Chapter 230 : Mujin, You’re Cool
Chapter 230: Mujin, You’re Cool
“An investigator from the Murim Alliance has arrived.”
After guiding Mujin and Ma Young-gi to the room with the corpses, Yang Hae immediately went to find Phoenix.
“How many came?”
“Two.”
Phoenix was inwardly relieved. If a dozen people had flocked in, it'd've been a problem to handle them.
“They arrived sooner than expected.”
“Because it's close.”
When Phoenix shot him a glare that asked who wanted that kind of answer, Yang Hae bowed his head.
At any rate, she certainly had leeway. If it was only two, she could handle them somehow.
“What should I do?”
“As soon as the investigation's finished, take them to a special suite and give them women and liquor.”
“As you know, the cost of that's not insignificant?”
Once again, Phoenix glared at Yang Hae, but having already said everything he had to say, he kept his head bowed low.
‘Scum-like bastard! He truly values gold more than his own life.’
Phoenix said with a sneer.
“We'll pay the costs, so make sure those two melt completely.”
Yang Hae wore a confident expression.
“Leave that to me.”
* * *
“Take a look at this.”
Ma Young-gi carefully examined the wound on the corpse Mujin pointed out.
The two were truly investigating the corpses. Through the scars on the bodies, they could guess the martial arts skills of those who killed them.
“It's truly clean. I don't think I've ever seen such clean skill before.”
“Right? Moreover, all four were taken down from the side or behind.”
“Are they those who learned the assassination methods of a killer?”
“They've learned how to kill, but they're not killers. That's why they're more terrifying.”
The two faced each other and nodded once. It was an exchange of glances containing the intent to be careful.
Then Mujin's gaze turned toward the door. Someone outside had started eavesdropping on their conversation.
Mujin's voice changed irritably.
“These brats. Of all places, they had to kick the bucket in our district. It's a pain in the neck.”
In an instant, Mujin changed into a jaded warrior of the Murim Alliance.
On the other hand, Ma Young-gi decided to go with his original personality. He became a stiff subordinate warrior.
“How should I write the report?”
“What do you mean, how? Just write that they killed each other while fighting.”
“It looks like the work of a killer, doesn't it?”
“You brat! Just handle it roughly. If the culprit becomes a killer, we have to chase this case to the end. Are you going to go search through all the killers to catch the culprit?”
“No.”
“Then do as I tell you!”
“……Yes.”
With an uneasy face, Ma Young-gi wrote something in the booklet he was holding.
Mujin sat in a chair to one side.
“It's soft and really comfortable, truly comfortable. Is this real tiger skin?”
“It seemed so. I checked it earlier.”
“Bastard. You still managed to see everything while acting like you don’t care huh.”
“I just happened to see it.”
When heard from outside, the conversation between the two looked like a jaded veteran and a stiff subordinate.
“How much does it cost to have a drink in a place like this?”
“I heard it costs well over several hundred silver coins for a single night.”
“Damn it! Some brats drink expensive liquor and play with beauties on both sides, while we work like dogs clearing away corpse maggots. It's unfair! The world's truly and filthily unfair!”
When he finished those words, Mujin nodded his head once more.
He felt that the presence felt from outside had disappeared. The person who'd come by secretly was a master at the brothel. Under Yang Hae's orders, he'd listened to what kind of conversation the two were having.
A moment later, Yang Hae entered the room. Having heard the content of the conversation, he expected that this matter'd be handled very easily.
“Investigators, you've worked hard. How's the investigation going?”
“The investigation of the bodies is roughly finished. Now I've something to ask you.”
“Please ask.”
“Who was the one who stayed here?”
“He was a young lord.”
“His name?”
“He didn't reveal it. He was a guest who came to our brothel for the first time. He seemed to have a lot of money.”
“He must've. If he was to the point of renting a place like this to play. His appearance?”
“He was wearing a mask on his face, so I couldn't confirm it.”
“He wore a mask? Even if you didn't see him, wouldn't the courtesans've seen him?”
“He said he didn't take off the mask even in the room.”
Then Mujin shook his head.
“Haha, what kind of nonsense is that? Then you mean he did womanizing while wearing a mask?”
“He said he didn't sleep with the courtesans.”
“Coming to this expensive place and saying such nonsense!”
Mujin shouted abruptly.
Yang Hae said with a smiling face.
“Among people with lots of money, aren't there those who commit eccentricities? Now, instead of doing this, let's move to another spot first. You've worked hard investigating, so go and at least moisten your throats.”
“We're still on duty though?”
When Mujin wore a troubled expression, Yang Hae slightly pulled his collar and spoke.
“You can just have one light drink. Who'll know? Even if someone knows, what'll they say if you say you were investigating the courtesans? Now, let's go.”
“I had to investigate the courtesans anyway. Then shall we have just one drink for both purposes?”
Mujin followed along as if he couldn't help it. Ma Young-gi followed behind him with a grumbling expression.
* * *
Yang Hae took the two of them to another special suite.
There were a total of three special suites in the Baekseon Pavilion; originally Yeo Su-in used one, and the other two were empty.
But now, there were corpses in the first special suite, and Yeo Su-in had entered the second special suite.
Yang Hae took Mujin and Ma Young-gi to the remaining third special suite.
“Please wait a moment.”
