Chapter 33: To Hire You (1)
After returning to the branch, Baek Socheon sought out Yeom Jeonggil.
As soon as Baek Socheon stepped inside, Yeom Jeonggil, who was in the Interrogation Room, shot him a look of displeasure.
“What are you doing here?”
“If you dislike seeing me that much, I’ll just leave.”
As Baek Socheon turned to go, Yeom Jeonggil barked,
“You brat! Quit the nonsense and sit down.”
Baek Socheon sat down in front of him.
“You wouldn’t have come here for no reason. So, what is it?”
“I debated for quite a while whether I should come or not.”
“Cut the preamble.”
“Division Leader Wang was just released. I figured you might not know, so I came to tell you.”
“What?”
Yeom Jeonggil was startled.
“What are you talking about?”
“I said he was released. Division Leader Wang.”
“I asked what the hell you mean!”
Yeom Jeonggil roared.
Having been locked inside the Interrogation Room for days, Yeom Jeonggil was no longer in a normal state of mind. Already on the verge of exploding, hearing that Wang Gon had been released was like pouring oil onto blazing flames.
“It was determined that Division Leader Wang wasn’t implicated in this case, so he was released.”
To Yeom Jeonggil, those words sounded like, “You, on the other hand, are still here because you’re guilty.”
“They said Hero Yeom still needed to undergo further investigation.”
Yeom Jeonggil’s expression turned icy.
Logically speaking, if Wang Gon had been released, there was no reason to keep only him locked up.
“Tell me everything you know.”
“The Main Division is closely watching the Liang Qiu case.”
“I already know that! Tell me how Division Leader Wang got released!”
Baek Socheon hesitated.
“If you don’t want to die, talk!”
“I don’t really feel like talking if you’re going to be like this.”
Just as Yeom Jeonggil was about to explode again, he forced himself to calm down.
“You’ve got nothing to lose by cooperating with me. Wang Gon is just a mere Division Leader. I’m one of the Four Great Martial Artists of the Divine Transformation Gang.”
“And yet that mere Division Leader was released first.”
Yeom Jeonggil’s eyes sharpened.
Baek Socheon continued displaying the same insolent attitude he had always shown him. That consistency would erase any suspicion Yeom Jeonggil might have had toward him.
“Fine, I’ll tell you. Division Leader Wang bribed Commander Jeong.”
“What?”
“Division Leader Wang found out that Commander Jeong intended to make one of you two the culprit in the Liang Qiu case. So he got himself out first.”
“How did he find out?”
“I told him.”
“You little bastard!”
“I don’t think you should be angry at me. I’m someone hired by Division Leader Wang.”
He had a point.
Now wasn’t the time to vent his anger on Baek Socheon.
Yeom Jeonggil had lived his entire life without ever knowing fear.
But this time was different.
No matter how powerful the Divine Transformation Gang was, it couldn’t stand against the Martial Alliance.
The very fact that the Divine Transformation Gang had done absolutely nothing while he remained imprisoned was proof enough.
He didn’t know that Mister Jong, who had come down to handle this matter, had already been eliminated. As a result, he was secretly furious at the Divine Transformation Gang’s helplessness and indifference.
If the Martial Alliance decided to force him into becoming the scapegoat…
Would the Divine Transformation Gang really go so far as to protect him?
He couldn’t answer that with confidence.
And in the middle of all this, Wang Gon had escaped first.
Wang Gon undoubtedly understood this reality as well.
“Is it really true that Wang Gon bought off Jeong Pung?”
“He said he even used his house as collateral to raise an enormous sum of money. There’s clear evidence. Why would I lie?”
Yeom Jeonggil clenched both fists tightly.
Baek Socheon knew.
At this very moment, Yeom Jeonggil had decided to kill Wang Gon.
If one of two men escaped by using bribery in a situation where one of them was destined to die, then it was no different from deciding the other man should die in his place.
“Why are you telling me all this? Aren’t you Division Leader Wang’s right-hand man?”
“How long have I even known him? How does that make me his right-hand man?”
“Then why are you betraying him?”
“I was the one who played the decisive role in getting him out this time. Do you know what he gave me in return?”
Baek Socheon showed him the bracelet on his wrist.
“This. Just this. What is this? Is he joking with me?”
Yeom Jeonggil recognised it immediately.
It was the bracelet Wang Gon always wore.
‘He’s betraying him over something this trivial!’
But Baek Socheon already had a history.
On the very first day, Yeom Jeonggil had warned Wang Gon.
