The Mad Dog Inspector of the Martial Alliance

Rewarding merit is inherently a scene of insidious, sordid, and dirty political maneuvering.

It is called rewarding merit because one discusses each other's merits and gives rewards.

To take even one more, to snatch even one more, one must viciously bite, tear, and belittle each other while praising oneself. That was the normal state of affairs.

But today's rewarding of merit was different.

It was amicable, with both sides giving and taking. The third-rank Inspector General in charge of Luoyang's security, Gwon Cheonhui, laughed heartily as he held up a pouch full of gold ingots.

"This is all thanks to you, younger brother So. You should take this, younger brother So."

"Oh my, elder brother. What are you saying? It was because of you that I was able to work so comfortably, so how can it be my merit? It's all thanks to you, elder brother. You should take this too."

"No, this person, really! I can't win against you!"

What was being given and taken was the wealth of the Hakseo Escort Agency. The wealth they had accumulated over the years was truly vast. Of course, it had to be. Illegality makes money. Because it makes money, it is illegal. Because it is illegal, it is only natural that it is returned to the country like this. And in that process, it is also inevitable that one takes a little for oneself!

Gwon Cheonhui, not even hiding his happy expression, said.

"Can I really take the credit for the crime of treason committed by the Hakseo Escort Agency?"

"Is there any doubt? All I did was report that 'there might be treason,' and wasn't it you, elder brother, who took the humble words of a commoner seriously and acted? So it's all your merit."

"Thank you. Thank you."

Gwon Cheonhui had no choice but to be grateful. The large-scale embezzlement committed by the Hakseo Escort Agency was rightly punished as treason. The numerous deceptive tactics, embezzlement, and fraudulent business practices were a challenge to the authority of the imperial family. This matter quickly reached the emperor's ears through the Eastern Depot. The emperor, upon hearing this story, became furious and ordered the related parties to be severely punished, while at the same time personally praising Gwon Cheonhui.

That meant that his rank would soon rise by one level.

"Among all those officials, you singled me out and came to me. I will not forget your consideration."

"Hahahaha. Just your kind heart, elder brother, is enough to fill my stomach. In that sense, how about one more pouch?"

"That's enough, that's enough. If I eat any more, I'll get sick. My, my, I'm only taking it because my younger brother is giving it to me, but it feels strange."

Gwon Cheonhui was an official renowned for his integrity. It wasn't for nothing that he was a third-rank Inspector General. He was noble and never accepted bribes. In fact, he was famous for severely punishing those who offered bribes and made requests. So why was he accepting this money from Jang So-gil?

'Because this exchange of money was a deal between us, a contract.'

A bribe is a dangerous thing for both the giver and the receiver. That is, if it was given and received, it meant that they were in the same boat and were accomplices. So, even if it was money he didn't want to receive, he had to be forced to take it to get on the boat.

Jang So-gil gave money to Gwon Cheonhui. Gwon Cheonhui received that money. From now on, Gwon Cheonhui and Jang So-gil were partners.

Strictly speaking, Gwon Cheonhui belonged to the same righteous category as Yang Gwan. The difference was that he also knew how to bend, had a political sense, and knew reality very well. If Yang Gwan were to enter the political scene and roll around for about 40 years, wouldn't he become like this?

Jang So-gil grinned.

"It's money that won't get caught anyway. It's not our money either."

"Even so, I can't help but feel strange."

"Then how about making a donation?"

"That sounds good. You are very wise."

Even if it's money that won't cause trouble, is a bribe still a bribe, making him feel uncomfortable?

Jang So-gil inwardly raised Gwon Cheonhui's value by one level. High-ranking officials of the imperial family were originally good investments that wouldn't cause a loss even if you maintained a long friendship, but if they were also upright and moral officials, they were even more valuable. It was right to continue the relationship for a long time.

"Then what will you do with the rest of the money?"

"As you said, we'll first exclude the amount of tax evasion that the Martial Alliance will take, and you can take as much as you want as a victim at your discretion. I'll tolerate most of it. And if the Eastern Depot takes the rest as embezzled money, this matter will be over."

Gwon Cheonhui takes the credit. Jang So-gil takes the wealth.

Their secret agreement was swift and peaceful. The Hakseo Escort Agency didn't even get a chance to speak.

