The Ruler of Darkness

Book 8: Chapter 20

In the past, as the Luoyang Sword House gradually expanded its influence and established itself as the world’s foremost clan.

Feeling the need for a specialized criminal investigation agency, they established an organization called the Law Enforcement Agency.

***

This morning.

Luoyang Sword House, Law Enforcement Agency.

Office of the Sixth Bureau Chief of the Law Enforcement Agency.

‘…So the Eldest Young Master has finally made his move.’

The Sixth Bureau Chief was starting his day by reviewing the Law Enforcement Agency’s intelligence report on the rumors that had been circulating since last night.

‘Freely coming and going from North Mang Mountain as if it were his own home, and even displaying martial arts in the Valley of Sin?’

He clicked his tongue.

‘…Impressive.’

He was one of the individuals who had been in charge of the investigation during the so-called “Inner Court Book Fee Incident,” and thus had met Yeon So-hyeon before.

“I wonder what kind of trouble that Young Master will cause today…”

The saying goes, “Watching a fire from across the river,” and the Sixth Bureau Chief’s behavior was exactly that.

‘Whatever the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master do, it has nothing to do with the Law Enforcement Agency anyway.’

He was muttering this while pulling out the investigation records of a case he had been working on until last night.

“Bureau Chief!”

The door burst open.

One of the Law Enforcement Officers under the Sixth Bureau Chief’s command entered, arms full of documents.

“W-what are all those?”

His eyes widened at his subordinate’s answer.

“All of these are materials anonymously submitted to our department at dawn!”

“What?!”

The subordinate exclaimed with a bright expression.

“I’ve skimmed through and verified them, and they seem to be quite credible! There are even several cases that we could start investigating right away!”

‘This is huge!’

Could it be an internal whistleblower?

Or perhaps the work of a competing department?

‘That doesn’t matter anyway…!’

With this amount and a certain level of credibility secured, it was like a treasure trove had just rolled in for free.

‘Buddha! Thank you!’

However, the Sixth Bureau Chief’s broad smile didn’t last long.

“…What’s going on?”

It was confirmed that all departments of the Law Enforcement Agency had received exactly the same anonymous submissions as he had.

The Law Enforcement Agency was in an uproar.

***

Currently.

Law Enforcement Agency, First Conference Room.

‘Hmm.’

Inwardly swallowing a sigh, the Sixth Bureau Chief stroked his beard.

‘…We are the sword that illuminates the darkness of the Sword House.’

He silently muttered part of the Law Enforcement Agency’s creed.

Although he hadn’t spoken it aloud, his throat felt as dry as if he had been orating for hours.

It was because he had smoked too many cigarettes.

‘We are the sword that cuts down injustice and implements justice in the Sword House.’

Through the cigarette smoke, he looked at the seat of honor in the conference room.

“Therefore, in the case of this agenda…”

The Second Bureau Chief, who was leading the meeting, coughed a few times and then took a sip of cooled tea to soothe his tired throat.

This was because the meeting that had started around noon was still ongoing.

“In the case of this agenda as well, under the judgment that it would compromise the political neutrality of the Law Enforcement Agency, there will be no investigation, and the agenda will be suspended.”

“…….”

Following the meeting’s decision, the Sixth Bureau Chief lowered one of the investigation agendas placed in front of him to the floor.

A tower of investigation agenda documents was already piled on the floor, so he didn’t even need to bend down.

These were all agendas that had been decided not to be investigated in this meeting.

“The same goes for the rest.”

The head of the Law Enforcement Agency, the Agency Chief, tapped on the few remaining documents.

“Our Law Enforcement Agency will not conduct any investigations that compromise our political neutrality.”

All the bureau chiefs, except for the Sixth Bureau Chief, nodded.

It was finally the moment when the end of the long meeting was in sight.

The Second Bureau Chief, inwardly swallowing a sigh of relief, said,

“…With this, it has been decided that there will be no investigations related to the anonymous submissions received this morning. In accordance with this decision, all submissions will be collected.”

Her gaze swept across the attendees.

“If any department has already started an investigation in hopes of gaining merit, please cease the investigation immediately.”

A few bureau chiefs frowned but soon acquiesced.

It wasn’t like this was the first time an agenda had been buried like this.

“…Is it really okay to just bury it like this?”

The Sixth Bureau Chief, who had been tapping cigarette ash into an ashtray, looked flustered when he realized all eyes were on him.