He had said that this was a man who had decided to kill his own superior five centuries ago, so he would decide to kill Wang Gon after only three centuries.
Just as he had predicted back then, Baek Socheon betrayed Wang Gon over something this insignificant without even taking a breath.
Thinking his intuition had proven correct, Yeom Jeonggil found nothing suspicious whatsoever about Baek Socheon’s betrayal.
“So you want to switch ships?”
“If possible, wouldn’t anyone prefer to board the bigger, more comfortable ship? Of course, that’s only if the captain allows it.”
Yeom Jeonggil openly snorted.
“I can’t stand people like you.”
“All the better. You’ll need someone like me when you have dirty work you can’t stand doing yourself.”
When Yeom Jeonggil didn’t reply, Baek Socheon stood.
“If you don’t want me, then forget it.”
As he started walking out, Yeom Jeonggil spoke.
“Board it. My ship.”
He spoke as though he were doing Baek Socheon a favour, but inwardly it felt like climbing onto a mere raft called Baek Socheon while his own ship was sinking.
“How can I help you?”
“First, I need to get out of here.”
If the Martial Alliance’s Main Division was watching this case, then there was no point expecting help from the Divine Transformation Gang.
Right now, Baek Socheon was Yeom Jeonggil’s only option.
“Find a way somehow. Dig up Jeong Pung’s weakness, or kidnap his children if you have to. I don’t care what it is, find me a way out. That’ll be your boarding pass onto my ship.”
Baek Socheon was indeed obtaining a ticket.
Unfortunately for Yeom Jeonggil, however, it was a ticket that would send him aboard the Ship to the Abyss on its way to hell.
“You want me to release Yeom Jeonggil? Doesn’t that mean you’re letting both of the people we arrested go?”
Jeong Pung was stunned by Baek Socheon’s request.
“That’s right. Release Yeom Jeonggil tomorrow night.”
If they released him immediately, he’d become suspicious.
They needed to make it look as though time had been spent trying in various ways to secure his release.
And while he remained trapped, Yeom Jeonggil’s frustration and anger would only continue growing.
The reason for releasing him at night was simple.
Where would a Yeom Jeonggil who had reached the peak of his fury go after leaving the Interrogation Room?
Would he head to an inn and sleep?
Would he return to the Divine Transformation Gang in the middle of the night?
No.
He would go straight to Wang Gon’s house.
“Then why arrest him in the first place?”
“The purpose of arresting him has already been fulfilled. Now it’s time to accomplish a different objective by releasing him.”
“What objective?”
“Tomorrow night, both of them will die. Though in Wang Gon’s case, it doesn’t look like I’ll even have to dirty my own hands.”
Jeong Pung flinched.
That meant Baek Socheon intended to make Yeom Jeonggil kill Wang Gon.
No,
Baek Socheon was absolutely certain Yeom Jeonggil would kill Wang Gon.
After staring at Baek Socheon for a long moment, Jeong Pung spoke in a trembling voice.
“You’re serious.”
“I told you before, didn’t I? Everyone involved in this affair is going to die.”
“Even so, those two are important figures in the Divine Transformation Gang.”
“If they’re important in a pile of rubbish, then they’re simply worse rubbish. Let’s clean it all out while we’re at it.”
Filled with countless worries, Jeong Pung couldn’t say anything.
“This is your territory here in Zhejiang. Wouldn’t it be better if it became cleaner?”
“That’s exactly why. If only this had happened in Fujian or Anhui instead.”
Baek Socheon looked at the sighing Jeong Pung.
“Are you afraid?”
“Wouldn’t anyone be?”
“Don’t be. They’re nothing but a bunch of scumbags.”
“They’re only a bunch of scumbags to someone like you…”
To him, they were a tidal wave and a raging storm.
Jeong Pung was afraid.
Not because he feared the enemy,
He feared having Baek Socheon as an ally.
Then and now, Baek Socheon was someone who knew no limits.
Once all of those people died, the enemies that followed would undoubtedly be people who had broken through their own limits as well.
“Commander Jeong.”
“What is it?”
“Have you ever wanted to go to the Main Division?”
Jeong Pung was startled by the sudden question.
“Why do you ask?”
“Just curious. I wanted to know.”
“Of course I do. Who wouldn’t?”
“If we handle this beautifully, won’t there be an opportunity for you to transfer to the Main Division?”
“You don’t need to tempt me with words like that. I’ll help you to the very end. Once this is over, you should hurry back to the Main Division yourself. As for Zhejiang, just come back once before you die and reminisce about old times.”