The Chief Escort, Lee Deokryang, was killed by Yang Gwan, and the brain, Wang Yi, committed suicide by banging his head against a pillar upon hearing that the Eastern Depot was coming. It was a hundred times better to die than to be toyed with by the Eastern Depot, which boasted the best torture skills in the Central Plains, so he was a wise man to the end. The escort head, who was sleeping drunk without knowing anything, was eventually dragged away by the Eastern Depot, so even if he was alive, he was not living, and even if he died, he was not dead.

For the escort head, it must have been a bolt from the blue. He was just a figurehead president who sought advice from Wang Yi and gave instructions as Wang Yi said. He didn't know anything, but they tortured him to confess what he knew, so how could he endure it? By now, he must be wailing that he knows nothing while having all his fingernails and toenails pulled out.

'I don't know what's so unfair about a bastard who colluded with the Demonic Cult for money. A bastard who closed his ears and eyes, only looking at the money coming into his hands, regardless of whether others shed blood or died, deserves that fate.'

Thus, with Lee Deokryang gone, Wang Yi gone, and the escort head gone, there was no one left to claim the rights of the Hakseo Escort Agency and protest. So, in Jang So-gil's eyes, it was a feast. Even after the Martial Alliance took its share and Jang So-gil took his, what was left was still several times the amount of the embezzled money.

If he took it with a conscience, the Eastern Depot would not make an issue of it at all. And if, by any chance, he bribed the Eastern Depot before any problems arose later, it was safe to say that there would be no future troubles.

Jang So-gil calmly lifted his teacup and smiled.

"If I cross the line, I will be suspected by the Eastern Depot, but I will handle it well. Of course, I plan to take measures so that there will be no problems for you, elder brother."

"I'll trust you."

"Ah, just in case, I have one more question. I'd like to receive a building as my compensation, would that be alright?"

"A building? Are you perhaps talking about this Hakseo Escort Agency?"

"Oh my, no, no. I don't need such an extravagant building. It's quite embarrassing to say this, but I'm a person with no home, so I've been living in an inn for half a year."

For a moment, sympathy appeared in Gwon Cheonhui's eyes. It was because he had also learned about the tragic event in Sichuan this time.

The incident where everything in the Great Cloud Merchant Guild was burned down and the entire family and household were massacred.

But with the help of the Sichuan authorities, who were famous for colluding with the Tang Clan, the evidence was destroyed and the incident was downplayed, so even the Martial Alliance did not know about the Great Cloud Guild's affair until Jang So-gil appeared.

The officials of Sichuan couldn't help it, because the taxes from the Tang Clan came in regularly, and their loyalty to the imperial family was also unwavering.

Besides, there was the excuse that the matter between the Great Cloud Guild and the Tang Clan could not be seen entirely as a matter between commoners and martial artists. The Great Cloud Guild also had martial artists, and since they were not fools, they were in the process of gathering martial artists to stand against the Tang Clan.

So the imperial family decided to leave the Tang Clan's tyranny unpunished. It was because they were endlessly generous to martial artists as long as it was not a challenge to their authority.

'How pitiful...'

Jang So-gil's young appearance and his weak body, which had not learned internal energy, made him look even younger and more pitiful. He called him younger brother, but he was actually the age of his son. Gwon Cheonhui nodded his head with a worried voice and said.

"You've suffered a lot in a foreign land, younger brother."

"Yes. It's quite embarrassing, but that's why I want to make the building where the martial arts hall was my home."

"The martial arts hall? It's old and was used by children, so it won't be a very good place to live."

"It's shabby, but I can fix it up and use it, and the location is great, isn't it?"

To the left is the Hakseo Escort Agency, and behind it is the government office. The escort agency's building will now belong to the country and will be sold back to a local influential person at a high price. In terms of location, it was bad for a shop or a martial arts hall, but the security was exceptionally good. It would be a good safe house.

"I see. If you say so, younger brother, I won't say another word. I'll make sure to specify that part clearly before I go."

"Thank you, elder brother."

"Not at all. We're friends, aren't we? We'll be seeing each other often from now on, hahaha."

"No, no. I'm becoming a martial artist from now on. My deviation ends here. It would be quite troublesome to see you often, elder brother."

"Is that so?"

"It is."

"I don't think so."

Jang So-gil and Cheonhui looked at each other and burst out laughing at the same time.

It certainly seemed like they would be seeing each other for a long time.

* * *

By the time Yang Gwan finished his work and returned, everything was over.