“Ah…”

It seemed his inner thoughts had accidentally slipped out.

‘Oh well, forget it.’

Since it had come to this, he decided to say what he had wanted to say.

“In reality, how many cases within this Sword House can be investigated without being political?”

Once he started speaking, words poured out like a dam breaking.

“If we keep rejecting everything like this, the disruptive elements within the main family will become even more emboldened, and that will ultimately become an issue directly linked to the status of the Law Enforcement Agency.”

“Sixth Bureau Chief.”

“Yes, Second Bureau Chief. I’m listening.”

“How long have you been a bureau chief, and yet your political sense is still so lacking?”

“…….”

The Second Bureau Chief continued, giving a look of disdain to the Sixth Bureau Chief, who was staring back with an indignant expression.

“Don’t you understand when you see information suddenly pouring in like this in one morning?”

The Fifth Bureau Chief, who had been sitting quietly next to him, uttered just one word.

“The Eldest Young Master.”

At those words, the Sixth Bureau Chief’s eyes widened.

“…The Eldest Young Master, you say?”

The Second Bureau Chief sighed and nodded.

“It’s a scheme to manipulate the Law Enforcement Agency and strike a blow against the Second Young Master.”

“……?!”

“Each case might seem unrelated when viewed individually, but if you dig deeper, undoubtedly all the cases will be connected to the Second Young Master’s faction at some point.”

“…….”

The Sixth Bureau Chief looked around.

Even the bureau chiefs who had shown signs of having started investigations prematurely were nodding without a hint of surprise.

‘Did they all know and still try to investigate?’

He shook his head inwardly.

‘That can’t be.’

They must have pretended to investigate while trying to use the cases to their advantage.

They had just briefly shown disappointment when that was prohibited in the meeting.

“Sixth Bureau Chief, as you said. If we cover up investigations just because they’re political, we wouldn’t be able to properly investigate anything.”

The Second Bureau Chief gave something close to a sneer while looking at the Sixth Bureau Chief.

“But some investigations are far more political than others.”

The Agency Chief, who had been silently lost in thought, tapped the desk.

“The meeting ends here. Everyone return to your regular duties.”

All the bureau chiefs except the Sixth Bureau Chief rose from their seats.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Some were stretching, while others were engaging in small talk with other bureau chiefs.

But if there was one commonality, it was that as they left the conference room, they all patted the shoulder of the Sixth Bureau Chief, who was still sitting in his seat.

“If you don’t work hard to develop your political sense, it won’t be easy to maintain your position as bureau chief.”

“Well, we were all like that at first. It’s typical for new bureau chiefs.”

“That’s how we all learn, by rolling around and getting experience.”

Although they took the form of advice, these words were more annoying than helpful.

“…….”

The Sixth Bureau Chief, who had been sitting with a frown, sighed and stood up.

“Sixth Bureau Chief.”

The one who addressed him was the First Bureau Chief, who had been having a close-range sound transmission conversation with the Agency Chief.

“Come out for a moment and have a chat with me.”

***

In a small back garden of the Law Enforcement Agency.

The First Bureau Chief, who was also a member of the Council of Elders like the Agency Chief, spoke to the Sixth Bureau Chief.

“There are bound to be things you’ll struggle with at first. It’s just a lack of experience, so don’t be impatient.”

He removed the cigarette he had borrowed from the Sixth Bureau Chief from his mouth and exhaled a long stream of smoke.

The smoke disappeared into the night air as if absorbed.

“I acknowledge your innate sense. Once you gain a bit more experience, you’ll quickly show abilities that surpass the other bureau chiefs.”

“…Senior.”

Normally, the Sixth Bureau Chief would have been mollified by the words of a senior who had risen to the rank of Elder, but not today.

“I’m not a novice anymore. That’s not why I’m acting like this.”

He looked at the First Bureau Chief.

“Those cases from earlier. They might have been anonymously submitted by the Eldest Young Master, but they’re clearly significant cases. There’s even a case that seems to involve a high-ranking official from the ‘Sword House Battlefield’. Is it really okay to just bury such cases?”

“…….”

The First Bureau Chief’s wrinkled face twitched.

“So, you want us all to get mired in that muck together?”

“…….”

The First Bureau Chief dropped the cigarette he had been smoking on the ground and crushed it with his foot.

“…Think of your family.”

Watching the cigarette being crushed underfoot, the Sixth Bureau Chief swallowed hard.

