Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel) - Chapter 270 - Underground Forbidden Prison (1)
Chapter 270 – Underground Forbidden Prison (1)
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The next day, on a chilly morning.
Thousand-Household Commander Mak Myeong-bo visited the office of Deputy Thousand-Household Commander Im Gyu-wol, the head of the Office of Penal Service.
An odd light appeared in Mak Myeong-bo’s eyes as he entered the office.
Im Gyu-wol, apparently injured, was sitting there with his upper garment removed and his face swollen, while an Embroidered Uniform Guard physician assigned to them was applying acupuncture and moxibustion together to his right shoulder.
Judging by his expression, the injury did not look light.
Mak Myeong-bo asked in surprise,
“Deputy Thousand-Household Commander, were you injured somewhere?”
At that question, Deputy Thousand-Household Commander Im Gyu-wol replied in an annoyed voice,
“Can you not tell just by looking?”
Last night, after thinking the bastard had gone and vowing revenge for the future, he had been caught in the most absurd way possible.
Who could have expected that the bastard would come back?
Naturally, he had assumed he would return to the cadets’ lodging.
In any case, thanks to that, he had paid a brutal price.
[Nnghhhhhh.]
[Let us end it at this. Even so, you are fortunate. If you had been of even a little less use, it would have been better simply to dispose of you.]
Fortunate?
That damned bastard.
Not content with leaving him in this state, his right shoulder had been completely broken.
According to the physician, it would take over a month of recuperation before the broken bone fully set.
Even worse, he had been told that he would never again be able to move his shoulder as freely as before.
For him, whose dominant hand was the right, that was no different from grievous news.
‘Bae Ji-seok!’
Anger surged so violently that he wanted to tear the bastard to pieces, but not only had the hidden ledger been stolen and turned into leverage, he had even been poisoned, leaving him with no choice but to cater to the bastard’s mood.
That made him feel even more miserable.
‘Damned bastard. Someday I will absolutely repay this grudge.’
Though he had been subjected to all that just yesterday, he still had not given up.
There was a saying about sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall.
For the moment he would have to bow his head, but if he endured this misery, surely an opportunity would come someday.
“By the way, what brings you here?”
At Im Gyu-wol’s question, Mak Myeong-bo respectfully brought both hands together and said,
“I came to borrow the Forbidden Prison Battle Maps needed for today’s deployment of the apprentice cadets into the forbidden prison.”
“The Forbidden Prison Battle Maps?”
The Forbidden Prison Battle Maps were extremely important items.
Because all the locations of the mechanism traps inside the forbidden prison and all of its internal geography were written on them, the number of maps was limited, and because they could not be allowed to leak out carelessly, they were kept by Im Gyu-wol, the head of the Office of Penal Service and overall person in charge of the prison.
“If it is those, then in that wooden box…”
As he was about to speak, Im Gyu-wol suddenly stopped himself.
‘Tch.’
The two maps tied with red thread were still lying on top of the Forbidden Prison Battle Maps.
If he were to follow his heart, he wanted to hand over those maps just as they were.
But that bastard Bae Ji-seok, no, Mok Gyeong-un, had already checked those false maps, so he could not trick him anymore.
That was why he had to replace them once more with proper Forbidden Prison Battle Maps.
“…….Go and prepare the apprentice cadets outside. I will bring them out myself.”
“But your condition is not good…”
“Hah. Did I not say I would bring them out myself?”
“Understood.”
Though he found it strange, how could he disobey the order of a superior?
So Thousand-Household Commander Mak Myeong-bo withdrew as he was.
After he left like that, Im Gyu-wol was just about to ask the Embroidered Uniform Guard physician to finish the treatment.
At that moment, someone knocked on the office door.
“Deputy Thousand-Household Commander…”
It was Thousand-Household Commander Mak Myeong-bo’s voice.
Deputy Thousand-Household Commander Im Gyu-wol shouted irritably,
“Did I not clearly say I would bring them myself…”
At that moment, the office door opened.
The sight of the middle-aged man entering in a silver fish-embroidered robe startled Im Gyu-wol so much that, though still wrapped in bandages, he sprang to his feet and bowed respectfully.
“I greet the Garrison Pacification Commissioner.”
Fourth-rank Embroidered Uniform Guard Garrison Pacification Commissioner.
Though the title carried the words Embroidered Uniform Guard in front, the Garrison Pacification Commissioner was not a post formally organized within the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
One might say it was a kind of special rank.