Baek Socheon chuckled.
As he turned to leave, Jeong Pung’s final concern stopped him.
“But… will it really be alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“Yeom Jeonggil is one of the Divine Transformation Gang’s Four Great Martial Artists, a supreme master. No matter how strong you are, fighting him won’t be easy.”
“I won’t be fighting him. Someone else will.”
“Who?”
Instead of answering, Baek Socheon said something else before leaving the room.
“Branch Leader, you’ve got liquor hidden in that cabinet over there.”
“Answer my question!”
But Baek Socheon had already left.
After sighing over all his worries, Jeong Pung eventually opened the cabinet and took out the liquor.
“I give up.”
As Baek Socheon entered the courtyard of his residence, he looked toward the wall shrouded in darkness.
“Come out.”
Cheon Geuk released her concealment and revealed herself.
She had been sitting atop the wall.
“You don’t even have any Internal Energy, yet you always find me like a ghost. Did you bribe one of my bodyguards? Is that it? They’re the ones telling you I’m here, aren’t they?”
“Why do you keep coming to someone else’s house?”
“What do you mean, keep coming? This is the first time I’ve come without any business. Besides, are we really strangers?”
“Then are we friends?”
“Well… no, I guess not. We’re not strangers, but we’re not friends either. So what are we?”
“Enough of that. Why are you here? Aren’t you busy?”
“I’m not.”
“That’s good news for the Martial World.”
“You always have something to say.”
“Go. I’m going to wash up and sleep.”
Baek Socheon went inside.
Cheon Geuk shook her head and spoke to the Guardian Killing Stars hidden nearby.
“Ah, this is so annoying! I can put out contracts too, right? Right?”
The Guardian Killing Stars dared not answer, merely smacking their lips.
To be honest, she didn’t actually feel that bad.
Being treated this way was refreshing.
No one else dared treat her like this.
“Isn’t there anyone you want dead? I’ll do it for half price.”
From inside the house, Baek Socheon’s voice answered.
“No.”
“Tch.”
At least he replied.
Standing in the courtyard, she gazed up at the full moon hanging brightly in the sky.
She should have left.
Yet her feet refused to move.
Just then, Dongseong, the leader of the Four Heavenly Killers, transmitted his voice.
—You may stay in Wencheng for a while. Everything in the Alliance can be postponed.
Cheon Geuk smiled faintly.
That was exactly why he was the leader.
He always knew how to read the situation.
“Come on. Let’s just go drink among ourselves.”
At that moment, Baek Socheon’s voice came from behind her.
“How much would it cost to hire you for one day?”
She turned.
Baek Socheon was standing by the window, looking outside.
“Me?”
“Yes. You.”
“Well…”
She didn’t take assassination contracts in the first place, but if she hypothetically did…
“I’m very expensive.”
“Didn’t you just say you’d do it for half price?”
“Even at half price, I’m still very expensive.”
“How about one thousand nyang?”
“No way!”
Cheon Geuk stared at him in disbelief.
“One thousand nyang is exactly your proper price.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Now listen carefully. It costs one hundred thousand nyang to sleep with you, right?”
“Who said I’d sleep with you? Fine, let’s say that’s true.”
“Which costs more? Killing one villain, or sleeping with you?”
“Obviously sleeping with me.”
“Exactly. Then how many times more expensive is it? At least a hundred times, wouldn’t you say?”
“Huh?”
“Or am I wrong? Is sleeping with you worth less than a hundred times the price of killing one villain?”
“Of course… it’s worth that.”
“That’s why it’s one thousand nyang. Actually, even a hundred times is far too little. Anyone wanting to sleep with you should pay a thousand times more. Let’s make it one hundred nyang instead. Sounds fair, doesn’t it? Sorry for underestimating your value so badly.”
“No, it’s alright.”
Cheon Geuk blinked.
Once again, she had fallen into Baek Socheon’s twisted logic.
“I’ve got somewhere to go tomorrow night. Come with me. I’ll see you then.”
After saying that, Baek Socheon disappeared from the window.
The Guardian Killing Stars, who had watched and listened while remaining concealed, began transmitting voices among themselves.
—Tell her she’s being fooled!
—She’s one of the smartest people alive. She’s only pretending to fall for it.
—Are you sure?
—…
Whether she heard their conversation or not, Cheon Geuk simply hummed a tune as she walked away.
“That’s right. Anyone wanting to sleep with me should pay at least a thousand times more. Come on, what are you waiting for? Let’s go drink!”
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