novelraw Chapter 203 : Bomb Disposal Unit
Chapter 203 : Bomb Disposal Unit
Chapter 203: Bomb Disposal Unit
The bizarre social banquet, where no one laughed, finally came to an end.
As the dancer announcing the closing ceremony stopped her song and bowed deeply, the Son of Heaven, Hongrakje, silently looked down from the viewing platform.
The Empress had used illness as an excuse to hasten the closing, and at some point, she had already disappeared without a trace.
Like a venomous snake brimming with poison, she had recently seemed to be scheming something.
Hongrakje slowly tapped the armrest of his jade throne with his fingertips and muttered,
“Has it begun to slip, Gahwiryeong.”
Even as he mentioned his wife, his voice remained devoid of emotion.
A boulder that had begun rolling down a slope could never stop on its own.
The Empress had clearly crossed the line not long ago, so it might not be a bad idea to simply watch where her ignited ambition would finally come to an end.
“Your Majesty, Her Highness the Imperial Concubine and Noble Consort Yang have also returned to their respective palaces.”
The Grand Palace Eunuch, Yoo Unbaek, spoke as he pointed toward the departing group of the Son of Heaven’s consorts.
Each of them carried the heavy golden chest gifted by the Son of Heaven as they made their way back.
“It seems this gathering made everyone uncomfortable.”
Yoo Unbaek’s expression flickered for a moment. He glanced subtly at the Son of Heaven, as if to say, ‘You only realized that now?’
This banquet had felt like walking on thin ice. But he dared not say it aloud. He merely lowered his head, erasing all expression.
“I wonder if they liked the gift.”
Since they could not open it in his presence, they would return to their palaces and confirm the Son of Heaven’s intent there.
“At least Her Majesty the Empress already showed how she felt about it.”
At the reply of the white-haired eunuch who had served him for a long time, the Son of Heaven curled his lips faintly.
Even setting aside what was inside, the chest itself was forged from pure gold and held immense value.
Anyone else would have been overwhelmed upon receiving such a gift—yet Empress Gahwiryeong had accepted it with a completely emotionless face.
The Imperial Concubine had smiled and expressed thanks, but it was merely a courteous gesture born of her gentle nature.
And Noble Consort Yang had thanked him with a rather uncertain expression, as if she did not understand his intentions.
“In the past, everyone used to be so surprised by the gifts I gave.”
Hongrakje’s voice carried a trace of lingering emotion, as if recalling the time when the Empress and consorts first entered the palace in the bloom of their youth.
Yoo Unbaek responded quietly,
“That was long ago… Now they are all proper Empresses and consorts. It’s only natural they no longer feel the same excitement.”
Such was life in the imperial palace—it reshaped one’s thoughts and values.
Now, even gold and jewels no longer stirred the hearts of the emperor’s wives.
“Hmm, speaking of gold and jewels…”
As he enjoyed the fragrance of tea and some time passed, Hongrakje suddenly thought of a certain young man and looked in the direction he had gone.
Come to think of it, there was one more person besides them who was unmoved by wealth.
The Empress and consorts lived without lack, already surrounded by immense riches—but that young man was said to work as a troubleshooter to earn money.
“Grand Palace Eunuch.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Yoo Unbaek bowed his head.
“Has there ever been someone who rejected a reward I granted, just to save a mere thief?”
In a palace filled with those who chased power and glory, there was a man named Dan Mujin who had used his granted wish for an utterly unexpected reason.
“Could it be that the thief was actually a close friend… or perhaps a lover?”
Yoo Unbaek added his own rational speculation to that irrational choice.
The Son of Heaven’s lips twitched slightly.
“I heard they had only met once.”
“…Then as rumored, he must be a mad troubleshooter.”
That too was the white-haired eunuch’s own logical conclusion.
He shook his head, muttering that something strange had attached itself to the Imperial Concubine’s faction.
“He said it would be a waste to let a righteous thief die here.”
At the word righteous thief, Yoo Unbaek scoffed.
“To dare steal from the imperial palace and redistribute it? He should have been executed and his head displayed.”
From the nation’s perspective, ideological criminals were more dangerous than ordinary ones.
What kind of righteousness was there in giving away someone else’s money? Yoo Unbaek insisted they should be executed before such twisted ideas spread among the people.
“But I cannot execute him. I promised I wouldn’t.”
“….”
It seemed the Son of Heaven found this man, Dan Mujin, quite amusing.
Knowing that once the Son of Heaven reached such a state he could not be persuaded, Yoo Unbaek remained silent.
As the Garden Banquet gradually came to an end and people began leaving, the Son of Heaven was just about to rise—
“Hmm?”