The Garrison Pacification Commissioners were the bodyguards bestowed upon imperial princes who had received princely titles, and because in special situations or emergencies they could mobilize Embroidered Uniform Guard guardsmen, the affiliation name Embroidered Uniform Guard was attached in front.
‘Why would the Garrison Pacification Commissioner be here?’
The Garrison Pacification Commissioner held the same rank as the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s Garrison Commander, who could be called the practical overall head.
In short, he was both a superior rank and a power holder.
“It has been a long time, Deputy Thousand-Household Commander Im.”
“I, I am overwhelmed that you remember me.”
He had met him only once when he was merely a guardsman, so to be remembered genuinely moved him.
The Garrison Pacification Commissioner before his eyes, Mok Seom, was a man approaching the exact position he most desired.
Was he not serving closely as bodyguard to this imperial prince, who had once been considered the most likely candidate for succession to the throne even though he had now been pushed from the position of crown prince?
Moreover, it was said that his martial skill also did not fall behind that of the Northern Garrison Commander or the eunuchs of the Eastern Depot and Western Depot.
Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom said to him,
“Would it be possible for the two of us to speak privately for a moment?”
“Of course.”
At those words, Deputy Thousand-Household Commander Im Gyu-wol hurriedly sent the imperial palace physician out.
Then he personally locked the office door.
But as he walked with his upper garment removed, Mok Seom’s eyes narrowed sharply as he looked at his back.
Unaware of this, Im Gyu-wol prepared a seat.
After sitting in the chair by the table, Mok Seom swept his senses over the surroundings and then lightly waved his hand.
‘!?’
Im Gyu-wol could not hide his puzzlement.
That was because Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom had cut off the sound inside and outside the room with true qi.
Apparently he intended to discuss something secret.
“I will not waste words and will speak only of the main point.”
“Yes? About what?”
“You were cooperating with Hundred-Household Commander Gyeom-chang of the Embroidered Uniform Guard under the command of the Superior Commander, were you not?”
‘No?’
At that question, Im Gyu-wol’s expression hardened.
This was a confidential matter handled with great care.
Because Im Gyu-wol belonged to the faction of Grand Preceptor Hang Yun-pa, who concurrently held the post of commander of the Central Military Governor’s Office, he also received the orders of Superior Commander Sang Ik-seo.
Originally, even if they were both from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, unless it was the Office of Penal Service they could not be投入 into the practical management of the prison.
But because of Superior Commander Sang Ik-seo’s orders, under the pretext of cooperating in the interrogation of a Fire Worship Sect follower, he had temporarily assigned Hundred-Household Commander Gyeom-chang of the Embroidered Uniform Guard into the Office of Penal Service and put him to work.
This had been carried out secretly only when those guardsmen on duty were trustworthy people from the same faction, so how in the world did this man know?
So Im Gyu-wol opened his mouth while trying not to reveal too much.
“I do not know what you mean…”
“There is no need to pretend. I too am one of Grand Preceptor Hang Yun-pa’s people.”
‘!?’
At those words, Im Gyu-wol frowned.
One of Grand Preceptor Hang Yun-pa’s people?
He had heard that there were many people of the faction he did not know, but Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom was much more widely known as the person of this imperial prince, the Palm King.
So naturally there was no reason for him to trust him.
At that moment, Mok Seom pulled something from his chest and showed it.
It was none other than,
‘Heavens?’
The military command token of Hang Yun-pa in his capacity as commander of the Central Military Governor’s Office.
Seeing not something else, but the command token that could move the Central Military Governor’s Office, Im Gyu-wol instinctively understood that what he said was true.
This was evidence that could not be entrusted without extraordinary trust.
“I borrowed the command token from the Grand Preceptor so that you would be able to believe.”
-Thump!
At that, Im Gyu-wol dropped to one knee toward him and respectfully brought both hands together.
“I failed to recognize you.”
“Rise. It is natural that you would not know. Only a very few know this fact, including the Grand Preceptor himself.”
At those words, Im Gyu-wol inwardly grew excited.
Did Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom speaking like this mean that Grand Preceptor Hang Yun-pa had decided to value him highly?
Otherwise there would be no reason for a man in such a position on the righteous side to reveal his true faction to him.
So as he rose in excitement, Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom lowered his voice and suddenly said something unexpected.
“That aside, has Hundred-Household Commander Gyeom-chang finished the interrogation?”