A few workers had been hired to renovate the martial arts hall, and Jang So-gil was counting promissory notes in the headmaster's room that Wang Yi used to use. It seemed that he had earned quite a lot of money from this incident. There were piles of promissory notes worth a hundred taels each.

Yang Gwan, who was sulking, grumbled and sat on the floor.

"I see your skills well, Guild Master So. You got a house and money overnight. You must be happy to have a reliable supporter too."

"Why are you so angry?"

"Hmph. It's nothing."

"Is it because you went through all that trouble and got nothing?"

He couldn't bring himself to say no.

Yang Gwan's face turned red with embarrassment.

"What, do you think martial artists hate wealth! We're people too. We have to eat to live. To eat and live, you need money, don't you!"

"You're right. If you didn't know, I would have been angry. A bastard who doesn't even know what he does to earn money and eat deserves to die."

"Uh, ugh. Is that a compliment...?"

"It's a compliment."

What Jang So-gil despised the most was a martial artist who earned a thousand gold pieces just by swinging a sword, but didn't know the value of money or how precious it was, used it recklessly, and treated merchants and farmers like insects.

"I wish those bastards who throw four or five silver taels for a single meal at an inn would get struck by lightning and die."

"..."

"Anyway, I prepared something because I thought you'd be disappointed."

"What is it?"

What Jang So-gil held out was a promissory note. And not just one, but three promissory notes worth a hundred taels each!

The annual salary of a fairly high-ranking official, a county magistrate, was forty to fifty taels. How many years' salary was three hundred taels? Yang Gwan jumped at this eye-popping amount.

"Wh-what is this money?!"

"It's the money you're supposed to receive."

"Why are you giving me such a large sum of money?"

"It's nothing special. As you can see from the situation, I was a good commoner being intimidated by demons wearing the guise of evil spirits."

"What kind of bullshit is that? A good commoner?"

"That's how the situation is, you fool. Now, let's think. In that situation, who protected me?"

"Me."

"Then what should you be called?"

A large number of martial artists surrounding a good commoner.

A person who, without being intimidated or running away, relied on a single spear and protected the commoner.

"A person like this is called a chivalrous man."

"Wh-wh-what!"

Yang Gwan's face turned as red as a chili pepper. It was like fire even though he hadn't used the Fire Wheel Art.

Jang So-gil, thinking that the sight was ridiculous, continued.

"That chivalrous man happened to be one of the ten famous dragons under heaven, the Fire Dragon. Then what would the authorities think of this story?"

"I have no idea."

"Oh my, if we spread this rumor well, we can turn it into a beautiful story and promote it. While we're at it, we can add that His Majesty the Emperor bestowed gold, and if we say that the authorities cooperated and the two worked closely together to rescue the commoner, the commoners will be very, very happy~ they'll think. The only things the country cares about are treason and the public sentiment of the people. The higher the public sentiment, the better, so if it can be managed cheaply, it's a profit to manage it. A good news like this is worth enough to be overlooked a little even if there's a drought somewhere."

"..."

"In that sense, it's money from the country. Take it, it won't cause any trouble."

"It's too much. How about you take it, Guild Master So?"

"Of course, it was my framework and my suggestion, so I've taken my share of money separately, so don't worry and take it. I also took an extra three hundred taels."

Could there be a bigger robber than this?

Yang Gwan was beyond impressed, he was astonished. He looked at the promissory note with a reluctant expression, then slightly raised the corners of his mouth. It seemed that money was good after all. Jang So-gil, who was staring at Yang Gwan, clicked his tongue.

"Anyway, I'll be in your care from today."

"What do you mean?"

"I've also come out into the open now, so enemies will come. The collaborators and related parties of the Hakseo Escort Agency, the Demonic Cult bastards, and the mad dog bastards from Sichuan will all be like that. You protect me from assassins. Well, you probably won't have to do it for long."

"You won't have to do it for long, what do you mean?"

Jang So-gil tapped Yang Gwan's head as if he were pathetic.

"You can't protect me forever, can you? So I have to prepare too."

"What kind of preparation are you talking about? Are you thinking of increasing the number of martial artists?"

"That won't solve anything. It's a temporary measure."

Offense is easier than defense. The lives of assassins are infinite as long as there is money and a cause. But Jang So-gil's life is one. The defense will be breached someday, and then Jang So-gil will die.

To avoid such a result, there is only one way.

"I have no choice but to become a master myself.”

(End of Chapter)