Chapter 561
Chapter 561
Chapter 561. The Golden Buddha Statue (3)
A short while later, Geumryeong returned.
You worked hard! (Eun Seoho)
Kkui! (Geumryeong)
You did as I instructed, right? (Eun Seoho)
Kkui-kkui! Kkui! (Geumryeong)
She did as instructed, so stop worrying and prepare the gold coins?
Uh, sure.
I chuckled and sent a telepathic message to Warrior Ipil.
Now we just have to return to the inn. (Eun Seoho)
We used a dog hole on the way back as well, but it was a different dog hole from before.
Since these were not something like secret passages, the time each dog hole could be used differed, and right now we had to use a dog hole on another side.
We quietly slipped out of the Martial Alliance through the dog hole and arrived at the inn.
Warrior Seowoo, who had been keeping watch from the roof, saw us and quickly lowered a rope.
We climbed up the rope and entered through the window of the guest room.
Someone was lying on the bed, but I was not startled.
Because that was my illusion created with the Humae Mirror.
Without dispelling the illusion, I immediately entered the vault.
On the floor of the vault lay the golden Buddha statue.
At the energy I felt from that golden Buddha statue, I smiled.
It was the real golden Buddha statue item.
In other words, it meant Geumryeong had succeeded.
If the golden Buddha statue had been even a little bigger, it would have been difficult.
Geumryeong really is incredibly praiseworthy.
As I feel again, meeting Geumryeong was the greatest luck I encountered in this life.
The day dawned.
I came down to the first floor to eat breakfast.
“Did you have a good night?” (Waiter)
“Yes. It was a very good night.” (Eun Seoho)
It was an exceedingly satisfying night.
I responded to the waiter’s greeting and sat down at the table.
“I heard you would have porridge for breakfast. Shall I prepare it for you?” (Waiter)
“Yes. Please.” (Eun Seoho)
Soon, the waiter brought porridge according to the number of people, and we lightly filled our stomachs.
“We plan to depart during the morning.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Waiter)
By the way, when will the Alliance Leader notice that the golden Buddha statue is gone?
At that moment, a group of people entered the inn where I was staying.
Judging by the mark at their waists, they were warriors of the Martial Alliance.
Speak of the tiger, and it comes.
They looked around inside, then saw me and approached.
“Are you Young Captain Eun Seoho?” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
“That is correct.” (Eun Seoho)
“We have a few things to ask, so come with us to the Alliance.” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
“What is this about?” (Eun Seoho)
“You will know when you get there.” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
Hoo…… How irritating.
I knew why they were taking me, but that overbearing attitude, treating me as someone beneath them and forcing me along.
Even though they must know I was Seonhyeopmirang, they were acting like this because I was a merchant.
The way to deal with people like this is simple.
I clasped my hands and said,
“If I can be of help, then of course I should.” (Eun Seoho)
As I did, I discreetly dropped the document I had received yesterday, containing the Alliance Leader’s notarization.
“Oh, no! This precious thing!” (Eun Seoho)
When I quickly tried to grab the document, he stepped on it with his foot and said,
“I will check it first.” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
“That is fine, but, um…… will you be all right?” (Eun Seoho)
“Is there any reason I would not be all right?” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
“That document was personally written for me by the Alliance Leader yesterday. In other words, right now, Master, you have stepped on a document handwritten by the Alliance Leader.” (Eun Seoho)
In that instant, his face turned deathly pale.
At that moment, a Martial Alliance warrior behind him said,
“For a mere merchant to possess a handwritten document from the Alliance Leader! It must be a lie.” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
“If you cannot believe it, please check it yourselves.” (Eun Seoho)
They picked up the document with the footprint on it and unfolded it.
Soon, their faces turned ashen.
Of course.
The document I had shown them was a genuine notarized document written by the Alliance Leader and even stamped with his official seal.
I let out a sigh.
“To think the Alliance Leader’s authority has fallen this far into the dirt! This is truly something to lament!” (Eun Seoho)
He swallowed hard and asked,
“But why do you have this document?” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
So respectful speech is finally coming out now.
“I went to Mount Tai under the Alliance Leader’s orders and received it as compensation. So would you please return the document now? Although you stepped on it and left a mark, it is still a precious document.” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah, I-I apologize.” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
He quickly returned the document to me.
“So what problem was there that made you try to take me to the Martial Alliance?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is……” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
He looked around, then spoke to me in a low voice.
“In truth, a thief broke into the Alliance.” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
“A thief?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. An item that had been stored in the Alliance Leader’s bedchamber disappeared, so the entire Alliance has been turned upside down. And since that item arrived at the Alliance yesterday, we were in the midst of conducting a large-scale investigation of those who entered and exited yesterday.” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
That item is currently in my vault.
But I made a regretful expression.
“My goodness! To think such a thing dared happen in the Martial Alliance.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is why this whole commotion has broken out.” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
He let out a sigh heavy enough to sink the ground.
As if I understood, I nodded readily.
“If that is the situation, I will cooperate. However, I must urgently return to Beijing, so I cannot spare much time.” (Eun Seoho)
“Thank you. It will not take that long.” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
I followed him to the Martial Alliance.
