be boring.'
Their heart was certainly lighter than when they had been assigned to spy on someone and hunt for their weaknesses.
As long as Mumu did not cause trouble.
Then, on that day, something unexpected happened.
While following Mumu into the Old Teaching Hall, they saw a ghost for the first time in their life.
They even saw Mumu beat that ghost senseless.
'...Is this for real?'
It had been an impossible experience to believe.
A ghost had chased them for a while, and in the confusion, they briefly lost sight of Mumu as he went underground.
After barely escaping, they sent a carrier pigeon with an honest report.
[Do you want to use some vacation days?]
That was the reply Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu sent back.
That was how he responded to hearing that they had seen a ghost during a mission.
For the first time in a while, irritation surged up inside them.
Still mentally drained afterward, they confirmed Mumu had entered the dormitory, then immediately returned to their quarters.
They emptied a bottle of baijiu and fell into a deep sleep.
Then someone woke them.
[Secret Agent No. 2. This is an emergency.]
Secret Agent No. 3, their immediate junior, had woken them.
The Special Emergency Protocol was sounding throughout the academy, and a fire had broken out in the dormitories.
But something even worse had happened.
[We lost contact with Secret Agent No. 1, so we deployed Secret Agents No. 5 and No. 7 as well, but there has been no report from either of them.]
It was an emergency.
Secret Agent No. 1 was the senior operative assigned to watch Sa Mu-heo, Formless Ten Fingers, one of the Six Stars of Heaven.
Secret Agent No. 1 had possessed the best stealth techniques among them and had served in the shadow agency for a long time. Losing contact with someone like that was extremely serious.
[Did you report this to the Vice-Master?]
[The Vice-Master said he would personally deal with Sa Mu-heo. He ordered the remaining secret operatives to find the three who vanished.]
Secret Agent No. 2, along with No. 3, No. 4, No. 6, and No. 8, began tracking the missing three.
As former shadow agency operatives, they had been trained to leave a trace whenever something happened. They were certain the missing operatives must have left something behind.
[I will search the place where No. 1 last sent a carrier pigeon with No. 8, the youngest. You each find No. 5 and No. 7.]
[Understood.]
They headed toward the place from which Secret Agent No. 1's last report had come.
It was roughly fifty jang northeast of the Changcheon Martial Archive, directly north of the main building.
That was where the last carrier pigeon had come from.
They searched the area, but it seemed someone had already cleaned it up. They found nothing.
Then Secret Agent No. 2 discovered something embedded in a wall.
It was a broken little fingernail.
[Death]
At the sight, Secret Agent No. 2 realized that Secret Agent No. 1 was dead.
Words were engraved on the secret operatives' fingernails. It was a method used by the shadow agency to leave evidence of what had happened.
'Barely half an hour has passed since this happened.'
Secret Agent No. 2 ordered Secret Agent No. 8, the youngest, to gather the warriors under the Vice-Master and have them seal the gates and search the area.
'It is impossible to dispose of a body completely in so little time.'
They might have used Bone-Dissolving Powder, but the operatives had undergone treatment to prepare for that.
It would ensure they could leave some trace no matter what happened.
If they could only find the bodies, they would be able to prove that Sa Mu-heo had killed Secret Agent No. 1, who had been watching him, and the other operatives who had gone looking for No. 1.
[We have to find them before they completely dispose of the bodies!]
But that was when another problem arose.
* * *
“So Vice-Master was framed for killing Elder Hang Yeon, the general overseer of the Changcheon Martial Archive, and setting the fire to massacre the academy cadets. Then he was locked in a holding cell?”
“That is correct.”
Secret Agent No. 2 spoke, their voice full of indignation.
Even the secret operatives had not expected the enemy to set a double trap on top of Raise a Clamor in the East, Strike in the West.
If even Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu, a former Martial Artists' Association Audit Department official, had fallen for it, then it had been a meticulously calculated scheme.
“Because of that, two more secret operatives besides No. 8 and myself were captured and are being detained.”
Everyone under the Vice-Master had been locked up and was being investigated and interrogated.
The assistants in his office, the warriors under his command, and two secret operatives, all of them.
As a result, the search for the bodies had been halted.
Curious, Mumu asked, “Then how did you and Secret Agent No. 8 avoid getting caught?”
At that, Secret Agent No. 2 raised their right hand for Mumu to see.
Among the fingernails engraved with words, the little fingernail was missing.
