“It’s not poison liquor.”
“Phew. I knew it! There’s no way!”
As it was revealed that the liquor given by Kang Yoon-ho wasn’t poisoned, a sigh of relief escaped.
If it’s not poisonous liquor, then it’s perfectly fine to drink. Though, it’s still strong alcohol, isn’t it?
“Un Yeop. Bring some liquor. This time, I want something different.”
Kang Yoon-ho smiled and commanded the Deputy Head of Guards.
“I’ll prepare it.”
“……”
Even though the Beom Family was shackled with bonds they couldn’t escape, Kang Yoon-ho’s celebration had just begun.
As Kang Yoon-ho scanned the area like a predator searching for new prey, the people around him instinctively turned their heads as if they were frightened herbivores.
“Do you think you can get away with this kind of mischief?”
In the middle of the crowd, a middle-aged man sprang up, pointing an accusatory finger at Kang Yoon-ho.
“I see someone has come: Uncle from the Gu Family. I heard you recently passed the local examination. Congratulations.”
Giant (擧人).
Those who didn’t pass the national examination but qualified for the local examination, allowing them to take the great examination.
Possessing the elite’s status to serve in local official positions, even if they couldn’t secure positions in central offices. A scholarly person respected by many.
Surely, they should all gaze upon him in awe, but to Kang Yoon-ho, he looked like nothing more than a prey that came to him willingly.
“Becoming the successor of an insignificant family, your audacity knows no bounds! You dare to forcibly take the business entrusted to you by your father-in-law! If I inform the government office about this, do you think you’ll get away with it?”
“You’re saying something amusing.”
“Wh-what?”
Kang Yoon-ho approached the giant with a sly grin and whispered in his ear so that no one else could hear.
“A year ago. Huwauloo. Top floor. Myeongwolsil (明月室).”
“……!”
The giant’s eyes grew as wide as saucers.
“A person who has studied all his life, having hit mid-forties while achieving nothing, must be feeling a bit anxious now.”
I know who you invested a fortune in before the exam, Kang Yoon-ho whispered.
“W-what?!”
“There’s a way to know everything.”
With information from the Hawoomen faction and visits from the Tu faction, plus the seized secret ledger, Kang Yoon-ho didn’t feel the need to explain the sources of his information.
“That’s ridiculous speculation!”
“Such a shame. The pride of your family is on the brink of becoming its disgrace.”
“W-what?!”
The giant’s voice shrank to that of a mouse.
“After this matter is settled, I intend to meet with the inspector, but would you care for a drink with me first?”
The wild-eyed Jung Mun-won. His right-hand man, Kang Yoon-ho.
Though the head of the Gu Family wasn’t smart enough to pass the examination straightaway, he had enough street smarts to survive.
“……The Gu Family wholeheartedly congratulates Master Kang Yoon-ho on becoming the successor of the Man Geum Battlefield.”
“Dear?”
“Please accept it.”
The giant, without hesitation, gulped down the strong liquor and bowed to Kang Yoon-ho.
“Once again, I congratulate you.”
“I trust that you will provide much assistance to the Man Geum Battlefield when times get tough.”
“Of course! I shall assist as if it is my own matter!”
At that moment, shackles were placed firmly upon the Gu Family, following the Beom Family.
——
“Who shall I share the next congratulatory drink with?”
Kang Yoon-ho strode forward without a hitch.
“Stop it right now!”
After suffering the blows to two families in succession, a middle-aged woman stood up, seemingly unable to endure it any longer.
“Aren’t you the lady from the Bang Family?”
“I see that you harbor ill feelings towards us after this incident! But now that you are the successor of a family, how long do you plan to act like a spiteful child! Can’t you see that everyone is terrified here?”
Kang Yoon-ho looked around at those who were fearful of making eye contact, chuckled lightly, and nodded.
“Indeed. You speak rightly. A frog does not die from the stone thrown by a child.”
“If you knew that…!”
“So, did you bribe the judge?”
“……!”
All gazes suddenly turned to the daughter of Man Geum-jeon, who had married into the Bang Family.
“You probably thought you could easily deal with such a worthless barbarian as if a child was tossing stones.”
The one who threw the stone wasn’t me. It was you, wasn’t it? You were the one trying to kill me.
Kang Yoon-ho countered.
“W-well, that….”
The woman’s face, who thought she could kill a frog easily, began to pale.
“What nonsense are you spouting! It seems you’ve heard some wild tales from Judge Jung; my mother never said such things!”
The grandson of Man Geum-jeon, the troublemaker of the Bang Family, stood up to defend his mother.
“Indeed. She didn’t say so. It must have been Judge Jung who said he would ensure you never see the sunlight again, or that he would certainly give a death sentence.”
“Y-yes! My parents wanted the truth to come out, which is why they met with the judge! They never asked for you to be executed!”
“Sure. I heard it too. You both let it be known that you would make sure the truth comes out. Even if he survives, you would make it so he can’t live as a human being, or force him to crawl for the rest of his life while adding some amusing words.”
“……”
The troublemaker of the Bang Family squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.
“Aunt.”
In that calm voice calling out to people, there was a cold and refined rage.
“J-junior brother-in-law.”