The atmosphere of the Martial Alliance was exceedingly unsettled.
I entered one room, and an investigator was sitting there.
The man who had brought me said to him,
“This is Master Seonhyeopmirang Eun Seoho. He says he entered the Alliance yesterday under the Alliance Leader’s orders.” (Martial Alliance Warrior)
“I see. I will handle the rest.” (Investigator)
The man who had brought me clasped his hands and left the room, and the investigator said to me,
“Please sit.” (Investigator)
I sat in front of him, and the investigator asked,
“I heard you entered the Alliance yesterday under the Alliance Leader’s orders. What was the matter?” (Investigator)
“I cannot tell you that.” (Eun Seoho)
The investigator’s brow furrowed.
“Why not?” (Investigator)
“I do not think it is proper manners to carelessly disclose a mission given by the Alliance Leader. If you receive the Alliance Leader’s permission, I will tell you.” (Eun Seoho)
Inside the Martial Alliance, at the Alliance Leader Hall.
At present, the Alliance Leader was in an exceedingly foul mood.
Because the golden Buddha statue item he had kept stored in his bedchamber had vanished without a trace.
His bedchamber was a place guarded with strict security, where entering carelessly was impossible.
Moreover, he had placed it inside a safe installed with mechanisms and formations in double and triple layers, so stealing it should have been possible only for a ghost.
When he went in this morning to check the condition of the golden Buddha statue and confirmed that it had vanished, he did not know how flustered he had been.
In that place, instead of the golden Buddha statue, there was one stone and one letter left behind.
He had tried to read the energy through the stone and find the culprit, but because it was a stone that had been exposed to the energy of far too many people, even that did not go as he wished.
Leaving the stone there was clearly meant to mock him.
That was why his mood was even more unpleasant.
The letter pressed down by the stone was a notice, foretelling the next crime.
One month later, I will come to take the Namgung Clan’s treasure, Yunseul.
So he dispatched an armed unit of the Alliance to the Namgung Clan.
And he summoned the Hojeong Unit and ordered them to find the culprit at once. That was why they were now investigating in all directions.
Because the crime must have been committed early this morning, and there was a high possibility that the culprit had not yet left Luoyang.
“Um, Alliance Leader.” (Attendant)
“What is it?” (Alliance Leader)
“Investigator Gong wishes to see you now.” (Attendant)
“Let him in.” (Alliance Leader)
Soon, the door opened, and Investigator Gong entered.
“What is it?” (Alliance Leader)
“Um, I am currently investigating that matter. First, I am calling in and questioning those who entered and left the Alliance yesterday, and among them was Master Seonhyeopmirang Eun Seoho.” (Investigator Gong)
Yesterday, Eun Seoho had entered the Martial Alliance to give him the golden Buddha statue, so of course there would have been an entry record.
“So I tried to investigate the reason he entered the Alliance, but he says he will only open his mouth about the reason if he receives your permission, Alliance Leader.” (Investigator Gong)
At his words, the Alliance Leader smiled with satisfaction.
He had thought of him simply as a merchant with excellent ability and great greed, but this meant he was a man of deep faithfulness.
“There is no need to investigate that man.” (Alliance Leader)
“Pardon?” (Investigator Gong)
“That man is the very person who brought the item that was stolen.” (Alliance Leader)
“Ah, I see.” (Investigator Gong)
“This time, he carried out the mission together with Team Leader Won of the Sixth Team of the Dragon Fang Unit.” (Alliance Leader)
“But should we not verify it? Since he knows of the item’s existence.” (Investigator Gong)
“That is a fair point. Then investigate only his whereabouts last night. That should suffice, no?” (Alliance Leader)
“Understood.” (Investigator Gong)
I was waiting for a while in the investigation room, being served refreshments.
By the way, these sweets are good.
Though the tea-brewing skill is poor.
Just as I was almost done eating the sweets, the investigator returned.
“Ah, have you been to the Alliance Leader?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. Then do you know where the golden Buddha statue was stored?” (Investigator)
“Surely the thing that was stolen was not that golden Buddha statue?” (Eun Seoho)
“Please answer only what I ask.” (Investigator)
“Was it not the Alliance Leader’s bedchamber?” (Eun Seoho)
“How do you know that?” (Investigator)
He asked sharply, and I answered as if it were nothing.
“The person who brought me here earlier told me. That an item kept in the Alliance Leader’s bedchamber had disappeared, so the entire Alliance had been turned upside down, and since that item had arrived at the Alliance yesterday, you were conducting a large-scale investigation of those who entered and exited yesterday.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, he pressed his forehead with his fingers and fell into thought.
