Chapter 33
If I Were to Hire You (1)
After returning to the branch, Baek Socheon went to see Yeom Jeonggil this time.
The moment Baek Socheon entered, Yeom Jeonggil glared at him from inside the interrogation room.
“What brings you here?”
“If you don’t want me here, I’ll just leave.”
When Baek Socheon turned to go, Yeom Jeonggil snapped.
“You bastard! Stop playing your ridiculous games and sit down.”
Baek Socheon sat across from him.
“There’s no way you came here for no reason. So, what is it?”
“I spent quite a while wondering whether I should come.”
“Spare me the preamble.”
“Hall Master Wang was released a little while ago. I came because I thought you might not know.”
“What?”
Yeom Jeonggil’s eyes widened.
“What are you talking about?”
“I said Hall Master Wang was released.”
“I’m asking you what that means!”
Yeom Jeonggil roared.
After being locked in the interrogation room for several days, he was far from calm. He had already been on the verge of exploding, and the news of Wang Gon’s release was like pouring oil onto a blazing fire.
“It was determined that Hall Master Wang had no connection to this incident, so he was released.”
To Yeom Jeonggil, those words sounded like:
You’re still here because you are connected to it.
“They say you still require further investigation, Great Hero Yeom.”
Yeom Jeonggil’s expression turned cold.
Logically speaking, there was no reason they would release Wang Gon while keeping only him imprisoned.
“Tell me everything you know.”
“I hear the Alliance’s main headquarters is closely watching the Yang Chu case.”
“I know that already! Tell me how Hall Master Wang got himself released!”
Baek Socheon hesitated, pretending to be reluctant to answer.
“Speak, unless you want to die!”
“When you act like this, I don’t feel like telling you.”
Yeom Jeonggil was about to erupt again, but he forced himself to calm down.
“You have nothing to lose by cooperating with me. Wang Gon is merely a hall master. I am one of the Four Great Martial Masters of Shinhwa Gang.”
“And yet that mere hall master was released first.”
Yeom Jeonggil’s gaze sharpened.
Baek Socheon was maintaining the same insolent attitude he had always displayed toward him. That consistency would help erase any suspicion Yeom Jeonggil might have.
“Fine. I’ll tell you. Hall Master Wang bribed Division Chief Jeong.”
“A bribe?”
“Hall Master Wang discovered that Division Chief Jeong intended to frame one of you two as the culprit behind the Yang Chu case. So he made sure to escape first.”
“How did he find out?”
“I told him.”
“You son of a bitch!”
“I don’t believe I’m the one you should be angry with. I was employed by Hall Master Wang.”
He was right.
This was not the time to vent his anger at Baek Socheon.
Yeom Jeonggil had lived his entire life without fear, but this time, he was truly frightened. No matter how powerful Shinhwa Gang might be, it could not stand against the Murim Alliance.
The fact that Shinhwa Gang had been unable to take any action while he remained imprisoned was proof enough.
He did not know that Mister Jong, who had come to handle the situation, had already been eliminated. As a result, he had also grown inwardly furious at Shinhwa Gang’s helplessness and apparent indifference.
What if the Murim Alliance decided to forcefully make him the scapegoat?
Would Shinhwa Gang truly go so far as to protect him?
He could not be certain.
And amid all this, Wang Gon had escaped first. Wang Gon must have understood the reality of their situation as well.
“Is it truly true that Hall Master Wang bought Jeong Pung’s loyalty?”
“He said he raised an enormous sum of money by putting even his house up as collateral. There is undeniable evidence. Why would I lie?”
Yeom Jeonggil clenched both fists.
Baek Socheon could tell.
At that very moment, Yeom Jeonggil had resolved to kill Wang Gon.
They were already in a situation where one of the two would die. For Wang Gon to bribe his way out meant he was effectively condemning the one left behind to death.
“Why are you telling me this? Aren’t you Hall Master Wang’s lackey?”
“How long have I even known him for you to call me his lackey?”
“Why are you trying to betray him?”
“I gave him decisive help in getting out of here. Do you know what that bastard gave me in return?”
Baek Socheon displayed the bracelet on his wrist.
“Just this one thing. What is this supposed to be? Is he playing some kind of joke?”
Yeom Jeonggil recognized the bracelet Wang Gon had always worn.
He’s betraying him over something this trivial?
But Baek Socheon had a history.
On the very first day, Yeom Jeonggil had warned Wang Gon.
