Surely, It Cannot Be That, Right? (5)

Among the many manors in Jena, this was one of the handful that counted as truly large. In its inner chamber, a man in a blue silk robe held a small pair of scissors and stared at the bonsai on the table.

“Hmm.”

The middle-aged man, notable for his short, wide-growing beard, examined the bonsai with careful eyes and gently trimmed an overgrown leaf.

Snip. Snip.

Contrary to his large build and heavy impression, the man’s touch when handling the bonsai was remarkably meticulous.

After trimming the bonsai for a long while, the man spoke without taking his eyes off it.

“So, it failed?”

The person standing beside him flinched while the man trimmed the bonsai, then spoke.

“Y-yes.”

“Failed, failed… You commissioned the Silence Hall and it failed, you say.”

“Well…”

“It can happen. Not everything in this world goes as one intends.”

Snip.

Having carefully cut the tip of the bonsai, the man cupped his chin and looked the plant over. Appearing satisfied with the trimming, he nodded loudly once and sat down.

“Tea.”

“Yes!”

A maid who had been holding her breath in the corner hurried over and poured the prepared tea. The man who received the teacup lifted the lid and gulped down the tea.

“Next time, a bit warmer.”

“I-I will remember.”

“Good.”

The man turned his head to look at the person standing there.

“So… who was it that suggested commissioning the Silence Hall?”

“I-I was…”

“How much was the commission fee?”

“Three hundred… coins.”

“Three hundred coins… Hey, Ja-Hwan.”

“Yes! Leader.”

“Why are you trembling so? Mistakes happen in the line of work. Come over and sit.”

“…”

“Quick. Bring another cup of tea here.”

“Yes. Leader.”

The maid poured another cup and placed it before the man called Ja-Hwan. With slightly trembling hands, Ja-Hwan lifted the cup and took a careful sip.

“Listen, Ja-Hwan. As you know, three hundred coins isn’t a small amount. It’s too precious to lose on a single commission.”

“Y-yes.”

“Then you need results of that caliber… This situation becomes troublesome, doesn’t it?”

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I never imagined a B-rank assassin from the Silence Hall would fail to deal with a mere untrained boy…”

“Hmm. There’s some truth to that.”

The man called Leader nodded in agreement.

“What did you say? That an assassin who handles commoners is a C-rank assassin? The fee being a hundred coins?”

“That is correct. A B-rank assassin targets people of the rivers-and-lakes world or officials, so the fee is three hundred coins…”

Who would have imagined that someone of that caliber couldn’t take care of a single youth?

The Silence Hall operates on the principle of “one trial, one fee.” One attempt per commission fee; even if they fail, the fee is not refunded. Yet people seek out the Silence Hall because that single attempt guarantees an exceptionally high success rate.

“Tsk. You can’t entirely blame yourself for those people failing. You even raised the rank for the commission.”

“I can only apologize, leader.”

“So? What should be done now?”

“…”

The man called Leader sighed and asked.

“As you know, that brat swindled us out of a thousand coins. With the three hundred coins lost on this commission, we’ve lost thirteen hundred coins because of that audacious little fool. This time it must be certain. What do you think we should do?”

Ja-Hwan swallowed dryly.

“May I dare offer my opinion?”

“Speak frankly.”

“In my opinion… it seems right to commission the Silence Hall again.”

“Hm? Again? Why so? Didn’t they already fail once?”

“Precisely. If a B-rank assassin from the Silence Hall fails twice to kill an unskilled child, how will the world perceive the Silence Hall?”

“I see. They’d become a laughingstock. The Silence Hall would never want that.”

“Yes. So if we commission them again, the Silence Hall will use any means necessary to ensure success.”

“Hmm… But won’t that require an additional three hundred coins commission fee?”

“I’ll cover that cost.”

“Cover?”

“Yes!”

Ja-Hwan nodded firmly. He could not say he bore no responsibility for this mistake. If the hall had to spend additional funds to remedy the error, they might lose the Leader’s trust.

“Man, do you think I’m doing this for the money? I’m saying there’s no need to fuss. It’s just a child, after all.”

“Precisely because it’s a child.”

“Hm?”

“No matter that we are of the black path, killing a child would inevitably draw ill eyes. Wouldn’t that hamper the various ventures we’re running? It might even give the authorities an excuse to intervene.”

“…That could be so.”

“More worrisome is that Lord Song is also likely to be displeased.”

The face of the man called leader grew serious.

Lord Song is the patron who supports them from behind. Alienating such a man would not be advantageous for the hall.

Ja-Hwan studied the leader’s expression and spoke in a firmer tone.

“We can avoid losing Lord Song’s trust and also prevent giving the authorities any pretext to intervene. Compared to those advantages, three hundred coins is by no means a large sum.”

“Hmm.”

“Leader! Trust me one more time. I will repay your faith. This matter can be settled smoothly.”

“Ha ha. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong at all.”

The leader laughed heartily and looked at Ja-Hwan with a pleased expression.

“Listen, Ja-Hwan.”

“Yes.”

The leader extended one hand forward. Ja-Hwan quickly grasped that hand with both of his and bowed his head.

“You’ve become quite seasoned. You could easily manage a trading guild now.”