“Your little fingernail is gone. Ah!”
The word Death was engraved on the little fingernail.
“That is right. Secret Agent No. 8 and I left behind our little fingernails and made it look as though we had died. The secret operatives who were captured likely saw them and are reporting under interrogation that we were caught and killed.”
“That is a relief.”
“But it is only a matter of time. The academy leadership may have received that report, but Sa Mu-heo will know we are still alive.”
“That is why you are moving around in secret like this.”
“Yes. We are staying near places with many academy cadets, but once night begins to fall, he will come after No. 8 and me and threaten our lives.”
Even now, their situation was extremely dangerous.
“Before that happens, we must find traces of the dead secret operatives and obtain evidence that all of this was Sa Mu-heo's doing. Only then can we clear Vice-Master's name.”
Mumu hummed, scratched his head, and said, “Then what should I help you with?”
“Y-you will help us?”
“Yes.”
Mumu agreed without hesitation.
'Ah...'
Secret Agent No. 2 had not been sure Mumu would help.
They knew Mumu's relationship with the Vice-Master was based, to some degree, on mutual benefit. Once Mumu learned that he had been watched through a secret operative, they had thought he might refuse.
Besides, this was dangerous.
Their opponent was an incredible master who had killed even Elder Hang Yeon, who had once been among the Ten Great Masters of the force of justice.
To find evidence against someone like that, they might have to risk their lives in the worst-case scenario.
'I was planning to negotiate with this kid if necessary.'
Yet he was willing to help so readily.
Just as Mumu had seemed from everything Secret Agent No. 2 had seen, he appeared to be a kind child.
Mumu smiled and said, “I actually like Vice-Master a lot. Except for the fact that he nags sometimes.”
“...That part is true.”
They agreed with that.
He assigned them too much work, and he nagged a great deal too.
Still, with Mumu agreeing to help, Secret Agent No. 2 felt a sliver of hope.
“Then what should I do?”
At Mumu's question, Secret Agent No. 2 answered, “Draw Sa Mu-heo's attention.”
“His attention?”
“Yes. While you do that, Secret Agent No. 8 and I will search his residence manor and office.”
“How am I supposed to draw his attention?”
“Sa Mu-heo is one of the Six Stars of Heaven and a Special Master Grade instructor, so he has academy cadets under his charge.”
“Do you know who they are?”
“One of them is a third-year cadet named Ja Muk-hyun, who is a floor leader in Northern Heaven Residence alongside Young Master Mumu.”
“Senior Ja Muk-hyun?”
Ja Muk-hyun.
He ranked fourth among the academy's third-years and was a floor leader of Northern Heaven Residence.
Sa Mu-heo was his assigned master.
“Ask Cadet Ja Muk-hyun to gather every friend Young Master Mumu can bring. Then lure Sa Mu-heo outside his residence manor or office, saying you wish to receive counseling or instruction from him. Keep him occupied.”
“Keep him occupied?”
“Yes. The longer you stall him, the more time we will have to search.”
“Hmm.”
Mumu tilted his head at that.
Secret Agent No. 2 wondered if he found the plan burdensome and carefully asked, “...Will that be difficult?”
“No. I just need to stall for time?”
“Yes. Then Secret Agent No. 8 and I will make certain to secure evidence that clears Vice-Master's name. Please, Young Master.”
The key was how long Mumu could keep Sa Mu-heo occupied.
* * *
Half a two-hour period later.
Secret Agent No. 2 looked toward Sa Mu-heo's residence manor from afar, their eyes troubled.
Unlike ordinary masters, the Six Stars of Heaven received many privileges. One of them was being given a manor instead of ordinary quarters.
They had expected Sa Mu-heo to be in the main building or his office because it was still afternoon, but he appeared to be staying at his manor.
The security around the manor and inside its courtyard was also extremely tight.
'As expected, he is more likely to be at his residence than his office.'
Four warriors guarded the walls around the manor.
There were eight more in the courtyard.
It seemed Sa Mu-heo had guessed they might target his residence.
'If we can just get Sa Mu-heo outside, this will become a little easier.'
Even if the warriors guarding the manor had high martial prowess, Secret Agent No. 2 was a former shadow agency operative. When it came to stealth, they could deceive the Ki sense of all but the most formidable masters.
Sa Mu-heo was different.
If he was strong enough to kill Elder Hang Yeon, it would be difficult to deceive his Ki sense.
