WeTried Translations
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Editor: Abstract
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 92: Brothers (1)
──────
Changcheon Martial Academy's guard warriors escorted the procession with tense eyes.
The procession was none other than a group of officials dispatched from the Imperial Palace.
Since no notice had been given beforehand, those who had no idea what was going on could not help but feel uneasy about these investigators sent from the Imperial Palace's Censorate.
Perhaps noticing their reaction, a sharp-eyed official who looked to be in his late twenties spoke in a mocking tone to O Mu-yang, the fourth-rank Left Assistant Censor walking at the front.
"They seem to be giving us a proper welcome, Left Assistant Censor."
"Ha ha ha. When have we ever been welcomed anywhere?"
O Mu-yang had expected this sort of reaction from the start.
Interference from the authorities was the last thing Changcheon Martial Academy wanted.
The sharp-eyed official looked around and said,
"I thought there might be some pretty female cadets around, but I don't see even one."
"Ik-bong, it is still early morning. This is the time when the cadets would be eating in the dorms and preparing for the day."
The one who answered the official, or rather No Ik-bong, was none other than Yu Jin-sung, a fellow seventh-rank Inspector Censor and half a class senior.
"Ah, is that so?"
The respectful tone in No Ik-bong's voice was quite different from the way he spoke to O Mu-yang.
That came from the subtle relationship between them.
No Ik-bong had entered the Censorate properly through the state examination held once every four years, while Yu Jin-sung had entered two years earlier through the special privilege granted after graduating from Changcheon Martial Academy as Second Graduate (second-ranked).
From No Ik-bong's point of view, Yu Jin-sung was hardly a welcome presence.
"What a shame."
"Look at you. Are you really that disappointed about not seeing any female cadets?"
At O Mu-yang's words, No Ik-bong grinned and said,
"I was just saying it. They say heroes love beauty, and what man in the world does not like beautiful women? Ah, though I suppose there are people like Senior Yu."
No Ik-bong shot Yu Jin-sung a sidelong mocking glance.
As if already used to it, Yu Jin-sung paid no mind at all.
That attitude only provoked No Ik-bong further.
"Well, the part about beauties was a joke. What I was really curious about was the level of the famous Changcheon Martial Academy's cadets."
"What is there to be curious about? Is one not standing right beside you?"
O Mu-yang said that while gesturing toward Yu Jin-sung with a tilt of the head.
At that, No Ik-bong let out a snort and said,
"One person's level does not represent that whole academy. No matter where you go, there are always plenty who fall short."
O Mu-yang's expression turned intrigued at those words.
Quite a few people in the Imperial Palace and the authorities rejected Changcheon Martial Academy itself.
No Ik-bong was one of them.
'So the Left Censor-in-Chief did not tell me to bring No Ik-bong along for nothing.'
An investigation normally needed only a supervisor and one person leading the inquiry.
But by order of the Left Censor-in-Chief, No Ik-bong had been added.
There had to be some instruction behind it.
'Or maybe they want to see how much the seeds they sowed have grown.'
After the incident seventeen years ago, the Imperial Palace had opened the Imperial Palace Martial Archive and secretly raised a great number of masters.
Only a small few knew it, but No Ik-bong could be called one of the results.
After entering the Censorate, No Ik-bong had constantly provoked and goaded Yu Jin-sung, yet there had never once been friction between them.
That was because Yu Jin-sung had always handled it wisely or avoided a clash.
But this was the first time the two would be stuck together while carrying out an investigation, so there was no telling what might happen this time.
"Ah! Come to think of it, I heard Senior Yu's younger brothers are here."
"..."
At those words, Yu Jin-sung, who had been brushing off No Ik-bong's provocations with ease until now, showed a strange expression.
Seeing that, the corner of No Ik-bong's mouth slowly lifted.
No matter how calm someone was, things were different when blood family was involved.
* * *
The reception room inside Changcheon Martial Academy's main building.
