“Are we really going to raid the same place again?”
Im Ha-yeon replied, surprised by my suggestion.
“Just because someone got slapped doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make sure they can’t even squeak this time.”
Operation name: The Thief Strikes Twice.
Now that we have the solid shield of the Head of the Right Guards, if we strike, they won’t be able to say a word.
Even if the Tea Bookstore gets suspicious, it can only end there. It’s not common for thieves to raid a house with lax surveillance twice.
“By the way, I heard the monk who ran the orphanage where we first donated got grabbed by Yeom Gyeok-ju!”
“I thought they were only spreading rumors about people who seem untouchable…”
I was surprised too.
We didn’t spread rumors about everyone who got cash from the Shadowless Thief. We only let it out about people who were unlikely to be harmed—those with little chance of suffering any backlash.
Who would have thought we’d go after the monk?
“They say he’s so reputable that he got mediated well and had no issues. But we can’t just be satisfied with that.”
The Shadowless Thief had touched someone they were eyeing again. There was enough reason to strike once more.
“I guess we’ll have to move.”
Im Ha-yeon nodded as if she had made up her mind.
“Hayan unni will become a symbol that makes evil rich folks cautious.”
“On the darkest nights, a woman moving in the shadows becomes a symbol of terror for the rich and of hope for the poor.”
As the Tea Bookstore cleared its name, they lost their opponent.
What remained was an inevitable violence where they would only have to take the brunt.
They were used to wielding it against others, but when hit, they’ll cower in fear. Ha!
“W-well, I don’t plan on being such a grand figure! I’ll go change!”
Did I say something too serious?
Im Ha-yeon shivered slightly, as if embarrassed by the eager gazes of both of us, and quickly changed her clothes before coming back.
“Are you all dressed? Then it’s time for this.”
I always think about how provocative her form-fitting outfit is. I can’t say where, but I feel like if I poke it, it’ll wobble like pudding.
I passed a piece of paper to Im Ha-yeon, who’s putting on her overcoat.
“Do we really have to do this?”
Im Ha-yeon read the paper and asked me with one narrowed eye, clearly reluctant.
“I just thought I’d get inspiration for the next volume. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to.”
Honestly, I hoped she really would.
“Hayan unni. Can you not do it?”
“No, I’ll do it since it’s necessary.”
Im Ha-yeon stood in front of Miss Zhuge and quietly pressed her forehead against hers.
“Then, I’ll… Ah!”
“Ouch.”
“Ugh…”
“Are you okay?”
Miss Zhuge. There was no need to bang your forehead with full power, right? How could you lose balance in just one step?
Should I tell her not to? While I was pondering for a moment, the two closed their eyes and leaned their foreheads together. Is it really happening?
Im Ha-yeon began to softly chant as if she was ready.
“Buddha, please allow me to be a just thief today as well.”
“Oooooh.”
I clapped my hands in admiration without realizing.
“Ugh. Why am I being made to do this?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Im Ha-yeon pulled her forehead away from Miss Zhuge, looking flustered.
“For the sake of gaining inspiration for the work.”
“That can’t be it…”
How did she know?
Im Ha-yeon’s doubtful gaze stabbed into my chest. I decided to speak as shamelessly as possible.
“Just think about it. A thief, drawn to other people’s belongings, turns out to actually be a devout Buddhist. Doesn’t that cast doubt on the motives of the Shadowless Thief?”
“W-well, that’s true. But why does it have to be with Miss Zhuge?”
Is her suspicion not entirely cleared? Im Ha-yeon kept her dubious expression and asked.
What should I say? I was a boy once too, you know. I’ve admired a female thief since I was a kid.
I wanted to see it, but now I didn’t know how to respond.
“Well… Because it looks pretty?”
In the end, a flimsy excuse came out.
“…”
“Ha ha.”
In the awkward silence, I could only smile sheepishly, avoiding their gazes.
As I waited for a reaction, Im Ha-yeon and Miss Zhuge approached me. Am I about to hear something?
Why are you suddenly grabbing my sleeves?
When I turned my head again, I saw Im Ha-yeon and Miss Zhuge looking excited.
“If that’s the case, I’ll do it again next time!”
“Me too!”
No, if you react like that, I’ll get embarrassed for no reason!
I momentarily lost my words.
Im Ha-yeon fanned herself with her hands toward her flustered face and opened her mouth to me.
“I’ll be back quickly. Oh! Can I just go and get more jewels?”
Surely, if I bring back more precious jewels, they’ll certainly be distressed. If I were to raid a vault and bring back even more valuable items, it would be a huge hit.
But today’s aim isn’t just simple thievery.
“Just do as I say.”
A thief strikes twice.
The second strike will feel even worse than the first.
*
“Did you hear that Yeom Gyeok-ju crapped himself?”
The rumors of the Shadowless Thief spread like wildfire.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s about Yeom Gyeok-ju grabbing the monk who runs the orphanage saying he’s in cahoots with the Shadowless Thief.”
“That guy? Why? Did he have a stroke in the restroom?”
“They say one morning he woke up to find a green dagger stuck deep by his bedside!”
“No way! Did none of the guards or Yeom Gyeok-ju know?”
“Supposedly, while leaving behind the dagger and a black origami crane, no one noticed a thing!”
“Wow. Looks like a warning not to mess with the wrong people. He must have crapped himself.”
If a thief possesses an exceptional Hidden Body Technique, they could instantly turn into an assassin.