“The interrogation?”
“Yes.”
“Not yet.”
At that answer, Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom stroked his beard and let out a murmur.
“Hmm. Then it cannot be helped.”
“……By the way, how do you know of that?”
“No. That is not something you need to know.”
“Yes?”
“More importantly, a small problem has arisen, so Hundred-Household Commander Gyeom-chang can no longer carry out the interrogation.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Until the day before yesterday, Hundred-Household Commander Gyeom-chang had still been obsessed with resuming the interrogation to the bitter end in order to find that so-called treasure bead.
Because there had been orders from the Superior Commander not to ask why, he had left it alone, but now that he was suddenly being told the interrogation could not continue, he naturally found it strange.
Then,
“I mean it exactly as I said. More importantly, there is something you must do. It is also a command given directly by the Grand Preceptor, so you can carry it out, can you not?”
“A command? What kind?”
“It is something that only you, as the head of the Office of Penal Service, can do. If you assist in accomplishing it safely, the Grand Preceptor will recognize your merit.”
“T, the Grand Preceptor himself says so?”
At that, Im Gyu-wol swallowed hard, then brought both hands together and said in a voice brimming with eagerness,
“Please say whatever it is. This Im will surely carry out Lord Hang’s command.”
“That is reassuring. Then it seems that younger generation members sent by the Heaven and Earth Society will soon try to extract a Fire Worship Sect follower imprisoned in the Avici Prison. I would like you to help them.”
‘!?’
No sooner had he heard those words than Im Gyu-wol could not hide his bewilderment.
What in the world was going on?
Why had that bastard Bae Ji-seok said such a thing last night, and why was Grand Preceptor Hang Yun-pa giving such an order?
Unlike the ordinary prison, from which there were various ways to get someone out, the underground prison was a place from which it was absolutely impossible to extract a prisoner.
That was why, unlike before, they had sent in people and interrogated the Fire Worship Sect believer there, or so he understood.
Then why were they suddenly talking about extracting him?
He did not know, but it left him deeply troubled.
‘What should I do about this?’
He did not know exactly who they intended to extract, but that bastard Bae Ji-seok had also forced him into a situation where he had no choice but to help.
That bastard too had said he intended to free someone imprisoned in the Avici Prison…
‘Wait……something is strange.’
Something about the timing overlapped in a peculiar way.
It was suspicious enough that those above had suddenly decided to forcibly extract the Fire Worship Sect believer they had earlier given up on, and that the bastard Bae Ji-seok was also trying to extract someone from the Avici Prison.
‘Could it be……the one that bastard Bae Ji-seok is trying to extract is also a Fire Worship Sect believer?’
Was that why the higher-ups were trying to remove the Fire Worship Sect believer in advance, to block him?
If this picture was correct, then it made sense why the higher-ups would suddenly issue such an order.
But that was only his guess.
And the problem was not just that.
‘Damn it.’
At present, not only had his weakness been seized, he had also been poisoned.
Because of that, he had no choice but to forcibly follow Bae Ji-seok.
But if his guess turned out to be correct, then not only would he fail to carry out the orders from above, the result would effectively amount to betrayal.
Caught in a situation where he could advance neither way, Im Gyu-wol’s eyes shook violently in confusion.
At that moment, Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom raised one eyebrow.
Then,
-Tak! Slide!
He suddenly lifted Im Gyu-wol’s chin and stared straight into his eyes.
“M, my lord?”
Why all of a sudden?
As he wondered in confusion, Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom said something unexpected.
“Ha…….well now.”
“Yes? What in the world……”
“You too have been poisoned.”
‘!?’
At those words, Im Gyu-wol’s eyes widened.
How in the world had Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom realized this?
Then the other man asked,
“Is that true? Or is it not? Answer only that.”
“………”
At that question, Im Gyu-wol did not know what to do.
Because Bae Ji-seok had seized weaknesses from him, including the embezzlement ledger, even saying anything at all was an extremely dangerous matter.
Seeing him like that, Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom shook his head and said,
“Then it seems he has seized some other weakness as well besides poison.”
‘How did he…?’
Im Gyu-wol could not help but marvel inwardly at Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom’s insight.
He was saying nothing at all, yet the man was deducing his situation to this extent.
Yet at the same time he grew afraid.
The weakness that bastard had seized, namely the embezzlement ledger, was something that connected even to the higher-up Grand Preceptor Hang Yun-pa and could bring harm to him, so he was terrified that if this became known he might be discarded.