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong and Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu sat side by side there, and across from them sat O Mu-yang, the Censorate's fourth-rank Left Assistant Censor, and Yu Jin-sung, the Censorate's seventh-rank Inspector Censor.
They had already exchanged greetings at the entrance, since the academy side had gone out to receive them.
Unlike outside, however, the atmosphere inside the reception room had grown quite heavy.
'They arrived quickly.'
Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu clicked his tongue inwardly.
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong had told Dan Pil-hu that investigators from the Imperial Palace's Censorate would be coming, but they had arrived much sooner than expected.
They meant to interfere with the academy's own investigation somehow.
'So they really are trying to find a flaw.'
There was no need to even ask what the purpose was.
The previous emperor had recognized the Southern Blade Imperial Uncle's achievements and given Changcheon Martial Academy many benefits, but there were quite a few within the Imperial Palace and the authorities who had never liked that.
There had even been several open arguments that, since the academy received the state's support, it ought to be brought under state control.
'We have ended up giving them proper justification.'
Would these people really conduct a fair and upright investigation?
Or would they put finding some fault first, so they could justify interference?
That much would become clear from this conversation.
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong looked at Yu Jin-sung.
'What a coincidence indeed.'
Of all people to dispatch, they had sent Yu Jin-sung.
The intent behind it was obvious.
Under normal circumstances, if a small incident occurred, they would have welcomed the dispatch of Yu Jin-sung, a graduate of the academy who was famous for a strong sense of justice.
But this move was far too transparent.
'With this child's nature, Yu Jin-sung would carry out the investigation without leaning to either side. But if the investigation tilts even a little toward the academy, they will seize on that as a problem.'
Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu, who glanced at Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong, let out a faint breath.
It seemed the Academy Director had also more or less grasped the situation.
They had sent academy graduate Yu Jin-sung not because Yu Jin-sung knew this place's circumstances well, but to create a justification for saying an academy graduate should never have been assigned in the first place.
'They have thought this through well.'
They intended to make political use of the academy's crisis.
If so, the only answer was to cut that off beforehand.
Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu was about to speak.
"Left..."
"We have exchanged greetings, but it seems there is someone unexpected here."
Left Assistant Censor O Mu-yang looked at Dan Pil-hu and said that.
At that, Dan Pil-hu asked in puzzlement,
"Left Assistant Censor, what do you mean by that?"
"I do not know how it came to this, but before leaving the Imperial Palace, I heard that the Vice-Master had been confined on suspicion of being the one behind this incident."
Dan Pil-hu's eyes narrowed.
So the Imperial Palace had planted people here as well.
They already knew that Dan Pil-hu had been locked in a holding cell until yesterday.
Dan Pil-hu answered with a faint smile,
"That was so. But the suspicion has been cleared. Therefore..."
"Not therefore. How can a suspicion be cleared in the span of a single night? And even if it truly was, how can someone who had once been under suspicion cooperate in the investigation?"
"...What exactly are you saying?"
At that question, Left Assistant Censor O Mu-yang flicked a glance to the side.
Yu Jin-sung showed a somewhat troubled look, then spoke.
"...Under Censorate investigations, anyone who was under suspicion in connection to a case is stripped of investigative authority."
"Did I not say the suspicion was cleared?"
"Even so, for the sake of a fair and accurate investigation, our principle is to exclude anyone who was tied to even the smallest suspicion."
Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu's expression hardened sharply.
Of course, that was not entirely wrong, but this was an open attempt not at cooperation but at weakening the academy side's investigative authority.
At that moment, Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong spoke.
"However, Left Assistant Censor, this is not the Censorate."
Do Jeong-myeong came out strongly.
The Academy Director could not hand over the initiative in the investigation to the Censorate here.
Then, as if waiting for those words, Left Assistant Censor O Mu-yang said in a troubled tone,
"Hoh. If the investigation is carried out like this, it can only look as though the academy's administration means to exclude itself entirely from suspicion. Can that be called a proper investigation?"
