Volume 3 Chapter 17 – The Tightening Noose

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“As you ordered, we have opened the Ledger Archives to the inspector investigator.”

“…You did well.”

“Not at all. The young fellow’s mind is so brilliant that he grasped everything in an instant. There was no need for me to explain or assist.”

“He is the investigator personally designated by the Eldest Young Master. I heard he is the genius among geniuses who passed the palace examination at the top.”

“The future of the Luoyang Sword Family, where such talents gather, is bright. I feel relieved as well.”

“Accounting Secretary. You are also one of those talents.”

“Haha. It makes me feel good that the world-famous Chief Manager’s Secretary says so, even if it is just words.”

“…I will not forget your hard work.”

“Leave the rest to me.”

“I ask of you.”

As the middle-aged man, the Chief Manager’s Secretary, left the office, seven gold tassels swayed at his waist.

Left alone in his office, the gaze of the Accounting Secretary rested on his desk.

A small bundle received through the Chief Manager’s Secretary was upon it.

* * *

Silence hung in the waiting room.

Butler Seomun, who had closed and opened her eyes, asked the inspector investigator Kang Ho.

“…It is fine as long as we do not leave the Inner Courtyard, correct?”

Kang Ho nodded readily.

“Yes, that is correct.”

She stared at the ledger placed on the table for a moment and then abandoned any lingering attachment.

Now was not the time to think of a primitive solution.

Without even offering a greeting to Yeon So-hyeon, she turned around and left the waiting room.

The butlers followed behind her.

Kang Ho spoke while wiping his glasses.

“Do not leave the Inner Courtyard under any circumstances.”

“….”

Butler Seomun, who had stopped her steps for a moment, left with only a low snort.

Kang Ho shook his head.

“The shamelessness of those who hold power is the same everywhere….”

Il-ryeong asked him.

“Is it fine to let them go free like that?”

“Ah, yes. It is fine. They are not yet criminals in status, and moreover, since I issued the command in the name of the Inspection Department, if they violate it, we can just issue an arrest order immediately.”

“Rather than that, I am worried about the things they might plot behind our backs.”

“Haha. You do not need to worry about that much.”

He stood up from his seat and spoke politely to Yeon So-hyeon.

“Eldest Young Master, I must return to submit my report. The situation is judged to be more serious than I thought.”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

Kang Ho’s gaze turned toward the ledger placed on the table.

“This ledger….”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“For now, it would be safer for me to keep it.”

Kang Ho looked around at the swords hanging at the waists of the maids, and bowed to Yeon So-hyeon.

“Yes, since my realm is low, considering any contingency, that would be for the best.”

“Understood.”

“Then, as soon as I finish reporting, I will return immediately.”

Yeon So-hyeon glanced at his retreating back, and asked the protocol butler who was trembling in the corner.

“What are you doing there?”

“I, I am….”

“Enough, go prepare a meal. It is already lunchtime.”

“Yes! Yes! Understood!”

He ran out in a hurry but his legs tangled and he fell.

However, no one smiled or laughed at that sight.

“Now then…”

Yeon So-hyeon buried himself deep in the chair.

“Chief Manager of the Inner Courtyard. To what extent are you prepared to cut ties?”

His eyes gleamed.

The triplet maids shrank back without realizing it.

Right now, Yeon So-hyeon’s appearance was far too peaceful.

There was no killing intent, and no momentum.

Yet, compared to his appearance on that night when he had executed brutal violence on Elder Yeom’s butler, he felt even more terrifying now.

* * *

Inner Courtyard, a place where no one was around.

Butler Seomun looked back at the other butlers.

“You are all familiar with the emergency code of conduct, aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then from now on, we must do everything we can.”

She pushed back her loose hair.

“Although we took a blow first from that novice investigator brat, we haven’t even started yet.”

“That is correct.”

She looked at the butlers.

“Do not think of stopping that novice investigator brat from reporting. He seems to have a backer. However, we must stop the main investigation of the Inspection Department from starting by any means.”

The butlers nodded with determined attitudes.

“Let’s make sure to deal a blow to that Swordless One.”

She directed briefly.

“Everyone, move.”

The butlers dispersed in an instant.

They were extremely well prepared for how they should move in this situation, whom they should seek help from, and whom they should appease.

In the place where everyone had left, the remaining Butler Bang looked at Butler Seomun with trembling eyes.

“…Butler Seomun, who will you meet first?”

“I must meet the highest person I can see right now.”

Butler Seomun looked at Butler Bang.

“You should also send word to the elders of the Bang Family who are within the Main Family.”

“Yes, Butler Seomun.”

Once even Butler Bang disappeared, Butler Seomun moved her steps.

It was time to head deeper into the Inner Courtyard.

‘Swordless One…, no matter when it is, I will surely repay this humiliation.’

Since they had been off guard just a moment ago, they had only allowed a preemptive strike.

Once they exerted their influence in earnest, they could easily overcome a crisis of this level.

At least, she judged so.

* * *

Elder Yeom was having lunch with his family and his closest aides who could attend.

Befitting one of warrior origin, the diet was extremely simple for an elder of the Luoyang Sword Family.

Befitting his massive size, the quantity was mindlessly large, though.

Just then, a subordinate came in, handed him a note, and disappeared.

“Mhm.”

He put down his spoon.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward him.

“…Is it news related to the Eldest Young Master?”