He seemed to see the image of those who recklessly got involved in the heir succession dispute being crushed like the cigarette under foot.

“…….”

The Sixth Bureau Chief, watching the retreating figure of his senior, turned his gaze to the night sky.

“…Right. I should think of my family.”

***

At that time.

In a warehouse located in an alley where members of the Luoyang Sword House’s security team were blocking pedestrian access without knowing why.

A figure in a red uniform came down to the basement of the warehouse and reported.

“Section Chief. The deployment of the third team is complete.”

The middle-aged woman called Section Chief was wearing a red uniform like the others around her.

“So, the deployment of all teams is now complete?”

At the question from the woman with a harsh expression devoid of any makeup, the team leaders bowed their heads in unison.

“Yes, Section Chief.”

There was no hesitation.

The woman stood up.

“Commence the operation.”

“Loyalty!”

The response was brief, and the action was immediate.

As the operation began, her subordinates moved swiftly and accurately.

The middle-aged woman’s white hair fluttered in the wind as she emerged from the warehouse.

“…Section Chief.”

Central Inspection Section Chief, Dokgo Yayeon.

Her characteristic white eyes turned to the subordinate who had called her.

“What is it, Hwabok?”

Uncharacteristically serious, Hwabok licked his lips and asked in a cautious tone.

“…Is this really okay?”

At the question laden with all sorts of implied queries, she gave a cold snort.

“Before you worry about things beyond your station, how about carrying out your orders first?”

“…I will obey the order.”

Hwabok hesitated for a moment, as if about to say something, then bowed his head and ran out of the alley.

She watched the retreating figure of her loyal subordinate, then raised her gaze towards the far end of the street.

Her subordinates were rapidly approaching a massive palace from various directions.

‘Sword House Battlefield.’

Though there was a bitter taste in her mouth, as always, her expression betrayed none of her emotions.

“My, my, who do we have here?”

“……!”

Startled by the voice that came without any warning, she reflexively grasped the handle of her sword.

“If it isn’t the famous white-haired, white-eyed ghost?”

Slightly emerging from the darkness of the alley, the boy was someone she knew.

“Young Master…!”

He was the one responsible for mobilizing the Central Inspection Section.

Young Master Yeon So-hyeon, after confirming once again that there was no one around her, slowly approached.

“Well, well. So the Central Inspection Section has decided to move, as expected.”

He feigned innocence.

“Isn’t it a bit dangerous? I heard the Law Enforcement Agency decided not to take action.”

Dokgo Yayeon glared at the Eldest Young Master as if she could incinerate him with her gaze alone, but as always, he paid no attention.

“Your superior, the head of the Inspection Department, wouldn’t have given permission, would he?”

Having somehow made his way to her side, he clasped his hands behind his back and looked off into the distance at her subordinates as he continued speaking.

“The political neutrality of the Central Inspection Section will be compromised. Are you okay with that?”

She answered through gritted teeth.

“…Not taking action when criminal evidence is right before our eyes is what would compromise the political neutrality of the Central Inspection Section.”

An answer filled with her pride and conviction.

“That’s a good answer!”

Yeon So-hyeon let out a small laugh at her response.

“Excellent. Truly excellent.”

Seeing Yeon So-hyeon nodding repeatedly, she became enraged but managed to control her anger as she spoke.

“…If you have any more evidence in your possession, why don’t you hand it over now?”

At her words, Yeon So-hyeon shrugged.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just happened to be passing by and saw a familiar face, so I thought I’d say hello.”

For a moment, she was about to burst out in anger but held it back.

She realized that if she acknowledged Yeon So-hyeon’s connection to those anonymously submitted documents, the situation would become much more complicated.

“…Have you not heard any information about potential additional anonymous submissions?”

“There might be, or there might not be.”

He turned to her with a bright smile.

“How would I know that?”

The sound of her teeth grinding could be heard.

“Then why on earth are you here?”

“Hm? I didn’t come looking for the Central Inspection Section.”

Yeon So-hyeon looked at her as if he couldn’t understand what she was saying.

“It’s the Central Inspection Section that has barged into the Sword House Battlefield I was planning to visit.”

And with that, he started walking towards the Sword House Battlefield with his characteristically leisurely gait.

“Well then, I’ll be off. I have a prior engagement.”

What on earth was the picture he was painting?

Dokgo Yayeon’s mind was in turmoil as she glared at his retreating figure.