"How can you say that..."
"And strictly speaking, if there was a spy inside the academy, then everyone in the academy, including the two of you sitting here, falls under suspicion. Yet you speak of cooperative investigation... this official is the one who cannot understand what motive the academy side has for making such a request."
Do Jeong-myeong's eyes narrowed.
'So this is how they mean to drive it.'
This was not cooperation. It was no different from saying they would exclude the academy itself from investigative authority and carry out the investigation alone.
The corner of O Mu-yang's mouth slowly rose.
'This is the sort of work done every day on this side.'
Just as the Academy Director had foreseen, O Mu-yang had intended from the beginning not to cooperate but to secure the investigative authority completely.
It was not even difficult.
After hearing that Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu had been detained under suspicion of being the one behind it, O Mu-yang had already considered the matter settled.
O Mu-yang opened his mouth to finish things.
"It seems the two of you agree with what this official has said as well. In that case, for the sake of a proper investigation..."
At that moment, Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu cut O Mu-yang off and spoke in a meaningful voice.
"What should we do about that? The thing is, an investigation is no longer needed."
"...What?"
"We have already captured the one behind the arsonists."
At those words, O Mu-yang's eyes sharpened.
What was that supposed to mean?
They had rushed all the way from the Imperial Palace to this place in only two days to secure investigative authority as quickly as possible.
But the mastermind had already been caught?
Yu Jin-sung's face brightened as Yu Jin-sung said,
"Is that truly so, Vice-Master?"
"It is. The person is already in custody, and we have also secured evidence proving they were behind the arson. If you wish, we can show it to you."
At those words, Left Assistant Censor O Mu-yang's complexion darkened.
This was unexpected.
"That is fortunate. The longer the case dragged on, the harder it would have become to catch the one behind it."
Yu Jin-sung, on the other hand, was sincerely glad.
Yu Jin-sung had also thought there might be a certain degree of political friction between the Imperial Palace and Changcheon Martial Academy over this investigation, and had been worrying about how to act in the middle.
Since that had now been resolved, it was certainly fortunate.
"But how did you catch the mastermind?"
"..."
At those words, Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu and Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong both fell silent at the same time.
They hesitated over whether they should reveal this fact.
But before long, Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong told the truth.
"A cadet caught the person."
"What?"
Yu Jin-sung looked utterly unable to understand.
That was because they had already obtained information that the one directing the arson had killed Elder Hang Yeon, formerly one of the Ten Great Masters of the Force of Justice.
Left Assistant Censor O Mu-yang, who knew this fact as well, did not miss the chance.
"A cadet caught the person? Does that sound possible at all? This official heard that Hang Yeon, the keeper of the Changcheon Martial Archive, was formerly one of the Ten Great Masters of the Force of Justice. Is that true?"
"It is."
"And yet you say a cadet caught the one behind the murder of such a great master? Then are you saying that cadet is some master comparable to the Ten Great Masters of the Force of Justice?"
At that, even Yu Jin-sung could not step in with a reply.
Leaving aside O Mu-yang's attempt to dig into a weak point, Yu Jin-sung also knew Elder Hang Yeon well.
Unless it was Master Meok Chong-un, who was said to be the greatest among the Six Stars of Heaven, there was no one inside the academy who could stand against Hang Yeon.
This was absolutely not something a cadet could have dealt with.
"Inspector Yu, what do you think? Do you think such a thing is possible?"
"..."
Yu Jin-sung's position suddenly became awkward.
If Yu Jin-sung said it was impossible, then the situation would return to the beginning.
There would be arguments all over again over the matter of investigative authority.
But if Yu Jin-sung said there was even the slightest possibility, then it would hand them a useless excuse to claim that an investigator from the academy had made an irrational, biased judgment.
It was a true dilemma.
Then Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu smiled faintly and said,
"Left Assistant Censor, if you truly doubt it, then why not verify it directly?"
