The Unforgivable Ones (1)

Beijing City felt strangely unsettled upon his return.

“What’s going on?”

Soldiers carrying swords were far more numerous than before, and Gold Guard operatives were spread everywhere like a net.

“Hey, what happened?”

Neung Je-gang grabbed a soldier who was walking past with bulging eyes.

“What the—? Ah! A sword!”

The soldier caught sight of Neung Je-gang’s Mindless Sword and suddenly shouted. In an instant, soldiers with leveled spears swarmed in around him.

“W-what is this?”

Neung Je-gang was dumbfounded. Under the Ming Empire’s laws, anyone who was not an official was forbidden from carrying weapons longer than two chi. Because of resistance from martial artists, the law had long been a dead letter. Had they suddenly decided to enforce it again now? He couldn’t understand why the mere sight of the Mindless Sword caused such a commotion.

“Unfasten your weapon!”

A man who looked to be a White Tiger Captain appeared and barked at him.

Neung Je-gang took out the golden plaque from his robe and held it up.

“I’m with the Eastern Depot. What’s going on? Did something happen?”

“Hah! My apologies.”

“Apologies won’t do. What happened? Speak!”

“Last night, the Grand Eunuch and the Grand Preceptor were assassinated.”

“What?”

‘Damn it! I should’ve prepared for this….’

If there were just a few people like Hwangbo Chu, even the Grand Eunuch inside the Imperial Palace could be in danger. He had assumed they wouldn’t dare infiltrate the palace itself—his carelessness had cost him.

“This is bad.”

It was truly bad. His agreement with the Grand Eunuch might have been rendered meaningless.

Neung Je-gang immediately leapt away to find Yeon Bo-pyeong. In this situation, he was the only person he could consult about what to do next.

“Why are you only coming now?”

Yeon Bo-pyeong was clearly flustered as well. With the unprecedented assassination of the Eastern Depot’s Grand Eunuch inside the Imperial Palace, even he was at a loss.

“What happens now?”

“Until a new Grand Eunuch is appointed, we’ll be operating under an emergency system. We’ll have to follow the orders of the next in line.”

“Is that so? And who would that be?”

At Neung Je-gang’s question, Yeon Bo-pyeong raised his hand and pointed at him.

“Me? I’m next in line?”

“Unfortunately, yes. The Inspector-General of Imperial Edicts is third in the Eastern Depot’s hierarchy.”

“Then there should be a second, shouldn’t there?”

“The Deputy Grand Eunuch position existed, but it was vacant—an unnecessary post.”

“H-ha ha ha! This is absurd…! Have you forgotten that I was only brought in temporarily?”

“Temporary or not, there’s no choice right now. We just need someone who can fill the Grand Eunuch’s seat and stabilize things. I beg you—help us until His Majesty appoints a new Grand Eunuch.”

Moved by Yeon Bo-pyeong’s earnest plea, Neung Je-gang finally nodded.

“Fine. What should we do first?”

“We must summon the heads of the Three Offices and One Bureau. Also, call the Central Plains Directorate Chief and the Central Plains Directorate’s field operatives stationed in Beijing. I’ll gather the Beijing Branch operatives myself.”

From the moment Neung Je-gang agreed, Yeon Bo-pyeong addressed him with full respect.

“Then please proceed as planned. I’m unfamiliar with the procedures for summoning them, so handle that for me. And—the seats of the Intelligence Office Chief and the Secret Office Chief are still vacant, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Then summon the next in line. And tell all Eastern Depot operatives in Beijing to remain within their jurisdictions. They’re running around trying to catch the culprit and only making things worse.”

“Understood.”

Neung Je-gang went straight to the office of the deceased Go Tak to inspect the scene. Go Tak had been beheaded. Judging by the shattered table and the two deep gouges crossing the floor, there had been a fierce battle.

“These marks were made by a single strike. The Grand Eunuch was driven back by it, and then someone behind him took his head. Two culprits—maybe more. Were they people who came down from the mountain? They came to kill me, so why did they kill the Grand Eunuch and the Grand Preceptor instead?”

Neung Je-gang pondered briefly. The mastermind was almost certainly So-hui. What did she want?

“To prevent a split within the Chancellor’s faction? That could be one reason.”

The death of the Vice Minister had sparked division and unrest, and this single act crushed it all at once. After seeing the Grand Eunuch killed inside the palace itself, the Chancellor’s faction wouldn’t dare make reckless moves.

“But that can’t be all. This is meant to draw me out.”

Neung Je-gang let out a bitter sigh.

Because he hid himself so well, So-hee had resorted to an extreme measure. With the Grand Eunuch dead, Neung Je-gang had only one thing left to do.

Catch the culprit.

Inevitably, a clash with those who had descended from the mountain awaited him.

He stepped outside. The Imperial Guard who had been protecting the Grand Eunuch’s residence were nowhere to be seen—either dead, or imprisoned for failing their duty.

“Everyone is assembled.”

An Eastern Depot operative rushed up to report.

Following him, Neung Je-gang came face-to-face with the gathered officials Yeon Bo-pyeong had summoned. Unexpectedly, Gye Yu was among them as well. With the Intelligence Office Chief dead, Gye Yu seemed to have risen to the highest rank by chance.

“Beijing Branch Chief!”

“Yes.”

“Immediately fully arm all Eastern Depot operatives on standby within the jurisdiction and prepare them for deployment.”