“You’re flattering me. It’s all thanks to your guidance, leader.”

“Do you take that as praise?”

“Huh?”

Silence.

At that moment, the Leader seized both of Ja-Hwan’s wrists with his large hand and slammed them down onto the table. Then, with the scissors in his other hand, he struck and impaled Ja-Hwan’s hands through the table at once.

“Aagh! Kyaaaaaah!”

“Shh. Don’t make such a loud noise.”

“B-Leader! Why…”

“Tsk tsk. That’s what you get with those who are all head and no use.”

The Leader of Black Fish Union, the Two-Faced Demon Fierce, Seo Gun-Hong, clicked his tongue.

“Killing a child would cause trouble? Lord Song would be displeased, you say?”

“Leader, that…”

“You stupid fool! Do you think anyone who shies away from a bad reputation can survive in this line of work?”

Seo Gun-Hong’s face, which had just looked kindly, twisted into something like a vicious demon’s scowl.

“That tiny brat toyed with us. And instead of peeling his skin off at once, you’re telling me to hide behind assassins and cheer him on?”

A fierce murderous intent surged from Seo Gun-Hong’s eyes as he glared at Ja-Hwan.

“I let it go once. But they failed spectacularly. And now you ask me to let it go again?”

“B-But… Lord Song would…”

“Lord Song! Lord Soooong!”

Wham!

Seo Gun-Hong kicked Ja-Hwan in the ribs. Ja-Hwan flew with his hands still pinned to the table and slammed into the wall.

“Cough! Cough! Uweeeek!”

Ja-Hwan, as if mortally wounded, coughed up a handful of blood while Seo Gun-Hong cast a cold glance at him.

“Stop spouting foolishness. Listen well, you idiot. Lord Song doesn’t back us because he’s easy to manipulate. He supports us because we’re useful to him. A wolf that fears people isn’t a wolf — it’s a dog. If we wanted dogs, would Mr. Song have come to us?”

Ja-Hwan couldn’t reply; his insides were in shambles and half his consciousness had fled, so he couldn’t possibly answer.

Seo Gun-Hong glared down at the groaning Ja-Hwan as if ready to kill him, then shouted.

“Get him out!”

“Yes. Leader!”

Those waiting by the door dragged Ja-Hwan out. After ranting for a while, Seo Gun-Hong lowered his gaze. The bonsai that had been knocked off the table lay in a ruined mess on the floor.

“Tsk.”

Crunch.

Irritably stomping on the toppled bonsai, Seo Gun-Hong strode toward the door, kicked it open, and looked at those waiting outside.

“I won’t say it twice.”

“Yes. Leader!”

“Bring him to me. Condition doesn’t matter. Cut off his limbs, flay him alive — just keep him breathing and drag him before me. If you fail, I’ll cut your limbs off!”

“Yes! Leader!”

“What are you waiting for! Go out and catch him this instant!”

“Yes!”

As those waiting charged out, Seo Gun-Hong ground his teeth.

‘Like dogs…’

Thinking of how the other black-path men would view this, his teeth clenched naturally. After ranting for a long moment, he turned to look at the man standing to his left.

“Commander Gam. Have you checked?”

“Yes, Leader.”

“Already?”

“Yes. Whose order could I delay on?”

Seo Gun-Hong’s twisted face immediately softened.

“It seems the brat is currently staying at my place.”

“Ha, he’s bold. To have the nerve to stir things up all the way here.”

He is indeed a cheeky fellow. No wonder they tried to lure him in and raise him until he bit the hand that fed him.

“Then there’s no problem.”

“However, it appears several ‘taoist’ fellows are currently staying at that house.”

“Taoist?”

“Yes. Young taoist. They look barely past twenty at most.”

Seo Gun-Hong narrowed his eyes.

“Could it be…”

“It doesn’t seem to be the Wudang sect or that sub- sect.”

“Hmm. Then they are simply taoists. Some scheme by that sly brat, no doubt.”

Taoists or monks are awkward to mess with carelessly. You might end up entangled with forces you can’t handle.

“But don’t worry. Given his nature, he won’t last long. I’ll bring him before you within three days.”

“I trust you. If not Commander Gam, who else would I trust?”

Seo Gun-Hong smiled gently and nodded slowly.

“Then shall we go buy a new bonsai in the meantime? I hope something good has come in.”

“We’ll attend to that.”

“Indeed.”

About to walk off at a leisurely pace, Seo Gun-Hong paused for a moment.

“Why, Leader?”

“…You said it wasn’t the Wudang, right?”

“Yes. I’m certain.”

“…It’s nothing. Go.”

Seo Gun-Hong’s brows tightened slightly.

For a moment he thought of a sect among the Taoist families whose name had been making a lot of noise lately. But.

‘Surely it can’t be.’

It was an excessive thought.

‘It’s not that they wouldn’t do such things, but they wouldn’t come all the way to this distant Shandong.’

Even if those fellows really were from Mount Hua, it wouldn’t matter. Union was not so weak as to be afraid of a dozen or fewer young dosa.

“Unless they’re utterly suicidal, they won’t interfere.”

Seo Gun-Hong snorted softly and quickened his pace again.