"Verify it directly?"
"As it happens, that cadet is not unrelated to Inspector Yu Jin-sung here."
At those words, Left Assistant Censor O Mu-yang asked in puzzlement,
"What in the world do you mean by that?"
"That cadet is Yu Mumu, the younger brother of Inspector Censor Yu Jin-sung here."
'!?'
* * *
Mumu had come to see Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu.
But when Mumu heard that the Vice-Master was in the middle of receiving guests from the Censorate, Mumu hesitated.
'Hmm.'
Would it be better to wait and tell him before leaving, or come back again later and tell him then?
Today's lecture would not start until the afternoon, so there was time to spare.
While Mumu was wondering what to do, someone sitting on the stairs called out.
"Hey."
Mumu looked around.
But there was no one there.
"Me?"
"Yes. You."
Mumu looked at the speaker.
The one sitting on the stairs in official robes was none other than No Ik-bong, a seventh-rank Inspector Censor.
A meeting was underway in the reception room over the matter of investigative authority, but for some reason No Ik-bong was not taking part.
Instead, No Ik-bong had been looking around inside the main building.
That was when No Ik-bong ran into Mumu.
'At last, I finally get to meet a cadet.'
No Ik-bong had wanted to meet one of the academy's cadets anyway.
No Ik-bong had been curious about the level of Changcheon Martial Academy's cadets, so running into one here in the main building worked out nicely.
"You are a cadet here, right?"
At that, Mumu nodded and answered,
"Yes. Why?"
No Ik-bong let out a snort of amusement at that answer.
This had become more interesting than expected.
No Ik-bong had heard the academy's level was high, but even judging only through Ki sense, this kid was no more than second-rate.
'Only this much?'
The thought made laughter come out on its own.
If most of the cadets were really around this level, then it hardly seemed necessary for the Imperial Palace to keep giving benefits to Changcheon Martial Academy or appointing its graduates.
'There is no need to bother with someone who is only second-rate.'
No Ik-bong waved a hand and said,
"Run along."
At those words, Mumu thought, What is this? and started to head down the stairs.
Just then, one of the guard warriors came down from the upper floor, spotted Mumu, and called out,
"You are Cadet Yu Mumu, right?"
"Yes. Why?"
The moment Mumu answered, No Ik-bong's eyes flashed.
'Yu Mumu?'
There was no way No Ik-bong would not know that name.
No Ik-bong knew all of Yu Jin-sung's family relations.
Could there really be such a convenient coincidence?
No Ik-bong had already been wondering how to provoke Yu Jin-sung badly.
The guard warrior said, as if pleased by the timing,
"Come to the reception room on the fifth floor. The Academy Director is looking for you."
"The Academy Director?"
"Yes. I was on my way to find you, so this works out well."
With those words, the guard warrior headed back upstairs.
At that, Mumu, thinking, What is this about? started to go up as well.
No Ik-bong blocked Mumu's path.
Mumu tried to pass by to the side without much thought, but No Ik-bong blocked the way again.
"...If you need to pass, then pass."
At those words from Mumu, No Ik-bong gave a grin and said,
"Did you say your name was Yu Mumu?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Then that would make you Yu Jin-sung's younger brother."
"...Do you know my older brother Yu Jin-sung?"
"Yes. Very well."
With those words, No Ik-bong casually placed a hand on Mumu's right shoulder.
'If I make this bastard unable to use his right arm for the rest of his life, Yu Jin-sung's expression should be worth seeing.'
-Clench!
No Ik-bong drew up his Force of ki and seized Mumu's right shoulder, trying to crush it.
No Ik-bong meant to break the shoulder bone in one go, when,
'Hm?'
What was this?
Why were this kid's shoulder muscles so thick?
A kid who was only second-rate had absurdly thick shoulders.
No, more than that, they were unbelievably hard.
At that moment, Mumu tilted his head and said,
"Why are you massaging my shoulder?"
"..."
Footnotes:
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