That was why luring him away was the key.
'Mumu needs to bring the academy cadets quickly... Hm?'
Then someone approaching the manor caught Secret Agent No. 2's eye.
It was Mumu.
'Why?'
But Mumu was walking alone toward the pavilion at the manor's entrance.
They had clearly asked him to bring as many friends as possible. What was going on?
Secret Agent No. 2 wanted to stop him and say this would not work, but Mumu had already reached the main gate.
He said something to the warriors alone, and soon the guards at the entrance allowed him inside.
'What? Is he really planning to lure him out alone?'
Could that work?
* * *
Inside a room in the manor's main hall, a man who appeared to be in his late thirties stood from his chair.
He had sharp features, thick eyebrows, and a long scar beneath his right eye.
The man standing with his hands behind his back was Sa Mu-heo.
One of the Six Stars of Heaven, he was known in the martial world as Formless Ten Fingers.
Sa Mu-heo's eyes narrowed as he rose.
'Mumu?'
An unexpected person had come to his residence.
He had just received a report that the initial stage of the grand plan, the fire attack, had been disrupted by that brat and several academy cadets.
'How many times has it been now?'
At first, he had considered Mumu no more than a minor variable.
Yet this brat had escaped his predictions again and again.
He had defeated the descendants of the House of the Eight Villains whom Sa Mu-heo had sent, and had even escaped the trap meant to seize his artifact.
'The Vice-Master's help played a part in all of that.'
Once Sa Mu-heo learned that Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu was protecting Mumu and investigating him, he had adjusted part of his plans.
Once this matter was finished, the Vice-Master would fall from power completely.
'...Did he come because he is afraid of losing his protector?'
But Mumu did not even know Sa Mu-heo existed.
They had never directly crossed paths before.
That made Mumu's visit quite out of the blue.
'No. Perhaps this works out well.'
It might be for the best.
Sa Mu-heo did not know why Mumu had come all the way to his residence manor under the pretense of wanting counseling, but this was a chance to see what kind of child he was.
Kang Mu-i had unexpectedly said that he liked Mumu, so Sa Mu-heo had been considering what to do with him.
'Talking to him will tell me whether he can be brought over or not.'
-Creeeak!
He opened the room's door and stepped onto the wooden porch.
Mumu stood before the courtyard.
Sa Mu-heo walked toward him with his hands behind his back. Wearing a smile and feigning ignorance, he said, “You appear to be a new academy cadet. You said you wished to receive counseling from this master?”
“Yes. Are you Master Sa Mu-heo?”
“Yes. This master is Sa Mu-heo.”
“Ah, I see. Then can I ask you one thing?”
“I do not know what you wished to discuss so badly that you came here, but shall we go inside and have a cup of warm tea?”
Sa Mu-heo gestured toward the room.
Mumu shook his head.
“Ah, it is not enough to warrant tea. It is just a simple question.”
“Not enough to warrant tea?”
“It is nothing much. Did you kill Elder Hang Yeon, the general overseer of the Changcheon Martial Archive, and try to burn down the dormitories yesterday?”
'!!!!!!'
Sa Mu-heo's expression hardened at the question that left Mumu's mouth.
He had never expected those words to come from this brat.
The bodyguard warriors in the courtyard reacted the same way, their gazes sharpening at once.
Sa Mu-heo stared at Mumu and slowly opened his mouth.
“You say this master killed Elder Hang Yeon and tried to burn down the dormitories?”
“Yes. Just as you heard.”
Silence fell over the area.
Then Sa Mu-heo threw his head back and burst into loud laughter.
“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”
His laughter abruptly stopped.
His face turned cold as he said, “That is not merely out of the blue. It is excessive.”
The air around them grew heavy.
He was openly showing just how furious he was.
“Excessive?”
“You come to a master of this academy whom you have never met, then suddenly accuse him of causing the tragic incident at the academy without a shred of evidence? Those words are no different from insulting this master. This is a matter serious enough that I could send you to the Discipline Bureau or impose a severe punishment using my authority...”
“As expected, you are denying it.”
“What?”
“Then I will find out by force.”
“...By force?”
Mumu crossed his hands and gripped the adjustment screws of the Ki-Restraining Bracelets with both hands.
Then he turned them, speaking in a meaningful voice.
-Crrrrrrk!
“If I beat you up long enough, the truth will come out of your mouth.”
Footnotes:
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