episode_0029

“Finally.”

Eun Hwayoung’s eyes lit up as she read the letter sent by Yi Yeon through the black book.

“Could it be related to the new lord?”

“Read it.”

When Eun Hwayoung handed the letter to Mu Yeong, he politely accepted it and read it.

‘This is…’

The existence of a hidden room.

Traces of a vulgar affair between a man and three women that took place there.

It was definitely valuable information unlike anything they had received before.

The issue was the level of that value.

Although Eun Hwayoung would ultimately make the evaluation, Mu Yeong also thought about it in his own way.

‘It may not be decisive. And the clues are a bit vague. Will this scandal really have any connection to the new lord?’

Mu Yeong’s judgment was that the probability was low.

Nevertheless, he found significance in the fact that they had received concrete information for the first time.

“This is good news.”

Mu Yeong carefully placed the letter back in front of Eun Hwayoung and spoke.

“Yes. First, we need to select a list of men with a large build from the Golden Dragon Camp. We need to find the man with the footprint.”

As Yi Yeon was a woman, it was natural that she couldn’t casually step foot in the outer courtyard.

“I will contact them immediately.”

Unlike the inner courtyard deep in the mansion, the outer courtyard was a place where people frequently came and went.

This meant that even without the black book, there were plenty of ways to communicate with the lower ranks.

“As for the women, we will naturally ask Yeon Ah for help. She has a keen eye, so it shouldn’t take long.”

“I also think so.”

“Hmm.”

Eun Hwayoung let out a short laugh.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Well, wouldn’t I be? We finally caught a clue to uncover the true colors of the new lord.”

“I didn’t expect you to see it that way…”

Mu Yeong trailed off with a surprised expression.

“Isn’t it obvious? That perverted man must be related to the new lord in some way.”

Eun Hwayoung said with conviction.

“I would like to know the reason for your certainty.”

“If it’s not related to the lord, could someone freely engage in such acts in the secret room of the Gold South Inner Courtyard without anyone noticing? It’s an absurd story.”

“If there is a collaborator in the inner courtyard, it might be possible to sneak in secretly…”

“The lord is not a fool to not know that. If he were that much of a fool, there would be no need for such troublesome efforts.”

“…Listening to your words, I realize that my thoughts were short-sighted.”

Mu Yeong quickly acknowledged and bowed his head.

It wasn’t completely convincing yet, but if Eun Hwayoung had been right even a hundred times out of a hundred, he had no choice but to adopt such an attitude.

Eun Hwayoung chuckled and spoke again.

“It’s probably not even related, just a mere follower. Whether it’s an overt follower or a hidden one, I’m not sure.”

A sharp deduction that would have made Bang So Un flinch if she had heard it.

That was her terrifying aspect.

Even though Haomun was a major information organization alongside Yangdae, the accuracy of information did not exceed seventy percent.

That’s what information was.

Freshly collected, minimally verified information was much more valuable than old information that had gone through thorough verification, because information was often incomplete.

And you couldn’t always get complete information.

No, you could often only get fragmented information.

That fragmented information naturally deducted from its value.

But Eun Hwayoung was different.

She had a special ability to deduce and uncover more hidden facts from fragmented information alone.

The transformation of fragmented information into valuable information through her was a common occurrence.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that her position within Haomun was due to that ability.

And that ability was now being displayed.

“A follower? In that case, it could be connected to the new lord’s investigation.”

Mu Yeong’s eyes sparkled.

Under the tacit approval of the master, if a concubine openly committed adultery in a restricted area like the inner court, it would definitely be a scandal.

Especially if that concubine was the dignified wife of the Golden Dragon General, a prominent figure in the faction.

“Of course, it’s entirely possible. But that alone is not enough.”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you think of a woman crawling around like a dog and engaging in such acts?”

Eun Hwayoung asked with a sly smile.

“Exactly what kind of question are you asking me to…?”

“Do you think it’s possible for someone to do that sober?”

“Ah… I see. I remember hearing about a man with such perverted desires among the guests at the Jukhwaru.”

“No, you misunderstood. Not a man, but a woman.”

“What?”

Mu Yeong’s expression turned flustered.

He hadn’t considered the opposite scenario.

After a moment of contemplation, he hesitantly replied.

“Well… I’ve never encountered it personally, but perhaps there are women with such peculiar tastes, a rare minority…?”

“Yes, there must be. I know of at least one.”

“Ah… I see.”

“But here’s the thing.”

Eun Hwayoung narrowed one eye and continued.