At the aide’s question, Elder Yeom replied without taking his eyes off the note.

“You bastard. Even so, you should call him the ‘Eldest Young Master’.”

“I-I am sorry.”

Elder Yeom clicked his tongue.

“Everywhere, there are overflowing numbers of people who look down on the Eldest Young Master.”

In the corner, the Law Enforcement Lady, Yeom Baek-ha, who was eating porridge alone, let out a sigh.

“Foolish people….”

Her monologue was as quiet as a whisper, but Elder Yeom’s aides swallowed their dry saliva.

Only White Tiger was busy tearing at a piece of meat on the floor.

“The inspector investigator summoned by the Eldest Young Master has returned to the Inspection Department, it seems.”

“He must be reporting to the superiors.”

“Yes. Now, it will not just end quietly.”

He looked at his aides.

“I know how much you usually ignore the Eldest Young Master.”

The aides avoided his gaze.

Even though Elder Yeom, who had met the Eldest Young Master in person, explained his impression of Yeon So-hyeon, they were still half-doubting.

“So take this opportunity to look closely. What kind of person the Eldest Young Master is.”

He picked up his spoon again.

“If he is the Swordless One, such a thing would not happen. If he is the Swordless One, he would not escalate the matter.”

He chewed his food vigorously as he continued.

“Those who thought that way. The more they prided themselves on knowing the Eldest Young Master well, the more they will see that illusion crumble absurdly.”

Yeom Baek-ha stroked White Tiger, who was begging for more meat.

“What a pity. If I were healthy, I would have run to the Inner Courtyard right now.”

She whispered quietly.

“If I did, I wouldn’t have had to worry about your meals for a while, White Tiger.”

Hearing her words, the aides could not move their utensils for a while.

* * *

“Is the Accounting Secretary inside?”

The third-class butler guarding the front of the Accounting Secretary’s office bowed.

“Yes. He is inside. However, he said he would not receive visitors.”

“It is an urgent matter.”

“There are no exceptions.”

The butler was in the middle of processing documents while sitting at his desk.

“I am saying it is an urgent matter for the Accounting Secretary as well, not for me.”

He did not even look at her.

“I told you there are no exceptions.”

Butler Seomun bit her lip.

She didn’t expect that he would easily meet her, who was caught up in the trouble right now.

However, among those related to the budget in the Inner Courtyard, the highest responsible person that working-level officials like her could access was the Accounting Secretary.

If it was him, he would have several loopholes to escape this situation.

If she was lucky, she could piggyback on that method, and even if she was unlucky, he had the power to help her avoid the worst-case scenario.

“…I will notify him inside first. I will take the reprimand separately later.”

The third-class butler shrugged his shoulders.

It meant do as she pleased.

If he had really intended to block visitors, he would have stood warriors at the entrance.

“Accounting Secretary. I am Seomun, a fourth-class butler belonging to the Budget and Accounts Committee along with the Accounting Secretary.”

She knocked on the door a few times, but there was no response.

“If there is no answer, it means he is in a really bad mood, so you should just go back…”

Ignoring the words of the third-class butler, Butler Seomun flung the door open.

“….”

Seeing her enter the office without even receiving permission so fearlessly, the third-class butler was dumbfounded.

“What a crazy wench….”

The third-class butler quickly jumped up from his seat and followed behind Butler Seomun.

Having rushed into the office, he could find her sitting slumped on the floor.

“Accounting Secretary, I am sorry! This person forced her way—”

His voice gradually diminished.

“W-What is this;-”

His legs trembled uncontrollably.

Tottering, he practically rolled out of the office and ran.

“Is anyone there?! I am asking if anyone is there?!”

The voice of the third-class butler shouting frantically gradually grew distant.

However, Butler Seomun showed no signs of rising from where she had slumped.

Across the dark room that did not have a single oil lamp, her gaze was fixed toward the Accounting Secretary’s desk.

Under the main rafter, a corpse hung by the neck was slowly swaying.

Inside the room, the foul stench of waste excreted by the corpse lingered.

Through the tightly closed shutters, a few rays of sunlight were entering.

One ray of sunlight reflected off the gold tassels hanging at the corpse’s waist and sparkled.

Six gold tassels.

That corpse belonged to the Accounting Secretary.

“…T-This cannot be.”

The voice of Butler Seomun that barely leaked out was terribly cracked.

“This cannot be. This cannot be….”

What did the Accounting Secretary’s corpse mean?

Although he had the final responsibility for Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment’s budget, he was a figure in a position where he could easily evade it.

She tried to raise her body in a hurry.

Her knees faltered, and she slumped back down.

She chose to crawl instead.

Crawling to the window, she held onto the wall, stood up, and flung the window open.

As the shutter opened and sunlight poured in, she could see the face of the Accounting Secretary.

He had a pale face, his eyes rolled back, and his tongue hanging out long.

Just as she was about to slump down again, she saw a small silk pouch on his desk.

Within its refinement, it had a hidden, luxurious beauty.

With trembling hands, she picked up the silk pouch.

As she held the pouch upside down over the desk, a black object fell from inside onto the desk.

It was a pair of broken obsidian scissors.

The mother-of-pearl that had been luxuriously carved by the craftsman’s skill was partially broken and scattered.

The sunlight reflected by those pieces of mother-of-pearl was as dazzling as gems.