Once Yang Hae left, the two examined the room. There was nothing particularly strange.
“From the start, Yeo Su-in was lucky.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Basically, a bastard who seeks the special suite of an expensive brothel like this doesn't come making such a fuss. They never leave a trace. They enter through the back door and leave through the back door.”
“Ah!”
“But if you haven't associated with people who use such brothels, and especially special suites, you wouldn't know. You just vaguely think. That if you act like that, they'll consider you a thoughtless rich brat. But in today's world, there are no such thoughtless rich brats. They look around more and act more cautiously. If I were the pursuers, I'd've investigated the Yeo Su-in in the rumors immediately.”
Ma Young-gi nodded. Of course, it was partly because Yeo Su-in was lucky, but he thought more so that Mujin's insight was deep. He'd accurately pointed out something that an ordinary person would've just passed over.
“Then the owner of the brothel might've known something was strange.”
“Normally he should've known. That something's strange. But as you saw earlier, that bastard's too jaded. He's become a human who sees gold before proper judgment. If you're in an outhouse for a long time, you can't smell the dung, can you?”
Ma Young-gi didn't hide his surprised expression. Truly, how did he know all these things? What Baek Seolyoung had asked Lee Jaseung, Ma Young-gi now wanted to ask.
Of course, Mujin's playfulness didn't allow for that.
“I’m cool, right?”
“Yes.”
“As much as our Lord?”
“Not that much. I think you're about the next after him.”
“Hehehe. Soon the ranking'll be reversed.”
“On what basis do you have such confidence?”
“When a male gets married, his charm as a male disappears. He becomes a husband instead of a man. Later on, he becomes a parent.”
“I can't imagine our Lord like that.”
“You'll see soon. Those two like each other to death, so they'll have a child soon.”
“But wouldn't it be more upsetting if you lost to a father in a charm battle?”
“That can't happen. Hehehe.”
Looking at Mujin's eyes wavering, Ma Young-gi laughed. Truly, Mujin was the best person he'd ever seen at matching the opponent's mood.
He was a person who sincerely cared for others. He'd willingly lower himself for a single piece of a small smile given to the opponent.
Ma Young-gi knows.
That only a truly strong person can do that. A person who's strong as a person, not just in martial arts.
That's why he respects him. Although there's only a few years' age difference, he feels like a truly dependable older brother.
“By the way, have you set a method for how to approach Yeo Su-in?”
“Roughly.”
Just then, the sound of people walking in the outer corridor was heard. It was the sound of bringing the table of liquor.
“Worry later and let's play a bit first.”
“Is it okay to play?”
“Of course. Since we've come to a brothel, we have to drink and play. You followed along because you wanted to play too, didn't you?”
“No.”
“Hehehe.”
“I said it's really not! I, truly…….”
He couldn't bring himself to say to his face that he'd followed along because he was worried about Mujin. He's weak at taking credit.
In the end, Ma Young-gi let out a sigh and spoke.
“Sigh. You're right, I came because I wanted to play.”
Dependable older brother? All the older brothers must've died. Cared for the opponent, my foot. He's a beast trying to tease the opponent somehow.
“You should've admitted it long ago. Hahahaha.”
In the meantime, the liquor table was set, and soon after, the courtesans entered.
They were the most beautiful women in the Baekseon Pavilion. Truly, they were ecstatic beauties that could never be seen on the street.
When the two women stood by the door for a moment, Mujin asked.
“Which one do you like? The left? The right?”
Ma Young-gi hesitated for a moment. It was because of the thought that choosing in front of the women was somehow sorry and rude.
“Then I'll choose first.”
Then Ma Young-gi said in a small voice.
“……The left one.”
“Hahahaha. Right. Our Young-gi's taste's always the left.”
Ma Young-gi was someone who'd also chosen the left when sharing a table with a woman at a tavern before. Coincidentally, he liked the woman on the left today too.
“Hahahaha. Treat him well. My younger brother grew up so nobly that it's his first time in a place like this.”
“My. Such a cool person! I can't believe it. Now, please have a drink from me.”
At the word 'cool', Ma Young-gi's face turned red.
Looking at him receiving the wine glass, Mujin said.
“Especially when he's with a woman in a confined space, he's a person whose mood becomes even better.”
Ma Young-gi's face turned even redder.
Mujin's face, smiling at him, was saying this.
Claustrophobia? Woman-avoidance?
“Now, let's drink until we die today!”
At Mujin's shout, Ma Young-gi said with a stiff expression.
“You should only have one drink! We're still on duty.”
“You brat, shut up! Duty's over!”
Thus, they began to drink liquor joyfully.
Late at night.
Mujin stood in the back garden of the special suite.
His face was flushed red from the influence of the liquor.
The three special suites each had different front gardens, but they shared the back garden where Mujin was currently standing.
So from where Mujin stood, the back window of the special suite where Yeo Su-in was staying was visible.
There are various relationships in the world.
Most relationships take a long time to be created, starting with the first meeting. That's how people become family, friends, and neighbors.
Then how do you form a bond with a stranger?
Furthermore, how do you create a relationship with Yeo Su-in in just a single day?
Like this.
Mujin looked at the window of the building across where Yeo Su-in was staying and shouted abruptly.
“These damn Demonic Cult rascals! Come out now! I'll carve you down even to the bone with these two hands!”