“If there isn’t just one woman with such tastes, but three. Does that make sense to you? It’s not like they’re gathered in a place specifically for such women.”

“…Honestly, it doesn’t make sense.”

Mu Yeong readily admitted.

It was an extreme rarity that was hard to come across even by chance.

“So what’s the answer? Why would there be three women like that?”

“Well…”

Conversations with the clever Lord were always challenging.

All Mu Yeong could do was listen as usual.

After all, the answer would come from Ruju’s lips.

“Perhaps they were made that way? Then how do you think they were made?”

Eun Hwayoung’s red eyes gleamed with an eerie light.

“Wouldn’t it be possible to induce a state of delirium with drugs? That’s what I think.”

“Drugs…?”

Mu Yeong’s expression turned serious.

Sex under the influence of drugs.

Those who engaged in such acts in the martial world were unanimously condemned and publicly declared enemies of the martial world.

Yet, despite this, such individuals continued to emerge due to the power of drugs.

The pleasure that far exceeded normal sexual intercourse.

Engaging in such acts despite knowing the clear danger, just to experience that extreme pleasure.

In any case.

If it truly involved drugs, it wouldn’t end with a scandal.

It would be a significant event that could potentially destroy everything about the new mistress.

“Local herbalists… No, even the most daring individuals wouldn’t dare to handle drugs so openly in the martial world.”

After a brief nod, Eun Hwayoung spoke again.

“Thoroughly investigate the underground markets in Gangnam to find those who have procured ingredients for drugs.”

Even the underground markets wouldn’t dare to deal with drugs in the martial world.

So the focus should be on the ingredients that could be used to make drugs.

“We may be short on manpower.”

“Do what you can. Just focus on the dates after the change of the mistress.”

“Understood, Ruju.”

And so, the rumors thrown by Jang Il and the investigations conducted by Yi Yeon began to escalate.

***

Sujeongak.

Bang Sowoon and an old man sat facing each other.

It was an unusual sight.

When meeting the mistress, it was customary to stand or sit beside her, as a sign of respect.

But the old man had the authority to sit face to face with her.

Because that old man was the Outer Lord.

The Outer Lord.

If there was the Inner Lord, Ewharin, in the inner court, then there was the Outer Lord, the Outer Lord, in the outer court.

And he was a senior among the seniors who had served in the Golden Dragon General’s residence for much longer than Ewharin.

There was no need for further explanation, as he had been by the side of the former head of the Hwangbo family since his youth.

Having held the position of Outer Lord for decades, the people in the residence referred to him as the Outer Lord instead of his name.

And it was this Outer Lord who was the most difficult person for Bang Sowoon to turn away from until the very end.

Already having experienced all the ups and downs of life, to him, even the actions taken to gain Bang So-un’s favor seemed like obvious attempts to show one’s true intentions.

“He’s definitely not your average old man.”

Bang So-un readily acknowledged that he was an extraordinary individual.

Not only was he talented, but his dedication, hard work, and sincerity that he had devoted to the Golden Dragon Battlefield over the years were immeasurable.

He was also the one who vehemently opposed Bang So-un’s ascension to the throne.

In such cases, when a new monarch ascends the throne against opposition, they usually come up with a plausible excuse to justify their actions.

But that didn’t happen this time.

Why?

Because Bang So-un was a force to be reckoned with, even for those who opposed him.

If he were forced into retirement, the Golden Dragon Battlefield would be turned upside down.

However, in the end, even he accepted Bang So-un.

And Huang Bo-sul played a crucial role in that.

“They say that’s his only weakness.”

Later, it was said that after seeing her genuinely happy, he decided to accept her.

She may be happy, but if she knew all the ridiculous things he did behind her back, the shock might have killed the old man on the spot…

Thinking such thoughts, Bang So-un chuckled softly.

Huang Bo-sul’s expression furrowed.

“Why are you laughing, Your Highness?”

“Oh, I was just thinking about Lady’s face.”

“Hmm.”

Huang Bo-sul is quite effective.

Considering how the old man’s mouth shut right away.

With such thoughts in mind, Bang So-un got to the point.

“Is the task I asked for proceeding smoothly?”

Respect flowed from Bang So-un’s lips.

It wasn’t strange to show such respect to an elder like Huang No-ya, who was not just any old man but a close friend of his deceased grandfather and a senior statesman of his generation.

“It was completed not long ago.”

“Oh, really? How did it turn out?”

“Very cleanly.”

“I see.”

The task Bang So-un had requested.

It was an investigation into twenty female officials recently appointed.

