“Righteous benefactor, welcome to the Seopyeong branch of our order.”
“Are you the branch leader?”
“That’s correct. Though I’ve only been in this position for four days. The previous branch leader turned out to be a traitor…”
Regarding the traitor in Seopyeong.
It already has a stench of foul play.
“Do you know why I’ve come?”
“Yes. Isn’t it to confirm whether Yang Mun-pyeong is truly a pawn of the Demonic Sect?”
The pace of this is pleasing.
“Is it certain that he’s backed by the Demonic Sect?”
“Yes. The traitorous former branch leader left evidence of communication with him.”
The branch leader handed me a neatly folded piece of paper. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a letter. I immediately opened it and checked its contents.
“…There’s no denying it.”
This is decent intelligence.
The letter inquired about the progress of internal affairs within our order regarding the suspected pawn.
Why they didn’t dispose of this is unclear, but it’s possible it was overlooked during the rushed change of leadership.
When your life is on the line, you tend to miss such things.
“What happened to the traitor?”
“He’s dead.”
“Did you kill him?”
“There is no organization that lets a traitor live.”
That’s true.
Under normal circumstances, there’s no reason to keep a traitor alive.
“However… If Yang becomes aware of this, he will likely attempt to flee.”
“Yes. I’ve already arranged for surveillance personnel in advance. And yesterday, I received intelligence indicating that he was preparing to leave Seopyeong.”
Hmm.
It seems they’ve also noticed the failure of the rebellion.
That would make things simpler.
“We need to seal off the area around his estate, then.”
I could take this letter to the Beggars’ Guild and have some beggars lie in wait around the estate. Capturing the moment he attempts to flee would be the most advantageous for securing evidence.
Announcing his affiliation with the Demonic Sect while surrounded by beggars is an option, but considering the evidence, from our order’s perspective, it might feel awkward to openly present.
A letter implying collaboration with the Demonic Sect, even if it’s tied to a dead traitor.
Frankly, catching him in the act of fleeing would benefit both our order and me.
“We should select some people and deploy them accordingly. It might also be a good idea to contact the Beggars’ Guild to spread beggars around the perimeter.”
With that, we should be able to secure those attempting to escape on foot.
Regarding the ground level.
“Hey, do you know if there’s an underground passage in his home?”
“Yang’s mansion has been around for twenty years, so finding the original architect could be difficult. However… Someone acting as a pawn for the Demonic Sect wouldn’t have failed to create a way out. So, there’s likely an underground passage.”
“Hmm…”
An underground tunnel.
I’ve dealt with something similar before.
In the end, their position was discovered, and they were wiped out.
“Digging it up isn’t an option, and sneaking inside to find it is possible…”
Without knowing the location of the tunnel, if they attempt to flee through it, the only option would be to follow them.
I’m not entirely certain if I can catch them with my speed.
While my lightness skill allows me to bypass obstacles, it’s not particularly fast. I don’t know how fast they are, but chasing them in the tunnel carries the risk of being buried alive.
“Guess I need to infiltrate as well.”
“…Will you be alright with that?”
“Just ensure the surveillance is tight. Mok-kyeong.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Have you practiced scaling walls?”
“…I did as a child, a few times.”
We need someone adept at infiltration. While I’m capable of a direct assault, I’m no thief when it comes to sneaking about.
Neither Hye-ryeong nor Mok-kyeong seems naturally gifted in stealth.
In Hye-ryeong’s case, her physique alone makes hiding challenging.
“Is there any follower of our order working inside Yang Mun-pyeong’s estate?”
“…There is one, but…”
“It seems relying on help from inside is out of the question.”
In that case, we should aim for entry by pretending it’s coincidental while setting up the perimeter.
“Understood. Prepare accordingly, and leave the entry method to us.”
“Understood.”
Since we’ve had this discussion, I’ll visit the Beggars’ Guild again tomorrow morning.
With thoughts on how to deal with the members of the Demonic Sect, I rose from my seat.
“Is this the estate?”