To the man who stood there not knowing what to do, Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom placed a hand on his shoulder and said in a cold voice,
“I do not know what weakness has made your mouth heavy, but I will make one thing clear. Confessing everything right now is the only chance by which you can live.”
-Clench!
As he said this, strength entered the hand resting on his shoulder.
* * *
Twelve cadets of the fourth group were waiting.
They had completed their preparations to enter the prison, yet still had not received the Forbidden Prison Battle Maps and were left waiting.
At that moment, beyond the hall there appeared the figure of a Deputy Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Inside the wooden box he carried were twelve rolled maps.
“Looks like he has come.”
Thousand-Household Commander Mak Myeong-bo, who had also been growing impatient from waiting, said this.
He had no idea what sort of conversation with Garrison Pacification Commissioner Mok Seom had taken so long.
‘He should have simply handed them over then.’
In the end he had not come in person after all, but had merely sent a Deputy Thousand-Household Commander.
In any case, thanks to this, their deployment had been delayed, and even the prisoners’ meal distribution was now set to be late.
Thousand-Household Commander Mak Myeong-bo shouted irritably,
“Why are you so late?”
“I am sorry. Hoo…..but Thousand-Household Commander Mak, you know as well, do you not?”
At those words from the Deputy Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Thousand-Household Commander Mak Myeong-bo shook his head.
Then he held out his hand.
“Hand them over. I must distribute them to the cadets and tell them their deployment positions.”
“It must be because meal distribution has been delayed. Then I will hand them directly to the cadets at once.”
“Very well.”
Growing impatient, Thousand-Household Commander Mak Myeong-bo told him to do so.
In that way, the twelve apprentice cadets each received a Forbidden Prison Battle Map and were assigned the positions where each would be deployed.
Most of the cadets were distributed evenly from the first through the third levels of the prison.
‘Hmm.’
At that moment, the eyes of Mok Gyeong-un, wearing the face of Cadet Bae Ji-seok, narrowed.
The place to which he had been assigned was none other than the third level of the prison.
‘…….How has this happened, Deputy Thousand-Household Commander Im Gyu-wol?’
It differed from the original plan.
They had clearly agreed that he would be assigned to the lowest level of the prison, the Avici Prison.
Yet to assign him to the third level of the prison was no different from breaking that promise.
“What? The, the Avici Prison?”
At that moment, someone asked back in a bewildered voice.
It was Cadet Yeom Gyeong of Mount Hua.
The lowest level of the prison, the Avici Prison.
The ones assigned there were none other than Ju Un-hyang and Yeom Gyeong of Mount Hua.
* * *
The cadets who entered the imperial palace prison felt unease at the dark internal atmosphere.
Unlike the prisons found in ordinary counties, this place had been made by digging underground, so it was full of dampness, and the air inside was filthy beyond measure.
What made them feel even more creeped out were the bloodstains and smell that clung here and there.
This became worse the lower one went, floor by floor.
The first underground level had still clearly been made with some care, but the lower the floors went, the more the earth had simply been dug out and the supports fixed in place, so dust fell from all over and heightened the unease.
In that way, one by one the cadets were put into the sectors they had been assigned.
-Rrrk!
On the way down to the third underground level, Mok Gyeong-un unfolded the Forbidden Prison Battle Map he had received.
‘Ah.’
Mok Gyeong-un let out a scoffing laugh inwardly.
This Forbidden Prison Battle Map was not one of the false maps that had been tied with red thread.
At first glance, that would make it seem as though nothing had been done to the map, but in truth some parts had been overdrawn on an otherwise normal map in as inconspicuous a way as possible so that the routes were twisted.
It seemed to have been intentionally altered so that he would be caught in a mechanism formation.
In the end, this too was a false map.
‘……..As expected.’
The corner of Mok Gyeong-un’s mouth twitched.
At first he had still carried a faint thought of “surely not,” but now it seemed clear that someone else had intervened.
It would have been difficult for Im Gyu-wol, poisoned and with his weaknesses seized, to pull such a bold act of stabbing him in the back within only a few hours.
-Rrrk!
Mok Gyeong-un rolled up the false Forbidden Prison Battle Map.
He did not know which bastard had interfered, but there was one thing that man did not know.
Mok Gyeong-un had, just in case, already looked through all the proper maps as well, so a trick of this sort had no meaning for him at all.