The reason he specifically asked Huang No-ya for help was because of his connections.

The connections he had built up over the years were a considerable power in themselves.

Among those connections was the Elder of the Seven Seals of the Kai-bang faction.

Because of their long-standing friendship, they could make unofficial requests without using their official titles.

The difference was not insignificant.

Official requests were made in the name of the Golden Dragon Battlefield, but unofficial ones did not leave a trace of the Golden Dragon Battlefield’s involvement.

Being anonymous made it difficult for someone to dig into it.

However, anonymous requests were rarely accepted in the first place.

Because there was a high risk that someone unscrupulous would use the information for nefarious purposes.

Especially when it came to the Elder of the Kai-bang faction, who was at the core of the core of the factions.

Therefore, it was practically impossible to accept official requests.

Even through private channels, it was a difficult task, but with Huang No-ya’s connections, it was somehow possible.

Of course, he wouldn’t continue to do so.

But it didn’t matter.

He was planning to soon have the means to collect information secretly.

“Let’s think about the fox hunt later.”

For now, the matter of the twenty female officials was the priority.

“By the way, Your Highness.”

Huang No-ya spoke first.

It was not an ordinary matter.

If it were ordinary, he wouldn’t be the one to speak about it.

“What’s the matter?”

“The movements of [Paris] are suspicious.”

Upon hearing those words, Bang So-un’s expression changed.

Paris.

That was the secret language used in the outer court to refer to spies.

He had already discovered their identities a long time ago but had deliberately left them alone.

There was no useful information they could provide from within the outer court, and since he already knew they were spies, there was a possibility of using false information to counteract their actions.

However, he didn’t know which faction they belonged to, so the effectiveness was limited.

“What do you mean by suspicious movements?”

The spy entrusted the surveillance to the most trustworthy person in the outer courtyard.

Naturally, it was a spy.

There would be no one as capable and reliable as that person.

“They say he’s secretly recording each of the big guys from the main house.”

“…Big guys?”

The moment she heard those words,

An uneasy feeling quickly brushed past Bang Soo-woon’s mind.

Jang-il.

The image of that guy came to mind, and it was definitely not a coincidence.

But.

His true appearance had never been exposed to the outside world…

In that case.

“This time?”

There was no way it was the outer courtyard.

All that could be known from the outer courtyard was trash information.

So, the inner courtyard.

A traitor in the inner courtyard?

There couldn’t possibly be one.

There were only hypnosis slaves who obeyed absolutely.

That means.

“There is a spy among the twenty.”

It was indeed not a simple situation.

There really was a spy.

Planted by some faction to gather information.

And it happened to be the same faction as the outer courtyard’s spy.

“Why is that, Jang-ju?”

The outer courtyard looked puzzled.

“No, it’s nothing. Just let that list pass.”

Bang Soo-woon, after organizing her thoughts, said.

“Are you sure? It’s suspicious that they’re only recording the identities of big guys.”

“It’s fine. They seem to be organizing the main house’s forces in earnest, but it doesn’t matter since the real elites of the main house are in the inner courtyard.”

She said that, but the reason was completely different.

If they blocked the information now, they would be convinced that they had hit the mark, so leaving it alone was the best option.

“Is that so? There might be some other trick, are you really sure it’s okay?”

“Yes, I’m sure. That’s just a diversion.”

“Well, if Jang-ju says so, then I’ll let it pass.”

And so, the matter was settled.

But Bang Soo-woon didn’t get up with a thoughtful expression on her face.

Then suddenly, she started laughing.

“Hahaha, that’s really how it is. It’s interesting. Truly interesting.”

Since the incident where she almost died at the hands of Sagong Hyemi when she knew nothing, the enemy’s blade had finally reached inside.

But strangely, there was no fear or anxiety.

Instead, she felt invigorated.

Indeed, the world is not easy.

That’s why it’s fortunate.

Breaking an easy flower doesn’t bring much satisfaction.

You have to break difficult flowers to feel the excitement and thrill multiply, even tens of times.

How many more difficult flowers would she encounter in the future?

Thinking about it made her spine tingle with excitement.

Competitiveness?

No, it’s not that.

It’s the desire for domination.

The pinnacle of the desire for domination.

The absolute pleasure of being able to break difficult flowers and do as she pleased was vividly depicted in her mind, making her brain react and tingle with excitement.

It’s a good feeling.

A very good feeling.

“So, shall we plan to catch that rat bastard?”

Bang Soo-woon’s eyes sparkled with excitement.