People chattered incessantly about the recent activity of the Shadowless Thief.
It drew a line against the cruel rich folks. Cross that line, and willingly, I’ll take your life.
The warning reached the ears of other wealthy individuals who hadn’t yet encountered the Shadowless Thief. Along with that news, the wealthy were becoming increasingly nervous.
“Actually, the reason he crapped himself is different.”
“Different? How?”
“They say the Shadowless Thief stole the loan paperwork from Yeom Gyeok-ju.”
“The loan document? That’s not what thieves usually take.”
A loan document indicates that someone borrowed money. Unless there were proper transfer papers to someone else, it wasn’t a document a thief would take.
“That’s the very thing that makes the Shadowless Thief different!”
Of course, there was a reason for the Shadowless Thief to take it. The storyteller cheered and shouted.
“Don’t tell me this was done to punish Yeom Gyeok-ju?! Wait! How much did he lose?”
If the document disappears, there will be no way to prove how much he borrowed. An amount far greater than mere jewels vanished in an instant.
“It’s enough to give him a golden shower with just the damage!”
“Ha ha ha! So that’s why he crapped himself!”
“But the problem is, he’s not the only victim! The crazed rich folks who lost everything are all in the same situation!”
“Could it be that the Shadowless Thief isn’t just a common thief but a righteous one?!”
Is the Shadowless Thief really a righteous person? For those who were skeptical, this was news that would clear their doubts.
“Yeah! The legendary thief, the Shadowless Thief, has truly emerged in Wuhan!”
As the news of the Shadowless Thief spread, the second floor of the Wuhan Tea Bookstore was bustling every day.
“Thank goodness the Tea Bookstore cleared its name.”
One of the initial members of the Wuhan Tea Bookstore let out a sigh of relief and spoke to his friends.
“It was absurd to think the Tea Bookstore was linked to thieves! It was nonsense from the start!”
“Exactly! What would Ho Pil, the author who already proved himself in The Rise of the Tang Family, have to gain from doing something like that?!”
Hearing the words, all the members of the Tea and Book Club, who were gathered there, nodded in agreement.
It was fine to call it the Shadowless Thief as it had similar behavior to that in Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, but claiming there was a connection between the Tea Bookstore and them was just too far-fetched.
What would Ho Pil have to gain from committing such a crime?
“I agree. Like the Head of the Right Guards said, it seems correct to say that the thief was enlightened after reading Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.”
One member supported while mentioning the fact publicly declared by the Head of the Right Guards.
“Wow. A novel that can even reform a thief! Perhaps Ho Pil’s representative work isn’t The Rise of the Tang Family but rather Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.”
With the unsettling suspicions lifted, a member of the Tea and Book Club expressed satisfaction as they gazed at the recent works stirring up excitement.
“Hey. I can’t let that pass.”
“Why not?”
“It’s true that Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is entertaining, but it can’t compare to the popularity of The Rise of the Tang Family.”
“The Rise of the Tang Family is undeniably more popular because it has adult scenes. Without those scenes, Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes would be destroyed!”
“Ha! To take out the ‘color’ from Colored Heroic Stories! That assumption is utterly nonsensical!”
“Acknowledge the new wave on the Yangtze River. Nowadays, more people are reaching for Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes than The Rise of the Tang Family.”
“Isn’t it because the Shadowless Thief showed up? In terms of pure enjoyment, it doesn’t measure up to The Rise of the Tang Family.”
The gazes of the two Tea and Book Club members clashed as fiery as sparks.
“There’s a more refined enjoyment in Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes than simply undressing women!”
“What?! Are you saying that the enjoyment of The Rise of the Tang Family is trivial?!”
“I’m not saying that!”
“Why are you two arguing like this? Aren’t they both written by Ho Pil?”
The atmosphere turned tense as both jumped to their feet. An initial member of the Wuhan Tea and Book Club intervened between them.
“Hey, isn’t this conversation getting out of hand?!”
“Who said that?!”
“We’ve gathered since it was hard to get Ho Pil’s books in Wuhan! If it were a healthy debate like the Succession Battle, it would be one thing, but arguing which book is better is rather shaming for a new member!”
The initial member pointed to a new member that signed up a few days ago and chided his friends.
“Ahem. I’m sorry. We were too harsh.”
“It’s fine.”
The new member awkwardly waved his hand with a bashful smile.
“Everyone loves Ho Pil’s works so much that’s why.”
“With both of you discussing The Rise of the Tang Family and Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, as a new member, I have one question.”
The new member cautiously looked at the senior members and spoke.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to ask which novel is better, are you?”
The brows of the initial member furrowed.
“Not at all. I’m just curious.”
“Aha. Is that so? What’s on your mind?”
The Wuhan Tea and Book Club had passionate discussions about The Rise of the Tang Family since last year and even bet on who would buy drinks for whom based on who scored higher on tests.
Aside from the Succession Battle, which never drew a definitive conclusion, they had settled most other debates fairly well.
Feeling a bit embarrassed as a senior member of the Tea and Book Club, I had to make up for it. Many members sitting down turned their attention to the new member.
“Whatever it is, go ahead and ask!”
As the new member hesitated, a senior member smiled and encouraged him. They didn’t know what question would come from the new member.
The Mouth of Trouble.
Sometimes, pure questions can cause immense waves.
“If the Tang Jung character from The Rise of the Tang Family fought against Un-hyeon from Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, who would win?”
A question with no way to back down ignited a storm in the Tea and Book Club.
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