“Yes!”

Yeon Bo-pyeong hurried off.

“You must be wondering why we’re suddenly preparing to deploy,” Neung Je-gang said.

“That’s correct.”

“We haven’t yet identified where the killers of the Grand Eunuch and the Grand Preceptor are. But we do know the most likely place. That’s where we’re heading.”

“Is that really so?”

“It is. But before that—Gye Yu.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know anything about the Chancellor’s wife?”

Neung Je-gang could not believe that an opportunist like Gye Yu—who had risen through ambition—had not been ensnared by So-hee, who had even turned the Intelligence Office Chief. Yet no information about the Chancellor’s wife had surfaced at So-hui’s residence. Now, seeing Gye Yu appear here as the Intelligence Office’s top official, something felt off. A mere chief clerk had no reason to be present—unless all his superiors were dead.

“The Chancellor’s wife? Well, that is…”

“Do you know something or not?”

“I—I do.”

“Oh? Then why was all information about the Chancellor’s wife completely absent from what you gave me last time?”

“I’m not sure.”

“And you’re the Intelligence Office’s chief clerk, aren’t you? Not even a field agent. How did you end up here? Where are your superiors?”

“W-what? Th-that is… after the Intelligence Office Chief was assassinated, they were all assassinated as well, so I…”

“Assassinated?”

“Yes, all of them. So I took over—”

“Hah! So everyone above you just happened to be assassinated? Do you really expect anyone to believe that?”

Only then did the others turn suspicious gazes toward Gye Yu.

It was far too convenient.

Phit!

Neung Je-gang flicked his fingers, releasing a gust of qi that sealed Gye Yu’s paralysis and mute acupoints.

“We’ll find out once we interrogate him. Throw this one into the prison and do not release his acupoints under any circumstances.”

“Understood.”

Two Gold Guard operatives entered and dragged Gye Yu away. His eyes trembled violently.

“Preparations are complete.”

Yeon Bo-pyeong returned to report.

“Let’s move.”

When Neung Je-gang arrived at the Central Directorate’s training ground, all Eastern Depot operatives were assembled, staring at him, unsure of what was happening.

“Beijing Branch Chief!”

“Yes.”

“Take all Secret Office operatives and immediately surround the Chancellor’s residence.”

“What? The Chancellor’s residence?”

“That’s right. Make sure no one escapes. The killers of the Grand Eunuch and the Grand Preceptor may be there.”

“Is that really so? Then does this mean the Chancellor orchestrated everything?”

“There’s no time. Do as ordered.”

“Y-yes!”

Yeon Bo-pyeong gathered the Secret Office operatives and rushed out.

“Gold Guard Chief—begin arresting all officials of the Chancellor’s faction ranked fifth grade and above. Their charge is the assassination of the Grand Eunuch and the Grand Preceptor. In particular, do not miss anyone who visited the Chancellor’s residence over the past few days. Cheong Yeon knows the list.”

“Understood.”

“After making the arrests, bring your operatives to the Chancellor’s residence as well. There will be many more to detain there.”

“Yes!”

The Gold Guard split up—some heading out, others entering the Imperial Palace.

Neung Je-gang’s gaze turned to the Intelligence Office operatives. After Gye Yu, the Intelligence Office was the one he trusted least. Still, he had to give them something to do—otherwise they’d feel singled out and slack off.

“Central Plains Directorate Chief, you will accompany me with the Intelligence Office operatives and search the Chancellor’s residence thoroughly.”

“Is the Chancellor truly the mastermind? If not—”

“Do not worry. The evidence is already secured.”

“I see. Understood.”

The Central Plains Directorate Chief seemed timid—but anyone would be, given the stakes. If this went wrong, they would be branding the Empire’s Chancellor a murderer.

Whether because of the sudden encirclement or sheer confidence, the Chancellor’s residence looked calm despite being completely surrounded.

Neung Je-gang strode up to the gate and shoved it with all his might.

Crack!

The thick wooden bar bracing the gate snapped with a thunderous sound.

Creeeak—

The gate swung wide open.

Before Neung Je-gang’s eyes stood the Chancellor’s household servants, each gripping clubs or weapons, braced to resist.

“If possible, do not kill the servants. Capture them instead. They were only following orders and likely committed no grave crimes.”

“Understood.”

At his words, the servants holding weapons wavered visibly. They had believed capture meant death—now perhaps there was a chance to live.

Neung Je-gang passed through them and went inside. No one blocked his path.

He navigated the grounds skillfully toward the inner courtyard. If those who descended from the mountain were there, resolving everything would become much easier. All Eastern Depot operatives would serve as witnesses.

“Ho ho ho ho ho!”

As he pushed open the door to the inner courtyard, a woman’s long, ringing laughter suddenly echoed.

“See? What did I tell you? I said that if the Eastern Depot’s Grand Eunuch disappeared, Secret Shadow would show himself.”

It was So-hee’s voice. She sat in a pavilion at the center of the inner courtyard, as if she had been waiting for Neung Je-gang all along.

Around her sat four middle-aged men with imposing builds.

From each of them emanated pressure rivaling that of Hwangbo Chu.

Beside them, the Chancellor himself trembled uncontrollably—the man who had allowed everything to reach this point.

Neung Je-gang thought that the damage to the Eastern Depot might exceed all expectations.