“In that case…… would you tell me about your whereabouts yesterday?” (Investigator)
“That is not difficult. Yesterday, after leaving the Martial Alliance, I went straight to the inn. After unpacking at the inn and eating dinner, I immediately entered my room and slept.” (Eun Seoho)
“Is that all?” (Investigator)
“Yes. I slept very soundly and only woke up in the morning.” (Eun Seoho)
“Is there anyone who can prove this?” (Investigator)
“There are my attendants and escort warriors. And you should also be able to find out from the inn’s waiters. Yesterday, after eating dinner, I entered my room, and this morning as well, I came out of my room to eat.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood. Please wait a moment.” (Investigator)
“Then, may I have one more plate of these sweets? No matter how I think about it, I am getting angry, so I think I should eat sweets and cool my indignation.” (Eun Seoho)
“What are you so angry about?” (Investigator)
“Does it look like I have no reason to be angry? I suffered so much and went all the way to Mount Tai in the middle of my busy schedule, and then it was stolen!” (Eun Seoho)
“……I will bring you one more plate of sweets.” (Investigator)
A short while later, the investigator returned and said,
“You have worked hard. You may leave now.” (Investigator)
I rose from my seat and said to him,
“Thank you. And please make sure to catch that thief.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Investigator)
I clasped my hands and left, smiling faintly.
Sorry, but you will not catch that thief.
Since the golden Buddha statue will not appear in the world for the time being, they will probably never catch him.
I had deliberately instructed Geumryeong to place one stone and a fake notice inside the safe in the Alliance Leader’s bedchamber.
It was to make it look like the work of a professional thief.
And in the fake notice, I had deliberately written that the thief would steal Yunseul, the Namgung Clan’s treasure.
Since I have quite the skill at dressing up handwriting, there was no need to worry about the handwriting.
Yunseul is a treasure and weapon kept by the Namgung Clan, a geomungo that makes an exceedingly beautiful sound.
I know about it because in my previous life, I remember hearing someone from the Namgung Clan boasting about it.
They are probably standing strict guard right now, but they will learn a month later.
That it was a wild goose chase.
Because of this, the Namgung Clan and the Martial Alliance will have to suffer a little, but the Murim Grand Banquet is only a few months away now.
They will have no leisure left to worry about the golden Buddha statue thief.
I returned to the inn.
“Liege!” (Warrior Seowoo)
“You have returned? Liege!” (Warrior Yeo Eungam)
“Young Master!” (Palgap)
“I am fine, so do not worry. Did the investigator come to the inn earlier?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. He came and asked this and that. He also called several waiters and questioned them closely.” (Warrior Seowoo)
It seems he was a fairly meticulous and thorough person.
There was value in having properly dressed up my whereabouts.
“All of you worked hard as well. Then let us hurry and depart.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Warrior Seowoo)
We packed our luggage and came out, and each of us mounted our horses.
“Neigh!” (Jugang Horse)
Yes, I know you are cramped.
The Jugang horse seemed rather frustrated. And since running as Jugang horses was faster anyway, we decided to run to Beijing as Jugang horses.
Thanks to running diligently as Jugang horses, we arrived in Beijing after several days.
Fast is good, but it is tiring.
“Young Captain!” (Branch Member)
“Has the Third Young Captain arrived?” (Branch Member)
“Yes. I returned safely. Nothing happened at the branch, did it?” (Eun Seoho)
“It has been very peaceful.” (Branch Member)
“That is a relief.” (Eun Seoho)
I immediately headed to Brother Jeongho’s office. I have to report to him that I am back.
When I reached Brother Jeongho’s office, the escort warrior who saw me received me.
“You have arrived?” (Escort Warrior)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
“He is inside. Please enter.” (Escort Warrior)
When I saw Brother Jeongho inside, I flinched.
Because Brother Jeongho, the area beneath his eyes completely dark, was looking at documents and muttering.
“Eun Seoho, you bastard, I seriously will not leave you alone. Eun Seoho, that brat……” (Jeongho)
At that terrifying force, I unwittingly ended up stepping backward.
Brother Jeongho, why are you being so scary?
.
.
.
Only after a long while could I rise from in front of the desk.
Because Brother Jeongho had handed his work over to me and gone to sleep, I had to continue that work.
Yes, it was originally my work, so I should do it.
After I roughly finished the urgent work like that, night had already fallen.
“Deputy Gwak.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes?” (Deputy Gwak)
“Let us go out for a short walk.” (Eun Seoho)
I left the office with Miss Seohyang and walked through the rear garden.
“Fortunately, it is not that hot at night.” (Eun Seoho)
Before I knew it, the seventh month was almost over.
“Maybe because I learned the Cheonryu Art, I am not that hot.” (Miss Seohyang)
“That is fortunate.” (Eun Seoho)
I held out something wrapped in red paper from my sleeve.
“Here, please take this.” (Eun Seoho)
“Pardon?” (Miss Seohyang)
“I went to Shandong this time, and while I was there, I thought of you and bought one.” (Eun Seoho)
“May I unwrap it?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Of course.” (Eun Seoho)
She unwrapped it and soon made a surprised expression.
“It is rouge?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Yes. I felt it would be a little lacking to buy only the rouge case, so I bought it together. Do you like the color?” (Eun Seoho)
“I like it. Very much.” (Miss Seohyang)
“That is a relief.” (Eun Seoho)
Somehow embarrassed, I looked up at the sky.
Ah, I forgot to give Geumryeong her gold coins.