He had said Baek Socheon was the kind of man who could decide to kill his superior before one could even count to five, and that he would decide to kill Wang Gon before one could count to three.
Just as Yeom Jeonggil had predicted, Baek Socheon had now betrayed Wang Gon without hesitation over an absurdly petty reason.
Because his own prediction had proven correct, he found nothing suspicious about Baek Socheon’s betrayal.
“So you wish to change ships?”
“Isn’t it only natural to prefer a larger, more comfortable ship? Of course, the shipowner would first have to permit me aboard.”
Yeom Jeonggil openly scoffed.
“I absolutely despise men like you.”
“That works out even better. You’ll need me whenever you have work too despicable to do yourself.”
When Yeom Jeonggil gave no answer, Baek Socheon rose from his seat.
“Forget it, then.”
As he turned to leave, Yeom Jeonggil spoke.
“Climb aboard my ship.”
Though he said it as if bestowing a great favor, he felt miserable—as though he were climbing onto a raft named Baek Socheon from a sinking vessel.
“How would you like me to help?”
“First, I need to get out of here.”
If the Alliance’s main headquarters was watching this case, he could not expect assistance from Shinhwa Gang.
At present, Baek Socheon was Yeom Jeonggil’s only option.
“Find a way, no matter what it takes. Discover Jeong Pung’s weakness, or kidnap his child if you must. Anything will do. Find a way to get me out. That will be your ticket aboard my ship.”
***
Baek Socheon was indeed obtaining a ticket.
Unfortunately for Yeom Jeonggil, it was a ticket meant to place him aboard a ship descending straight into hell.
“You want me to release Yeom Jeonggil? Doesn’t that mean we will have released both men we arrested?”
Jeong Pung was startled by Baek Socheon’s request.
“That’s right. Release Yeom Jeonggil tomorrow night.”
If they released him immediately, he would grow suspicious. They needed to make it appear that Baek Socheon had spent time and effort arranging his release.
Furthermore, the frustration of remaining confined would only cause Yeom Jeonggil’s anger to grow.
There was a simple reason for releasing him at night.
Once Yeom Jeonggil emerged from the interrogation room with his fury at its peak, where would he go?
Would he visit an inn and go to sleep?
Would he return to Shinhwa Gang in the middle of the night?
No.
He would undoubtedly head straight for Wang Gon’s house.
“Then why did we arrest them in the first place?”
“We have already achieved the purpose for which we arrested them. Now we are releasing him to achieve another purpose.”
“What purpose?”
“I’m going to kill them both tomorrow night. Though it seems I won’t even need to bloody my own hands for Wang Gon.”
Jeong Pung flinched.
Those words meant Baek Socheon intended to make Yeom Jeonggil kill Wang Gon.
No—Baek Socheon was utterly certain that Yeom Jeonggil would kill him.
After staring at Baek Socheon for a moment, Jeong Pung spoke in a trembling voice.
“You truly mean it.”
“I told you before, didn’t I? Everyone involved in this incident will die.”
“But those two are important figures in Shinhwa Gang.”
“If they’re important among a heap of garbage, doesn’t that merely make them especially foul pieces of garbage? Let’s clean out the entire pile and throw it away.”
Jeong Pung was unable to answer, overwhelmed by one concern after another.
“Zhejiang is your territory. Why are you hesitating when this will make it cleaner?”
“That is precisely why. How wonderful it would be if this were happening in Fujian or Anhui instead.”
Baek Socheon looked at the sighing Jeong Pung.
“Are you afraid?”
“Of course I am. Aren’t you?”
“Don’t be afraid. They are nothing more than a few petty villains.”
“They may be petty to you…”
To Jeong Pung, they were a towering tidal wave and a violent storm.
He was afraid.
Not because his enemies frightened him, but because Baek Socheon was on his side.
In both the past and the present, Baek Socheon was a man who knew no limits. Once all these people were dead, enemies who likewise disregarded every limit would begin to emerge.
“Division Chief Jeong.”
“What is it?”
“Have you ever considered going to the Alliance’s main headquarters?”
Jeong Pung flinched when Baek Socheon abruptly mentioned headquarters.
“Why are you asking?”
“I was merely curious what you thought.”
“Of course I’d like to go. Who wouldn’t?”
“If you handle this incident splendidly, wouldn’t you have a chance to transfer there?”
“You don’t need to tempt me with that. I’ll help you until the end regardless. Once this is over, you should hurry back to headquarters yourself. As for Zhejiang, come visit once when you’re near death and wish to reminisce about the old days.”