“Yes, great hero Wi. This is the Yang family estate.”
Wow, the length of the wall alone is intimidating.
A regular adult would need about twenty seconds to run its length.
“Master, which side do you plan to wait at?”
“The area near the main gate would be preferable.”
Is there anywhere around the main gate where I can observe covertly? I looked around for any suitable buildings or terrain. But there wasn’t anything adequate in sight.
“Most of this area belongs to Yang Mun-pyeong…”
‘It’s arranged with surveillance in mind, isn’t it?’
It’s peculiar how the surrounding buildings all have low profiles.
One might expect a few structures of two stories or more, but all the buildings near Yang’s estate are single-story.
“I understand that point, so let’s move on…”
How can we take these individuals down efficiently?
Should we just charge in?
Honestly, there’s nothing simpler than forcing your way in and causing a commotion. With the right attention drawn, a few methods can get me face-to-face with Yang Mun-pyeong immediately.
…Should we just give it a try?
They are bound to destroy evidence otherwise. It might already be done.
Let me check.
I pulled a lion mask from my robes and slipped it over my head.
When I suddenly donned the mask, Hye-ryeong looked at me and asked,
“Uncle, what’s that mask for?”
“For concealing my identity.”
“Does it actually hide your identity?”
“Who knows.”
Anyway, our inevitable clash with the Demonic Sect would only be delayed. No matter how cautiously we proceed, the Demonic Sect is the Demonic Sect—they will inevitably uncover my true identity in time.
Hence, I intend to create pandemonium.
To ensure they have no power in any eventual conflict.
Given the inherent numerical disadvantage against the Central Plains, if internal assistance vanishes, they won’t have the strength to rapidly conquer the Central Plains as in the original story.
“You look cool, Uncle!”
“You have quite an unusual taste.”
What’s there to admire about this strangely made lion mask?
I shook my head at Hye-ryeong’s peculiar preferences. In response, she pouted and lightly tapped my chest.
“My tastes are perfectly normal!”
“Sure, sure.”
“Master, what is your plan…?”
“Hmm…”
I stared at the two guards stationed at the main gate and then shifted my gaze to the seemingly endless wall.
“Should we just smash through?”
Hiding isn’t really my style.
Especially now that I’m wearing a lion mask.
I began walking alongside the wall past the main gate.
Approaching through the main gate felt a bit off.
As I started to walk, my companions followed.
“Great hero Wi, what strategy do you have?”
“What was your name again?”
“My name is Wang Chil.”
“What do you think of a method that accomplishes two goals?”
“…Capturing the enemy and retrieving information about the Demonic Sect?”
“No, capturing the enemy and using their passages.”
“Ah.”
The guys from the Beggars’ Guild are slow. The secret passageways they hide likely connect to some hidden chambers; taking these from them would be beneficial. If the occupants of the hidden chambers are eliminated, it’s all ours.
“But…”
“What do you think the members of the Demonic Sect hate most?”
Generally, the most reliable way to provoke someone obsessed with something is one method.
Based on what I know, there’s only one way.
“Calling slave warriors mere ‘boys’ was quite effective.”
In the battlefield, using insults to provoke the enemy happens frequently now and feels mundane, but those unfamiliar with it lack immunity.
When I reached a less crowded location, I stopped and faced the wall.
“Kids, it’s dangerous, so stay back while following me. Wang Chil, tell the beggars to encircle the area completely and prevent anyone from escaping.”
“Yes, great hero!”
“Uncle, surely you don’t intend to…”
“Master, haven’t you been breaking too many things recently?”
Ah, the righteous factions are cold.
Why are you looking at me like I’m an accident-prone troublemaker?
This is also a form of justice!
“But as I’m running, the wall is in the way, so what can I do? My lightness skill is not yet proficient enough to stop in time.”
Please stop glaring at me so harshly. I positioned my right foot behind me and bent down.
“Shall we go, then?”
Without hesitation, I unleashed my lightness skill toward the wall.
Accidentally.
…