The very young man he had just mentioned was now running somewhere alongside that suspicious thief.
“Hey, Mujin! Hurry up! Why are you so slow?!”
“Damn it! This is my top speed!”
They kicked up dust as they sprinted like arrows.
The Imperial Army soldiers tried to stop them, but the two passed by like a gust of wind.
“You really never know where he’ll go next.”
For the first time in a long while, something had stirred interest in his otherwise emotionless life, and Hongrakje felt a small sense of delight.
Although I had never neglected my training in Whirlwind Steps, the movement technique of Divine Thief Yangyang was truly remarkable.
Even running with all my might, I could barely keep her within sight.
After running for quite some time, the first person I saw was my employer—Her Highness the Imperial Concubine, Ma Juyoung.
“Huff… stop…! Halt! Stop!”
In my panic, strange words came out first. At my shout, the Imperial Concubine’s group turned toward me.
“You’re here, you crazy bastard. In my entire life, I’ve never seen someone use the Son of Heaven’s wish like that.”
Cheonsugong greeted me with scolding the moment I arrived.
Since his nagging was nothing new, I ignored it and ran straight toward the golden chest.
“Your Highness! Forgive me, but I must open the chest before you do!”
Though etiquette dictated that the recipient should open it first in private, I had no time for such things.
Click.
The moment I unlocked and opened the chest without permission, Cheonsugong was horrified.
“You lunatic! What kind of disrespect is this?!”
He tried to rush forward in anger, but—
“Cheonsugong, stop. They are not ignorant of etiquette. There must be a reason.”
“…Understood, Your Highness.”
As expected of the Imperial Concubine. What a broad and gentle heart.
No wonder Princess Peach Blossom had grown up as one of the few sane people in this palace.
Even though she was currently staring at us in confusion alongside the prince.
“I only see golden silk cloth?”
“It’s hidden underneath. Take everything out.”
We pulled out all the luxurious silk and threw it onto the ground.
The officials of the Imperial Concubine’s faction were dumbfounded at how we handled the emperor’s gift.
And then—
The large Thunderburst Bombs hidden beneath were revealed.
“No wonder the Empress’s killing intent felt unusually thick when she handed over the gift.”
I had sensed something strange earlier but couldn’t detect any assassin or poison.
“Everyone, take a look. Someone planted Thunderburst Bombs in the Son of Heaven’s gift.”
The Imperial Concubine’s faction stared at me in shock.
“…They’ve truly lost their minds.”
Amid the murmurs, I asked Yangyang,
“Can you disarm the timer on this chest?”
She grinned and nodded confidently.
“Heh, compared to trap mechanisms in secret underground chambers, this is child’s play.”
“Then earn your keep.”
As I stepped aside, she took out her tools and began carefully handling the mechanism.
Click.
After a short moment, a mechanical sound echoed from the chest.
She tossed me the ignition device.
“See? I’m Divine Thief Yangyang.”
“Not bad…”
Her skill was exceptional—far beyond any craftsman I knew.
“Hey, Mujin… what’s going on?”
Jo Harang, who had been enjoying luxury among the Imperial Concubine’s group, looked between me and Yangyang.
“That’s… a long story.”
“Are you saying… the Empress did this?”
The Imperial Concubine asked in shock.
“I don’t know. But it’s certain this was meant for you.”
The timer was set to explode just as they returned to their palace.
A near miss.
“Then we’re off!”
There were three chests in total.
What happened to the Empress’s own chest didn’t matter to me.
Only one target remained.
“You fool! Where are you going?! You should protect Her Highness!”
Ignoring Cheonsugong’s shout, we were already far away.
Inside the imperial palace, one was not allowed to use martial arts without permission.
Yet a young man and woman were sprinting through it at full speed.
Meanwhile, Noble Consort Yang was returning to her palace, holding her young son and grown daughter.
Her mind was filled with the Empress’s murderous gaze from earlier.
“She is truly a terrifying woman.”
“I agree, Mother.”
Just then—
Two figures came rushing toward them, raising dust.
“Your Highness!”
The guards moved to block the approaching man.
“That man… isn’t he the one who won the Martial Arts Tournament with those strange methods?”
The guards immediately stepped forward.
“How dare you approach while using martial arts!”
The man shouted apologetically,
“Sorry! You’ll understand later!”
He slipped through them with bizarre footwork and knocked them all down in three moves.
“I will not let you harm Her Highness!”
“I’m not trying to—just that golden chest—!”
“Mujin, hurry! It’s about to explode!”
With a grim expression, I lifted the chest with all my strength and hurled it far away.
“What are you—?!”
BOOM—!
The explosion swallowed all sight and sound.