Baek Socheon chuckled at Jeong Pung’s response.
He turned to leave, but Jeong Pung’s final concern stopped him.
“But will you be all right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Yeom Jeonggil is one of Shinhwa Gang’s Four Great Masters, an expert at the pinnacle level. Even for you, dealing with him will not be easy.”
“I’m not going to fight him. I have someone else for that bastard.”
“Who?”
Instead of answering, Baek Socheon said something entirely unrelated and left the room.
“Branch Chief, you have liquor hidden in that cabinet over there.”
“Answer my question!”
But Baek Socheon had already departed.
After sighing over one worry after another, Jeong Pung eventually took the liquor from the cabinet.
“To hell with it. I don’t know anymore.”
***
As Baek Socheon entered the courtyard of his residence, he looked toward a wall concealed in the darkness.
“Come out.”
Cheongeuk released her concealment and appeared, seated atop the wall.
“You don’t even have internal energy, yet you find me like some kind of ghost. Did you win over one of my guards? You did, didn’t you? You people are telling him whenever I’m here, aren’t you?”
“Why do you keep coming to someone else’s house?”
“What do you mean, keep coming? This is the first time I’ve come without business. And are we really strangers?”
“Are we friends, then?”
“True. We aren’t friends either. Not strangers, not friends. What exactly are we?”
“Enough. Why are you here? Aren’t you busy?”
“I’m not busy.”
“That is fortunate for the martial world.”
“You always have to phrase things like that.”
“Leave. I’m going to wash and sleep.”
Baek Socheon disappeared inside the house.
Cheongeuk shook her head and spoke to the Guardian Killing Stars who remained concealed nearby.
“Ah, he makes me so angry! I’m allowed to place an assassination request too, right? Right?”
The Guardian Killing Stars merely smacked their lips, not daring to answer.
In truth, she was not particularly upset.
Being treated so coldly actually felt refreshing.
No one else dared to treat her like this.
“Isn’t there anyone you want dead? I’ll do it for half price!”
Baek Socheon’s reply came from inside the house.
“No.”
“Tch.”
At least he had answered.
Standing in the courtyard, she looked up at the brilliant full moon.
She needed to leave, yet her feet refused to move.
At that moment, a voice transmission came from Dongseong, the leader of the Four Heavenly Killers.
—You may rest in Munseong for a while. The Alliance’s affairs can all be postponed.
Cheongeuk chuckled.
He was the leader precisely because he was so perceptive.
“Let’s go. We can at least drink among ourselves.”
Then Baek Socheon’s voice came from behind her.
“How much would it cost to borrow you for one day?”
She turned and saw him standing at the window, looking outside.
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“I…”
She did not accept commissions, of course, but even supposing she did…
“I’m extremely expensive.”
“Didn’t you say you’d do it for half price?”
“I’d still be extremely expensive.”
“How about one thousand taels?”
“That’s absurd!”
Cheongeuk stared at him incredulously.
“One thousand taels is exactly what you’re worth.”
“Are you insane?”
“Now, listen carefully. Sleeping with you would cost one hundred thousand taels, right?”
“Who said I’d sleep with you? Fine, let’s suppose that’s true.”
“Which is more expensive—the price of killing one villain or the price of sleeping with you?”
“Sleeping with me, obviously.”
“Exactly. So how many times more expensive would it be? At least a hundred times, don’t you think?”
“Isn’t that right? Are you saying sleeping with you isn’t worth even a hundred times the price of killing one villain?”
“Of course it is…”
“That is why one thousand taels is the correct price. Actually, even a hundred times is far too little. Anyone wishing to sleep with you should pay a thousand times more. Let’s make it one hundred taels instead. How about it? Sounds fair, doesn’t it? I apologize for underestimating your value so badly.”
“No, it’s all right.”
Cheongeuk blinked.
Once again, she had fallen prey to Baek Socheon’s sophistry.
“There’s somewhere I need you to accompany me tomorrow night. I’ll see you then.”
After saying that, Baek Socheon disappeared from the window.
The Guardian Killing Stars, who had watched and listened while remaining concealed, exchanged voice transmissions among themselves.
—Tell her she’s being tricked!
—She’s one of the cleverest people in the world. She must only be pretending to fall for it.
—Are you sure?
Whether or not she knew of the Four Heavenly Killers’ exchange, Cheongeuk walked away while humming happily.
“That’s right. Anyone who wants to sleep with me should pay a thousand times more. What are you all doing? Hurry up. Let’s go drink!”