novelraw Chapter 212 : Chasing the Scent
Chapter 212 : Chasing the Scent
Chapter 212: Chasing the Scent
I visited the Imperial Concubine’s Palace again after a long while.
After hearing everything between me and Cheon Sugong, the Imperial Concubine agreed with our intentions and readily granted permission to search the Board of Censors.
“An imperial inspection agency abducting an innocent woman and imprisoning her here—this is an act that stains the dignity of the Imperial Household. If it is true, it must be corrected.”
With that, she allowed us to use her authority for the search.
Of course, this permission came purely from a humanitarian standpoint.
Unlike Cheon Sugong, who intended to turn this incident into a political scandal for leverage or negotiation.
Thus, backed by a powerful patron, we headed toward the Board of Censors building with the imperial decree in hand.
“Cheon Sugong, the helper I mentioned last time—can I call her now?”
An expert in uncovering deeply hidden secrets.
With his permission, I brought a reliable ally to the front of the Board of Censors building.
“Damn it, what kind of situation is this now?”
The moment she arrived, she pointed at the signboard reading Board of Censors and cursed with a baffled expression.
Especially seeing high-ranking figures gathered around me, she immediately shrank down, nervously glancing around.
“I’m starting to regret telling you how to contact me……”
She glared at me with disgust. Probably wondering why I kept dragging her into weird situations.
But what’s done is done.
“So what is it, anyway?”
“A young courtesan from the Heavenly Flower Pavilion was abducted here. If we don’t find her quickly, we might never find her again. I need your help, Yangyang.”
I pointed toward the grand Board of Censors building where her trail had ended.
Then, as she listened, Cheon Sugong suddenly cut in.
“Hm, Yangyang… isn’t that the name of the thief who was imprisoned after robbing the Imperial Palace treasury?”
I introduced him as the head of the Eastern Depot.
Just like Ilhong before, she flinched in shock.
Her reaction was exactly like a thief running into the chief of police.
“I don’t know how you disappeared so cleanly that day, but the Eastern Depot’s eyes reach everywhere. If you wish to keep your head, you must abandon your greed toward the Imperial Palace.”
A stern warning to the thief who dared to rob the Heavenly Treasure Vault.
Normally, he should have executed her on sight—but since she had helped save the Imperial Concubine’s group, her merit outweighed her crime this once.
“Y-Yes, sir!”
The bold thief bowed her head repeatedly.
Then she whipped her head toward me, glaring resentfully.
“What? You said I could call you anytime. Said you owed me your life.”
“Ugh… I did say that… Fine. So what am I supposed to do?”
She asked with a resigned expression.
“You’re a thief—you’re good with hidden spaces, moving walls or floors, mechanism devices, concealed areas, right?”
“I am. Because I’m not just a thief—I’m a Divine Thief.”
She emphasized the word Divine Thief.
“We have to tear this building apart within half a shichen. I need you for that.”
I pointed at the massive building.
“Why half a shichen?”
“Because that’s what the imperial decree says. Considering who we’re dealing with, we can’t exceed it.”
I waved the golden silk decree in front of her eyes.
“…And if we find nothing?”
“Then the courtesan is in trouble—and so are we.”
“……”
The Imperial Concubine might only face political backlash—but outsiders like us would suffer far worse consequences.
Realizing how troublesome this was, she frowned deeply.
“I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not. Get over here.”
I grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the entrance.
“Hey! Are you crazy?! Let go!”
This was a matter of a woman’s fate.
I filled my lungs and kicked the entrance open.
Kwaaang!
“You bastard Yin Fiend who kidnapped Juwol-a! Where are you?! Show yourself now!”
In a pitch-dark space where no light entered—
In a place where countless people had screamed out confessions—
Chief Censor Yang Gun-jwa stroked a woman’s glossy hair.
‘…!’
Each time his thick hand touched her, the beauty in crimson silk trembled in disgust.