“Continuing from earlier, what do you think the toad on the verge of dying from a stone’s hit thinks about these children before him?”
Thunk!
Does my anger feel like a joke right now?
The daughter of Man Geum-jeon instinctively stepped back as the impending rage neared her.
“Ha! Do you think the Bang Family will blink an eye if you take over our business!”
If you back down, it’s over. The daughter of Man Geum-jeon, who had bribed the judge, gritted her teeth, retaliating with a scapegoat’s attitude.
“Correct! Even if you take the ledger, we have nothing to fear!”
The troublemaker of the Bang Family realized there was no retort and nodded along with his mother’s opinion.
There’s no way Kang Yoon-ho would truly try to kill us, right? Losing the Man Geum Battlefield’s business is regrettable but irrelevant. Even without it, we are from a family of wealthy merchants.
While it’s true paying off an official could be implicated, the punishment would mainly fall on the corrupt official, not the one who offered the bribe. As long as you endure a moment of difficulty, it will all blow over.
In general, that was a rational judgment.
“Head of the Police Officer.”
If it were anyone else but Kang Yoon-ho, that would have been the case.
Calling out to the Head of the Police Officer, Po Pil, who stood ready, unexpected words flowed forth.
“Yes. All members of the Bang Family have been taken into custody.”
“What did you just say…?”
The Bang Family members couldn’t believe their ears for a moment.
“Bribing a judge attempting to kill your father’s designated successor is unfilial. You’ve disrupted the laws of the state and brought great sin upon the Bang Family. Being unfilial cannot be disregarded, and therefore, the punishment must be severe.”
The charge of unfilial conduct could lead to a death sentence. Black-haired Head of the Police Officer, Po Pil, read the document from the authorities in front of the baffled members of the Bang Family.
“What… what is this?!”
“To put it simply, it means you’re done for. Bind them!”
At Kang Yoon-ho’s shout, the constables rushed in.
“Following orders!”
“Brother-in-law! No! Master Kang!”
The troublemaker of the Bang Family quickly knelt before Kang Yoon-ho.
“Speak.”
“There’s no need for family to turn on each other! I’d drink whatever poison liquor Master Kang offers! Even if my insides burn away, I’ll do as you say from now on! Please! Show mercy!”
Their family was on the brink of ruin. The plea from the troublemaker of the Bang Family was desperate.
“Very well. Accept it.”
Kang Yoon-ho pretended to think for a moment before picking up the liquor bottle.
“Thank you! Truly! Thank… wait?”
However, the liquor wasn’t aimed for the cup.
The liquor was aimed right at the head of the troublemaker of the Bang Family. The strong alcohol aroma poured out from the troublemaker’s scalp.
“How shameless to try to drink after attempting to take my life.”
“You! ……Ack!”
The enraged troublemaker charged forward, but a single kick threw him against the wall.
“Take them away.”
“Yes!”
“Kang Yoon-hooo!”
Kang Yoon-ho, bound, looked at the enraged troublemaker staring daggers at him.
“Didn’t I say? From now on, I decide the lines.”
No longer would they seek permission from anyone.
The lines are now drawn by me.
——
“Deputy Head of Guards. Whose land is the Bang Family’s shrine on?”
“It’s owned by the Man Geum Battlefield.”
“Sell it to a family that has a deep-seated grudge against the Bang Family.”
“Understood!”
There was nothing they could do.
Every bit of justification of being a successor, the Man Geum Battlefield’s wealth, the power backed by the inspector, all belonged to a single individual.
All inside the room could only hope the arrows of rage would not turn toward them.
“Looking at the ledger, you’ve been evading taxes.”
Of course, Kang Yoon-ho didn’t indiscriminately swing his sword.
“W-wait, that’s!”
“Well done.”
“What?”
“Tax evasion may be an issue, but who can say anything about tax saving? You’re running your business well, and your efforts have been appreciated! Please accept this liquor.”
“Congratulations! Truly congratulations!”
Now it was Kang Yoon-ho who determined the lines.
Whether they allowed themselves to stay within the lines or chased others out, or who would suffer shackles—all was up to Kang Yoon-ho.
“It seems we’ve shared congratulatory drinks with everyone, but one truly shameless person remains.”
Kang Yoon-ho circulated the cups to everyone present and sat down with a satisfied expression.
“Shameless? What on earth are you saying?”
“There’s someone sitting here pretending to be oblivious while chugging congratulatory cups and dodging responsibility.”
As Kang Yoon-ho narrowed his eyes, he laughed as if he found the person utterly detestable.
“Dodging responsibility?”
“It can’t be helped. The one who should receive a return gift is staying silent, so it falls upon the Deputy Head of Guards, Po Pil, rather than the Head of the Man Geum Battlefield, Kang Yoon-ho.”
“Return gift? W-wait! You’re not implying it’s the culprit who tried to poison me, are you?”
Kang Yoon-ho stood up with a grin.
Until now, it was all actions taken as the successor of the Man Geum Battlefield. But now, the actions that follow are under the name of Po Pil Kang Yoon-ho.
With his preparations concluded.
“Yes. The culprit is still among us.”
It was time to expose Baek Myeon-ho-ri.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.