Chapter 91: The Outsiders (2)
Deng~.
"It is midnight."
As the bell announcing midnight rang from the bell tower, Gwon Bu-wi informed Hyang that midnight had arrived.
"I heard it. The clock there also points to midnight."
"I don't think they will be able to come in. There are more than a few walls to climb to reach Donggung Hall. And the Naegeum-wi guards on duty are not just one or two..."
When Gwon Bu-wi was reporting that they wouldn't be able to enter, a low voice was heard from outside the door.
"Still, if the master of Donggung Hall summons us, we must come."
At the suddenly heard voice, Gwon Bu-wi and the Naegeum-wi warrior gripped their swords and stood on either side of Hyang.
"If you've come, enter."
"Yes."
With a low answer, three men entered inside. Seeing the men wrapped in black from head to toe, Hyang said a word.
"Remove your face coverings."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The leaders of the Black Society who removed their face coverings bowed deeply to Hyang.
"We, the humble leaders of the Black Society, greet the Crown Prince, Your Highness."
"Sit comfortably in the chairs placed there."
"We are undeserving of such kindness."
When the leaders of the Black Society took their seats, Hyang went straight to the main topic.
"Where in Hanseong do the societies you command operate?"
In response to Hyang's question, the leaders spoke about the areas where they exercised influence.
"I lead the society in the Bukchon area."
"I am in Dadong..."
"I am in Unjong-ga..."
"Hmm... So it's the east, west, and north of central Hanseong. Is there none in the south?"
'Simply put, they're like gangsters who've divided up the prime areas of Gangnam in 21st century Seoul.'
In response to Hyang's question, the leaders explained the reason.
"There are no noble families in the south, and with Area 51 there, no society has established itself. Ah! There are those who live off the petty criminals dealing with Area 51 and nearby soldiers, calling themselves 'Gibu' and acting like hooligans, but they're utterly worthless fellows."
"Is that so. I see. The reason I called you today is..."
Hyang went straight to the point.
The areas Hyang intended to use them for were 'surveillance of officials' and 'advance detection of subversive groups.'
"Are there not the Sahyeon-bu and Sagan-won for the surveillance of officials?"
"There are. But I've learned something through several incidents. By the time the Sahyeon-bu or Sagan-won notice, it's almost always an irreparable situation. But wouldn't you be faster than that? There must be more than a few things heard in the gibang."
"That is true."
While the Dadong leader was nodding, the Bukchon leader raised a question.
"I understand what 'advance detection of subversive groups' means, but what is the reason for entrusting us with such an important duty?"
"Isn't the dark side your specialty?"
"..."
At Hyang's words, the leaders fell silent. Indeed, in the gibang, various things could be heard, and it was common to use this to seize opportunities or extort wealth.
"If we take on this work..."
When the Dadong leader opened his mouth, Hyang interrupted and answered immediately.
"There will be no official rank or appointment given to you and your members for the time being. No, honestly speaking, at least during His Majesty's reign, and even after I inherit the throne, there will be almost no occasion for you to appear publicly. Except for His Majesty, myself, and a very few others, no one will know of your existence. Instead, if you are killed or seriously injured while carrying out your duties, I will take responsibility to the end."
At Hyang's words, the leaders' faces became serious.
'Perhaps I shouldn't have climbed that wall?'
All three regretted climbing the wall, but it couldn't be helped. Just watching over things at the giwon was only giving them psychological emptiness.
"Must we give an answer immediately?"
"I think I've already given you sufficient time?"
"..."
At Hyang's pointed remark, the leaders fell silent again.
Because Hyang's words were true. Since learning of Hyang's identity, there had been over ten days until the fifteenth day. Among the members, there were many intelligent ones, and the conclusion of their discussions was almost identical to the proposal Hyang had just made. And the answer had already been decided there.
"We will follow Your Highness's proposal."
"Thank you!"
When the leaders accepted the proposal, Hyang finally leaned back in the chair and relaxed.
In the softened atmosphere, unlike the beginning, the Dadong leader joked with Hyang.
"But aren't you being too careless? If we had harbored ill intentions, what would you have done?"
"Well, there are guards beside me..."
Hyang moved the two books he had placed face-down on the desk. Under the books were two horse-mounted muskets with their hammers cocked.
"At least two of you wouldn't have made it back alive."
As soon as Hyang finished speaking, the voice of the Naegeum-wi commander was heard.