“Juwol-a, do you know what I hate the most?”
“Mmph…!”
Through the cloth gag, Juwol-a made a faint sound. Her eyes were full of fear—but also defiance.
He smiled darkly.
“It’s when I’m rejected… but someone else is accepted.”
A man who had wielded near-absolute power despite not being of the Imperial Family.
“A mere courtesan dares reject my sincere proposal—and then accepts Young Master Gold in front of me?”
His voice grew louder.
Juwol-a squeezed her eyes shut.
So he was the one behind the letter.
He had offered wealth and demanded redemption, only to be firmly rejected—his pride crushed.
After venting his anger, his expression changed.
A twisted delight spread across his face.
“Well, you’ve ended up in my hands anyway. That’s not so bad.”
He lifted her chin. She struggled, but the ropes held her fast.
“Mmph!”
He draped beast fur over her silk clothes and placed animal-ear-like accessories on her head.
“Hah… hah… Just like it. Just like that painting!”
A complete pervert with deviant desires.
That was Juwol-a’s thought.
“Heh… it suits you. Yes, Juwol-a. That brazen beastly form suits you!”
Perhaps this was punishment for trying to lure a man with lies.
To think she’d be kidnapped by someone obsessed with animal ears…
In the darkness, she lowered her head in despair.
“Now then… cat ears next… where did I put them…”
He rummaged around and approached again.
‘N-no…’
She trembled, despairing at her fate.
Her muffled cries—unheard by anyone—
Were calls for me.
Then—
KWAJIK—!
The building shook violently.
“…You bastard Yin Fiend! Where are you?! Show yourself now!”
At that familiar voice, her eyes lit up.
Meanwhile, Yang Gun-jwa’s face twisted with rage.
“What is that bastard now…?”
Back when I was a wanderer, I used to tremble just collecting debts—
And now I was storming the very core of imperial power—the Board of Censors.
All thanks to the Imperial Concubine and the Eastern Depot backing me.
“Who goes there?!”
“How dare you?!”
Officials and martial artists rushed out.
“This is Troubleshooter Dan Mujin! By order of the Imperial Concubine, I am here to investigate Juwol-a’s abduction!”
I presented the imperial jade token and decree.
“You dare?!”
“A mere troubleshooter touching the Board of Censors?!”
“Fake decree! Cut off his head!”
They surrounded me.
Then—
Thud. Thud.
Cheon Sugong entered with Eastern Depot martial artists.
“Make way. This is the Imperial Concubine’s command.”
The atmosphere changed instantly.
“Half a shichen.”
“If you’re innocent, you have nothing to hide.”
Unable to oppose him, they stepped back.
“Search everything.”
The Eastern Depot spread out.
I moved with Ilhong and Yangyang, smashing through walls and rooms.
“What is this place? It’s supposed to monitor corruption, yet it’s full of hidden wealth.”
Gold. Silver. Jewelry. Porcelain.
“Later… I’m definitely robbing this place.”
Yangyang gritted her teeth.
“Half for you, right?”
“Of course.”
“Let’s find Juwol-a first.”
Then—
“Look at this wall. It’s thinner inside. There’s a hidden space.”
Boom!
Hidden treasury.
Another mechanism—another hidden space.
She was like a tracking hound, uncovering everything.
But time was running out.
Officials stalled us.
A sundial ticked down.
Their expressions turned smug.
“Damn it…”
Then—
“Boss, I smell something strange.”
“What smell?”
“…I secretly put Hundred-League Incense on Juwol-a…”
“…You what?”
“…I promised not to use it on you. Not her.”
“….”
“You little cheat.”
She sniffed and pointed at a wall.
I smashed it.
KWAANG!
The wall collapsed—
And inside—
A disgusting middle-aged man covering Juwol-a’s mouth stared at us in shock.
Beast fur. Animal-ear headband.
“Got you, you bastard Yin Fiend!”
I roared.
Yang Gun-jwa’s face turned pale.