"No one would have made it back alive."
"Huh?"
Hyang and the leaders turned their heads toward the sound and froze.
The Naegeum-wi commander and a group of Naegeum-wi were aiming horse-mounted muskets, and behind them stood Sejong.
Sejong looked at Hyang with eyes dripping with killing intent.
"Crown Prince, you've certainly done something interesting."
"Hiccup!"
* * *
Before long, Hyang's room was filled with people. While the Naegeum-wi soldiers glared at the Black Society leaders with horse-mounted muskets ready to fire at any moment, Sejong moved toward Hyang's seat.
"Please sit here."
"...You and I will have a serious talk a little later."
"...Yes."
Sejong stood Hyang beside him, sat in the chair, and looked at the three leaders prostrated directly before him.
"So. Are you the leaders of the Murder Society that is said to dominate the nights of Hanseong?"
"Y-yes, Your Majesty."
"It is an honor to behold the face of His Majesty the King. Long live! Long live! Long live forever!"
"But as the King, I cannot say I am pleased. The Murder Society... How should I judge you?"
"..."
At Sejong's question, the leaders fell silent.
Among themselves, they used the elegant name of Black Society, but among the common people, they were called the Murder Society, making people tremble with fear.
Sejong, who had been watching the leaders in silence, spoke.
"If you follow the two commands I give you now, I will guarantee your lives. No, I will even give you glory, though not officially."
At Sejong's words, the leaders raised their heads to look at Sejong.
Sejong commanded the leaders in a stern voice.
"There are two commands you must keep. One is to carry out with all your might the orders the Crown Prince just gave you. The other is to make the nights of Hanseong safe."
"If we are to make the nights of Hanseong safe, what must we do?"
"Hanseong is a place where many people gather to live, so there cannot be no crime. However, crimes that harm human life, especially crimes like the recent great fire where innocent people's homes and lives were harmed to steal property, I cannot forgive! Therefore, you must prevent such things from happening! That is the second command you must carry out."
"Is this a command to eradicate the roots beforehand, or to report to the police station?"
"That is your choice. If you have the leisure, report to the police station. If not, it is acceptable to act first and report later. However! If it is proven to be a false accusation, that crime will absolutely not be light!"
At Sejong's command, the leaders fell silent and sank into deep thought.
"We will obey His Majesty's royal command."
The first to make a decision was the Dadong leader.
"We will obey the command!"
"We will obey the command!"
When the Dadong leader made his decision, the other two leaders also followed suit and accepted Sejong's command.
"Good. Then implement the command starting tomorrow. And... I will soon select someone to be in charge of communication with you and inform you."
"We will obey the command!"
"Then leave! And keep silent about today's events until you die!"
"We will obey the command!"
The leaders who answered Sejong's command bowed deeply and politely retreated backward out of Hyang's room.
Watching this, Hyang felt something familiar.
'Is this a Joseon Hanseong version of Las Vegas?'
* * *
Las Vegas was a place where the mafia's influence had been strong since its inception.
To make tourists flock to Las Vegas, the method the mafia took was ironically 'strengthening public security.'
Scam gamblers, those engaging in prostitution in unauthorized areas, and drug dealers disappeared without a trace into the sand of the nearby desert by the mafia.
* * *
"You follow behind them and identify where they entered from."
"Yes, sir!"
At the Naegeum-wi commander's command, the Naegeum-wi soldiers left the room following the leaders.
The faces of the Naegeum-wi following the leaders were serious.
Since Hyang's gibang tour, the Naegeum-wi commander had been paying more attention to the palace's night security. In that situation, today's breach had occurred.
If the cause of today's breach was not an unknown weakness but simple human error, it was certain that wailing would be heard starting tomorrow.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Hyang's room, only Sejong, the Naegeum-wi commander, Gwon Bu-wi, and one other warrior remained.
"Do you carry four or five spare lives with you? Did you do such a thing trusting only those two muskets?"
At Sejong's words, Hyang answered with a smile.
"Surely you don't think I would be that careless?"
"How can you laugh in this situation!"
Sensing that Sejong's atmosphere was not ordinary, Hyang hurriedly removed the Ikseon-gwan he was wearing and held it out.
"I had my own preparations."
Sejong, receiving the Ikseon-gwan Hyang held out, examined the inside, surprised by its unexpected weight.
Inside the Ikseon-gwan, iron plates were lined.
"Even if the head is protected..."
At Sejong's words, Hyang hurriedly untied the ties of his Gonryong-po. Inside the Gonryong-po, plate armor was protecting his chest, and following the collar made slightly larger than usual, the plate armor was protecting his neck in place of protective neck guards.
"It is truly good that the Gonryong-po has a generous fit."
"Hoo~."
Sejong, who had been listening to Hyang's explanation, let out a long sigh and opened his mouth.
"Choose. One hundred days of document organizing punishment, or being whipped right now."
"Shall I tell them to bring the punishment platform?"
"Haa~."
Sejong, who sighed at Hyang's words, pointed at the desk with his finger.
* * *
"...This is my first and last warning to you as your father. I understand well the importance of what you want to do, and I understand well that it must be kept secret. But I will not forgive you hiding it even from your father. If you get caught again, I will make you organize all the documents of the Ministry of Taxation and the Ministry of Personnel!"
"Yes! I will definitely report to His Majesty!"
At Sejong's warning, Hyang answered standing upright, forgetting even the pain in his calves. As the person who created the document organizing punishment, he knew its notoriety well.
"Then, go to your sleeping quarters."
"We are undeserving of your boundless grace."
The Naegeum-wi commander who left Donggung Hall following Sejong asked Sejong a question.
"Though I am fearful to ask, how did you come to accept the ruffians of the Murder Society?"
"They say fight poison with poison. The Murder Society should have its uses."
"Will they have the capability?"
"If they breached the Naegeum-wi, doesn't that mean they have some level of skill?"
"I will train the Naegeum-wi even more strictly. Grit."
At Sejong's words, the Naegeum-wi commander ground his teeth. Today's events were a disgrace to the Naegeum-wi.
"You'll wear yourself out."
"We are undeserving of your grace."
"By the way, make sure today's events don't spread outside."
"My subordinates are fully trustworthy."
"That is fortunate."
Sejong, who was walking while listening to the Naegeum-wi commander's answer, suddenly had a gleam in his eyes.
"Hmm... I've thought of a good way to test the Murder Society's capabilities."
* * *
Five days later, Gwon Bu-wi - who had been promoted from the miscellaneous position of Jeong 8-pum Maeng-geon-bu-wi to the regular position of Jeong 8-pum Sung-ui-bu-wi - entered the giwon where the Dadong leader stayed.
"I've come to meet the leader."
"Who shall I say is visiting from where?"
"Tell them I've come from Unjong-ga."
"Yes."
A moment later, the Dadong leader who appeared upon hearing someone was looking for him paused for a moment upon seeing Gwon Bu-wi's face, then soon approached and bowed.
"It's been a long time since we last met."
"Thank you for remembering me. I'll probably be the one coming mainly. If not me, tell them someone from 'Bukak' came."
"Bukak... I understand. What brings you here today?"
"The first thing is to teach you this code word, and the second is that the Elder wishes to see you."
"The Elder?"
Gwon Bu-wi silently raised his right index finger upward.
"Ah! When?"
"Three days from now, at midnight. And the palace's north side gate will be left open, so come through there. If you unnecessarily climb the wall like last time, the Naegeum-wi will welcome you very warmly. Because of what you did last time, the Naegeum-wi have been letting off some steam."
"...I understand."
"Then I'll be going."
"Won't you have a drink before you go?"
"I'll be in and out of gibang enough to get sick of it from now on, so before that, I need to build up merit with my wife."
At Gwon Bu-wi's words, the Dadong leader laughed and replied.
"Hahaha! Next time you come, I'll prepare medicinal wine that helps with vitality!"
"I'm counting on you!"
* * *
Three days later, at midnight.
The leaders who entered through the north side gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace met Sejong at Gangnyeong Hall.
"Did you summon us?"
"Yes. There is something you must do."
"What is it?"
"It is related to the Crown Prince. You are well aware that the marriage ban has been issued, correct?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"The Crown Prince, that audacious one, has presented a truly difficult task."
"Pardon?"
Sejong explained to the leaders the standards Hyang wanted for the Crown Princess.
"...Therefore, we have established the Wedding Inspectorate and are looking for suitable women, but it is not easy. So, you try looking for them."
"...Yes."
"This is also a test of your capabilities. The one who brings the fastest, and the best results will be guaranteed a higher position."
At Sejong's words, the leaders answered with bewildered expressions.
"We, we will do our utmost!"